Home » Daily Current Affairs Quiz – 19th Sep 2025

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Dear Readers, Daily Current Affairs Questions Quiz for SBI, IBPS, RBI, RRB, SSC Exam 2025 of 19th Sep 2025. Daily GK quiz online for bank & competitive exam. Here we have given the Daily Current Affairs Quiz based on the previous days Daily Current Affairs updates. Candidates preparing for IBPS, SBI, RBI, RRB, SSC Exam 2025 & other competitive exams can make use of these Current Affairs Quiz.

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1) Recently, Canara HSBC Life Insurance received approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to launch its Initial Public Offering (IPO). The company is jointly promoted by Canara Bank, HSBC Insurance (Asia-Pacific) Holdings, and which other bank?

(a) Bank of Baroda

(b) Punjab National Bank

(d) State Bank of India

(e) Union Bank of India

2) As per the report, Kotak Mahindra Bank’s Kotak811 app ranked third globally in banking app downloads in H1 2025. Which two banking apps held the top two positions globally in downloads during H1 2025?

(a) SBI Yono and Paytm

(b) Kotak811 and HDFC Bank

(d) Chase (US) and Revolut (UK)

(e) ICICI iMobile Pay and Axis Mobile

3) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed what penalty amount on PhonePe for non-compliance with Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPI) norms?

(a) ₹10 lakh

(b) ₹15 lakh

(d) ₹21 lakh

(e) ₹30 lakh

4) On 15 September 2025, it was reported that India’s trade deficit narrowed to $26.49 billion in August 2025, compared to $27.35 billion in July. India’s exports to the US, its largest export destination, fell from $8.01 billion in July 2025 to what value in August 2025?

(a) $6.50 billion

(b) $6.70 billion

(d) $7.00 billion

(e) $7.25 billion

5) Which ministry has introduced the National Geothermal Energy Policy, India’s first policy focused on harnessing geothermal energy?

(a) Ministry of Power

(b) Ministry of Science and Technology

(d) Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)

(e) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

6) Where is the world’s tallest full-length statue of Dharmaveer Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj being constructed?

(a) Pune (Shivneri Fort)

(b) Raigad Fort

(d) Kolhapur

(e) Moshi-Borhadewadi, Pimpri-Chinchwad

7) Where was India’s largest and most advanced sports complex, inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, built?

(a) Gandhinagar

(b) Rajkot

(d) Surat

(e) Naranpura, Ahmedabad

8) On the occasion of Vishwakarma Jayanti in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched which women’s health campaign?

(a) Nari Shakti Abhiyan

(b) Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar

(d) Matru Suraksha Mission

(e) Sakhi Swasthya Yojana

9) Which airport’s interim terminal building was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Bihar?

(a) Purnea Airport

(b) Gaya Airport

(d) Darbhanga Airport

(e) Bhagalpur Airport

10) Which state received Rs. 214.542 crore as the 1st installment of XV Finance Commission untied grants for Rural Local Bodies (RLBs) / Panchayati Raj Institutions?

(a) Tamil Nadu

(b) Odisha

(d) Karnataka

(e) Assam

11) Where was the 44th meeting of the Council of Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) held?

(a) Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic

(b) Cholpon Ata, Kyrgyz Republic

(d) Tashkent, Uzbekistan

(e) Astana, Kazakhstan

12) Who has been appointed as the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Procter & Gamble (P&G) Health, effective October 1, 2025?

(a) Lokesh Chandak

(b) Rakesh Kapoor

(d) Shashank Srowthy

(e) Amitabh Chaudhary

13) Who was appointed as the Executive Director (ED) of Punjab National Bank (PNB) by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC)?

(a) Lokesh Chandak

(b) Shashank Srowthy

(d) Rakesh Sharma

(e) T.V. Ravichandran

14) Who has been appointed as the Managing Director (MD) & CEO of Aditya Birla Capital (AB Capital) for a five-year term starting 1 September 2025?

(a) Vishakha Mulye

(b) Shashank Srowthy

(d) Lokesh Chandak

(e) Amitabh Chaudhary

15) Who was reappointed as the Executive Director of UN Women for a second term on 11 September 2025?

