Current Affairs Top 60 Q&A PDF – May 2023 2nd Week

(9 - 16)
1. In May 2023, ____________ became the first state in India to make digital health cards for
children.
1) West Bengal
2) Bihar
3) Gujarat
4) Uttar Pradesh
5) Madhya Pradesh
Answer- 4) Uttar Pradesh
Explanation:
The Urban Development Department and Lucknow Smart City launched the ‘School Health Program’
making Uttar Pradesh (UP) the first Indian state to make digital health cards for children.
i. As a pilot project, the program has been started by Lucknow Smart City in three schools in Lucknow
viz. Aminabad Inter College, Kashmiri Mohalla Girls Inter College and Kashmiri Mohalla Montessori
School.
• These schools have been given the responsibility of health checkup of 1765 children.
ii. Under this, a digital health report card will be prepared on 130 parameters for the overall physical
and mental well-being of municipal schools. A health insurance worth Rs 25,000 will also be given to
these children

2. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the ‘Best Practices in Social
Sector: A Compendium, 2023’ released in May 2023?
A) The NITI (National Institute for Transforming India) Aayog in collaboration with the United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) released the ‘Best Practices in Social Sector: A
Compendium, 2023’.
B) The Compendium is a compilation of 75 initiatives of the Centre and the states/ Union
Territories (UTs) in the social sector.
C) Out of the 75 initiatives, 14 have been launched by the Union government, 2 are joint
initiatives by the Centre and the state governments, while the rest are from 26 states and UTs.
1) All A, B & C
2) Only A & B
3) Only B & C
4) Only A & C
5) Only A
Answer- 1) All A, B & C
Explanation:
The NITI (National Institute for Transforming India) Aayog in collaboration with the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) released the ‘Best Practices in Social Sector: A Compendium, 2023’
which is a compilation of 75 initiatives of the Centre and the states/ Union Territories (UTs) in the
social sector.
i. Out of the 75 initiatives, 14 have been launched by the Union government, two are joint initiatives
by the Centre and the state governments, while the rest are from 26 states and UTs.

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 • The 75 initiatives are the innovations in policy making at national and state levels in 14 key
social sectors such as health, education, agriculture, science and technology, the environment,
Disaster mitigation,Sports, COVID–19, Energy conservation, E- governance and digitization,
Women’s empowerment, Financial inclusion, Skill development, and Social welfare.

3. In which state/UT, Union Minister of Defence, Rajnath Singh has recently (in May ‘23)
inaugurated India’s first-of-its-kind Indian Air Force (IAF) Heritage Centre?
1) Punjab
2) Uttarakhand
3) Chandigarh
4) Assam
5) Delhi
Answer- 3) Chandigarh
Explanation:
During his visit to Chandigarh on May 08, 2023, the Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry
of Defence, inaugurated India’s first-of-its-kind Indian Air Force (IAF) Heritage Centre in
Chandigarh’s Sector 18 to highlight the IAF’s various aircraft and its contributions in various wars.
• The IAF heritage is spread across 17,000 square feet at the Government Press Building in
Chandigarh.
• It includes five vintage aircraft and would provide visitors with cockpit exposure and an
experience with flight simulators.
i. The heritage centre has the first IAF-made patent aircraft Air Force ‘Kanpur-1 Vintage Prototype
Aircraft’, a single-engine indigenous flying machine designed and built by the late Air Vice Marshal
Harjinder Singh in 1958 at Base Repair Depot Kanpur.

4. Name the company that has recently (in May ‘23) launched a Cardholder Verification Value
(CVV) free feature for tokenized cards in India.
1) Mastercard
2) Visa
3) American Express
4) Capital One
5) Rakuten Card
Answer- 2) Visa
Explanation:
Visa, the Card payments company, launched a Cardholder Verification Value (CVV) free feature for
tokenized cards in India to make the online transaction process easier. Thus, enabling the users to
carry out online transactions without the need to enter the CVV.
• It eliminates the need for customers to enter the CVV for every domestic transaction.
• The feature allows the merchants only to verify the three-digit CVV once when tokenizing the
card.

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i. The process of Authentication:
• Under tokenized cards, the tokenization process replaces card details with a unique code,
which improves transaction security.
• The tokenized transactions require two-factor authentication i.e. first at tokenization and then
when entering the OTP.

