21. Which institution released regulatory measures on climate risks and sustainable finance?
[A] NITI Aayog
[B] Reserve bank of India
[C] Securities Exchange Board of India
[D] Ministry of Finance
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Reserve bank of India]
Notes:
The Reserve bank of India (RBI) has recently announced regulatory measures on climate risks and sustainable finance.
The new guidelines focused on creating a broad framework for promoting the acceptance of green deposits, a disclosure framework on financial risks associated with the climate crisis and guidelines for climate scenario analysis and stress testing.
22. 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.
23. Visva-Bharati University, which was seen in the news recently, is located in which state?
[A] Uttar Pradesh
[B] Bihar
[C] West Bengal
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [West Bengal]
Notes:
UNESCO is set to announce Visva-Bharati University as a heritage university and it is set to become the world’s first living heritage university.
It was founded by Rabindranath Tagore in 1921, as a center for culture, promoting the arts, language, humanities, music, and culture studies. Rabindranath Tagore’s philosophy of open-air education is followed at the university.
24. 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.
25. 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.
26. Which institution released the report titled ‘LiFE lessons from India’?
[A] World Bank
[B] International Energy Agency
[C] NITI Aayog
[D] UNICEF
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [International Energy Agency]
Notes:
A report titled ‘LiFE lessons from India’ was recently released by the International Energy Agency (IEA).
As per the report, the ‘Lifestyle for Environment’ or LiFE initiative of India for the adoption of energy-efficient behaviour can save the world USD 440 billion in 2030. As per the report, the saving would be equivalent to around 5% of all fuel spending across the global economy in that year.
27. Everglades wetland restoration project is associated with which country?
[A] Australia
[B] USA
[C] France
[D] Russia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [USA]
Notes:
The Everglades is a wetland ecosystem in the southern part of the US state of Florida. It spans across the southern half of a large drainage basin in the tropical region. This wetland ecosystem experiences fluctuating weather changes, habitat loss and environmental degradation.
A 35-year plan with an outlay of 10 billion USD is being implemented to restore this wetland. This is the world’s largest and most expensive ecological restoration project.
28. 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.
29. 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.
30. 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.