Asia Current Affairs Quiz — All time
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Who was appointed as the next Chief of Defence Staff on 9 May 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Lt Gen N. S. Raja Subramani (Retd)
Lt Gen N. S. Raja Subramani (Retd) was appointed CDS, succeeding Gen Anil Chauhan, whose tenure ends on 30 May 2026.
At the time of his appointment as the next Chief of the Naval Staff in May 2026, Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan was heading which command?
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Correct answer: B — Western Naval Command
Vice Adm Krishna Swaminathan has been Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command since 31 July 2025.
Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, named the next Navy Chief in May 2026, is a specialist in which field?
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Correct answer: D — Communication and Electronic Warfare
Commissioned on 1 July 1987, he is a Communication and Electronic Warfare specialist.
Consider the following statements about the Chief of Defence Staff appointed in May 2026: 1. The Chief of Defence Staff also functions as Secretary, Department of Military Affairs. 2. Lt Gen N. S. Raja Subramani was commissioned into the 8 Garhwal Rifles. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. The CDS also functions as Secretary, DMA, and Subramani was commissioned into 8 Garhwal Rifles on 14 December 1985.
What run-time did DRDO achieve in the long-duration test of its actively cooled full-scale scramjet combustor on 9 May 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Over 1,200 seconds
A run-time of over 1,200 seconds was achieved, building on the over-700-second test of January 2026.
The scramjet combustor test of May 2026 was conducted by which DRDO laboratory, and where?
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Correct answer: C — DRDL, at the SCPT facility in Hyderabad
The Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) conducted the test at the Scramjet Connect Pipe Test (SCPT) facility in Hyderabad.
Consider the following statements about DRDO's scramjet combustor test of May 2026: 1. It built upon an earlier test of over 700 seconds conducted in January 2026. 2. The engine used cryogenic liquid hydrogen as fuel. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. The engine used an indigenously developed liquid hydrocarbon endothermic fuel, not cryogenic liquid hydrogen.
Who was sworn in as the first BJP Chief Minister of West Bengal on 9 May 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Suvendu Adhikari
Suvendu Adhikari took oath as Chief Minister; Dilip Ghosh, Agnimitra Paul and Nisith Pramanik were sworn in as ministers.
How many seats did the BJP win in the 294-member West Bengal Assembly in the 2026 election?
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Correct answer: D — 207
The BJP won 207 of 294 seats, while the Trinamool Congress was reduced to 80.
Where was the swearing-in of West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari held on 9 May 2026, and who administered the oath?
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Correct answer: A — Brigade Parade Ground, Kolkata; Governor R. N. Ravi
Governor R. N. Ravi administered the oath at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata, as the Governor does for State ministers under Article 164(3).
Consider the following statements about Article 164 of the Constitution of India: 1. The total number of Ministers, including the Chief Minister, in a State shall not exceed 15% of the total number of members of the Legislative Assembly, and shall not be less than twelve. 2. The Council of Ministers of a State is collectively responsible to the Governor. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct (Article 164(1A), added by the 91st Amendment, 2003). Under Article 164(2) the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Legislative Assembly, not the Governor.
In May 2026, Baksa district of Assam made its first-ever export of 20 MT of ODOP honey to which country?
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Correct answer: A — United States of America
The 20 MT consignment of Baksa's ODOP honey was exported to the USA on 9 May 2026.
Which body facilitated the first export of honey from Baksa, Assam, in May 2026?
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Correct answer: C — APEDA
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) facilitated the export; MPEDA handles marine products.
What is the annual premium under the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) for ₹2 lakh accident cover?
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Correct answer: C — ₹20
PMSBY offers ₹2 lakh accident cover for ₹20 a year; ₹436 is the PMJJBY premium.
What is the entry age range for subscribers under the Atal Pension Yojana?
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Correct answer: B — 18–40 years
APY is open to people aged 18–40 who are not income-tax payers; 18–50 is PMJJBY and 18–70 is PMSBY.
Consider the following statements about the Jan Suraksha schemes: 1. PMJJBY provides life cover of ₹2 lakh to people aged 18–50 years. 2. PMJJBY, PMSBY and APY were launched in 2016. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. The three schemes were launched on 9 May 2015 and completed 11 years on 9 May 2026.
ICGS Achal, commissioned into the Indian Coast Guard on 9 May 2026, belongs to which class of vessels?
