1.As per a recent study, which planet may have undergone tectonic activity, 4.5 billion to 3.5 billion years ago? [A] Venus [B] Mars [C] Mercury [D] Jupiter
Correct Answer: A [Venus] Notes: A recent study suggests that Venus, frequently described as Earth’s sister planet, may have undergone tectonic activity approximately 4.5 billion to 3.5 billion years ago. It is proposed that plate tectonics could have played a crucial role in the formation of Venus’s carbon dioxide- and nitrogen-rich atmosphere.
2.India launched an ‘Innovation Platform’ and ‘Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Innovation Dialogue’, along with which country? [A] Sweden [B] Switzerland [C] Australia [D] Finland
Correct Answer: B [Switzerland] Notes: India and Switzerland launched the Indo-Swiss Innovation Platform. The platform’s launch included an Indo-Swiss Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Innovation Dialogue in Bengaluru. The platform began with a pilot project on antimicrobial resistance. The platform’s launch was intended to deepen bilateral collaboration on innovation and make it more strategic. About 50 experts from Switzerland and India came together to discuss innovative ideas.
3.Which country is associated with the ‘B61-13’ Nuclear bomb? [A] Russia [B] Israel [C] USA [D] China
Correct Answer: C [USA] Notes: The United States is planning to build a new nuclear bomb that will be 24 times more powerful than the one dropped on Hiroshima during World War II. The B61-13 would also be almost 14 times bigger than the 25-kiloton bomb that was dropped on Nagasaki.
4.‘Bipolar Disorder’, is associated with which type of health condition? [A] Cardiac condition [B] Digestive condition [C] Mental health condition [D] Nephrological condition
Correct Answer: C [Mental health condition] Notes: Bipolar disorder, formerly called manic depression, is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings. Researchers at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom have achieved significant advancements in enhancing the diagnosis of bipolar disorder. They have created a straightforward blood test that, when used in conjunction with an online psychiatric assessment, provides a more precise means of diagnosing this mental health condition.
5.What is India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection in October 2023? [A] Rs 1.65 lakh crore [B] Rs 1.72 lakh crore [C] Rs 1.82 lakh crore [D] Rs 1.92 lakh crore
Correct Answer: B [Rs 1.72 lakh crore] Notes: India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections in October 2023 increased by 13.4% to Rs 1,72,003 crore, the second-highest ever. The growth was driven by a rebound in imports. The GST revenue collection for October 2023 is second highest ever, next only to April 2023. The gross GST for September, collected in October, rose 13% annually to Rs 1,72,003 crore. The growth in India’s gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenues bounced back in October with tax collections rising at a 10-month high pace of 13.4%.
6.Which European country’s central bank announced to pilot wholesale digital currency? [A] Germany [B] Switzerland [C] Finland [D] Italy
Correct Answer: B [Switzerland] Notes: The Swiss National Bank, Switzerland’s central bank, has announced its plans to commence a pilot project next month, involving the use of central bank digital currency (CBDC) for financial institutions. UBS and Zuercher Kantonal Bank are among the participants who have signed up for this initiative, which will utilize a real Swiss franc wholesale CBDC. Additionally, four other commercial Swiss banks will also be part of this pilot project.
7.Which company collaborated with eight Indian companies for their laptop manufacturing projects in India? [A] Intel [B] Dell [C] Samsung [D] Google
Correct Answer: A [Intel] Notes: Intel announced collaboration with eight Indian electronics manufacturing services (EMS) companies and original design manufacturers (ODMs), sharing key technological and operational insights for their laptop manufacturing projects in India. As part of the new collaboration, Intel has shared its expertise in the production of complete entry-level laptops in India.
8.When was the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) scheme launched in India? [A] 2016 [B] 2018 [C] 2020 [D] 2022
Correct Answer: C [2020] Notes: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced an extension of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) free ration scheme for another five years. The PMGKAY was introduced in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic to provide 5 kg free foodgrains to eligible ration card holders under the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA).
9.Which is the first company to launch an in-house LNG engine compliant with BSVI Stage II emission standard? [A] HAL [B] Ashok Leyland [C] Tata Motors [D] Force Motors
Correct Answer: B [Ashok Leyland] Notes: Ashok Leyland commenced delivery of India’s first batch of 12 LNG-powered haulage trucks – AVTR 1922. With this, Ashok Leyland becomes the first Indian Original Equipment Manufacturer to unveil an in-house LNG engine compliant with BSVI Stage II emission standard.
10.Who is the first cricketer in the history to be given a “timed out” dismissal? [A] Hardik Pandya [B] Angelo Mathews [C] Pat Cummins [D] Rashid Khan
Correct Answer: B [Angelo Mathews] Notes: Angelo Mathews of Sri Lanka was given a “timed out” dismissal in a World Cup clash against Bangladesh at the Arun Jaitely Stadium in Delhi. This made him the first player to suffer such a dismissal in international cricket’s 146-year history. Mathews was declared timed-out after Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan appealed.
