Current Affairs March Questions & Answers PDF 2018

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1. Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) beyond the 12th Plan period (2012-2017) for three years up to 2019-20. What is the fund allocated for this purpose? 1. Rs 4000 crore 2. Rs 4500 crore 3. Rs 5000 crore 4. Rs 5500 crore 5. Rs 6000 crore Answer - 4. Rs 5500 crore Explanation : Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) beyond the 12th Plan period (2012-2017) for three years up to 2019-20. PMEGP is a credit linked subsidy programme for generation of employment opportunities through establishment of micro enterprises in rural as well as urban areas. Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) is the nodal implementation agency for implementation of PMEGP at national level. Extending this programme for another three years will generate sustainable employment opportunities for 15 lakh persons. The programme has been continued with a total outlay of Rs 5500 crore.

2. India has signed MoU with which country, to enhance best practices in the administration of contractual employment, implementing latest reforms in recruitment processes and enhance the protection and welfare of Indian workers who are working in that country? 1. Jordan 2. South Africa 3. Fiji 4. Macedonia 5. Argentina Answer - 1. Jordan Explanation : Objective of this memorandum of understanding (MoU) is to enhance collaboration between India and Jordan in promoting best practices in the administration of contractual employment, implementing latest reforms in recruitment processes and enhance the protection and welfare of Indian workers in Jordan.As per the terms of the MoU, India and Jordan will collaborate to use online portal for recruitment of Indian manpower. Usage of online portal will increase transparency and curb malpractices in the recruitment process. This MoU will be valid for a period of five years.

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3. King Abdullah II of which country visited India on a three-day official visit from February 27, 2018 to March 1, 2018? 1. UAE 2. Iran 3. Saudi Arabia 4. England 5. Jordan Answer - 5. Jordan Explanation : King Abdullah II of Jordan was on a three-day official visit to India from February 27, 2018 to March 1, 2018. On March 1, 2018, India and Jordan signed following 12 agreements in New Delhi in presence of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and King Abdullah II of Jordan. MoU on Defence Cooperation: This MoU defines the scope of Defence cooperation between India and Jordan and enlists provisions for implementation of cooperation in some of the recognized areas like training; counter-terrorism; defence industry; military studies; military medical services, peace-keeping etc. Visa waiver for diplomatic and official passport holders: This agreement will permit diplomats and Official passport holders of India and Jordan to enter, exit and transit through each other’s territory without requirement of visa.

4. Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman gave approval to Capital Acquisition Proposals of the Services and Coast Guard valued at approximately Rs.______? 1. 8135 crore 2. 9405 crore 3. 9435 crore 4. 9930 crore 5. 9999 crore Answer - 3. 9435 crore Explanation : Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman gave approval to Capital Acquisition Proposals of the Services and Coast Guard valued at approximately Rs. 9435 crore. Capital Acquisition Proposals that have been approved includes procurement of 41000 Light Machine Guns and over 3.5 Lakh Close Quarter Battle Carbines. 75 percent of the above mentioned quantities will be procured through Indian Industry under ‘Buy & Make (Indian)’ category and balance 25 percent through Ordinance Factory Board. Approval has also been granted for procurement of essential quantity of High Capacity Radio Relay for the Indian Army and Indian Air Force. Two Pollution Control Vessels will also be acquired, which will be used by Indian Coast Guard to undertake pollution control measures off the East Coast and Island Territories.

5. Which state government has decided to establish State Sanskrit Education Council to improve formal education of Sanskrit in the state? 1. Rajasthan 2. Assam 3. Sikkim 4. Karnataka 5. Delhi Answer - 5. Delhi

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Explanation : Delhi government has decided to establish State Sanskrit Education Council to improve formal education of Sanskrit in Delhi. Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia has ordered the education department to go through representations received by Delhi government regarding Sanskrit education in schools and colleges. He said that, the education department will study the representations and take necessary steps to form a Delhi State Sanskrit Education Council.

6. Name the Union territory that joined UDAY (Scheme Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana) Scheme recently? 1. Union territory of Lakshadweep 2. Union territory of Delhi 3. Union territory of Andaman & Nicobar 4. Chandigarh 5. Gujarat Answer - 1. Union territory of Lakshadweep Explanation : On 28th February 2018, the Union territory of Lakshadweep joined UDAY (Scheme Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana) Scheme. On 28th February 2018, the Union Territory of Lakshadweep and the Government of India signed a MoU under the UDAY Scheme. This will ensure operational turnaround of Lakshadweep’s Electricity Department. Lakshadweep will receive an overall net benefit of around Rs. 8 crore through the UDAY Scheme. This will be achieved by cheaper funds, reduction in AT&C (Aggregate Technical and Commercial) losses, interventions in energy efficiency, etc. The Central Government will help Lakshadweep in improving Power infrastructure which will result in further reduction of the cost of power.

7. Government has decided to consolidate how many overseas Operations of the PSU’s (public sector banks)? 1. 30 2. 33 3. 35 4. 39 5. 41 Answer - 3. 35 Explanation : Union Finance Ministry released a roadmap for consolidation of overseas operations of public sector banks. This decision seems like a tightening measure in wake of Rs. 12636 crore scam unearthed at Punjab Bank National (PNB). However, Finance Ministry officials have called it a move to attain cost efficiencies and synergies in the overseas market. As of now, the plan is to consolidate at least 35 overseas operations of the PSBs while another 69 overseas operations have been identified for further examination. It is to be noted that currently, there are 216 PSB operations including 165 overseas branches. Besides, there are subsidiaries, joint ventures and representative offices. State Bank of India (SBI) has the highest number of overseas branches (52), followed by Bank of Baroda (50) and Bank of India (29). In terms of Country-wise presence, PSBs have largest number of branches in United Kingdom (32) followed by Hong Kong and UAE (13 each) and Singapore (12).

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8. In which state, the Avaada Power Pvt Ltd had planned to invest Rs 3,500 crore to establish 500 MW solar projects? 1. Telanagana 2. Gujarat 3. Maharashtra 4. Assam 5. Andhra Pradesh Answer - 5. Andhra Pradesh Explanation : Avaada Power Pvt Ltd, stated that, it will invest Rs 3,500 crore to establish 500 MW solar projects in Andhra Pradesh. An agreement regarding this was signed at the 'CII Partnership Summit 2018' in Vishakhapatnam. Avaada Power said that, the utility-scale solar projects will produce clean energy sufficient to sustainably power more than 2.4 million houses in Andhra Pradesh. This investment by Avaada Power would create over 1,200 job opportunities. Andhra Pradesh has a planned to achieve a goal of 18 GW of renewable energy capacities by 2021-22.

9. In which Indian city, Tata Boeing Aerospace Ltd (TBAL) inaugurated the facility to manufacture fuselages for the AH-64 Apache helicopter? 1. Pune 2. Hyderabad 3. Agra 4. Mumbai 5. Mysore Answer - 2. Hyderabad Explanation : Tata Boeing Aerospace Ltd (TBAL) inaugurated facility to manufacture fuselages for the AH-64 Apache helicopter in Hyderabad. Tata Boeing Aerospace Ltd (TBAL) is a joint venture of Boeing Co. and Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL). The facility has been established on an area of 14,000 square metres. 350 workers have been employed at the facility. This facility will be the only global producer of fuselages for AH-64 Apache helicopter delivered by Boeing. Secondary structures and vertical spar boxes for AH-64 Apache helicopter will also be produced in this facility. The first fuselage would be delivered in 2018. The facility was inaugurated by Union Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Telangana minister for Industries and IT, KT Rama Rao.

10. Who was appointed the new Secretary, Higher Education, in the Ministry of Human Resource Development? 1. R K Narayanan 2. R Subramanyam 3. Senthil Nathan 4. Raphael Geeth 5. Sonal Monika Answer - 2. R Subramanyam Explanation : R Subramanyam has been appointed the new Secretary, Higher Education, in the Ministry of Human Resource Development. A major bureaucratic reshuffle was done on 28th February 2018. R Subrahmanyam is a 1985-batch IAS officer from Andhra Pradesh cadre. He was Special Secretary in the Higher Education department. He succeeds K K Sharma. C Chandramouli has been appointed the new Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training in the Personnel ministry. Chandramouli is a 1985-batch IAS officer from Tamil Nadu cadre. Earlier, he was

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Registrar General of India and Census Commissioner. Tarun Sridhar has been appointed the new Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairy and Fisheries. He is a 1984-batch IAS officer from Himachal Pradesh cadre.

11. Who has been named the next Ambassador of India to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan? 1. Vijaya Singh 2. Vinay Kumar 3. Mohammed Thoufeq 4. Mohammed Rasool 5. Sherif Suraender Answer - 2. Vinay Kumar Explanation : Vinay Kumar has been named the next Ambassador of India to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Vinay Kumar is an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) Officer of the 1992 batch. He is at present Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs. He has been appointed the next Ambassador of India to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. He will soon take charge as Ambassador of India to Afghanistan.

12. Who was made the brand ambassador of Luminous Power Technologies for its new independent brand Amaze? 1. MS Dhoni 2. Hardik Pandya 3. Sachin Tendulkar 4. Virat Kohli 5. Virendar Sehwag Answer - 4. Virat Kohli Explanation : Luminous Power Technologies announced Virat Kohli as the brand ambassador for its new independent brand Amaze. Luminous Power Technologies also said that, it would invest Rs 150 crore in the upcoming 3 to 5 years in Amaze to develop it. Amaze will produce totally different products compared to that of Luminous. Amaze will focus on the unstructured battery market.

13. The moon is about to get its first mobile phone network in 2019. Vodafone Germany, Nokia and Audi was jointly working to support this project. They have decided to build which network there? 1. 2G 2. 3G 3. 4G 4. 5G 5. None of the above Answer - 3. 4G Explanation : The moon is about to get its first mobile phone network in 2019. On 27th February 2018, Vodafone Germany, Nokia and Audi said that, they were jointly working to support this project. Vodafone has appointed Nokia as its technology partner. Nokia would develop a space-grade network. PTScientists, a Berlin-based company, is also working on this project. A launch has been scheduled in 2019 from Cape Canaveral on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. It has been decided to build a 4G network, as work on the advanced 5G network is still in testing and trial stage.

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14. India successfully test-fired Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM) Nag in desert conditions, at Pokhran's field firing range in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. The ATGM Nag was developed by ______? 1. TATA 2. NASA 3. HAL 4. ISRO 5. DRDO Answer - 5. DRDO Explanation : India successfully test-fired Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM) Nag in desert conditions, at Pokhran's field firing range in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. The ATGM Nag was developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It was tested against two tank targets at different ranges and timings.Director General (Missiles and Strategic Systems) G Satheesh Reddy said that, the technologies of ATGM responsible for engaging targets in different conditions have been verified with the successful tests. The developmental trials of ATGM Nag are over and now it is ready for induction. ATGM NAG possesses advanced technologies like the Imaging infrared (IIR) Seeker with integrated avionics.

15. Which state government launched “T App Folio”, a mobile governance application, for delivery of government to citizen (G2C) and business to citizen (B2C) services anytime and anywhere? 1. Telangana 2. Andhra Pradesh 3. Bihar 4. Tamil Nadu 5. Manipur Answer - 1. Telangana Explanation : Telangana government launched “T App Folio”, a mobile governance application, for delivery of government to citizen (G2C) and business to citizen (B2C) services anytime and anywhere. Telangana IT Minister K T Rama Rao said that, Telangana has become the second state in India to launch a mobile governance application in place for provision of G2C services. T App Folio provides more than 150 services like MeeSeva services, RTA services, fee payments and bill payments, in the first phase. Informational services like MeeSeva centers, Ration shops, Hy-Fi hotspots are also available in the first phase of T App Folio. T App Folio will act as a platform to bring together all government departments. It has been launched in Telugu and English languages.

16. Which company launched the world’s first 5G commercial chip? 1. NELCO 2. Huawei 3. Aplab 4. Valiant 5. HFCL

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Answer - 2. Huawei Explanation : Huawei launched Huawei Balong 5G01, claimed to be world's first 5G commercial chip. Huawei Balong 5G01 is said to be world’s first 3GPP 5G commercial chipset having peak rate of 2.3 GBPS (gigabit per second). Huawei is collaborating with 30 operators all over the world to deploy products based on Huawei Balong 5G01. Vodafone is also collaborating with Huawei for this. Huawei launched world’s first 5G CPE (consumer premise equipment or router) which will deliver broadband speed up to 2 Gbps on 5G network. It will also support 4G network.

17. Which country was banned by International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 2014, to which, now the membership was restored in 2018? 1. Japan 2. Russia 3. China 4. Australia 5. Canada Answer - 2. Russia Explanation : Russia's Olympic membership has been restored by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Russia has got back its Olympic membership, following its suspension from 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics. Russia was banned by IOC due to state-sponsored doping during the Winter Olympics 2014 in Sochi. Still, 168 Russians participated in the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics as neutral participants. They participated as Olympic Athletes from Russia (OAR). It was the third largest team and bagged 17 medals. Except two participants from Russia, all others proved clean in the dope test conducted during the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics. IOC has restored Russia's Olympic membership.

18. Which city will host the 2020 Summer Olympics? 1. Bern 2. Beijing 3. Tokyo 4. Greece 5. Mumbai Answer - 3. Tokyo Explanation : On 28th February 2018, the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, launched the superhero mascots for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, at the Kakezuka school in Tokyo. The winning Olympic and Paralympic mascots have not yet been named. The Olympic mascot has a futuristic blue and white chequered pattern. It is said to have a special power that enables it to move anywhere instantly. The Paralympic mascot has a pink and white design inspired by cherry blossoms. It is said to have special power to move things just by looking at them. Name for the mascots will be decided by the selection panel and a formal launch will be performed in July or August 2018. The mascots were selected through voting after designs were submitted.

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19. Name the para-swimmer who was suspended for 3 years by the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) due to allegations of recording videos of female para-swimmers at the National Championships 2017 in Jaipur? 1. Sharat Gayakwad 2. Devendra Jhajharia 3. Mariyapan Thangavelu 4. Deepa Malik 5. Prasanta Karmakar Answer - 5. Prasanta Karmakar Explanation : Para-swimmer Prasanta Karmakar was suspended for 3 years by the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) due to allegations of recording videos of female para-swimmers at the National Championships 2017 in Jaipur. Prasanta Karmakar was the first Indian para-swimmer to participate and win a medal at the 2003 World Swimming Championships in Argentina. He had won bronze medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. He was India’s swimming coach for the 2016 Rio Paralympics. After receiving complaints from parents of female para-swimmers over video recording by Prasanta Karmakar, he was investigated and now has been suspended for 3 years by the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI).

20. Arabinda Muduli passed away recently. Who was he? 1. Dancer 2. Singer 3. Doctor 4. Athlete 5. Lawyer Answer - 2. Singer Explanation : Arabinda Muduli, Odia Bhajan singer, died following a cardiac arrest in Bhubaneswar. Arabinda Muduli was 56 years old. He was a musician, singer and lyricist. He sang devotional songs. He was born on 1 September 1961 at Khanati in Khordha district. He has delivered more than 3,000 songs. His popular bhajans are Kala Saante Acha Kemante and Jaga Pain Niti Mali Phula.

21. In which state, the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare inaugurated the World Rare Disease Day Conference 2018? 1. Karnataka 2. Kerala 3. Maharashtra 4. Assam 5. New Delhi Answer - 5. New Delhi Explanation : On 28th February 2018, JP Nadda, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare inaugurated the World Rare Disease Day Conference 2018 in New Delhi. World Rare Disease Day is celebrated on the last day of February every year. World Rare Disease Day was first introduced by EURORDIS and its council of National Alliances in 2008. The theme for World Rare Disease Day 2018 is Research. World Rare Disease Day 2018 was observed on 28th February 2018. This day is observed to create awareness among public about rare diseases and their impact. At the World Rare Disease Day Conference 2018, a newsletter published by the "Indian Organisation of Rare diseases" was released. J P Nadda said that, the Indian government has developed a national policy for "rare diseases".

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22. Cabinet approves Establishment of National Financial Reporting Authority. How many members are there in NFRA? 1. 3 2. 4 3. 5 4. 6 5. 7 Answer - 3. 5 Explanation : Cabinet approves Establishment of National Financial Reporting Authority. On March 1, 2018, Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the proposal for establishment of National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA). The NFRA will have a Chairperson, a Secretary and three full-time Members. Role: Independent regulator for the auditing profession. Jurisdiction: Chartered Accountants and their firms, listed companies, large unlisted public companies and other entities for investigation where public interest would be involved.

23. Which state Government announced the launch of a 24-hour helpline, claiming to be the first in India, to offer information and guidance on education to students? 1. Kerala 2. Karnataka 3. Delhi 4. Tamil Nadu 5. Maharashtra Answer - 4. Tamil Nadu Explanation : Tamil Nadu Government announced the launch of a 24-hour helpline, claiming to be the first in India, to offer information and guidance on education to students. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami launched the toll free number 14417 through the 24-hour Education Guidance Centrethat has been set up at the Secretariat. The 24-hour Education Guidance Centre will provide information and guidance regarding school education. It was said that the help line was set up at a cost of Rs two crore. Tamil Nadu School Education Minister K A Sengottaiyan, Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary, Girija Vaidyanathan and few other officials were present at the occasion.

24. Which state government has partnered with Wikipedia, to spread the Marathi language and enhance its online usage? 1. Madhya Pradesh 2. Gujarat 3. Telangana 4. Odisha 5. Maharashtra Answer - 5. Maharashtra Explanation : The Maharashtra government has partnered with Wikipedia, to spread the Marathi language and enhance its online usage. Maharashtra government made this announcement on Marathi language day (27th February 2018). It is aimed to spread the Marathi language across the world. It will also offer Marathi-speaking people a single platform to interact. It would also help to reach Maharashtrians who have migrated to the United States.

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25. In which state, the Satara Mega Food Park was inaugurated by Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Minister of Food Processing Industries? 1. Maharashtra 2. Sikkim 3. Rajasthan 4. Haryana 5. Assam Answer - 1. Maharashtra Explanation : On 1st March 2018, M/s Satara Mega Food Park Pvt. Ltd., the first Mega Food Park in Maharashtra, was inaugurated by Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Minister of Food Processing Industries at Degaon village, Satara district of Maharashtra. Satara Mega Food Park is the 12th Mega Food Park put to function in India. Under the Mega Food Park Scheme, Central Government offers funds up to Rs. 50 Crore for each Mega Food Park project. Ministry of Food Processing Industries is carrying out the Mega Food Park Scheme to improve food processing sector by adding value and reducing food wastage in the supply chain. Harsimrat Kaur Badal said that, the Mega Food Park will involve an additional investment of nearly Rs. 250 crores in 25-30 food processing units in the park. It will bring a turnover of around Rs. 450-500 crore every year. The Park will offer direct and indirect employment to 5,000 persons. It will also benefit 25,000 farmers.

26. Central Government approved projects worth Rs. ______under the ‘Nirbhaya Fund’ for eight major cities of India, in order to make them safer for women? 1. 1911.55 crore 2. 1914.55 crore 3. 2916.55 crore 4. 2919.55 crore 5. 3920.55 crore Answer - 4. 2919.55 crore Explanation : Central Government approved projects worth Rs 2919.55 crore under the ‘Nirbhaya Fund’ for eight major cities of India, in order to make them safer for women. The projects have been approved for Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad Ahmedabad and Lucknow. In Delhi, the projects include, deploying latest technologies, such as video monitoring, facial recognition analytics and tracking of people. One of the projects which will be implemented in Mumbai is strengthening the "Police Didi" programme, under which women police personnel interact with women living in slums. More police patrol vans, video surveillance and more woman police outposts are some of the other projects that will be implemented across these eight cities.

27. Which state inaugurated the 27th Technological Conference of Indian Jute Industries' Research Association (IJIRA) on Shaping the Future of Jute? 1. Maharashtra 2. Odisha 3. Assam 4. Manipur 5. West Bengal Answer - 5. West Bengal Explanation : Union Textile Minister Smriti Irani attended the 27th Technological Conference of Indian Jute Industries' Research Association (IJIRA) on Shaping the Future of Jute, in Kolkata, West Bengal. While addressing the conference, Ms Irani praised (IJIRA) for developing low-cost jute-based

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sanitary napkins. Jute based sanitary napkins have lesser chemical content. Moreover, the manufacturing of the jute-based napkin can lead to the development of women entrepreneurs. Ms. Irani also added that potential entrepreneurs who wish to start manufacturing of these jute- based sanitary napkins can benefit from the Mudra loan scheme of the government.

28. As per Hurun Global Rich List 2018, which country has the highest number of billionaires in the world? 1. Germany 2. USA 3. China 4. India 5. Britain Answer - 3. China Explanation : As per Hurun Global Rich List 2018, India has the third highest number of billionaires in the world after China and US. Hurun Global Rich List is a ranking of US-dollar-billionaires in the world. Hurun Global Rich List 2018, ranked 2694 billionaires from 68 countries and from 2157 companies. Rankings are based on wealth calculations as of January 31, 2018. Hurun Global Rich List 2018 identified 131 billionaires in India. With 31 new billionaires emerging during last year, India has reclaimed its third spot, which it had lost to Germany a year ago. With 819 billionaires in 2018, China topped the countries list, followed by US (571 billionaires). During last year, total wealth of billionaires increased by 31 per cent to US$10.5 trillion, which is equivalent to 13.2 per cent of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

29. India and Bangladesh signed a tripartite agreement with which other country, that allows Indian firms to participate in construction and installation works in the “non- critical” category for the Rooppur nuclear power plant project in northwest Bangladesh? 1. USA 2. Pakistan 3. Srilanka 4. Japan 5. Russia Answer - 5. Russia Explanation : India, Russia and Bangladesh signed a tripartite agreement which allows Indian firms to participate in construction and installation works in the “non-critical” category for the Rooppur nuclear power plant project in northwest Bangladesh. The MoU was signed in Moscow by Deputy Director General of Rosatom (Russia's Apex civil nuclear body) Nikolay Spassky, Indian Ambassador to Russia Pankaj Saran and ambassador of Bangladesh in Russia S.M. Saiful Hoque. Rosatom is constructing two nuclear reactors (with a capacity of 1200 MW each) in Rooppur, which will be Bangaladesh’s first nuclear power project. As per the terms of the MoU, Indian companies can participate in construction and installation works, supply of materials and equipment of a non-critical category for Rooppur Atomic Plant.

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30. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has allowed a limit of Rs. ______for foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) to go long in Interest Rate Futures (IRFs)? 1. 1000 lakh 2. 5000 lakh 3. 1000 crore 4. 2500 crore 5. 5000 crore Answer - 5. 5000 crore Explanation : Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has allowed a limit of Rs. 5000 crore for foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) to go long in Interest Rate Futures (IRFs). An agreement to buy or sell a debt instrument at a specified future date, at a price that is fixed today, is referred to as Interest Rate Futures(IRFs). IRF is a derivative instrument based on an underlying security, which can either be a Government Bond or a Treasury Bill. Currently, the FPI limit for Government Securities (G- Secs) is mutually interchangeable between investments in G-Secs and investment in IRF, with long position in IRF capped at 90% of G-Sec limit. The decision to increase the position limit has been taken to further market development and to ensure that FPIs can access IRFs in an uninterrupted way.

31. In a bid to support Indian farmers, Central Government has raised import tax on crude and refined palm oil to the highest level in more than a decade. What is the % increase? 1. Crude palm oil-44%, Refined palm oil-54% 2. Crude palm oil-42%, Refined palm oil-52% 3. Crude palm oil-40%, Refined palm oil-50% 4. Crude palm oil-38%, Refined palm oil-48% 5. Crude palm oil-36%, Refined palm oil-46% Answer - 1. Crude palm oil-44%, Refined palm oil-54% Explanation : In a bid to support Indian farmers, Central Government has raised import tax on crude and refined palm oil to the highest level in more than a decade.Import tax on crude palm oil has been raised to 44 percent from 30 percent while for refined palm oil, it has been raised to 54 percent from 40 percent. Higher import tax would lift oilseed prices, which would encourage domestic supply for crushing. This situation will not just help Indian farmers, but would also limit the edible oil imports in the 2017/18 marketing year, that started from November 1, 2017. In context of this news, it is important to note that India is the world's biggest importer of edible oils. India relies on imports for 70 percent of its edible oil consumption.

32. Name the Indian-American scientist, who has been granted over USD 1.1 million for cancer research? 1. Ashok Das 2. Navin Vardarajan 3. Krishan Sabnani 4. Jogesh Pati 5. Har Gobind Answer - 2. Navin Vardarajan Explanation : Navin Vardarajan, an Indian-American scientist, along with a fellow researcher, has been granted over USD 1.1 million for cancer research. Navin Vardarajan and Sanghyuk Chung of University of Houston, were granted funds by Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). Navin

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Vardarajan is an associate professor of chemical and bimolecular engineering. He was granted USD 1,173,420 to improve effectiveness of T-cell immunotherapy. Sanghyuk Chung is an associate professor of biology and biochemistry. He was provided with USD 811,617 to define molecular targets for cervical cancer treatment.

33. Who was appointed as the director and managing director of the HCL Infosystems Ltd? 1. Rangarajan Raghavan 2. Ananda Krishnan 3. Subash Kak 4. Sudir Venkatesh 5. Praveen Chaudri Answer - 1. Rangarajan Raghavan Explanation : HCL Infosystems Ltd. has appointed Rangarajan Raghavan, as its director and managing director. Rangarajan Raghavan is the president of HCL Infosystems Ltd. He has been appointed director & managing director of HCL Infosystems with effect from 1st April 2018. His appointment has been made after Premkumar Seshadri resigned as the executive vice chairman and managing director of HCL Infosystems. Rangarajan Raghavan joined HCL in 1978. He has held various important positions in the company. At present he is the president of the Project and Services division of HCL Infosystems.

34. In which state, the world’s largest solar park ‘Shakti Sthala’ was inaugurated? 1. Kerala 2. Rajasthan 3. Karnataka 4. Madhya Pradesh 5. Uttarkhand Answer - 3. Karnataka Explanation : Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah inaugurated ‘Shakti Sthala’ a solar power park with 2,000 megawatt capacity at Pavagada in Tumakuru district of Karnataka. The Shakti Sthala is built on an area of 13,000 acres. It was set up at a cost of Rs 165 billion. It generated 600 MW power as of January 2018. Additional 1,400 MW would be generated by December 2018. Karnataka Energy Minister D. K. Shivakumar said that, farmers of the Pavagada region who have leased out land for the park are partners and beneficiaries of Shakti Sthala. Around 2,300 farmers are part of this project. They have rented their lands for Rs 21,000 per acre per annum. Siddaramaiah said that, Karnataka has become the third-largest producer of renewable energy in India.

35. What is the name of the interceptor boat which was delivered to Indian Coast Guard (ICG) by Bharati Defence and Infrastructure Ltd (BDIL)? 1. A-175 2. B-175 3. B-162 4. C-162 5. C-175 Answer - 4. C-162 Explanation : Bharati Defence and Infrastructure Ltd (BDIL) delivered an interceptor boat, C-162 – to Indian Coast Guard (ICG) in Mangaluru, Karnataka. It is the Sixth in a series of 15 high speed interceptor boats being procured by Indian Coast Guard. C-162 is to be based at ICG’s Kochi unit,

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where it will be used mainly for patrolling purposes. It is 28m-long and has an aluminium hull. It weighs about 60 dead-weight tonnage (DWT) and can attain speeds up to 35 knots. The vessel is propelled by two engines of 1650 KW each and can accommodate 11 crew.

36. Who won silver medal in in the women’s 50kg freestyle event, at the Asian Wrestling Championships in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan? 1. Subba Reddy 2. Aravind Godson 3. Rajendra Kumar 4. Harpreet Singh 5. Vinesh Phogat Answer - 5. Vinesh Phogat Explanation : Vinesh Phogat won silver medal in in the women’s 50kg freestyle event, at the Asian Wrestling Championships in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. India’s Vinesh Phogat was defeated 2-3 by China's Chun Lei in the finals of women's 50kg freestyle event. She won silver medal in the women’s 50kg freestyle event. India’s Sangeeta defeated Korea’s Jieun Um in the women's 59kg freestyle event and won a bronze medal. India’s Harpreet Singh defeated Uzbekistan's Khashimbekov 11-3 and won a bronze medal in the 82kg Greco-Roman event. India’s Rajendra Kumar defeated Uzbekistan's Mirakhmedov and won bronze medal in the 55kg Greco-Roman event.

37. Khagendra Jamatia recently passed away. Who was he? 1. Lawyer 2. Singer 3. Politician 4. Dancer 5. Doctor Answer - 3. Politician Explanation : Khagendra Jamatia, Tripura Fisheries and Cooperation minister, passed away after being diagnosed with blood cancer recently, at a hospital in New Delhi. Khagendra Jamatia was 64 years old. He was CPM candidate from the Krishnapur constituency in the assembly election held on 18th February 2018. He joined CPM in 1983. He served as a party MLA for six continuous terms. He was also a minister for two terms.

38. When is the Zero Discrimination Day observed all over the world? 1. 1st March 2. 2nd March 3. 3rd March 4. 4th March 5. 5th March Answer - 1. 1st March Explanation : On 1st March 2018, Zero Discrimination Day was observed all over the world. The first Zero Discrimination Day was celebrated on 1st March 2014. UNAIDS launched the Zero Discrimination Campaign in December 2013 on World AIDS Day. Zero Discrimination Day is celebrated to stress the right of everyone to be free from discrimination. Discrimination is faced by people all over the world based on gender, sexual orientation or age, etc. Zero Discrimination Day 2018 campaign says people to ask themselves: “What if …” and assess their own actions.

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39. Under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Textiles, the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) - New Delhi, will conduct a National Sizing Survey of India to develop an ‘India size chart’ for the garment industry. At present India is following which country’s tweaked version of size charts? 1. US or UK 2. US or China 3. US or Japan 4. US or Malaysia 5. US or UAE Answer - 1. US or UK Explanation : Under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Textiles, the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) - New Delhi, will conduct a National Sizing Survey of India to develop an ‘India size chart’ for the garment industry. The garment industry in India currently follows tweaked versions of US or the UK size charts of ‘small, medium, large, extra large’. Following these charts has been identified as main reason for high return and rejection rate of 20% to 40% in Indian garments industry. This rate has been increasing with the growth of e-commerce, and poor garment fit is the main reason given for return of garments purchased online. With ‘India Size Chart’ in place, all brands selling in India, including foreign brands, will have to carry the India size label on all garments

40. Which state government launched 'Khushi', a scheme that offers free sanitary pads to 17 lakh girl students in the state? 1. Goa 2. Bihar 3. Punjab 4. Odisha 5. Gujarat Answer - 4. Odisha Explanation : Odisha government launched 'Khushi', a scheme that offers free sanitary pads to 17 lakh girl students in Odisha. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched the scheme 'Khushi'. This will offer free sanitary pads for girl students from Class 6 to 12 studying in all government and government-aided schools of Odisha. He said that, this scheme will help in improving health and hygiene of adolescent girls and in higher retention of girl students in school. Odisha Health Minister Pratap Jena said that, Odisha government will also provide sanitary pads at a subsidised price to rural women through ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers.

41. Which country announced that it will be on the grey list of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) from June 2018? 1. Pakistan 2. Afghanistan 3. India 4. China 5. Srilanka Answer - 1. Pakistan Explanation : Pakistan confirmed that it will be on the grey list of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) from June 2018. Decision to place Pakistan on ‘grey list’ was taken at FATF meeting in February 2018. Pakistan will be placed on the ‘grey list’ as FATF has observed deficiencies in its Anti-Money

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Laundering and Countering of Terrorist Financing framework. Being on the ‘grey list’ will make it harder for Pakistan Government to raise money from foreign sources, including multilateral financing agencies.

42. In a bid to increase the importance of services sector and to encourage banks to lend more to this sector, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to remove the per borrower loan limits for ______involved in services, for classification under priority sector lending? 1. IT Companies 2. MSME’s 3. Agricultural Companies 4. Film Industry 5. All the above Answer - 2. MSME’s Explanation : In a bid to increase the importance of services sector and to encourage banks to lend more to this sector, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to remove the per borrower loan limits for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) involved in services, for classification under priority sector lending. In case of the services sector, MSMED (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development) Act, 2006 defines micro and small enterprises as an entity where the investment is more than Rs.10 lakh, but does not exceed Rs. 2 crore. Medium enterprise has been defined as an entity where the investment in equipment is more than Rs. 2 crore but does not exceed Rs.5 crore. As per the current norms, loans to Micro/ Small enterprises up to Rs. 5 crore and loans to Medium Enterprises up to Rs. 10 crore were classified as priority sector lending (PSL). However, with the removal of this cap, all loans to MSMEs involved in providing/rendering services will be classified as priority sector lending.

43. How many total Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs) are introduced by Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) so far? 1. 190 2. 198 3. 200 4. 203 5. 205 Answer - 4. 203 Explanation : Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) entered into seven more Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs), taking the total number of APAs to 203 so far. All seven APAs signed in February 2018 are unilateral APAs and pertain to automobile, pharmaceuticals, Financial and Food & Beverages sectors. Out of all APAs entered into by the CBDT till date, 185 are Unilateral APAs and 18 are Bilateral APAs. In the current financial year, i.e. 2017-18, CBDT has entered into 51 APAs so far, out of which, 44 are Unilateral and 7 are Bilateral. APA provisions were introduced in the Income- tax Act, 1961 in 2012. Objective of APA scheme is to provide certainty to taxpayers in the domain of transfer pricing by specifying the methods of pricing and thereby reducing litigation.

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44. Which Indian Actor-Politician has been honoured with a lifetime achievement award for his contribution to the fields of arts and politics at the annual ‘Political and Public Life Awards’ presented by Britain’s Asian Voice weekly newspaper?= 1. Kamal Hasan 2. Amitabh Bachchan 3. Shatrughan Sinha 4. Govinda 5. Vinod Khanna Answer - 3. Shatrughan Sinha Explanation : Indian Actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha has been honoured with a lifetime achievement award for his contribution to the fields of arts and politics at the annual ‘Political and Public Life Awards’ presented by Britain’s Asian Voice weekly newspaper. ‘Political and Public Life Awards’ presented by Britain’s Asian Voice weekly newspaper, honours individuals who have made a significant impact on public life or made a difference in their local communities. The award ceremony was held on March 1, 2018 at the Members’ Dining Room in the House of Commons building in UK’s Parliament complex. Shatrughan Sinha started his career as an actor in late 1960s. Till date, he has acted in over 225 films. He is a member of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He represents Bihar state’s Patna Sahib Constituency in the Lok Sabha.

45. Armen Sarkisian was elected as the new president of which country? 1. Bolivia 2. Peru 3. Chile 4. Ecuador 5. Armenia Answer - 5. Armenia Explanation : On March 2, 2018, Armenian Parliament elected Armen Sarkisian as country’s next president. 64 years-old Armen Sarkisian is Armenia’s former Prime Minister and currently serving as Armenia’s ambassador to the United Kingdom. In the Presidential vote by Armenia’s National Assembly, 90 members voted in favour of Armen Sarkisian, 10 voted against and one abstained. This is the first time in Armenia’s history, that a president has been elected by the National Assembly instead of popular vote. Armen Sarkisian will succeed the incumbent President Serge Sarkisian, whose term will end on April 9, 2018

46. Which Space Organisation launched GOES-S, the world’s most advanced weather satellites? 1. ISRO 2. NASA 3. Roscosmos 4. JAXA 5. CNES Answer - 2. NASA Explanation : NASA launched GOES-S, another of world’s most advanced weather satellites. Abbreviation GOES stands for Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites. GOES-S has been launched to safeguard Western US, by monitoring, forecasting and providing crisp images of hurricanes, wildfires, floods, mudslides and other natural calamities. GOES-16, the first spacecraft in the series, has been monitoring the Atlantic and US East Coast for the past year for the National

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Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of US. GOES-S will not only keep a watch over West Coast of US, Alaska and Hawaii, but also over Mexico and Central America.

47. By defeating Pakistan, which country won the inaugural IBSF Snooker Team World Cup 2018 in Doha, Qatar? 1. Argentina 2. USA 3. India 4. Japan 5. Malaysia Answer - 3. India Explanation : India won the inaugural IBSF Snooker Team World Cup in Doha, Qatar. India beat Pakistan by 3- 2 in the best-of-five final. In the finals, Indian duo of Pankaj Advani and Manan Chandra staged a remarkable recovery after being 0-2 down. In the semi finals, India won against Iran by 3-2, while Pakistan had beaten Hong Kong by 3-2.

48. Shubhankar Sharma is related to which of the following? 1. Swimming 2. Golf 3. Hockey 4. Wrestling 5. Tennis Answer - 2. Golf Explanation : Indian golfer Shubhankar Sharma secured tied second position after the opening round of the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship at Mexico City. Shubhankar Sharma fired six- under 65 and obtained tied second position after the opening round. Now, he is one shot behind Louis Oosthuizen. This is the first WGC tournament for Shubhankar Sharma. Shubhankar Sharma is 21 years old.

49. Name the first Indian woman wrestler to win gold in the Senior Asian Championships by winning gold medal in the 65kg freestyle category in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. 1. Babitha Kumari 2. Vinesh Phogat 3. Kavita Devi 4. Anisha Sayyed 5. Navjot Kaur Answer - 5. Navjot Kaur Explanation : Navjot Kaur became the first Indian woman wrestler to win gold in the Senior Asian Championships by winning gold medal in the 65kg freestyle category in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. India’s Navjot Kaur defeated Japan's Miya Imai 9-1 in the finals of the women's 65kg freestyle category and won gold medal. Also, this is India's first gold medal in the 2018 Asian Wrestling Championships. India’s Sakshi Malik defeated Kazakhstan's Ayaulym Kassymova 10-7 and won bronze medal in the 62kg freestyle category.

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50. T Thomas recently passed away. Who was he? 1. Dentist 2. Surgeon 3. Businessman 4. Architect 5. Judge Answer - 3. Businessman Explanation : On 2nd March 2018, T Thomas, former Hindustan Unilever (HUL) and Business Standard chairman, passed away at the Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai. T Thomas was 90 years old. He had been ill for some time. He was Chairman of Hindustan Unilever (HUL) from 1973 to 1980. He was also a visiting scholar at Sloan School, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA. He was also non-executive chairman of companies like Glaxo and Lafarge. [/su_spoiler] 51. In which state of India, the food processing centre will be launched, in collaboration with Israel? 1. Assam 2. Manipur 3. Meghalaya 4. Mizoram 5. Bihar Answer - 4. Mizoram Explanation : Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh, launched the social media of “Namaste Shalom”, a magazine on India-Israel relations. The magazine ‘Namaste Shalom’ is edited by Tarun Vijay, former MP. Mr. Daniel Carmon, Israeli Ambassador to India, and other officials were also present on the occasion. Dr Jitendra Singh said that, a food processing centre in collaboration with Israel will be launched in Aizwal, Mizoram on 7th March 2018. The centre has been established at a cost of Rs 8-10 crore. This centre has been set up exclusively for processing of citrus fruits. This is the first such centre with Israeli collaboration in the North East region. This centre has been established through tripartite collaboration of Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, Government of Israel and State Government of Mizoram.

52. When is the “World Wild Life Day” celebrated all over the world? 1. 28th February 2. 1st March 3. 2nd March 4. 3rd March 5. 4th March Answer - 4. 3rd March Explanation : On 3rd March 2018, World Wild Life Day was celebrated all over the world. On 20th December 2013, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) announced 3 March, as UN World Wildlife Day, to mark the date on which the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was signed. The World Wild Life Day is celebrated to create awareness about the world’s wild animals and plants and safeguard them. The theme for World Wildlife Day 2018 is: “Big cats: predators under threat".

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53. In which three North Eastern States, Legislative Assembly Elections were held in the month of February 2018? 1. Tripura, Meghalaya Nagaland 2. Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur 3. Nagaland, Sikkim, Mizoram 4. Mizoram, Assam, Sikkim 5.Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur Answer - 1. Tripura, Meghalaya Nagaland Explanation : During February 2018, Legislative Assembly Elections were held in three North Eastern States - Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland. Counting for all these Legislative Assembly Elections was held on March 3, 2018. • Tripura State Legislative Assembly election, 2018 was held on February 18, 2018 for 59 out of 60 seats. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) along with its ally, Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) has won 43 seats and has thereby got the majority. BJP won has 35 seats while IPFT has won 8 seats. • Meghalaya State Legislative Assembly election, 2018 was held on February 27, 2018 for 59 out of 60 seats. The ruling party, Indian National Congress led by incumbent Chief Minister Mukul Sangma won 21 seats and emerged as the single largest party. However, it fell short from attaining majority. • Nagaland State Legislative Assembly election, 2018 was held on February 27, 2018 for 59 out of 60 seats. Incumbent Chief Minister TR Zeliang’s Naga People's Front (NPF) won 27 seats and emerged as single largest party. However, it fell short from attaining majority.

54. Name the healthcare scheme introduced by Karnataka government to provide quality primary, secondary and tertiary treatment to Below Poverty Line (BPL) and above Poverty Line (APL) families in Karnataka. 1. Attention Karnataka 2. Healthcare Karnataka 3. Arogya Karnataka 4. Nomadic Karnataka 5. Rehabilitative Karnataka Answer - 3. Arogya Karnataka Explanation : Karnataka Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah unveiled ‘Arogya Karnataka' (Healthy Karnataka), a healthcare scheme to provide quality primary, secondary and tertiary treatment to Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Above Poverty Line (APL) families in Karnataka. Under this scheme, individuals from all below-poverty-line (BPL) households in the state will get free treatment at government hospitals. For individuals from above-poverty-line (APL) households, the State Government will bear about 30 per cent of the treatment cost. This scheme was announced in Karnataka’s State Budget presented in February 2018 and is expected to be implemented across the entire state by December 2018. About 1.43 crore households in Karnataka will gain benefits from this scheme.

55. Which State Government has launched 'Ama Gaon, Ama Vikas' (our village, our development) programme with an objective to reach out to the people in rural areas of the state and involve them in developmental activities? 1. Gujarat 2. Maharashtra 3. Madhya Pradesh 4. Odisha

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5. Goa Answer - 4. Odisha Explanation : Odisha State Government has launched 'Ama Gaon, Ama Vikas' (our village, our development) programme with an objective to reach out to the people in rural areas of Odisha and involve them in developmental activities. On March 3, 2018, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik flagged off 'Ama Gaon, Ama Vikas' video vans. These video vans will move across Odisha and will highlight various welfare schemes of Government. Through the Wi-fi enabled video walls in these vans, people would be able to send their grievances directly to the Chief Ministers’ Office Secretariat in Bhubaneswar. Odisha State Government believes that this initiative will help in solving people’s grievances instantly.

56. In the October-December 2017 quarter (Q3) of the current fiscal, Indian economy grew at ______% rate and there by regained its tag of world’s fastest growing economy? 1. 7.1% 2. 7.2% 3. 7.3% 4. 7.4% 5. 7.5% Answer - 2. 7.2% Explanation : In the October-December 2017 quarter (Q3) of the current fiscal, Indian economy grew at 7.2 per cent rate and there by regained its tag of world’s fastest growing economy. India regained its tag of fastest growing economy from China, as Chinese economy recorded a 6.8 per cent growth rate during October-December 2018 quarter (Q3) of the current fiscal. The uptick in growth to 7.2 percent as compared to 6.3 per cent in previous quarter (July – September 2017) indicates that Indian economy has finally overcome the disruptions caused by Goods and Services Tax (GST) roll out in July 2017. In Q3, Manufacturing sector grew at 8.1 per cent as compared to 6.9 per cent in the previous quarter. Similarly, agriculture sector grew at 4.1 percent from 2.7 percent in the previous quarter. Besides, Construction sector grew at 6.8 per cent in Q3 of 2017- 18, which is higher than 2.8 per cent in previous quarter, while services sector (including financial services) registered a growth of 6.7 per cent, up from 6.4 per cent in previous quarter.

57. Gadchiroli book reading event conducted in which Indian state, created a new Guinness world record by breaking the Guinness world record created in Turkey on 18th May 2017? 1. Goa 2. Madhya Pradesh 3. Bihar 4. West Bengal 5. Maharashtra Answer - 5. Maharashtra Explanation : Gadchiroli book reading event created a new Guinness world record breaking the Guinness world 21 | Page Follow Us - FB.com/AffairsCloudOfficialPage Copyright 2018 @ AffairsCloud.Com

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record created in Turkey on 18th May 2017. Nearly 7,000 people participated in the book reading event conducted at Gadchiroli, Maharashtra. The event was organised by police authorities. Representatives from the Guinness Book of World Records witnessed the event. The book reading event in Turkey held on 18th May 2017 had participation from 5,754 people. Maheshwar Reddy, Superintendent of Police, Gadchiroli, said that, Gadchiroli is a Naxal dominant region and this event will project a positive image of Gadchiroli to the world.

58. For the first time, a team of astronomers from Arizona State University have discovered signals from the period when the universe's earliest stars emerged. Name the astronomer who led the team. 1. Johannes Kepler 2. Claudius Ptolemy 3. Judd Bowman 4. Bartolomeu Velho 5. Karl Tate Answer - 3. Judd Bowman Explanation : For the first time, a team of astronomers from Arizona State University have discovered signals from the period when the universe's earliest stars emerged. The period when the universe's earliest stars emerged is referred to as ‘Cosmic Dawn’. The team was led by astronomer Judd Bowman and also included an Indian graduate student Nivedita Mahesh. If the signals discovered from ‘Cosmic Dawn’ are confirmed, it could provide insights into the elusive ‘dark matter’, which is believed to form a fundamental part of our universe. A radio telescope called Experiment to Detect the Global Epoch of Reionization Signature (EDGES), based at the Murchison Radio- astronomy Observatory in the middle of Western Australian desert was used in this research.

59. Name the Indian Navy Sailing Vessel (INSV) which had arrived at a port in Cape Town in South Africa on 2nd March 2018? 1. Tarini 2. Nandhi 3. Dhanvi 4. Varuna 5. Mhadei Answer - 1. Tarini Explanation : On 2nd March 2018, the all-women Indian crew circumnavigating the globe on the Indian Navy Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini arrived at a port in Cape Town in South Africa. This expedition by the all-women Indian crew is named Navika Sagar Parikrama. It has reached Cape Town in South Africa during the last phase of its voyage. This is the first all-women Indian crew to go on a circumnavigation of the globe. Captain of the vessel is Lieutenant Commander Vartika Joshi. INSV Tarini was flagged-off from Goa on 10th September 2017 by Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. INSV Tarini is expected to leave Cape Town on 14th March 2018 and return to Goa in April 2018, completing its voyage.

60. Which Indian state’s women team won the interstate national tennis championship 2018 held in Chhattisgarh? 1. Rajasthan 2. Madhya Pradesh 3. Maharashtra 4. Gujarat

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5. Punjab Answer - 3. Maharashtra Explanation : Maharashtra women's team won the interstate national tennis championship 2018 held in Chhattisgarh. The interstate national tennis championship 2018 was organised by the Chhattisgarh State Tennis Association (CSTA) under the guidance of All India Tennis Association (AITA) from 26th February to 3rd March 2018. Maharashtra’s Mihika Yadav defeated Delhi’s Rishika Sunkara 6-2,7-6,(3) in the finals. Ramsheela Sahu, Minister of Women and child development & Social Welfare Department, Chhattisgarh, gave away the prizes. The CSTA awarded Rs 25,000 each to both the finalists as a token of motivation.

61. Rashid Khan has become the youngest captain in international cricket. He belongs to which country? 1. Pakistan 2. South Africa 3. Srilanka 4. Russia 5. Afghanistan Answer - 5. Afghanistan Explanation : Rashid Khan of Afghanistan has become the youngest captain in international cricket. Rashid Khan is 19 years old. He took charge as captain for Afghanistan team as the previous captain Asghar Stanikzai was down with appendicitis. Afghanistan is now playing against Scotland in first of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

62. Who won gold medal with a world record score at the ISSF World Cup 2018 in Guadalajara, Mexico? 1. Stacy Keibler 2. Shahzar Rizvi 3. Trish Stratus 4. Mehuli Ghosh 5. Jitu Rai Answer - 2. Shahzar Rizvi Explanation : Indian shooter Shahzar Rizvi won gold medal with a world record score and Jitu Rai and Mehuli Ghosh won bronze medals at the ISSF World Cup in Guadalajara, Mexico. India’s Shahzar Rizvi shot 242.3 making a world record in the finals of the men’s 10m air pistol and defeated Germany’s Christian Reitz (239.7). Shahzar Rizvi won gold medal in the 10m air pistol event. India’s Jitu Rai scored 219 in the men’s 10m air pistol event and won bronze medal. Mehuli Ghosh shot a world junior record 228.4 and won bronze medal in the women’s 10m air rifle event.

63. Prafulla Das passed away recently. Who was she? 1. Dietician 2. Physician 3. Lawyer 4. Chess Player 5. Litterateur Answer - 5. Litterateur Explanation :

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Literateur Prafulla Das died after suffering from age-related ailments at his home at Rajkanika in Kendrapara district, Odisha. Prafulla Das was 91 years old. He was honoured with the Sarala Award in 2014. He had written numerous books on India's freedom struggle and the role of Odisha in it. His important works are 'Kalapanira Angisikha', 'Agnujugar Aahwan', 'Bharatara Sasastra Mukti Sangram', 'Sahid Basu Bisnini', 'Kanika Prajaandolan Itihas', 'Netaji Aao feri Nahanti', 'Fashi Manchare Biplabi' etc.

64. Davide Astori, passed away recently due to a sudden illness, in his room at the La di Moret hotel in Udine, Italy. He belonged to which of the following sport? 1. Volleyball 2. Handball 3. Football 4. Wrestling 5. Swimming Answer - 3. Football Explanation : Davide Astori, an Italian footballer, passed away due to a sudden illness, in his room at the La di Moret hotel in Udine, Italy. Davide Astori was 31 years old. He was captain and defender of the Fiorentina team. He joined Fiorentina team in 2016. Earlier he had played for Cagliari team. The game that Fiorentina team was scheduled to play on 4th March 2018 was cancelled due to Davide Astori’s sudden demise.

65. President Tran Dai Quang was on an official visit to India from 2nd – 4th March 2018. Which country’s president is he? 1. Norway 2. Italy 3. Canada 4. Vietnam 5. Germany Answer - 4. Vietnam Explanation : Vietnam President Tran Dai Quang was on an official visit to India from 2nd – 4th March 2018. Tran Dai Quang visited India at the invitation of Indian President Ram Nath Kovind. Vietnam is an important pillar in India's Act East Policy and is currently the country coordinator for India with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).India, Vietnam to take steps to achieve USD 15 billion trade target. After the signing of above stated MoUs, a joint statement was issued mentioning that India and Vietnam will take concrete measure to achieve the bilateral trade target of USD 15 billion by 2020. In context of this news, it is to be noted that, for 2016-17, India-Vietnam trade stood at $6.24 billion. As per the joint statement, India and Vietnam have agreed to hold the next Meeting of the Joint Sub-Commission on Trade in Vietnam's capital city Hanoi in 2018.

66. In which Indian city, the Union Information and Broadcasting Minister, Smiriti Irani inaugurated 2018 edition of FICCI Frames, which was athree-day global convention covering the entire gamut of Media and Entertainment Industry? 1. Kolkata 2. Mumbai 3. Darjeeling 4. Pune 5. Patna

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Answer - 2. Mumbai Explanation : Union Information and Broadcasting Minister, Smiriti Irani inaugurated 2018 edition of FICCI Frames in Mumbai. 2018 edition of FICCI Frames, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s (FICCI’s) annual convention on the film and entertainment market is a three-day global convention covering the entire gamut of Media and Entertainment Industry viz. films, broadcasts (TV & Radio), Print Media etc. Nearly 2000 Indian and 800 foreign delegates from Media and Entertainment sector will be attending this event. 35 knowledge sessions will be conducted during the course of this event and 200 high profile speakers from across the world will share their views.

67. Which state Government inaugurated the week-long 29th edition of annual International Yoga Festival (IYF)? 1. Odisha 2. Mizoram 3. Punjab 4. Bihar 5. Uttarakhand Answer - 5. Uttarakhand Explanation : Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat inaugurated the week-long 29th edition of annual International Yoga Festival (IYF) at Parmarth Niketan ashram in Rishikesh. However, 29th International Yoga Festival was officially inaugurated by Vice President, Venkaiah Naidu on March 3, 2018. The International Yoga Festival has been organised by Parmarth Niketan Ashram in association with Union Ministry of AYUSH, Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board and Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam Ltd. In addition to daily yoga classes, 200 sessions on topics such as Ashtanga yoga, Bhakti yoga, Kundalini yoga and Ganga yoga will be conducted during the course of this event. More than 80 saints, yogacharyas, presenters and experts from nearly 20 countries will take part in these sessions. Over 1500 yoga practitioners from 94 countries have gathered in Rishikesh for this week-long festival.

68. India holds which rank in Global Firepower (GFP) list 2017? 1. 1st 2. 2nd 3. 3rd 4.4th 5. 5th nswer - 4.4th Explanation : In terms of military prowess, India has ranked 4th out of 133 countries on the Global Firepower (GFP) list 2017. Ranking in Global Firepower List is based on Country’s Power Index Score, which is arrived at by assessing the countries on 50 parameters. Available manpower is the most important parameter and thus countries with large population tend to rank higher. Geographical factors, natural resources, logistical efficiency and local industry also affect the final ranking. Although nuclear stockpiles are not taken into consideration, recognised/suspected nuclear weapons possession fetches a bonus. More importantly, ranking does not solely rely on number of weapons available, rather it focuses on weapons diversification.

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69. Which country has announced that, it will launch its own cryptocurrency and it will be circulated as legal tender along with the U.S. dollar? 1. Nauru 2. Palau 3. Marshall Islands 4. Tuvalu 5. Fiji Answer - 3. Marshall Islands Explanation : Marshall Islands has announced that, it will launch its own cryptocurrency and it will be circulated as legal tender along with the U.S. dollar. This cryptocurrency is named SOV. Its legal tender status has been approved by the parliament of Marshall Islands. It has been said that, the SOV will be issued to the public through an initial coin offering. Marshall Islands has limited the SOV supply at 24 million tokens to prevent inflation. SOV will function like regular money. Marshall Islands has tied up with Neema, an Israeli financial technology startup, for issuing SOV. The launch date of SOV has not yet been decided. SOV functions on “Yakwe framework”. This system mandates users to identify themselves on the blockchain. This will eliminate the anonymity problem that affected bitcoin.

70. Central Government has constituted a Steering Committee to consider various issues relating to development of Financial Technology (Fintech) space in India. This committee will be headed by ______? 1. Prime Minister 2. President 3. Secretary of Corporate Affairs 4. Secretary of NABARD 5. Secretary of Department of Economic Affairs(DEA) Answer - 5. Secretary of Department of Economic Affairs(DEA) Explanation : Central Government has constituted a Steering Committee to consider various issues relating to development of Financial Technology (Fintech) space in India. This committee will be headed by Secretary of Department of Economic Affairs(DEA) under Ministry of Finance. Objective of this committee is to come up with measures aimed to make Fintech related regulations in India, more flexible and generate enhanced entrepreneurship. While considering various related issues, the Steering Committee will focus on how Fintech can be leveraged to enhance financial inclusion of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Idea to constitute such committee for Fintech related issues was first announced by Union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley while presenting the Union Budget 2018.

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71. In a bid to increase the importance of services sector and to encourage banks to lend more to this sector, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to remove the per borrower loan limits for ______involved in services, for classification under priority sector lending? 1. IT Companies 2. MSME’s 3. Agricultural Companies 4. Film Industry 5. All the above Answer - 2. MSME’s Explanation : The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to remove the per borrower loan limits to Micro/ Small and Medium Enterprises (Services) for classification under priority sector lending. This has been done in a move to increase importance of the services sector and to encourage banks to lend more to the services sector. Loans to Micro/ Small and Medium Enterprises (Services) up to Rs 5 crore and Rs 10 crore, respectively, was considered priority sector lending (PSL) previously. Now the per borrower loan limits to Micro/ Small and Medium Enterprises (Services) have been removed. Hence all bank loans to MSMEs that are involved in services as specified in terms of investment in equipment under the MSMED Act, 2006,will be considered priority sector lending without any credit limit.

72. Which Bank introduced a new variable interest rate mortgage product that will be linked to the 90-day Treasury bills and will change every quarter? 1. Axis Bank 2. HDFC Bank 3. Union bank of India 4. Citibank 5. IDBI Bank Answer - 4. Citibank Explanation : Citibank introduced a new variable interest rate mortgage product that will be linked to the 90- day Treasury bills and will change every quarter. Citibank will charge a spread above the 90-day Treasury bill rate based on the borrower profile. Changes will be made in the rates once in every quarter on March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1. Citibank will take the t-bill rate on 12th of February, May, August and November from Financial Benchmarks India Pvt Ltd to fix the benchmark rate. Citibank has chosen 90 day treasury bills since it provides better accuracy on local rates. Also, resetting the rates every quarter, makes sure that, the rates are in line with market reality.

73. Who is the first Hindu woman to be elected to Pakistan's Senate? 1. Fathima Beevi 2. Kamala Harris 3. Thahira S 4. Krishna Kumari Kohli 5. Suhaina Beham Answer - 4. Krishna Kumari Kohli Explanation : Krishna Kumari Kohli became Pakistan's first Hindu woman to be elected to Senate. Krishna Kumari Kohli contested on behalf of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) from a constituency reserved for women candidates in Tharparkar district. She has won the election conducted on 3rd March

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2018 and has become the first Hindu woman of Pakistan to be elected to Senate. Krishna Kumari Kohli was born in 1979 in a poor family. She was married off when she was in ninth class. She continued her education as husband and family supported her education. She completed her master’s degree in sociology from University of Sindh in 2013.

74. Who was made the brand ambassador of Dream11, a gaming platform? 1. Hardik Pandya 2. Sachin Tendulkar 3. MS Dhoni 4. Amir Khan 5. Priyanka Chopra Answer - 3. MS Dhoni Explanation : Mahendra Singh Dhoni was named the brand ambassador of Dream11, a gaming platform. Mahendra Singh Dhoni will be the new face of Dream11’s multi-channel marketing campaigns and brand engagement activities. Dream11 has a user base of 2 crore players currently. Its main products are related to cricket, football, kabaddi and basketball.

75. 90th Academy Awards ceremony, popularly referred to as Oscars 2018, honouring the best films of 2017 was held in Los Angeles, California, United States. Which movie won the maximum number of awards? 1. Darkest Hour 2. Call Me by Your Name 3. A Fantastic Woman 4. The Shape of Water 5. Blade Runner 2049 Answer - 4. The Shape of Water Explanation : 90th Academy Awards ceremony, popularly referred to as Oscars 2018, honouring the best films of 2017 was held in Los Angeles, California, United States. The ceremony was hosted by comedian Jimmy Kimmel. Fantasy drama film, ‘The Shape of Water’ got the most awards (in 4 categories) including the Best Picture Award. ‘The Shape of Water’ was also credited with most nominations (in 13 categories).

76. Who won the rapid event at the 11th Tal Memorial chess in Moscow, Russia? 1. Viswanathan Anand 2. Garry Kasparov 3. Anatoly Karpov 4. Bobby Fischer 5. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov Answer - 1. Viswanathan Anand Explanation : Viswanathan Anand won the rapid event at the 11th Tal Memorial chess in Moscow, Russia. Viswanathan Anand completed the rapid event with 6 points and emerged as the winner. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov finished second with 5 points. It was a 10-player event. It was played as a single round-robin competition. Players should make all of their moves in 25 minutes.

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77. i) He was a disability rights activist ii) He also held the position of Global Chair of Disabled People International (DPI) iii) He was born in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. He had worked for the welfare for disabled people. iv) He had lead protests that urged the passing of the Persons with Disabilities Act in 1992. Name the person. 1. Viktor Korchnoi 2. Javed Abidi 3. Emanuel Lasker 4. Boris Spassky 5. Judit Polgar Answer - 2. Javed Abidi Explanation : On 4th March 2018, Javed Abidi, a disability rights activist, died due to chest infection. Javed Abidi was 53 years old. He was the Director of the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP). He also held the position of Global Chair of Disabled People International (DPI). He was born in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. He had worked for the welfare for disabled people. He had lead protests that urged the passing of the Persons with Disabilities Act in 1992.

