11. “Blue Book”, which was seen in the news, is the manual of which armed force/group?
[A] Central Reserve Police Force
[B] Special Protection Group
[C] National Security Guard
[D] Indian Coast Guard
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Special Protection Group]
Notes:
“Blue Book” is the name of the manual of the Special Protection Group (SPG), which exclusively protects India’s Prime Minister.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spent 20 minutes on a Punjab highway blocked by protesting farmers in a security breach. Usually, the PM’s plan is shared with the state’s top leadership including the Chief Minister, Home Minister and police chief. SPG coordinates with State Police and other officers for a security plan.
12. ‘Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA)’ is located in which country?
[A] USA
[B] Chile
[C] Australia
[D] Russia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Chile]
Notes:
A team of Scientists used the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile to observe a newborn star (protostar) in the WB89-789 region.
It is located in the extreme outer Galaxy. Scientists have detected carbon-, oxygen-, nitrogen-, sulfur-, and silicon-bearing molecules were detected. The protostar and the associated cocoon of chemically-rich gas were detected at the edge of our Galaxy, for the first time.
13. Sindhutai Sapkal, who passed away recently, was associated with which field?
[A] Politics
[B] Social Service
[C] Business
[D] Literature
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Social Service]
Notes:
Social worker Sindhutai Sapkal, who was also referred to as ‘Maai’ or ‘mother’ recently passed away. Her last rites were conducted with state honours.
She had raised over 1,050 children and received the Padma Shri award in 2021 in Social Work category and several other awards and honours. She had also set up a well-equipped home for children in Pune.
14. Which state is associated with ‘Nirbhaya Kadhi’ campaign?
[A] West Bengal
[B] Odisha
[C] Karnataka
[D] Gujarat
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Odisha]
Notes:
Odisha’s Ganjam has declared itself the state’s first child marriage free district. It has undertaken a campaign named Nirbhaya Kadhi (Fearless bud).
Through the campaign, the district administration has counselled over one lakh teen-agers and stopped over 450 child marriages. They implemented various steps like providing incentives for informing child marriages, making Aadhaar card mandatory for marriages etc.
15. ‘Veer Gatha’ Project was launched to promote awareness about ………….
[A] Freedom Fighters
[B] Gallantry award winners
[C] Military Equipment
[D] Space Missions
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Gallantry award winners]
Notes:
The Veer Gatha Project was organised by the Union Ministry of Defence, in partnership with Ministry of Education and MyGov to generate awareness regarding the Gallantry award winners.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) announced a list of 25 winners of the Veer Gatha Project. The project was conducted at an all-India level in all States and UTs, in all schools affiliated to CBSE.
16. Which peninsula separates the Gulf of Mexico from the Caribbean Sea?
[A] Avalon Peninsula.
[B] Boothia Peninsula.
[C] Bruce Peninsula.
[D] Yucatán Peninsula
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Yucatán Peninsula]
Notes:
The Yucatán Peninsula separates the Gulf of Mexico from the Caribbean Sea. It includes 3 Mexican states and portions of Belize and Guatemala.
The Maya civilization, known for its exemplary architecture and understanding of mathematics, originated in the Yucatan Peninsula. According to a new study, the Maya civilization may have had access to nearly 500 edible plants, many of which were highly resistant to drought. Earlier, it was believed that the civilization’s fall was due to drought.
17. Which vulnerable animal species has been spotted for the first time in Nagaland?
[A] Clouded Leopard
[B] Marbled Cat
[C] Snow Leopard
[D] Ocelot
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Clouded Leopard]
Notes:
For the first time, Researchers have spotted a ‘Clouded Leopard’ in a community forest in Nagaland. Named for its spotted coat, they are known as Khephak in the local Chirr dialect.
Though it is known to inhabit low elevation primary evergreen rainforests, the animal was spotted at an altitude of 3,700 meters along the Indo-Myanmar border. They are found from the rain forests of Indonesia to the foothills of the Himalayas.
18. What is the maximum limit of Aadhaar-enabled cash withdrawal transactions, per customer, per terminal per day, as per NPCI?
[A] Two
[B] Three
[C] Five
[D] Seven
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Five]
Notes:
National Payments Corporation of India has introduced limits for cash withdrawals and mini statements.
It states that the maximum limit of five Aadhaar enabled cash withdrawal transactions, per customer, per terminal per day. The issuers will also implement a limit of a minimum of five mini statement transactions per customer per month. This has to be implemented by January 15, 2022.
19. Bharath Subramaniyam, who was seen in the news, is associated with which sports?
[A] Tennis
[B] Chess
[C] Table-Tennis
[D] Weightlifting
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Chess]
Notes:
Fourteen-year-old Bharath Subramaniyam became India’s 73rd chess Grandmaster, after he secured the third and final GM norm at an event in Italy. He also touched the requisite 2,500 (Elo) mark.
Fellow Indian player M R Lalith Babu emerged winner in the tournament, winning the title. Mitrabha Guha had become the country’s 72nd GM in November last, two days after Sankalp Gupta became the 71st GM.
20. India set a bilateral trade target of $50 billion before 2030, with which country?
[A] South Korea
[B] USA
[C] Japan
[D] UAE
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [South Korea]
Notes:
India and South Korea set a bilateral trade target of USD 50 billion before 2030. South Korea’s Trade Minister Yeo Han-Koo and Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal held bilateral talks in New Delhi.
In 2021, South Korea’s exports to India increased 38.5 per cent (USD 7.4 billion), imports increased 37.4 per cent ( USD 3.6 billion), and the trade balance recorded a surplus of USD 3.8 billion.