5. Who has recently (in May ‘23) crowned as the King of the United Kingdom (UK) at
Westminster Abbey in London, the UK?
1) George VI
2) William
3) Harry
4) Charles III
5) Andrew
Answer- 4) Charles III
Explanation:
On 6th May 2023, King Charles III was crowned the King of the United Kingdom (UK) and sovereign
of 14 Commonwealth realms at the coronation ceremony held at Westminster Abbey (formally titled
the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster) in London, the UK.
i. The Queen Consort (the wife of a reigning king) Camilla, was crowned the Queen beside King
Charles III during the coronation. She became the 29th Queen Consort to be crowned at Westminster
Abbey.
• This marks the 40th coronation to take place at Westminster Abbey since 1066.
ii. For the first time since 1937, the Queen Consort was crowned beside the coronation of the King.
Queen Elizabeth, wife of King George VI, was the last Queen Consort to be crowned.

6. Name the Indian Naval Ship (INS) that was recently (in May ‘23) decommissioned by the
Indian Navy (IN) in Kochi after 36 years of Service.
1) INS Kumbhir
2) INS Kesari
3) INS Magar
4) INS Guldar
5) INS Shardul
Answer- 3) INS Magar
Explanation:
On May 6, 2023, the Indian Navy (IN) decommissioned Indian Naval Ship (INS) Magar, the oldest
Landing Ship Tank (Large) after 36 years of service at the Naval base in Kochi, Kerala. It was
commanded by CDR Hemant V Salunkhe.
• It was decommissioned in the presence of Vice Admiral MA Hampiholi, Commanding-in-Chief,
Southern Naval Command, as a Chief Guest. He helmed the ship from 2005-06.
i. INS Magar was launched on November 16, 1984 by Meera Tahiliani and commissioned on July 18,
1987 at Garden Reach Shipyard and Engineers (GRSE) Limited, Kolkata (West Bengal) by late
Admiral Radhakrishna Hariram Tahiliani.

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7. In May 2023, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) appointed Vineet Joshi as
new Chief Secretary of _____________ (state).
1) Manipur
2) Assam
3) Tripura
4) Uttar Pradesh
5) Kerala
Answer- 1) Manipur
Explanation:
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) appointed Vineet Joshi, Additional Secretary,
Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, as the new Chief Secretary of Manipur.
i. The 1992 Manipur cadre IAS officer, Vineet Joshi replaced Dr Rajesh Kumar, whose term was
previously extended for six-months in December 2022, but was cut short because of Vineet Joshi’s
appointment.
ii. ACC has approved the appointment of Vineet Joshi on the request of the Government of Manipur to
handle the Clashes that broke out in the state after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the 10
hill districts on May 3, 2023 to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe
(ST) status.

8. Which of the following Government departments/ companies has recently (in May ‘23)
signed a tripartite MoU with Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) for logistics services?
1) India Post
2) Tripta Technologies Private Limited
3) Virya Logistics Technologies Private Limited
4) Both 1 & 2
5) Both 1 & 3
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Answer- 4) Both 1 & 2
Explanation:
On 9th May 2023, a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between India Post
(a part of the Department of Posts under the Ministry of Communications), Confederation of All India
Traders (CAIT) (an apex body of trading community of India), and Tripta Technologies Private
Limited for logistics services.
• The MoU was signed in the presence of Devusinh Chauhan, Minister of State (MoS) for
Communications at National Media Centre, New Delhi, Delhi.
i. The Tripartite MoU between India Post, CAIT and Tripta Technologies will provide shipping and
last-mile delivery services to CAIT’s strong trader base and small and medium business in the
unorganised sector.

9. Which of the following ministries has recently (in May ‘23) signed an MoU with Japan
International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for ‘Station Area Development along Mumbai-
Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (Project-SMART)’?
1) Ministry of Home Affairs
2) Ministry of Railways
3) Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs
4) Both 1 & 2
5) Both 2 & 3
Answer- 5) Both 2 & 3
Explanation:
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been inked between the Ministry of Housing & Urban
Affairs (MoHUA) and Ministry of Railways (MoR) with Japan International Cooperation Agency
(JICA) for ‘Station Area Development along Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (Project-SMART)’.
• It was inked for four High Speed Rail Stations viz. Sabarmati, Surat in Gujarat and Virar and
Thane in Maharashtra; out of 12 stations in-route.
• Surat, Virar and Thane are green fields while Sabarmati is a Brown field development.
i. Project SMART goal is to improve the areas around the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Railway
(MAHSR) stations to make it easier for commuters, other people and businesses to access them more
conveniently.

