21. India’s first commercial-scale biomass-based hydrogen plant is located in which state?
[A] Kerala
[B] Madhya Pradesh
[C] Telangana
[D] Arunachal Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Madhya Pradesh]
Notes:
The country’s first commercial-scale biomass-based hydrogen plant is being developed up in the Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh.
The plant will produce a tonne of hydrogen per day from 30 tonnes of biomass feedstock. It will also produce biochar and methane.
22. The National Centre of Excellence in Carbon Capture and Utilisation (NCOE-CCU) has been established at which institution?
[A] DRDO
[B] IIT- Bombay
[C] IISc- Bengaluru
[D] ISRO
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [IIT- Bombay]
Notes:
The Department of Science & Technology (DST) has established the National Centre of Excellence in Carbon Capture and Utilisation (NCOE-CCU) at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay.
This is India’s first such centre centrally funded by the DST. This Centre of Excellence explores the potential of Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) technologies, which will help India achieve its climate change goals.
23. As per NASA, what is the total number of objects tracked on-orbit as of 2022?
[A] 1000
[B] 10000
[C] 25000
[D] 50000
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [25000]
Notes:
As per NASA’s recent announcement, there are currently 25,000 total objects tracked on-orbit and about 6,100 below 600 km.
SpaceX’s Gen2 expansion involves launching 30,000 satellites, which will double the number of tracked objects in orbit. As per NASA, this may impact NASA’s science and human spaceflight missions. Amazon also raised concerns that its Kuiper System may be impacted.
24. The new Group ‘A’ Central service ‘IRMS’ stands for?
[A] Indian Recruitment Management System
[B] Indian Railway Management System
[C] Indian Regional Management System
[D] Indian Research Management System
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Indian Railway Management System]
Notes:
The Indian Railways has notified the Indian Railway Management System (IRMS) which will unify the eight existing services of the transporter.
IRMS is a new Group ‘A’ Central service and only the officers of IRMS will be eligible to become the functional members and chairman/CEO of the railway board.
25. 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.”
26. 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.
27. 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.
28. Which Indian company has formed a joint venture (JV) with Foxconn, to manufacture semiconductors in India?
[A] Vedanta
[B] Tata
[C] Hindalco
[D] NALCO
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Vedanta]
Notes:
Vedanta and Hon Hai Technology Group (also known as Foxconn) have formed a joint venture (JV) to manufacture semiconductors in India.
This is the first joint venture in the electronics manufacturing space after the Production Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI). In December 2021, the Centre cleared a PLI scheme for semiconductor and display board production targeting an investment of Rs 76,000 crore over the next five to six years.
29. 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).
30. Asteroid (130) Elektra, which was seen in the news, is known for which feature?
[A] First quadruple asteroid
[B] Largest Asteroid
[C] Nearest Asteroid to Earth
[D] Hottest Asteroid
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [First quadruple asteroid]
Notes:
Astronomers have recently discovered a third moon orbiting the main-belt asteroid (130) Elektra, making it the first ‘Quadruple Asteroid’ ever found.
(130) Elektra is a large main-belt asteroid, first discovered in 1873 by Litchfield Observatory astronomers. It has an effective diameter of 199 km. The discovery of first quadruple asteroid system will help in understanding the mechanisms of the formation of these satellites.