11. ‘Gaan Ngai festival’ is celebrated in which Indian state?
[A] Assam
[B] Manipur
[C] West Bengal
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Manipur]
Notes:
The Gaan Ngai festival of the Zeliangrong community is celebrated in Manipur. It is celebrated every year after harvesting.
During the festival, the Zeliarong community shows their gratitude by offering their harvest to the almighty. It is a custom to produce new fire by rubbing dry wood and split bamboo pieces and distribute them to other households. The Zeliarong community in Manipur comprises Rongmei, Liangmei, and Zeme tribes.
12. Which institution implements the ‘Bikaner Solar Power Project’?
[A] SJVN Limited
[B] NHPC Limited
[C] REC Limited
[D] JSW Energy
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [SJVN Limited]
Notes:
President Droupadi Murmu laid the foundation stone of state-owned energy firm SJVN’s 1,000 MW Bikaner Solar Power Project in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
This project is being implemented by SJVN Limited through its wholly owned subsidiary SJVN Green Energy Limited (SGEL). Bikaner is one of the highest solar yield areas of the country. The project is scheduled to be commissioned by March 2024. SJVN is a leading power CPSE under Ministry of Power.
13. Which country developed the Aadhaar-like platform for 9 countries called ‘Modular Open-Source Identity Platform (MOSIP)’?
[A] China
[B] India
[C] Israel
[D] USA
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [India]
Notes:
International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIITB) has developed a platform to provide Aadhaar-like digital identities for nine countries.
The Modular Open-Source Identity Platform (MOSIP) is a digital identity platform. Citizens of Philippines, Morocco, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Ethiopia, Republic of Guinea, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso and Togolese Republic will enrol on the platform.
14. What is the outlay of the ‘Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND) scheme’?
[A] Rs 1500 crore
[B] Rs 2500 crore
[C] Rs 3000 crore
[D] Rs 4000 crore
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Rs 2500 crore]
Notes:
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the proposal of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting regarding the Central Sector Scheme ‘Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development’ (BIND).
The BIND scheme aims to bring modernisation to the public broadcaster Prasar Bharati i.e. All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan (DD). The outlay of the scheme is Rs.2,540 crore for the time period up to 2025-26.
15. Which state/UT recently joined the free rice scheme of the Centre under the National Food Security Act (NFSA)?
[A] West Bengal
[B] Telangana
[C] Tamil Nadu
[D] Goa
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Telangana]
Notes:
The Telangana government has decided to join the free rice scheme of the Centre under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
The Central scheme aims to supply five kgs of rice per head per month in a family to 54.44 lakh NFSA cardholders in the State. The State government will extend the scheme to an additional 35.52 lakh cardholders at its own cost.
16. India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval held a Strategic Dialogue with his counterpart from which country?
[A] USA
[B] France
[C] Australia
[D] Sri Lanka
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [France]
Notes:
National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and his French counterpart Emmanuel Bonne held discussions on defence and security cooperation.
In addition to being the diplomatic advisor to the French president, Emmanuel Bonne is also France’s G7-G20 sherpa.
17. Sam Bankman-Fried, who was in the news recently, was the founder of which company?
[A] Tesla
[B] FTX
[C] TikTok
[D] CoinBase
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [FTX]
Notes:
The founder of cryptocurrency company FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried faces eight criminal counts, including wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy, among others
He recently pleaded not guilty Manhattan federal court, to charges of defrauding investors related to the collapse of the crypto exchange. He is accused of redirecting the deposits of FTX customers without their consent to his Alameda Research hedge fund.
18. Which Union Ministry is organising the ‘Startup India Innovation Week’?
[A] Ministry of MSME
[B] Ministry of Commerce and Industry
[C] Ministry of Home Affairs
[D] Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Commerce and Industry]
Notes:
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry is organising ‘Startup India Innovation Week 2023’ from January 10-16.
It aims to celebrate the Indian startup ecosystem. On the National Startup Day on January 16, DPIIT will felicitate the winners of National Startup Awards.
19. Cratonavis zhui’s fossils with dinosaur-like skull and a bird-like body, have been unearthed in which country?
[A] India
[B] China
[C] Greece
[D] Turkey
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [China]
Notes:
Cratonavis zhui’s fossils were recently discovered in China, which exhibit a dinosaur-like skull and a bird-like body.
The discovery opens up questions about the evolution of dinosaurs into birds as it breaks the theory that birds evolved from dinosaurs.
20. Cape Verde, the first to name a stadium after Pele, is located in which region?
[A] Europe
[B] South America
[C] Africa
[D] South Asia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Africa]
Notes:
Cape Verde, a country in West Africa, was a colony of Portuguese. It became the first country to name a stadium after football Legend Pele.
Cape Verde Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva confirmed their Estadio Nacional de Cabo Verde would be renamed after Pele. After Pele’s death in December, FIFA chief Gianni Infantino proposed that each nation should name one stadium after Pele.