(a) Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka

(b) Dr. Sima Sami Bahous

(d) Amina J. Mohammed

(e) Natalia Kanem

16) Which ministry, along with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), launched a new category under the National Energy Conservation Awards (NECA) 2025 for content creators and influencers?

(a) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

(b) Ministry of Electronics and IT

(d) Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

(e) Ministry of Power

17) Which organization did the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with to strengthen India’s startup ecosystem?

(a) Paytm

(b) Ola

(d) CarDekho Group

(e) Infosys

18) How many Rafale fighter jets has the Indian Air Force proposed to acquire under the ₹2 lakh crore ‘Made in India’ plan?

(a) 36

(b) 26

(d) 176

(e) 200

19) Which countries participated in the joint air and naval exercise “Freedom Edge” near Jeju Island in September 2025?

(a) United States, South Korea, and Japan

(b) United States, Japan, and India

(d) United States, South Korea, and Australia

(e) United States, China, and Japan

20) Which mobile app, launched by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), crossed 50 lakh downloads by August 2025?

(a) UMANG

(b) mParivahan

(d) Sanchar Saathi

(e) Aarogya Setu

21) Which advanced robotic system was inaugurated at AIIMS, New Delhi for training at its Skills, E-Learning and Telemedicine (SET) Facility?

(a) ROSA Robot

(b) da Vinci Surgical Robot

(d) Mazor X Stealth Edition

(e) Mako Robotic System

22) What was India’s rank in the Global Innovation Index (GII), published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) 2025?

(a) 48

(b) 38

(d) 26

(e) 22

23) Which Indian city ranks highest among India’s innovation clusters in the Top 100 of Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025?

(a) Delhi

(b) Mumbai

(d) Chennai

(e) Hyderabad

24) Who won the Open section of the 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan?

(a) GM Hans Niemann

(b) Anish Giri

(d) Alireza Firouzja

(e) Vincent Keymer

25) Which Indian player won her second consecutive Women’s Grand Swiss title in 2025 and securing a place in the 2026 Women’s Candidates Tournament with a $40,000 prize?

(a) Kateryna Lagno

(b) Dronavalli Harika

(d) Tania Sachdev

(e) Bhakti Kulkarni

Answers :

1) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

Canara Bank subsidiary Canara HSBC Life Insurance Company has received an observation letter from Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) to launch its Initial Public Offering (IPO) and file its Updated Red Herring Prospectus (UDRHP).

Canara HSBC Life Insurance is a three-way venture promoted by Canara Bank, HSBC Insurance (Asia-Pacific) Holdings (part of the HSBC Group), and Punjab National Bank (PNB).

Detailed Explanation:

Canara HSBC Life Insurance is a private life insurance company, with HSBC Insurance (Asia-Pacific) Holdings Limited as another promoter.

The company was incorporated in 2007 and has grown into a prominent bank-led private player in the Indian life insurance sector.

It ranks second among public sector bank-led life insurers in India based on the number of lives covered in Fiscal 2024.

Canara HSBC Life Insurance is a three-way venture promoted by Canara Bank, HSBC Insurance (Asia-Pacific) Holdings (part of the HSBC Group), and Punjab National Bank (PNB).

2) Answer: C

Short Explanation:

Kotak Mahindra Bank’s Kotak811 app ranked third globally in banking app downloads in H1 2025, with 16 million downloads, surpassing SBI Yono app at the fourth position with 14 million downloads.

Kotak811 recorded a 250% year-on-year growth, the fastest growth rate among global banking apps, while NuBank (Brazil) and Revolut (UK) held the top two positions.

Detailed Explanation:

Kotak811 recorded a 250% year-on-year growth, the fastest growth rate among global banking apps, while NuBank (Brazil) and Revolut (UK) held the top two positions.

This growth came despite RBI restrictions on digital customer onboarding at Kotak Mahindra Bank until February 12, 2025.

Launched in 2017, Kotak811 offers zero-balance savings accounts with optional add-ons like debit cards and cheque books, operating as a digital-first, full-service banking model.

3) Answer: D

Short Explanation:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a penalty of ₹21 lakh on PhonePe, a fintech company, for non-compliance with certain Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPI) norms.

A Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI) allows customers to load funds first and spend from the balance instead of directly using their bank account.

