1.Sweet Revolution, NBHM scheme are associated with which product?
Sugarcane
Honey
Fruits
Palm
Answer:B
National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM), which was announced for three years (2020-21 to 2022-23), aims for the development of scientific beekeeping in the country to achieve the goal of ‘Sweet Revolution’.
It is being implemented through National Bee Board (NBB). Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar recently launched ‘Amul Honey- a product of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. with cooperation with ‘National Bee Board’.
2.Legal Initiative for Forest and Environment (LIFE), which received 2021 Right Livelihood Award, is based in which state/UT?
Hyderabad
Delhi
Chennai
Gandhi Nagar
Answer:B
Delhi-based environmental organisation Legal Initiative for Forest and Environment (LIFE) has received the 2021 Right Livelihood Award.
The organisation empowers vulnerable communities to protect their livelihoods and claim their right to a clean environment. The award is known as Sweden’s alternative Nobel Prize. Other awardees include Cameroonian women rights activist Marthe Wandou, Russian environmental activist Vladimir Slivyak, and Canadian Indigenous rights defender Freda Huson.
3.Which Union Ministry has approved a “Dispute Avoidance Mechanism” through ‘Independent Engineer’ (IE)?
Ministry of Power
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
Ministry of Electronics and IT
Ministry of Science and Technology
Answer:A
Union Minister of Power has recently approved a “Dispute Avoidance Mechanism” through ‘Independent Engineer’ (IE).
The CPSEs executing Hydro Power Projects had been raising concerns that the present mechanism of dispute resolution in Hydro Power sector did notaddress the conflicts between the Employer and the Contractor at their initial stage.
4.Which institution released the report titled ‘Transforming Food Systems for Rural Prosperity’?
IFAD
FAO
NABARD
NITI Aayog
Answer:A
United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has recently released a report titled ‘Transforming Food Systems for Rural Prosperity’.
The report recommended several concrete actions to be taken by governments and policymakers. It said that the Global food systems need a huge revolution, in a more inclusive, fair and sustainable way. As per the report, Food systems are responsible for 37 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions and also highly vulnerable to a changing climate.
5.What is the new name of the national Mid-Day Meal Scheme?
PM Mid-Day Meal
PM Poshan
PM Bhojan
PM Aahar
Answer:B
The national Mid-Day Meal Scheme has been renamed as PM POSHAN Scheme. Involvement of Farmers Producer Organizations (FPO) and Women Self Help Groups in implementation of the scheme are also mentioned in the new features.
The Union Cabinet approved the ‘PM POSHAN in Schools’ scheme that will provide hot cooked meal to students of elementary classes in government and government-aided schools across the country. It will also cover students of balvatikas or pre-primary classes.
6.Which institution has developed the first alternative to corneal transplantation in India?
AIIMS
JIPMER
IIT- Hyderabad
NIT- Tiruchirappalli
Answer:C
Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad (IIT-Hyderabad) researchers have recently developed an alternative to corneal transplantation.
The research team have developed a hydrogel from discarded corneas from human and bovine sources using a novel method. The team discovered that this tissue-specific hydrogel can prevent cells from scar tissue formation. The team also demonstrated that this hydrogel can be applied after injury which helps to regenerate the cornea without scarring.
7.Lucy Mission, which was seen in the news recently, is associated with which space agency?
ISRO
NASA
Blue Origin
SpaceX
Answer:B
Lucy is a mission of the USA’s NASA, to study Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids. This is set to provide new insights into the solar system’s formation 4.5 billion years ago
The probe is named Lucy after an ancient fossil that provided insights into the evolution of human species. It is set to be launched on October 16 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. It will have a 12-year journey to eight different asteroids- one in the Main Belt between Mars and Jupiter and seven Trojans.
8.Which institution released a report titled ‘Digital Economy Report 2021’?
IMF
World Bank
UNCTAD
WTO
Answer:C
Digital Economy Report 2021 was released by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
The report examines the implications of growing cross-border data flows, especially for developing countries. It proposes to broaden the international policy debate with a view to build multilateral cooperation. The Report also calls for innovative approaches to govern data and data flows to ensure equitable distribution of the gains from data flows.
9.Who is the head of the expert panel set up by the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), on sustainable finance?
Urjit Patel
C K Mishra
Abhijeet Banerjee
Jean Drèze
Answer:B
The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) has set up an expert panel headed by former Enviornment and Forest Secretary C K Mishra to suggest a framework to develop a world-class sustainable finance hub at IFSC.
