41. India has agreed to start negotiations for a free trade agreement with which neighbouring country?
[A] China
[B] Sri Lanka
[C] Bangladesh
[D] Nepal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Bangladesh]
Notes:
India and Bangladesh agreed to start negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) at an early date. The decision was taken in a meeting between Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and his Bangladeshi counterpart Tipu Munshi.
A joint feasibility study on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), has been carried out after the two countries agreed to explore the possibility of negotiating a trade pact. The bilateral trade between India and Bangladesh increased to USD 18.2 billion in 2021-22.
42. Sitiveni Rabuka has been elected as the Prime Minister of which country?
[A] Maldives
[B] Fiji
[C] Indonesia
[D] Singapore
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Fiji]
Notes:
Sitiveni Rabuka has been elected as the new Prime Minister of Fiji, after his People’s Alliance party secured the backing of Social Liberal Democratic party.
Frank Bainimarama’s reign as leader of Fiji has ended almost 16 years since he made himself as the Prime Minister after a coup in 2006.
43. What are ‘Samudra Shaudhikama and Samudra Kaustabh’, which were seen in the news?
[A] Naval Drones
[B] Surveyor ships
[C] Battle Ship
[D] Anti-submarine warfare carrier
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Surveyor ships]
Notes:
The Union Mines Ministry approved the purchase of two new surveyor ships, to replace RV Samudra Shaudhikama and RV Samudra Kaustabh.
The new ships would conduct marine surveys for the Geological Survey of India (GSI). The RV Samudra Shaudhikama and RV Samudra Kaustabh were built in the Netherlands and commissioned in 1984.
44. Which company along with World Economic Forum (WEF) launched ‘Aquapreneur’ Global Fresh Water Innovation Challenge?
[A] Tata Motors
[B] HCL
[C] Amazon
[D] Meta
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [HCL]
Notes:
HCL Corporation and World Economic Forum (WEF) launched the ‘Aquapreneur’ Global Fresh Water Innovation Challenge.
HCL Corporation partnered with UpLink, the open innovation platform of the World Economic Forum, to announce the five-year-long Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative. The USD 15 million ‘Aquaprenuer-Global Fresh Water Innovation Challenge’ is attracting interest from startups from regions like India and the rest of the world.
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. ‘Daksh’ is the payments fraud reporting module maintained by which institution?
[A] SEBI
[B] NITI Aayog
[C] RBI
[D] SBI
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [RBI]
Notes:
Daksh is the advanced supervisory management system maintained by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
RBI recently announced that it is migrating the payments fraud reporting module to Daksh on January 1, 2023. The move aims to streamline reporting, enhance efficiency and automate the payments fraud management process.
47. International Carbon Exchange Private Ltd (ICX) is the wholly-owned subsidiary of which institution?
[A] Power Exchange India Limited
[B] Indian Energy Exchange
[C] NTPC Limited
[D] REC Limited
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Indian Energy Exchange]
Notes:
Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) announced to set up a wholly-owned subsidiary, International Carbon Exchange Private Ltd (ICX).
ICX will enable participants to buy and sell voluntary carbon credits at competitive prices through its platform and facilitate reduction of global green house gases emission by 45% by 2030.
48. The Competition Commission issued demand notices to which company for its failure to pay penalties within the stipulated time?
[A] Meta
[B] Xiaomi
[C] Google
[D] Amazon
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Google]
Notes:
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) issued demand notices to Google for its failure to pay the penalties within the stipulated time.
CCI earlier imposed penalties on the internet major for anti-competitive practices. Google has filed appeals before the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) against the Competition Commission of India’s (CCI) two orders in October.
49. 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.
50. 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.