21. What is the target of All-India coal production up to 2023-24?
[A] 20 million tonne
[B] 50 million tonne
[C] 1.2 billion tonne
[D] 5.2 billion tonne
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [1.2 billion tonne]
Notes:
Ministry of Coal announced that a target of all India coal production of 1.2 billion tonne up to the year 2023-24 has been fixed.
The Union government launched Single Window Clearance portal in 2021 for the coal sector to speed up the operationalisation of coal mines. It is a unified platform that assists for clearances and approvals required for starting a coal mine in India.
22. As per a recent study, which national park of India is releasing more carbon than it is absorbing?
[A] Pakke Tiger Reserve
[B] Namdapha National Park
[C] Kaziranga National Park
[D] Kuno National Park
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Kaziranga National Park]
Notes:
As per a recent research, Kaziranga National Park in Assam, is releasing more carbon than it is absorbing.
The National Park is home to the largest-population of the one-horned rhinoceros in the world. Usually, forests absorb more carbon than they release, which makes them carbon sinks. This is mainly due to decreasing rainfall in the region.
23. MUSE and HelioSwarm, which were seen in the news recently, are associated with which space agency?
[A] ISRO
[B] JAXA
[C] NASA
[D] ESA
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [NASA]
Notes:
NASA has announced two new science missions namely Multi-slit Solar Explorer (MUSE) and HelioSwarm.
These two missions aim to study the sun’s corona and also measuring the magnetic field of the solar wind. NASA earlier announced the latest observations done by the Parker Solar probe on its way to the sun.
24. Which country launched ‘National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI)’ Program?
[A] USA
[B] China
[C] India
[D] Russia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [USA]
Notes:
U.S announced USD 5 billion to be made available under the new National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program.
It aims to build a national electric vehicle charging network. The money will be used over five years to build thousands of electric vehicle charging stations.
25. Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL) functions under the aegis of which institution?
[A] Reserve Bank of India
[B] Ministry of Finance
[C] Ministry of External Affairs
[D] Ministry of Commerce
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Finance]
Notes:
The Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL) is a government printing and minting agency. It functions under the Ministry of Finance.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched the first colour souvenir coin on ‘Panchtantra’ on the occasion of 17th foundation day of Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL).
26. What is the rank of India in the 2021 Democracy Index report?
[A] 32
[B] 46
[C] 52
[D] 85
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [46]
Notes:
India is ranked 46 on the EIU’s Democracy Index report, which was released recently. In the Global index, India has scored 6.91.
Norway and New Zealand got the top two places respectively, while North Korea, Myanmar, Afghanistan were placed at the bottom. India has the lowest score of 5 on political culture and the highest score of 8.67 on electoral process and pluralism.
27. 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.”
28. 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.
29. ‘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.
30. Which state has witnessed protests for including Bhojpuri and Magahi as “regional languages” in Government jobs?
[A] Madhya Pradesh
[B] Jharkhand
[C] West Bengal
[D] Chhattisgarh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Jharkhand]
Notes:
Several parts of Jharkhand are witnessing massive protests against the inclusion of Bhojpuri and Magahi as “regional languages” in district-level competitive examinations for government jobs.
The state government issued a notification to include Magahi, Bhojpuri, and Angika among others as regional languages in the district-level selection process through exams conducted by the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).