General Awareness June 2017 – Part -2 Answer the following question by choosing the best option from the choices given. 1. In June of 2017, NASA has announced the names of 12 new astronauts that include an Indian-American. Identify this person. 1: Lt Col Raja Grinder Chari 4: Dr. Dana Pritam 2: Lt Col Brijesh Mihar 5: None of the above 3: Dr. Atul Singh Das Ans: 1 Solution: The new astronauts were chosen from a record number of over 18000 applicants. The new candidates include six military officers, three scientists, two medical doctors, a lead engineer at SpaceX and a NASA research pilot. Indian American Lt Col., US Air Force Raja Grinder Chari (39) is a commander of the 461st Flight Test Squadron and the Director of the F-35 Integrated Test Force at Edwards Air Force Base in California. He has degrees in aeronautics and astronautics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. 2. In June of 2017, the Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank) and Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM) for export credit of: 1: USD 1 billion 4: INR 9 billion 2: USD 9 billion 5: USD 15 million 3: INR 1 million Ans: 2 Solution: The MoU is aimed towards the infrastructural development in India and for the supply of goods and services as part of projects in third countries. Moreover, it is expected to promote India's international exports and will deepen political and financial ties between India and Korea. The export credit will be utilized through lending by EXIM Bank for promoting projects for priority sectors such as smart cities, railways, power generation and transmission in India and for the supply of goods and services from India and Korea as part of projects in third countries. © CETS www.conduiraonline.com Replication or other unauthorized use of this material is prohibited. Page 1 of 10 3. In June of 2017, state X has become the first state to launch a single-women pension scheme across the state. Identify X. 1: Andhra Pradesh 4: Uttar Pradesh 2: Bihar 5: Tamil Nadu 3: Telangana Ans: 3 Solution: Under the scheme, the state government would be giving a pension of about Rs 1000 per month to single women on humanitarian grounds. This scheme is the first such welfare scheme by any state in the country. The pension sanction orders were handed over to the beneficiaries by Telangana Deputy Chief Ministers Kadiyam Srihari and Mohammad Mahmood Ali and other Ministers and MLAs constituency-wise at different functions organised across the state. Besides providing pension, the government also announced that the children of the single women would be admitted into all Telangana Residential Educational Institutions without having to write an examination or waiting for the lottery system. 4. In June of 2017, Hoshiar Singh has been appointed as the Registrar of the Copyrights for a period of five years. Under which act is this Office established? 1: India Copyright Act, 1970 4: Indian Copyright Act, 1957 2: Indian Copyright Act, 1947 5: None of the above 3: India Copyright Act, 1950 Ans: 4 Solution: His appointment was approved by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). The Office of Copyrights works under the aegis of Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion. The Copyrights Office was established under Section 9 of the Indian Copyright Act, 1957. The Office of Copyrights is mandated to protect the music and film industry besides addressing its concerns. 5. In June of 2017, the Union government has appointed an agency across the country to speed up the hearing of cases that have been pending in the lower courts for the last 10 years. Identify this agency. 1: Lok Adalat 4: Raja Dhrama 2: Jan Adalat 5: Nyaya Mitras 3: Ram Rajya Ans: 5 © CETS www.conduiraonline.com Replication or other unauthorized use of this material is prohibited. Page 2 of 10 Solution: The same was confirmed by Union Law and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad while addressing a function at the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court to inaugurate the Tele Law Service through Common Service Centers. The Minister announced that retired judges will be appointed as Nyaya Mitras to expedite over seven lakh fifty thousand cases that are pending across the country. He further stated that the government is committed to providing justice to the poor people in a fast, smooth and affordable manner. 6. In June of 2017, the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare J P Nadda has launched an Initiative to promote skill development in the health sector. Identify this initiative. 