1. Which institution is to set up the ‘Corporate Debt Market Development Fund’?
[A] RBI
[B] SEBI
[C] NSE
[D] BSE
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [SEBI]
Notes:
SEBI decided to set up a corporate debt market development fund in the form of an Alternative Investment Fund.
Corporate Debt Market Development Fund will be set up with an initial corpus of Rs 3,000 crore. It will function as a backstop facility for buying investment grade corporate debt securities during stressful times.
2. Which country recently held a referendum on a new constitution (April 2023)?
[A] Sri Lanka
[B] Uzbekistan
[C] Afghanistan
[D] Iran
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Uzbekistan]
Notes:
Uzbekistan held a referendum on a new constitution on April 30. The constitution seeks to declare Uzbekistan as a sovereign, democratic, legal, and social state.
The constitution also enshrines new rules from personal rights to expanding the powers of parliament.
3. Central Bureau of Investigation is set up under which Union Ministry?
[A] Ministry of External Affairs
[B] Ministry of Home Affairs
[C] Ministry of Defence
[D] Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Home Affairs]
Notes:
Central Bureau of Investigation is a premier investigative agency set up under the Ministry of Home Affairs on April 1, 1963.
Its Diamond Jubilee Celebrations was recently inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi on April 3 this year.
4. Which country has recently agreed to join the ‘Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership’?
[A] Israel
[B] United Kingdom
[C] UAE
[D] Brazil
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [United Kingdom]
Notes:
Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is a Free Trade Agreement.
It was agreed between 11 countries in Pacific Rim. United Kingdom has recently agreed to join this pact.
5. ‘Vaikom Satyagraha’ was held in which Indian state in 1924?
[A] West Bengal
[B] Maharashtra
[C] Kerala
[D] Andhra Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Kerala]
Notes:
The ‘Vaikom Satyagraha’ began on March 30, 1924 in the temple town of Vaikom, Kerala in the princely state of Travancore, marking the beginning of “temple entry movements” across the country.
Kerala and Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers recently inaugurated the centenary celebrations of anti-caste struggle Vaikom Satyagraha.
6. Which country has recently voted to ban rental e-scooters?
[A] USA
[B] India
[C] France
[D] Finland
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [France]
Notes:
In a non-binding referendum held in France, 89.03% of the votes cast were opposed to the freestanding scooters, which are booked on a short-term basis through apps.
The rental e-scooters, which were introduced in 2018 to promote green alternative for cars. The city will completely ban these devices by September 1 this year.
7. Which country has launched a law that mandates firms to reveal their gender pay gaps by early 2024?
[A] India
[B] Australia
[C] USA
[D] Japan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Australia]
Notes:
Australia, with gender pay gap of 13.3% as of 2023, has launched a new law that mandates firms with over 100 employees to reveal their gender pay gaps by early 2024.
This is expected to make businesses more accountable and improve working conditions of women in the country.
8. ’Squirrelpox virus’ disease is spreading in which country?
[A] India
[B] China
[C] UK
[D] Australia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [UK]
Notes:
Squirrelpox virus is a deadly disease affecting the United Kingdom red squirrels. Invasive, non-native grey squirrels from North America are the main carriers of this pathogen.
The pox killed up to 80% of red squirrels over winter at one of just three sites 11,000 people have signed a petition calling on the Welsh government to fund vaccine research.
9. ‘Caltoris bromus sadasiva’, which was discovered recently, belongs to which species?
[A] Snake
[B] Butterfly
[C] Spider
[D] Turtle
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Butterfly]
Notes:
Caltoris bromus sadasiva is a newly discovered butterfly sub-species. It was discovered from the fringes of Akkulam and Vembanad lakes in Kerala.
Caltoris bromus sadasiva is the first Bromus swift butterfly to be documented in the Western Ghats.
10. Aroma Mission has been originally launched in which state/UT?
[A] Jammu and Kashmir
[B] Sikkim
[C] Karnataka
[D] Tamil Nadu
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Jammu and Kashmir]
Notes:
Aroma Mission, which was started off in Jammu and Kashmir, aims to promote the cultivation of aromatic crops for the manufacture of essential oils, which are in high demand in the aroma industry.
Himachal Pradesh Government is set to collaborate with the Central Government on this initiative to replicate its success seen in the Jammu and Kashmir.