31. Padma Bridge, which was seen in the news, is located in which neighbouring country of India?
[A] Sri Lanka
[B] Nepal
[C] Bangladesh
[D] Myanmar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Bangladesh]
Notes:
Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) recently clarified that the Padma Bridgeis not part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
It is a multipurpose road-rail bridge across the Padma River, the main distributary of the Ganges. When completed it will be the largest bridge in Bangladesh and the first fixed river crossing for road traffic. BRI or the ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative is a flagship programme of President Xi Jinping for trade and connectivity and India has raised concerns over the BRI projects.
32. Matt Fitzpatrick, who was seen in the news, is associated with which sports?
[A] Cricket
[B] Table Tennis
[C] Golf
[D] Snooker
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Golf]
Notes:
World number-18 Golfer England’s Matt Fitzpatrick captured his first major title by winning the US Open in a thrilling fight.
The 27-year-old player, who has won the 2013 US Amateur, has bagged his first professional US victory. Americans Scottie Scheffler and Will Zalatoris were the other ace players who participated in the event.
33. Which Union Ministry has declared certain resources of ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and NPCI as ‘critical information infrastructure’?
[A] Ministry of Electronics and IT
[B] Ministry of Finance
[C] Ministry of Commerce and Industry
[D] Ministry of Home Affairs
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ministry of Electronics and IT]
Notes:
The Union Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) has declared IT resources of ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) as ‘critical information infrastructure’.
The Information Technology Act of 2000 defines ‘Critical Information Infrastructure’ as a “computer resource, the incapacitation or destruction of which shall have debilitating impact on national security, economy, public health or safety”. The government has the power to declare any data, database, IT network or communications infrastructure as CII.
34. Gustavo Petro is the newly elected leftist President of which country?
[A] France
[B] Colombia
[C] Thailand
[D] North Korea
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Colombia]
Notes:
Former rebel fighter Gustavo Petro secured majority of votes in the Colombia’s presidential election and is set to become the first leftist President of the country.
A shift of South American politics to the left has been observed with the victories in Peru last year, and in Chile and Honduras this year. During the pandemic, Colombia saw anti-establishment protests against corruption, stagnancy, increased taxation and a new health care reform.
35. Which government agency is responsible for protecting India’s critical information infrastructure?
[A] National Cyber Coordination Centre
[B] National Informatics Centre
[C] ICERT
[D] NCIIPC
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [NCIIPC]
Notes:
The National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) is the nodal agency responsible for protecting India’s critical information infrastructure. It was established in 2014 under Section 70A of the IT Act, 2000. It is part of the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO), an intelligence agency under the NSA.
36. Modhera Sun Temple in Gujarat, that was recently making news, was built during the reign of which dynasty?
[A] Chaulukya dynasty
[B] Rashtrakuta dynasty
[C] Prathihara dynasty
[D] Kushan dynasty
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Chaulukya dynasty]
Notes:
The Sun Temple at Gujarat’s Modhera village was built under the administration of the Chaulukya king Bhima I in the early 11th century. It is located on the bank of River Pushpavati. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014.
37. Keibul Lamjao National Park, the world’s only floating park, is located on the__?
[A] Loktak Lake
[B] Shilloi Lake
[C] Samiti Lake
[D] Pushkar Lake
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Loktak Lake]
Notes:
Manipur’s Keibul Lamjao National Park is the world’s only floating national park. It is located on the Loktak Lake in the northeastern state of Manipur. It is the last natural habitat of the Sangai – the state animal of Manipur.
38. The European Council recently granted the candidate status to which country?
[A] Estonia
[B] Latvia
[C] Republic of Moldova
[D] Georgia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Republic of Moldova]
Notes:
Two countries – Ukraine and Republic of Moldova – were granted the status of candidate country by the European Council. This paves the way towards them becoming the members of the European Bloc.
39. Which is the largest recorded bacterium?
[A] Holophaga foetida
[B] Thiomargarita magnifica
[C] Bacillus thuringiensis
[D] Staphylococcus aureus
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Thiomargarita magnifica]
Notes:
Scientists have discovered the world’s largest recorded bacterium Thiomargarita magnifica in a Caribbean mangrove. It was measured to be more than a centimetre long. It can reach a maximum length of 2 cm.
40. Gotland, which made news recently, is an island belonging to which country?
[A] Denmark
[B] Sweden
[C] Norway
[D] Iceland
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Sweden]
Notes:
Gotland is an island belonging to Sweden in the Baltic Sea. A new ‘smart road’ capable of charging big electric vehicles has been constructed in this island. The threat of electrical shocks from these wires is eliminated as they are buried under the road.