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1.Which country has joined the International D. Denmark Solar Alliance (ISA) after signing the amended ISA Framework Agreement? 7.Who has been appointed as the new Director A. General (DG) of the Central Reserve Police Force B. Germany (CRPF)? C. Spain A. Kuldiep Singh D. Belgium B. M.A. Ganapathy C. Kumar Rajesh Chandra 2.Who has authored the book titled “The Pain- D. Surjeet Singh Deswal Free Mindset: 7 Steps to Taking Control and Overcoming Chronic Pain”? 8.Who has been appointed as the new Director A. Dr. Ravi Rajagopal General (DG) of the National Security Guard B. Dr. Prathap C Reddy (NSG)? C. Dr. Randeep Guleria A. Kuldiep Singh D. Dr. Deepak Ravindran B. M.A. Ganapathy C. Kumar Rajesh Chandra 3.Which state government announced to launch D. Surjeet Singh Deswal Universal Health Scheme (UHS) called “Mukhya Mantri Chiranjeevi Yojana”? 9.Who has authored the book titled “My Life in A. Punjab Full: Work, Family and Our Future”? B. Chhattisgarh A. Kiran Majumdar Shaw C. Rajasthan B. Indra Nooyi D. Madhya Pradesh C. Roshni Nadar D. Chanda Kochar 4.NITI Aayog has partnered with which cloud computing web service provider to train 10.India’s first centralised air-conditioned (AC) students on the fundamentals of cloud railway terminal has been built in which city? computing through Atal Tinkering Labs? A. New Delhi B. Bengaluru A. Amazon Web Services C. Ahmedabad D. Jaipur B. Microsoft Azure C. Google Cloud 11.4th Global Ayurveda Festival (GAF) was D. IBM Cloud inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi in which city of India? 5.Who has been appointed as the Chairman of A. Jaipur, Rajasthan the international body Stop TB Partnership B. Shimla, Himachal Pradesh Board? C. Dehradun, Uttarakhand A. Dr. Rajesh Bhushan D. Kozhikode, Kerala B. Dr. Harsh Vardhan 12.Which state government has launched “Maha C. Dr. Randeep Guleria Samruddhi Mahila Sashaktikaran scheme” to D. Prathap C. Reddy empower the women in rural areas? A. Gujarat B. Maharshtra 6.Prime minister Narendra Modi held a virtual C. Rajasthan summit with his counterpart Sana Marin, the D. Madhya Pradesh prime minister of which country? A. Norway 13.Which country will host the climate and B. Sweden Development Summit to be held in March 2021? C. Finland A. Germany

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B. France D. Amir Khan C. D. 20.What is India’s rank Globally in the latest Economic Freedom Index 2021 published by US 14.Who has been awarded the best allrounder in conservative think-tank, The Heritage the ICC Test ranking 2021? Foundation? A. Ben Stokes A. 14th B. Ravindra Jadeja B. 119th C. Jason Holder C. 121st D. Shakib Al Hasan D. 123rd

15.International Conference on Multifunctional 21.The second edition of the joint military Electronic Materials & Processing (MEMP 2021) exercise ‘Dustlik’ was convened between India was held in which city of India? and Uzbekistan in which state of India? A. Bengaluru A. Punjab B. Pune B. Rajasthan C. Nagpur C. Himachal Pradesh D. Kanpur D. Uttarakhand

16.The International Shooting Sport Federation 22.Which country ranked at top among (ISSF) Shotgun World Cup 2021 was held in developing countries in the new country- ______. readiness index 2021 released by the United A. Doha, Qatar Nations Conference on Trade and Development B. Cairo, Egypt (UNCTAD) in its ‘Technology and Innovation C. Dubai, UAE Report 2021’? D. Moscow, Russia A. Indonesia 17.Uttarakhand Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) B. India signed an MoU with which technology giant to C. improve the education standards among the D. Ukraine female children of the state? A. Google 23.Who has been appointed as the Brand B. IBM Ambassador of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals C. Microsoft Limited? D. Intel A. Rohit Sharma B. Sachin Tendulkar 18.Which country has developed world’s most C. Rahul Dravid powerful supercomputer ‘Fugaku’? D. Virat Kohli A. China B. South Korea 24.Which country hosted the multinational C. Japan Exercise Desert Flag-VI for the first time? D. Philippines A. France B. Saudi Arabia 19.Who will be conferred with the International C. UAE Federation of Film Archives (FIAF) Award 2021? D. Bahrain A. Anupam Kher B. Paresh Rawal C. Amitabh Bachchan

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25.Which entity has organized ‘India Telecom D. Cory Booker 2021’ – an Exclusive International Business Expo under Market Access Initiative Scheme (MAI)? 31.Who received the Best Woman Boxer of the A. Telecom Equipment & Services Export Tournament Award at the 30th Youth Promotion Council (TEPC) International Boxing Tournament ‘Adriatic B. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Pearl’? C. Department of Telecommunication A. Vinka B. Alfiya Pathan D. Association of Competitive Telecom Operators C. Gitika D. Lucky Rana (ACTO) 32.Who is the chairman of the reconstituted 26.The International Business Machines (IBM) governing council of the National Institution for India partnered with which state government to Transforming India or NITI Aayog? provide free online courses to students, Job A. Narendra Modi seekers & Entrepreneurs of the state? B. Nirmala Sitharaman A. Maharshtra C. Amitabh Kant B. Uttar Pradesh D. VK Saraswat C. Chhattisgarh 33.Which state will host the Indian Women’s D. Goa League (IWL)? A. Madhya Pradesh B. Haryana 27.Which country India described as the C. Karnataka “Priority One” partner in the defence sphere? D. Odisha A. Saudi Arabia B. Iran 34.Who has been chosen for CERAWeek Global C. Nepal Energy and Environment Leadership Award D. Sri Lanka 2021 for in recognition of his commitment to sustainability in the energy and the 28.Who inaugurated the second edition of environment? 'Maritime India Summit 2021'? A. Dharmendra Pradhan A. Narendra Modi B. Narendra Modi B. Nitin Gadkari C. Prakash Javadekar C. Vijay Rupani D. Nirmala Sitharaman D. Mansukh Mandaviya 35.Which country successfully test fired anti- 29.Verteran parliamentarian Nand Kumar Singh tank guided missile “Helena” and “Dhruvastra” Chauhan passed away recently, he was Lok recently? Sabha MP from which party? A. India A. Congress B. Pakistan B. BJP C. Nepal C. Shiva Sena D. Japan D. BSP 36.India’s first Forest Healing centre was 30.Who has authored the book titled “Joe Biden: inaugurated in which state? American Dreamer” a biography of American A. Odisha President, Joe Biden? B. Uttarakhand A. Pete Buttigieg C. Madhya Pradesh B. Hunter Biden D. Jharkhand C. Evan Osnos

