Q1. Recently, which state’s cabinet recommended the withdrawal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) on September 9, 2023?
Nagaland
Assam
Manipur
Meghalaya
Assam
The Assam cabinet has recommended to the central government to withdraw the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) from the state. AFSPA gives the armed forces sweeping powers to search, arrest and shoot to kill in areas declared as “disturbed”. It has been in force in Assam since 1990.
Q2. Where will PepsiCo India set up its new food manufacturing plant, which will be PepsiCo’s first food-focused manufacturing plant in the Northeast region?
Sikkim
Tripura
Arunachal Pradesh
Assam
Assam
PepsiCo India has announced that it will invest Rs 778 crore to set up a new food manufacturing plant in Nalbari district, Assam. The plant is expected to be operational by 2025 and will create direct and indirect employment opportunities for around 500 people. It will produce Lay’s potato chips, Kurkure snacks, and other food products.
Q3. Who is the author of the book ‘Fire on the Ganges: Life Among the Dead in Banaras’?
Radhika Iyengar
Jhumpa Lahiri
Kiran Desai
Anita Nair
Radhika Iyengar
Q4. Which multinational group/organization was granted permanent membership in the G20 under India’s presidency?
BRICS
OPEC
ASEAN
African Union
African Union
The African Union was granted permanent membership in the G20 under India’s presidency of the forum.
The announcement was made at the G20 summit in New Delhi on September 9, 2023.
Q5. Which railway station has recently received the ‘Green Railway Station’ certification with the highest rating of Platinum from the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC)?
Vijayawada Railway Station
Guwahati Railway Station
Rani Kamlapati Railway Station
Warangal Railway Station
Vijayawada Railway Station
Q6. Who is known as the “Father of the Atomic Bomb”?
Ernest Rutherford
Albert Einstein
J. Robert Oppenheimer
Niels Bohr
J. Robert Oppenheimer
J. Robert Oppenheimer is known as the “Father of the Atomic Bomb” due to his major contribution to the Manhattan Project during World War II. He was the director of the Los Alamos Laboratory, where the atomic bomb was developed. Recently the movie Oppenheimer was also released.
Q7. Who is recently crowned as the Miss International India 2023?
Nandini Gupta
Shweta Sharda
Praveena Anjana
T Strela Luwang
Praveena Anjana
Q8. Which country has won the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup?
China
Germany
USA
England
German
Germany won the 2023 FIBA World Cup, defeating Serbia 83-77 in the final.
Q9. Recently, handwoven Rayagada Shawls received GI tag. Mainly, Dongria Kondhs made these Shawls from hand-spun cotton and are known for their intricate designs and vibrant colours. The Rayagada Shawls from which state
Nagaland
Odisha
Sikkim
Himachal Pradesh
Odisha
The Dongria Kondhs are a tribal group indigenous to Odisha. They are known for their unique culture and traditions, including their handwoven Rayagada Shawls. The shawls are made from hand-spun cotton and are known for their intricate designs and vibrant colours.
Q10. According to the Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2023, which city has the cleanest air in India (among cities with populations over one million)?
Q1. Recently, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced a major outreach program called “Raijyor Xomadhon (public solutions)” with the aim of
bridging the social infrastructure gap and assessing the implementation of various Govt schemes
bridging e-governance services to the doors of every citizens
improving the health and education scenario in the the rural areas
Solving bottleneck issues in agriculture and primary sectors
Bridging the social infrastructure gap and assessing the implementation of various Govt schemes
Q2. Which personality from Assam has been awarded the 65th Ramon Magsaysay Awards 2023?
Manmohan Singh
Ravi Kannan
Bhabendra Nath Saikia
Hema Bharali
Ravi Kannan
Q3. Tharman Shanmugaratnam has been recently elected as President of which country?
Mauritius
New Zealand
Singapore
Seychelles
Singapore
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.
Q4. Which country’s military force has recently unveiled the artificial intelligence robot ‘Valkyrie’ for aerial combat?
China
USA
Saudi Arabia
UK
USA
Q5. Which Union Ministry has recently introduced a fresh visa category named ‘Ayush Visa’?
Ministry of Ayush
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Ministry of Home Affairs
Ministry of External Affairs
Ministry of Home Affairs
“Ayush Visa” to cater to foreign nationals seeking medical treatment, including therapeutic care, wellness, and yoga in India.
To address the requirement for a dedicated visa program for foreign visitors seeking treatment under Ayush systems or Indian medicine.
Q6. Which Union Ministry has recently launched the sixth edition of Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2023?
Ministry of Electronics and IT
Ministry of Science and Technology
Ministry of Education
Ministry of Home Affairs
Ministry of Education
Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell and the All-India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) have launched the sixth edition of Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2023.
Since its inception in 2017, the Smart India Hackathon has become a global model for hackathons and innovation frameworks.
This event presents 239 problem statements, including 182 software challenges and 57 hardware challenges.
Q7. Which of the following is the blockchain-based project recently launched by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)?
Grapevine
PayOne
Falcon
Oxygen App
Falcon
Falcon is an open-source project that aims to simplify the management and use of blockchains based on ‘Hyperledger Fabric’ and supported on Kubernetes clusters. Essentially, Falcon is expected to help developers innovate on blockchain-based payment solutions.
Q8. Who is the chairperson of the Committee set up to assess the viability of the “one nation, one election” concept?
Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud
Ramnath Kovind
Ranjan Gogoi
Arjun Ram Meghwal
Ramnath Kovind
The members of the panel include Union home minister Amit Shah, ex-J&K chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Finance Commission chairman N K Singh, Constitution expert Subhash C Kashyap, senior advocate Harish Salve, and ex-Chief Vigilance Commissioner Sanjay Kothari.
