11. ‘Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell’ functions under the aegis of which Union Ministry?
[A] Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
[B] Ministry of Coal
[C] Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
[D] Ministry of Power
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas]
Notes:
Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell is the data backbone of the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
It recently celebrated its 22nd foundation day. After the dismantling of Administered Pricing Mechanism (APM) in petroleum sector, Oil Coordination Committee (OCC) was abolished and a new cell called Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell (PPAC) was created effective 1st April 2002.
12. ‘Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project’ is located in which Indian state?
[A] Assam
[B] Uttarakhand
[C] Tamil Nadu
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Tamil Nadu]
Notes:
Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project involves the setting up of India’ largest nuclear power station in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu.
A pressuriser was delivered for Reactor 5 of this power plant by AEM-Technologies Izhora, which is part of the machine-building division of Rosatom – Atomenergomash.
13. Which state approved agreement with KfW for a loan to fund the ‘Kerala Green Energy Corridor’?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Kerala
[C] Andhra Pradesh
[D] Telangana
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Kerala]
Notes:
Kerala Green Energy Corridor seeks to synchronize electricity produced from renewables with conventional power stations in the grid.
The state cabinet recently approved the agreement with the German development bank, KfW, for a loan to fund this project.
14. Which country signed several economic agreements in energy, agriculture among other sectors, with China?
[A] France
[B] Germany
[C] UK
[D] Italy
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [France]
Notes:
France and China have signed several economic agreements involving major companies in sectors such as transport, energy, agriculture, culture and science during President Emmanuel Macron’s trip to China.
One of the deals will create a new assembly line in French aircraft manufacturer Airbus’ Tianjin factory so the company can double its production capacity of A320 models.
15. 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.
16. Which institution manages the unclaimed deposits in India?
[A] SEBI
[B] RBI
[C] Ministry of Finance
[D] BSE
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [RBI]
Notes:
After ten years of inactivity from the depositor, the unclaimed deposits are transferred to RBI’s Depositors Education and Awareness Fund.
The RBI has planned to open a web portal to allow depositors search for their unclaimed deposits across banks, and issued norms to make credit information companies (CICs) more accountable, measures aimed at helping consumers.
17. Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease is prevalently spreading in which country?
[A] USA
[B] UK
[C] New Zealand
[D] Russia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [New Zealand]
Notes:
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus is a contagious and deadly viral hepatitis that affects adult domesticated and wild rabbits.
The rabbits are threatening the bio-diversity and agriculture of the southern region of Central Otago. New Zealand is currently considering the use of the virus that causes this disease to cull the rabbits, which are turning into a plague.
18. Melolontha arunachalensis, which was seen in the news, belongs to which species?
[A] Spider
[B] Beetle
[C] Butterfly
[D] Snake
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Beetle]
Notes:
Two new species of beetle were found in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh and they were named Melolontha lachugensis and Melolontha arunachalensis.
These two new beetle species have been discovered in India after 127 years in the genus Melolontha, bringing the total number of Indian species to 12.
19. Who was the ninth Guru of the Sikh religion?
[A] Guru Tegh Bahadur
[B] Guru Nanak
[C] Guru Har Gobind
[D] Guru Ram Das
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Guru Tegh Bahadur]
Notes:
Guru Tegh Bahadur is the ninth out of the ten Gurus who founded the Sikh religion. Parkash Purab of Guru Tegh Bahadur is celebrated every year on April 11. He was the leader of Sikhs from 1665 until his death in 1675.
He was the youngest son of the 6th Sikh Guru, Guru Hargobind.
20. What is ‘Vibrio vulnificus’, which was seen in the news recently?
[A] Animal
[B] Bird
[C] Bacterium
[D] Insect
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Bacterium]
Notes:
Vibrio vulnificus is a rare flesh-eating bacterium that can cause necrotizing fasciitis – a severe infection in which the flesh around an open wound dies.
In the east coast of the United States, rising temperature as resulted in a surge in the presence of Vibrio vulnificus and associated infections.