1. Which state government has launched “Kakatiya Hub for Social Innovation” India’s first social innovation centre?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Andhra Pradesh
[C] Telangana
[D] Kerala
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Telangana ]
Notes:
The Telangana government has recently launched India’s first social innovation centre “Kakatiya Hub for Social Innovation” in Nizamabad on Februray 5, 2017, which is expected to be run by September 2017. The hub is funded by the Telangana government and will function like a rural incubator to encourage entrepreneurship at grassroots level. The purpose of the hub is to create a model for promoting entrepreneurs in rural and semi-urban areas in the country. The incubator will be run through Kakatiya Sandbox, a centre that fosters entrepreneurship and innovation modelled after Deshpande Foundation’s Hubli Sandbox.
2. Which union ministry has launched annual book ‘India-2017’ & ‘Bharat-2017?
[A] Ministry of Finance
[B] Ministry of Human Resource Development
[C] Ministry of Culture
[D] Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Ministry of Information and Broadcasting]
Notes:
The Union Information and Broadcasting Minister, M. Venkaiah Naidu has recently released the annual year book ‘India-2017’ and ‘Bharat-2017’ at a function in Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi on February 6, 2017. The book published by the Publications Division gives comprehensive information about the country and various States and Union Territories including functioning of the government and the economy. The book also gives a glimpse of flagship programmes of the government, important events of the year and the story of Indian States and Union Territories with their vital statistics. Beside this, the electronic version of the Year Book has also launched that provides latest technical features and has a variety of reader-friendly features like searchable content, referencing and is priced at 25% less than the print books.
3. Which country to host the 2017 IAAF World Athletics Championship?
[A] Russia
[B] United Kingdom
[C] United States
[D] France
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [United Kingdom]
Notes:
The 16th edition of the IAAF World Championships will be held in August 2017 in London, United Kingdom (UK). In it, Russia will remain suspended after athletics’ governing body voted to extend their suspension from international competition for state-sponsored doping. Though, some Russians may be able to compete under a neutral banner, if they can satisfy testing criteria.
4. Consider the following statements:
- Radon is the heaviest gas.
- Astatine is the rarest element on the earth.
- Graphite, which is a non-metal, is also an electrical conductor.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
[A] Only 2
[B] 1 and 2
[C] 2 and 3
[D] 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [1, 2 and 3]
Notes:
Radon is the heaviest known noble gas and is radioactive. Astatine, with the atomic number 85, is the rarest naturally occurring element in the Earth's crust. Graphite, a form of carbon, is the only non-metal that conducts electricity due to its delocalised electrons. Thus, all the statements are correct.
5. Who has been elected the new President of Germany?
[A] Christian Wulff
[B] Joachim Gauck
[C] Frank-Walter Steinmeier
[D] Olivia Jones
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Frank-Walter Steinmeier]
Notes:
Frank-Walter Steinmeier, a member of the Social Democratic party (SPD), has been elected the new President of Germany by the Federal Assembly meeting in Parliament in Berlin. He won 931 out of 1,260 votes. Steinmeier will succeed Joachim Gauck on March 18, 2017.
6. Who is the author of the book “Army and Nation : The Military and Indian Democracy since Independence”?
[A] Shiv Kunal Verma
[B] Christophe Jaffrelot
[C] Bruce Riedel
[D] Steven Wilkinson
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Steven Wilkinson]
Notes:
The book “Army and Nation : The Military and Indian Democracy since Independence” has been authored by Steven Wilkinson, a professor of political science and International relations at Yale University. It is about Indian Army’s relationship with the civilian government after Independence. It is in news because Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has advised his officers to read the book “Army and Nation” to understand how India succeeded in keeping the military out of politics.
7. What is the India’s rank in the 2017 Economic Freedom Index (EFI)?
[A] 143rd
[B] 117th
[C] 92nd
[D] 88th
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [143rd]
Notes:
India has been ranked 143rd in the 2017 Economic Freedom Index (EFI). The annual index was released by a conservative US political think tank “the Heritage Foundation”. It measures the degree of economic freedom in the countries of the world. The 2017 index is topped by Hong Kong, Singapore and New Zealand, respectively. Among South Asian countries, only Afghanistan (163) and Maldives (157) were ranked below India. Nepal (125), Sri Lanka (112), Pakistan (141), Bhutan (107), and Bangladesh (128) surpassed India in economic freedom.
8. What is the theme of 2017 International Mother Language Day (IMLD)?
[A] Languages and cyberspace
[B] Mother tongue instruction and inclusive education
[C] Towards Sustainable Futures through Multilingual Education
[D] Books for mother tongue education
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Towards Sustainable Futures through Multilingual Education]
Notes:
The International Mother Language Day (IMLD) is observed every year on February 21 to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. The 2017 theme is “Towards Sustainable Futures through Multilingual Education”.
9. Who has been appointed the new chairman of Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal (CWDT)?
[A] N P Singh
[B] B S Chauhan
[C] J S Khehar
[D] Abhay Manohar Sapre
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Abhay Manohar Sapre]
Notes:
Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre has been appointed the new chairman of Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT). The post fell vacant following the resignation of Justice Balbir Singh Chauhan, who is currently the chairman of Law Commission. The CWDT was constituted by the Government of India (GoI) in 1990 to adjudicate the water dispute regarding the inter-state Cauvery river which has Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry as basin states.
10. Who has been appointed the new Prime Minister of Federal Republic of Somalia?
[A] Hassan Abshir Farah
[B] Ali Mohammed Ghedi
[C] Hassan Ali Khayre
[D] Omar Abdirashid Ali
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Hassan Ali Khayre]
Notes:
Hassan Ali Khayre, a former aid worker and oil executive, has been appointed the new Prime Minister of Federal Republic of Somalia. He succeeded Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke. Prior to this appointment, Khayre had never held public office, although over the course of his career he has worked with a range of high-level executives and government officials in various capacities.