Asia Current Affairs Quiz — Last 12 months
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Who conferred the Royal Order of the Polar Star, Degree Commander Grand Cross, on PM Narendra Modi on 17 May 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Crown Princess Victoria
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden conferred the award at a special ceremony in Gothenburg.
Which distinction did PM Modi achieve with the Royal Order of the Polar Star in May 2026?
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Correct answer: D — First Asian leader to be conferred the award
PIB states that PM Modi is the first Asian leader to be conferred the award.
According to PIB, in which century was Sweden's Royal Order of the Polar Star instituted?
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Correct answer: B — 18th century
PIB describes it as one of Sweden's oldest honours, instituted in the 18th century.
Where did the Ministry of DoNER team visit on 17 May 2026 to explore blending Eri silk with Kota Doria?
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Correct answer: B — Kaithoon Common Facility Centre, Kota
The team visited the Kaithoon Common Facility Centre in Kota, where Kota Doria is traditionally woven.
The planned MoU for the Eri silk–Kota Doria fusion (May 2026) is expected between NEHHDC and which body?
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Correct answer: D — District Industries Centre, Government of Rajasthan
PIB says the initiative is expected to be formalised through an MoU between NEHHDC and the District Industries Centre (DIC), Government of Rajasthan.
How many railway stations in Karnataka are being redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, according to the Railway Minister (May 2026)?
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Correct answer: C — 61
61 stations in Karnataka are being redeveloped at a cost of ₹2,160 crore, with 9 already completed.
About how many km of new railway lines have been built in Karnataka since 2014, as stated in May 2026?
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Correct answer: B — 1,750 km
The Railway Minister said about 1,750 km of new railway lines have been constructed in Karnataka since 2014.
Which new service between Bengaluru and Mumbai did Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw say would start soon (May 2026)?
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Correct answer: A — Vande Bharat Sleeper
Vaishnaw announced that the Bengaluru–Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper service is expected to start soon.
Where has the National Test House set up a state-of-the-art Shoe Testing Laboratory (announced May 2026)?
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Correct answer: A — Ghaziabad
The lab has been set up at the National Test House, Northern Region, Ghaziabad.
The National Test House (NTH) functions under which department of the Government of India?
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Correct answer: C — Department of Consumer Affairs
PIB states that NTH, Northern Region, Ghaziabad is under the Department of Consumer Affairs.
The original Tagore epigrams whose replicas Sweden gifted to PM Modi in May 2026 were written during Tagore's visits to Sweden in which years?
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Correct answer: A — 1921 and 1926
The originals, recently found in the Swedish National Archives, were created during Tagore's visits to Sweden in 1921 and 1926.
The India–Sweden gift exchange of May 2026 coincided with the centenary of Rabindranath Tagore's:
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Correct answer: C — historic visit to Sweden in 1926
PIB says the exchange coincides with the centenary of Tagore's historic visit to Sweden in 1926.
Where is the Madhur Dairy plant inaugurated by Amit Shah on 17 May 2026 located?
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Correct answer: D — Dashela, Gandhinagar
The new Madhur Dairy plant is at Dashela in Gandhinagar district, Gujarat.
What is the present milk-processing capacity of Madhur Dairy's new Dashela plant (May 2026)?
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Correct answer: A — 2.5 lakh litres per day
The plant can process 2.5 lakh litres of milk per day now, to be expanded to 5 lakh litres per day in future.
In which year did Madhur Dairy begin its journey, as stated by Amit Shah in May 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 1971
Madhur Dairy began in 1971 with milk collection of 6,000 litres and a turnover of ₹7,000.
To what level did India and the Netherlands elevate their relations on 16 May 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Strategic Partnership
PM Modi and PM Rob Jetten decided in The Hague to elevate India–Netherlands relations to a Strategic Partnership.
At which royal palace did King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima host PM Modi on 16 May 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Huis ten Bosch, The Hague
The Joint Statement says the King and Queen hosted PM Modi at the Royal Palace Huis ten Bosch in The Hague.
Consider the following statements about PM Modi's visit to the Netherlands in May 2026: 1. It was PM Modi's first visit to the Netherlands. 2. Under the Strategic Partnership Roadmap, a Foreign Minister-level mechanism will hold annual meetings to review progress. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 2 only
Statement 1 is wrong: it was PM Modi's second visit to the Netherlands. Statement 2 is correct as per the Roadmap.
