1. When is the ‘International Customs Day 2023’ observed?
[A] January 25
[B] January 26
[C] January 27
[D] January 30
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [January 26]
Notes:
India’s Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) celebrates International Customs Day, 2023.
The theme for this year, as given by the World Customs Organisation (WCO) was “Nurturing the Next Generation: Promoting a Culture of Knowledge-sharing and Professional Pride in Customs”.
2. Which company has signed MoU to make Rolls-Royce marine engines?
[A] HAL
[B] GRSE
[C] BEML
[D] Mazagon Dock
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [GRSE]
Notes:
Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Germany’s Rolls Royce Solutions for manufacturing high-quality marine diesel engines.
Under the agreement, GRSE and Rolls Royce Solutions will cooperate in the licence production and localisation of the technologically advanced MTU S4000 governmental marine engines.
3. Which company has started exports of aviation gasoline for the first time in India?
[A] Indian Oil Corporation
[B] Hindustan Petroleum
[C] Oil and Natural Gas Corporation
[D] Bharat Petroleum
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Indian Oil Corporation]
Notes:
Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has started exports of aviation gasoline, which is used to operate unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and small planes.
For the first time in the nation’s history, India is exporting fuel. The first consignment of 80 barrels of aviation gas named ‘AV gas 100 LL’ was shipped from the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) to Papua New Guinea.
4. Which sportsperson is the brand ambassador of the mining PSU NMDC?
[A] Mary Kom
[B] Nikhat Zareen
[C] Sania Mirza
[D] P V Sindhu
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Nikhat Zareen]
Notes:
World Boxing Champion Nikhat Zareen has been chosen to represent mining PSU NMDC as its brand ambassador.
NMDC is the National miner and India’s largest producer of iron ore. Nikhat Zareen is the gold medal winner of Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
5. Which is the first district to register 10,000 new MSMEs?
[A] Coimbatore
[B] Ernakulam
[C] Lucknow
[D] Surat
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ernakulam]
Notes:
Ernakulam in Kerala has been named as the first district to achieve registration of 10,000 new MSMEs.
This will help boost the contribution of MSMEs by generating new jobs and diversifying India’s GDP. The availability of highly skilled Human Resources and the good industrial infrastructure are among the key reasons for its excellent communication and networking systems.
6. A rare low-altitude basalt plateau in the Western Ghats has been discovered in which state?
[A] Goa
[B] Kerala
[C] Karnataka
[D] Maharashtra
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Maharashtra]
Notes:
Scientists at the Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) in Pune have found a rare low-altitude basalt plateau in the Western Ghats.
This new plateau found by ARI team in Thane, Maharashtra could hold clues to how plant species globally survive climate change.
7. Which city is the host of the first G20 International Financial Architecture Working Group meeting?
[A] Mysuru
[B] Chennai
[C] Chandigarh
[D] Guwahati
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Chandigarh]
Notes:
The first G20 International Financial Architecture Working Group meeting under the G20 Indian Presidency was hosted in Chandigarh.
International Financial Architecture Working Group focuses on strengthening the international financial architecture. It also aims to address multiple challenges faced by vulnerable countries.
8. On January 30, India paid homage to Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi on his which death anniversary?
[A] 70
[B] 75
[C] 80
[D] 85
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [75]
Notes:
Martyrs’ Day, also known as Shaheed Diwas, is observed in India on January 30 to commemorate the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi
The nation paid homage to Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi on his 75th death anniversary. Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated on this day in 1948.
9. Which state/UT launched a ‘Real-time source apportionment supersite’ to tackle pollution?
[A] New Delhi
[B] Maharashtra
[C] West Bengal
[D] Telangana
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [New Delhi]
Notes:
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal launched the real-time source apportionment ‘supersite’. It is a joint venture of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, IIT-Delhi, IIT-Kanpur and TERI.
The supersite will share details of sources of pollution on an hourly basis as well as forecast for the next three days. The mobile van will go to a particular place and the data collected will be analysed at the supersite.
10. Hibbertopterus lamsdelli, which was discovered, belongs to which species?
[A] Scorpion
[B] Turtle
[C] Spider
[D] Snake
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Scorpion]
Notes:
Hibbertopterus lamsdelli is a new species of Giant Sea Scorpion. It belongs to Hibbertopteridae, an extinct group of aquatic arthropods in the Order Eurypterida. Eurypterids are better known as sea scorpions.
The species existed during the Kasimovian age, between 307 and 303 million years ago. Its diet included small crustaceans, ostracodes, conchostracans, invertebrate larvae and gastropod eggs.