1. Who is the author of the book “The Secret Diary of Kasturba”?
[A] Neelima Dalmia Adhar
[B] Aruna Chakravarti
[C] Som Sharma
[D] Narendra Verma
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Correct Answer: A [Neelima Dalmia Adhar]
Notes:
The book “The Secret Diary of Kasturba” has been authored by Neelima Dalmia Adhar. It’s an imaginary chronicle of the life of Kasturba, the wife of Father of Nation “Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi”. The book is written in a diary form with Kastur penning her experiences in Porbandar where she was born on April 11, 1869- six months before the birth of Mohandas Gandhi who was born in neighbourhood on October 2, 1869 and, early life with young Mohandas, her days in Africa and Mohandas’s rise as a mass leader. The book tries to tell the world what it meant to Kasturba to be wife of Mahatma Gandhi.
2. Knesset is the name of the parliament of which country?
[A] Israel
[B] Lebanon
[C] Tunisia
[D] Egypt
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Correct Answer: A [ Israel ]
Notes:
Knesset is the unicameral national legislature of Israel. As the legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister, approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government. In addition, the Knesset elects the State Comptroller. It also has the power to waive the immunity of its members, remove the President and the State Comptroller from office, dissolve the government in a constructive vote of no confidence, and to dissolve itself and call new elections. The Prime Minister may dissolve the Knesset. The Knesset is located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.
3. Who is the author of the book “Yug Purush, Bharat Ratna, Atal Ji”?
[A] Ramesh Pokhriyal
[B] Praveen Kumar Pandey
[C] Ramesh Datt Dikisht
[D] Nerraj Srivastava
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ramesh Pokhriyal]
Notes:
The book titled “Yug Purush, Bharat Ratna, Atal Ji” is based on the on the social and political life of former Prime Minister of India Atal Bhihari Vajpayee. It is authored by Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank”, who is the BJP MP and former Uttarakhand chief minister. Recently, Pokhriyal has officially handed over the first copy of the 450-page book to the President of India Pranab Mukherjee. Though, the book will be launched soon in the market for all.
4. Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS), a collaborative food information initiative has been launched by ___?
[A] World Food Programme
[B] Food and Agriculture Organization
[C] G-20
[D] World Bank
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Correct Answer: C [G-20]
Notes:
In 2011, the G20 Ministers of Agriculture while recognizing the importance of timely, accurate and transparent information in addressing food price volatility launched the Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS), a collaborative food information initiative. AMIS builds on and complements existing systems and improves global food market information. AMIS is a platform through which countries, international organizations and the private sector can work together to strengthen synergies and collaboration in order to improve data reliability, timeliness and frequency. AMIS will also build developing countries’ capacity in market outlook analysis and promote policy dialogue.
5. What is the number of members in Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas)?
[A] 14
[B] 16
[C] 18
[D] 20
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [16]
Notes:
The Economic Community of West African States, also known as ECOWAS, is a regional political and economic union of fifteen countries located in West Africa. The 15 members are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
6. Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant is a joint venture between India and which among the following countries?
[A] Canada
[B] France
[C] USA
[D] Russia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Russia]
Notes:
The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) is a joint venture between India and Russia. The plant is located in the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu. It is the largest nuclear power station in India.
The plant was built as a result of an inter-governmental agreement signed in 1988 by then Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev. The agreement called for the construction of two reactors of 2 GW. The first concrete for unit 1 was poured in March 2002, and for unit 2 four months later.
The reactors are pressurised water reactors of Russian design. The thermal capacity is 3,000 MW, the gross electrical capacity is 1,000 MW, and the net capacity is 917 MW.
7. Which of the following refers to the North-South dialogue?
[A] For reorganization of States between North India and South India
[B] For sharing economic resources between rich countries of the North and poor countries of the South
[C] Between countries of North America and South America for economic cooperation
[D] Between U.S.A. and U.S.S.R. in the field of space research
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [For sharing economic resources between rich countries of the North and poor countries of the South]
Notes:
The North-South Dialogue refers to the process through which the developing and newly independent nations of the “third world,” predominantly in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, engaged the industrialized countries of North America and Western Europe in negotiations over changes to the international economic system.
8. Which one of the following was used as a chemical weapon in the First World War?
[A] Carbon monoxide
[B] Hydrogen cyanide
[C] Mustard gas
[D] Water gas
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Correct Answer: C [Mustard gas]
Notes:
Although the Germans were the first to use phosgene on the battlefield, it became the primary chemical weapon of the Allies. Phosgene was responsible for 85% of chemical-weapons fatalities during World War I. Mustard gas, a potent blistering agent, was dubbed King of the Battle Gases.
9. Who among the following wrote “The Communist Manifesto” along with Karl Marx?
[A] Emile Durkheim
[B] Friedrich Engeles
[C] Robert Owen
[D] Max Weber
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Correct Answer: B [Friedrich Engeles]
Notes:
On February 21, 1848, The Communist Manifesto, written by Karl Marx with the assistance of Friedrich Engels, is published in London by a group of German-born revolutionary socialists known as the Communist League.
10. Who has been appointed as the new director of the United Nations World Tourism Organization?
[A] Suresh Tripathi
[B] Sandeep Ghosla
[C] Tushar Bansal
[D] Suman Billa
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Suman Billa ]
Notes:
Kerala cadre senior IAS officer Suman Billa will join the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) at its headquarters in Madrid, Spain. A 1996 batch IAS officer, he will assume charge as Director, Technical Cooperation and Silk Road Development at D1 level at UNWTO, a specialised agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.