GK Express of 17/10/2025

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🌟 “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” 🌟

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📚 Current Affairs Coach

1. Indian wildlife conservationist Vivek Menon was elected the first Asian Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC), a major achievement in global biodiversity efforts.

2. India successfully sent Prussian Blue capsules as emergency aid to Indonesia to counteract Cesium-137 contamination in food exports, highlighting India's role as the "Pharmacy of the World".

3. The Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2025 was released, ranking India at 102nd globally, underscoring the ongoing challenge of achieving the Zero Hunger Sustainable Development Goal.

📖 Know Your English

Word: Abjure

Meaning: Solemnly renounce (a belief, cause, or claim).

Synonyms: Forsake, renounce, abandon, disavow

Example: The young prince was forced to abjure his claim to the throne in favor of his elder sister.

🚆HISTORY COACH

👆 Click a question to see the answer

1. The Mehrauli iron pillar inscription is associated with which Indian dynasty?

➡️ The Mehrauli iron pillar inscription (located in Delhi) belongs to the period of the Gupta Dynasty. The inscription praises the military conquests and qualities of an ancient king named Chandra, generally identified with the Gupta Emperor Chandragupta II.

2. Who constructed the Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) inside the Red Fort complex in Delhi?

➡️ The Moti Masjid in Red Fort, Delhi, was constructed by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. It was built for his own private use and that of the ladies of the court, contrasting with the larger Jama Masjid built by his father, Shah Jahan.

3. Which dynasty ruled the shortest period among the dynasties of the Delhi Sultanate?

➡️ The Khilji Dynasty ruled for the shortest period, lasting just 30 years (1290–1320 AD). The Tughlaq Dynasty ruled the longest (94 years).

🚆BANKING AND FINANCE COACH

👆 Click a question to see the answer

1. What is the primary objective of the Monetary Policy of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)?

➡️ The primary objective of the RBI's Monetary Policy, as set by the amended RBI Act, is to maintain price stability (Inflation Targeting) while keeping in mind the objective of growth. The current inflation target is 4% Consumer Price Index (CPI), with an upper tolerance limit of 6% and a lower limit of 2%.

2. What constitutes the Reserve Ratio that commercial banks must maintain?

➡️ The Reserve Ratio consists of two components: the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR), which is the percentage of deposits banks must keep with the RBI, and the Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR), which is the percentage of deposits banks must maintain in liquid assets like gold, cash, or approved securities.

3. Which financial instrument is often associated with the Money Market?

➡️ Commercial Paper (CP) is a key financial instrument associated with the Money Market. It is a short-term, unsecured promissory note issued by large, highly rated corporations to raise funds for a short period, typically from 7 days to up to one year.

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY COACH

👆 Click a question to see the answer

1. What does the Cartagena Protocol primarily deal with?

➡️ The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety is an international agreement (under the Convention on Biological Diversity) that deals with the safe handling, transport, and use of Living Modified Organisms (LMOs), which are products of modern biotechnology (e.g., Genetically Modified Organisms or GMOs).

2. Why is the Eucalyptus tree considered an environmental hazard in many regions of India?

➡️ Eucalyptus is considered an environmental hazard because of its extremely high water consumption rate, which severely depletes groundwater reserves. It also releases substances that inhibit the growth of other plant species, damaging local biodiversity.

3. Which international agreement aims to limit global warming and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by setting binding targets for developed countries?

➡️ The Kyoto Protocol (1997) is the international agreement that sets binding emission reduction targets for industrialized countries (developed countries) to combat global warming. It preceded the broader, non-binding Paris Agreement.

💡 Did You Know?

🇮🇳 India's oldest commercial bank still in existence is the State Bank of India (SBI), which traces its roots back to the Bank of Calcutta established in 1806.

It was formed after the merger of the three Presidency Banks (Calcutta, Bombay, Madras) into the Imperial Bank of India, which was then nationalized in 1955 to become SBI.

🌍 The history of banking began around 2000 BCE in ancient Assyria, India, and Sumer, where merchants gave grain loans to farmers and traders.

This predates the commonly cited Greek and Roman temple-based lending systems by over a thousand years.

❓ Question of the Day

Which major environmental convention is known for adopting "Agenda 21" and the principles of Sustainable Development?

Answer: The First Earth Summit (officially the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development or UNCED) was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992. It is famously known for adopting Agenda 21, a comprehensive plan of action for the 21st century regarding sustainable development. This summit established the foundation for global environmental governance.

✍️ Answer These Questions

1. Who was the founder of the Satvahana dynasty?

2. Which is the largest and deepest ocean in the world?

➡️ Submit your answers using the form below:

GK Express @ Juniors Hostel

Created by Nikhil Dasari & Mahesh Telugu

[Ancient, Medieval & Modern Indian History QUIZ](https://www.scribd.com/document/252132323/Ancient-Medieval-Modern-Indian-History-QUIZ) is relevant as it provides more solved questions on the history topics covered in the first coach.