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37.Which country is going to set up a Center of 43.Who is present Principal Scientific Advisor Excellence for the dairy sector in Rajasthan? (PSA) whose term has been extended by one A. Belgium B. Denmark year? C. D. New Zealand A. Rajagopala Chidambaram B. Vijay Raghavan 38.Who has been appointed as Chairman of Asia C. VK Atre Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association D. W. Selvamurthy (APRACA)? A. Tarun Bajaj 44.Name the Indian shooter who has won the B. Naureen Hassan gold medal in the men’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions C. G R Chintala event at the ISSF World Cup in New Delhi? D. Srikant Datar A. Anish Bhanwala B. Arpit Goel 39.What was the theme for the 76th Annual C. Prithviraj Tondaiman Conference of Association of Physicians of India D. Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar (API)? A. ‘Contribution of Physicians to Atma Nirbhar 45.What is India’s rank in the among 53 global Bharat’ economies on the latest annual edition of the B. ‘Engaging Minds: Empowering Medicine’ International Intellectual Property (IP) Index C. ‘Praising and Empowering the Physicians’ released by the US Chamber of Commerce Global D. ‘Empowering Medicals, Empowering Nation’ Innovation Policy Centre (GIPC)? A. 34th 40.Name the Indian shuttler who won silver B. 38th medal in the BWF Swiss Open Super 300 in C. 40th Basel? D. 42nd A. Saina Nehwal B. PV Sindhu 46.According to the report by C. Ashwini Ponnappa ‘India:Transforming to a net-zero emissions D. P.C Thulasi energy system’ released by TERI and Shell, the Net Zero emissions in energy system in India is 41.Which state government has organized a achievable by ______. ‘Banana Festival’ to make Prime Minister A. 2025 Narendra Modi’s plan for a self-reliant India? B. 2030 A. Andhra Pradesh C. 2035 B. Bihar D. 2050 C. Madhya Pradesh D. Uttar Pradesh 47.Which state has been emerged as the Champion State for Van Dhan Vikas Yojana? 42.Who has been appointed as the Chairman of A. Chhattisgarh the Airports Authority of India (AAI) under the B. Jharkhand Ministry of Civil Aviation? C. Odisha A. Kshatrapati Shivaji D. Manipur B. Sanjeev Kumar C. G P Samanta 48.With which country India signed a D. Pravin Srivastava Memorandum of Cooperation (MoU) aimed at achieving water security, improved irrigation facility and sustainability in water resources development?

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A. France 54.Which film has won the best feature film B. Japan award at the 67th National Film Award C. Germany ceremony? D. Australia A. Panga B. Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi. 49.Name the e-Tendering Portal established by C. Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited D. Chhichhore (POWERGRID), a central PSU under Ministry of Power? 55.Who has been conferred with the Gandhi A. PRINT Peace Prize for the year 2019? B. PRANIT A. Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said C. PRANITI B. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman D. PRAMPARA C. Donald Trump D. Yohei Sasakawa 50.India’s Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has signed an MoU with which country’s 56.Who has been conferred with the Gandhi Independent Administrative Reforms and Civil Peace Prize for the year 2020? Services Commission (IARCSC) to share A. Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said experience and expertise in the area of B. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman recruitment, books, manuals and other C. Donald Trump documents? D. Yohei Sasakawa A. Pakistan B. Afghanistan 57.Under whose chairmanship the Reserve Bank C. Iran of India has announced the setting up of a D. Nepal standing external advisory committee (SEAC) to evaluate applications for universal banks and 51.How many foreign satellites has been small finance banks? launched by Russia for 18 countries from the A. B Mahapatra Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan? B. Shyamala Gopinath A. 24 C. T.N. Manoharan B. 28 D. Revathy Iyer C. 30 D. 38 58.Under whose chairmanship the government of India has set up a high-level taskforce to lay a 52.Which country’s branch of the Red Cross has roadmap for enforcement of contracts? sponsored and launched the world’s first A. Rajiv Kumar Catastrophe Bond (cat bond) for Volcano-related B. Amitabh Kant disasters with the support of several financial C. VK Saraswat firms? D. Rajiv Mahrishi A. Italy 59.What is India’s rank in the UN World B. France Happiness Report 2021 released by the United C. Denmark Nations Sustainable Development Solutions D. Germany Network? 53.What edition of National Film Award A. 128th announced this year (2021)? B. 130th A. 65th B. 66th C. 139th C. 67th D. 68th D. 140th

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66.Which state government has launched India's 60.Which state government has launched the first govt-run ambulance network for animals? ‘Mission Gramodaya’ under which housing A. Andhra Pradesh facilities will be provided in rural areas along B. Himachal Pradesh with basic and fundamental infrastructure? C. Uttar Pradesh A. Jharkhand D. Madhya Pradesh B. Uttar Pradesh C. Madhya Pradesh 67.Who has been appointed as the Chairman and D. Rajasthan Managing Director, Food Corporation of India? A. Sanjeev Kumar 61.Cricketer Gary Wilson announced retirement B. Saurbah Garg from International Cricket. He belongs to which C. Satyendra Garg country? D. Atish Chandra A. New Zealand B. Ireland 68.Who has been appointed as the Chief C. Australia Executive Officer (CEO) of Unique Identification D. The Netherlands Authority of India (UIDAI)? A. Sanjeev Kumar 62.Renowned personality GV Ramakrishna B. Saurbah Garg passed away recently, he was former C. Satyendra Garg chairman/head of which institution? D. Rajat Datta A. Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) B. Insurance Regulatory and Development 69.“Indo-Korean Bilateral Friendship Park” has Authority of India (IRDAI) been inaugurated in which city of India? C. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India A. New Delhi B. Chandigarh D. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) C. Jaipur D. Dehradun

