Q1. Vinod Kumar Shukla, the noted Hindi poet and novelist who recently passed away, was a recipient of which of the following awards?
a) Sahitya Akademi Fellowship
b) Padma Bhushan
c) Jnanpith Award
d) Vyas Samman
Answer: c) Jnanpith Award
Explanation: Vinod Kumar Shukla was conferred the Jnanpith Award in 2024, India’s highest literary honour, becoming the first writer from Chhattisgarh to receive it. The award is administered by Bharatiya Jnanpith and recognises lifetime literary contribution in any Eighth Schedule language.
Q2. Consider the following statements regarding eligibility for the Jnanpith Award:
- Only Indian citizens are eligible.
- Works must be written in languages listed in the Eighth Schedule.
- The award can be given posthumously.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
a) Only One
b) Only Two
c) Al Three
d) None
Answer: b) Only Two
Explanation: The award is not given posthumously; eligibility is restricted to Indian citizens writing in Eighth Schedule languages.
Q3. The concept of “time poverty” highlighted in India’s Time Use Survey (2024) primarily refers to:
a) Lack of leisure time due to long paid working hours
b) Unequal distribution of unpaid care and household work
c) Low availability of skill-training institutions
d) Poor access to digital infrastructure
Answer: b) Unequal distribution of unpaid care and household work
Explanation: Time poverty arises mainly from disproportionate unpaid care and household responsibilities borne by women.
Q4. Recent RBI data shows that India’s exports are increasingly concentrated in a few States. Which of the following States is NOT among the top five exporting States?
a) Maharashtra
b) Gujarat
c) Tamil Nadu
d) West Bengal
Answer: d) West Bengal
Explanation: The top five exporting States are Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh, together accounting for ~70% of exports.
Q5. The Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus) is currently listed under which IUCN Red List category?
a) Endangered
b) Vulnerable
c) Critically Endangered
d) Extinct in the Wild
Answer: c) Critically Endangered
Explanation: The Javan rhinoceros is classified as Critically Endangered (CR) due to extremely low population and single-location confinement.
