1. Last Sunday of which of the following months is observed as “World Leprosy Day”?
[A] January
[B] February
[C] March
[D] April
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [January]
Notes:
World leprosy day is annually observed around the world on the last Sunday of January. It was initiated in 1954 by French philanthropist and writer, Raoul Follereau. The day was chosen to coincide with the death anniversary of Indian freedom fighter and Father of nation Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination on January 30 1948.
Leprosy (also known as Hansen’s disease) is one of the oldest diseases known to humankind. It is caused by a slow-growing type of bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae). It is curable with multidrug therapy (MDT)
2. The group of countries that have agreed to participate in the General Arrangements to Borrow (GAB) 1962 are collectively called as ______?
[A] G-5
[B] G-7
[C] G-8
[D] G-10
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [G-10]
Notes:
The correct answer is G-10. The G-10 is a group of countries that agreed to participate in the General Arrangements to Borrow (GAB) in 1962, which was established to provide supplementary resources to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Initially, it included 10 countries: Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The GAB allows these countries to lend funds to the IMF during times of financial crises, enhancing global financial stability.
3. International Day of the World’s Indigenous People is observed on which date every year?
[A] August 9
[B] August 19
[C] August 29
[D] August 15
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [August 9]
Notes:
The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is observed on August 9 each year. The day is also known as World Tribal Day. The day is a time to celebrate indigenous communities and their knowledge. It also recognizes the contributions that indigenous people make to the world, such as environmental protection.
The day was chosen to commemorate the first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations in Geneva in 1982.
The theme for 2023 was “Indigenous Youth as Agents of Change for Self-determination”. The day will be observed online on Wednesday, August 9, 2023.
4. Who among the following was Chairman of India’s Atomic Energy Commission during India’s first nuclear test in Pokharan in 1974 (Smiling Buddha and Pokharan I). ?
[A] Raja Ramanna
[B] Homi Sethna
[C] P. K. Iyengar
[D] Piara Singh Gill
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Homi Sethna]
Notes:
Homi Sethna was an Indian nuclear scientist and administrator who served as the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of India.
5. Who among the following authors wrote “Prabodha Chandrodaya”?
[A] Jina Sena
[B] Padmagupta
[C] Padma Shankar
[D] Krishna Misra
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Krishna Misra]
Notes:
During 11th century, a spiritual drama, Prabodha Chandrodaya (Rise of the moon of intellect) was written by Krishna Misra to teach the Advaita doctrine to those who were interested in Kavya and not philosophy. He belong to the period of the Chandela ruler, Kirti Varman.
6. Who among the following authors wrote “Adipurana”?
[A] Mahaviracharya
[B] Srinatha
[C] Krishna Misra
[D] Jinasena
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Jinasena]
Notes:
In the 9th century, a Digambara Jain monk, Jinasena composed a Sanskrit poem “Adipurana” that deals with the story of the first Jain Tirthankar Rishabha Deva and his sons Bharata and Bahubali. It consists of 12 thousand shlokas and divided into 12 parvas.
7. Which of the following was established through the Maastricht Treaty?
[A] European Union
[B] Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)
[C] International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
[D] Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ European Union ]
Notes:
The Maastricht Treaty is responsible for the establishment of the European Union in 1993, and it introduced the concept of European citizenship.
8. The book “Sakhian Guru Nanak” is based on the life stories of which religious figure? (UPSC Prelims 2000)
[A] Guru Gobind Singh
[B] Guru Nanak Dev
[C] Guru Hargobind
[D] Guru Amar Das
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Guru Nanak Dev]
Notes:
The book “Sakhian Guru Nanak” is a compilation of ‘Janamsakhis’ – biographies of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism. These ‘Janamsakhis’ paint a vivid picture of Guru Nanak Dev’s life and teachings. The book is especially designed for children and is compiled by Jagtarjit Singh. The aim is to familiarize children with Guru Nanak Dev’s principles and to inculcate Sikh values in them from an early age.
9. The headquarters of the Food and Agriculture organization are located at__?
[A] New York
[B] London
[C] Rome
[D] Milan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Rome]
Notes:
Food and Agriculture organization was established as a specialized agency of the UN in 1945. This organization leads international efforts to defeat hunger and improve nutrition and food security. Its Latin motto, fiat panis, translates to “let there be bread”.
10. Which one of the following time-periods is associated with the infamous “Armenian Genocide”?
[A] 1914-1923
[B] 1936-1943
[C] 1948-1951
[D] 1989-1991
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [1914-1923]
Notes:
Armenian Genocide or Armenian Holocaust is the mass murder of 15 lakhs of ethnic Armenians carried out in Turkey by the then Ottoman Empire between 1914 and 1923. The genocide involved physical destruction, deportation and displacement of the civilian population.