10. Name the Small Finance Bank (SFB) that has recently (in May ‘23) partnered with RuPay to
offer cashback RuPay credit cards.
1) ESAF SFB
2) Jana SFB
3) Capital SFB
4) Ujjivan SFB
5) AU SFB
Answer- 5) AU SFB
Explanation:
On May 9, 2023, the AU Small Finance Bank (SFB) partnered with RuPay to introduce the Business
Cashback RuPay credit card, a solution tailored to meet the financial requirements of self-employed
(i.e. Micro, Small And Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs)) customers and promote financial
inclusion.

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 • The bank intends to provide multiple benefits to small businesses through this credit card.
• The card provides benefits like up to 2% cashback, 48 days of interest-free credit, and instant
loans.

11. Which bank has recently (in May ‘23) become India’s 1st to relocate Mauritius domiciled
fund to Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT-city), Gujarat?
1) Kotak Mahindra Bank
2) ICICI Bank
3) HDFC Bank
4) Axis Bank
5) YES Bank
Answer- 1) Kotak Mahindra Bank
Explanation:
Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited has become India’s 1st to relocate
Mauritius domiciled fund to Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT-city), Gujarat.
i. On 6th May 2023, it successfully re-domiciled Alchemy India Long Term Fund from Mauritius to
GIFT City, India’s 1st International Financial Services Centre (IFSC).
• Kotak Bank issued the 1st ever Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) licence to Alchemy’s Fund
incorporated in GIFT and registered with the International Financial Services Centres
Authority (IFSCA) for relocating from its original jurisdiction.
• This is the 1st FPI license issued by a custodian bank or designated depository participant
(DDP) in India, to a fund incorporated in GIFT City, to relocate an existing fund.

12. In May 2023, Fitch Ratings lowered India’s 2023-24 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth
forecast to _________ from 6.2%.
1) 5.7%
2) 5.9%
3) 5.6%
4) 6%
5) 5.8%
Answer- 4) 6%
Explanation:
Fitch Ratings has lowered India’s 2023-24 (i.e. Financial Year 2023-24 (FY24)) GDP (Gross
Domestic Product) growth forecast to 6% from 6.2% of its earlier projection, amid increased inflation
and interest rates along with subdued global demand.
• The projection for FY25 also decreased to 6.7% from 6.9% projected earlier.
• India’s FY24 growth will be slower than the 7% expected in FY23, as weak domestic and global
demand is induced.

13. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the winner of 2023 Pulitzer
Prizes in Journalism; Books, Drama and Music; and Special Citations announced in May 2023?
1) New York Times won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize in Journalism under the Public Service category.
2) Demon Copperhead, by Barbara Kingsolver (Harper) and Trust, by Hernan Diaz (Riverhead Books)
won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize in Books, Drama and Music under the Fiction category.

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3) English, by Sanaz Toossi won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize in Books, Drama and Music under the Drama
category.
4) Both 1 & 2
5) Both 2 & 3
Answer- 5) Both 2 & 3
Explanation:
On 9th May 2023, the winners of the 2023 Pulitzer Prizes in Journalism; Books, Drama and Music;
and Special Citations were announced.
i. Associated Press won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize in Journalism under the Public Service category.
ii. Demon Copperhead, by Barbara Kingsolver (Harper) and Trust, by Hernan Diaz (Riverhead
Books) won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize in Books, Drama and Music under the Fiction category.
iii. English, by Sanaz Toossi won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize in Books, Drama and Music under the
Drama category.
• Categories: The Pulitzer Prize recognises the work in 22 categories, i.e. 15 journalism
categories; seven arts categories and one special citation.
• The Pulitzer Prize, administered by Columbia University in New York, United States of America
(USA), is considered the most prestigious prize in US journalism.
• The Pulitzer Prize was established by Joseph Pulitzer, a Hungarian-American journalist and
newspaper publisher. The Pulitzer Prizes were first awarded in 1917.