63.According to a study released by the defence 70.Who will be conferred with the prestigious website ‘Military Direct’ which country has the Vyas Samman – 2020? strongest military force in the world? A. Sharad Pagare A. China B. India B. Mamta Kalla C. USA D. Russia C. Leeladhar 64.India’s military force comes at what position, D. Sunita Jain as per the study report released by defence website ‘Military Direct’? 71.World's first ship tunnel, is being built in A. 1st B. 2nd which country? C. 3rd D. 4th A. Norway B. Sweden C. Denmark D. Germany 65.Which state government has signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ITC 72.Who is the Director General UNESCO with to execute a Watershed Programme covering whom Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal over one million acres in the southern state? Nishank held a virtual meeting? A. Andhra Pradesh A. Henrietta H. Fore B. Karnataka B. Audrey Azoulay C. Tamil Nadu C. Alison Evans D. Madhya Pradesh D. David R. Malpass

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73.Which became the first Airport in South India A. Ever Green to have a fully operational parallel runway? B. Ever Given A. Chennai International Airport, Chennai C. COSCO B. Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad D. Madrid Maersk C. Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru 75.Which state is set to become India’s 1st State D. Cochin International Airport, Cochin to have 2 Green Energy Efficient towns? A. Jharkhand 74.What is the name of the huge cargo ship that B. Odisha was stuck near the southern end of the Suez C. Bihar Canal due to a mishap caused by bad weather? D. Madhya Pradesh ANSWERS 1. Ans. A. • The book states that the general public and • Italy joined the International Solar Alliance healthcare professional has to create the mindset (ISA) (also known as International Agency for that pain is an evolutionary mechanism of safety Solar Policy and Application (IASPA)) after and not a sign of danger. signing the amended ISA Framework Agreement. 3. Ans. C. Vincenzo de Luca, Ambassador of Italy to India • Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot signed the Italian membership to the ISA. announced to launch much anticipated Universal • The new ISA Framework Agreement came into Health Scheme (UHS) “Mukhya Mantri force on January 8, 2021. Chiranjeevi Yojana”. • Under the new amended framework, the • The scheme will be launched on May 1, 2021. membership of ISA is open to all member states • In his budget speech Gehlot had announced of the United Nations. Previously, it was open to UHS with Rs 3,500 crore in the upcoming countries that were partially or entirely located financial year wherein cashless health services within the Tropics. up to Rs 5 lakh will be provided to all families in • The signed copies of the agreement were the state. received by an additional secretary (ER) as 4. Ans. A. representative of MEA. MEA is the depositary of • IT major Amazon Web Services (AWS) and NITI the ISA Framework Agreement. Aayog announced a tie-up to train students on 2. Ans. D. the fundamentals of cloud computing through • Dr. Deepak Ravindran, the lead of Pain therapy Atal Tinkering Labs. at Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, United • A statement of intent (SoI) was signed between Kingdom (UK) has authored a book titled “The Niti Aayog and Amazon Internet Services Private Pain-Free Mindset: 7 Steps to Taking Control and Limited (AISPL), which undertakes the resale Overcoming Chronic Pain”. and marketing of AWS Cloud services in India, to • The book was published by Vermillion, an roll out the project. imprint of Penguin. • The education and tools will establish a strong • This is the first book by a medical physician in foundation in cloud computing for students of the UK in the past 15 years to provide an Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) across India, while overview that new scientific advances in the support of AWS EdStart for startups will understanding the nervous system will support accelerate their productisation and potential us in overcoming pain. commercialization. • The book was commissioned by Vermillion in • Under the program, AWS will introduce the 2020 fundamentals of cloud computing such as cloud • The book describes MINDSET as an acronym storage, virtual compute power, web hosting, for Medication, Intervention, Nervous system, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning Diet, Sleep, Exercise and Therapies.

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(ML), and virtual reality (VR), to students at * His appointment is up to February 29, 2024. more than 7,000 ATLs in India. * The post of DG, NSG has been vacant since last 5. Ans. B. October when the then DG A.K. Singh retired. * Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare 9. Ans. B. Dr Harsh Vardhan has been appointed as the * Padma Bhushan awardee Indra Nooyi, the Chairman of the international body Stop TB former CEO of PepsiCo is set to publish her Partnership Board. memoir titled “My Life in Full: Work, Family and * He was appointed in recognition of his Our Future”. The book is set to be published by outstanding contribution to the movement to Portfolio books on September 28. The book will eradicate Tuberculosis from India by 2025. feature both the personal and professional life of * Dr Harsh Vardhan will serve a three-year term, Indra Nooyi. commencing from July this year. * The book features the life of Indra Nooyi from * The Stop TB Partnership is a unique her childhood in India to her life at Yale international body with the power to align actors University as an immigrant to her life as a person all over the world in the fight against TB. of colour in the elite corporate world. * The participation of a wide range of * The book also features her work-life balance constituencies gives this global body the between being a mother of 2 and working at credibility and the broad range of medical, social PepsiCo. and financial expertise needed to defeat TB. 10. Ans. B. * The Partnership’s vision is a TB-free world. * India’s first centralised air-conditioned (AC) 6. Ans. C. railway terminal has been built at * India-Finland Virtual Summit 2021 was held Baiyappanahalli in Bengaluru. between India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi * It is named after ‘Bharat Ratna Sir M & Finland’s Prime Minister Sanna Marin. Visvesvaraya’, one of the foremost civil * India & Finland had announced a new engineers, and set to become operational soon. partnership in the fields of ICT, Mobile * It has been built at an estimated cost of Rs 314 Technology, Digital Education clean energy crore. investment and evolution of 6G. * Byappanahalli terminal is the 3rd coach * Both sides noted that Digital Domain was one terminal and is equipped with all the modern of the promising sectors for an intensive India- facilities and is aimed to offer an airport-like Finland partnership. aura to the passengers. 7. Ans. A. 11. Ans. D. * Senior IPS officer Kuldiep Singh has been * Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate appointed as the new Director General (DG) of the fourth Global Ayurveda Festival (GAF) in Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Kozhikode, Kerala * Mr. Singh is currently Special DG of CRPF where * It has been organized from 12 to 19 March 2021 the post of DG is vacant following * GAF is the largest Ayurvedic event ever held superannuation of A.P. Maheshwari on February anywhere across the world and witness the 28th. largest gathering of experts, stakeholders, and * Mr Singh is a 1986 batch officer of West Bengal business explorers from Ayurveda. cadre. * Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FICCI) is the festival and industry partner. 8. Ans. B. 12. Ans. B. * Senior IPS officer M.A. Ganapathy of • The Government of Maharashtra launched the Uttarakhand cadre (1986) has been appointed as “Maha Samruddhi Mahila Sashaktikaran the Director General (DG) of National Security scheme” to empower the women in rural areas. Guard (NSG).