11.Which country hosted the two-day summit of European space ministers, dubbed as ‘Space Summit’? [A] France [B] Italy [C] Spain [D] Denmark
Correct Answer: C [Spain] Notes: The European Space Agency proposed a competition between European firms to build a ship that would deliver cargo to the International Space Station. The two-day summit of European space ministers was held in the Spanish city of Seville. With delays to its new Ariane 6 rocket, Europe has no independent way to blast its missions into space. It also faces stiff competition in space from the United States, China and private companies.
12.Which Union Ministry launched “Women for Water, Water for Women Campaign”? [A] Ministry of Jal Shakti [B] Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs [C] Ministry of Women and Child Development [D] Ministry of Education
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs] Notes: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) launches “Women for Water, Water for Women Campaign” under its flagship scheme Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT). It was launched in partnership with the Ministry’s National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM). Odisha Urban Academy is the knowledge partner.
13.NASA’s Curiosity rover was launched to study which celestial body? [A] Sun [B] Mars [C] Mercury [D] Jupiter
Correct Answer: B [Mars] Notes: NASA’s Curiosity rover completed 4,000 Martian days on Mars on November 7, 2023. The rover landed on Mars’ Gale Crater on August 5, 2012. Its mission is to study whether ancient Mars had the conditions to support microbial life. The car-sized rover has travelled almost 32 km on Mars and drilled its 39th sample, a rock nicknamed “Sequoia”. The rover is 10 feet long, 9 feet wide, and 7 feet tall.
14.Which city is the host of ‘World Travel Market (WTM) 2023’ event? [A] London [B] New Delhi [C] Paris [D] Rome
Correct Answer: A [London] Notes: The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, is actively participating in the World Travel Market (WTM) 2023 in London. The primary objective of this participation is to showcase a diverse range of tourism products and a series of transformative experiences for travellers to India. This initiative is being presented under the theme ‘Incredible India! Visit India Year 2023.’
15.INFUSE Mission is associated with which space agency? [A] ISRO [B] NASA [C] JAXA [D] ESA
Correct Answer: B [NASA] Notes: NASA launched a new sounding rocket to study a stellar event in the Cygnus Loop, which is a supernova remnant that took place 20,000 years ago. Cygnus is about 2,600 light years away from the Earth. The sounding rocket mission, named the Integral Field Ultraviolet Spectroscope Experiment (INFUSE) was launched in New Mexico. The INFUSE mission is expected to collect information about the remnant for a few minutes from a height of 240 km.
16.India signed MoU with which country for cooperation in soyabean oil supply to India? [A] Australia [B] Brazil [C] Malaysia [D] Sri Lanka
Correct Answer: B [Brazil] Notes: The Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA) and the Brazilian Association of Vegetable Oil Industries (ABIOVE) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for close cooperation in soyabean oil supply to India. The agreement aims at cooperating with the supply, use, and trade of soyabean, soyameal and soyabean oil.
17.What is the name of the recently launched brand of National Cooperative Organics Ltd (NCOL)? [A] Namo Organics [B] Bharat Organics [C] India Fresh [D] India Dairy
Correct Answer: B [Bharat Organics] Notes: Cooperation Minister Amit Shah launched the ‘Bharat Organics’ brand of the newly launched National Cooperative Organics Ltd (NCOL). It will have as many as 20 products in the market by December 2023. NCOL will pass on 50 per cent of its profit earned over the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of any crop directly into the bank account of the farmers, while the rest will be used for the growth of the organization.
18.Which organisation manufactures the Light Combat Aircraft-Tejas? [A] DRDO [B] HAL [C] ISRO [D] BEL
Correct Answer: B [HAL] Notes: Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) manufactures the Light Combat Aircraft-Tejas for Indian Air Force and Indian Navy. Recently, HAL has recently entered into a Transfer of Technology (ToT) agreement with CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL). This agreement is aimed at facilitating the manufacturing of BMI Engine Bay Doors for the mass production of the LCA – Tejas Mk1A aircraft.
19.As per a recent study, a continent named Argoland seemingly disappeared from which present continent?
[A] Africa [B] Asia [C] Australia [D] Europe
Correct Answer: C [Australia] Notes: A recent study has revealed the existence of the long-lost continent of Argoland, which had seemingly disappeared after breaking away from Australia approximately 155 million years ago. This continent once formed the northeastern border of Australia during the Jurassic period.
20.Hon Hai Precision Industry Co is commonly known as which company? [A] Tesla [B] Foxconn [C] Walmart [D] Alibaba
Correct Answer: B [Foxconn] Notes: The biggest manufacturer of iPhones in the world -Foxconn is also known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. Recently, two prototype low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites the company produced embarked on a SpaceX rocket’s journey from Vandenberg Space Force Base in southern California.
