11. Divya Deshmukh, who became the National women’s champion, plays which sports?
[A] Squash
[B] Tennis
[C] Table-Tennis
[D] Chess
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Chess]
Notes:
Divya Deshmukh holds the record of being the youngest to retain the National women’s chess champion title.
Before ten months Divya Deshmukh became the youngest National women’s chess champion. The 17-year-old player defeated the 2016 Asian champion Bhakti Kulkarni with 9.5 points. Mary Ann Gomes (9) finished second while the top seed Vantika Agarwal (8.5) ended up third.
12. As per a recent study, which Indian city led the rank in office space absorption in 2022?
[A] Gurgaon
[B] Bengaluru
[C] Mumbai
[D] Hyderabad
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bengaluru]
Notes:
As per a recent study by real estate consulting firm CBRE South Asia, Bengaluru led the rank in office space absorption.
Office space absorption in the city stood at 1.7 million square feet during the October-December 2022 period. Technology sector accounted for 43 per cent, while engineering and manufacturing was at 17 per cent.
13. India handed over 75 passenger buses to which country as a part of its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy?
[A] Bangladesh
[B] Sri Lanka
[C] Nepal
[D] Thailand
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Sri Lanka]
Notes:
India has handed 75 passenger buses to Sri Lanka, as part of its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy. This is a part of its assistance towards strengthening public transport infrastructure in the cash-strapped country.
Sri Lankan government in May last year declared a debt default on over $51 billion in the foreign loan – a first in the country’s history.
14. Which organisation publishes the Food Price Index (FFPI)?
[A] UNICEF
[B] FAO
[C] IMF
[D] World Bank
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [FAO]
Notes:
The UN agency, Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) has published its latest Food Price Index (FFPI) which tracks the monthly international prices of cereals, vegetable oil, dairy, meat and sugar.
The FFPI averaged to 132.4 points in December, which is one per cent lower than the previous December. The FFPI was notably higher in 2022 than in 2021.
15. Which neighbouring country of India is set to dispatch over 159 containers of Ammunition to Ukraine?
[A] Afghanistan
[B] Pakistan
[C] China
[D] Bangladesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Pakistan]
Notes:
Pakistan is planning to dispatch 159 containers of ammunition including projectiles and primers to Ukraine through a port in Poland.
A vessel named BBC Vesuvius is set to carry 155 mm projectiles, propelling bag charges and other ammunition. Earlier, Pakistan played a crucial role in transfer of arms on behalf of the UK to Ukraine.
16. ‘Kumarakom and Beypore’, which were selected under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 Scheme, are located in which state?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Kerala
[C] Rajasthan
[D] Haryana
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Kerala]
Notes:
Kumarakom in Kottayam and Beypore in Kozhikode from Kerala have been selected for development under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 Scheme.
The two places are among 34 other destinations from 19 states and Union Territories selected under the scheme of the Ministry of Tourism. Kerala has many places declared under eco circuit, spiritual circuit, rural circuit, as part of the Swadesh Darshan scheme 1.0.
17. India signed and exchanged letters for ‘Young Professionals Scheme’ with which country?
[A] Australia
[B] UK
[C] USA
[D] Finland
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [UK]
Notes:
India and the United Kingdom marked the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas by exchanging letters to formalise the Young Professionals Scheme.
The scheme allows up to 3,000 graduates in age bracket of 18-30 to get a two-year visa to study in each other’s countries. It aims to pave a way for the youth to understand the culture of one another. The launch of the ‘Young Professionals’ scheme was announced in November 2022 at G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia.
18. Which country has the world’s most powerful passport, as per the Henley Passport Index 2023?
[A] UK
[B] Japan
[C] India
[D] USA
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Japan]
Notes:
Japan continues to top the list of the world’s most powerful passport for the year 2023, according to the Henley Passport Index report 2023.
Japanese citizens can travel to as many as 193 countries visa-free or visa-on-arrival access destinations around the world. The second spot is shared by Singapore and South Korea. Indian passport ranks 85th in the world’s most powerful passport index 2023 and gives visa-free entry to 59 destinations.
19. The Cabinet approved a ₹2,600 crore scheme for promoting digital transactions for promoting which entities?
[A] RuPay debit cards and low-value BHIM-UPI transactions.
[B] RuPay credit cards
[C] Aadhar Enabled Payment system
[D] Bharat Bill Payment system
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [RuPay debit cards and low-value BHIM-UPI transactions.]
Notes:
The Union Cabinet approved a ₹2,600 crore scheme for promoting RuPay debit cards and low-value BHIM-UPI transactions.
Under the scheme, banks will be provided financial incentives for promoting Point of Sale (PoS) and e-commerce transactions using RuPay and UPI in the current financial year.
20. Which state announced severe penalties for vehicles without High Security Registration Plates (HSRP)?
[A] West Bengal
[B] Odisha
[C] Kerala
[D] Karnataka
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Odisha]
Notes:
Odisha’s State Transport Authority (STA) announced severe penalties against vehicles without High Security Registration Plates (HSRP).
In case the vehicle is not affixed with HSRP within the scheduled date mentioned above, e-challan will be issued against the offending vehicle of a fine of Rs 5,000 or Rs 10,000 under Section 192 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.