1. Thiruvonam is a festival prevalently celebrated in which state?
[A] Kerala
[B] Andhra Pradesh
[C] Tamil Nadu
[D] Karnataka
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Kerala]
Notes:
Thiruvonam, the most auspicious day during the Onam festival, is celebrated throughout Kerala. Onam is a harvest festival that celebrates the return of King Mahabali/Maveli to his beloved state.
The festival is celebrated for ten days and each day holds a lot of significance. Onam also marks the beginning of the Malayalam year, called Kolla Varsham.
2. Kishore Jena, who was seen in the news, is associated with which sports?
[A] Tennis
[B] Javelin Throw
[C] Badminton
[D] Table Tennis
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Javelin Throw]
Notes:
Odisha’s javelin star Kishore Jena became the first from the state to represent India at the finals of the World Athletics Championship.
At the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, he finished fifth with a personal best of 84.77 metres.
3. Which European country has announced a ban on wearing the abaya robes in schools?
[A] Germany
[B] France
[C] Spain
[D] Portugal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [France]
Notes:
The French government announced its decision to ban children from wearing the abaya, the loose-fitting, full- length robes worn by some Muslim women, in state-run schools.
France has enforced a ban on religious symbols in state schools since 2004, to uphold its strict brand of secularism, known as laicite.
4. ‘GREAT’ Grant, which was seen un the news, is associated with which Union Ministry?
[A] Ministry of Textiles
[B] Ministry of Home Affairs
[C] Ministry of MSME
[D] Ministry of Rural Development
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ministry of Textiles]
Notes:
The Ministry of Textiles has approved the Startup Guidelines for Technical Textiles – Grant for Research and Entrepreneurship across Aspiring Innovators in Technical Textiles (GREAT) providing grant-in-aid upto INR 50 Lakhs for upto a period of 18 months.
Ministry of Textiles gives nod to 26 engineering institutions for introduction of Technical Textiles under National Technical
Textiles Mission.
5. Which Indian has won the 2023 Ramon Magsaysay award?
[A] Ravi Kannan
[B] Gautam Adani
[C] Ghazal Alagh
[D] Kailash Vidyarthi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ravi Kannan]
Notes:
Assam-based Oncologist Ravi Kannan has been named one of the four winners of the 2023 Ramon Magsaysay Award, Asia’s equivalent of the Nobel prize.
He is a recipient of India’s fourth-highest civilian award Padma Shri and the director of Assam’s Cachar Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (CCHRC).
6. United Nations Biodiversity has urged people to use which word, instead of ‘flora and fauna’?
[A] Funga
[B] Alga
[C] Wild
[D] Species
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Funga]
Notes:
United Nations Biodiversity has urged people globally to use the word ‘funga’ whenever they say ‘flora and fauna’, in order to highlight the importance of fungi.
Fungi, along with Animalia (animals), Plantae (plants), Protista, Archaea/Archaebacteria, and Bacteria or Eubacteria form the six ‘kingdoms’ of biology.
7. Which country’s central bank Governors topped the ‘Global Finance Central Banker Report Cards 2023’?
[A] India
[B] Sri Lanka
[C] USA
[D] UK
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [India]
Notes:
Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das has been ranked as the top central banker globally by US-based Global Finance magazine.
Das has been rated ‘A+’ in the Global Finance Central Banker Report Cards 2023.Das has been placed at the top of the list of three central bank governors who have been rated A+.
8. Which country has emerged champions in the Men’s Hockey5s Asia Cup?
[A] Pakistan
[B] India
[C] Sri Lanka
[D] Bangladesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [India]
Notes:
India emerged champions in the Men’s Hockey5s Asia Cup, beating arch-rivals Pakistan 2-0 in a shootout after both teams were locked at 4-4 in regulation time.
With the win, India have booked their place in the FIH Men’s Hockey5s World Cup 2024.
9. Which country’s Supreme Court has decriminalized abortion across the country?
[A] Qatar
[B] Mexico
[C] Chile
[D] Italy
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Mexico]
Notes:
Mexico’s Supreme Court has made a decision by ruling that all federal criminal penalties for abortion are unconstitutional, effectively decriminalizing abortion across the country.
This decision does not automatically guarantee access to abortion for all Mexican women, as the country has a federal system with varying state laws. Some 20 Mexican states still criminalize abortion, necessitating further legal efforts to remove penalties and ensure access.
10. Divya Deshmukh, who was seen in the news, is associated with which sports?
[A] Golf
[B] Chess
[C] Squash
[D] Tennis
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Chess]
Notes:
Divya Deshmukh recently clinched the women’s rapid title at the Tata Steel Chess India tournament.
The 17-year-old chess player from Nagpur earned the title of woman grandmaster in the year 2021 at the age of 15. She won the Asian Women’s Chess Championships title this year. She is currently ranked 7th in the list of the nation’s women’s players.