Current Affairs · Chapter 6 of 22

Persons in News and Obituaries: BPSC Prelims MCQs

58 practice questions on Persons in News and Obituaries. Each one opens to its answer and explanation.

1. 1. Current Affairs 2025–26

   José "Pepe" Mujica, who died in 2025 and was called the "world's poorest president" for his simple life, was a former President of:

   1. ABolivia
   2. BParaguay
   3. CEcuador
   4. DUruguay
   Answer and explanation →

2. 2. Current Affairs 2025–26

   Raghu Rai, a veteran Indian photographer in the news, published which book on Bihar?

   1. AMagadh: A Visual History
   2. BBihar Diaries
   3. CBihar: That Was & Now
   4. DThe Land of Buddha
   Answer and explanation →

3. 3. Current Affairs 2025–26

   Vijaypat Singhania, in the news, was a former chairman of:

   1. Athe JK Organisation
   2. Bthe Bajaj Group
   3. Cthe Raymond Group
   4. DSiyaram Silk Mills
   Answer and explanation →

4. 4. Current Affairs 2025–26

   Ajit Pawar, in the news, served as Deputy Chief Minister of:

   1. AMaharashtra
   2. BGoa
   3. CGujarat
   4. DKarnataka
   Answer and explanation →

5. 5. Current Affairs 2025–26

   K. N. Panikkar, in the news, is known as:

   1. Aa Malayalam film director
   2. Ba historian of modern India
   3. Ca Carnatic vocalist of Kerala
   4. Da nuclear physicist of BARC
   Answer and explanation →

6. 6. Current Affairs 2025–26

   Inderjit Singh Bindra, in the news, was a former President of:

   1. Athe AIFF
   2. BHockey India
   3. Cthe IOA
   4. Dthe BCCI
   Answer and explanation →

7. 7. Current Affairs 2025–26

   Chandrikapersad Santokhi, in the news, was a former President of:

   1. AMauritius
   2. BSuriname
   3. CGuyana
   4. DFiji
   Answer and explanation →

8. 8. Current Affairs 2025–26

   James Watson, who died in 2025, is known for discovering, with Francis Crick, the:

   1. Astructure of the protein haemoglobin, in 1959
   2. Bgenetic code of messenger RNA, in 1961
   3. Cprocess of DNA replication by enzymes, in 1958
   4. Ddouble-helix structure of DNA, in 1953
   Answer and explanation →

9. 9. Current Affairs 2025–26

   Who first identified DNA (as "nuclein"), in 1869?

   1. AGregor Mendel
   2. BFrederick Griffith
   3. CFriedrich Miescher
   4. DRosalind Franklin
   Answer and explanation →

10. 10. Current Affairs 2025–26

    In the Watson–Crick model of DNA, which base pairs with adenine?

    1. AThymine
    2. BGuanine
    3. CUracil
    4. DCytosine
    Answer and explanation →

11. 11. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Sir Mark Tully, in the news, was for many years:

    1. Athe BBC's bureau chief in India
    2. Ba British historian of the Mughals
    3. Cthe British High Commissioner to India
    4. Dthe editor of The Times of India
    Answer and explanation →

12. 12. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Jane Goodall, who died in 2025, was a world-famous:

    1. Apalaeontologist who studied dinosaur fossils
    2. Bornithologist who studied migratory birds
    3. Cprimatologist who studied chimpanzees
    4. Dmarine biologist who studied whales
    Answer and explanation →

13. 13. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Manoj Kothari, in the news, was a former world champion in:

    1. Achess
    2. Bbilliards
    3. Csnooker
    4. Dcarrom
    Answer and explanation →

14. 14. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Aldrich Ames, in the news, was:

    1. Aan MI6 officer who defected to the USSR
    2. Ba US astronaut on the first Space Shuttle
    3. Ca KGB officer who defected to the USA
    4. Da CIA officer who spied for the Soviet Union and Russia
    Answer and explanation →

15. 15. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Vinod Kumar Shukla, the Hindi writer who died in 2025, received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1999 for which novel?

