21. 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.
22. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is an agency functioning under the aegis of which Ministry?
[A] Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
[B] Ministry of Culture
[C] Ministry of Tourism
[D] Ministry of Tribal Affairs
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Culture]
Notes:
The Archaeological Survey of India is an Indian government agency functioning under the aegis of the Ministry of Culture
ASI is the process of reviving its ‘Underwater archaeology wing’ that has not been functioning over recent years. ASI appointed Alok Tripathi, an expert in underwater archaeology, as its Additional Director General in 2021.
23. 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).
24. What is the outlay of Prime Minister Awas Yojana (PMAY), in the Union Budget 2022-23?
[A] Rs 96000 Cr
[B] Rs 75000 Cr
[C] Rs 48000 Cr
[D] Rs 36000 Cr
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Rs 48000 Cr]
Notes:
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman allocated ₹48,000 crore towards completion of 80 lakh houses under Prime Minister Awas Yojana (PMAY) in rural and urban areas during 2022-23.
Recently, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs approved project proposals for over 60,000 houses across five states — Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Rajasthan.
25. Which institution has organised ‘Darkathon -2022’ initiative to find solutions to counter dark-net markets?
[A] Central Bureau of Investigation
[B] Narcotics Control Bureau
[C] Enforcement Directorate
[D] National Investigation Agency
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Narcotics Control Bureau]
Notes:
Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has organised ‘Darkathon -2022’ initiative to find solutions to counter dark-net markets.
The initiative aims at involving students, youth and technical experts to find effective solutions to counter drug trafficking through darknet. NCB is a Law enforcement and intelligence agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
26. 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’.
27. 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.
28. Which institution developed a Programming Language “A Tensor Language” (ATL), for High-Performance Computers?
[A] IIT Bombay
[B] Massachusetts Institute of Technology
[C] Oxford University
[D] Indian Institute of Science
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Massachusetts Institute of Technology]
Notes:
A team of researchers, based mainly at Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a new Programming Language named “A Tensor Language” (ATL), for High-Performance Computers.
Usually, it is believed that there are unavoidable trade-offs between speed and reliability. But the new language maintains both speed and reliability.
29. India reported an outbreak of H5N1 bird flu virus in which state?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Bihar
[C] Gujarat
[D] West Bengal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bihar]
Notes:
India reported an outbreak of highly contagious H5N1 bird flu virus on a poultry research farm in Bihar.
The Paris-based World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) announced that the virus killed 787 out of 3,859 birds on the farm in Patna and all of the remaining birds were slaughtered.
30. Who has been appointed as India’s first National Maritime Security Coordinator (NMSC)?
[A] G Ashok Kumar
[B] Ajit Doval
[C] Hari Kumar
[D] Karambir Singh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [G Ashok Kumar]
Notes:
Former Chief of Navy Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar, who retired last year, has been appointed as the country’s first National Maritime Security Coordinator (NMSC).
NMSC will be part of the National Security Council Secretariat, and will report to National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. NMSC was proposed after the 26/11 terror attacks. His responsibility is coordinating between all the agencies involved in maritime security and maritime civil issues.