Detailed Explanation:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a penalty of ₹21 lakh on PhonePe, a fintech company, for non-compliance with certain Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPI) norms.

A Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI) allows customers to load funds first and spend from the balance instead of directly using their bank account.

The penalty was based on a statutory inspection of PhonePe’s operations conducted between October 2023 and December 2024.

PhonePe, owned by Walmart, is preparing for an Initial Public Offering (IPO) later in 2025.

4) Answer: C

Short Explanation:

India’s merchandise trade deficit narrowed to $26.49 billion in August 2025, down from $27.35 billion in July 2025, as per data released on 15 September 2025.

Exports to the US (India’s largest export destination, ~20% share) fell from $8.01 billion in July to $6.86 billion in August, marking a $1.15 billion (14%) monthly decline.

Detailed Explanation:

India’s merchandise trade deficit narrowed to $26.49 billion in August 2025, down from $27.35 billion in July 2025, as per data released on 15 September 2025.

Exports fell to $35.1 billion in August from $37.24 billion in July, while imports declined to $61.59 billion in August from $64.59 billion in July.

Deficit was expected to drop further to $25.13 billion, as per a Reuters poll.

The US imposed 25% tariffs on 7 August 2025, later increased to 50% on 27 August 2025, in retaliation for India’s Russian oil imports.

Exports to the US (India’s largest export destination, ~20% share) fell from $8.01 billion in July to $6.86 billion in August, marking a $1.15 billion (14%) monthly decline.

5) Answer: D

Short Explanation:

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has introduced the National Geothermal Energy Policy, India’s first policy focused on harnessing geothermal energy, a renewable source from the Earth’s internal heat.

The initiative supports India’s Net Zero emissions 2070 goals, strengthens energy security, and promotes clean energy innovation.

Detailed Explanation:

The initiative supports India’s Net Zero emissions 2070 goals, strengthens energy security, and promotes clean energy innovation.

Geothermal energy is available 24×7 and can be used for electricity generation, heating, cooling, greenhouse agriculture, and desalination.

The policy establishes MNRE as the central authority, promotes public-private participation, encourages inter-ministerial coordination and global partnerships, and supports technological development, including hybrid systems and repurposing abandoned oil wells.

It also incentivizes indigenous technologies, pilot projects, and academic-industry linkages.

6) Answer: E

Short Explanation:

Maharashtra held its largest-ever Dhol-Tasha ceremony in Pimpri-Chinchwad to honour the under-construction 180-foot Statue of Hindubhushan (Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj).

The monument, located at Moshi-Borhadewadi, will be the world’s tallest full-length statue of Dharmaveer Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj with 140-foot statue + 40-foot pedestal.

Detailed Explanation:

Maharashtra held its largest-ever Dhol-Tasha ceremony in Pimpri-Chinchwad to honour the under-construction 180-foot Statue of Hindubhushan (Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj).

The monument, located at Moshi-Borhadewadi, will be the world’s tallest full-length statue of Dharmaveer Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj with 140-foot statue + 40-foot pedestal.

The statue is part of the Shambhu Srishti memorial complex, which will also include:

Statues of Hambirrao Mohite and 16 Maratha sardars &mavlas

Bronze murals, open-air theatre, and a holographic hall narrating Sambhaji’s life.

The ceremony featured 3,000 dhols, 1,000 tashas, and saffron flags, making it the largest Dhol-Tasha salute in Maharashtra.

Event organised by Hindubhushan Smarak Trust and Dhol-Tasha Federation to pay musical tribute and showcase Maratha cultural pride.

7) Answer: E

Short Explanation:

Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated India’s largest and most advanced sports complex at Naranpura, Ahmedabad.

Built at a cost of ₹825 crore, the complex includes an international aquatic arena, indoor and outdoor sports facilities, athlete training infrastructure, and residential amenities.

Detailed Explanation:

Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated India’s largest and most advanced sports complex at Naranpura, Ahmedabad.

Built at a cost of ₹825 crore, the complex includes an international aquatic arena, indoor and outdoor sports facilities, athlete training infrastructure, and residential amenities.

The facility is designed to global sporting standards and may host major international tournaments like the Commonwealth Games.