    1. ANaukar Ki Kameez
    2. BRaag Darbari
    3. CKhilega To Dekhenge
    4. DDeewar Mein Ek Khirkee Rahati Thi
    Answer and explanation →

16. 16. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Ram V. Sutar, the sculptor who died in 2025, designed which monument?

    1. AThe Statue of Unity in Gujarat
    2. BThe Statue of Equality in Hyderabad
    3. CThe Ram Lalla idol in Ayodhya
    4. DThe Thiruvalluvar Statue in Kanyakumari
    Answer and explanation →

17. 17. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Who sculpted the Ram Lalla idol at the Ayodhya Ram temple?

    1. AAnil Sutar
    2. BNaresh Kumar Kumawat
    3. CArun Yogiraj
    4. DRam V. Sutar
    Answer and explanation →

18. 18. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Which actor, who died in 2025, was known as the "He-Man of Bollywood"?

    1. AVinod Khanna
    2. BDharmendra
    3. CJeetendra
    4. DShatrughan Sinha
    Answer and explanation →

19. 19. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Kamini Kaushal, who died in 2025, was:

    1. Aa Bhojpuri folk singer
    2. Ba veteran Hindi film actress
    3. Ca Hindi novelist and poet
    4. Da Kathak dancer of Lucknow
    Answer and explanation →

20. 20. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Which comedian and actor, who died in 2025, was known for the "Sholay" role of the jailer "Angrezon ke zamane ke jailer"?

    1. AGovardhan Asrani
    2. BJohnny Lever
    3. CParesh Rawal
    4. DSatish Shah
    Answer and explanation →

21. 21. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Which actor, who died in 2025, was known for the TV comedy "Sarabhai vs Sarabhai"?

    1. APankaj Dheer
    2. BAsrani
    3. CSatish Shah
    4. DRakesh Bedi
    Answer and explanation →

22. 22. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Pankaj Dheer, the actor who died in 2025, was best known for playing which role in B. R. Chopra's "Mahabharat"?

    1. AArjuna
    2. BBhishma
    3. CDuryodhana
    4. DKarna
    Answer and explanation →

23. 23. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Saalumarada Thimmakka, who died in 2025, was called the "Tree Woman of India" and came from:

    1. AOdisha
    2. BUttarakhand
    3. CKerala
    4. DKarnataka
    Answer and explanation →

24. 24. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Piyush Pandey, who died in 2025, was widely called:

    1. Athe father of Indian television
    2. Bthe father of the Indian stock market
    3. Cthe father of Indian advertising
    4. Dthe father of Indian animation
    Answer and explanation →

25. 25. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Queen Mother Sirikit, who died in 2025 and was called the "Green Queen" for her conservation work, was from:

    1. AThailand
    2. BCambodia
    3. CNepal
    4. DBhutan
    Answer and explanation →

26. 26. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Pandit Chhannulal Mishra, who died in 2025, was a Hindustani classical vocalist associated with:

    1. AGwalior, and the khayal of the Gwalior gharana
    2. BBanaras (Varanasi), and the thumri, dadra and chaiti of the purab ang
    3. CKolkata, and Rabindra Sangeet
    4. DJaipur, and the khayal of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana
    Answer and explanation →

27. 27. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Zubeen Garg, the singer who died in 2025, came from which state?

    1. AMeghalaya
    2. BWest Bengal
    3. CAssam
    4. DManipur
    Answer and explanation →

28. 28. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Lord Swraj Paul, who died in 2025, founded which British industrial group?

    1. AHinduja Group
    2. BVedanta Resources
    3. CEssar Global
    4. DCaparo Group
    Answer and explanation →

29. 29. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Satya Pal Malik, who died in 2025, was the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir when:

    1. AArticle 370 was abrogated in August 2019
    2. BArticle 35A was added to the Constitution
    3. Cthe Amarnath cloudburst of July 2022 struck
    4. Dthe state was split into two Union Territories in 2015
    Answer and explanation →

30. 30. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Shibu Soren, who died in 2025 and was known as "Dishom Guru", founded which party?

