11. Nalabana Bird Sanctuary is located in which state/UT?
[A] West Bengal
[B] Odisha
[C] Andhra Pradesh
[D] Karnataka
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Odisha]
Notes:
Nalbana Bird Sanctuary is the core area of the Ramsar designated wetlands of Chilika Lake, Odisha. Chilika Lake is the largest brackish water lake in India.
As per the water bird status survey-2022 conducted in the Chilika, a total of 10,74,173 birds of the 107 water bird species and 37,953 individuals of 76 wetland dependent species were counted. It also included the rare Mongolian gull. The count was over 12 lakh, last year. A total of 3,58,889 birds of 97 species were counted in Nalabana Bird Sanctuary.
12. Which payments bank has been granted the status of a Scheduled bank by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)?
[A] Airtel Payments Bank
[B] Aditya Birla Payments Bank
[C] NSDL Payments Bank
[D] Jio Payments Bank
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Airtel Payments Bank]
Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recently granted the status of a scheduled bank to Airtel Payments Bank.
After the status of a scheduled bank, Airtel Payments Bank can now apply for Government-issued requests for proposals (RFPs) and primary auctions. It can also take up central and state government-level businesses and also participate in government-operated welfare schemes.
13. Which country is organising ‘Tourism Week’ at the Expo2020 Dubai?
[A] India
[B] Russia
[C] USA
[D] Sri Lanka
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [India]
Notes:
Ministry of Tourism is organising ‘Tourism Week’ from 3-15 January, at the India Pavilion in Expo2020 Dubai.
India also announced that it will offer five lakh free e-tourist visas and it is opening up for international travel in a calibrated manner. The Tourism Ministry is in the process of ‘New tourism policy’ to strengthen the tourism sector.
14. Which Indian state is set to host the next edition of Khelo India Games in 2023?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Karnataka
[C] Himachal Pradesh
[D] Goa
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Karnataka]
Notes:
Karnataka Minister for Youth Empowerment and Sports announced that Karnataka will host the next Khelo India Games in 2023.
He also announced that over 75 sports students are being trained in the State to take part in the next Olympics. The 2021 edition of Khelo India is postponed due to the pandemic and is to be held in Haryana.
15. ‘Olaf Scholz’ is the recently appointed head of which country?
[A] Australia
[B] Brazil
[C] Germany
[D] France
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Germany]
Notes:
Olaf Scholz has been appointed as the Chancellor of Germany from December 2021. The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a discussion with his German counterpart and congratulated on his appointment as Chancellor.
They reviewed the capacities of ongoing cooperation initiatives, including investment and trade links. They also discussed to diversify cooperation and exchanges in new areas.
16. The Special Protection Group Act, 1988 was passed to provide security to……….
[A] Nuclear Power Plants
[B] Prime Minister and former Prime Ministers
[C] India’s land borders
[D] India’s water borders
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Prime Minister and former Prime Ministers]
Notes:
The Special Protection Group Act, 1988 was passed by the parliament after the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
It aimed to provide for regulation of an armed force of the Union for providing security to the Prime Minister of India and the former Prime Ministers of India and members of their immediate families. It was extended to all former Prime Ministers and their immediate families after former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated.
17. Which state won the first prize in Third National Water Awards-2020 in the best state category?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Uttar Pradesh
[C] Gujarat
[D] Maharashtra
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Uttar Pradesh]
Notes:
Uttar Pradesh has been awarded the first prize in Third National Water Awards-2020 in the best state category.
It is followed by Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.
Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti gives 57 awards to States, Organizations, Individuals etc. in 11 different categories. It encourages stakeholders to adopt holistic approach in water management and motivate people to adopt best water usage practices.
18. Which Ministry announced helpline numbers to help supply chains for e-commerce entities?
[A] Ministry of Commerce and Industry
[B] Ministry of MSME
[C] Ministry of Labour and Employment
[D] Ministry of Electronics and IT
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ministry of Commerce and Industry]
Notes:
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Commerce Ministry announced helpline numbers to help supply chains for e-commerce entities.
The hiplines will aid the manufacturing, transportation, distribution, wholesale or e-commerce companies for difficulties in transportation and distribution of goods or mobilisation of resources.
19. Which peninsula separates the Gulf of Mexico from the Caribbean Sea?
[A] Avalon Peninsula.
[B] Boothia Peninsula.
[C] Bruce Peninsula.
[D] Yucatán Peninsula
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Yucatán Peninsula]
Notes:
The Yucatán Peninsula separates the Gulf of Mexico from the Caribbean Sea. It includes 3 Mexican states and portions of Belize and Guatemala.
The Maya civilization, known for its exemplary architecture and understanding of mathematics, originated in the Yucatan Peninsula. According to a new study, the Maya civilization may have had access to nearly 500 edible plants, many of which were highly resistant to drought. Earlier, it was believed that the civilization’s fall was due to drought.
20. Murree is a popular hill station of which country?
[A] Sri Lanka
[B] Pakistan
[C] Afghanistan
[D] Nepal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Pakistan]
Notes:
Pakistan’s popular hill station Murree was declared a calamity-hit area after at least 21 people, froze to death due to unprecedented snowfall.
Murree is a mountain town, located in the Pir Panjal Range, in the Rawalpindi District of Punjab, Pakistan. This unfortunate event occurred during the rush of tourists to the town. The Pakistan Meteorological Department had predicted heavy snowfall in Murree and Galiyat.