11. Pranab Kumar Gogoi, who recently passed away, was a famous personality in which field?
[A] Sports
[B] Literature
[C] Arts
[D] Politics
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Politics]
Notes:
The MLA of Sivasagar constituency in the state of Assam, Pranab Kumar Gogoi recently passed away. He had also served as the Speaker of the Assam state assembly.
The noted legislator was born in 1936 and was an advocate by profession. He was a veteran member of the Congress Party and was first elected to the state assembly in 2001. He was known for introducing the definition of the term “Assamese”, during the previous term of Congress government in the state.
12. Which Asian country recently introduced a sustainable development fee for tourists?
[A] Thailand
[B] Bhutan
[C] Cambodia
[D] Sri Lanka
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bhutan]
Notes:
Bhutan imposes a Sustainable Development Fee on international tourists, except those from India, Bangladesh, and the Maldives. The current rate is USD 100 per person per night, effective from September 1, 2023 to August 31, 2027, as a 50% discount from the earlier USD 200. Indian tourists pay INR 1,200 per person per night. The fee funds conservation and infrastructure.
13. The Union Cabinet recently approved to confer the status of Institution of National Importance (INI) to how many Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs)?
[A] 2
[B] 3
[C] 4
[D] 5
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [5]
Notes:
The Union Cabinet recently approved the Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020, to confer the status of Institution of National Importance (INI) to five Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs).
The Five IIITs in Public-Private-Partnership mode at Surat, Bhopal, Bhagalpur, Agartala and Raichur are to conferred with the INI status. After the status has been granted, the institutions would be able to award degrees and to use the nomenclature of Bachelor of Technology (BTech) or Master of Technology (MTech) or PhD degree. The existing 15 IIITs had already been provided with the INI status.
14. The recently adopted Lucknow Declaration is related to which field?
[A] Environment Protection
[B] Defence Cooperation
[C] E-Governance
[D] Imports and Exports
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Defence Cooperation]
Notes:
Lucknow Declaration was adopted by the first ever India-Africa Defence Ministers conclave as a part of the 11TH DefExpo. In this Defexpo, 1024 exhibitors participated, 172 of them being foreign companies. 40 Defence Ministers were part of total 70 foreign delegations that visited Lucknow. The event was also called “Defence Kumbh” by UP’s Chief Minister.
15. Which American astronaut has recently set the record for the longest stay in space by a woman?
[A] Jessica Meir
[B] Anne McClain
[C] Nicole Aunapu Mann
[D] Christina Koch
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Christina Koch]
Notes:
Christina Koch has set the record for the longest stay in space by a woman. The U.S. astronaut landed in Kazakhstan on February 6 after 328 days on the International Space Station (ISS).
16. The Pollution Control Board of which state recently received the national award for e-Governance 2019-20?
[A] Odisha
[B] Kerala
[C] Telangana
[D] Andhra Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Andhra Pradesh]
Notes:
The Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) bagged the national award for e-Governance 2019-20 for its Real-Time Pollution-Monitoring System (RTPMS) project, during the 23rd National Conference on e-Governance held in Mumbai.
Under the RPTMS project, an alert is sent to the concerned officials if an industrial unit exceeds the desired pollution levels.
17. The book- ‘A Child of Destiny’, which was recently released by the Indian Vice President, is an autobiography of which Indian educationist?
[A] K. Ramakrishna Rao
[B] Girishwar Misra
[C] Amit Abraham
[D] Devendra Singh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [K. Ramakrishna Rao]
Notes:
Renowned Indian philosopher and educationist Prof. K. Ramakrishna Rao has authored his autobiography, which is titled as ‘A Child of Destiny: an autobiography’. It was released by the Indian Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, in Visakhapatnam.
The Professor, Vice Chancellor of GITAM University, was also the recipient of the prestigious Padma Shri award. He had also been awarded the National Fellowship of the Indian Council of Philosophical Research.
18. Pinelopi Koujianou Goldberg, who recently submitted her resignation, was associated with which global organisation?
[A] World Bank
[B] International Monetary Fund
[C] United Nations
[D] Asian Development Bank
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [World Bank]
Notes:
The Chief economist of World Bank, Pinelopi Koujianou Goldberg recently announced her resignation. The economist is expected to step down from her role on March 1 and return to teach at Yale University.
Pinelopi Koujianou assumed charge as the Chief economist at the end of April 2018. World Bank President David Malpass announced that Research Director Aart Kraay would take over as an interim Chief economist.
19. ‘Ajeya Warrior‘ is the joint military exercise conducted between India and which country?
[A] Japan
[B] United Kingdom
[C] Israel
[D] France
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [United Kingdom]
Notes:
The fifth edition of joint military exercise ‘Ajeya Warrior’ between India and the United Kingdom will be conducted at Salisbury Plains, United Kingdom. The exercise is scheduled from February 13 to 26, 2020.
120 soldiers each from Indian and United Kingdom Army would participate in the exercise. The joint military exercise has been conducted alternatively in United Kingdom and India. The training will be held with emphasis on counter-terror operations in urban and semi-urban areas.
20. Which state government recently launched the ‘Reading Mission’ initiative for students?
[A] Odisha
[B] Kerala
[C] Haryana
[D] West Bengal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Haryana]
Notes:
The state government of Haryana has launched an initiative called ‘Reading Mission- Haryana’. The initiative was launched to encourage reading habit among the young students of the state.
The scheme is on the lines of the ‘Reading Mission 2022’, launched by the central government. Under the state’s initiative, monthly book review sessions and mass book reading are to be organised by students in educational institutions.