IFSCA was established in April last year under the IFSC Authority Act, 2019. It is headquartered at GIFT City, Gandhinagar. IFSCA is an authority for the development and regulation of financial products, financial services and financial institutions in the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in India.
10.“Keeping cybercriminals out: #JustOneClick” is a cyber security campaign launched by which organization?
NASSCOM
RBI
Data Security Council of India
Interpol
Answer:D
The Interpol has launched a cyber security campaign – “Keeping cybercriminals out: #JustOneClick” from October 4 to 22, which will be organized mainly in social media.
The aim of this campaign is to create awareness about cyber threats and help people to protect their computer systems, networks and personal information from cyber criminals
11.Jim Corbett National Park, which was seen in the news recently, is located in which state?
Uttarakhand
Bihar
West Bengal
Andhra Pradesh
Answer:A
Jim Corbett National Park is a world-renowned tiger reserve in Uttarakhand. It was seen in the news recently, Union Minister of State for Forest and Environment Ashwini Kumar Choubey announced that it may be renamed as Ramganga National Park in the future.
It is India’s first national park which is spread over an area of about 521 km. It’s known for its Bengal tigers, leopards and wild elephants.
12.Which Indian topped the Forbes Rich List for the 14th year in a row?
Gautam Adani
Mukesh Ambani
Radhakrishnan Damani
Savitri Jindal
Answer:B
Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Industries, topped the rich list for the 14th year in a row, as per Forbes Rich List, with a total wealth of 4 billion to his net worth in the year 2021. Gautam Adani, with a wealth of 17.9 billion short of Ambani. Shiv Nadar of HCL was number three in the list with a wealth of $31 billion. Radhakrishnan Damani, founder of Avenues Super-mart, and Cyrus Poonawalla, Chairman of Serum Institute, were placed fourth and fifth.
13.Which ratings agency has changed India’s sovereign rating outlook from ‘negative’ to ‘stable’?
CRISIL
S&P
Moody’s
Fitch
Answer:C
Global ratings agency Moody’s recently changed India’s sovereign rating outlook from ‘negative’ to ‘stable’.
It highlighted that India’s downside risks from negative feedback between real economy and financial system are disappearing. The agency also affirmed the country’s foreign-currency and local-currency long-term issuer ratings at Baa3.
14.Deep Space Atomic Clock, which was seen in the news recently, is associated with which space agency?
ISRO
NASA
Virgin Galactic
SpaceX
Answer:B
NASA’s Deep Space Atomic Clock, has successfully ended its mission. The clock was built by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in southern California.
The Deep Space Atomic Clock is an ultra-precise, mercury-ion atomic clock. It was launched aboard the Department of Defense Space Test Programme 2 mission on June 25, 2019. After the instrument completed its one-year primary mission in Earth orbit, NASA extended the mission to collect more data.
15.Subject Expert Committee on Covid-19 granted emergency use approval to which vaccine for children (2-18 years)?
Covishield
Covaxin
Sputnik
Pfizer
Answer:B
Subject Expert Committee on Covid-19 granted emergency use approval to Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin for children in the 2-18 years age group.
Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech had completed Phase-2 and Phase-3 trials of Covaxin on children below 18 years of age and submitted the trial data to the Drugs and Comptroller General of India (DCGI). The first group examined was between 12 -18 years, the second group was between 6- 12 years and the third age group was between 2-6 years.
16.Which global association recently made the largest ‘Green bond’ deal, held so far?
ASEAN
European Union
G-20
OPEC
Answer:B
The European Union issued its debut Green Bonds and attracted strong demand from investors.
Regarded as the largest green bond deal, the €12bn sale of 15-year debt attracted more than €135bn of orders. The proceeds will be passed on to member states to be spent on areas such as energy efficiency, transport and nature protection. EU has joined a host of member states, including Germany, France, Spain, Italy and Poland, in issuing green debt.
17.Which country has pledged of $233 million to protect biodiversity in developing countries, at the key UN biodiversity summit?
India
USA
UK
China
Answer:D
A key UN biodiversity summit, with an aim to protecting biodiversity has commenced in China, which witnessed the participation of delegates from about 195 countries. Discussion on “30 by 30” agenda that would accord 30% of the Earth’s land and oceans protected status by 2030 is being discussed in the summit.
