1. Which state government has recently launched “Civil Service Awards” for excellence in public administration?
[A] Arunachal Pradesh
[B] Manipur
[C] Assam
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Arunachal Pradesh]
Notes:
The Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu has introduced ‘Arunachal Civil Service Awards’ for excellence in public administration. The purpose of the award is not only to boost the morale of the state government employees by recognizing their hard work and innovative work done by them, but also is expected to bring in a productive work culture. The award consists of a medal, a scroll, and a cash award of Rs 1 lakh for an individual and Rs 5 lakhs for an organisation/group/team. The award will be considered on the basis of implementation of innovative schemes or projects, showing innovation and adaptation to meet the stakeholders’ requirement, building up perceptible system changes and institutions. The award also aims to honour civil servants and government employees who make public service delivery system efficient, corruption free, including speedy and judicious execution of work. Extraordinary performance in emergent situations like floods, earthquakes, etc shall also form the basis of being eligible for this award.
2. Which country is host to the first-ever BIMSTEC National Security Chiefs (NSA) meet to discuss counter terror action plan?
[A] India
[B] Nepal
[C] Bhutan
[D] Pakistan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [India]
Notes:
India will host the first-ever meeting of BIMSTEC National Security Chiefs (NSAs) to discuss action against the spread of terrorism, violent extremism and radicalisation. This was decided at the 17th BIMSTEC Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) which recently concluded at Kathmandu, Nepal. This marked an important step forward to realize the action oriented agenda for BIMSTEC agreed by the leaders at their Retreat hosted by Prime Minister Modi in Goa in October 2016.
3. Which state government has recently implemented e-Cabinet solution for the state cabinet members?
[A] Arunachal Pradesh
[B] Tripura
[C] Nagaland
[D] Manipur
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Arunachal Pradesh]
Notes:
The Arunachal Pradesh government has recently implemented e-Cabinet solution to use as a powerful tool to streamline its decision-making process. With this, Arunachal Pradesh has become the first state in the northeast to implement e-Cabinet solution for the state cabinet members. The e-Cabinet solution will give remote access to the ministers to view Cabinet notes and the same will be circulated well in advance for proper analysis and feedback. The system is a multi-user secure solution that keeps relevant information organised and updated in real time, giving ministers a clear overview of each item under discussion.
4. Which committee will be constituted by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on cyber security?
[A] N K Singh committee
[B] Meena Hemachandra committee
[C] Ravi Iyer committee
[D] Tushar Krishna committee
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Meena Hemachandra committee]
Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will constitute an inter-disciplinary committee on cyber security to examine various threats and suggest measures to deal with it. The committee will review the threats inherent in the existing or emerging technology on an ongoing basis. It will also study adoption of various security standards/protocols and also act as interface with stakeholders. The committee will be headed by Meena Hemachandra and will suggest appropriate policy interventions to strengthen cyber security and resilience.
5. Sir Peter Mansfield, who passed away recently, was the Nobel laureate from which country?
[A] France
[B] England
[C] Brazil
[D] Singapore
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [England]
Notes:
Sir Peter Mansfield (83), MRI pioneer and Nobel laureate, has recently passed away in London, England. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 2003, along with late US chemist Paul Lauterbur, for discovering Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MIR), a technique used by medical specialists to generate images of the human body’s anatomy. MRI uses magnetic fields, radio waves and field gradients to detect damage such as cancer, in various parts of the body.
6. Which city has hosted the 7th edition of Indian Seed Congress (ISC)-2017?
[A] Chennai
[B] New Delhi
[C] Kochi
[D] Kolkata
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Kolkata]
Notes:
The 7th edition of Indian Seed Congress (ISC) has been organized by the National Seed Association of India (NSAI) in Kolkata, West Bengal on February 12-14, 2017. The theme of Seed Congress is “Seed of Joy” which is very much in line with vision of this government to bring happiness and prosperity in the lives of farmers by doubling their farm income by 2022. The ISC is an annual forum that provides a platform for the Seed Industry to interact closely with technology developers, sector development officials and policy makers. It also provides a chance to showcase new product ranges and services and network for better business development.
7. Who has been appointed India’s High Commissioner to Canada?
[A] Syed Akbaruddin
[B] Vikas Swarup
[C] Arun Kumar Sahu
[D] Priyansh Jain
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Vikas Swarup]
Notes:
Vikas Swarup, an officer of the Indian Foreign Service batch of 1986, has been appointed as new High Commissioner of India to Canada. He is famous for penning down the novel Q & A, adapted in film as Slumdog Millionaire. Currently, Swarup is working as Spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi. He will replace Arun Kumar Sahu who is currently working as acting Indian envoy in Canada.
8. Which Indian personality to host Hindi version of international show “TED Talks”?
[A] Salman Kha
[B] Priyanka Chopra
[C] Shah Rukh Khan
[D] Amitabh Bachchan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Shah Rukh Khan]
Notes:
Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan will host the Hindi version of popular international show “TED Talks”, which is the super-inspiring and super-influential talk series. Star India will air the Indian version “TED Talks India: Nayi Soch” in summer 2017 but a definite telecast date is yet to be announced. This is the first time TED is collaborating with a network and mega-star to produce a TV series featuring original TED Talks in a language other than English.
9. Which state to host 3rd edition of LIC-Gateway LitFest?
[A] Maharashtra
[B] Karnataka
[C] West Bengal
[D] Assam
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Maharashtra]
Notes:
The 3rd edition of the annual LIC Gateway LitFest will be held in Mumbai, Maharashtra on February 25 and 26, 2017. The 2017 theme is ‘the contemporary face of Indian literature’, which focuses on five languages – Bengali, Marathi, Malayalam, Punjabi and Tamil. There will be a discussion for writers from script-free languages such as Ahirani, Bhojpuri, Khasi, Konkani, Kosli and Santhali. In the Litfest, approx 50 writers from 15 languages, including National Award winner K R
Meera, script-writer Anjali Menon and ace filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan will participate. Apart from this, Kosli poet Haldhar Nag will be bestowed with the first Gateway LitFest Lifetime Achievement Award.
10. The Government of India (GoI) has recently approved investment proposal for generation component of Arun-3 Hydro Electric Project in which country?
[A] Myanmar
[B] Nepal
[C] Bhutan
[D] Bangladesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Nepal]
Notes:
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has recently approved investment proposal for generation component of Arun-3 Hydro Electric Project in Nepal by SJVN Limited to promote clean and green energy in India and the sub continent. This project will generate 900 Megawatt of hydro power at an estimated cost of Rs. 5723.72 crore. The project is expected to achieve financial closure by September 2017 and be implemented in five years thereafter.