31. Which State/UT has emerged as a leading state in trading at National Agriculture Market (eNAM)?
[A] Rajasthan
[B] West Bengal
[C] Uttar Pradesh
[D] Karnataka
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Rajasthan]
Notes:
- Rajasthan has emerged as a leading state in trading at National Agriculture Market (eNAM).
- Rajasthan was the first state to allow conversion of all single trading licenses into unified license to promote e-Trade of farm products.
- Till now, total 37346 traders are working as unified licensee traders.
- Mandis are providing highly IT enabled facilities like desktop, display boards with updated details, projectors with screen for farmers in rural Rajasthan.
32. In which city, the Centre for Research and Innovation in Artificial Intelligence has been inaugurated?
[A] Kharagpur
[B] Mumbai
[C] Hyderabad
[D] New Delhi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Hyderabad]
Notes:
- Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has virtually inaugurated the Centre for Research and Innovation in Artificial Intelligence set up at the Indian Institute of Technology-Hyderabad (IIT-H).
- He also inaugurated the first Academic Building of the Department of Materials Science & Metallurgical Engineering, High-Performance Computing Centre and High-Resolution Electron Microscopy Facility.
- Centre for Research and Innovation in Artificial Intelligence is being set up in collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency-JICA.
- The University has an agreement with Honeywell Technology Solutions for setting up the lab.
33. Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated and laid foundation stone of multiple projects in Somnath Temple. In which State/UT, Somnath Temple is located?
[A] Odisha
[B] Uttar Pradesh
[C] Uttarakhand
[D] Gujarat
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Gujarat]
Notes:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated and laid foundation stone of multiple projects in Somnath Temple on August 20.
- Inaugurated projects include the Somnath Promenade, reconstructed temple precinct of Old (Juna) Somnath and Somnath Exhibition Centre.
- While inaugurating the projects, PM highlighted that, India needs to strengthen religious tourism as it will provide employment to youth and enable them to get knowledge about our past.
- Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for Shree Parvati Temple on the occasion.
- This temple is proposed to be constructed with a total outlay of Rupees 30 crore.
- Somnath temple is situated in Veraval (Somnath City), Saurashtra on the western coast of Gujarat.
34. With the inauguration of the first solar electric vehicle charging station at the Karnal lake resort, which highway has become the first e-vehicle friendly highway in India?
[A] Delhi-Jaipur Highway
[B] Delhi-Chandigarh Highway
[C] Delhi–Gurgaon Expressway
[D] Delhi-Mumbai Highway
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Delhi-Chandigarh Highway]
Notes:
- The Union Heavy Industries Minister Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey inaugurated the country’s very first Solar Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station at the Karnal Lake Resort.
- With the inauguration of the first solar electric vehicle charging station at the Karnal lake resort, the Delhi-Chandigarh Highway has become the first e-vehicle friendly highway in India.
- The EV charging station at the Karnal lake resort is strategically located at the midpoint of the Delhi-Chandigarh highway and is equipped to cater to all types of E-cars plying currently in the country.
- The network of Solar-based Electric Vehicle Charging stations (SEVCs) is set up by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) under the FAME-1 [Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid) & Electric Vehicles in India] scheme of the Ministry of Heavy Industries.
35. In partnership with whom the 5th edition of the Defence India Start-up Challenge was launched by Defence ministry?
[A] Atal Innovation Mission
[B] Digital India
[C] Startup India
[D] Atal Tinkering Labs
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Atal Innovation Mission]
Notes:
- Defence Minister of India, Rajnath Singh, launched the 5th edition of the Defence India Start-up Challenge (DISC) on August 19, 2021.
- DISC was launched under Innovations for Defence Excellence – Defence Innovation Organisation (iDEX-DIO).
- This challenge is meant to achieve self-reliance and foster innovation and technology development across the defence and aerospace sectors.
- This challenge was launched by Ministry in partnership with Atal Innovation Mission.
