11.Which country recently passed the Patriotic Bill that prohibits criticism of the government prior to elections?
[A] India
[B] Zimbabwe
[C] China
[D] North Korea
Answer: B [Zimbabwe]
Notes:
Zimbabwe’s Parliament recently passed the Patriotic Bill that prohibits criticism of the government prior to the presidential and parliamentary elections in August.
The violation of this law would mean imprisonment for up to 20 years. It criminalizes speech that harms “the country’s positive image and integrity or reputation
12.Which country approved a Law to Tackle Loneliness and Social Isolation?
[A] Israel
[B] Ukraine
[C] Japan
[D] Germany
Answer: C [Japan]
Notes:
The Japanese Parliament Diet’s upper chamber recently approved a legislation to tackle loneliness and social isolation. It will come to effect on April 1 next year.
In a survey conducted by the government in 2022 for people age 16 or over nationwide, 40.3% of all respondents said that they had felt lonely.
13.Which institution released a report titled ‘Derailment in Indian Railways’?
[A] NITI Aayog
[B] Railway Board
[C] Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG)
[D] Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC)
Answer: C [Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG)]
Notes:
A report titled ‘Derailment in Indian Railways’ was released in 2022 by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG). This report flagged several shortcomings and provided multiple recommendations to improve the safety of the Indian Railways. It highlighted shortfalls in inspections and failures to use a dedicated railway fund on priority tasks.
14.As of June 2023, Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act required which institutions to be registered under it?
[A] Hospitals
[B] AYUSH Wellness Centres
[C] Hair Transplant Centres
[D] Skin and Cosmetology Clinics
Answer: A [Hospitals]
Notes:
The Indian government is planning to bring hair transplant centres, skin and cosmetology clinics, dental cosmetology clinics and therapy centres under the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act.
At present, this Act currently requires only hospitals to be registered under it.
15.‘Black-veined white butterfly’ was recently spotted in which city?
[A] New Delhi
[B] London
[C] New York
[D] Paris
Answer: B [London]
Notes:
The Black-veined white butterfly (Aporia Crataegi), which became extinct in Britain a century ago, made a reappearance recently in London.
They were first labelled as a British species back in 1667. The Butterflies look like the Garden cabbage whites that can be spotted flying in Britain each summer.
16.Osimertinib is a new drug capable of cutting the risk of death from which disease?
[A] COVID 19
[B] Lung Cancer
[C] Brain Diseases
[D] Liver Diseases
Answer: B [Lung Cancer]
Notes:
The Osimertinib is a new drug capable of cutting the risk of death from lung cancer by half. Lung cancer accounts for around 1.8 million deaths each year.
Taking the drug daily after surgery reduced non-small cell lung cancer patients’ death risk by more than 50%.
17.Strawberry Moon is the full moon of which month?
[A] June
[B] July
[C] August
[D] September
Answer: A [June]
Notes:
June’s full moon, also known as the Strawberry Moon, rose on June 3. The moon will then reach new moon on June 18, at which point it will be totally lost in the sun’s glare.
The next full moon, July’s Buck Moon, will rise on Monday, July 3.
18.Which is the only human species except Homo sapiens and Neanderthals, which was engaged in burial practices?
[A] Homo naledi
[B] Homo erectus
[C] Homo antecessor
[D] Homo floresiensis
Answer: A [Homo naledi]
Notes:
New findings by paleoanthropologists indicate that Homo naledi, an extinct human species from long ago, may have engaged in burial practices and symbolic carving in caves.
These behaviors were previously attributed only to Homo sapiens and Neanderthals.
19.‘Devankanam Charuharitham’ project is associated with which state/UT?
[A] Karnataka
[B] Kerala
[C] Odisha
[D] Assam
Answer: B [Kerala]
Notes:
Kerala has initiated a unique approach to address climate change and its adverse effects by implementing a project to enhance the greenery in over 3,000 temples managed by the state’s five Devaswom Boards.
The project, named ‘Devankanam Charuharitham’ (Beautiful Green Abodes of God), aims to improve water resources by restoring abandoned temple ponds and safeguarding sacred groves throughout the state.
20.As per the ‘World Bank’s Latest Global Economic Prospects Report’, what is the growth rate of the global economy in 2023?
[A] 2.1%
[B] 2.5%
[C] 2.7%
[D] 3.0%
Answer: A [2.1%] Notes:
The World Bank’s most recent Global Economic Prospects report predicts that the global economy will experience a growth rate of 2.1% in 2023, compared to 3.1% in 2022.
The report also highlights that trade in 2023 is expected to expand at a significantly slower pace, less than one-third of its pre-pandemic levels.