41. Swadesh Darshan scheme is the initiative of which union ministry?
[A] Ministry of Culture
[B] Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
[C] Ministry of Tourism
[D] Ministry of Railways
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Ministry of Tourism]
Notes:
Swadesh Darshan Scheme was launched by the Ministry of Tourism for the integrated development of theme-based tourist circuits in India. Under this central sector scheme, central financial assistance will be provided to states and union territories for the infrastructural development of the tourist circuits.
42. Which country was the last to join the BRICS group?
[A] Brazil
[B] Russia
[C] India
[D] South Africa
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [South Africa]
Notes:
South Africa was the last member country to join the BRICS in the year 2010. Other BRICS countries are Brazil, Russia, India and China. Together, these countries account for around 40 per cent of the global population and some 30 per cent of the global GDP.
43. Bharat-NCAP is the initiative of which union ministry?
[A] Ministry of Corporate Affairs
[B] Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
[C] Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises
[D] Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Ministry of Road Transport and Highways]
Notes:
A draft notification was approved by the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways recently for the introduction of Bharat New Car Assessment Program (Bharat-NCAP). Under this initiative, cars will be given star ratings based on their performance in crash tests.
44. India recently announced ‘Commonwealth Diplomatic Academy programme’ with which country?
[A] Australia
[B] UK
[C] Italy
[D] France
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [UK]
Notes:
A joint India-UK Commonwealth Diplomatic Academy programme was recently announced by the foreign ministers of the UK and India.
It aims to equip diplomats from all Commonwealth member states with expertise and skills required for addressing emerging challenges that have global-level impact. This academy programme will be hosted in New Delhi. This was announced during the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which was held in Rwanda, East Africa from June 24 to 25.
45. Mandakini River, which was recently found in the news, is the tributary of which river?
[A] Alaknanda River
[B] Bhagirathi River
[C] Koshi River
[D] Ramganga River
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Alaknanda River]
Notes:
The Mandakini River in Uttarakhand is the tributary of the Alaknanda River, which is one of the two head-streams of Ganga River. It originates from the Chorabari Glacier in the Garhwal Himalayas. The river drains into the Alaknanda, which flows into the Ganges.
Recently, a joint operation was conducted by Uttarkhand Police and the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to rescue two youths trapped in the Mandakini River.
46. 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.
47. Which institution recently released a report titled ‘India’s Booming Gig and Platform Economy’?
[A] World Bank
[B] International Labour Organisation
[C] NITI Aayog
[D] International Monetary Fund
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [NITI Aayog]
Notes:
NITI Aayog released a report titled ‘India’s Booming Gig and Platform Economy’ recently. The Indian gig workforce is expected to expand to 23.5 million workers by 2029-30, a 200 per cent jump from 7.7 million now.
The report estimates that gig workers will form 4.1 per cent of the total workforce in India by 2029-2030, from 1.5 per cent now. The report stated 47 per cent of the jobs are medium-skilled, about 22 per cent are high-skilled, and about 31 per cent are low-skilled.
48. ‘Living Lands Charter’, which was seen in the news, is associated with which global bloc?
[A] G-7
[B] G-20
[C] Commonwealth of Nations
[D] BRICS
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Commonwealth of Nations]
Notes:
At the conclusion of the 2022 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kigali, Rwanda, all 54 Commonwealth members adopted ‘Living Lands Charter’.
The non-binding agreement mandates that member countries will safeguard global land resources and arrest land degradation and act against climate change, biodiversity loss and towards sustainable management.
49. RAMP scheme, which was seen in the news, is associated with which Union Ministry?
[A] Ministry of Education
[B] Ministry of MSME
[C] Ministry of Agriculture
[D] Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of MSME]
Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the ‘Udyami Bharat’ programme in New Delhi to launch the ‘Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance’ (RAMP) scheme.
He also launched the ‘Capacity Building of First-Time MSME Exporters’ (CBFTE) scheme and new features of the ‘Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme’ (PMEGP). The results of MSME Idea Hackathon, 2022 were announced and National MSME Awards were distributed.
50. Which country leads the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) maritime military exercise?
[A] USA
[B] India
[C] Australia
[D] Canada
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [USA]
Notes:
Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) maritime military exercise is a biennial exercise led by the USA. Twenty-six nations are expected to participate in the operations, which began recently.
The 28th biennial exercise aims to promote an open and free Indo-Pacific region as maritime tensions escalate with China. The event will feature the latest US weapons systems, including unmanned surface vessels.