41. 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.
42. Which state instituted the ‘Kempe Gowda International Award’?
[A] Andhra Pradesh
[B] Karnataka
[C] Kerala
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Karnataka]
Notes:
Kempe Gowda was a chieftain under the Vijayanagar Empire, who was known for the fortification of Karnataka’s capital, Bengaluru in 1537.
His birth anniversary is observed every year across Karnataka on June 27 since 2017. In his honour, Kempe Gowda International Award was instituted earlier this year, to recognize the contributions towards development of Bengaluru. The recipients of the inaugural edition of this award are former Karnataka Chief Minister SM Krishna, Infosys founder NR Narayan Murthy and veteran badminton player Prakash Padukone.
43. 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”.
44. ‘Open Network for Digital Commerce’ (ONDC) is the initiative of which government body?
[A] DIPAM
[B] DPIIT
[C] NSO
[D] DoT
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [DPIIT]
Notes:
Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is an initiative of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
It is a government-backed platform that seeks to democratise e-commerce by shifting it from a platform-centric model to an open network for buying and selling goods and services. This enables a buyer registered in one participating e-commerce site to purchase goods from a seller registered in another participating e-commerce.
45. PMAY aims to achieve ‘Housing for All’ by which year?
[A] 2020
[B] 2022
[C] 2024
[D] 2030
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [2022]
Notes:
PMAY aims to achieve ‘Housing for All’ by the year 2022. It was launched on June 25, 2015. It is implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. It caters to the housing needs of the Economical Weaker Sections, Lower Income Groups and Middle Income Groups.
This year marks the 7th anniversary of this flagship scheme. To commemorate this, the government released an e-book featuring the achievements under this scheme. The goal of this scheme is to complete 2.7 crore houses by 2022. Till date, about 67 per cent of this goal has been achieved.
46. Gabon and Togo, which recently joined the Commonwealth of Nations, are from which region?
[A] Europe
[B] Africa
[C] Oceania
[D] Asia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Africa]
Notes:
The French-speaking West African countries Gabon and Togo joined the Commonwealth, becoming the latest nations with no historic ties to Britain to enter the Commonwealth of Nations.
The 54-nation group of mostly former British colonies accepted Togo and Gabon’s application for membership on the final day of its leadership summit held in Rwanda. They are the first new members to join the Commonwealth since Rwanda in 2009.
47. ‘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.
48. ‘MIDCOM’ is a Defence Cooperation Meeting held between India and which country?
[A] Malaysia
[B] Maldives
[C] Mauritius
[D] Mozambique
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Malaysia]
Notes:
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a video conference with Senior Defence Minister of Malaysia, to discuss various issues concerning bilateral, regional and defence industrial cooperation.
The ministers discussed the existing defence cooperation activities and framework, and ways to enhance them under the existing Malaysia India Defence Cooperation Meeting (MIDCOM) framework.
49. Which country has started the transfer of Russian goods to India, using a new trade corridor?
[A] UAE
[B] Iran
[C] Israel
[D] Belarus
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Iran]
Notes:
Iran’s state-run shipping company has started its first transfer of Russian goods to India, using a new trade corridor.
The route grants India easy access to a region stretching from North Europe, Caucasus to mineral rich Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan. This 7,200 km long-pending multi-modal transportation corridor via Iran is also expected to boost Russia–India bilateral trade.
50. Going Online As Leaders (GOAL) programme is launched with the collaboration of which company?
[A] Google
[B] Microsoft
[C] Meta
[D] Twitter
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Meta]
Notes:
Social media giant Meta and Ministry of Tribal Affairs announced to extend their collaboration to launch the second phase of Going Online As Leaders (GOAL) programme.
The first phase of GOAL involved digital mentorship programme to tribal youth. In the second phase 10 lakh women and youth entrepreneurs will be mentored. The programme will create a platform for more than 50,000 self-help groups and 10 lakh families associated with TRIFED to market their products globally.