Q9. In August 2023, the number of UPI transactions performed reached a milestone of
10 billion
12 billion
20 billion
50 billion
10 billion
Q10. NITI Aayog signed a MoU with which institution on fast tracking SDGs?
World Bank
Asian Development Bank
UNDP
UNEP
UNDP
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed to formalise a framework of cooperation on a range of areas, including SDG localisation, data-driven monitoring, Aspirational Districts and Blocks, among others.
The MoU was signed for a period of five years.
NITI Aayog is the nodal Institution for coordinating the adoption and monitoring of SDGs at the national and sub-national levels. UNDP plays the integrator role in coordinating efforts to fast-track progress on the SDGs within the UN system.
Q1. The North East Venture Fund (NEVF) was set up by
North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Limited (NEDFi)
Assam Gramin Vikash Bank
SEBI
SBI
North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Limited (NEDFi)
G Kishan Reddy, the Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), revealed in a written reply at the Lok Sabha that the North East Venture Fund (NEVF) has made substantial investments in 37 startups across various sectors, amounting to Rs 56.84 Crore.
Q2. Assam’s govt has recently planned to establish a ‘Knowledge Hub’ and an ‘Assam Institute of Urban Affairs’. Who is the present Housing and Urban Affairs Minister of Assam?
Ranjeet Kumar Dass
Atul Bora
Chandra Mohan Patowary
Ashok Singhal
Ashok Singhal
Assam’s government has unveiled an ambitious plan to establish a ‘Knowledge Hub’ and an ‘Assam Institute of Urban Affairs.’ Led by Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Ashok Singhal, these initiatives aim to introduce cutting-edge urban planning concepts and expertise to the state.
Q3. Which club football tournament is the oldest in Asia and the third oldest in the world?
AFC Champions League
Santosh Trophy
Durand Cup
Bengal Cup
Durand Cup
Q4. Which nation emerged as the champion of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023?
England
Germany
Spain
France
Spain
Q5. Who was honored with the Lokmanya Tilak National Award on 01 August 2023?
Rajnath Singh
Amit Shah
Nirmala Sitharaman
Narendra Modi
Narendra Modi
Q6. Who is the winner of the FIDE Chess World Cup 2023?
Praggnanandhaa
Gukesh D
Magnus Carlsen
Viswanathan Anand
Magnus Carlsen
Q7. What film was awarded the “Best Feature Film” at the 69th National Film Awards?
RRR
Pushpa: The Rise
Gangubai Kathiawadi
Rocketry: The Nambi Effect
Rocketry: The Nambi Effect
Q8. Who has been recently declared as the National Icon of the Election Commission of India (ECI)?
Sachin Tendulkar
Neeraj Chopra
MS Dhoni
Shahrukh Khan
Sachin Tendulkar
Q9. Which country recently achieved the historic feat by becoming the first country to successfully land on the South Pole of the lunar surface?
China
United States
India
Japan
India
Q10. Assam has recently unveiled state’s longest flyover measuring 2.63 kilometers, connecting Maligaon Chariali to Kamakhya Gate in Guwahati. The flyover is
Q1. The Badminton Association of India’s National Center of Excellence (NCE) was recently inaugurated at
Tezpur
Dibrugarh
Guwahati
Agartala
Guwahati
The Badminton Association of India (BAI) is the governing body for badminton in India. The BAI National Center of Excellence (NCE) was inaugurated in Guwahati, Assam on August 11. The BAI was formed in 1934 and has been holding national-level tournaments in India since 1936. The NCE is a major boost to the sport in India.
Q2. Which day is declared to be celebrated as the National Space Day in India?
August 23
August 19
August 14
August 07
August 23
PM Modi announced the celebration of India’s National Space Day on August 23 every year, naming the landing site of the lander as ‘Shiv Shakti Point’, and designating the point on the moon with symbols of Chandrayaan-2 as ‘Tricolor Point.
Q3. Which of the following countries are set to join the BRICS on 1 January 2024?
Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and UAE
Argentina, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia and UAE
Argentina, Egypt, Japan, Saudi Arabia and UAE
Argentina, Bangladesh, Egypt, Japan, Iran, Saudi Arabia and UAE
Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates
Q4. Who is the winner of the Miss Diva Universe 2023 beauty pageant?
Nandini Gupta
Sini Shetty
Divita Rai
Shweta Sharda
Shweta Sharda
Q5. India’s first space-based solar observatory, which will be launch on 2nd September, in
Surya-L1
Aditya-L1
Solar module -1A
SOLRAD 1
Aditya-L1
Q6. Which Union Ministry launched the ‘ULLAS (Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society) initiative’?
Ministry of Education
Ministry of Corporate Affairs
Ministry of MSME
Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Education
Union Ministry of Education inaugurated the logo, slogan – “Jan Jan Sakshar,” and the mobile application for ULLAS: Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram.
The ULLAS initiative aims to transform education and literacy nationwide by creating a learning ecosystem that provides basic education, digital and financial literacy, and critical life skills to individuals aged 15 and above who missed the chance to attend school.
Q7. What is the main focus of the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023?
Protecting individuals’ personal data and enabling lawful data processing
Promoting digital entrepreneurship
Ensuring every citizens has free access to digital services
Regulating social media platforms
Protecting individuals’ personal data and enabling lawful data processing
Q8. Who became the first Foreign Head of the Government to receive ‘The Grand Cross of the Order of Honour’ from the Greek govt?
Angela Merkel
Rishi Sunak
Narendra Modi
Emmanuel Macron
Narendra Modi
Q9. Who recently became India’s first-ever gold medalist at the World Athletics Championships?
