11. ‘Doly Jahur and Ilias Kanchan’ who were seen in the news, are the eminent artists from which country?
[A] India
[B] Pakistan
[C] Bangladesh
[D] Afghanistan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Bangladesh]
Notes:
Eminent artists Doly Jahur and Ilias Kanchan will be honoured with the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ for their contribution to the film Industry in Bangladesh.
This was announced in the National Film Awards 2021 recently announced in the country. Lal Moroger Jhuti (Call of the Red Rooster) and Nona Joler Kabbo (The Salt in our waters) will be jointly awarded in the Best Film Category.
12. Which state/UT recently notified directions to charge groundwater extraction by industries and other establishments?
[A] New Delhi
[B] Punjab
[C] Bihar
[D] West Bengal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Punjab]
Notes:
The state government of Punjab notify a policy to meter and charge groundwater extraction by industries and other establishments.
Anyone with an existing bore-well or digging afresh will have to take permission from Punjab Water Regulation and Development Authority (PWRDA). There will be exemptions including farmers using water for agriculture purposes, places of worship, drinking and domestic Water Supply Scheme of Government, among others.
13. What is the fixed interest rate of the ‘Mahila Samman Bachat Patra’ announced recently?
[A] 6.5%
[B] 7.0%
[C] 7.5%
[D] 8.0%
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [7.5%]
Notes:
In the Union Budget 2023, Finance Minister announced Mahila Samman Bachat Patra, a one-time new small savings scheme, for a two-year period up to March 2025.
This initiative will avail a deposit facility for a woman up to Rs 2 lakh for two-year period at a fixed interest rate of 7.5% with partial withdrawal option. Maximum deposit limit of Senior Citizens’ Saving Scheme was increased from ₹15 lakh to ₹30 lakh.
14. As per the proposed ‘National Data Governance Policy’, India Data Management Office (IDMO) will be formed under which Ministry?
[A] Electronics and IT Ministry
[B] Home Affairs Ministry
[C] Science and Technology Ministry
[D] External Affairs Ministry
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Electronics and IT Ministry]
Notes:
The Union Budget 2023 announced that the ‘National Data Governance Policy’ will be brought out to aid innovation and research by start-ups and academia.
It seeks for the formation of an India Data Management Office (IDMO) under the IT ministry. The new policy reform is that the anonymized datasets will be offered as part of the India datasets programmes to the Artificial intelligence ecosystem.
15. Which institution releases the ‘Digital Payments Index’?
[A] NITI Aayog
[B] Ministry of Finance
[C] RBI
[D] NPCI
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [RBI]
Notes:
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) releases the Digital Payments Index (RBI-DPI) twice a year, to measure the adoption of online transactions, digital payments across India.
As per the recent data, the digital payments registered a growth of 24.13% in a year through September 2022. RBI-DPI stood at 377.46 in September 2022 against 349.30 in March 2022 and 304.06 in September 2021.
16. ‘Ekushey Boi Mela’ is the largest book fair organised in which country?
[A] Nepal
[B] Bangladesh
[C] Myanmar
[D] Thailand
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bangladesh]
Notes:
The biggest book fair of Bangladesh ‘Ekushey Boi Mela’ was inaugurated in Dhaka by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The theme of this year’s book fair is ‘Poro Boi, Goro Desh: Bangbandhur Bangladesh’- Read books, build the country, a country of Bangabandhu’s dream. The Prime Minister also distributed the Bangla Academy Award 2022 in recognition of the literary works in Bangla.
17. Which Union Ministry implements the ‘FAME (faster adoption and manufacturing of electric vehicles) scheme’?
[A] Ministry of Electronics and IT
[B] Ministry of Heavy Industries
[C] Ministry of Science and Technology
[D] Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Heavy Industries]
Notes:
Ministry of Heavy Industries implements the ‘FAME (faster adoption and manufacturing of electric vehicles) scheme’.
The government has nearly doubled its budgetary allocation for the FAME scheme to subsidise the purchase of electric vehicles. As per the budget, the subsidy under FAME scheme for fiscal 2024 is projected at Rs 5,172 crore, compared to the revised estimate of Rs 2,897 crore in the current fiscal year. This is the highest allocation under the scheme since its launch in 2020.
18. Which country announced India as the theme country at its 2025 International Book Fair?
[A] Sweden
[B] Spain
[C] Germany
[D] Italy
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Spain]
Notes:
India will be invited as the theme country at the Madrid International Book Fair in 2025, the Ambassador of Spain to the country Jose Maria Ridao.
Spain is the theme country at the 46th International Kolkata Book Fair, which began recently. As part of the cultural exchange between the two countries, Spain has donated books to five universities in Bengal.
19. Which African country recently joined the India-led International Solar Alliance?
[A] Nigeria
[B] Congo
[C] Morocco
[D] Senegal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Congo]
Notes:
Congo has recently joined the India-led International Solar Alliance. The Ambassador of Republic of Congo signed the International Solar Alliance Framework Agreement.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a country in Central Africa bordered by the South Atlantic Ocean. DRC is the second-largest country in Africa by area.
20. When is the ‘International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation’ observed?
[A] February 1
[B] February 2
[C] February 4
[D] February 6
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [February 6]
Notes:
International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation is observed on February 6 each year to raise global awareness about the issue concerning the female genital mutilation (FGM).
This day was established in 2003 after the Campaign against Female Genital Mutilation officially declared “Zero Tolerance to FGM” in Africa on February 6.