1. Road Transport and Highway Ministry announced to scrap all government vehicles older than how many years?
[A] 10
[B] 15
[C] 20
[D] 25
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [15]
Notes:
Union Road Transport and Highway Minister Nitin Gadkari announced from April 1, all government-owned vehicles that are older than 15 years will be scrapped.
As part of this, more than nine lakh vehicles, owned by central and state governments, transport corporations and public sector undertakings, and new vehicles with alternative fuels will replace them.
2. When is the ‘International Customs Day 2023’ observed?
[A] January 25
[B] January 26
[C] January 27
[D] January 30
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [January 26]
Notes:
India’s Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) celebrates International Customs Day, 2023.
The theme for this year, as given by the World Customs Organisation (WCO) was “Nurturing the Next Generation: Promoting a Culture of Knowledge-sharing and Professional Pride in Customs”.
3. Which Union Ministry is set to launch the virtual facility for e-adjudication of company law violations?
[A] Ministry of Finance
[B] Ministry of Corporate Affairs
[C] Ministry of External Affairs
[D] Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Corporate Affairs]
Notes:
The Ministry of corporate affairs will roll out the facility for e-adjudication of company law violations entirely in the virtual mode before the end of this financial year.
The process of revamping the corporate filing system will also be completed by end of March. The ministry is also setting up a new national centre, the Centre for Processing Accelerated Corporate Exit, to act as a single window facility for companies that wish to voluntarily exit from business.
4. What is the name of the ceremony which marks the end to the Republic Day celebrations?
[A] Beating Retreat Ceremony
[B] Martyrs’ Day Ceremony
[C] Presentation of Guard of Honour Ceremony
[D] Vijay Diwas Ceremony
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Beating Retreat Ceremony]
Notes:
The Beating Retreat Ceremony held in Vijay Chowk, Delhi, marks the end to the four-day-long Republic Day celebrations in India.
It is also called ‘Beating the Retreat’. This year 29 Indian tunes were played by the music bands of the Army, the Navy, the Air Force and the State Police and the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF). Last year, an English hymn and a favourite of Mahatma Gandhi called Abide With Me was dropped.
5. Which company has signed MoU to make Rolls-Royce marine engines?
[A] HAL
[B] GRSE
[C] BEML
[D] Mazagon Dock
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [GRSE]
Notes:
Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Germany’s Rolls Royce Solutions for manufacturing high-quality marine diesel engines.
Under the agreement, GRSE and Rolls Royce Solutions will cooperate in the licence production and localisation of the technologically advanced MTU S4000 governmental marine engines.
6. Threat Analysis Group’s (TAG) mission is a part of which tech company?
[A] Google
[B] Microsoft
[C] Apple
[D] Meta
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Google]
Notes:
Google’s Threat Analysis Group has blocked the group known as ‘Spamouflage Dragon’ and ‘Dragonbridge’.
The group typically share contents, which are pro-China views and included a higher volume of content critical of the United States. Threat Analysis Group’s (TAG) mission aims to understand and counter serious threats, including actors engaged in coordinated information operations (IO).
7. Hibbertopterus lamsdelli, which was discovered, belongs to which species?
[A] Scorpion
[B] Turtle
[C] Spider
[D] Snake
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Scorpion]
Notes:
Hibbertopterus lamsdelli is a new species of Giant Sea Scorpion. It belongs to Hibbertopteridae, an extinct group of aquatic arthropods in the Order Eurypterida. Eurypterids are better known as sea scorpions.
The species existed during the Kasimovian age, between 307 and 303 million years ago. Its diet included small crustaceans, ostracodes, conchostracans, invertebrate larvae and gastropod eggs.
8. Which European country has invited Indian techies offering work opportunities?
[A] Sweden
[B] Finland
[C] Norway
[D] Italy
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Finland]
Notes:
Finland has invited Indian tech employees to migrate there for work, offering opportunities as global tech companies lay off thousands of employees. Over 10,000 Indians live in Finland for work and education.
Finland aims to double work-based migration and triple study-based migration by 2030. Business Finland, a government organisation for innovation funding and trade, travel and investments signed MoU with the Confederation of Indian Industry for talent mobility, in December 2022.
9. Which institution regulates the limits of shares or voting rights in a banking company?
[A] SEBI
[B] RBI
[C] Ministry of Finance
[D] NITI Aayog
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [RBI]
Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India issued Master Direction – Reserve Bank of India (Acquisition and Holding of Shares or Voting Rights in Banking Companies) Directions.
As per the directions, permission to acquire shares or voting rights in a banking company for non-promoter will be limited to 10 % in case of individuals, non-financial institutions, and financial institutions connected with large industrial houses. The limit is 15 % in case of financial institutions, PSUs and government. RBI recently allowed DSP Investment Managers to hike its stake in DCB Bank to 9.99 per cent.
10. Which Union Ministry implements the ‘Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana’ scheme?
[A] Ministry of Education
[B] Ministry of Skill Development
[C] Ministry of Home Affairs
[D] Ministry of Minority Affairs
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Skill Development]
Notes:
Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) implemented by National Skill Development Corporation.
The Union Budget 2023 aims to give a push to job creation through proposals such as Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 4.0 and setting up of 30 Skill India international centres to encourage expansion in businesses and industry.