Answer: C

• Observed annually on 14 June.
• Aim : to thank voluntary blood donors and highlight the need for safe, sufficient blood supplies
• Theme is “Give blood, give hope: together we save lives.”
• Instituted by WHO and partner bodies in 2004.

Answer: D

Current Context : Recently, Israel carried out its first naval strike on Yemen’s rebel-held Hodeidah Port, targeting docks suspected of facilitating arms shipments.

ABOUT HODEIDAH PORT

• Location: Western Yemen on the Red Sea coast.
• Share of Imports: 70–80% of Yemen’s essential goods
• Strategic Route: Gateway to Bab el-Mandeb strait

Answer: C

Current Context : The UNFPA’s 2025 State of World Population Report, titled “The Real Fertility Crisis,” highlights that many Indians cannot have the number of children they want due to financial and social barriers.

ABOUT THE REPORT

• Unintended Pregnancies: Affects 36% of adult Indians; 30% experience unmet desires for more or fewer children.
• Barriers to Reproductive Autonomy:
  • Financial constraints (40%), job insecurity (21%), housing and childcare shortages.
  • Gender norms force unequal caregiving duties.
• Fertility Rates:
  • National TFR at replacement level (2.0), but high in states like Bihar and UP; below replacement in Kerala and Delhi.
• Adolescent Fertility: 1 per 1,000 women aged 15–19, higher than regional peers.
• Modern Challenges: Loneliness, relationship dynamics, and social stigma impede family planning.

Answer: D

Current Context : The World Economic Forum released its 19^th Global Gender Gap Report, showing India slipped to 131st out of 148 countries, down two places from 2024, with an overall parity score of 64.1% despite small gains in the economic and educational subindexes.

ABOUT GLOBAL GENDER GAP INDEX

• Report Body: Published annually since 2006 by the World Economic Forum.
• Dimensions Measured:
  • Economic Participation & Opportunity
  • Educational Attainment
  • Health & Survival
  • Political Empowerment
• India’s Performance:
  • Overall Rank: 131/148 (down from 129)
  • Parity Score: 64.1%
• Positive Trends:
  • Economic participation score up by +0.9 points to 40.7%
  • Educational attainment at 97.1% parity
• Key Challenge: Political empowerment remains low, with women’s representation in parliament and ministerial posts declining.

Answer: A

Current Context : A year-long camera-trap survey (2024–25) by the Holématthi Nature Foundation, led by Dr Sanjay Gubbi, recorded 80–85 free-ranging leopards around Bengaluru—surpassing Mumbai’s 54—making Bengaluru the ‘Leopard Capital’ of India.

ABOUT BENGALURU LEOPARD POPULATION

Location & Survey Area

• Bannerghatta National Park (BNP) plus adjacent forests and scrublands cover 282 km² (Turahalli, B.M. Kaval, U.M. Kaval, Roerich Estate, Gollahalli Gudda, Sulikere, Hesaraghatta, Marasandra, Manduru).
• 250+ camera traps deployed across government and private lands.

Survey Methodology & Findings

• Camera-trap study from June 2024 to May 2025.
• Total leopards: 80–85 individuals.
  • Inside BNP: 54 leopards (up from 40 in 2019, 47 in 2020)
• Fringe forests: ~30 leopards roaming reserved, deemed, and private forests

Answer: C

Current Context : Sri Lanka celebrated Poson Full Moon Poya Day, marking the arrival of Buddhism in the 3rd century BCE when Arahat Mahinda preached to King Devanampiyatissa at Mihintale.

ABOUT POSON POYA

• Significance: Commemorates Buddhism’s introduction to Sri Lanka; second only to Vesak in importance.
• Key Sites: Mihintale (first sermon) and Anuradhapura (early monastic establishments).
• Observances:
  • Devotees light oil lamps, hoist religious pandols, participate in sermons and alms giving
  • Streets and temples are adorned; special transport arranged for pilgrims

Answer: B

Current Context : Rohini Gram Panchayat (a 100% tribal village in Dhule district, Maharashtra) won the Gold Award in the “Grassroots Level Initiatives” category of the National Awards for e-Governance (NAeG 2025), chosen from over 1.45 lakh entries.

ABOUT ROHINI GRAM PANCHAYAT AWARD

• Awarding Bodies: Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances and Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
• Category: Grassroots Level Initiatives for Deepening Service Delivery at Gram Panchayats.
• Achievements:
  • Implemented 956+ digital services (birth/death certificates via WhatsApp/email, online fee payments, user-friendly portal)
  • Enabled delivery of key services (health, education, agriculture, certificates) within mandated timeframes
• Prize: Trophy, certificate, and ₹10 lakh cash incentive for furthering public-welfare initiatives.
• Other Winners:
  • Silver: West Majlishpur Gram Panchayat, Tripura
  • Jury Awards: Palsana (Gujarat) and Suakati (Odisha)
• Impact: Model for digital inclusion in Scheduled Areas; strengthens citizen-centric governance through technology.