Neeraj Chopra
Mirabai Chanu
Abhinav Bindra
Sushil Kumar
Neeraj Chopra
Q10. What city retained its top position and won the National Smart City Award in the fourth edition of the India Smart Cities Award Contest (ISAC)?
Q1. The first instance of captive breeding of the Himalayan vulture in India at which state?
Assam
West Bengal
Bihar
Karnataka
Assam
Researchers have recorded the first instance of captive breeding of the Himalayan vulture (Gyps himalayensis) in India at the Assam State Zoo, Guwahati.
Categorised as ‘Near Threatened’ on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of threatened species, the Himalayan vulture is a winter migrant to the Indian plains, and a resident of the high Himalayas.
Q2. According to Elephant Census-2023, which state has the maximum population of elephants?
Assam
Karnataka
West Bengal
Tamil Nadu
Karnataka
According to Elephant Census-2023, Karnataka leads the country in the total number of elephants. Elephant counts in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have experienced a minor rise, while numbers in Kerala have nearly reduced by half, based on the recent Elephant Population Estimates shared by the southern Indian states.
Q3. Hurricane Dora and tropical storm Greg have recently hit which region?
New Zealand
Hawaii
Philippines
Australia
Hawaii
The tropical storm Greg has reached near Hawaii state of the United States which is already reeling under the devastating impact of wildfire.
Hurricane Dora created high gusty winds over Maui recently and complicated the wildfire problem. It also became a typhoon, and was the second tropical system on record to remain at hurricane strength across the eastern, central and western Pacific basins.
Q4. Which institution recently launched a Centralised Web Portal UDGAM (Unclaimed Deposits – Gateway to Access inforMation)?
SEBI
RBI
SBI
LIC
RBI
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) launched a Centralised Web Portal UDGAM (Unclaimed Deposits – Gateway to Access inforMation).
The launch of the web portal will aid users to identify their unclaimed deposits/ accounts and enable them to either claim the deposit amount or make their deposit accounts operative at their respective banks.
Q5. IIT Bombay partners with which financial institution to support Innovation-Led Green Hydrogen Initiatives?
HSBC
Citibank
Barclays
HDFC Bank
HSBC
IIT Bombay has partnered with HSBC to pursue technological advancements towards making green hydrogen production more efficient, cost-effective, and scalable.
The focus will be on innovative projects that will help position green hydrogen as a strategic alternate fuel; help in building a robust, green hydrogen economy and achieve the government’s vision of an energy-independent nation.
Q6. Rajouri Chikri woodcraft, which has received Geographical Indication (GI) tags recently, is a craft from which state/UT?
Rajasthan
Karnataka
Himachal Pradesh
Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir
Two products from Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri and Anantnag districts—the Rajouri Chikri woodcraft and the Mushqbudji rice variety—have earned the coveted Geographical Indication (GI) tags. With its honey-toned appearance and smooth, refined texture, Chikri wood is found in the mountainous regions of the Jammu province.
Q7. In FY 2022-23, Government e-marketplace (GeM) registered its highest ever Gross Merchandise value of approximately
₹1 lakh crore
₹2 lakh crore
₹5 lakh crore
₹7 lakh crore
₹2 lakh crore
In Financial Year 2022-23, Government e-marketplace (GeM) registered its highest ever Gross Merchandise Value of ₹ 2,01,113 crore.
The Economic Survey 2021-22 observed that prices on GeM were observed to be 9.5% lower in comparison with other online platforms for 10 out of 22 commodities.
Q8. Which state has recently inaugurated India’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) school?
Telangana
Maharashtra
Kerala
Karnataka
Kerala
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.
Q9. ‘MPOWER Measures’ are associated with which organisation?
United Nations Environmental Program
World Bank
World Health Organization
NASA
World Health Organization
A new World Health Organization (WHO) report revealed that over the past 15 years, 71% of the global population, approximately 5.6 billion people, are now protected by at least one of the measures, five times more than in 2007.
The WHO’s MPOWER measures aim to monitor tobacco use and prevention policies, protect people from tobacco smoke, provide assistance to quit tobacco, warn about the dangers of tobacco, enforce bans on tobacco advertising, and raise taxes on tobacco products.
Q10. Which country’s hockey team is the winner of the Asian Champions Trophy 2023?
India
Japan
Malaysia
South Korea
India
India won the Asian Champions Trophy 2023 after a sensational final against Malaysia with the final score of 4-3.
Q1. Which state/UT has recently launched the ‘Amrit Brikshya Andolan’ app?
Tripura
Assam
Gujarat
Uttar Pradesh
Assam
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma launched the Department of Forest and Environment’s Amrit Brikshya Andolan web portal/mobile application and the Wood-based Industry (WBI) registration web portal, along with the theme song for the Amrit Brikshya Andolan. It is an initiative aimed at planting a total of 1 crore commercially-viable saplings across the State by individuals from various walks of life.
Q2. Which institution has released the Digital Payments Index (DPI) in India?
RBI
Finance Ministry
NITI Aayog
NPCI
RBI
Digital payments across India registered a growth of 13.24 per cent in a year through March 2023, as per RBI’s index that measures the adoption of online transactions.
RBI’s Digital Payments Index (RBI-DPI) stood at 395.57 at end-March 2023 compared to 377.46 in September 2022 and 349.30 in March 2022. The index is a base to capture the extent of digitisation of payments across the country.
Q3. Now, Indian companies can list themselves on foreign exchanges through which of the following institution/organisation?
BSE
SEBI
RBI
IFSC
IFSC
Q4. As per the Supreme Court, which institution retains power to scrap Article 370?
