1. Who is eligible to be awarded the Booker Prize, an annual literary award given for the best original full-length novel written in the English language?
[A] A citizen of the Commonwealth of Nations
[B] A citizen of the Commonwealth of Nations or Ireland
[C] A citizen of the Commonwealth of Nations, Ireland, or Zimbabwe
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [A citizen of the Commonwealth of Nations, Ireland, or Zimbabwe]
Notes:
The Booker Prize is awarded annually to the best original novel, written in the English language, by a citizen of the Commonwealth of Nations, Republic of Ireland, or Zimbabwe. It contributes greatly to promoting and acknowledging the literary work in English language and provides the authors a platform to showcase their talent to a larger audience.
2. Territorial claims and disputes over navigation rights of which of the following territories between Iran and Iraq was the main factor for the Iraq-Iran War?
[A] Abu Musa
[B] Zubarah
[C] Murair
[D] Shatt al-Arab
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Shatt al-Arab]
Notes:
The Shatt al-Arab waterway was the main factor in the Iran-Iraq War. The Shatt al-Arab is formed by the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. The southern end of the river forms the border between Iran and Iraq. The Shatt al-Arab was an important channel for oil exports for both countries. The dispute over the Shatt al-Arab lasted from 1936 until 1975. Iran rejected the demarcation line established in the Anglo-Ottoman Convention of Constantinople of November 1913. Iran wanted the border to run along the thalweg, the deepest point of the navigable channel. The Iran-Iraq War lasted from September 1980 until August 1988. The war was also called the First Persian Gulf War or the Imposed War in Iran.
3. Which among the following is the first private company of India to get protection from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)?
[A] Tata Motors
[B] Reliance Industries
[C] Infosys Technologies
[D] WIPRO
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Infosys Technologies]
Notes:
In 2009, Infosys came under the security blanket of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), becoming the first private firm to be protected by the force which usually guard government installations.
4. The Indian Forces had conducted the Operation Pawan in which of the following countries in late 1980s?
[A] Bangladesh
[B] Afghanistan
[C] Sri Lanka
[D] Myanmar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Sri Lanka]
Notes:
Indian Peace Keeping Force took control of Jaffna from the LTTE in late 1987 to enforce the disarmament of the LTTE as a part of the Indo-Sri Lankan Accord. This operation was named operation Pawan.
5. On which day is the National Voter’s Day celebrated in India?
[A] December 17th
[B] March 8th
[C] January 17th
[D] January 25th
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [January 25th]
Notes:
National Voters Day in India is celebrated on January 25th. This day is celebrated to promote participation of the citizens in the political process. It was first celebrated in the year 2011 to mark the commission’s foundation day. Prioritizing the participation of the youth in the electoral process is the main focus of this celebration as the Indian Election Commission was established on this day in 1950.
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 two countries are honorary members of International Olympic Committee?
[A] USA and Senegal
[B] Germany and France
[C] England and France
[D] Morocco and USA
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [USA and Senegal ]
Notes:
There are only 105 honorary members of International Olympic Committee with 2 honour members namely USA and Senegal.
8. Which union ministry has approved issuance of two OGELs for export of certain parts and components?
[A] Ministry of Finance
[B] Ministry of Defence
[C] Ministry of Commerce and Industry
[D] Ministry of External Affairs
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Defence]
Notes:
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved issuance of two Open General Export Licences (OGELs) for export of certain parts and components and intra-company transfer of technology to select countries. This decision is expected to give a boost to defence exports and enhance Ease of doing Business (EDB). The transfer of technology to the countries is subject to the condition that the export is an intra-company transfer from an Indian subsidiary (applicant exporter) to its foreign parent company and or to subsidiaries of the foreign parent company. The OGEL is a one-time export licence to be granted to a company for a specific period which would initially be only two years.
9. Who discovered X-rays?
[A] Paul Villard
[B] Albert Einstein
[C] Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen
[D] Johann Riter
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen]
Notes:
Roentgen discovered X-rays in 1895. X rays are part of high energy electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength ranging from 10 picometers to 10 nanometers.
10. Which of the following wrote the book “Zij Muhammad Shahi”?
[A] Jaswant Singh of Jodhpur
[B] Raja Bharmall of Amber
[C] Sawai Jai Singh of Jaipur
[D] Maharana Amar Singh of Udaipur
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Sawai Jai Singh of Jaipur]
Notes:
The book ‘Zij Muhammad Shahi’ related to knowledge of Astrology was written by Sawai Jai Singh of Jaipur. Zij is the generic name applied to Islamic astronomical books that tabulate parameters used for astronomical calculations of the positions of the Sun, moon, stars, and planets.