21. An ancient Roman settlement has been recently found by the archaeologists in which country?
[A] Greece
[B] UK
[C] USA
[D] Russia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [UK]
Notes:
The researchers from the United Kingdom found an ancient Roman settlement site while investigating the route of the construction of upcoming high-speed railway called HS2.
In a recent excavation, Scientists could find 40 decapitated skeletons, which were likely to have been executed criminals. Many of these were buried in graves with their severed heads placed between their legs or at their feet. The team earlier found 1,200 coins, pottery, cutlery, gaming dice, bells and lead weights.
22. ‘Roadmap to 2025’ is a part of India’s partnership with which country/bloc?
[A] USA
[B] EU
[C] Japan
[D] ASEAN
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [EU]
Notes:
The seventh round of India-EU consultations on disarmament and non-proliferation matters was held in a virtual format.
The consultations are part of dialogue mechanisms under the ‘Roadmap to 2025’ for further strengthening the India-EU Strategic Partnership.
23. Which Indian state has the highest number of killings as a part of ‘Witch Hunting’, as per NCRB?
[A] Jharkhand
[B] Odisha
[C] Gujarat
[D] Uttar Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Jharkhand]
Notes:
The number of killings as a part of ‘Witch Hunting’ is the second-highest in Odisha, after Jharkhand, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
The Odisha State Commission for Women (SCW) has recently sought stringent provisions in the Odisha Prevention of Witch Hunting Act 2013. It also demanded that branding of victims be treated as heinous crime and punishable in the State.
24. Ministry of Electronics and IT ban applications prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, under which act?
[A] Information Technology Act
[B] Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act
[C] COFEPOSA Act
[D] Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Information Technology Act]
Notes:
The Ministry of Home Affairs has recently recommended a ban on 54 Chinese mobile applications, including the popular game Garena Free Fire.
In 2020, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) banned TikTok and other popular short video apps from China. MeitY banned these apps under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, which states that the government has the “Power to issue directions for interception or monitoring or decryption of any information through any computer resource.”
25. Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess (AIDC) was reduced to cut the tax on importing which product?
[A] Crude palm oil (CPO)
[B] Solar Cell
[C] Jute
[D] Fish Tanks
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Crude palm oil (CPO)]
Notes:
India has cut its tax on crude palm oil (CPO) imports to 5 percent from 7.5 percent. The reduction in the tax, known as ‘Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess (AIDC)’, will widen the gap between the CPO and refined palm oil import duties.
This will make it cheaper for Indian refiners to import CPO. India is the world’s biggest edible oil importer.
26. Which is the nodal agency for implementing Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri–Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY)?
[A] National Health Authority
[B] NITI Aayog
[C] AIIMS
[D] IMA
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [National Health Authority]
Notes:
The National Health Authority (NHA) is the nodal agency for the implementation of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri–Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY).
The Union Health Ministry announced that the National Health Authority (NHA) is working to integrate the database of Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011 beneficiaries with the National Food Security Act (NFSA) portal.
27. Which institution hosts the ‘World Sustainable Development Summit’?
[A] UNFCCC
[B] NITI Aayog
[C] The Energy and Resources Institute
[D] Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [The Energy and Resources Institute]
Notes:
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) hosted the latest edition of the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the summit, which was based on the theme ‘Towards a Resilient Planet: Ensuring a Sustainable and Equitable Future’. The keynote addresses will be delivered by President of Republic of Guyana Dr Irfaan Ali and Deputy Secretary-General of the UN.
28. Which Ministry of India organised the ‘International workshop on combating marine pollution’ with Australia and Singapore?
[A] Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
[B] Ministry of Earth Science
[C] Ministry of Power
[D] Ministry of Coal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Earth Science]
Notes:
The Government of India, in partnership with the Government of Australia and the Government of Singapore, conducted an international workshop on combating marine pollution focusing on marine plastic debris.
The sessions involved panel discussions to encourage discussion amongst participants from East Asia Summit countries. Ministry of Earth Science organised the workshop.
29. The Snow Moon or the Storm Moon occurs usually during which month?
[A] January
[B] February
[C] March
[D] April
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [February]
Notes:
The full moon, known as the Snow Moon occurs during the month of February. This year, it reached its peak on February 16.
The bright star Regulus in the constellation Leo, the lion was also witnessed along with the moon. The Snow Moon, also called the Storm Moon, is a name from the Algonquin tribe ‘because of the heavy snows that fall in this season’.
30. ‘Splitting the post of Chairman and Managing Director’ was mandated by SEBI, after the recommendations of which panel?
[A] Uday Kotak panel
[B] Adi Godrej Panel
[C] Narayana Murthy Panel
[D] Nandan Nilekani Panel
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Uday Kotak panel]
Notes:
In 2018, SEBI asked the top 500 listed companies to split the post of chairman and managing director by April 2020, after the recommendations of the Uday Kotak-led panel on corporate governance. In 2020, it extended the timeline by two years to April 1, 2022.
Recently, SEBI has made splitting of the post of chairman and managing director (CMD) in the top 500 listed companies voluntary.