11. BIND Scheme, which was seen in the news, is associated with which Ministry?
[A] Ministry of Defence
[B] Ministry of MSME
[C] Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
[D] Ministry of Power
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Ministry of Information and Broadcasting]
Notes:
Of the Rs 1,100 crore estimated for the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Rs 600 crore has been set aside for the recently announced Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND) Scheme.
The scheme has a total outlay of over Rs 2,500 crore. The scheme aims to boost public sector broadcasting in the country and focuses on infrastructure development of Prasar Bharati, including All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan (DD).
12. Parli Vaijnath Electrification Project, which was seen in the news, was undertaken in which state?
[A] West Bengal
[B] Maharashtra
[C] Assam
[D] Jammu and Kahmir
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Maharashtra]
Notes:
Parli Vaijnath-Vikarabad Railway Electrification Project was completed recently, after which the entire route of 268 kilometers is now electrified.
Parli Vaijnath is a city of Maharashtra. The project will benefit the people of Telangana, Karnataka and Maharashtra.
13. India established a ‘Trade and Technology Council (TTC)’ along with which bloc?
[A] SAARC
[B] ASEAN
[C] EU
[D] G-20
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [EU]
Notes:
The India-EU Trade and Technology Council was jointly established by the European Union and India.
Under this new council, three working groups have been set up with the focus on strategic technologies, digital governance, and digital connectivity; green and clean energy technologies; and trade, investment, and resilient value chains. The working groups will be responsible for preparing for the TTC meeting, which is set to take place before the next bilateral India-EU summit.
14. The Black Galaxy or ‘Invisible galaxy’ was recently discovered in which country?
[A] Turkey
[B] Italy
[C] China
[D] Israel
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Italy]
Notes:
The Black Galaxy or ‘Invisible galaxy’ was recently discovered by researchers in Italy. It was found and characterised using the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array.
The Black Galaxy is compact and has a large amount of interstellar dust. It is forming stars at a rate 1,000 times faster than the Milky Way.
15. India’s largest helicopter manufacturing facility was inaugurated in which state?
[A] Andhra Pradesh
[B] Karnataka
[C] Uttar Pradesh
[D] Maharashtra
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Karnataka]
Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Helicopter Factory at Tumakuru in Karnataka.
The factory is India’s largest helicopter manufacturing facility and will initially produce LUHs. He also unveiled the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH). Initially, this factory will produce around 30 helicopters per year and can be enhanced to 60 and then 90 per year in a phased manner.
16. What is the theme of the ‘World Pulses Day’ 2023?
[A] Pulses for a Sustainable Future
[B] Pulses for Malnutrition
[C] Pulses for a Healthier Future
[D] Pulses for a Scalable Future
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Pulses for a Sustainable Future]
Notes:
‘World Pulses Day’ is observed on February 10 to raise global awareness about the importance of pulses as a stable global food source that delivers nutritional and environmental security across the world.
The theme for World Pulses Day 2023 is ‘Pulses for a Sustainable Future’.
17. Which neighbouring country of India partnered with Russia for developing nuclear power?
[A] Sri Lanka
[B] Nepal
[C] Myanmar
[D] Bangladesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Myanmar]
Notes:
Myanmar’s military-led government has inaugurated a nuclear power information centre, along with Russia’s state atomic energy company.
This is seen as a step toward developing atomic power to fill energy shortages in the Southeast Asian nation. Myanmar hopes to build and operate a reactor under a preliminary agreement between Myanmar and Russia’s Rosatom that was signed in 2015
18. ‘Districts as Export Hubs Initiative’ is implemented by which Union Ministry?
[A] Ministry of Commerce and Industry
[B] Ministry of MSME
[C] Ministry of Rural Development and Entrepreneurship
[D] Ministry of Finance
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ministry of Commerce and Industry]
Notes:
The One District One Product (ODOP) initiative is aimed at promoting balanced regional development across all districts of the country.
ODOP has been merged with ‘Districts as Export Hubs Initiative’ being run by the Department of Commerce (DoC) with Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) as a major stakeholder. Under the ODOP- Districts as Export Hubs initiative, products with export potential have been recently identified from all 765 districts of the country.
19. After the RBI Monetary Policy Statement announced in February 2023, what is the repo rate?
[A] 5.50 %
[B] 5.75 %
[C] 6.25 %
[D] 6.50 %
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [6.50 %]
Notes:
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India hiked the key policy rate, the Repo rate by 25 basis points to 6.50 per cent in a bid to control the retail inflation.
The RBI has increased the repo rate by a cumulative 250 basis points to 6.50 per cent since May this year. The RBI has projected GDP growth for the next fiscal (FY2024) at 6.4 per cent.
20. Which city is the host of the third edition of Khelo India Winter Games?
[A] Guwahati
[B] Shimla
[C] Gulmarg
[D] Leh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Gulmarg]
Notes:
The third edition of Khelo India Winter Games recently kicked off at Gulmarg, in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir.
Over 1500 sportspersons from across the country will participate in nine different winter sports disciplines. Jammu and Kashmir holds the distinction to have topped in both the previous editions of the Khelo India Winter Games held so far.