21. Which institution regulates the ‘Core Investment Companies’?
[A] SEBI
[B] RBI
[C] NSE
[D] PFRDA
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [RBI]
Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regulates the Core Investment Companies. Core Investment Companies are specialized NBFCs that are involved in the business of acquisition of shares and securities.
The RBI has simplified the process of applying for registration of CICs, reducing the number of documents to be furnished from 52 to 18.
22. Which Indian chess player has won the World Chess Armageddon Asia & Oceania?
[A] R Praggnanandhaa
[B] D Gukesh
[C] Arjun Erigaisi
[D] Nihal Sarin
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [D Gukesh]
Notes:
Teenaged Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh stunned former world rapid champion Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan in the final to win the World Chess Armageddon Asia & Oceania.
The 16-year-old Indian won in a field that included former world classical champion Vladimir Kramnik, Daniil Dubov, Yangyi Yu (China), Vidit Gujrathi and Karthikeyan Murali (both India) and Param Maghsoodloo (Iran), apart from Abdusattorov.
23. Incident and Trafficking Database (ITDB) is the information database of which international organisation?
[A] World Bank
[B] Bank for International Settlement
[C] International Atomic Energy Agency
[D] Central Bureau of Indirect Taxes and Excise
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [International Atomic Energy Agency]
Notes:
Incident and Trafficking Database (ITDB) is International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA’s) information system of incidents of unauthorized activates and illicit trafficking involving radioactive materials outside the purview of regulatory control.
As per the recently released annual fact sheet of ITDB a total of 146 incidents of illegal or unauthorized activities involving nuclear and other radioactive material were reported in the year 2022.
24. 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.
25. What is the name of India’s first semi-high-speed regional rail services which is being implemented in NCR?
[A] Aham Metro
[B] Maha Rail
[C] RAPIDX
[D] Retro Metro
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [RAPIDX]
Notes:
The India’s first semi-high-speed regional rail services has been named ‘RAPIDX’ by the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC). The RAPIDX trains will run on the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridors, which would connect key urban nodes across the National Capital Region (NCR).
The project is implemented by NCRTC which is a a joint venture company of the Union government and states of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
26. Which act allows the Central Government to set up a fact checking unit?
[A] IT Amendment Rules, 2023
[B] Digital India Act 2022
[C] Digital Media Rules 2023
[D] Free Speech Rules 2023
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [IT Amendment Rules, 2023]
Notes:
The Rule 3(1)(II)(A) and (C) of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2023 allows the Central Government to set up a fact checking unit.
There are concerns regarding its role in preventing free speech online.
27. Which country was recently hit by ‘Cyclone Ilsa’?
[A] USA
[B] Australia
[C] Russia
[D] Germany
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Australia]
Notes:
Cyclone Ilsa is a category 5 storm that recently made landfall into a remote stretch of coast in Western Australia.
Its high wind speeds broke previous records that were set around a decade ago in the same place. Severe Tropical Cyclone Ilsa struck the places close to Port Hedland, the world’s largest iron ore export hub.
28. Which institution has launched the ‘Mission 50K-EV4ECO’?
[A] RBI
[B] SIDBI
[C] SEBI
[D] NITI Aayog
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [SIDBI]
Notes:
The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has announced the launch of a pilot phase of ‘Mission 50K-EV4ECO’
The pilot scheme aims at strengthening the EV ecosystem, including uptake for two, three and four-wheelers through direct and indirect lending.
29. ‘Pohela Boishakh’ marks the beginning of the new year in which state?
[A] Odisha
[B] West Bengal
[C] Uttarakhand
[D] Meghalaya
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [West Bengal]
Notes:
Pohela Boishakh, also known as Bengali New Year, is a significant cultural festival in Bangladesh and the Bengali-speaking states of India including West Bengal.
The festival is celebrated on the first day of the Bengali calendar, which usually falls in the month of April. This year, it is celebrated on April 15.
30. Which bloc has set up a set up a task force to monitor OpenAI’s ChatGPT?
[A] SAARC
[B] EU
[C] ASEAN
[D] G-20
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [EU]
Notes:
The European Data Protection Board is an autonomous institute in charge of supervising data protection regulations within the European Union.
It has recently decided to set up a task force to monitor Open AI’s ChatGPT. Italy last month imposed a temporarily ban on ChatGPT.