Operation RAGEPILL, announced by the NCB in May 2026, led to India's first-ever seizure of which drug?
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Correct answer: C — Captagon
Operation RAGEPILL resulted in India's first-ever seizure of Captagon.
Under Operation RAGEPILL, about 196.2 kg of Captagon powder was recovered from a container at which port location?
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Correct answer: B — Mundra, Gujarat
The 196.2 kg of Captagon powder was recovered from a container at a CFS in Mundra, Gujarat, on 14 May 2026.
According to the NCB (May 2026), Captagon mainly contains which substances?
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Correct answer: D — Fenetylline and amphetamine
NCB said Captagon mainly contains fenetylline and amphetamine, psychotropic substances under the NDPS Act.
Which institution restituted the 11th-century Chola Copper Plates to India on 16 May 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Leiden University Library
Leiden University Library returned the Chola Copper Plates in the presence of PM Modi and PM Rob Jetten.
The Chola Copper Plates returned in May 2026 record the gift of Anaimangalam village to a Buddha vihara located in:
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Correct answer: B — Nagapattinam
The charters formalise the gift of Anaimangalam village to the Chulamanivarma-vihara in Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu.
Consider the following statements about the Chola Copper Plates restituted to India in May 2026: 1. The set consists of 21 large plates and 3 small plates. 2. The texts on the plates are written only in Tamil. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is wrong: the plates contain texts in both Tamil and Sanskrit.
Where will the Indo-Dutch Centre of Excellence for Flowers be established, as per the outcomes of PM Modi's visit to the Netherlands (May 2026)?
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Correct answer: A — West Tripura
The list of outcomes includes the establishment of an Indo-Dutch Centre of Excellence for Flowers in West Tripura.
The Indo-Dutch Centre of Excellence on Training in Dairy, agreed in May 2026, will be set up at which institution?
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Correct answer: C — Centre of Excellence for Animal Husbandry (CEAH), Bengaluru
The outcomes list the Indo-Dutch CoE on Training in Dairy at the Centre of Excellence for Animal Husbandry (CEAH), Bengaluru.
Which statement correctly describes India's BRICS Chairship as stated in May 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Fourth time; earlier in 2012, 2016 and 2021
India has assumed the BRICS Chairship for the fourth time, after 2012, 2016 and 2021.
According to the Commerce Secretary (May 2026), intra-BRICS merchandise trade reached what value in 2024?
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Correct answer: C — US$1.17 trillion
Intra-BRICS merchandise trade rose thirteen-fold from US$84 billion in 2003 to US$1.17 trillion in 2024.
The 2nd meeting of the BRICS Contact Group on Trade and Economic Issues (CGETI) in May 2026 was held in which city?
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Correct answer: B — Gandhinagar
The 2nd CGETI meeting was held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat; the first was held virtually in March 2026.
ASML, which signed an agreement with Tata Electronics in May 2026, is a leading supplier of which equipment for chip-making?
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Correct answer: C — High-precision lithography equipment
PIB describes ASML as a Dutch multinational and one of the leading suppliers of high-precision lithography equipment.
The Tata Electronics–ASML agreement of May 2026 supports India's first front-end semiconductor fab at:
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Correct answer: D — Dholera, Gujarat
The agreement supports the semiconductor fab at Dholera, Gujarat – India's first front-end fab.
Which Statehood Day did Sikkim celebrate on 16 May 2026?
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Correct answer: B — 51st
Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan addressed Sikkim's 51st Statehood Day celebrations in Gangtok.
At Sikkim's Statehood Day event in May 2026, the Vice President paid tribute to which person as the first Chief Minister of Sikkim?
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Correct answer: D — Kazi Lhendup Dorjee
The Vice President paid tribute to Kazi Lhendup Dorjee, the first Chief Minister of Sikkim.
The 'Mission Sikkim Organics' initiative highlighted on Sikkim's Statehood Day 2026 is worth how much and is expected to benefit how many farmer families?
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Correct answer: A — ₹360 crore; over 66,000 families
DoNER said the ₹360 crore Mission Sikkim Organics initiative, anchored in MDoNER's ₹85 crore contribution, will benefit over 66,000 farmer families.
