RPSC RAS Current Affairs Quiz — Last 12 months
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
According to a PIB backgrounder of May 2026, what share of global jaggery production does India account for?
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Correct answer: A — Over 70%
India accounts for over 70% of global jaggery production, making it the world's largest producer.
By how much did the value of India's jaggery exports increase between 2015-16 and 2024-25, as per PIB (May 2026)?
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Correct answer: D — 106.5%
Jaggery exports increased by 106.5% in value between 2015-16 and 2024-25.
On which date was the Government e Marketplace Special Purpose Vehicle (GeM SPV) incorporated?
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Correct answer: D — 17 May 2017
The GeM SPV was incorporated on 17 May 2017 under the Companies Act, 2013.
What is the legal form of the GeM SPV, according to the Ministry of Commerce (May 2026)?
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Correct answer: A — A Section 8 non-profit company under the Ministry of Commerce
GeM SPV is a Section 8 non-profit company under the Ministry of Commerce, incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013.
Under the ISPRL–ADNOC MoU signed during PM Modi's UAE visit in May 2026, ADNOC may store up to how much crude oil in India's Strategic Petroleum Reserves?
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Correct answer: C — 30 million barrels
The MoU covers potential ADNOC crude storage in India's SPR of up to 30 million barrels.
During PM Modi's UAE visit in May 2026, Emirates NBD announced a US$3 billion investment in which Indian entity?
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Correct answer: B — RBL Bank
Emirates NBD is to invest US$3 billion in RBL Bank; IHC is to invest US$1 billion in Sammaan Capital and ADIA up to US$1 billion with NIIF.
Consider the following statements about India–UAE relations, as per PIB (May 2026): 1. PM Modi's visit to the UAE in 2015 was the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 34 years. 2. India–UAE bilateral merchandise trade crossed US$100 billion for the first time in FY 2025-26. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct: the 2015 visit was the first by an Indian PM in 34 years, and trade reached US$101.25 billion in FY 2025-26.
Which Indian organisation signed a term sheet with UAE's G-42 in May 2026 to set up an 8-exaflop supercomputing cluster?
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Correct answer: D — CDAC
The term sheet for an 8-exaflop super computing cluster is between CDAC, India and G-42, UAE, as part of AI Mission India.
What penalty did the CCPA impose on Motion Education Pvt. Ltd. for misleading advertisements (May 2026)?
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Correct answer: C — ₹10 lakh
CCPA imposed a ₹10 lakh penalty on Motion Education and ₹5 lakh on Career Line Coaching, Sikar.
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), which penalised coaching institutes in May 2026, acts under which law?
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Correct answer: B — Consumer Protection Act, 2019
The CCPA passed the orders for violations under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, the law under which it functions.
India's total exports (merchandise and services) in April 2026 were estimated at:
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Correct answer: C — US$80.80 billion
Total exports in April 2026 were estimated at US$80.80 billion, up 13.59% from US$71.13 billion in April 2025.
What were India's merchandise exports in April 2026?
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Correct answer: B — US$43.56 billion
Merchandise exports in April 2026 were US$43.56 billion, up 13.78% from US$38.28 billion in April 2025.
According to the PLFS monthly bulletin for April 2026, what was the urban unemployment rate for persons aged 15 years and above?
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Correct answer: A — 6.6%
The urban unemployment rate (15+) eased to 6.6% in April 2026 from 6.8% in March 2026.
Which body conducts the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS)?
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Correct answer: A — National Statistics Office (NSO), MoSPI
The PLFS is conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
Where is Rajasthan's first semiconductor plant, inaugurated in May 2026, located?
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Correct answer: D — Bhiwadi
Sahasra Semiconductors' ATMP/OSAT facility, Rajasthan's first semiconductor plant, is at Bhiwadi.
Which company's facility at Bhiwadi was described by MeitY in May 2026 as India's first SME-led semiconductor facility?
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Correct answer: A — Sahasra Semiconductors
MeitY described the ATMP/OSAT facility of Sahasra Semiconductors at Bhiwadi as India's first SME-led semiconductor facility.
According to a PIB backgrounder (May 2026), what is India's world rank in terms of large dams?
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Correct answer: C — 3rd
India ranks third in the world with 6,628 specified dams.
Which state has the highest number of specified dams in India, as per the PIB backgrounder of May 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Maharashtra
Maharashtra has the highest number of specified dams, followed by Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.
