41. The text of UN biodiversity pact, which was released recently, has how many action-oriented global targets?
[A] 17
[B] 23
[C] 35
[D] 42
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [23]
Notes:
After the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework by 196 parties was agreed at the 15th meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP15) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, the final text of the framework has been released.
The framework, released Montreal city in Canada, includes four goals and 23 action-oriented global targets for urgent action to be achieved by 2030. It also has four long-term goals for 2050 related to the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity.
42. What is ‘KALYANI FeRRESTA’ which was launched recently?
[A] Green Bond
[B] Green Steel
[C] Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
[D] Cryptocurrency
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Green Steel]
Notes:
Union Steel Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia launched India’s first Green Steel Brand – KALYANI FeRRESTA.
It has been manufactured by a Pune-based Steel company, Kalyani group by using renewable energy resources. Reecntly Kalyani Strategic Systems bagged an export order worth USD 155 million for artillery guns from another country.
43. Which institution has set up ‘Central Excise and Service Tax Settlement Commission’?
[A] SEBI
[B] CBIC
[C] CBDT
[D] Enforcement Directorate
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [CBIC]
Notes:
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has constituted Customs, Central Excise and Service Tax Settlement Commission.
It aims to resolve and settle the show-cause notices issued under the Customs Act, Central Excise Act and Service Tax regime. This move would ensure speedy disposal of cases under the old indirect tax regime.
44. 7-year-old Geto Sora, who was seen in the news, plays which sports?
[A] Archery
[B] Squash
[C] Badminton
[D] Chess
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Badminton]
Notes:
India’s budding badminton player Geto Sora recently won Junior International Badminton Championship title in Malaysia.
This is Sora’s second international badminton title in two months. The 7 year old player from Arunachal Pradesh is one of the youngest to clinch international title. Earlier, he won the multinational BTY-Yonex-Singha Championship, Thailand.
45. Which institution has been named as ‘G20 Science working group’s secretariat’?
[A] IIT Madras
[B] IIT Bombay
[C] IIT Delhi
[D] IISc Bengaluru
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [IISc Bengaluru]
Notes:
The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has been named as the secretariat for Science 20 (S20), one of the G20’s groupings.
The G20 is being presided over by India and the theme of the S20 in 2023 is ‘Disruptive Science for Innovative and Sustainable Development’. Discussions will take place throughout the year in various regions of India.
46. What is the name of the digital project funded by Google to map the language diversity of India?
[A] Project Bharat
[B] Project Vaani
[C] Project Echo
[D] Project Inimai
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Project Vaani]
Notes:
The Indian Institute of Sciences (IISc), ARTPARK (AI and Robotics Technology Park) and Google have partnered together for ‘Project Vaani’ Initiative.
The digital project aims to map the language diversity of India by collecting speech sets of about a million people across 773 districts. The project aims to record over 150,000 hours of speech, part of which will be transcribed in local scripts. The goal is to boost development of automatic speech recognition, speech to speech translation and natural language understanding.
47. Brijesh Damani, who was seen in the news, plays which sports?
[A] Chess
[B] Badminton
[C] Billiards
[D] Cricket
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Billiards]
Notes:
Asian Games silver medallist Brijesh Damani won his maiden National Billiards Championship as he defeated his fellow player Dhruv Sitwala in Indore.
Indian Oil’s Brijesh had defeated B. Bhaskar of Karnataka and reigning World 6Red Champion S. Shrikrishna in quarterfinal and semifinal. At present, Brijesh has six international medals, including a silver at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games.
48. Which country launched the ‘G20 Digital Innovation Alliance (G20-DIA)’?
[A] India
[B] China
[C] Italy
[D] Germany
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [India]
Notes:
As part of India’s G20 presidency, the Minister for Electronics & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw has launched the ‘G20 Digital Innovation Alliance” (G20-DIA)’.
He also launched the ‘Stay Safe Online’ campaign to increase awareness about the safe practices to be used while being online. MeitY is the Nodal Ministry for the G20 Digital Economy Working Group (DEWG). During India’s G20 presidency, MeitY will focus on three priority areas, namely Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), Cyber Security, and Digital Skill Development.
49. ‘Rythu Bandhu’ is the flagship scheme of which state/UT?
[A] Kerala
[B] Telangana
[C] West Bengal
[D] Assam
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Telangana]
Notes:
Telangana government has launched the 10th phase of Rythu Bandhu, the investment support scheme for farmers.
Under this phase, 7,676 crores will be deposited in the bank accounts of over 70 lakh farmers towards investment support for the Rabi crop season. The investment support is disbursed at a rate of 5000 rupees per acre.
50. Who is the author of the book titled ‘Forks in the Road: My Days at RBI and Beyond’?
[A] Urjit Patel
[B] Raghuram Rajan
[C] C Rangarajan
[D] M Narasimhan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [C Rangarajan]
Notes:
‘Forks in the Road: My Days at RBI and Beyond’ book is a memoir of Dr C. Rangarajan, the 19th Governor of the Reserve Bank of India and a former Member of Parliament.
The book includes his journey as an economist and RBI Governor and sheds lights on some of the hidden truths surrounding India’s economic history including the account of 1991 reforms.