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• The scheme commenced on 8th March 2021, • Materials required for energy storage, energy the International women’s Day 2021. generation, Nanostructured materials, Quantum • The aim of the scheme is to promote the listing dots, Sensors, Neutrino Energy Conversion of wife’s name along with husbands’ names on /storage. the 7/12 extract and to promote the inclusion of • Flexible devices, Photonic devices and wife’s name on house property documents. processing techniques like Additive 13. Ans. D. Manufacturing (3D printing) will be discussed. • Countries that are most vulnerable to the • Sanjay Dhotre, the Union Minister of State for impacts of climate change will be the focus of a Education, Communications, Electronics & UK summit next month, as part of the road to Information Technology, Government of India, COP26 in Glasgow this year. inaugurated the conference. • Many developing countries are experiencing 16. Ans. B. the impacts of climate change – including • The International Shooting Sport Federation flooding, drought and extreme temperatures. (ISSF) Shotgun World Cup 2021 was held in These countries are also facing challenges Cairo, Egypt from February 22-March 5,2021. caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the • The Shotgun tournament took place for resulting financial pressures. disciplines of Trap Shooting & Skeet Shooting. • The Climate and Development Ministerial will • The Indian Women’s Trap Team trio of Kirti bring together countries and partners to focus on Gupta, Manisha Keer & Rajeshwari Kumari won how we work together on these issues and the Silver medal in the event. They were defeated prevent them from getting worse. This includes by Russia in the Final. through mitigating the impacts of climate • Men’s Skeet Team Wins Bronze change, debt relief and access to finance. • The Indian Trio of Mairaj Ahmed Khan, Angad • The event, which will be hosted by the UK and Vir Singh Bajwa & Gurjoat Khangura won the co-chaired by the COP President, Alok Sharma Bronze Medal in Men’s skeet team event at the and the Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, will be ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Cairo. convened virtually on the 31st March. Anne- • Russia won the Gold Medal while Czech Marie Trevelyan, the UK International Champion Republic won the Silver medal. on Adaptation and Resilience for COP26, will also 17. Ans. B. attend. • The Uttarakhand unit of the Samagra Shiksha 14. Ans. C. Abhiyan (SSA) signed an MoU with IBM to • In ICC Test All-rounders Ranking Jason Holder improve the education standards among the ranked at top followed by Ravindra Jadeja, Ben female children of the state. Stokes, Shakib Al Hasan and Ravichandran • he collaboration, 'IBM STEM for Girls' program, Ashwin will be introduced in 130 secondary and higher 15. Ans. B. secondary schools across five districts in the • Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology state. (C-MET), Pune organized an International • The five districts are Dehradun, Pauri, Conference on Multifunctional Electronic Haridwar, Almora and Udham Singh Nagar. Materials & Processing (MEMP 2021) at Pune, • The program will advance the skills and careers India during 8-10 March 2021. of close to 25,600 students in Science, • MEMP-2021 provided an opportunity to Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) scientists, researchers, academicians and young fields. students to interact with eminent • The collaboration is part of a three-year scientists/technologists working in the field of program between IBM and Uttarakhand State multifunctional electronic materials for various Government with the American India applications & their processing for making Foundation as the implementation partner to devices.

10 www.gradeup.co increase the participation of girls and women in • The armies of Indian and Uzbekistan took part STEM careers. in the joint military exercise ‘Dustlik’ recreating 18. Ans. C. Kashmir-like counter-terror operations in • The world’s most powerful supercomputer Chaubatia near Ranikhet in Uttarakhand. Fugaku is now fully developed in Japan, and the • The second edition of exercise Dustlik is aimed machine is available for research use. at carrying out joint counter-terror operations in • Japanese scientific research institute RIKEN a mountainous rural and urban scenario. and Fujitsu began development six years ago • Intelligence-based surgical operations, special with an aim to make the device core of Japan’s forces tracking techniques, surveillance through computing infrastructure. a hi-tech command post, slithering operations • Now, as Fugaku is fully open and available for from helicopters were some of the key elements shared use, Japan’s Research Organization for of the exercise. Information Science and Technology (RIST) has • The Indian Army was represented by 13 selected 74 projects that will use the Kumaon known as the Rezang La battalion supercomputer in FY2021. famous for its heroics in the battle of Rezang La 19. Ans. C. in 1962 war with China. • Megastar Amitabh Bachchan will be honoured • The first one took place in November 2019 near with an award by the International Federation of Tashkent in Uzbekistan. Film Archives (FIAF). 22. Ans. B. • The veteran actor will be the first Indian • In accordance with the new country-readiness cinema personality to be bestowed with the FIAF index released by the United Nations Conference Award for his dedication and contribution to the on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in its preservation of the world’s film heritage. ‘Technology and Innovation Report 2021’, India • Hollywood filmmakers and previous recipients is the biggest over performer in frontier of the FIAF Award — Martin Scorcese and technologies than it’s per capita gross domestic Christopher Nolan — will present the award to products (GDP) among 158 countries. Bachchan during a virtual showcase scheduled to • The index ranked India at 43 while the take place on March 19. estimated one based on per capita income was • The FIAF is a worldwide organisation, 108. This meant that India over performed other comprising of film archives and museums from countries by 65 ranking positions. across the world. • India was followed by the Philippines, which 20. Ans. C. over performed by 57 ranking positions. • The Economic Freedom Index 2021 was 23. Ans. A. published by US conservative think-tank, The • Drug major Glenmark Pharma has signed Heritage Foundation. cricketer Rohit Sharma as brand ambassador for • Globally, the Foundation rates India's economy its product Candid Powder. as the 121st freest. • Sharma will be the official face of the brand as • Although its overall score is unchanged, part of its 360 degree communication. improvements were made in business freedom. • Glenmark said Candid Powder brand is a • This was offset by declines in judicial market leader in its category, with a market effectiveness and other scores. share of 64 per cent in the medicated powder • In the index, Singapore has topped the global category. ranking for the second consecutive year. • Glenmark's Candid Dusting Powder is used to • The index was prepared by covering 184 treat four key skin problems of redness, countries this time for the period of July 2019 to irritation, sweat rash and fungal infections. June 2020. 24. Ans. C. 21. Ans. D. • The Indian Air Force (IAF) will participate in the Exercise Desert Flag-VI along with the air