14. In May 2023, Groww acquired the Mutual Fund business of Indiabulls Housing Finance
Loans (IBHFL) for __________ (Amount).
1) Rs.512.6 crore
2) Rs.423.4 crore
3) Rs.175.6 crore
4) Rs.254.2 crore
5) Rs.363.1 crore
Answer- 3) Rs.175.6 crore
Explanation:
Nextbillion Technology Private Limited, doing business as Groww – an investment platform, has
acquired the Mutual Fund business of Indiabulls Housing Finance Loans (IBHFL) for Rs.175.6 crore
after receiving the necessary approvals.
• In May 2021, Groww signed an agreement with IBHFL to acquire the entire stake of IBHFL in
its mutual fund subsidiaries Indiabulls Asset Management Company Limited (IAMCL) and
Indiabulls Trustee Company Limited (ITCL), trustee of IAMCL.
i. The Rs.175.6 crore agreement also included a cash equivalent of Rs. 100.62 crores, to be invested by
Groww.

15. Which state government has recently (in May ‘23) launched India’s 1st State Robotics
Framework to promote the robotic ecosystem?
1) Maharashtra
2) Gujarat
3) Karnataka
4) Andhra Pradesh
5) Telangana

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Answer- 5) Telangana
Explanation:
The Telangana government (Govt) launched ‘Telangana State Robotics Framework’, a first-of-its-
kind policy in India, to provide a roadmap for the state to create a sustainable robotic ecosystem and
be a leading state in the field of robotics.
• Telangana State Robotics Framework was launched by Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao(KTR),
Minister for Information Technology(IT) and Industries, the Government of Telangana at T-
Hub Events Room, Hyderabad, Telangana.
• The framework was developed by the Emerging Technologies Wing of the ITE&C (Information
Technology, Electronics and Communications) Department of Telangana in collaboration with
the All India Robotics Association.
i. During the event, the Telangana government signed MoUs with IIT (Indian Institutes of
Technology)-Hyderabad, ART PARK (AI & Robotics Technology Park) Indian Institute of Science
(IISC), GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL), AgHub (Professor Jayashankar
Telangana State Agricultural University(PJTSAU)) and All India Robotics Association (AIRA).
• Objective: The MoUs were signed to enhance the robotics ecosystem in Telangana and promote
innovation, research, and growth in the field.

16. In May 2023, __________ became the first Indian State to implement the “Right to walk”.
1) Gujarat
2) Kerala
3) Punjab
4) Madhya Pradesh
5) Maharashtra
Answer- 3) Punjab
Explanation:
Punjab has become the first Indian State to implement the “Right to walk” by making it mandatory
for all road-owning agencies, including the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), to provide
footpaths and cycle tracks in all future expansion of roads and construction of new ones.
i. This is a part of the efforts of Punjab to control the number of accidents and deaths of pedestrians
and cyclists.
ii. These directions were issued by the Government of Punjab following 2 court orders after Public
Interest Litigations (PILs) filed at the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the Supreme Court of India.

17. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the ‘Born Too Soon: Decade of
Action on Preterm Birth’ report released in May 2023?
A) The report was created by the World Health Organization (WHO) & the United Nations
Children’s Fund (UNICEF) with PMNCH, the world’s largest alliance for women, children, and
adolescents.
B) The report stated that Almost half of all pre-term births (babies born before the 37th week
of pregnancy) in 2020 happened in five countries: India, Pakistan, Nigeria, China and Ethiopia.
C) In 2020, Bangladesh had the highest estimated pre-term birth rate (16.2%), followed by
Malawi (14.5%) and Pakistan (14.4%) & India and South Africa, at an estimated 13% each.
1) All A, B & C
2) Only A & B

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3) Only B & C
4) Only A & C
5) Only A
Answer- 1) All A, B & C
Explanation:
According to the report ‘Born Too Soon: Decade of Action on Preterm Birth’, published on May 10,
2023, almost half of all pre-term births (babies born before the 37th week of pregnancy) in 2020
happened in five countries: India, Pakistan, Nigeria, China and Ethiopia.
• The report alarms ‘silent emergency’, as for every 10 babies born, 1 is preterm, and every 40
seconds, 1 of those babies dies.
i. The report was created by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s
Fund (UNICEF) together with PMNCH, the world’s largest alliance for women, children, and
adolescents.
ii. In 2020, Bangladesh had the highest estimated pre-term birth rate (16.2%), followed by Malawi
(14.5%) and Pakistan (14.4%). India and South Africa, at an estimated 13% each.
iii. India tops the list of pre-term birth numbers with 30.16 lakh births, Pakistan is at 9.14 lakh,
Nigeria at 7.74 lakh and China at 7.52 lakh.

