1. Which institution released the Environmental Guidelines for Stone Crushing units?
[A] NGT
[B] CPCB
[C] NITI Aayog
[D] NAEB
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [CPCB]
Notes:
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recently released the Environmental Guidelines for Stone Crushing units.
The guidelines are based on the recommendations of the New Delhi-based non-profit Centre for Science and Environment. CPCB is a statutory organization under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
2. What is ‘Gomphonema rajaguruii’, which was discovered recently?
[A] Algae
[B] Bacteria
[C] Fungi
[D] Virus
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Algae]
Notes:
Gomphonema rajaguruii is a newly discovered species of oxygen-supplying algae. It is named after a veteran geo-archaeologist, the late Professor S N Rajaguru.
Gomphonema rajaguruii is a freshwater diatom species. The finding is unique because it shows the characteristics of two genus — Gomphonema and Gomphoneis.
3. Which institution reconstituted intermediary advisory committee for legal framework?
[A] RBI
[B] SEBI
[C] NPCI
[D] IRDAI
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [SEBI]
Notes:
Capital Market Regulator SEBI has recently reconstituted its intermediary advisory committee.
This committee is responsible for providing recommendations on matters concerning changes in legal framework and increasing transparency in systems and procedures of market intermediaries like stock brokers, clearing members and depository participants.
4. Which Union Ministry releases ‘Periodic Labour Force Survey Figures’?
[A] Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
[B] Ministry of Labour and Employment
[C] Ministry of MSME
[D] Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation]
Notes:
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation recently released the latest figures from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS). These figures indicate that the unemployment rate in Indian cities is at the lowest since the survey started in 2018.
The unemployment rate among men stood at 6.0%, while for women it was 9.2%.
5. Which institution hosted the plenary on Consumer Policy (COPOLCO)?
[A] NASSCOM
[B] BIS
[C] PIB
[D] NITI Aayog
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [BIS]
Notes:
The 44th plenary on Consumer Policy (COPOLCO) is a four-day event hosted by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
The ISO countries have renewed their commitment to incorporate the objectives of the SDGs into its standards programme. BIS’s initiatives, such as Manak Manthan, Quality Connect are aimed at enhancing consumer engagement in standardisation.
6. Which state/UT launched the ‘Artificial Intelligence for Youth’ initiative?
[A] West Bengal
[B] Odisha
[C] Telangana
[D] Kerala
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Odisha]
Notes:
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched the ‘Odisha for Artificial Intelligence’ and ‘Artificial Intelligence for Youth’ initiatives.
In the first phase, the initiative will be implemented in Bhubaneswar, Puri and Cuttack. The state government has roped in global technology company Intel for the initiative.
7. ‘Recep Tayyip Erdogan’ has won the Presidential Election of which country?
[A] Myanmar
[B] Afghanistan
[C] Turkiye
[D] Greece
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Turkiye]
Notes:
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has won Turkey’s presidential election, defeating opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu runoff vote and stretching his rule into a third decade.
As per the official data inflation in Turkey was at 50.5 percent in March, down from a high of 85.6 percent in October.
8. Which institution launched ‘e-Appeal scheme 2023’?
[A] CBDT
[B] CBIC
[C] RBI
[D] SEBI
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [CBDT]
Notes:
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) recently launched “e appeal” scheme announced in the budget.
Its aim is to minimize pendency of appeals related to Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) default issues and tax collection at source (TCS). The scheme empowers the Joint Commissioner (Appeals) for disposing of appeals filed before it or allocated or transferred to it.
9. 62 Desiccation-Tolerant Vascular Plant Species have been recently discovered in which country?
[A] India
[B] Myanmar
[C] Nepal
[D] Bangladesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [India]
Notes:
As many as 62 Desiccation-Tolerant Vascular plant species have been discovered in the Western Ghats in India.
These species have potential applications in agriculture, especially in regions where there is scarcity of water.
10. Which Union Ministry implements the ‘PM SVANidhi’ scheme?
[A] Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
[B] Ministry of MSME
[C] Ministry of Power
[D] Ministry of Rural Development
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs]
Notes:
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs launched a mobile app for street vendors to ease their loan application process under the PM SVANidhi scheme which completed three years.
It is a micro credit scheme which was launched by the Central government in 2020 to provide handholding support to street vendors, to tackle pandemic-induced economic stress.