Prime Minister of India
Chief Justice of India
President of India
Parliament
President of India
The Supreme Court said that the President of India retains power to scrap Article 370, after Constituent Assembly dissolved in 1957. Clause (3) of Article 370 gave the President power to notify the Article inoperative or modify it. But a provision had made it necessary that such a move would have to be recommended by the Jammu and Kashmir Constituent Assembly.
Q5. Which Union Ministry has set up a working group to decriminalise laws to further promote ease of doing business?
Ministry of Corporate Affairs
Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Ministry of Finance
Ministry of MSME
Ministry of Commerce and Industry
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has set up a working group to decriminalise laws to further promote ease of doing business. The group comprised representatives from industry associations, business chambers, legal professionals, and officials of seven ministries. It would also have representatives of the National Housing Bank, NABARD and CPCB.
Q6. Which state launched the ‘Gruha Jyothi scheme’?
Odisha
Chhattisgarh
Karnataka
Madhya Pradesh
Karnataka
The Karnataka government launched the Gruha Jyothi free power scheme, which aims to provide free electricity up to 200 units for every household in the state. About 2.14 crore households will get benefited from the Gruha Jyothi scheme./bg_collapse]
Q7. Which institution releases the ‘Rice Price Index’?
World Bank
NITI Aayog
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
In July 2023, the United Nations food agency reported that the rice price index rose by 2.8%, reaching its highest level in nearly 12 years. The increase was driven by strong demand and export restrictions imposed by India, affecting prices in key exporting countries, as indicated by the Food and Agriculture Organization’s All Rice Price Index.
Q8. What is going to be the applicable Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate on full face value of online gaming?
5%
12%
18%
28%
28%
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, in its 51st meeting held recently, decided to stick to its earlier decision to impose a 28 per cent tax on the full-face value of the bets placed on online gaming, casinos and horse-trading. The council said a 28 per cent GST would apply from October 1.
Q9 The world’s first hundred percent Ethanol fuelled Car has been developed by which automobile major?
Maruti Suzuki
Tata Motors
Toyota
Tesla
Toyota
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.
Q10. Approximately, how many Income Tax Returns were filed for AY 2023-2024 in India?
2.71 crore
3.57 crore
6.77 crore
8.80 crore
6.77 crore
The total number of ITRs for AY 2023-24 filed till 31st July, 2023 are more than 6.77 crore, which is 16.1% more than the total ITRs for AY 2022-23 (5.83 crore) filed till 31st July 2022. Over 64.33 lakh ITRs were filed on a single day-on 31st July, 2023.
Q6. Lieutenant Commander Ms Karabi Gogoi is India’s first woman Navy Officer to be posted as defence attache in a foreign country. What is her basic expertise?
Submarine technology
Rafale fighter jet operations
Aeronautical training with reference to MIG-29
Warship construction and maintenance
Correct option: (D) Warships constructing and maintenance .
LT-Commander Karabi Gogoi is the first woman naval officer to be appointed as a defence attache to Indian missions abroad.
She has been selected as an assistant defence attache at the Indian Embassy in Moscow.
She is a naval engineer currently posted in Karwar Base in Coastal Karnataka.
Gogoi specializes in constructing and maintaining warships.
Gogoi is the third woman in the military to be appointed as a defence attache.
Wing Commander Anjali Singh from Indian Air Force is the first woman officer to be appointed as a defence attache.
Topic to focus : Important Persons in News
Our Opinion: Not a Grade 1 job standard question – Too specific about a personality in news (even if she is from Assam).
Q28. The 7 member committee for revitalisation of Assam economy in the aftermath of COVID-19 pandemic was headed by
M.P Bezbaruah
Subhash Chandra Das
Jayanta Madhav
Bhaskar Baruah
Correct option: (B) Shri Subhash Chandra Das
Advisory Committee for revitalization of economy of Assam
The Advisory Committee for revitalization of economy of Assam in the backdrop of the situation arising out of COVID-19 pandemic and consequent lockdown submitted its report to Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
The Advisory Committee with seven members, headed by retired IAS officer Subash Chandra Das, assessed the macro-economic and socio-economic impact as well as sector specific impact of COVID-19.
The committee made the sector specific recommendations on agriculture and allied sector, industries, trade and commerce, transport, tourism and hospitality, construction sector, employment including migrant labours.
The committee observed that as the economy needs to be made fully functional gradually, standard operating protocols, rules and guidelines need to be made for the sectors which are still closed with special emphasis on the opening of tourism and hospitality industry including hotels, restaurants with other personal care services and industries.
Q70. Which tribe of Assam organised the ‘Judima Festival’ in the middle of December 2020 to promote its art and culture, performing arts and ethnic practices?
The Bodo tribe
The Dimasa tribe
The Karbi tribe
The Mising tribe
Correct option: (B) Dimasa tribe
Haflong host the three-day ‘Judima Festival’ on sports and culture. The festival has been named after Judima, which is Dimasa tribals’ traditional brew. It is considered as one of the best traditional brews in the region and occupies an integral part of the social and cultural life of Dimasa tribals. The theme of the festival is to preserve, promote and nurture ethnic culture, music, dance, craft and folk art of Dimasa tribals residing in Dima Hasao district of Assam. The first edition of the festival, which was held in January 2016 saw the conglomeration of people of different ethnicities and strengthened the harmony among various tribes of the hill district. In addition, the initiative has been undertaken to promote tourism and establish Haflong into the tourism map of the Northeast.
Topic to focus : Assam Current Affairs
Q7. On 23rd of March 2019, the first Lokpal of India was appointed. Identify the first Lokpal from the options below:
Dr. Soumya Swaminathan
Reena Saud
N.R. Modi
Pinaki Chandra Ghose
Correct option: (D) Shri Pinaki Chandra Ghose
First Chairperson of the Lokpal is Shri Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose, who is a former Judge of Supreme Court of India and was a sitting member of National Human Rights Commission.
