1. Cabinet declared which day as ‘National Space Day’ in India?
[A] August 20
[B] August 23
[C] August 25
[D] August 27
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [August 23]
Notes:
Union Cabinet has declared August 23 as ‘National Space Day’ to commemorate Chandrayaan-3’s successful landing on the Moon.
The Cabinet also applauded the designation of two moon locations as ‘Tiranga Point’ (the imprint of Chandrayaan-2) and ShivShakti Point (the landing site of Chandrayaan-3) in the release.
2. The world’s first hundred percent Ethanol fuelled Car has been developed by which company?
[A] Maruti Suzuki
[B] Toyota
[C] Mahindra and Mahindra
[D] Tata Motors
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Toyota]
Notes:
Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari unveiled the prototype of the world’s first Bharat Stage (BS)-VI-compliant electrified flex-fuel car, developed by Toyota Kirloskar Motor.
The car, which runs on 100 per cent ethanol (E100), is based on the Toyota Innova HyCross. It can cover 40 per cent of its distance on ethanol and the remaining 60 per cent on electric, with the petrol engine shut off.
3. Which US state Assembly passed anti-caste discrimination Bill?
[A] Texas
[B] California
[C] Atlanta
[D] Florida
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [California]
Notes:
California’s legislature has passed Senate Bill (SB) 403, which seeks to add caste among the categories officially protected from discrimination in the state.
The Bill introduces comprehensive measures to counter discrimination across sectors such as education, employment, housing and public services.
4. 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.
5. Which country hosted the 19th African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN)?
[A] Kenya
[B] Ethiopia
[C] Nigeria
[D] Gabon
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ethiopia]
Notes:
The 19th African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Environment ministers of the African continent have agreed to institute national and regional strategies to minimise environmental impacts in the extraction and processing of critical mineral resources.
6. ‘Kampala Ministerial Declaration’, which was seen in the news, is associated with which field?
[A] Cyber security
[B] Migration, Environment and Climate Change
[C] Artificial Intelligence
[D] Housing and Urban Infrastructure
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Migration, Environment and Climate Change]
Notes:
A total of 48 African countries have agreed to adopt the Kampala Ministerial Declaration on Migration, Environment and Climate Change (KDMECC) to address the nexus of human mobility and climate change in the continent.
It was co-hosted by the Governments of Kenya and Uganda with support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
7. India signed a MoU with which country to boost cooperation in civil aviation?
[A] New Zealand
[B] France
[C] Germany
[D] Spain
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [New Zealand]
Notes:
The Government of India and the Government of New Zealand have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost cooperation in civil aviation.
This will cover the scheduling of new routes, code share services, traffic rights and capacity entitlement. An Air Services Agreement was signed between New Zealand and India in 2016. The New Zealand and India have reviewed the existing arrangements relating to air service between the two countries.
8. As per Youth Affairs and Sports Ministry, how many Khelo India Centres will be established within a year?
[A] 100
[B] 500
[C] 1000
[D] 2000
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [1000]
Notes:
Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur announced that 1000 Khelo India Centres will be established within a year in the country.
It will not only provide employment opportunities to former athletes but also give budding sportspersons a chance to take guidance from the veterans. To commemorate the National Sports Day, over 3500 events were observed across the nation.
9. Which state has decided to create a fact-checking unit to curb fake news on social media?
[A] Karnataka
[B] Kerala
[C] Tamil Nadu
[D] West Bengal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Karnataka]
Notes:
In a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Karnataka Cabinet approved the formation of fact-checking units to tackle ‘fake news syndicates’.
The government would introduce legislation against the propagation of fake news and propose punishment for the spread of fake news.
10. 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).