31) Who among the following has been chosen for Fukuoka Asian Culture Prize 2015 in the Academic Category?
Ans : (3)
1. Neelakanta Sastry
2. Vinodh Mehta
3. Ramachandra Guha
4. Pallavi nair
5. None
Explanation: Historian Ramachandra Guha was on 24 July 2015 chosen for the Fukuoka Asian Culture Prize 2015 in the Academic Category. The prize will be conferred upon him on 17 September 2015 in Fukuoka International Congress Center in Japan, following which the awardees will be deliberating lectures at high-schools and universities across the city.
32) Who is the new Director General of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)?
Ans : (1)
1. Ajay Mathur
2. Ramesh katiyar
3. Arvind saxena
4. Vijay nadur
5. Vurkeri raghava
Explanation: Director General, TERI Dr. R K Pachauri has been removed. He will be replaced by Dr Ajay Mathur. Currently Mr Mathur is Director General of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency. Dr Pachauri was accused of sexual harassment by his junior colleague. Recently a Delhi court allowed Dr Pachauri access to all TERI offices in the country except the ones in Delhi and Gurgaon. Pachauri had shared Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 with former US Vice President Al Gore for work on climate issues. He has led and built The Energy and Resources Institute, TERI, over the last 34 years from a concept to a major, autonomous, professionally dynamic organization on the global stage
33) Which state Assembly has recently passed Right to Services Bill?
Ans : (3)
1. Karnataka
2. Kerala
3. Maharashtra
4. Gujarat
5. Madhya Pradesh
Explanation: The Maharashtra assembly on 14th July passed the historic Right to Services Bill in the absence of the Congress and NCP members. The bill has been unanimously passed by the assembly and will now be tabled in the state council. The bill will empower citizens to avail their rights in stipulated time with less efforts and cost. This bill will pave way for curbing corruption, bringing transparency and empowering citizens. The services will be provided electronically and will be brought on e-Platform
34) The aim of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikash Yojana which was launched by PM Modi is ____
Ans : (1)
1. Providing skill training for youth
2. Providing jobs for youth
3. Upgrading skills of retired employees
4. Promoting scientific agriculture
5. None
Explanation: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 15th July launched the Skill India campaign in New Delhi on first ever World Youth Skills Day. The Prime Minister also formally launched the National Skill Development Mission, and unveiled the National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship 2015. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikash Yojana was also rolled out on an all India basis on the occasion. The Prime Minister said the government has waged a war against poverty through skill development. Under this programme the government helps youth in meeting job requirements, creating self confidence and fill them with renewed vigour. According to the Minister for Skill Development Rajiv Pratap Rudy said, only 3.5 percent of Indian population is skilled and government has set a target to skill 40.02 crore people by 2022.
35) Which of the following states has decided to make IT parks differently abled-friendly?
Ans : (3)
1. Andhra Pradesh
2. Karnataka
3. Telangana
4. Tamilnadu
5. Maharashtra
Explanation: Telangana will soon be the first State in the country to make its IT and ITES buildings differently abled-friendly. In a first-of-its-kind initiative undertaken by the NASSCOM Foundation, 175 companies based out of two IT parks in Hyderabad will go for retrofitting their buildings to suit the needs of differently abled employees. This would mean that companies will have common areas including cafeterias, restrooms, cubicles and elevators with facilities to aid their current and prospective employees who are differently-abled. From entry and exit gates that have ramps to placing biometric devices at accessible heights and washrooms that have handles for wheelchair-bound people, retrofitting is expected to ensure inclusive work environments. Also, efforts are on to make websites of these companies accessible to such persons by including voice features among others.
36) Who will head the expert group for classification of caste data?
Ans : (5)
1. Rangarajan
2. Montek Singh Ahluwalia
3. Arvind Subramanyam
4. Smriti Irani
5. Arvind Panagariya
Explanation: The government on 16th July said it will release the caste census data at an appropriate time. It has set up an expert group headed by NITI Ayog Vice-Chairman Arvind Panagariya to collate caste count to classify this caste data. According to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, the expert group will be serviced by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and Tribal Welfare. Other members will be nominated by the two ministries. The Central Government had decided to collect data on Caste through the SECC vide the then Cabinet`s approval dated 19th May, 2011. The SECC was conducted by the respective State/UT Governments. The field survey on economic data has since been completed and the socio economic data relating to rural areas has been released by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD).
37) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently started a portal NCS. The main aim of this is ____
Ans : (1)
1. Career counseling portal
2. Psychological counseling
3. Jobs information
4. New courses information
5. None
Explanation: Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the inaugural session of 46th Indian Labour Conference in New Delhi launched a career counselling portal NCS. The move is aimed at modernising all government-run employment exchanges and providing an online platform to job seekers and employers. According to a Labour Ministry press release stating way forward for the NCS project, the government has planned integration (of portal) with CBSE database for verification of candidate academic performance. It is also planned to integrate NCS with PAN and TAN database for authentication of employers. Under the NCS project, Labour Ministry is transforming the National Employment Service comprising a network of 978 employment exchanges into NCS by leveraging information technology to improve the delivery of services
38) Union Government has started Deen Dayal Upadhya Gram Jyoti on ____
Ans : (3)
1. July 15th
2. July 21st
3. July 25th
4. July 30th
5. July 12th
Explanation: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated NDA government’s Deen Dayal Upadhya Gram Jyoti Yojana in Patna on 25th July. Through the scheme, the Centre aims to provide uninterrupted electricity supply to each rural household across the nation by 2022. The elements of agricultural and non-agricultural feeders would be separated to restore power units in rural areas. Under the Yojana, there are projects of 76,000 crores rupees out of which subsidy of 63,000 crores rupees will be given by the central government. The Centre has approved a grant of 8,000 crores for the project in Bihar. PM Modi, who is on his maiden visit to Bihar after becoming Prime Minister, also laid foundation of the first phase of the much-awaited Jagdispur-Haldia gas pipeline project. Through this pipeline, LPG customers in Patna will get gas in their homes.
39) How many cricketers discharged in IPL-6 spot fixing case?
Ans : (5)
1. 12
2. 18
3. 26
4. 9
5. 36
Explanation: Former India capped cricketer S Sreesanth and all the other 35 accused persons in the IPL-6 spot fixing case were discharged by a Delhi court. Other two prominent IPL players -- Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan -- who were on bail, like Sreesanth, were also discharged in the case. The three cricketers were representing IPL team Rajasthan Royals when the scandal broke. They were arrested in May 2013 for alleged spot fixing in some matches of IPL 6. However the court had granted bail to Sreesanth, and various others accused for lack of evidence against them. Six persons including underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and his aide Chhota Shakeel were declared proclaimed offenders.
40) In which state, Armed Forces Preparatory institute for girls has been opened recently?
Ans : (4)
1. J & K
2. Manipur
3. Mizoram
4. Punjab
5. Rajasthan
Explanation: Defence minister Manohar parrikar on 25th July dedicated to the nation the state of art Mai Bhago Armed Forces preparatory institute for girls in Mohali. MBAFPI is a project of the Punjab state government to prepare young girls for induction into prestigious National Defence Academy - NDA. This institute is on the lines of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute for boys already being run in Mohali.
41) Which state has made voting compulsory for local body polls?
Ans : (1)
1. Gujarat
2. Mizoram
3. Haryana
4. Uttar Pradesh
5. Uttar Khand
Explanation: Gujarat government has issued a notification making voting compulsory for people of the state during elections to local self governing bodies. The notification would mean that people have to compulsorily vote during the elections of municipal corporations, municipalities, and all village panchayats. The Act has also made provisions to penalize those who fail to vote. However, the notification has not specified what punishment will be given to voters who fail to exercise their franchise. The state government also issued another notification making voting compulsory for elected representatives of local bodies, who would face disqualification if they do not vote.
42) According to United Nations Organization, India to surpass China Population by..?
Ans : (2)
1. 2030
2. 2022
3. 2018
4. 2027
5. 2050
Explanation: According to the United Nations Organization, India will surpass China to become the most populous nation in the world by 2022, six years sooner than previously forecast, and the country is projected to retain the top spot till 2100. The `World Population Prospects: The 2015 Revision` launched at the UN Headquarters in New York yesterday projected that within seven years, the population of India is expected to surpass that of China. Currently, the population of China is approximately 1. 38 billion compared with 1.31 billion in India. Around and after 2022, India`s population is projected to continue growing for several decades to 1.5 billion in 2030 and 1.7 billion in 2050, while the population of China is expected to remain fairly constant until the 2030s, after which it is expected to slightly decrease. According to the forecast issued in 2013, India was expected to surpass China`s population by 2028 but the latest report predicts that India will overtake its Asian rival six years early by 2022.