Amit Shah stated it is “the world’s most modern sports complex”, aligning with the vision of making India a top sports nation by 2047.

India’s sports budget rose from ₹1,643 crore in 2014 to ₹5,300 crore in 2025, showing strong government investment in sports infrastructure and athlete development.

8) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and inaugurated projects in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh on Vishwakarma Jayanti.

Launched ‘Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar’ campaign for free health screenings of women.

Detailed Explanation:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and inaugurated projects in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh on Vishwakarma Jayanti.

Launched ‘Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar’ campaign for free health screenings of women.

Launched 8th Rashtriya Poshan Maah (National Nutrition Month) and extended Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY); ₹450 crore transferred to 15 lakh women (₹19,000 crore already disbursed to 4.5 crore mothers).

Under Sickle Cell Mission, the one-croreth screening card distributed; 5 crore individuals screened.

Launched Suman Sakhi Chatbot for maternal and child health awareness.

9) Answer: A

Short Explanation:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and inaugurated development projects worth around ₹40,000 crore in Purnea, Bihar.

Projects cover railways, airports, electricity, irrigation, housing, women empowerment, agriculture, and industry.

Detailed Explanation:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and inaugurated development projects worth around ₹40,000 crore in Purnea, Bihar.

Projects cover railways, airports, electricity, irrigation, housing, women empowerment, agriculture, and industry.

Purnea Airport: Interim Terminal Building inaugurated; constructed in less than 5 months. First commercial flight flagged off, connecting Seemanchal to major cities.

Railways:

Inaugurated Araria–Galgalia rail line (₹4,410 crore).

Laid foundation stone for Vikramshila–Kataria rail line (₹2,170 crore).

Flagged off Vande Bharat Express (Jogbani–Danapur), Amrit Bharat Express (Saharsa–Chheharta, Jogbani–Erode), and one passenger train.

Announced doubling of Bhagalpur–Dumka–Rampurhat rail line and approval of Mokama–Munger section of Buxar–Bhagalpur high-speed corridor.

10) Answer: E

Short Explanation:

The Union Government released the 1st installment of XV Finance Commission (XV-FC) untied grants for Rural Local Bodies (RLBs) / Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).

Tamil Nadu received Rs.127.586 crore for FY 2025–26 covering:

2901 Gram Panchayats

74 Block Panchayats

9 District Panchayats

Assam received Rs.214.542 crore for FY 2024–25 covering:

2192 Gram Panchayats

156 Block Panchayats

27 Zilla Parishads

Detailed Explanation:

The Union Government released the 1st installment of XV Finance Commission (XV-FC) untied grants for Rural Local Bodies (RLBs) / Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).

Tamil Nadu received Rs.127.586 crore for FY 2025–26 covering:

2901 Gram Panchayats

74 Block Panchayats

9 District Panchayats

Assam received Rs.214.542 crore for FY 2024–25 covering:

2192 Gram Panchayats

156 Block Panchayats

27 Zilla Parishads

Grants are released in two installments each financial year by the Ministry of Finance, on recommendations of Ministry of Panchayati Raj and Ministry of Jal Shakti (Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation).

Untied Grants: For location-specific needs under 29 subjects of the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution (excluding salaries and establishment costs).

Tied Grants: For basic services like:

Sanitation and maintenance of ODF (Open Defecation Free) status – including household waste, human excreta and fecal sludge management.

Drinking water supply, rainwater harvesting, and water recycling.

11) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

The 44th meeting of the Council of Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) was held at Cholpon Ata, Kyrgyz Republic.

Detailed Explanation:

The 44th meeting of the Council of Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) was held at Cholpon Ata, Kyrgyz Republic.

The meeting was organised under the Chairmanship of Kyrgyz Republic.

The Indian delegation was headed by Deputy NSA T.V. Ravichandran.

The RATS Council condemned the Pahalgam terror attack at its 44th meeting.

SCO-RATS is a permanent body of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

SCO-RATS promotes coordination and interaction between member states in the fight against terrorism, extremism, and separatism.

12) Answer: D

Procter & Gamble (P&G) Health has appointed Shashank Srowthy as the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective October 1, 2025.

He will succeed Lokesh Chandak, who will move to a new role as Senior Director – Finance & Accounting, Feminine Care, P&G Asia, Middle East & Africa.

