21. ‘Comstock Act’, which was seen in the news, is associated with which country?
[A] Russia
[B] USA
[C] UK
[D] New Zealand
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [USA]
Notes:
Comstock Act is a US law that was originally passed in 1873 to ban the mailing of contraceptives, lewd writings and any instrument, substance, drug, medicine, or thing that could be used in an abortion.
It is currently at the centre of the recent court ruling that threatens access to the popular abortion drug in the country.
22. ‘Bihu Naas’ is a dance form prevalently practised in which state?
[A] West Bengal
[B] Bihar
[C] Assam
[D] Karnataka
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Assam]
Notes:
The Bihu naas (dance) is the defining feature of Rongali Bihu, or Bohag Bihu, which marks the Assamese New Year.
The state government of Assam is planning to bring together 11,140 artistes from all districts of the state to perform this dance at Guwahati’s Sarusajai Stadium to create a Guinness Record.
23. The UN Democracy Fund was founded in which year?
[A] 1992
[B] 2003
[C] 2005
[D] 2010
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [2005]
Notes:
At the World Summit during the UN General Assembly in September 2005, USA and India co-sponsored a fund-raising event for UNDEF.
Majority of this fund goes to the local civil society organizations. It gives grants to NGOs funded by George Soros, while he is put on the watchlist in India.
24. Which state/UT has organised the ‘Baisakhi Mahotsav 2023’?
[A] Andhra Pradesh
[B] Jammu and Kashmir
[C] Kerala
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Jammu and Kashmir]
Notes:
Baisakhi Mahotsav 2023 will be organized by Jammu’s Directorate of Tourism. The event celebrates Dogra culture and heritage.
Baisakhi, also known as Vaisakhi, is one of the harvest festivals celebrated in India and in parts of the world largely by the Sikh community.
25. What is the rate of interest payable in General Provident Fund (GPF) for the April to June 2023 quarter?
[A] 7.1%
[B] 7.3 %
[C] 7.5 %
[D] 8.1 %
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [7.1%]
Notes:
The government has retained the interest rate payable on savings in General Provident Fund (GPF) at 7.1% for the April to June 2023 quarter.
Interest rates on General Provident Fund (GPF) are revised periodically according to the government’s issued notifications.
26. The Government of Maharashtra announced to celebrate which Indian personality’s birthday as “Swatantraveer Gaurav Din”?
[A] Mahatma Gandhi
[B] Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
[C] Jyotirao Phule
[D] Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Vinayak Damodar Savarkar]
Notes:
The Government of Maharashtra has decided to celebrate the birth anniversary of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar – May 28th as ‘Swatantraveer Gaurav Din’.
Vinayak Savarkar was born in Maharashtra’s Nashik district, on 28th May 1883. Year 2023 would mark his 140th birth anniversary. Various programs will be organised by the state to promote and propagate the thoughts and works of Veer Savarkar on Swatantraveer Gaurav Divas.
27. Which armed force launched the Regional Pollution Response Exercise ‘RPREX-2023’?
[A] Indian Army
[B] Indian Navy
[C] Indian Coast Guard
[D] Indian Air Force
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Indian Coast Guard]
Notes:
The Regional Pollution Response Exercise, RPREX-2023, was launched recently by the Indian Coast Guard.
It will assess the preparedness of the oil exploration companies to handle oil spills and marine pollutions.
28. Which state/UT recently unveiled the statue of ‘Teja Singh Sutantar’?
[A] Gujarat
[B] Punjab
[C] Uttarakhand
[D] Sikkim
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Punjab]
Notes:
Teja Singh Sutantar, a member of the fifth Lok Sabha, was a national revolutionary who fought for Indian independence from the British colonialism.
He also led the ‘PEPSU Muzara movement’ fighting for the liberation of Punjab peasantry from feudal lords. His statue was unveiled recently by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
29. Raman Research Institute, the autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology, is based in which city?
[A] Chennai
[B] Pune
[C] Bengaluru
[D] Hyderabad
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Bengaluru]
Notes:
The Raman Research Institute is an institute for scientific research located in Bangalore, India. It was founded by Nobel laureate C. V. Raman in 1948.
The autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology recently signed an MoU with the Indian Navy’s Weapons and Electronics Systems Engineering Establishment (WESEE) for the development of secure maritime communications using quantum technologies.
30. Which country has developed the ‘Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile’?
[A] USA
[B] North Korea
[C] Ukraine
[D] Russia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [North Korea]
Notes:
Hwasong-18 ICBM is a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile developed by North Korea. It was test fired recently to confirm the performance of the high-thrust solid-fuel engines, the stage-jettisoning technology and various functional control systems.