11 www.gradeup.co forces of the UAE, the US, France, Saudi Arabia, cooperation, camaraderie and friendship South Korea and Bahrain for the first time. between the two militaries. • The exercise was held from March 3 to 21 at the • The SLAF is celebrating its 70th Anniversary on Al-Dhafra airbase in the United Arab Emirates March 2 and to commemorate the historical (UAE). event, a Fly Past and an Aerobatic Display is • The Exercise Desert Flag is an annual multi- being organised for the first time in the country national large force employment warfare at a grand scale. exercise hosted by the UAE Air Force. 28. Ans. A. • The aim of the exercise is to provide • Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the operational exposure to the participating forces, 'Maritime India Summit 2021’ while training them to undertake simulated air • Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the second combat operations in a controlled environment. edition of the summit via video conferencing. 25. Ans. A. • Prime Minister also launched e-book of • The Telecom Equipment & Services Export maritime vision 2030, which is aiming to make Promotion Council (TEPC) has organized ‘India the Indian maritime insutry at par with the top Telecom 2021’ – an Exclusive International global benchmark in the next 10 years. Business Expo under Market Access Initiative • The Summit will help in furthering growth of Scheme (MAI) of Department of Commerce, India's maritime economy. Government of India. • The summit will visualise a roadmap for India's • The main objective of the event is to provide Maritime sector for next decade and will work to opportunities to Indian telecom exporters to propel India to the forefront of the Global meet qualified overseas buyers. Maritime Sector. • TEPC has created this platform to bring • Denmark is the partner country for the three- potential buyers from across the globe and day summit. quality telecom equipment manufacturers and 29. Ans. B. ICT services solution providers from India under • The six-term MP Nand Kumar Singh Chauhan, one roof to interact and finalize business deals. the BJP Lok Sabha member from Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh, passed away at a hospital in Gurugram. 26. Ans. D. • He was suffering from COVID-19 and was • International Business Machines (IBM) India airlifted to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram last partnered with the state government of Goa to month in a serious condition. provide free online courses to students, Job • The leader started his political career in 1978 seekers & Entrepreneurs of the state. from the Shahpur Municipal Council and was • This initiative is aimed at upskilling 10,000 later elected as member of the Madhya Pradesh youths across 10 institutions in 1 year through Assembly. IBM SkillBuild Program. • He was an MLA from 1985 to 1996. • Personalised coaching and experimental • He was elected as the Lok Sabha member for learning module is provided on Information & the first time in 1996 and got re-elected in 1998, Communication Technology (ITC). 1999, 2004, 2014 and 2019. • The program has over 1lakh beneficiaries in 30. Ans. C. Indian in 2021 alone. • National Book Award Winner Evan Osnos has 27. Ans. D. authored a new Book “Joe Biden: American • India described Sri Lanka as “Priority One” Dreamer” a biography of American President, Joe partner in the defence sphere and said the Biden that features both the personal and public participation of its military aircraft in the 70th life of Joe Biden. The book is published by anniversary celebration of the Sri Lanka Air Bloomsbury Publishing. Force (SLAF) is indicative of the growing

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• The author portrays President Joseph R. Biden 34. Ans. B. Jr. as a man who has sustained a 50-year political • Prime Minister Narendra Modi will receive the career and became the President and a man who CERAWeek global energy and environment is marked with deep personal losses. leadership award next week in recognition of his • The book captures the characters and features commitment to sustainability in the energy and of the presidential election. the environment. 31. Ans. A. • CERAWeek by IHS Markit--the world's • Alfiya Pathan (+81kg), Vinka (60kg) and T preeminent energy conference--will be held Sanamacha Chanu (75kg) are the other Indian virtually March 1-5. 2021 marks the 39th edition women boxers who secured gold medals in their of the conference and is the first time that it will respective categories earlier in the tournament. be an all-virtual event. • For her magnificent show, Vinka received the • Prime Minister Modi will participate in a Best Woman Boxer of the Tournament award. special plenary with Daniel Yergin, vice • With two medals in the men's category, the 19- chairman of IHS Markit and conference chair on member Indian team concluded its campaign March 5. with an overall second position (12 medals). • He will also receive the CERAWeek Global 32. Ans. A. Energy and Environment Leadership Award in • The Centre has reconstituted the governing recognition of his commitment to sustainability council of the NITI Aayog with Prime Minister in the energy and the environment. Narendra Modi as its chairperson. 35. Ans. A. • According to a notification of the Cabinet • Defence Research and Development Secretariat, chief ministers of all states and those Organisation has successfully carried out joint of the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, user trials of indigenously developed Helina and Delhi and Puducherry are full time members of Dhruvastra Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM) the council. from the Advanced Light Helicopter at the • The Lieutenant Governors of Andaman and Pokhran deserts in Rajasthan. Nicobar Islands, Ladakh, and the administrators • Helena is the Army version and Dhruvastra is of Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman the Air Force version of the ALH. and Diu and Lakshadweep will be special • The missile systems have been designed and invitees of governing council. developed indigenously by the Defence Research 33. Ans. D. and Development Organisation (DRDO). • According to the All India Football Federation 36. Ans. B. (AIFF), Odisha will host the Indian Womens • India’s first Forest Healing centre was League (IWL), inaugurated by noted environmentalist Joginder • The dates will be announced later. Bisht in the pine dominated forest located at • Since the Covid-19 pandemic, Indian football Ranikhet in Kalika Uttarakhand. It was has been trying to restart on-field sporting developed by the Research Wing of Uttarakhand action. Forest Department in an area of around 13 acres. • It all started with the I-League qualifiers, • The centre is based on the concept of healing followed by the Indian Super League (ISL) and and revitalizing the overall health and well being the I-League. ISL and I-League are currently of people by bringing them into direct contact being played. with nature. • Indian women's football has also had its fair exposure at the international stage in recent 37. Ans. B. times with the senior India team assembling for • A centre of excellence for the dairy sector will a two-month long training camp on December 1 be set up in Rajasthan in collaboration with in Goa, followed by three matches in , Denmark. against , Russia and Ukraine.