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Correct answer: B — Adamya-class Fast Patrol Vessel
ICGS Achal is the latest vessel in the new-generation Adamya-class Fast Patrol Vessel series.
Which shipyard designed and built ICGS Achal, commissioned in May 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Goa Shipyard Limited
ICGS Achal was designed and built indigenously by Goa Shipyard Limited, with more than 50% indigenous components.
Which district panchayat was named Best District Panchayat under the National Panchayat Awards 2025?
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Correct answer: D — Sepahijala (Tripura)
Sepahijala in Tripura won the Best District Panchayat award with ₹5 crore; Ganjam and Coimbatore followed, and Harippad was the Best Block.
How many panchayats were selected for the National Panchayat Awards 2025 announced in May 2026?
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Correct answer: B — 42
42 panchayats from 17 States/UTs were selected; 34 of them were Gram Panchayats under the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar.
Consider the following statements about the National Panchayat Awards 2025: 1. Under the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar, Gram Panchayats were awarded across nine themes of Localisation of Sustainable Development Goals. 2. Karnataka won the highest number of awards. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. 34 Gram Panchayats won across the nine LSDG themes, and Karnataka led with six awards, ahead of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha with five each.
Pochishe Boishakh, observed on 9 May 2026, marks the birth anniversary of whom as per the Bengali calendar?
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Correct answer: D — Rabindranath Tagore
Pochishe Boishakh marks Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore's birth anniversary as per the Bengali calendar; the PM paid tribute on the day.
At the NCM seminar on Parsis in Mumbai in May 2026, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju spoke of the Government's efforts to rejuvenate which language linked to the Parsi community?
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Correct answer: A — Avestan
Rijiju elaborated on efforts to rejuvenate the Avestan language and to address the declining Parsi population.
The Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF), whose 19th edition is scheduled for 15–21 June 2026, is dedicated to which kinds of films?
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Correct answer: C — Documentary, short fiction and animation films
MIFF, established in 1990, is South Asia's oldest festival for documentary, short fiction and animation films.
The 'Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar' 2026 coastal cleanup campaign, to be held from 12 to 19 September, culminates on which day?
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Correct answer: B — International Coastal Cleanup Day
The week-long campaign from 12 to 19 September 2026 culminates on International Coastal Cleanup Day.
From where was the Advanced Agni missile with MIRV system flight-tested on 8 May 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha
The flight-trial was conducted from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha.
In the context of the Agni missile test of May 2026, what does MIRV stand for?
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Correct answer: A — Multiple Independently Targeted Re-Entry Vehicle
MIRV stands for Multiple Independently Targeted Re-Entry Vehicle, which lets a single missile hit several targets.
In the Advanced Agni MIRV test of 8 May 2026, the multiple payloads were aimed at targets spread over which area?
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Correct answer: D — A large geographical area in the Indian Ocean Region
The payloads were targeted at different targets spatially distributed over a large geographical area in the Indian Ocean Region.
Consider the following statements: 1. Mission Divyastra, conducted on 11 March 2024, was the first flight test of the Agni-5 missile with MIRV technology. 2. The Advanced Agni MIRV test of May 2026 was conducted from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. Both Mission Divyastra and the May 2026 test were conducted from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha, not Chandipur.
The Fleet Support Ships for the Indian Navy, whose fifth and last unit's steel cutting took place in May 2026, are being built by which shipyard?
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Correct answer: D — Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Visakhapatnam
All five Fleet Support Ships are being built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Visakhapatnam, under a contract signed in August 2023.
What is the displacement of the Fleet Support Ships being built for the Indian Navy?
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Correct answer: B — More than 40,000 tonnes
The Fleet Support Ships will have a displacement of more than 40,000 tonnes.
Consider the following statements about the Indian Navy's Fleet Support Ships (FSS) project: 1. The contract for five FSS was signed in August 2023, with deliveries starting in mid-2027. 2. The primary role of the FSS is Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. The primary role is replenishing fleet ships at sea with fuel, water, ammunition and stores; HADR and NEO are secondary roles.
Where was the second India Aircraft Leasing and Financing Summit (IALFS 2.0) held on 8 May 2026?
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Correct answer: B — GIFT City, Gandhinagar
IALFS 2.0 was held at GIFT City, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, organised by MoCA with IFSCA and FICCI.
The Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects (PIAO) Act, 2025, cited at IALFS 2.0, aligns India's legal framework with which international convention?
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Correct answer: C — Cape Town Convention
The PIAO Act, 2025 aligns India's legal framework with the Cape Town Convention on interests in aircraft objects.
What is the outlay of the Credit Line Guarantee Scheme for airlines approved by the Union Cabinet, as mentioned at IALFS 2.0 in May 2026?
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Correct answer: D — ₹5,000 crore
Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said the Cabinet approved a Credit Line Guarantee Scheme with an outlay of ₹5,000 crore to ease airlines' liquidity pressures.
Bright Rimmed Cloud 44 (BRC 44), studied by ARIES Nainital scientists in a study reported in May 2026, lies within which star-forming complex?
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Correct answer: A — Cepheus OB2
BRC 44 lies about 900 parsecs from Earth within the Cepheus OB2 star-forming complex.
Which Indian telescope was used by ARIES scientists in the BRC 44 star-formation study reported in May 2026?
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Correct answer: B — 3.6-m Devasthal Optical Telescope
The team used the 3.6-m Devasthal Optical Telescope and the Devasthal Fast Optical Telescope, along with Spitzer data.
For how many Assembly constituencies did the ECI publish Index Cards and Statistical Reports after the 2026 Assembly elections and bye-elections?
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Correct answer: B — 830
Index Cards and Statistical Reports were published for all 830 Assembly constituencies that went to polls.
Consider the following statements about the ECI's publication of election data in May 2026: 1. It was the first time that Statistical Reports were published within 72 hours of the declaration of poll results. 2. A re-poll was scheduled for the Falta Assembly constituency of Tamil Nadu. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. The re-poll was scheduled for 144-Falta Assembly constituency of West Bengal on 21 May 2026.
Which Indian body hosted the ISO TC 20/SC 14 subcommittee meetings in New Delhi, announced in May 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Bureau of Indian Standards
The Bureau of Indian Standards, India's National Standards Body, organised the meetings; ISRO experts and IN-SPACe's chairman took part.
The ISO subcommittee TC 20/SC 14, whose meetings India hosted for the first time in 2026, deals with which subject?
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Correct answer: C — Space Systems and Operations
ISO/TC 20/SC 14 is the 'Space Systems and Operations' subcommittee, setting standards for the whole lifecycle of space systems.
Under DILRMP 3.0, reviewed by the Rural Development Minister in May 2026, what does ULPIN stand for?
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Correct answer: A — Unique Land Parcel Identification Number
ULPIN is the Unique Land Parcel Identification Number assigned after georeferencing land parcels under DILRMP 3.0.
The Ministry of Cooperation held its second Regional Conference on Cooperative Reforms in Aizawl on 8 May 2026. Where was the first conference in this series held?
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Correct answer: B — Jaipur
The first regional conference under this initiative was held in Jaipur; Aizawl hosted the second, the first ever in Mizoram.
Under the Department of Posts' Jan Sewa Connect initiative, the Proof of Concept for future-ready post offices is being implemented across how many post offices?
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Correct answer: C — 40 post offices in 17 states
The Proof of Concept is being implemented across 40 post offices in 17 states; Andheri RS was the first in Maharashtra and second in India to be inaugurated.
In partnership with which institution was the Andheri RS Post Office in Mumbai renovated under Jan Sewa Connect?
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Correct answer: D — School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi
The renovation was undertaken in partnership with the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi.
Under which BRICS framework is India advancing MSME cooperation during its 2026 Chairship?
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Correct answer: B — BRICS Partnership on the New Industrial Revolution (PartNIR)
India is advancing MSME cooperation under the BRICS Partnership on the New Industrial Revolution (PartNIR).
What was the focus of the first BRICS SME Working Group meeting held as a webinar on 24 April 2026 under India's Chairship?
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Correct answer: C — Access to Finance for MSMEs
The first SME Working Group meeting focused on 'Access to Finance for MSMEs'.
What is TARA, whose maiden flight-trial DRDO and the IAF conducted in May 2026?
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Correct answer: A — India's first indigenous glide weapon kit that converts unguided warheads into precision-guided weapons
TARA (Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation) is a modular range-extension kit, India's first indigenous glide weapon system to convert unguided warheads into precision-guided weapons.
Which DRDO laboratory designed and developed the TARA glide weapon kit?
