CURRENT AFFAIRS

18 – 24 March 2018
from ​www.successcds.net

Q1. Where did India test fire the BrahMos missile with an indigenously developed seeker?

a) Odisha
b) Rajasthan
c) Lakshadweep
d) Diu
A. Rajasthan

The indigenous seeker was developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad. Supersonic
cruise missile BrahMos was successfully flight-tested for first time with indigenously developed
seeker at Pokhran test range, Rajasthan. So far, seeker was imported from Russia.

BrahMos missile is a joint venture between India and Russia. It has been named after two rivers
Brahmaputra and Moskva (river in western Russia).

Q2. Who has launched India’s first Sign Language dictionary?

a) Ministry of Education
b) Ministry of Human Resource development
c) Ministry of Social justice and Empowerment
d) Ministry of Home Affairs
A. Ministry of Social justice and Empowerment

The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has launched India’s first Sign Language Dictionary.

The dictionary has been developed by Indian Sign Language Research & Training Centre (ISLR&TC)
under Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD)

Q3. How many member countries of African Union have signed the agreement to create African
Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)?

a) 45
b) 44
c) 43
d) 40
A. 44
44 African countries from total 55 members of African Union (AU) have signed agreement to create
African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), one of the world’s largest free trade blocs. The
agreement was signed at a summit held in Kigali, Rwanda.

Q4. The device ‘Fluorimeter’ developed by Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) will measure the
presence of which element in water?

a) Flourine
b) Iodine
c) Uranium
d) Titanium
A. Uranium

The Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology (RRCAT) has developed the Fluorimeter.

The device will be especially helpful in areas like Punjab where uranium traces in water sources have
been found to be at dangerous levels. Uranium is a radioactive element. Drinking water with high
levels of uranium may cause thyroid cancer, blood cancer, depression and other serious ailments.

Q5. According to the International Energy Agency, what was the amount of energy – related CO2 in
2017?

a) 12 gigatonnes
b) 30.5 gigatonnes
c) 18 gigatonnes
d) 32.5 gigatonnes
A. 32.5 gigatonnes

IEA is an inter-governmental organization established in 1974 as per framework of the Organisation

for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Q6. What is the theme of World Water day 2018?

a) ‘Nature for Water’

b) ‘Natural for Water’
c) ‘water for nature’
d) Nature for water for all’

A. ‘Nature for Water’

The World Water Day (WWD) is observed every year on 22 March. The first World Water Day was
celebrated on 22 March 1993.

Q7. How many new Indian Missions will be opened in Africa till 2021?

a) 17
b) 19
c) 20
d) 18
 A. 18

Q8. India has scrapped Export duty on which product?

a) Sugar
b) Rice
c) Tur dal
d) Wheat
A. Sugar

The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) under Ministry of Finance has scrapped export duty
of 20% on raw and refined sugar to boost shipments.

Q9. BIRAC celebrated it’s ___ Foundation day in 2018?

a) 5​th
b) 6​th
c) 9​th
d) 7​th
A. 6​th

BIRAC- The Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council. The observance of the day was
themed around ‘Sustaining Innovation – A Market Driven Pathway’. BIRAC is not-for-profit Public
Sector Enterprise (PSE) set up by DBT, Ministry of Science and Technology to empower emerging
biotech industry.

Q10. In which state is the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers coming up with a Plastic park?

a) Jharkhand
b) Raipur
c) West Bengal
d) Bihar
A. Jharkhand

Q11. Indian Railways has handed over 18 diesel electric locomotives to which country?

a) Bhutan
b) Nepal
c) Bangladesh
d) Myanmar
A. Myanmar

RITES is the export division of Indian railways. The locomotives were manufactured by Diesel
Locomotive Works, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

Q12. The Governor of Bihar, Satyapal Malik has been given additional charge of which state?

a) West Bengal
b) Jharkhand
c) Odisha
 d) Raipur
A. Odisha

President Ram Nath Kovind has given Bihar Governor Satya Pal Malik (72) additional charge of
Odisha until regular arrangements are made. He was given . additional charge after incumbent
governor S C Jamir completed his five-year tenure.