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• Denmark Ambassador Freddy Svane discussed • In her first semifinal after 13 tournaments, the idea at a meeting with chief minister Ashok Sindhu had defeated Denmark's Mia Blichfeldt Gehlot 22-20, 21-10. • The possibilities of Denmark’s cooperation in 41. Ans. D. the field of water conservation and purification • The Uttar Pradesh (UP) government has were also discussed in the meeting. organized a ‘Banana Festival’ at Buddha Park in 38. Ans. C. Kushinagar from March 22 to 25, 2021. • National Bank for Agriculture and Rural • The main goal of organizing this festival is to Development (NABARD) Chairman G R Chintala make Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s plan for a took over the chairmanship of the Asia Pacific self-reliant India. Rural and Agricultural Credit Association • Banana made products from Kushinagar are (APRACA). included in One District One Product (ODOP) • Chintala is succeeding Bank of Ceylon CEO DPK scheme. Gunasekera in office. 42. Ans. B. • It is an international organisation, which does a • IAS Sanjeev Kumar has appointed as Chairman lot of information exchange, takes capacity of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) under the building initiatives, and creates new institutions. Ministry of Civil Aviation. • The last chairmanship India got was in 1999, • Kumar is a 1993-batch IAS officer of which is almost 19 years back. Maharashtra cadre. The Appointments 39. Ans. B. Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved his • The 76th Annual Conference of the Association appointment. of Physicians of India (API) was held virtually. 43. Ans. B. • It was addressed by Union Minister of State (IC) • The government has extended the term of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) K. MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, VijayRaghavan by a year. Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra • He was appointed PSA in 2018 after retiring as Singh. Secretary of, Department of Biotechnology. His • While addressing he mentioned the contract ends on April 2 but has now been contribution of Physicians to the Atma Nirbhar extended until April 2022. Bharat Campaign. • He also appreciated the work performed by young physicians, particularly young Resident 44. Ans. D. Doctors, who are lauded as ‘Corona Warriors’ • India’s Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar won gold during the pandemic period. in the men’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions event at the • The theme of the conference was: ‘Engaging ISSF World Cup in New Delhi. Minds: Empowering Medicine’. • The 20-year-old became the youngest in 40. Ans. B. history to win a shooting World Cup gold in the 3 • India's ace shuttler PV Sindhu settled for a Positions event. silver medal in the BWF Swiss Open Super 300 at • The two other Indian shooters in the final, Basel. Sanjeev Rajput finishing sixth and Niraj Kumar • She lost to World No. 3 Spaniard and reigning came at the last position. Olympic champion Carolina Marin in the final of 45. Ans. C. the women's singles event. • India ranked 40 among 53 global economies on • The World Champion shuttler who has faced a the latest annual edition of the International lot of criticism lately for lacklustre performances Intellectual Property (IP) Index 2021 released by in the last year had entered the semifinal stage of the US Chamber of Commerce Global Innovation a BWF tournament after 19 months. Policy Centre (GIPC).

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• The Index evaluates Intellectual Property • This MoC was signed for development of a long- rights in 53 global economies from patent and term cooperation in the field of water and delta copyright policies to commercialisation of IP management, and water technology in order to assets and ratification of international treaties. increase the exchange of information, • The overall global IP environment improved in knowledge, technology and scientific allied 2020, with positive score increasing in 32 of the experience, as well as implementation of joint 53 economies measured by the IP Index. projects between the two countries. • This is the ninth IP index released by the GIPC. 49. Ans. B. 46. Ans. D. • Power Grid Corporation of India Limited • According to the report by ‘India: Transforming (POWERGRID), a central PSU under Ministry of to a net-zero emissions energy system’ released Power has established an e-Tendering Portal- by TERI (The Energy & Resources Institute) & PRANIT which will lead to less paperwork and Shell (otherwise known as Royal Dutch Shell ease of operation, making the tendering process plc), the Net Zero emissions in energy system in more transparent. India is achievable by 2050. • It has been certified by Standardisation, Testing • The report is one of the first assessments of the and Quality Certification Directorate (STQC), challenges that India would face if India were to Ministry of Electronics and Information move towards Net-zero emissions energy Technology, Government of India. system. • With this, POWERGRID is now the only 47. Ans. D. organization in India to have an eProcurement • With active cooperation from the state solution on SAP Supplier Relationship government of Manipur, Van Dhan Vikas Yojana Management (SRM), complying with all has been successfully implemented, turning applicable requirements relating to security and Manipur into the Champion State for the scheme. transparency as stipulated by STQC. • Van Dhan Yojana was launched in October 2019 • POWERGRID in pursuit of digitalisation has in Manipur, with the successful establishment of been undertaking a number of innovative 100 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras in the state. enhancements within SAP SRM framework. • This constitutes 1500 self-help groups for 50. Ans. B. marketing & providing value-addition to the • Union Cabinet has approved MoU between tribal, minor forest produces. Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), India • Van Dhan Vikas Yojana is a programme for and Independent Administrative Reforms and value addition, branding & marketing of Minor Civil Services Commission (IARCSC), Forest Produces by establishing Van Dhan Afghanistan. Kendras to facilitate the creation of sustainable • It will strengthen the relationship between livelihoods for the forest-based tribes. IARCSC and UPSC 48. Ans. B. • The MoU will facilitate sharing of experience • The Union Cabinet apprised of a Memorandum and expertise in the area of recruitment, books, of Cooperation signed between India and Japan, manuals and other documents which are not of a aimed at achieving water security, improved confidential nature and Information Technology irrigation facility and sustainability in water (IT) for the preparation of written examinations resources development. and holding of Computer Based Recruitment • The MoU was signed between Department of Tests and Online Examinations. Water Resources, River Development and Ganga 51. Ans. D. Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government • Russia put 38 foreign satellites into orbit after of India and Water and Disaster Management a successful launch from the Baikonur Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, cosmodrome in Kazakhstan following delays due Transport and Tourism of Japan in the field of to technical issues. Water Resources.