- It was launched with the aim of providing support to Startups, MSMEs and Innovators to create prototypes or commercialize products and solutions in the fields of National Defence and Security.
36. Recently, the world’s first plasmid DNA-based shot has Friday received emergency use authorisation from the drug controller of India. Which organization has manufactured this vaccine?
[A] Zydus Cadila
[B] Moderna
[C] Pfizer
[D] Serum Institute of India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Zydus Cadila]
Notes:
- Ahmedabad-based Zydus Cadila has received emergency use authorisation from the drug controller for its three-dose ZyCoV-D Covid-19 vaccine, the world’s first plasmid DNA-based shot.
- The three-dose ZyCoV-D is India’s sixth approved Covid shot after Covishield, Covaxin, Sputnik V, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson.
- Zydus Cadila termed the vaccine “a no injection”, saying it has a needle-free application system in place to administer the shots.
- The vaccine is also the first in India to be tested among 12 to 18 year olds, with the company saying it is safe for children.
- ZyCoV-D is the world’s first and India’s indigenously developed DNA-based vaccine for Covid-19 to be administered to humans, including children and adults 12 years and above.
- It has been developed in partnership with the Department of Biotechnology.
37. In which city, the first of its kind 20-storey building with a metro train, “Zero Mile Freedom Park station” has been inaugurated?
[A] Nagpur
[B] Kolkata
[C] Bengaluru
[D] New Delhi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Nagpur]
Notes:
- A 1.6-kilometer-long stretch of the Sitabuldi – Zero Mile Freedom Park – Kasturchand Park of Nagpur Metro Rail Project was inaugurated in Nagpur
- It will be the first of its kind in the country to be part of a magnificent 20-storey building with a metro train on the fourth floor.
- Out of these, 13 will be used for commercial purpose which will enhance the Metro’s revenue.
38. Which date in August is celebrated as World Sanskrit Day?
[A] 20 August
[B] 21 August
[C] 22 August
[D] 23 August
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [22 August]
Notes:
- World Sanskrit Day is also known as Vishva-samskrita-dinam.
- It is an annual event that focuses around the ancient Indian language of Sanskrit.
- The day is celebrated with the aim of promoting its revival and maintenance.
- Every year, the day is celebrated on Shraavana Poornima, the full moon day of the Shraavana month in Hindu calendar.
- In the year 2021, the day is marked on August 22.
- Sanskrit organisation Samskrita Bharati has been tasked with promoting the day.
- Sanskrit Week is being celebrated from August 19 to August 25, 2021.
39. In which state/UT, the cabinet has approved two credit-linked schemes for the agro-based sectors?
[A] Assam
[B] Kerala
[C] Arunachal Pradesh
[D] Ladakh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Arunachal Pradesh]
Notes:
- The Arunachal Pradesh cabinet has approved two credit-linked schemes, which will facilitate Rs 300 crore investments in the agro-based sectors.
- The state government has earmarked Rs 60 crore of subsidies each for Atma Nirbhar Krishi Yojana for agriculture and Atma Nirbhar Bagwani Yojana for horticulture during the fiscal year 2021-22.
- The credit-linked programmes will have three components – bank loans, subsidy and beneficiaries’ contribution.
- The schemes will be available for cultivators, self-help groups and farmer producer organisations (FPOs).
40. O. Chandrasekharan, who passed away recently, represented India in the Olympics in which sport?
[A] Hockey
[B] Wrestling
[C] Long Jump
[D] Football
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Football]
Notes:
- Former Indian Footballer O. Chandrasekharan passed away in Kochi on August 24, 2021 at the age of 86.
- Chandrasekharan was part of the Indian team that participated in the 1960 Rome and the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
- He was also a member of the Indian team that won the gold in 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta and the silver medal in Asian Cup in Tel Aviv the same year.
- He captained the Maharashtra team that won the 1963 Santosh Trophy.
