21. Operation AAHT was conducted recently by which institution?
[A] Indian Army
[B] Indian Coast Guard
[C] Railway Protection Force
[D] Central Reserve Police Force
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Railway Protection Force]
Notes:
Operation AAHT was conducted recently by Railway Protection Force (RPF) to identify and rescue victims of human trafficking.
As part of this operation, the RPF makes use of its infrastructure and intelligence to gather analyse clues about victims, source, route, destination, popular trains used for human trafficking and other details. It collaborates with the local police to curb human trafficking.
22. Which institution has released operational guidelines on green bonds?
[A] RBI
[B] SEBI
[C] NITI Aayog
[D] IRDAI
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [SEBI]
Notes:
Capital market regulator SEBI has launched operational guidelines on green bonds asking issuers to make additional disclosures along with its annual report and financial results.
The disclosures are pertaining to environmental sustainability objectives of such debt securities in the offer document. In addition, issuers of green bonds will have to disclose brief details of decision-making process followed for determining the eligibility of projects.
23. Scientists found ‘Oldowan toolkit’, the oldest known stone tools in which country?
[A] Australia
[B] Greece
[C] Turkey
[D] Kenya
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Kenya]
Notes:
Scientists have discovered the oldest known stone tools in Kenya, dating back 2.9 million years, known as Oldowan toolkit.
This toolkit included hammer-stones, cores and flakes. It is a critical invention for early human ancestors that expanded across Africa and China. The discovery provides a glimpse of importance of stone technology in adapting to different environments.
24. Which Union Ministry signed an MoU with Digital Green to build a national-level digital extension platform?
[A] Ministry of Home Affairs
[B] Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
[C] Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
[D] Ministry of Finance
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare]
Notes:
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare signed an MoU with Digital Green under a public-private partnership framework to build a ‘National-level digital extension platform’.
The platform will host a digital library of multi-format multi-lingual content and upskill extension workers for agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, livestock and rural livelihood missions through certified online courses.
25. Which Indian state implements the ‘Pudumai Penn’ scholarship scheme for girl students?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Kerala
[C] Karnataka
[D] Andhra Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Tamil Nadu]
Notes:
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin launched phase 2 of the ‘Pudumai Penn’ scheme, a scholarship scheme for girl students, in Chennai.
The scheme involves the distribution of a scholarship amount of ₹1,000 per month to girl students pursuing their higher studies after completing their schooling at a government school. The scholarship is provided through the Social Welfare Department.
26. 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.
27. Which African country recently announced demonetization to address corruption and bring down inflation?
[A] Egypt
[B] Nigeria
[C] South Africa
[D] Tanzania
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Nigeria]
Notes:
Nigeria has recently announced demonetization to address corruption and bring down inflation. Its purpose is to bring back most of the money that is in circulation outside the banking system and to minimize money laundering.
Nigerians are required to turn in their old 1,000, 500 and 200 naira banknotes as part of this initiative in return for new naira notes. With the African country being largely dependent on cash, the shortage of new naira notes is causing chaos in Nigeria.
28. Prime Minister Modi recently inaugurated a new campus of the Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah in which city?
[A] Mysuru
[B] Varanasi
[C] Mumbai
[D] Chennai
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Mumbai]
Notes:
Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah is an Arabic academy that exclusively caters to the education of children belonging to the Dawoodi Bohra community.
Prime Minister Modi recently inaugurated a new Mumbai campus of the Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah. It is the second such campus in India. The first campus was set up in 1810 in Surat.
29. Hericium erinaceus, which was seen in the news, belongs to which species?
[A] Mushroom
[B] Cotton
[C] Apple
[D] Dragon Plant
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Mushroom]
Notes:
Hericium erinaceus, also known as lion’s mane mushroom, is an edible mushroom found in North America, Europe, and Asia.
Researchers have recently identified a new active compound in the lion’s mane mushroom. This compound is found to be capable of boosting nerve growth and enhancing the memory capacity. This may have a potential to counter Alzheimer’s disease.
30. ‘AMRITPEX’, a national-level exhibition which was inaugurated recently, is related to which field?
[A] Finance
[B] Environment
[C] Philately
[D] Sports
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Philately]
Notes:
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated the National Philatelic Exhibition- AMRITPEX in New Delhi. Philately is the collection and study of postage stamps.
The event displays more than 20,000 exhibits under 13 competitive categories and a special section on Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. The Department of Posts also released a Commemorative Postage Stamp on Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.