1. Recently, Stock market regulator SEBI has imposed trade restrictions on 331 firms which are suspected of being “shell companies”. Which of the following is NOT an activity generally carried out using shell companies?
[A] Trade and normal business
[B] Financial manoevour for some unstated objectives
[C] Illegal financial activities
[D] Violation of intellectual rights and properties
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ Trade and normal business ]
Notes:
Shell companies are created for unstated / hidden objectives of financial manoeuvres and not for normal trade.
2. India’s First Moon Mission Chandrayaan was launched on which among the following dates?
[A] October 27, 2007
[B] October 22, 2008
[C] November 23, 2008
[D] December 17, 2008
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [October 22, 2008]
Notes:
Chandrayaan was launched on October 22nd 2008 and successfully reached the lunar surface on November 14, 2008. The ISRO lost communication with Chandrayaan-1 on August 29, 2009, almost a year after it was launched on October 22, 2008. It operated for 312 days.
In 2017 NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) have found India’s first lunar probe, Chandrayaan-1 which was considered lost, is still orbiting the moon.
3. The Ministry of Railways has recently launched which app for freight managers?
[A] SFOORTI app
[B] SKOORTI app
[C] SNOORTI app
[D] SMOORTI app
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [SFOORTI app]
Notes:
In a major digital initiative to help plan the traffic flows and optimize freight operations, Ministry of Railways has launched Smart Freight Operation Optimisation and Real Time Information (SFOORTI) App for freight managers. The app provides features for monitoring and managing freight business using Geographic Information System (GIS) Views and Dashboard. With this application both passenger and freight trains can be tracked over Zones, Divisions and Sections in single GIS View. The app provides a bird’s eye view of all freight assets in a single window and end to end rake movement on Geospatial view. Expected traffic at interchange points can be viewed to evaluate daily performance. Position of rakes for specific type of stock can be viewed through this application.
4. World’s First “Smart Train” based on Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit (ART) has been launched recently in which country?
[A] Japan
[B] Germany
[C] China
[D] Britain
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [China]
Notes:
World’s First “Smart Train” based on Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit (ART) has been launched in China. The train is currently only operating on a small 3.1-kilometre-long stretch with just four stations and will soon go into regular service from next year. The rail system is capable of carrying 300 passengers in its three carriages and has a top speed of 70 kilometres per hour.
5. Recently, the Ministry of Communications has launched the Cool EMS Service which allows customers in India to import the food items for their personal use from which of the following countries?
[A] Myanmar
[B] Japan
[C] Sri Lanka
[D] Maldives
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Japan]
Notes:
Ministry of Communications has launched the Cool EMS Service. It is a one-way service that allows customers in India to import Japanese food for personal use. All the Food items will be carried by Japan Post in special cool boxes containing refrigerant to preserve the quality of the food items and then collected in India.
6. The terms Abhay, HUMSA-UG, NACS and AIDSS, which were recently in news, are:
[A] Anti Torpedo Decoy Systems
[B] Sonar Systems
[C] Seaplanes
[D] Micro-small satellites
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Sonar Systems]
Notes:
AIDSS stands for Advanced Indigenous Distress Sonar System (AIDSS). HUMSA-UG stands for Upgrade for the Hull-Mounted Sonar Array. NACS stands for Near-field Acoustic Characterization System. Abhay is a Compact Hull-Mounted Sonar for Small Ships & Shallow Water Crafts system.
7. As on 1 April 2016, which of the following is the correct order of countries with their share quotas in IMF?
[A] Japan>China>India>Russia
[B] China>Japan>Russia>India
[C] Russia>China>Japan>India
[D] Japan>China>Russia>India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Japan>China>India>Russia]
Notes:
Japan(6.56%)>China(6.49%)>India(2.79%)>Russia(2.75%)
8. Which country has recently announced to launch Mars Mission “HOPE” by 2020?
[A] Oman
[B] UAE
[C] Iran
[D] Israel
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [UAE]
Notes:
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has recently announced to launch Mars Mission “HOPE”, which is expected to be launched by 2020. Upon launch, it will become the first mission to Mars by any Arab or Muslim country. The aim of the mission is to enrich the capabilities of Emirati engineers and to increase human knowledge about the Martian atmosphere. The Hope probe will study the atmospheric layers of Mars in detail and will provide data to study the causes of the corrosion of its surface that has made it impossible for water to exist on the planet. The project will also provide insights about the weather on the Red Planet. It will observe weather phenomena such as dust storms and changes in temperature and how the atmosphere interacts with topography, from the highest volcano peaks to ice sheets to the vast deserts and the deepest canyons. It is expected to reach Mars in 2021, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of the UAE’s formation.
9. The 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics was given for an innovative technique called “chirped pulse amplification”. This technique is most closely related to which of the following sub-branches of Physics?
[A] Quantum Mechanics
[B] Classical Mechanics
[C] Optics
[D] Relativity
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Optics ]
Notes:
The technique is useful in places where raw laser power, and particularly concentrated laser power, is of paramount importance.
10. On which date, the 2018 National Press Day (NPD) was celebrated in India recently?
[A] November 14
[B] November 15
[C] November 17
[D] November 16
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [November 16]
Notes:
The National Press Day (NPD) is celebrated every year on 16th of November to commemorate the establishment of Press Council of India (PCI) in 1966. This was the day on which the PCI started functioning as a moral watchdog to ensure that not only did the press maintain the high standards expected from this powerful medium but also that it was not fettered by the influence or threats of any extraneous factors. The day is also celebrated as a symbol of a free and responsible press in India.