21. Who is the only living Indian to win the Grammy Award thrice?
[A] A R Rahman
[B] Ricky Kej
[C] Resul Pookutty
[D] Babbu Mann
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ricky Kej]
Notes:
Ricky Kej is an Indian musician and environmental activist. The Indian music composer recently won his third Grammy Award for the album ‘Divine Tides’.
He is the youngest person to win this award and only the fourth Indian to achieve this feat. He recently made another history by becoming the only living Indian to win the Grammy Award thrice.
22. Which international association launched ‘Cyber Challenge’ to enhance the cyber security within their individual territories?
[A] ASEAN
[B] G-20
[C] QUAD
[D] G-7
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [QUAD]
Notes:
The Quad Cyber Challenge was launched by the QUAD member states (Australia, India, Japan, and the United States) to enhance the cyber security within their individual territories.
This campaigns calls on Internet users across the Indo-Pacific region and other places to join the pledge to practice safe and responsible cyber habits.
23. Which institution launched the ‘Zero-Draft’ of the Pandemic Treaty?
[A] World Bank
[B] World Health Organisation
[C] World Economic Forum
[D] International Monetary Fund
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [World Health Organisation]
Notes:
The ‘zero-draft’ of the pandemic treaty was launched recently by the World Health Organization’s Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB).
The international treaty is expected to be presented at the World Health Assembly in 2024. The aim of the pandemic treaty is to strengthen national and international-level preparedness against future pandemics.
24. Which neighbouring country of India is set to receive electricity from power plant in Jharkhand?
[A] Sri Lanka
[B] Bangladesh
[C] Nepal
[D] Myanmar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bangladesh]
Notes:
Bangladesh will start receiving electricity from the Godda power plant in Jharkhand from the first week of March.
750 megawatt power will come from the first unit of Adani power plant in Godda in March. Another 750 megawatt of power will come from the second unit of the Godda power plant in April. The Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) signed an agreement with Adani group for importing electricity.
25. As per a UNSC report, which country stole more cryptocurrency assets to support its ballistic missile and weapons of mass destruction programmes?
[A] North Korea
[B] USA
[C] Australia
[D] China
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [North Korea]
Notes:
North Korea stole more cryptocurrency assets in 2022 than in any other year, as per a recent report by United Nations.
As per the report, most of the money stolen was used to support its ballistic missile and weapons of mass destruction programmes. North Korea-linked hackers stole virtual assets worth USD 630 million while its cyber currency heist stood at USD 1 billion.
26. 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.
27. Which Union Ministry launched the Mission Antyodaya Survey (MAS) 2022-23?
[A] Ministry of Rural Development
[B] Ministry of MSME
[C] Ministry of Finance
[D] Ministry of Agriculture
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ministry of Rural Development]
Notes:
Union Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh recently inaugurated Mission Antyodaya Survey (MAS) 2022-23.
The objectives of the scheme are- conducting an annual survey at the Gram Panchayat level to monitor the progress in the development process in rural areas, Panchayat wise ranking and making Gap report, which serves as an important input for the Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP).
28. Nebraska’s Sand Hills, where a new type of quasi-crystal was discovered, is located in which country?
[A] China
[B] Turkey
[C] USA
[D] Ukraine
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [USA]
Notes:
Quasicrystal is a substance that has atoms orderly arranged like a crystal but its atomic structure is more complex and does not repeat periodically in all directions. This unique complex pattern makes it different from a normal crystal.
Recently, a new type of quasicrystal was discovered in the north central Nebraska’s Sand Hills in the USA. It had 12-fold symmetry. It may have been created during an accidental electrical discharge because of a downed power line or a lightning strike.
29. Emden Port, which was seen in the news, is located in which country?
[A] Germany
[B] USA
[C] Australia
[D] Italy
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Germany]
Notes:
The Emden Port is the western-most sea port in Germany’s coast. It is situated at the mouth of the Ems River into the North Sea.
The Pakistan government is providing military supplies to Ukraine via the Emden Port. It has recently dispatched rocket supplies from the Karachi port for Ukraine via the German port. More than 10,000 rockets have been shipped via this route to be used in Grad multi-barrel rocket launchers. Ukraine is helping Pakistan to upgrade its Mi-17 helicopters.
30. Which state/UT announced an inflation relief package of Rs 19,000 crore in the state’s Budget for 2023-24?
[A] Uttarakhand
[B] Gujarat
[C] Rajasthan
[D] Punjab
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Rajasthan]
Notes:
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot announced an inflation relief package of Rs 19,000 crore in the state’s Budget for 2023-24.
The package aims to provide relief to the masses from rising prices. The package includes free food packets every month to poor families, LPG cylinders for Rs 500 under the Ujjwala Scheme and free electricity up to 100 units per month to domestic consumers. The coverage amount was raised from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 25 lakh Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojana.