Russian President Vladimir Putin, on June 7, signed a law that formalizes his country’s exit from the Open Skies Arms Control Treaty Signed on March 24 1992, the pact allows for unarmed surveillance over the territories of its 34 member states. Moscow has become the second country to exit the pact following a Donald Trump-led US’ exit from the treaty. In response, President Vladimir Putin signed a law formalizing Russia's withdrawal from the pact earlier in June. According to the North Atlantic Council, Russia has for many years refused to fully comply with its obligations under the Treaty on Open Skies.

The correct answer is Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Key Points: Vallabhbhai Patel served as the first Home Minister of independent India - He assumed charge of the **States Department in July 1947. * Patel led the crucial mission of **integrating 562 princely states** into the Indian Union. - By August 15, 1947 all states except Hyderabad, Junagarh, and Kashmir** had acceded to India.

Correct Answer: Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) Key Points: - The Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) is the minimum percentage of a commercial bank's net demand and time liabilities (NDTL)** that must be maintained in the form of liquid cash, gold, or other approved securities. Unlike the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR),SLR reserves are maintained by the banks themselves, not with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). - The **SLR is determined by the RBI** as part of its monetary policy tools. - Alongside CRR, SLR is used to control credit growth, manage liquidity, and curb inflation** in the economy. - The requirement for maintaining SLR is laid down in Section 24(2A) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

Answer: The correct answer is 400 m Key Points: - Kamaljeet Sandhu became the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the Asian Games, achieving this feat in 1970 at the Bangkok Asian Games. - She won the gold in the 400-meter race, completing the distance in 57.3 seconds. - This marked the first individual gold medal by an Indian woman athlete at the Asian Games. - Her victory was a landmark moment for women in Indian sports, breaking barriers and inspiring future generations. - In recognition of her achievement, she was honored with the Padma Shri Award in 1971.

Answer: The correct answer is Rajasthan. Key Points: - Pichola Lake is one of the most beautiful and scenic lakes in Rajasthan, India, located in the heart of Udaipur city. - It is the oldest and one of the largest lakes in Udaipur. - The lake was constructed in 1362 by Pichhu Banjara during the reign of Maharana Lakha. - Lake Pichola spans approximately 3 miles in length, 2 miles in width, and has an average depth of 30 feet. - The lake is surrounded by majestic palaces, ancient temples, bathing ghats, and hills on all sides, enhancing its charm. - The Mohan Mandir, built by Jagat Singh, is located in the northeast corner of the lake.

Answer: b) The correct answer is Madeleine Slade. Key Points: Madeleine Slade, better known as Mirabehn, was a British-born follower of Mahatma Gandhi who played an active role in India's freedom struggle. She was born in 1892 and became deeply influenced by Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence. Mirabehn witnessed and participated in several landmark events: The Simon Commission protests in 1927. The Purna Swaraj declaration in 1929. The Dandi March and the Civil Disobedience Movement (1930–31). The Gandhi-Irwin Pact in 1931. She accompanied Gandhi to the Round Table Conference in London in late 1931. In 1942, she helped mobilize non-violent resistance in Orissa against the potential Japanese invasion and was imprisoned alongside Gandhi at the Aga Khan Palace in Pune, where she witnessed the deaths of Mahadev Desai and Kasturba Gandhi. Mirabehn was also a witness to pivotal moments such as the Simla Conference, Cabinet Mission, Interim Government, Constituent Assembly, Partition of India, and Gandhi’s assassination. She was arrested multiple times, including during the Civil Disobedience Movement (1932–33).

Answer: b) The correct answer is Troposphere. Key Points: The troposphere is the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere. It is characterized by well-mixed air and a decrease in temperature with increasing altitude. Heating in the troposphere occurs from the ground upward—the Earth's surface absorbs solar energy and warms up faster than the air above it. This warming of the ground causes the air near the surface to heat and rise, creating weather patterns and turbulence typical of this layer.

The correct answer is 9. Key Points: As part of the Union Budget 2021-22, the Indian government announced plans to establish nine biosafety level-3 (BSL-3) laboratories under the Pradhan Mantri Aatmanirbhar Swasth Bharat Yojana. In November 2020, the Government of India allocated a Rs. 900 crore stimulus package for Mission COVID Suraksha, aimed at supporting the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) in the research and development of Indian COVID-19 vaccines. The biotechnology sector in India is experiencing robust growth and has demonstrated remarkable innovation and resilience in the face of challenges.

Answer: The correct answer is Addison's disease. Key Points: Addison's disease results from the under-secretion (hyposecretion) of corticoids, which are essential steroid hormones. Corticoids are produced by the adrenal cortex and include: Glucocorticoids (such as cortisol) Mineralocorticoids (such as aldosterone) Sex corticoids (such as androgens) Damage to the adrenal glands can disrupt hormone production, leading to either excessive or insufficient secretion, with Addison’s disease arising from insufficient hormone levels.

Answer: a) The correct answer is Western Ghats. Key Points: The Cardamom Hills, also known as Yelamala, are part of the southern ranges of the Western Ghats. They are situated in southwest Tamil Nadu and southeast Kerala. The hills are named after the cardamom spice, which is extensively cultivated in the region. Other important crops grown in these hills include coffee and pepper.

Answer: d) The correct answer is the Maldives. Key Points: On 7 June 2021, Abdulla Shahid, the Foreign Minister of the Maldives, was elected as the President of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The election was held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Following the principle of regional rotation, the President for the 76th session was selected from the Asia-Pacific Group. The Maldives is a strong advocate of multilateralism and international cooperation as essential tools to address global challenges. As a small nation, the Maldives acknowledges its limited capacity to face complex global issues alone, but emphasizes that collective international action —with all countries contributing, regardless of size—can significantly promote global peace, development, and prosperity.

