1. ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice’ is associated with which country?
[A] USA
[B] Australia
[C] Greece
[D] Italy
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Australia]
Notes:
First Peoples of Australia are people who lived in the Australia’s continental mainland and surrounding islands for tens of thousands of years before the arrival of first Europeans in the early 17th century.
A referendum will be issued this year by the Australian government to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. It will decide whether these people should be formally consulted in the law making process.
2. Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) is a joint venture of Education Ministry and which bank?
[A] State Bank of India
[B] HDFC Bank
[C] Canara Bank
[D] ICICI Bank
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Canara Bank]
Notes:
Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) is a joint venture of Education Ministry, Government of India and Canara Bank for financing creation of capital assets in premier institutions.
A Parliamentary panel has recently directed the Education Ministry to fast track the process of disbursing sanctioned loans by the HEFA.
3. Which institution developed a pocket-friendly device to detect milk adulteration in 30 seconds?
[A] IISc Bengaluru
[B] IIT Madras
[C] IIT Delhi
[D] NIT Tiruchirappalli
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [IIT Madras]
Notes:
Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) Researchers have developed a three-dimensional (3D) paper-based portable device that can detect adulteration in milk within 30 seconds.
The test could be even performed at home. It can detect multiple substances commonly used as adulterating agents including Urea, detergents, soap, starch, hydrogen peroxide, sodium-hydrogen-carbonate, and salt, among others.
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. Which country recently described India as ‘Friendly Sovereign Global Centres of Power’?
[A] Russia
[B] China
[C] USA
[D] UK
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Russia]
Notes:
Russia recently announced unveiled a new concept of foreign policy by describing India and China as ‘friendly sovereign global centres of power’.
These countries will be given particular focus by Moscow by comprehensively deepening ties and improving coordination with them.
6. Which payment bank launched ‘WhatsApp Banking Services’?
[A] India Post Payments Bank
[B] Airtel Payments Bank
[C] Jio Payments Bank
[D] NSDL Payments Bank
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [India Post Payments Bank]
Notes:
WhatsApp Banking Services was launched recently by the India Post Payments Bank in collaboration with Airtel.
It enables the IPPB customers to access banking service from their mobile phone. The Airtel-IPPB WhatsApp Banking solution aims to provide multi-language support.
7. 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.
8. Which country hosted the first ‘India-Central Asia Culture Ministers’ Meeting’?
[A] India
[B] Kyrgyzstan
[C] Kazakhstan
[D] Tajikistan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [India]
Notes:
Minister of Culture, Tourism and Development of North Eastern Region G. Kishan Reddy hosted the first India-Central Asia Culture Ministers’ Meeting virtually.
The Culture Ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan participated in the meeting. The India-Central Asia Summit hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2022.
9. When is the ‘International Day of Conscience’ observed?
[A] April 2
[B] April 4
[C] April 5
[D] April 8
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [April 5]
Notes:
The International Day of Conscience is observed every year on April 5. It was established by the UNGA in 2019 to highlight the importance of human conscience.
Kingdom of Bahrain had submitted a draft resolution titled ‘Promoting the Culture of Peace with Love and Conscience’, which was adopted by the UNGA.
10. Habrocestum togansangmai, a new species discovered, belongs to which species?
[A] Spider
[B] Snake
[C] Turtle
[D] Gecko
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Spider]
Notes:
Four new species of jumping spiders were recently discovered from the Meghalaya. One among them is ‘Habrocestum togansangmai’.
It is named after Garo freedom fighter Togan Sangma.