1. The term “Wakayama Soryu” that was recently in news, denotes _________
A. An asteroid
B. A fossil
C. An artwork
D. A tradition
- The apex predator mosasaur fossil discovered in Japan’s Wakayama Prefecture has been named ‘Wakayama Soryu’ which means Blue Dragon. The nearly complete 72-million-year-old fossil was discovered by researcher Akihiro Misaki in 2006 and has recently been detailed in a study published in the Journal of Systematic Paleontology.
2. SPECS scheme is administered by which ministry?
A. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
B. Ministry of Agriculture
C. Ministry of Science & Technology
D. Ministry of Commerce
- The government is planning to launch a revised incentive scheme, Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electronic Components and Semiconductors (SPECS), with allocation up to ₹10,000 crore. This move aims to boost electronic components and semiconductor manufacturing in alignment with the semiconductor mission to establish India as a global electronics hub.
3. Which state government recently approached the Supreme Court against capping of its borrowing limit by the Centre?
A. Tamil Nadu
B. Himachal Pradesh
C. Kerala
D. Telangana
- The Kerala government approached the Supreme Court against the Centre’s decision to cap its net borrowing limit, saying it obstructs the state’s financial autonomy protected under the Constitution. Kerala has said linking debt ceiling to central government schemes and withholding due state funds severely affects its economy and population welfare.
4. Recently, the Anand Marriage Act has been implemented in Jammu & Kashmir. This act gives statutory recognition to________
A. Intercaste Marriage
B. Interfaith Marriage
C. Sikh Marriage and Wedding rituals
D. Hindu Marriage and Rituals
- The Anand Marriage Act, which provides statutory recognition and registration provisions for Sikh wedding rituals, has been implemented in Jammu & Kashmir. This fulfills a long-standing demand of the Sikh community as separate rules have now been notified for Anand marriage registration in J&K under this landmark Act.
5. Who is the treasurer of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Trust overseeing Ram temple preparations?
A. Mahant Nrityagopal Das
B. Govind Devagiri
C. Champat Rai
D. Nripendra Mishra
- Govind Devagiri is the treasurer of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Trust which is overseeing preparations at the under-construction Ram Temple complex in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh ahead of its proposed inauguration. This includes installation of idols like that of Jatayu which holds significance in Ramayana.
6. India’s first Gymnosperm Garden has been established in which state?
A. Sikkim
B. Himachal Pradesh
C. Uttarakhand
D. West Bengal
- The research wing of the Uttarakhand Forest department has established India’s first Gymnosperm Garden, hosting diverse endangered conifer species, spanning one hectare at Radi Top in Uttarkashi district at an elevation of 8,000 feet. It will open for public visit from March 2024.
7. The PM-DevINE scheme is a new venture of government exclusively targeted for infrastructure projects in __:
A. 150 Most Backward Districts
B. Most Backward Tribal Areas
C. North East India
D. Coastal Regions
- The PM-DevINE (Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North-East Region) scheme is a new venture of the Indian government exclusively targeted for infrastructure projects in Northeast India with a total outlay of ₹6,600 crores for the 4-year period from 2022-2023 to 2025-2026.
8. The “Hafthaa-14” roadmap, that was recently in news, is related to which country?
A. Maldives
B. Afghanistan
C. Iran
D. Sri Lanka
- Maldives has announced that it will not renew its hydrographic survey agreement with India, citing concerns about its sovereignty. The agreement, signed in 2019, allowed India to conduct studies of Maldives’ territorial waters, including reefs, lagoons, and coastlines. The decision to not renew the agreement was made as part of the “Hafthaa-14” roadmap, which aims to revoke bilateral and diplomatic agreements that could jeopardize Maldives’ sovereignty.
9. Peace activist Ali Abu Awwad, who is one of the 2 recipients of Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament, and Development for 2023, belongs to __:
A. Qatar
B. Palestine
C. Bangladesh
D. India
- Renowned classical pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim and Palestinian peace activist Ali Abu Awwad have been jointly awarded the prestigious Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament, and Development for 2023. The award recognizes their exceptional contributions in bringing together the youth and peoples of Israel.
- The Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament, and Development is a prestigious award presented annually to individuals or organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the promotion of international peace, disarmament, and development.
10. Scientists from the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and Bengaluru-based IDRS Labs have collaborated to develop Aktocyte tablets for the treatment of which disease?
A. HIV
B. COVID-19
C. Cancer
D. Diabetes
- Scientists from the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and Bengaluru-based IDRS Labs have collaborated to develop Aktocyte tablets for the treatment of pelvic cancer. These tablets are designed to supplement cancer radiotherapy, functioning as a regenerative nutraceutical, immunomodulator, and antioxidant.
- The collaboration involves experts from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Tata Memorial Hospital, and the Advanced Centre for Training Research and Education in Cancer, along with IDRS Labs. Aktocyte has received approval from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), ensuring its safety and quality standards. This development revolutionizes pelvic cancer care, offering a promising solution with multifunctional properties and regulatory approval.
11. Antim Panghal plays which sports?
A. Badminton
B. Cricket
C. Wrestling
D. Athletics
- Indian wrestler Antim Panghal has been named the Rising Star of the Year among women by the United World Wrestling (UWW). Competing in the 53 kg category, the 19-year-old has begun her season by winning a silver medal in the Asian Championships. She secured the Paris 2024 Olympic quota for India in the women’s 53 kg category.
12. Recently, which middle east country has decided to cancel visa requirements for visitors from India?
A. Iran
B. Iraq
C. Syria
D. Lebanon
- In an effort to boost tourism and attract more visitors, Iran has decided to cancel visa requirements for visitors from India. This decision follows similar actions by Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam, who have also waived visa requirements for visitors from India.
- The 33 countries approved for Iran’s visa-waiver program include India, Russia, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, and several others. Iran had previously implemented visa waiver programs for visitors from Turkey, Azerbaijan, Oman, China, Armenia, Lebanon, and Syria.
13. Which city was venue of ASEAN-India Millet Festival 2023?
A. Singapore
B. New Delhi
C. Jakarta
D. Kuala Lumpur
- ASEAN-India Millet Festival was hosted by the Indian Mission in ASEAN in collaboration with India’s Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
- Organized in line with the International Year of Millets 2023, the festival opening on December 14th in New Delhi aimed to increase awareness and boost the market for millets and millet-based products. It saw participation from India and ASEAN nations like Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia etc. The festival underscores India’s push for greater production and consumption of nutritious and climate-resilient crops like millets.