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Correct answer: C — Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad
TARA was designed and developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, along with other DRDO laboratories.
Along with DRDO, which service conducted the maiden flight-trial of the TARA weapon on 7 May 2026, and where?
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Correct answer: B — Indian Air Force, off the coast of Odisha
DRDO and the Indian Air Force conducted the maiden flight-trial off the coast of Odisha.
Operation Sindoor, whose first anniversary was marked on 7 May 2026, was launched on which date?
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Correct answer: B — 7 May 2025
Operation Sindoor was launched on 7 May 2025; 22 April 2025 was the date of the Pahalgam terror attack.
Consider the following statements about Operation Sindoor: 1. Nine terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir were targeted. 2. Pakistani military facilities were among the targets struck on the first day. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. The Government said nine sites were targeted and that no Pakistani military facilities were targeted.
Under the IndiaAI–ICMR MoU of May 2026, datasets and AI models developed under which ICMR framework will be shared on AIKosh?
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Correct answer: C — MIDAS (Medical Information Data for AI Solutions)
ICMR will contribute datasets, AI models and toolkits developed under its MIDAS framework to the AIKosh platform.
What is AIKosh, to which ICMR will contribute health datasets under its May 2026 MoU with IndiaAI?
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Correct answer: B — IndiaAI's dataset platform
AIKosh is IndiaAI's dataset platform, which will give researchers, startups and innovators wider access to biomedical datasets.
The nationwide Annual Health Check-Up Initiative launched under the Labour Codes in May 2026 covers workers of what age?
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Correct answer: A — 40 years and above
The free annual health check-ups are for all workers aged 40 and above.
According to the Labour Minister in May 2026, social security coverage in India has risen from 19% a decade ago to about what share today?
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Correct answer: D — 64%
Coverage rose from 19% (about 30 crore people) to 64% (about 94 crore beneficiaries).
What is the new base year of India's National Accounts that States and UTs must adopt for GSDP, as per MoSPI's guideline of May 2026?
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Correct answer: A — 2022-23
MoSPI has updated the base year of the National Accounts to 2022-23, and States/UTs must adopt it for GSDP.
Who chaired the ACNAS Sub-Committee on Regional Accounts that prepared the uniform GSVA guideline released in May 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Prof. Ravindra H. Dholakia
The Sub-Committee on Regional Accounts was chaired by Prof. Ravindra H. Dholakia, former professor at IIM Ahmedabad.
How many auctioned mineral blocks had been operationalised since the auction regime began, as announced by the Ministry of Mines in May 2026?
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Correct answer: B — 101
101 auctioned mineral blocks have been operationalised; 212 is the number auctioned in FY 2025–26 alone.
Which state leads in the number of operationalised auctioned mineral blocks, as per the Ministry of Mines in May 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Odisha
Odisha leads with 34 operationalised blocks, followed by Karnataka (18) and Gujarat (11).
Consider the following statements about India's mineral block auctions: 1. The auction regime for mineral blocks was introduced in 2015. 2. FY 2025–26 recorded the highest-ever number of mineral blocks auctioned in a single financial year, at 212. 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 Ministry of Mines: the auction regime began in 2015, and 212 blocks were auctioned in FY 2025–26, a record.
Where was the 2nd BRICS Employment Working Group meeting under India's 2026 Chairship held?
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Correct answer: D — Thiruvananthapuram
The second BRICS Employment Working Group meeting concluded in Thiruvananthapuram on 7 May 2026.
What is the theme of India's BRICS Chairship of 2026, which anchored the Employment Working Group meeting?
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Correct answer: B — Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability
India's 2026 BRICS Chairship theme is 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability'.
Which pest prompted the formation of an expert task force for litchi crops in Bihar in May 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Litchi stink bug
The task force was set up to study damage to litchi crops caused by the litchi stink bug.
Who chairs the expert task force on the litchi stink bug set up in May 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Director, ICAR-National Research Centre on Litchi, Muzaffarpur
The Director of the National Research Centre on Litchi, Muzaffarpur, was appointed chairperson; the issue was raised at CISH, Lucknow.
By about how much has women's participation in India's maritime sector increased since 2020, as stated at the 10th Indian Ocean Dialogue in May 2026?
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Correct answer: B — 340%
Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said women's participation in the maritime sector has risen by about 340% since 2020.