31. Which countries have agreed principally to form a quadrilateral (QUAD) tie with the USA?
[A] Australia – Japan – Italy
[B] Afghanistan – Pakistan – Uzbekistan
[C] India – Sri Lanka – China
[D] Myanmar – Bhutan – Nepal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Afghanistan – Pakistan – Uzbekistan]
Notes:
The United States of America, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan have in principle agreed to form a quadrilateral tie (QUAD), to boost their diplomatic relationship among the countries.
The tie is aimed to establish a long-term peace in Afghanistan leading to financial and political stability. The parties have proposed to expand the trade relationship among them.
32. Which Union Ministry has formulated a Draft National Strategy and Roadmap for Development of Rural Tourism in India?
[A] Ministry of Rural Development
[B] Ministry of Tourism
[C] Ministry of Culture
[D] Ministry of Home Affairs
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Tourism]
Notes:
The Ministry of Tourism has formulated a Draft National Strategy and Roadmap for Development of Rural Tourism in India – An initiative towards Atmanirbhar Bharat.
The Ministry has also invited feedback from all the State Governments/UT Administrations regarding the policy. The strategy focusses on new ideas like Digital technologies, Developing clusters among others. It has also identified Rural Circuit as one of the thematic circuits under Swadesh Darshan Scheme.
33. What is the name of the fish, that has been caught in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand for the first time in three decades?
[A] Mrigal Carp
[B] Hilsa
[C] Silver Pomfret
[D] Mystus
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Hilsa]
Notes:
Hilsa, the pricey fish has been caught in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand for the first time in three decades. The fish lives in the seas but spawns in the rivers.
This has been witnessed after the gates and fish locks of Farakka barrage were changed to allow the upstream migration of the fish. Hilsa or ilish, has been the favourite gift to Indian leaders from the Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. It depleted after the Farakka barrage was constructed in the Murshidabad district of West Bengal and nets were put on the Bangladesh side.
34. ‘Kraaling’ is a process used in training/ taming which animal?
[A] Elephant
[B] Camel
[C] Giraffe
[D] Gorilla
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Elephant]
Notes:
The Tamil Nadu Forest Department is to develop a standard operating procedure for the capture and release of wild elephants based on science and best practices.
As per the state officials, the process of kraaling and training an adult into captivity could be generally tortuous and scientifically not well-established. Kraaling involves capture of the animals by closing them in a stockade (kraal). The Asian elephant species in Tamil Nadu is declining to an alarming level, and so they propose the wild elephants should be sent back to the breeding population.
35. Which organization has developed high-strength beta titanium alloy to be used in aerospace applications?
[A] ISRO
[B] DRDO
[C] HAL
[D] NALCO
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [DRDO]
Notes:
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed a high-strength beta titanium alloy. This has been developed indigenously for manufacture of intricate aerospace components like slat/flap tracks, landing gear.
Key features of the alloy are good forgeability and high strength-to-weight ratio, which would provide excellent weight reduction.
36. Chrysilla volupe, a rare organism spotted in Kerala, belongs to which category of species?
[A] Spider
[B] Turtle
[C] Snake
[D] Frog
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Spider]
Notes:
A pair of rare Chrysilla volupe spiders was recently spotted at Puttenahalli lake in Kerala. The Chrysilla volupe was believed to be extinct for 150 years, until it was discovered at the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS) in 2018.
The spider belongs to the family of jumping spiders (Salticidae). Male spiders are 5.44 mm long including stretched legs and 1.76 mm wide. They have a upper skin in reddish orange colour with two shining blue stripes. Females measure 2.61 mm long and 0.88 mm wide, and have a greyish upper skin with grey eyebrows with yellow legs.
37. Union Cabinet approved Rs 6,322 crore production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for which product?
[A] Medical Equipment
[B] Specialty Steel
[C] Coking Coal
[D] Automobile
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Specialty Steel]
Notes:
Union Cabinet has been approved Rs 6,322 crore production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for speciality steel.
It is expected to attract an additional investment of about Rs 40,000 crore and capacity addition of 25 million tonnes in the segment. Out of a production of 102 million tonnes of steel in 2020-21, only 18 million tonnes of value-added steel/speciality steel were produced in the country.
38. Sela Tunnel, which was in the news recently, is located in which state/UT?
[A] Sikkim
[B] Arunachal Pradesh
[C] Jammu & Kashmir
[D] Uttarakhand
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Arunachal Pradesh]
Notes:
Border Roads Organisation (BRO) Director General virtually conducted the last blast of escape tube of the Sela Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh, which is under-construction.
This blast will enable its faster completion, as per the Defence Ministry notification. The tunnel is being constructed to provide all-weather connectivity to Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh through the Balipara-Charduar-Tawang Road.
39. How many participants are part of India’s Olympic contingent for Tokyo 2021?
[A] 100
[B] 127
[C] 400
[D] 550
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [127]
Notes:
India has sent a large contingent of 127 participants for the Tokyo Olympics 2021, who will be participating in 18 sport events. These include two alternate players and one reserve goalie in men’s and women’s hockey squads.
In the previous Olympics of 2016, 117 athletes participated in 15 sporting events.
40. Satish Kalsekar, who recently passed away, is a renowned poet in which language?
[A] Hindi
[B] Urdu
[C] Marathi
[D] Gujarati
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Marathi]
Notes:
Renowned Marathi poet Satish Kalsekar recently passed away in Maharashtra at the age of 78.
Satish Kalsekar was awarded with Sahitya Akademi Award in the year 2014 for his collection of essays ‘Vachanaryachi Rojanishee’. He had written several popular collections of poems. He worked in several forms of literature and contributed in the various fields including poetry, translation, prose writing and editing.