41. Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 comes under the jurisdiction of which union ministry (as of June 2022)?
[A] Ministry of Finance
[B] Ministry of Commerce and Industry
[C] Ministry of Home Affairs
[D] Ministry of Law and Justice
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ministry of Finance]
Notes:
The Revenue Department under the Finance Ministry governs the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance (NDPS) Act of 1985.
The Central Government is planning the transfer of the administration of this Act from finance ministry of Home Ministry to bring all issues related to narcotics under one department.
42. When is ‘Day of the Seafarer’ observed?
[A] June 21
[B] June 23
[C] June 25
[D] June 27
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [June 25]
Notes:
June 25 was designated as the Day of the Seafarer (DotS) by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the UN agency responsible for regulating global shipping industry.
It was observed for the first time in the year 2011. The day recognizes the importance of sea transport and honours seafarers for their contribution towards the global economic growth despite the risks involved. The theme for this year’s DotS is “Your voyage – then and now, share your journey”.
43. BepiColombo Mission, which recently made news, is the first European mission to which planet?
[A] Mercury
[B] Mars
[C] Venus
[D] Jupiter
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Mercury]
Notes:
Launched in 2018, BepiColombo is the joint mission of the European Space Agency and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The mission has two individual orbiters – ESA’s Mercury Planetary Orbiter and Jaxa’s Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter.
It is the first European mission to Mercury and the first to send two spacecraft to take complementary measurements of the planet and study its environment at the same time. This joint mission recently made its second gravity assist flyby of the Mercury.
44. What is the unique feature of the plant named ‘Utricularia Furcellata’, which was recently found in the news?
[A] Medicinal plant
[B] Carnivorous plant
[C] Parasitic plant
[D] Poisonous plant
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Carnivorous plant]
Notes:
The research wing of the Uttarakhand Forest Department has discovered a rare carnivorous plant species named Utricularia Furcellata in the Uttarakhand’s Mandal Valley.
This discovery is significant as this plant is found for the first time in western Himalayan region. The plant belongs to the genus bladderworts. It uses complex plant structures to trap targets ranging from protozoa to insects, mosquito larvae and tadpoles. It uses the mechanical process of creating a vacuum or negative pressure area to attract preys into the trap door.
45. Who has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of NITI Aayog (after Amitabh Kant)?
[A] Urjit Patel
[B] Subash Chandra Garg
[C] Parameswaran Iyer
[D] Rajesh Bansal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Parameswaran Iyer]
Notes:
Parameswaran Iyer, a 1981-batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of NITI Aayog.
He is also the former Secretary of the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, who led the government’s Swachh Bharat Mission. The new CEO succeeds Amitabh Kant , who retires on June 30 this year.
46. Which Indian state has announced a buy back scheme to purchase single-use plastic items from students?
[A] Kerala
[B] Himachal Pradesh
[C] Sikkim
[D] Uttarakhand
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Himachal Pradesh]
Notes:
The Himachal Pradesh is set to implement a buy-back scheme in schools and colleges to purchase single-use plastic items from students.
Under the new scheme, the government will pay students Rs 75 for a kg of single-use plastic items they deposit with the school. The scheme aims to inculcate a habit of environment conservation among the youngsters
47. Samuel B Roberts (Sammy B), which was recently discovered, was a World War II era Navy Destroyer of which country?
[A] Germany
[B] USA
[C] Russia
[D] France
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [USA]
Notes:
The remains of the US Navy destroyer escort USS Samuel B Roberts, which had sunk during the Second World War, was found in the Philippine Sea.
The vessel, also known as the Sammy B, was split in half and lodged on a slop below the Pacific Ocean. It was found at a depth of 6,895 meters in the Philippines Sea. It remained undiscovered for nearly eight decades.
48. Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VL-SRSAM), which was tested recently, was based on which missile?
[A] Astra
[B] Akash
[C] Agni
[D] Surya
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Astra]
Notes:
The DRDO and the Indian Navy have successfully tested the indigenous ship-borne weapon system Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VL-SRSAM).
The VL-SRSAM was designed based on Astra missile. It was developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, as the first air-to-air missile. Astra is also an all weather beyond-visual-range missile.
49. ‘Avinash Kulkarni’ who was in the news recently, is the new CEO of which body?
[A] UIDAI
[B] National Health Authority
[C] UGC
[D] IDRCL
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [IDRCL]
Notes:
Avinash Kulkarni has been selected as the CEO of India Debt Resolution Company (IDRCL). It was formed to resolve more than ₹83,000 crore of bad loans to be acquired by the government-backed National Asset Reconstruction Company (NARCL).
He was the Chief executive of India Resurgence Asset Reconstruction Company (IRARC) and also had served in SBI. Another SBI veteran Natarajan Sundar was selected as CEO of the NARCL in April 2022.
50. Which institution has authorised two Indian private firms for space launches?
[A] New Space India Limited
[B] IN-SPACe
[C] ISRO
[D] DRDO
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [IN-SPACe]
Notes:
The Indian Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) has started authorising two Indian private firms, for private space sector launches in the country.
Dhruva Space’s Dhruva Space Satellite Orbital Deployer – (DSOD 1U), a technology demonstration payload, and Digantara’s Robust Integrating Proton Fluence Meter (ROBI), a Proton dosimeter payload, were authorised.