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• The Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket with the Fregat • The event is organised by the Directorate of upper stage and 38 spacecraft from 18 countries Film Festivals, which comes under the Ministry took off from the Baikonur cosmodrome. of Information and Broadcasting. • Soyuz rocket successfully placed into orbit the • Director Priyadarshan's Malayalam war epic 38 satellites from more than a dozen countries, Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea, that is including South Korea, Japan, , Saudi headlined by Mohanlal, won Best Feature Film. Arabia, Germany, Italy and Brazil. • The best acting honours went to Manoj • Among them was the Challenge-1, the first Bajapayee for Bhonsle, Dhanush for Tamil film satellite made completely in Tunisia, which was Asuran, and Kangana Ranaut for two of her films: created by the Telnet telecommunications group. Panga and Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi. 52. Ans. C. • Vijay Sethupathi (Super Deluxe) and Pallavi • The Danish Red Cross has launched first of its Joshi (The Tashkent Files) won the supporting kind, a catastrophe bond for volcano-related actor awards, while director Sanjay Puran Singh disasters with the support of several financial Chauhan was awarded for Bahattar Hoorain. firms. 55. Ans. A. • The $3 million bond will enable the disaster • Late Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said of Oman relief agency to get aid quickly to those suffering was awarded the prestigious prize for the year following the eruption of 10 named volcanoes, in 2019 in recognition of his vision to strengthen Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, relations with India, and his efforts to promote Indonesia and Mexico. peace and non-violence in the Gulf region. • Catastrophe bonds offer investors high yields, • The Gandhi Peace Prize is an annual award but do not pay out if a named catastrophe occurs. instituted by government of India since 1995, the They typically cover areas prone to hurricanes 125th birth anniversary commemoration year of and typhoons. Mahatma Gandhi. 53. Ans. C. • The award is open to all people regardless of • The 67th National Film Awards were nationality, race, language, caste, creed or sex. announced in New Delhi, with the honours for • The award carries an amount of Rs 1 crore, a films from the year of 2019. citation, plaque and an exquisite traditional • The event is organised by the Directorate of handicraft/handloom item. Film Festivals, which comes under the Ministry • The jury for Gandhi Peace Prize is chaired by of Information and Broadcasting. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and comprises of • Director Priyadarshan's Malayalam war epic two ex-officio members, namely the chief justice Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea, that is of India and leader of the single largest headlined by Mohanlal, won Best Feature Film. opposition party in the Lok Sabha. • The best acting honours went to Manoj Bajapayee for Bhonsle, Dhanush for Tamil film 56. Ans. B. Asuran, and Kangana Ranaut for two of her films: • The Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2020 is Panga and Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi. being conferred on Bangabandhu Sheikh • Vijay Sethupathi (Super Deluxe) and Pallavi Mujibur Rahman Joshi (The Tashkent Files) won the supporting • The Gandhi Peace Prize is an annual award actor awards, while director Sanjay Puran Singh instituted by government of India since 1995, the Chauhan was awarded for Bahattar Hoorain. 125th birth anniversary commemoration year of 54. Ans. C. Mahatma Gandhi. The award is open to all people • The 67th National Film Awards were regardless of nationality, race, language, caste, announced in New Delhi, with the honours for creed or sex. films from the year of 2019. • The award carries an amount of Rs 1 crore, a citation, plaque and an exquisite traditional handicraft/handloom item.

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• The jury for Gandhi Peace Prize is chaired by • India has been ranked 139 out of 149 countries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and comprises of • In 2019, India was ranked 140th. two ex-officio members, namely the chief justice • Denmark ranked 2nd, followed by Switzerland, of India and leader of the single largest Iceland and the Netherlands. opposition party in the Lok Sabha. • Afghanistan was classed as the world's 57. Ans. B. unhappiest nation this year. • The Reserve Bank of India announced the • The ranking is based on GDP per person, setting up of a standing external advisory healthy life expectancy and the opinions of committee (SEAC) to evaluate applications for residents. universal banks and small finance banks. 60. Ans. C. • The five-member committee will be headed by • The Mission Gramodaya has been launched in former deputy governor Shyamala Gopinath. Madhya Pradesh. • The SEAC which will have a tenure of three • The mission was launched by the Union years, and will screen applications for universal Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and and small finance banks after the regulator first Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. vets the proposal. • Under the Gramodaya mission, besides • The SEAC will also include four other members, providing housing facilities in rural areas, basic Revathy Iyer, Director on the RBI central board, and fundamental infrastructure will also be B Mahapatra, former executive director, RBI and expanded. presently chairman of NPCI, TN Manoharan, • Rural Development schemes, especially former chairman of Canara Bank and Hemant Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna and Pradhan Mantri Contractor, former MD of State Bank of India. Gram Sadak Yojana are being effectively 58. Ans. A. implemented in MP. • Government has set up a high-level task force 61. Ans. B. under NITI Aayog vice chairman Rajiv Kumar to • Gary Wilson, Former captain of Ireland Cricket lay a roadmap for enforcement of contracts. Team announced retirement from International • The task force for enforcement of contracts will Cricket. He represented the Ireland squad in 2 give its recommendation for a policy framework Cricket World Cups (2011, 2015) and 5 T20 for enforcement of contracts and the task force World Cups (2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016). on conciliation mechanism will give its • Currently, he is all set to take over the role of recommendation for an effective conciliation Head Coach and Pathway Manager for North mechanism. West Warriors. • The other members of the task for enforcement • Gary Wilson made his International Debut in of contracts force will include secretaries of 2005 for Ireland, and represented the side 292 stakeholder ministries including department for times. promotion of industry and internal trade and • He is the 2nd Highest wicket-taker for Ireland department of economic affairs, revenue and with 160 catches & 33 stumping’s. commerce besides chief secretaries of • In his 16 yearlong cricketing career, he scored Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh 5,959 runs for Ireland, with 1 century and 30 and Andhra Pradesh besides NITI Aayog CEO fifties. Amitabh Kant who will be the member secretary • His highest score 113 came against the of the task force. Netherlands in 2010. 59. Ans. C. • He captained Ireland’s T20 squad in 2018, • UN Sustainable Development Solutions leading the country to be qualified for 2020’s T20 Network released the World Happiness Report World Cup. 2021. 62. Ans. A. • Finland was once again crowned as the world's happiest country.

