41. Inter-State Council was established under which article of Indian Constitution?
[A] Article 246
[B] Article 257
[C] Article 263
[D] Article 267
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Article 263]
Notes:
Article 263 of the Indian Constitution allows the President to establish the Inter-State Council, which brings together government entities on a common platform for discussing various governance issues. The Inter-State Council was established in 1990. Its chairman is the Prime Minister and its members include chief ministers and administrators of states and union territories.
42. Theri Desert, that was recently in news, is situated in which state?
[A] Rajasthan
[B] Gujarat
[C] Tamil Nadu
[D] Himachal Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Tamil Nadu]
Notes:
Theri Desert in located in Tamil Nadu. It derives its name from Tamil term “theri”, which means red dunes. Red sand dunes in this desert have sediments dating back to the Quaternary period that commenced some 2.6 million years ago.
43. Where was the Indian Coast Guard’s 840 Squadron created?
[A] Visakhapatnam
[B] Chennai
[C] Mumbai
[D] Kolkata
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Chennai]
Notes:
The Indian Coast Guard’s new air squadron named 840 Squadron was created in Chennai on June 20, 2022. The squadron was initially created with an indigenous ALH Mark-III aircraft. This is the first such aircraft to be stationed in the eastern region.
44. Which country is currently India’s largest trading partner?
[A] United States
[B] China
[C] Russia
[D] United Kingdom
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [United States]
Notes:
According to the latest data of the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the United States is India’s largest trading partner. The bilateral trade is worth 119.42 billion USD. India’s second largest trading partner is China.
45. Pink bollworm, which made news recently, infests which of the following crops?
[A] Rice
[B] Cotton
[C] Betel leaves
[D] Arecanut
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Cotton]
Notes:
The pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) is a pest that infests cotton farms. It is native to Asia. However, this invasive species has spread throughout the cotton-producing countries. Currently, several parts of Punjab are facing the threat of attack by pink bollworm.
46. Title IX, which turned 50 this year, is a US law that provides safeguards against discrimination based on__?
[A] Ethnicity
[B] Religion
[C] Sex
[D] National origin
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Sex]
Notes:
Title IX, which turned 50 this year, prohibits discrimination based on sex in education. It plays a major role in gender equality in athletics and preventing sexual harassment on campuses. It was signed into law by President Nixon on June 23, 1972.
47. Which global bloc launched a USD 600 billion- Global Infrastructure Plan?
[A] BRICS
[B] G 7
[C] G 20
[D] European Union
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [G 7]
Notes:
US President Joe Biden and other G7 leaders re-launched the “Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment” at their annual gathering at Schloss Elmau in Germany.
It aims to raise USD 600 billion in private and public funds over five years, to finance infrastructure in developing countries and counter China’s Belt and Road project. The United States would mobilise USD 200bn in grants, federal funds and private investment over five years, while Europe will mobilise 300 billion euros.
48. Which body has formulated and published standards for electric vehicle (EV) batteries?
[A] Bureau of Energy Efficiency
[B] Bureau of Indian Standard
[C] NITI Aayog
[D] Power Finance Corporation
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bureau of Indian Standard]
Notes:
India’s national standard body, the Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) has formulated and published standards for electric vehicle (EV) batteries.
BIS functions under the aegis of Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution. The new standards are released for test specifications for Lithium-ion Traction Battery Packs and Systems for Electrically Propelled Road Vehicles, considering real-life scenarios.
49. ‘Roe v. Wade’ is a landmark decision associated with which country?
[A] USA
[B] Russia
[C] UK
[D] Australia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [USA]
Notes:
Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113, was a landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in which it was ruled that the Constitution of the United States protects a pregnant woman’s liberty to choose to have an abortion.
The US Supreme Court has recently struck down the ruling, which allowed abortion in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Subsequently, protests spread across the country after the ruling.
50. Tata Power Solar Systems commissioned India’s largest floating solar power project in which state?
[A] Rajasthan
[B] Punjab
[C] Kerala
[D] Maharashtra
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Kerala]
Notes:
Tata Power Solar Systems, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Power, has commissioned India’s largest floating solar power project in Kayamkulam, Kerala.
The project is commissioned on a 350-acre backwaters area, having an installed capacity of 101.6 Megawatt Peak.