(We updated his appointment in Current Affairs section of assamexam.com / fb page)
Q26. Name the Indian citizen who is also a Nobel laureate in Economics
Abhijit Bannerjee
Amartya Sen
Jagdish Bhagawati
Har Gobind Khurana
Correct option: (B) Amartya Sen
Abhijit Banerjee is American citizen.
Topic to focus : Prizes and Awards
Q27. Under which scheme given below, a programme has been launched by Govt of India to train youths on GST and related matters?
Skill India’s certified professionals to help GST implementation; Launches a 100- hour course under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)
Topic to focus : Govt Schemes & initiatives
Q53. The PM of India kickstarted the largest vaccination drive in Indian history against COVID-19 virus on
14th Jan, 2021
16th Jan, 2021
18th Jan, 2021
20th Jan, 2021
Correct option: (B) 16 January, 2021
(Very hard to remember start date of any campaign/drive/scheme)
Q54. The biggest vaccine manufacturer, by volume, in the world is
Codagenix
SpyBiotech
Serum Institute of India
Novavax
Correct option: (C) Serum Institute of India (SII)
Serum Institute of India (SII) is an Indian biotechnology and biopharmaceuticals company. It is the world’s largest manufacturer of vaccines located in the city of Pune, India and was founded by Cyrus Poonawalla in 1966.
Q55. Which city has been conferred the Swachh Survekshan, 2020 award as the cleanest city in the NorthEast Region and the State under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan?
Sivasagar
Jorhat
Tezpur
Lakhimpur
Correct option: (B) Jorhat
Jorhat has won the Swachh Survekshan 2020 award for the cleanest city in the NE region in the 50,000-1 lakh population category.
Q56. Which country on 19th July, 2020 launched its first mission to the Mars?
India
Malaysia
UAE
Iran
Correct option: (C) United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates’ historic first mission to Mars is under way, after a successful lift-off in Japan. The Hope probe launched on an H2-A rocket from Tanegashima spaceport, and is now on a 500-million-km journey to study the planet’s weather and climate.
Q59. Against 232 electoral votes won by Donald Trump, how many electoral votes were bagged by Joe Biden in the November 2020 US elections.
300
306
310
315
Correct option: (B) 306 votes
Presidential Election Results: Biden Wins
Joseph R. Biden Jr. was elected the 46th president of the United States. Mr. Biden defeated President Trump after winning Pennsylvania, which put his total of Electoral College votes above the 270 he needed to clinch the presidency.
306 votes for Joseph R. Biden Jr.
232 votes for Donald J. Trump
Really? It’s a really poorly selected of Question.
Q60. The Nobel Prize in literature for the year 2020 was won by
Louise Gluck
Peter Handke
Alice Munro
Kazuo Ishiguro
Correct option: (A) Louise Gluck
2020 Nobel Prizes in Literature
American poet Louise Gluck has been awarded the 2020 Nobel Prize in Literature. The 10 million Swedish crown ($1.1m) prize is named after dynamite inventor and businessman Alfred Nobel and has been awarded since 1901 for achievements in science, literature and peace in accordance with his will. The Swedish Academy said Gluck was honoured “for her unmistakable poetic voice that with austere beauty makes individual existence universal”. Gluck previously won the Pulitzer Prize in 1993 for her collection The Wild Iris, and the National Book Award in 2014. A professor of English at Yale University, she “seeks the universal, and in this she takes inspiration from myths and classical motifs, present in most of her works”, the Academy said. It said her 2006 collection Averno was a “masterly” and “a visionary interpretation of the myth of Persephone’s descent into Hell in the captivity of Hades, the god of death”.
Q62. On 26th January 2020, we lost an all-time great basketball player who used to play for Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association for two decades. Who was he?
Micheal Jordan
Kevin Durant
Shaquille o’Neal
Kobe Bryant
Correct option: (D) Kobe Bryant
No comments about the Q selection, kiyahi kahe!
Q63. The FIFA World Cup 2022 will be hosted by
Argentina
Russia
Qatar
Germany
Correct option: (C) 2022 FIFA World Cup
It is scheduled to take place in Qatar from 21 November to 18 December 2022. This will be the first World Cup ever to be held in the Arab world, and it will be the second World Cup held entirely in Asia after the 2002 tournament in South Korea and Japan.
Topic to focus : Sports and Games
Q64. (B) Who among the following removed the pro-democracy books from its public libraries recently
China
Hong kong
Malaysia
Russia
Correct option: (B) Hong Kong
Q65. On 25th May, 2020, a few officers of Minneapolis Police mercilessly killed a black man who was charged of using counterfeit $20 note after buying cigarettes from a convenience store. The name of this man, whose death rocked the US political and social systems for a long time is
Mike Freeman
Thomas Lane
Derek Chauvin
George Floyd
Correct option: (D) George Floyd
Q66. The National Education Policy, 2020 was approved by the Union Cabinet on 29th July, 2020. The visionary policy that aims to touch upon every aspect of education from elementary to higher education will replace the
National Curriculum Framework, 2005
National Policy on Education, 1968
National Policy on Education, 1986
None of the above
Correct option: (C) National Policy on Education, 1986
Topic to focus : Govt Schemes & initiatives
Q67. On 9th November, 2019, the SC of India gave a verdict in the Ram Janambhoomi – Babri Masjid case, popularly called the Ayodhya verdict. Which HC referred this case to SC after 2010?
Lucknow HC
Allahabad HC
Delhi HC
Patna HC
Correct option: (B) Allahabad High Court
Topic to focus : Important Judgements/ Judiciary events
Q68. Three agricultural bills were signed by the President of India, after both houses of the Parliament has earlier passed on 27th September 2020. Which of the following is not part of the package?