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• Former chairman of Securities and Exchange • The MoU was signed under the ITC’s Social Board of India (Sebi) GV Ramakrishna passed Investments programme ‘‘Mission Sunehra Kal” away in Chennai after a brief illness. & the Karnataka Watershed Development • He was 91. He is survived by his wife, son and Department.With regard to this MoU, 100 daughter. Watershed had set up. • Born in 1930 in Bengaluru, he started his career • The agreement was a part of the Karnataka as a biochemist and then opted for civil services government’s ‘Watershed development for in 1952. drought proofing’ programme & it is a part of • Known for his stellar administrative ITCs Sustainability 2.0 agenda. performance, Ramakrishna was appointed as the • It aims at covering 1.16 million acres of chairman Sebi in 1990 when it lacked legal watershed area in 29 districts. status. Among his many works, he was known for 66. Ans. A. strongly advocating to ban the badla stock • Andhra Pradesh state government has decided trading system in 1994. to set up "India's first government-run • He headed SEBI till that year and then became ambulance network" for animals. the first chairman of the Disinvestment • The Animal Husbandry Department has been Commission in 1996. further directed to set up one Mobile Ambulance 63. Ans. A. Veterinary Clinic at every assembly • China has the strongest military force in the constituency. world while India stands at number four, • These mobile ambulances shall provide according to a study released by defence website veterinary first aid services along with spot Military Direct. diagnosis and attending to emergency cases. • The USA, despite their enormous military • One of the major facilities these ambulances budgets, comes in 2nd place with 74 points, will provide is the 'Hydraulic Lift' facility to lift followed by Russia with 69, India at 61 and then animals and shift them to the nearest France with 58. The UK just about makes the Top Government Veterinary Facility in case of 10, coming in 9th place with a score of 43. emergency. • China has the strongest military in the world, 67. Ans. D. scoring 82 out of 100 points in the index. • Atish Chandra will be Chairman and Managing 64. Ans. D. Director, Food Corporation of India in the rank • China has the strongest military force in the and pay of Additional Secretary, the order said. world while India stands at number four, • Chandra, a 1994 batch IAS officer of Bihar according to a study released by defence website cadre, is currently Joint Secretary, Department of Military Direct. Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare. • The USA, despite their enormous military 68. Ans. B. budgets, comes in 2nd place with 74 points, • Senior bureaucrat Saurbah Garg has been followed by Russia with 69, India at 61 and then appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of France with 58. The UK just about makes the Top Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) 10, coming in 9th place with a score of 43. as part of a bureaucratic reshuffle effected by the • China has the strongest military in the world, Centre. scoring 82 out of 100 points in the index. • The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet 65. Ans. B. has approved the appointment of Garg as the • The government of Karnataka signed an CEO, UIDAI in the rank and pay of Additional Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ITC Secretary. to execute a Watershed Programme covering over one million acres in the southern state. The 69. Ans. A. Programme will be in effect for 3 years. • Indian Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh and South Korean Defence Minister, Suh Wook have

18 www.gradeup.co inaugurated “Indo-Korean Bilateral Friendship 73. Ans. C. Park” in Delhi Cantt. • Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International • Friendship Park has been built to Airport became the 1st Airport in South India to commemorate contribution of Indian have a fully operational parallel runways. This peacekeepers in the Korean War from 1950 to comes as a result of the Airports northern 1953. runway coming to operation which was closed • India-South Korea relations have strengthened for renovation and upgrades in June 2020. in recent years with the convergence of Act East • While the Southern runway is equipped with a Policy (AEP) of India and New Southern Policy CAT III B System that provides precision landing (NSP) of South Korea. facility by improving runway visibility. • Bilateral ties have frown multi-dimensional in • Due to reduced passenger traffic caused by the the fields of Maritime security, nuclear pandemic, it was decided not to implement the disarmament, regional economic cooperation, CAT III B system in the Northern runway. counterterrorism and energy cooperation. 74. Ans. B. 70. Ans. A. • A large cargo ship named 'Ever Given' got stuck • Well known Hindi writer Prof. Sharad Pagare near the southern end of the Suez Canal due to a will be conferred with the prestigious Vyas mishap caused by bad weather. Samman - 2020 for his novel 'Patliputru Ki • This is causing a huge jam of vessels at either Samragi.' end of the vital international trade artery. • The Vyas Samman, started in 1991, is given by • The Suez Canal is an artificial sea-level K K Birla Foundation for an outstanding literary waterway running north to south across the work in Hindi authored by an Indian citizen Isthmus of Suez in Egypt, to connect the published during the last 10 years. Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. • It carries an award of four lakh rupees along • The canal separates the African continent from with a citation and plaque. Asia. 71. Ans. A. • It provides the shortest maritime route • Norway has got the go-ahead to construct between Europe and the lands lying around the what's being billed as the world's first ship Indian and western Pacific oceans. tunnel, designed to help vessels navigate the • It is one of the world’s most heavily used treacherous Stadhavet Sea. shipping lanes, carrying over 12% of world trade • First announced a few years ago by the by volume. Norwegian Coastal Administration, this mile- 75. Ans. C. long, 118-feet-wide tunnel will burrow through Bihar is set to become India’s 1st State to have 2 the mountainous Stadhavet peninsula in Green Energy Efficient towns, the 2 towns are northwestern Norway. Rajgir & BodhGaya. They will start getting Solar • Building this engineering marvel will cost Energy through 1st of its kind Renewable energy somewhere in the region of 2.8 billion project from 2023. Norwegian kroner ($330 million) and take • The green energy supply required for running between three to four years, with construction the towns will be developed and supplied by the due to commence in 2022. Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI). 72. Ans. B. • Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank held a virtual meeting with Director General UNESCO, Ms Audrey Azoulay in New Delhi. • They discussed key issues of mutual importance including National Education Policy, India’s response to COVID Pandemic especially in the education sector.

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• To implement the project, the state government of Bihar will construct 500 MW solar energy plants at Lakhisarai & Bhagalpur. • After Rajgir & BodhGaya, many important government offices in Patna like the Governor house, High Court, Museum & Vidhyut Bhawan would also run on green energy supplied by SECI.

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