78. Sarat Mohanty passed away recently. Who was he? 1. Dietician 2. Comedian 3. Wrestler 4. Horse Racer 5. Bike Racer Answer - 2. Comedian Explanation : On 3rd March 2018, Sarat Mohanty died following a long term illness, at a hospital in Odisha. Sarat Mohanty was 88 years old. He was a comedian. He had acted in several Odia movies. He had also acted in various TV serials. His popular works are: Laxmi, Amadabata, Kaa, Stree, Puja Phula, Bhulihuena, Malhajanha, etc.

79. Shigmotsav or Shigmo is the biggest Hindu festival celebrated in which state? 1. Rajasthan 2. Gujarat 3. Goa 4. Odisha 5. Maharashtra Answer - 3. Goa Explanation : On 3rd to 17th Match 2018, Shigmotsav 2018 is conducted in various regions of Goa. Shigmotsavor Shigmo is the biggest Hindu festival in Goa. During the festival, parades are

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conducted that depicts the life of Goan people. The parade features folk performances by local men and women. Folk dances like Ghode Modni and Fugdi are performed. Shigmotsav 2018 focuses on traditional folk dances and performance of mythological scenes. During the parade, Goan people are seen in colorful dresses with multi coloured flags and they play large musical instruments like Dhol Tasha and flutes.

80. In which Indian city, the first helicopter taxi service (heli taxi) was launched? 1. Mumbai 2. Mysore 3. Kolkata 4. Pune 5. Bengaluru Answer - 5. Bengaluru Explanation : India's first helicopter taxi service (heli taxi) was launched in Bengaluru on March 5, 2018. The first trip of the heli taxi was between Electronic City and Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru and was completed in 15 minutes. This service has been launched by Kerala-based Thumby Aviation Private Limited, using a Bell 407 helicopter with a capacity of six passengers. Currently, the heli taxi will operate between Electronic City and Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru only. However, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) airport will also be added in the next few weeks. Seats can be booked online by downloading the Thumby mobile app (Heli Taxii). The fare for this route is fixed at Rs 3500 per seat plus Goods and Services Tax (GST) at 18%.

81. Which State Government approved the setting up of a regional-cum-facilitation centre of the National Medicinal Plants Board of the Ministry of Ayush? 1. Bihar 2. Himachal Pradesh 3. Kerala 4. Madhya Pradesh 5. Punjab Answer - 2. Himachal Pradesh Explanation : Himachal Pradesh State Government approved the setting up of a regional-cum-facilitation centre of the National Medicinal Plants Board of the Ministry of Ayush. Decision in this regard was taken during the State Cabinet meeting chaired by Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur. This centre will be set up in Jogindernagar town in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh. Rs. 748.30 lakh has been allocated for setting up this centre, wherein the central government would provide a grant of Rs 149.60 lakh. The centre will provide inputs for conservation, cultivation and sale of medicinal plants and will also facilitate training, research and development of region-specific planting material.

82. Which neighbouring country of India has indefinitely postponed signing an agreement to streamline the free movement of people within 16 km along the border? 1. Myanmar 2. Nepal 3. Bhutan 4. Srilanka 5. Pakistan Answer - 1. Myanmar

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Explanation : Myanmar has ndefinitely postponed signing an agreement with India to streamline the free movement of people within 16 km along the border. In context of this news it is important to note that India and Myanmar share a 1643 km unfenced border. Indian states that share border with Myanmar are Arunachal Pradesh (520 km), Nagaland (215 km), Manipur (398 km) and Mizoram (510 km). In January 2018, Union Cabinet had approved the agreement between India and Myanmar on land border crossing with a view to enhance economic interaction between people of the two countries. Indian Government at Centre had also directed all the above mentioned states to distribute “border pass” to the residents living within 16 km from the border. However, Myanmar has indefinitely deferred signing the agreement citing domestic compulsions.

83. Indian Navy concluded a gruelling two-month long War Games. This War Games were conducted on both, the Western Seaboard of India as well as the Eastern Seaboard. What is the codename of the Eastern Seaboard? 1. EPL 2. ENCORE 3. HARDCORE 4. LEHAR 5. IONE Answer - 2. ENCORE Explanation : Indian Navy concluded a gruelling two-month long War Games. The War Games were conducted on both, the Western Seaboard of India as well as the Eastern Seaboard, extending from the Northern Arabian sea off the coast of Gujarat to the Southern Indian ocean off the Sunda Straits near Indonesia The War Game on the Western seaboard was codenamed Exercise Paschim Lehar and on the Eastern Seaborad the code name was ENCORE (Eastern Naval Command Operational Readiness Exercise). Conducting War Games on both the seaboards was in line with Indian Navy’s threat perceptions of a two-front war. All operational ships, submarines and aircraft of Indian Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard along with men and equipment of the Army participated in these War Games.

84. Which state Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Nandan Nilekani’s e-Governments Foundation (e-Gov) for managing of electronic governance of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) across the state? 1. Telangana 2. Kerala 3. Andhra Pradesh 4. Punjab 5. Karnataka Answer - 4. Punjab Explanation : Punjab State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Nandan Nilekani’s e- Governments Foundation (e-Gov) for managing of electronic governance of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) across the state. As per the terms of the MoU, a total of 67 services would be provided online within a span of one year. The services have been grouped under 12 modules viz. property tax, complaints and grievance, water and sewerage management, licensing, fire service, birth and death, verification, ULB web portal, state and ULB dashboards, mobile application, payroll and financial accounting. eGovernments foundation (co-founded by Nandan Nilekani) is engaged in transforming urban governance by enabling efficient and effective municipal operations and

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contact-less urban service delivery, with the use of scalable and replicable technology solutions.

85. Which city of US, for the first time, passed its own net-neutrality law after US regulator, Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) repealed rules set during Obama administration that banned internet providers from blocking content or interfering with online traffic? 1. New York 2. Los Angeles 3. Washington 4. Chicago 5. Houston Answer - 3. Washington Explanation : Washington became the 1st state in US to pass its own net-neutrality law after US regulator, Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) repealed rules set during Obama administration that banned internet providers from blocking content or interfering with online traffic. Washington’s bill for its own net-neutrality laws was signed by Goernor Jay Inslee. The bill forbids internet service providers from blocking or slowing the flow of web content, or from charging websites for higher delivery speeds. Provisions of this bill may technically be in contravention to FCC’s order of repealing net neutrality rules which forbid states from filling the void with their own rules.

86. Sri Lankan Government declared a state of emergency for how many days to prevent the spread of communal violence between majority Sinhala and minority Muslims in Kandy district? 1. 5 2. 10 3. 15 4. 30 5. 90 Answer - 2. 10 Explanation : Sri Lankan Government declared a state of emergency for 10 days to prevent the spread of communal violence between majority Sinhala and minority Muslims in Kandy district. The violence in Kandy was triggered by the death of a Sinhalese man at the hands of a mob last week. In the ensuing violence, 10 mosques, 75 shops and 32 houses belonging to the minority community were damaged. In order to contain the violence by imposing curfew and restoring order, Sri Lankan Government has sent troops and elite police commandoes to Kandy. This will be the first time since August 2011, that a state of emergency will be in force in Sri Lanka. During emergency, troops are deployed on the street and the armed forces are authorised to search and arrest people without a warrant.

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87. In which Indian state, Paytm has launched 'Paytm for Business' app to enable merchants to track payments, view past collections and make settlements instantly? 1. Kerala 2. Karnataka 3. Tamil Nadu 4. Gujarat 5. Madhya Pradesh Answer - 3. Tamil Nadu Explanation : Paytm has launched 'Paytm for Business' app in Tamil Nadu to enable merchants to track payments, view past collections and make settlements instantly. The 'Paytm for Business' app is available in Android Play Store. This app is available in 10 regional languages. It can be used by merchants and business partners who use Paytm as payment mode at their offline stores in Tamil Nadu. Using this app, merchants can accept payments digitally and immediately view their transactions without waiting for a confirmation SMS or e-mail. Merchants can check the details of every transaction and download it daily or weekly. They can also check estimated time of bank settlement through the app.

88. Reserve Bank of India imposed a penalty of Rs. 2 crore on which bank for non- compliance with Know Your Customer (KYC) norms? 1. Indian Overseas Bank 2. Citibank 3. IDBI Bank 4. Canara Bank 5. Corporation Bank Answer - 1. Indian Overseas Bank Explanation : Reserve Bank of India imposed a penalty of Rs. 3 crore on Axis Bank for non-compliance of Income Recognition and Asset Classification (IRAC) norms and a penalty of Rs. 2 crore on Indian Overseas Bank for non-compliance with Know Your Customer (KYC) norms. In case of Axis Bank, a statutory inspection of RBI with reference to bank’s financial position on March 31, 2016, discovered violations of various regulations in the assessment of non-performing assets. In the case of IOB, RBI detected a fraud in one of IOB’s branches, which was traced to non-compliance with KYC norms. The penalty was imposed after evaluating banks’ reply and oral submissions in context of above matters.

89. In which Indian city, Microsoft has inked its first renewable energy deal for powering its new facility? 1. Chennai 2. Kolkata 3. Patna 4. Bengaluru 5. Dispur Answer - 4. Bengaluru Explanation : Microsoft announced that it has inked its first renewable energy deal in India for powering its new facility in Bengaluru. As per the terms of the agreement, Microsoft will purchase 3 megawatts of solar-powered electricity from Atria Power for its new office building in Bengaluru. 3 megawatts of solar-powered electricity will fulfill 80 % of the projected electricity needs at this building. This building will be operational from June 2018, and with the purchase agreement coming in force,

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Microsoft’s total global direct procurement in renewable energy projects will reach nearly 900 megawatts. Microsoft has set a target that at least 50 % of its energy usage worldwide should come from wind, solar and hydropower electricity by the end of 2018.

90. ONGC Videsh Ltd. (OVL), an overseas subsidiary of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IDRO Oil (a subsidiary of state-run Iranian Development and Renovation Organisation), in developing one of the newly found field named Susangerd field. Susangerd field is in which country? 1. Iraq 2. Saudi Arabia 3. Iran 4. Dubai 5. Malaysia Answer - 3. Iran Explanation : ONGC Videsh Ltd. (OVL), an overseas subsidiary of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IDRO Oil (a subsidiary of state-run Iranian Development and Renovation Organisation), in developing Susangerd field in Iran. As per the terms of the MoU, OVL and IDRO Oil will jointly bid for a USD 1 billion contract for development of Susangerd oilfield in southern Iran. Susangerd oil field in Khuzestan province of Iran is one of the newest finds, which can support production of around 30000 barrels per day. IDRO Oil is one of 17 entities that has received the Iranian oil ministry's approval to be a lead partner in joint ventures with international companies to work in the country's energy sector.

91. Which Company released the "W-Power Trailblazers" issue, listing 25 women achievers in business? 1. Egan-Jones Rating Company 2. Realpoint Rating Company 3. Moody's Investors Service 4. Digital McKinsey 5. Forbes India Answer - 5. Forbes India Explanation : Forbes India has released its "W-Power Trailblazers" issue, listing 25 women achievers in business. This list is not a ranking. It is a qualitative selection. It consists of ground breakers, game-changers and innovators from various sectors like technology, law, banking, insurance, media, biotech and startup. This list of 25 women achievers was finalised based on votes from the jury.

92. Who was appointed the commander of a unit that consists of Japan’s biggest warship and thereby became Japan’s first female chief of warship unit? 1. Mika Kamita 2. Yuri Kasahara 3. Ryoko Azuma 4. Meiko Kaji 5. Chie Kajiura Answer - 3. Ryoko Azuma Explanation : Ryoko Azuma was appointed the commander of a unit that consists of Japan’s biggest warship, becoming Japan’s first female chief of warship unit. Ryoko Azuma is 44 years old. She will

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command four warships. The unit consists of 1,000 crew members in total. Helicopter carrier Izumo, which is Japan navy's biggest ship, is also included in the unit.

93. Who was appointed the nominee director on SBI Life Board by SBI? 1. Shikha Sharma 2. Subramania Kumar 3. Shekhar Sharma 4. Amarinder Singh 5. P K Gupta Answer - 5. P K Gupta Explanation : SBI Life Insurance Company Ltd announced that, P K Gupta has been named the nominee director on SBI Life Board by SBI. P K Gupta is currently MD (Retail and Digital Banking) in SBI (State Bank of India). SBI Life Insurance Company Ltd is promoted by SBI. SBI Life Insurance Company Ltd said that, his nomination is subjected to ratification by the Nomination and Remuneration committee of the board of directors of the company.

94. Conrad Sangma took charge as the Chief Minister of which Indian state? 1. Sikkim 2. Meghalaya 3. Bihar 4. Manipur 5. Nagaland Answer - 2. Meghalaya Explanation : Conrad Sangma took charge as Chief Minister of Meghalaya. Conrad Sangma took oath as the 12th chief minister of Meghalaya in Shillong. He is the President of National People's Party (NPP). The oath was administered by Meghalaya Governor Ganga Prasad. 11 Cabinet Ministers also took oath during the ceremony. In the election, National People's Party (NPP) won 19 seats. It has support from 6 United Democratic Party (UDP) MLAs, 4 People's Democratic Front (PDF) MLAs, 3 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs, 2 Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP) MLAs and an independent MLA. It has a combined strength of 34 MLAs in the Assembly against Congress party that had won 21 seats on its own.

95. Who was appointed the new chief minister of Tripura? 1. Harsh Vardhan 2. Ravi Shankar 3. Biplab Kumar Deb 4. Nirmala Goyal 5. Piyush Manik Answer - 3. Biplab Kumar Deb Explanation : Biplab Kumar Deb was named the new chief minister of Tripura. Biplab Deb was elected leader of the BJP legislature party in Tripura. He will take charge as Chief Minister of Tripura before Governor Tathagata Roy. He will take charge on 9th March 2018. Jishnu Deb Burman will be the deputy Chief Minister of Tripura. The Tripura Assembly election results were announced on 3rd March 2018. BJP won over CPM (Communist Party of India - Marxist). CPM had been ruling Tripura for 25 years.

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96. The officials from India and ______were at the Pokhran firing range (Rajasthan) to test-fire M777 ultra-light howitzers? 1. China 2. Japan 3. Canada 4. USA 5. Iran Answer - 4. USA Explanation : On March 5, 2018, officials from India and the United States were at the Pokhran firing range (Rajasthan) to test-fire M777 ultra-light howitzers. In May 2017, Indian Army took delivery of two M777 ultralight howitzers from BAE Systems, US under a contract signed between Indian and US Government in 2016. However, in September 2017, during trial firing, a projectile had burst in the barrel. The test conducted on March 5, 2018, was the first one after that accident. The results of this test will be examined by a joint team of experts. Built with titanium and aluminium alloys, M777 weighs around 4200 kg. It has a modular design; due to which it can be can be easily towed through narrow and treacherous mountain roads prevalent along India-China border and India-Pakistan Border in Jammu & Kashmir.

97. What is “Saposhi”? 1. Malware 2. Hurricane 3. Warship 4. Newly discovered species of Lizard 5. Indian Navy Ship Answer - 1. Computer Malware Explanation : A new malware named Saposhi has been detected, which can take over electronic devices and make them as ‘bots’ that can be exploited for any purpose. Saposhi has been detected recently by cyber security agencies. It is being monitored and studied currently. So far, the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) has not released any alert about Saposhi. It has been said that, alerts and guidelines about protecting devices from Saposhi will be launched soon. Saposhi can take over electronic devices and can create a Distributed Denial Of Service attack.

98. Who won gold medal in the women’s 10m air pistol in the ISSF World Cup in Guadalajara, Mexico? 1. Apurvi Chandela 2. Celine Goberville 3. Alejandra Zavala 4. Manu Bhaker 5. Malaika Goel Answer - 4. Manu Bhaker Explanation : India’s Manu Bhaker has won gold medal in the women’s 10m air pistol and Ravi Kumar has won bronze medal in the men’s 10m air pistol in the ISSF World Cup in Guadalajara, Mexico. Manu 36 | Page Follow Us - FB.com/AffairsCloudOfficialPage Copyright 2018 @ AffairsCloud.Com

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Bhaker defeated Mexico’s Alejandra Zavala with 10.8 in the last shot of the 24 shot final of the women’s 10m air pistol. She topped with 237.5 and won gold medal in the women’s 10m air pistol. She is just 16 years old. Alejandra Zavala finished at the second position with 237.1 and France’s Celine Goberville came third with 217.0 in the women’s 10m air pistol. Ravi Kumar won bronze medal in the men’s 10m air rifle event. This is his first World Cup medal.

99. D Sreedevi recently passed away. Who was she? 1. Judge 2. Singer 3. Dancer 4. Politician 5. Doctor Answer - 1. Judge Explanation : On 5th March 2018, Justice D Sreedevi, former judge of the Kerala high court, died while she was undergoing treatment for some ailment in Kaloor, Kerala. Justice D Sreedevi was 79 years old. She was a social activist. She was born in 1939 at Chirayinkeezhu in Thiruvananthapuram. From 1997 to 2001 she was high court judge in Kerala. She was appointed the chairperson of the Kerala Women’s Commission in 2001 and 2007. She had penned down an autobiography named ‘Aa Niyogathaal’.

100. Shammi passed away recently. Who was she? 1. Lawyer 2. Actress 3. Singer 4. Hacker 5. Engineer Answer - 2. Actress Explanation : Bollywood actress Shammi died after suffering a long-term illness. Shammi was 89 years old. She was well known for the comic roles she had played.She has acted in more than 200 movies. She has also performed in TV shows. Some of her popular movies are: ‘Coolie No 1’, ‘Hum’, ‘Gopi Kishan’, ‘Hum Saath-Saath Hain’.

101. What is the fund allocated by the Central Government for the second phase of the Impacting Research Innovation and Technology (IMPRINT) India programme? 1. Rs 2500 crore 2. Rs 2000 crore 3. Rs 1500 crore 4. Rs 1000 crore 5. Rs 500 crore Answer - 4. Rs 1000 crore Explanation : Central Government has sanctioned a grant of Rs 1000 crore for the second phase of the Impacting Research Innovation and Technology (IMPRINT) India programme. Announcement in this regard was made by Union Minister for Human Resources and Development, Prakash Javadekar at the Visitors Conference held in New Delhi on March 6, 2018. Launched in 2015, IMPRINT India is a joint initiative of Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institute of Science (IISc), aimed at identifying areas of relevance to society that require innovation, ensuring higher funding support for research into these areas and measuring the research’s

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impact on people’s standard of living. Under the IMPRINT-I Programme, 142 projects at a cost of Rs. 318.71 crore are already under implementation. These projects are from important areas including security and defence, energy, health care, climate change, etc. Under the IMPRINT-II, a fund is being jointly created by the Department of Science and Technology and Ministry of Human Resource Development.

102. Which state government approved a proposal for delivering rations in sealed packets at the doorstep to Public Distribution System (PDS) beneficiaries? 1. West Bengal 2. Odisha 3. Goa 4. Punjab 5. Delhi Answer - 5. Delhi Explanation : Delhi government approved a proposal for delivering rations in sealed packets at the doorstep to Public Distribution System (PDS) beneficiaries. The proposal was put forth by Department of Food, Supply and Consumer Affairs for providing doorstep delivery of wheat/flour, rice and sugar for eligible PDS beneficiaries. This initiative will address problems such as theft of ration, poor quality of supplies and shops remaining closed. The proposal has now been sent to Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Anil Baijal for approval. Post approval, the service provider for home delivery of ration will be selected through open bidding. It is important to note that currently, there are around 72 lakh PDS beneficiaries in Delhi.

103. Which Indian city hosted the Fourth India-Europe 29 Business Forum (IE29BF) 2018? 1. Mumbai 2. New Delhi 3. Pune 4. Hyderabad 5. Patna Answer - 2. New Delhi Explanation : Fourth India-Europe 29 Business Forum (IE29BF) was held in New Delhi on 5th and 6th March 2018. IE29BF was created in 2014 by Union Ministry of External Affairs and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). The forum serves as platform for promoting business exchanges between India and the twenty nine countries of Central Europe region. Keynote address at the Inaugural Session of IE29BF 2018 was delivered by MJ Akbar, Minister of State for External Affairs.Theme of IE29BF 2018 was ‘Synergising Economic Vision for Expanded Relations’ while Czech Republic was the ‘Focus Country’. 180 business delegates and officials from European countries and 200 business delegates from India participated in this two-day forum.

104. Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Mahesh Sharma, informed Rajya Sabha that headquarters of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has been shifted from Chennai to ______? 1. Ballabhgarh 2. Kurukshetra 3. Mewat 4. Gurgaon 5. Chandigarh

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Answer - 1. Ballabhgarh Explanation : Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Mahesh Sharma, informed Rajya Sabha that headquarters of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has been shifted from Chennai to Haryana's Ballabhgarh. The reason cited behind shifting the headquarters is to ensure better coordination between the environment ministry and the board. AWBI is a statutory advisory body established in 1962 under The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act,1960. It advises the Government of India's Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on matters of animal welfare. Well-known humanitarian Rukmini Devi Arundale was instrumental in setting up the board and was its first chair.

105. Forty Indian-origin students from nine countries met Railways Minister Piyush Goyal as part of Know India Programme (KIP). Which was the partner state of this KIP programme? 1. Maharashtra 2. Gujarat 3. Punjab 4. Rajasthan 5. Madhya Pradesh Answer - 5. Madhya Pradesh Explanation : Forty Indian-origin students from nine countries met Railways Minister Piyush Goyal as part of Know India Programme (KIP). KIP is Indian Government ‘s initiative to engage with the Indian diaspora in the age group of 18 to 30 years. It is a 25-day orientation programme, organised by Union Ministry of External Affairs in partnership with one or two Indian states. Participants for KIP are selected on the basis of nominations received and recommendations of Indian ambassadors in foreign countries. For 46th KIP, Madhya Pradesh was the partner state. Thus the participants visited Madhya Pradesh and also visited Parliament House and President’s House in New Delhi.

106. To celebrate the 70 years of successful Indo-Russia ties, ‘Vision for Future’ event was conducted in which city of India? 1. Ahmadabad 2. Itanagar 3. Hyderabad 4. Gurgaon 5. New Delhi Answer - 5. New Delhi Explanation : On 6th to 8th March 2018, ‘Vision for Future’ event is conducted to celebrate the 70 years of successful Indo-Russia ties, in New Delhi. The Vision for Future event is organised by Ministry of External Affairs of India (Eurasian Division). It is co-organised by International Federation of Indo-Russian Youth Clubs and BRICS International Forum. The event is supported by Embassy of the Russian Federation in India and Russian Center of Science and Culture. This event is aimed at strengthening strategic partnership between India and Russia. Mains events of this programme are: First India-Russia Youth Parliament and India-Russia Excellence Award Ceremony & launch of Youth Festival Calendar. The event will highlight dynamic opportunities of cooperation between India and Russia to the youth.

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107. Which state’s Buddhist Community celebrated the silver jubilee of the Losar Festival? 1. Sikkim 2. Arunachal Pradesh 3. Jammu Kashmir 4. Nagaland 5. Assam Answer - 2. Arunachal Pradesh Explanation : Silver jubilee of the Losar Festival was celebrated by Buddhist Community of Itanagar at the Nyokum Lapang Ground, in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh. The festival was celebrated for three days. The Itanagar Buddhist Cultural Society (IBCS) organized the festival. This festival is celebrated as 'New Year' by the Buddhist community as per their calendar. Arunachal Pradesh Education Minister Honchun Ngandam was the chief guest at the event. Presentations were made by people from various regions of Arunachal Pradesh. Bhutanese and Gorkha Cultural programs were also part of the presentations. The festival also featured a community feast and prize distribution. The Buddhist New Year has entered into 2145 Earth Dog year, according to the Buddhist calendar.

108. Odisha MSME International Trade Fair 2018 is held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. This MSME International Trade Fair 2018 focused mainly on which sector? 1. Food Processing Sector 2. IT Sector 3. Agricultural Sector 4. Infrastructure Sector 5. Service Sector Answer - 1. Food Processing Sector Explanation : Odisha MSME International Trade Fair 2018 is held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The Odisha MSME International Trade Fair 2018 focuses mainly on food processing sector. The trade fair was inaugurated by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Over 500 domestic and international delegates will take part in the trade fair. Odisha MSME Minister Prafulla Samal said that, 35 delegates from Iran, Bangladesh, Korea and Germany will take part in the trade fair. The trade fair will present over 350 stalls with 6 pavilions. The theme pavilion has been allotted for food processing sector. Pavillion-1 has been allotted for international exhibitors and central public sector undertakings (CPSUs).

109. What was the sum allocated by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for the projects aimed at advancing women's economic empowerment in India, Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda? 1. USD 250 million 2. USD 200 million 3. USD 190 million 4. USD 170 million 5. USD 160 million Answer - 4. USD 170 million Explanation : On March 7, 2018, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced a USD 170 million projects aimed at advancing women's economic empowerment in India, Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. Projects in the above stated countries are focused on four key priorities - advancing gender equality, increasing job opportunities, spreading digital financial inclusion, and supporting the

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agricultural sector and women's support groups. Earlier, in 2016, the foundation had committed USD 80 million for gender data, advocacy and accountability. USD 20 million out of USD 80 million was allocated for supporting women's movements. Based on data, the foundation believes that when a woman has the option of working outside the home and access to financial services to participate in the formal economy, families start emerging above the poverty line, which consequentially leads to a rise in national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

110. Which Indian Government’s Firm participated in World ATM Congress (WATMC) 2018 which was held at Madrid, Spain from 6th to 8th March 2018? 1. Indian Railways 2. ONGC 3. HAL 4. AAI 5. Indian Army Answer -4. Airports Authority of India (AAI) Explanation : Airports Authority of India (AAI) is participating in World ATM Congress (WATMC) 2018 which is being held in Madrid, Spain from 6th to 8th March 2018. In context of this news, abbreviation ATM stands for Air traffic Management. World ATM Congress is world's largest international air traffic management (ATM) exhibition and conference which brings together the world's leading product developers, experts, stakeholders in aviation. It was conceived by the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (CANSO) in partnership with the Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA). AAI has set up a stall at this conference for showcasing its achievements and initiatives.

111. India will join the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) as its 69th member. Which is the largest shareholder in the EBRD? 1. UK 2. China 3. Russia 4. Germany 5. USA Answer - 5. USA Explanation : India will join the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) as its 69th member. EBRD is working for furthering the development of market-orientated economies and the promotion of private and entrepreneurial initiative in the European region. On becoming a member, India will take up a small stake in EBRD. On account of this, Indian companies would be permitted to undertake joint investments in regions in which the EBRD operates. Besides, having a stake will also give India a say in the direction of the EBRD’s future work. Currently the U.S. is the largest shareholder in the EBRD.

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112. Which bank signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with CSC e-governance Services (CSCeGS) to take Udyami Mitra portal to the unserved and the underserved Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)? 1. SIDBI Bank 2. MSME Bank 3. IDBI Bank 4. HDFC Bank 5. Postal Payments bank Answer - 1. SIDBI Explanation : Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with CSC e-governance Services (CSCeGS) to take Udyami Mitra portal to the unserved and the underserved Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Udyamimitra.in is a portal to improve accessibility of credit for the MSMEs. Through this portal entrepreneurs can apply for a loan without physically visiting bank branches. CSCs (Common Service Centres) serve as delivery points of various e-governance services to citizens in rural and remote areas of India while CSCeGS is a special purpose vehicle (SPV) set up by Union Ministry of Electronics and IT ( MeitY) which acts as contact point for various digitally aligned services to villages in the country. As per the terms of the MoU, financial support will be provided to the upcoming CSCs through bank financing.

113. Indian government-owned Gas Authority of India Ltd. (GAIL) has signed a contract with which country for the import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) under a 20-year deal? 1. UK 2. Saudi Arabia 3. Iran 4. USA 5. Malaysia nswer - 4. USA Explanation : With the first shipment of Liquefied natural gas (LNG) getting loaded on-board GAIL's first chartered LNG ship 'Meridian Spirit' on March 6, 2018, India has started importing natural gas from US under a 20-year deal. Indian government-owned Gas Authority of India Ltd. (GAIL) has contracted 3.5 million tonnes per annum of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Cheniere Energy's Sabine Pass liquefaction facility in Louisiana, US. GAIL’s first shipment of LNG will be discharged at its Dabhol terminal (in Maharashtra) on or around March 28, 2018. Cheniere Energy, Inc is the leading exporter of LNG from US while GAIL is India's biggest natural gas transportation and marketing company. It is to be noted that in October 2017, India imported its first shipment of crude oil from the US. In 1975, a ban was placed on oil exports from US. This ban was lifted in 2015 by Obama administration.

114. Name the Indian-origin British man has been selected for 'Pride of Birmingham’ award in UK? 1. Achyuta Samanta 2. Harry Athwal 3. Ajay Piramal 4. Anil Agarwal 5. Pirojsha Burjorji nswer - 2. Harry Athwal

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Explanation : Harry Athwal, an Indian-origin British man has been selected for 'Pride of Birmingham’ award in UK. Harry Athwal is one among the 11 winners and will be awarded the 'Pride of Birmingham' award at the University of Birmingham on 8th March 2018. In 2017, during the Barcelona terror attack, he risked his life to help an injured young boy. The boy died on the spot but he was thanked for trying to help the child in such a risky situation. He works as a project manager and lives in Birmingham.

115. As per a survey by Airports Council International (ACI), which Airport has been rated as the world number one among airports handling more than 40 million passengers per annum? 1. Bilbao Airport, Spain 2. Carrasco International Airport, Uruguay 3. Changi International Airport, Singapore 4. Indira Gandhi International Airport, India 5. Dubai World Central International Airport Answer - 4. Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport Explanation : As per a survey by Airports Council International (ACI), Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport has been rated as the world number one among airports handling more than 40 million passengers per annum. ACI, a trade association of 1953 member airports across 176 countries, conducts the Airport Service Quality (ASQ) survey and collates views of passengers on 34 key performance indicators. IGI Airport handled 63.5 million passengers in 2017. It has surpassed Singapore’s Changi Airport, South Korea’s Incheon and Thiland’s Bangkok airports in terms of passenger growth. Currently, IGI Airport is the 7th busiest airport in Asia and among the top 20 busiest airport across the world. IGI Airport is operated by Delhi International Airport Private Limited (DIAL), a GMR-led consortium. Among other Indian Airports, Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport has been ranked as the World’s Best Airport for customer experience.

116. Name the first person with $100 billion wealth in Forbes magazine’s annual ranking of the world’s moguls 2018? 1. Bill Gates 2. Warren Buffett 3. Bernard Arnault 4. Jeff Bezos 5. Mark Zuckerberg Answer - 4. Jeff Bezos Explanation : Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has become the first person with $100 billion wealth in Forbes magazine’s annual ranking of the world’s moguls 2018. The list was released on 6th March 2018. The estimated wealth of Jeff Bezos according to Forbes magazine is $112 billion as on 9th February 2018. Vijay Shekhar Sharma, founder of Paytm, has secured 1,394th rank on the list with USD 1.7 billion wealth. He is youngest Indian billionaire on the list. He is 39 years old. Samprada Singh, chairman emeritus of Alkem Laboratories, is the oldest Indian billionaire on the list. He is 92 years old with USD 1.2 billion wealth. He occupies 1,867th rank.

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117. Who was reappointed as the MD and CEO of ICICI Prudential Life Insurance, for a 2 year term with effect from 1stJune 2018 till 31 May 2020? 1. David Koch 2. Sandeep Bakhshi 3. Charles Simon 4. David Bernard 5. Larry Wilson Answer - 2. Sandeep Bakhshi Explanation : Sandeep Bakhshi, MD and CEO of ICICI Prudential Life Insurance, was re-appointed for a 2 year term with effect from 1stJune 2018 till 31 May 2020. Sandeep Bakhshi joined ICICI Group in 1986. He had worked on business development, project appraisals, project monitoring and business re-structuring. He was appointed as director in 2010. He was re-appointed as director in 2015. He has worked as a deputy-managing director and head of retail at ICICI Bank. He has also held the post of chairman of ICICI Home Finance Company Limited.

118. Who was appointed the new Special Director in the Enforcement Directorate (ED) by the government? 1. Prakash Dev 2. Nithin David 3. Pinto Ramu 4. Gautam Raju 5. Vivek R Wadekar Answer - 5. Vivek R Wadekar Explanation : Vivek R Wadekar was named the new Special Director in the Enforcement Directorate (ED) by the government. Vivek R Wadekar is an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer of the 1991 batch. His appointment as Special Director in Enforcement Directorate (ED) was made by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC). Order issued by ACC mentioned that, he will be based in Delhi. His appointment has been termedfor five years from the date he takes charge.

119. Neiphiu Rio was appointed the new Chief Minister of which state? 1. Nagaland 2. Tripura 3. Assam 4. Mizoram 5. Manipur Answer - 1. Nagaland Explanation : Neiphiu Rio was appointed the new Chief Minister of Nagaland. Neiphiu Rio belongs to the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP). He was appointed the new Chief Minister of Nagaland byNagaland Governor P. B. Acharya. He will be sworn in as Chief Minister of Nagaland on 8th March 2018. The Governor has asked Neiphiu Rio to prove majority in the Nagaland Assembly within 16th March 2018. Former Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang's resignation was accepted by Governor P. B. Acharya.

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120. Name the top economic adviser of US President Donald Trump, who resigned from his position due to disagreement with the President's decision to levy tariffs on steel and aluminum imports? 1. Larry Kudlow 2. Gary Cohn 3. Elvin Nimrod 4. Carlos Raúl Morales 5. Sandra Jovel Answer - 2. Gary Cohn Explanation : US President Donald Trump's top economic adviser Gary Cohn resigned from his position. Gary Cohn has resigned from his position due to disagreement with the President's decision to levy tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. It is said that, Donald Trump would consider Larry Kudlow, who has been his informal adviser for a longtime, for the top economic adviser post.

121. What is the Toll-free Emergency number launched by the Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Nitin Gadkari, for highway users? 1. 1011 2. 1022 3. 1033 4. 1044 5. 1055 Answer - 3. 1033 Explanation : Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Nitin Gadkari, launched ‘Sukhad Yatra’ mobile App and Toll-free Emergency number-1033 for highway users. The Sukhad Yatra app will provide information on toll rates to highway users as they approach the toll plaza. Users can report road quality-related information or any accident or pothole they witness on the highway. It also provides real-time data on waiting time expected at Plazas and other facilities on the highway to the users. FASTag can also be bought by users using this app. The toll-free number - 1033 will allow users to report any emergency condition on the highway or highway-related feedback. Ambulance/tow away services are clubbed with this service to provide swift response in emergency cases. User location tracking is done to provide accurate and quick response to complaints.

122. A team of researchers from which Indian state has developed silver copper telluride (AgCuTe), a thermoelectric compound? 1. Mysore 2. Bengaluru 3. Chennai 4. Baroda 5. Baghalpur Answer - 2. Bengaluru Explanation : A team of researchers from Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) of Bengaluru, have developed silver copper telluride (AgCuTe), a thermoelectric compound. Silver copper telluride (AgCuTe) is a thermoelectric material that can convert waste heat into electricity. It shows poor thermal conductivity in the 25-425 degree C range but has good electrical conductivity. The research team was headed by Dr Kanishka Biswas. Results of this study was

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published in the journal Angewandte Chemie. In Silver copper telluride (AgCuTe), the silver atoms are weakly bound resulting in poor thermal conductivity. Thermoelectric technology is used in automobile industry, chemical, thermal and steel power plants.

123. M K Bhargav recently passed away. He was related to which of the following sport? 1. Football 2. Tennis 3. Snowball 4. Cricket 5. Swimming Answer - 4. Cricket Explanation : M K Bhargav, former chairman of Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA), passed away due to a long term illness in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. M K Bhargav was 78 years old. He had been suffering from a liver disorder and other health issues for a long time. He had also worked with the umpiring panel of the Board of Cricket Control of India (BCCI).

124. With the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission, The Union Cabinet has approved to release an additional instalment of Dearness Allowance (DA) to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to pensioners with effect from 01.01.2018. What is the increased percentage? 1. 5% 2. 4% 3. 3% 4. 2% 5. 1% Answer - 4. 2% Explanation : The Union Cabinet has approved to release an additional instalment of Dearness Allowance (DA) to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to pensioners with effect from 01.01.2018 corresponding an increase of 2% over the existing rate of 5% of the Basic Pay/Pension, to compensate for price rise. This will benefit nearly 48.41 lakh Central Government employees and 61.17 lakh pensioners. The combined impact on the exchequer on account of both Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief would be Rs.6077.72 crore per annum and Rs.7090.68 crore in the financial year 2018-19. This increase is in accordance with the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission.

125. In which city of Haryana the first cyber police station was inaugurated? 1. Faridabad 2. Kurukshetra 3. Rohtak 4. Panipat 5. Gurugram Answer - 5. Gurugram

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Explanation : Haryana’s first cyber police station was inaugurated in Gurugram, to facilitate registration of cyber offence related cases. CEO of Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority, V Umashankar along with Sandeep Khirwar, Commissioner of Police, Gurugram, inaugurated the cyber police station at DLF office in Gurugram. The building for the cyber police station has been provided by DLF in Phase 5. The cyberpolice station has sufficient number of trained manpower already. Also, cybercrime experts from outside will be involved if the need arises. This cyber police station will function under the direct supervision of ACP Crime/DCP Crime Gurugram.

126. On 8th March 2018, Ananthkumar, Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers and Parliamentary Affairs, announced the launch of ‘Suvidha’, the 100% Oxo-biodegradable Sanitary Pad. This pad will be offered for Rs.___ per pad? 1. 2 2. 2.50 3. 4 4. 4.50 5. 5.50 Answer - 2. 2.50 Explanation : On 8th March 2018, Ananthkumar, Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers and Parliamentary Affairs, announced the launch of ‘Suvidha’, the 100% Oxo-biodegradable Sanitary Pad. The ‘Suvidha’ napkin is launched under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP). They will be available at allJanaushadhi Kendras in India by 28th May 2018 (World Menstrual Hygiene Day). The ‘Suvidha’ pads will be offered for Rs. 2.50 per pad. They can be availed at more than 3200 Janaushadhi Kendras. This has been introduced to ensure ‘Swachhta, Swasthya and Suvidha’ for the underprivileged women of India. This initiative has been taken by the Department of Pharmaceuticals.

127. R K Singh, Union Minister of State (IC) Power and New & Renewable Energy, launched the National E-Mobility Programme in India. EESL will procure electric vehicles in huge numbers. For an electric car, the per kilometer cost is ______? 1. 95 paisa 2. 90 paisa 3. 85 paisa 4. 80 paisa 5. 75 paisa Answer - 3. 85 paisa Explanation : R K Singh, Union Minister of State (IC) Power and New & Renewable Energy, launched the National E-Mobility Programme in India. The National E-Mobility Programme has been introduced to improve the e-mobility ecosystem that comprises vehicle manufacturers, charging infrastructure companies, fleet operators, service providers, etc. Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) will implement the National E-Mobility Programme. EESL will procure electric vehicles in huge numbers. The electric vehicles will replace the existing petrol and diesel vehicles. EESL had procured 10,000 e-vehicles in 2017. Soon it will release a new tender for 10,000 more e-vehicles. For an electric car, the per kilometer cost is only 85 paisa. Whereas, it is Rs 6.5 for normal cars. This will help to reduce petroleum imports.

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128. Which Indian city has ranked 16th in the top 20 costliest cities in the world list, as per the Knight Frank Wealth Report 2018? 1. Kolkata 2. Pune 3. Patna 4. Haridwar 5. Mumbai Answer - 5. Mumbai Explanation : Mumbai has ranked 16th in the top 20 costliest cities in the world list, as per the Knight Frank Wealth Report 2018. This index was developed based on four major indicators namely wealth, investments, lifestyle and future. Monaco has secured the first position among the top 20 costliest cities in the world. It is followed by Hong Kong in the second position. Third place is occupied by New York City and fourth place is bagged by London. The rise of Mumbai in this ranking is supported by the fast pace wealth creation in India.

129. RBI (Reserve Bank of India) has imposed a penalty of Rs 40 lakh on which Bank, as the bank failed to comply with RBI’s directions on detection and impounding of counterfeit notes? 1. PNB bank 2. IDBI bank 3. HDFC bank 4. SBI bank 5. Canara bank Answer - 4. SBI Explanation : RBI (Reserve Bank of India) has imposed a penalty of Rs 40 lakh on SBI (State Bank of India) as SBI failed to comply with RBI’s directions on detection and impounding of counterfeit notes. RBI has stated that, it detected deficiencies on SBI’s part in regulatory compliance with counterfeit note norms. RBI had inspected currency chests of two SBI branches and found that its instructions on detection and impounding of counterfeit notes had been violated. After going through SBI’s reply and oral submissions during the personal hearing, RBI confirmed charges of non-compliance with its directions/guidelines and imposed a penalty of Rs 40 lakh on SBI.

130. India-China bilateral trade has reached $______in 2017, in spite of bilateral tensions like the Doklam issue? 1. $70.44 billion 2. $78.44 billion 3. $80.44 billion 4. $82.44 billion 5. $84.44 billion Answer - 5. $84.44 billion Explanation : India-China bilateral trade has reached $84.44 billion in 2017, in spite of bilateral tensions like the Doklam issue. Generally, the India-China bilateral trade is dominated by Chinese exports. In 2017, it witnessed around 40% increase of Indian exports to China amounting to $16.34 billion, according to the data of Chinese General Administration of Customs. In 2017, India-China bilateral trade increased by 18.63% compared to the previous year and reached $84.44 billion. The volume of bilateral trade reached $80 billion for the first time. The bilateral trade has reached this landmark, in spite of issues like China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, China blocking

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India’s efforts to establish a UN ban on J-e-M leader Masood Azhar, Beijing preventing India to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group, Doklam issue, etc.

131. Neewee and EFLIGHT, two start-ups accelerated at Airbus Bizlab India, inked their first contracts with Airbus and subsidiary NAVBLUE to implement their unique innovative ideas in ______? 1. Share Markets 2. Aerospace 3. Greenhouse Warming 4. Ozone Depletion 5. Forests Answer - 2. Aerospace Explanation : Neewee and EFLIGHT, two start-ups accelerated at Airbus Bizlab India, inked their first contracts with Airbus and subsidiary NAVBLUE to implement their unique innovative ideas in aerospace. Neewee and EFLIGHT are start-ups based in Bengaluru. They were selected through second season of the Airbus Bizlab technology acceleration programme. These start-ups developed solutions under the mentorship of senior Airbus professionals,that can be improvised to meet the needs of Airbus and the aerospace industry. Neewee has come up with a solution called procuSense. This will improve certainty to manufacturing, supply chain and procurement operations at Airbus. EFLIGHT has developed a trip support solution that provides a set of services that enables business jet pilots to optimise plans for fuel, time, route and weather. These initiatives are in line with the government's 'Make in India' and 'Startup India' initiatives.

132. What is the penalty amount imposed by Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Jet Airways, SpiceJet and IndiGo for unfair business practices related to fixing fuel surcharge on cargo transport? 1. Rs 390 million 2. Rs 400 million 3. Rs 430 million 4. Rs 500 million 5. Rs 540 million Answer - 5. Rs 540 million Explanation : The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has imposed a total fine of nearly Rs 540 million on Jet Airways, SpiceJet and IndiGo for unfair business practices related to fixing fuel surcharge on cargo transport. Jet Airways was levied a fine of Rs 398.1 million, IndiGo was given a penalty of Rs 94.5 million and SpiceJet was fined for Rs 51 million. This action was taken by CCI based on a cartelisation complaint filed by Express Industry Council of India against Jet, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Air India and GoAir. CCI has imposed penalty at 3 % of the average relevant turnover of the airlines in the last three financial years.

133. Who was appointed the official ambassador for Britain’s Industrial Cadets programme designed to nurture manufacturing skills? 1. Sanjeev Gupta 2. Nari Gandhi 3. Hafeez Pandala 4. B V Doshi 5. Raj Rewal Answer - 1. Sanjeev Gupta

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Explanation : Indian-origin steel tycoon Sanjeev Gupta has been appointed by Britain's Prince Charles as an official ambassador for the Industrial Cadets programme designed to nurture manufacturing skills. Gupta was appointment to the flagship programme to give children and young people direct structured experience of industry while still at school or college. The Industrial Cadets programme, which currently involves more than 15,000 youngsters across the UK, was set up at the behest of the Prince of Wales seven years ago after he visited steel plants at Teesside in north-east England.

134. Who was appointed the next Ambassador of India to Lebanon? 1. Chitra Vishwanath 2. Shimul Javeri 3. Ravi Thapar 4. Eugene Pandala 5. Nengcha L. Mukhopadhaya Answer - 3. Ravi Thapar Explanation : Shri Ravi Thapar ,presently Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Lebanon in succession to Smt. Nengcha L. Mukhopadhaya.

135. Name the Indian Architect who won the architecture's highest honour - the Pritzker Prize 2018 for the first time? 1. Charles Correa 2. Laurie Baker 3. Raj Rewal 4. Rahul Mehrota 5. Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi Answer - 5. Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi Explanation : Architect Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi has been named the 2018 winner of architecture's highest honour - the Pritzker Prize. He is the first Indian and the 45th laureate to receive the award. The award ceremony will take place at the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto this May. Tom Pritzker, chairman of the Hyatt Foundation that sponsors the award made the ammouncement in Chicago, selecting Doshi as the 2018 Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate. It is the most prestigious award in the field of architecture. His designs include the IIM-Bangalore; Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology, Ahmedabad; cultural spaces in Ahmedabad such as Tagore Memorial Hall, the Institute of Indology, and Premabhai Hall; among many others.

136. Who has become the first woman to be directly inducted as combat officer into the ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police)? 1. Sukhruthi 2. Prakriti 3. Sophiya 4. Seema 5. Priyanka Answer - 2. Prakriti Explanation : Prakriti has become the first woman to be directly inducted as combat officer into the ITBP (Indo- Tibetan Border Police). Prakriti is 25 years old. She has a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. She had cleared the UPSC exam for officers' recruitment in CAPFs (Central Armed

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Police Forces) in her first attempt. She is now based in an ITBP unit in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand. Soon she will join the Officers' Training Academy of ITBP in Dehradun. ITBP has women in combat roles already. But they are present in constable ranks only. Prakriti is the first woman officer in combat role in ITBP. In 2016, the government permitted the CAPFs to induct women officers in combat roles. ITBP is one of the five CAPFs.

137. An international team of scientists have provided the first proof of an exotic new state of matter, known as “Rydberg polarons”. Name the University which worked on this “Rydberg polarons?” 1. Vienna University of Technology in Austria 2. Harvard University in Massachusetts 3. Rice University in Texas 4. All the above 5. None of these Answer - 4. All the above Explanation : An international team of scientists have provided the first proof of an exotic new state of matter, known as Rydberg polarons. Scientists have described how a new state of matter can be created, by essentially putting atoms inside other atoms. Published in the journal Physical Review Letters, the work comes from the Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien) in Austria, Harvard University in Massachusetts, and Rice University in Texas. “Rydberg polarons” basically involves making use of the space between the electron and the nucleus inside an atom, enough to fit other atoms inside. The goal was to hit it in precisely the right way to boost one or more of its electrons into an orbital far from the nucleus, creating an excited state called a Rydberg atom.

138. Shivaji Dasgupta recently passed away. Who was he? 1. Dentist 2. Doctor 3. Sportsman 4. Broadcaster 5. Skydiver Answer - 4. Broadcaster Explanation : Shivaji Dasgupta, a doyen of Indian broadcasting, breathed his last recently in the city after prolonged illness. He was 71. He passed away on February 26, but his death came to light only on Tuesday. A chartered accountant by profession, Dasgupta retired from Numaligarh Refinery Ltd as General Manager (Finance). He became the first Indian commentator to cover a football match from abroad when he commentated on India’s matches in AFC Asian Cup Finals from Singapore in 1984. In 2012, East Bengal Club honoured him with the Lifetime Achievement Award in broadcasting on the occasion of their Foundation Day on August 1.

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5. March 9 Answer -4. March 8 Explanation : International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8 every year.It commemorates the movement for women's rights.March 8 was suggested by the 1910 International Socialist Woman's Conference to become an "International Woman's Day."The theme for International Women's Day 2018 was chosen as - 'Time is Now: Rural and urban activists transforming women’s lives'.

140. World Kidney Day is celebrated annually throughout the world on the ______? 1. First Thursday of March 2. Second Thursday of March 3. First Tuesday of March 4. Second Tuesday of March 5. First Wednesday of March Answer - 2. Second Thursday of March Explanation : World Kidney Day is celebrated annually throughout the world on the second Thursday of March. This year it met with the International Women's Day and falls on March 8. World Kidney Day is a global awareness campaign aimed at raising awareness of the importance of our kidneys and how it's related to our overall health. The objective of the day is to not just spread awareness about kidney diseases and its cure, but also spread how kidney diseases can be prevented. The theme of World Kidney Day 2018 is "Kidneys And Women's Health: Include, Value, Empower". The celebration was initiated by the joint committee of "International Society of Nephrology and International Federation of Kidney Foundations" and was first observed by 66 countries in 2006.

141. The Union Cabinet has approved the signing of Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement between India and France. This agreement is a milestone in improving people-to-people contacts, mobility of students, academics, researchers and skilled professionals and enhancing cooperation on irregular migration and human trafficking issues. Initially this agreement is valid for how many years? 1. 2 2. 4 3. 5 4. 7 5. 10 Answer - 4. 7 Explanation : The Union Cabinet has approved the signing of Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement between India and France. It would be signed during the forthcoming visit of French President to India. This agreement is a milestone in improving people-to-people contacts, mobility of students, academics, researchers and skilled professionals and enhancing cooperation on irregular migration and human trafficking issues. It is initially valid for 7 years. It has a provision for automatic renewal and a monitoring mechanism through a Joint Working Group.

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142. Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2018 for introduction in the Parliament. The Bill brings down the specified value of a commercial dispute to ______from the current 1 Crore? 1. 3 Lakhs 2. 5 Lakhs 3. 7 Lakhs 4. 10 Lakhs 5. 50 Lakhs Answer - 1. 3 Lakhs Explanation : Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2018 for introduction in the Parliament. The Bill brings down the specified value of a commercial dispute to 3 Lakhs from the current 1 Crore. Hence, commercial disputes of a reasonable value can be decided by commercial courts. This will reduce time taken (presently 1445 days) to resolve commercial disputes of lesser value and will improve India's ranking in the Ease of Doing Business. It provides for establishment of Commercial Courts at district Judge level for the territories over which respective High Courts have ordinary original civil jurisdiction i.e. in Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and State of Himachal Pradesh.

143. In which lake, the Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Laboratory (IBSD), has established a floating laboratory, to continuously monitor its water quality and improve it? 1. Dal Lake 2. Chilika Lake 3. Wular Lake 4. Loktak Lake 5. Sambhar Lake Answer - 4. Loktak Lake Explanation : The Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Laboratory (IBSD), Imphal, has established a floating laboratory in Loktak Lake, Manipur, to continuously monitor its water quality and improve it. Manipur's Forest and Environment Minister, Thounaojam Shyamkumar Singh inaugurated the floating laboratory on 24th February 2018 in Imphal. Bhagaton Singh, Project Director of Loktak Development Authority (LDA) said that, the floating laboratory was launched as a joint venture between LDA and IBSD. The IBSD worked for 4 months to get the boat, redesign it and obtain equipment for the laboratory. This lab will work 24x7 and will monitor the entire lake. This floating laboratory has been set up on a budget of Rs 5. Lakh. Further equipments for Rs 20 lakh will be procured to improve its efficiency.

144. In which Indian city, P K Sinha, Cabinet Secretary, launched “I-Metros”, an association of all Indian Metro Rail companies, at the Conference on “Indian Metros: Collaborating for Excellence?” 1. Mumbai 2. Kolkata 3. Chennai 4. Pune 5. New Delhi Answer - 5. New Delhi

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Explanation : P K Sinha, Cabinet Secretary, launched “I-Metros”, an association of all Indian Metro Rail companies, at the Conference on “Indian Metros: Collaborating for Excellence” conducted at Metro Bhawan, in New Delhi. “I-Metros” will act as a platform for sharing of ideas, knowledge, experience, best practices, innovations, etc. for the Indian Metro rail companies. It will help them to improve their performance. It will be registered under Society Registration Act-1860. It will conduct and promote techno-economic studies and research. It will protect the interest and rights of metro rail companies. It will act as a resource tank of information and will help in decision making. The conference on “Indian Metros: Collaborating for Excellence” saw participation from representatives of Metro systems throughout the world.

145. Which state government launched a "Pink Electricity Zone' on International Women's Day, that will be managed by women staff? 1. Andhra Pradesh 2. Maharashtra 3. Madhya Pradesh 4. Telangana 5. Uttar Pradesh Answer - 3. Madhya Pradesh Explanation : On 8th March 2018 (International Women's Day), Madhya Pradesh West Power Distribution Company (MPWPDC) launched a "Pink Electricity Zone' that will be managed by women staff. Akash Tripathi, MD of MPWPDC, said that, the Pink Electricity Zone comprises 25 women staff. They will manage the energy maintenance work of 13,000 power connections in Aranya Nagar. Only women have been posted as Assistant engineer, junior engineer, line supervisor, linepersons, metre readers, accountant, computer operators in the zone. They will be dressed in pink uniform.

146. After Jammu and Kashmir, which is the second state to unveil the state flag (nada dhwaja)? 1. Gujarat 2. Odisha 3. Maharashtra 4. Karnataka 5. Uttar Pradesh Answer - 4. Karnataka Explanation : Karnataka government unveiled the State flag (nada dhwaja) for Karnataka. If Karnataka receives Central government approval, it will be the second state after Jammu and Kashmir to have a flag. The flag is tricolor comprising yellow, white and red with State emblem at the centre. Now the proposal will be forwarded to the Union Home Ministry for approval, as a State is not empowered to declare its own flag. The state emblem is blue in colour named Gandaberunda. Gandaberunda is a mythical two-headed

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147. Supreme Court passed an order permitting passive euthanasia in India. The Constitution bench for passing this order consisted of 5 judges. It was led by ______? 1. Dipak Misra 2. A K Sikri 3. A M Khanwilkar 4. D Y Chandrachud 5. Ashok Bhushan Answer - 1. Dipak Misra Explanation : Supreme Court passed an order permitting passive euthanasia in India. Passive euthanasia is a condition where medical treatment is deliberately withdrawn to hasten the death of a terminally- ill person. Supreme Court has awarded legal sanction to passive euthanasia. It has allowed 'living will' by patients to withdraw medical support in case they go to irreversible coma. The Constitution bench said that, the guidelines will be in force till legislation on this is passed by Parliament. The Constitution bench consisted of 5 judges. It was led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra. Other judges present on the bench are: justices A K Sikri, A M Khanwilkar, D Y Chandrachud and Ashok Bhushan

148. In which state, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, launched the National Nutrition Mission on the occasion of International Women’s Day? 1. Odisha 2. Goa 3. Punjab 4. Assam 5. Rajasthan Answer - 5. Rajasthan Explanation : On 8th March 2018, on the occasion of International Women’s Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, launched the National Nutrition Mission at an event held at Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan. The National Nutrition Mission (NNM) has been formulated with a 3 year budget of Rs.9046.17 crore starting from 2017-18. NNM aims in improving nutrition level in India on an urgent basis. It includes several schemes working on reducing malnutrition, incentivizing States/UTs to reach goals, incentivizing Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) to use IT based tools, etc. NNM aims to reduce stunting, under-nutrition, anemia and reduce low birth weight by 2%, 2%, 3% and 2% per annum respectively. It will work to achieve reduction in stunting from 38.4% to 25% by 2022. NMM will benefit over 10 crore people. All the States and districts will be reached in a phased manner: 315 districts in 2017-18, 235 districts in 2018-19 and rest in 2019-20.

149. Israeli and American troops train together through "Juniper Cobra" exercise in Israel. Juniper Cobra was started in the year ____? 1. 2001 2. 2005 3. 2010 4. 2012 5. 201 Answer - 1. 2001 Explanation : Israeli and American troops train together through "Juniper Cobra" exercise in Israel. Over 5,000 Israeli and American troops are undergoing training together in Israel. Brig. Gen. Zvika

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Haimovich, chief of Israel's air defence command, said that, Juniper Cobra is not focused on any particular adversary. It is aimed to train for very complex scenarios like simultaneous attacks from enemy countries and militant groups. Israel faces potential threat from Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and Iranian forces. Juniper Cobra comprises field training, computer simulations and live-fire drills of sophisticated missile-defence systems. Juniper Cobra was started in 2001. It has been conducted every two years since then.

150. Which country seals agreement with UN to build homes for Nepal quake victims? 1. China 2. Russia 3. India 4. Japan 5. UK Answer - 3. India Explanation : India seals agreement with UN to build homes for Nepal quake victims. The massive earthquake in Nepal in April, 2015 created destruction in the Himalayan nation, killing over 10,000 people and injuring nearly 22,000 people. Gorkha and Nuwakot were the worst-hit districts. In a reconstruction bid for earthquake-ravaged Nepal, India signed an agreement with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) to build 50, 000 homes for earthquake victims. Under the project, 26,912 home owners will be benefited in Gorkha and 23,088 homeowners in Nuwakot, according to Indian Embassy sources. India will give USD 8.41 million to the UNOPS and USD 7.41 Million to the UNDP to build 50, 000 homes by this agreement.

151. India ranks ____on the Mastercard Index for Women Entrepreneurs (MIWE), a list of 57 nations released by Mastercard? 1. 39 2. 45 3. 49 4. 50 5. 52 Answer - 5. 52 Explanation : India ranks 52 on the Mastercard Index for Women Entrepreneurs (MIWE), a list of 57 nations released by Mastercard. The report focuses on female entrepreneurs’ ability to “capitalize the opportunities granted through various supporting conditions within their local environment”. New Zealand is at the top of the list, with Sweden, Canada, US, Singapore, making the top five in the index. The index was based on 12 indicators and 25 sub-indicators representing 78.6

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152. Canara HSBC Oriental Bank of Commerce Life Insurance has partnered with which company for a 3 year corporate agency tie up to sell its policies to home buyers? 1. Mahindra Finance 2. Can Fin Homes 3. Prestige 4. Reliance 5. SJR Answer - 2. Can Fin Homes Explanation : Canara HSBC Oriental Bank of Commerce Life Insurance has partnered with Can Fin Homes for a 3 year corporate agency tie up to sell its policies to home buyers. Canara HSBC Oriental Bank of Commerce Insurance said that, all of its life insurance products will be made available to customers of Can Fin Homes. Canara HSBC OBC Life Insurance and Can Fin Homes aim to offer long term value creation for its customers. Can Fin Homes is the housing finance subsidiary of Canara Bank. It has more than 1.2 lakh customers.

153. According to an assessment done by leading brand valuation firm, Brand Finance, which company was named as the fastest growing IT services brand in the world? 1. CTS 2. Verizon 3. HCL 4. TCS 5. IBM Answer - 4. TCS Explanation : According to an assessment done by leading brand valuation firm, Brand Finance, Tata Consultancy Services was named as the fastest growing IT services brand in the world. As per the Brand Finance IT Services 15 annual report for 2018, TCS now has a total brand value of USD 10.391 billion; a growth of 14.4 percent from last year's total of USD 9.081 billion, with an increase of USD 1.309 billion. The new value is the fastest incremental growth of all companies in the industry, and places TCS in the top three most valuable brands in the global IT services sector along with IBM and Accenture.

