1. Who has been appointed as the Chairperson of the Cheetah Project Steering Committee set up by NTCA?
[A] Rajesh Bansal
[B] Jitendra Singh
[C] Ashwini Vaishnaw
[D] Gagandeep Singh Bedi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Rajesh Bansal]
Notes:
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has constituted an 11-member Cheetah Project Steering Committee.
Rajesh Bansal, the Secretary General of Global Tiger Forum, has been appointed as its Chairman, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said in a statement.
2. Which institutions released the ‘Gaganyaan Recovery Training Plan’?
[A] ISRO and Indian Air Force
[B] ISRO and Indian Navy
[C] ISRO and Indian Army
[D] ISRO and NSIL
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [ISRO and Indian Navy]
Notes:
The Indian Navy and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have released the Gaganyaan Recovery Training Plan at INS Garuda in Kochi.
It provides a training plan for recovery of the Crew Module of the Gaganyaan Mission. The Crew Module Recovery Model was also formally handed over to the Indian Navy.
3. India has moved WTO dispute panel over which import duties?
[A] Information and communication technologies (ICT)
[B] Plastic Products
[C] Petroleum Products
[D] Manufactured Goods
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Information and communication technologies (ICT)]
Notes:
India has moved WTO dispute panel over Information and communication technologies (ICT) import duties.
The WTO’s apex dispute resolution body, the Appellate Body, hasn’t been functional for nearly two years due to America’s blockage on appointment of judges.
4. A Submarine Mud Volcano has been recently spotted in which country?
[A] Australia
[B] Chile
[C] Norway
[D] Japan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Norway]
Notes:
A Submarine mud volcano is an underwater geological structure that was formed after the constant expulsion of gas or fluids like methane from the seabed.
Scientists have recently spotted a submarine mud volcano close to Norway’s Bear Island in Barents Sea. Bear Island is the southernmost island of the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago.
5. What is ‘Gomphonema rajaguruii’, which was discovered recently?
[A] Algae
[B] Bacteria
[C] Fungi
[D] Virus
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Algae]
Notes:
Gomphonema rajaguruii is a newly discovered species of oxygen-supplying algae. It is named after a veteran geo-archaeologist, the late Professor S N Rajaguru.
Gomphonema rajaguruii is a freshwater diatom species. The finding is unique because it shows the characteristics of two genus — Gomphonema and Gomphoneis.
6. Which country has granted approval to include TOEFL test as a valid option for Student Direct Stream program?
[A] China
[B] Canada
[C] Australia
[D] Japan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Canada]
Notes:
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has granted approval to include TOEFL test scores as a valid option for the Student Direct Stream program in Canada.
The Student Direct Stream (SDS) is a program designed to accelerate the processing of study permit applications for international students intending to enroll in designated learning institutions for post-secondary education in Canada.
7. Which Union Ministry launched the ‘Electronics Repair Services Outsourcing (ERSO)’?
[A] Ministry of Electronics & IT
[B] Ministry of MSME
[C] Ministry of Commerce and Industry
[D] Ministry of Science and Technology
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ministry of Electronics & IT]
Notes:Ministry of Electronics & IT launched pilot project on Electronics Repair Services Outsourcing (ERSO).
Revenue potential from outsourced repair likely to be USD 20 billion in next 5 years and also generate millions of jobs. The pilot is being held in Bengaluru and will be run for a period of three months.
8. What is Hvaldimir, which is being suspected of being a Russian spy?
[A] Robot
[B] Whale
[C] Eagle
[D] Horse
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Whale]
Notes:
Hvaldimir is the name given to a beluga whale that is suspected of being a Russian spy. It was spotted recently off the Swedish coast.
It was earlier spotted in northern Norway in April 2019 wearing a camera harness. US Navy used dolphins and sea lions as spies.
9. Which country signed MoU with India for development of Phukot Karnali Hydro Electric Project?
[A] Bangladesh
[B] Sri Lanka
[C] Nepal
[D] Myanmar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Nepal]
Notes:
NHPC Limited, a Government of India Enterprise and Vidhyut Utpadan Company Limited (VUCL), Nepal signed an MoU in New Delhi for development of Phukot Karnali Hydro Electric Project in Nepal.
This hydroelectric project will flow from Karnali River to generate power and the generated power will be fed into integrated power system of Nepal.
10. Where is the ‘Mahakal Lok corridor’ located?
[A] Gujarat
[B] Uttarakhand
[C] Madhya Pradesh
[D] Maharashtra
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Madhya Pradesh]
Notes:
Mahakal Lok corridor, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi in 2022, is part of the redevelopment project around the Mahakaleshwar temple, Ujjain.
Six out of seven idols of ‘Saptarishis’ installed at the Mahakal Lok corridor have collapsed due to gusty winds. Madhya Pradesh’s Lokayukta has taken suo motu cognisance of the damage that gusty winds caused to six statues installed as part of the Mahakal Lok Corridor Project.