Current Affairs Quiz

Both statements are correct.
Statement 1 is correct: In a landmark move reflecting deep cultural integration, the Kenyan government officially recognized the Asian/Indian community as its 44th indigenous tribe in 2017, a decision consistently praised in bilateral talks.
Statement 2 is correct: The foundational link for the modern Indian diaspora in East Africa was established in the 1890s when the British Empire brought over 30,000 Indian laborers (mostly from Gujarat and Punjab) to construct the Uganda Railway connecting Mombasa to Lake Victoria.

Statement 1 is incorrect. India Optel Limited (IOL) is not a private company, nor does it specialize in commercial drones. It is a Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU) entirely owned by the Government of India, specializing in electro-optical equipment, weapon sights, and night vision devices.
Statement 2 is correct. IOL is one of the seven new defence corporate entities officially established in 2021 following the historic corporatization and dissolution of the erstwhile Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) to improve efficiency and accountability in defence production.

Both statements are correct.
Statement 1 is correct: Ahilyabai Holkar was the highly capable and just ruler of the Holkar dynasty. After taking control of the Malwa region, she shifted her capital to Maheshwar on the banks of the Narmada River.
Statement 2 is correct: She is renowned for her massive philanthropic and architectural works across India. One of her most celebrated contributions is the rebuilding of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi in 1780, restoring a vital spiritual center for the Hindu faith.

Statement 1 is incorrect. 'Srijan: Voices from the Loom' is a special gathering organised by the Ministry of Textiles, not the Ministry of Women and Child Development, to celebrate the women behind India's handlooms.
Statement 2 is correct. Women form the absolute backbone of the Indian handloom industry. According to the 4th All India Handloom Census, they comprise over 72% of the total handloom weavers and allied workers, making it a crucial sector for rural women's empowerment.

Both statements are correct.
Statement 1 is correct: The Tejas Express running between Lucknow and Delhi is India's first corporate/private train, and its operations, including ticketing, catering, and services, are fully managed by IRCTC.
Statement 2 is correct: As a corporate entity operating the train, IRCTC pays hauling charges to the Indian Railways. These charges compensate the national transporter for the use of its fixed physical infrastructure, such as railway tracks, signaling systems, and stations.

Statement 1 is correct. The MMR vaccine is a highly effective combination vaccine that protects against Measles, Mumps, and Rubella.
Statement 2 is incorrect. Global health organizations, including the WHO, do not recommend spacing out these vaccines into single-disease shots. They strongly advocate for combination vaccines because they reduce the number of clinic visits and ensure children are protected from deadly diseases in a timely manner. Spacing them out increases the risk of infection.

Statement 1 is correct. The Government of India currently permits 100% FDI under the automatic route for both Greenfield and Brownfield hospital projects.
Statement 2 is incorrect. The Parliamentary Standing Committee actually recommended increasing (not reducing) the mandatory reservation of beds for BPL, EWS, and AB-PMJAY beneficiaries from 10% to 20% in private hospitals that receive government sops (such as concessional land).

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) is a fee levied on the merchant (not the end customer) by the acquiring bank and payment service providers for accepting and processing digital payments.
Statement 2 is correct: Under the Zero-MDR mandate introduced by the Government in January 2020, businesses and merchants are not charged MDR on transactions processed via UPI and RuPay debit cards.

Statement 1 is incorrect. The direct import of ethanol for the specific purpose of petroleum blending is strictly banned in India. This policy is designed to protect the domestic agricultural sector and ensure that the financial benefits of the biofuel push go to Indian farmers.
Statement 2 is correct. Scientifically, ethanol is highly hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs moisture from the atmosphere. In older legacy vehicles (pre-April 2023) not engineered for E20, this absorbed water can separate from the fuel, settling at the bottom of the tank and causing severe corrosion. Furthermore, as a solvent, ethanol degrades older rubber and plastic engine components over time.