Consider the following statements: 1. Under the Dam Safety Act, 2021, the National Dam Safety Authority is the apex body of the four-tier mechanism. 2. Phase I of the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) was launched in April 2012 with World Bank support. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 2 only
Statement 1 is wrong: the National Committee on Dam Safety is the apex body; the NDSA is the regulatory and implementing arm. Statement 2 is correct.
Which institution's campus at Jinja, Uganda, is described by PIB (May 2026) as India's first overseas public academic campus?
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Correct answer: A — National Forensic Sciences University
PIB describes the NFSU Uganda Campus in Jinja, which enrolled its first batch in October 2025, as India's first overseas public academic campus.
Hindustan Copper Limited, which reported a record profit in FY 2025-26, is which category of CPSE under the Ministry of Mines?
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Correct answer: B — Miniratna
PIB describes Hindustan Copper Limited as a Miniratna CPSE under the Ministry of Mines.
'BIRSA 101', discussed at a workshop in May 2026, is:
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Correct answer: D — India's first indigenous CRISPR-based gene therapy for sickle cell disease
BIRSA 101, named after Bhagwan Birsa Munda, is India's first indigenous CRISPR-based gene therapy for sickle cell disease.
Which CSIR laboratory is associated with BIRSA 101, the CRISPR-based gene therapy for sickle cell disease?
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Correct answer: B — CSIR-IGIB, New Delhi
The workshop on BIRSA 101 was organised with CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) at CSIR-IGIB, New Delhi.
What was India's annual WPI inflation rate (provisional) for April 2026?
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Correct answer: D — 8.30%
WPI inflation was 8.30% in April 2026; 3.88% was March, 9.17% primary articles and 24.71% fuel and power.
Which major group of the WPI recorded the highest annual inflation in April 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Fuel & Power
Fuel & Power inflation was 24.71%, against 9.17% for primary articles, 4.62% for manufactured products and 2.31% for the food index.
Consider the following statements about the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) in India: 1. The current WPI series has 2011-12 as its base year. 2. DPIIT releases the WPI on the 14th of every month with a time lag of two weeks of the reference month. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct, as stated in DPIIT's April 2026 WPI release (base year 2011-12; release on the 14th, or the next working day, with a two-week lag).
SIR Phase III of electoral rolls, ordered by the ECI on 14 May 2026, covers about how many electors?
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Correct answer: B — 36.73 crore
Over 3.94 lakh BLOs will go house to house to 36.73 crore electors in SIR Phase III.
Which of the following is NOT covered in SIR Phase III announced by the ECI in May 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Himachal Pradesh
Phase III covers the whole country except Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, whose schedule will be announced later.
Consider the following statements about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Phase III (2026): 1. The ECI ordered it under Article 324 of the Constitution and Section 21 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. 2. Enumeration begins first, on 30 May 2026, in Odisha, Mizoram, Sikkim and Manipur. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. The ECI order cites Article 324 and Section 21 of the RP Act, 1950, and the house-to-house enumeration starts on 30 May in Odisha, Mizoram, Sikkim and Manipur.
In which year did Central Electronics Limited (CEL) manufacture India's first solar cell, as recalled at the dedication of its 200 MW module line (May 2026)?
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Correct answer: B — 1977
India's first solar cell was manufactured by CEL in 1977, and the country's first solar plant was set up by CEL in 1979.
Which technology did CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories transfer to Central Electronics Limited in May 2026, described as now fully indigenous?
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Correct answer: D — Drishti Transmissometer System
Technology transfer covered the Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) and the new-generation Drishti Transmissometer System, which is now fully indigenous.
When Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called on PM Modi in May 2026, he briefed him on progress since which India–Russia Annual Summit held in December 2025?
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Correct answer: C — 23rd
Lavrov briefed the PM on progress since the leaders' meeting in December 2025 for the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit.
Consider the following statements about Sergei Lavrov's call on PM Modi on 14 May 2026: 1. PM Modi reiterated India's stand in favour of dialogue and diplomacy. 2. The talks were limited to bilateral trade and did not cover Ukraine. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. The two discussed regional and global issues including Ukraine and West Asia, so statement 2 is wrong.
At the ITU Council 2026 in Geneva, India's proposal to host which ITU event was accepted?
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Correct answer: D — ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2030
The ITU Council accepted India's proposal to host the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-2030); it is likely to be approved at PP-2026 in Doha.
