31. Recently, the ‘Yellow-legged Buttonquail bird’ was recently spotted in which state?
[A] Odisha
[B] Gujarat
[C] Madhya Pradesh
[D] Kerala
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Gujarat]
Notes:
The Yellow-legged Buttonquail, recently spotted in urban Ahmedabad, Gujarat resembles true quails but is unrelated. This bird is plump, with vibrant brown, grey, and black plumage. It is found in the Indian subcontinent, East Asia, and Southeast Asia, and migrates to Korea and southern Russia. Preferring open, sandy habitats, it shows sexual dimorphism with dominant, colorful females. It runs from danger, feeds on plants and insects, and is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.
32. Halwa ceremony, recently seen in news, is associated with releasing of which document?
[A] RBI Annual Report
[B] Union Budget
[C] Economic Survey
[D] NITI Aayog Annual Report
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Union Budget]
Notes:
The Union Finance Minister recently participated in a traditional ‘halwa’ ceremony, marking the final stage of preparation for the Union Budget 2024-25, set to be unveiled on July 23. This ritual involves serving ‘halwa’ to finance ministry officials and signifies the initiation of budget document printing. Officials enter a ‘lock-in’ period for confidentiality, staying in the Finance Ministry’s North Block basement. This practice stems from a 1950 budget leak, leading to strict secrecy measures.
33. What is the primary objective of ASMITA Project, recently launched by Ministry of Education and UGC?
[A] To promote and integrate Indian languages more deeply into the education system
[B] To replace English with Indian languages in all subjects
[C] To promote foreign languages in India
[D] To build new universities
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [To promote and integrate Indian languages more deeply into the education system]
Notes:
The Ministry of Education and UGC launched the ASMITA Project to develop 22,000 books in Indian languages within five years. ASMITA (Augmenting Study Materials in Indian Languages through Translation and Academic Writing) aims to enhance educational resources and integrate Indian languages into the education system. Thirteen nodal universities will lead this collaborative effort, with UGC creating a standard operating procedure for the book-writing process, ensuring quality and accessibility.
34. Which state recently reported the cases of ‘Chandipura virus infection’ in children?
[A] Odisha
[B] Gujarat
[C] Haryana
[D] Punjab
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Gujarat]
Notes:
Recently, the Gujarat government reported six children dying from suspected Chandipura virus (CHPV) infection since July 10. CHPV, part of the Rhabdoviridae family, is transmitted by sandflies and mosquitoes, including Aedes aegypti. The virus, residing in the insects’ salivary glands, can infect humans and domestic animals through bites. It can quickly progress to encephalitis, causing inflammation of the brain’s active tissues and potentially affecting organs like the kidneys and liver.
35. Which organization recently signed a deal in Goa with the GRSE for constructing Indigenous Ocean Research Vessel to unravel deep oceans?
[A] National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR)
[B] Indian Navy
[C] Marine Biological Association of India
[D] DRDO
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR)]
Notes:
The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) signed a contract with a Defence PSU Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) to construct an Indigenous Ocean Research Vessel for deep ocean exploration. Established in 1998 in Goa, NCPOR is an autonomous R&D institution under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. Its 13-member Governing Body is chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry. NCPOR facilitates scientific research in Antarctica, the Arctic, and the Indian Ocean, managing bases like “Maitri,” “Bharati,” and “Himadri.”
36. Recently, which institute has received the best technology award for its pioneering work in the field of horticultural sciences?
[A] Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture
[B] Indian Institute of Spices Research
[C] Indian Institute of Horticultural Research
[D] Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Indian Institute of Spices Research]
Notes:
The Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR) received the best technology award for its work in horticultural sciences. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan presented the award during ICAR’s 96th Foundation Day. IISR’s award-winning technology, “Process for instant soluble turmeric enriched spice flavoured milk powder,” has been commercialized with Malabar Milk Producers’ Union, resulting in products Golden Milk and Golden Milk Mix.
37. Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety (RAMSES), recently seen in the news, is a planetary defence mission of which space agency?
[A] National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
[B] Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
[C] European Space Agency (ESA)
[D] Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [European Space Agency (ESA)]
Notes:
The European Space Agency’s Ramses spacecraft will accompany the asteroid Apophis during its close pass of Earth in 2029. The Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety (RAMSES) aims to intercept Apophis, which will pass within 32,000 km of Earth on April 13, 2029. Visible to 2 billion people, this rare event allows researchers to study Apophis’s altered characteristics due to Earth’s gravity, enhancing planetary defense capabilities.
38. Recently, which Indian Shooter has been awarded the Olympic Order by the International Olympic Committee?
[A] Abhinav Bindra
[B] Jaspal Rana
[C] Manu Bhaker
[D] Pranju Somani
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Abhinav Bindra]
Notes:
Indian shooting legend Abhinav Bindra has been awarded the Olympic Order by the IOC for his outstanding contributions to the Olympic Movement. The ceremony will be held on August 10 during the 142nd IOC Session in Paris. Bindra, India’s first individual Olympic gold medallist, won the men’s 10m air rifle event at the 2008 Beijing Games. He has also served on the ISSF Athlete Committee and the IOC Athlete Commission.
39. Which institution recently signed a Joint Letter of Intent with World Intellectual Property Organization to develop programs for countries in the global south?
[A] WAPCOS
[B] World Bank
[C] NITI Aayog
[D] IIT, Delhi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [NITI Aayog]
Notes:
On July 22, 2024, a high-level WIPO delegation signed a Joint Letter of Intent (JLoI) with Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) of NITI Aayog in New Delhi. The JLoI aims to develop programs for innovation, entrepreneurship, and intellectual property in the Global South. WIPO, a UN agency, releases the annual Global Innovation Index (GII). In 2023, India ranked 40th, and in 2022, India saw the highest global patent filing growth at 31.6%.
40. Barents Sea, recently seen in the news, is a marginal sea of which ocean?
[A] Atlantic Ocean
[B] Pacific Ocean
[C] Arctic Ocean
[D] Indian Ocean
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Arctic Ocean]
Notes:
Russia’s Defence Ministry reported that Russian warplanes intercepted two U.S. strategic bombers over the Barents Sea, preventing a border violation. The Barents Sea, a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean, covers 1.4 million sq. km and borders Norway and Russia. Named after Dutch explorer Willem Barents, it was known to Vikings as the Murmean Sea. It is bounded by several archipelagos and seas, including the Svalbard and Novaya Zemlya archipelagos.
