31. Which city is the host of the ‘G20 Meeting of Agricultural Chief Scientists’?
[A] Varanasi
[B] Ahmedabad
[C] Jaipur
[D] Shillong
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Varanasi]
Notes:
The G20 Meeting of Agricultural Chief Scientists is set to be held on April 17 to 19 in Varanasi. It seeks to promote science-based solutions to achieve sustainable, resilient and profitable agri-food systems.
Meeting of Agricultural Chief Scientists (MACS) is the 100th G20 Meeting during India’s G20 Presidency.
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. The ‘World Chagas Disease Day’ observed across the world during which month?
[A] January
[B] February
[C] March
[D] April
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [April]
Notes:
World Chagas Disease Day is observed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on April 14. It raises awareness about the Chagas disease.
Chagas is a communicable parasitic disease that infected over 6 to 7 million people. The theme for 2023 is Time to integrate Chagas disease into primary health care.
34. Which country has confirmed financial support of USD 1 billion to Pakistan?
[A] Russia
[B] China
[C] USA
[D] UAE
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [UAE]
Notes:
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has confirmed financial support of USD 1 billion to Pakistan. This was announced by the Finance Minister of Pakistan.
Pakistan is tackling a major economic crisis as it awaits USD 1.1 billion tranche of funding from the Washington-based International Monetary Fund, part of a USD 6.5 billion bailout package the IMF approved in 2019.
35. Which Union Ministry is set to draft the ‘SOPs for Safety and Security of Journalists’?
[A] Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
[B] Ministry of Home Affairs
[C] Ministry of Electronics and IT
[D] Ministry of Communication
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Home Affairs]
Notes:
The Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs) for the safety and security of journalists will be drafted by the Union Home Ministry.
The decision comes after three assailants posing as journalists killed gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf in Prayagraj while they were speaking to journalists.
36. ‘Cheiraoba’ is a festival celebrated in which state?
[A] Tripura
[B] Andhra Pradesh
[C] Maharashtra
[D] Manipur
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Manipur]
Notes:
Cheiraoba is considered to be one of the most important festivals of Manipur and it marks the beginning of the lunar new year for the people of Meitei community of Manipur and across the globe.
The festival is also called as Sajibu Nongma Pānba which means “First day of Sajibu Month”.
37. Where is ‘Mt Annapurna’ situated?
[A] India
[B] Nepal
[C] Bangladesh
[D] China
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Nepal]
Notes:
The Mt Annapurna is situated in the Annapurna mountain range of Gandaki Province of Nepal. It is the tenth highest mountain in the world at 8,091 metres above sea level.
The mountain was recently in news as, an Indian climber Anurag Maloo, who went missing after falling into a deep crevasse on Mount Annapurna, has been found alive in critical condition by rescuers.
38. Who has been conferred with the ‘Malcolm Adiseshiah Award 2023’?
[A] Urjit Patel
[B] Shaktikanta Das
[C] Amartya Sen
[D] Utsa Patnaik
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Utsa Patnaik]
Notes:
Utsa Patnaik, a famous economist, has been chosen for the Malcolm Adiseshiah Award 2023. The award is conferred every year by the Malcolm & Elizabeth Adiseshiah Trust to honour social scientists.
Utsa Patnaik, a renowned Indian Marxian economist, taught at the Centre for Economic Studies and Planning at Jawaharlal Nehru University.
39. What is the name of the device developed by scientists of Houston Methodist Academic Institute, which delivers drugs directly to pancreatic tumors?
[A] Nanofluidic drug-eluting seed
[B] Micro Drug
[C] Robotic drug delivery device
[D] Cancer drug delivery system
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Nanofluidic drug-eluting seed]
Notes:
Scientists from the Houston Methodist Academic Institute have recently developed a tiny nanofluidic device named Nanofluidic Drug-Eluting Seed (NDES) that delivers cancer drugs directly to pancreatic tumors.
The Nanofluidic drug-eluting seed (NDES) delivers low-dose immunotherapy via CD40 monoclonal antibodies (mAb) — which encourage the immune system to fight tumor cells — directly to pancreatic tumors to treat the aggressive form of pancreatic cancer.
40. ‘Hanuman Plover Bird’ is a species endemic to which countries?
[A] India and Sri Lanka
[B] USA and Canada
[C] Australia and New Zealand
[D] Japan and Indonesia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [India and Sri Lanka]
Notes:
Hanuman Plover Bird has been reinstated as species after more than eight decades. This bird is endemic to India and Sri Lanka.
Hanuman Plover Bird was merged with the Kentish plover in the 1930s as both species were considered to be the same.