1. 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.
2. ‘Gen-Next Democracy Network’ is a programme organised by which institution?
[A] Indian Council for Cultural Relations
[B] NASSCOM
[C] NITI Aayog
[D] Observer Research Foundation
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Indian Council for Cultural Relations]
Notes:
Indian Council for Cultural Relations organised a ten days programme named ‘Gen-Next Democracy Network’ concluded.
Under the Gen Next Democracy Network programme, Youth from various democratic countries come to India and get acquainted with India’s heritage, culture and functioning of Indian democracy. ICCR is an autonomous organisation involved in India’s global cultural relations, through cultural exchange with other countries.
3. Etalin hydroelectric project, which was seen in the news, is proposed to be set up in which state/UT?
[A] Punjab
[B] Arunachal Pradesh
[C] Rajasthan
[D] Kerala
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Arunachal Pradesh]
Notes:
Etalin hydroelectric project is proposed to be set up in the state of Arunachal Pradesh. The 3,097-MW project requires diversion of over 1100 hectares of forest land and felling of over 280,000 trees.
Wildlife scientists and conservationists in the state have written to Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), about the threats to local biodiversity from the project
4. What is the fiscal deficit recorded in India for 2021-22 (in percentage of GDP)?
[A] 7.51 %
[B] 7.01 %
[C] 6.71 %
[D] 6.21 %
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [6.71 %]
Notes:
The Controller General of Accounts (CGA) released the fiscal deficit for 2021-22, which improved to 6.71 per cent of the GDP over the revised budget estimate of 6.9 per cent. The fiscal deficit in absolute terms was Rs 15,86,537 crore (provisional).
The increase was mainly on account of higher tax realisation. The tax receipts during the fiscal stood at Rs 18.2 trillion as against the revised estimates (RE) of Rs 17.65 trillion.
5. Which Indian public sector enterprise issued renewed Biodiversity Policy 2022?
[A] NTPC
[B] ONGC
[C] SAIL
[D] BHEL
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [NTPC]
Notes:
NTPC Ltd, India’s largest integrated energy producer has issued renewed Biodiversity Policy 2022, aligned with environmental and sustainability policies.
NTPC was the first PSU to issue Biodiversity Policy in the year 2018. The Public sector undertaking, formerly known as National Thermal Power Corporation Limited, also became a member of the India Business & Biodiversity Initiative (IBBI) in the same year.
6. The ‘International Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories’ is observed in which month?
[A] April
[B] May
[C] June
[D] July
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [May]
Notes:
The ‘International Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories’ is observed from May 25 to May 31.
In the UN Charter, a Non-Self-Governing Territory is defined as a Territory “whose people have not yet attained a full measure of self-government.” At present, there are 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories remaining.
7. 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.
8. Which institution developed India’s first ‘Farmland price index’?
[A] IIT Madras
[B] IIM Ahmadabad
[C] IIM Bengaluru
[D] IISc Bengaluru
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [IIM Ahmadabad]
Notes:
IIM-Ahmedabad (IIM-A) has partnered with an e-marketplace for agricultural land, SFarms India, to develop a farm land price index based on the sales and purchases done on the platform.
The ‘IIM-Ahmedabad SFarmsIndia Land Price Index (ISALPI)’ records and presents the data on prices of agricultural land in the country. It can be used by local governments to compensate people who lose land for highway expansion
9. ‘eSanjeevani’ telemedicine service has been integrated with which scheme?
[A] Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission
[B] Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana
[C] Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana
[D] Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Yojana
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission]
Notes:
The National Health Authority (NHA) said that the ‘eSanjeevani’ telemedicine service has been integrated with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).
This integration allows the existing eSanjeevani users to create their Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) and use it to link and manage their existing health records. The users can also share their health records with doctors on eSanjeevani.
10. Which country passed the world’s first “Fair Repair Act”?
[A] China
[B] Russia
[C] USA
[D] UK
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [USA]
Notes:
The New York state legislature has recently passed the “Fair Repair Act”, which requires digital electronics manufacturers to make parts, tools, information, and software available to consumers and independent repair shops.
The independent repair shops will finally be able to compete with manufacturers. As per the New York assembly, the act levels the playing field for independent repair shops, and reduces the e-waste footprint on the environment.