154. Britain's Queen Elizabeth II recognised Srishti Bakshi from which country as the 26th Commonwealth Point of Lightin honour of her exceptional service to empowering women in India? 1. Srilanka 2. Canada 3. Malaysia 4. Australia 5. India Answer - 5. India Explanation : Britain's Queen Elizabeth II recognised SrishtiBakshi from India as the 26th Commonwealth Point of Lightin honour of her exceptional service to empowering women in India. Srishti is the founder of the Cross Bow Milesmovement. After seeing that India's National Crime Records Bureau recorded 327,394 cases of violence against women in 2015, Srishti decided to make a statement and spread her message of gender equality across the country. She has overseen the creation of a mobile app where people from across the world can upload steps collected from their phone

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pedometers and join the campaigns 'Billion Steps For Women' drive.

155. Who was made the first brand ambassador of Uber in India, thus embarking on a first-of-its-kind initiative across the Asia Pacific (APAC) region? 1. MS Dhoni 2. Amitab Bachchan 3. Priyanka Chopra 4. Virat Kohli 5. Sonakshi Sinha Answer - 4. Virat Kohli Explanation : Uber announced the appointment of Indian skipper Virat Kohli as its first brand ambassador in India, thus embarking on a first-of-its-kind initiative across the Asia Pacific (APAC) region. Virat will be actively involved in a series of marketing and customer experience initiatives to be rolled out by Uber India.

156. Name the portal launched by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) on the occasion of International Women's Day? 1. www.udyam.org 2. www.udyashakhi.org 3. www.udyashakthi.org 4. www.udyamsakhi.org 5. www.dhyansakhi.org Answer - 4. www.udyamsakhi.org Explanation : On the occasion of International Women's Day, March 8,the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) launched a portal for women entrepreneurs of India”www.udyamsakhi.org.” The portal was unveiled by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) of MSME, Giriraj Singh. The portal is a network for nurturing entrepreneurship and creating business models for low cost products and services in order to empower women and make them self-reliant and self-sufficient

157. Indian junior archers bagged how many gold medals in the Asia Cup Archery Stage 1 campaign? 1. Two 2. Three 3. Four 4. Five 5. Six Answer - 2. Three Explanation : Indian junior archers bagged three gold and three bronze medals to finish their Asia Cup Archery Stage 1 campaign. Promila Daimary defeated Natalia Erdynieva of Russia 7-3 to win a gold in the women's recurve individual where India also bagged bronze through Madhu Vedwan. Indian trio of Akash, Gora Ho and Gaurav Lambe defeated Mongolia's Adiyasuren Baasankhuu, Otgonbold Baatarkhuyag and Gantugs Jantsan 27-26 in the tie-breaker to clinch the third gold in the recurve category. India had bagged a gold in the women's compound individual section by Muskan Kirar. Muskan also ended up pocketing a second medal in the form of bronze.

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158. Who won the 2017-18 Football I-League title? 1. Churchill Brothers 2. Minerva Punjab 3. Bihar Rockers 4. Chennai kings 5. Kings England Answer - 2. Minerva Punjab Explanation : Minerva Punjab FC beat Churchill Brothers FC 1-0 to win their maiden I-League title on Thursday at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Panchkula. This is Minerva's second season in the football league. Minerva Punjab become the first side from Punjab to win the league in 21 years, since JCT's title victory in 1996-97. They will now represent India in the 2019 AFC Champions League preliminary play-offs.

159. South Korean player Chung Jae-sung is related to which of the following? 1. Swimming 2. Handball 3. Football 4. Cricket 5. Badminton Answer - 5. Badminton Explanation : South Korean badminton player Chung Jae-sung, who won bronze in the men's doubles at the London Olympics, has died at the age of 35, the Korea Badminton Association. Yonhap News quoted local police as saying Chung had been diagnosed with arrhythmia three years ago and that he had complained of chest pains at times.

160. Pyarelal Wadali who was the younger brother of Puran Chand Wadali of the Wadali Brothers fame recently passed away. He was related to which of the following? 1. Dance 2. Sea Diving 3. Music 4. Business 5. Athlete Answer - 3. Music Explanation : Pyarelal Wadali, who was the younger brother of Puran Chand Wadali of the Wadali Brothers fame, died in a hospital in Amritsar. He was 75. The Wadali Brothers comprising Puranchand Wadali and Pyarelal Wadali had carved a distinct mark for themselves in the genre of Sufi music. According to local reports, Pyarelal Wadali suffered from a cardiac arrest

161. Which Indian city hosted the 26th meeting of the GST Council? 1. Mumbai 2. Bangalore 3. Kolkata 4. Baroda 5. New Delhi Answer - 5. New Delhi Explanation : On 10th March 2018, the 26th meeting of the GST Council was held at Vigyan Bhawan, New

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Delhi. The GST council was informed that CBEC and GSTN have begun detailed data analytics on the available data sets. Outcomes of the preliminary data analysis are: • There is difference in the amount of IGST & Compensation Cess paid by importers at Customs ports and input tax credit of the same claimed in GSTR-3B. • There is great difference in self-declared liability in FORM GSTR-1 and FORM GSTR-3B. • This information would be analysed in more detail and necessary action will be taken.

162. Which state has become the second state in India after Madhya Pradesh to approve death sentence for those convicted of raping girls aged 12 years and below? 1. Assam 2. Maharashtra 3. Rajasthan 4. Manipur 5. Nagaland Answer - 3. Rajasthan Explanation : On 9th March 2018, a bill approving death penalty to those convicted of raping or gang-raping a girl who is aged 12 years or below, was passed by Rajasthan assembly. Rajasthan has become the second state in India after Madhya Pradesh to approve death sentence for those convicted of raping girls aged 12 years and below. Gulab Chand Kataria, Rajasthan home minister, introduced the Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill, 2018 in the assembly. It was passed by a voice vote. Sections 376-AA and 376-DD have been added in the Indian Penal Code, 1860, in regard with rape and gang-rape of young girls. It provides that, whoever rapes or gang-rapes a girl up to 12 years of age shall be punished to death or a rigorous imprisonment for a minimum of 14 years and 20 years respectively for the sections. This can be extended for imprisonment of the offender's whole life along with fine.

163. Which is the first and only Union Territory of India to achieve full solar energy efficiency? 1. Chandigarh 2. Lakshadweep 3. Puducherry 4. Delhi 5. Diu Answer - 5. Diu Explanation : Diu has become the first and only Union Territory of India to achieve full solar energy efficiency. Diu has a geographical area of just 42 square kilometers. It has installed solar power plants in more than 50 acres of land. 13 MW of electricity is generated from the solar power-generating systems in Diu. Out of which, 3MW is produced from rooftop solar plants and 10MW from other solar power plants. Earlier, Diu depended on the power grid owned by the Gujarat government for electricity. It started with solar power generation three years ago. As Diu started electricity production through solar power plants, it has resulted in considerable reduction of line loss.

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164. Which state announced the 'Mukhyamantri Mahila Kosh' scheme that will offer pension to unmarried women above 50 years of age? 1. Maharashtra 2. Gujarat 3. Odisha 4. Goa 5. Madhya Pradesh Answer - 5. Madhya Pradesh Explanation : Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced the 'Mukhyamantri Mahila Kosh' scheme that will offer pension to unmarried women above 50 years of age. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced this scheme on the occasion of International Women's Day. The 'Mukhyamantri Mahila Kosh' will offer pension to women who are not married and have crossed the age of 50 years

165. Which railway station of Bengaluru became the first all-woman railway station in South Western Railway zone? 1. Whitefield 2. Karmelaram 3. Banaswadi 4. Channasandra 5. Heelalige Answer - 3. Banaswadi Explanation : Banaswadi railway station of Bengaluru became the first all-woman railway station in South Western Railway zone. On the International Women’s Day, Banaswadi railway station was declared as a facility run by an all-woman crew. It is the first station in the South Western Railway (SWR) zone and 5th in India to attain the all-woman railway station status. The Banaswadi railway station was declared South Western Railway (SWR) zone’s first all-woman railway station by Piyush Goyal, Union railway minister, through video link. The Banaswadi railway station will be operated by its female staff from now on. All 15 officials of the Banaswadi station are now women, including security personnel.

166. In which city of Uttar Pradesh, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation along with the UP Government organized a Women’s Convention called Swachh Shakti 2018? 1. Agra 2. Kanpur 3. Lucknow 4. Allahabad 5. Varanasi Answer - 3. Lucknow Explanation : On the occasion of International Women’s Day,The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, in association with the Government of Uttar Pradesh, organized a Women’s Convention called Swachh Shakti 2018 at Lucknow. Swachh Shakti 2018 has been hosted by Uttarpradesh Government. 8000 women sarpanches, 3000 women Swachhagrahis and women champions from

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across the country were recognised for their outstanding contribution towards making a Swachh Bharat. The event included a special exhibition, launch of a film celebrating Swachh Shakti and flagging off of 30 Swachhata Raths that will travel across the State, spreading the message of sanitation at the grassroots. The Union Minister of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Sushri Uma Bharti, complimented the commitment made by the Uttar Pradesh government to make the State Open Defecation Free (ODF) by October 2018.

167. Which state launched Women Entrepreneurship Hub (WE- Hub), India’s first state-led incubator exclusively for women entrepreneurs? 1. Andhra Pradesh 2. Madhya Pradesh 3. Maharashtra 4. Odisha 5. Telangana Answer - 5. Telangana Explanation : Government of Telangana launched Women Entrepreneurship Hub (WE- Hub) in Hyderabad. WE- Hub is India’s first state-led incubator exclusively for women entrepreneurs. WE-HUB will promote women-led, women-owned enterprises in Telangana. It is a platform which is open to all kinds of innovations including a tech start-up, a start-up in social innovation or an idea which is completely and radically different. It will encourage women from rural and urban backgrounds helping them achieve being independent and overcome the societal barriers.

168. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a two-day National Legislators Conference at the Central Hall of Parliament House. What is the theme of this conference? 1. India means Development 2. We for Development 3. We are Developing 4. Indian Development 5. Ideas for Indian Development Answer - 2. We for Development Explanation : Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates a two-day National Legislators Conference at the Central Hall of Parliament House. The theme of the conference is - "We For Development". Motive of the conference:- It will be a platform for Members of Parliament such as MPs, MLAs, Legislative Assemblies and Legislative Councils to share their ideas,plans or experience for country development. Development and optimum use of resources will be the subjects on agenda for discussions. Participants:- The conference will be attended by Union Ministers, including Arun Jaitley, J P Nadda, Nirmala Sitharaman, Suresh Prabhu, Narender Singh Tomar, Prakash Javadekar and Dharmendra Pradhan.

169. Which Indian city hosted the four-day biennial event ‘WINGS INDIA 2018?‘ 1. Kanpur 2. Kolkata 3. Delhi 4. Allahabad 5. Hyderabad Answer - 5. Hyderabad Explanation : Ministry of Civil Aviation and Airport Authority of India and FICCI jointly organized the four-day

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biennial event ‘WINGS INDIA 2018 ‘ in Hyderabad. Theme of the four-day biennial event this year is ‘India-Global Aviation Hub’. WINGS INDIA 2018 is a platform for interactions, forging alliances, investments and air connectivity between the States and the global aviation players & stakeholders.The conference will focus on fostering partnership to transform Indian aviation and the role of conducive regulatory framework to facilitate growth of civil aviation market. The event was attended by senior ministers of Telangana Government and senior officials of Ministry of Civil Aviation, DGCA, AAI and representatives from FICCI.

170. International Solar Alliance (ISA) and African Development Bank (AfDb), Asian Development Bank (ADB), Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Green climate fund (GCF), and New Development Bank (NDB) signed Joint financial partnership declarations. The agreements are aimed to deepen their cooperation to support ______? 1. Infrastructure 2. Youth Development 3. Military Co-operation 4. Renewable Energy 5. Network Security Answer - 4. Renewable Energy Explanation : On 10th March 2018, International Solar Alliance (ISA) and African Development Bank (AfDb), Asian Development Bank (ADB), Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Green climate fund (GCF), and New Development Bank (NDB) signed Joint financial partnership declarations. The International Energy Agency (IEA) also inked a Joint partnership Declaration with the ISA. Arun Jaitley, Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs and R.K. Singh, Minister of State (I/C) for Power and New and Renewable Energy were present at the occasion. The agreements are aimed to deepen their cooperation to support Renewable Energy. ISA and ADB have joined together to promote Solar Energy in Asia and the Pacific, through solar power generation, solar based mini- grids, and transmission systems dedicated for integrating solar energy into the grids and other future programs introduced by ISA.

171. Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank (KVGB) has introduced ‘Vikas She Plus’, a loan scheme for women to help them with new ventures and for expanding or modifying their existing businesses. This bank will offer loan upto Rs. ______? 1. Rs 6 lakh 2. Rs 5 lakh 3. Rs 4 lakh 4. Rs 3 lakh 5. Rs 2 lakh Answer - 5. Rs 2 lakh Explanation : Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank (KVGB) has introduced ‘Vikas She Plus’, a loan scheme for women to help them with new ventures and for expanding or modifying their existing businesses. The Vikas She Plus scheme offers loan up to a maximum of Rs 2 lakh. Repayment period for the loan is 60 months under this scheme. KVGB aims to reach out to 5,000 women entrepreneurs under the ‘Vikas She Plus’ scheme by the end of this financial year. KVGB has stated that, it has offered loans amounting to Rs 22 crore to nearly 2,500 women on the day the scheme was launched itself.

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172. ______details of borrowers obtaining loans of Rs 50 crore and above has been made mandatory to take immediate action in case of fraud and to prevent defaulters from escaping away from India? 1. PAN 2. Passport 3. Nominee 4. Aadhar 5. Educational Answer - 2. Passport Explanation : Passport details of borrowers obtaining loans of Rs 50 crore and above has been made mandatory to take immediate action in case of fraud and to prevent defaulters from escaping away from India. The Passport details have been mandated for loans worth Rs 50 crore and above, to take immediate action and to inform related authorities to prevent defaulters from flying out of India. Also, for all existing loans of over Rs 50 crore, banks have been mandated to obtain passport details of borrowers within 45 days. This step has been taken as a preventive measure after Nirav Modi has been alleged to have defrauded Punjab National Bank (PNB) of Rs 12,700 crore and has escaped from India.

173. Who was given additional charge of the Civil Aviation Ministry after the resignation of Ashok Gajapathi Raju of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)? 1. Ashok Mehta 2. Suraender Singh 3. Raja Singh 4. Suresh Prabhu 5. Godson Prabhu Answer - 4. Suresh Prabhu Explanation : On March 10,2018, Commerce and Industries Minister Suresh Prabhu was given additional charge of the Civil Aviation Ministry after the resignation of Ashok Gajapathi Raju of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). Raju and another Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MP Y S Chowdary had resigned from the council of ministers. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu took the decision after facing relentless attacks from the opposition for “failing” to secure special category status for Andhra Pradesh.

174. Who was appointed the new Director General of the Union government's publicity wing, Press Information Bureau (PIB)? 1. Frank Noronha 2. Menaka Gandhi 3. Ravi Shankar 4. Manoj Sinha 5. Sitanshu Kar Answer - 5. Sitanshu Kar Explanation : All India Radio's News Services Division (NSD) director general Sitanshu Kar has been appointed as the next Director General of the Union government's publicity wing, Press Information Bureau (PIB). Kar will be replacing Frank Noronha, who took charge of the PIB in 2014. Press Information Bureau publicizes information to the print, electronic and new media on government plans, policies, programme initiatives and achievements. It has nationwide network of 8 regional offices and 34 branch offices.

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175. Sir John Sulston recently passed away. Who was he? 1. Athlete 2. CEO 3. Dancer 4. Geneticist 5. Artist Answer - 4. Geneticist Explanation : UK’s pioneering geneticist Sir John Sulston has died. He was professor and chairman of the Institute of Science, Ethics and Innovation at the University of Manchester. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for medicine or physiology in 2002, along with two of his former colleagues, for work aiding the understanding of how genes control cell division and cell death in organisms. Sir John founded the Sanger Institute - then called the Sanger Centre - at Hinxton, near Cambridge.

176. Patangrao Kadam passed away recently. Who was he? 1. Doctor 2. Politician 3. Lawyer 4. Golfer 5. Football Player Answer - 2. Politician Explanation : Maharashtra senior Congress leader Patangrao Kadam passed away in Lilavati hospital in Mumbai. Patangrao was a powerful leader in Maharashtra politics and was known as a staunch Congressman. His son Vishwajeet Kadam is a leader of the Youth Congress wing. He founded the Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, an educational empire and also set up cooperative ginning mills and sugar mills in western Maharashtra. He was also served as chairman of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC).

177. Which state hosted the founding conference of International Solar Alliance (ISA) 2018? 1. Uttar Pradesh 2. Odisha 3. Goa 4. New Delhi 5. Gujarat Answer - 4. New Delhi Explanation : The founding conference of International Solar Alliance (ISA) was held on March 11, 2018 in New Delhi. The conference was co- hosted by Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and visiting French President Emmanuel Macron. While addressing the conference, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that India has set a target to generate 175 GW of electricity from renewable energy sources by 2022. Out of 175 GW, 100 GW will be generated by harnessing solar energy. PM Modi also outlined a 10-point action plan to bring about a “worldwide solar revolution”. The 10-point action plan includes measures to make affordable solar technology available to all nations, framing regulations and standards to support the initiative and raising the share of electricity generated from photovoltaic cells in the energy mix. Deliberations at the conference also focused on ISA finance mechanism for the promotion of solar energy, crowd-funding and technology transfer.

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178. ‘MILAN 2018’, a multinational naval exercise hosted by Indian Navy began on March 6, 2018 at ______? 1. Puducherry 2. Goa 3. Andaman and Nicobar Islands 4. West Bengal 5. Kerala Answer - 3. Andaman and Nicobar Islands Explanation : ‘MILAN 2018’, a multinational naval exercise hosted by Indian Navy began on March 6, 2018 at Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Conducted biennially since 1995, MILAN is a congregation of navies of several countries, organised by Indian Navy at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, under the aegis of the Andaman and Nicobar Command. Objective behind MILAN 2018 is to expand regional cooperation and combat unlawful activities in critical sea lanes in Indian Ocean region. Theme of ‘MILAN 2018’ is 'Friendship Across the Seas'. Total 28 warships including 17 from India and 11 from Australia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand are participating in MILAN 2018. During the course of this event, 39 delegates from 16 countries will deliberate on the regional security situation. MILAN 2018 will conclude on March 13, 2018.

179. In which Indian city, India's biggest Media & Entertainment Services Market – enTTech 2018 was inaugurated? 1. Kolkata 2. Allahabad 3. Ahmedabad 4. Patna 5. Mumbai Answer - 5. Mumbai Explanation : India's biggest Media & Entertainment Services Market – enTTech 2018 was inaugurated in Mumbai on March 7, 2018. enTTech 2018 was organized by Service Export Promotion Council (SEPC) in association with MEAI (Media & Entertainment Association of India) and TVAGA (Telangana VFX, Animation and Gaming Association). The event was supported by the Department of Commerce under Union Ministry of Commerce & Industry. This edition of enTTech focussed on Business to Business (B2B) matchmaking between 100 international delegates and their Indian counterparts. The market was held for two days – 7th and 8th March, 2018. Union Minister for Commerce & Industry, Suresh Prabhu spoke at the inaugural function through a video message. In context of this news, it is important to note that Indian film industry is the world’s largest industry in terms of number of films produced while Indian Television market is the second largest in the world.

180. How many countries signed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans- Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in Chile? 1. 19 2. 17 3. 15 4. 13 5. 11 Answer - 5. 11

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Explanation : On March 8, 2018, eleven Pacific Rim countries signed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in Chile. The eleven countries that signed the agreement are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. The agreement is broadly aimed at lowering both non-tariff and tariff barriers to trade among signatory countries. The agreement was revised after United States announced its decision to withdraw from the discussions in January 2017. The eleven countries that have signed CPTPP, together represent 13.5 per cent of the global economy. These countries will now have to ratify it by amending their respective national laws.

181. How many Kilometre stretch of the Indo-Bangladesh border is declared as a 'crime- free zone' by the Director Generals of India’ Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB)? 1. 8.3 km 2. 8.5 km 3. 8.7 km 4. 8.9 km 5. 9 km Answer - 1. 8.3 km Explanation : Director Generals of India’ Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) declared an 8.3 km stretch of the Indo-Bangladesh border as a 'crime-free zone'. The 8.3 km stretch covers the Gunarmath and Kalyani Border Out Posts (BOPs) in India and the Puthkhali and Daulatpur BOPs in Bangladesh. Both the forces, with the help of the civil administrations, NGOs and the local populace from both the sides will work together to ensure that no crime or anti-social activity occurs along this stretch. This stretch is one of the most vulnerable, along which, cattle smuggling and other criminal activities are carried out. Decision to develop such ‘crime-free zone’ stretches was taken during the Director General level talks in New Delhi in October 2017. Situation at 8.3 km stretch, which has been declared as a 'crime-free zone' will be reviewed after 5-6 months. Based on the review, necessary improvisations will be carried out and efforts will be made to extend such zones to other trouble-prone areas along India-Bangladesh border.

182. As per a report ‘Transactions 2025’ released by digital payments company AGS Transact in collaboration with ACI Worldwide, by 2025, India could witness around Rs ______worth of digital transactions every year? 1. 3 lakh crores 2. 2 lakh crores 3. 1 lakh crores 4. 10 crores 5. 50 crores Answer - 3. 1 lakh crore Explanation : As per a report ‘Transactions 2025’ released by digital payments company AGS Transact in collaboration with ACI Worldwide, by 2025, India could witness around Rs 1 lakh crore worth of

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digital transactions every year. The report has outlined that there could be 3 billion connected devices by 2025 and merchant adoption of payments would go up by 10 times from current level. Increase in digital payments would largely be driven by higher adoption of Unified Payments Interface (UPI). Higher adoption would come on back of consumer demand, policy push from the government, disruptive technology and services like taxi payments and ecommerce growth. With the increase in digital payments, cyber security risks and the cost of managing cyber attacks will also rise to $20 billion from around $4 billion currently.

183. With which International Financial Organisation, Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) inked a 150 million Euros loan agreement for a second line of credit (LoC)? 1. Export-Import Bank of India 2. World Bank 3. Asian Development Bank 4. European Bank for Reconstruction and Development 5. European Investment Bank Answer - 5. European Investment Bank Explanation : Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) and European Investment Bank (EIB) inked a 150 million Euros loan agreement for a second line of credit (LoC). Funds procured through LoC will be utilised for financing renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in India. More than 1.1 million households in India will be benefited from clean energy produced through these projects. The LoC is for tenure of 15 years and includes a grace period of three years. IREDA is the financing arm of the New and Renewable Energy Ministry of Government of India, while EIB is the long-term lending institution of the European Union.

184. Spicejet Q400 Bombardier, a SpiceJet commercial flight from Kolkata made a successful landing in which Airport for the first time? 1. Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport of Mumbai 2. Indira Gandhi International Airport of Delhi 3. Kempegowda International Airport of Bangalore 4. Chennai International Airport of Chennai 5. Pakyong Airport in Sikkim Answer - 5. Pakyong Airport in Sikkim Explanation : Spicejet Q400 Bombardier, a SpiceJet commercial flight from Kolkata made a successful landing at the Pakyong Airport in Sikkim for the first time. This is the first civil fixed-wing flight to land in Sikkim. The Spicejet Q400 Bombardier landed at the Pakyong Airport on a trial run. Spicejet Q400 Bombardier is a 78-seater flight. It took off from Kolkata Airport and landed at the Pakyong Airport. The Pakyong Airport has been constructed newly. It was ready for operation from the start of this year. Pakyong Airport is 32 km away from Gangtok, which is the capital of Sikkim. This advancement is expected to boost tourism activities in Sikkim.

185. Which state government signed an MoU with Safran Electrical and Power SAS for establishing an aerospace unit in the state? 1. Odisha 2. Goa 3. Telangana 4. Andhra Pradesh 5. Punjab

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Answer - 3. Telangana Explanation : Telangana government signed a MoU with Safran Electrical and Power SAS for establishing an aerospace unit in Telangana. Philippe Petitcolin, CEO, Safran and Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary (industries) of Telangana government inked the MoU at an event in Delhi. As per the agreement, Safran Electrical and Power India will establish a unit in Telangana. The cost for this will be Rs 52 crore. This project would generate over 250 job opportunities.

186. Which country won the "Best Exhibitor Award" at 2018 ITB – Berlin? 1. Canada 2. India 3. Malaysia 4. Australia 5. Germany Answer - 2. India Explanation : On March 11, 2018, India won the "Best Exhibitor Award" at 2018 ITB – Berlin. ITB Berlin (Internationale Tourismus-Borse Berlin) is the world's largest tourism trade fair which takes place annually in March at the Messe Berlin, Germany. 2018 ITB Berlin was held from 7th – 11th March, 2018. Tourism Ministries of nearly 100 countries participated in this meet. For the ‘Best Exhibitor Award’, trade fair stands of more than 10000 exhibitors were divided into a total of 11 categories and were evaluated on several parameters. Minister of State (Independent charge) for Tourism Mr K. J. Alphons represented India at 2018 ITB Berlin. India’s Ministry of Tourism presented a short film named "Yogi of the Racetrack" at 2018 ITB Berlin.

187. Who was honoured with the ‘Godavari Gaurav’ award at an event in Nashik, Maharashtra? 1. Amol Palekar 2. Mahendra Kapoor 3. Shri Kailash Kher 4. Vinod Rai 5. Ramanuja Tatacharya Answer - 1. Amol Palekar Explanation : On March 10, 2018, renowned actor Amol Palekar was honoured with the ‘Godavari Gaurav’ award at an event in Nashik, Maharashtra. 'Godavari Gaurav' award has been instituted by Nashik-based ‘Kusumagraj Prathishthan’. Amol Palekar received the award from noted Marathi writer Madhu Mangesh Karnik, who is the chairperson the Prathishthan. Amol Palekar has given impressive performance in several films like “Gol Maal” , “Choti Si Baat” and“Chitchor”. Classical singer Pandit Satyasheel Deshpande has also been honoured with the ‘Godavari Gaurav’ award.

188. Which country cleared an amendment to its constitution that will strike out a clause restricting the term of President to two five-year terms? 1. Japan 2. China 3. Germany 4. Austria 5. Malaysia Answer - 2. China

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Explanation : The National People’s Congress (NPC) of China cleared an amendment to its constitution that will strike out a clause restricting the term of President to two five-year terms. This move paves way for Xi Jinping to continue as president of China beyond his term limit of 2023. In the voting conducted at National People’s Congress, out of the 2980 deputies, only two of them gave negative vote and three refrained from voting. On 4th December 1982, the current version of the Chinese constitution was adopted by the National People’s Congress. Before the recent amendment the Presidential term was limited to two five-year terms. Xi Jinping became the Chinese President in March 2013. His second term as President started in October 2017.

189. Which country successfully launched 'ideal' hypersonic missile from a MiG-31 supersonic interceptor jet? 1. Germany 2. Russia 3. India 4. Japan 5. China Answer - 2. Russia Explanation : Russia announced that, it successfully launched a hypersonic missile. The high-precision Kinzhal (Dagger) missile was launched from a MiG-31 supersonic interceptor jet from an airfield in the South Military District in southwest Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that, the speed of the missile is 10 times the speed of sound. He said that, it can overcome air-defence systems. He added that the missile has been deployed in the Southern Military District from 1st December 2017. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said that, the MiG-31 supersonic jet that will carry the missile has also been modernized.

190. What is the common name of the species “Eucyclodes gavissima?” 1. Lizard 2. Chameleon 3. Snake 4. Moth 5. Fish Answer - 4. Moth Explanation : A new species of Himalayan moth named “Eucyclodes gavissima” has been discovered in Papikonda National Park, Andhra Pradesh. An announcement regarding this was made by Anant Shankar, Divisional Forest Officer (wildlife), at a workshop on butterflies in Andhra Pradesh. The workshop was conducted by Wildlife Management of Forest Department, East Godavari River Estuarine Ecosystem (EGREE) Foundation along with Butterfly Research Centre, Bhimtal, Uttarakhand.

191. Which Indian state hosted the Deodhar Trophy 2017-18? 1. Telangana 2. Rajasthan 3. Himachal Pradesh 4. Punjab 5. Assam Answer - 3. Himachal Pradesh

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Explanation : India B team won the Deodhar Trophy 2017-18 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh. India B team defeated Karnataka team by six wickets in the final and won the Deodhar Trophy 2017-18. Man of the Match: Ravikumar Samarth. Ravikumar Samarth of Karnataka team scored 107 runs and received the Man of the Match honour.

192. Which country won the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2018 title, in Malaysia? 1. Australia 2. Libya 3. Switzerland 4. USA 5. Sweden Answer - 1. Australia Explanation : Australia won the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2018 title, in Malaysia. Australia defeated England 2-1 in the final and won the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. England finished in the second position. Argentina defeated Malaysia 3-2 and secured third place. Malaysia completed in the fourth position. India defeated Ireland 4-1 and finished in the fifth position.

193. Ranjan Roy recently passed away. Who was he? 1. Sportsman 2. Lawyer 3. Doctor 4. Singer 5. Journalist Answer - 5. Journalist Explanation : Ranjan Roy, a senior journalist, died after suffering from cancer, in New Delhi. Ranjan Roy was 57 years old. He was the chief of Times News Network (TNN). He was also a member of TNN’s national editorial board. In 1982, he started his career with Press Trust of India (PTI) in New Delhi as a trainee.

194. The book ‘Fulfilling Bapu’s Dreams is the tribute of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to whom? 1. Sardar Vallabhai Patel 2. Subash Chandra Bose 3. Indira Gandhi 4. Mahatma Gandhi 5. Jawaharlal Nehru Answer - 4. Mahatma Gandhi Explanation : President Ram Nath Kovind, received the first copy of the book ‘Fulfilling Bapu’s Dreams – Prime Minister Modi’s Tribute to Gandhiji’ from Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, who launched it at an event in Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. Ram Nath Kovind said that, this book highlights the importance of connecting sanitation with broad mass participation, which is an important point in India’s 71 | Page Follow Us - FB.com/AffairsCloudOfficialPage Copyright 2018 @ AffairsCloud.Com

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developmental process. He said that, this book focuses on connecting Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals with nation-building activity.

195. On March 9, 2018, Maharashtra Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar presented the state budget for 2018-19 in legislative assembly while Minister of State for Finance, Deepak Kesarkar presented the budget in legislative council. This was the ______budget of the incumbent BJP-led government under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis? 1. First 2. Second 3. Third 4. Fourth 5. Fifth Answer - 4. Fourth Explanation: On March 9, 2018, Maharashtra Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar presented the state budget for 2018-19 in legislative assembly while Minister of State for Finance, Deepak Kesarkar presented the budget in legislative council. This was the fourth budget of the incumbent BJP-led government under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Maharashtra Budget 2018-19 focused on farmers and youth.For fiscal 2018-19, revenue deficit is estimated at Rs. 15375 crore. Rs. 13385 crore budget has been allocated for home department, out of which, Rs. 165 crore will be used for state-wide CCTV surveillance network. 13000 gram panchayats will be connected digitally under the Centre’s BharatNet project. Provision of Rs. 2215.85 crore has been made for implementation of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Mahasamadhan, a toll-free helpline will be set up for farmers, through which, they can avail information on seeds, fertilisers and various policies.

196. In which state, India’s tallest tricolour was hoisted? 1. Kerala 2. Goa 3. Maharashtra 4. Madhya Pradesh 5. Karnataka Answer - 5. Karnataka Explanation: India’s tallest tricolour was hoisted in Belagavi, Karnataka on March 12, 2018. The flag hoisted in Belagavi is 110m high from the base plate to the top while its size is 120X80 ft. The flag was hoisted by Belagavi District in-charge Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi. It weighs 500 kg and was hoisted through an electro mechanic operating system. Before hoisting of the tallest flag at Belagavi, 107 metre tall tricolour flown in Pune was the highest, followed by 105 metre tall tricolour at Attari-Wagah border. To have the tallest tricolour in Balagavi was the dream project of Belagavi (North) Congress MLA Feroz Sait.

197. Which Indian state was named the best performing State in terms of allotting jobs and utilising funds under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) according to data provided by the Minister of State for Rural Development, Ram Kripal Yadav in Rajya Sabha? 1. Odisha 2. Gujarat 3. West Bengal 4. Uttar Pradesh 5. Assam

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Answer - 3. West Bengal Explanation: According to data provided by the Minister of State for Rural Development, Ram Kripal Yadav in Rajya Sabha, West Bengal is the best performing State in terms of allotting jobs and utilising funds under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). For 2017-18, West Bengal has so far spent more than Rs. 7335.31 crore and has generated more than 28.21 crore work days under MGNREGA. West Bengal is followed by Tamil Nadu (TN) which has spent Rs. 5981.75 crore and has generated 22.17 crore work days during 2017-18, so far. Goa ranked at the bottom, with spending Rs. 2.47 crore and generating just 94000 work days under the scheme.

198. Name the village from Jharkhand district, that has become the first 'alcohol-free' village in the state? 1. Bokaro 2. Chatra 3. Deoghar 4. Banlotwa 5. Garhwa Answer - 4. Banlotwa Explanation: Banlotwa has become the first 'alcohol-free' village in Ranchi district of Jharkhand. Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das lauded the residents of the village for achieving this feat and has given Rs 1 lakh cash to the village head of Banlotwa. It is to be noted that, two years ago, Raghubar Das had announced that any village becoming alcohol-free would be given Rs. 1 lakh for its development. Mr. Das stated that people of Banlotwa have joined hands to make the village 'nasa mukt' (alcohol-free). Even Jharkhand state government wants to ensure greater participation of the people in bringing about change and development.

199. In which coastal state, the Multilateral Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Air Force exercise, ‘Samvedna’ began off on March 12, 2018? 1. Gujarat 2. Odisha 3. Andhra Pradesh 4. Kerala 5. West Bengal Answer - 4. Kerala Explanation: Multilateral Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Air Force exercise, ‘Samvedna’ began off the coast of Kerala on March 12, 2018. In Hindi, Samvedna means 'Empathy'. The exercise will focus on practising Air Force-centric HADR solutions in a Multi-national cooperative Disaster Management environment. ’Samvedna’ is being conducted by Indian Air Force (IAF) in association with South Asian Region nations. Representatives from air forces of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are participating in this exercise. It will thus establish synergy among Air Forces of participating countries in jointly carrying out HADR activities in wake of natural calamities. The exercise will be conducted as response to a mock situation of a tsunami hitting the western coast of India. The participating air forces will coordinate with each other in post-tsunami disaster management along the western coast and western islands of India. The exercise will conclude on March 17, 2018.

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200. In which of the following states, state’s first e-budget was presented at the legislative Assembly? 1. Assam 2. Karnataka 3. Kerala 4. West Bengal 5. Jharkhand Answer - 1. Assam Explanation: Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma presented state's first e-Budget at the legislative Assembly. Each legislator of Assam State Legislative Assembly was provided with a tablet (computer) having details of the Budget. During the discussions in the house, the legislators were able to access the details through this tablet. In order to truly make it an E-Budget, the reporters covering the state budget were given a pen drive containing the details. Besides, Assam State Budget 2018-19 has also been made available on Google app.

201. Which state Government hosted the first edition of 'Soldierathon,' a special marathon aimed at raising funds for welfare of Indian soldiers and their families? 1. Maharashtra 2. Rajasthan 3. Karnataka 4. Kerala 5. New Delhi Answer - 5. New Delhi Explanation: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of State for External Affairs General VK Singh and cricketer Gautam Gambhir attended the first edition of 'Soldierathon' in New Delhi. 'Soldierathon' is a special marathon aimed at raising funds for welfare of Indian soldiers and their families. Over 6000 individuals participated in this marathon. Cricketer Mohammad Kaif and Actor Varun Sood also witnessed this marathon. The marathon began from Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi. Participation was open in four categories viz. 10km, 5km, 3km and wheelchair. Funds raised during this event will be donated to Indian Army's Artificial Limb Centre (ALC) and for the education of martyrs' children.

202. In which state, India’s first coastal policing academy “The National Academy of Coastal Policing (NACP)” was set up? 1. Gujarat 2. Odisha 3. West Bengal 4. Maharashtra 5. Goa Answer - 1. Gujarat Explanation: The National Academy of Coastal Policing (NACP), India’s first coastal policing academy, has been set up in Okha, in Devbhoomi Dwarka district of Gujarat. This is said to be the first-of-its-kind institution in India. It will be run by a multi-agency team of paramilitary and defence forces. This academy aims to sharpen the skills of marine forces of various Indian states that have coastal lines. The Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) will pilot the setting up of NACP. The Border Security Force (BSF) will ensure security of the campus. The navy and the Coast Guard will help in developing the training curriculum, providing skilled trainers and access to

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jetties and boats for the academy. Faculty from the Navy, Coast Guard and the BSF, will train police personnel and staff of other security agencies. Training will be provided on maritime laws, seamanship, boat work, navigation, weapons handling, usage of sea guidance and surveillance gadgets and survival skills for long haul operations on the sea etc. The National Academy of Coastal Policing (NACP) will start functioning from April 2018.

203. As per cybersecurity and anti-virus provider, Kaspersky Labs, India ranks ______worldwide on the list of countries facing web-borne threats? 1. 30th 2.31st 3. 32nd 4. 33rd 5. 34th Answer - 4. 33rd Explanation: As per cybersecurity and anti-virus provider, Kaspersky Labs, India ranks 33rd worldwide on the list of countries facing web-borne threats. This revelation was done by Kaspersky Lab at the recent Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) Summit in Mumbai, through a presentation on the threat management and defense landscape in India. CISO added that India secured 37th place worldwide in attacks by local threats and 13th in incidents with malicious hosts located within the country. As per the data, 27.4 percent Indian users were affected by web-borne threats, while 62.7 percent users were attacked by local threats.

204. The World Ocean Summit 2018 was held at ______? 1. River Ganga, India 2. River Mississippi, US 3. River Murray, Australia 4. River Maya, Mexico 5. River Nile, Egypt Answer - 4. River Maya, Mexico Explanation: On 7th to 9th March 2018, the World Ocean Summit 2018 was held in Riviera Maya, Mexico. This was the fifth World Ocean Summit. It was hosted by the Economist Group. Over 360 leaders from government, industry, multilateral organisations, scientific community and civil society all over the world took part in the World Ocean Summit 2018. Problems related to the world's seas and solutions to protect ocean resources were discussed in the summit.

205. Which country unveiled the world’s biggest flag? 1. Chile 2. Argentina 3. South Sudan 4. Libya 5. Bolivia Answer - 5. Bolivia Explanation: Bolivia unveiled its 200 km long flag, which it claims to be the world’s biggest flag. The flag extends between the cities La Paz and Oruro. It is made of blue cloth and features Bolivian national symbols. Its width is three meters. Bolivian people held the flag as a sign of support for Bolivia’s claim for access to the Pacific coast. Bolivia demands access to the Pacific Ocean, which it lost to Chile in a war in the 19th century. Bolivia will present its case demanding access to

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Chile's Pacific coast at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on 19th March 2018.

206. Which bank has launched remittance service to enable customers to send money online globally? 1. Dena Bank 2. Corporation Bank 3. HDFC Bank 4. IDBI Bank 5. DCB Bank Answer - 5. DCB Bank Explanation: DCB Bank has launched “DCB Remit”, a remittance service to enable customers to send money online globally. Using DCB Remit, any resident Indian can register online and send money to 20 countries such as the US, Canada, Australia, the UK, the UAE and Germany. Once the exchange rate of money is fixed, customer can transfer money from any account to DCB Bank account. This in turn can be transferred to the beneficiary account present in another country on or within the next business day. DCB Remit has been introduced in collaboration with Avenues Payments. Avenues Payments specialises in providing cross border payments.

207. Who has been appointed the new Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad? 1. V.V. Srinivasa Rao 2. Anjani Kumar 3. Suneel Kumar 4. Subramanyeswara Rao 5. Ashok Kumar Das Answer - 2. Anjani Kumar Explanation: Anjani Kumar has been made the new Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad. Anjani Kumar is an IPS officer of 1990 batch. He has been appointed the new Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad, as part of a major reshuffle of senior police officers in Telangana. Kumar was the Additional DGP (Law & Order). The post of Hyderabad Police Commissioner was vacant for the past 4 months. Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), V.V. Srinivasa Rao was in-charge of the post during those 4 months. V.V. Srinivasa Rao has been made the Chairman of Telangana State Level Police Recruitment Board.

208. Which country topped the medal tally at International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup 2018, held at Guadalajara, Mexico? 1. Russia 2. Japan 3. Australia 4. China 5. India Answer - 5. India Explanation: International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup was held in Guadalajara, Mexico from 1st to 12th March, 2018. India topped the medal tally at ISSF Shooting World Cup by winning 76 | Page Follow Us - FB.com/AffairsCloudOfficialPage Copyright 2018 @ AffairsCloud.Com

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four gold, one silver and three bronze. Shahzar Rizvi, Manu Bhaker, Akhil Sheoran and Om Prakash Mitharval won the gold medals for India. Anjum Moudgil bagged a silver while Jitu Rai, Ravi Kumar and Mehuli Ghosh finished with bronze. This is the first time that India has topped medal tally in ISSF competition.

209. In which city of Andhra Pradesh, the senior National triathlon championship 2018 was held at? 1. Guntur 2. Kurnool 3. Visakhapatnam 4. Anantapur 5. Chittoor Answer - 3. Visakhapatnam Explanation: Bishworjit Singh and Samira Abraham won gold medals in the men's and women's categories of the senior National triathlon championship held in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Men’s Category: Winner: Bishworjit Singh of the Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) finished the triathlon event in 2 hrs, 09 min and 46 sec and won gold medal in men’s category. The triathlon event consisted of 1.5 km of swimming, 40 km of cycling and 10 km of the run. KSH Minachandra of SSCB won silver medal and L Mahesh from Manipur won bronze medal in the men’s category. Women’s category: Samira Abraham of Goa finished with a timing of 2 hrs 30 min and 04 seconds and won gold medal in the women’s category. Pragna Mohan from Gujarat won the silver medal and Monika Nagpure from Gujarat won the bronze medal in the women’s category.

210. Name the Indian woman who has become world No 2 in the women's 65kg category in the latest rankings released by the United World Wrestling? 1. Navjot Kaur 2. Geeta Phogat 3. Babita Phogat 4. Ritu Phogat 5. Vinesh Phogat Answer - 1. Navjot Kaur Explanation: Navjot Kaur has become world No 2 in the women's 65kg category in the latest rankings released by the United World Wrestling. Women’s 65kg category: India’s Navjot Kaur recently became the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the Asian Championship in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.The first position in 65kg category is occupied by Petra Olli of Finland. However, Navjot Kaur and Petra Olli both have 18 points. Women’s 50kg category: India’s, Vinesh Phogat has secured second rank in the 50kg category with 22 points. The first place in this category is bagged by Lei Chun of China with 24 points.

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211. Ken Dodd recently passed away. Who was he? 1. Dancer 2. Doctor 3. Comedian 4. Guitarist 5. Violinist Answer - 3. Comedian Explanation: On 11th March 2018, comedian Ken Dodd died after suffering from chest infection, at his residence in the Liverpool suburb of Knotty Ash, England. Ken Dodd was 90 years old. He was well known for his very long stand-up shows. Also, he was a popular singer. His popular works are "Happiness" and "Tears". He had recently returned from hospital after receiving treatment for chest infection and had married Anne Jones.

212. National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) celebrated its _____ Inception Day at Mahipalpur, New Delhi? 1. 29th 2. 30th 3. 31st 4. 32nd 5. 33rd Answer - 5. 33rd Explanation: National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) celebrated its 33rd Inception Day at Mahipalpur, New Delhi. Rajiv Jain, Director of Intelligence Bureau (IB) was the Chief Guest of the event. He launched a Mobile App called “Citizen Services”. This app was developed by NCRB. This app is a collection of various essential police related services to citizens. Citizens can use this app for Complaint Registration & Status Check, View FIR Detail, SOS – Stay Safe, Locate Police Stations, Vahan-Samanvay, Emergency Contact List, Police Stations Telephone Directory etc. An exhibition featuring various in-house developed applications by NCRB was also organized at the event. 19 NCRB officers were honoured for their sincerity and dedication. Cultural Programmes and other events were organised on this occasion.

213. In which Indian city, Less Traffic Day was observed on 11th March 2018? 1. Mysore 2. Chennai 3. Bengaluru 4. Mumbai 5. Delhi Answer - 3. Bengaluru Explanation: On 11th March 2018, Less Traffic Day was observed in Bengaluru. Less Traffic Day was observed in Bengaluru for the second time on 11th March 2018. The first Less Traffic Day was observed on 11thFebruary 2018. The Less Traffic Day was planned by Karnataka Transport Minister HM Revanna. This has been initiated to reduce air pollution and traffic congestion. Citizens are expected to voluntarily prefer public transport or cycles or walk. On the second Less Traffic Day, the BMTC (Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation) had arranged additional public transport services in heavily populated areas. Also, daily passes for buses were provided at a discounted rate to encourage people to use public transport.

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214. In which Indian city, the French Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, Frederique Vidal inaugurated an Indo-French Centre of Excellence (CoE)? 1. Mysuru 2. Kolkata 3. Pune 4. Kanpur 5. Bengaluru Answer - 5. Bengaluru Explanation: France is the 9th largest foreign investor in India with a cumulative investment of $6.09 billion as on October 2017. In context of this news, it is important to note that bilateral trade between India and France for the period from April 2016 to March 2017 stood at $10.95 billion. Indian and French companies and government entities signed deals worth 13 billion Euros across areas like aviation, renewable energy and waste management. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron inaugurated Uttar Pradesh's biggest solar power plant in Mirzapur district. First ever Indo-French Knowledge Summit was held in New Delhi from 10th to 11th March 2018 and coincided with the state visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to India. French Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, Frederique Vidal inaugurated an Indo-French Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

215. In which Indian city Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the ‘End TB Summit’ and launched ‘Tuberculosis Free India Campaign’? 1. Allahabad 2. New Delhi 3. Ahmadabad 4. Kolkata 5. Patna Answer - 2. New Delhi Explanation: On March 13, 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the ‘End TB Summit’ in New Delhi and launched ‘Tuberculosis Free India Campaign’. ‘Delhi End TB Summit’ is being co-hosted by Union Health Ministry, World Health Organisation (WHO) South East Asia Regional Office and Stop TB Partnership.

216. In which state, Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with visiting French President Emmanuel Macron inaugurated a 101-megawatt solar power plant? 1. Maharashtra 2. Madhya Pradesh 3. Bihar 4. Uttar Pradesh 5. Gujarat Answer - 4. Uttar Pradesh Explanation: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a number of schemes for the poor in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Firstly, PM Modi inaugurated a 101-megawatt solar power plant in Mirzapur along with visiting French President Emmanuel Macron. PM Modi announced Ayushman Bharat scheme to ensure better healthcare facilities for the poor. He expressed hope that this scheme will go a long in taking care of hospital expenses of poor. Besides, he also launched Pradhan Mantri Poshan Mission Yojana to ensure nutrition to children, especially girls. During the course of this visit to Varanasi, PM Modi also laid the foundation stone of various development projects worth over Rs.

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800 crore and flagged off a new train - Kanshi-Patna Jan Shatabdi Express - between Varanasi and Patna.

217. Government of India has decided to institute 'Union Home Minister's Medal for Excellence in Police Investigation' award for best investigation of crime in order to encourage high professional standards in police forces. The Distribution of medals will be reviewed once in how many years on the basis of average crime data? 1. 2 2. 3 3. 4 4. 5 5. 6 Answer - 2. 3 Explanation: Government of India has decided to institute 'Union Home Minister's Medal for Excellence in Police Investigation' award for best investigation of crime in order to encourage high professional standards in police forces. This award will be presented to best investigators of police forces of the states, union territories and central investigating agencies. Eligibility: Officers ranging from Sub-Inspector to Superintendent of Police are eligible for this award. Based on the average crime data for the last 3 years, 162 medals will be presented annually. Out of this, 137 medals are for states and UTs and 25 medals are for central investigating agencies: National Investigation Agency (NIA), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). This is based on the crime data that has been published by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) for 2013, 2014 and 2015. Distribution of medals will be reviewed once in every 3 years on the basis of average crime data. A quota of medals has been allocated for Women Investigators. A screening committee in BPRD will process the applications and approval will be given by a sanctioning committee in MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs).

218. Which Indian city hosted the first regional conference on ‘Mass Rapid Transport System (MRTS) for Urban Areas – Opportunities and Challenges?’ 1. Kolkata 2. Patna 3. Pune 4. Baroda 5. Vadodara Answer - 1. Kolkata Explanation: On 13th March 2018, the first regional conference on ‘Mass Rapid Transport System (MRTS) for Urban Areas – Opportunities and Challenges’ was held in Kolkata. Organisers: This conference was organized by Ministry of Finance, AIIB, ASSOCHAM and Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS). Eight such regional conferences will be held prior to the third annual meeting of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to be held in Mumbai from 22 June to 27 June 2018. Issues related to infrastructures development, sustainable infrastructure, mass rapid transportation system, port and coastal infrastructure, urban development etc. were discussed in the conference. Mr. Soon-sik Lee, Senior Transport Specialist at Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), said that, AIIB is increasing the loan amount to India from current US $ 1.7 billion to 2 billion. Mukund Kumar Sinha, Joint Secretary, Urban Transport, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, said that, investment required for MRTS will be nearly 4 billion USD in the next 5 years.

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219. Which country recently approved the anti-defection bill with retrospective effect from 13th July 2017? 1. Thailand 2. Indonesia 3. Maldives 4. Malaysia 5. Philippines Answer - 3. Maldives Explanation: The Maldives Parliament approved the anti-defection bill with retrospective effect from 13th July 2017. As per the anti-defection bill, MPs elected on political party tickets will lose their seat if they leave their party, get expelled, or change parties. This bill will take effect from 13th July 2017. So, the 12 MPs who switched to the Opposition in 2017 will lose their seats. This bill was passed with 35 votes. Opposition MPs boycotted the session. This bill empowers election commission to expel MPs in case of defections.

220. Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) entered into an agreement with the ______, for increased cooperation in effective implementation of the insolvency law. 1. RBI 2. SEBI 3. Lok Sabha 4. Rajya Sabha 5. CBI Answer - 1. RBI Explanation: Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) entered into an agreement with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for increased cooperation in effective implementation of the insolvency law. As per the terms of the agreement, IBBI and RBI will assist and co-operate with each other by sharing of information and resources for effective implementation of the Bankruptcy Code. IBBI and the RBI would also hold joint meetings at regular intervals for discussing matters of mutual interest. The agreement also envisages cross-training of staff, capacity building of insolvency professionals and financial creditors.

221. Which bank announced that it has entered into a strategic partnership with two new broking partners, Celebrus Capital Ltd and Fortune Wealth Management Co India Pvt. Ltd. for providing Portfolio Investment Scheme (PIS) services to Non-resident Indians (NRIs)? 1. ICICI Bank 2. Canara Bank 3. IDBI Bank 4. Federal Bank 5. HDFC Bank Answer - 4. Federal Bank Explanation: Federal Bank announced that it has entered into a strategic partnership with two new broking

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partners, Celebrus Capital Ltd and Fortune Wealth Management Co India Pvt. Ltd. for providing Portfolio Investment Scheme (PIS) services to Non-resident Indians (NRIs). Reserve Bank of India’s Portfolio Investment Scheme enables NRIs to purchase and sell shares and convertible debentures of Indian companies on a recognized stock exchange through their NRI Savings Account with a designated bank branch. Including the above stated entities, Federal Bank has partnered with total nine broking companies, for providing NRI clients, the facility to invest in shares and debentures of Indian companies in the secondary market. These strategic tie-ups are in line with Federal Bank’s objective to double the PIS business in terms of a number of accounts and total volume.

222. India’s largest bank, State Bank of India has slashed charges for non-maintenance of Average Monthly Balance (AMB) in savings accounts by nearly ______%. 1. 25% 2. 30% 3. 50% 4. 75% 5. 80% Answer - 4. 75% Explanation: India’s largest bank, State Bank of India has slashed charges for non-maintenance of Average Monthly Balance (AMB) in savings accounts by nearly 75 per cent. Charges for non-maintenance of AMB for customers in Metro and Urban centres have been reduced from a maximum of Rs 50 per month plus Goods and Services Tax (GST) to Rs 15 plus GST per month while for Semi-Urban and Rural centres, the charges have been reduced from Rs 40 to Rs 12 per month. The revised charges will be effective from April 01, 2018. The decision has been taken in wake of criticism that SBI earned hefty income of Rs 1771 crore in just eight months from depositors who failed to maintain balance in their bank accounts. As per current norms of SBI, MAB requirement in metro cities and urban centres is Rs 3000, while for semi-urban and rural areas, it is Rs 2000 and Rs 1000 respectively. However, basic savings bank deposits (BSBD) accounts, accounts of pensioners, beneficiaries of social benefits from the government and accounts of minors are exempted from the MAB requirement.

223. Which bank has launched instant overdraft ‘InstaOD’ facility for MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) customers which can be availed online without visiting a branch and submitting physical documents? 1. Dena Bank 2. Yes Bank 3. Indian Bank 4. Corporation Bank 5. ICICI Bank Answer - 5. ICICI Bank Explanation: ICICI Bank has launched instant overdraft ‘InstaOD’ facility for MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) customers which can be availed online without visiting a branch and submitting physical documents. Currently, this facility is only for a few lakh of pre-qualified current account customers of ICICI Bank.The pre-qualified customers can get overdraft facility up to Rs 15 lakh for a year anytime, anywhere using ICICI bank’s Internet and mobile banking app. For availing the OD under this facility, the customer has to select the limit required, confirm the details and submit the application by following simple steps. On basis of repayment track records, the OD

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facility can be renewed on annual basis.

224. Nasscom and WeWork along with which company launched Design4India Studio in Bengaluru, Karnataka? 1. Apple 2. IBM 3. Google 4. Facebook 5. Capgemini Answer - 4. Facebook Explanation: Nasscom along with Facebook and WeWork launched Design4India Studio in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Design4India Studio is a dedicated design studio for web, mobile, augmented reality and virtual reality platforms for start-ups and designers. It aims to eliminate the gap between design and technology by providing spaces for start-ups and designers to explore, innovate and build together. Design4India studio has been built at WeWork’s facility in Bengaluru. It aims to introduce the element of design in the early stage of young companies and offer the skills and tools required.

225. Which company announced the installation and commissioning of S128, claimed to be the largest wind turbine generator (WTG) in India? 1. TATA Power 2. Adani Power 3. Suzlon Energy 4. HAL 5. Insolar Energy Answer - 3. Suzlon Energy Explanation: Suzlon Energy announced the installation and commissioning of S128, claimed to be the largest wind turbine generator (WTG) in India. The first prototype of S128 has been commissioned at Sanganeri, in Tamil Nadu. It is under testing. It is expected to be certified in 2018. The S128 WTG is available in 2.6 MW to 2.8 MW variants. It offers hub heights up to 140 meters. Suzlon Energy also claims that the wind mill also consists of India's largest rotor blade of size 63 m with a rotor diameter of 128 m.

226. What is the total FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) received by India from April 2014 to December 2017? 1. USD 205.99 billion 2. USD 206.99 billion 3. USD 207.99 billion 4. USD 208.99 billion 5. USD 209.99 billion Answer - 4. USD 208.99 billion Explanation: Minister of State for Commerce and Industry C R Chaudhary said that, a total FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) of USD 208.99 billion has been received from April 2014 to December 2017. C R Chaudhary said that foreign direct investment has increased steadily in India. The sectors that have received maximum foreign investment are services, computer software and hardware, telecommunications, construction, trading, automobile, etc.

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227. Retail inflation has dipped to ______in February from 5.07% in January 2018, as per data released by Central Statistics Office on 12th March 2018? 1. 4.22% 2. 4.40% 3. 4.44% 4. 4.99% 5. 5.02% Answer - 3. 4.44% Explanation: Retail inflation has dipped to 4.44% in February from 5.07% in January 2018, as per data released by Central Statistics Office on 12th March 2018. As per the data released, inflation in vegetables was 17.57 % against 26.97 %, for fruits it was 4.80 % against 6.24 %. Inflation for fuel and light category was at 6.80 % in February against 7.73 % in January 2018. Inflation for transport and communication services was at 2.39 % against 1.97 %. Industrial Production increased by 7.5 % in January 2018 compared to 3.5 % in January 2017. This growth is due to improvement in manufacturing sector. The manufacturing sector contributes 77.63% to the Index of Industrial Production (IIP). It improved by 8.7 % in January 2018 compared to 2.5 % in January 2017.

228. Dr Ketzia David Prakasam has been presented the "Academy Award for Nobel Peace 2018". She is from which country? 1. Japan 2. India 3. Netherlands 4. Sweden 5. USA Answer - 5. USA Explanation: Dr Ketzia David Prakasam has been presented the "Academy Award for Nobel Peace" from the USA. Dr Ketzia David Prakasam is a philanthropist, social worker and spiritual worker. She has become the first Indian woman to receive this award. The award was presented on International Women’s Day (8 March 2018). She received the award from the founder Chairman of the Academy Award for Global Peace.

229. Which state’s forest department has recently launched an app to track and fight forest fires during summer? 1. Odisha 2. Maharashtra 3. Gujarat 4. Punjab 5. Jharkhand Answer - 1. Odisha Explanation: Odisha forest department has launched an app to track and fight forest fires during summer, recently. This app was launched on 3rd March 2018. Also, a Whatsapp group named 'Forest Fire Alert' has been formed for sharing information on tracking, preventing and fighting forest fires between forest officials and local people who help the forest officials. The Forest Survey of India (FSI) monitors the forests and when there is a fire, information is send to state forest department.Forest officials reach the spot and photos are uploaded in the Whatsapp group and

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app. This ensures that, officials reach the spot without fail.

230. Which state Government will host the Senior National Table Tennis Championship 2018, after 12 long years? 1. Assam 2. TamilNadu 3. Karnataka 4. Punjab 5. Odisha Answer - 5. Odisha Explanation: Odisha will host the Senior National Table Tennis Championships after 12 long years. Earlier, Odisha had hosted Senior National Table Tennis Championships in 2001 and 2006. The 80th Senior National Table Tennis Championships is expected to be held in Cuttack, Odisha. It was decided to make Odisha the host of 80th Senior National Table Tennis Championships at the 81st AGM (Annual General Meeting) of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI), conducted recently in Gurugram.

231. Who was presented the 'FMSCI National MotorSports Person of the Year 2017’ award at a function held in Chennai? 1. Arjun Reddy 2. Jehan Daruvela 3. Anindith Reddy 4. Aditya Patel 5. Jimmie Jhonson Answer - 3. Anindith Reddy Explanation: On 11th March 2018, Anindith Reddy was presented the 'FMSCI National MotorSports Person of the Year 2017’ award at a function held in Chennai.Anindith Reddy is 26 years old. He hails from Hyderabad. FIA world motor sport council member Gautam Singhania and FMSCI (Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India) president Akbar Ebrahim handed over the award to Anindith Reddy. KD Madan, a former FMSCI president and K1000 champion, was presented the FMSCI Lifetime Achievement Award.

232. Begum Hamida Habibullah recently passed away. She was the former minister of which state? 1. West Bengal 2. Nagaland 3. Chhattisgarh 4. Uttar Pradesh 5. Tripura Answer - 4. Uttar Pradesh Explanation: On 13th March 2018, Begum Hamida Habibullah, former Uttar Pradesh minister, died due to a long term illness at her home in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.Begum Hamida Habibullah was 102 years old. She was a former Rajya Sabha member. She entered politics and joined the Congress party around 1965. She became an MLA from Haidergarh. She was made the state minister of social and Harijan welfare, national integration and civil defence from 1971 to 1973. She was tourism minister from 1971 to 1974. She was also a member of the Executive Committee of Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) till 1980. She was the president of Mahila Congress, UPCC,

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in the 1972 to 1976 period.

233. Ch Kamalamma recently passed away. Who was she? 1. Doctor 2. Politician 3. Lawyer 4. Violinist 5. Dancer Answer - 2. Politician Explanation: Ch Kamalamma, a Communist leader, passed away after suffering from old age-related ailments, at a private hospital in Telangana. Ch Kamalamma was 90 years old. She hailed from Warangal, in Telangana. She was also a freedom fighter. She was a part of the post-Independence armed struggle to fight against the rule Nizams of Hyderabad. She joined the struggle at the age of 15 years as part of Telangana Liberation Struggle by Communist Party of India (CPI). She was secretary of the CPI Mahila Samakhya for a long time.

