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Chandrayaan-3 Lunar Mission Honoured with 2026 Goddard Astronautics Award

India's landmark Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission has been bestowed with the 2026 Goddard Astronautics Award by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).
The prestigious award ceremony was hosted in Washington DC to recognize outstanding accomplishments in space flight and exploration.
The award is named in honor of Dr. Robert H. Goddard, who is universally regarded as a pioneer of modern liquid-fueled rocket technology.
Chandrayaan-3 created global space history on August 23, 2023, by achieving the first-ever soft landing near the Moon's unexplored south pole.
Exam Perspective: International accolades for Chandrayaan-3 highlight India's growing dominance in highly cost-efficient space technology.

Key Facts / Static GK

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) HQ: Reston, Virginia, USA
Goddard Award Named after: Robert H. Goddard, father of modern liquid rocketry
Chandrayaan-3 Landing Date: 23 August 2023 (now celebrated as National Space Day in India)

Q Practice Quiz — 25 May 2026

1. Which banking institution registered the highest target achievement of 288% under the Atal Pension Yojana (APY) mobilization campaign during the financial year 2025-26?

A State Bank of India
B IDBI Bank
C Jharkhand Rajya Gramin Bank
D AU Small Finance Bank
E Shri Mahila Sewa Sahakari Bank

Explanation: Among Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), Jharkhand Rajya Gramin Bank recorded the highest performance, achieving 288% of its designated target under the Atal Pension Yojana (APY) in FY 2025-26.

2. Under which statutory legislation did the Reserve Bank of India grant the final Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI) issuer authorization to ZikZuk Technologies?

A Banking Regulation Act, 1949
B Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934
C Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007
D Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999
E Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992

Explanation: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued the final operating authorization to ZikZuk Technologies under the regulatory provisions of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act (PSSA), 2007.

3. Which mathematical model is utilized to structure the benchmark of India's first exchange-traded weather derivatives contract 'RAINMUMBAI'?

A Exponential Weighted Rainfall Index
B Cumulative Deviation Rainfall (CDR) Model
C Long Period Average Regression Model
D IMD Precipitation Predictor Model
E Monsoon Volatility Index

Explanation: The 'RAINMUMBAI' weather derivatives contract is structured on the Cumulative Deviation Rainfall (CDR) model, which measures actual monsoon rainfall deviation from the historical Long Period Average (LPA).

4. Who has been appointed to chair the newly formed PFRDA committee tasked with exploring new asset classes to maximize returns under the National Pension System (NPS)?

A Sivasubramanian Ramann
B Narayan Ramachandran
C Bhupender Yadav
D Virendra Kumar
E Pankaj Chaudhary

Explanation: The committee established by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) to evaluate the addition of new asset classes to improve NPS returns is chaired by Narayan Ramachandran.

5. Which of the following represents the largest infrastructure development approved under India's recent ₹2,600 crore allocation for the Chenab river basin?

A Dulhasti Stage-II Hydropower Project
B Chenab-Beas Link Tunnel Project
C Kishtwar Run-of-the-River Project
D Pahalgam Hydro-Infrastructure Initiative
E Sutlej-Chenab Water Diversion Scheme

Explanation: The Chenab-Beas Link Tunnel Project is the largest among the approved projects, valued at ₹2,352 crore, and features an 8.7-km tunnel constructed in the Lahaul-Spiti region of Himachal Pradesh.

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