31. Which country recently signed an executive order aimed at protecting L.G.B.T.Q. people?
[A] France
[B] USA
[C] New Zealand
[D] Australia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [USA]
Notes:
U.S. President Joe Biden signed an executive order aimed at protecting L.G.B.T.Q. people from laws of conservative states that increasingly targets the rights of gays, lesbians, transgender youth and others.
The order seeks to use the force of the federal government to prevent inhumane practices of conversion therapy. It will also seek to expand access to suicide prevention and mental health resources for L.G.B.T.Q. people.
32. Which country proposed to organise a joint border operation named ‘Solidarity-2023’ for SCO member countries?
[A] India
[B] China
[C] Nepal
[D] Bangladesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [China]
Notes:
India and other member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) supported an initiative of China to organise a joint border operation ‘Solidarity-2023’ for the border agencies of the member countries next year.
India’s Border Security Force (BSF) Director announced this at the conclusion of the eighth meeting of the heads of border authorities of the competent bodies of SCO member states, which was held in Delhi, under the chairmanship of India.
33. The European Commission has recommended which country to be granted ‘European Union’ (EU) candidate status?
[A] Malta
[B] Ukraine
[C] Albania
[D] Bulgaria
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ukraine]
Notes:
The European Commission has recommended that Ukraine should be granted European Union candidate status.
The recommendation from the EU’s executive arm will be discussed by leaders of the 27-nation bloc during the upcoming summit in Brussels. The European Commission also proposed making Moldova, which shares a long border with Ukraine, an EU membership candidate.
34. Khuvsgul lake National Park, which was recently added to UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves, is located in which country?
[A] Ukraine
[B] Mongolia
[C] Chile
[D] Mexico
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Mongolia]
Notes:
Mongolia’s Khuvsgul Lake National Park has been recently added to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves of UNESCO.
The decision was taken during the 34th session of the International Co-ordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere Programme taking place in Paris, France. Khuvsgul Lake is located in the northern Mongolia near the Russian border, holding nearly 70 per cent of Mongolia’s fresh water.
35. Which cricket team created a world record with an One-day international score of 498 runs?
[A] Australia
[B] England
[C] South Africa
[D] West Indies
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [England]
Notes:
England hit a world record one-day international score of 498 against Netherlands and won the match by 232 runs in Amstelveen.
The England team beat their previous mark of 481-6 set against Australia at Trent Bridge in 2018. In the recent match, three England players scored centuries with Liam Livingstone making the fastest half-century in England’s ODI history off just 17 balls. Player of the match Jos Buttler finished on 162 not out, with century off 47 balls.
36. Shinde Sambhaji Shiwaji, Ujjal Bhuyan, Amjad Ahtesham Sayed, who were seen in the news recently, are associated with which profession?
[A] Scientists
[B] Judges
[C] Politicians
[D] Bureaucrats
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Judges]
Notes:
The Government has cleared the appointment of new chief justices in five high courts, as per the Law and Justice Ministry.
Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan will be appointed as the Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court and Telangana High Court. Justice Amjad Ahtesham Sayed and Justice Shinde Sambhaji Shiwaji will take over as the Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court and Rajasthan High Court. Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Rashmin M Chhaya were appointed as the Chief Justice of the Delhi and Guwahati High Courts respectively.
37. 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.
38. Which country given is not part of G7 grouping?
[A] Canada
[B] New Zealand
[C] Germany
[D] Italy
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [New Zealand]
Notes:
Group of Seven (G7) is an intergovernmental organization that brings together the world’s top industrial nations. Its members are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US. Its main purpose is to discuss global economic issues.
39. Charon is the natural satellite of __?
[A] Neptune
[B] Jupiter
[C] Pluto
[D] Uranus
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Pluto]
Notes:
Charon is one of the five natural satellites of the dwarf planet Pluto. According to a new study, Charon has a “red cap” because of chemicals called tholins. These chemical compounds absorbed a specific colour of the Sun’s UV rays to become red and get deposited around the natural satellite’s north pole.
40. Varada River, which was mentioned in news recently, is the tributary of which river?
[A] Krishna River
[B] Cauvery River
[C] Kali River
[D] Tungabhadra River
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Tungabhadra River]
Notes:
The Varada River in central Karnataka is a tributary of Tungabhadra River. The state government of Karnataka is currently facing criticism from environmentalists for the proposed Bedti-Varada river linking project. The Bedti-Varada river-linking project seeks to pump about 524 million cubic metres (mcm) of water from Sirsi in Uttara Kannada to arid regions of Raichur and Koppal districts. It has met with strong opposition from local activists, who say that project will destroy 2,125 acres of forests in the ecologically sensitive parts of Western Ghats.