13) Answer: C

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointment of M. Paramasivam as Executive Director (ED) of Punjab National Bank (PNB), effective from December 1, 2022, for a three-year term.

M. Paramasivam is an agriculture graduate who started his career as an Agricultural Extension Officer at Canara Bank in 1990.

He served Canara Bank for 32 years in various capacities such as Branch Head of VLBs, Regional Head, Circle Head, and Head of Priority Credit Wing at the Head Office.

14) Answer: A

Aditya Birla Capital (AB Capital) has elevated Vishakha Mulye as its Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for a five-year term starting 1 September 2025.

Vishakha Mulye has been leading AB Capital since 2022, driving a digital-first transformation.

She introduced the “One ABC, One P&L” model, integrating products, customer experience, and internal teams.

15) Answer: B

On 11 September 2025, Dr. Sima Sami Bahous was reappointed by UN Secretary-General António Guterres for a second term as Executive Director of UN Women.

Her reappointment aligns with the launch of UN Women’s Strategic Plan 2026–2029, focusing on gender equality and women’s rights.

Dr. Bahous, a Jordanian diplomat, previously advanced gender equality in global policy, improved transparency, and prioritized results-driven programs in humanitarian contexts.

16) Answer: E

The Government of India, through the Ministry of Power and Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), has launched a new category under the National Energy Conservation Awards (NECA) 2025 for content creators and influencers.

The initiative aims to promote energy efficiency and sustainable living, aligning with Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) and Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.

Participants must have a minimum of 10,000 followers or subscribers on any major social media platform.

Creators are required to produce short videos (up to 90 seconds) in Hindi or any Indian language, along with a typed transcript in English or Hindi.

17) Answer: D

Short Explanation:

Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CarDekho Group, an automobile technology and finance solutions platform.

Detailed Explanation:

Objective: To strengthen India’s startup ecosystem across mobility, financial technology (fintech), insurance technology (insurtech), and emerging technology sectors.

Support for Startups:

Strategic mentorship, market access, technology infrastructure, and funding opportunities.

Access to CarDekho Group’s platforms such as CarDekho, InsuranceDekho, Rupyy, BikeDekho, ZigWheels, PowerDrift, Revv, CollegeDekho, Crack-ED, among others.

18) Answer: C

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has proposed the acquisition of 114 Rafale fighter jets under a ₹2 lakh crore ‘Made in India’ plan, which would be among the largest defence procurement deals in Indian history.

The deal supports Atmanirbhar Bharat, with over 60% components manufactured domestically in partnership with Dassault Aviation and Tata Group.

The procurement process involves review by the Ministry of Defence, Defence Procurement Board, and final clearance by the Defence Acquisition Council before tendering and contract negotiations.

India currently operates 36 Rafale jets from a 2016 deal and has ordered 26 Rafale Marine jets for the Indian Navy; approval of this proposal would raise India’s total Rafale fleet to 176 aircraft.

19) Answer: A

On 15 September 2025, the United States, South Korea, and Japan launched the joint air and naval exercise “Freedom Edge” near Jeju Island, South Korea.

The Freedom Edge exercise is a multi-domain drill covering sea, air, and cyberspace operations.

The exercise includes ballistic missile and air-defense training, medical evacuation drills, maritime operations, and cyber coordination.

The exercise will continue until 19 September 2025 and is considered the most advanced trilateral exercise yet by the US Indo-Pacific Command.

North Korea also criticized the overlapping Iron Mace tabletop exercise, which integrates US nuclear assets with South Korea’s conventional capabilities.

20) Answer: D

Sanchar Saathi mobile app has crossed 50 lakh downloads as on August 2025, since its launch on 17 January 2025.

Over 37.28 lakh stolen/lost devices blocked and more than 22.76 lakh devices traced, as per the LIVE dashboard.

The app was introduced by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) as a citizen-centric tool for security and fraud reporting.

Available in Hindi and 21 regional languages, on both Android and iOS platforms.

Complies with the Information Technology Act 2000 (IT Act), governing cybercrime, e-commerce, secure transmission, and data privacy.

