21. ‘Kh-47 Kinzhal’ is the hypersonic missile unveiled by which country?
[A] Israel
[B] UAE
[C] Russia
[D] Ukraine
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Russia]
Notes:
Kh-47 Kinzhal is a hypersonic Russian missile unveiled by President Vladimir Putin in 2018. It was successfully shot down recently by the US-made Patriot air defence system outside of Kyiv.
Fired by MiG-31, the Kinzhal could reach speeds over Mach 10 and travel distances in the range of 1,500 to 2,000 kilometers while carrying a conventional or nuclear payload.
22. Which Chief Minister conferred with the ‘Bharat Ratna Dr Ambedkar Award’ of Buddhanjali Research Foundation?
[A] Yogi Adityanath
[B] Naveen Patnaik
[C] Pinarayi Vijayan
[D] M K Stalin
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Yogi Adityanath]
Notes:
Former Indian President Ram Nath Kovind recently conferred the Bharat Ratna Dr Ambedkar Award to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
The award recognized the Chief Minister’s role in making Uttar Pradesh a fear-free state. Buddhanjali Research Foundation organized the award ceremony.
23. ‘Nano-QuIC’ is a recently developed method to diagnose which type of diseases?
[A] Respiratory
[B] Neurodegenerative
[C] Digestive
[D] Cardiac
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Neurodegenerative]
Notes:
Nano-QuIC (Nanoparticle-enhanced Quaking-Induced Conversion) is a ground-breaking diagnosis method that will enable quick and accurate detection of neurodegenerative diseases Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and chronic wasting disease in animals. It was developed by University of Minnesota researchers.
24. ‘PMJJBY, PMSBY and APY’ were launched in which year?
[A] 2015
[B] 2017
[C] 2019
[D] 2020
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [2015]
Notes:
Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMSBY) and Atal Pension Yojana (APY) have completed eight years. They were launched in 2015.
Till date, PMJJBY recorded more than 16 crore enrolments, PMSBY recorded more than 34 crore enrolments and APY recorded around 5 crore subscribers.
25. Which state/UT formed a committee to probe the state government’s Authority to Ban Polygamy?
[A] Uttarakhand
[B] Assam
[C] West Bengal
[D] Gujarat
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Assam]
Notes:
The state government of Assam is planning to set up an expert committee to investigate if the state government has the authority to ban polygamy in the region.
The committee will analyse the provisions of The Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Act, 1937 and Article 25 of the Indian Constitution in relation to the DPSP for a uniform civil code.
26. Which state/UT launched a Foundation, to utilise contributions from corporates and public for development of sports?
[A] Kerala
[B] Tamil Nadu
[C] Andhra Pradesh
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Tamil Nadu]
Notes:
The Tamil Nadu Champions Foundation (TNCF) was officially launched, and the Chief Minister’s Trophy 2023 logo, mascot, and theme song were unveiled.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was the guest of honour. The logo comes with the slogan ‘Kalam Namathae! (The field is ours!)‘. The mascot is the humanoid Nilgiri Tahr ‘Veeran.’
27. Sathyabhama Das Biju, who was seen in the news, is associated with which profession?
[A] Sports Person
[B] Biologist
[C] Politician
[D] Writer
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Biologist]
Notes:
Sathyabhama Das Biju, who is popularly known as ‘the Frogman of India’, has been chosen for Harvard University’s prestigious Radcliffe fellowship.
The Delhi University professor is one of the 50 scholars who were awarded the Harvard Radcliffe Institute Fellowship for 2023-24.
28. Which state/UT announced the ‘Motor Vehicle Aggregator Scheme 2023’?
[A] Rajasthan
[B] New Delhi
[C] Kerala
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [New Delhi]
Notes:
The draft version of the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Scheme 2023 was announced recently by the Delhi government.
Its objective is to regulate cab aggregators and delivery service providers in Delhi. For the first time in the country, the scheme mandates the transition of commercial vehicles from conventional fuels to electric power.
29. Which institution released the “Improving maternal and newborn health and survival and reducing stillbirth” Report?
[A] NITI Aayog
[B] UN
[C] Ministry of Family and Health Affairs
[D] John Hopkins University
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [UN]
Notes:
The report titled “Improving maternal and newborn health and survival and reducing stillbirth” was released recently by the United Nations. It is edited by WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA.
According to this report, progress in reducing maternal and newborn deaths has remained stagnant since 2015.
30. Scientists have recently initiated a field trial to vaccinate which animals against ‘Chlamydia’ diseases?
[A] Panda
[B] Koala
[C] Wolf
[D] Lions
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Koala]
Notes:
Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted disease caused by bacteria. Australian scientists have initiated a field trial in New South Wales to vaccinate wild koalas against chlamydia.
The strain of chlamydia belongs to a closely related species of the sexually-transmitted disease in humans.