234. Which city of India has the highest fixed broadband download speed among 20 largest cities of India? 1. Mumbai 2. Kolkata 3. Trichy 4. Chennai 5. Pune Answer - 4.Chennai Explanation : According to a study titled ‘India’s digital divide: how broadband speed splits the nation’ by Ookla, Chennai has the highest fixed broadband download speed among 20 largest cities of India.In context of this news, it is important to note that for February 2018, with fixed broadband average download speed at 20.72 Mbps, India ranked 67th in the world on Speedtest Global Index.Ookla’s study on India is based on February 2018 data from real consumer-initiated tests taken using Speedtest.Speedtest by Ookla (Seattle, US-headquartered firm) provides independent insight into the speed and quality of mobile and fixed broadband connections.

235. As per 5th edition of the Annual Survey of India’s City-Systems (ASICS) by Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy, which Indian city is on the top to show improvement in quality of governance in 2017? 1. Patna 2. Allahabad 3. Hyderabad 4. Amritsar 5. Pune Answer - 5.Pune Explanation : As per fifth edition of the Annual Survey of India’s City-Systems (ASICS) by Janaagraha Centre

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for Citizenship and Democracy, Pune is the top city to show improvement in quality of governance in 2017.The survey was administered in 23 major cities across 20 Indian states and contained 89 questions.ASICS measures the preparedness of city administration to deliver high quality standards, political leadership at the city level, municipal finance & staffing, and transparency & citizen participation.The 89 questions in the survey were placed under four broad categories viz. urban planning & design, transparency – accountability – participation, urban capacities & resources and empowered & legitimate political representation.Response to the questions was registered on a scale of 0-10.

236. ______upheld judgements given by Madras High Court and Bombay High Court that foreign law firms cannot practice in India. 1. Parliament 2. President 3. Supreme Court 4. Lok Sabha 5. Rajya Sabha Answer - 3. Supreme Court Explanation : Supreme Court of India upheld judgements given by Madras High Court and Bombay High Court that foreign law firms cannot practice in India.Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Adarsh K Goel and Uday U Lalit barred foreign law firms and foreign lawyers practising in India for both litigatious (likely to engage in lawsuits) as well as non-litigatious activities.This judgement takes into consideration Bar Council of India Rules (BCI) that the Indian laws are of specialised nature and only those who have a exhaustive and holistic idea of its functioning, are permitted to practice law by it.However, Supreme Court has allowed foreign lawyers to ‘fly in fly out’ to advise on foreign law.Besides, foreign lawyers have been allowed to appear in International Commercial Arbitration (mode of resolving commercial disputes arising between private parties on account of cross- borders transactions).

237. Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with which organisation for enhanced cooperation in health sector? 1. UNICEF 2. UNESCO 3. World Health Organization 4. World Bank 5. UNO Answer - 3.World Health Organization Explanation : Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and World Health Organization (WHO) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for enhanced cooperation in health sector.The agreement was signed by Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary (International Health) and Dr.TedrosAdhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director General of WHO in New Delhi. Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare J.P. Nadda was also present during the signing ceremony.The MoA is expected to strengthen collaborative work between Indian Government and WHO in achieving improved health outcomes.

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238. Which State Government has proposed an insurance scheme for journalists and their families in State budget for the year 2018-19? 1. Bihar 2. Assam 3. Manipur 4. Andhra Pradesh 5. Karnataka Answer - 2.Assam Explanation : Assam State Government has proposed an insurance scheme for journalists and their families in State budget for the year 2018-19.This announcement was made by Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma during presentation of state budget for 2018-19 in the assembly on March 12, 2018.Mr. Sarma stated that for the year 2018-19, budgetary allocation of Rs 63crore has been earmarked for the Information and Public Relations Department that would implement schemes for journalists in Assam.This ‘Journalist Insurance Scheme would ensure security and protection of the journalists and their families.As announced in last year’s budget, Assam State Government has already introduced Pension Scheme for Journalists to provide retirement benefits to those journalists who have been working for more than 20 years in Assam.

239. In which state, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) will set up a multi-skill centre? 1. West Bengal 2. Punjab 3. Telangana 4. Karnataka 5. Sikkim Answer - 1.West Bengal Explanation : Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) announced that it will set up a multi-skill centre in Darjeeling, West Bengal.Announcement in this regard was made by CII Director General Chandrajit Banerjee at the inaugural session of the two-day Darjeeling Business Summit.CII will set up this multi-skill centre in Darjeeling in partnership with the Gorkha Territorial Administration.This multi-skill centre will initially impart training in hospitality, beauty and wellness and healthcare.

240. Which State government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Tata Trusts for implementing the state’s decision on land rights settlement for slum dwellers in urban areas? 1. Gujarat 2. Assam 3. West Bengal 4. Punjab 5. Odisha Answer - 5.Odisha Explanation : Odisha State government and Tata Trusts signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for implementing the state’s decision on land rights settlement for slum dwellers in urban areas. The MoU was signed in presence of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who directed all district collectors and concerned government officials to accord top priority to this work.Seven months ago, Odisha State Government took a historic decision to discontinue the practice of evicting slum dwellers in urban areas (by treating them as encroachers), and granted them land rights.As per

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the terms of the MoU, Tata Trusts will provide technical support to Odisha State Government in implementing this decision.

241. Name the states in which the Government has constituted ‘Field Inspection and Scientific Evaluation Committee (FISEC)’ to investigate into illegal cultivation of HT (Herbicide Tolerant) cotton. 1. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat and Maharashtra 2. Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Gujarat and Odisha 3. Arunachal Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat and Karnataka 4. Madhya Pradesh, Sikkim, Gujarat and Nagaland 5. Kerala, Rajasthan, Manipur and Nagaland Answer - 1.Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat and Maharashtra Explanation : Minister of State for Textiles Ajay Tamta said that, the government has constituted ‘Field Inspection and Scientific Evaluation Committee (FISEC)’ to investigate into illegal cultivation of HT (Herbicide Tolerant) cotton in 4 states. Ajay Tamta said that, the government had received several entries insisting on ban of illegal cultivation of HT or BG-III cotton in India.Several complaints regarding illegal and unauthorised cultivation of HT cotton in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat and Maharashtrahave been received.He said that, a Field Inspection and Scientific Evaluation Committee (FISEC) has been formed by Department of Biotechnology in the Ministry of Science and Technology. This committee will conduct investigation on illegal cultivation of HT cotton. He also added that, the cultivation of BG-III or HT cotton does not have the approval of Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) of the Ministry of Environment.

242. C-17 Globemaster, the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) largest transport aircraft, made a historic landing at Tuting Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) in______? 1. Telangana 2. Arunachal Pradesh 3. Karnataka 4. Assam 5. Maharashtra Answer - 2.Arunachal Pradesh Explanation : On 13th March 2018, C-17 Globemaster, the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) largest transport aircraft, made a historic landing at Tuting Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) in Arunachal Pradesh.The landing of C-17 Globemaster is consideredas a move by IAF to strengthen its operations in the important border region. The landing ground is just 30 km away from China. After the trial landing, C-17 Globemaster performed an operational mission, airlifting 18 tonnes of load into the airfield.The flight crew consisted of Group Captain K Rama Rao, Wing Commander Amiya Kant Patnaik, Wing Commander K Trivedi and Squadron Leader L Nayak.

243. International Air Transport Association (IATA) said that, it has signed a MoU with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and ______to improve human resource availability in India's aviation industry? 1. National Aviation University 2. National Life Science University 3. University of Applied Sciences 4. University Grants Commission 5. National Aerospace University Answer - 1.National Aviation University

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Explanation : International Air Transport Association (IATA) said that, it has signed a MoU with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and National Aviation University to improve human resource availability in India's aviation industry. The three parties formalised this partnership in the presence of Jayant Sinha, Minister of State for Civil Aviation at the Wings India 2018 event in Hyderabad.This MoU also aims in developing better academic cooperation between IATA and National Aviation University.As per the MoU, the institutions will also utilize the existing infrastructure for training in India to improve the reach of vocational training in aviation sector.

244. India has ranked _____ out of 156 countries in the World Happiness Report 2018. 1. 129th 2. 130th 3. 131st 4. 132nd 5. 133rd Answer - 5.133rd Explanation : India has ranked 133rd out of 156 countries in the World Happiness Report 2018.World Happiness report is an annual report published by the U.N. Sustainable Development Solutions Network.It was first published in 2012.The World Happiness Report 2018 ranks 156 countries by their happiness levels and 117 countries by the happiness of their immigrants.Rankings of country happiness in World Happiness Report 2018 are based on the pooled results from Gallup World Poll surveys from 2015-2017.Variables on which average happiness across countries has been derived are – GDP Per Capita, Social Support, Healthy Life Expectancy at birth, Freedom to make life choices, Generosity and Perceptions of corruption.

245. Which country’s cabinet approved the national policy of the atomic energy program? 1. Iran 2. Iraq 3. Singapore 4. Saudi Arabia 5. Dubai Answer - 4.Saudi Arabia Explanation : Saudi Arabia's cabinet approved the national policy of the atomic energy program. The national policy limits all nuclear activities to peaceful purposes, within the limits drawn by international treaties.It also highlights the need for optimal utilization of natural resources from nuclear materials and usage of best practices for radioactive waste management.Riyadh had invited US companies to participate in developing Saudi Arabia’s first atomic energy programme.

246. What the quasi bank guarantee instruments scrapped by RBI inorder to plug the loopholes in the trade finance activities of banks? 1. Letter of Undertaking (LoU) and Government Securities 2. Letter of Undertaking (LoU) and Letter of Comfort (LoC) 3. Letter of Comfort (LoC) and Government Securities (GS) 4. Letter of Undertaking (LoU) and Revolving Money (RM) 5. Letter of Comfort (LoC) and Letter of Credit (LoC) Answer - 2.Letter of Undertaking (LoU) and Letter of Comfort (LoC) Explanation : In a bid to plug the loopholes in the trade finance activities of banks, Reserve Bank of India has

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scrapped quasi bank guarantee instruments such as the Letter of Undertaking (LoU) and Letter of Comfort (LoC).This decision has been taken in wake of Rs. 14000 crore PNB fraud, the modus operandi of which revolved around the unauthorised use of LoU by bank officials. A LoU is a promise by the issuing bank to the counter bank (the bank which encashes the LoU) to pay in case of default by the one on whose behalf it was issued. In Nirav Modi’s case, PNB had issued the LoU and will thus have to pay to other banks where Nirav Modi had encashed those LoUs.Just like LoUs, LoCs were being widely issued by domestic branches of Indian banks for customers to avail trade credit from foreign branches of other Indian banks.With these two instruments being discontinued, Indian Banks will rely more on letter of credit for trade purposes. Letter of Credit is comparatively more secure as it carries transaction details such as purchase by the importer, date of issue and the material purchased.

247. Lok Sabha passed the crucial Finance Bill 2018 and Appropriation Bill for the next fiscal year i.e. 2018-19. By what method both these bills were passed? 1. Secret Ballot 2. Casting Vote 3. Physical Count 4. Recording of votes by distribution of slips 5. Voice Vote Answer - 5. Voice Vote Explanation : Lok Sabha passed the crucial Finance Bill 2018 and Appropriation Bill for the next fiscal year i.e. 2018-19. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley moved 21 amendments to the Bill containing taxation proposals for 2018-19. The Appropriation Bill lists outspending plans for 99 government ministries and departments for the year 2018-19. Both these bills were approved by voice vote. Both these bills will now be sent to Rajya Sabha. However, as these are money bills, if Rajya Sabha does not return them to the Lok Sabha within 14 days, they would be considered as approved.

248. Boeing and TAL Manufacturing Solutions (TAL) signed a new contract to manufacture advanced composite floor beams for Boeing's 787-9/10 Dreamliners at TAL’s facility in which Indian city? 1. Patna 2. Pune 3. Nagpur 4. Lucknow 5. Kanpur Answer - 3. Nagpur Explanation : Boeing and TAL Manufacturing Solutions (TAL) signed a new contract to manufacture advanced composite floor beams for Boeing's 787-9/10 Dreamliners at TAL’s facility in Nagpur. Boeing signed its first contract with TAL for manufacturing floor beams in October 2011. This new contract is for ACF (advanced composite floor) beams for the B 787-9 and 787-10 Dreamliners. Boeing India president Pratyush Kumar said that, Boeing provides advanced technology support for this project with TAL.

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249. Bidya Devi Bhandari was re-elected for a second term as the President of which country? 1. Srilanka 2. Myanmar 3. Nepal 4. Bhutan 5. Pakistan Answer - 3. Nepal Explanation : Bidya Devi Bhandari was re-elected for a second term as President of Nepal. Bidya Devi Bhandari became the first woman president of Nepal in 2015. She is 56 years old. Votes: Bidya Devi Bhandari who secured 39,275 votes defeated Kumari Laxmi Rai of Nepali Congress who obtained 11,730 votes in the presidential election. Alliance: Bidya Devi Bhandari was supported by the alliance of CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Centre), the Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal etc.

250. US President Donald Trump has nominated whom for the position of CIA Director? 1. John Thune 2. John Barraso 3. Roy Blunt 4. Cory Gardner 5. Gina Haspel Answer - 5. Gina Haspel Explanation : US President Donald Trump has nominated Gina Haspel for the position of CIA Director. Gina Haspel was once reported to have run a secret prison in Thailand where the inmates were allegedly subjected to harsh interrogation techniques. Donald Trump recently removed Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and replaced him with CIA Director Mike Pompeo. He has nominated Gina Haspel for the position of CIA Director. Now the Senate must vote to confirm Gina Haspel as CIA director. She is 61 years old. She joined the CIA in 1985. If her selection as CIA director is confirmed she’ll become the first woman director of CIA.

251. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) was awarded the International Kochon Prize 2017 for promoting research and development (R&D) in tuberculosis treatment. What was the cash prize awarded to ICMR? 1. $60,000 2. $65,000 3. $70,000 4. $75,000 5. $80,000 Answer - 2. $65,000 Explanation : Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) was awarded the International Kochon Prize 2017 for promoting research and development (R&D) in tuberculosis treatment. ICMR was presented a cash prize of $65,000 by the Kochon Foundation. Kochon Foundation is a non-profit organisation based in Korea. ICMR has been honored by Kochon Foundation for setting up of the India TB Research Consortium to encourage R&D efforts in India. The TB consortium works with public and private institutes to develop point-of-care diagnostics, shorter treatment regimens and effective vaccine for tuberculosis.

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252. An India-UK Joint Team has won the Newton-Bhabha Fund for a project on Groundwater Arsenic Research conducted in which river basin? 1. Ganga River Basin 2. Yamuna River Basin 3. Godavari River Basin 4. Damodar River Basin 5. Son River Basin [su_spoiler title="Answer & Explanation" icon="plus" style="fancy"] Answer - 1. Ganga River Basin Explanation : An India-UK Joint Team has won the Newton-Bhabha Fund for a project on Groundwater Arsenic Research in Ganga River Basin. The Department of Science and Technology, India and Natural Environment Research Council, UK, have undertaken this project jointly. Purpose of the project: to develop solutions to the water issues faced in Arsenic-affected Ganga River Basin. Indian Team: consists of representatives of IIT Kharagpur, National Institute of Hydrology, IIT Roorkee and Mahavir Cancer Sansthan and Research Centre of Patna. The project will focus on studying the arsenic poisoning issue and the effect it will create in the next 25 to 30 years and will recommend water remedial technologies. Prof Abhijit Mukherjee will lead the project at IIT Kharagpur. He said that initially the project will be conducted in 3 sites - Bijnor and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and Nadia in West Bengal.

253. Stephen Hawking passed away recently. Who was he? 1. Doctor 2. Scientist 3. Violinist 4. Journalist 5. Lawyer Answer - 2. Scientist Explanation : On 14th March 2018, renowned British Scientist Stephen Hawking passed away at his residence in Cambridge, ‎England. Stephen Hawking was 76 years old. He was well known for his work on black holes and relativity. He had also written several science books such as A Brief History of Time. He was diagnosed with a rare form of motor neurone disease when he was 22 years old. The disease left him paralyzed and he started dwelling on a wheelchair. He lost his ability to speak and started communicating through a voice synthesiser. He discovered that, black holes leak energy and fade to nothing. This phenomenon is referred to as Hawking radiation.

254. Jayendra Nath Chaturvedi recently passed away. Who was he? 1. Lawyer 2. Journalist 3. Cook 4. Police 5. Dietician Answer - 4. Police Explanation : On 12th March 2018, Jayendra Nath Chaturvedi, first Commissioner of Delhi Police and former Director General of Uttar Pradesh Police, died in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Jayendra Nath Chaturvedi is a 1951 batch officer. He served as Chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC). He was the first Commissioner of Police in Delhi during the 1978 to 1980

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period.

255. Narendra Jha recently passed away. Who was he? 1. Actor 2. Singer. 3. Dancer 4. Researcher 5. Journalist Answer - 1. Actor Explanation : On 14th March 2018, Bollywood actor Narendra Jha died due to a massive heart attack at his farmhouse in Maharashtra. Narendra Jha was 55 years old. He was born in Madhubani, Bihar. He started his career with the television industry. He has acted in several Bollywood films. Some of his popular works are: Haider, Kaabil, Mohenjo Daro, Ghayal Once Again, Raees, etc.

256. With which country India signed an MoU in the field of Traditional Systems of Medicine? 1. Poland 2. Holland 3. Iraq 4. Spain 5. Iran Answer - 5.Iran Explanation : Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved following bilateral agreements and initiatives. This MoU holds special significance as both, India and Iran share a common legacy of using herbal medicines. Moreover, India and Iran both have huge biodiversity offering rare medicinal plants which are frequently used in Traditional Systems of Medicine. India has already signed MoU for cooperation in Traditional Medicine with Malaysia, China, Trinidad & Tobago, Bangladesh, Hungary, Nepal, Mauritius and Mongolia.

257. Which Indian Ministry has decided to set up an innovation cell lead by a scientist to develop new ideas to encourage innovation in India? 1. Human Resources Development Ministry 2. NITI Aayog 3. Planning Commission 4. Department of Land Resources 5. Ministry of Rural Development Answer - 1. Human Resources Development Ministry Explanation : The HRD (Human Resources Development) ministry has decided to set up an innovation cell lead by a scientist to develop new ideas to encourage innovation in India. This decision was made at a high-level meeting held on 15th March 2018, in which the need to create innovation cell was discussed after India improved by 6 ranks in the Global Innovation Index Ranking. India was at 66th position in 2016. It improved to 60th rank in 2017 on the Global Innovation Index Ranking. Head of the Innovation cell will be a scientist. The cell will also have a senior official and young professionals who will come up with new ideas in encouraging innovation.

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258. In which Indian city, the First Interaction of 15th Finance Commission with the Members of Parliament was held at? 1. Mumbai 2. Kanpur 3. New Delhi 4. Allahabad 5. Patna Answer - 3. New Delhi Explanation : First Interaction of 15th Finance Commission with the Members of Parliament was held on March 14, 2018 in New Delhi. The meeting was held to convey the proposed schedule of the Commission’s work and its Terms of Reference (TOR) as well as to seek suggestions of Parliamentarians. In context of this news, it is important to note that unlike previous Finance Commissions, the 15th Finance Commission will function in a different scenario wherein there is no Planning Commission and Government has removed the distinction between Plan and Non Plan grants. In coming days, 15th Finance Commission will conduct meetings with state level stakeholders.

259. On March 15, 2018, Lok Sabha passed the Specific Relief (Amendment) Bill, 2018 seeking to grant a party the right to seek damages from the other side in case of a breach of a business contract. By which voting method this law was passed? 1. Voice Vote 2. Secret Ballot 3. Physical count of Members 4. Recording of votes by distribution of slips 5. Casting Vote Answer - 1. Voice Vote Explanation : On March 15, 2018, Lok Sabha passed the Specific Relief (Amendment) Bill, 2018 seeking to grant a party the right to seek damages from the other side in case of a breach of a business contract. The current law only provides for a certain kind of specific relief, while the amendment proposes a remedy which aims at the exact fulfilment of an obligation or specific performance of the contract rather than grant of a general relief or damages or compensation. This amendment bill also seeks to reduce discretion of courts in such matters and is being viewed to be in line with government's ease of doing business policy. Specific Relief (Amendment) Bill, 2018 was passed in Lok Sabha by Voice Vote.

260. As per Multidimensional Poverty Index Report 2017, launched by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on March 13, 2018, Andhra Pradesh’s index value is______? 1. 0.0712 2. 0.0800 3. 0.0825 4. 0.0925 5. 0.0985 Answer - 3. 0.0825 95 | Page Follow Us - FB.com/AffairsCloudOfficialPage Copyright 2018 @ AffairsCloud.Com

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Explanation : As per a recent household survey conducted in Andhra Pradesh, the state attained a rank equivalent to 51st rank globally on Multidimensional Poverty Index. On the global Multidimensional Poverty Index, India ranked at 66th position with an index value of 0.1911. As per Multidimensional Poverty Index Report 2017, launched by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on March 13, 2018, Andhra Pradesh’s index value is 0.0825. Thus on a comparative basis, Andhra Pradesh can be placed at 51stposition. Among districts of Andhra Pradesh, East Godavari has topped with index value of 0.0468 and Vizianagaram is at the bottom with a value of 0.1271. The survey was conducted by Vision Management Unit, Planning Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh in collaboration with Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), University of Oxford, UK. Multidimensional Poverty Index methodology was developed by Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative in collaboration with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It is the most widely accepted global measure of multidimensional poverty.

261. In which country, “Photography exhibition on India” was inaugurated, in which Indian Images of People and Places were exhibited? 1. Egypt 2. Norway 3. Sweden 4. Switzerland 5. China Answer - 1. Egypt Explanation : On 14th March 2018, “Indian Images: People and Places”, a photo exhibition about India was inaugurated by India's Ambassador to Egypt Sanjay Bhattacharyya in Cairo, Egypt. This photo exhibition was held as a part of the annual cultural festival 'India by the Nile'. It featured photos captured by Khaled Gawdat, an Egyptian photographer. Venue: The photo exhibition was held at El-Sawy Cultural Center in Zamalek in Cairo, Egypt. 60 photographs taken in different parts of India were displayed in the exhibition. They depicted everyday life in India, landscapes, tourist places, cultural performances, people's faces and colourful costumes.

262. Member-countries of the World Health Organisation (WHO) South-East Asia Region, including India, committed to intensifying efforts to eradicate ______by 2030? 1. Poverty 2. Tuberculosis 3. HIV/AIDS 4. Diabetes 5. Pneumonia Answer - 2. Tuberculosis Explanation : Member-countries of the World Health Organisation (WHO) South-East Asia Region, including India, committed to intensifying efforts to eradicate tuberculosis (TB) by 2030. This commitment was made during ‘End TB Summit’ in New Delhi. The Summit built on the Delhi Call to Action adopted by member countries of the WHO South-East Asia Region in March 2017 and set the stage for the September 2018 United Nations (UN) High-Level Meeting on TB. The member- countries have resolved to collectively reach out to 2 million missing TB cases and 150000 multidrug-resistance cases by 2020 and take necessary action to end TB.

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263. Which country challenged Indian export subsidies schemes at the World Trade Organisation, stating that these programmes are creating an uneven playing field and are thus harming the manufacturers in the country? 1. China 2. Japan 3. Russia 4. UK 5. USA Answer - 5. USA Explanation : US challenged Indian export subsidies schemes at the World Trade Organisation, stating that these programmes are creating an uneven playing field and are thus harming American manufacturers. US Government has argued that Indian Government runs several export subsidy/incentives schemes which offers financial benefits to Indian exporters and brings down the end cost of products, thereby making it more competitive vis-à-vis products manufactured in US. Reference was being made to various schemes of Indian Government including Merchandise Exports from India Scheme, Export Oriented Units Scheme, sector specific schemes such as Electronics Hardware Technology Parks Scheme, Export Promotion Capital Goods Scheme, Special Economic Zones and Duty Free Imports for Exporters Programme. Through these schemes, Indian exporters are granted exemption from certain duties, taxes, and fees. As per Government data, thousands of Indian companies receive financial benefits to the tune of $7 billion annually through these schemes.

264. As per World Bank’s bi-annual India Development Update, Indian goods and services tax (GST) is the ______highest tax rate in the world among a sample of 115 countries which have a similar indirect tax system? 1. First 2. Second 3. Third 4. Fourth 5. Fifth Answer - 2. Second Explanation : As per World Bank’s bi-annual India Development Update, Indian goods and services tax (GST) regime is one of the most complex with the second highest tax rate in the world among a sample of 115 countries which have a similar indirect tax system. World Bank highlighted that 49 countries around the world have a single slab of GST, 28 countries have two slabs, and only five countries, including India, have four non-zero slabs. Besides, in terms of complexity, GST roll out in India has not only increased administrative tax compliance burden on firms but has also resulted in locking-up of working capital due to slow tax refund processing. However, World Bank asserted that in the long run, benefits of the GST will outweigh its costs and initial hurdles.

265. Which ministry has been awarded a Certificate of Appreciation for successfully implementing e-Office system in the Ministry? 1. Union Ministry of Home Affairs 2. Union Ministry of External Affairs 3. Union Ministry of Power 4. Union Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs 5. Union Ministry of Atomic Space Answer - 3. Union Ministry of Power

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Explanation : Union Ministry of Power has been awarded a Certificate of Appreciation for successfully implementing e-Office system in the Ministry. In a bid to bring in effective Governance and quality in public service delivery, e-Office System is being implemented in all Government of India’s Ministries/Departments. e-office system is part of Government of India’s National e- Governance Programme and is aimed at improving the operational efficiency of the Government. The Certificate of Appreciation was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Regions to Secretary, Power, Ajay Bhalla.

266. Which Indian film has won the ‘Grand Prix de Montreal’ award at the 21st Festival International du Film Pour Enfants de Montreal Film (FIFEM)? 1. Namesake 2. Halkaa 3. Bourne Supremacy 4. Gandhi 5. Trishna Answer - 2. Halkaa Explanation : Indian film "Halkaa" has won the ‘Grand Prix de Montreal’ award at the 21st Festival International du Film Pour Enfants de Montreal Film (FIFEM). "Halkaa" was directed by Nila Madhab Panda. Child actor Tathastu has acted as Pichku, the lead role. "Halkaa" was selected among seven international children's films in the official competition of the festival held from 8th to 11th March 2018.

267. Name the short film which has won award at Best of India Short Film Festival in Los Angeles, US. 1. Bear Story 2. Birthday Boy 3. Coward 4. Shunyata 5. Foxed Answer - 4. Shunyata Explanation : Actor Jackie Shroff’s short film “Shunyata” has won an award at Best of India Short Film Festival in Los Angeles, US. 'Shunyata' is short fiction film which runs for 22 minutes. It was directed by Chintan Sarda. It was produced by Sarda and Sunil Khedekar. The movie was screened at a theatre in Los Angeles. The jury selected 'Shunyata' as the best film. The award ceremony was held at Mack Sennett Studios on 3rd March 2018. It received a cash prize of $1,000.

268. Who was appointed the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Belarus? 1. Sangeeta Bahadur 2. Debnath Shaw 3. T.P. Seetharam 4. Navtej Sarna 5. Yashvardhan Kumar Answer - 1. Sangeeta Bahadur Explanation : Sangeeta Bahadur was named the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Belarus. Sangeeta Bahadur is an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) Officer of the 1987 batch. She is at present the

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Additonal Secretary in Ministry of External Affairs. She has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Belarus.

269. Prime Minister Miro Cerar of which country resigned after the constitutional court invalidated the result of a referendum which approved a government infrastructure project? 1. Libya 2. Somalia 3. South Sudan 4. Spain 5. Slovenia Answer - 5. Slovenia Explanation : Slovenian Prime Minister Miro Cerar resigned after Slovenia’s top court invalidated the result of a government referendum. On 14th March 2018, the constitutional court invalidated the result of a referendum which approved a government infrastructure project. The project was to upgrade transport links to Koper port on the Adriatic coast. The estimated project cost was nearly one billion euros. The referendum held in September 2017, received a vote in favour of building a new railway line for the town. The constitutional court stated that, the government had acted partially by spending public money to obtain positive vote for the scheme.

270. Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda was elected unopposed for the Rajya Sabha seat from ______state? 1. Punjab 2. Himachal Pradesh 3. Haryana 4. Assam 5. Manipur Answer - 2. Himachal Pradesh Explanation : Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Himachal Pradesh for a second term. JP Nadda was the only candidate who filed nomination for the Rajya Sabha seat from Himachal Pradesh. The last date of filing nominations was 12th March 2018. The last date of withdrawal of nominations was 15th March 2018. As he was the only candidate who had filed nomination, he was elected unopposed for the Rajya Sabha seat from Himachal Pradesh.

271. Name the Nepal's Chief Justice was removed from his post by Nepal's Judicial Council for providing fake date of birth in order to remain longer in office? 1. Dilip Kumar 2. Anup Raj 3. Kedar Prasad 4. Gopal Parajuli 5. Khilji Sharma Answer - 4. Gopal Parajuli Explanation : Nepal's Chief Justice Gopal Parajuli was removed from his post by Nepal's Judicial Council for providing fake date of birth in order to remain longer in office. In the removal letter to Chief Justice the Judicial Council has quoted inconsistencies in the birth dates as mentioned in his citizenship and academic certificates as reasons for his removal. The judicial council stated that

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Gopal Parajuli should have retired 7 months ago when he became 65, which is the retirement age for Nepal officials.

272. Who was appointed the new chief economic advisor to US President Donald Trump? 1. John Cornyn 2. John Thune 3. John Barrasso 4. Larry Kudlow 5. Deb Fischer Answer - 4. Larry Kudlow Explanation : Larry Kudlow has been named the new chief economic advisor to US President Donald Trump. Larry Kudlow replaces Gary Cohn as Donald Trump's chief economic adviser. Larry Kudlow is 70 years old. Larry Kudlow worked as Donald Trump's informal economic adviser during the 2016 campaign. On 14th March 2018, the White House announced that Larry Kudlow had been offered and had accepted the job as head of the White House National Economic Council. The National Economic Council director advises the US president on economic issues and carries out implementation of policy goals.

273. HSBC appointed ______as its head of corporates for South-east Asia for global banking? 1. Pradeep Rao 2. Ram Sharma 3. Tripali Sharma 4. Hari Prasad 5. Prasad Singh Answer - 1. Pradeep Rao Explanation : HSBC appointed Pradeep Rao as its head of corporates for South-east Asia for global banking. As head of corporates for South-east Asia for global banking of HSBC, Pradeep Rao will work on strategic dialogue with HSBC’s important clients in South-east Asia. He was previously HSBC's managing director of Asia-Pacific consumer and retail sector. He will be based in Singapore. He will report functionally to Rajeev Sahney, head of corporates for Asia-Pacific, and locally to Stephen Williams, head of global banking for South-east Asia.

274. Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) has undertaken development of a coded drug AYUSH QOL-2C for enhancing the quality of life of ______patients? 1. Tuberculosis 2. HIV/AIDS 3. Cancer 4. Diabetes 5. Measles Answer - 3. Cancer Explanation : Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) has undertaken development of a coded drug AYUSH QOL-2C for enhancing the quality of life of cancer patients. Clinical studies on breast cancer patients was done at St. John’s Medical College, Bengaluru and AIIMS, New Delhi. Studies on lung cancer patients was performed at Bhagwan Mahaveer Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Jaipur. Information in this regard was given by Minister of State (Independent

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Charge) for AYUSH, Shripad Yesso Naik.

275. When is the World Consumer Rights Day was observed all over the world? 1. 12 March 2. 13 March 3. 14 March 4. 15 March 5. 16 March Answer - 4. 15 March Explanation : On 15th March 2018, World Consumer Rights Day was observed all over the world. World Consumer Rights Day is celebrated on 15th March every year to create awareness about consumer rights. World Consumer Rights Day was inspired by President John F Kennedy. He sent a special message on issues of consumer rights to the US Congress on 15th March 1962. The first World Consumer Rights Day was celebrated in 1983. Theme: “Making Digital Marketplaces Fairer” is the theme for World Consumer Rights Day 2018.

276. After implementation of 7th Central Pay Commission recommendations, ceiling of gratuity amount for central government employees was increased from Rs 10 lakh to Rs______? 1. 12.5 lakh 2. 15 lakh 3. 20 lakh 4. 30 lakh 5. 50 lakh Answer - 3. 20 lakh Explanation : On March 15, 2018, Lok Sabha passed Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017 which seeks to authorise Central Government to fix tax-free gratuity amount and period of maternity leave with an executive order. Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was introduced by Labour Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar in the Lok Sabha during the winter session. Under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972, formal sector workers with five or more years of service are eligible for maximum Rs. 10 lakh tax-free gratuity after leaving job or at time of superannuation. After implementation of 7th Central Pay Commission recommendations, ceiling of gratuity amount for central government employees was increased from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh. Need to bring in the amendment bill was felt as unions have been demanding for inclusion of this change into the Act. Thus, after passage of Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017 in Rajya Sabha, Centre may notify tax-free gratuity of Rs 20 lakh for the organised sector.

277. The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has granted environmental clearance to which state, to set up an India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) project? 1. Kerala 2. Karnataka 3. Gujarat 4. Tamil Nadu 5. Telangana

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Answer - 4. Tamil Nadu Explanation : Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has granted environmental clearance for setting up India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) project at Bodi West hills in Theni district of Tamil Nadu. In November 2017, Tamil Nadu State Expert Appraisal Committee had observed that proposed site forms part of the catchment area of various streams that contribute to the Vaigai watershed. Among these, most important condition is to obtain Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) consent to establish and operate the project. The INO project, jointly supported by Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and Department of Science and Technology (DST) envisages building a world class underground laboratory to study properties of neutrinos (subatomic particles produced by the decay of radioactive elements).

278. India currently offers ______quantity of bio-fuel and bio-energy business to the world? 1. 1 lakh crore 2. 50 lakh crore 3. 100 crores 4. 1 lakh 5. 50 lakhs Answer - 1. 1 lakh crore Explanation : On March 14, 2018, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the first edition of Delhi Energy Dialogue (DED) 2018 in New Delhi. The dialogue was organised by Ashden India Collective (AIC) in alliance with the Climate Parliament and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). While inaugurating the dialogue, Mr. Pradhan stated that India is a happening place for energy as every day 40 million people are going to hydrocarbon retail points to meet their demand and 190 million people are getting the benefit of subsidies. He also added that by 2040, India’s energy consumption will grow by compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4 per cent and India currently offers 1 lakh crore of bio-fuel and bio-energy business to the world.

279. In which Indian city, Three-day annual Krishi Unnati Mela, focusing on ‘doubling farmers’ income’ began at? 1. Mumbai 2. Kanpur 3. Ahmadabad 4. Allahabad 5. New Delhi Answer - 5. New Delhi Explanation : Three-day annual Krishi Unnati Mela, focusing on ‘doubling farmers’ income’ began in New Delhi on March 16, 2018. The objective of Krishi Unnati Mela is to create awareness among farmers about latest agriculture related developments. Farmers and agri-scientists from various parts of India will be attending this Mela. 800 stalls displaying latest agriculture and allied sector technologies have been set up at the venue of Krishi Unnati Mela. A theme pavilion on doubling of farmers income, organic farming, cooperatives, farm inputs, has also been set up to familiarise farmers with the latest developments in the farming techniques.

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280. Which state hosted the two-day Asia-Pacific Regional Conference of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) 2018? 1. Gujarat 2. New Delhi 3. Punjab 4. Bihar 5. Jharkhand Answer - 2. New Delhi Explanation : Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the two-day Asia-Pacific Regional Conference of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Theme of the conference: Challenges to Policing in 2020 - How is Cyber Space shaping our approach to Cybercrime and Terrorism, how do we perform within it and take advantage of it. The conference was organised by the Asia-Pacific World Regional Office (APWRO) of IACP along with Intelligence Bureau.Intelligence Bureau Director Rajiv Jain was the host of the conference. Main focus of the conference: discussions on exploitation of cyber space by terrorist or organized groups for committing crimes and illegal activities. Ways to prevent such activities was discussed.

281. In which state, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 105th session of the Indian Science Congress 2018? 1. Mizoram 2. Arunachal Pradesh 3. Sikkim 4. Andhra Pradesh 5. Manipur Answer - 5. Manipur Explanation : Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 105th session of the Indian Science Congress in Imphal, Manipur. Imphal has become the second city in the North-East India to host the Indian Science Congress. The Indian Science Congress has participation from 5000 delegations. Noble laureates, scientists, scholars and researchers from all over India take part in this congress. He inaugurated Luwangpokpa Multi-Sports Complex, Rani Gaidinliu Park, and few other projects after inaugurating the congress. He laid foundation stone of the National Sports University, 1000 Anganwadi Centres, 19 residential complexes for teachers, doctors and nurses, etc.

282. ‘LaQshya’ program is related to which of the following? 1. Maternity 2. Agriculture 3. Schools 4. College 5. Politics Answer - 1. Maternity Explanation : The launch of ‘LaQshya’ program that aims to improve quality of care in labour room and maternity Operation Theatre (OT), was recently announced by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Aim: LaQshya aims to enhance quality of care for pregnant women in labour room, maternity Operation Theatre and Obstetrics Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and High Dependency Units (HDUs). Implementation: It will be implemented at all Medical College Hospitals, District Hospitals and

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First Referral Unit (FRU), and Community Health Center (CHCs).This program will reduce maternal and newborn mortality count. It will offer Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) to all pregnant women in public health facilities. This program will implement ‘fast-track’ initiatives to obtain results in 18 months. Facility that obtains 70% score on NQAS will be given LaQshya certification. Facilities that obtain more than 90%, 80% and 70% score will be awarded Platinum, Gold and Silver badge respectively.

283. Who was invited as the chief guest, in the golden jubilee of independence celebrations of Madagascar, the island nation? 1. Sushma Swaraj 2. Smriti Rani 3. Arun Jaitely 4. Narendra Modi 5. Ram Nath Kovind Answer - 5. Ram Nath Kovind Explanation : Indian President Ram Nath Kovind was on a six-day official visit to island nations of Mauritius and Madagascar from March 11, 2018. These visits of President Kovind held lot of significance as Mauritius and Madagascar are located in Indian Ocean, a region where China has been increasing its naval presence in recent times. Besides, President Kovind’s visit to Madagascar was the first ever visit by an Indian President and he was chief guest at the island nation's golden jubilee of independence celebrations, a high honour.

284. India has ranked _____ among 114 countries on the World Economic Forum's (WEF’s) Energy Transition Index? 1. 76th 2. 77th 3. 78th 4. 79th 5. 80th Answer - 3. 78th Explanation : India has ranked 78th among 114 countries on the World Economic Forum's (WEF’s) Energy Transition Index. Energy Transition Index benchmarks 114 countries on the current level of their energy system performance, and the readiness of their macro environment for transition to a secure, sustainable, affordable and inclusive future energy system. The index is a part of first edition of ‘Fostering Effective Energy Transition report’, prepared by World Economic Forum (WEF) with analytical support from McKinsey & Company.

285. Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has raised the exposure limit under exchange traded currency derivatives (ETCD) for residents and foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) to ______across all currency pairs. 1. USD 250 million 2. USD 200 million 3. USD 150 million 4. USD 100 million 5. USD 500 million Answer - 4. USD 100 million Explanation : Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has raised the exposure limit under exchange

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traded currency derivatives (ETCD) for residents and foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) to USD 100 million across all currency pairs. This decision comes after RBI raised the exposure limit to USD 100 million in February 2018. ETCD, in USD/INR, EUR/INR (Euro), GBP/INR (Great British Pound) and JPY/INR (Japanese Yen) are primarily used by Indian exporters and importers and foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) to hedge their risk against currency price fluctuations. It is to be noted that for taking positions within the prescribed limit, corporate/individuals are not required to present any proof on underlying exposure. Earlier exposure limit was USD 15 million for USD-INR contracts and USD 5 million for other currency pairs.

286. Which company tied up with Global IME Bank to expand its money remittance services between Indo-Nepal Corridor? 1. Reliance Trust 2. Adani Group 3. M&M Finance 4. TATA Trust 5. Muthoot Finance Answer - 5. Muthoot Finance Explanation : Muthoot Finance Ltd., the flagship company of Muthoot Group tied up with Global IME Bank to expand its money remittance services between Indo-Nepal Corridor. As per the terms of the tie- up, Nepali migrant residing in India would be able to transfer money instantly (by paying nominal charge of Rs. 200) to their families in Nepal from any of the 4600 branches of Muthoot Finance. In Nepal, 193 branches and more than 7000 pay out centres of Global IME Bank will serve as remittance receiving points for Nepali families. Millions of Nepali migrants residing in business cities of India like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru and also in the states of Punjab and Uttar Pradesh will get benefit of this facility without opening a bank account.

287. Name the Indian actress who received the "UK Golden Flame Award" at the opening ceremony of the Tongues of Fire UK Asian Film Festival in London? 1. Simi Garewal 2. Zeenast Aman 3. Madhubala 4. Poonam Dhillon 5. Saira Banu Answer - 1. Simi Garewal Explanation : Indian actress Simi Garewal received the "UK Golden Flame Award" at the opening ceremony of the Tongues of Fire UK Asian Film Festival in London. Simi Garewal is an actress and a talk show host. She has been honoured with this award for her contribution to Indian cinema. The Tongues of Fire UK Asian Film Festival is held between 15 and 25 March 2018. It is held in London, Leicester, Manchester and Edinburgh.

288. Pakistan appointed whom as the new chief of Pakistan air staff? 1. Air Marshal Rao Qamar 2. Air Marshal Suleman 3. Air Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan 4. Air Marshal Sohail Aman 5. Air Marshal Anwar Faizal Answer - 3. Air Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan

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Explanation : Pakistan appointed Air Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan as the new chief of Pakistan air staff. Mujahid Anwar Khan will take charge as Pakistan Air chief on 19th March 2018. He replaces Sohail Aman. Currently, Mujahid Anwar Khan is Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (Support) and Director General, Air Force Strategic Command at Air Headquarters, Islamabad.

289. Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes (CIRB) said that, a cloned Assamese buffalo male calf was born for the first time. This cloned buffalo was named as? 1. Mira 2. Ombretta 3. Cumulina 4. Kaga 5. Sach-Gaurav Answer - 5. Sach-Gaurav Explanation : Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes (CIRB) said that, a cloned Assamese buffalo male calf was born for the first time. The Assamese buffalo clone calf named Sach-Gaurav was born on 22nd December 2017 through a normal delivery. The calf was born to a Murrah buffalo. The Assamese buffaloes were seen only in the north-east India. They were mostly used for agricultural work. The birth weight of the calf was 54.2 kg. It was healthy and had normal physiological parameters.

290. ______has launched an innovative analytical approach to enhance the deployment of electric and diesel locomotives run passenger trains? 1. Indian Railways 2. Indian Parliament 3. Central Government 4. ISRO 5. HAL Answer - 1. Indian Railways Explanation : Indian Railways has launched an innovative analytical approach to enhance the deployment of electric and diesel locomotives run passenger trains. A software dependent mathematical decision support system will be utilised to improve the productivity of locomotives. This system has been developed by Ministry of Railways along with experts. It is implemented all over India. This system finds out the minimum number of locomotives needed to run all the passenger trains according to time table, also fulfilling the maintenance and operation necessities at the same time. In Budget 2018-19 a project to implement this process of locomotive link optimization using decision support system software in Indian Railways has been sanctioned. It will be implemented by Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS).

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291. Name the Indian Wells Tournament Director, who has announced his retirement from professional tennis. 1. Lindsay Davenport 2. Steffi Graf 3. Tommy Haas 4. Martina Hingis 5. Daniela Hanta Answer - 3. Tommy Haas Explanation : Tommy Haas of Germany, the Indian Wells Tournament Director, has announced his retirement from professional tennis. Tommy has announced his retirement at the age of 39. He became world number two in May 2002. He bagged silver medal in the Olympic Games in 2000. He has achieved 569 career wins. He was made Tournament Director at Indian Wells in 2016.

292. Which country’s cricket team gained One-Day International (ODI) status for the first time? 1. UAE 2. Myanmar 3. China 4. Bhutan 5. Nepal Answer - 5. Nepal Explanation : Nepal cricket team gained One-Day International (ODI) status for the first time. Nepal cricket team has gained ODI status after it won over Papua New Guinea by six wickets in the World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe on 15thMarch 2018. This is a significant achievement for Nepal as that Nepal cricket board is currently suspended by ICC.

293. Which country hosted the 14th Asian Cross Country Championship 2018? 1. USA 2. China 3. UK 4. Germany 5. Russia Answer - 2. China Explanation : India's Sanjivani Jadhav won bronze medal in women's 8km cross country race in the 14th Asian Cross Country Championship at Guiyang in China.Sanjivani Jadhav covered the 8 km distance in 28 minutes and 19 seconds and won bronze medal in the women's 8km event. She was surpassed by China’s Li Dan (28:03) and Japan’s Abe Yukari (28:06). Indian women's team comprising Sanjivani, Swati Gadhave, Jhuma Khatun and Lalita Babar also bagged a bronze medal. Performance of three best finishers of a country in the individual race is taken into account for team medal.

294. Emily Nasrallah recently passed away. Who is she? 1. Dancer 2. Singer 3. Politician 4. Author 5. Journalist

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Answer - 4. Author Explanation : On 13th March 2018, Lebanese author and feminist Emily Nasrallah, passed away after battling cancer, in Beirut, Lebanon. Emily Nasrallah was 87 years old. She started her career as a journalist. She published her first book “Birds of September” in 1962. She was born in 1931. She stayed in Lebanon along with few other women writers during the civil war and wrote about the war.

295. Which country’s cricket team has released the book named ‘A Tribute to Jagu’ as a tribute to former BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmiya? 1. Pakistan 2. India 3. Australia 4. Sri Lanka 5. Afghanistan Answer - 4. Sri Lanka Explanation : Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has released the book named ‘A Tribute to Jagu’ as a tribute to former BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmiya. This book has been compiled by SLC as a commemoration of Jagmohan Dalmiya’s contributions to cricket. They honoured him posthumously as the greatest non-Sri Lankan contributor to Sri Lankan cricket. Avishek, son of Jagmohan Dalmiya, who is the joint secretary of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) received the book.

296. When is world sleep day observed all over the world? 1. March 13 2. March 14 3. March 15 4. March 16 5. March 17 Answer - 4. March 16 Explanation : On 16th March 2018, World Sleep Day was observed all over the world. World Sleep Day is an annual event organized by the World Sleep Day Committee of World Sleep Society. When: It is observed every year on the Friday before Spring Vernal Equinox. The next World Sleep Day will be on 15 March 2019. Why: This day aims to reduce the burden of sleep problems by means of better prevention and management of sleep disorders. Theme for World Sleep Day 2018: Join the Sleep World, Preserve Your Rhythms to Enjoy Life.

297. NITI Aayog released comprehensive roadmaps and detailed timelines for ‘Sustainable Action for Transforming Human Capital in Education (SATH-E)’ project. What are the participating Statesin this program? 1. Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat 2. Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra 3. Kerala, Arunachal Pradesh and Telengana 4. West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha 5. Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha Answer - 5. Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha Explanation : NITI Aayog released comprehensive roadmaps and detailed timelines for ‘Sustainable Action for Transforming Human Capital in Education (SATH-E)’ project. Forward looking blueprints were

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released by Amitabh Kant, CEO of NITI Aayog and the Chief Secretaries of the three participating States - Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha. The roadmaps contained information about detailed interventions which will be made in the three states between 2018 to 2020 with an aim to become ‘Role Model States’ in school education. The interventions in the form of action- oriented programmes will be carried out at the individual, district and State level. These roadmaps have been jointly prepared by NITI Aayog, the three States and the knowledge partners of the SATH Initiatives, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Piramal Foundation For Education Leadership (PFEL).

298. Which Indian state hosted the Rising India Summit 2018 organized by Network 18? 1. Karnataka 2. New Delhi 3. Gujarat 4. Maharashtra 5. Bihar Answer - 2. New Delhi Explanation : On 16th and 17th March 2018, the Rising India Summit organized by Network 18 is held in New Delhi. This is the first edition of News18 Rising India Summit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered keynote address at the summit. Paul Krugman, a Nobel Prize-winning economist, is the guest of honour. The summit focuses on strategic affairs, sports, entertainment and defence. This summit is a conclusion of Rising Series hosted by Network 18 in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka, Kerala, etc.

299. 1st meeting of the Working Group on making India, USD 5 Trillion Economy was held at ______? 1. Punjab 2. Telangana 3. Haryana 4. Kerala 5. New Delhi Answer - 5. New Delhi Explanation : 1st meeting of the Working Group on making India, USD 5 Trillion Economy was held on March 15, 2018 in New Delhi. The meeting was chaired by Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Suresh Prabhu and was attended by representatives from NITI Aayog and other industry bodies including Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). The objective of Working Group is to chart out a timeline for achieving the goal of making Indian economy a USD 5 trillion economy from the current USD 2.6 trillion economy.Government expenditure, Private Expenditure, Investment and Exports are the four factors which will largely drive India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth. Decision was taken to set up smaller groups to work out the sectoral targets and the roadmap ahead.

300. Which state government has decided to ban the use of plastic from March 18, 2018? 1. Madhya Pradesh 2. Maharashtra 3. Odisha 4. Goa 5. Sikkim Answer - 2. Maharashtra

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Explanation : Maharashtra Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam announced that state government has decided to ban the use of plastic from March 18, 2018. The ban would apply on production, use, storage, sale, distribution, import and transportation of plastic. It would cover plastic bags, disposable cups and plates, thermocol, non-woven polypropylene bags, plastic pouches and packaging. However, use of plastic for covering medicines, forest and horticulture products, solid waste, tree saplings has been exempted from the list. Violation of these norms will be punishable with up to three months of jail term and/or will attract a penalty of Rs 5000-25000. In context of this news, it is important to note that Maharashtra contributes 30 percent of all plastic waste in India.

301. In which city, National School of Drama (NSD) will be hosting the 8th edition of Theatre Olympics? 1. Darjeeling 2. Mumbai 3. Delhi 4. Ahmadabad 5. Kanpur Answer - 2. Mumbai Explanation : National School of Drama (NSD) will be hosting the 8th edition of Theatre Olympics in Mumbai from 24th March, 2018 to 7th April, 2018. Theatre Olympics is the largest international theatre festival and is being held in India for the first time. NSD is hosting the 8th edition of Theatre Olympics in Mumbai in collaboration with Directorate of Cultural Affairs, Maharashtra. Theme for the 8th edition of Theatre Olympics is 'Flag of Friendship'. The Jaipur chapter of the Theatre Olympics, 2018, will be organised by NSD under the aegis of Union ministry of Culture in collaboration with the Ravindra Manch Society and Rajasthan State Art and Culture department from 18th March, 2018 to 1st April, 2018. Concept of Theatre Olympics was established in 1993 in Greece, and thereafter it was held in Japan (1999), followed by Russia (2001), Turkey (2006), South Korea (2010), China (2014) and Poland (2016).

302. In which state government, Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the 5th 'Nadi Mahotsava' 2018? 1. Maharashtra 2. Odisha 3. Karnataka 4. Gujarat 5. Madhya Pradesh Answer - 5. Madhya Pradesh Explanation : On 16th March 2018, Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the 5th 'Nadi Mahotsava' at Bandrabhan in Hoshangabad, Madhya Pradesh. Nitin Gadkari said that 'Nadi Mahotsava' will revive rivers, and also enhance the condition of life of people living on river banks. He said that, 'Nadi Mahotsava' was started by late Union Minister Anil Madhav Dave. He urged people to cooperate in preserving of water. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan also addressed the gathering. He spoke on various measures taken by government to preserve water.

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303. Which is the first country in the world to deploy blockchain technology in election process? 1. Sierra Leone 2. Liberia 3. Guinea 4. Gambia 5. Lesotho Answer - 1. Sierra Leone Explanation : Sierra Leone, a West African country has become the first country in the world to deploy blockchain technology in election process. Sierra Leone attained this distinction by deploying blockchain-based solution to count the votes and provide proof in the recently held Presidential elections. The blockchain based solution used in Sierra Leone’s election was developed by a Switzerland based voting technology company, Agora. Total 16 candidates contested this election, and Agora used a proprietary blockchain distributed ledger to keep track of the votes. Based on this news, it can be inferred that blockchain-based solution that uses a publicly visible ledger for keeping track of elections has potential to complement and eventually replace electronic voting machines.

304. How many countries were recommended by United Nations Committee for Development Policy (CDP) for graduation from the least developed country (LDC) category? 1. 3 2. 4 3. 5 4. 6 5. 7 Answer - 2. 4 Explanation : United Nations Committee for Development Policy (CDP) has announced that Bhutan along with Kiribati, Sao Tome and Principe and Solomon Islands will be recommended for graduation from the least developed country (LDC) category. These four nations will be recommended to move up from ranks of poorest nations on account of increasing national earning power as well as access to better health care. At the United Nations (UN), LDC category is assessed using three criteria viz. gross national income per capita, economic vulnerability and human assets (health and education targets). Countries in this category are reviewed on these criteria at interval of three years. In order to be eligible for being recommended to graduate from LDC, a country must meet two of the three criteria. As per CDP the above listed four countries have fulfilled this condition and have thus been recommended for graduation. The recommendation has been sent to ECOSOC (the UN Economic and Social Council) for endorsement, which in turn will refer its decision to the UN General Assembly.

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305. Which country has announced a $50 million donation to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA)? 1. Qatar 2. Doha 3. UAE 4. Saudi Arabia 5. Bahrain Answer - 1. Qatar Explanation : Qatar has announced a $50 million donation to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). The government communications office and Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that, the donation was announced at the extraordinary ministerial meeting of UNRWA held in Rome, Italy. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was present at the extraordinary ministerial meeting of UNRWA. Qatar has also stated that, it has continued providing financial support to projects implemented by the UNRWA, mainly in the field of education and health.

306. Which country informed the UN Secretary-General its withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC)? 1. Bahrain 2. Kuwait 3. Oman 4. Philippines 5. Dubai Answer - 4. Philippines Explanation : Philippines informed the UN Secretary-General its withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC). Teodoro Locsin, permanent representative of Philippines to the UN, submitted a letter stating Philippines’ withdrawal from ICC to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The letter stated that, Philippines was withdrawing from the Rome Statute. The Rome Statute set up the ICC in 1998. Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte stated that, Philippines withdraws from ICC due to baseless and outrageous attacks by ICC against him and his administration. ICC had attempted to investigate Rodrigo Duterte on his anti-drugs campaign earlier.

307. Indian Government signed a $120 million loan agreement with which International Financial Institution for improving rail infrastructure which will enhance operational efficiency of Indian railways? 1. World Bank 2. IMF 3. New Development Bank 4. Asian Development Bank 5. UNO Answer - 4. Asian Development Bank Explanation : Indian Government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a $120 million loan agreement for improving rail infrastructure which will enhance operational efficiency of Indian railways. $120 million loan is the third tranche of $500 million multi-tranche financing facility for the Railway Sector Investment Program approved by the ADB Board in 2011. $120 million procured as third tranche will be used to complete ongoing works for double-tracking and electrification of railway tracks along high-density corridors. In context of this news, High density

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corridors refers to busy freight and passenger routes in the states of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. It also includes "Golden Quadrilateral" corridor that connects Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai and New Delhi.

308. In wake of several scams unearthed at public sector banks, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued a Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework aimed at maintaining the sound financial health of banks. Which of the below given banks are brought under PCA by RBI in past 10 months? 1. IDBI Bank, Dena Bank 2. Bank of Maharashtra, Central Bank of India 3. UCO Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce 4. Bank of India, Allahabad Bank 5. All the above Answer - 5. All the above Explanation : In wake of several scams unearthed at public sector banks, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued a Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework aimed at maintaining the sound financial health of banks. The PCA framework stipulates risk thresholds for key areas such as capital, profitability and asset quality (tracked in terms of the net Non-Performing Assets ratio). On breach of any of these thresholds, the bank in particular, will be mandatorily required to take corrective measures in a timely manner. In past 10 months, public sector banks that have been brought under PCA by RBI are IDBI Bank, Dena Bank, Bank of Maharashtra, Central Bank of India, UCO Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Indian Overseas Bank, Bank of India, Allahabad Bank, Corporation Bank and United Bank of India.

309. A commodity exchange is liable to exit if there has been no trading operation on its platform for more than ______months? 1. Three 2. Six 3. Ten 4. Twelve 5. Twenty Answer - 4. Twelve Explanation : Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the regulator for the securities market in India has allowed the Universal Commodity Exchange (UCX) to discontinue operations as a commodity exchange. UCX had attained recognition as a multi-commodity exchange in 2012. However, board of UCX had suspended trading operations with effect from July 16, 2014 on account of drastic decline in trading volume and did not make attempts for revival thereafter. SEBI has allowed UCX to exit in accordance with its January 2016 circular laying out the mandatory requirements for exit of a commodity derivatives exchange. As per the circular, a commodity exchange is liable to exit if there has been no trading operation on its platform for more than twelve months.

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310. Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi inaugurated the first 'Startup hub' of Bihar in ______? 1. Nalanda 2. Patna 3. Gaya 4. Bodh Gaya 5. Kishanganj Answer - 2. Patna Explanation : Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi inaugurated the first 'Startup hub' of Bihar in Patna. Sushil Kumar Modi said that, work station and office space along with free of cost "plug and play" facility will be offered to 31 startup companies in the startup hub. He said that, the startup hub will be developed as a common facility centre. He also said that, policy and structural reforms to encourage IT enable services and ESDM (Electronics System Design and Manufacturing) in Bihar had been recently initiated.

311. Which country is the largest arms supplier to India as per report produced by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)? 1. Japan 2. USA 3. Russia 4. Canada 5. China Answer - 3. Russia Explanation : Russia continues to be the largest arms supplier to India as per report produced by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Russia remains India's biggest arms seller so far. But its share of total imports has decreased. The report was made by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Second biggest supplier is United States. It provides 15 per cent of India’s weapon imports. Third biggest supplier is Israel amounting to 11 per cent of India's imports during the 2013-17 calendar years. Fourth biggest supplier is France contributing to 4.6 per cent of India's imports in the last five years.

312. With an objective to secure a better future for the Kashmiri youth, Indian Army under the aegis of Chinar Corps has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Integrity and Educational Development Organisation (NIEDO) and ______? 1. Airport Authority of India 2. Reliance 3. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited 4. HAL 5. ONGC Answer - 3. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited Explanation : With an objective to secure a better future for the Kashmiri youth, Indian Army under the aegis of Chinar Corps has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and National Integrity and Educational Development Organisation (NIEDO). As per the terms of the MoU, Kanpur-based educational trust National Integrity and Educational Development Organisation (NIEDO) will provide quality faculty for professional coaching of Kashmir Youth, while HPCL will be the corporate partner for this project. Indian

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Army’s role will be to oversee the entire project including administration, logistics and security. Coaching for first batch will commence from June 1, 2018.

313. Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Dr Jitendra Singh, awarded a Certificate of Appreciation to Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (MDWS) for implementation of ______? 1. e-petition filing software 2. e-office software 3. Mobile App 4. Water availability in all states 5. None of the above Answer - 2. e-office software Explanation : Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Dr Jitendra Singh, awarded a Certificate of Appreciation to Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (MDWS) for implementation of e-office software. Satyabrata Sahu, Joint Secretary and Mrs Seemantinee Sengupta, Senior Technical Director, HOD, NIC-MDWS received the award at an event held at the Ministry of Personnel, Grievances and Pension. e-Office is one of the projects under the Digital India programme. e-Office enables ‘paper-less’ operations in offices. The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation has made 100 % use of e-Office. It implemented the e-office software in 2014 in its offices.