Answer: The correct answer is 117th. Key Points: India’s rank has dropped by two places, from 115th last year to 117th in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) index. The 17 SDGs, adopted by 193 UN member states in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda, measure global progress in various areas. According to the State of India’s Environment Report 2021, India’s rank declined mainly due to challenges in ending hunger and achieving food security (SDG 2), achieving gender equality (SDG 5), and building resilient infrastructure, promoting sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation (SDG 9). India ranks below four other South Asian countries: Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. India’s overall SDG score is 61.9 out of 100.

Answer: C) The correct answer is Udayagiri Caves. Key Points: The Udayagiri Caves are located near Vidisha, in Madhya Pradesh. The site comprises 21 caves, featuring a blend of iconography from various religious traditions, including Vaishnavism (Vishnu), Shaktism (Durga and Matrikas), Jainism, and Shaivism (Shiva). The caves were constructed under the patronage of Chandragupta II of the Gupta dynasty. The construction period spanned from 250 CE to 410 CE. The caves were discovered by Alexander Cunningham in the 1870s.

Answer: The correct answer is Warangal. Key Points: The Kakatiya dynasty was the ruling power of Warangal (Telangana) from CE 1083 to 1323. During the 12th century, Warangal served as the capital of the Kakatiya dynasty, which was a prominent dynasty in the region. In 2015, the Telangana government launched the "Mission Kakatiya" initiative to restore irrigation tanks, lakes, and minor irrigation systems built by the Kakatiya rulers. The Golconda Fort, an iconic structure, was also constructed under the Kakatiya dynasty's rule.

Answer: d) The correct answer is 1809. Key Points: The Treaty of Amritsar (1809 AD) was signed between Ranjit Singh and the British East India Company. At the time, Lord Minto was the Governor-General of India, and his envoy was Charles Metcalfe. The treaty stipulated that both parties agreed not to declare war on each other. The British entered into the treaty for strategic reasons—Punjab was considered a vulnerable region, and the British wanted to use the Sikh Army to establish Punjab as a buffer zone. The treaty limited Ranjit Singh’s expansion to the eastern bank of the Sutlej River, while allowing expansion to the north. After the treaty, Ranjit Singh accepted the Sutlej River as the eastern boundary for his kingdom's expansion. The treaty remained in effect until the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

Key Points: The Lowland, authored by Jhumpa Lahiri, was published in 2013. This powerful novel became a Pulitzer Prize winner and topped the New York Times bestselling list. The Satanic Verses, written by Salman Rushdie, was published on September 26, 1988. The Lives of Others, a novel by Neel Mukherjee, was released in 2014. River of Smoke, written by Amitav Ghosh, was published in 2011.

Answer: b) The correct answer is 21 years. Key Points: Panchayats were constitutionally recognized as local self-governments in Part IX of the Constitution of India through the 73rd Amendment in 1992. They are established at the village, intermediate, and district levels, collectively known as Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs). The 73rd Amendment includes both compulsory (mandatory) and voluntary (optional) provisions: Compulsory Provisions: Organisation of Gram Sabha in villages or groups of villages. Establishment of panchayats at the village, intermediate, and district levels. Direct elections for all seats in panchayats at all levels. Indirect elections for the position of chairperson at the intermediate and district levels. Minimum age of 21 years for candidates contesting panchayat elections. Reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) at all levels. Reservation of one-third of seats for women (both members and chairpersons) at all levels. Five-year tenure for panchayats at all levels, with fresh elections within six months in case of supersession. Establishment of a State Election Commission to oversee panchayat elections. Formation of a State Finance Commission every five years to review the financial health of panchayats.

Answer: C) The correct answer is Sunil Chhetri. Key Points: Sunil Chhetri, the captain of the Indian football team, has surpassed Argentina's Lionel Messi to become the second-highest active international goal scorer, with 74 goals. In a remarkable performance, Chhetri scored two goals in just 13 minutes, leading India to their first World Cup qualifying win away from home since 2001. With his goals, Chhetri now leads Messi by two goals, and is ranked just above Ali Mabkhout of the UAE, who holds third place with 73 goals. The 36-year-old Chhetri netted both goals in the second half of the match, scoring in the 79th and 92nd minutes, helping India secure the victory.

Answer: C) The correct answer is Sikkim. Key Points: The Kagyed Dance is a traditional dance festival celebrated annually in Sikkim, typically on the 28th and 29th days of the tenth month of the Tibetan calendar, which corresponds to December in the Gregorian calendar. This vibrant dance ritual represents the destruction of evil forces, symbolizing the triumph of peace and prosperity in Sikkim. The Chaam dancers, who are Buddhist monks, are central to the performance, accompanied by liturgical music and chants. Jesters add a layer of humor and comic relief to the dance, lightening the atmosphere. The performance dramatizes various themes from Buddhist mythology and concludes with the burning of effigies made from flour, wood, and paper, symbolizing the elimination of evil.

Answer: c) The correct answer is 1918. Key Points: The Champaran Agrarian Law was enacted by the British government in 1918, following Mahatma Gandhi's Champaran Satyagraha in 1917, which aimed to end the forced cultivation of indigo by farmers. The bill was introduced in the Legislative Council on November 29, 1917, by W. Maude. Champaran, an administrative district located in the north-western part of Bihar and Orissa (in British India), became the epicenter of this movement. Gandhi visited Champaran in April 1917 after hearing about the exploitation of local farmers, who were coerced by British planters into growing indigo. Under the oppressive system known as Tinkathia, farmers were legally forced to dedicate three out of every twenty parts of their land to indigo cultivation for their landlords.