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Daily Current Affairs
16 & 17 March, 2025
1. Which country recently resumed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations with India after a decade-long hiatus?
A. Australia
B. New Zealand
C. Canada
D. United Kingdom
E. South Africa
Answer: B. New Zealand
Explanation: India and New Zealand officially resumed negotiations for a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in March 2025, following a meeting between Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay.
2. What is the primary objective of India’s recent defense deals with France, including the procurement of Rafale-M fighter jets and Scorpene-class submarines?
A. Enhancing air superiority over neighboring countries
B. Strengthening naval capabilities in the Indian Ocean
C. Modernizing the army’s artillery systems
D. Developing indigenous missile defense systems
E. Expanding cyber warfare capabilities
Answer: B. Strengthening naval capabilities in the Indian Ocean
Explanation: The defense deals with France, including the procurement of Rafale-M fighter jets and Scorpene-class submarines, aim to bolster India’s naval strength in the Indian Ocean region.
3. Which former president was recently arrested following an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant related to the war on drugs?
A. Nicolas Maduro
B. Rodrigo Duterte
C. Omar al-Bashir
D. Jacob Zuma
E. Robert Mugabe
Answer: B. Rodrigo Duterte
Explanation: Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested following an ICC warrant concerning alleged crimes against humanity during his administration’s war on drugs.
4. Baidu’s Ernie X1 AI is designed to compete with which global AI leader’s model?
A. Google’s Bard
B. Microsoft’s Cortana
C. OpenAI’s GPT-4
D. Amazon’s Alexa
E. IBM’s Watson
Answer: C. OpenAI’s GPT-4
Explanation: Baidu’s Ernie X1 AI is positioned to compete with OpenAI’s GPT-4 in the global AI landscape.
5. Which Indian national park was recently declared the country’s 58th tiger reserve?
A. Sundarbans National Park
B. Madhav National Park
C. Bandipur National Park
D. Kanha National Park
E. Periyar National Park
Answer: B. Madhav National Park
Explanation: Madhav National Park in Madhya Pradesh was recently declared India’s 58th tiger reserve, enhancing conservation efforts for the species.
6. Which disease, caused by the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei, has been identified as an emerging health concern in India?
A. Leptospirosis
B. Melioidosis
C. Brucellosis
D. Q fever
E. Tularemia
Answer: B. Melioidosis
Explanation: Melioidosis, caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, has been identified as an emerging health concern in India, particularly in regions like Odisha.
7. Researchers from which Indian institute discovered that the HIV/AIDS drug Efavirenz could be effective in treating Chikungunya?
A. IIT Bombay
B. IIT Delhi
C. IIT Roorkee
D. IIT Madras
E. IIT Kharagpur
Answer: C. IIT Roorkee
Explanation: Researchers from IIT Roorkee found that the HIV/AIDS drug Efavirenz shows potential in treating Chikungunya infections.
8. What recent trend has been observed in India’s Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) program?
A. Decreased participation due to urban migration
B. Increased demand indicating rural economic distress
C. Stable participation rates over the years
D. Shift towards urban employment schemes
E. Reduction in allocated budget
Answer: B. Increased demand indicating rural economic distress
Explanation: The rising demand for MGNREGA work suggests underlying rural economic challenges and distress.
9. Which factor has contributed to mutual funds outpacing bank deposits in India?
A. Higher interest rates offered by banks
B. Increased taxation on mutual fund returns
C. Product innovation and customization in mutual funds
D. Limited digital access to mutual fund platforms
E. Stricter regulations on equity markets
Answer: C. Product innovation and customization in mutual funds
Explanation: Mutual funds have grown in popularity due to product innovations, better customization for investors, and improved accessibility through digital platforms.
10. Which key initiative has been proposed to improve India’s digital debt collection process in microfinance?
A. Mandatory in-person debt recovery visits
B. AI-driven risk scoring and automated reminders
C. Increasing loan interest rates for better collection
D. Introduction of stricter defaulter penalties
E. Expansion of physical collection offices across rural India
Answer: B. AI-driven risk scoring and automated reminders
Explanation: Digital debt collection in microfinance is being enhanced through AI-driven risk scoring, automated reminders, and mobile-based collections to improve efficiency and recovery rates.
