31. ‘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.
32. As per the ‘Banking on Climate Chaos Report’ which is the top bank in financing fossil fuels globally from 2016–2022?
[A] Citi Bank
[B] JP Morgan Chase
[C] Wells Fargo
[D] Bank of America
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [JP Morgan Chase]
Notes:
The ‘Banking on Climate Chaos Report’ was co-authored by several institutions including Rainforest Action Network, BankTrack, Indigenous Environmental Network among others.
According to this report, world’s 60 largest banks have spent 5.5 trillion USD for funding fossil fuel projects since 2016, when the Paris Agreement came into effect. J P Morgan Chase is the top bank financing fossil fuels globally from 2016–2022.
33. Which space agency launched the ‘Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) project’?
[A] ISRO
[B] NASA
[C] ESA
[D] Rocosmos
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [ESA]
Notes:
The European Space Agency has successfully launched its mission to Jupiter’s moons. The Ariane 5 rocket was launched from the ESA’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
The Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) project aims to send a satellite on an eight-year journey to reach the icy moons of the planet, gas giant.
34. Virginia Norwood, who passed away recently, was associated with which field?
[A] Politics
[B] Aerospace
[C] Business
[D] Sports
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Aerospace]
Notes:
Virginia Norwood, the aerospace pioneer, has passed away recently at the age of 96. She invented a scanner that has enabled scientists to map and study the earth for more than 50 years.
Ms. Norwood, a physicist, was the person primarily responsible for designing the scanner that made the Landsat satellite program possible.
35. What is the name coined for the collection of marine debris in the Northern Pacific Ocean?
[A] High Sea Debris
[B] Mid Oceanic Debris
[C] Great Pacific Garbage Patch
[D] American Debris Stream
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Great Pacific Garbage Patch]
Notes:
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a collection of marine debris in the North Pacific Ocean. It is also known as the Pacific trash vortex, spans waters from the West Coast of North America to Japan.
Marine debris is litter that ends up in the ocean, seas, and other large bodies of water. A recent study by Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) shows that this giant collection of plastic trash has also become home to thousands of marine life, creating a new kind of ecosystem.
36. Authority Holding Sealed Particulars (AHSP) is associated with which Ministry?
[A] Ministry of Home Affairs
[B] Ministry of Defence
[C] Ministry of Commerce
[D] Ministry of Agriculture
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Defence]
Notes:
The Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved a proposal to bring in industry-friendly reforms related to Authority Holding Sealed Particulars or AHSP.
Authority Holding Sealed Particulars (AHSP) is responsible for holding of sealed particulars and patterns along with supply of certified copies of drawings & specifications in respect of defence related items.
37. What is the name for the hybrid solar eclipse which will transit from an annular eclipse to a total eclipse?
[A] Ningaloo Eclipse
[B] Partial Eclipse
[C] Helcos Eclipse
[D] Lumbar Eclipse
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ningaloo Eclipse]
Notes:
The Ningaloo Eclipse is a hybrid solar eclipse in which the eclipse will transit from an annular eclipse to a total eclipse in certain regions of the world and again transit back to an annular eclipse.
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, thereby obscuring the view of the Sun from a small part of the Earth. There are four types of solar eclipses: total, partial, hybrid, and annular.
38. Which Union Ministry is associated with the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023?
[A] Ministry of Communication
[B] Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
[C] Ministry of Culture
[D] Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Information and Broadcasting]
Notes:
The Union Cabinet cleared the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023 which has provisions for harsher punishments for film piracy and the introduction of new age categories for classifying films.
The Bill will be introduced in the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament, as per the Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur.
39. Which country is the host of the ‘EU-India Aviation Summit’?
[A] India
[B] Italy
[C] Germany
[D] Finland
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [India]
Notes:
The two-day EU-India Aviation Summit was held in New Delhi. It focuses on air transport relations and the mutually shared challenges and opportunities of the EU and India.
During the summit, a declaration of intent was signed by Airport Authority of India with Eurocontrol, and a letter of intent memorandum of understanding was signed by DGCA with the European Union Aviation Safety for closer cooperation.
40. ‘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.