During the summit, Chinese Government has committed and pledged a sum of $233 million into a fund, to protect biodiversity in developing countries.
18.Which department has launched the digital bonds named “ePLI bond”?
Department of Telecom
Department of Posts
Department of Income Tax
Department of Biotechnology
Answer:B
The Department of Posts has launched the digital version of the Postal Life Insurance policy bonds, also termed as “ePLI bond”.
The bond has been launched in collaboration with Digilocker. All Postal Life Insurance subscribers would be able to download the digital copy of their policy bond from digilocker. Both the Postal Life Insurance (PLI) and Rural Postal Life Insurance (RPLI) policy bonds are available in digital form. It shall be treated at par with the original policy bond issued by the Department of Posts.
19.Which institution has released the ‘State of The World’s Hand Hygiene’ report?
WHO and UNICEF
NITI Aayog
Bell and Melinda Gates Foundation
Indian Medical Association
Answer:A
World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF jointly released the 2021 State of The World’s Hand Hygiene report.
As per the report, all households in the world’s 46 least developed countries could have handwashing facilities by 2030 if the world invested less than $1 per person per year, in hand hygiene. An annual cost to governments on promoting handwashing with soap at home comes to 2.5% of the average government health expenditure in these countries.
20.Where is NATO’s headquarters located?
Belgium
USA
Russia
France
Answer:A
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is an intergovernmental military alliance of 30 member countries, of which 28 are European countries and 2 North American Countries. The NATO is headquartered at Brussels, Belgium
Recently, Russia has announced that it is suspending its missions to NATO and that NATO’s military liaison and information offices in Moscow would be closed.
21.Under PMFBY, what is the rate of premium paid by the farmers for Cash crops?
1.5%
2%
5%
10%
Answer:C <5%>
Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), the premium to be paid by farmers is fixed at 1.5% of the sum insured for rabi crops and 2% for Kharif crops, while it is 5% for cash/horticultural crops.
The balance premium is split between the Centre and states. The government has constituted a working group, to roll out an overhauled PMFBY from kharif 2022. The working group will find out reasons for high premium rates and suggest mechanism to rationalize them. This comes at the backdrop of exit of several states from the scheme
22.Which country houses La Lloreria or the Crying Room for promoting mental wellness?
Germany
Italy
Spain
Denmark
Answer:C
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced a 100-million-euro ($116 million) mental healthcare drive, including 24-hour suicide helpline.
La Lloreria, or the Crying Room was inaugurated in Madrid, which aims to remove the attached to mental health, crying and seeking help. As per Government Data, In 2019, as many as 3,671 people died from suicide in Spain. One in 10 adolescents has been diagnosed with a mental health condition.
23.As of October 2021, who is the highest wicket-taker in T20 International cricket?
R Ashwin
Jasprit Bumrah
Shakib Al Hasan
Tim Southee
Answer:C
Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan became the highest wicket-taker in T20 International cricket after he surpassed Lasith Malinga’s tally of 107 wickets.
Shakib has 108 wickets from 89 T20 International games. He is also the only cricketer to have a double of 100 wickets and 1000 plus runs in this format. The third cricketer in the list is New Zealand’s Tim Southee, with 99 wickets.
24.What is the rank of India, in the World Bank’s ease of doing business report, under the construction permits category?
27
49
72
124
Answer:A <27>
In the World Bank’s ease of doing business report, under the construction permits category, India’s rank jumped to 27th out of 190 nations from 181st rank last year.
Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry has recently announced that ‘Online building permission system’, which has been implemented in about 2,500 cities so far, will be made operational across all cities by March next year. This will help improve the ‘Ease of Doing Business’ in the country.
25.NABARD entered into a MoU with which state for facilitation of Rs 13,200 crore infrastructure projects over 3 years?
Telangana
Assam
Kerala
Gujarat
Answer:B
Nabard has recently entered into a MoU with the Assam government for facilitation of Rs 13,200 crore infrastructure projects in the state over a period of three years.
NABARD has also sanctioned Rs 608 crore for different infrastructure projects in rural areas in Assam. The infrastructure projects include rural roads, rural bridges, flood protection projects and soil conservation projects under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) – XXVII.
26.Which country hosted the Second UN Global Sustainable Transport Conference in 2021?
