11. Project CAVForth is the first registered service of which country to use full-sized autonomous buses?
[A] USA
[B] UK
[C] India
[D] China
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [UK]
Notes:
Project CAVForth was launched in 2019 to provide fully autonomous full-sized bus service across the Forth Road Bridge.
CAVForth is a joint project of various institutions and it is part funded by the UK Government’s Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles. It will be the first registered service in the UK to use full-sized autonomous buses. Bus services under this project will be launched in Scotland soon.
12. ‘TOPS’ scheme, which was seen in the news, is associated with which Union Ministry?
[A] Ministry of External Affairs
[B] Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
[C] Ministry of Home Affairs
[D] Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports]
Notes:
Target Olympic Podium Scheme’s purpose is to identify, groom and prepare potential candidates for Olympic medals.
The Sports Ministry’s Mission Olympic Cell recently gave nod for financial assistance under this scheme for 12 para-badminton players, who are set to participate in the upcoming Brazil Para-Badminton International.
13. Which state is associated with the ‘Electronic Knowledge Network’?
[A] Karnataka
[B] Assam
[C] Bihar
[D] Gujarat
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Bihar]
Notes:
RailTel Corporation of India Limited recently bagged an order worth around ₹76.10 crores from Bihar State Electronics Development Corporation (BSEDC) to implement and manage Electronic Knowledge Network (100 Mbps internet connectivity, wi-fi system and Smart Classes).
This project will be implemented in the Academic/Administrative buildings of Government Engineering Colleges and Polytechnic Institutes within the state.
14. Which country hosted the ‘High-Level Conference on Accelerating Rail Digital Transformation in Asia and Pacific Region’?
[A] India
[B] Nepal
[C] Bangladesh
[D] Thailand
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [India]
Notes:
A High-Level Conference on Accelerating Rail Digital Transformation in Asia and Pacific Region was held recently in New Delhi.
It was jointly organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Union Ministry of Railways.
15. Which NBFC firm has raised USD 750 million through issuance of green bonds?
[A] REC
[B] PFC
[C] Bajaj Finance
[D] Aditya Birla Finance
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [REC]
Notes:
State-owned non-banking finance firm REC recently raised USD 750 million through issuance of green bonds
The net proceeds from the issue of the bonds will be applied to finance, in whole or in part, the eligible green projects in accordance with the approvals granted by the Reserve Bank of India from time to time and in accordance with the ECB guidelines.
16. As per a recent report of the NSO, what per centage of communicable disease deaths in 2021 was due to respiratory ailments?
[A] 18 %
[B] 38 %
[C] 58 %
[D] 78 %
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [78 %]
Notes:
As per the latest data released by National Statistical Office (NSO), the share of respiratory infections in deaths caused by communicable diseases rose by 10 per cent to 78 per cent in 2021 from 68 per cent in 2020,
This means about four out of five deaths due to communicable diseases were caused by the respiratory ailments.
17. How many states are in the Front Runner category of the ‘State Energy Efficiency Index 2021-22’?
[A] Three
[B] Five
[C] Seven
[D] Ten
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Five]
Notes:
State Energy Efficiency Index 2021-22 was developed by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency in collaboration with the Alliance for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
In SEEI 2021-22, 5 states – Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan and Telangana – are in the Front Runner category (>60 points) while 4 states are in the Achiever category. Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Assam and Chandigarh are the top-performing states in their respective state groups. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh showed the most improvement since the last index.
18. Which country has recently passed ‘Anti-Terrorism Bill’ to replace the Prevention of Terrorism Act?
[A] Sri Lanka
[B] USA
[C] Australia
[D] Afghanistan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Sri Lanka]
Notes:
Sri Lanka’s Anti-Terrorism Bill was introduced recently to replace the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act.
There has been immense international pressure, including from the UN Human Rights Council, on Sri Lanka to repeal the 1978 law. It provides the police with broad powers to search, arrest, and detain suspects. The proposed legislation is facing criticism due to its broad definition of terrorist act.
19. Union External Affairs Minister Jaishankar launched ‘Tulsi Ghat Restoration Project’ in which country?
[A] Sri Lanka
[B] Nepal
[C] Bangladesh
[D] Uganda
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Uganda]
Notes:
Union External Affairs Minister Jaishankar launched ‘Tulsi Ghat Restoration Project’ of Varanasi during his visit to Uganda’s Kampala.
Uganda was endorsed to chair the Non-Aligned Movement on behalf of Africa for the period from 2022 to 2025.
20. Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) is associated with which country?
[A] India
[B] Sri Lanka
[C] Japan
[D] United Kingdom
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [United Kingdom]
Notes:
Government Communications Headquarters, commonly known as GCHQ, is an intelligence and security organisation of the United Kingdom which is responsible for providing signals intelligence and information assurance (IA) to the government and armed forces of UK.
Anne Keast-Butler has been announced as the new director of GCHQ, thereby becoming the first woman to lead the UK’s intelligence, cyber and security agency.