21. Which disorder is caused by excessive secretion of growth hormone, resulting in increased height?
[A] Acromegaly
[B] Cushing’s Syndrome
[C] Graves’ Disease
[D] Addison’s Disease
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Acromegaly]
Notes:
Acromegaly is caused by excessive secretion of growth hormone, most often from a tumor in the pituitary gland. The disorder causes increased height when it manifests in childhood and adolescent age group.
The Fairbank’s disease (Multiple epiphyseal dysplasia) patient usually requires management of pain and orthopaedic procedures. As per Health Ministry, patients of both these diseases are getting treatment at various tertiary health facilities in India.
22. Australia has recently designated which species as ‘Endangered’?
[A] Panda
[B] Koala
[C] Kangaroo
[D] Sloth
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Koala]
Notes:
Australia has recently designated the koala an endangered species, which was classified as vulnerable only 10 years ago.
The impact of prolonged drought, summer bushfires, and the cumulative impacts of disease, urbanisation and habitat loss over the last twenty years have led to the decision. From now, Koalas will be provided with greater protection under Australia’s national environment law.
23. What is ‘Proxima d’, which was seen in the news recently?
[A] New Vaccine
[B] New Exo-Planet
[C] New Star
[D] New Mineral
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [New Exo-Planet]
Notes:
A team of astronomers has discovered a new planet orbiting Proxima Centauri, the star closest to the Sun.
The planet named ‘Proxima d’, is the third detected in the system. It is among the lightest of the exo-planets discovered so far. The astronomers used the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (ESO’s VLT) in Chile to spot this exo-planet.
24. 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.
25. ’SMILE’ is a Central Sector scheme launched by which Union Ministry?
[A] Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
[B] Ministry of Education
[C] Ministry of MSME
[D] Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment]
Notes:
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has launched the Central Sector scheme “SMILE: Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise”.
This umbrella scheme is designed to provide welfare measures to the Transgender community and the people engaged in the act of begging. The Ministry has allocated Rs. 365 Crore for the scheme from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
26. Which Union Ministry is associated with the ‘Umbrella scheme of modernisation of police force’?
[A] Ministry of Law and Justice
[B] Ministry of Home Affairs
[C] Ministry of Communication
[D] Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Home Affairs]
Notes:
The Government has approved the umbrella scheme of modernisation of police force for the next five years (2021-22 to 2025-26) with a financial outlay of Rs 26,275 crore.
More than Rs 18,000 crore of this money has been allotted towards security related expenditure in Jammu and Kashmir, Left Wing Extremism areas and the Northeast.
27. National Productivity Council (NPC) is an autonomous organisation under which Union Ministry?
[A] Ministry of MSME
[B] Ministry of Commerce and Industry
[C] Ministry of Labour and Employment
[D] NITI Aayog
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Commerce and Industry]
Notes:
India celebrates National Productivity Day on February 12 every year. The National Productivity Council (NPC) organises this special day.
NPC is an autonomous organisation established in 1958 under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. National Productivity Council celebrates productivity week February 12 to 18, across the nation under the theme “Self Reliance Through Productivity.”
28. ‘Prorogation of Assembly’ means which of the following?
[A] Discontinuing of legislative assembly without dissolving
[B] Dissolving legislative assembly
[C] Summoning legislative assembly
[D] Initiating legislative assembly
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Discontinuing of legislative assembly without dissolving]
Notes:
Prorogation means discontinuing a session of the Parliament or a legislative assembly without dissolving it.
West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar prorogued the state Legislative Assembly with effect from February 12 after exercising power vested with him under Article 174 of the Constitution. The state government will have to take permission from the Governor to commence the next session of the Assembly.
29. Which state has the maximum households electrified through the solar-based standalone system, under Saubhagya scheme?
[A] Uttar Pradesh
[B] Rajasthan
[C] Madhya Pradesh
[D] Gujarat
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Rajasthan]
Notes:
Rajasthan has the maximum households electrified through the solar-based standalone system, under Saubhagya scheme.
The hill states of Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir had no beneficiaries under the initiative. Rajasthan (1,23,682 households) is followed by Chhattisgarh (65,373), Uttar Pradesh (53,234).
30. India has advised its citizens in which country to ‘consider leaving temporarily’?
[A] Afghanistan
[B] Ukraine
[C] Syria
[D] Iran
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ukraine]
Notes:
The Indian Embassy in Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, issued advisory, saying Indian nationals particularly students whose stay is not essential, may consider leaving temporarily.
It also advised them to avoid all non-essential travel. This came at the backdrop of repeated warnings from US officials that Russia could launch an invasion of Ukraine. There are more than 20,000 Indians in Ukraine, including professionals, businessmen and some 18,000 students.