1. Which institution recently unveiled ‘Param Ananta’ Super Computer?
[A] IIT Guwahati
[B] NIT Tiruchirappalli
[C] IIT Gandhinagar
[D] IIT Madras
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [IIT Gandhinagar]
Notes:
The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) and the Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar have jointly unveiled a new supercomputer called Param Ananta.
It was launched in phase two of the central government’s National Supercomputing Mission (NSM). The supercomputer is capable of offering peak performance of 838 teraflops. With this, India has 15 supercomputers disclosed to the public, with a combined performance capability of 24 petaflops.
2. Which country has recently signed a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United Arab Emirates?
[A] Australia
[B] Israel
[C] France
[D] Italy
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Israel]
Notes:
Israel has signed a free trade agreement with the United Arab Emirates, its first big trade pact with an Arab state.
The agreement, which aimed at boosting trade between the two Middle Eastern nations, would encourage more Israeli companies to set up offices in the UAE, particularly in Dubai. The deal with Israel is UAE’s second bilateral free trade agreement after a similar accord with India in February.
3. Which country has launched a new “Foreign debt payment system”?
[A] Sri Lanka
[B] Russia
[C] Venezuela
[D] Syria
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Russia]
Notes:
Russia has launched a new “Foreign debt payment system”, an arrangement similar to that used for payments for its gas supplies to pay its dollar-denominated foreign debts.
Russia will offer the holders of its Eurobond obligations to accept a payment system bypassing the Western financial infrastructure. Russia has not defaulted on its international debts since the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution when the Soviet Union was created.
4. Which state/UT hosted the ‘National Conference of School Education Ministers’ in 2022?
[A] Karnataka
[B] Gujarat
[C] New Delhi
[D] Tamil Nadu
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Gujarat]
Notes:
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan attended the ‘National Conference of School Education Ministers’ in Gujarat.
The Conference was organised by the Department of School Education & Literacy of Union Education Ministry and Education Ministry of Gujarat. It aims to focus on strengthening the education ecosystem in the country with a focus on the implementation of National Education Policy 2020, skilling in schools, and digital initiatives.
5. ‘Appreciate all parents throughout the world’ is the theme of which day observed on June 1?
[A] World Day of Families
[B] Global Day of Parents
[C] World Day of Mothers
[D] Global Day of Children
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Global Day of Parents]
Notes:
The Global Day of Parents is annually celebrated on 1 June to appreciate the commitment of parents towards their children.
The UN General Assembly proclaimed 1994 as the International Year of the Family and 15 May each year as the International Day of Families. The UNGA later announced that 1 June will be observed as the Global Day of Parents. The theme for Global Day of Parents 2022 is ‘Appreciate all parents throughout the world.’
6. In which month of 2022, did the GST revenues crossed the Rs 1.40 lakh crore mark for the first time since inception?
[A] February 2022
[B] March 2022
[C] April 2022
[D] May 2022
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [March 2022]
Notes:
GST revenue for May was recorded at nearly Rs 1.41 lakh crore, a 44 per cent increase over the same month last year, as per the Finance Ministry.
This is the fourth time that the monthly GST collection has crossed Rs 1.40 lakh crore mark since the inception of GST and the third straight month since March 2022. In March GST revenues were at Rs 1.42 lakh crore, while in February it was at Rs 1.33 lakh crore.
7. What is the name given to robots that are flexible which can be programme to execute specific tasks?
[A] Flexi Robots
[B] Soft Robots
[C] Super Robots
[D] Multi-task Robots
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Soft Robots]
Notes:
Soft robots are robots that are flexible and unlike traditional robots can be used to perform more delicate functions.
Soft robots can be programmed to execute specific tasks such as reaching into difficult gaps or holding onto delicate objects.
8. Which country announced USD 700 million worth security assistance to Ukraine?
[A] Italy
[B] France
[C] USA
[D] Israel
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [USA]
Notes:
United States Department of Defense (DoD) announced the authorization of a security assistance valued at up to USD 700 million.
The assistance has been announced to meet critical Ukrainian needs for its fight. This authorization is the eleventh drawdown of equipment from the country for Ukraine since August 2021. The United States has now committed USD 5.3 billion in security assistance to Ukraine.
9. Which Indian personality was honoured by the Geneva-based Martin Ennals Foundation?
[A] Father Stan Swamy
[B] Varavara Rao
[C] Sudha Bharadwaj
[D] Anand Teltumbde
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Father Stan Swamy]
Notes:
The Martin Ennals Foundation has decided to posthumously pay homage to Father Stan Swamy. He was a Jesuit priest and tribal rights activist from Jharkhand who had been arrested in the Bhima Koregaon case. He worked closely with Adivasi communities to safeguard their land, forest and labour rights.
The Geneva-based foundation presents the award regarded as the Nobel Prize for human rights defenders every year. The recipients of this year’s awards include Daouda Diallo from Burkina Faso, Pham Doan Trang from Vietnam and Abdul-Hadi Al-Khawaja of Bahrain.
10. Bhajan Sopori, who passed away recently, was associated with which field?
[A] Sports
[B] Business
[C] Music
[D] Politics
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Music]
Notes:
Santoor maestro Bhajan Sopori, also called as the ‘saint of santoor’ and ‘King of strings’ passed away recently at the age of 73.
The veteran musician received multiple awards throughout his career, including the Padma Shri in 2004, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1992 and the Jammu and Kashmir State Lifetime Achievement Award.