The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce(Promotion and Facilitation) Act
The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Subsidies Act
The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act
The Farmers Subsidy and Insurance Act
Correct option: (D) Farmers Subsidy and Insurance Act
The three bills, now Act, namely, the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance, Farm Services Bill, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020 are meant to attract private investors and transform the deplorable state of Indian agriculture.
Topic to focus : Important Acts/Legislations
Q69. The CBSE partnered with which company to launch a curriculum on Digital Safety and Augmented Reality for students and educators?
Facebook
Google
Microsoft
Apple
Correct option: (A) Facebook
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and Facebook have partnered to launch curriculum on digital safety and online well-being and Augmented Reality for students and educators.
Q71. During 27th September 2020 and 10th November 2020, a fierce battle was fought between two countries for the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. Which are these two countries?
Armenia-Iran
Armenia-Azerbaijan
Turkey-Iran
Azerbaijan-Russia
Correct option: (B) Armenia and Azerbaijan
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is an ethnic and territorial conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
The 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war was an armed conflict between Azerbaijan, supported by Turkey, and the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh together with Armenia, in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding territories.
Difficulty Level: Tough (These events doesn’t get coverage in Indian media)
Q72. For the first time in India, a senior defence personnel in the newly created position of CDS was installed on 1st January 2020, who will be above the three chiefs of the three wings. Who is the first incumbent in this position?
General Bipin Rawat
General Bikram Singh
General Manoj Naravane
Admiral Karambir Singh
Correct option: (A) General Bipin Rawat
The Chief of Defence Staff of the Indian Armed Forces (CDS) is the head of the military staff of the Indian Armed Forces and the chief executive of the Department of Military Affairs. As the highest-ranking serving officer in the Indian Armed Forces, the CDS is the commanding officer and chairperson of the Joint Commanders and Staff Committee – making him the chief military adviser to the government of India and the Ministry of Defence. As the professional head of the armed forces, the Chief of Defence Staff is also aided by the newly formed office of Vice Chief of Defence Staff, the nation’s second highest ranking military officer, and the three chiefs of staff of the army, navy and air force, who are the leaders of each respective branch. The first and current CDS is General Bipin Rawat, who took office on 1 January 2020.
The CDS is a four-star officer selected from among the serving officers of the Indian Armed Forces. While being “first among equals” among the service chiefs, the CDS is a single-point military advisor to the defence minister.
Q78. The best passing out cadet of the National Defence Academy Khadakvasla (Pune) is conferred with
Chatrapati Shivaji Gold Medal
Lachit Borphukan Gold Medal
Rani Laxmibai Gold Medal
President’s Gold Medal
Correct option: (B) Lachit Borphukan Gold Medal (Best Cadet of NDA)
The best passing out cadet of National Defence Academy is conferred the Lachit Borphukan gold medal every year from 1999 The announcement of institution of the award by Indian Army chief General Malik on 25 April 1999 at the Delhi programme in presence of India’s vice-president and other dignitaries was the pivot to perpetuate the memory of Lachit Borphukan at the national level for the very first time. Battalion Cadet Adjutant Aaditya Udupa, 126th NDA Course,was awarded the medal for the Spring Term 2014 on 28 May 2014.
Q1. The Hornbill festival is being organized in which state?
Meghalaya
Manipur
Nagaland
Mizoram
Nagaland
The Hornbill festival in Nagaland became the venue for the launch of India’s G20 presidency.
Q2. Which country partners with India on the Kaziranga Project of Assam Project on Forest and Biodiversity Conservation (APFBC)?
United Kingdom
France
Germany
Finland
France
India and France are collaborating under the Kaziranga Project in the Kaziranga National Park in Assam.
Q3. World AIDS day is observed on which date?
December 5
December 9
December 1
December 3
December 1
Q4. The first north-eastern state to launch its ‘Mental Health and Social Care Policy’ is
Assam
Sikkim
Tripura
Meghalaya
Meghalaya
Q5. Recently a UN panel has recommended that the Great Barrier Reef is to be listed as a World Heritage Site in Danger. Great Barrier Reef is situated in which country?
USA
South Africa
Australia
Japan
Australia
A UN panel has recommended that Australia’s Great Barrier Reef be listed as a World Heritage Site in Danger.
Q6. As per recent data, India’s Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) during 2018-20 is
130 per lakh live births
117 per lakh live births
97 per lakh live births
72 per lakh live births
97 per lakh live births
As per the Special Bulletin released by the Registrar General of India, India has witnessed a significant decline in the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) to 97 per lakh live births in 2018-20.
India’s MMR was 130 per lakh live births in 2014-16. With this, India accomplished the National Health Policy target for MMR of less than 100 per lakh live births. The SDG target is 70 per lakh live births by 2030.
Q7. The first Sylhet-Silchar festival started in Assam’s Barak valley to celebrate the cultural ties between India and which other country?
Myanmar
Bhutan
Nepal
Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Q8. India will assume Chairmanship of Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) Plenary on 01 January 2023 for a period of one year. Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) is related to
Conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies
Climate Change and global warming
Crypto-currency and and blockchain technology
Nuclear and biological Weapons
Conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies
Q9. World Soil day is observed every year on
December 04
December 05
December 07
December 11
December 05
Q10. Which country is India’s largest trading partner in 2022?
Saudi Arabia
US
Russia
China
China
Q11. Which organization has released the ‘State of Global Water Resources 2021’?
World Meteorological Organisation (WMO)
Greenpeace
Global Environment Facility
United Nations Water
World Meteorological Organisation (WMO)
Q12. Mount Semeru volcano which has recently erupted on December 4, 2022, is located in which country?
