1. ‘Proba-3 Mission’, which will be launched aboard ISRO’s PSLV, is associated with which space agency?
[A] NASA
[B] ESA
[C] JAXA
[D] CNSA
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [ESA]
Notes:
The European Space Agency’s Proba-3 Mission will be launched aboard the ISRO’s PSLV in 2024. Its two satellites will study the Sun’s faint corona and surrounding atmosphere.
The 340-kilogram spacecraft will be deployed by PSLV in a high Earth orbit with an orbital period of 19.7 hours.
2. ‘Jang Palpung Zangdok Palri Monastery’ is situated in which state?
[A] Assam
[B] Sikkim
[C] Arunachal Pradesh
[D] Karnataka
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Arunachal Pradesh]
Notes:
Jang Palpung Zangdok Palri Monastery is situated in Tawang district in the state of Arunachal Pradesh.
This Buddhist monastery recently introduced dances of two deities Palden Lhamo and Gonpo, or Mahakala.
3. What is the percentage fee levied for normal UPI payments, as per NPCI?
[A] 0 %
[B] 0.20 %
[C] 0.40 %
[D] 1.00 %
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [0 %]
Notes:
As of 2023, there is no fees levied on regular bank-to-bank UPI transactions, as per the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
NPCI, which owns and runs the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), said that it has implemented fees on UPI transactions on only Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI) merchant transactions.
4. Which country has recently agreed to join Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) as a dialogue partner?
[A] New Zealand
[B] Saudi Arabia
[C] UAE
[D] Egypt
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Saudi Arabia]
Notes:
Saudi Arabia agrees to join Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) as a dialogue partner. Saudi Arabia builds a long-term partnership with China despite U.S. security concerns.
The country has approved a memorandum on granting the kingdom the status of a dialogue partner in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
5. Ukraine recently placed an order to procure ‘Rosomak multi-purpose armoured vehicle’ from which country?
[A] USA
[B] UK
[C] Germany
[D] Poland
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Poland]
Notes:
Ukraine has recently placed an order to procure 100 Rosomak multi-purpose armoured vehicles from Poland.
These multi-purpose armoured vehicle is the licensed variant of the Finnish Patria AMV. The order will be financed through funds that Poland has received from the European Union and US funds that Ukraine has received.
6. What is the GST collection recorded in the month of March?
[A] Rs 1.5 lakh crore
[B] Rs 1.6 lakh crore
[C] Rs 1.8 lakh crore
[D] Rs 2 lakh crore
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Rs 1.6 lakh crore]
Notes:
India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue collection for the month of March 2023 is stood at 1.6 lakh crore rupees.
This is 13 percent higher than the GST revenues in the same month of last year. It is for the fourth time, in the current financial year that the gross GST collection has crossed 1.5 lakh crore rupees, since the implementation of GST.
7. Which state/UT repealed the ‘Loktantra Prahari Samman Act’?
[A] Himachal Pradesh
[B] Assam
[C] Gujarat
[D] Rajasthan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Himachal Pradesh]
Notes:
The Himachal Pradesh recently repealed the Loktantra Prahari Samman Act.
The Act provides a monthly pension of Rs 20,000 and Rs 12,000 to the people who lodged in jails during the Emergency from 1975 to 1977. The repeal of the Act shall not affect the previous operations of the said Act.
8. What is the name of the single shape that can be used to cover a surface completely without creating a repeated pattern?
[A] Einstein Tile
[B] Ramanujan Tile
[C] C V Raman Tile
[D] Newton Tile
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Einstein Tile]
Notes:
The Einstein tile is a single shape that can be used to cover a surface completely without creating a repeated pattern. It was discovered recently by mathematicians.
“Einstein” is a play on German ein stein or “one stone”. A set of tile-types is considered to be aperiodic if copies of these tiles can only form patterns without repetition.
9. Which type of paint uses the nanoscale structural arrangement of aluminum and is the lightest paint in the world?
[A] Plasmonic paint
[B] Alumina paint
[C] Structural paint
[D] Pigment paint
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Plasmonic paint]
Notes:
The plasmonic paint makes use of nanoscale structural arrangement of aluminum and aluminum oxide and not traditional pigments to create different colors. It has been recently created by Florida-based researchers.
It is believed to be the lightest paint in the world. It is also the first environmentally friendly, large-scale and multicolor alternative to pigment-based colorants.
10. Which country launched the ‘Overseas Security Assistance (OSA) programme’?
[A] USA
[B] Japan
[C] Australia
[D] Germany
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Japan]
Notes:
Japan’s Overseas Security Assistance (OSA) programme was announced recently. It will provide financial assistance to help foreign nations strengthen their defences.
As per the foreign ministry, since the help would be offered as grants, only poor nations will be able to receive it.