Japan
South Korea
India
China
Answer:D
China played host to the Second UN Global Sustainable Transport Conference in 2021. The conference concluded with the Beijing Statement, which called for “adopting integrated, interdisciplinary, and cross-sectoral approaches, supported by greater international cooperation”.
China’s President Xi Jinping committed to establish a Global Innovation and Knowledge Center for Sustainable Transport as a contribution to global transport development.
27.Konkan Shakti 2021 is the first-ever tri-services joint exercise between India and which country?
UK
USA
France
Japan
Answer:A
Konkan Shakti 2021 is the first-ever tri-services joint exercise between India and the UK. The week-long exercise has begun recently.
The exercise will be a platform to share each other’s experiences and to showcase the cooperation between the two countries. The maritime component of the exercise will be conducted off India’s west coast and the Harbour phase will be held in Mumbai. The land phase of the exercise will be held at Chaubatia in Uttarakhand.
28.IUCN has recently alerted which Indian state on the threats faced by Bengal florican?
West Bengal
Assam
Bihar
Uttarakhand
Answer:B
International Union for Conservation (IUCN), Global conservation body alerted Assam government on the threats faced by Bengal florican.
As per IUCN, Development activities and the state government’s plan to set up a university at Kokilabari seed farm near Manas National Park in Assam has posed a threat to the Bengal florican. IUCN urged that the Kokilabari seed farm, which is a haven for the Bengal florican, should be protected by declaring it a community reserve.
29.As per the 2021 Global Agricultural Productivity Report, what is the annual rate of Total factor productivity (TFP)?
0.50 %
1.36 %
2.50 %
4.00 %
Answer:B <1.36 %>
According to the 2021 Global Agricultural Productivity Report (GAP Report), total factor productivity (TFP) is growing at an annual rate of 1.36 per cent.
This is below the Global Agricultural Productivity Index, whose annual target is at 1.73 per cent growth to sustainably meet the needs of consumers for food and bio-energy in 2050. TFP tracks changes in how efficiently agricultural inputs such as land, labour, fertiliser and machinery are transformed into outputs like crops and aquaculture products.
30.What is the Financial Outlay for the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan?
Rs. 100 crore
Rs. 1000 crore
Rs. 1 lakh crore
Rs. 100 lakh crore
Answer:D
The Union Cabinet has approved the ambitious Rs. 100 lakh crore PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan. The plan was launched by the Prime Minister on October 13, which aims to create multi modal connectivity in India and bring infrastructure under one common platform.
The master plan envisages to create a centralised portal comprising of all infra-activities in India involving 16 central ministries and departments to achieve coordinated planning and project execution.
31.Amended Technology Up-gradation Fund Scheme (ATUFS), is implemented by which Ministry?
Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Textiles
Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Ministry of MSME
Answer:B
The Union Ministry of Textiles introduced the Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS) in 1999 as a credit-linked subsidy scheme. It aimed to modernise, upgrade technology in the sector, promote ease of doing business and increase employment opportunities.
The ongoing Amended TUTS (ATUFS) was approved in 2016 and implemented through web-based iTUFS platform. ATUFS was approved for a period from 2015-16 to 2021-22 with an allocation of Rs 17,822 crore. This scheme was recently reviewed by the Union Textile Ministry
33.What is the total membership of the East Asia Summit, presently?
10
18
23
46
Answer:B <18>
East Asia Summit (EAS) is an intergovernmental forum comprising of 18 members – ASEAN countries (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) along with Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Russia and the USA.
The 16th meeting of the EAS was held recently in a virtual format, in which India was represented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
34.Which country has recently proposed a ‘Wealth Tax’?
India
USA
Russia
Switzerland
Answer:B
US President Joe Biden has announced more conventional proposed rate hikes on the income of large corporations and the wealthiest Americans, similar to a ‘Wealth Tax’.
This new tax would apply to people with over 100 million in income for three straight years. Billionaires would also face an additional tax on non-tradable assets such as real estate and business interests once those assets are sold. This new tax is expected to raise 250 billion.
35.Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve, which was seen in the news recently, is located in which state?
Tamil Nadu
Kerala
Karnataka
Gujarat
Answer:A
Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve includes a chain of islands and adjoining coral reefs off the coasts, located in Tamil Nadu.
The annual migration of birds from the Arctic to the Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve has begun recently. A big flock of birds was sighted in the Manoli Islands inside the park. Thousands of Arctic terns and gulls, hundreds of sand, crab and grey plovers.