31. Which country has recently approved the ‘Isaac River coal mine project’?
[A] USA
[B] Australia
[C] Russia
[D] India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Australia]
Notes:
The Australian government has recently approved the Queensland’s Isaac River coal mine project. The coal mine will be built near Moranbah.
Bowen Coking Coal has been authorised yextract metallurgical coal for making steel. This is the first new coal mine to be given the go-ahead by the government.
32. Which is the first Indian city to adopt the localization of the UN-mandated SDGs?
[A] Chennai
[B] Pune
[C] Bhopal
[D] Kochi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Bhopal]
Notes:
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minster Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the ‘Agenda for Action: Sustainable Urban Transformation’ in Bhopal.
This makes Bhopal the first city in India to adopt the localization of the UN-mandated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
33. Which European country has recently legalised Euthanasia?
[A] Spain
[B] Morocco
[C] Portugal
[D] Latvia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Portugal]
Notes:
Portugal’s President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa signed into law a bill decriminalising euthanasia adopted by parliament last week.
The new law allows people who are aged 18 and above and suffering from intolerable pain and terminal illness to opt for euthanasia.
34. Which country conducts the ‘Soaring Eagle exercise’?
[A] India
[B] USA
[C] South Korea
[D] Australia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [South Korea]
Notes:
‘Soaring Eagle’ exercise is a regular large-scale exercise conducted by the South Korea Air Force. It commenced recently at an air base in Cheongju, 112 kilometre south of Seoul.
The exercise mobilises more than 160 personnel and nearly 60 warplanes, including F-35A stealth fighters, and other tanker transport aircraft.
35. Sarabjot Singh and T.S. Divya, who were seen in the news, are associated with which sports?
[A] Shooting
[B] Cricket
[C] Badminton
[D] Table Tennis
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Shooting]
Notes:
In the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup being held at Baku in Azerbaijan, Indian pair Divya TS and Sarabjot Singh won gold in the 10m air pistol mixed team event.
The Indian pair defeated the Serbian legends Damir Mikec and Zorana Arunovic in the final match. It was a second ISSF World Cup gold for Sarabjot who had won the individual air pistol in Bhopal in March this year.
36. Which state procured over 600,000 quintals of finger millet under its state Millet Mission?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Odisha
[C] Kerala
[D] Telangana
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Odisha]
Notes:
During the Kharif 2022-23 season, the Odisha state government has procured some 600,000 quintals of ragi or finger millet under Odisha Millet Mission.
The crop was procured at an MSP of Rs 3,578 per quintal. The Mission is an initiative of state’s department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to revive millets in collaboration with WSHGs, FPOs, NCDS, WASSAN and local NGOs.
37. Which Union Ministry has revised the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) regulations?
[A] Ministry of Defence
[B] Ministry of Renewable Energy
[C] Ministry of Power
[D] Ministry of Steel
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Renewable Energy]
Notes:
The Union MNRE Ministry has revised the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) regulations to increase participation of private entities in the renewable energy manufacturing supply chain.
It will minimize compliance cost for solar PV manufacturers and ease the processing of application filing.
38. Which Union Ministry implements the ‘FAME-II Scheme’?
[A] Ministry of MSME
[B] Ministry of Heavy Industry
[C] Ministry of Commerce and Industry
[D] Ministry of Power
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Heavy Industry]
Notes:
The Ministry of Heavy Industry is planning to increase the outlay for the FAME-II (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles in India) scheme this financial year.
The Ministry recently held a stakeholder consultation with e2-W manufacturers to deliberate the proposed changes to the scheme.
39. Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is an interoperable network based on the which protocol?
[A] BeckN
[B] XML
[C] Graph QL
[D] SOAP
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [BeckN]
Notes:
The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is an interoperable network based on the BeckN protocol that enables platforms of different configurations to seamlessly connect and operate on it. It is expected to play a pivotal role in India’s digital commerce ecosystem.
40. What is ‘BL Lacertae’, which was seen in the news recently?
[A] Exo planet
[B] Blazar
[C] Star
[D] Asteroid
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Blazar]
Notes:
BL Lacertae (BL Lac) is a blazar situated some 950 million light years away from Earth.
The Indian Astronomical Observatory located in Hanle of Ladakh has collaborated with 10 other global telescopes to observe the brightening of this blazar.