1. Who will lead the Indian delegation in the 7th Moscow Conference on International Security (MCIS – 2018)?
[A] Narendra Modi
[B] Sushma Swaraj
[C] Nirmala Sitharaman
[D] Ajit Doval
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Nirmala Sitharaman]
Notes:
The 7th Moscow Conference on International Security (MCIS – 2018) will be held in Moscow, Russia from April 4. The 2-day conference will be focused on the defeat of terrorists in Syria. The Indian delegation will be led by Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. This will be her first visit to Russia in her capacity as the Defence Minister. During her 3-day tour, she will meet her Russian counterpart Army General Sergei Shoigu and other senior leaders. The visit will provide an opportunity to reinforce the traditional warm and friendly relations that exist between the two countries with particular reference to military technical cooperation.
2. Who has been adjudged ‘Sportsperson of the Year’ at the Telangana Sports Journalists Association annual awards for 2017?
[A] Sania Mirza
[B] Kidambi Srikanth
[C] P V Sindhu
[D] Mithali Raj
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Mithali Raj]
Notes:
Mithali Raj, Indian women’s cricket team captain, has been adjudged ‘Sportsperson of the Year’ at the Telangana Sports Journalists Association annual awards for 2017 in Hyderabad on March 31, 2018. Beside her, Ace shuttlers Kidambi Srikanth and P V Sindhu bagged the best senior male and female athletes. Former Indian cricketer V V S Laxman presented ‘best coach of the year’ award to Gopichand, who received this award for the second time in a row. Triple Olympian and former national Hockey player N Mukesh Kumar was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement award at the event.
3. C V Rajendran, who passed away recently, was the famous personality from which field?
[A] Journalism
[B] Science
[C] Sports
[D] Film Industry
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Film Industry]
Notes:
C V Rajendran (81), the renowned Tamil film director and producer, has passed away in Chennai, Tamil Nadu on April 1, 2018. Some of his few memorable films are Kalatta Kalyanam, Sumathi En Sundari and Raja starring Sivaji Ganesan and Jayalalithaa and Ponoonjal.
4. What is the theme of the 2018 World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD)?
[A] Empowering Women and Girls with Autism
[B] Toward Autonomy and Self-Determination
[C] Opening Doors to Inclusive Education
[D] Employment: The Autism Advantage
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Empowering Women and Girls with Autism]
Notes:
The World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) is observed every year on April 2 to recognize and support all children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The day is to highlight the need to help improve the quality of life of those with autism so they can lead full and meaningful lives as an integral part of society. The 2018 theme is “Empowering women and girls with autism”.
5. Which country to host the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Mid-Term Ministerial Conference 2018?
[A] Azerbaijan
[B] India
[C] Qatar
[D] Israel
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Azerbaijan]
Notes:
The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Mid-Term Ministerial Conference 2018 will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan on April 5-6 under the theme “Promoting International Peace and Security for Sustainable Development”. NAM participating states, representatives of observer states and international organizations, countries and institutions, invited as special guests, will take part in the Mid-Term Ministerial Conference. The Indian delegation will be led by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. The Non-Aligned Movement includes 120 states. Seventeen states and 10 international organizations hold observer status of NAM. In 2019, the Republic of Azerbaijan will host the 18th Summit of the NAM and will chair NAM in 2019-2022.
6. Saikhom Mirabai Chanu has clinched India’s first gold at the 21st Commonwealth Games (CWG-2018). She is related to which weightlifting category?
[A] 48 kg
[B] 56 kg
[C] 42 kg
[D] 45 kg
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [48 kg]
Notes:
Star weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu from Manipur has clinched the first gold for India at the 21st Commonwealth Games (CWG-2018) with a power-packed performance in the women’s 48 kg weightlifting category in Gold Coast, Australia on April 5. In a remarkable performance, Chanu smashed the Commonwealth Games record in snatch, pulling off clean lifts in all her three attempts (80kg, 84kg and 86kg). Chanu lifted a total of 196 kg (86 kg in Snatch + 110 kg in Clean and Jerk) to win the gold for country.
7. Who is the newly elected president of Badminton Association of India (BAI)?
[A] Devender Singh
[B] Ajay Singhania
[C] Himanta Biswa Sarma
[D] Anbumani Ramadoss
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Himanta Biswa Sarma]
Notes:
Himanta Biswa Sarma, a cabinet ranked minister and convener of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), has been elected as the new president of Badminton Association of India (BAI) unopposed during the federation’s annual general body meeting and election in Goa on April 3, 2018. He will serve as the president for a term of four years. Sarma took over as the interim president of BAI last year after the demise of former president Akhilesh Das Gupta.
8. What is the theme of the 55th edition of National Maritime Day (NMD-2018)?
[A] Connecting India through Shipping
[B] Indian Coast Line – A New opportunity
[C] Blue Economy
[D] Indian Shipping – An Ocean of opportunity
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Indian Shipping – An Ocean of opportunity]
Notes:
The National Maritime Day (NMD) is celebrated every year in India on 5th April since 1964 to commemorate the maiden voyage of the first Indian –owned ship “SS Loyalty” sailed from Bombay to London on 5th April 1919. This was a crucial step for Indian shipping history when sea routes were controlled by the British. The theme of the 55th edition of the NMD 2018 is ‘Indian Shipping – An Ocean of opportunity’. The United Nations’ World Maritime Day (WMD) is observed every year on September 29 to highlight the importance of shipping safety, maritime security and the marine environment.
9. Who has been appointed the whole-time member of market regulator SEBI?
[A] Sanjeev Kaushik
[B] PK Barua
[C] SK Mohanty
[D] Ananta Nagpal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [SK Mohanty]
Notes:
Santosh Kumar Mohanty has been appointed a whole-time member of market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for a period of three years. At present Executive Director in SEBI. Prior to this assignment, he was serving as Director in the erstwhile commodity market regulator Forward Markets Commission. An officer from the Indian Revenue Service (IRS), Mohanty has earlier served in the Income Tax Department in various capacities in Kolkata, Nagpur and Mumbai.
10. Which state has bagged the ‘State of the Year’ Award under the ‘business leader’ category at the India Business Leader Awards (IBLA) event?
[A] Chhattisgarh
[B] Punjab
[C] Haryana
[D] Karnataka
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Chhattisgarh ]
Notes:
Chhattisgarh has bagged the ‘State of the Year’ Award under the ‘business leader’ category as part of the India Business Leadership for the remarkable increase in business and services activities in various sectors. Union Information Technology and Electronics Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad gave the award at India Business Leader Awards (IBLA) event. organised by a leading business channel. The award was received by The award was received by Chhattisgarh Revenue, Higher Education, Skill Development and Technical Education Minister Prem Prakash Pandey.