1. Recently, which neurotechnology company has embedded the first computer chip in a human brain?
[A] Neuralink
[B] Kernel
[C] Blackrock Neurotech
[D] Neurable
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Neuralink ]
Notes:
Neuralink is the first company to implant a computer chip in a human brain. Neuralink is a neurotechnology company founded in 2016 by Musk and seven other scientists and engineers. The company’s implant, known as the “Link,” is a small device that’s surgically placed inside the human brain. Neuralink says its device can interpret neural activity so a person can operate a computer or smartphone by simply thinking. The company ultimately hopes to use the brain-machine interface to restore sensory and motor functions in people with disabilities, treat neurological conditions like dementia and depression, and even enable telepathic communication.
2. What is ‘Kudavolai System’, recently mentioned in the news?
[A] Caste system
[B] Electoral system
[C] Irrigation system
[D] Tax system
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Electoral system]
Notes:
Tamil Nadu’s Republic Day Parade 2024 featured the Kudavolai System, an ancient electoral method dating back to the 10th century Chola era. Documented in Uthiramerur inscriptions, it was employed to elect village administration representatives. The system involved dividing villages into wards, with residents choosing their representatives through a unique process: contestants’ names on palm leaf tickets (volai) placed in a pot (kuda), and a boy selecting tickets to declare elected leaders. Tamil Nadu’s tableau showcasing this historical system earned the third-best award.
3. C- CARES web portal, recently seen in the news, is associated with which sector?
[A] Petroleum sector
[B] Renewable energy sector
[C] Coal sector
[D] Agriculture sector
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Coal sector]
Notes:
Recently, Union Minister Shri Pralhad Joshi launched the C-CARES web portal for the Coal Mines Provident Fund Organization (CMPFO). Developed by C-DAC, it aims to digitize records and streamline processes for 3.3 lakh Provident Fund subscribers and 6.1 lakh pensioners in the coal sector. The portal enables online settlement of claims, ensuring transparency, faster processing, and better record management. Aligned with the vision of Digital India, it signifies a significant leap towards efficient and transparent operations in the coal sector.
4. Subika paintings, which were seen in the news, are linked to which community’s cultural history?
[A] Bhils
[B] Gonds
[C] Meitei
[D] Chiru
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Meitei ]
Notes:
The Subika painting style, intricately linked to Meitei cultural history, faces near extinction due to neglect. Its survival depends on six manuscripts—Subika, Subika Achouba, Subika Laishaba, Subika Choudit, Subika Cheithil, and Thengrakhel Subika. Subika Laishaba is a vital continuation of Meitei tradition through visual images. Despite Manipur’s historical significance, Subika paintings, estimated to date back to the 18th or 19th century, highlight a decline in visual arts, emphasizing the need for preservation efforts.
5. Who has been selected as torchbearer for the 2024 Paris Olympics?
[A] Saina Nehwal
[B] Neeraj Chopra
[C] Abhinav Bindra
[D] P V Sindhu
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Abhinav Bindra]
Notes:
Abhinav Bindra, a former shooter and India’s first Olympic gold medalist, has been selected as a torchbearer for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Bindra is one of 11,000 torchbearers selected throughout France for the 2024 Olympics. The 2024 Olympic torch relay will start in France on May 8, 2024, with the flame arriving in Marseille before traveling across France for 68 days.
6. ‘Vyommitra’ robot, recently seen in the news, is associated with which space mission?
[A] Aditya L1
[B] Gaganyaan
[C] Chandrayaan 3
[D] Chandrayaan 2
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Gaganyaan ]
Notes:
India’s “Vyommitra,” a female robot astronaut, will precede the Gaganyaan mission, marking India’s inaugural human space flight. Set for a third-quarter launch in 2024, Vyommitra simulates human functions in space, monitoring parameters, issuing alerts, and executing life support operations. Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh revealed these details, emphasizing Vyommitra’s capabilities. Gaganyaan, scheduled for 2025, aims to launch Indian astronauts into orbit, demonstrating human space capabilities. The successful TV D1 test in October 2023 validated crucial systems for Gaganyaan, assuring readiness for the manned mission.
7. Who has been appointed as the new Advocate General of Rajasthan?
[A] Ashok Kumar Jain
[B] Rajendra Prasad Gupta
[C] N.M. Lodha
[D] Praveer Bhatnagar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Rajendra Prasad Gupta ]
Notes:
Rajendra Prasad Gupta is the new Advocate General of Rajasthan. In India, the Advocate General is a legal advisor to the state government. The Governor of each state appoints an Advocate General who is qualified to be appointed as a Judge of a High Court.
8. Where was the Centre of Excellence (CoE) on E-waste Management inaugurated?
[A] C-MET, Hyderabad
[B] C-MET, Maharashtra
[C] C-MET, Thrissur
[D] C-MET, Lucknow
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [C-MET, Hyderabad]
Notes:
The Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology (C-MET) is an autonomous scientific society under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in India. It operates three R&D laboratories in Pune, Hyderabad, and Thrissur, focusing on critical electronic materials. C-MET, Hyderabad, is dedicated to developing advanced electronic and strategic materials. A major focus is environmentally friendly e-waste recycling technologies to address India’s 3.2 million tons of electronic waste, promoting resource efficiency. C-MET’s Centre of Excellence on E-waste Management, inaugurated under PPP, pioneers recycling technologies for various electronic components.
9. Dusted Apollo, recently seen in the news, belongs to which one of the following species?
[A] Butterfly
[B] Frog
[C] Fish
[D] Spider
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Butterfly ]
Notes:
The rare Dusted Apollo butterfly (Parnassius stenosemus) was recently spotted and photographed for the first time in Himachal Pradesh, extending its known distribution from Ladakh to West Nepal. Resembling Ladakh Banded Apollo, it distinguishes with a complete discal band on the upper forewing. The sighting of the protected Regal Apollo (Parnassius charltonius) also occurred, highlighting the rich diversity of Apollo butterflies in the region. Urgent conservation is needed as Apollos face commercial poaching threats, emphasizing the importance of community awareness and establishing conservation measures like butterfly parks.
10. Where was the ‘India’s First Digital National Museum of Epigraphy’ inaugurated?
[A] Hyderabad
[B] Bengaluru
[C] Chennai
[D] Jaipur
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Hyderabad]
Notes:
Union Culture Minister G. Kishan Reddy inaugurated the foundation stone for India’s digital National Museum of Epigraphy at the Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad. Managed by the Archaeological Survey of India, the museum aims to digitize one lakh ancient inscriptions from various periods and languages, aligning with the Bharat Shared Repository of Inscriptions initiative. Reddy praised the development as a key stride in the Modi government’s “Vikas Bhi Virasat Bhi” commitment, underscoring the role of technology in providing universal access to cultural heritage and highlighting the museum’s transformative potential for scholars.