    1. AJharkhand Vikas Morcha
    2. BJharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)
    3. CAll Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU)
    4. DJharkhand Party
    Answer and explanation →

31. 31. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Meghnad Desai, who died in 2025, was:

    1. Aa former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India
    2. Ba British-Indian film director and producer
    3. Can economist and a member of the UK House of Lords
    4. Da Gujarati poet who won the Jnanpith Award
    Answer and explanation →

32. 32. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Fauja Singh, who died in 2025 at the age of 114, was known as:

    1. Athe "Flying Sikh", a 400 m runner
    2. Bthe "Punjab Express", a wrestler
    3. Cthe "Haryana Hurricane", a fast bowler
    4. Dthe "Turbaned Tornado", a marathon runner
    Answer and explanation →

33. 33. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Swapan Sadhan "Tutu" Bose, in the news, was a former President of which football club?

    1. AEast Bengal
    2. BMohun Bagan
    3. CKerala Blasters
    4. DMohammedan Sporting
    Answer and explanation →

34. 34. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Joseph S. Nye, the American political scientist who died in 2025, introduced the concept of:

    1. A"soft power"
    2. Bthe "clash of civilisations"
    3. C"mutually assured destruction"
    4. Dthe "end of history"
    Answer and explanation →

35. 35. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Guru Muni Narayana Prasad, in the news, was a spiritual teacher from which state?

    1. ATamil Nadu
    2. BKarnataka
    3. CGoa
    4. DKerala
    Answer and explanation →

36. 36. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Balbir Punj, in the news, is known as:

    1. Aa hockey Olympian from Punjab
    2. Ba columnist and former Rajya Sabha MP
    3. Ca Punjabi folk and film singer
    4. Da Bollywood dance choreographer
    Answer and explanation →

37. 37. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Who became the first person in history with a net worth of more than $800 billion?

    1. AElon Musk
    2. BMark Zuckerberg
    3. CJeff Bezos
    4. DLarry Ellison
    Answer and explanation →

38. 38. Current Affairs 2025–26

    The founders of the AI start-up Mercor became the world's youngest self-made billionaires at 22. Which of them are of Indian origin?

    1. AAravind Srinivas and Surya Midha
    2. BBrendan Foody and Adarsh Hiremath
    3. CAdarsh Hiremath and Surya Midha
    4. DSurya Midha and Brendan Foody
    Answer and explanation →

39. 39. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Gukesh D, who received the Khel Ratna in 2024, plays:

    1. Ashooting
    2. Bbadminton
    3. Cchess
    4. Dtable tennis
    Answer and explanation →

40. 40. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Rupa Bayor of Arunachal Pradesh became the first Indian to reach world rank 5 in:

    1. Ataekwondo
    2. Bwushu
    3. Ckarate
    4. Djudo
    Answer and explanation →

41. 41. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Who became the first Indian woman cricketer to score centuries in all three international formats?

    1. AHarmanpreet Kaur
    2. BShafali Verma
    3. CMithali Raj
    4. DSmriti Mandhana
    Answer and explanation →

42. 42. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Anish Bhanwala became the first Indian to win a medal at the ISSF World Championships in which event?

    1. AMen's 10 m air rifle
    2. BMen's 25 m rapid fire pistol
    3. CMen's 50 m rifle three positions
    4. DMen's trap
    Answer and explanation →

43. 43. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Jyothi Surekha Vennam became the first Indian woman compound archer to win a medal at:

    1. Athe Olympic Games
    2. Bthe Archery World Cup Final
    3. Cthe World Archery Championships
    4. Dthe Asian Games
    Answer and explanation →

44. 44. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Linthoi Chanambam of Manipur won India's first-ever medal at the Junior World Championships in:

    1. Awrestling
    2. Bboxing
    3. Cjudo
    4. Dweightlifting
    Answer and explanation →

45. 45. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Avinash Sable won the 3000 m steeplechase gold at the Asian Athletics Championships 2025, India's first in the event since:

