21. Which state/UT has notified a draft policy mandating ride aggregators to induct electric vehicles (EVs)?
[A] Telangana
[B] New Delhi
[C] Odisha
[D] Rajasthan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [New Delhi]
Notes:
The Delhi government has notified a draft policy mandating ride aggregators and delivery firms to induct electric vehicles (EVs) while procuring a new fleet.
This step aims to reduce air pollution in the national capital by 30 per cent in the next two years. Aggregators and delivery services will have to ensure that 50 per cent of all their new two-wheelers and 25 per cent of new four-wheelers are electric by March 2023.
22. Xinjiang region, which was seen in the news, is located in which country?
[A] Bangladesh
[B] China
[C] South Korea
[D] Japan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [China]
Notes:
The International Labour Organization has condemned China for racial and religious discrimination in the Xinjiang region.
The report said that as a ILO member state, the Chinese government is firmly committed to provide decent work for all China’s ethnic minority groups including Uyghurs in Xinjiang.
23. Which country recently passed a legislation that ends forced arbitration in sexual assault and harassment disputes at workplaces?
[A] UK
[B] New Zealand
[C] USA
[D] Chile
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [USA]
Notes:
The US Congress passed a legislation that ends forced arbitration in sexual assault and harassment disputes at workplaces.
After getting signed by the President Joe Biden, the bill will allow survivors to sue their abusers in a public court even if they have signed employment agreements that require them to settle disputes internally through an arbitrator.
24. Which institution launched the Community Innovator Fellowship (CIF)?
[A] NITI Aayog
[B] ISRO
[C] DRDO
[D] National Innovation Foundation
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [NITI Aayog]
Notes:
Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog in collaboration with UNDP, India launched the Community Innovator Fellowship (CIF).
It was launched on the occasion of the “International Day of Women & Girls in Science”. It is a one-year-long fellowship program, developed as a pre-incubation model to guide innovators set up their social enterprise focusing on SDG based solutions.
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. The Northern Mariana Islands, which was seen in the news recently, is a territory of which country?
[A] USA
[B] Russia
[C] France
[D] China
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [USA]
Notes:
The Northern Mariana Islands, a United States territory, is located only 2500km southeast of Japan.
Japan has planned to dump more than 1 million tonnes of treated water from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power station into the Pacific Ocean. The Northern Mariana Islands has proposed another viable solution to the plan to be considered.
27. Which is the first institution set up under the National river interlinking policy?
[A] Ken-Betwa Link Project Authority
[B] Kaveri-Godavari Link Project Authority
[C] Godavari-Krishna Link Project Authority
[D] Narmada-Tapi Link Project Authority
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ken-Betwa Link Project Authority]
Notes:
The Central Government has constituted the Ken-Betwa Link Project Authority to implement the first initiative under the national river interlinking policy.
The policy seeks to bring nearly 11 lakh hectares of land under irrigation in the Bundelkhand region spanning between Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. KBLPA will be headed by a CEO at the level of additional secretary to the Government of India and assisted by five additional CEOs.
28. The Indian Institute of Science, is a public, deemed, research university, located in which city?
[A] New Delhi
[B] Bengaluru
[C] Chennai
[D] Hyderabad
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bengaluru]
Notes:
The Indian Institute of Science (IISc.) is a public, deemed, research university, located in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
IISc Bengaluru has received its single largest private donation of ₹425 crore, which will be used to set up a postgraduate medical school along with a multi-speciality 800-bed hospital. The project aims to develop “physician-scientists.”
29. Which country has invoked a never-before-used Emergency power, to curtail protests demanding end of Covid restrictions?
[A] USA
[B] Canada
[C] Australia
[D] Brazil
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Canada]
Notes:
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked a never-before-used emergency power to curtail protests demanding end of Covid restrictions.
This decision was taken after anti-government protests in the Canadian capital and blockades at border crossings with the US. The country is witnessing over two weeks of “Freedom Convoy” protests by Canadian truckers and their supporters, demanding an end to all Covid restrictions.
30. Which is the birthplace of Guru Ravidas?
[A] Amritsar
[B] Varanasi
[C] Patna
[D] Ahmedabad
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Varanasi]
Notes:
Guru Ravidas was an Indian mystic, poet and social reformer who made remarkable contributions in the form of devotional songs, verses, spiritual teachings during the Bhakti movement.
February 16 is marking the celebration of 645th birth anniversary of the Guru. It is observed as Guru Ravidas Jayanti all across the nation. He was born in 1377 C.E. in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. He actively opposed the caste system and promoted communal harmony.