11. Which renowned earth scientist has become the new vice chancellor of the University of Kashmir?
[A] Prof. Talat Ahmad
[B] Prof. Sangeeta Shukla
[C] Prof. Khurshid Ibal Andrabi
[D] Mehbooba Mufti
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Prof. Talat Ahmad]
Notes:
Prof. Talat Ahmad, the renowned earth scientist, has become the new vice chancellor of the University of Kashmir. He succeeded Khurshid Iqbal Andrabi. Prior to this post, Ahmad was the vice chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia. He has been a recipient of several prestigious awards and citations, including the National Mineral Award, 1994 from the Government of India. He has also been a fellow of the Indian National Science Academy in New Delhi, Indian Academy of Sciences in Bangalore, fellow of the National Academy of Sciences in Allahabad, J C Bose National Fellowship, DST, New Delhi.
12. Who has been elected as the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha?
[A] Harivansh Narayan Singh
[B] B K Hariprasad
[C] Ananth Kumar
[D] Ram Gopal Yadav
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Harivansh Narayan Singh ]
Notes:
NDA candidate Harivansh Narayan Singh has been elected as the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha after defeating opposition nominee B K Hariprasad on 9th August 2018. Mr Harivansh, a veteran journalist, represents the state of Bihar in the House as a JD(U) member. He polled 125 votes as against 105 by Hariprasad in a division of voting in the House.The post of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman was lying vacant since the retirement of P J Kurien on July 1, 2018.
13. What is the theme of the 2018 International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples?
[A] Indigenous Peoples’ migration and movement
[B] Indigenous Peoples’ Right to Education
[C] Indigenous Peoples’ Right to Health
[D] Ensuring indigenous peoples’ health and well-being
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Indigenous Peoples’ migration and movement]
Notes:
The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is observed every year on August 9 in recognition of the first meeting of the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations in Geneva in 1982. On this day, people from around the world are encouraged to spread the UN’s message on the protection and promotion of the rights of indigenous peoples. The 2018 theme “Indigenous peoples’ migration and movement” focus on the current situation of indigenous territories, the root causes of migration, trans-border movement and displacement, with a specific focus on indigenous peoples living in urban areas and across international borders.
14. Which of the following has become the first Defence PSU to be activated on the TReDS platform?
[A] Bharat Dynamics
[B] Dredging Corporation of India
[C] Central Electronics Limited
[D] Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers]
Notes:
The Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE) has become the first defence Public Sector Units (PSU) to be activated on the TReDS (Trade Receivable Discounting System) platform. The platform enables discounting of invoices of MSME sellers against large buyers through an auction mechanism, helping prompt realisation of trade receivables at competitive market rates and helps avoid the constraints in obtaining financing. The platform hosts 15 financers including Allahabad Bank, Bank of Baroda (BoB), Union Bank of India (UBI) and Vijaya Bank.
15. R Madhavan has been appointed the new CMD of the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Where is the headquarters of HAL?
[A] New Delhi
[B] Bengaluru
[C] Hyderabad
[D] Shimla
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bengaluru]
Notes:
R Madhavan has been appointed chairman and managing director of the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for a period of 5 years. He will succeed T Suvarna Raju, who will retire on August 31, 2018. Currently, he is an executive director of the HAL. The HAL is governed under the management of the Ministry of Defence and is headquartered at Bengaluru, Karnataka.
16. What is the current number of India’s Biosphere reserves included in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves?
[A] 8
[B] 9
[C] 10
[D] 11
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [11]
Notes:
On August 10, 2018, the Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve (KBR) of Sikkim has been included in the UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserve (WHBR). With this, number of biosphere reserves from the country included in World Network of Biosphere Reserves has increased to 11. KBR is the highest biosphere reserve in the country that includes the third highest mountain peak in the world, Kanchenjunga (8,586 m).
17. What is the theme of the 2018 International Youth Day (IYD)?
[A] Youth Building Peace
[B] Safe Spaces for Youth
[C] Change Your World
[D] Eradicate Negativity
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Safe Spaces for Youth]
Notes:
The International Youth Day (IYD) is celebrated every year on August 12 to recognize the efforts of the world’s youth in enhancing global society. The day is the brainchild of the United Nations to draw attention to a given set of cultural and legal issues surrounding the youth of today. The 2018 theme is “Safe Spaces for Youth”. The UN has taken this initiative to drive attention towards youth development and protection and the areas that include education, employment, environment, HIV/AIDS, girls and young women, and intergenerational relations.
18. Which of the following is not a work of late VS Naipaul, the Trinidad-born Indian origin Nobel prize wining author who passed away recently?
[A] A Bend in the River
[B] Magic Seeds
[C] A House for Mr Biswas
[D] The Remains of the Day
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [The Remains of the Day]
Notes:
Sir Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul (85), the Trinidad-born Indian origin author, has passed away in London, England on August 12, 2018. He was known for his critical commentary on colonialism, idealism, religion and politics. Born in 1932 in Trinidad into an Indian Hindu family, he wrote more than 30 books of fiction and non-fiction including ‘A Bend in the River’, ‘A House for Mr Biswas’, The Writer and the World, Magic Seeds, etc. He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2001 for having united perceptive narrative and incorruptible scrutiny in works that compel us to see the presence of suppressed histories.
19. Hakam Singh Bhattal, who passed away recently, had won gold for India during which Asian Games?
[A] 1974
[B] 1982
[C] 1986
[D] 1978
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [1978]
Notes:
Hakam Singh Bhattal (64), the Asian Games gold medallist athlete & Dhyan Chand awardee, has passed away in Sangrur, Punjab on August 14, 2018. He won gold at the 1978 Bangkok Asiad in 20km race walk. In it, India ranked 6th with 11 gold medals. He also won gold in the Asian Track and Field Meeting held at Tokyo in 1979. He had also served as Havaldar in the 6 Sikh regiment.
20. Balramji Das Tandon, who passed away recently, was the current Governor of which state?
[A] Assam
[B] Karnataka
[C] Chhattisgarh
[D] Himachal Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Chhattisgarh]
Notes:
Balramji Das Tandon (91), the present Governor of Chhattisgarh, has passed away in Raipur on August 14, 2018. Born on 1st November 1927, he started his political career as corporator of Amritsar Municipal corporation in 1953. Tandon was one of the founder members of the Jansangh which later became the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). During his long political career, he has served on various posts, including as deputy chief minister of Punjab. A six-time MLA, Mr. Tandon was also the Punjab State BJP president for two years. He was also jailed in 1975 during the Emergency for 19 months.