    1. AMilkha Singh in 1962
    2. BBahadur Prasad in 1993
    3. CGulzara Singh in 1958
    4. DDina Ram in 1989
    Answer and explanation →

46. 46. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Payal Nag, who beat world champion Sheetal Devi in the compound women's final of the first World Archery Para Series, is notable as:

    1. Athe world's first quadruple-amputee archer to win the title
    2. Bthe first archer to score a perfect 150
    3. Cthe youngest archer ever to win a world title
    4. Dthe first Indian archer to win a Paralympic gold
    Answer and explanation →

47. 47. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Chhonzin Angmo of Himachal Pradesh became the first visually impaired Indian woman to:

    1. Atrek to the South Pole
    2. Brun the Boston Marathon
    3. Cclimb Mount Everest
    4. Dswim the English Channel
    Answer and explanation →

48. 48. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Marium Fatima of Muzaffarpur became Bihar's first:

    1. Awoman international cricket umpire
    2. BWoman FIDE Master in chess
    3. Cwoman Olympian in shooting
    4. Dwoman Grandmaster in chess
    Answer and explanation →

49. 49. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Jahnavi Dangeti of Andhra Pradesh is set to become the first Indian astronaut on:

    1. Athe Gaganyaan mission of 2027
    2. Bthe Axiom-5 mission
    3. CNASA's Artemis III mission
    4. Dthe Titans Space mission of 2029
    Answer and explanation →

50. 50. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Sudarsan Pattnaik became the first Indian to receive which award for sand art?

    1. AThe Fred Darrington Sand Master Award
    2. BThe Golden Sand Award of Copenhagen
    3. CThe UNESCO Sand Art Prize
    4. DThe Sandworld Lifetime Award
    Answer and explanation →

51. 51. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Rapper Raja Kumari became the first Indian-origin musician to win:

    1. Aan American Music Award
    2. Ba BRIT Award
    3. Ca Grammy Award
    4. Dan MTV Video Music Award
    Answer and explanation →

52. 52. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Deepika Padukone became the first Indian actor chosen for:

    1. Athe jury of the Cannes Film Festival
    2. Bthe Academy's Board of Governors
    3. Ca star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
    4. Da lifetime award at the Golden Globes
    Answer and explanation →

53. 53. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Dr. Soumya Swaminathan and her father were the first father–daughter pair from India elected Fellows of the Royal Society. Who is her father?

    1. AM. G. K. Menon
    2. BM. S. Swaminathan
    3. CC. N. R. Rao
    4. DC. V. Raman
    Answer and explanation →

54. 54. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Sarita Yolmo became the first woman Train Ticket Examiner of which railway?

    1. AThe Nilgiri Mountain Railway
    2. BThe Matheran Hill Railway
    3. CThe Kalka–Shimla Railway
    4. DThe Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
    Answer and explanation →

55. 55. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Jayshree Vencatesan became the first Indian to receive the Ramsar Award for "Wetland Wise Use". She is known for conserving:

    1. AChilika Lake in Odisha
    2. Bthe Pallikaranai Marsh in Chennai
    3. CLoktak Lake in Manipur
    4. Dthe Vembanad wetland in Kerala
    Answer and explanation →

56. 56. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Bhavitha Mandava became the first Indian model to be named:

    1. Athe face of Louis Vuitton
    2. Bthe global ambassador of Dior
    3. Ca Victoria's Secret angel
    4. Da house ambassador of Chanel
    Answer and explanation →

57. 57. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Harish Rana, in the news in 2026, was:

    1. Athe first person in India to receive legal approval for passive euthanasia
    2. Bthe first person treated with India's CRISPR therapy for sickle cell disease
    3. Cthe first Indian to receive a pig kidney transplant
    4. Dthe first Indian soldier to receive a bionic arm
    Answer and explanation →

58. 58. Current Affairs 2025–26

    Kirsty Coventry, the first woman and first African President of the IOC, won Olympic gold medals in:

    1. Arowing, for South Africa
    2. Bgymnastics, for Nigeria
    3. Cswimming, for Zimbabwe
    4. Dathletics, for Kenya
    Answer and explanation →