1. Who is the author of “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. The establishment of SAARC food bank was decided in which of the following SAARC summits?
[A] Dhaka 2005
[B] Colombo 2008
[C] Colombo 2008
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Colombo 2008]
Notes:
The SAARC Food Bank was established during the 15th SAARC Summit held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in 2008. This initiative aimed to address food security issues among member countries by providing a mechanism for food assistance during crises. The food bank is a important step towards regional cooperation in agriculture and food security within South Asia, which is home to a large population facing food scarcity challenges.
3. The North Atlantic Treaty is the treaty that brought NATO into existence, signed in Washington, DC on April 4, 1949 by how many countries?
[A] 10
[B] 12
[C] 15
[D] 20
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [12]
Notes:
The North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) was signed by 12 countries on April 4, 1949 at the Departmental Auditorium in Washington, D.C.. The countries that signed the treaty were: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, The United Kingdom, The United States. The treaty established the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a mutual defense treaty between the 12 nations. The purpose of NATO was to deter the Soviet Union from invading Western Europe. The treaty committed each member to share the risks, responsibilities, and benefits of collective defense. NATO is now an alliance of 31 nations from Europe and North America. The main purpose of NATO is to safeguard the freedom and security of its members by political and military means.
4. Headquarters of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) are located at:
[A] Geneva
[B] Montreal
[C] Paris
[D] New York
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Montreal]
Notes:
World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was established in Lausanne (Switzerland) in November 1999, shifted to Montreal in 2001
5. Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen are related to which of the following countries?
[A] Britain
[B] USA
[C] France
[D] Italy
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [France]
Notes:
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (Déclaration des droits de l’homme et du citoyen de 1789) was set by France’s National Constituent Assembly in 1789. It is a human civil rights document from the French Revolution. The document explains a list of rights, such as freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and separation of powers.
6. Flexible Credit Line (FCL) is related to which of the following organizations?
[A] World Economic Forum (WEF)
[B] International Monetary Fund (IMF)
[C] Asian Development Bank (ADB)
[D] World Bank (WB)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [International Monetary Fund (IMF)]
Notes:
Flexible Credit Line (FCL) is a lending scheme of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The FCL was created in 2009 after the 2007 Financial Crisis. It was designed to meet the demand for crisis prevention and crisis mitigation lending for countries with strong policy frameworks and track records in economic performance. The FCL is useful for both crisis prevention and crisis resolution.
The FCL is a precautionary credit line that lasts one or two years. The repayment period is the same as for the Stand by Arrangement (SBA). Only Mexico, Colombia, and Poland have subscribed to the FCL.
7. Consider the following entities related to international finance:
- Financial Transaction Plan
- Technical Assistance Special Fund
- Financial Stability Board
Which of the above is/are part of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)?
[A] Only 1
[B] 1 and 2
[C] 1, 2 and 3
[D] 1 and 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Only 1]
Notes:
The Financial Transaction Plan is an integral part of the IMF, managing its lending and repayment operations. The Technical Assistance Special Fund is associated with the Asian Development Bank and not the IMF. The Financial Stability Board is a separate international body; while IMF representatives participate in its activities, it is not part of the IMF itself.
8. Who among the following was the author of Akbarnama?
[A] Akbar
[B] Birbal
[C] Fakir Aziao Din
[D] Abul Fazal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Abul Fazal]
Notes:
Abul Fazl was the author of Akbarnama, the official history of Akbar’s reign in 3 volumes. This book gives the history of Akbar’s forefathers from Timur to Humayun and Akbar’s reign till 1602 AD. Abul Fazl was one of the nine jewels in the royal court of Akbar.
9. Heron TP-UAV has been developed by which country?
[A] Israel
[B] Russia
[C] France
[D] China
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Israel]
Notes:
The Heron TP UAV was developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). The Heron TP is a medium-altitude, long endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial system (UAS). It is the largest UAV manufactured by IAI. The Heron TP is a newer version of the IAI Heron and is an upgrade from the existing Heron UAVs. The Heron TP is 14 meters long and has double the wingspan of the French fighter, Rafale. It can operate above commercial traffic up to 45,000 ft. The Heron TP has all weather capability and can operate in multiple missions and payload configurations. It has satellite communications (SATCOM) for beyond line of sight (BLOS) range. The Heron TP also has triple redundant avionics and automatic taxi-takeoff and landing (ATOL).
The Indian Army has leased four Heron TP UAVs from Israel. The Heron TPs may be deployed near India’s disputed border with China. Germany has also leased Heron TP UAVs from IAI. The Heron TPs leased by Germany are a special version that have been adapted to European regulations.
10. Consider the following statements regarding international digital governance indicators:
- The E-Government Readiness Index (EGDI) is published by the United Nations Public Administration Programme (UNPAP).
- The E-Participation Index is published by the same entity as EGDI.
- The International Trade Centre publishes the E-Government Readiness Index.
- The United Nations Public Administration Programme has been releasing these indices since 2003.
Which of the above statements is / are correct?
[A] Only 1, 2 and 4
[B] Only 1 and 4
[C] Only 1 and 3
[D] All statements are correct
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Only 1, 2 and 4]
Notes:
Statements 1, 2 and 4 are correct: Both EGDI and E-Participation Index are published by UNPAP since 2003. Statement 3 is incorrect as the International Trade Centre does not publish EGDI. These indices assess the e-government development and e-participation of United Nations Member States.