29 July 2023

Q1. DRDO launched the testing, evaluation facility for sonar systems of Indian Navy in which city?

• B – Explanation:

Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) launched the hull module of the Submersible Platform for Acoustic Characterization and Evaluation (SPACE) facility at Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) in Kochi.
It is a testing and evaluation facility for sonar systems developed for use by the Indian Navy onboard various platforms.

Q2.Which Union Ministry maintains an index named ‘Sugam’ on drug licenses issued to companies?

• B – Explanation:

The Ministry of Health maintains `Sugam’, an index of drug licenses issued to companies by state FDAs.
The government is setting up a comprehensive database of drug formulations manufactured and marketed in the country. This is a corrective action to address the issue of quality monitoring and regulatory policing, after the deaths of kids in Gambia on consumption of India-made medicines.

Q3. How many Indian women are featured in the Forbes ‘Asia’s Power Businesswomen’ list?

• B – Explanation:

Forbes Asia unveiled its annual ‘Asia’s Power Businesswomen’ list which features 20 women from the Asia-Pacific region.
The three Indian businesswomen who feature in the list are Ghazal Alagh, co-founder, Honasa Consumer, Soma Mondal, the first woman to chair SAIL and Namita Thapar, Executive Director, India business, Emcure Pharma.

Q4.Which Union Ministry declared the databases related to Census and National Population Register (NPR) as critical information infrastructure?

• B – Explanation:

The Union home ministry has declared certain databases related to the Census and the National Population Register (NPR) as critical information infrastructure.
The decision has been taken after exercising the powers conferred to it under the Information Technology Act, 2000, (amended 2008). The computer resources of all associated dependencies of the entities have also been declared as ‘protected systems’ under the law.

Q5.‘Indian Biological Data Center’ (IBDC) has been inaugurated in which state?

• B – Explanation:

Union Minister of state for Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh inaugurated India’s first national repository for life science data ‘Indian Biological Data Center’ (IBDC) at Faridabad, Haryana.
IBDC is established at Regional Centre of Biotechnology (RCB), Faridabad with a data ‘Disaster Recovery’ site at National Informatics Centre (NIC), Bhubaneshwar. It has a data storage capacity of about 4 petabytes and the ‘Brahm’ High Performance Computing (HPC) facility.

Q6.BSNL has received approval for a deal with which company to launch 4G services in India?

• C – Explanation:

The Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has received the central government’s nod to go ahead with Rs 26,281 crore deal with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), to launch 4G services in India.
TCS will set up the 4G lines and maintain the network for nine years. The state-run company will aim to launch its 4G services by December 2022 or January 2023.

Q7.What is the name of India’s first privately developed rocket?

• B – Explanation:

India’s first privately developed rocket, named Vikram-S is set to be launched on a sub-orbital mission with three payloads.
Hyderabad-based space startup Skyroot Aerospace will become the first private space company in India to launch a rocket into space.  The mission named ‘Prarambh’ will carry payloads of two Indian and one foreign customer and is set for launch from ISRO’s launchpad at Sriharikota.

Q8.Which state has ordered complete ban on public display of weapons and songs glorifying violence?

• B – Explanation:

Punjab’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government ordered a complete ban on public display of weapons and songs glorifying violence.
The order also directed that a complete ban will be imposed in carrying or showing off weapons in public gatherings, religious places, functions or other events.

Q9.Which country organised the ‘Cities Creditworthiness Academy Workshop.’?

• D – Explanation:

India’s Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance (MoF), Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA); and the World Bank Group jointly organised a 5-day Cities Creditworthiness Academy Workshop.
The aim is to create an enabling ecosystem for financing future cities of India. It is focused on the theme ‘Vision of Future Cities and Role of Municipal Financing’

Q10.‘Wangala Festival’ or ‘100 drums festival’ is the most popular festival of which state?

• A – Explanation:

Wangala Festival of Meghalaya is a most popular festival among the Garos of Meghalaya state.
Wangala Festival is a harvest festival held in honour of Saljong, the Sun-god. Also known as a 100 drums festival, Wangala Festival is the occasion when the tribals offer sacrifices to their main deity Saljong – the Sun God.