41. Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran is the official portal of which state?
[A] Gujarat
[B] Punjab
[C] Haryana
[D] Andhra Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Haryana]
Notes:
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar mentioned that families with annual incomes up to 1,80,000 are being brought under ‘BPL family category’ and around 29 lakh cards will be made in this regard.
He also announced that the government’s official portal Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) will begin its Citizen Facilitation Center. The state government will celebrate 2023 as ‘Antyodaya Arogya Varsh, and under the ‘Chirayu Yojana’ 29 lakh families shall be given health insurance.
42. Who has been appointed as the Chairman of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)?
[A] Naresh Kumar
[B] Santosh Kumar Yadav
[C] Ajay Bhadoo
[D] Vibhu Nayar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Santosh Kumar Yadav]
Notes:
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has appointed senior bureaucrat Santosh Kumar Yadav as Chairman.
Santosh Kumar Yadav, a 1995-batch IAS officer is currently additional secretary in the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education.
43. As per IMF’s recent Article IV Consultation report, what is the forecast for India’s economic growth in FY24?
[A] 6.1 %
[B] 7.1 %
[C] 8.1 %
[D] 8.5 %
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [6.1 %]
Notes:
As per the Article IV Consultation report is based on International Monetary Fund bilateral discussions with the Indian authorities.
As per the report, for India’s economic growth is expected to moderate to 6.1% in FY24 from 6.8% estimated for the current fiscal because of high oil prices, weaker external demand, and tighter financial conditions. IMF cautioned that the emergence of a more contagious coronavirus variant could impact trade and growth further.
44. Which country has ordered its judges to fully enforce aspects of ‘Sharia system’?
[A] Iran
[B] Iraq
[C] Afghanistan
[D] Pakistan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Afghanistan]
Notes:
Afghanistan’s supreme leader has ordered judges to fully enforce aspects of the Sharia system. It is the Islamic law that include public executions, stonings, floggings and the amputation of limbs for thieves among others.
‘Hudud’ refers to offences for which certain types of punishment are mandated under Islamic Law, while ‘Qisas’ is translated as retaliation in kind.
45. 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.
46. Which state assembly has recently passed ‘Lokayukta Bill’?
[A] Maharashtra
[B] Gujarat
[C] Haryana
[D] Punjab
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Maharashtra]
Notes:
The Maharashtra Assembly unanimously passed the Maharashtra Lokayukta Act, 2022, which will give additional powers to the Lokayukta to direct state agencies to probe public servants, including the chief minister and state ministers.
The government has accepted all the recommendations made by the committee led by social activist Anna Hazare. The Act will now be presented in the Legislative Council for approval.
47. Which state commenced India’s first Nilgiri Tahr project?
[A] Kerala
[B] Tamil Nadu
[C] Odisha
[D] Karnataka
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Tamil Nadu]
Notes:
Tamil Nadu government has issued orders to conserve the Nilgiri tahr, the state animal, at a cost of Rs 25.14 crore.
This is regarded as the first Nilgiri Tahr conservation project in the country. The project would be implemented during a 5-year period from 2022-2027, and follow a strategy including synchronised surveys to estimate numbers of the tahrs. The tahr is an endangered species and is protected under Schedule-I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, 1972.
48. As per the US Census Bureau, what is the projected population of the world on New Year’s Day 2023?
[A] 5.9 billion
[B] 7.9 billion
[C] 9.9 billion
[D] 11.9 billion
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [7.9 billion]
Notes:
The US Census Bureau said the world’s population is projected to be at 7.9 billion on New Year’s Day 2023.
This is an increase of 73.7 million since January 2022 and an increase in global population of 0.9 percent over the previous year. The Census Bureau projected that there will be 4.3 births and two deaths globally every second in January 2023.
49. Pele, who passed away recently, was a legendary footballer of which country?
[A] Germany
[B] Brazil
[C] Argentina
[D] France
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Brazil]
Notes:
Brazil football legend Pele recently passed away due to cancer at the age of 82. His funeral is set to be held at the stadium where Brazilian soccer legend Pele played some of his best matches.
The legendary player led Brazil to World Cup victory in 1958, 1962 and 1970. He remains one of the team’s all-time leading scorers with 77 goals. Brazil’s Neymar tied Pele’s record during this year’s World Cup in Qatar.
50. Which is the headquarters of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA)?
[A] New Delhi
[B] Bengaluru
[C] Guwahati
[D] Kochi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bengaluru]
Notes:
The Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) is an autonomous Research Institute wholly financed by the department of Science and Technology. It has its headquarters in Bengaluru.
Astronomers and scientists at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), along with their international collaborators, have recently found that hot stars and white dwarfs emitted less ultraviolet radiation than expected.