314. Who was reappointed the president of China? 1. Patsy Mink 2. Norman Mineta 3. Wang Qishan 4. Xi Jinping 5. Bob Matsul Answer - 4. Xi Jinping Explanation : On 17th March 2018, Xi Jinping was reappointed as president and Wang Qishan as vice president of China. The National People's Congress has appointed Xi Jinping as China's president and Wang Qishan as vice president. The National People's Congress recently removed the two-term limit for Chinese President. Hence Xi Jinping can serve as President without any term limit. Wang Qishan who has been made Chinese Vice President, is a well-known economic reformer and a close ally of Xi Jinping.

315. In a bid to strengthen the prediction and response capability of the Disaster Management Authority, which state Government has decided to collaborate with ‘Regional Integrated Multi-hazard Early Warning System’ (RIMES)? 1. Odisha 2. Karnataka 3. Kerala 4. Tamil Nadu 5. Maharashtra Answer - 1. Odisha Explanation : In a bid to strengthen the prediction and response capability of the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA), Odisha State Government has decided to collaborate with ‘Regional Integrated Multi-hazard Early Warning System’ (RIMES). A meeting was held between

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Odisha Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi, OSDMA managing director Bishnupada Sethi and ffficials of RIMES to discuss technical and methodological aspects of the system. RIMES is owned and managed by 45 collaborating countries in the Asia Pacific and Africa Region. Currently, India holds the Chair of Rimes. Analysis of huge data generated from automatic weather stations installed at gram panchayat level, early warning and preparedness for lightening, heat wave, flood, draught and tsunami have been identified as major areas of collaboration between OSDMA and RIMES.

316. Name the mobile app CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) has introduced, using which travellers can lodge complaints to recover items they lost or forgot at airports. 1. CISF App 2. Travellers App 3. Find the Lost 4. Lost and Found 5. Recovery App Answer - 4. Lost and Found Explanation : CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) has introduced 'Lost and Found', a mobile app using which travellers can lodge complaints to recover items they lost or forgot at airports. Available at: The 'Lost and Found' app can be downloaded from the website of Information and Technology Ministry. Advantage: Passengers can directly register complaints and check status of their complaint instantly for airports under the coverage of CISF. Also, users can request technical consultancy offered by CISF using the mobile app.

317. In which state, a new species of water strider named ‘Ptilomera nagalanda Jehamalar and Chandra’ has been discovered by scientists of Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)? 1. Bihar 2. Nagaland 3. Patna 4. Pune 5. Vadodara Answer - 2. Nagaland Explanation : A new species of water strider named ‘Ptilomera nagalanda Jehamalar and Chandra’ has been discovered in Nagaland by scientists of Zoological Survey of India (ZSI). Ptilomera nagalanda Jehamalar and Chandra was discovered in Intanki river, Peren district. Ventral part of its body is pale yellowish brown in colour. It has orange with black stripes on the dorsal side. Its legs are 11.79 mm long. This discovery has been published in the Zootaxa science journal. This discovery has increased the number of species of water striders under the subgenus Ptilomera in India to six.

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318. FIFA lifted its three-decade ban on which country in hosting international football matches? 1. Argentina 2. Spain 3. Dubai 4. Iran 5. Iraq Answer - 5. Iraq Explanation : FIFA lifted its three-decade ban on Iraq hosting international football matches, allowing Arbil, Basra and Karbala cities to host official matches. Iraq will host a friendly tournament between Qatar and Syria on 21st March 2018 in Basra. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said that, FIFA has allowed Iraq to host international matches but organisers of the championship should take the final decision. FIFA said that, still it cannot allow matches to be held in Baghdad, capital of Iraq. But Gianni Infantino assured that application for hosting matches in Baghdad will be studied.

319. Who has been named the 'Cricketer of the Year' in the 6th edition of Wisden India Almanack that has been released recently? 1. Mitchell Starc 2. Cheteshwar Pujara 3. KL Rahul 4. Murali Vijay 5. Ajinkya Rahane Answer - 3. KL Rahul Explanation : KL Rahul has been named the 'Cricketer of the Year' in the 6th edition of Wisden India Almanack that has been released recently. The Almanack honured India's women cricketers. It featured their World Cup celebration as cover picture. Deepti Sharma, Indian woman cricketer, is one of the 'Cricketers of the Year'. Another Indian woman cricketer Shantha Rangaswamy has been inducted into the Wisden India Hall of Fame. Priyank Panchal, Hasan Ali and Tamim Iqbal have also been named Cricketers of the Year. More than 900 pages of essays, commentary, statistics, portraits and images have been included in the Wisden India Almanack.

320. M Sukumaran recently passed away. Who was he? 1. Actor 2. Singer 3. Journalist 4. Physician 5. Writer Answer - 5. Writer Explanation : M Sukumaran, a renowned Malayalam writer, died after suffering from heart related ailments, at the Sri Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. M Sukumaran was 76 years old. He had received the Kendra Sahitiya Akademi and Keral Sahitiya awards. His popular short stories are: Sangaganam, Unarthupattu, Pithrutharpan and Sheshakriya.

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321. Indian Coast Guard commissioned C-437, an interceptor boat at Porbandar. What is the maximum speed of this boat? 1. 60 knots 2. 55 knots 3. 50 knots 4. 45 knots 5. 40 knots Answer - 4. 45 knots Explanation : On March 17, 2018, Indian Coast Guard commissioned C-437, an interceptor boat at Porbandar. Indian Coast Guard’s C-437 interceptor boat is 27.80 metres long, has displacement of 106 tonnes and can attain a maximum speed of 45 knots. It is equipped with advanced navigational and communication gear and is capable of carrying out multifarious roles such as surveillance, search and rescue operation as well as rendering assistance to boats in distress at sea. C-437 will not only strengthen the security umbrella of the West coast but will also help augment patrolling to prevent illicit activities such as smuggling, infiltration and illegal fishing.

322. How many total amendments are passed to the Finance Bill 2018 by Lok Sabha, including an amendment to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010? 1. 20 2. 21 3. 22 4. 23 5. 24 Answer - 2. 21 Explanation : Lok Sabha passed 21 amendments to the Finance Bill 2018 including an amendment to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010. As per Representation of Peoples Act, political parties in India cannot accept foreign funds. As per Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 2010, which repealed and replaced FCRA 1976, any company registered abroad or with subsidiaries abroad was defined as foreign firm. Through Finance Act, 2016, definition of foreign firm was changed and a firm with less than 50 per cent of share capital held by a foreign entity was no longer considered a foreign firm. Despite of this change, foreign funds received by a political party before FCRA 2010 was enacted, were open to scrutiny. The retrospective amendment to FCRA 2010 through Finance Bill 2018 will do away with the scope for scrutiny of a political party’s funding since 1976 and will thus provide relief to Bharatiya Janata Party as well as Congress from 2014 Delhi High Court judgement that held both guilty of violating the FCRA.

323. In which state “Nabakalebara festival” was celebrated? 1. Gujarat 2. Rajasthan 3. Maharashtra 4. Nagaland 5. Odisha Answer - 5. Odisha Explanation : On March 18, 2018, President Ram Nath Kovind released Rs 1000 and Rs 10 commemorative coins on Nabakalebara festival in Puri, Odisha.Nabakalebara is a festival observed in the Shree Jagannath Temple at Puri, Odisha at a predefined time according to Hindu Calender. It is a symbolic recreation of the wooden forms of deities at Jagannath Temple, Puri. ‘Naba’ means new

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and ‘Kalebara’ is body. The commemorative coins were released during the centenary celebrations of Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan. Odisha Governor S C Jamir, Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and Minister of Tribal Affairs, Jual Oram were also present at the occasion.

324. KUSUM scheme is related to which of the following? 1. Solar Power Plants 2. Animal Husbandry 3. Farmers 4. 1&2 5. 1&3 Answer - 5. 1&3 Explanation : On March 15, 2018, R.K. Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Power and New & Renewable Energy informed Lok Sabha that Central Government is in the process of formulating a ‘Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (KUSUM)’ scheme. KUSUM scheme envisages, installation of grid-connected solar power plants each of capacity up to 2 MW in the rural areas and installation of standalone off-grid solar water pumps to fulfill irrigation needs of farmers not connected to grid. It will also provide for solarization of existing grid-connected agriculture pumps to make farmers independent of grid supply. Under KUSUM, farmers will be able to sell surplus solar power generated to power distribution companies (DISCOMs) and get extra income. Besides, KUSUM is also aimed at solarization of tube-wells and lift irrigation projects of Government sector. Details on funds to be allocated and mode of implementation will be decided at the time of approval of the Scheme.

325. In which state, the Governor of West Bengal, Keshari Nath Tripathi inaugurated the 7th Women Science Congress at the ongoing 105th session of Indian Science Congress? 1. Mizoram 2. Manipur 3. Meghalaya 4. Sikkim 5. Bihar Answer - 2. Manipur Explanation : On March 18, 2018, Governor of West Bengal, Keshari Nath Tripathi inaugurated the 7th Women Science Congress at the ongoing 105th session of Indian Science Congress in Imphal, Manipur. First edition of Women Science Congress was held in 2012. Objective of Women Science Congress is to inspire young women to be a part of scientific community and engage themselves in active scientific research. More than 1000 women scientists from different parts of India participated in 7th Women Science Congress. Keshari Nath Tripathi also released a souvenir of Women Science Congress on the occasion.

326. In which Indian city, the South Asia's First Ever Coworking & Coplay Space was Launched? 1. Gurugram 2. Patna 3. Pune 4. Amritsar 5. Ahmadabad Answer - 1. Gurugram

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Explanation : Monkey Business, a first of its kind co-working space in South Asia that also provides onsite childcare was launched in South Point Mall, Gurugram, Haryana. Monkey Business, is ideal for young parents to work while their kids are engaged in productive activities at the onsite play area. Spread over 3000 sq ft, Monkey Business has thoughtfully designed play zone and includes a nap area, a feeding and diaper changing room. Monkey Business is managed by a group of working moms. Some of these moms have corporate world experience while others have been associated with education sector.

327. Which is the most expensive city in the world as per Worldwide Cost of Living 2018 report by Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)? 1. Paris 2. Zurich 3. Hong Kong 4. Oslo 5. Singapore Answer - 5. Singapore Explanation : Singapore is the most expensive city in the world as per Worldwide Cost of Living 2018 report by Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). Worldwide Cost of Living is a bi-annual study of 133 cities conducted by London-headquartered Economist Intelligence Unit. It serves as a reference for companies to calculate cost-of-living allowances and prepare compensation packages for expatriates and business travellers. To derive the rankings, cost of more than 100 items such as cars, food, rent and clothing were compared across 133 cities.

328. India has imposed anti-dumping duty on import of Ofloxacin from which country, to protect domestic producers from below-cost shipments? 1. Japan 2. Russia 3. USA 4. China 5. France Answer - 4. China Explanation : India has imposed anti-dumping duty on import of Ofloxacin from China to protect domestic producers from below-cost shipments. Ofloxacin is a pharmaceutical product, used in treatment of certain infections. Aarti Drugs, a pharmaceutical company had approached Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD) for initiation of anti-dumping investigation and imposition of the duty on Ofloxacin exported to India from China. DGAD conducted a probe and concluded that Ofloxacin exported to India from China was indeed below its normal value and thus recommended to slap anti-dumping duty. Anti-dumpping duty on import of 'Ofloxacin' from China will be in the range of USD 2.58 to USD 9.48 per kg for three years.

329. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, Africa's only female head of state and a renowned biologist, resigned from her post on March 17, 2018. She was the president of which country? 1. Kenya 2. Nigeria 3. Mauritius 4. Ghana 5. Algeria

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Answer - 3. Mauritius Explanation : Mauritian President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, Africa's only female head of state and a renowned biologist, resigned from her post on March 17, 2018. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim has resigned in wake of allegations against her for using a credit card provided by an NGO to buy items worth $26000 not related to her work. Since 2015, Ameenah Gurib-Fakim had been associated with Planet Earth Institute (PEI), a London-based NGO, for promoting science, technology and innovation in Africa. PEI had provided a credit card to Ameenah Gurib-Fakim for covering her travel expenses related to the work. However, she has been accused of using it to buy jewellery and clothing for personal use.

330. Who was appointed as the additional non-executive independent director of Vedanta Limited? 1. Prem Chanda Gupta 2. Aman Mehta 3. Vijay Kelkar 4. U.K. Sinha 5. Nusli Wadia Answer - 4. U.K. Sinha Explanation : On 13th March 2018, Vedanta Limited said that, it has appointed U.K. Sinha as its additional non- executive independent director. U K Sinha’s appointment is for a fixed term starting from end of business hours on 13th March 2018 to 10th August 2021. He is the former Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). He is an IAS officer of the Bihar cadre. He was Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the Unit Trust of India Asset Management Company (UTIAMC) also known as UTI Mutual Fund.

331. Who has become the second woman pilot of Indian Air Force to fly solo in a fighter aircraft? 1. Avani Chaturvedi 2. Bhawana Kanth 3. Mohana Singh 4. Haritha Kaur 5. Dhwani Dhawan Answer - 2. Bhawana Kanth Explanation : On 16th March 2018, Bhawana Kanth became the second woman pilot of Indian Air Force to fly solo in a fighter aircraft. Flying Officer Bhawana Kanth flew in a MiG-21 Bison aircraft from Ambala Air Force Station on 16th March 2018. The first woman pilot of Indian Air Force to fly solo is Flying Officer Avani Chaturvedi. Bhawana Kanth is 25 years old. She is one of the three in the first batch of women pilots who were inducted into the Indian Air Force fighter squadron on 18th June 2016.

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332. Which state’s Krishi Vigyan Kendra has been named the best such centre in India for its initiatives like nutrition gardens and integrated farming techniques? 1. Meghalaya 2. Punjab 3. Rajasthan 4. Chhattisgarh 5. Gujarat Answer - 4. Chhattisgarh Explanation : Chhattisgarh’s Krishi Vigyan Kendra has been named the best such centre in India for its initiatives like nutrition gardens and integrated farming techniques. The Krishi Vigyan Kendra is located in Kanker district of Chhattisgarh. It is affiliated to the IGKV (Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya). It has been named the best of the 650 agriculture science centres in India. Dr S K Patil, vice chancellor of IGKV in Raipur, and Birbal Sahu, coordinator of Kanker Krishi Vigyan Kendra, received the 'Pt Deendayal Upadhyay Krishi Vigyan Protsahan Award-2017' from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 17th March 2018 in New Delhi. The award consists of a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh for infrastructure development and a citation certificate. The centre has taken initiatives like nutrition garden, integrated farming system and promoting the production of 'Kadaknath' chicken.

333. Which city hosted the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2017-18 title? 1. Chennai 2. Mumbai 3. Kolkata 4. Delhi 5. Bengaluru Answer - 5. Bengaluru Explanation : Chennaiyin FC won the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2017-18 title at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Chennaiyin FC defeated Bengaluru FC 3-2 and won the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2017-18 title. Mailson Alves scored 2 goals and Raphael Augusto scored 1 goal for Chennaiyin FC team. Sunil Chhetri and Miku scored one goal each for Bengaluru FC team.

334. Name the Indian who has secured number 1 rank in Asia in F53 Javelin category? 1. Annu Rani 2. Deepa Malik 3. Jane David 4. Diane Lopez 5. Hollie Arnold Answer - 2. Deepa Malik Explanation : India’s Deepa Malik has secured number 1 rank in Asia in F53 Javelin category. On 15th March 2018, Deepa Malik bagged gold medal in the F53/54 Javelin event at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Dubai. She has qualified for the Asian Para Games 2018 that will be held in Jakarta, Indonesia from 8th to 16th October 2018. She has received Arjuna award in 2012 and Padma Shri award in 2017.

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335. Name the former England batsman, who announced his retirement from all forms of Cricket? 1. Kevin Pietersen 2. Alastair Cook 3. Eoin Morgan 4. Stuart Broad 5. Joe Root Answer - 1. Kevin Pietersen Explanation : On 17th March 2018, former England batsman Kevin Pietersen announced his retirement from all forms of Cricket. Kevin Pietersen is 37 years old. He was the captain of England cricket team in 2008-09 period. His international cricket career ended in 2014 when he was sacked by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). He played 104 test matches for England. He also played 136 one-day internationals and 37 Twenty20 internationals. He played for Delhi Daredevils and Royal Challengers Bangalore teams in the Indian Premier League.

336. When is the Global Recycling Day celebrated all over the world? 1. 18th March 2. 17th March 3. 16th March 4. 15th March 5. 14th March Answer - 1. 18th March Explanation : On 18th March 2018, Global Recycling Day was celebrated all over the world. The Global Recycling Day has been launched by the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR). It also coincides with the 70th anniversary of BIR. This is the first ever observation of Global Recycling Day. Its aim is to create awareness on the importance of recycling. It insists to consider recyclables as “resource – not waste.” Recyclables have become world’s Seventh Resource apart from the six major natural resources: water, air, coal, oil, natural gas and minerals.

337. 'Mahila Suraksha', is a handbook on ______? 1. Medival India 2. Women’s Safety 3. Agriculture and Farmers 4. Ancient India 5. Prime Minister and his Schemes and achivements Answer - 2. Women’s Safety Explanation : On 14th March 2018, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur released 'Mahila Suraksha', a handbook on women’s safety. The 'Mahila Suraksha' handbook has been brought out by the Shimla administration. It explains personal safety measures and safeguards related to crimes, and also about sexual harassment at workplace. It also has important telephone and helpline numbers. Jai Ram Thakur said that, the efforts of Shimla administration to bring out a handbook in Braille in both English and Hindi will help the visually challenged women.

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338. Four memorandum of understanding (MoUs) were signed in New Delhi under the aegis of the Ministry of Development of North East Region (DoNER) for promotion of tourism in the North-East India. These MoU’s were signed between various entities in North East India and ______? 1. Youtube 2. Airbnb 3. Jet Airways 4. Twitter 5. Reliance Answer - 2. Airbnb Explanation : On March 19, 2018, four memorandum of understanding (MoUs) were signed in New Delhi under the aegis of the Ministry of Development of North East Region (DoNER) for promotion of tourism in the North-East India. The MoUs were signed between various entities in North East India and Airbnb, one of the world’s leading community-driven hospitality companies. These MoU are aimed at creating hospitality micro-entrepreneurs across key destinations in the North East of India. Activities carried out under these MoUs are a step towards achieving the aim of creating more sustainable accommodation options to enhance the hospitality service standards in North East Region and thereby doubling tourist growth rate in the next three years. The MoUs were signed on behalf of North East Tourism Development Council (NETDC) and North Eastern Council (NEC)and two key livelihood initiatives, North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Project (NERCORMP) and North East Rural Livelihood Project (NERLP).

339. In which Indian city, Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog, Dr. Rajiv Kumar inaugurated the First India-Japan Workshop on Disaster Risk Reduction? 1. Pune 2. Patna 3. Rishikesh 4. Darjeeling 5. New Delhi Answer - 5. New Delhi Explanation : Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog, Dr. Rajiv Kumar inaugurated the First India-Japan Workshop on Disaster Risk Reduction in New Delhi. This workshop has been jointly organised by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Union Ministry of Home Affairs and Government of Japan. It is the first formal initiative under the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) on Disaster Risk Reduction signed between India and Japan in September 2017. Speaking at the occasion, Dr. Rajiv Kumar outlined a six-pronged approach to enhance resilience, which includes Risk Identification, Preparedness, Risk Reduction, Financial Protection, Resilient Reconstruction and Societal Awareness. During the course of this workshop, India and Japan will identify possible areas of cooperation in the field of Disaster Risk Reduction.

340. Which Indian city hosted the 3rd National Conclave on Mines & Minerals 2018? 1. Mumbai 2. New Delhi 3. Kanpur 4. Jaipur 5. Hyderabad Answer - 2. New Delhi

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Explanation : On 20th March 2018, the 3rd National Conclave on Mines & Minerals will be held at Convention Hall in Hotel Ashoka, New Delhi. The 3rd National Conclave on Mines and Minerals is organized by the Ministry of Mines. Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (FIMI) partners the event. Public and private mining companies will participate in the conclave. Minister of Mines, Narendra Singh Tomar will present the awards for ‘5 Star’ rating to the 20 best performing mines. Technical sessions will be conducted on the following topics: Auction of Mineral Blocks & Implementation of Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojna (PMKKKY), Impetus on Exploration, Sustainable Development Framework – Sharing of Best Practices.

341. Where did the President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated a Festival of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (FINE) 2018? 1. Mumbai 2. New Delhi 3. Agra 4. Kolkata 5. Patna Answer - 2. New Delhi Explanation : President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated a Festival of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (FINE) at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. Festival of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (FINE) is organised by Rashtrapati Bhavan along with the Department of Science and Technology and the National Innovation Foundation-India from 19th March 21st March 2018. Ram Nath Kovind also presented the Gandhian Young Technological Innovation Awards. FINE aims to recognise, display and reward innovations and to create a supportive ecosystem for innovators. It provides an “In- Residence” Program through which 10 innovation scholars will stay at Rashtrapati Bhavan and will receive mentoring and opportunities to share ideas with important stakeholders. FINE also features an exhibition of innovations that will be open for public view till 23rd March 2018.

342. In which coastal state, Phase I of Varuna 18, an Indo-French Naval Exercise, began at? 1. Gujarat 2. Kerala 3. Tamil Nadu 4. Odisha 5. Goa Answer - 5. Goa Explanation : On 19th March 2018, Phase I of Varuna 18, an Indo-French Naval Exercise, began in Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) in Goa. The phase I of Varuna 18 will be conducted till 24th March 2018. Second and third phases will be conducted in April 2018 and May 2018 in Chennai and La Reunion Island respectively. Rear Admiral M A Hampiholi, Flag Officer Commanding, Western Fleet and Rear Admiral Didier Piaton, Joint Commander of the French Naval Forces deployed in Indian Ocean and French Joint Forces stationed in UAE, inaugurated the 1st phase of Varuna 18. Varuna 18 will be conducted in 3 sea areas: the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and South Western Indian Ocean. iv. First phase of Varuna 18 will be conducted in the Arabian Sea. French Submarine and frigate Jean de Vienne and Indian Naval Ship (INS) Destroyer Mumbai, frigate Trikand with internal helicopters participate in phase I of Varuna 18. INS Kalavari, P8-I and Dornier Maritiem Patrol Aircraft and Mig 29-K fighter aircraft also take part in this exercise.

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343. Which bank opened its new representative office in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE)? 1. Union Bank of India 2. Allahabad Bank 3. Canara Bank 4. IDBI Bank 5. Axis Bank Answer - 5. Axis Bank Explanation : Axis Bank announced the opening of its new representative office in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The representative office in Sharjah is Axis Banks third office in UAE. As UAE is home to 3 million Non-resident Indians (NRIs) and this representative office will focus on remittances business. It is to be noted that Axis Bank commands a 20 per cent market share in the USD 12 billion dollar-a-year inward remittances market from the UAE.

344. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) commissioned the first unit of 110 MW of the Kishanganga hydro-electric project (HEP) in which state? 1. Jammu and Kashmir 2. Punjab 3. Himachal Pradesh 4. Arunachal Pradesh 5. Uttarkhand Answer - 1. Jammu and Kashmir Explanation : On March 19, 2018, government-owned Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) announced that it has commissioned the first unit of 110 MW of the Kishanganga hydro-electric project (HEP) of NHPC in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). The 340 MW Kishanganga hydro project is located in Bandipora district of J&K on the river Kishanganga (a tributary of the Jhelum). Once the other two units will be commissioned, the project will generate 1350 million units (MU) of clean electricity every year. BHEL has been entrusted with the task of supplying components for setting up and executing this project. Bhel has so far commissioned 31 Hydro sets with a cumulative capacity of 1257 MW in J&K.

345. In which country, American aerospace and defence giant “Lockheed Martin” has decided to set up its new F-16 jet production unit? 1. Japan 2. Srilanka 3. Bangladesh 4. India 5. Canada Answer - 4. India Explanation : Lockheed Martin has announced the setting up of F-16 jet production unit in India. Lockheed Martin is an American aerospace and defence giant. It said that, the F-16 jet production unit to be set up in India will be an exclusive one and will be in line with the 'Make in India' initiative.

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Lockheed Martin has assured to relocate its entire production line to India. It said that, the unit will not be a mere assembly line. It will be a better facility that has never been provided by any other fighter aircraft manufacturer earlier.

346. Who was appointed the next Governor of China's central bank, the People's Bank of China (PBOC)? 1. Patsy Mink 2. Norman Mineta 3. Bob Matsui 4. Li Keqiang 5. Yi Gang Answer - 5. Yi Gang Explanation : Yi Gang, a US-educated economist has been named as next Governor of China's central bank, the People's Bank of China (PBOC). Yi Gang has been holding the post of deputy governor of PBOC since 200. Mr. Yi will succeed Zhou Xiaochuan, who has been holding the post since 2002. Name of Mr. Yi for this post was approved by National People’s Congress, (China’s legislature) on March 19, 2018. After assuming charge, Mr. Yi’s main challenges would be to implement prudent monetary policy, push forward the reform and open-up China’s financial sector, and at the same time maintain the stability of economy.

347. Who won the Russian presidential elections and has been named as Russian President for the next 6 year term? 1. Maksimovich Yakovlev 2. Anatoly Sliva 3. Vyacheslav Khizhnyakov 4. Vladimir Putin 5. Arthur Muravyov Answer - 4. Vladimir Putin Explanation : Russian President Vladimir Putin won the presidential elections and has been named as Russian President for a 6 year term. Vladimir Putin's fourth term as president will continue till 2024. He had obtained 76.6% of the total votes cast in the presidential election. His main rival Alexei Navalny was barred from the election. Vladimir Putin had been ruling Russia as either president or prime minister since 1999.

348. Who was appointed the new Chief Executive Officer of Reliance Asset Reconstruction Company (RARC)? 1. Harris Brushes 2. Harris Ceylon 3. Ravindra Rao 4. Sujan Dias 5. Nayana Dehigama Answer - 3. Ravindra Rao Explanation : Reliance Asset Reconstruction Company (RARC) announced the appointment of Ravindra Rao as its new Chief Executive Officer. Ravindra Rao succeeds Asokan Arumugam, who is retiring after being at the helm at RARC since last four years. Ravindra Rao brings with him 22 years of experience in consumer lending spanning across risk management, compliance, distribution, operations and technology. Anil Ambani-led Reliance Capital is the principal sponsor of RARC.

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Corporation Bank, Indian Bank, GIC of India, Dacecroft and Blue Ridge are the other stakeholders in RARC.

349. Who was appointed the next Ambassador of India to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea? 1. Liu Chuanzhi 2. Atul M. Gotsurve 3. Li Zhanshu 4. Xu Qiliang 5. Zhang Youxia Answer - 2. Atul M. Gotsurve Explanation : Atul M. Gotsurve was appointed the next Ambassador of India to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Atul M. Gotsurve is an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) Officer of 2004 batch. At present, he is Director in the Ministry of External Affairs. He has been named the next Ambassador of India to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. He will take up this assignment soon.

350. Who has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Fullerton India Home finance? 1. Ajit Jain 2. Dinesh Patiwal 3. Ajay Banga 4. Ranjith Kapoor 5. Rakesh Makkar Answer - 5. Rakesh Makkar Explanation : Rakesh Makkar has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Fullerton India Home finance. Rakesh Makkar has been holding senior management position in Fullerton India Home Finance since past few years and has been instrumental in driving its robust growth. In his new role, Makkar will be responsible for building the brand, scaling up business volumes and driving the corporate strategy for the firm. Launched in 2016, Fullerton India Home Finance Company Limited (FIHFC) is a subsidiary of Fullerton India Credit Company. FIHFC is also known as Grihashakti.

351. Li Keqiang was re-elected as which country’s Prime Minister for a second five-year term? 1. China 2. Japan 3. Korea 4. UAE 5. Norway Answer - 1. China Explanation : On 18th March 2018, Li Keqiang was re-elected as Chinese Prime Minister for a second five-year term. Li Keqiang became Prime Minister of China first in 2013. He has been re-elected as Prime Minister by the members of National People’s Congress (NPC). He obtained 2,964 positive votes and two negative votes. Also, Xu Qiliang and Zhang Youxia were elected as vice chairmen of Central Military Commission (CMC). Yang Xiaodu was named the chief of new anti-graft body, the

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National Supervisory Commission.

352. Who was appointed the new Managing Director (MD) of Sony India? 1. Shantanu Naren 2. Sathya Dev 3. Jishnu Prakash 4. Nirmal Basha 5. Sunil Nayyar Answer - 5. Sunil Nayyar Explanation : Sony India announced the appointment of Sunil Nayyar as its Managing Director (MD). Sunil Nayyar replaces Kenichiro Hibi as MD of Sony India. Kenichiro Hibi has been made the President for Sony Brazil. Sunil Nayyar currently serves as head of Retail Experience in Sony North America. Earlier, he was Sales Head from 2006 to 2015. He joined Sony in 1995.

353. Name the Chinese Foreign Minister who was promoted as State Councillor? 1. Chiang Kai-shek 2. Wang Yi 3. Lu Chen 4. Jiang Zemin 5. Sun Yat-sen Answer - 2. Wang Yi Explanation : Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was promoted as State Councillor. Wang Yi is 65 years old. He will also continue as Foreign Minister of China. In China, State Councillor is ranked higher than Foreign Minister. Wang Yi replaces Yang Jiechi. Wang Yi has worked as China’s Vice Foreign Minister, China’s Ambassador to Japan and Director of the Taiwan Affairs Office. He became Foreign Minister in 2013.

354. Who was made the new brand ambassador of vivo company? 1. Virat Kohli 2. MS Dhoni 3. Aamir Khan 4. Varun Dhawan 5. Priyanka Chopra Answer - 3. Aamir Khan Explanation : On 19th March 2018, Vivo announced the appointment of actor Aamir Khan as its brand ambassador for India. Aamir Khan replaces actor Ranveer Singh as Vivo India's Brand Ambassador. Ranveer Singh had been the brand ambassador for the past two years. Aamir Khan has been signed for future brand and product communication initiatives of Vivo India. He will be involved in a full-fledged marketing campaign and a new TV commercial soon.

355. Who was appointed the new chairman of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat? 1. Mao Zedong 2. Ghulam Muhammad 3. Iskander Mirza 4. Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai 5. Chaudhry Fazal Ellahi Answer - 4. Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai

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Explanation : Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai was appointed the new chairman of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat. On 19th March 2018, Syed Ali Geelani resigned as chairman of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat. The decision to appoint Ashraf Sehrai as chairman of the party was taken in its advisory board meeting. Ashraf Sehrai was the general secretary of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat till now. Syed Ali Geelani and Ashraf Sehrai are among the founding members of the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat.

356. In which state, anti-graft portal was launched? 1. Bihar 2. Goa 3. Uttar Pradesh 4. Madhya Pradesh 5. Telangana Answer - 3. Uttar Pradesh Explanation : Bharatya Janata Party (BJP) Government in Uttar Pradesh under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath completed one year in office and on this occasion, UP CM Yogi Adityanath launched an anti-graft portal. The portal is aimed at taking action against any official who is involved in corruption or is encouraging it at any level. Action will be taken based on a video or any other evidence uploaded through the portal. The portal was launched in presence of Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik, Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Dinesh Sharma. A grand cultural programme was held to mark one year of UP CM Yogi Adityanath’s Government in office and a multi-colour booklet titled ‘Ek Saal – Nayee Misaal’ with the punchline ‘Huaa Vikaas – Badha Vishwaas’was unveiled. Besides, Cm Adityanath announced that his government will soon come up with four lakh jobs in as many as 64 departments.

357. Delhi Government launched 'Delhi's Date with Democracy' in collaboration with Sahitya Kala Parishad and Delhi Kalyan Samiti. What is'Delhi's Date with Democracy'? 1. Slogan 2. Prime Minister’s Scheme 3. Mobile Application 4. IT Company 5. Conference Answer - 3. Mobile Application Explanation : Delhi Government launched 'Delhi's Date with Democracy', a mobile application that will serve as a platform for aspiring singers and dancers in the city to showcase their talent on a big stage. 'Delhi's Date with Democracy' is an initiative of Delhi Government’s department of art, culture and languages. Sahitya Kala Parishad and Delhi Kalyan Samiti have collaborated with the Delhi Government for this initiative Firstly, the candidates would be selected online, through the application and then competitions would be held at various venues, from ward-level to the grand finale at the city level. There is no age limit to participate. Interested candidates can apply under two broad categories viz. singing (solo) and dancing (solo or group). Winners of the grand finale would get a chance to sing and dance with famous singers and dancers.

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358. Which country won the Nidahas Trophy at R Premadasa Stadium, in Colombo, Sri Lanka? 1. China 2. India 3. Russia 4. Japan 5. USA Answer - 2. India Explanation : India won the Nidahas Trophy at the R Premadasa Stadium, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. India beat Bangladesh in the finals by four wickets. Dinesh Karthik was named Man of the Match. India won the toss and chose to field first. Indian team restricted Bangladesh team to 166 runs with eight wickets loss

359. Which city hosted the Indian Wells Masters 2018? 1. Bern, Switzerland 2. Tokyo, Japan 3. Beijing, China 4. Mumbai, India 5. California, United States Answer - 5. California, United States Explanation : On 5th to 18th March 2018, the Indian Wells Masters was held in Indian Wells, California, United States. The Indian Wells 2018 is also known as the 2018 BNP Paribas Open.

360. Which state government hosted the 3rd edition of National Conclave on Mines and Minerals 2018? 1. Maharashtra 2. Assam 3. Manipur 4. New Delhi 5. Bihar Answer - 4. New Delhi Explanation : The 3rd edition of National Conclave on Mines and Minerals was held in New Delhi. The conclave saw participation from: representatives of state governments, mining industry, industry associations, financial and academic institutions. It acts as a platform to display the recent policy initiatives by the Indian government. Discussion on the issues, challenges and opportunities in the mining sector were conducted. Mines Minister Narendra Singh Tomar presented awards to 20 best performing mines with '5-Star' rating.

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361. Name the India’s Digital Repository that has been certified as the world’s first Trusted Digital Repository as per ISO 16363:2012 standard, granted by Primary Trustworthy Digital Repository Authorisation Body Ltd. (PTAB), United Kingdom? 1. GSDL Archives and Documentation Society 2. NaadSaagar Archives and Documentation Society 3. National Film and Sound Archive 4. National Cultural Audiovisual Archives 5. Ghostscript Archives and Documentation Society Answer - 4. National Cultural Audiovisual Archives Explanation : India’s National Cultural Audiovisual Archives (NCAA) has been certified as the world’s first Trusted Digital Repository as per ISO 16363:2012 standard, granted by Primary Trustworthy Digital Repository Authorisation Body Ltd. (PTAB), United Kingdom. NCAA is a project of the Union Ministry of Culture, implemented by Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA). Objective of NCAA is to identify and preserve India’s cultural heritage available in audiovisual form through a process of digitization and making it accessible to the people. By end of March 2018, a corpus of 30000 hours of unpublished, non-commercial audio & video recordings will be made online at NCAA repository. NCAA digital repository is powered by DIGITĀLAYA which is developed by C-DAC Pune. At present, 11 governmental and 10 non-governmental cultural organisations are the partnering institutions of NCAA.

362. Which State Government approved separate religion status for the Lingayat community? 1. Rajasthan 2. Punjab 3. Uttarkhand 4. Karnataka 5. Kerala Answer - 4. Karnataka Explanation : Karnataka State Government under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah (belonging to Congress Party) approved the separate religion status for the Lingayat community. Lingayat community owes allegiance to the 12th century social reform movement initiated by Basaveshwara. The community constitutes about 17 percent of Karnataka's population mainly residing in northern parts of the state. Lingayats have been demanding a separate religion status since long time. Besides, a seven-member committee, formed by Karnataka State Minorities Commission which submitted its report on March 2, 2018 recommended that Lingayats in Karnataka may be considered as a religious minority. In the past, the Lingayats have mainly supported Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).Thus, this decision will have a tremendous political impact in the upcoming Karnataka State Legislative Assembly polls to be held in May 2018.

363. In which city, the Informal meeting of World Trade Organisation (WTO) ministers was held at? 1. Kolkata 2. Gandhinagar 3. New Delhi 4. Mumbai 5. Thrissur Answer - 3. New Delhi

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Explanation : Informal meeting of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) ministers was held in New Delhi on March 20, 2018. This meeting was called by India to explore options to reinvigorate the World Trade Organisation (WTO), by engaging in free and frank discussions. This meeting was attended by Ministers and Vice Ministers from 27 countries and WTO Director General Roberto Azevedo. In wake of U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to slap import tariffs on steel and aluminium, discussions at the meeting revolved around concerns over increasing protectionism in global trade.

364. Which Indian city hosted the First India-Japan Workshop on Disaster Risk Reduction 2018? 1. New Delhi 2. Mumbai 3. Kanpur 4. Pune 5. Ahmadabad Answer - 1. New Delhi Explanation : On 19th and 20th March 2018, the First India-Japan Workshop on Disaster Risk Reduction was held in New Delhi. The workshop was inaugurated by Dr. Rajiv Kumar, Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog. Organised by: It is organised by the Ministry of Home Affairs, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Government of Japan. Participants: The workshop saw participation from 50 Japanese delegates and 70 Indian delegates. Representatives from government, technical institutions, private sector etc. participated. The workshop was aimed to take the dialogue on India-Japan Cooperation on Disaster Risk Reduction to the next level with main focus on earthquake safety. Possible areas of cooperation between India and Japan in the field of Disaster Risk Reduction were identified. This Workshop is the first outcome of the Memorandum of Cooperation regarding Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) signed by India and Japan in September 2017.

365. India's Department of Space and signed an agreement with ______, that will enable them to share earth observation data from each other's satellite? 1. Chinese Commission 2. USA Commission 3. Australian Commission 4. European Commission 5. UK’s Commission Answer - 4. European Commission Explanation : India's Department of Space and the European Commission signed an agreement that will enable them to share earth observation data from each other's satellite. The agreement was signed by Philippe Brunet, director for Space Policy, Copernicus and Defence, on behalf of European Commission and by PG Diwakar, Scientific Secretary in the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on behalf of the Department of Space. The agreement was signed in Bengaluru. The agreement aims to strengthen cooperation on Earth observation and mutual access to data from sentinel series of satellites of EU (European Union) and from the earth observation satellites of India. As per this arrangement, the European Commission would offer free, full and open access to data from the Copernicus Sentinel family of satellites to India. India's Department of Space will offer free, full and open access to the data from ISRO's earth observation satellites to the

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Copernicus programme and its participating states.

366. Gulf Shield 1 Joint drills, organised by Saudi Arabia's Defence Ministry, started in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia from March 18, 2018. Military forces of Saudi Arabia and how many other countries are participating in this month-long drill? 1. 23 2. 24 3. 25 4. 26 5. 27 Answer - 1. 23 Explanation : Gulf Shield 1 Joint drills, organised by Saudi Arabia's Defence Ministry, started in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia from March 18, 2018. Military forces of Saudi Arabia and 23 other countries are participating in this month-long drill. This is the largest military drill in the region in terms of diversity of expertise and quality of weapons that will be used. Objective of this drill is to enhance coordination and cooperation, modernise joint mechanisms and raise military readiness of participating countries.

367. Which country hosted the First G20 meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors on 19th and 20th March 2018? 1. Australia 2. Argentina 3. Spain 4. Norway 5. Finland Answer - 2. Argentina Explanation : First G20 meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors under Presidency of Argentina was held on 19th and 20th March 2018 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The meeting was attended by 22 finance ministers, 17 Central Bank Governors and 10 heads of international organizations, including International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director, Christine Lagarde and Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, Achim Steiner. Discussions at the this two-day meeting revolved around infrastructure development and the future of work in the digital arena. Interestingly, concerns over U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to slap import tariffs on steel and aluminium, which may trigger a global trade war were not discussed at this meeting. This was the first of five such meetings to be held before Argentina hosts the G20 Summit on 30th November and 1st December 2018.

368. US President Donald Trump signed an executive order making it illegal for US citizens to purchase any cryptocurrency issued by Venezuela. What is the name of the cryptocurrency introduced by Venezuela Government? 1. Petro Currency 2. Nano Currency 3. Necta Currency 4. Octon Currency 5. Seran Currency Answer - 1. Petro Currency Explanation : US President Donald Trump signed an executive order making it illegal for US citizens to purchase

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any cryptocurrency issued by Venezuela. The order prohibits U.S. citizens from engaging in transactions using Venezuela’s oil-backed currency, called the Petro. In a bid to ease country's economic crisis, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro had launched ‘Petro’, a cryptocurrency backed by Venezuela's oil, gas, gold and diamond wealth. Venezuela’s economy has been reeling under pressure since last year owing to falling oil prices and sanctions imposed by US. Mr. Maduro’s plan was to pay Venezuela’s foreign debtor with ‘Petro’ and thereby attempt to restructure country's debt. Trump administration in US wants Maduro regime to reverse the crisis that it has caused by adopting prudent economic measures rather than trying to circumvent US sanctions by issuing ‘Petro’.

369. Indian Government-owned reinsurer, General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re) has received permission to commence operations of 'GIC Syndicate 1947' from Lloyd's of London from April 2018. Who was appointed the active writer of Lloyd’s managing agency services to manage 'GIC Syndicate 1947' in the initial years? 1. Brian Schatz 2. Mazie Hirono 3. Neil Attwood 4. Mike Crapo 5. Jim Risch Answer - 3. Neil Attwood Explanation : Indian Government-owned reinsurer, General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re) has received permission to commence operations of 'GIC Syndicate 1947' from Lloyd's of London from April 2018. Lloyd’s is a United Kingdom-based insurance marketplace, where specialty underwriters provide reinsurance to global buyers by forming a syndicate. Earlier, in December 2017, Lloyd's Franchise Board granted 'in principle' approval to GIC Re to create 'GIC Syndicate 1947'. 'GIC Syndicate 1947' is thus the first Lloyd's syndicate to be backed entirely by capital from an Indian reinsurance entity. Neil Attwood has been appointed as active underwriter, while Pembroke Managing Agency Ltd., a specialist provider of Lloyd’s managing agency services, will manage 'GIC Syndicate 1947' in the initial years. GIC Re’s presence at Lloyd’s will increase its share of international reinsurance business and will be instrumental in making India a regional reinsurance hub

370. In a bid to boost overseas sales in a surplus year of production, India Government has scrapped the ______% sugar export duty? 1. 75% 2. 50% 3. 25% 4. 22% 5. 20% Answer - 5. 20% Explanation : In a bid to boost overseas sales in a surplus year of production, India Government has scrapped the 20 per cent sugar export duty. In the 2017-18 season ending on September 30, 2018, sugar production in India is likely to touch a record 29.5 million tonnes. This marks a 45 per cent increment over previous year, and is the main reason behind local sugar prices coming down by more than 15 per cent in the past six months. In addition to scrapping sugar export duty, Government may make it compulsory for mills to export 2-3 million tonnes to cut bulging stocks at home.

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371. Name the Government entity, which announced its partnership with Ola Cabs, in order to provide a book taxi option in its app and website? 1. Indian Railways 2. IRCTC 3. ONGC 4. HAL 5. Airport Authority of India Answer -2. IRCTC Explanation : IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) announced its partnership with Ola Cabs, in order to provide a book taxi option in its app and website. This partnership between IRCTC and Ola Cabs is a six month pilot project. This will offer Ola Cabs booking services to customers in the IRCTC Rail Connect App and on its website. All facilities provided by Ola Cabs will be offered on the IRCTC Rail Connect App and website for the same price as it is offered directly by Ola. Cabs can be booked up to seven days in advance or on reaching the railway station. Also IRCTC outlets at railway stations or Ola’s self-serving facility will also enable customers to book cabs.

372. India signed an agreement with which country, for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion? 1. Singapore 2. Iran 3. Canada 4. Hong Kong 5. France Answer - 4. Hong Kong Explanation : On March 19, 2018, India and Hong Kong signed Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion. This pact is in accordance with Section 90 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 which authorises Indian Government to enter into an Agreement with a foreign country or specified territory for avoidance of double taxation of income. The pact will not only prevent double taxation but will also provide for exchange of information between the two countries It is expected that it will boost flow of investment, technology and personnel between both the countries. This pact will give protection against double taxation to over 1500 Indian companies and businesses operating in Hong Kong as well as to Hong Kong-based companies operating in India.

373. Who was made the brand ambassador of ‘Educate Girls’, an international non-profit organisation? 1. Amir Khan 2. Priyanka Chopra 3. Katrina Kaif 4. Virat Kohli 5. Aishwarya Rai Answer - 3. Katrina Kaif Explanation : Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif has been named the brand ambassador of ‘Educate Girls’, an 136 | Page Follow Us - FB.com/AffairsCloudOfficialPage Copyright 2018 @ AffairsCloud.Com

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international non-profit organisation. As brand ambassador of Educate Girls, Katrina Kaif will work towards creating equal opportunities for girls to access quality education. Educate Girls involves the families, village leaders, local administration and school authorities in its efforts towards educating girls.

374. Bihar Governor Satya Pal Malik was given additional responsibility as Governor of which state? 1. West Bengal 2. Jharkhand 3. Odisha 4. Nagaland 5. Sikkim Answer - 3. Odisha Explanation : Bihar Governor Satya Pal Malik was given additional responsibility as Governor of Odisha. SC Jamir completed his five-year term as Governor of Odisha. Following this, Satya Pal Malik has been given additional charge as Governor of Odisha. Satya Pal Malik is 72 years old. He has served as Union minister of state for parliamentary affairs and tourism. He was a Rajya Sabha MP for two terms and was also a Lok Sabha MP. He was a member of Uttar Pradesh Assembly from 1974 to 1977.

375. Who was appointed the Public Interest Director in the board of BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange)? 1. Kamala Harris 2. Tammy Duckworth 3. Maggie Hassan 4. John Kennedy 5. David Wright Answer - 5. David Wright Explanation : BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange) has appointed David Wright as a Public Interest Director on its board. David Wright’s appointment as Public Interest Director is effective from 16th March 2018. He worked with the European Commission for a long time. He also worked as Secretary General of the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) from 2012 to 2016.

376. Nanda Bahadur Pun took charge as the vice president of which country, for a second term? 1. Bhutan 2. Srilanka 3. Nepal 4. Japan 5. Palestine Answer - 3. Nepal Explanation : Nanda Bahadur Pun took charge as Nepal's vice president for a second term. On 18th March 2018, Nanda Bahadur Pun was re-elected as Nepal’s Vice President unopposed, as no other party had filed nominations. Nanda Bahadur Pun’s oath of office and secrecy was administered by President Bidya Devi Bhandari at an official ceremony. Also, Shasi Kala Dahal of CPN-Maoist Centre was elected vice-chairperson of the national assembly. She defeated Brinda Devi Ale of

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Nepali Congress.

377. Name India’s first all-composite light aircraft. 1. Hansa-2 2. Hansa-3 3. Hansa-4 4. Hansa-13 5. Hansa-15 Answer - 2. Hansa-3 Explanation : Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has given in-principle approval to National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) for design, development and certification of Hansa-NG, a next generation trainer aircraft of the two-seater Hansa-3 aircraft. Hansa-3, developed by NAL is India’s first all-composite light aircraft. Currently, flying clubs across India are using Twelve Hansa-3 for pilot training courses. NAL initiated designing and developing a next generation trainer Hansa-NG in order to meet the latest requirements of the flight training schools in India. Hansa-NG is a collaborative project between NAL and MESCO Aerospace.

378. Which country topped the overall medal list in the Paralympic Winter Games Pyeong Chang 2018 in South Korea? 1. India 2. South Korea 3. China 4. Russia 5. USA Answer - 5. USA Explanation : On 18th March 2018, the Paralympic Winter Games Pyeong Chang 2018 in South Korea, concluded with Team USA having its most successful performance in 16 years. Team USA consisted of 74 athletes. It grabbed a total of 36 medals and topped the overall medal count. This is Team USA’s highest medal count since 2002 when it won 43 medals. It also topped the gold medal count for the first time since 1992. It topped the overall gold medal count and also the gold medals won on each day of the Games. Oksana Masters became the female U.S. athlete to have won the highest number of medals in PyeongChang Olympics with five medals. Among men, Dan Cnossen won six medals and topped the count. The U.S. Nordic skiing team won 16 medals. Kendall Gretsch bagged the first-ever biathlon Olympic or Paralympic gold medal for a U.S. athlete.The U.S. Paralympic Snowboarding Team won 13 medals. 18 military veterans on Team USA won a total of 9 medals.

379. Kedarnath Singh recently passed away. Who was he? 1. Singer 2. Poet 3. Physicist 4. Violinist 5. Journalist Answer - 2. Poet Explanation : On 19th March 2018, Kedarnath Singh, a popular Hindi poet passed away, after being ill for some time, in New Delhi. Kedarnath Singh was 83 years old. He is a former professor and chairperson at the Department of Hindi Language at the Centre for Indian Languages at Jawaharlal Nehru

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University. He had received the Jnanapeeth award in 2013. In 1989 he received the Sahitya Akademi award.

380. Sunil Sharma recently passed away. Who was he? 1. Doctor 2. Singer 3. Dancer 4. Teacher 5. Journalist Answer - 5. Journalist Explanation : Sunil Sharma, a senior journalist, died due to heart attack in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. Sunil Sharma was 49 years old. He is survived by his wife and daughter. He was working as the bureau chief of 'Divya Himachal', a Hindi newspaper

381. C R Chandradath recently passed away. Who was he? 1. Bike Racer 2. Social Activist 3. Politician 4. Event Organiser 5. Guitarist Answer - 2. Social Activist Explanation : On 20th March 2018, C R Chandradath, a social activist, passed away at a private hospital in Kochi, Kerala. C R Chandradath was 75 years old. He is survived by his wife and two children. He was the director of Centre of Science and Technology for Rural Development (COSTFORD) in Thrissur.

382. When is the International Day of Happiness celebrated all over the world? 1. 16th March 2. 17th March 3. 18th March 4. 19th March 5. 20th March Answer - 5. 20th March Explanation : On 20th March 2018, International Day of Happiness was celebrated all over the world. The United Nations has celebrated the International Day of Happiness since 2013. This day stresses the importance of happiness in the lives of people. Theme for International Day of Happiness 2018: “Share Happiness”. This year the focus is on the importance of relationships, kindness and helping each other. Every year, a World Happiness Report is prepared as a survey of the state of global happiness. Apart from usual ranking of the levels and changes in happiness throughout the world, this year the focus is on migration within and between countries.

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383. Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), Dehradun and Technology Information, Forecasting & Assessment Council (TIFAC), New Delhi signed an MoU for providing livelihood opportunities and augment income for which community people? 1. Agriculture based community 2. Tribal based community 3. Sikh community 4. Forest based community 5. Gupta community Answer - 4. Forest based community Explanation: On March 20, 2018, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), Dehradun and Technology Information, Forecasting & Assessment Council (TIFAC), New Delhi signed an MoU for providing livelihood opportunities and augment income of the forest based communities. ICFRE is an Autonomous Council under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change while TIFAC is an Autonomous Council under Department of Science and Technology. The MoU was signed in presence of Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Harsh Vardhan in New Delhi. As per the terms of the MoU, TIFAC shall help ICFRE to refine and up-scale the technologies that have been developed and make it accessible to the end users including farmers and other stakeholders

384. In which state, the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the Inland ferry services? 1. Gujarat 2. Kerala 3. Goa 4. Odisha 5. West Bengal Answer - 3. Goa Explanation: On March 20, 2018, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the Inland ferry services in Vasco, Goa. Several dignitaries including Union Minister of State for AYUSH (Independent Charge) Shripad Naik were present at the inauguration. While delivering the keynote address at the occasion, Mr. Gadkari highlighted that use of waterways is not only economical but is also environmental friendly. Commuting through Inland ferry services inaugurated in Vasco, Goa would save time and money and avoid pollution and ease the road congestion.

385. Central Government has approved the setting up of a Plastic Park in which state? 1. Rajasthan 2. Maharashtra 3. Uttarkhand 4. Jharkhand 5. Madhya Pradesh Answer - 4. Jharkhand Explanation: Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers, Ananthkumar has announced that Central Government has approved the setting up of a Plastic Park in Deoghar District of Jharkhand. The Plastic Park would be set up at a cost of Rs. 120 crores over an area of 150 acres. Range of polymer products

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including woven sacks, water tanks, moulded furniture, bottles, pipes mosquito nets, etc would be manufactured at this Plastic Park. Setting up of Plastic Park is likely to generate 6000 direct employment opportunities and 30000 indirect employment opportunities. Mr. Ananthkumar also requested the Jharkhand State Government to facilitate land/ building infrastructure to set up a Central Institute for Plastic Engineering & Technology (CIPET) alongside the Plastic Park, for training necessary human resource (plastic engineers and technicians). Plastic Park, CIPET and the Plastic Recycling unit would together form an ecosystem that would encourage setting up of Plastic Industry at Deoghar and would make it a ‘Plastic Hub’ in future.

386. Name the theoretical physicist, cosmologist and author to whom India Post paid a tribute by issuing a special cover on him? 1. Abdul Kalam 2. Stephen Hawking 3. Jane Hawking 4. Dennis Stanton 5. Isaac Newton Answer - 2. Stephen Hawking Explanation: India Post paid a tribute to theoretical physicist, cosmologist and author Stephen Hawking by issuing a special cover on him. Stephen Hawking passed away at the age of 76 on March 14, 2018 in his home in Cambridge in the United Kingdom. The special cover on Stephen Hawking was jointly issued by Chief Post Master General (CPMG) of Maharashtra and Goa Circle, H C Agrawal and Director of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) Dr Sandip Trivedi at an event held in the General Post Office (GPO), Mumbai. Special cover on Stephen Hawking will be released at all 22 Circles of India Post. ’A Brief History of Time’, ‘The Universe in a Nutshell’, ‘On the Shoulders of Giants” are some of the popular books written by Stephen Hawking.

387. Which state government gave its in-principle approval for adopting the Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) for horticulture crops such as apple and saffron in the state? 1. Maharashtra 2. Madhya Pradesh 3. Gujarat 4. Karnataka 5. Jammu and Kashmir Answer - 5. Jammu and Kashmir Explanation: Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) cabinet gave its in-principle approval for adopting the Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) for horticulture crops such as apple and saffron in the state. Decision in this regard was taken at State Cabinet meeting chaired by J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. Under RWBCIS, farmers will be provided insurance coverage and financial support in the event of failure of any of the notified crops due to adverse weather incidences. It is to be noted that RWBCIS will be in addition to Central Government’s Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.

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388. Which institution signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) with Piramal Foundation to work closely with the District Collectors and Key Government officials of 'Aspirational Districts' to support their transformation in terms of education, healthcare and nutrition? 1. Planning Commission 2. Ministry of Finance 3. NITI Aayog 4. Finance Commission 5. National Development Council Answer - 3. NITI Aayog Explanation: NITI Aayog and Piramal Foundation have signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) to work closely with the District Collectors and Key Government officials of 'Aspirational Districts' to support their transformation in terms of education, healthcare and nutrition. In context of this news, aspirational districts refer to selected 115 backward districts that are lagging on specific development parameters. Central Government has undertaken a major policy initiative for rapid transformation of these districts and senior government officials have been assigned responsibility to coordinate the efforts of the Centre and states in facilitating development in such districts. As per the terms of the SoI with Niti Aayog, Piramal Foundation will work in close conjunction with the State Government, district administration, and concerned Central ministries in improving the identified indicators in the health and nutrition and education sectors. The collaboration between Niti Aayog and Piramal Foundation is for a duration of four years.

389. Which Ministry signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare to conduct skill development training programmes for agriculture and allied sector? 1. Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare 2. Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers 3. Union Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship 4. Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry 5. Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs Answer - 3. Union Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Explanation: Union Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to conduct skill development training programmes for agriculture and allied sector. As per the terms of the MoU, skill development training programmes will be conducted on a regular basis at Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs). The MoU will be instrumental in achieving government’s goal of developing agriculture as a private enterprise so that it attracts more youth. Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Radha Mohan Singh has expressed hope that this MoU will contribute in realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream of Kaushal Bharat-Kushal Bharat.

390. Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao mandated teaching which language as a compulsory subject in all the public and private schools of the Telangana for the academic year 2018-2019? 1. Telugu 2. English 3. Kannada 4. Urdu 5. Santhali

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Answer - 1. Telugu Explanation: Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao mandated teaching Telugu as a compulsory subject in all the public and private schools of the Telangana for the academic year 2018-2019. K. Chandrashekhar Rao held discussions with officials on this regard. He said that, Telugu has been made a compulsory subject in order to respect their mother tongue. He said that, the Telugu University and the Sahitya Academy will decide the Telugu syllabus for various standards.

391. Which State government decided to impose a permanent ban on hookah bars in the state? 1. Haryana 2. Kerala 3. Punjab 4. Jharkhand 5. Rajasthan Answer - 3. Punjab Explanation: Punjab government decided to impose a permanent ban on hookah bars in Punjab. Punjab cabinet approved an amendment to the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act (COTPA), 2003 for the prevention and control of diseases caused by the use of tobacco products. This was approved at a meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh. This ban aims to reduce usage of hookah, hookah bars, and use of tobacco among young people.

392. As per 20th annual Quality of Living survey by Mercer, which city has been named the world’s best city to live in for the ninth consecutive year? 1. Vancouver, Canada 2. Munich, Germany 3. Auckland, New Zealand 4. Vienna, Austria 5. Zurich, Switzerland Answer - 4. Vienna Explanation: As per 20th annual Quality of Living survey by Mercer, Austrian capital Vienna has been named the world’s best city to live in for the ninth consecutive year. Mercer’s annual Quality of Living survey assesses living conditions in 231 cities of the world on 39 factors, grouped under 10 broad categories. The 10 categories are: Political and social environment, Economic environment, Socio-cultural environment, Medical and health considerations, Schools and education, Public services and transportation, Recreation, availability of Consumer goods, Housing and Natural Environment. Findings of this survey enable multinational companies and other organisations to compensate employees appropriately when placing them on international assignments. In this year’s edition, a separate ranking on City Sanitation has also been provided. This ranking is based on assessment of cities’ waste removal and sewage infrastructure, levels of infectious disease, air pollution, water availability and quality. Founded in 1945, Mercer is world's largest human resources consulting firm. Its headquarters is located in New York, US.

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393. Which Indian city has secured 22nd rank in the world, in the TripAdvisor’s top 25 travellers choice of destinations list for 2018? 1. Mumbai 2. New Delhi 3. Kolkata 4. Agra 5. Pune Answer - 2. New Delhi Explanation: New Delhi has secured 22nd rank in the world and 8th in Asia in the TripAdvisor’s top 25 travellers choice of destinations list for 2018. New Delhi stands 22nd in TripAdvisor’s top 25 travellers choice of destinations list for 2018. Paris secured 1st rank in the global list of Travellers Choice awards for Destinations. It is followed by London (UK), Rome (Italy), Bali (Indonesia), Crete (Greece). This awards by TripAdvisor recognises 402 outstanding destinations in 42 lists throughout the world.In the Asia list, the following Indian cities have secured a place: New Delhi – 8thposition, Goa – 9thposition and Jaipur - 16th position The Asia list is topped by Bali in Indonesia. It is followed by Phuket in Thailand, Hanoi (Vietnam), Siem Reap (Siem Reap Province), Tokyo (Japan), Kathmandu (Nepal) and Hong Kong.

394. Online food ordering and delivery platform, Swiggy have partnered with which private bank, to roll out two innovative digital solutions to facilitate a convenient and hassle- free way for delivery partners to transfer funds to Swiggy? 1. SBI 2. HDFC Bank 3. Canara Bank 4. ICICI Bank 5. Axis Bank Answer - 4. ICICI Bank Explanation : Online food ordering and delivery platform, Swiggy and India’s largest private bank, ICICI Bank have partnered to roll out two innovative digital solutions to facilitate a convenient and hassle- free way for delivery partners to transfer funds to Swiggy. The first one is a Unified Payment Interface (UPI) based solution which enables instant fund transfers on-the-go while the other is a facility for depositing cash at automated Cash Deposit Machines (CDM) available at ICICI Bank branches and ATMs across India. Swiggy has integrated the UPI solution with ICICI Bank, which offers a secure and scalable mode to enable collection of funds from its delivery partners. Under this arrangement, Swiggy’s delivery partners will have their own UPI handle, to which they can link their savings bank account and start transacting by using any UPI-enabled app like ICICI Bank ‘Pockets’, ‘Google Tez’, ‘BHIM’,etc. On receiving fund transfer from delivery partners, ICICI Bank will immediately credit Swiggy’s account and send the delivery partner’s details to Swiggy. On receving details, Swiggy will update the collection against the delivery partner instantly.

