1. Which country’s Prime Minister is the Chief Guest of 8th Edition of the Raisina Dialogue?
[A] UAE
[B] Italy
[C] Australia
[D] France
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Italy]
Notes:
The 8th Edition of the Raisina Dialogue is India’s flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-strategy. It is organized by the Ministry of External Affairs in collaboration with Observer Research Foundation.
Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni joined the inaugural session as the Chief Guest. The theme of the 2023 Edition of Dialogue is “Provocation, Uncertainty, Turbulence: Lighthouse in the Tempest.
2. Which body examines and authorises diversion of forest land for projects?
[A] Forest Advisory Committee
[B] Expert Appraisal Committee
[C] Parliamentary Committee on Forest
[D] National Green Tribunal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Forest Advisory Committee]
Notes:
Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) is an expert body which examines and authorises diversion of forest land for projects.
The Holistic Development of Great Nicobar Island Project is being criticised for its adverse impact on the island’s ecology and indigenous tribes. The Environment Ministry has withheld all discussions on forest clearance for the entire project recommended by the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC).
3. ‘VAIBHAV Fellowship Scheme’ which was launched recently, is associated with which field?
[A] Sports
[B] Research
[C] MSME
[D] Finance
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Research]
Notes:
On the occasion of National Science Day (February 28), the Indian Government launched the VAIBHAV Fellowship scheme for the Indian Diaspora abroad.
The newly launched scheme aims to improve the research capability of India’s higher education institutions. It will facilitate academic and research collaborations between the Indian higher education institutions and the top performing institutions from across the world.
4. Which city is the host of the ‘G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting (FMM)’?
[A] Mumbai
[B] Chennai
[C] New Delhi
[D] Ahmedabad
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [New Delhi]
Notes:
G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting (FMM) is scheduled to take place in physical format in New Delhi under India’s presidency.
The G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting (FMM) is one of the largest gatherings of foreign ministers hosted by any G20 Presidency. The 9 guest countries of the meeting are Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, Spain and the UAE.
5. Which tennis player broke the Steffi Graf’s record of leading the WTA rank for 377 weeks?
[A] Rafael Nadal
[B] Serena Williams
[C] Novak Djokovic
[D] Iga Swiatek
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Novak Djokovic]
Notes:
Djokovic has defeated Tomas Machac at the Dubai Championships extends winning streak to 18 matches.
The 35-year-old Serb broke the record for the most time spent at No. 1 in the professional tennis rankings by a man or woman. His 378th week in the ATP’s top spot, surpassed Steffi Graf’s 377 leading the WTA.
6. Which country has announced the ‘Debt Forgiveness Plan’ to students and households?
[A] USA
[B] UK
[C] Turkey
[D] Ukraine
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [USA]
Notes:
The Debt Forgiveness Plan was announced the US Government in August last year. This plan vowed to cancel 10,000 USD of student loan debt for individuals earning less than 125,000 USD or for households earning less than $250,000 per annum.
Under this plan, those who are receiving Federal Pell Grants will be given an additional 10,000 USD in debt forgiven.
7. Tillyardembi Fossils of the world’s first plant pollinators called tillyardembiids was discovered recently in which country?
[A] Greece
[B] India
[C] Russia
[D] China
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Russia]
Notes:
Fossils of the oldest known insect and the world’s first plant pollinators called tillyardembiids was discovered recently in Russia.
Tillyardembiids are earwig-like insects. The specimens found in Russia were estimated to be around 280 million years old, predating the previously-known pollen-covered insects by about 120 million years.
8. Which state/UT is the host of ‘B2B Global Conference & Expo on Traditional Medicine’?
[A] Gujarat
[B] Assam
[C] Odisha
[D] Kerala
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Assam]
Notes:
The first B2B Global Conference & Expo on Traditional Medicine under the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) will be hosted by Assam.
The event which seeks to promote traditional medicines at the global level. The event will be held in Guwahati.
9. ‘One Nation, One Challan Initiative’ is associated with which state/UT?
[A] Karnataka
[B] Gujarat
[C] Haryana
[D] Uttarakhand
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Gujarat]
Notes:
The One Nation, One Challan initiative aims to integrate all related agencies such as traffic police and Regional Transport Offices (RTO) on a single platform for seamless collection of traffic fines and data transfer.
Recently, during a PIL hearing that was seeking the setting up of virtual traffic courts, the state government of Gujarat told the High Court that it is already in the process of establishing these courts under the ‘One Nation One Challan’ initiative.
10. ‘Hola Mohalla’ is a famous festival celebrated in which religion?
[A] Jainism
[B] Sikhism
[C] Hinduism
[D] Islam
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Sikhism]
Notes:
Hola Mohalla is a Sikh festival celebrated for three days in March, usually a day after the Hindu festival of Holi.
A fair is organized in Anandpur Sahib on Hola Mohalla. The festival concludes with a long military-style procession near Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib, one of the five seats of temporal authority of the Sikhs.