1. What is ‘Sierra Madre’, recently seen in the news?
[A] Submarine
[B] Landing ship
[C] Earth observation satellite
[D] Exoplanet
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Landing ship]
Notes:
China demands removal of the Sierra Madre ship, rejected by the Philippines. Commissioned in 1944 for WWII, it served in Vietnam before being transferred to the Philippines in 1976. It was positioned deliberately in 1999 at Second Thomas Shoal, part of the disputed Spratly Islands, to reinforce territorial claims. China’s ships and water cannons threaten supply boats in the area. Removal risks weakening Philippines’ claims and bolstering Chinese presence.
2. What is ‘K2-18B’, recently seen in news?
[A] Exoplanet
[B] Black hole
[C] Asteroid
[D] Submarine
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Exoplanet]
Notes:
Preliminary data from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) suggests a more than 50% likelihood of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) gas on the exoplanet K2-18b. However, further analysis is required before a definitive conclusion can be reached. DMS is a gas that is only produced by living beings on Earth, primarily by phytoplankton in marine environments. The presence of DMS in K2-18b’s atmosphere could be a groundbreaking discovery, as the planet is believed to be ocean-covered and 2.6 times larger than Earth. K2-18b, discovered in 2015, is a super Earth exoplanet orbiting an M-type star. M stars, smaller and cooler than the sun, comprise the Red Dwarf category. K2-18b resides in the Goldilocks zone, where temperatures sustain liquid water.
3. Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), recently seen in news, is a specialized agency comes under which ministry?
[A] Ministry of Defence
[B] Ministry of Power
[C] Ministry of Finance
[D] Ministry of Urban Development
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Ministry of Finance]
Notes:
The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), established in 2004 under the Ministry of Finance recently issued alert indicators under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for various sectors, including capital markets, insurance, online payment gateways, and cryptocurrency services. It analyzes suspicious financial transactions to combat money laundering and terrorism financing. Organizations like banks, stockbrokers, and insurance companies are mandated to register with FIU-IND as reporting entities under PMLA.
4. Ruang volcano, recently seen in the news due to eruption, is located in which country?
[A] Malaysia
[B] Indonesia
[C] Chile
[D] Ecuador
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Indonesia]
Notes:
Indonesia’s Mount Ruang volcano erupted multiple times, prompting the highest alert level and evacuation orders for thousands due to potential tsunami risks. The country’s volcanology agency cautioned that the threat persists after over half a dozen eruptions this month, leading to the evacuation of over 6,000 individuals.
5. Vinay Vir, who recently passed away, was associated with which field?
[A] Journalism
[B] Politics
[C] Sports
[D] Medicine
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Journalism]
Notes:
Vinay Vir, the esteemed journalist, publisher, and editor of Daily Hindi Milap, known for championing Hindi in the South, passed away at 72. His impactful management and editing elevated Hindi’s presence. Born into a family of freedom fighters, Vinay Vir was a dedicated advocate for Hindi’s growth. Secretary of the Yudhvir Foundation, he honored achievers. His legacy remains intertwined with the advancement of Hindi and the recognition of talent.
6. Recently, which IIT has been granted a patent for its cost-effective inverter?
[A] IIT Patna
[B] IIT Madras
[C] IIT Kanpur
[D] IIT Bombay
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [IIT Patna]
Notes:
The Indian Institute of Technology-Patna (IIT-P) secured a patent for its lightweight, compact inverter, developed under the startup scheme ‘Portable Power Technology’. The invention integrates battery and inverter into one unit, reducing weight by 80%. Designed by five young scientists and guided by A K Thakur, it promises clean energy generation with improved battery life. The patent ensures IIT-P’s copyright for 20 years, facilitating commercial use from next month.
7. Recently, which organization has advised all states and UTs to “completely prohibit” all harmful sharp threads or “manjha”?
[A] National Green Tribunal
[B] Animal Welfare Board of India
[C] National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board
[D] Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Animal Welfare Board of India ]
Notes:
The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has urged states and UTs to fully prohibit harmful sharp threads or “manjha.” The Delhi High Court instructed the Delhi government to establish a policy for compensating victims of accidents caused by Chinese manjha. In 2017, the NGT mandated a complete ban on manjha. AWBI, a statutory advisory body founded under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960, operates from Ballabhgarh, Faridabad, Haryana, focusing on animal welfare and providing grants.
8. Cricketer Ben Wells, who recently announced his retirement, belongs to which country?
[A] Australia
[B] England
[C] South Africa
[D] Bangladesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [England]
Notes:
Ben Wells, a rising cricketer for England, retired at 23 due to a rare heart disease, ARVC. Despite signing with Gloucestershire in 2021 and delivering notable performances, he hadn’t played for England. His condition echoes that of former player James Taylor. Wells’ career, marked by an unbeaten 108-run knock, ends abruptly, raising awareness about ARVC’s impact on athletes’ lives.
9. Recently, where was the 7th India-Indonesia Joint Defence Cooperation Committee meeting held?
[A] New Delhi
[B] Jakarta
[C] Chennai
[D] Hyderabad
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [New Delhi]
Notes:
India and Indonesia recently held their seventh Joint Defence Cooperation Committee meeting in New Delhi, focusing on expanding collaboration in defence industry, maritime security, and multilateral cooperation. Both nations expressed satisfaction with the growing scope of defence cooperation. The meeting emphasized defence industry collaboration involving firms like Bharat Forge and Mahindra Defence. They stressed maritime security cooperation and highlighted Indonesia’s role in India’s Act East Policy. The collaboration aims to boost military capabilities and address common security challenges.
10. Lakshya Aircraft, recently seen in the news, is designed and built by which organization?
[A] DRDO
[B] ISRO
[C] CSIR
[D] BHEL
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [DRDO]
Notes:
The Aeronautical Development Establishment, a Bengaluru-based Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) lab, creator of Lakshya aircraft, is under CBI scrutiny. Lakshya, a micro-light, pilot-less aircraft, was developed by ADE for Indian Armed Forces, inducted in 2000 (IAF), 2001 (IN), and 2003 (IA). Cost-effective, reusable, with HAL-manufactured engine, it aids weapon system trials, carries tow targets for training, and launches from land or sea. Controlled via GCS, it’s designed for 15 missions, countering airborne threats.