1. Saudi Arabia announced to restore full diplomatic ties with which country?
[A] UAE
[B] Canada
[C] Australia
[D] Sri Lanka
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Canada]
Notes:
Saudi Arabia and Canada to restore full diplomatic ties and appoint new ambassadors, bringing an end to a dispute from 2018.
The rift between the two countries began when Canada’s embassy in Riyadh published a tweet in Arabic, calling for the immediate release of women’s rights activists who were detained in Saudi Arabia.
2. ‘Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI)’ was founded in which year?
[A] 1988
[B] 1998
[C] 2008
[D] 2018
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [1988]
Notes:
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) is the largest public health initiative in history. It was founded in 1988.
Recently Cameroon, Chad and Niger have initiated Africa’s largest polio vaccination campaign since 2020 with the support from WHO via the GPEI.
3. 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.
4. Which institution reconstituted intermediary advisory committee for legal framework?
[A] RBI
[B] SEBI
[C] NPCI
[D] IRDAI
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [SEBI]
Notes:
Capital Market Regulator SEBI has recently reconstituted its intermediary advisory committee.
This committee is responsible for providing recommendations on matters concerning changes in legal framework and increasing transparency in systems and procedures of market intermediaries like stock brokers, clearing members and depository participants.
5. Lipizzans, which are seen in the news, belong to which species?
[A] Horse
[B] Dog
[C] Poultry
[D] Cat
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Horse]
Notes:
The Lipizzans are horses that are descendants of long stallion lines crossing Spanish, Arabic and Berber horses.
Lipizzans are famous for their “airs above the ground” classical dressage jumps. The tradition of Lipizzan breeding was recently included in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. The name derives from Lipica where the horses are found in Slovenia.
6. Which Union Ministry releases ‘Periodic Labour Force Survey Figures’?
[A] Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
[B] Ministry of Labour and Employment
[C] Ministry of MSME
[D] Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation]
Notes:
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation recently released the latest figures from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS). These figures indicate that the unemployment rate in Indian cities is at the lowest since the survey started in 2018.
The unemployment rate among men stood at 6.0%, while for women it was 9.2%.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. Which state is set to host the ‘Mahakumbh 2025’ event?
[A] Uttar Pradesh
[B] Karnataka
[C] Odisha
[D] West Bengal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Uttar Pradesh]
Notes:
The Uttar Pradesh government is preparing for organising Mahakumbh 2025 in Prayagraj. As part of this initiative, the setting up of Digital Kumbh Museum is being proposed.
This museum will be built at the cost of Rs 60 crores and will serve as an attraction for the devotees.
10. Which institution is set to introduce the ‘Expected Loss-based Approach for Bad Loan Provisioning’?
[A] RBI
[B] SEBI
[C] EPFO
[D] PFRDA
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [RBI]
Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is planning to introduce expected loss-based approach for provisioning during 2023-24.
It will help strengthen India’s bad loan resolution ecosystem. This will enable banks to design their own credit loss models and spread the higher provisions over a five-year period.