1. Who among the following is the author of the “Divine Comedy”?
[A] Goethe
[B] Milton
[C] Dante
[D] Shakespeare
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [ Dante ]
Notes:
The Divine Comedy is an epic poem written by Dante Alighieri between c. 1308 and his death in 1321. It is widely considered the preeminent work of Italian literature, and is seen as one of the greatest works of world literature. The poem’s imaginative and allegorical vision of the afterlife is a culmination of the medieval world-view as it had developed in the Western Church. It helped establish the Tuscan dialect, in which it is written, as the standardized Italian language.
2. In which among the following states, India’s first Defence University has been set up?
[A] Rajasthan
[B] Himachal Pradesh
[C] Haryana
[D] Gujarat
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Haryana]
Notes:
Indian National Defence University set up in Gurgaon in Haryana.
3. In which year,Bharat Ratna was announced for Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose?
[A] 1988
[B] 1991
[C] 1992
[D] 1996
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [1992]
Notes:
In 1992, the Government of India decided to confer Bharat Ratna to Subhash Chandra Bose, but it was opposed by some members of his family who had refused to accept the fact of his death. In 1997 as per the Supreme Court’s verdict Bose’s award was cancelled. It is the only case in India when the award was announced but not conferred.
4. India has also been conducting joint naval exercises named SIMBEX since 1994 with which of the following countries?
[A] Singapore
[B] Australia
[C] Srilanka
[D] Bhutan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Singapore]
Notes:
SIMBEX is a naval exercise that takes place between the navies of Singapore and India. It is an acronym for “Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise”. The exercise typically involves a variety of naval drills and training activities designed to improve the interoperability and cooperation between the participating navies. The first SIMBEX exercise was held in 1994, and it has been conducted annually ever since.
5. With which of the following groups of nations the Singapore Declaration is related to ?
[A] OECD
[B] G-20
[C] G-7
[D] Commonwealth Nations
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Commonwealth Nations]
Notes:
Singapore Declaration of Commonwealth Principles was issued by the Commonwealth of Nations in 1971. The declaration set out the core political volunteering values that would form the main part of the Commonwealth’s membership criteria. The declaration proclaimed that expanded human understanding and understanding among nations would help the elimination of discrimination based on differences of race, color, or creed. The Singapore Declaration was adopted at the 17th Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting of the International Labour Organisation (APRM of ILO). The declaration urges countries to ensure labor protection.
6. Who among the following was the author of “Jaisalmer ka Gundaraj”?
[A] Hari Singh Burdak
[B] Sagarmal Gopa
[C] Kesari Singh Barahath
[D] Arjun Singh Gurjar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Sagarmal Gopa]
Notes:
Sagarmal Gopa was a freedom fighter and patriot from Rajasthan, India. He took active part in the non-cooperation movement in 1921. He was the author of Jaisalmer ka Gundaraj.
7. First Jnanpith Award winner was from which of the following states?
[A] Madhya Pradesh
[B] Kerala
[C] Tamil Nadu
[D] West Bengal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Kerala]
Notes:
The Jnanpith Award is one of the prestigious literary awards in India. The first Jnanpith Award winner was G. Sankara Kurup from Kerala. He won this award in 1965 for his collection of poems in Malayalam titled Odakkuzhal (The Bamboo Flute). Through this, Kerala marked its prominent place in the field of literature from the very beginning of this award journey.
8. Which author wrote “A Suitable Boy”, renowned as one of the longest novels ever published in a single volume in the English language?
[A] David Malouf
[B] Rohinton Mistry
[C] Alex Miller
[D] Vikram Seth
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Vikram Seth]
Notes:
“A Suitable Boy” is an epic novel of over 1,500 pages, making it one of the longest novels published in a single volume in the English language. The author, Vikram Seth, is a celebrated Indian novelist and poet. Known for his masterful storytelling and keen understanding of human nature, he holds a distinguished place in contemporary English literature.
9. Ping Pong Diplomacy of early 1970s is related to which among the following two countries?
[A] China and Russia
[B] China & Japan
[C] China & United States
[D] China & India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [China & United States]
Notes:
Ping pong diplomacy refers to the brief thaw in relations between the United States and China in the early 1970s, which was facilitated in part by the exchange of table tennis players between the two countries. In April 1971, a group of American table tennis players visited China for a tournament, and the Chinese government invited them to stay for several days. This marked the first time in more than 20 years that Americans had been allowed to visit China. The visit was followed by several high-level diplomatic meetings between the two countries, which ultimately led to the establishment of diplomatic relations between the US and China in 1979.
10. Who among the following is the author of the famous book “Silent Spring” which is credited for being of much help in launching the environment movement?
[A] Ian Lowe
[B] Pat Hutchings
[C] Mike Kingsford
[D] Rachel Carson
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Rachel Carson]
Notes:
The book Silent Spring is written by Rachel Carson. It is a book on environmental science. The book was published in 1962.