Q13. When is the world Sparrow day celebrated?

a) March 21
b) March 22
c) March 24
d) March 20
A. March 20

Q14. Name the defense drill conducted in Saudi Arabia with 23 participating countries?

a) The Gulf Shield 1

b) The Gulf Shield
c) The Gulf Protect
d) The Gulf Protect 1
A. The Gulf Shield 1

The one-month exercise was the largest military drill in the region as it saw participation of ground,
naval and air forces of participating countries.

Q15. Where was the Festival of Innovation and Entrepreneurship held?

a) Chennai
b) Gurgaon
c) Jaipur
d) New Delhi
A. New Delhi

Q16. Which country has announced its withdrawal from the International Criminal Court?

a) Mexico
b) India
c) Philippines
d) China
A. Philippines

Philippines only second country to withdraw following Burundi in 2017. South Africa attempted to
leave in 2016, but its withdrawal was revoked by UN. ICC is based in The Hague, Netherlands. It has
123-member states (India is not its member.

Q17. When will the ISRO launch Chandrayaan 2?

a) April – May 2018

b) Oct – Nov 2018
 c) July – Aug 2018
d) June – July 2018
A. Oct – Nov 2018

Chandrayaan 2 is India’s second mission to Moon and is advanced version of previous

Chandrayaan-1 mission (launched in 2008). The Indian Space and Research Organisation (ISRO)
has postponed launch of India’s second lunar mission ‘Chandrayaan-2’ from April 2018 to
October - November 2018 as experts have suggested more tests​.

Q18. What is the theme of the World TB day 2018?

a) “Wanted: Leaders for a TB-full world”

b) “Wanted: Volunteers for a TB-full world”
c) “Wanted: Volunteers for a TB-free world”
d) “Wanted: Leaders for a TB-free world”
A. “Wanted: Leaders for a TB-free world”

The World Tuberculosis Day (WTD) is observed every year on March 24.

Q19. Name the Andhra Pradesh government’s World on Wheels initiative?

a) MILAN RATHAM
b) NAIPUNYA RATHAM
c) SAMAPAN RATHAM
d) SAMVEDNA RATHAM
A. NAIPUNYA RATHAM

The first phase of Naipunya Ratham will cover 13 districts and 28 smart villages in collaboration with
Hewlett Packard (HP), Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII) and Guide Foundation
for Development. State Government will soon roll out 12 more Naipunya Rathams by May 2018.

Q20. Name the winner of the Abel prize 2018.

a) Robert P Langlands
b) Neils Henrik Abel
c) John Conway’Terry Tao
A. Robert P Langlands

Canadian mathematician Robert P. Langlands (81) has won prestigious Abel Prize 2018 for his
visionary programme connecting representation theory to number theory. He will receive the award
from Norway’s King Harald V at an award ceremony in Oslo in May 2018.

Abel prize is named after 19th century Norwegian mathematician Niels Henrik Abel. It is one of
world’s top prizes in mathematics and is considered to be maths equivalent of the Nobel prize.

Q21. Where was the first National Conference on Drug law enforcement held?

a) Bengaluru
b) Panaji
c) Delhi
 d) Gurugram
A. Delhi

Q22. Name the President of China?

a) Xi Jinping
b) Wang Qishan
c) Li Yuanchao
d) Hu Jintao
A. Xi Jinping

Q23. Vladimir Putin has become the President of Russia for the ___ term?

a) 3​rd
b) 2​nd
c) 4​th
d) 5​th
A. 4​th

Q24. The President of which country has resigned over a financial scandal?

a) Mauritius
b) Madagascar
c) South Africa
d) India
A. Mauritius

Mauritius President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim resigned after being embroiled in a scandal over the use
of a credit card to buy luxury personal items.

Q25. Name the former President of Myanmar who resigned on 21 March 2018?

a) Aung San Suu Kyi

b) Myint Swe
c) Htin Kyaw
d) Thein Sein
A. Htin Kyaw