395. India handed over the 18th diesel-electric locomotive to which country, thereby completed the first project under the current Indian line of credit (LoC) to the eastern neighbour 1. Myanmar 2. China 3. Japan 4. USA 5. UK

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Answer - 1. Myanmar Explanation: India handed over the 18th diesel-electric locomotive to Myanmar and thereby completed the first project under the current Indian line of credit (LoC) to Myanmar. All 18, AC-DC 1350 HP diesel-electric locomotives are fitted with the microprocessor control based system and can attain a maximum speed of 100 KM PH. These locomotives have been customised for the Myanmar Railways and have been built by Diesel Locomotive Works, Varanasi. The handing over ceremony was attended by Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain

396. Which is the first company in India that started doorstep delivery of diesel on a pilot basis after receiving clearance from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO)? 1. Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd 2. Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd 3. Indian Oil Corp 4. Reliance Petroleum Corp Ltd 5. Essar Oil Limited Answer - 3. Indian Oil Corp Explanation: On March 21, 2018, government-owned Indian Oil Corp (IOC) started doorstep delivery of diesel on a pilot basis in Pune and has thus became first company in India to provide such service after receiving clearance from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO). IOC has started this service in Pune through a diesel dispenser mounted on a midsized truck along with a storage tank. Based on the response it gets during the three-month trial period in Pune, IOC may roll out the doorstep delivery of fuel to other cities of India. Potential customer for this service are 'static customers' like transport companies with large diesel consumption and shopping malls/commercial establishments that use diesel in gensets for producing electricity Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) and Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) are the other two refiner that have got PESO approval for a trial run of doorstep diesel delivery. PESO approval is mandatory for doorstep delivery of fuel as petrol and diesel are highly inflammable fuels and require adequate safety precautions.

397. Donald Trump Administration in US has decided to impose anti-dumping duty on the stainless steel flanges imported from which two countries? 1. China and India 2. China and Japan 3. China and Malaysia 4. China and Singapore 5. China and Britain Answer - 1. China and India Explanation: Donald Trump Administration in US has decided to impose anti-dumping duty on the stainless steel flanges imported from China and India. The anti-dumping duty has been imposed based on a probe by US Department of Commerce, through which, it was found that exporters from India and China received subsidies on these products and were thereby able to sell it in US market much below the fair value. The probe was initiated in response to petition by the Coalition of American Flange Producers, including Core Pipe Products Inc. (Carol Stream, IL) and Maass Flange Corporation (Houston). US Commerce Department will now instruct the US Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) to collect difference between sales value and fair value from importers of the stainless steel flanges from China and India. In 2016, India imported stainless steel flanges

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to US worth USD32.1 million.

398. The Norwegian Academy of Sciences and Letters declared whom, the winner of Abel Prize for 2018? 1. Richard Taylor 2. James Arthur 3. Andrew Wiles 4. Robert Langlands 5. Edward Frenkel Answer - 4. Robert Langlands Explanation: The Norwegian Academy of Sciences and Letters said that, Canadian mathematician Robert Langlands has been named the winner of the Abel Prize for 2018. Robert Langlands will receive 6 million Norwegian kroner ($776,000) from Norway's King Harald V at an award function to be held in Oslo on 22nd May 2018. Robert Langlands is awarded for his programme linking representation theory to number theory. He is 81 years old. He has worked in Princeton University and Yale University. At present he is a professor at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, the United States.

399. Htin Kyaw, the first democratically elected President of which country, announced his retirement due to ill health? 1. Bhutan 2. Myanmar 3. Singapore 4. Malaysia 5. Srilanka Answer - 2. Myanmar Explanation: Htin Kyaw, Myanmar’s first democratically elected President, announced his retirement due to ill health. Htin Kyaw was the first democratically elected President of Myanmar. He won the Presidential elections in 2016. He is 71 years old. Myanmar President Office has announced that, the President post which has become vacant will be filled within 7 working days. He was the first Myanmar president to visit India in 2016.

400. Which country is constructing the world's fastest wind tunnel? 1. Japan 2. Russia 3. USA 4. Canada 5. China Answer - 5. China Explanation: China has announced that, it is constructing the world's fastest wind tunnel. It is said that, it would be the world's fastest hypersonic wind tunnel. It would be used to help in the development of spacecraft. A Chinese researcher has said that, the 265 meter-long tunnel would be used to test hypersonic aircraft that can travel up to a speed of 30,625 kph. This speed is 25 times the

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speed of sound.

401. Which country’s first space agency is Hellenic Space Agency? 1. Spain 2. Kenya 3. Greece 4. Norway 5. Poland Answer - 3. Greece Explanation: Hellenic Space Agency, Greece’s first space agency was officially launched on March 19, 2018. Although Greece will not start its own space exploration programme through this agency in near future, the agency is expected to benefit the country in various sectors viz. telecommunications, defense, medical applications, environmental monitoring, agriculture, fire prevention and control. Dr. Tom Krimigis, who is regarded as ‘Space Exploration Pioneer’ has been appointed Chairperson of the Board of Hellenic Space Agency. In the context of this news, it is to be noted that Greece has been a member of European Space Agency (ESA) since 2005 and has invested millions of Euros in its research programmes. Including the Greek and Cypriot telecommunications satellite Hellas Sat 3 which was launched from French Guiana in 2017, Greece currently has six transponders and three ground-based satellite hubs

402. Name the last survived northern white male rhinoceros of the world, that died after suffering age related ailments at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Laikipia national park, Kenya? 1. Nokia 2. Nolani 3. Amni 4. Sudan 5. Prayag Answer - 4. Sudan Explanation : On 20th March 2018, Sudan, the last surviving northern white male rhinoceros of the world, died after suffering age related ailments at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Laikipia national park, Kenya. Sudan was 45 years old. It was the only surviving male northern white rhino. Now, only two female rhinoceros of that sub-species are living. Genetic material from Sudan was collected when he was healthy. The Ol Pejeta Conservancy has said that, through advanced cellular technologies, the sub-species might be prevented from extinction.

403. Les Payne passed away recently. Who was he? 1. Physicist 2. Guitarist 3. Singer 4. Doctor 5. Journalist Answer - 5. Journalist Explanation : On 19th March 2018, journalist and Pulitzer Prize winner Les Payne passed away at his residence in Harlem, United States. Les Payne was 76 years old. In 1969, he joined Newsday newspaper as a journalist. He was on the team of reporters who won Pulitzer Prize for public service in 1974. He worked as a teacher at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. He was also a

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founding member and former president of the National Association of Black Journalists.

404. When is World Sparrow Day celebrated all over the world? 1. 17th March 2. 18th March 3. 19th March 4. 20th March 5. 21th March Answer - 4. 20th March Explanation: On 20th March 2018, World Sparrow Day was celebrated all over the world. The World Sparrow Day was initiated by the Nature Forever Society of India. It was started in collaboration with the Eco-Sys Action Foundation (France) and several other national and international organisations. The World Sparrow Day aims to create awareness on conservation of sparrows and to fight against extinction of birds.

405. When is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination was observed all over the world? 1. 17th March 2. 18th March 3. 19th March 4. 20th March 5. 21th March Answer - 5. 21th March Explanation: On 21st March 2018, International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination was observed all over the world. When: The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed every year on 21st March. Why: It commemorates the Sharpeville massacre in which 69 people where inhumanly killed for peacefully demonstrating against apartheid in South Africa on 21st March 1960. Theme for International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2018: Promoting tolerance, inclusion, unity and respect for diversity in the context of combating racial discrimination.

406. On which date, the World Poetry Day celebrated all over the world? 1. 17th March 2. 18th March 3. 19th March 4. 20th March 5. 21th March Answer - 2. 21st March Explanation: On 21st March 2018, World Poetry Day was celebrated all over the world. When and Why: World Poetry Day is held every year on 21st March. It celebrates poetry, which is considered one of humanity’s most precious forms of cultural expression and identity. UNESCO adopted 21 March as World Poetry Day in 1999. It was adopted with an aim to support linguistic diversity and protect endangered languages. This day is an opportunity to honour poets, conduct poetry recitals, promote reading, writing and teaching of poetry, encourage theatre, dance, music, painting, etc.

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407. What is the theme for International Day of Forests 2018? 1. Protect Forests 2. Support Linguistic Diversity 3. Forests and Sustainable Cities 4. Forests and Animals 5. Plant Trees Go Green Answer - 3. Forests and Sustainable Cities Explanation: On 21st March 2018, International Day of Forests was observed all over the world. When: 21 March was declared as the International Day of Forests by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012. Why: This day acts as a platform to create awareness on the importance of all types of woodlands and trees. Activities such as tree-planting, art, photo and film exhibitions are held on this day themed around forests. Theme for International Day of Forests 2018: Forests and Sustainable Cities.

408. “#WhatIBringToMyCommunity “ is the theme of ______? 1. International Day of Forests 2. World Down syndrome Day 3. World Poetry Day 4. World Sleeping Day 5. World Anaemic Day Answer - 2. World Down syndrome Day Explanation On 21st March 2018, World Down syndrome Day (WDSD) was observed all over the world. Down syndrome: It is a naturally occurring chromosomal arrangement that generally results in various effects on learning styles, physical characteristics or health. When and Why: The UN General Assembly declared 21 March as World Down Syndrome Day in 2011. This day aims to create awareness on Down syndrome among the public. World Down syndrome Day 2018 marks the 13th anniversary of World Down Syndrome Day. The focus for World Down syndrome Day 2018 is: #WhatIBringToMyCommunity - how people with Down syndrome can contribute in schools, workplaces, community, public and political life, culture, media, recreation, leisure and sport.

409. Wealth management application Fisdom has tied up with which bank to help customers register and manage National Pension Scheme (NPS) investments in a completely digital and paperless manner? 1. Dena Bank 2. Axis Bank 3. Postal Payments Bank 4. Lakshmi Vilas Bank 5. Canara Bank Answer - 4. Lakshmi Vilas Bank Explanation: Wealth management application Fisdom has tied up with Lakshmi Vilas Bank to help customers register and manage National Pension Scheme (NPS) investments in a completely digital and paperless manner. Fisdom, a Bangalore based start-up founded in 2015 by Subramanya S.V. claims to have facilitated mutual fund investments worth more than Rs. 100 crore last year. For NPS service offered on Fisdom, Lakshmi Vilas Bank will be the managing bank. Registered users on Fisdom app, who are interested in NPS, can choose the risk profile and fund they want to

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invest in it. After investing, they can even track the value of their NPS portfolio on the app.

410. Union Cabinet has approved the launch of a new Centrally Sponsored Ayushman Bharat -National Health Protection Mission (AB-NHPM), which was announced in Union Budget 2018. This scheme will provide a benefit cover of Rs. ______per family per year? 1. 2 lakh 2. 4 lakh 3. 5 lakh 4. 6 lakh 5. 10 lakh Answer - 3. 5 lakh Explanation: Union Cabinet has approved the launch of a new Centrally Sponsored Ayushman Bharat -National Health Protection Mission (AB-NHPM), which was announced in Union Budget 2018. AB-NHPM will provide a benefit cover of Rs. 5 lakh per family per year. The benefit cover will include pre and post-hospitalisation expenses. Besides, there will be no cap on family size and age. More than 10 crore families belonging to poor and vulnerable population (based on Socio-Economic Caste Census database) will be the target beneficiaries of this scheme. It will subsume the on-going centrally sponsored schemes –Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) and the Senior Citizen Health Insurance Scheme (SCHIS).

411. Indian Government signed a MoU with Guyana for cooperation in which field? 1. Renewable Energy 2. Solar Energy 3. Agriculture 4. IT Sector 5. Space Science Answer - 1. Renewable Energy Explanation: Cabinet apprised of MoU between India and Guyana on cooperation in Renewable Energy. This memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on January 30, 2018 in New Delhi. The MoU contains a framework for a cooperative institutional relationship between India and Guyana to encourage and promote technical bilateral cooperation on new and renewable energy. As per the terms of the MoU, a Joint Working Committee comprising representatives from both the sides will be set up to review, monitor and discuss matters related to areas of cooperation.

412. Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has stated that it has constituted a task force to review the Income Tax Act, 1961 and to draft a new Direct Tax Law which takes into consideration the prevailing economic scenario and economic needs of contemporary India. Thus it has invited suggestions and feedback from whom, in the format provided on www.incometaxindia.gov.in? 1. Stakeholders 2. General Public 3. Foreign Reseachers 4. 1&2 5. 2&3 Answer - 4. 1&2 Explanation: Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has stated that it has constituted a task force to review the

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Income Tax Act, 1961 and to draft a new Direct Tax Law which takes into consideration the prevailing economic scenario and economic needs of contemporary India. CBDT believes that to prepare the draft of new Direct Tax Law, it is necessary to engage with stakeholders and general public. Thus it has invited suggestions and feedback from stakeholders and general public in the format provided on www.incometaxindia.gov.in. Suggestions/feedback in this regard may be sent through e-mail at [email protected] by April 2, 2018.

413. Name the framework launched by Union Minister of Mines Narendra Singh Tomar, in order to help states to take action against illegal mining? 1. Sand Mining Framework 2. Mining Framework 3. Sand Framework 4. Illegal Sand Mining Framework 5. Framework of Sand Scam Answer - 1. Sand Mining Framework Explanation : Union Minister of Mines Narendra Singh Tomar launched a "sand mining framework" in order to help states to take action against illegal mining.Developed by: The Sand Mining Framework was prepared by the Ministry of Mines. It was developed after conducting study in several states and consultations with institutions like National Council for Cement and Building Materials, Cement Manufacture Association etc. The suggestions in this framework will offer a roadmap to the states that will help them to develop their policies and will act as a check on illegal mining of sand.

414. Which fruit was declared as official fruit of Kerala? 1. Apple 2. Orange 3. Papaya 4. Jackfruit 5. Strawberry Answer - 4. Jackfruit Explanation: On 21st March 2018, the jackfruit was declared as official fruit of Kerala. An official announcement on this regard was made by Kerala Agriculture minister V S Sunil Kumar in the Kerala state assembly. This decision was taken based on a proposal made by the Kerala Agriculture Department. This has been done in a move to promote the 'Kerala jackfruit' as a brand in markets all over India and abroad. The agricultural office in Ambalavayil in Wayanad is to be used for jackfruit research. The state animal of Kerala is ‘Elephant’. The state bird of Kerala is 'great hornbill'. The state flower of Kerala is 'kanikkonna'.

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415. Which State government’s Animal Husbandry Department has inked a MoU with Bharat Financial Inclusion Ltd (BFIL) to launch 'Pashu Dhan Sanjeevani - 1962', an animal healthcare programme in the state? 1. Kerala 2. Karnataka 3. Madhya Pradesh 4. Telangana 5. Gujarat Answer - 3. Madhya Pradesh Explanation The Madhya Pradesh Animal Husbandry Department has inked a MoU with Bharat Financial Inclusion Ltd (BFIL) to launch 'Pashu Dhan Sanjeevani - 1962', an animal healthcare programme. The MoU was signed in the presence of Madhya Pradesh Animal Husbandry Minister Antar Singh Arya and BFIL CEO and MD Geoff Woolley. The 'Pashu Dhan Sanjeevani - 1962' is claimed to be the first of its kind initiative by any state government in India. This programme offers animal owners a range of veterinary services. They just have to dial the toll-free helpline number 1962. Veterinary services like emergency treatment, on-demand artificial insemination, vaccination and deworming will be offered at the doorstep of farmers. This will be of great use to farmers who find it difficult to bring their cattle to the health centres. The IT ecosystem for this programme has been developed by BFIL. The service delivery process will be monitored through the 'Bharat Sanjeevani' software and a mobile app exclusively developed for doctors, veterinary field officers and artificial insemination technicians.

416. How many members are there in the Central Press Accreditation Committee? 1. 3 2. 5 3. 6 4. 8 5. 10 Answer - 4. 8 Explanation: The Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry has reconstituted two journalist-related bodies. On 20th March 2018 an order was issued by Information and Broadcasting Ministry that announced the members of the Central Press Accreditation Committee. The Central Press Accreditation Committee considers the names of correspondents and camerapersons who get Press Information Bureau (PIB) accreditation. The committee is headed by the Prinicpal Director General of PIB as the ex-officio chairperson. It has 8 members. It has a tenure of 2 years. Other members are: a representative of the Press Council of India and a representative of the News Broadcasters Association. Five other members are: Prashant Mishra of Dainik Jagran; Navika Kumar of Times Now; Kanchan Gupta, commissioning editor with ABP News; J Gopikrishnan of The Pioneer; and Smita Prakash, Editor News of Asian News International. I&B Ministry has also constituted a committee to administer the Journalists Welfare Scheme. The administering committee will consist of: I&B Secretary, Principal DG PIB, and a joint secretary from the I&B ministry.

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417. In which state, the world’s longest sandstone cave named ‘Krem Puri’ has been discovered? 1. Sikkim 2. Rajasthan 3. Manipur 4. Punjab 5. Meghalaya Answer - 5. Meghalaya Explanation: The world’s longest sandstone cave named ‘Krem Puri’ has been discovered in Meghalaya. Krem Puri was discovered in 2016. However its actual length was found between 5th February and 1st March 2018. It was measured by the Meghalaya Adventurers’ Association (MAA). It is 24,583 metres long. This cave is over 6,000 metres longer than the world record-holder Cueva Del Saman, a sandstone cave in Edo Zulia, Venezuela. It has also become India’s second longest cave in the general category. The longest India cave is the Krem Liat Prah-Umim-Labit system in the Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya.

418. When was International Yoga Fest inaugurated by Union minister Jitendra Singh at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi? 1. 17th March 2. 18th March 3. 19th March 4. 20th March 5. 21st March Answer - 5. 21st March Explanation : On 21st March 2018, International Yoga Fest was inaugurated by Union minister Jitendra Singh at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi, as a curtain raiser for the International Yoga Day (IYD) to be held on 21st June 2018. The International Yoga Fest is held for 3 days. Over 5,000 delegates from 16 countries and nearly 40 yoga institutions and universities are taking part in the fest. Four cities namely Jaipur, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Mysore have been shortlisted for conducting the main function of International Yoga Day 2018. The international yoga fest will be followed by 10 state-level fests that will be held in different parts of India.

419. In which state, the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) launched Free Wi-Fi Facility in one of its village? 1. Gujarat 2. Maharashtra 3. Bihar 4. Jharkhand 5. Andhra Pradesh Answer - 1. Gujarat Explanation: On 21st March 2018, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) launched Free Wi-Fi Facility at Udwada Village, in Valsad District, Gujarat. The facility was launched by Manoj Sinha, Minister of State for Communications and Minister of State for Railways. I&B (Information and Broadcasting) minister Smriti Irani selected Udwada village under Saansad Adarsh Gram scheme. Smriti Irani said that, under Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana Rs.16.48 Lakh has been allotted for implementing Wi-Fi by BSNL in Udwada Village. Anupam Shrivastava, CMD of BSNL, said that two Hotspots with

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17 Access points have been installed at Udwada village.

420. In which Indian city, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) celebrated its 6th Foundation Day? 1. 17th March 2. 18th March 3. 19th March 4. 20th March 5. 21st March Answer - 4. 20th March Explanation: On 20th March 2018, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) celebrated its 6th Foundation Day in New Delhi. The event was inaugurated by Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences and Environment, Forests and Climate Change, who was the Chief Guest of the event. Theme: The theme for 6th Foundation Day of BIRAC was ‘Sustaining Innovation – A Market Driven Pathway’. Several dignitaries from the scientific and industry sectors within India and also from foreign countries attended the event. Preliminary winners of the SoCH (Solutions for Community Health) awards were announced at the event. This is an innovation challenge award which was initiated at the MyGov portal in September 2017.

421. Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX) has announced that it will commence futures trading in ______on March 26, 2018? 1. Chilli 2. Brass 3. Helium 4. Neon 5. Platinum Answer - 2. Brass Explanation: Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX) has announced that it will commence futures trading in brass on March 26, 2018. The launch will be an important milestone as it will be for the first time that a Brass Futures contract will be traded on an organised exchange anywhere in the world. Availability of Brass Futures contracts will not only help in price discovery but will also help brass merchants to hedge the risk arising out of price fluctuation. The lot size of the contract will be 1 MT (metric tonne) with expiries in April, May and June 2018.

422. Which company signed a Technology Collaboration Agreement (TCA) with HLB Power, Republic of Korea? 1. ONGC 2. Adani Power 3. BHEL 4. Hindustan Petroleum 5. ISRO Answer - 3. BHEL Explanation: On 21st March 2018, BHEL said that, it has signed a Technology Collaboration Agreement (TCA) with HLB Power, Republic of Korea. BHEL said that, this collaboration is for in-house design and manufacture of large size gates and dampers used in coal fired power plants that would be commissioned or retrofitted with high capacity emission control equipment. The TCA was signed

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by Subrata Biswas, Director (E, R&D) BHEL and Dr. Jong Weon Kim, CEO and Director, HLB Power at BHEL's corporate office. BHEL said that, this TCA will help in developing in-house design, manufacture

423. Which bank stated that it has received approval from Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs for amalgamation of its fully-owned subsidiary All Bank Finance Ltd. (ABFL) with itself? 1. Dena Bank 2. Axis Bank 3. SBI 4. Canara Bank 5. Allahabad Bank Answer - 5. Allahabad Bank Explanation : On March 21, 2018, Allahabad Bank stated that it has received approval from Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs for amalgamation of its fully-owned subsidiary All Bank Finance Ltd. (ABFL) with itself. Bank's board had approved the proposed amalgamation in December 2016. All Bank Finance offers fee-based services like debenture trusteeship, distribution of mutual fund schemes, investment advisory and portfolio management and security valuation. For financial year 2016- 17, ABFL’s total income stood at Rs 13.30 crore, while the net profit was Rs 6.76 crore.

424. On 22nd March 2018, the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was successfully test fired from Pokhran test range in Rajasthan. The BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile. It was developed in a joint-venture between India and______? 1. Japan 2. China 3. Russia 4. USA 5. Canada Answer - 3. Russia Explanation: On 22nd March 2018, the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was successfully test fired from Pokhran test range in Rajasthan. The BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile. It was developed in a joint-venture between India and Russia. This missile has been named after the rivers Brahmaputra of India and Moskva of Russia. It is a two-stage self-propelled guided missile. It can fly at almost three times the speed of sound at Mach 2.8. It has a range of 290 km. Work to integrate the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile on 40 Sukhoi combat aircraft is under progress. BrahMos has a strike accuracy rate of 99.99 %. It follows various trajectories like high, high-low, low, surface-skim etc.

425. ______has introduced billing through Point of Sale (POS) hand held machines in trains? 1. IRCTC 2. Indian Government 3. HAL 4. Indian Army 5. Indian Navy Answer - 1. IRCTC

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Explanation: IRCTC has introduced billing through Point of Sale (POS) hand held machines in trains. IRCTC is introducing POS billing machines in trains in phases. POS machines have already been introduced in train no. 12627-28, SBC-NDLS Karnataka Express on pilot basis. In the next phase, 100 POS machines are launched in 26 trains. There are 50 rakes (composition of coaches forming a train) on those 26 trains. 2 POS machines will be provided for each rake of the train. Later, the number of POS machines will be increased according to the usage by passengers. IRCTC also deploys its officials on these trains to monitor the catering services. These Officials will be provided with Tablets (Tab) to obtain passenger feedback. The service providers managing the onboard services are

426. Which country hosted the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Junior World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun 2018? 1. Spain 2. Portugal 3. Australia 4. Norway 5. Thailand Answer - 3. Australia Explanation: On 22nd March 2018, Indian shooter Elavenil Valarivan won gold medal in the junior women's 10m air rifle event at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Junior World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun in Sydney, Australia. Also, Elavenil Valarivan along with Shreya Agrawal and Zeena Khitta won the team gold medal. Elavenil Valarivan shot 249.8 in the finals. Her 631.4 in the qualification set a new world record. Arjun Babuta won bronze medal in men's 10m air rifle event. India's Shreya Agrawal and Zeena Khitta finished in sixth and seventh positions respectively. India’s Surya Pratap Singh and Shahu Tushar Mane finished in sixth and eighth positions respectively.

427. When is World Water Day celebrated all over the world? 1. 20th March 2. 21st March 3. 22nd March 4. 23rd March 5. 24th March Answer - 3. 22nd March Explanation: On 22nd March 2018, World Water Day was celebrated all over the world. When and Why: Every year 22nd March is celebrated as International World Water Day to focus on the importance of freshwater and supporting for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. The first World Water Day was celebrated in 1993. World Water Day is coordinated by UN-Water. UN- Water is the agency that coordinates the United Nation’s work on water and sanitation. It prepares the theme for World Water Day. Theme for World Water Day 2018: Nature for Water. This year World Water Day will focus on how to use nature to deal with the water challenges of current age.

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428. On 20th March 2018, General Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Army Staff, released a book on Paramveer Chakra Awardees named ‘Paramveer Parwane’. The book was authored by whom? 1. Dr Sri Sathya 2. Dr Sonia Jairani 3. Dr Manish Gupta 4. Dr Divya Devi 5. Dr Prabhakiran Jain Answer - 5. Dr Prabhakiran Jain Explanation: On 20th March 2018, General Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Army Staff, released a book on Paramveer Chakra Awardees named ‘Paramveer Parwane’. Paramveer Parwane is a book on the bravery of Paramveer Chakra Awardees from 1947 to 1965. It has been authored by Dr Prabhakiran Jain. It is published by Medha Books. It consists of 11 short stories, poems, and songs. It talks about brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives in battles. It is available in paperback and coffee table book format. The second part of this book will be released soon.

429. Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was related to which of the following? 1. Elementary education 2. Tax-free gratuity amount 3. Period of maternity leave 4. 1&2 5. 2&3 Answer - 5. 2&3 Explanation: On March 22, 2018, Parliament passed Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017 which authorises Central Government to fix tax-free gratuity amount and period of maternity leave with an executive order. Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was introduced by Labour Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar in the Lok Sabha during the winter session and was passed on March 15, 2018. Under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972, formal sector workers with five or more years of service are eligible for maximum Rs. 10 lakh tax-free gratuity after leaving job or at time of superannuation. After implementation of 7th Central Pay Commission recommendations, ceiling of tax-free gratuity amount for central government employees was increased from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh. Need to bring in the amendment bill was felt as unions had been demanding for inclusion of this change into the Act. Now since the Rajya Sabha has passed the bill, Centre may notify tax-free gratuity of Rs 20 lakh for the organised sector.

430. In which city, Kerala’s first-ever global digital summit held at? 1. Thrissur 2. Kochi 3. Trivandrum 4. Kasargode 5. Kannur Answer - 2. Kochi Explanation: On 22nd March 2018, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan launched the M-Kerala app, at #Future, Kerala’s first-ever global digital summit held in Kochi. The M-Kerala app will help citizens to avail nearly 100 government services using their mobile phones. The M-Kerala app also has mobile payment options. The #Future summit was held on 22nd and 23rd March 2018.

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Theme of the Summit was “Towards a Digital Future”.

431. Union Defence Ministry released a notification stating that Indian government will now; fully fund the education of martyrs' children. Every year, Rs. ______will be spent by the Government for this cause? 1. Rs. 4 crore 2. Rs. 5 crore 3. Rs. 6 crore 4. Rs. 7 crore 5. Rs. 8 crore Answer - 2. Rs. 5 crore Explanation: On March 21, 2018, Union Defence Ministry released a notification stating that Indian government will now; fully fund the education of martyrs' children. Earlier, Government did provide educational concession to martyrs’ children. However it was limited only up to Rs 10000 a month. This cap has now been lifted and hence, education of children of army officers, 'persons below officer rank' missing in action, and those disabled or killed in action will be fully funded by Government. Around 3400 such children will be covered under this initiative and every year, Rs. 5 crore will be spent by the Government for this cause.

432. Which State Government launched, NAIPUNYA RATHAM or World on Wheels, a multi- utility vehicle aimed at taking technology to the remote corners of the state? 1. Telangana 2. Gujarat 3. Maharashtra 4. Odisha 5. Andhra Pradesh Answer - 5. Andhra Pradesh Explanation: Andhra Pradesh (AP) State Government launched, NAIPUNYA RATHAM or World on Wheels, a multi-utility vehicle aimed at taking technology to the remote corners of the state. NAIPUNYA RATHAM or World on Wheels was launched from State Secretariat in Amaravati. AP Chief Minister N.Chandrababu Naidu has announced that 12 more Naipunya Rathams will be rolled out by May 2018. NAIPUNYA RATHAM or World on Wheels, which is a part of AP State Government’s ‘Smart village Smart Ward Programme’ will not only facilitate in furthering digital literacy but will also create an awareness about various government schemes.

433. Name the Godavari-class guided-missile frigate of the Indian Navy which was decommissioned in Mumbai on March 22, 2018? 1. INS Godavari 2. INS Ganga 3. INS Cauvery 4. INS Indus 5. INS Son Answer - 2. INS Ganga Explanation: INS Ganga, an indigenously built frigate of the Indian Navy, was decommissioned in Mumbai on March 22, 2018. Commissioned on December 30, 1985, INS Ganga is a Godavari-class guided- missile frigate of the Indian Navy. It was Built in Mumbai by Mazagon Dock Limited. Decommissioning ceremony of INS Ganga was attended by several officers who had earlier

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served on board the ship. Vice Admiral A K Bhal, who served on INS Ganga as crew member from 1989 to 1991 was the Chief Guest for the ceremony, while Vice Admiral (Retd.) K K Kohli, the first Commanding Officer of INS Ganga was the special Guest of Honour.

434. Name the first flight which landed at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport (Israel) after passing through Saudi Arabia air space? 1. Jet Airways 2. Indigo 3. Air India 4. SpiceJet 5. GoAir Answer - 3. Air India Explanation : On March 22, 2018, Air India flight (AI 139) became the first flight to land at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport (Israel) after passing through Saudi Arabia air space. This is the first time, Saudi Arabia has allowed a commercial flight to Israel to use its airspace. In a bid to further people-to- people contact and diplomatic ties between India and Israel, Air India introduced the direct thrice-a-week flight from New Delhi to Israel’s Capital Tel Aviv. Saudi Arabia’s decision to permit Air India to use its airspace enabled it to take a shorter route, saving 2.10 hours of travel time. Israel’s national carrier El Al, which operates flights to India, does not fly through Saudi Air space. Rather, it takes a longer route over

435. Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Thaawarchand Gehlot launched “First Indian Sign Language Dictionary” in New Delhi. How many total words were there in this dictionary? 1. 6000 2. 5000 3. 4000 4. 3000 5. 2000 Answer - 4. 3000 Explanation: Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Thaawarchand Gehlot launched “First Indian Sign Language Dictionary of 3000 words” in New Delhi. The Indian Sign Language (ISL) Dictionary has been developed by Indian Sign Language Research & Training Centre (ISLR&TC) under Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) of Union Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment. With a focus on providing more information in Indian Sign Language, the dictionary will be instrumental in removing communications barriers between the deaf and hearing communities. As per the census 2011 data, there are 5071007 Deaf people and 1998535 with speech disability in India. Words in the ISL dictionary have been placed under five broad categories viz. everyday terms, legal terms, academic terms, medical terms and technology terms.

436. Which state hosted the first National Conference on Drug Law Enforcement 2018? 1. Odisha 2. Karnataka 3. Kerala 4. Goa 5. New Delhi Answer - 5. New Delhi

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Explanation: Minister of State for Home Affairs, Hansraj Gangaram Ahir inaugurated the first National Conference on Drug Law Enforcement in New Delhi on March 23, 2018. This conference has been organised by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), under Union Ministry of Home Affairs. More than 110 delegates from nearly 50 State and Central law enforcement agencies involved in combating drug trafficking viz. State Police forces, State Excise departments, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), Border Guarding Forces, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) will be participating in this two-day conference. Deliberations at the conference will be aimed at forming a roadmap for drug law enforcement and coming up with related recommendations. The conference will conclude on March 24, 2018 and Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh will be the Chief Guest at the closing session.

437. Which state Government hosted the 46th All India Police Science Congress 2018? 1. Uttarkhand 2. Himachal Pradesh 3. Uttar Pradesh 4. Sikkim 5. Bihar Answer - 2. Himachal Pradesh Explanation: On 22nd March 2018, the 46th All India Police Science Congress began in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. All India Police Science Congress was organised by the Himachal Pradesh Police Department and The Bureau of Police Research and Development. It was held for 2 days. It was inaugurated by Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur. Director General Bureau of Police Research and Development A P Maheshwari said that, forums have been created for collaboration of scholars of IIT, IIM and the police to tackle threats posed by criminals in the virtual world. The Police Science Congress created an opportunity to exchange, learn and understand the best practices followed in other states and union territories.

438. International Energy Agency (IEA) has stated that Global energy-related carbon emissions rose to a historic high of ______gigatons in 2017? 1. 24.5 gigatons 2. 26.5 gigatons 3. 28.5 gigatons 4. 30.5 gigatons 5. 32.5 gigatons Answer - 5. 32.5 gigatons Explanation: International Energy Agency (IEA) has stated that Global energy-related carbon emissions rose to a historic high of 32.5 gigatons in 2017. 32.5 gigatons carbon emissions in 2017 marks a 1.4% increment over previous year. The rise in carbon emissions during 2017 has been largely attributed to higher energy demand and the slowing of energy efficiency improvements. Global energy demand rose by 2.1 percent in 2017 to 14050 million tonnes of oil equivalent. 70 percent of this incremental demand was met by oil, natural gas and coal. In context of this news, it is important to note that Carbon dioxide emissions are the primary cause of global average temperature rise.

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439. Which Airport has been rated as the world's best airport for the sixth consecutive year by UK-based consultancy firm Skytrax? 1. Changi Airport, Singapore 2. Haneda Airport, Japan 3. Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru 4. Incheon International Airport , South Korea 5. Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai Answer - 1. Changi Airport, Singapore Explanation: Singapore Changi Airport has been rated as world's best airport for the sixth consecutive year by UK-based consultancy firm Skytrax. Changi Airport, owned by Government of Singapore, is one of the world's busiest airports by international passenger and cargo traffic. In 2017, Changi Airport served 60 million passengers from almost 100 countries across the world. Major attractions at Changi airport include a rooftop swimming pool, two 24-hour movie theatres screening the latest blockbusters for free and a sunflower garden that features several varieties of sunflowers grown in the airport's on site nursery. The awards were announced at Skytrax World Airport Awards function held in Stockholm, Sweden. Changi Airport is followed by Incheon International Airport in South Korea at No.2 and Haneda Airport in Japan at No.3. Among Indian Airports, Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai ranked 63rd, while Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru and Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi ranked 64th and 66th respectively.

440. Which country has abolished its employer-sponsored 457 visa programme which was mainly used by Indians? 1. USA 2. Canada 3. South Africa 4. Australia 5. Ireland Answer - 4. Australia Explanation: Australia has abolished its employer-sponsored 457 visa programme which was mainly used by Indians. The 457 visa programme has been replaced with a new programme that requires higher English-language proficiency and job skills. The 457 visa programme was launched in the 1990s. It was used by more than 95,000 foreign workers, of which majority were Indians. On 18th March 2018, it was replaced by a new Temporary Skills Shortage visa programme. The 457 visa programme permitted companies to employ foreign workers up to 4 years in skilled jobs where there was a shortage of Australian workers. People with that visa were allowed to live in Australia with their immediate family.

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441. Which bank rolled out ‘Yellow Army Savings Account’ to commemorate its association with the Indian Premium League (IPL) franchise Chennai Super Kings (CSK)? 1. Equitas Small Finance Bank 2. Postal Payment Bank 3. IDBI Bank 4. Airtel Bank 5. Paytm Bank Answer - 1. Equitas Small Finance Bank Explanation: On March 22, 2018, Equitas Small Finance Bank (SFB) rolled out ‘Yellow Army Savings Account’ to commemorate its association with the Indian Premium League (IPL) franchise Chennai Super Kings (CSK). ’Yellow Army Savings Account’ will fetch interest rate of 6 per cent per annum for balance below Rs. 10 lakh and 6.5 per cent per annum for balance above Rs. 10 lakh. Visa debit card of ’Yellow Army Savings Account’ carries personal accident cover of up to Rs. 5 lakh, air accident cover of Rs. 30 lakh and lost card liability of up to Rs. 25000. Besides, ’Yellow Army Savings Account’ holders can avail a range of exclusive offers on movie ticket-booking, entertainment and lifestyle purchases, food etc. As per an agreement between Equitas and CSK, Equitas will be the principal sponsor of CSK and the banking partner of CSK for three years.

442. Which Organisation entered into a Technology Transfer Agreement (TTA) with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) for production of space grade Lithium-Ion cells? 1. ONGC 2. HAL 3. Reliance 4. ISRO 5. Indian Railways Answer - 4. ISRO Explanation: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) have entered into a Technology Transfer Agreement (TTA) for production of space grade Lithium-Ion cells. Lithium-Ion cells have high energy density, reliability and long cycle life and are thereby used by ISRO as power sources for satellite and launch vehicle applications. Technology to produce space grade Li-ion cell has been developed by ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC). Under the TTA signed with ISRO, BHEL will produce space grade Li-Ion cells which can meet India’s space programme requirements.

443. President Trump appointed whom as his third national security adviser? 1. John Thune 2. John R. Bolton 3. John Barrasso 4. Roy Blunt 5. Cory Gardner Answer - 2. John R. Bolton Explanation: On 22nd March 2018, President Trump named John R. Bolton as his third national security adviser. John R Bolton replaces Lt. Gen. H. R. McMaster. John R Bolton will take charge as national security adviser on 9th April 2018. He is a former American ambassador to the United Nations. He was undersecretary of state for arms control during the administration of George W. Bush.

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444. Name the first woman Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, the upper house of parliament, in Pakistan? 1. Maryam Nawaz 2. Ayla Malik. 3. Hina Rubani Khar 4. Marvi Memon 5. Sherry Rehman Answer - 5. Sherry Rehman Explanation: On 22nd March 2018, Sherry Rehman became the first woman Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, the upper house of parliament, in Pakistan. Sherry Rehman is 57 years old. She belongs to the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). She was Pakistan's Ambassador to the US between 2011 and 2013. In 2015, she was elected to the Senate.

445. Which Organisation has bagged the "Most Informative Pavilion" award in the Pride of India Expo, in Manipur? 1. BHEL 2. Hindustan Petroleum 3. DRDO 4. HAL 5. IRCTC Answer - 3. DRDO Explanation: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has bagged the "Most Informative Pavilion" award in the Pride of India Expo, in Manipur. The Pride of India Expo was a part of the 105th Indian Science Congress (ISC) held in Manipur. It was conducted from 16th March to 20thMarch 2018. DRDO displayed cutting-edge indigenous defence technologies with more than 150 exhibits and models from 18 of its laboratories and received a good response.

446. ‘We Are Sikhs’ campaign, nicknamed the "Oscars of the Public Relations Industry", has received the 2018 PRWeek award in the category of Public Cause. This campaign was launched in which country? 1. Australia 2. Canada 3. Switzerland 4. America 5. UK Answer - 4. America Explanation: ‘We Are Sikhs’ campaign that was launched in April 2017 in America, has received the 2018 PRWeek US award, nicknamed the "Oscars of the Public Relations Industry", in the category of Public Cause. "We are Sikhs" ad campaign was launched by National Sikh Campaign (NSC), a non-profit organization. The campaign was conducted by Sikhs to inform Americans about their religion. The campaign was executed by FP1 Strategies. The campaign has bagged the award for projecting Sikhs as neighbours and everyday Americans who suffer from discrimination due to ignorance of their faith. The award was presented in New York recently. USD 1.3 million was raised by Sikhs and also some Hindus for the campaign. The ad campaign was shortlisted among five finalists for the 'Best for a Cause' award.

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447. Name the instrument developed by Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) that measures the traces of uranium in water? 1. Uraniumeter 2. Fluorimeter 3. Energymeter 4. Atometer 5. Dacometer Answer - 2. Fluorimeter Explanation :Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has developed “Fluorimeter”, an instrument that measures traces of uranium in water. Fluorimeter has been developed by the Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology (RRCAT). RRCAT is a unit of DAE based in Indore. Cost of the fluorimeter is Rs 1 lakh. It will detect traces of uranium in water. It will be highly useful in regions like Punjab where uranium traces have been detected in water at dangerous levels. DAE has transferred its technology to another one of its unit, Electronics Corporation of India Ltd (ECIL), for mass production of Fluorimeter,. Fluorimeter can examine traces of uranium in a sample of water from 0.1 PPB (Parts-per-billion) unit to 100 PPB. The permissible radiological limit of uranium concentration for drinking water has been fixed at 60 PPB by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board. High levels of uranium traces present in drinking water will increase radiological and chemical risks to human health.

448. In which year, the first Bihar Diwas day was celebrated? 1. 2008 2. 2009 3. 2010 4. 2011 5. 2012 Answer - 5. 2012 Explanation: On 22nd March 2018, celebrations for the 106th foundation day of Bihar began at three locations: Gandhi Maidan, S K Memorial Hall and Rabindra Bhawan in Patna, Bihar. Theme of 106th foundation day of Bihar is: “Centenary of Champaran Satyagraha and Elimination of Dowry and Child Marriage”.The celebrations will be held till 24th March 2018. Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated the main function at Gandhi Maidan. He released the following books: ‘Ek Tha Mohan’, ‘Bapu Ki Chiththi’, ‘Champaran Ki Kahani’ and ‘Neel Ke Dhabbe’. The first Bihar Diwas was celebrated in 2012. Bihar separated from undivided Bengal in 1912 as an independent state. Floral tributes were paid to Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait. A laser show is conducted at Gandhi Maidan as a part of the celebrations. Local artists performed street plays, folk songs and dances at various locations of Patna.

449. Which state celebrated its 106th foundation day on 22nd March 2018? 1. Jharkhand 2. Bihar 3. West Bengal 4. Nagaland 5. Arunachal Pradesh Answer - 2. Bihar Explanation: On 22nd March 2018, celebrations for the 106th foundation day of Bihar began at three locations: Gandhi Maidan, S K Memorial Hall and Rabindra Bhawan in Patna, Bihar. Theme of 106th foundation day of Bihar is: “Centenary of Champaran Satyagraha and Elimination of Dowry and

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Child Marriage”.The celebrations will be held till 24th March 2018. Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated the main function at Gandhi Maidan. He released the following books: ‘Ek Tha Mohan’, ‘Bapu Ki Chiththi’, ‘Champaran Ki Kahani’ and ‘Neel Ke Dhabbe’. The first Bihar Diwas was celebrated in 2012. Bihar separated from undivided Bengal in 1912 as an independent state. Floral tributes were paid to Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait. A laser show is conducted at Gandhi Maidan as a part of the celebrations. Local artists performed street plays, folk songs and dances at various locations of Patna.

450. Which is India’s first lunar mission launched by ISRO in 2008? 1. LCross-1 2. Apollo-1 3. Aryabhata-1 4. Chandrayaan-1 5. Lunar-1 Answer - 4. Chandrayaan-1 Explanation: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced that launch of India's second lunar mission 'Chandrayaan-2', which was to be launched in April 2018, has been postponed to October 2018. The mission has been postponed as experts have suggested some additional tests before the launch. Chandrayaan-2 is a totally indigenous mission, under which, ISRO will for the first time attempt to land a rover on the moon's south pole. Estimated cost of 'Chandrayaan-2' mission is Rs. 800 crore. Objective of this mission is to collect scientific information on lunar topography, elemental abundance, mineralogy, lunar exosphere and signatures of hydroxyl and water-ice. India’s first lunar mission Chandrayaan-1 was launched by ISRO in 2008.

451. Which state has become North India’s 1st city to install Digital Automatic Speed Gun Cameras to check vehicles driving above the permissible speed limit? 1. Punjab 2. Haryana 3. Chandigarh 4. Madhya Pradesh 5. Gujarat Answer - 3. Chandigarh Explanation: Chandigarh has become North India’s 1st city to install Digital Automatic Speed Gun Cameras to check vehicles driving above the permissible speed limit. The cameras will record the speed of the oncoming vehicles in its vision area and issue chalan to anyone driving above the stipulated city speed limit. The chalan along with image of over speeding will be sent to vehicle owner's residential address. The cameras are equipped with night vision technology and can even function during night. Currently, Digital Automatic Speed Gun Cameras have been installed only on Chandigarh’s Jan Marg on trial basis. Once the trial is successful, it would be installed across the city.

452. Which state Government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the British Council for cooperation and collaboration in several areas including education, skills and culture? 1. Goa 2. Odisha 3. Karnataka 4. Kerala

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5. Tamil Nadu Answer - 2. Odisha Explanation: Odisha State Government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the British Council for cooperation and collaboration in several areas including education, skills and culture. The MoU was signed in presence of Odisha Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik and British High Commissioner in India, Dominic Asquith. As per the terms of the MoU, British Council will support Odisha State governments "Mo School" (My School) initiative by contributing to the development of English language skills for learners and teachers. Besides, Odisha State Government and British Council will collaborate in a number of fields including investment promotion, cultural exchange and sports. In context of this news, it is important to note that British Council has completed 70 years of presence in India.

453. Which Indian city hosted the 5th India Maize Summit was held in Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)? 1. New Delhi 2. Mumbai 3. Kolkata 4. Chennai 5. Pune Answer - 1. New Delhi Explanation: On 23rd March 2018, the 5th India Maize Summit was held in Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), New Delhi. The India Maize Summit 2018 was organized by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). The India Maize Summit has been conducted since 2013. The India Maize Summit aims to provide a common platform to all stakeholders to highlight the opportunities in maize and discuss on actions that are required to improve the market. Union Agriculture Minister, Radha Mohan Singh presented the inaugural address at the event.

454. From which city’s dockyard, three Minesweeper ships of Indian Navy, INS Konkan, INS Cannanore and INS Cuddalore, were decommissioned on March 23, 2018? 1. Kochi 2. Kolkata 3. Chennai 4. Visakhapatnam 5. Bombay Answer - 4. Visakhapatnam Explanation: Three Minesweeper ships of Indian Navy, INS Konkan, INS Cannanore and INS Cuddalore, were decommissioned in a ceremony at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam on March 23, 2018. INS Cannanore was commissioned on December 17, 1987, INS Cuddalore was commissioned on October 29, 1987 and INS Konkan was commissioned on October 8, 1988. Each of these minesweepers sailed nearly 30000 nautical miles during their operational life spanning over three decades. The decommissioning ceremony was attended by 38 Officers and nearly 500 crew members who served on board these ships. Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command, Vice Admiral M S Pawar was the Chief Guest on the occasion and three retired commissioning Commanding Officers of these minesweepers were the guests of honour.

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455. In which state, Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved Indian Air Force (IAF) plan to set up a forward fighter base? 1. Uttar Pradesh 2. Maharashtra 3. Madhya Pradesh 4. Gujarat 5. Uttarkhand Answer - 4. Gujarat Explanation : On March 21, 2018, Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved Indian Air Force (IAF) plan to set up a forward fighter base close to Deesa in Banaskantha district of Gujarat. IAF’s proposal is to form a forward fighter base by converting the small Deesa airport with a 1000-metre runway, which was used for helicopter landings and VVIP movements. CCS has sanctioned Rs. 1000 crore for setting up this base, which would include extending the runway and building necessary administrative facilities. Once operational, this strategic base will plug the critical air defence gap between the Barmer (in Rajasthan) and Bhuj air bases and will thereby enhance IAF’s ability to respond swiftly in case of any hostilities in India’s western skies. This base at Deesa will be the ninth base under Gandhinagar- headquartered South Western Air Command (SWAC) which covers Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan.

456. Which country has the least Imprisonment Rate across the world as per data compiled by Institute for Criminal policy Research? 1. USA 2. Japan 3. India 4. Canada 5. Sweden Answer - 3. India Explanation: As per data compiled by Institute for Criminal Policy Research, India has a significantly lower imprisonment rate and Indians are thereby the least criminal among world's major economies. With imprisonment rate of 33, India seems to be better off than all major economies of the world. Imprisonment rate refers to number of individuals behind the bars out of every one lakh individuals in the population. United States has the highest imprisonment rate (666) among major countries. Total Prison Population: Even in terms of total number of prisoners, United States has topped the list with 2145100 prisoners. On this parameter, India came in at number five with 419623 prisoners. Interestingly, 67.2% prisoners in India are not convicted criminals; rather they are people awaiting completion of trial. Prison Occupancy: As per data, prisons in Haiti are the most over crowded with occupancy rate of 454%. Overcrowding in this context refers to more inmates as compared to the sanctioned strength for a particular prison.

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457. What is the contribution of India to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)? 1. USD 25 million 2. USD 15 million 3. USD 10 million 4. USD 5 million 5. USD 1 million Answer - 4. USD 5 million Explanation: India is among 20 nations that have pledged additional contribution to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). At the Extraordinary Ministerial Conference held in Rome, Italy on March 15, 2018, 20 nations together pledged nearly USD 100 million for the cause. Qatar Pledged the highest additional contribution of USD 50 million while India pledged USD 5 million. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed gratitude to the 20 nations who pledged USD 100 million for Palestinian refugees and thereby helped to cover the shortfall in donations from the United States. The shortfall was created as, Donald Trump Administration in US, announced to indefinitely withhold USD 65 million dollars contribution to UNRWA.

458. United States (US) challenged which country, at World Trade Organsiation (WTO) over intellectual property breaches? 1. China 2. India 3. Japan 4. UK 5. UAE Answer - 1. China Explanation: United States (US) challenged China at World Trade Organsiation (WTO) over intellectual property breaches. US has alleged that China is denying foreign patent holders (including US companies), basic patent rights that prevent Chinese entity from using the technology after a licensing contract ends. US has also accused China of violating WTO norms by imposing discriminatory contract terms against imported foreign technology. Based on these issues, US believes that China is giving unfair treatment to US companies and innovators trying to do business in China In context of this news, it is important to note that on March 22, 2018, Trump Administration in US slapped USD 60 billion imports tariff on China as a retaliatory action against the alleged theft of American intellectual property.

459. Which country has decided to remove three zeros from its currency with the aim to control the prevailing hyperinflationary situation across the country which witnessed 6147 percent price rise in last 12 months? 1. Thailand 2. Hungary 3. Sweden 4. Venezuela 5. Peru Answer - 4. Venezuela Explanation: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro decided to remove three zeros of the Venezuelan currency Bolivar fuerte with effect from June 4, 2018. This decision is aimed at controlling the prevailing

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hyperinflationary situation across Venezuela which witnessed 6147 percent price rise in last 12 months. Situation has worsened to such an extent that common people in Venezuela are struggling to pay for food and find medicines. Currently, a dozen eggs can cost 250,000 bolívars in Venezuela. As per Mr. Maduro’s plan of eliminating three zeros, this price will come down to 250 bolivars. Some economist believe that this decision of eliminating zeros from the currency will not result in to desired outcomes as it does not change the underlying value of bolivar.

460. Telangana Industries Minister KT Rama Rao announced a reduction in Value Added Tax (VAT) on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) to ______% from 16%? 1. 1% 2. 2% 3. 3% 4. 4% 5. 5% Answer - 1. 1% Explanation: Telangana Industries Minister KT Rama Rao announced a reduction in Value Added Tax (VAT) on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) to 1 per cent from 16 per cent. This decision is likely to boost air traffic at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport located near Hyderabad which has completed 10 years of operations. This airport, which is operated by GMR group already handles 50% more traffic than its designed capacity. Mr. KT Rama Rao also announced Telangana State Government plans to set up a logistics hub and a dry port near the airport and transform it into a multi modal transport hud.

461. Reliance Industries (RIL) announced the merger of its digital music service JioMusic with which streaming service provider? 1. Wynk 2. Saavn 3. Saregama 4. Raaga 5. Flipkart Answer - 2. Saavn Explanation: Reliance Industries (RIL) announced the merger of its digital music service JioMusic with Saavn, a streaming service provider. The combined entity is valued at more than $1 billion. JioMusic’s valuation amounts to $670 million. RIL said that, it will invest up to the rupee equivalent of $100 million in the combined entity. Out of this, rupee equivalent of $20 million will be invested for growth and expansion of the platform. The company will continue as an over-the-top (OTT) media platform. It will be available for download in all app stores. RIL will also acquire a partial stake from the existing shareholders of Saavn for $104 million. The co-founders of Saavn: Rishi Malhotra, Paramdeep Singh and Vinodh Bhat will continue in their leadership roles.

462. On 23rd March 2018, Martin Vizcarra was sworn in as the new President of which country? 1. Libya 2. Chile 3. Peru 4. Nigeria 5. Holland Answer - 3. Peru

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Explanation: On 23rd March 2018, Martin Vizcarra was sworn in as the new President of Peru. Martin Vizcarra replaces Pedro Pablo Kuczynski. Pedro Pablo Kuczynski resigned on 21st March 2018 due to a corruption scandal. Martin Vizcarra took oath as President of Peru on 23rd March 2018. He promised to eliminate economic corruption from Peru. Martin Vizcarra had served as vice president and Peru's ambassador to Canada. Pedro Pablo Kuczynski submitted his resignation, after secret video recordings where showed to prove

463. BJP has won how many Rajya Sabha seats out of the 10 seats in Uttar Pradesh in the Rajya Sabha elections held on 23rd March 2018? 1. 5 2. 6 3. 7 4. 8 5. 9 Answer - 5. 9 Explanation: BJP has won nine out of the 10 Rajya Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh in the Rajya Sabha elections held on 23rd March 2018. The BJP won nine seats out of 10 in the Rajya Sabha elections and SP (Samajwadi Party) candidate Jaya Bachchan won the tenth seat. BJP candidates who won the election are: Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Ashok Bajpai, Vijay Pal Singh Tomar, Sakal Deep Rajbhar, Kanta Kardam, Anil Jain, Harnath Singh Yadav and G V L Narasimha Rao and Anil Kumar Agarwal.

464. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh presented the G.K. Reddy Memorial National Award for 2017 to Karan Thapar for which field, at an event held in Teen Murti Bhawan, New Delhi? 1. Singing 2. Journalism 3. Music 4. Swimming 5. Literature Answer - 2. Journalism Explanation: On 22nd March 2018, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh presented the G.K. Reddy Memorial National Award for 2017 to Karan Thapar for journalism, at an event held in Teen Murti Bhawan, New Delhi. Karan Thapar is a senior journalist and television presenter. He has been awarded the G.K. Reddy Memorial National Award for 2017 for his contribution to journalism. The function was organised by T Subbarami Reddy, the founder of G K Reddy Memorial Award and TSR Foundation. He is also a Rajya Sabha member from Congress.

465. Which International Airport was presented the Skytrax award for being voted as the best regional airport in India and Central Asia by air travelers, at the World Airport Awards at Stockholm in Sweden? 1. Anna International Airport 2. Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport 3. Indira Gandhi International Airport 4. Jaipur International Airport Answer - 5. Kempegowda International Airport

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Explanation: On 21st March 2018, the Kempegowda International Airport was presented the Skytrax award for being voted as the best regional airport in India and Central Asia by air travelers, at the World Airport Awards at Stockholm in Sweden. Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) announced this information. Kempegowda International Airport is located at Devanahalli, Bengaluru. It is the third busiest airport in India. It has bagged this award for the second consecutive year and also in 2015 and 2011. The Skytrax awards is a passenger satisfaction assessment. It measures airport service excellence and quality. Airports were assessed based on survey conducted between August 2017 and February 2018.

466. The National Boxing Academy of which Indian state will host the World Series of Boxing (WSB) clash between Indian Tigers and the Astana Arlans from Kazakhastan on 31st March 2018? 1. Punjab 2. Bihar 3. Jharkhand 4. Haryana 5. Uttarkhand Answer - 4. Haryana Explanation: The National Boxing Academy in Rohtak, Haryana, is to host the World Series of Boxing (WSB) clash between Indian Tigers and the Astana Arlans from Kazakhastan on 31st March 2018. The World Series of Boxing clash is held in India for the first time. The Indian team's campaign is led by Sanjeet (+91 kg). He will fight with Abikhair Turlanbekov in a clash of titans. The Astana Arlans are the World Series of Boxing (WSB) reigning champions. In the opening two clashes, the Indian Tigers lost 1-4. They faced their first defeat against Astana Arlans and then against the Patriot Boxing Team in Russia.

467. On 23rd March 2018, which state government observed the martyrdom day of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, Shaheed Sukhdev and Shaheed Rajguru as 'Youth Empowerment Day'? 1. Karnataka 2. Punjab 3. Jammu and Kashmir 4. Uttarkhand 5. Rajasthan Answer - 2. Punjab Explanation: The Punjab Government observed 23 March, the martyrdom day of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, Shaheed Sukhdev and Shaheed Rajguru as 'Youth Empowerment Day'. On 23rd March 2018, to mark this occasion, a state level programme to administer oath to Drug Abuse Prevention Officers (DAPOs) was launched by Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh. The DAPO (Drug Abuse Prevention Officer) initiative has been launched to involve government employees and people of Punjab in the battle against drugs. Amarinder Singh paid tributes to Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. The state level function was held at Khatkar Kalan village.

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468. When is World TB Day observed all over the world? 1. 22nd March 2. 23rd March 3. 24th March 4. 25th March 5. 26th March Answer - 3. 24th March Explanation: On 24th March 2018, the World TB Day was observed all over the world. When and Why: Every year the World TB Day is observed on 24th March. This day aims to create public awareness on the health, social and economic consequences of tuberculosis (TB). It works on increasing the efforts to end TB. On 24th March 1882, Dr. Robert Koch declared that he had discovered the bacterium that causes TB. Hence 24 March is observed as World TB Day. Theme: The theme for World TB Day 2018 is: "Wanted: Leaders for a TB-free world". At an event conducted in New Delhi on the World TB Day, Health Secretary Preeti Sudan released the TB INDIA 2018 Report and National Drug Resistance Survey Report. She also launched the NikshayAushadi Portal and shorter regimen for Drug Resistant TB.

469. When is World Meteorological Day celebrated all over the world? 1. 19th March 2. 20th March 3. 21st March 4. 22nd March 5. 23rd March Answer - 5. 23rd March Explanation: On 23rd March 2018, World Meteorological Day was celebrated all over the world. The World Meteorological Day is observed every year on 23 March. This day is celebrated to commemorate the formation of World Meteorological Organisation, which was founded on 23 March 1950. The WMO originated from the International Meteorological Organization (IMO). WMO acts as specialized agency of the United Nations for (weather and climate), operational hydrology and related geophysical sciences. The theme for World Meteorological Day 2018 is: "Weather-Ready, Climate-Smart." This year focuses on the importance of countries being weather-ready.

470. Which Indian city hosted the 7th Session of India Egypt Joint Commission Meeting? 1. Mumbai 2. Ahmadabad 3. Kanpur 4. Patna 5. New Delhi Answer - 5. New Delhi Explanation: On 23rd March 2018, the 7th Session of India Egypt Joint Commission Meeting was held in New Delhi. Important people: Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj led the Indian side. The Egyptian side was led by Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. Development in the political, trade & investment, cyber security, capacity building, security, space, culture sectors etc. were reviewed. Discussions were held on measures to deepen the bilateral cooperation between India and Egypt. Regional, international and multilateral issues of mutual interest were also discussed.