PM Narendra Modi congratulated Ali Falih Kadhim al-Zaidi in May 2026 on assuming office as the Prime Minister of which country?
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Correct answer: C — Iraq
PM Modi congratulated Ali Falih Kadhim al-Zaidi on assuming office as Prime Minister of Iraq.
INS Sagardhwani concluded a port call at Port Klang in May 2026. Port Klang is in which country?
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Correct answer: B — Malaysia
INS Sagardhwani departed Port Klang, Malaysia, on 15 May 2026 after engaging with the Royal Malaysian Navy.
What type of vessel is the Indian Navy's INS Sagardhwani?
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Correct answer: C — Oceanographic research vessel
The Ministry of Defence describes INS Sagardhwani as the Indian Navy's oceanographic research vessel.
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.
Where was the foundation stone laid for the AMCA Core Integration & Flight Testing Centre on 15 May 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh
The centre is coming up at Puttaparthi in Sri Satya Sai district, Andhra Pradesh.
The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), whose AMCA Core Integration & Flight Testing Centre was founded in May 2026, is an affiliate organisation of:
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Correct answer: B — Defence Research and Development Organisation
PIB describes ADA as an affiliate organisation of DRDO; the AMCA programme outlay is around ₹15,000 crore.
Which company's Naval Systems Manufacturing Facility, for torpedoes and autonomous underwater vehicles, was founded in Anakapalli district in May 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Bharat Dynamics Limited
The ₹480-crore Naval Systems Manufacturing Facility at T Sirasapalli, Anakapalli is a project of Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).
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.
How much central share assistance under PMAY-G did the Centre announce for Maharashtra for FY 2026-27 (May 2026)?
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Correct answer: D — ₹8,368.50 crore
Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced ₹8,368.50 crore of central share assistance for Maharashtra under PMAY-G for 2026-27.
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), launched on 20 November 2016 at Agra, was formed by restructuring which earlier scheme?
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Correct answer: B — Indira Awaas Yojana
PIB records that the erstwhile rural housing programme, Indira Awaas Yojana, was restructured into PMAY-G, launched by the PM on 20 November 2016 from Agra.
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.
In which city did the Kimberley Process Intersessional Meeting 2026 conclude under India's Chairship?
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Correct answer: D — Mumbai
The KP Intersessional 2026 concluded in Mumbai; the KP Plenary is to be held in New Delhi later in 2026.
What do the '3Cs' in the theme of India's Kimberley Process Chairship (2026) stand for?
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Correct answer: A — Credibility, Compliance and Consumer Confidence
India's KP Chairship theme is the 3Cs – Credibility, Compliance and Consumer Confidence.
Consider the following statements about the Kimberley Process: 1. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme was established under UN General Assembly Resolution 55/56 of 2000 to prevent conflict diamonds from entering legitimate trade. 2. The KP Chair for 2026 is Suchindra Misra of India. 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 PIB: the KPCS was established under UNGA Resolution 55/56 of 2000, and Suchindra Misra is KP Chair 2026.
From which date will only electric L5 three-wheelers be registered in Delhi under CAQM's draft direction of May 2026?
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Correct answer: B — 1 January 2027
Draft Direction No. 100 mandates EV-only L5 three-wheeler registration in Delhi from 1 January 2027 (HVD districts 2028, rest of NCR 2029).
The CAQM issues directions such as those approved at its 28th meeting (May 2026) under Section 12 of which law?
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Correct answer: C — CAQM Act, 2021
The draft directions were approved under Section 12 of the CAQM Act, 2021.
What target does CAQM's Draft Direction No. 99 (May 2026) set for paddy stubble burning in the NCR states in 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Complete elimination
Draft Direction No. 99 sets a target of complete elimination of paddy stubble burning in the NCR states in 2026.
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.
What does SODAR, the technology transferred by CSIR-AMPRI to industry in May 2026, stand for?
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Correct answer: C — Sound Detection and Ranging
SODAR stands for Sound Detection and Ranging; CSIR-AMPRI transferred the technology to Meteoxperts Solutions, Noida.
CSIR-AMPRI, which celebrated its 46th Foundation Day in May 2026, is based in which city?
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Correct answer: D — Bhopal
AMPRI (Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute) is a Bhopal-based constituent laboratory of CSIR.