21. 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.
22. 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.
23. What is the rank of India in the USGBC 2021 global list for sustainable spaces?
[A] First
[B] Third
[C] Fifth
[D] Seventh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Third]
Notes:
India is placed third in the globe on the US Green Building Council’s (USGBC) 2021 global list for sustainable spaces.
It is a ranking of the top 10 nations and areas outside of the United States for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) in 2021. India has 1,649 LEED certified buildings with a total area of 46.2 million gross square metres, with a 10% rise in LEED certified space since 2020.
24. Which body regulates the Stock Exchanges in India?
[A] Reserve Bank of India
[B] Securities and Exchange Board of India
[C] Finance Ministry
[D] Securities and Exchange Commission
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Securities and Exchange Board of India]
Notes:
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is a regulatory authority established under the SEBI Act 1992. It is the principal regulator for Stock Exchanges in India.
SEBI has recently penalised the National Stock Exchange (NSE), its former CEOs Chitra Ramkrishna and Ravi Narain for governance lapses in hiring of its chief operating officer (COO) Anand Subramanian.
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 state initiated ‘Operation Parivartan’ to eliminate the cultivation of cannabis?
[A] Kerala
[B] Tamil Nadu
[C] Andhra Pradesh
[D] Goa
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Andhra Pradesh]
Notes:
The Andhra Pradesh Police has initiated ‘Operation Parivartan’, a special operation to eliminate the cultivation of cannabis.
This operation was led by the Andhra Pradesh Police with the Special Enforcement Bureau (SEB) in Visakhapatnam. Recently, around 2 lakh kilograms of processed cannabis was seized while it was being shipped out.
27. ‘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.
28. Which US state has sued Facebook parent Meta over facial recognition data?
[A] California
[B] Texas
[C] Flourida
[D] Houston
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Texas]
Notes:
The Texas Attorney General is suing Facebook’s parent company Meta, saying it allegedly collected biometric data on Texans for commercial purposes without their consent.
The suit claims that Facebook parent Meta has been storing millions of biometric identifiers, including retina or iris scans, voice prints, or a record of hand and face geometry.
29. 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.
30. What is the main objective of PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP)?
[A] Skill Development
[B] Infrastructure Development
[C] Healthcare Development
[D] Export Development
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Infrastructure Development]
Notes:
Gati Shakti is a digital platform, which will bring 16 ministries together, for integrated planning and coordinated implementation of infrastructure connectivity projects.
Under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP), the government plans to develop 22 greenfield expressways, 23 key infrastructure projects including other highways and 35 multi-modal logistics parks (MMLPs), as per the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways (MoRTH).