43) At present, the forest coverage in India is ____
Ans : (3)
1. 14%
2. 33%
3. 21%
4. 6%
5. 48%
Explanation: In India there has been a net increase of 5871 square kilometres in the country’s forest cover. The total forest cover in the country is 697,898 square kilometres which is over 21 per cent of its total geographical area. Among the metropolitan cities, Delhi tops with 180 square kilometres of forests followed by Bangalore with 97 square kilometres, Hyderabad with 88 square kilometres. Mumbai has over 86 square kilometres of forest area while Chandigarh‘s forest cover stands at 34 square kilometres
44) Yakub Memon, who was hanged recently was convicted in ___
Ans : (1)
1. 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case
2. Pune Bomb blast cases
3. 2008 Mumbai attack case
4. Hyderabad bomb cases
5. None
Explanation: Yakub Memon, the lone 1993 Mumbai serial blasts convict whose death sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court, was hanged to death at Nagpur Central Jail early 30th July. Memon was hanged at Nagpur Central Prison at 7 am, the hour set by the TADA court for execution of his death warrant, that came under repeated challenge by his legal team.
45) National Handloom Day was celebrated on____
Ans : (5)
1. 1st August
2. 25th July
3. 6th July
4. 14th August
5. 7th August
Explanation: The Centre has declared 7th August as National Handloom Day beginning from this year throughout the country. Informing this on 31st July, Textiles Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar said, the first National Handloom Day will be launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Chennai on 7th August.
46) India’s first harbor defence system will be commissioned in ____
Ans : (2)
1. Vishakapatnam
2. Kochi
3. Kolkata
4. Mumbai
5. Tuticorn
Explanation: In Kochi, the integrated underwater harbour defence and surveillance system was commissioned on 31st July to strengthen security in the western coastline. According to Defence sources, this system is first of its kind in the country and also part of Navy’s initiative to strengthen coastal security. The system was inaugurated by Chief of Southern Naval Command Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba. The integrated harbour defence system commissioned is capable of detecting, identifying, tracking and generating warning for all types of surface and underwater threats to harbour security. It was designed by Israel Aerospace Industries and consists of advance coastal surveillance radars, sensors and sound navigation and ranging systems.
47) Which of the following state/UT has recently notified a policy regarding protection of witnesses?
Ans : (3)
1. Kerala
2. West Bengal
3. Delhi
4. Pondicherry
5. Goa
Explanation: Delhi Government has notified a policy regarding protection of witnesses with provisions for a protection. The AAP government said that the Delhi Witness Protection Scheme will ensure protection of witnesses in crucial cases. According to the Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi becomes the first state to notify such policy. Delhi High court in 2013 had directed Delhi government to frame a witness protection policy to provide guidelines and principles which the police, prosecution and executive agencies will have to follow for protection of witnesses. According to officials, the policy envisages categorisation of witnesses, creation of witness protection fund, types of protection and procedure for processing such request by the competent authority
48) With which of the following countries India has signed an agreement in the field of election management?
Ans : (2)
1. Srilanka
2. Georgia
3. Tanzania
4. Australia
5. Nepal
Explanation: India and Georgia have signed a MoU in New Delhi, for cooperation in the field of election management and administration. The MoU was signed by the Chief Election Commissioner of India, Dr. Nasim Zaidi and Chairperson, Central Election Commission of Georgia, Ms Tamar Zhvania on 13th July. The major aims of the MoU are, promotion of exchanges of knowledge and experience in electoral processes, exchange of information, materials, expertise and training of personnel, production and distribution of materials pertaining to electoral systems, voting technology, voters’ education and awareness and participation of women and minorities in electoral process. Election Commission of India has so far signed twenty MOUs with Election Management Bodies and international organizations across the world. Some of the MoUs signed recently are with the Kyrgyz Republic, Yemen, Mauritius, Egypt, Venezuela and Republic of Korea.
49) India has given a grant recently to Satyajit Ray centre, which is located in ____
Ans : (5)
1. Britain
2. Russia
3. Japan
4. South Korea
5. USA
Explanation: India has given a grant of 50,000 U.S. dollars to the Satyajit Ray Film and Study Centre at the University of California, Santa Cruz, USA for conducting lectures, workshops and film screenings. Likewise, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Washington, D.C. has been given 70,000 U.S. dollars to support a lecture series on rising India. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj gave this information in the Rajya Sabha 30th July. She said India has also given 1.5 million U.S. dollars to the University of Chicago to enrich its Vivekananda Chair for promoting the study of Indian sub-continent as also for research and teaching of India’s history and culture
50) With how many astronauts, the spacecraft Soyuz is launched towards the International Space Station on 23rd July’15?
Ans : (3)
1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4
5. 5
Explanation: after a two-month delay caused by a Russian rocket failure , The spacecraft blasted off on schedule from Russia`s Baikonur cosmodrome in the barren Kazakh steppe, carrying cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko, NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren and Kimiya Yui of Japan. The three astronauts were originally scheduled to travel to the orbiting lab in late May but Russia put all space travel on hold after the failure of the unmanned Progress freighter taking cargo to the ISS in late April.