1. Which state/UT inaugurated India’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) school?
[A] Telangana
[B] Kerala
[C] Karnataka
[D] Punjab
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Kerala]
Notes:
President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated India’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) school called as Santhigiri Vidyabhavan in Kerala’s capital city, Thiruvananthapuram.
The AI school is a result of a collaboration between iLearning Engines (ILE) USA and Vedhik eSchool.
2. Which state raised the OBC quota to 27% in local bodies?
[A] Gujarat
[B] Assam
[C] Jharkhand
[D] Madhya Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Gujarat]
Notes:
The Gujarat government has increased the reservations for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the state’s panchayats and urban local bodies from 10% to 27%.
This decision was made based on recommendations of the K.S. Jhaveri Commission, which was formed based on a 2022 Supreme Court order on deciding the level of OBC quotas in Gujarat.
3. Which state launched ‘Gruha Lakshmi scheme’?
[A] Kerala
[B] Karnataka
[C] Andhra Pradesh
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Karnataka]
Notes:
Karnataka government launches Gruha Lakshmi scheme, which aims to provide assistance of ₹2,000 every month to women head of families in the State.
The scheme was launched by Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. This is said to be India’s largest money transfer scheme. Around 1.08 crore beneficiaries have been identified for the scheme.
4. Gabon, which was seen in the news, is located in which region?
[A] Africa
[B] Europe
[C] Australia
[D] Asia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Africa]
Notes:
Rebel soldiers in Central African nation Gabon claim to have ousted their President Ali Bongo Ondimba.
Rebel officers in the oil-rich central African state of Gabon announced they had seized power following disputed elections in which President Ali Bongo Ondimba, in power since 2009, had been declared victorious.
5. Who has been chosen as the chair of groups of ministers (GoMs) on GST System Reforms?
[A] P Chidambaram
[B] Subramaniam Swamy
[C] Ajit Pawar
[D] Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Ajit Pawar]
Notes:
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council has reconstituted two of its groups of ministers (GoMs) tasked with identifying necessary System Reforms to curb evasion and analysing the revenue trends from the 6-year-old indirect tax regime.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar is back at the helm of the GoM on GST System Reforms, replacing his colleague Devendra Fadnavis.
6. Which Indian chess player replaced Viswanathan Anand as the country’s top-ranked player?
[A] R Praggnananda
[B] D Gukesh
[C] Nihal Sarin
[D] Arjun Erigaisi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [D Gukesh]
Notes:
17-year-old D Gukesh took over as the country’s top-ranked player from Viswanathan Anand in FIDE’s monthly rankings list.
It has been 37 years since anyone other than Anand holding the top position. The five-time World champion is currently ranked ninth, a spot below Gukesh on the world list, is semi-retired from active chess.
7. Utkela Airport has been inaugurated in which state/UT?
[A] Odisha
[B] West Bengal
[C] Assam
[D] Arunachal Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Odisha]
Notes:
Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya M Scindia inaugurated Utkela Airport and a direct flight between Utkela and Bhubaneshwar.
Utkela airport is owned by the Government of Odisha. It has been developed as a regional airport under the UDAN scheme of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India at a cost of Rs. 31.07 Crores.
8. Which institution launched the ‘Adopt a Heritage 2.0’ programme?
[A] NITI Aayog
[B] Archaeological Survey of India
[C] Union Culture Ministry
[D] Union External Affairs Ministry
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Archaeological Survey of India]
Notes:
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) launched the “Adopt a Heritage 2.0” programme under which corporates are invited to fund amenities at monuments from their corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds.
The aim of “Adopt a Heritage 2.0” programme is to enhance the visitor experience at centrally protected monuments, improve amenities, and bolster the culture and heritage value of the country.
9. Tharman Shanmugaratnam has been elected as President of which country?
[A] Singapore
[B] Malaysia
[C] Maldives
[D] Mauritius
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Singapore]
Notes:
Tharman Shanmugaratnam is the president-elect of Singapore. He was born on February 25, 1957. He is a popular politician who has won several parliamentary elections. In 2023, he resigned from all government positions and the PAP to run for the Singaporean presidential election. He won the election with 70.4% of the votes.
Shanmugaratnam was previously the Senior Minister of Singapore from 2019 to 2023. He also served as Deputy Prime Minister for eight years. He studied at the London School of Economics, Cambridge University, and Harvard University.
10. ‘International Literacy Day’ is observed on which day?
[A] July 8
[B] August 8
[C] September 8
[D] October 8
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [September 8]
Notes:
The Government of India has decided to organise a literacy week from 1st September to 8th September 2023 to celebrate International Literacy Day.
UNESCO will celebrate International Literacy Day (ILD) on 8 September 2023 under the theme ‘Promoting literacy for a world in transition: Building the foundation for sustainable and peaceful societies’.