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471. Which state government presented a 'green budget' aimed at controlling pollution and monitoring its impact on the environment? 1. Uttar Pradesh 2. Maharashtra 3. Delhi 4. Karnataka 5. Sikkim Answer - 3. Delhi Explanation: On March 22, 2018, Delhi government presented a 'green budget' aimed at controlling pollution and monitoring its impact on the environment. Rs. 53000 crore Budget for fiscal 2018-19 was unveiled by Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia (Aam Aadmi Party). Mr. Sisodia highlighted that, under Delhi Budget 2018-19, 26 programmes and schemes of transport, power, environment and PWD will be threaded together for devising a unified system of pollution control. The 26 initiatives include procuring 1000 electric buses, subsidies to restaurants to replace coal tandoors with electricity- or gas-based tandoors and undertaking a joint study with University of Washington to explore the possibility of using technology to ascertain the source of air pollution at designated spots. Rs 846 crore has been allocated to Public Works Department (PWD) for 2018-19 fiscal for executing several initiatives including landscaping of PWD roads to reduce dust and installation of LED street lights. It is to be noted that 26 per cent of 2018-19 budgetary allocation is towards education, 12 per cent for health and 11 per cent for infrastructure development.

472. ______has extended the deadline for linking of insurance policies with Aadhaar numbers indefinitely? 1. IRDAI 2. RBI 3. SEBI 4. Lok Sabha 5. Supreme Court Answer - 1. IRDAI Explanation: Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has extended the deadline for linking of insurance policies with Aadhaar numbers indefinitely. Earlier, IRDAI had ordered all insurers to complete linking of existing insurance policies with Aadhaar before March 31, 2018. This decision has been taken by IRDAI in accordance with Supreme Court of India’s order to extend the deadline of linking Aadhaar indefinitely till the matter is finally heard and the judgement is pronounced. However, for the new insurance policies, a customer has to submit Aadhaar number and PAN/Form 60 to the insurers within six months from the date of buying the policy. Customers who are not able to submit Aadhaar number within stipulated time can submit any of the officially allowed document as mentioned in the Prevention of Money-laundering (Maintenance of Records) Rules 2005.

473. From which country, Sri Lankan Navy received the second advanced offshore patrol vessel (AOPV) on March 22, 2018? 1. India 2. China 3. Malaysia 4. Japan

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5. USA Answer - 1. India Explanation: India has handed over a second advanced offshore patrol vessel (AOPV) to the Sri Lankan Navy. Construction work of this AOPV commenced in 2014 at the Goa Shipyard. The vessel was officially handed over to the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Navy Rear Admiral Neil Rosayro in presence of Sri Lankan High Commissioner in India, Chithrangani Vagiswara and Chairman and Managing Director of the Goa Shipyard Ltd. Rear Admiral (Rtd) Sheker Mithal. The AOPV is capable of conducting patrols, policing, undertaking search, rescue, reconnaissance, surveillance, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) and pollution control operations in Sri Lanka's maritime zones.

474. As per Census 2011 data, which Indian state has the highest number of beggars? 1. Bihar 2. Jharkhand 3. Nagaland 4. West Bengal 5. Rajasthan Answer - 4. West Bengal Explanation: As per Census 2011 data, India is home to 413670 beggars. Among all state and Union Territories, highest number of beggars resides in West Bengal (nearly 81000 beggars), while Lakshadweep has only two beggars. Above stated data on beggars was quoted by Union Minister for Social Justice Thawar Chand Gehlot in a written reply to Lok Sabha on March 21, 2018. Out of total 413670 beggars in India, 221673 are males and 191997 are females. In terms of highest number of beggars, West Bengal is followed by Uttar Pradesh (65835 beggars) and Andhra Pradesh (30218 beggars). Among Union Territories, New Delhi has highest number of beggars (2187). In states like West Bengal, Assam, Manipur, there are more female beggars than male beggars.

475. Whose birthday will be celebrated as 'Social Justice Day' on 14th April? 1. Dr BR Ambedkar 2. Swami Vivekananda 3. Lal Bahadur Shastri 4. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel 5. Dr. Rajendra Prasad Answer - 1. Dr BR Ambedkar Explanation: On 23rd March 2018, BJP national spokesperson Anil Baluni announced that, the birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar (14th April) will be celebrated as 'Social Justice Day'. Dr BR Ambedkar was born on 14 April 1891. He was the first law minister of independent India. He is the principal architect of the Indian Constitution. He is a founding father of the Republic of India. He fought against social discrimination of Dalits. He was an inspiration for the Dalit Buddhist Movement in 1956. In 1990, he was awarded the Bharat Ratna award posthumously.

476. On March 23, 2018, world’s biggest cruise ship, ‘Symphony of the Seas’ was delivered to US company Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd. by French shipbuilder STX. What is the cost of the ship? 1. USD 0.25 billion 2. USD 0.50 billion

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3. USD 1.00 billion 4. USD 1.25 billion 5. USD 1.35 billion Answer - 5.USD 1.35 billion Explanation: On March 23, 2018, world’s biggest cruise ship, ‘Symphony of the Seas’ was delivered to US company Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd. by French shipbuilder STX. Symphony had been under construction since early 2015 at STX France shipyard in St. Nazaire, France. It is 362 metres long and weighs nearly 228000 tonnes, being marginally bigger than its sister ship, the ‘Harmony of the Seas’, which too was built by STX France and was delivered to Royal Caribbean in 2016. The ship costs a whopping USD 1.35 billion. With 2700 cabins, it can accommodate more than 8000 people including 2200 staff members. The ship has range of modern amenities including an ice rink, water park and full-size basketball court.

477. Delhi Metro, in association with which Bank, launched a dual purpose Metro Plus' debit card that will enable customers of the bank to use it for metro train rides as well as for all other regular debit card transactions? 1. Axis bank 2. SBI 3. IndusInd bank 4. Dena bank 5. Yes bank Answer - 3. IndusInd bank Explanation: Delhi Metro, in association with IndusInd Bank, launched a dual purpose Metro Plus' debit card that will enable customers of IndusInd bank to use it for metro train rides as well as for all other regular debit card transactions. The Metro Plus Card, developed by IndusInd bank, has an embedded Delhi Metro Transit chip along with the secured Debit Card Chip. The card can be topped-up via IndusInd Bank ATMs, IndusMobile app, net banking and SMS. The card users can also get their smart cards auto topped up at Delhi Metro’s (Automatic Fare Collection) AFC Gates.

478. Which country has the highest number of Indian bank branches? 1. USA 2. UK 3. Hong Kong 4. Switzerland 5. Spain Answer - 2. UK Explanation: In wake of Reserve Bank of India (RBI)'s ban on letters of undertaking (LoU), UCO Bank is planning to merge its two branches in Hong Kong. R K Takkar, MD and CEO, UCO Bank has stated that RBI ban on LoUs has negatively impacted the business of foreign branches, and in the changed scenario, one branch in Hong Kong would suffice to cater the needs of the region. Financing through LoUs and buyers credit accounted for nearly 50 per cent of business and was thus the bread and butter for most Indian banks in Hong Kong. In context of this news, it is important to note that almost zero capital is required for opening a branch in Hong Kong and that is the reason for Hong Kong being home to second highest number of foreign branches by Indian banks after the United Kingdom (UK). UK has highest number of Indian bank branches at 32, followed by Hong Kong with 17 branches.

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479. Vodafone Group and Aditya Birla Group have appointed whom as the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Vodafone-Idea India merged entity? 1. Lakshmi Puri 2. Kumar Mangalam 3. Akshay Moondra 4. Sylendra Das 5. Balesh Sharma Answer - 5. Balesh Sharma Explanation: Vodafone Group and Aditya Birla Group have named Balesh Sharma as the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Vodafone-Idea India merged entity. Earlier, Balesh Sharma was the chief operating officer (COO) of Vodafone India. He joined Vodafone in 2003. Earlier, he was the business head of Gujarat Circle and the CEO of Vodafone Malta. He served as the CEO of Vodafone Czech Republic. He is a director on the Vodafone India Board and a member of its executive committee.

480. Which Airport has received 'Most Improved Airport' award in the Asia Pacific region, in Airport Service Quality awards 2017 organised by the Airport Council International (ACI)? 1. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport 2. Chennai International Airport 3. Veer Savarkar International Airport 4. Raja Bhoj International Airport 5. Jaipur International Airport Answer - 1. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport Explanation: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, Gujarat has received 'Most Improved Airport' award in the Asia Pacific region, in Airport Service Quality awards 2017 organised by the Airport Council International (ACI). ACI is a global non-profit organisation engaged in developing standards, policies and recommended practices for airports.Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad handles 200 flight movements per day. The airport already has two aero-bridges and works for improving the food courts is also underway. Besides, upcoming Ahmedabad Metro Project is also connected to the airport, which on completion, will offer hassle-free ride for passengers to Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad.

481. Which country hosted the 2018 Formula One Grand Prix? 1. Canada 2. Srilanka 3. Australia 4. India 5. USA Answer - 3. Australia Explanation: On 25th March 2018, Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel won the 2018 Formula One Grand Prix of Australia, in at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne, Australia. Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton started

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the race from the pole position. Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen started in the second position and he was followed by Sebastian Vettel in the third position. Sebastian Vettel finished the race in the first position and won the 2018 Formula One Grand Prix of Australia. Lewis Hamilton finished in the second position. Kimi Raikkonen finished in the third position. This is Sebastian Vettel’s 48th career victory.

482. Which country hosted the Asian Billiards Championships 2018 on 24th March 2018? 1. Thailand 2. Philippines 3. Jordan 4. Myanmar 5. China Answer - 4. Myanmar Explanation: On 24th March 2018, Pankaj Advani retained his Asian Billiards Championships title by winning over B Bhaskar 6-1 in the finals, in Yangon, Myanmar. This victory makes Pankaj Advani the reigning Indian, Asian and world champion in billiards for 2017-18. This is his 11th gold medal at the Asian level. So far, he has won 7 continental billiards titles. India's Amee Kamani bagged the Asian Women's Snooker title by defeating Thailand’s Siripaporn Nuanthakhamjan 3-0.

483. Ghulam Muhammad Mustafa recently passed away. Who was he? 1. Journalist 2. Dancer 3. Singer 4. Comedian 5. Athlethe Answer - 1. Journalist Explanation: On 18th March 2018, journalist Ghulam Muhammad Mustafa died at a hospital in Gurgaon, Haryana. Ghulam Muhammad Mustafa is a retired Indian Information Service officer of the 1969 batch. He started his career with the Press Information Bureau (PIB). Later he was elevated as Additional Information Director at PIB. He also worked as a News Editor at All India Radio and Doordarshan. He retired from service in 2005.

484. Who has been chosen by IOA (Indian Olympic Association) as Indian contingent’s flag-bearer at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2018 at Gold Coast, Australia? 1. Saina Nehwal 2. Sania Misra 3. PV Sindhu 4. Vishwanathan Anand 5. Sakshi Malik Answer - 3. PV Sindhu Explanation: PV Sindhu has been chosen by IOA (Indian Olympic Association) as Indian contingent’s flag- bearer at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2018 at Gold Coast, Australia. This will be the first time in the last three editions of the Commonwealth Games that a badminton player has been selected as the flag-bearer. She won bronze medal in the women’s singles badminton event at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014.

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485. In which city the National Trust under Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment organised a National Conference on Down Syndrome? 1. Mumbai 2. Kanpur 3. Jaipur 4. New Delhi 5. Pune Answer - 4. New Delhi Explanation: A ‘National Conference on Down Syndrome’ was held in New Delhi on March 26, 2018. This conference was organised by the National Trust under Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The conference was inaugurated by Dr. Kamlesh Kumar Pandey, the Chairman of National Trust. Objective of this conference was to seek commitments of various stakeholders and increase awareness about Down Syndrome. Besides, it served as an opportunity for parents of individuals having Down syndrome, to obtain information about latest development in education and skilling and inclusive living of persons with Down Syndrome. Intellectuals from all walks of life attended this conference and shared their ideas and knowledge on Down Syndrome with an aim to enable a positive change. A book entitled “Twilights Children” based on the lives of person suffering from Down Syndrome was released during the course of the conference.

486. Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, President of which country, was on a five-day official visit to India started from 22nd March, 2018? 1. Sweden 2. Germany 3. Britain 4. Hungary 5. Spain Answer - 2. Germany Explanation: Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, President of Germany, was on a five-day official visit to India starting from 22nd March, 2018. Mr. Steinmeier was accompanied by his wife Elke Budenbender, a CEO delegation, Indologists and a media delegation. This was Mr. Steinmeier’s first visit to India as German President. Earlier he had visited India several times in his former capacity as the foreign minister and vice chancellor of Germany. Last German president to visit India was Joachim Gauckin February 2014. On March 24, 2018, Mr. Steinmeier held a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Sunder Nursery adjacent to Humayun's tomb in Delhi. During this meeting, Mr. Steinmeier and PM Modi held discussion on several global, political and economic issues of mutual interest. During the course of this visit, Mr. Steinmeier also met President of India Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President of India Venkaiah Naidu and Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. Apart from Delhi, Mr. Steinmeier also visited Varanasi and Chennai. Germany is India's largest trading partner in Europe and the sixth largest trading partner in the world. Bilateral trade between India and Germany in 2016-17 stood at USD 18.76 billion. Besides, Germany is also the 7th largest foreign direct investor in India.

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487. In which Indian city, , International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the Union Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), signed the Host Country Agreement? 1. Jaipur 2. Raipur 3. New Delhi 4. Bangalore 5. Chennai Answer - 3. New Delhi Explanation : On March 26, 2018, International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the Union Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), signed the Host Country Agreement in New Delhi. The agreement was signed by V.K. Singh, Minister of State, Ministry of External Affairs and Upendra Tripathy, Interim Director General of ISA in presence of R K Singh, Union Minister of State (IC) Power and New & Renewable Energy. The Agreement gives ISA a juridical personality and authorises it to contract, to institute and defend legal proceedings and to acquire and dispose off movable and immovable properties. Besides, ISA shall enjoy all such privileges, applicable tax concessions and immunities that are necessary for ISA’s Headquarter to independently discharge its function and carry out its programmes.

488. Which State Government launched a special programme to build one lakh toilets across the state under the Swachh Bharat Mission? 1. Bihar 2. Jharkhand 3. Chandigarh 4. Gujarat 5. Assam Answer - 5. Assam Explanation: Assam State Government launched a special programme to build one lakh toilets across the state under the Swachh Bharat Mission. This special programme is named ‘Mission Sambavh’ (Mission Possible ), under which, construction works will be completed within 10 days. The programme was launched at Morigaon district, in presence of Assam Chief Minister Sarbanand Sonowal. Assam State government has set a target to make the state Open Defecation Free (ODF) during 2018. It is to be noted that five districts in Assam have already been declared ODF.

489. Which state Government inaugurated the ‘Print Biennale India 2018’, the first-ever International Exhibition of Graphic Prints? 1. Gujarat 2. New Delhi 3. Andhra Pradesh 4. Telangana 5. Karnataka Answer - 2. New Delhi Explanation : ‘Print Biennale India 2018’, the first-ever International Exhibition of Graphic Prints was inaugurated in New Delhi on March 25, 2018. The exhibition is being hosted by India’s National Academy of Art, the Lalit Kala Akademi. Eminent Artist-Printmaker, Shakti Barman was the Chief Guest at the inaugural ceremony. A total of 200 original prints, created by Indian and international artists are being displayed at this exhibition. These prints offer a glimpse of giant strides in printmaking that is taking place in India and the world. The exhibition has brought

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together participants from 17 countries such as USA, UK, Sri Lanka, Mexico, China, Sweden, Poland, Argentina, Greece, Bangladesh, and Mauritius. An exhibition ‘Eminent Printmakers of India’ showcasing master Indian printmakers, was also inaugurated on March 26th, 2018 at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi.

490. Which state government has planned to setup a seawater desalination plant, with capacity to desalinate 100 million litre water per day? 1. Gujarat 2. Rajasthan 3. Odisha 4. Kerala 5. Tamil Nadu Answer - 1. Gujarat Explanation: Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani stated that a seawater desalination plant, with capacity to desalinate 100 million litre water per day will be set up near Jodiya town in Jamnagar district. It is to be noted that Jamnagar in Saurashtra region of Gujarat faces severe water shortage especially during summer season. The proposed desalination plant will thus help to reduce water shortage. However, no information related to timeline for setting up this plant or related cost has been disclosed so far.

491. Which District of Gujarat has become the first district in India to have 100 percent solar powered Primary Health Centers (PHC)? 1. Kutch 2. Porbandar 3. Jamnagar 4. Gandhinagar 5. Surat Answer - 5. Surat Explanation: Surat district in Gujarat has become the first district in India to have 100 percent solar powered Primary Health Centers (PHC). All 52 PHCs in Surat are now powered by solar system. This initiative will not only contribute in reducing the electricity bill by 40 percent but will also help in fighting global warming. Surat is also making significant leap in making gram panchayats within districts, solar powered. 150 out of 572 gram panchayats in Surat are now powered by solar system.

492. 4 days Madhavpur Mela festival was inaugurated in which state? 1. Bihar 2. Sikkim 3. Gujarat 4. Rajasthan 5. Punjab Answer - 3. Gujarat Explanation: On 25th March 2018, the Madhavpur Mela started at Madhavpur Ghed village in Porbandar district of Gujarat. The Madhavpur Mela is held for four days till 28th March 2018. For the first time, there will be a cultural integration with the North-East people during this festival as the Madhavpur Mela and Mishmi Tribe of Arunachal Pradesh share common roots. This festival will feature art, dance, music, poetry, story-telling and folk drama from Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur

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and other North-Eastern States. There will also be sale of art and crafts of Gujarat and handloom and handicraft products from Arunachal, Manipur and other North-Eastern states. The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), Ministry of Culture and states of Gujarat, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur are playing a major role in this festival.

493. Under the Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) of Indian government, Powergrid has laid 16 square kilometers of underground lines in which Indian city? 1. Agra 2. Varanasi 3. Amritsar 4. Lucknow 5. Allahabad Answer - 2. Varanasi Explanation: In Varanasi, overhead power cables are being taken off after underground lines have been laid for more than 16 sq km. Under the Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) of Indian government, Powergrid has laid 16 square kilometers of underground lines in Varanasi. This will be utilized by nearly 50,000 consumers. In June 2015, Former Union minister of state for power and coal Piyush Goyal announced the Rs 432-crore project for underground cabling work under IPDS for Varanasi. Work on this project was started in December 2015. Atul Nigam, managing director of Purvanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited, said that, line loss in the area covered by IPDS has reduced to 9.9% from 42.7%.

494. Name the declaration signed by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Republic of Congo and Indonesia, that promotes better management and conservation of Cuvette Centrale region in the Congo Basin, the world’s largest tropical peatlands? 1. Congo Declaration 2. Brazzaville Declaration 3. Kinshasa Declaration 4. Basilique Declaration 5. Peatlands Declaration Answer - 2. Brazzaville Declaration Explanation: Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Republic of Congo and Indonesia have signed Brazzaville Declaration that promotes better management and conservation of Cuvette Centrale region in the Congo Basin, the world’s largest tropical peatlands. Peatlands are wetlands that contain a mixture of partially decomposed organic material. The declaration was signed on the sidelines of the Third Partners Meeting of the Global Peatlands Initiative, that was held in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, from 21st – 23rd March 2018. Indonesia has been made a party to this agreement as it is considered as most experienced country in the world on peat management issues. Equivalent of three years of global greenhouse gas emissions are stored in peatland of Cuvette Centrale region in the Congo Basin, which are about the size of England. Thus it is of utmost importance to conserve these peatlands as the emissions stored could be released in atmosphere if the they are degraded or drained.

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495. Which country proposed new legislation to counter fake news, under which, offender will be penalised with 10-year jail term? 1. Srilanka 2. India 3. Malaysia 4. Bhutan 5. Pakistan Answer - 3. Malaysia Explanation On March 26, 2018, Malaysia’s government proposed new legislation to counter fake news, under which, offender will be penalised with 10-year jail term. The bill defines fake news as any news, information, data and reports presented in the form of print, visuals or audio, which contains wholly or partly false content. Individuals who create, offer, circulate, print or publish fake news or publications containing fake news will be penalised with a 10-year jail term, a fine of up to 500000 ringgit or both. Although incumbent Government has stated that this law is needed to protect public harmony and national security, opposition members consider it as an attack on the press and an attempt to instil fear among people before the general election in August 2018.

496. On which date, Earth Hour 2018 was observed all over the world? 1. 24th March 2. 25th March 3. 26th March 4. 27th March 5. 28th March Answer - 1. 24th March Explanation: On 24th March 2018, Earth Hour 2018 was observed all over the world. India pledged "Give Up To Give Back" on Earth Hour 2018. People all over the world observed the Earth Hour 2018 by switching off non-essential lights for an hour between 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm. In India, Rashtrapati Bhavan, India Gate, Akshardham Temple in New Delhi and Buddha Statue in Hyderabad, Howrah Bridge in Kolkata and Gateway of India in Mumbai are the landmarks where lights were switched off between 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm. The Earth Hour started in 2007 in Australia. The Earth Hour is organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).The Earth Hour aims to create awareness on the importance of conserving the environment and wildlife. The worldwide campaign for Earth Hour 2018 trended as #CONNECT2EARTH.

497. According to Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg, what will be the size of Indian economy by 2025? 1. $4 trillion 2. $5 trillion 3. $6 trillion 4. $7 trillion 5. $8 trillion Answer - 2. $5 trillion Explanation: On March 26, 2018, Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg stated that India is on 182 | Page Follow Us - FB.com/AffairsCloudOfficialPage Copyright 2018 @ AffairsCloud.Com

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track to double the size of its economy to $5 trillion by 2025. India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in value terms currently stands at USD 2.5 trillion, making it the sixth largest economy in the world. According to Mr. Garg, Indian economy is now positioned to attain 7-8 per cent annual growth and with focus on start-ups, Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and investment in infrastructure development, it can even clock a higher growth in coming years. Mr. Garg also asserted that inflation will be contained within the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) target of 4 per cent, plus/minus 2 per cent and will thus not pose any risk to growth. In February 2018, consumer price based retail inflation (taken into account by RBI while formulating its monetary policy) was at 4 month low of 4.44 per cent.

498. Name the Telecommunication System used by banks across the world to transmit messages relating to cross border financial transactions? 1. GPI system 2. GPS system 3. SWIFT system 4. Tracker system 5. Transaction system Answer - 3. SWIFT system Explanation: SWIFT (Society for World Interbank Financial Telecommunication System platform) has announced the extension of its gpi (Global Payment Innovation) Tracker to cover all payment instructions sent across the network. SWIFT system is used by banks across the world to transmit messages relating to cross border financial transactions. gpi Tracker, developed by SWIFT, gives end-to-end visibility on the status of a payment transaction from the moment it is sent until it is confirmed. gpi tracker was introduced in May 2017 and now accounts for 10 per cent of entire SWIFT cross border payment traffic. Extending the tracker to cover all payment instructions sent across the network will enhance the transparency and reliability of the process.

499. Union Ministry of Railways entered into Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with which Government entity, by which, it(entity) has to provide a financial assistance of Rs. 150000 crore for identified Railway projects from 2015 to 2019? 1. LIC 2. SBI 3. RBI 4. SEBI 5. SBI Insurance Ltd Answer - 1. LIC Explanation: Union Ministry of Finance has approved Government guarantee of Rs. 5000 crore in financial year 2017-18 for Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) bonds to be subscribed by Life Insurance Corporation (LIC). In March 2015, Union Ministry of Railways entered into Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with LIC, by which, LIC has to provide a financial assistance of Rs. 150000 crore for identified Railway projects from 2015 to 2019. The fund is to be raised by IRFC by issuing bonds to LIC. These bonds have a tenor of 30 years. However, owing to exposure limit constraints on account of IRDA guidelines; LIC has not been able to subscribe to IRFC bonds beyond a certain limit. Thus, Union Ministry of Finance approved Government guarantee in order to overcome the exposure limit constraint.

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500. In which city of India, Microsoft opened 'Garage', the Microsoft India Development Centre? 1. Agartala 2. Mumbai 3. Bangalore 4. Hyderabad 5. Mysore Answer - 4. Hyderabad Explanation: On 26th March 2018, Microsoft opened the 'Garage' at the Microsoft India Development Centre in Hyderabad, Telangana. The Garage was inaugurated at the Microsoft India Development Centre in Hyderabad by Telangana IT Minister K T Rama Rao. It is a platform for Microsoft employees that encourages experimentation, working together across organisations and to discover ideas and develop prototypes, adding value to existing products. This facility has been developed on a 8,000 sq ft space. It will support Microsoft teams for different projects. It consists of the following facilities: a Hub for hackathons and workshops, a Makerspace and an Advanced Makerspace with electronic workbench, 3D printers, laser cutter, PCB milling machine for creating prototypes. It has a reality room for carrying out work in augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality and dedicated space and equipment for working on Deep Learning.

501. As per the latest global Automobile Sales Data, India has become the ______largest automobile market in the world? 1. Second 2. Third 3. Fourth 4. Fifth 5. Sixth Answer - 3. Fourth Explanation: As per the latest global Automobile Sales Data, India has overtaken Germany to become the fourth largest automobile market in the world. During 2017, Automobile sales (including passenger and commercial vehicles) in India touched 4 million units, outpacing Germany’s 3.81 million vehicle sales. In terms of year-on-year growth, Automobile Sales in India during 2017 grew 9.5% while in Germany it grew by 2.8%. Strong growth in Automobile Sales in India is expected to continue in 2018 on account of government’s thrust on infrastructure, stricter norms for banning overloading and macroeconomic environment buoyancy.

502. Who has been nominated by the Ministry of Human Resource Development as India’s representative to the Executive Board (EXB) of UNESCO? 1. Aroon Purie 2. Fareed Zakaria 3. Geeta Dharmarajan 4. Ravi Amale 5. J S Rajput Answer - 5. J S Rajput Explanation: J S Rajput has been nominated by the Ministry of Human Resource Development as India’s representative to the Executive Board (EXB) of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). J S Rajput is a former director of National Council of

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Educational Research and Training (NCERT). He received the Padma Shri award in 2014. He was presented the Maharishi Ved Vyas award by the Madhya Pradesh government. He edited a book named ‘Education of Muslims in India’. It was released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015. The EXB is one of the constitutional organs of UNESCO. It is elected by the General Conference. It has a term of 4 years and 58 seats. EXB goes through the work for the organisation and the corresponding budget estimates. It is responsible for all policies and programmes of UNESCO. On 8th November 2017, elections of members of EXB for the 2017-21 term was conducted. India won with 162 votes in Group IV at the 39th session of the General Conference. The next meeting of the board will be held between 4th and 17th April 2018 in Paris.

503. London-based South Asian Cinema Foundation (SACF) has received the Frederick Pincott Award for 2017 from the Indian High Commissioner, Y K Sinha for ______? 1. Promoting English cinema in Britain for the last 18 years 2. Promoting Hindi cinema in Britain for the last 18 years 3. Promoting Short film in Britain for the last 18 years 4. Promoting Agriculture in Britain for the last 18 years 5. Promoting Desalination Process in Britain for the last 18 years Answer - 2. Promoting Hindi cinema in Britain for the last 18 years Explanation: London-based South Asian Cinema Foundation (SACF) has received the Frederick Pincott Award for 2017 from the Indian High Commissioner, Y K Sinha for promoting Hindi cinema in Britain for the last 18 years. SACF has been active in boosting original research and books on Indian films, documentary filmmaking and also inviting and honouring filmmakers from India. The institute will also launch a new six-week course at the British Film Institute (BFI) that will look into the history of Indian cinema through literature. It was set up in London in January 2000 by Lalit Mohan Joshi, along with film critic Derek Malcolm, film archivist P K Nair and social historian-researcher Kusum Pant Joshi.

504. Which state has won the National ‘Water Digest Award’ for Water Conservation- Diversion and increasing the irrigation capacity in the state? 1. Punjab 2. Uttarkhand 3. Jharkhand 4. Chhattisgarh 5. Telangana Answer - 4. Chhattisgarh Explanation: Chhattisgarh has won the National ‘Water Digest Award’ for Water Conservation-Diversion and increasing the irrigation capacity in Chhattisgarh. On 21st March 2018, Union Minister of State for Water Resources Arjun Ram Megwal presented the award to Chhattisgarh Water Resources Department Secretary Sonmoni Borah, in New Delhi. ‘Water Digest’ magazine gives away this award every year. Chhattisgarh was presented this award for improving irrigation capacity, community participation, water management, water diversion, water conservation, work on inter- linking of rivers, enhancement of irrigation facilities, etc. This award is presented in association with Central Water Resources River Development and Ganga Cleaning Ministry, UNESCO, Central Water Board, Central Water Commission and Ganga Purification National Mission. The award is recognised by the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). This is the first time Chhattisgarh Water Resources Department has received a national award.

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505. Which country’s U-16 football team won the Jockey Cup International Youth Invitational Football Tournament in Hong Kong? 1. India 2. Hong Kong 3. Argentina 4. Australia 5. China Answer - 1. India Explanation: On 25th March 2018, India U-16 football team won the Jockey Cup International Youth Invitational Football Tournament in Hong Kong. India U-16 team defeated Hong Kong 4-2 in the final and won the Jockey Cup International Youth Invitational Football Tournament. Bekey Oram scored 2 goals and Rohit Danu and Lalrokima scored one goal each for the Indian team. The team was coached by Bibiano Fernandes. This team remains unbeaten in 22 matches including friendly matches against National Youth Teams and International Club and Academy sides.

506. Which country hosted the ISSF Junior World Cup Rifle / Pistol / Shotgun 2018? 1. Canada 2. China 3. USA 4. Australia 5. Japan Answer - 4. Australia Explanation: On 26th March 2018, Anish Bhanwala won gold medal in the men’s 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Junior event at the ISSF Junior World Cup Rifle / Pistol / Shotgun in Sydney, Australia. Anish Bhanwala scored 29 hits and won gold medal in the men’s 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Junior event. This is the 3rd individual gold medal for India in the ISSF Junior World Cup. China’s Cheng Zhipeng scored 27 hits and won silver medal. China’s Zhang Jueming scored 23 hits and won bronze medal in the men’s 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Junior event. China won the team gold medal and created a new Junior World Record with 1733 points. India’s Anish Bhanwala, Anhad Jawanda and Adarsh Singh won silver medal. Another Indian team comprising Sandhu, Japtyesh Singh Jaspal and Mandeep Singh won bronze medal.

507. Which Hockey team won the 8th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2018 (A Division) at the Padma Shri Mohammad Shahid Synthetic Hockey Stadium in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh? 1. Hockey Uttar Pradesh 2. Petroleum Sports Promotion Board 3. Railway Sports Promotion Board 4. Hockey Punjab 5. Air India Sports Promotion Board Answer - 4. Hockey Punjab Explanation: On 25th March 2018, Hockey Punjab won the 8th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2018 (A Division) at the Padma Shri Mohammad Shahid Synthetic Hockey Stadium

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in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Hockey Punjab defeated Petroleum Sports Promotion Board 2-1 in the finals and won the 8th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2018 (A Division). In the Bronze medal match, Railway Sports Promotion Board defeated Air India Sports Promotion Board 5-3.

508. When is the International Day of Solidarity with detained and missing staff members observed all over the world? 1. 21th March 2. 22th March 3. 23th March 4. 24th March 5. 25th March Answer - 5. 25th March Explanation: On 25th March 2018, International Day of Solidarity with detained and missing staff members was observed all over the world. The International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members is an annual observance to mark the anniversary of the abduction of Alec Collett, a former journalist. He was working for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). He was kidnapped by armed gunman in 1985. His body was discovered in Bekaa Valley of Lebanon in 2009. This day aims to initiate action, demand justice and highlight the importance to protect UN staff and peacekeepers, also people who work for non-governmental community and the press.

509. On which date, the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade observed all over the world? 1. 23th March 2. 24th March 3. 25th March 4. 26th March 5. 27th March Answer - 3. 25th March Explanation: On 25th March 2018, International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade was observed all over the world. When and Why: The International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade is observed every year on 25th March. This day honours and remembers people who suffered and died due to the slavery system. It also aims to create awareness on the hazards of racism. The transatlantic slave trade was the largest forced migration in the world history. In memory of the victims of transatlantic slave trade the United Nations declared 25 March as the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade in 2007. Theme: The theme for International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade 2018 is: “Remember Slavery: Triumphs and Struggles for Freedom and Equality”.

510. Ministry of Communications has introduced the Cool EMS Service between India and which other country? 1. USA 2. Germany 3. Australia 4. Japan 5. China

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Answer - 4. Japan Explanation: Ministry of Communications has introduced the Cool EMS Service between Japan and India with effect from 29.03.2018 that will allow Indian customers to import Japanese food items for personal use. Cool EMS service is a one-way service from Japan to India. It enables customers in India to import Japanese food items for personal use as allowed under Indian regulations. In the initial phase, Cool EMS Service is made available only in Delhi. Food items will be carried by Japan Post in special cool boxes containing refrigerant to preserve the food. Recipient has to collect the parcel from Foreign Post office, Kotla Road, New Delhi within the prescribed time period. Features such as track and trace, etc. of Express Mail Service (EMS) are also available for Cool EMS service.

511. In which state, India’s first insect museum was inaugurated? 1. Kerala 2. Tamil Nadu 3. Karnataka 4. Odisha 5. Goa Answer - 2. Tamil Nadu Explanation: On March 26, 2018, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswamy, unveiled an insect museum at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in Coimbatore. The museum is fully dedicated to insects and claimed to be the first of its kind in India. It has been set up over 6691 sqft area at the cost of Rs. 5 crore. Insects preserved as specimens and also live ones, depicting different developmental stages are displayed at this museum. The lobby of this insect museum depicts the theme, "BUGS ARE KINGS". The museum has state-of-the-art amenities including a mini auditorium to screen insect movies and documentary films.

512. In which Indian city, Tribal Affairs Minister, Jual Oram launched “E-Tribes India”? 1. Darjeeling 2. Kolkata 3. New Delhi 4. Jaipur 5. Kanpur Answer - 3. New Delhi Explanation: On 27th March 2018, Tribal Affairs Minister, Jual Oram launched “E-Tribes India” in New Delhi. The Launch of E-Tribes India includes www.tribesindia.com, www.trifed.in and Retail Inventory Software and M-commerce app. ‘Tribes India’ Banners were also launched at Amazon, Snapdeal, Paytm & GeM. Also TRIFED’s Handbook for Retail Trade and TRIFED’s quarterly magazine ‘Tribes Haat’ were inaugurated. TRIFED has developed its own e-commerce website: tribesindia.com. This website offers sale of all TRIFED products. Their Android App can also be downloaded from Google store (Tribes India). TRIFED has entered into agreements with Snapdeal and Amazon to sell their products on www.snapdeal.com and www.amazon.com. Ministry of Commerce has also enabled the sale of TRIFED products on www.gem.gov.in. Tribes India products are also available on Flipkart and Paytm.

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513. The Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) has approved 'Study in India' programme to attract foreign students to study in India. What is the amount allocated for the brand promotion expenditure of for the ‘Study in India’ programme for 2018-19 and 2019-20? 1. Rs. 150 crores 2. Rs. 200 crores 3. Rs. 250 crores 4. Rs. 300 crores 5. Rs. 350 crores Answer - 1. Rs. 150 crores Explanation: The Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) has approved 'Study in India' programme to attract foreign students to study in India. This programme has several objectives including doubling India's market share of global education exports from less than 1 percent to 2 percent and improving global ranking of Indian educational institutes. Under this programme, meritorious foreign students will be given free waiver by respective institutes based on pre-defined criteria. Top 25% students will be given 100% waiver in tuition fees, next 25% will be given 50% waiver and another 25% below that will get 25% waiver. It is to be noted that inflow of foreign students under this programme will not affect the number of seats which are meant for Indian students. Besides, expenditure on fee waiver will have to be borne by respective Institute by adjusting it against the existing fund allocation. However, Government has approved brand promotion expenditure of Rs. 150 crores for the ‘Study in India’ programme for 2018-19 and 2019-20.

514. With the aim to bring the domain of foreign policy closer to the people, External Publicity and Public Diplomacy Division of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) launched an initiative, 'Videsh Aaya Pradesh ke Dwaar' in which state? 1. Karnataka 2. Odisha 3. Maharashtra 4. Telangana 5. Madhya Pradesh Answer - 4. Telangana Explanation: On March 22, 2018, External Publicity and Public Diplomacy Division of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) launched an initiative, 'Videsh Aaya Pradesh ke Dwaar' in Hyderabad, Telangana with an aim to bring the domain of foreign policy closer to the people. Under this initiative, MEA will hold direct interaction with the local media (having wide readership profile) in different cities across India. Through these interactions, MEA will communicate foreign policy priorities in simple terms and will highlight the benefits accruing to the common people through diplomatic efforts. Besides, a pool of media professionals interested in foreign policy will also be created.

515. Union Defence Ministry has released a draft policy aimed at promoting the domestic defence industry and positioning it to achieve a turnover of Rs ______in military goods and services by 2025? 1. 130000 crore 2. 140000 crore 3. 150000 crore 4. 160000 crore 5. 170000 crore Answer - 5. 170000 crore

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Explanation : Union Defence Ministry has released a draft policy aimed at promoting the domestic defence industry and positioning it to achieve a turnover of Rs 170000 crore in military goods and services by 2025. The aim of aim policy on Defence Production is to make India self-reliant in terms of Defence Production and also to emerge as one of the top five manufacturers of defence platforms in the world. Besides, increasing domestic defence production, another goal is to achieve export of Rs 35000 crore in military equipment and services by 2025. These goals are to be achieved with active participation of public as well as private sectors. Government has identified 12 military platforms and weapons systems for production, in which India will strive to attain self-reliance. These platforms/systems include fighter aircraft, warships, medium lift and utility helicopters, land combat vehicles, gun systems, missile systems, small arms, ammunition and explosives, electronic warfare (EW) systems, surveillance systems and night fighting enablers. The draft policy states that licensing process for defence industries and tax regime for domestic manufacturing will also be liberalised.

516. Which city hosted the SARAS AajeevikaMela 2018? 1. New Delhi 2. Mumbai 3. Patna 4. Surat 5. Ahmadabad Answer - 1. New Delhi Explanation: On 23rd March to 1st April 2018, SARAS AajeevikaMela 2018 is held in Hall No. 7, PragatiMaidan, New Delhi. The SARAS Aajeevika Mela 2018 is organized by DAY-NRLM (Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission). SHG (Self Help Group) women from all states of India display and sell their products in the SARAS Aajeevika Mela 2018. More than 350 stalls have been set up. The stalls feature handlooms, handicrafts, artefacts and heritage products, tribal ornaments, decorative items, metallic products, earthen utensils, paintings, organic food items, spices, processed food products, soft toys, utility items, brass and wrought iron products etc. Cultural programmes are also organized as a part of the Mela. Also workshops on soft skills, packaging, managing consumers etc. are also held during the mela.

517. Which state government hosted the 11th Rashtriya Rifles Biennial Conference 2018? 1. Punjab 2. Uttarkhand 3. Haryana 4. Maharashtra 5. Jammu and Kashmir Answer - 5. Jammu and Kashmir Explanation: On 26th and 27th March 2018, the 11th Rashtriya Rifles Biennial Conference 2018 was held in Nagrota, Jammu and Kashmir. 11th Rashtriya Rifles Biennial Conference 2018 was chaired by Chief of the Army Staff General Bipin Rawat. Army Commander Northern Command, Director General Rashtriya Rifles, Corps Commander 15 and 16 Corps and all General Officers Commanding Counter Insurgency Forces took part in the conference.

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518. Which country topped the Speedtest Global Index, February 2018 for mobile internet with an average download speed of 62.07 Mbps? 1. USA 2. China 3. Norway 4. Spain 5. UAE Answer - 3. Norway Explanation: According to internet speed testing analysis firm Ookla, India ranked 67th for fixed broadband and 109th for mobile internet speeds in February 2018 on Speedtest Global Index. Ookla's Speedtest Global Index compares internet speed data from around the world on month-to-month basis through 7021 servers globally. As per the index, global average mobile internet download speed in February 2018 was 22.16 mbps while global fixed broadband download speed was 42.72 Mbps. Fixed broadband download speeds in India has increased from average speeds of 18.82 megabit per second (Mbps) in November 2017 to 20.72 mbps in February 2018. Mobile internet download speed too has risen to 9.01 mbps in February 2018 from 8.80 mbps in November 2017. It is to be noted that on both the modes, download speed in India is still below the global average. However, India attained second rank in terms of showing most improvement in mobile data speeds.

519. Sri Lankan Navy sunk a ship used by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the western seas. What is the name of the sunk vessel? 1. We Long 2. Sorang 3. DoreLa 4. We Ling 5. Mukhti Answer - 4. We Ling Explanation: Sri Lankan Navy sunk a ship used by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the western seas. The LTTE vessel, A522 named 'We Ling" was taken by Sri Lankan Navy following the conclusion of the conflict and since then it had been anchored near the Colombo harbor under the Navy's custody. As the ship was in unusable condition, the Navy initially intended to sell it as scrap metal. However, as a suitable bid was not submitted, the decision was taken to sink the ship. The sunk ship will become home to a number of aquatic animals and corals. Sri Lankan Government is also considering plans to make the location a diving/tourist destination.

520. “Greeting and training Exercise” was carried out between USA and which country? 1. China 2. Srilanka 3. Egypt 4. Poland 5. India Answer - 5. India

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Explanation: On March 25, 2018, Indian Navy’s Talwar class frigate INS Tarkash carried out a greeting and training exercise with the U.S. Navy’s Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG). Till now, TRCGS was deployed in Arabian Gulf in operations against the Islamic State. It will now be in the U.S. 7th Fleet area, responsible for counter-piracy, and training operations. As a part of this exercise, INS Tarkash sailed in formation with aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and the guided-missile destroyers USS Preble, USS Halsey and USS Sampson. Besides navigating in specific formations, the exercise also included communication drills which offered unique opportunity to sailors from both

521. The United Arab Emirates, with the help of ______, has finished construction of its first commercial nuclear reactor? 1. South Africa Electric Power Corp 2. Korea Electric Power Corp 3. London Electric Power Corp 4. US Electric Power Corp 5. Libya Electric Power Corp Answer - 2. Korea Electric Power Corp Explanation: The United Arab Emirates, with the help of Korea Electric Power Corp., has finished construction of its first commercial nuclear reactor. Unit 1 of the Barakah complex will start loading fuel in May 2018. On 26th March 2018, South Korean President Moon Jae-in participated in a ceremony to celebrate the facility’s completion. It has not been mentioned when this unit will begin power generation. The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation will issue an operating license for Barakah Units 1 and 2 after all regulatory requirements are met. Barakah Unit 1 is the first of the four nuclear plants that U.A.E has planned to put in to operation by 2021. The estimated cost of these plants is $25 billion and will produce a combined 5,600 megawatts of power.

522. What is the Fund allocated by Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) to ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), to fund various development projects in Africa? 1. USD 500 million 2. USD 550 million 3. USD 600 million 4. USD 700 million 5. USD 750 million Answer - 1. USD 500 million Explanation: On March 26, 2018, Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) announced that it will extend USD 500 million credit facility to ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) to fund various development projects in Africa. EBID is the financial institution established by the 15 Member States of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) comprising Benin, Cape Verde, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo Funds procured through this line of credit (LoC) will be used to finance various development projects in the ECOWAS region. Including this Line of Credit, total value of LOCs extended by Exim Bank to EBID has reached USD 1000 million.

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523. Which state along with International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP (DTTILLP) for mutual cooperation in areas related to international financial services? 1. Odisha 2. Karnataka 3. Rajasthan 4. Gujarat 5. Assam Answer - 4. Gujarat Explanation: Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT), India's first operational smart city and International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP (DTTILLP) for mutual cooperation in areas related to international financial services. GIFT City, located near Gandhinagar in Gujarat is a global business district offering a platform for business opportunities in international and domestic business operations while DTTILLP is the Indian arm of multinational professional services network Deloitte. As per the terms of the MoU, GIFT-IFSC and DTTILLP will cooperate to provide quality professional services to support the establishment of businesses in IFSC. GIFT-IFSC and DTTILLP will also cooperate in organising seminars and conferences on selected topics for enhancement of the GIFT IFSC.

524. Which Government entity signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Assam government for sustainable development of human settlements at villages in Kamrup district? 1. HAL 2. ONGC 3. Airport Authority of India 4. ISRO 5. RBI Answer - 3. Airport Authority of India Explanation: On March 26, 2018, Airport Authority of India (AAI) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Assam government for sustainable development of human settlements at villages in Kamrup district. Activities carried out under this MoU will be part of AAI’s Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) initiative As per the terms of this MoU, AAI would provide financial assistance of Rs 4.58 crore for Kamrup district. This amount has been decided as per the estimates prepared by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to improve the resilience of communities around Guwahati Airport.

525. Who was appointed the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India? 1. Senthil Nathan 2. PraveEM Sahay 3. Promoth David 4. Premanand Sinha 5. K Vijay Raghavan Answer - 5. K Vijay Raghavan Explanation: On 26th March 2018, K Vijay Raghavan was appointed as Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India. K Vijay Raghavan replaces R Chidambaram. He is 64 years old. He has been appointed as Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India for a term of 3 years.

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The Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) post was created in 1999. PSA acts as the topmost advisor to the government on all issues regarding scientific policy. K Vijay Raghavan is a former director of National Centre for Biological Sciences. He served as Secretary of Department of Biotechnology from 2013 until last month.

526. Name the Bollywood actor-producer who has featured in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2018 list, which enlists innovators who are reshaping their industries and changing Asia for the better? 1. Deepika Padukone 2. Anushka Sharma 3. Priyanka Chopra 4. Sonakshi Sinha 5. Rani Kapoor Answer - 2. Anushka Sharma Explanation : Bollywood actor-producer Anushka Sharma has featured in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2018 list, which enlists innovators who are reshaping their industries and changing Asia for the better. The annual Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list features 300 young innovators from 10 categories who are re-inventing their industries and initiating change. Anushka Sharma is one of the highest paid female actors of Indian film industry. She is 29 years old. Indian badminton player PV Sindhu also appears in the list. Pakistani singer Momina Mustehsan is also seen in the list.

527. NASA and SpaceX have tied up to search for exoplanets using NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). TESS will survey 200,000 of the brightest stars near the sun to search for exoplanets. It will find exoplanets that periodically block a part of the light from their host stars. These events are called ______? 1. Erotics 2. Exotics 3. Rockys 4. Transits 5. Plasma Answer - 4. Transits Explanation: NASA and SpaceX have tied up to search for exoplanets using NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). It has been planned to launch Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on 16th April 2018. TESS will stay between the moon and the Earth for a minimum of two years. It will scan for alien entities. George Ricker, leader of the TESS team, said that, TESS would discover nearly 500 Earth-sized planets within 300 light-years from here. TESS will survey 200,000 of the brightest stars near the sun to search for exoplanets. It will find exoplanets that periodically block a part of the light from their host stars. These events are called transits.

528. Pop singer Seo Minwoo passed away recently. She belonged to which country? 1. China 2. Thailand 3. Russia 4. South Korea 5. Japan Answer - 4. South Korea

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Explanation: On 25th March 2018, South Korean pop singer Seo Minwoo, died due to cardiac arrest at his residence in Gangnam, Seoul, South Korea. Seo Minwoo was a lead singer of the 100% band. He was 33 years old. He had also acted in TV shows and movies. The 100% band debuted in 2012. Some of their popular songs are “Bad Boy,” "Want U Back," “Better Days,” and "Sketch U."

529. i) She helped to end US school segregation ii) She along with her sister founded the Brown Foundation for Educational Equity, Excellence and Research. Who was she? 1. Georgia C P 2. Seniyora Azad 3. Linda Brown 4. Surekha Nathan 5. Elieana Dick Answer - 3. Linda Brown Explanation: On 25th March 2018, Linda Brown, who helped to end US school segregation, passed away at Lexington Park Nursing & Post Acute Centre, in United States. Linda Brown was 75 years old. In 1950s, Linda’s father tried to enroll her in an all-white school near their home. But she was denied admission and was told to approach an all-black school that was far away. Linda’s father filed a case against this in the court. On 17th May 1954, the Supreme Court declared that segregation was unconstitutional. This helped to end segregation in US schools. In 1988, Linda Brown along with her sister founded the Brown Foundation for Educational Equity, Excellence and Research.

530. When is World Theater Day celebrated all over the world? 1. 26th March 2. 27th March 3. 28th March 4. 29th March 5. 30th March Answer - 2. 27th March Explanation: On 27th March 2018, World Theater Day was celebrated all over the world. The World Theater Day is celebrated on 27th March every year by ITI (International Theatre Institute) Centres, ITI Cooperating Members, theatre professionals, theatre organizations, theatre universities, etc. all over the world The World Theater Day is celebrated since 1962. On the 27th March 1962 "Theatre of Nations" season was opened in Paris. Every year, World Theatre Day Message is released on this occasion. This year India’s Ram Gopal Bajaj has been selected as one of the five authors for writing the World Theater Day message. The World Theatre Day is celebrated to promote theatre throughout the world, to create awareness on the value of theatre, etc.

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531. NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant launched the ‘Champions of Change’ Dashboard. This dashboard was created by NITI Aayog in partnership with which State government? 1. Telangana 2. Odisha 3. Goa 4. Andhra Pradesh 5. Bihar Answer - 4. Andhra Pradesh Explanation: On March 28, 2018, NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant launched the baseline ranking for the Aspirational Districts based on published data of 49 indicators across five developmental areas of Education, Health and Nutrition, Agriculture and Water Resources, Basic Infrastructure and Financial Inclusion and Skill Development. Mr. Kant also announced that the ‘Champions of Change’ Dashboard (created by NITI Aayog in partnership with the Government of Andhra Pradesh) for real-time data collection and monitoring will be open for public viewing from April 1, 2018. District Collectors of all the aspirational districts will be able to input the latest available data of their respective districts through this Dashboard. Besides, in order to exemplify the spirit of competitive federalism, Delta Ranking (ranking based on incremental progress) of Districts will be available from May 2018.

532. As per findings of National Annual Rural Sanitation Survey (NARSS) 2017-18, _____% households in Indian villages have access to toilets are using them? 1. 75% 2. 82% 3. 86% 4. 90% 5. 93% Answer - 5. 93% Explanation: As per findings of National Annual Rural Sanitation Survey (NARSS) 2017-18, about 77% homes in rural areas of India have got toilets and over 93 per cent households in villages who have access to toilets are using them. NARSS 2017-18, was conducted by an independent verification agency selected by Union Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the World Bank support project to the Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin (SBM-G). The survey was conducted between mid-November 2017 to mid-March 2018 and covered 92040 households in 6136 villages of India. The survey also re-confirmed the Open Defecation Free (ODF) status of about 96% of villages which were declared and verified as ODF by various districts and states. The report outlined that 70% of the villages surveyed had minimal litter and minimal stagnant water.

533. India and china had a meeting on Economic Relations, Trade, Science & Technology on March 26, 2018 in New Delhi. From India who joined this meeting? 1. Narendra Modi 2. Sushma Swaraj 3. Suresh Prabhu 4. Arun Jaitely 5. Smriti Irani Answer - 3. Suresh Prabhu 196 | Page Follow Us - FB.com/AffairsCloudOfficialPage Copyright 2018 @ AffairsCloud.Com

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Explanation: On March 26, 2018, a meeting between Union Commerce and Industry Minister, Suresh Prabhu and China’s Trade Minister Zhong Shan was held in New Delhi. This meeting was held under the aegis of the China-India joint-group on Economic Relations, Trade, Science & Technology. During the meeting, both the countries agreed to renegotiate a bilateral investment agreement and jointly prepare a road map to reduce the massive trade imbalance in favour of China. It is to be noted that India’s goods trade deficit with China for the first ten months of 20017-18 stands at $52 billion as against $0.6 billion in 2000-01. This meeting was held in the backdrop of US plan to impose $50-billion tariffs on Chinese goods, a move which trade experts believe, would trigger a global trade war.

534. SAUBHAGYA scheme is related to which of the following? 1. Farmers 2. Women empowerment 3. Electrification Programme 4. Agriculture 5. Fisherman Answer - 3. Electrification Programme Explanation: Union Ministry of Power partnered with the Union Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship to train the manpower in six states for speedy implementation of SAUBHAGYA scheme. SAUBHAGYA (Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojna) aims to achieve universal household electrification in all parts of India in a time bound manner. Training the manpower in six states - Assam, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh - under this initiative, will be undertaken as a special project under Central Government’s Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY). Training will be provided to around 47000 Distribution Lineman- Multi Skills and 8500 Technical Helpers to meet the requirement of power sector. This partnership will be instrumental in addressing the issue of lack of trained manpower, which has been the main constraint in speedy implementation of the Government’s electrification

535. Which cricketer’s wax figure will be featured soon at Madame Tussauds wax museum, Delhi? 1. MS Dhoni 2. Don Bradman 3. Virat Kohli 4. Ricky Ponting 5. Chris Gayle Answer - 3. Virat Kohli Explanation: Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli’s wax figure will soon be unveiled at Madame Tussauds, Delhi. Madame Tussauds wax museum in Delhi is known for the portrayal of the famous names in the world of entertainment, sports, history and politics. The main Madame Tussauds wax museum is in London and smaller museums are located in a number of other major cities of the world including New York, Berlin, Beijing, Tokyo, Singapore and Sydney. Kapil Dev, Sachin Tendulkar and Critiano Ronaldo are other sportsperson featured at Madame Tussauds Delhi.

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536. SAP (Systems, Applications & Products in Data Processing) signed a Statement of Intent (SOI) with NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM). Under AIM, Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATLs) have been established in schools across India to foster curiosity, creativity and imagination in young generation. As part of the SOI, SAP will adopt how many Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATL) during 2018 to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education among secondary school children across India? 1. 50 2. 100 3. 150 4. 200 5. 500 Answer - 2. 100 Explanation : On March 27, 2018, SAP (Systems, Applications & Products in Data Processing) signed a Statement of Intent (SOI) with NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM). NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is Indian Government’s endeavour to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship across Indian schools, universities and industries. Under AIM, Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATLs) have been established in schools across India to foster curiosity, creativity and imagination in young generation. As part of the SOI, SAP will adopt 100 Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATL) during 2018 to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education among secondary school children across India, specifically in Rajasthan, Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. It is to be noted that AIM currently has similar partnerships with Intel and IBM and SAP has thus become the third partner for the programme.

537. India is ______largest electricity producer in the world? 1. Second 2. Third 3. Fourth 4. Fifth 5. Sixth Answer - 2. Third Explanation: With production of 1423 billion units (BU) in Financial Year 2016, India was the third largest producer of electricity in the world. Over seven years to 2017, electricity production in India grew by 34%. India now produces more electricity than Japan and Russia, which had 27% and 8.77% more electricity generation capacity installed, respectively, than India seven years ago. According to a report by India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), a trust established by the commerce ministry, Electricity production in India stood at 1003.525 BU between April 2017-January 2018.

538. The CBDT (Central Board of Direct Taxes) has extended the deadline for the PAN- Aadhaar linking from the current last date of 31 March 2018 to______? 1. 30th May 2018 2. 1st June 2018 3. 30th June 2018 4. 1st July 2018 5. 30th July 2018 Answer - 3. 30 June 2018

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Explanation: The CBDT (Central Board of Direct Taxes) has extended the deadline for the PAN-Aadhaar linking from the current last date of 31 March 2018 to 30 June 2018. The order issued by CBDT said that, the deadline for PAN-Aadhaar linking for filing I-T returns is extended till 30 June 2018. This order by CBDT has been issued after the Supreme Court judgment that was made earlier this month, ordering extension of the March 31deadline for linking Aadhaar with several other services. This is the fourth extension offered by the government for individuals to link their Permanent Account Number (PAN) with their biometric ID (Aadhaar). Previous deadlines were 31 July 2017, 31 August 2017 and 31 December 2017.

539. In which Indian state, Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, Asia's largest Tulip garden was opened for visitors? 1. Meghalaya 2. Uttarkhand 3. Haryana 4. Punjab 5. Jammu & Kashmir Answer - 5. Jammu & Kashmir Explanation: On 25th March 2018, Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, Asia's largest Tulip garden, in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, was opened for visitors. The Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden is located on the foothills of the Zabarwan mountain range along the banks of Dal Lake. Jammu and Kashmir Floriculture minister Javed Mustafa Mir said that, the floriculture department has planted 12.25 lakh Tulip bulbs of 40 varieties and colours in the garden.

540. In which Indian city, the 15th meeting of the India-US Counterterrorism Joint Working Group was held at? 1. Jaipur 2. New Delhi 3. Kanpur 4. Agartala 5. Hyderabad Answer - 2. New Delhi Explanation: On 27th March 2018, the 15th meeting of the India-US Counterterrorism Joint Working Group was held in New Delhi. The India delegation was led by Ministry of External Affairs Joint Secretary Mahaveer Singhvi. US delegation was led by U.S. State Department’s Principal Deputy Coordinator for Counterterrorism, Alina L. Romanowski. Threats posed by terrorist groups throughout the world and in their respective regions including cross border terrorism in the South Asian region were reviewed by the working group. Both countries ensured to strengthen information exchange on world’s most dangerous terrorist groups and individuals. They discussed efforts to curb the funding and operations of regional and global terrorist organizations.

541. Seychelles' opposition coalition (which holds a majority in Seychelles Parliament) stated that it would not ratify a deal signed with India to build military infrastructure on its ______Island? 1. Praslin Island 2. Cerf Island 3. Aride Island 4. Assumption Island

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5. Cousin Island Answer - 4. Assumption Explanation: Seychelles' opposition coalition (which holds a majority in Seychelles Parliament) stated that it would not ratify a deal signed with India to build military infrastructure on its Assumption Island. Agreement on Assumption Island Project in Seychelles was signed in 2015 during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Seychelles. However, owing to opposition, a revised agreement, including several amendments was prepared in January 2018. Now the opposition is not ready to ratify it as in past few months there has been public protests in Seychelles against this projects based on fear that India would appropriate the Assumption Island.

542. SBI Cards announced that it has partnered with Indian Medical Association (IMA) to launch ______? 1. Doctor's SBI Card 2. Doctor's Loan Card 3. Doctor's ID Card 4. Doctor's Appraisal Card 5. None of the above Answer - 1. Doctor's SBI Card Explanation: SBI Cards announced that it has partnered with Indian Medical Association (IMA) to launch 'Doctor's SBI Card', which has been designed to complement the distinct lifestyles and needs of doctors. SBI Cards is a joint venture between India’s largest bank, State Bank of India and The Carlyle Group, while IMA is the voluntary representative organisation of Doctors. Among other features just like regular cards, unique proposition of ‘Doctor’s SBI Card is the professional indemnity insurance cover of Rs 10 lakh to protect doctors against professional risks and liabilities. This is an industry-first feature which covers legal and defense costs as well as out of court settlements and court awards emanating on account of unforeseen events of claims raised by patients or related parties.

543. Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India have signed $80 million loan agreement to modernize technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions in State of ______? 1. Telanagana 2. Bihar 3. Himachal Pradesh 4. Madhya Pradesh 5. Maharashtra Answer - 3. Himachal Pradesh Explanation : Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India have signed $80 million loan agreement to modernize technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions in State of Himachal Pradesh. Funds procured through this loan will be used to conduct short-term and long-term training programs in growth areas including electronics, automobiles, pharmaceutical, tourism and hospitality, health care etc Relevant and good quality TVET programs will be developed which will improve employment prospects of nearly 65000 youths by 2022. Funds will be deployed in establishing a polytechnic for women, seven Rural Livelihood Centres, six city Livelihood Centers and upgrade 11 employment exchanges into model career Centres.

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544. Which bank in India will facilitate to set up 'WomenInTech (WIT) Forum that will work towards encouraging women to take up careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)? 1. Royal Bank of Canada 2. Lloyds Bank 3. HSBC Bank 4. Royal Bank of Scotland 5. Canara Bank Answer - 4. Royal Bank of Scotland Explanation: Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) in India will facilitate to set up 'WomenInTech (WIT) Forum that will work towards encouraging women to take up careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). WIT Forum will not only work towards creating awareness among young women about career opportunities in STEM but will also provide scholarships for economically weaker section. It will also provide mentoring and upskilling to increase the employability of women in STEM careers. Professional consultancy network Deloitte is the knowledge partner for this initiative. In the context of this news, it is important to note that nearly 2.5-3 million new jobs will be created in the IT and IT enabled services sector by 2025.