Greece
Indonesia
Cyprus
Ireland
Indonesia
Indonesia’s Mount Semeru volcano has erupted, sending ash billowing into the sky and sparking evacuations on the country’s main island, Java.
Q13. Which country is the largest trading partner of India after China and the US, in 2022?
Saudi Arabia
UAE
Russia
Japan
UAE
After the United States and China, UAE is India’s third largest trading partner. As per projection, the bilateral trade of $88 billion for the current financial year may surpass FY 2021-22’s figures of $73 billion.
Q14. Recently, India and which country has declared December 06 as ‘Maitri Divas’?
Bhutan
Sierra Leone
Myanmar
Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Q15. Which state Govt to set up the Nilgiri Tahr conservation project?
Rajasthan
Karnataka
Tamil Nadu
Kerala
Tamil Nadu
The project will be implemented during the 2022-27 period. Tamil Nadu is set to implement Project Nilgiri Tahr, aimed at developing a better understanding of the population, distribution and ecology of the endangered species which is the state animal.
Furthermore, October 7 will be celebrated as ‘Niligiri Tahr Day’ in honour of E.R.C. Davidar, who was responsible for pioneering one of the first studies of the species in 1975.
Assam’s Nayanmoni Saikia was conferred with the Arjuna Award at Rashtrapati Bhawan by President Draupadi Murmu.
Nayanmoni Saikia was nominated for the award for her achievements in Lawn Bowl.
Apart from Nayanmoni Saikia, Shushila Devi from Manipur was also presented with the prestigious award for her remarkable contributions and achievements in the field of boxing.
Chief Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sharma congratulated Commonwealth Games gold medalist Nayanmoni Saikia for receiving Arjuna Award, 2022 from Hon’ble President Droupadi Murmu.
Mirabai Chanu won silver medal in World Championship 2022
Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu has won a silver medal at the weightlifting World Championships in Bogota, Colombia.
Mirabai won a silver medal at the World Championships with a total lift of 200kg. China’s Jiang Huihua, who won the gold with a total effort of 206kg (93kg+113kg) while Tokyo Olympics champion Hou Zhihua who won the bronze with a total effort of198kg (89kg+109kg).
Mirabai had previously won gold in the 2017 world weightlifting championship. This was Mirabai’s second medal at the World Championships.
Tripura gets its first Film and Television Institute
Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha inaugurated Tripura’s first film and television institute at Nazrul Kalakshetra in Agartala.
The institute has been set up in collaboration with Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI).
This film Institute will promote Tripura’s rich cultural heritage in the global sphere. It will help the youths of the state to nurture their cultural talents and will also help to improve the socio-economic condition of the youths.
The state government has allocated Rs 5.76 crore for the institute. Four short-term courses, including screen acting, film appreciation, production, and management along with news reporting, anchoring and newsroom automation would be started initially.
India ranked 87th in the world’s strongest passport list for 2022
India has been ranked 87 in the world’s strongest passport list for 2022, published by Arton Capital.
Passport Index 2022 published by Arton Capital ranked the world’s strongest and weakest passports.
Key Points
The Passport Index is based on the 139 members of the United Nations and 6 different aspects have been considered to make this list.
UAE ranked first in the rating of passports for 2022 followed by Germany, Sweden, Finland, Luxembourg, Spain and France.
Travellers with UAE passports can travel visa-free or “visa on arrival” to 180 countries.
Countries with the weakest passports are Afghanistan (38) Syria (39), Iraq (40), Pakistan (44).
The data for this list has been given by the governments of different countries.
Indian-American Krishna Vavilala receives US Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award
Indian-American Krishna Vavilala receives the US Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to his community and the country.
The Presidential Lifetime Achievement (PLA) Awards, led by AmeriCorps, is an annual event held to honour citizens, who exhibit outstanding character, worth ethic, and dedication to their communities.
Krishna Vavilala is from Andhra Pradesh and is a retired Electrical Engineer. Currently, he is the founder and Chairman of the Foundation for India Studies (FIS), a non-profit organization whose major project, the Indo-American Oral History Project, won the Mary Fay Barnes Award for Excellence.
He has also received several awards and accolades from various organizations, such as the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston, the Indo-American Press Club, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the India Culture Centre.
Oxford dictionary announces ‘goblin mode’ as word of the year 2022
The Oxford English Dictionary recently announces ‘goblin mode’ as word of the year 2022 that was selected by public votes – Goblin mode.
It’s the first time Oxford Languages opened up its annual word of the year listing to a public vote.
Goblin mode is a slang term that describes a type of behavior that is unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly, or greedy, generally rejecting social norms and expectations.
The word goblin mode is used to acknowledge that individuals are not always idealized, curated selves that they force themselves to present in social media platforms.
The term speaks to the current times when people are embracing their inner goblin and choosing to reject the accepted social customs.
American dictionary publisher Merriam-Webster has chosen “gaslighting” as its word of the year for 2022.
The first ever Silchar-Sylhet Festival, organized to celebrate the cultural ties between the Barak Valley region of Assam and the Sylhet segment of Bangladesh.
Key Points
Assam’s Silchar town is hosting the two-day Silchar-Sylhet Festival, to celebrate the linguistic and cultural ties between the Barak Valley region of Assam and the Sylhet segment of Bangladesh.
Silchar-Sylhet Festival is organised by the India Foundation.
The Festival coincides with the 75th year of India’s independence and the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Bangladesh from Pakistan.
The festival underlines the commonalities between India and Bangladesh, specifically the Sylheti variant of the Bengali language and the Sylheti culture.
The festival will showcase tribal culture, cuisine, arts, crafts and local produce, entertainment and bring together eminent people from both sides to discuss and deliberate on issues of mutual growth and opportunity.
