Daily Current Affairs Quiz: November 29, 2025

Answer: B [To conserve crop germplasm for future food and nutritional security]
Explanation:

The Second National Gene Bank is being established to conserve 10 lakh crop germplasm, ensuring long-term food and nutritional security. Gene banks store seeds, pollen, and plant tissues to preserve genetic diversity, which is crucial for crop breeding, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience. This initiative aligns with the “Investing in Innovations” theme of the Union Budget 2025-26. It does not aim to replace the First National Gene Bank but rather to complement and expand its storage capacity.

Answer: B [1, 3, and 4 only]
Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: LiDAR provides high-precision terrain mapping by using laser pulses to measure distances accurately.

Statement 2 is incorrect: LiDAR can be affected by adverse weather conditions like heavy rain, fog, or snow, which can interfere with laser pulses.

Statement 3 is correct: LiDAR enables rapid data collection over large areas, making it efficient for topographical surveys and mapping.

Statement 4 is correct: LiDAR can create detailed 3D maps of the terrain, even in areas with dense vegetation cover, which is crucial for applications like forestry, surveying, and infrastructure planning.

Answer: D [1, 2 and 3]
Explanation:

Pair 1 is correct: Golden Rice is fortified with beta-carotene, a precursor of Vitamin A.

Pair 2 is correct: Bt Cotton expresses a bacterial toxin gene from Bacillus thuringiensis, protecting against bollworm.

Pair 3 is correct: CRISPR-Cas9 is a revolutionary genome editing technology adapted from bacterial immunity.

Answer: D [1, 2, 3 and 4]
Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Nanocarriers (liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, dendrimers, gold nanoshells) enable targeted drug delivery and controlled release using surface ligands.

Statement 2 is correct: Nanocomposites with carbon nanotubes/graphene, nano-precipitates and grain-refined alloys provide high strength-to-weight materials used in aerospace, auto and sports gear.

Statement 3 is correct: Nanofiltration membranes, nano-adsorbents (e.g., nano-iron), TiO₂ photocatalysis and silver nanoparticles support water purification and pathogen removal.

Statement 4 is correct: Nanophotonics (photonic-crystal fibres, plasmonic/nano-engineered waveguides, quantum-dot amplifiers, silicon photonics) can increase usable bandwidth/data rates by reducing dispersion, enhancing confinement and enabling dense wavelength multiplexing components—hence a valid application area.

Answer: C [Blue Biotechnology – Marine-Based Applications]
Explanation:

Option A is incorrect: Red Biotechnology relates to medical applications like gene therapy and vaccines.

Option B is incorrect: Green Biotechnology involves agricultural applications like GM crops and biopesticides.

Option C is correct: Blue Biotechnology is correctly matched with marine and aquatic applications.

Option D is incorrect: White Biotechnology covers industrial processes such as biofuels and enzyme production.