11. What is the total merchandise value of Government e Marketplace (GeM) as of 2022-23?
[A] Rs 1 lakh crore
[B] Rs 2 lakh crore
[C] Rs 5 lakh crore
[D] Rs 10 lakh crore
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Rs 2 lakh crore]
Notes:
In the financial year 2022-2023, procurement of goods and services from government portal Government e Marketplace (GeM) has crossed the Rs 2 lakh crore mark.
After the GeM portal was launched in 2017, business worth about Rs 400 crore was done and the business tripled last year to Rs 1 lakh crores, while it reached the 2 lakh crore-mark in 5 years.
12. Which state is the host of the ‘Cope India Exercise’?
[A] Sikkim
[B] Maharashtra
[C] West Bengal
[D] Punjab
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [West Bengal]
Notes:
The Air Forces of India and the U.S. are set to conduct the Cope India exercise from April 10 to 21 at the Kalaikunda airbase in West Bengal.
The exercise will see intense air manoeuvres aimed at improving interoperability. Japan will be the observer of the exercise.
13. Catanduanes Island, which was seen in the news, is located in which country?
[A] Indonesia
[B] Japan
[C] Philippines
[D] Singapore
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Philippines]
Notes:
Catanduanes Island is the 12th largest island in the Philippines. A shallow earthquake of 6.2 magnitude struck this island recently.
According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), tsunami waves will arrive and last for hours.
14. Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry signed agreement with which company to boost India’s creative economy?
[A] IBM
[B] Amazon India
[C] Google
[D] Microsoft
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Amazon India]
Notes:
The Information and Broadcasting Ministry and Amazon India have signed a collaboration agreement in New Delhi to boost India’s creative economy and promote creative talent in the country.
As part of the agreement, Amazon Prime Video will sponsor scholarships, create internship programmes, and offer job opportunities for students of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) and Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute.
15. Which state/UT recently received the GI tag for its famous Wood carving?
[A] Jharkhand
[B] Rajasthan
[C] Ladakh
[D] Kerala
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Ladakh]
Notes:
Ladakh’s Wood Carving recently received GI (Geographical Indications) tag. In December last year, the government also granted GI Tag for Raktsey Karpo apricot of Ladakh.
Wood carving of Ladakh has been a vibrant art form in the Ladakh region, including the capital Leh and Kargil.
16. The Supreme Court set aside the orders of I&B Ministry and Kerala High Court, which refused to renew license of which channel?
[A] Alt News
[B] Media One
[C] News Minute
[D] Scroll
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Media One]
Notes:
The Supreme Court set aside the orders passed by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB) on January 31, 2022, and the Kerala High Court on March 2, 2022, refusing to renew Malayalam news channel Media One’s broadcast license.
The apex court recently quashed the ‘sealed cover’ ban on Media One after the channel argued that it went against the principles of natural justice.
17. Cabinet approves LIGO-India gravitational-wave detector to be built in which state?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Maharashtra
[C] Kerala
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Maharashtra]
Notes:
Indian government approved a project to build an advanced gravitational-wave detector in Maharashtra at an estimated cost of Rs 2,600 crore.
In the US, there are already two such LIGO observatories. The third such cutting-edge gravitational-wave observatory will be LIGO-India. The facility is expected to be completed by 2030.
18. ‘Tropospheric Emissions Monitoring of Pollution Instrument’ is a device of which space agency?
[A] ISRO
[B] NASA
[C] ESA
[D] JAXA
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [NASA]
Notes:
Tropospheric Emissions Monitoring of Pollution Instrument is a new NASA device that will track pollution over North America.
It will enable scientists to monitor air pollutants and their sources from space. The spectrometer designed to measure air pollution across greater North America at a high resolution and on an hourly basis.
19. INS Tarmugli is being transferred to which country in line with India’s SAGAR Mission?
[A] Sri Lanka
[B] Maldives
[C] Nepal
[D] Bangladesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Maldives]
Notes:
INS Tarmugli is being transferred to Maldives in line with India’s SAGAR Mission The vessel was commissioned on May 23, 2016 and was based at Visakhapatnam under the Eastern Naval Command.
It is an indigenously built highly manoeuvrable water jet fast attack craft. Built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd of Kolkata, INS Tarmugli is the first follow-on water jet fast attack craft (WJFAC).
20. ‘Prasthan Exercise’ the bi-annual coordinated exercise, held near which city in 2023?
[A] Chennai
[B] Panjim
[C] Mumbai
[D] Kolkata
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Mumbai]
Notes:
Prasthan Exercise is a bi-annual coordinated exercise held among Indian defence, state and civilian agencies twice a year.
It was conducted recently in the offshore development area off Mumbai. It validates the measures to address contingencies that may occur in oil production platforms.