Consider the following statements about the ITU Council: 1. It is the governing body of the ITU and comprises 48 elected Member States. 2. India became a member of the ITU Council only in 1992. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. DoT states that India has been a member of the ITU Council since 1952.
According to the Commerce Ministry (May 2026), India–Africa bilateral trade in 2025-26 stood at about:
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Correct answer: A — US$93.69 billion
Bilateral trade reached US$93.69 billion in 2025-26 (exports US$45.42 bn, imports US$48.27 bn); US$3.4 trillion is the value of AfCFTA.
Consider the following statements about India–Africa trade, as stated at the IAFS-IV business curtain raiser (May 2026): 1. In 2025-26, India's imports from Africa were higher than its exports to Africa. 2. India and Africa share the ambition of tripling bilateral trade by 2030. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct: imports were US$48.27 bn against exports of US$45.42 bn. The stated ambition is doubling, not tripling, trade by 2030.
India's chairship of the Common Criteria Development Board (CCDB) for 2026–2028 was confirmed at a CCRA meeting held in April 2026 in which city?
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Correct answer: B — Tokyo
It was confirmed at the 1st Quarter Meeting of the CCRA held from 14 to 16 April 2026 in Tokyo, Japan.
Consider the following statements about India and the Common Criteria Recognition Arrangement (CCRA): 1. India has been a member of the CCRA since September 2013 as a Certificate Authorizing Nation. 2. CERT-In acts as India's official certification body for IT security evaluations under the Common Criteria. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. India joined on 16 September 2013; the official certification body is MeitY's STQC Directorate, not CERT-In.
As per the Commerce Ministry, what was the European Union's rank among markets for Indian seafood exports in 2025-26?
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Correct answer: B — Third
The EU emerged as the third-largest market, with 18.94% of total export value (US$1.593 billion).
Consider the following statements about India's seafood exports to the EU (May 2026): 1. India had been omitted from the EU's Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2598 on third countries allowed to export from September 2026. 2. EU Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/905 concerns the use of antimicrobials in animals whose products are exported to the EU. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. India's omission was in Regulation (EU) 2024/2598, and Regulation (EU) 2023/905 requires exported animals and products to be free of antimicrobials used for growth promotion or reserved for humans.
What is the financial outlay of the Scheme for Promotion of Surface Coal/Lignite Gasification Projects approved by the Cabinet in May 2026?
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Correct answer: B — ₹37,500 crore
The scheme has an outlay of ₹37,500 crore; ₹8,500 crore was the earlier scheme approved in January 2024.
Under the 2026 coal/lignite gasification scheme, the financial incentive for any single project is capped at:
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Correct answer: A — ₹5,000 crore
The cap is ₹5,000 crore per project, ₹9,000 crore per product (except SNG and urea) and ₹12,000 crore per entity group.
Consider the following statements about India's coal gasification push: 1. India has a national target of gasifying 100 million tonnes of coal by 2030. 2. Under the 2026 scheme, the incentive is capped at 20% of the cost of plant and machinery. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. The scheme advances the 100 MT-by-2030 target (building on the National Coal Gasification Mission, 2021) and offers up to 20% of plant and machinery cost.
For kharif marketing season 2026-27, which crop got the highest absolute increase in MSP over the previous year?
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Correct answer: C — Sunflower seed
Sunflower seed got the highest increase (₹622 per quintal), followed by cotton (₹557), nigerseed (₹515) and sesamum (₹500).
Under the kharif MSP 2026-27, the expected margin over cost of production is highest for which crop?
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Correct answer: D — Moong
Moong has the highest expected margin (61%), followed by bajra (56%), maize (56%) and tur/arhar (54%).
Consider the following statements about Minimum Support Prices (MSP): 1. Fixing MSP at least at 1.5 times the all-India weighted average cost of production was announced in the Union Budget 2014-15. 2. The MSP of paddy (common) for marketing season 2026-27 is ₹2,441 per quintal. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 2 only
Only 2 is correct. The 1.5-times-cost principle was announced in the Union Budget 2018-19, as the Cabinet release states.
How much was released on 13 May 2026 as the first instalment of mother sanction for 2026-27 under the CSS for infrastructure of district and subordinate courts?
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Correct answer: C — ₹401.50 crore
Arjun Ram Meghwal released ₹401.50 crore to States/UTs through PFMS as the first instalment for 2026-27.
