31. ‘Dakshin Bharat Sanskritik Kendra’, recently seen in the news, was established in which city of India?
[A] Hyderabad
[B] Chennai
[C] Bengaluru
[D] Kochi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Hyderabad]
Notes:
The former Vice-President of India and Union Minister for Culture will inaugurate the ‘Dakshin Bharat Sanskritik Kendra’ in Hyderabad, part of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India’s national academy for music, dance, and drama. Established in 1953, it aims to preserve and promote India’s diverse cultural heritage. The Akademi operates autonomously under the Ministry of Culture, with a Chairman appointed by the President for a five-year term. Fully funded by the government, it coordinates regional Akademies, promotes research, and encourages collaboration for the enrichment of Indian culture.
32. Recently, IREDA has signed an MoU with which IIT for promoting innovation and research in the field of renewable energy?
[A] IIT Roorkee
[B] IIT Bombay
[C] IIT Kanpur
[D] IIT Bhubaneswar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [IIT Bhubaneswar]
Notes:
The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) and the Indian Institute of Technology, Bhubaneswar (IIT Bhubaneswar) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MoU is intended to support joint research efforts, technology transfer, and the start-up ecosystem in renewable energy. The collaboration was initiated at the 100 Cube Start-up Conclave held at IIT Bhubaneswar in the presence of Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Director of IITB Prof. Shreepad Karmalkar.
33. Nua-O scholarship program, recently seen in the news, is associated with which state?
[A] Gujarat
[B] Andhra Pradesh
[C] Odisha
[D] Bihar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Odisha ]
Notes:
The Odisha government announces the Nua-O scholarship, providing annual financial aid to undergraduate and postgraduate students. Male students receive Rs 9,000, while females get Rs 10,000. SC/ST and Nirman Shramik male students receive Rs 10,000, and females get Rs 11,000. The initiative, part of the Nutana Unnata Abhilasha (NUA) Odisha scheme, focuses on skilling youth, allocating a budget of Rs 385 crore for 2023-24 to 2025-26. The scholarship targets students in state universities and aided colleges, excluding Income Tax payers and government employees’ children. Around 4.5 lakh undergraduates and 32,000 postgraduates are expected to benefit.
34. Recently, which country is launching the ‘Dream of the Desert’ train in the Middle East?
[A] Saudi Arabia
[B] Iraq
[C] Iran
[D] Oman
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Saudi Arabia ]
Notes:
Saudi Arabia is launching the “Dream of the Desert” train service in late 2025. The 800-mile trip will start in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital city, and travel northwest toward the border with Jordan. The route will pass through long stretches of scenic deserts and UNESCO World Heritage archeological sites.
35. Where was the 12th edition of MILAN naval exercise held?
[A] Kutch
[B] Kochi
[C] Jaisalmer
[D] Visakhapatnam
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Visakhapatnam ]
Notes:
The 12th edition of the MILAN naval exercise took place in Visakhapatnam from February 19–27, 2024. The exercise, which has the theme “Forging Naval Alliances for a Secure Maritime Future,” aims to strengthen collaboration between participating navies.
36. PM-SVANidhi scheme, recently seen in the news, is launched by which ministry?
[A] Ministry of Rural Development
[B] Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
[C] Ministry of Agriculture
[D] Ministry of Corporate Affairs
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs]
Notes:
Union Minister Hardeep Puri praised PM SVANidhi for restoring street vendors’ dignity during the pandemic. Launched on June 1, 2020, the scheme provided affordable working capital loans, totaling ₹10,678 crore, to over 60.94 lakh street vendors. The initiative, overseen by the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, distributed loans to 10,000 vendors at the PM SVANidhi Mega Camp, benefitting those severely affected by Covid-19 lockdown.
37. Recently, NASA and which country’s space agency have joined to launch the world’s first wooden satellite?
[A] Japan
[B] Russia
[C] India
[D] UK
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Japan]
Notes:
NASA and Japan’s space agency, JAXA, are planning to launch the world’s first wooden satellite, LignoSat, in 2024. The satellite is designed to reduce space debris and is made of biodegradable magnolia wood, known as Hoonoki in Japanese. The satellite is being developed by scientists at Kyoto University. First tests have been performed in space-simulating laboratories, and wood samples found no signs of damage, decomposition, or mass changes. The initiative aims to make spaceflight operations more sustainable and pave the way for a more sustainable future in orbit.
38. Which day is celebrated as International Mother Language Day?
[A] 20 February
[B] 21 February
[C] 22 February
[D] 23 February
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [21 February]
Notes:
On February 21, 2024, International Mother Language Day is celebrated globally, acknowledging linguistic diversity. Originating in Bangladesh, the day emphasizes the historical movement for linguistic rights. In 2024, the theme is “Multilingual education – a pillar of learning and intergenerational learning,” underscoring the importance of linguistic education. This Wednesday marks a special occasion to recognize and celebrate the significance of mother languages worldwide.
39. Where was the Maritime Technical Exposition MTEX-24 inaugurated?
[A] Kochi
[B] Chennai
[C] Visakhapatnam
[D] Goa
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Visakhapatnam ]
Notes:
The Maritime Technical Exposition MTEX-24 is a key feature of MILAN 2024 in Visakhapatnam, showcasing India’s strides in naval technology. Inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, MTEX-24 spans three days and emphasizes self-reliance in defence. It highlights advancements in shipbuilding, communication, cybersecurity, and sustainable energy solutions. Key participants include major players, defence start-ups, PSUs, and Naval organizations, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange. MTEX-24 aims to propel India’s maritime industry towards a secure and prosperous future.
40. What is the name of the ChatGPT-style service which is recently launched by the Reliance Industries group?
[A] Hanooman
[B] Mahavir
[C] Avtaar
[D] Chanakya
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Hanooman]
Notes:
Reliance Industries, in collaboration with top Indian engineering schools, is launching BharatGPT, a ChatGPT-style AI model named Hanooman. Backed by Reliance Jio, Hanooman aims to advance India’s AI in healthcare, governance, finance, and education, operating in 11 local languages with speech-to-text capabilities. Reliance Jio is concurrently developing Jio Brain for its 450 million subscribers. Other startups like Sarvam and Krutrim, supported by Lightspeed Venture Partners and Vinod Khosla’s fund, are also contributing open-sourced AI models for India’s growth.