Indo-French Partnership on Kaziranga Project
India and France are collaborating under the Kaziranga Project in the Kaziranga National Park in Assam.
The Kaziranga project is a part of a larger Assam Project on Forest and Biodiversity Conservation (APFBC) for which the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) has committed funding of €80.2 million for a 10-year period, between 2014-2024.
The project conceptualised the reforestation of 33,500 hectares of land and the training of 10,000 community members in alternate livelihoods by 2024.
The Assam government, with the support of AFD, launched the APFBC in 2012, to restore forest ecosystems, protect wildlife and enhance the livelihood of the forest-dependent communities.
About Kaziranga National Park
Kaziranga National Park is a national park in the Golaghat and Nagaon districts of the state of Assam.
It is the single largest undisturbed and representative area in the Brahmaputra Valley floodplain.
It was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1950, and notified as Kaziranga National Park in 1974.
It is the home of the world’s most one-horned rhinos.
In 1985, Kaziranga was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its unique natural environment.
It is recognized as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International for conservation of avifaunal species.
India ranked 48th position in the global aviation safety ranking
India ranked 48th position in the global aviation safety ranking by the International Civil Aviation Organization.
India was in the 102nd position four years ago in the ranking.The position is the highest-ever spot attained by the country.
Key Points
In the ranking, Singapore is at the top, followed by the UAE and South Korea at the second and third positions.
As per Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the audit was conducted in the areas of legislation, organisation, personal licensing, operations, airworthiness and aerodromes.
India’s score in terms of effective implementation of key safety elements has improved to 85.49%.
India’s score for civil aviation organizations increased from 63.64% to 72.73 %, aircraft operations from 80.34% to 97.44%, personnel licensing and training from 25.58% to 84.71%, and aerodrome and ground aid from 72.36% to 92.68%.
‘Millets-Smart Nutritive Food’ Conclave
‘Millets-Smart Nutritive Food’ Conclave is being organized by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry through its apex agricultural export promotion body, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).
The Conclave is to be a pre-launch event of the ‘International Year of Millets – 2023’ (IYoM-2023). It is organised with the objective of promoting the export of millets.
Key Points
At the Millets Smart Nutritive Conclave, stakeholders of the supply chain such as Farmer Producer Organisations, Start-ups, exporters, producers of millet-based value-added products are key participants.
At the Conclave, exhibition and B2B meetings will also be organized to showcase Indian millets and millet-based products.
At the first-of-its-kind Millets Conclave, the government will release e-catalogue on 30 potential importing countries and 21 millet producing states of India.
India is one of the leading producers of millets in the world with an estimated share of around 41 percent in the global production.
India recorded 27 percent growth in millet production in 2021-22 as compared to millet production in the previous year was 15.92 MMT.
India’s top five millet producing states are Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Share of export of millets is nearly 1% of the total millet production.
Exports of millets from India include mainly whole grain and the export of value-added products of millets from India is negligible.
First G20 Sherpa Meeting under India’s Presidency begins at Udaipur
The first G20 Sherpa Meeting under India’s Presidency begins at Udaipur. Representatives of 19 countries including the European Union and nine unique invitee countries will take part in the discussion.
The G20 Sherpa Meeting will be presided by Amitabh Kant.
Key Points
The Sherpa meeting of G20 will be held in the Udaipur district of Rajasthan from 4 December to 7 December.
Important conversations on some of the most pressing issues of recent times will be discussed.
India will have the opportunity to convene discussions on shared global priorities with G20 Members and guests.
India formally assumed the year-long Presidency of the G-20 on 1st of December.
During the course of its Presidency, India will be holding about 200 meetings in 32 different sectors in multiple locations across the country.
As a host, New Delhi will set the agenda for the G-20 summit meeting to be organized in September 2023.
Rajeeva Laxman Karandikar has been appointed as the chairperson of the National Statistical Commission
Rajeeva Laxman Karandikar has been appointed as part-time chairperson of National Statistical Commission of India (NSCI) for three years.
Karandikar will take up this role as an additional responsibility while continuing as Professor Emeritus at Chennai Mathematical Institute (CMI).
He is widely known for his work on probability theory as well as applications of mathematics and statistics to real world questions.
He has designed, supervised and analysed nationwide opinion polls for the Indian parliamentary elections as well State assemblies since 1998.
He is also known for developing a new model and methodology for seat prediction, which has been quite successful for over the last 20 years.
About National Statistical Commission (NSC) of India
The National Statistical Commission (NSC) of India is an autonomous body which was formed in June 2005 under the recommendation of Rangarajan commission.
The objective of its constitution is to reduce the problems faced by statistical agencies in the country in relation to collection of data.
The Chairperson of the Commission enjoys the status of a Minister of State and the Members of the Commission have the status equivalent to the Secretary to the Government of India.
Shekhar Pathak has won the Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay NIF Award for the book based on the Chipko Movement
A book on the Chipko Movement, written by historian-activist Shekhar Pathak, was named the winner of the Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay NIF Book Prize 2022.
Translated from Hindi by Manisha Chaudhry, “The Chipko Movement: A People’s History” was selected from a diverse shortlist of five books covering a wide expanse of modern Indian history and encompassing distinct topics and perspectives.
About Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay NIF Book Prize
The Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay NIF Book Prize recognises and celebrates excellence in non-fiction writings on modern or contemporary India by writers from all nationalities.
The Prize was established in 2018 by the New India Foundation, a charitable organisation which also awards research fellowships and book grants for Indian writers.
The foundation provides grants for scholars and writers who are writing non-fiction and fiction books about India, and also provides translation grants for works translated from Indian languages.
The award carries a cash award of Rs 15 lakh, a trophy and a citation.
