1. India has recently signed MoU with which country for technical cooperation in rail sector especially on safety related subjects?
[A] France
[B] Italy
[C] Japan
[D] Germany
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Italy]
Notes:
The Union Ministry of Railways has recently signed MoU with Italy’s public sector rail company Ferrovie Dello Stato Italiane Group (FS Group) for technical cooperation in rail sector especially in the areas safety in train operations. The cooperation areas identified in this MoU includes safety audit of Indian Railways and measures required for enhancing safety in train operation, assessment and certification of advanced technology based safety products and systems to Safety Integrity Level (SIL4), training and competency development with focus of safety, modern trends in maintenance and diagnostic etc.
2. Who is author of the book “A Great Reckoning – A Chief Inspector Gamache Thriller”?
[A] James
[B] Bimal Phukan
[C] K K Paul
[D] Louise Penny
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Louise Penny]
Notes:
The book “A Great Reckoning – A Chief Inspector Gamache Thriller” has been authored by Louise Penny. It’s a compelling mystery and a rich human drama in which no character is either entirely good or evil, and each is capable of inspiring empathy.
3. Which Indian personality has been elected as the vice-president of the Asia Squash Federation (ASF)?
[A] N Ramachandran
[B] Debendranath Sarangi
[C] Syed Razi
[D] Arun Paul
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Debendranath Sarangi]
Notes:
Debendranath Sarangi, who is the President of the Squash Rackets Federation of India, has recently elected as the vice-president of the Asia Squash Federation (ASF) with two-third majority at the 37th ASF Annual General Meeting. With this, he became the 2nd Indian to become the vice-president of the ASF after N Ramachandran. Sarangi replaced Syed Razi Nawab of Pakistan.
4. Who has become the acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Public broadcaster Prasar Bharti?
[A] Sunil Gogoi
[B] Nirmal Kumar
[C] Mayank Kumar Agrawal
[D] Suresh Panda
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Mayank Kumar Agrawal]
Notes:
Rajeev Singh, Member (Finance) in Prasar Bharati Board, has taken charge as acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the public service broadcaster Prasar Bharti. He succeeded Suresh Panda, who retires on February 4, 2017. Panda has been serving as interim CEO since November 2016, after full time chief Jawhar Sircar resigned in October 2016. Prasar Bharati looks after the functioning of Doordarshan and All India Radio (AIR).
In June 2022, Doordarshan and Doordarshan News Director-General Mayank Kumar Agrawal was given the additional charge of Prasar Bharati Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
5. Racharla Samrajyam, who passed away recently, was the freedom fighter from which state?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Karnataka
[C] Kerala
[D] Andhra Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Andhra Pradesh]
Notes:
Racharla Samrajyam (98), the veteran freedom fighter, has recently passed away at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Samrajyam was inspired by the Quit India Movement, when she was undergoing Hindi Pracharak training at Anantapur in 1942. She quit the training programme and joined the Quit India Movement.She was arrested at Bezawada (Vijayawada) and was sent to the Raya Vellore Jail for 6 months in 1944. She received the ‘Tarmra Patra’ from the Government of India (GoI) in 1972.
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. Jambuvantrao Dhote, who passed away recently, was the former Member of Parliament (MP) from which Lok Sabha constituency?
[A] Nagpur
[B] Pune
[C] Bhopal
[D] Shillong
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Nagpur]
Notes:
Bhau Jambhuwantrao Dhote (83), the former Member of Parliament (MP) from Nagpur Lok Sabha constituency, has recently passed away in Yavatmal, Maharashtra. He was known for his demands of a separate state for Vidarbha. Dhote won his first election to Lok Sabha in 1971 from Nagpur as a Forward Bloc nominee. Later in 1980, he joined Congress and won the Nagpur seat on the Congress ticket. After leaving Congress he founded Vidarbha Janta Congress party in 2002. He was elected to Maharashtra Assembly five times. Due to his active participation in various movements for separate Vidarbha and farmers and his aggressive speeches, he was also known as the Lion of Vidarbha.
8. Which hockey team has won the 5th edition of Coal India Hockey India League (HIL) 2017 tournament?
[A] Delhi Waveriders
[B] Dabang Mumbai
[C] Uttar Pradesh Wizards
[D] Kalinga Lancers
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Kalinga Lancers]
Notes:
Kalinga Lancers has won the 5th edition Hockey India League (HIL) tournament by defeating Dabang Mumbai by 4-1 in Chandigarh. Uttar Pradesh Wizards claimed the bronze medal. In the encounter between the two losing semi-finalists, UP Wizards beat Delhi Waveriders 5-4. Dabang Mumbai’s Florian Fuchs was named the Player of the Tournament.
9. What is the India’s GDP growth forecast for FY 17, as per latest survey by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)?
[A] 7.1%
[B] 7.0%
[C] 7.3%
[D] 7.2%
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [7.0%]
Notes:
India’s GDP growth rate has been projected to 7% for FY17, as per latest survey by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). In its Economic Survey of India (ESI), the Global think-tank has stated that demonetisation may have impacted short term growth but the long term effects would include important gains going forward. It suggested that India should bring down corporate tax rate from 30% to 25%. Beside this, OECD has also estimated India’s GDP growth rate to 7.3% for FY18 and 7.7% for FY19. The OECD is a global policy forum that promotes policies to improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world.
10. Which Indian grandmaster has won bronze at 2017 Women’s World Chess Championship?
[A] Subbaraman Vijayalakshmi
[B] Padmini Rout
[C] Harika Dronavalli
[D] Koneru Humpy
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Harika Dronavalli]
Notes:
Indian grandmaster Harika Dronavalli has won a bronze medal at the 2017 Women’s World Chess Championship in Tehran. This is Harika’s 3rd bronze medal at the World Championship level. The first two were in Khanty-Mansiysk in 2012 and Sochi in 2015. Harika has won the World Juniors in 2008, Commonwealth women’s title in 2010, Asian Championship in 2011 as well as World Online Blitz Championship in 2015. She received the Arjuna Award in 2008.