31. Which state in India has become the first to adopt Water Budget?
[A] Maharashtra
[B] Uttar Pradesh
[C] Madhya Pradesh
[D] Kerala
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Kerala]
Notes:
The state Government of Kerala has introduced the first of its kind Water Budget which aims to address water scarcity in the state through proper utilization of the resources and prevention of wastages.
Thee first phase of the project would cover 94 gram panchayats and 15 block panchayats of the state.
32. Which institution funds the ‘De-risking, Inclusion and Value Enhancement of Pastoral Economies (DRIVE)’ project?
[A] IMF
[B] World Bank
[C] WEF
[D] NITI Aayog
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [World Bank]
Notes:
De-risking, Inclusion and Value Enhancement of Pastoral Economies (DRIVE) project is a World Bank-funded project that seeks to protect pastoralists against droughts with upgraded livestock value chain and increased financial services.
As part of this project, a unique insurance scheme has been launched in Kenya to protect herders against climate change-related droughts.
33. Which Union Ministry has developed the ‘National Climate Vulnerability Index’?
[A] Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
[B] Ministry of Science and Technology
[C] Ministry of Power
[D] Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Science and Technology]
Notes:
National Climate Vulnerability Index, developed by the Department of Science and Technology, is used by the Indian government to estimate the impact of heatwaves.
A new study has revealed that more than 90 percent of the population is at risk of heatwaves and India has been underestimating the impact of heatwaves on its development.
34. National Health Claims Exchange (HCX) is an initiative under which scheme?
[A] Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM)
[B] National Rural Health Mission
[C] Universal Immunisation Programme
[D] Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM)]
Notes:
The National Health Authority (NHA) has recently invited contributors to test, contribute and become a participant in the Health Claims Exchange Ecosystem by onboarding the participants on the National Health Claims Exchange (HCX) – Sandbox Environment.
NHA announced HCX as an initiative under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) in September 2022 and subsequently worked with various groups to come up with Health Insurance Exchange specifications.
35. What is ‘Magnaporthe oryzae’ which was seen in the news recently?
[A] Plant
[B] Fungus
[C] Bacterium
[D] Insect
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Fungus]
Notes:
‘Magnaporthe oryzae’ is a fungus that causes ‘wheat blast’. It is currently destroying wheat crops in South America, threatening its food security in a major scale.
Scientists have warned that the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae could spread worldwide. Cases of infection have earlier been reported in Asia in 2016 and Africa in 2018.
36. Assam sign an agreement for settlement of inter-state boundary dispute, with which state?
[A] Sikkim
[B] Arunachal Pradesh
[C] Meghalaya
[D] West Bengal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Arunachal Pradesh]
Notes:
The governments of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh have signed an agreement for the settlement of an inter-state boundary dispute between the two States.
It will end the dispute relating to 123 villages along the border. After the agreement, a detailed survey is to be carried out by the Survey of India to determine the boundaries of both states.
37. ‘Hakki Pikki’ is a tribe of people living in which state/UT?
[A] Kerala
[B] Karnataka
[C] Odisha
[D] Madhya Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Karnataka]
Notes:
The Hakki Pikki is a tribe predominantly living in Karnataka. According to Census 2011, there are 11,892 Hakki Pikki tribal people in the state.
The Hakki Pikkis are an endogamous community and speak a language called Vaagri Booli. Hakki Pikkis were originally a nomadic tribe who hunted birds and they are named such as the Kannada word for bird is “Hakki”. Recently, as many as 108 Hakki-Pikki community people are said to be stuck in Sudan.
38. ‘Safe Kerala Project’ which was launched recently, aims to minimise?
[A] Honour Killings
[B] Road Accidents
[C] Covid Deaths
[D] Cardiac Arrests
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Road Accidents]
Notes:
The state government of Kerala launched the Safe Kerala Project to minimize the number of on-road accidents and prevent traffic violations in the state.
As part of this project, Artificial Intelligence-based cameras will be used to identify traffic violations and impose fines.
39. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched nine campaigns under Inclusive Development (Samaveshi Vikaas) theme in which state?
[A] Gujarat
[B] Madhya Pradesh
[C] Assam
[D] West Bengal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Madhya Pradesh]
Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch nine campaigns under Inclusive Development (Samaveshi Vikaas) theme on the 24th of April on the National Panchayati Raj Day in Madhya Pradesh.
He also launched the Website and Mobile App ‘Samaveshi Vikaas’ at the event. The mobile app is designed with the objective to ensure the documentation of public participation. It will also enable the government to assess and monitor the progress of the campaigns through technical tools.
40. ‘SuperBIT’ Telescope, which captured its first research images recently, was launched by which country?
[A] USA
[B] UAE
[C] Russia
[D] Japan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [USA]
Notes:
NASA’s Super Pressure Balloon Imaging Telescope (SuperBIT), which launched recently, has captured its first research images.
The SuperBIT is a diffraction-limited balloon-borne telescope that functions within the Earth’s stratosphere to achieve space-like operating conditions and performance. It recently captured antennae galaxies and tarantula nebula.