1: Save Life 4: Save Life. Skill Life. Save India 2: Skill for Life, Save a Life 5: None of the above 3: Save Life. Gain Wisdom Ans: 2 Solution: Under this initiative, various courses will be initiated targeting specific competencies for healthcare professionals as well as for general public. “Skills for Life, Save a Life” Initiative aims to upscale the quantity and quality of trained professionals in the healthcare system. This initiative is a part of a larger plan and program for ensuring Universal Health Coverage. The Ministry initiated the initiative by launching First Responder course for professionals as well as general public that will be conducted in Central and State government training institutes. 7. In June of 2017, the Government of state X has implemented a “green protocol” to make auspicious occasions such as weddings more nature-friendly. Identify X. 1: Gujarat 4: Karnataka 2: Bihar 5: Kerala 3: New Delhi Ans: 5 Solution: With the implementation of the protocol, the use of plastic and other non-degradable articles including disposable glasses, plates and thermocol decorations would be prohibited at marriage functions. Instead, people would be encouraged to use tumblers, plates and utensils made from glass and other environment-friendly metals. © CETS www.conduiraonline.com Replication or other unauthorized use of this material is prohibited. Page 3 of 10 8. In June of 2017, the public sector bank, Vijaya Bank has said that it is going to develop N digital villages spread across various states of the country. What is the value of N? 1: 50 4: 95 2: 25 5: 100 3: 75 Ans: 5 Solution: The move is being undertaken by the bank as a part of its initiative to promote digital banking among the rural population. The project of 100 digital villages will be inaugurated within a month. The digital villages will comprise services such as internet, Wi-Fi connectivity, mobile payment facilities, ATM cards and online banking among others. The bank would also be running a door-to-door campaign to educate the villagers. 9. In June of 2017, the writer Anand Neelakantan, the poet Haraprasad Das and the author Paramita Satpathy were the winners of the: 1: Jnanpith Awards 4: Dil Wala Puraskar 2: Bihar Puraskar 5: Kalinga Literary Awards 3: Agastya Maharshi Awards Ans: 5 Solution: Neelakantan was chosen for the Kalinga International Literary Award, Haraprasad Das was chosen for the Kalinga Literary Youth Award and Satpathy was chosen for the Kalinga Karubaki Award. They will receive the award during the Kalinga Literary Festival 2017 which will be held from 10 June to 12 June 2017. 10. The United Nations Russian Language Day is observed on _____ in 2017. 1: 1st June 4: 5th June 2: 2nd June 5: 9th June 3: 6th June Ans: 3 Solution: The day is observed annually to maintain the equality of all six official UN languages. These six official languages are English, Arabic, Spanish, Chinese, Russian and French. The decision to hold days of languages was adopted by the UN Department of Public Information on the eve of the International Mother Language Day, celebrated annually on 21 February, at the initiative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The UN Russian Language Day coincides with the birthday of Aleksandr Pushkin, a Russian poet who is considered the father of modern Russian literature. © CETS www.conduiraonline.com Replication or other unauthorized use of this material is prohibited. Page 4 of 10 11. In June of 2017, Real Madrid has become the _____ team ever to win back-to-back Champions League titles. 1: second 4: first 2: third 5: fifth 3: fourth Ans: 4 Solution: Real Madrid defeated Juventus to win a record-extending 12th title. With this victory, Real Madrid became the first team to successfully defend their title in the Champions League era, and the first to do so since Milan in 1990. Real Madrid is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. It was founded in 1902 as Madrid Football Club. The club is one of the most widely supported teams in the world. In domestic football, the club has won a record 33 La Liga titles, 19 Copa del Rey, nine Supercopa de España, a Copa Eva Duarte, and a Copa de la Liga. 12. In June of 2017, the Union Ministry of Rural Development has selected district X as one among the 17 districts across the nation for the MGNREGA Annual Award for effective implementation of the scheme during 2015-16. Identify X. 1: Visakhapatnam 4: Krishna 2: Guntur 5: Vellore 3: Vizianagaram Ans: 3 Solution: It is Vizianagaram. Vizianagaram, a city and district headquarters of Vizianagaram district in the state of Andhra Pradesh, had generated works for 361668 households in 2015-16 and disbursed Rs 483.42 crore as wages with an average of Rs 106.