11. Reliance Consumer Products announces strategic partnership with Maliban Biscuit Manufactories based in which country?
[A] China
[B] Sri Lanka
[C] UK
[D] UAE
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Sri Lanka]
Notes:
Reliance Consumer Products announces strategic partnership with Sri Lanka’s Maliban Biscuit Manufactories.
Reliance Consumer Products Limited is the FMCG arm of Reliance Retail Ventures Limited. Maliban is Sri Lanka’s pioneering biscuit manufacturer well-known for the last 70 years for its range of products.
12. ‘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.
13. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) recently found 1,200-year-old idols in Nalanda, in which state?
[A] Bihar
[B] Gujarat
[C] Punjab
[D] Rajasthan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Bihar]
Notes:
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) recently found 1,200-year-old idols in Nalanda in Bihar. They were found from a waterbody close to the ancient Nalanda University during desilting of a pond.
Nalanda Mahavihara is a world heritage site about 88 km from this place. The idols were found during desilting under Bihar government’s ‘Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali’ project launched to protect and conserve water and the environment.
14. 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.
15. Which state hosted the ‘First meeting of Sustainable Finance Working Group under G20?
[A] Gujarat
[B] Assam
[C] West Bengal
[D] Kerala
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Assam]
Notes:
The First meeting of Sustainable Finance Working Group under G20 was recently hosted in Guwahati, Assam.
The G20 meeting in Assam deliberated on sustainable financing solutions. The delegates also discussed raising funds through green bonds, sustainability linked bonds and other such instruments for projects.
16. Which country introduced new family laws called ‘Federal Personal Status Laws’?
[A] USA
[B] UK
[C] UAE
[D] Australia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [UAE]
Notes:
A set of new family laws, referred to as ‘Federal Personal Status Laws’, for non-Muslims residing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) came into force.
These laws will apply to non-Muslim expatriates or foreigners living in UAE and cover various aspects of family law like marriage, divorce, child custody, inheritance, wills, and paternity. The new reforms to UAE’s judicial systems originate from Abu Dhabi’s Civil Family Court System, which allows non-Muslim couples to divorce or marry without following the Sharia laws.
17. ‘India Energy Week’ is observed in India, during which month?
[A] September
[B] December
[C] February
[D] June
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [February]
Notes:
The India Energy Week is being organized from February 6 to 8 in India. The objective of this week-long event is to showcase India’s influence as a leader in the energy transition.
While inaugurating the 2023 India Energy Week, Prime Minister Modi launched Indian Oil’s ‘Unbottled’ initiative, which involves using recycled polyester and cotton for creating retail customer attendants and LPG delivery personnel uniforms. Indian Oil’s Indoor Solar Cooking System was also rolled out for commercial purposes.
18. Which company launched India’s first Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (H2ICE) technology?
[A] Tata Motors
[B] Reliance Industries
[C] Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
[D] Mahindra and Mahindra
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Reliance Industries]
Notes:
India’s first Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (H2ICE) technology was launched by Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) for heavy-duty trucks.
It was developed by RIL in collaboration with vehicle partners like Ashok Leyland and others and was launched during the India Energy Week 2023. The H2ICE technology minimizes carbon emissions and delivers better performance when compared with conventional diesel trucks.
19. 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.
20. The eXperiential Technology Innovation Centre (XTIC) is a newly established research institute in which institution?
[A] IISc Bengaluru
[B] IISER Bhopal
[C] IIT Madras
[D] NIT Warangal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [IIT Madras]
Notes:
The eXperiential Technology Innovation Centre (XTIC) is a newly established research institute in IIT Madras.
It is India’s research and product innovation centre focusing on extended reality and haptics technology. An MoU was signed recently between ISRO and the IIT Madras to develop a training module for the Indian spaceflight programme at the XTIC. It will be developed using the augmented reality, virtual reality and mixed reality.