41. Union Cabinet decided to provide free food-grains to all beneficiaries covered under National Food Security Act (NFSA), till which date?
[A] March 2023
[B] August 2023
[C] December 2023
[D] March 2024
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [December 2023]
Notes:
Union Cabinet decided to provide free food-grains to all 81 crore beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) till December 2023.
The beneficiary families which used to pay ₹1 for coarse cereals, ₹2 for wheat and ₹3 for rice per kg will now get 35kg of food-grains free for the next one year and others will get 5kg for free in a month till December 2023. The Centre has estimated an additional amount of ₹2 lakh crore for the scheme.
42. Who has been accused by the House January 6 committee for the US Capitol riot?
[A] Joe Biden
[B] Donald Trump
[C] Kamala Harris
[D] Janet Yellen
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Donald Trump]
Notes:
House January 6 committee recently released the final report on US Capitol riot. The congressional panel investigating the attack on the US Capitol has accused former President Donald Trump of a multi-part conspiracy to overturn his election defeat three months earlier.
Over 18 months, the committee held 10 public hearings and interviewed more than 1,000 witnesses, before releasing the final 845-page report on the attack.
43. Which institution recommends the minimum support prices (MSPs) for 22 products in India?
[A] Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices
[B] Food Corporation of India
[C] Agricultural produce market committee
[D] Indian Council of Agricultural Research
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices]
Notes:
The minimum support prices are announced by the Government of India at the beginning of the sowing season for 22 crops on the basis of the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).
The Union Cabinet approved minimum support prices (MSPs) for copra for 2023 season, based on recommendations of CACP and prices and views of major coconut-growing states. MSP is fixed at Rs 10,860 per quintal for milling copra and at Rs 11,750 per quintal for ball copra.
44. UIDAI is a statutory authority established under which Union Ministry?
[A] Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology
[B] Ministry of Home Affairs
[C] Ministry of Finance
[D] Ministry of Science and Technology
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology]
Notes:
The Unique Identification Authority of India is a statutory authority established under the provisions of Aadhaar Act 2016 under the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology.
UIDAI has urged the residents to keep their documents updated in Aadhaar issued 10 years back, by uploading supportive documents either online through myAadhaar portal or offline by visiting the nearest Aadhaar centre.
45. Emperor penguins, which were seen in the news, are native to which region/ country?
[A] Antarctica
[B] Australia
[C] Greenland
[D] Iceland
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Antarctica]
Notes:
As per a new research, two-thirds of Antarctica’s native species, including emperor penguins, are under threat of extinction or major population declines by 2100.
This is due to current trajectories of global heating. The study was conducted by scientists, conservationists and policymakers from 12 countries. It has identified emperor penguins as the Antarctic species at greatest risk of extinction, followed by other seabirds and dry soil nematodes.
46. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has mandated banks in the country to renew their locker agreements by which date?
[A] January 1, 2023
[B] January 31, 2023
[C] March 31, 2023
[D] August 31, 2023
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [January 1, 2023]
Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has mandated banks in the country to renew their locker agreements with existing locker customers by January 1, 2023.
All the existing locker depositors are required to furnish proof of eligibility for a renewed locker arrangement. RBI also advised the banks to install CCTV camera at entry and exit points of strong room and preserve its recording for a period of not less than 180 days.
47. Who is the only Indian player in the top 25 in Forbes’ annual list of the highest-paid female athletes in the world?
[A] Mary Kom
[B] P V Sindhu
[C] Mirabai Chanu
[D] Sania Mirza
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [P V Sindhu]
Notes:
Indian badminton star PV Sindhu is the only Indian player in the top 25 in Forbes’ annual list of the highest-paid female athletes in the world.
The 27-year-old made 7 million US Dollars of her earnings, after having won a singles gold and doubles silver at the Commonwealth Games earlier this year in Birmingham. Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka tops the list, for the third straight year.
48. Mangdechhu Hydroelectric Power Project, which was see in the news, was handed over by India to which country?
[A] Nepal
[B] Bangladesh
[C] Bhutan
[D] Maldives
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Bhutan]
Notes:
India-assisted 720 Megawatts Mangdechhu Hydroelectric Power Project has been recently handed to Druk Green Power Corporation (DGPC) in Bhutan.
With this project, India and Bhutan have successfully completed four mega hydroelectric power projects. The commissioning of the project has increased Bhutan’s Electrical Power Generation Capacity by 44 per cent.
49. Which Union Ministry released a policy draft for Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics — Extended Reality (AVGC-XR)?
[A] Information and Broadcasting Ministry
[B] Science and Technology Ministry
[C] Electronics and IT Ministry
[D] Finance Ministry
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Information and Broadcasting Ministry]
Notes:
Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry released a policy draft for Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics — Extended Reality (AVGC-XR).
It has an aim to boost India’s domestic capacities and develop opportunities in AVGC-XR sector. The policy at state and national levels talks about the framing of a new curriculum at school and college levels, under ‘Create in India’ campaign and creating more job opportunities. The taskforce on AVGC-XR was formed under the aegis of I&B Ministry secretary Apurva Chandra.
50. 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.