Consider the following statements about the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Development of Infrastructure Facilities for District and Subordinate Courts: 1. The Department of Justice has been running this effort since 1993-94. 2. Union Territories share its cost with the Centre in a 90:10 ratio. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. The fund-sharing pattern is 60:40 for most states, 90:10 for north-eastern and two Himalayan states, and 100% central for UTs.
The Judicial Infrastructure Advisory Committee constituted by the Chief Justice of India on 12 May 2026 is chaired by:
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Correct answer: B — Justice Aravind Kumar
The committee was constituted under the chairmanship of Justice Aravind Kumar, Judge, Supreme Court of India.
According to Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal (May 2026), India achieved record exports of about how much?
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Correct answer: C — US$863 billion
Goyal said India achieved record exports of US$863 billion and set an aspirational target of US$1 trillion for the current year.
As stated by Piyush Goyal in May 2026, over the last three and a half years India has covered how many developed economies through how many FTAs?
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Correct answer: D — 38 economies through 9 FTAs
India has covered 38 developed and prosperous economies through nine FTAs, four already operational and five expected within 12 months.
Which country's Foreign Minister, Francisco Pérez Mackenna, visited India in May 2026 for talks on an early conclusion of a CEPA?
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Correct answer: D — Chile
Francisco Pérez Mackenna is the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Chile; the talks focused on the India–Chile CEPA.
What was the aggregate net profit of public sector banks in FY 2025-26, as announced in May 2026?
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Correct answer: A — ₹1.98 lakh crore
Aggregate net profit rose 11.1% to a record ₹1.98 lakh crore; ₹3.21 lakh crore was the operating profit and ₹86,971 crore the recoveries.
Consider the following statements about public sector banks as of 31 March 2026: 1. Their gross NPA ratio was 1.93% and net NPA ratio 0.39%. 2. Their aggregate CRAR of 16.6% was above the regulatory requirement of 11.5%. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct, as per the Finance Ministry's FY 2025-26 PSB performance release.
FY 2025-26 marked which consecutive year of aggregate profitability for public sector banks?
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Correct answer: D — Fourth
The record ₹1.98 lakh crore profit marked the fourth consecutive year of aggregate profitability for PSBs.
What was India's CPI-based retail inflation (base 2024=100) for April 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 3.48%
Retail inflation was 3.48% (provisional) in April 2026; 3.40% was March, 4.20% food inflation and 3.16% urban inflation.
Consider the following statements about the CPI release for April 2026: 1. Food inflation (CFPI) was lower than headline CPI inflation. 2. Prices for the CPI are collected by the NSO from 1,407 urban markets and 1,465 villages. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 2 only
Only 2 is correct. Food inflation (4.20%) was higher than headline CPI inflation (3.48%).
What is the size of the Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool launched by the Department of Financial Services in May 2026?
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Correct answer: B — US$1.5 billion
BMIP is a US$1.5 billion pool with a sovereign guarantee of US$1.4 billion (₹12,980 crore).
Which entity is the pool administrator of the Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool?
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Correct answer: D — GIC Re
GIC Re is the pool administrator; policies are issued by domestic member insurers such as New India Assurance.
The Country Strategic Opportunities Programme (COSOP) launched in May 2026 is a strategy between India and which organisation?
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Correct answer: A — International Fund for Agricultural Development
The eight-year COSOP for 2026–2033 was launched by the Government of India with IFAD.
Consider the following statements about the India–IFAD partnership: 1. India's partnership with IFAD spans nearly five decades, with 35 rural development projects implemented in India. 2. The COSOP 2026–2033 has three strategic priorities. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. The COSOP 2026–2033 has two strategic priorities: rural resilience and knowledge systems for scaling.
In the May 2026 MoU with I4C on mule accounts, 'RBIH' stands for:
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Correct answer: C — Reserve Bank Innovation Hub
RBIH is the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub, which signed the MoU with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre.
The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) functions under which ministry?
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Correct answer: B — Ministry of Home Affairs
I4C is part of the Ministry of Home Affairs, and its Suspect Registry data will feed RBIH's AI fraud detection.
What cash prize accompanies each National Florence Nightingale Award?
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Correct answer: C — ₹1,00,000
Each award includes a certificate of merit, a cash prize of ₹1,00,000 and a medal.
The National Florence Nightingale Awards 2026 were conferred on 12 May 2026, which is observed as:
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Correct answer: B — International Nurses Day
The awards were presented on International Nurses Day, 12 May, with the theme 'Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives'.