545. Who was appointed the acting chairperson of National Green Tribunal (NGT) by the Supreme Court? 1. Justice Altamas Kabir 2. Justice Jawad Rahim 3. Justice Ajay Manikrao 4. Justice Sanjay Kishan 5. Justice Ashok Bhushan Answer - 2. Justice Jawad Rahim Explanation : On 27th March 2018, Justice Jawad Rahim was appointed as the acting chairperson of National Green Tribunal (NGT) by the Supreme Court. Justice Jawad Rahim is a judicial member of National Green Tribunal (NGT). He will perform his duties as acting chairperson of NGT until a regular appointment is made. He will also participate in the selection process of other members of the NGT. However, it has been made clear that his appointment is an interim arrangement and a regular appointment will be made soon for the post of the Chairman of NGT.

546. Who was appointed the new chairman cum managing director (CMD) of RINL (Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd)? 1. N V Ramana 2. Arjan Kumar 3. Rajesh Kumar 4. Mohan Sinha 5. Pradosh Kumar Rath Answer - 5. Pradosh Kumar Rath Explanation: Pradosh Kumar Rath has been shortlisted as the new chairman cum managing director (CMD) of RINL (Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd). At present, Pradosh Kumar Rath, is Director (Operations) at

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RINL. Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) selects candidates for top positions at public sector units. PESB had interviewed six candidates including Pradosh Kumar Rath for the chairman cum managing director position at RINL. Pradosh Kumar Rath was selected as the top choice by PESB on 27th March 2018. Pradosh Kumar Rath’s appointment is subject to clearance by the Central Vigilance Commission and the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. If his appointment gets clearance, Pradosh Kumar Rath will get a 3 year tenure at RINL as CMD. RINL's current CMD P Madhusudan will retire on 31st May 2018.

547. Who was appointed the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ayushman Bharat National Health Protection Mission? 1. Kurian Joseph 2. Navin Sinha 3. Indu Bhushan 4. Ranjan Gogoi 5. Sharad Arvind Bobde Answer - 3. Indu Bhushan Explanation: On 27th March 2018, Indu Bhushan was appointed the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ayushman Bharat National Health Protection Mission. Indu Bhushan is the Director General of East Asia Department, Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila, Philippines. He has been appointed as CEO of Ayushman Bharat National Health Protection Mission for 2 years. Earlier, he was Director General of the Strategy and Policy Department in ADB. He joined ADB in 1997.

548. Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer Sanjiv Kumar announced whom as the state election icon for Karnataka Assembly polls? 1. Sourav Ganguly 2. Sachin Tendulkar 3. Virender Sehwag 4. Rahul Dravid 5. V V S Laxman Answer - 4. Rahul Dravid Explanation: Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer Sanjiv Kumar announced that, cricketer Rahul Dravid will be the state election icon for Karnataka Assembly polls. Sanjiv Kumar said that, disabled government employees will be appointed as polling staff in selected polling stations for the first time. He added that, 450 all-women polling stations will be set up. The Election Commission of India has announced a single phase poll for the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on 12th May 2018. The Karnataka Legislative Assembly comprises 224 members. Votes will be counted on 15th May 2018.

549. Win Myint was elected as the President of which country? 1. Bhutan 2. Nepal 3. Myanmar 4. Spain 5. Sweden Answer - 3. Myanmar Explanation: On 28th March 2018, Win Myint was elected as President of Myanmar by Myanmar's parliament. Win Myint replaces Htin Kyaw as President of Myanmar. Last week Htin Kyaw resigned citing

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health reasons. Win Myint is 66 years old. He is former speaker of Myanmar’s House of Representatives. He is a member of National League for Democracy. He was made a vice- president of Myanmar last week. On 28th March 2018, the Myanmar Parliament voted for the three vice-presidents to elect one of them to the post of President. Win Myint secured 403 votes and defeated Myint Swe who obtained 211 votes and Henry Van Tio who got 18 votes.

550. In which Indian city, Defence Investiture Ceremony was held at? 1. New Delhi 2. Kolkata 3. Mumbai 4. Pune 5. Udaipur Answer - 1. New Delhi Explanation: President Ram Nath Kovind presented Gallantry Awards and distinguished service decorations at the Defence Investiture Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. President Kovind presented three Kirti Chakra, 17 Shaurya Chakra, 14 Param Vishisht Seva Medals (PVSM), one Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (UYSM) and 22 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals (AVSM). These awards were announced on the eve of Republic Day. Kirti Chakra is the second highest peacetime gallantry award (After Ashok Chakra), presented for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the field of battle.

551. Name the Two Indian activists who have been selected among 20 finalists for the Commonwealth Youth Awards 2018 for their contribution towards achieving gender equality? 1. Mirnalini Dayal and Subimal Roy 2. Mirnalini Dayal and Yogesh Kumar 3. Mirnalini Dayal and Sudhakar Kurdukar 4. Mirnalini Dayal and Amarendra Nath 5. Mirnalini Dayal and Ram Prakash Answer - 2. Mirnalini Dayal and Yogesh Kumar Explanation:: Two Indian activists Mirnalini Dayal and Yogesh Kumar have been selected among 20 finalists for the Commonwealth Youth Awards 2018 for their contribution towards achieving gender equality. Mirnalini Dayal and Yogesh Kumar have been selected from across 53 Commonwealth member- countries. Mirnalini Dayal has been chosen for her work as a campaign leader for 'Health Over Stigma'. Yogesh Kumar has been shortlisted for establishing the social enterprise 'Even Cargo'. Both the finalists are based in Delhi. They were selected for their work towards achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal No. 5 on gender equality. The Commonwealth Youth Awards 2018 recognises people from 15 to 29 years of age whose work had a remarkable impact on their communities.

552. Which country’s space agency, announced that during 2018, it will launch two new satellite missions to enhance the view of Earth's frozen regions? 1. Japan 2. India 3. Russia 4. China 5. USA Answer - 5. USA

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Explanation: On March 27, 2018, US space agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced that during 2018, it will launch two new satellite missions to enhance the view of Earth's frozen regions. Firstly, NASA in collaboration with German Research Centre for Geosciences will launch the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On (GRACE-FO) mission (as a continuation of the original GRACE mission) which will track fluctuations in Earth's gravity field in order to detect changes in mass, including the mass of ice sheets and aquifers. Thereafter, Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2) will be launched to measure the changing elevation of ice around the world. ICESat-2 will use a highly advanced laser instrument. These missions are significant as it will offer insights into changes in Cryosphere (portions of Earth's surface where water is in solid form viz. sea ice, glaciers, ice caps etc.) which are impacting lives of people all around the world.

553. All India Football Federation (AIFF) launched “Scout-Me”, a mobile based scouting application to discover future players. This app was launched by ______? 1. Naren Ray 2. Jaganath Shetty 3. Kush Pandey 4. Swatanter Kumar 5. RadhaKrishnan Answer - 3. Kush Pandey Explanation: On 27th March 2018, All India Football Federation (AIFF) launched “Scout-Me”, a mobile based scouting application to discover future players. AIFF has become the first National Sports Federation to launch a mobile based scouting application to discover future players. Scout-Me app will make the scouting process easy. Scout-Me app has been developed by Kush Pandey. Kush Pandey is 17 years old. He is a football enthusiast. He had represented Delhi at the National Championships. He also leads his school football team.

554. Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) launched a new portal which enables EPFO pensioners to obtain pension-related information. The facility can be accessed from which website? 1. www.epfpension.gov.in 2. www.epfoindia.gov.in 3. www.epfindia.gov.co.in 4. www.epfindia.gov.com 5. www.epfindia.gov.in Answer - 5. www.epfindia.gov.in Explanation: On 28th March 2018, Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) launched a new portal which enables EPFO pensioners to obtain pension-related information. This portal will help users to obtain details like pension payment order number, payment order details, passbook information and other related information. It will also help pensioners to check the status of their life certificate. It will also furnish details and reason for stoppage of pension. The enhanced "Track eKYC" facility for the convenience of members has also been introduced to verify status of Aadhaar seeded against their Universal Account Number (UAN). The facility can be accessed at Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO)’s website: www.epfindia.gov.in

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555. Steve Smith and David Warner were banned from playing cricket after the ball- tampering scandal during the Cape Town Test against South Africa. They belonged to which country’s cricket team? 1. Argentina 2. Bangladesh 3. Srilanka 4. South Africa 5. Australia Answer - 5. Australia Explanation: Steve Smith and David Warner were banned from playing for Australia by Cricket Australia after the ball-tampering scandal during the Cape Town Test against South Africa. It was found out that sandpaper was used in an attempt to rough up the ball. Opener Cameron Bancroft has been given a nine-month ban for executing the plan in the third South Africa Test. Steve Smith has been banned from captaining the Australian national team for two years. It is said that, David Warner, former vice-captain, will never be considered for any leadership position in the future. Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft will have to wait 12 months for them to be considered for a leadership role.

556. V. Sriharsha recently passed away. Who was he? 1. Doctor 2. Teacher 3. Journalist 4. Physician 5. Singer Answer - 3. Journalist Explanation: V. Sriharsha, a reputed journalist, died due to cardiac arrest, in New Delhi. V. Sriharsha was 62 years old. He worked as a media consultant with the GMR Group after he had retired as Bureau Chief of ETV (Delhi). Earlier, he had worked with The Indian Express, Pioneer and Deccan Chronicle.

557. The recent amendment of National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill made the punishment severe for any unauthorised practice of medicine by including a provision for imprisonment of up to one year along with a fine extending up to______? 1. Rs 2 lakh 2. Rs 3 lakh 3. Rs 5 lakh 4. Rs 8 lakh 5. Rs 10 lakh Answer - 3. Rs 5 lakh Explanation : Union cabinet has approved certain amendments to the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill. NMC is expected to replace the much criticised Medical Council of India. Punishment for any unauthorised practice of medicine has been made severe by including a provision for imprisonment of up to one year along with a fine extending up to Rs 5 lakh. Besides, a bridge course for AYUSH practitioners that would have allowed them to prescribe allopathic medicines has also been scrapped. Final MBBS examination would be held as a common exam throughout India and would serve as an exit test to be called the National Exit Test (NEXT). These amendments are based on recommendations made by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on

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Health and Family Welfare.

558. Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved MoU between India and Zambia in the field of ______? 1. Combating International Criminality 2. Judicial Cooperation 3. Intellectual Property Rights 4. Innovation, Creativity and Economic growth 5. Farming and Agriculture Answer - 2. Judicial Cooperation Explanation : On March 28, 2018, Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved following bilateral agreements between India and Zambia. This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will strengthen relations between India and Zambia and add new dimensions in the field of judicial reforms. It is to be noted that social, cultural and commercial relations between India and Zambia have developed in the positive direction during recent years.

559. To develop a green corridor in which Indian city, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has tied up with Airports Authority of India (AAI)? 1. Jaipur 2. Ahmadabad 3. Lucknow 4. Kanpur 5. Varanasi Answer - 5. Varanasi Explanation : On 28th March 2018, the government announced that, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has tied up with Airports Authority of India (AAI) to develop a green corridor covering 16.55 km in Varanasi. On 28th March 2018, a MoU was signed by NHAI and AAI for the construction of a green corridor along Varanasi Bypass covering 16.55 km of NH 56 and NH 29. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said that, AAI would provide funds worth Rs 5 crore for plantations and maintenance work under their CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) funds for 5 years. The NHAI and AAI have joined hands under "Adopt a Green Highway Programme" as a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of AAI. It is a step taken by Green Highways Division of NHAI to involve corporates, public sector units, governmental organisations and institutions under CSR and public private partnership for creating green corridor along National Highways.

560. In which state, Greentech Mega Food Park was inaugurated at a cost of Rs 113.57 crore? 1. Tamil Nadu 2. Rajasthan 3. Karnataka 4. West Bengal 5. Bihar Answer - 2. Rajasthan

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Explanation : Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal inaugurated Rajasthan’s first mega food park M/s Greentech Mega Food Park Private Ltd, at Roopangarh Village in Ajmer, Rajasthan. The Greentech Mega Food Park has been established at a cost of Rs 113.57 crore. It will benefit nearly 25,000 farmers in that region. The park has been constructed in an area of 85.44 acres. It has central processing centre and 4 Primary Processing Centres (PPCs) at Jaipur, Nagaur, Tonk and Churu. The park will have facilities for primary processing and storage near the farms. The Central Processing Centre (CPC) will have facilities like Cold Storage, Deep Freeze, Dry Warehouse for Raw Materials, Dry Warehouse for Finished Goods, Pack House, Steam Generator etc. She said that the Park will offer direct and indirect employment to over 5,000 persons.

561. India has increased its annual contribution to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) from $1.5 million to ______for a period of 3 years from 2018-19? 1. $3 million 2. $5 million 3. $10 million 4. $15 million 5. $25 million Answer - 2. $5 million Explanation : On 28th March 2018, the External Affairs Ministry announced that, India has increased its annual contribution to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) from $1.5 million to $5 million for a period of 3 years from 2018-19. This announcement was made by India at the extraordinary Ministerial Conference held in Rome on 15th March 2018. India has increased its annual contribution due to the unexpected financial crisis being faced by UNRWA. It is said that the, four-time increase in India’s contribution is based on External Affairs Ministry’s commitment to increase support to UNRWA at the Non- Aligned Movement (NAM) Ministerial meeting held at Palestine on 19th September 2017. It is also a part of India’s increased engagement with Palestine, especially after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Palestine on 10th February 2018.

562. To mark the 350th Birth Anniversary of whom, RBI will soon roll out limited edition coins of Rs 350 denomination? 1. Swami Vivekananda 2. Ramana Maharishi 3. Sri Aurobindo 4. Shri Guru Gobind Singh 5. Rabindranath Tagore Answer - 4. Shri Guru Gobind Singh Explanation : Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will soon roll out limited edition coins of Rs 350 denomination to mark the 350th Birth Anniversary of Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Circumference of the coin will be 44 millimetres and the weight of the coin could vary from 34.65 grams to 35.35 grams. It will be made up of Quaternary Alloy - Silver (50 per cent), Copper (40 per cent), Nickel (5 per cent) and Zinc (5 per cent). The front face of the coin shall bear the Lion Capitol of Ashoka Pillar in the centre with the legend "Satyamev Jayate" inscribed below. Lion Capital on the front face will be flanked by word “Bharat” in the Devanagari script on the left and word “INDIA” in English on the right periphery. The front face shall also bear the Rupee symbol and denominational value “350”

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in International Numerals below the Lion Capitol.

563. Name the committee appointed by SEBI to recommend on the Corporate Governance? 1. Umesh Sinha Committee 2. JK Government Committee 3. Uday Kotak Committee 4. Inter Ministerial Committee 5. CABE Sub-Committee Answer - 3. Uday Kotak Committee Explanation : On 28th March 2018, SEBI accepted most of the recommendations of Uday Kotak Committee on Corporate Governance. SEBI accepted 40 recommendations out of the 80 odd recommendations proposed by the Uday Kotak committee. Nearly 18 suggestions were rejected, such as sharing information with promoters and significant shareholders, an increase in the number of independent directors on board, minimum compensation to independent directors and more board meetings. The SEBI committee was formed to review corporate governance rules in June 2017. It is headed by Uday Kotak and has 21 members. The committee submitted its report on 5th October 2017. The committee had suggested the implementation of its proposals in phases

564. Which company has acquired Tenor, a GIF search engine for Android, iOS and desktop? 1. Facebook 2. Reliance 3. Twitter 4. Google 5. Samsung Answer - 4. Google Explanation : Google has acquired Tenor, a GIF search engine for Android, iOS and desktop. Cathy Edwards, Director of Engineering, Google Images, said that, Tenor would introduce GIFs in Google Images and services like Gboard easily. It will help users to find and share GIF images easily. It is said that, Tenor would continue to operate as a separate brand. Google did not reveal the amount for which it acquired Tenor. Tenor said that, its founders David McIntosh, Erick Hachenburg and Frank Nawabi will continue to lead the company.

565. Who was appointed the new Director General Border Roads (DGBR)? 1. Lt Gen Ranjit Das 2. Lt Gen Harpal Singh 3. Lt Gen Rajesh Verma 4. Lt Gen B R Sharma 5. Lt Gen Bhushan Vikas Answer - 2. Lt Gen Harpal Singh Explanation : On 28th March 2018, Lt Gen Harpal Singh was appointed as Director General Border Roads (DGBR). In 1982, Lt Gen Harpal Singh was commissioned into the Corps of Engineers. Later, he commanded a Border Roads Task Force in Jammu & Kashmir valley. He has worked as Chief Engineer of Project Dantak (Border Roads Organisation) at Bhutan, Chief Engineer (Navy), Mumbai and Chief Engineer HQ Eastern Command. He has served as Directing Staff at the College of Defence Management, Secunderabad. Before taking charge as Director General Border

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Roads (DGBR) he was Director General Military Training at Integrated Headquarters of Ministry of Defence (Army).

566. Name the Director, who has been appointed the chairman of the central panel of the 65th National Film Awards? 1. Shekhar Kapur 2. P Sheshadri 3. Rahul Rawail 4. Tripurari Sharma 5. Rumi Jaffery Answer - 1. Shekhar Kapur Explanation : Director Shekhar Kapur has been appointed as the chairman of the central panel of the 65th National Film Awards. The central panel of 65th National Film Awards consists of a chairperson and 10 other members which includes five regional chairpersons.

567. Abiye Ahmed was elected as the new prime minister of which country? 1. Libya 2. Kenya 3. Ethiopia 4. Somalia 5. Sudan Answer - 3. Ethiopia Explanation : On 27th March 2018, Abiye Ahmed was elected as the new prime minister of Ethiopia. Abiye Ahmed has been elected as prime minister of Ethiopia following the resignation of Hailemariam Desalegn last month. The council of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) elected Abiye Ahmed as chairperson to succeed Hailemariam Desalegn. This automatically made Abiye Ahmed as the prime minister of Ethiopia. He is 41 years old. He joined the House of Representatives in 2010. Earlier, he was a lieutenant colonel in the Ethiopian National Defense Force.

568. Name the first female UN Political Chief? 1. Rosemary DiCarlo 2. Sarah Palin 3. Tammy Baldwin 4. Carol Moseley 5. Barbara Mikulski Answer - 1. Rosemary DiCarlo Explanation : On 29th March 2018, Rosemary DiCarlo was named UN Political Chief, becoming the first female UN Political Chief. Rosemary DiCarlo replaces Jeffrey Feltman. Rosemary DiCarlo is a former deputy US ambassador to the United Nations. She was also deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs and director for United Nations affairs at the national security council in Washington. She has been the president of the National Committee on American Foreign Policy since 2015. Her areas of expertise are Russia, former Soviet Union and the Middle East. She speaks Russian and French.

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569. Name the famous lyricist and film director who was selected for the J C Daniel award? 1. Krishnan Nair 2. Mankada Reviverma 3. Sreekumaran Thampi 4. Sethu Madhavan 5. Jose Prakash Answer - 3. Sreekumaran Thampi Explanation : On 28th March 2018, lyricist and film director Sreekumaran Thampi was selected for the J C Daniel award. J C Daniel Award is Kerala's highest award for contributions to Malayalam cinema. The award consists of Rs 5 lakh cash prize, citation and statuette. Kerala Culture minister A K Balan said that, J C Daniel Award will be given to Sreekumaran Thampi at the Kerala State film awards function at Kollam, Kerala. The award committee consisted of actor Madhu, director Sathyan Anthikkad, Chalachitra Academy chairman, Kamal and Cultural secretary, Rani George. Sreekumaran Thampi entered Malayalam film industry in 1966. He has produced 25 films, directed 29 films, and scripted 85 films in Malayalam. He has also written thousands of songs

570. On March 29, 2018, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched India’s latest communication satellite GSAT-6A on board Geosynchronous rocket GSLV- F08 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. What is the mission life period of GSAT-6A satellite? 1. 5 years 2. 10 years 3. 15 years 4. 20 years 5. 25 years Answer - 2. 10 years Explanation : On March 29, 2018, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched India’s latest communication satellite GSAT-6A on board Geosynchronous rocket GSLV-F08 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.ISRO said that the GSAT-6A was similar to the GSAT-6 put into orbit in 2015. It is a high power S-band communication satellite built on I- 2K satellite bus. GSAT-6A weighs 2140 kg and has mission life of 10 years. It has a six-metre wide antenna that would unfurl once it is in space. It will provide mobile communication to India through, multi-beam coverage facility.

571. Name the hot, metallic, Earth-sized planet recently discovered by the scientists, that orbits a dwarf star located 260 million light years away? 1. K2-229a 2. K2-229b 3. K2-229c 4. K1-229a 5. K1-229b Answer - 2. K2-229b Explanation : Scientists have discovered a hot, metallic, Earth-sized planet named “K2-229b” that orbits a dwarf star located 260 million light years away. K2-229b is nearly 20 % larger in size than Earth and has a mass which is nearly two-and-a-half times greater. Its day side temperature is more than 2000 degrees Celsius. It is located very close to its host star 0.012 AU. This distance is

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nearly a hundredth of the distance between the Earth and the Sun. 0.012 AU is a medium-sized active K dwarf in the Virgo Constellation. K2-229b orbits the star every 14 hours. Researchers from Aix-Marseille Universite in France and the University of Warwick in the UK utilized the K2 telescope and used Doppler spectroscopy technique to discover K2-229b.

572. Which state hosted the 17th Sub-junior National Wushu Championship 2018? 1. Punjab 2. Haryana 3. Jammu and Kashmir 4. Uttarkhand 5. Himachal Pradesh Answer - 3. Jammu and Kashmir Explanation : On 29th March 2018, 17th Sub-junior National Wushu Championship started in Jammu. 17th Sub-junior National Wushu Championship is conducted for 4 days. It is organised by the the Wushu Association of India jointly with J&K State Sports Council at MA Stadium. The championship was inaugurated by J&K Youth Services and Sports Minister Imran Raza Ansari at a ceremony at Police auditorium, Jammu. Around 37 teams are taking part in the championship. It includes more than 1000 boys and girls from all over India and 12 boys from Army.

573. Name the Indian who won gold medal in the Women’s 25m Pistol event at the ISSF Junior World Cup in Sydney, Australia? 1. Arunima Gaur 2. Tanu Rawal 3. Mahima Turhi Agrawal 4. Muskan Bhanwala 5. Devanshi Rana Answer - 4. Muskan Bhanwala Explanation : On 28th March 2018, Muskan Bhanwala won gold medal in the Women’s 25m Pistol event at the ISSF Junior World Cup in Sydney, Australia.Women’s 25m Pistol event: Muskan Bhanwala is 16 years old. She scored 35 hits and won gold medal in the Women’s 25m Pistol event. This is India’s fourth individual gold medal at the ISSF Junior World Cup. China's Sihang Qin scored 34 hits and bagged the silver medal. Thailand’s Kanyakorn Hirunphoem scored 26 hits and won bronze medal. Another Indian shooter Manu Bhaker finished in the fourth position with 18 hits.

574. Which state government launched '181-Sakhi', a toll-free helpline number for women? 1. Manipur 2. Meghalaya 3. Assam 4. Punjab 5. Goa Answer - 3. Assam Explanation : Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launched '181-Sakhi', a toll-free helpline number for women. This helpline has been launched in wake of increasing crimes against women in Assam. 211 | Page Follow Us - FB.com/AffairsCloudOfficialPage Copyright 2018 @ AffairsCloud.Com

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Initially, the toll free helpline will work from 9 am to 5.30 pm, but will soon be a 24x7 service. It is a part of Union Ministry of Women and Child Development’s scheme to provide 24 hours response to women affected by violence

575. To engage which of the following group of people in Government's cleanliness drive, Union Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation has introduced a Swachh Bharat Summer Internship (SBSI)? 1. College students 2. School students 3. IT Professionals 4. College Teachers 5. School Teachers Answer - 1. College students Explanation : In a bid to engage college students in Government's cleanliness drive, Union Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation has introduced a Swachh Bharat Summer Internship (SBSI). As a part of this internship programme, students (interns) would be required to undertake 100 hours of activities including creation of sanitation infrastructure, building necessary systems and carry out behaviour change campaigns in and around nearby villages. On successful completion of above stated activities, interns would be provided a Certificate of Internship by the Swachh Bharat Mission. Besides, students of higher educational institutions who undertake and complete SBSI will be provided 2 credit points by University Grants Commission as an elective' under the Choice Based Credit System (CBCS). SBSI will be implemented in association with the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development.

576. In the wake of increasing and unacceptable levels of anti-Sikh bigotry, US state of New Jersey’s State Assembly has declared which month as ‘Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month’? 1. April 2. May 3. June 4. July 5. August Answer - 1. April Explanation : In wake of increasing and unacceptable levels of anti-Sikh bigotry, US state of New Jersey’s State Assembly has declared April as ‘Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month’. During the month of April, efforts will be made to promote public awareness of the Sikh faith, recognise the important contributions of the Sikh community and combat anti-Sikh bigotry. As per US Government data, nearly 60 per cent of Americans know nothing about Sikh religion or its practitioners. After 9/11 terrorist attacks in US, rates of anti-Sikh bigotry rose dramatically as Sikhs in America are often confused for Muslims.

577. Which Indian state has the highest number of tribal habitations fully covered with the safe drinking water supply? 1. Maharashtra 2. Uttar Pradesh 3. Odisha 4. Madhya Pradesh 5. Karnataka

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Answer - 4. Madhya Pradesh Explanation : Among all Indian states, Madhya Pradesh has the highest number tribal habitations (55770) fully covered with the safe drinking water supply. As on March 21, 2018, 301858 out of 365050 Scheduled Tribe (ST) dominated habitations in India are fully covered with provision of safe drinking water supply. Under ‘National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP)’, 10% of the total allocation of funds is earmarked to be used for the supply of drinking water. Besides, with funding from NRDWP and assistance from Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government is also installing solar power based dual pump schemes in Left Wing Extremist/Naxal Affected States for providing safe drinking water to small rural tribal habitations in these areas through taps.

578. Which state has got Geographical Indications (GI) tag for Kadaknath, a chicken breed whose black meat is in demand in certain regions of the state? 1. Goa 2. Maharashtra 3. Odisha 4. Bihar 5. Madhya Pradesh Answer - 5. Madhya Pradesh Explanation : Madhya Pradesh has got Geographical Indications (GI) tag for Kadaknath, a chicken breed whose black meat is in demand in certain regions of the state.Kadaknath chicken’s protein-rich black meat is sold at a much higher price than other varieties of chicken. It is native to Jhabua, Alirajpur and parts of Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh. The application for GI registration of Kadaknath Chicken was filed by Gramik Vikas Trust, Jhabua, in 2012.

579. Which state government has increased the retirement age of that state’s government employees from 60 to 62 years? 1. Punjab 2. Madhya Pradesh 3. Haryana 4. Odisha 5. Maharashtra Answer - 2. Madhya Pradesh Explanation : On 30th March 2018, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan increased the retirement age of Madhya Pradesh government employees from 60 to 62 years. The retirement age for Madhya Pradesh government employees has been increased by two years. There are nearly five lakh regular government employees in Madhya Pradesh. In August 2013, Shivraj Singh Chouhan had said that the Madhya Pradesh government will consider increasing the retirement age of state government employees from 60 to 62 years.

580. In which State, the Government Senior Secondary Girls School is renamed as Shaheed Major Vikas Yadav Senior Secondary School? 1. Bihar 2. Jharkhand 3. Uttarkhand 4. Haryana 5. Punja

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Answer - 4. Haryana Explanation : Haryana State Education Department renamed the Government Senior Secondary Girls School, Kosli in Rewari district as Shaheed Major Vikas Yadav Senior Secondary School. The school has been renamed to honour Major Vikas Yadav of 7 Jat Regiment who sacrificed his life fighting against militants in Jammu and Kashmir. The school has been renamed on his birth anniversary. A statue of Major Vikas Yadav was also unveiled by Lt Gen SK Saini, Colonel of the Jat Regiment. This initiative was taken by District Education Board and was supported by Late Major Vikas Yadav’s family.

581. In which Indian city, the Minister for Human Resource Development, Prakash Javadekar launched the grand finale of Smart India Hackathon 2018 (Software Edition)? 1. Kanpur 2. New Delhi 3. Kolkata 4. Bangalore 5. Patna Answer - 2. New Delhi Explanation : Minister for Human Resource Development, Prakash Javadekar launched the grand finale of Smart India Hackathon 2018 (Software Edition) in New Delhi. The Grand Finale of the Smart India Hackathon 2018 (Software Edition) is held for two days. It is considered the world’s largest event in its kind. It is held at 28 nodal centres across India simultaneously. Prakash Javadekar addressed the participants at New Delhi Institute of Management (NDIM) in New Delhi. Prakash Javadekar said that, more than 1 lakh students from over 1200 colleges are taking part in Smart India Hackathon 2018. He added that nearly 8000 students will work on their final innovations in the grand finale. Students will work in a group of six on the project which they have been preparing for the last 4 months.

582. In which state, India’s longest elevated road named “Hindon Elevated Road” was inaugurated? 1. Madhya Pradesh 2. Gujarat 3. Haryana 4. Uttar Pradesh 5. Karnataka Answer - 4. Uttar Pradesh Explanation : On 30th March 2018, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated Hindon Elevated Road - India’s longest elevated road, in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. The Hindon Elevated Road is a six-lane road. It is 10.3 km long. It has been built on 227 single pillars. It connects Raj Nagar Extension in Ghaziabad to UP Gate. It reduces the one hour journey to 18 minutes. The main objective of this road is to ease traffic movement between Ghaziabad and New Delhi. The total cost of the Hindon Elevated Road project is estimated to be Rs. 1,147 crore. This road has been constructed on Transit-oriented development (TOD) basis. It is a type of urban planning that makes public transportation easily accessible to residential, business and leisure space.

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583. Which state hosted the First National Conclave on Psychological Trauma, Child Protection, and Mental Illnesses on 27th and 28th March 2018? 1. Rajasthan 2. New Delhi 3. Tamil Nadu 4. Telangana 5. Kerala Answer - 2. New Delhi Explanation : On 27th and 28th March 2018, First National Conclave on Psychological Trauma, Child Protection, and Mental Illnesses was held in J L N Auditorium, AIIMS, New Delhi. The conclave was organized by Ministry of Women & Child Development, in collaboration with the Department of Psychiatry, AIIMS (All India Institutes of Medical Sciences). Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Dr. Virendra Kumar, inaugurated the conclave. The conclave acted as a connecting platform for Academicians, Clinicians, Government and NGOs working in this area towards robust evidence based research, enhanced service provision, and capacity building of professionals. The conclave aimed to provide a gist of research, service provision, and clinical practice involved in psychological trauma and mental illnesses in Indian children and adolescents.

584. With an objective to encourage early-stage start-ups, SEBI has decided to double the investment limit by angel funds in venture capital undertakings to ______crore? 1. Rs. 2 crore 2. Rs. 5 crore 3. Rs. 10 crore 4. Rs. 15 crore 5. Rs. 25 crore Answer - 3. Rs. 10 crore Explanation : With an objective to encourage early-stage start-ups, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has decided to double the investment limit by angel funds in venture capital undertakings to Rs. 10 crore. Angel funds/investors, encourage entrepreneurship by financing small start-ups at a stage when they find it difficult to obtain capital from conventional sources of finance such as banks and financial institutions. SEBI’s decision to raise the maximum investment by angel funds in venture capital undertakings to Rs. 10 crore from the current Rs. 5 crore is based on the recommendations of its working group comprising of various start-ups, angel networks and consultants, which was formed to consider simplification of certain provisions of AIFs and thereby enhance ease of doing business for angel funds. In addition to this, SEBI would also increase the maximum period of accepting funds from an angel investor from three years to five years, as it will provide angel funds, more time to identify opportunities for investment.

585. Government had decided to sell how many % stake in Air India? 1. 10% 2. 25% 3. 50% 4. 75% 5. 76% Answer - 5. 76% Explanation : The government has announced that, it has planned to sell 76 per cent stake in Air India. This has been mentioned in the expression of interest (EoI) document that was released on 28th

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March 2018. The government has planned to sell 76 per cent equity share capital of Air India along with subsidiary Air India Express and a 50% stake in Air India SATS (Singapore Airport Terminal Services) and also transfer the management control. It has been said that, the management or employees can directly take part in the bidding process or by forming a consortium. Ernst & Young LLP India has been named the transaction adviser for this disinvestment process.

586. India received its first shipment of Liquefied natural gas (LNG) from which country under a 20-year deal? 1. UAE 2. US 3. China 4. Malaysia 5. Britain Answer - 2. US Explanation : India received its first shipment of Liquefied natural gas (LNG) from US under a 20-year deal. Indian government-owned Gas Authority of India Ltd. (GAIL) has contracted 3.5 million tonnes per annum of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Cheniere Energy's Sabine Pass liquefaction facility in Louisiana, US. GAIL’s first shipment of LNG arrived at its Dabhol terminal (in Maharashtra) in a charter ship, MV Meridian Spirit that commenced voyage from Louisiana, US, nearly 25 days ago. Cheniere Energy, Inc is the leading exporter of LNG from US while GAIL is India's biggest natural gas transportation and marketing company.

587. On March 29, 2018, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the incumbent President of which country, got re-elected for a second term? 1. Libya 2. Syria 3. Sudan 4. Egypt 5. Ethiopia Answer - 4. Egypt Explanation : On March 29, 2018, incumbent Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi got re-elected for a second term. Around 23 million of the 60 million registered voters cast their votes for the Egyptian Presidential election that was held during 26th to 28th March 2018. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi garnered 92 per cent votes, while his only challenger and al Ghad party chief Moussa Mostafa Moussa secured just three per cent of vote share. Sisi was elected for a four-year presidential term in 2014 after he overthrew Islamist president Mohammed Morsi in 2013.

588. Which state government appointed shuttler Kidambi Srikanth as a Deputy Collector? 1. Telangana 2. Karnataka 3. Uttarkhand 4. Gujarat 5. Andhra Pradesh Answer - 5. Andhra Pradesh

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Explanation : Andhra Pradesh government appointed shuttler Kidambi Srikanth as a Deputy Collector. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu gave the appointment letter to Kidambi Srikanth in the presence of former All-England champion and badminton coach Pullela Gopichand, in Amravati. Kidambi Srikanth has received the Padma Shri award. He became the second youngest sportsperson in India after PV Sindhu to bag the Padma Shri award. After he won the title at the Indonesian Championship in June 2017, he was promised a government job. In November 2017, Andhra Pradesh Cabinet passed a resolution to appoint Kidambi Srikanth as Deputy Collector in Group-1 service.

589. Who has been elected the Chairman of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Southern Region for the 2018-19 period? 1. R Dinesh 2. Kumar Birla 3. Shantanu Naren 4. Richard Fairbank 5. Michael Corbat Answer - 1. R Dinesh Explanation : R Dinesh, Joint Managing Director of T V Sundram Iyengar and Sons, has been elected Chairman of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Southern Region for the 2018-19 period. R Dinesh is also the Chairman of CII Institute of Logistics Advisory Council and Chairman of Logistics Sector Skill Council. Before this appointment, he was Vice-Chairman of CII Southern Region. Sanjay Jayavarthanavelu, Chairman and Managing Director of Lakshmi Machine Works Ltd. that is based in Coimbatore, was elected Deputy Chairman of CII Southern Region for 2018-19. Sanjay Jayavarthanavelu has served as Chariman of CII Tamil Nadu State Council during 2006-07. Also, he was the Chairman of Textiles (Sub-Committee), CII Southern Region during 2002-04.

590. Who was given one year extension as the chairman and MD (CMD) of NBCC with effect from 1st April 2018? 1. Francis D’Sousa 2. John Cryan 3. Tom Enders 4. Anoop Kumar Mittal 5. Jeff Clarke Answer - 4. Anoop Kumar Mittal Explanation : On 29th March 2018, Anoop Kumar Mittal was given one year extension as the chairman and MD (CMD) of NBCC with effect from 1st April 2018.Anoop Kumar Mittal assumed charge as the CMD of the National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) in 2013 for a period of five years. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the extension of Anoop Kumar Mittal’s tenure. His extension was announced after he got clearance from the vigilance department of NBCC. His named was involved in an FIR filed by CBI in Rs 2,100 crore Pragati Maidan redevelopment project. On 8th March 2018, NBCC’s vigilance department stated that, the CBI chargesheet failed to prove the charges against Anoop Kumar Mittal. On 12th March 2018, Anoop Kumar Mittal was given additional charge of Director (Finance) of NBCC along with the CMD post.

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591. Name the Indian who has retained the top spot on ‘IE 100 2018’, The List of Most Powerful Indians? 1. Arun Jaitely 2. Narendra Modi 3. Ram Nath Kovind 4. Sonia Gandhi 5. Amit Shah Answer - 2. Narendra Modi Explanation : India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has retained the top spot on ‘IE 100 2018’, The PM Modi has retained the top spot as he has been the face of BJP in every election (Assembly, by-poll or civic polls) contested since 2014. At No. 2 is BJP President Amit Shah, who has been instrumental in getting inroads for BJP in new bastions. UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi (at No. 5) is the most powerful woman on the list. Surprisingly, President Ram Nath Kovind’s name has not featured in this list.

592. Name the first-ever mission by US Space agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), which will be dedicated to explore the deep interior of Mars? 1. Ignite 2. Sparkle 3. InSight 4. Crossover 5. Zeal Answer - 3. InSight Explanation : On May 5, 2018, US Space agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will send ‘InSight’, the first-ever mission dedicated to exploring the deep interior of Mars. InSight is a stationary robotic lander and stands for Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport. InSight will be NASA’s first mission since the Apollo moon landings to place a seismometer (a device that measures quakes), on the surface of another planet. It will carry a suite of sensitive instruments to gather data. These instruments include an ultra-sensitive seismometer for detecting marsquakes, which has been built by a multinational team led by France’s Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales and a thermal probe, developed by German Aerospace Center (DLR) that can bury itself up to five metres underground and measure heat flowing from inside the planet. Information collected through this mission will help to know about the earliest stages of Mars’ formation, 4.5 billion years ago

593. Which country successfully launched a Long March 3B rocket, carrying two Beidou- 3MEO satellites: Beidou-30 and Beidou-31? 1. Russia 2. Japan 3. Canada 4. Sweden 5. China Answer - 5. China Explanation : On 29th March 2018, China successfully launched a Long March 3B rocket carrying two Beidou- 3MEO satellites: Beidou-30 and Beidou-31 from the LC2 Launch Complex of the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, Sichuan province, China. The Long March 3B rocket flew with a Yuanzheng-1 (YZ- 1) upper stage attached. This ignited its YF-50D engine after launch. It will burn out for nearly

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four hours, and the two BeIDou-3 satellites will be released into MEO. The MEO satellites are the Medium Earth Orbit entity of the third phase of the Chinese Beidou (Compass) satellite navigation system. The BeiDou-3 M5 and M6 satellites are based on dedicated satellite bus. Their weight is nearly one metric ton a piece. Both satellites have two deployable solar arrays. They were developed to operate for around 12 years.

594. Darren Lehmann is related to which of the following? 1. Hockey 2. Swimming 3. Handball 4. Cricket 5. Football Answer - 4. Cricket Explanation : Darren Lehmann announced that he has resigned as head coach of Australian senior national cricket team. Darren Lehmann has announced his resignation after the ball-tampering scandal of Australian cricket team. He said that he will step down from his position after the fourth and final Test match in South Africa. He became the head coach in 2013. His contract was supposed to last till the end of the 2019 Ashes series. Cricket Australia has confirmed his resignation.

595. Which state government inaugurated the International Yachting Festival 2018? 1. Karnataka 2. Kerala 3. Manipur 4. Andhra Pradesh 5. Meghalaya Answer - 4. Andhra Pradesh Explanation : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu inaugurated the International Yachting Festival in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The International Yachting Festival is held till 1st April 2018. It is conducted by the Andhra Pradesh government. Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT) is providing required support for the festival. Krishnababu, Chairman of VPT, said that, this festival is conducted with an aim to boost sea tourism in Vishakapatnam. Dignitaries present at the event wore black badges on their shirts as a sign of protest to oppose the Centre's injustice against Andhra Pradesh.

596. Which State Government has decided to set up a well-equipped Crime Wing under the state police to prevent unlawful activities such as drug and narcotics peddling? 1. Nagaland 2. Telangana 3. Tamil Nadu 4. Gujarat 5. Tripura Answer - 5. Tripura Explanation : Tripura State Government has decided to set up a well-equipped Crime Wing under the state police to prevent unlawful activities such as drug and narcotics peddling. Tripura’s Law Minister Ratan Lal Nath has stated that the new Crime Wing under Tripura’s State Police will be modelled on lines of Delhi Police's crime branch. This decision was take at Tripura State Cabinet’s meeting, held on March 29, 2018. It is to be noted that curbing crime in the state and restoring the rule of

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land was one of the promise made in Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP's) election manifesto. BJP’s Tripura President, Biplab Kumar Deb took oath as the 10th Chief Minister of Tripura on March 9, 2018.

597. India and which of its neighbour country have agreed to resolve all issues regarding treatment of their diplomats placed in the other country through talks? 1. Pakistan 2. China 3. Myanmar 4. Bhutan 5. Afghanistan Answer - 1. Pakistan Explanation : On 30th March 2018, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India said that, India and Pakistan have agreed to resolve all issues regarding treatment of their diplomats placed in the other country through talks. MEA released a statement saying: India and Pakistan have mutually agreed to resolve matters related to the treatment of diplomats and diplomatic premises, in line with the 1992 "Code of Conduct for the treatment of diplomatic/consular personnel in India and Pakistan". The conflict started when Pakistani security agencies restricted work on a residential complex being built by India for its officials in Islamabad in February 2018. India submitted over 15 notes verbale (semi-formal communications) to Pakistan’s Foreign Office on the issue of harassment of officials and their families. Following this, Pakistan has reported 52 incidents of harassment and intimidation of their diplomats between 7th March and 22nd March 2018.

598. Which city of Kerala will host Asia's largest startup ecosystem congregation “Huddle Kerala” on 6th and 7th April 2018? 1. Kochi 2. Kovalam 3. Trivandrum 4. Thrissur 5. Kannur Answer - 2. Kovalam Explanation : “Huddle Kerala”, Asia's largest startup ecosystem congregation, will be held at Kovalam, Kerala, on 6th and 7th April 2018. Huddle Kerala: Purpose: Huddle Kerala is aimed to create a platform for start-ups to display their products and interact with technology and industry leaders from various parts of the world. Participation: The event will see participation of 2,000 members including startups, investors, academicians, industry leaders and 40 speakers in 30 sessions. Organised by: It is organised by the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) along with Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and IAMAI Startup Foundation. The conclave will be inaugurated by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Main focus: Main focus of the event will be on blockchain, cryptocurrency, internet of things (IoT), gaming and e-sports, cyber security, digital entertainment, augmented reality, virtual reality, e-governance, mobile governance, etc.

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599. Which bank has launched voicebot ‘Keya’, the first artificial intelligence-powered voicebot in Indian banking sector? 1. Postal Payment Bank 2. IDBI Bank 3. SBI 4. Kotak Mahindra Bank 5. City Union Bank Answer - 4. Kotak Mahindra Bank Explanation : Kotak Mahindra Bank has launched voicebot ‘Keya’, the first artificial intelligence-powered voicebot in Indian banking sector. ’Keya’ has been developed on basis of a library of millions of phone-banking conversations over the past three years. Kotak Mahindra Bank has integrated ‘Keya’ with its phone-banking helpline. Keya uses automatic speech recognition, text-to-speech technology and natural language understanding and can understand Hindi as well as English. By using above stated technology, ‘Keya’ navigates the customers directly to the destination where he/she can get his/her issue resolved. ’Keya’ is powered by Nuance (the technology behind Apple’s Siri).

600. For the first time, which country’s Central Bank has permitted domestic commercial banks to borrow funds from foreign banks and financial institutions? 1. Bhutan 2. Myanmar 3. Nepal 4. Srilanka 5. Malaysia Answer - 3. Nepal Explanation : For the first time, Nepal Rastra Bank (Nepal’s Central Bank) has permitted domestic commercial banks to borrow funds from foreign banks and financial institutions. The permission has been granted in order to resolve liquidity crunch prevailing in Nepal’s banking system since past few months. Following this permission, commercial banks of Nepal could now borrow loans up to 25 per cent of their core capital for the period from one year to five years. However, loans borrowed from abroad are to be utilised for financing only productive sectors such as agriculture, tourism, hydropower and outer infrastructure projects. It cannot be used to lend to the real estate sector in Nepal.

601. In which state, the foundation stone for 60 MW Naitwar Mori Hydro Electric Project (NMHEP) was laid on 30th March 2018? 1. Himachal Pradesh 2. Punjab 3. Haryana 4. Uttarakhand 5. Gujarat Answer - 4. Uttarakhand

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Explanation : On March 30, 2018, Minister of State (IC) for Power and New & Renewable Energy, R K Singh and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat laid the foundation stone of the 60 MW Naitwar Mori Hydro Electric Project (NMHEP) in Uttarkashi. This run-of-the river project, Naitwar Mori Hydro Electric Project (NMHEP), is located on the river Tons – a tributary of the Yamuna in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. Government of Uttarakhand has allocated this project to SJVN Ltd, a Mini Ratna PSU under administrative control of Union Ministry of Power. Environment clearance for this project was obtained in 2016. The entire project is scheduled to be completed by December, 2021. NMHEP comprises two underground generating units of 30 MW each, which will add 265.5 Million Units of renewable energy and would result in CO2 emissions reductions to the tune of 0.21 Million tons per year.

602. Who was appointed the Deputy Election Commissioner as part of a major bureaucratic reshuffle by the government? 1. Suresh Mahindran 2. Mahila Bhushan Begam 3. Chandra Bhushan Kumar 4. Das Jawahar Lal 5. Sudip Singh Answer - 3. Chandra Bhushan Kumar Explanation : On 30th March 2018, Chandra Bhushan Kumar was appointed as Deputy Election Commissioner as part of a major bureaucratic reshuffle by the government. Chandra Bhushan Kumar is an IAS officer of 1995 batch of union territories cadre. He has been appointed as Deputy Election Commissioner for a term of 5 years. On the whole, 13 officers were appointed as joint secretaries in various central government departments.

603. Which country successfully tested its latest intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) “Sarmat”? 1. Japan 2. China 3. Malaysia 4. UK 5. Russia Answer - 5. Russia Explanation : On March 30, 2018, Russia successfully tested its latest intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Sarmat. ICBM Sarmat was launch from Plesetsk in northwestern Russia. It will replace the Soviet- era Voyevoda, which is known as "Satan" in the West. ’Satan’ is the world's heaviest ICBM. ICBM Sarmat weighs 200 metric tons and has a greater range than ‘Satan’. On account greater range, it can even fly over the North or the South Poles and can strike targets anywhere in the world. ICBM Sarmat not only carries an array of warheads capable of dodging missile defences, but also carries a bigger number of nuclear warheads, thus making it more powerful than ‘Satan’.

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604. Which country successfully test fired indigenously developed Submarine Launched Cruise Missile (SLCM) BABUR? 1. China 2. India 3. USA 4. Pakistan 5. Afghanistan Answer - 4. Pakistan Explanation : On March 29, 2018, Pakistan successfully test fired indigenously developed Submarine Launched Cruise Missile (SLCM) BABUR. SLCM BABUR has a strike range of 450 KMs and is capable of delivering various types of payloads. It incorporates state of the art technologies including advanced guidance and navigation features and underwater controlled propulsion. SLCM BABUR was fired from an underwater dynamic platform and engaged its target with precise accuracy.

605. Name the newly discovered organ in human being? 1. Mitochrodiam 2. Oseogium 3. Interstitium 4. Elastidium 5. Collagenium Answer - 3. interstitium Explanation : Scientists have identified a new organ in human beings which has been dubbed the ‘interstitium’. Interstitium is a network of interconnected, fluid-filled compartments that can be found beneath the surface of the skin and is also present in tissue layers lining the gut, lungs, blood vessels, and muscles. It is made up of both strong (collagen) and flexible (elastin) connective tissue proteins. Interstitial fluid moves throughout this organ. Based on the initial observation, researchers believe that Interstitium may even be one of the largest organ in the human body. Scientists are hopeful that this discovery would prove to be helpful in understanding how cancer spreads within the human body.

606. Graeme Cremer, the captain of which country’s Cricket team was removed from his position, after the team failed to qualify for the 2019 World Cup? 1. Australia 2. Libya 3. Zimbabwe 4. South Africa 5. Argentina Answer - 3. Zimbabwe Explanation : On 30th March 2018, Zimbabwe Cricket sacked its entire coaching staff and removed Graeme Cremer as captain after their failure to qualify for the 2019 World Cup. It is said that, Brendan Taylor would be made the captain of Zimbabwe team. Zimbabwe Cricket had given time for the head coach and his technical staff to resign or else it said that, they would be considered dismissed at the end of the stipulated time. Head coach Heath Streak, batting coach Lance Klusener, bowling coach Douglas Hondo, fielding coach Walter Chawaguta, fitness coach Sean Bell and team analyst Stanley Chioza , all other coaching staff, Zimbabwe A coach Wayne James and Under-19 coach Stephen Mangongo, all have been fired.

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607. Which Indian state’s Cricket Association appointed Irfan Pathan as the coach-cum- mentor of its senior stateside for the 2018-19 season? 1. Karnataka 2. Jammu and Kashmir 3. Rajasthan 4. Bihar 5. Punjab Answer - 2. Jammu and Kashmir Explanation : On 30th March 2018, Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) appointed Irfan Pathan as the coach-cum-mentor of its senior stateside for the 2018-19 season. JKCA CEO Aashiq Bukhari said that, Irfan Pathan will be the coach-cum-mentor of their team for one year. Irfan Pathan is 33 years old. He has played 29 Tests, 120 ODIs and 24 T20 Internationals for India in the 2003 to 2012 period. He captained Baroda team for the last two domestic seasons.

608. R K Dorendra recently passed away. He was the former Chief Minister of which Indian state? 1. Bihar 2. Haryana 3. Punjab 4. Manipur 5. Meghalaya Answer - 4. Manipur Explanation : Former Manipur Chief Minister R K Dorendra Singh died at the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital in Imphal, Manipur. R K Dorendra Singh was 83 yrs old. He was the chief minister of Manipur four times between 1974 and 1993. Earlier, he was the Speaker of Manipur Assembly.

STATIC GK based on Current Affairs

1. Which is the first union territory to join UDAY scheme? Puducherry

2. Which is the Capital of Macedonia? Skopje; Currency – Macedonian denar

3. What is the Currency of Fiji? Fijian dollar

4. Red River and Perfume River are in which country? Vietnam

5. Who is the chairman of Vodafone? Gerard Kleisterlee

6. Which country is the world's biggest importer of edible oils? India

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7. Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary is in which state? Karnataka

8. Mettur Dam is built on which river? Cauvery River

9. Which is the capital city of Tripura? Agartala

10. Where is the headquarters of the Allahabad bank located? Kolkata

11. Who is the president of Israel? Reuven Rivlin

12. NASA was formed in the year? 1958

13. What is the theme of World Wildlife Day 2018? “Big cats: predators under threat"

14. Which is the capital city of Armenia? Yerevan; Currency – Dram

15. Konark Sun Temple is in which place? Odisha

16. What is the capital of Meghalaya? Shillong

17. Ntangki National Park is in which state? Nagaland

18. Who is the Governor of Karnataka? Vajubhai Vala

19. Who are the Top 5 holders of US Government Securities? China, Japan, Ireland, Cayman Islands, Brazil

20. Anshupa Lake, Chilika Lake and Kanjia lake are in which state? Odisha

21. Which is the capital of Vietnam? Hanoi

22. ‘We Understand Your World’ is the tagline of which bank? HDFC Bank

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23. RBI Commenced Operations on? 1st April 1935

24. Where is the headquarters of Citibank located? New York City

25. Oscar was First awarded in? 1929

26. ‘India’s International Bank’ is the tagline of which bank? ank of Baroda

27. Where is Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport located? Mumbai

28. Anamudi Shola National Park is in which state? Kerala

29. ONGC was Founded in the year? 1956

30. Who is the Current CEO of Microsoft? Satya Nadella

31. Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) was formed in the year? 1875

32. Who is the MD & CEO of ICICI bank? Mrs. Chanda Kochhar

33. Which is the capital city of Spain? Madrid

34. Headquarters of Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) is located at? Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

35. Balimela Wildlife Sanctuary is in which state? Odisha

36. Where is the headquarters of Competition Commission of India (CCI) located? New Delhi

37. EESL (Energy Efficiency Services Limited) functions under which Ministry? Ministry of Power

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38. Which is the capital city of Libya? Tripoli

39. YONO (You Only Need One) is an integrated banking platform offered by which bank? SBI

40. Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary is in which state? Tamil Nadu

41. Who is the MD & CEO of Equitas Small Finance Bank (ESFBL)? Mr. Vasudevan P N

42. Where is the headquarters of TCS located? Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

43. What is the currency of Nepal? Nepalese rupee (NPR)

44. Which is the capital city of Israel? Jerusalem

45. Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary is in which state? Rajasthan

46. Press Information Bureau was formed in the year? 1919

47. Who is the MD & CEO of Punjab National Bank (PNB)? Sunil Mehta

48. How many countries are the parts of International Solar Alliance (ISA)? 60

49. Dudhwa National Park is in which state? Uttar Pradesh

50. Desert National Park is in which state? Rajasthan

51. Indian Air Force Museum is in which state? Delhi

52. Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary is in which state? Andhra Pradesh

53. Which is the capital city of Bangladesh? Dhaka; Currency – Taka

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54. What is the theme of ‘MILAN 2018’? Friendship Across the Seas

55. Headquarters of International Solar Alliance is located at? Gurugram, Haryana, India

56. Iskcon Temple is in which city? Bengaluru

57. Kandla Port is in which state? Gujarat

58. Where is the headquarters of International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) located? Munich, Germany

59. Warangal Museum is in which state? Telangana

60. Which is the capital city of Bolivia? Sucre

61. Communist Party of India (CPI) was formed in the year? 1925

62. Chandra Prabha Wildlife Sanctuary is in which state? Uttar Pradesh

63. Where is the Headquarters of Forest Survey of India (FSI) located? Dehradun, Uttarakhand

64. Where is the Lotus Temple located at? New Delhi

65. ‘Hum hai na’, ‘khayaal aapka’ is the tagline of which bank? ICICI Bank

66. Which country topped World Happiness Report 2018? Finland

67. Nagarjuna Sagar Dam was built on which river? Krishna River

68. Where is Anthropological Museum located? Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands

69. Central Intelligence Agency was formed in the year? 1945

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70. Who is the Current Governor of Odisha? .C. Jamir

71. Who is the MD & CEO of Suryoday Small Finance Bank? R Baskar Babu

72. Atapaka Bird Sanctuary is in which state? Andhra Pradesh

73. Which Indian city is also called the Sandal Wood City? Mysore

74. Which is the capital city of Slovenia? Ljubljana

75. Kanwar Lake is in which state? Bihar

76. ‘Experience our Expertise’ is the tagline of which bank? Yes bank

77. What is the Theme for World Sleep Day 2018? Join the Sleep World, Preserve Your Rhythms to Enjoy Life

78. Durand Line is the border line between which two countries? Afghanistan & Pakistan

79. Biju Patnaik International Airport is in? Bhubaneswar, Odisha

80. World Economic Forum (WEF) was founded in the year? 1971

81. Where is the headquarters of Federal Bank located? Kochi, Kerala

82. Neyyar Dam is in which state? Kerala

83. Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary is in which state? Bihar

84. Where is the headquarters of Asian Development Bank located? Manila, Philippines

85. What is the capital of Bhutan? Thimphu

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86. Indian Coast Guard was established in the year? 1978

87. Which is the capital city of Mauritius? Port Louis; Currency – Mauritian rupee

88. Where is Visvesvaraya Stadium located? Mandya, Karnataka

89. Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) is located at? Brussels, Belgium

90. Great Himalayan National Park is in which state? Himachal Pradesh

91. Dudhwa National Park is in which state? Uttar Pradesh

92. Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary is in which state? Jammu and Kashmir

93. What is the Currency of Japan? Japanese yen

94. What is the tagline of Axis Bank? ‘Badhti ka naam zindagi’

95. River Shinano is in which country? Japan

96. Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University) is in which state? Bihar

97. In which state Pin Valley National Park is located? Himachal Pradesh

98. International Dolls Museum is located at? Chandigarh

99. What is the currency of Hong Kong? Hong Kong Dollar

100. Vaikom Mahadevar Temple is in which state? Kerala

101. What is the tagline of Lakshmi Vilas Bank? The Changing Face of Prosperity

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102. Curzon Line is the boundary line between which two countries? Poland & Russia

103. Where is the headquarters of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) located? Paris, France

104. What is the currency of South Africa? South African rand (ZAR)

105. Balphakram National Park is in which state? Meghalaya

106. Where is the headquarters of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation located at? New Delhi

107. Allahabad Bank was founded in the year? 1865

108. In which state Vansda National Park is located? Gujarat

109. Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport is located at? Amritsar, Punjab

110. Which is the Largest Artificial Lake in Asia? – Upper Lake, Madhya Pradesh Upper Lake, Madhya Pradesh

111. Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary is in which stae? Bihar

112. ISRO was established in the year? 1969

113. Where is the headquarters of Equitas Small Finance Bank located? Chennai, Tamil Nadu

114. Purple Line is the boundary line between which two countries? Israel and Syria

115. Kanwar Sanctuary is in which state? Himachal Pradesh

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116. How many Member States and Territories are there in World Meteorological Organisation (WMO)? 191

117. Sohagi Barwa Sanctuary is in which state? Uttar Pradesh

118. UNESCO Cutural Heritage Site Ellora Cave is in which state? Maharashtra

119. Who is the Current Governor of Telangana? E.S.L. Narasimhan

120. What is the capital city of Venezuela? Caracas

121. IOA (Indian Olympic Association) was established in the year? 1927

122. “Honours Your Trust” is the tagline of which bank? UCO Bank

123. Who is the CEO of IndusInd bank? Ramesh Sobti

124. R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium is in which country? Srilanka

125. Red Fort, Jama Masid and Qutab Minar are in which state? New Delhi

126. Museum of Evolution of Life is in which state? Chandigarh

127. Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary is in which state? Chattisgarh

128. National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) was setup in the year? 1961

129. Who is the President & CEO of World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)? Carter Roberts

130. What is the Currency of Malaysia? Ringgit

131. Khichan Bird Sanctuary is in which state? Rajasthan

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132. Where is Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium located at? Raipur, Chhattisgarh

133. Airports Authority of India (AAI) was founded in the year? 1995

134. Where is the headquarters of Export–Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) located? Mumbai, Maharashtra

135. Which is the Longest lake in India? Vembanad, Kerala

136. NASA was founded in the year? 1958

137. National Green Tribunal (NGT) was located at? New Delhi

138. Headquarters of Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) was located at? Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

139. Asian Development Bank (ADB) was formed in the year? 1966

140. Which is the capital of Seychelles? Victoria

141. Moti Bagh Cricket Stadium is located at? Baroda, Gujarat

142. Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary is in which state? Jammu & Kashmir

143. Who is the chairman of ISRO? Dr. K. Sivan

144. Pillur Dam is built in which river? Bhavani River

145. Name the Official language of Ethiopia? Amharic

146. The headquarters of International Cricket Council is located at? Dubai, United Arab Emirates

147. In which year NASA was founded at? 1958

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148. Mylavaram Dam is in which state? Andhra Pradesh

149. What is the Currency of Egypt? Egyptian pound

150. Shri Tilbhandeshwar Mahadev Mandir is located at? Uttar Pradesh

151. Which bank’s Tagline is “Your Family Bank, Across India”? Karnataka bank

152. Keibul Lamjao National Park is in which state? Manipur

153. What is the currency of Pakistan? Pakistani rupee

154. Who is the Chief Election Commissioner of Election Commission of India? Mr. Om Prakash Rawat

155. Who is the Current Governor of Uttarakhand? Krishan Kant Paul