31. ‘Podu’ or shifting cultivation, which was seen in the news, is practised by the tribal people of which state?
[A] Madhya Pradesh
[B] Telangana
[C] Bihar
[D] Uttar Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Telangana]
Notes:
The Telangana government decided in 2021 to move landless, non-tribal farmers engaged in shifting cultivation inside forests to peripheral areas, to combat deforestation.
Some parties have announced protests and rallies in the support of rights of adivasis and tribals in forest areas.
32. When is the ‘World Day for International Justice’ observed?
[A] July 15
[B] July 17
[C] July 19
[D] July 21
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [July 17]
Notes:
The World Day for International Justice is observed on July 17 every year to sensitise on international justice and to promote the rights of the victims.
It is also known as the Day of International Criminal Justice, and celebrates the approval of the Rome Statute and the formation of the new international criminal justice system in 1998. Over 139 countries have signed the International Criminal Court’s Treaty.
33. ‘JC Daniel Award’ is the highest award in cinema in which language?
[A] Tamil
[B] Malayalam
[C] Marathi
[D] Kannada
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Malayalam]
Notes:
Renowned filmmaker KP Kumaran was awarded the 2021 JC Daniel Award. It is Kerala’s highest award in Malayalam cinema.
The award is presented annually by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, a non-profit institution under the Department of Cultural Affairs.
34. The government slashed the newly-introduced windfall tax on which products?
[A] Pharmaceuticals
[B] Petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, and crude oil
[C] Electronic Goods
[D] Semiconductor Chips
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, and crude oil]
Notes:
The government slashed the newly-introduced windfall tax on petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, and crude oil, after a global oil price ease.
The move, which is effective from July 20, will give relief to top fuel exporters like Reliance Industries, and oil explorers like Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC). A windfall tax is levied on companies deemed to have made unreasonably high profits, normally due to unusually favourable market factors.
35. Who has been elected as the Sri Lanka’s new President after Gotabaya Rajapaksa?
[A] Dullus Alahapperuma
[B] Ranil Wickremesinghe
[C] Maithripala Sirisena
[D] Basil Rajapaksa
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ranil Wickremesinghe]
Notes:
Sri Lankan MPs have elected the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as the country’s new President.
He defeated his main rival for the job, Dullus Alahapperuma in a parliamentary vote. Sri Lanka’s ex-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country last week, after thousands of protesters stormed his presidential residences calling for his resignation. They had also called for the resignation of Wickremesinghe.
36. Mario Draghi, who recently resigned from his post, was the Prime Minister of which country?
[A] Germany
[B] Italy
[C] Russia
[D] France
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Italy]
Notes:
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi recently resigned after a collapse in support among his coalition backers,
President Sergio Mattarella called for an election for a new parliament in September. Mario Draghi was a former president of the European Central Bank. The country has been fighting inflation surge and an economic slowdown.
37. Which state topped the utilisation of funds under Smart City Mission?
[A] Telangana
[B] Tamil Nadu
[C] Uttar Pradesh
[D] Himachal Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Tamil Nadu]
Notes:
As per a recent government data, Tamil Nadu tops the list of states so far as utilisation of funds under Smart City Mission.
Tamil Nadu has spent over Rs 3932 crore out of the Rs 4333 crore released by the Centre, Uttar Pradesh is at second position with utilisation of Rs 2699 cr out of the release of Rs 3142 crore. Ther Smart Cities Mission (SCM) was launched on 25 June, 2015.
38. Dinesh Gunawardena was sworn in as which position in Sri Lanka?
[A] President
[B] Prime Minister
[C] Finance Minister
[D] External Affairs Minister
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Prime Minister]
Notes:
Political veteran Dinesh Gunawardena, an ally of Rajapaksa family was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka a day after Ranil Wickremesinghe was elevated to the President’s post.
The 73-year-old leader has previously held multiple Cabinet posts. Wickremesinghe replaced former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, after an unprecedented economic and political crisis.
39. Which Union Ministry released the ‘India’s Bioeconomy Report 2022’?
[A] Ministry of Science & Technology
[B] Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate change
[C] Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers welfare
[D] Ministry of Power
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ministry of Science & Technology]
Notes:
Union Minister for Science & Technology Dr Jitendra Singh released the ‘India’s Bioeconomy Report 2022’ recently. India’s Bio-economy has reached over USD 80 billion in 2021 with 14.1% growth over 2020. It is likely to touch 150 billion dollars by 2025 and over 300 billion dollars by 2030.
Dr Jitendra Singh also launched Special ‘Biotech Ignition Grant call for North East Region’ (BIG-NER) with a financial support of Rs 50 Lakhs each to 25 start-ups and entrepreneurs from North East Region to develop biotech solutions.
40. Which Union Ministry implements the ‘National Mission on Himalayan Studies’?
[A] Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change
[B] Ministry of Science and Technology
[C] Ministry of Earth Science
[D] Ministry of Home Affairs
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change]
Notes:
‘National Mission on Himalayan Studies’ is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
A study was conducted by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) on snow leopard (Panthera uncia) under National Mission on Himalayan Studies. It has found a strong link found between habitat use by snow leopard and its prey species like Siberian ibex, blue sheep.