1. The ‘West Nile fever’ was first detected in 1937 in which country?
[A] India
[B] Uganda
[C] Syria
[D] Israel
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Uganda]
Notes:
West Nile fever was first detected in 1937 in Uganda. The vector-borne infection is spread by the Culex species of mosquitoes. The fever was first detected in Kerala in 2011.
A 47-year-old man died due to West Nile fever in Kerala’s Thrissur district. It is the first fatality in the state caused by the disease in the last three years.
2. ‘Hurricane Agatha’, the first of the Pacific season, recently hit which country?
[A] Argentina
[B] Canada
[C] Mexico
[D] Paraguay
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Mexico]
Notes:
‘Hurricane Agatha’, the first of the Pacific season hit Mexico and the casualties climbed to at least 10 dead and around 20 missing in southern Mexico.
Heavy rains triggered landslides and flooding in the country. The storm was the strongest to make landfall along Mexico’s Pacific coast in May since record keeping began in 1949. Mexico is regularly hit by tropical storms on both its Pacific and Atlantic coasts, between May and November.
3. Which is the only Indian institution in the top-50 list of 2022 Times Higher Education (THE) Asia University Rankings?
[A] IIT Madras
[B] IIT Bombay
[C] IISc Bengaluru
[D] IIT Roorkee
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [IISc Bengaluru]
Notes:
The Times Higher Education (THE) released the 2022 edition of the Asia University Rankings with universities from 31 countries and territories.
India is the third most-represented country, with 71 universities making it to the list. Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore is the only institute to make the top-50 list at 42nd rank. JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research (65th), IIT Ropar (68) and IIT Indore (87) were in top 100 list.
4. ‘Operation Mahila Suraksha’ is an initiative of which institution?
[A] National Commission for Women
[B] Ministry of Women and Child Development
[C] Railway Protection Force
[D] NITI Aayog
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Railway Protection Force]
Notes:
Railway Protection Force (RPF) launched a pan India drive “Operation Mahila Suraksha” was launched from May 3 to May 31, 2022.
During this drive, RPF has arrested more than 7,000 persons who were travelling in the coaches reserved for women without being authorised. RPF also rescued 150 women from becoming victims of human trafficking. Another pan India initiative “Meri Saheli” is also operational to provide safety and security to lady passengers.
5. In which year, Telangana was carved out of erstwhile unified Andhra Pradesh?
[A] 2012
[B] 2014
[C] 2016
[D] 2017
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [2014]
Notes:
Telangana was carved out of erstwhile unified Andhra Pradesh on June 2, 2014 as India’s 29th state. At present, it is the 28th state as Jammu and Kashmir was made a Union Territory in 2019.
The Centre for the first time organised Telangana Formation Day celebrations in Delhi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah was the chief guest. The victory of the Telangana Movement forced the bifurcation of then Andhra Pradesh.
6. Which state/UT has launched faceless ‘Road Transport Offices’ (RTO)?
[A] Kerala
[B] Telangana
[C] Maharashtra
[D] Karnataka
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Maharashtra]
Notes:
Maharashtra government has decided to make six Road Transport Office’ (RTO) services online. People, who need a permanent driving licence or verification for an international driving licence will need to go to the RTO.
Maharashtra’s transport department provides 80 online services and now six more services have been included.
7. Ribbon weed (Posidonia australis), the world’s largest plant has recently been discovered in which country?
[A] Australia
[B] UAE
[C] Turkey
[D] China
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Australia]
Notes:
The world’s largest plant- the ribbon weed (Posidonia australis) has recently been discovered off the West Coast of Australia.
It is a sea-grass which is measured to be 180 km in length. Ribbon weed rhizomes can usually grow to around 35cm per year and with this, the scientists arrived at its lifespan of 4,500 years. It has double the number of chromosomes than other similar plants, and managed to survive the volatile atmosphere of the Shark Bay.
8. Supreme Court directed a mandatory eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of a minimum of how many kilometers for protected forest, wildlife sanctuary?
[A] 0.5 km
[B] 1 km
[C] 2 km
[D] 3 km
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [1 km]
Notes:
The Supreme Court directed that every protected forest, national park and wildlife sanctuary across the country should have a mandatory eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of a minimum one km starting from their demarcated boundaries.
As per the Environment Ministry guidelines, the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) would act as a transition zone from areas of high protection to those involving lesser protection.
9. Which is the venue of the ‘Khelo India Youth Games 2021’?
[A] Sikkim
[B] Haryana
[C] Karnataka
[D] Kerala
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Haryana]
Notes:
Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the fourth edition of Khelo India Youth Games-2021’at Panchkula, Haryana.
As many as 4,700 athletes, including 2,262 girls, will be participating in 25 sports. Jay and Vijay are the mascots of the game, with the theme song of ‘Hum Hum’ and regional mascot Dhakad. KIYG 2021 will be held over 5 cities namely Panchkula, Shahbad, Ambala, Chandigarh and Delhi.
10. Which institution provides training to IPPB Postmen and Banking correspondents for Aadhar services?
[A] Ministry of Electronics and IT
[B] UIDAI
[C] NASSCOM
[D] C-DAC
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [UIDAI]
Notes:
UIDAI has announced that it would provide IPPB postmen with the necessary digital devices such as a desktop or laptop-based Aadhar kit to update the necessary details of Aadhar card holders.
UIDAI also plans to onboard over 13,000 banking correspondents currently working with the Common Service Centre (CSC) of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.