1. Which Indian city has been recognised as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in 2025?
A) Hyderabad
B) Lucknow
C) Kolkata
D) Jaipur
Answer: B) Lucknow
Explanation: Lucknow was officially recognised as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy at the 43rd UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, for its rich culinary heritage rooted in Awadhi cuisine and Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb.
2. Which five Indian states celebrate their State Formation Day on November 1 every year?
A) Karnataka, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh
B) Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Assam, Bihar, Rajasthan
C) Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, Punjab, Sikkim
D) Goa, Tripura, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland
Answer: A) Karnataka, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh
Explanation: These five states were formed on or recognized as separate states on November 1, marking their establishment and administrative progress.
3. Who launched the household enumeration phase of the National Marine Fisheries Census (MFC) 2025?
A) Parshottam Rupala
B) Rajnath Singh
C) George Kurian
D) Nirmala Sitharaman
Answer: C) George Kurian
Explanation: Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, George Kurian , launched the enumeration phase at CMFRI, Kochi .
4. What is the duration of the ‘Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh Pakhwada’ observed by EMRSs under NESTS?
A) 1–10 November 2025
B) 1–15 November 2025
C) 5–20 November 2025
D) 10–25 November 2025
Answer: B) 1–15 November 2025
Explanation: The Eklavya Model Residential Schools are observing this two-week celebration to honour tribal pride and heritage.
5. Which ministry achieved three Guinness World Records under the ‘Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan’?
A) Ministry of Women and Child Development
B) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
C) Ministry of Rural Development
D) Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
Answer: B) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Explanation: The MoHFW achieved three Guinness World Records for its success in promoting preventive and digital health initiatives for women.
6. Who assumed charge as the new Financial Advisor (Defence Services) [FADS]?
A) Raj Kumar Arora
B) Vishvajit Sahay
C) Dr. Deepak Mittal
D) Vivek Menon
Answer: A) Raj Kumar Arora
Explanation: Raj Kumar Arora, a 1990-batch IDAS officer, took over as Financial Advisor (Defence Services) on November 1, 2025.
7. Where will Airbus and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) establish India’s first private helicopter manufacturing line?
A) Bengaluru, Karnataka
B) Vemagal, Karnataka
C) Hyderabad, Telangana
D) Pune, Maharashtra
Answer: B) Vemagal, Karnataka
Explanation: The Final Assembly Line (FAL) for Airbus’s H125 helicopter will be set up in Vemagal, Kolar district , Karnataka.
8. Which company unveiled India’s first indigenously developed electric military vehicle?
A) Mahindra Defence
B) Ashok Leyland
C) Pravaig Dynamics
D) Tata Motors
Answer: C) Pravaig Dynamics
Explanation: Bengaluru-based Pravaig Dynamics introduced the ‘Pravaig VEER EV’ , advancing India’s defence self-reliance in electric mobility.
9. Where did India and the U.S. sign the Framework for the US–India Major Defence Partnership 2025?
A) New Delhi
B) Washington D.C.
C) Kuala Lumpur
D) Jakarta
Answer: C) Kuala Lumpur
Explanation: The framework was signed in Kuala Lumpur during the 12th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) .
10. India’s GST collections in October 2025 amounted to:
A) Rs1.76 lakh crore
B) Rs1.86 lakh crore
C) Rs1.96 lakh crore
D) Rs2.06 lakh crore
Answer: C) Rs1.96 lakh crore
Explanation: India’s GST collections stood at Rs1.96 lakh crore in October 2025, showing a 4.6% year-on-year rise, though it was the slowest growth in 52 months.
11. Which two companies announced a strategic partnership to strengthen India’s AI ecosystem?
A) Infosys and Microsoft
B) TCS and Amazon
C) Reliance Industries and Google
D) Wipro and Meta
Answer: C) Reliance Industries and Google
Explanation: The collaboration aims to make AI accessible in Indian languages and strengthen national AI infrastructure.
12. The FIDE Chess World Cup Trophy was renamed in honour of which Indian chess legend?
A) R. Praggnanandhaa
B) Viswanathan Anand
C) Pentala Harikrishna
D) D. Gukesh
Answer: B) Viswanathan Anand
Explanation: The FIDE Chess World Cup Trophy has been renamed the “Viswanathan Anand Cup” to honour India’s first Grandmaster and five-time World Champion.
13. Who became India’s 90th Chess Grandmaster in 2025?
A) Nihal Sarin
B) R. Praggnanandhaa
C) Ilamparthi A.R.
D) Arjun Erigaisi
Answer: C) Ilamparthi A.R.
Explanation: Ilamparthi A.R. , a 16-year-old from Chennai, earned his final GM norm at the Bijeljina Open, Bosnia and Herzegovina , becoming India’s 90th Grandmaster.
14. Who was elected as the new Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC)?
A) Ramesh K. Singh
B) Vivek Menon
C) S.P. Yadav
D) Praveen Pardeshi
Answer: B) Vivek Menon
Explanation: Vivek Menon , founder of the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) , was elected Chair of the IUCN SSC , marking a proud moment for Indian conservation leadership.
15. Which organisation signed a pact with IBM to establish an AI Lab at its headquarters?
A) CBSE
B) AICTE
C) NITI Aayog
D) NCERT