1. What is the theme of the ‘International Holocaust Remembrance Day’?
[A] 24 January
[B] 27 January
[C] 30 January
[D] 2 February
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [27 January]
Notes:
On 27 January, the international community comes together to commemorate the International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
The theme of this year is “Home and Belonging”, which highlights the humanity of the Holocaust victims and survivors. This Day was chosen by the United Nations General Assembly to mark the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp in 1945.
2. Soliga ecarinata, which was named after the Soliga Community, belongs to which species?
[A] Turtle
[B] Wasp
[C] Butterfly
[D] Snake
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Wasp]
Notes:
The entomologists have named a new genus of wasp after Soliga, an indigenous community of Biligiri Rangan Hills in Karnataka.
The new genus has been named as Soliga ecarinata in an acknowledgement of the Soliga lifestyle and in recognition of their conservation of forests and biodiversity.
3. Which Union Ministry is the top buyer of goods and services from MSME sellers in 2022?
[A] Ministry of Defence
[B] Ministry of Finance
[C] Ministry of Steel
[D] Ministry of Rural Development
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ministry of Defence]
Notes:
The Ministry of Defence was the top procuring ministry of goods and services from MSME sellers in the calendar year 2022.
This was announced by the government’s public procurement e-commerce marketplace Government e-Marketplace (GeM). The ministry has purchased products and services worth Rs 16,747 crore in 2022 from the portal.
4. Who is the winner of the Australian Open 2023 women’s singles title?
[A] Aryna Sabalenka
[B] Elena Rybakina
[C] Iga Swiatek
[D] Ons Jabeur
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Aryna Sabalenka]
Notes:
Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus beats Elena Rybakina to secure the women’s singles title in Australian Open 2023.
Aryna Sabalenka is the first athlete without a flag to win a singles Grand Slam since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Sabalenka, seeded 5th, will regain her second ranking after winning her first major championship. Sabalenka has 11 victories and two titles, so far in the year.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Which country is the partner country for Telangana’s flagship event, BioAsia 2023?
[A] USA
[B] UK
[C] UAE
[D] Australia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [UK]
Notes:
The United Kingdom will be the partner country for Telangana’s flagship pharma – biotech event, BioAsia 2023.
With the theme of ‘Advancing for ONE: Shaping the next generation of humanized healthcare’, BioAsia is set to be held in February 2023 in Hyderabad.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. Which state’s tableaux has been adjudged as the best in the Republic Day Parade 2023?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Uttarakhand
[C] Assam
[D] West Bengal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Uttarakhand]
Notes:
Uttarakhand has been adjudged the best state/UT tableau in the Republic Day Parade 2023, by a panel of judges.
Gujarat’s tableau has won an online public poll conducted by MyGov. The tableau of Ministry of Tribal Affairs (Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) has been adjudged as the best tableau in ministries/departments category. Indian Air Force marching contingent has been adjudged as the best Marching Contingent among the three services.