21) Answer: B

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi has inaugurated the advanced da Vinci Surgical Robot at its Skills, E-Learning and Telemedicine (SET) Facility.

This is the first installation of the da Vinci system for training at a government medical college in India.

The robotic platform was provided by Intuitive Surgical under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

With this installation, AIIMS Delhi becomes the only institution in India to have two robotic systems dedicated solely to training.

22) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

India ranked 38th among 139 economies in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025, a big leap from 81st in 2015 and 48th in 2020.

The index is published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

India is ranked #1 among lower-middle-income economies and in the Central & Southern Asia region.

Detailed Explanation:

India ranked 38th among 139 economies in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025, a big leap from 81st in 2015 and 48th in 2020.

The index is published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

India is ranked #1 among lower-middle-income economies and in the Central & Southern Asia region.

India is also recognized as a longest-standing overperformer along with Vietnam, performing above expectations for the 15th consecutive year.

India’s innovation strengths:

Knowledge & Technology Outputs – Rank 22

Market Sophistication – Rank 38

Human Capital & Research – Top 40

India’s weaker areas:

Business Sophistication – Rank 64

Infrastructure – Rank 61

Institutions – Rank 58

India’s innovation clusters in Top 100: Bengaluru (21), Delhi (26), Mumbai (46), Chennai (84).

23) Answer: C

Short Explanation:

India ranked 38th among 139 economies in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025, a big leap from 81st in 2015 and 48th in 2020.

The index is published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

India is ranked #1 among lower-middle-income economies and in the Central & Southern Asia region.

India’s innovation clusters in Top 100: Bengaluru (21), Delhi (26), Mumbai (46), Chennai (84).

Detailed Explanation:

India ranked 38th among 139 economies in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025, a big leap from 81st in 2015 and 48th in 2020.

The index is published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

India is ranked #1 among lower-middle-income economies and in the Central & Southern Asia region.

India is also recognized as a longest-standing overperformer along with Vietnam, performing above expectations for the 15th consecutive year.

India’s innovation strengths:

Knowledge & Technology Outputs – Rank 22

Market Sophistication – Rank 38

Human Capital & Research – Top 40

India’s weaker areas:

Business Sophistication – Rank 64

Infrastructure – Rank 61

Institutions – Rank 58

India’s innovation clusters in Top 100: Bengaluru (21), Delhi (26), Mumbai (46), Chennai (84).

24) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

The 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss and Women’s Grand Swiss were held, 2025 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Anish Giri (Netherlands) won the Open section with 8/11, defeating GM Hans Niemann in the final round, remaining undefeated, and claiming the $90,000 prize.

Detailed Explanation:

The 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss and Women’s Grand Swiss were held, 2025 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Anish Giri (Netherlands) won the Open section with 8/11, defeating GM Hans Niemann in the final round, remaining undefeated, and claiming the $90,000 prize.

He qualified for the 2026 Candidates Tournament.

Matthias Bluebaum (Germany) also secured a Candidates spot with 7.5/11, finishing ahead of GM Alireza Firouzja and Vincent Keymer on tiebreaks.

Vaishali Rameshbabu (India) won her second consecutive Women’s Grand Swiss title with 8/11, drawing with GM Tan Zhongyi in the final round, and securing a place in the 2026 Women’s Candidates Tournament with a $40,000 prize.

Kateryna Lagno (Russia) finished second, unbeaten with 5 wins, and also qualified for the Candidates.

25) Answer: C

Short Explanation:

The 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss and Women’s Grand Swiss were held, 2025 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Anish Giri (Netherlands) won the Open section with 8/11, defeating GM Hans Niemann in the final round, remaining undefeated, and claiming the $90,000 prize.

Detailed Explanation:

The 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss and Women’s Grand Swiss were held, 2025 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Anish Giri (Netherlands) won the Open section with 8/11, defeating GM Hans Niemann in the final round, remaining undefeated, and claiming the $90,000 prize.

He qualified for the 2026 Candidates Tournament.

Matthias Bluebaum (Germany) also secured a Candidates spot with 7.5/11, finishing ahead of GM Alireza Firouzja and Vincent Keymer on tiebreaks.

Kateryna Lagno (Russia) finished second, unbeaten with 5 wins, and also qualified for the Candidates.