Q1.Peechi Wildlife Sanctuary, where a new damselfly species (Protosticta anamalaica) was spotted, is in which state?
[A] Tamil Nadu[B] Kerala
[C] Maharashtra
[D] Karnataka
B – Explanation:
- Entomologists from the Travancore Nature History Society (TNHS) have recently identified the species, Anamalai Reed-tail (Protosticta anamalaica) from the Western Ghats in the Peechi Wildlife Sanctuary in Thrissur.
With this, the number of odonates in Kerala has grown to 182. The insect was first spotted at Ponmudi hills in the Peechi Wildlife Sanctuary of the Munnar landscape. The genus Protosticta Sels consists of slender-built damselflies commonly known as Reed-tails or Shadow-damsels.
Q2.As per the Election Commission, youngsters attaining how many years can apply in advance for electoral cards?
[A] 15[B] 16
[C] 17
[D] 18
C – Explanation:
- As per the Election Commission of India (ECI), those above the age of 17 can now apply in advance for enrolment in the voters’ list.
The electoral roll will be updated every quarter. Earlier, afrer the recommendations of ECI, the Law Ministry amended the Representation of the People Act to provide for four qualifying dates: January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 as the eligibility for youngsters to register in electoral rolls.
Q3.‘The Lulo Rose’, a rare 170-carat pink rough diamond was discovered wt which country?
[A] USA[B] Angola
[C] Japan
[D] New Zealand
B – Explanation:
- A rare 170-carat pink rough diamond weighing 34 grams has been discovered at Lucapa’s Lulo Mine in Angola. Named the ‘Lulo Rose’, it is considered to be the largest pink diamond discovered in the last 300 years.
In 2016, a mining operation yielded a 404-carat white stone named the ‘4th February Stone’. It was the largest ever diamond recovered in Angola.
Q4.Which state is the venue of the India-Oman joint military drill ‘AL NAJAH’?
[A] Maharashtra[B] Rajasthan
[C] Sikkim
[D] Andhra Pradesh
B – Explanation:
- Indian Army and Royal Army of Oman have recently started their 13-day joint military exercise in Rajasthan, India.
The 4th edition of India-Oman joint military drill ‘AL NAJAH’ focuses on Counter Terrorism, Regional Security and Peace Keeping Operations.
Q5.Long March 5B Rocket, which crash landed in Indian Ocean, was launched by which country?
[A] USA[B] China
[C] Russia
[D] Israel
B – Explanation:
- Long March is a flagship series of rockets launched by China. The ‘Long March 5B Rocket’ recently crash-landed near the Indian Ocean.
It was launched in June to deliver the solar-powered Wentian experiment module to China’s Tiangong Space Station. In a statement, NASA said that China did not share specific trajectory information as the Long March 5B rocket fell back to Earth.
Q6.Which country has drafted a constitution which states ‘Nature has rights’?
[A] Sri Lanka[B] Chile
[C] Israel
[D] Saudi Arabia
B – Explanation:
- Chile has democratically drafted a constitution for the first time in Chile’s history. The proposed text was written by a 154-member body elected through a popular vote.
The current 1980 constitution that focuses on private rights and free market principles was written during the Augusto Pinochet military dictatorship. Some of the new features include proposals including the president could be re-elected consecutively once, an entire article for environment stating that ‘nature has rights’ and that animals are ‘subjects of special protection’.
Q7.Rakhigarhi, which was seen in the news recently, is an ancient site located in which state?
[A] Haryana[B] Gujarat
[C] Odisha
[D] Punjab
A – Explanation:
- Twenty heritage sites, including ancient mounds at Haryana’s Rakhigarhi have been identified for the ‘National importance’ tag.
The other sites include Anangtal in Delhi,rock painting at Chintakunta, Andhra Pradesh; rock art site Murgi at Rdanag, Leh; Kaleshwar Mahadev Temple, Himachal Pradesh among others. Rakhigarhi site is one of the “five iconic sites” declared by the Centre in the Union budget 2020-21.
Q8.Which institution developed the ‘Indian Virtual Herbarium’ portal?
[A] Anthropological Survey of India[B] Botanical Survey of India
[C] Forest Survey of India
[D] Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy
B – Explanation:
- Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav inaugurated India’s largest online herbarium database, the ‘Indian Virtual Herbarium’ web portal.
The portal has been developed by the Botanical Survey of India under the framework of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ and ‘Digital India’. Botanical Survey of India is a subordinate office under the Environment Ministry.
Q9.Suresh N Patel was appointed as the head of which institution recently?
[A] Central Bureau of Investigation[B] Central Vigilance Commission
[C] Election Commission of India
[D] Supreme Court of India
B – Explanation:
- Vigilance Commissioner Suresh N Patel was appointed as the Central Vigilance Commissioner. He has been working as the acting Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) since June 2022.
Central Vigilance Commission is a probity watchdog founded in 1964. It works under the jurisdiction of Government of India. Suresh N Patel was sworn in as the chief by President Droupadi Murmu.
Q10.Which state/UT recently organised its Investor Meet along with FICCI, in Dubai?
[A] New Delhi[B] Odisha
[C] West Bengal
[D] Karnataka
B – Explanation:
- The Odisha Investors Meet was jointly organised by the Odisha Government and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) in Dubai.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the event, which aims to strengthen Odisha’s economic ties with the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and to attract investors from the region.
