200. Which UK-born professor at an American university received a Nobel Prize in 2025?
[UPSC CSE Prelims — 2026]
(A) John Clarke
(B) Joel Mokyr
(C) Richard Robson
(D) Michel H. Devoret
Answer: (A) John Clarke
Explanation: John Clarke was born in Cambridge, England, and worked at the University of California, Berkeley. He shared the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics for experimental discoveries concerning macroscopic quantum tunnelling and energy quantisation in an electric circuit.
199. Which statements about the BAFTA-recognised Indian film Boong are correct:
(1) it won the Children’s and Family Film category,
(2) Lakshmipriya Devi directed it,
(3) it was the first Indian film to win this category?
[UPSC CSE Prelims — 2026]
(A) 2 and 3 only
(B) 3 only
(C) 1 and 2 only
(D) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (D) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation: Boong is directed by Lakshmipriya Devi and achieved a landmark BAFTA win in the Children’s and Family Film category. All three statements describe that recognition correctly. It was a notable international distinction for Indian regional-language cinema.
198. Who received the Nobel Peace Prize for 2025 for advocating democratic rights in Venezuela?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I — 2026]
(A) María Corina Machado
(B) Michelle Bachelet
(C) Mary E. Brunkow
(D) Juan Guaidó
Answer: (A) María Corina Machado
Explanation: Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado was selected for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of her peaceful advocacy for democratic rights and political transition. She should not be confused with Nobel laureates in the science categories.
197. Which Indian education non-profit received the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2025?
[RRB NTPC Undergraduate CBT-I — 2026]
(A) Educate Girls
(B) Akshaya Patra
(C) Pratham
(D) Teach For India
Answer: (A) Educate Girls
Explanation: Educate Girls, an organisation founded by Safeena Husain, was recognised for its efforts to bring out-of-school girls back into classrooms. The Ramon Magsaysay Award honours transformative Asian leadership and public service, rather than academic examination results.
196. The 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature winner László Krasznahorkai is associated with which country?
[RRB NTPC Undergraduate CBT-I — 2026]
(A) Slovakia
(B) Romania
(C) Serbia
(D) Hungary
Answer: (D) Hungary
Explanation: László Krasznahorkai is a Hungarian author recognised for visionary literary work. His prose is known for long sentences and apocalyptic themes. The Nobel Prize in Literature is selected by the Swedish Academy rather than a film or journalism organisation.
195. Which economist shared the 2025 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences with two other economists?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-II — 2026]
(A) Daron Acemoglu
(B) Paul Krugman
(C) Joel Mokyr
(D) Thomas Piketty
Answer: (C) Joel Mokyr
Explanation: Joel Mokyr was honoured alongside Philippe Aghion and Peter Howitt. Their contributions concern technological progress, innovation and economic growth. The economics award was established by Sweden’s central bank and is distinct from the original five Nobel Prize fields.
194. Regarding the Jnanpith Award, which is correct:
(1) the 58th award honoured Jagadguru Rambhadracharya and
(2) the first award was given in 1965?
[UPPSC PCS Prelims — 2025]
(A) Both 1 and 2
(B) 1 only
(C) Neither 1 nor 2
(D) 2 only
Answer: (A) Both 1 and 2
Explanation: The 58th Jnanpith was shared by Jagadguru Rambhadracharya and Gulzar. The inaugural award went to G. Sankara Kurup in 1965 for Malayalam literature. Bharatiya Jnanpith confers this prestigious literary honour, not the Sahitya Akademi.
193. Who among Banu Mushtaq, Deepa Bhasthi and Sanjay Chauhan were associated with winning the 2025 International Booker Prize?
[UPPSC PCS Prelims — 2025]
(A) Banu Mushtaq only
(B) Deepa Bhasthi and Sanjay Chauhan
(C) Banu Mushtaq and Deepa Bhasthi
(D) All three
Answer: (C) Banu Mushtaq and Deepa Bhasthi
Explanation: Banu Mushtaq wrote the Kannada short-story collection Heart Lamp, and Deepa Bhasthi translated it into English. The 2025 International Booker Prize recognises both author and translator, unlike the separate annual Booker Prize for English-language fiction.
192. In the 2025 Padma Vibhushan list, which pairing is correct for Osamu Suzuki?
[UPPSC PCS Prelims — 2025]
(A) Art
(B) Literature and Education
(C) Trade and Industry
(D) Medicine
Answer: (C) Trade and Industry
Explanation: Osamu Suzuki, the former head of Suzuki Motor Corporation, was recognised posthumously in the Trade and Industry category. Padma awards acknowledge exceptional service across different professions and are announced around Republic Day each year.
191. Who was among the Indian writers on the jury for the 2026 International Booker Prize?
[UPPSC PCS Prelims — 2025]
(A) Rajni Chauhan
(B) Kiran Desai
(C) Natasha Brown
(D) Nilanjana S. Roy
Answer: (D) Nilanjana S. Roy
Explanation: Writer and critic Nilanjana S. Roy was named to the jury connected with the 2026 International Booker Prize. The panel reviews translated fiction published in English; this prize should be distinguished from the original Booker Prize for English-language novels.