18. Which bank has recently (in May ‘23) launched a solar financing scheme to offer financial
assistance to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) manufacturers?
1) ICICI Bank
2) HDFC Bank
3) Axis Bank
4) IndusInd Bank
5) YES Bank
Answer- 5) YES Bank
Explanation:
YES Bank Limited announced the launch of a solar financing scheme named ‘YES KIRAN’ to offer
financial assistance to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) manufacturers who wish to
install solar panels at their premises.
i. Objective: The scheme was launched by the bank to support MSMEs to adopt sustainable energy
practices and bring in cost efficiency by reducing the expenses towards power and fuel.
ii. The bank has partnered with solar panel manufacturers like Tata Power Solar Systems, Goldi Solar
and Loom Solar, and Panasonic Solar Power System to facilitate MSME businesses for their transition
to renewable energy solutions.

19. Name the bank that has recently (in May ‘23) partnered with National E-Governance
Services Limited (NeSL) to launch an electronic Bank Guarantee (e-BG) facility for customers.
1) South Indian Bank
2) RBL Bank
3) Federal Bank
4) Axis Bank
5) IndusInd Bank
Answer- 3) Federal Bank

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Explanation:
Federal Bank Limited partners with National E-Governance Services Limited (NeSL) to launch an
electronic Bank Guarantee (e-BG) facility for its customers, enabling them to obtain a Bank
Guarantee digitally, replacing the traditional paper-based process.
i. Under the e-BG facility, which is issued through NeSL’s e-BG platform, all the processes such as
issuance, invocation, amendment, and cancellation of Bank Guarantees will be made digitally and
overcomes the need for physical printing of any document or request.
ii. The platform is safe, secure, and fast, making trade and business activities convenient.

20. When was the United Nations (UN) International Day of Argania 2023 observed across the
globe with the theme of “Socio-economic development & sustainability of the Argan
ecosystem”?
1) 10th May 2023
2) 7th May 2023
3) 9th May 2023
4) 6th May 2023
5) 8th May 2023
Answer- 1) 10th May 2023
Explanation:
The United Nations(UN)’s International Day of Argania is annually observed across the world on 10th
May to create awareness about the major role of the Argan Tree (Argania spinosa), the native species
of Morocco, in achieving the 3 dimensions of sustainable development (economic, social and
environmental) at the local level.
i. 10th May 2023 Marks the observance of the 3rd edition of International Day of Argania with the
theme of “Socio-economic development & sustainability of the Argan ecosystem”.
ii. The first-ever International Day of Argania was observed on 10th May 2021.

21. Which state government has recently (in May ‘23) approved the ‘Chief Minister’s Skill
Upgradation and Global Employment Scheme‘ to help youths of the state to pursue careers in
foreign nations?
1) Gujarat
2) Uttar Pradesh
3) Madhya Pradesh
4) Maharashtra
5) Uttarakhand
Answer- 5) Uttarakhand
Explanation:
On May 3 2023, the State Cabinet of Uttarakhand chaired by Chief Minister (CM) Pushkar Singh
Dhami approved the ‘Chief Minister’s Skill Upgradation and Global Employment Scheme‘
(“Mukhya Mantri Kaushal Unnayan aur Vaishavik Rozgar Yojana”) to help youths of the state to
pursue careers in foreign nations.
i. The scheme will also help aspiring youth in the procedures related to tickets, and visas of the
selected candidates apart from grooming and upskilling.
ii. An application has been developed on the ‘Apuni Sarkar Portal’ to create a database related to
youth seeking jobs abroad.

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22. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the ‘Harit Sagar Guidelines –
2023’ released in May 2023?
A) Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and AYUSH,
launched ‘Harit Sagar Guidelines – 2023’, the Green Port Guidelines, to meet the larger vision
of achieving the Zero Carbon Emission Goal.
B) During the event, ‘Sagar Shreshtha Samman Awards 2023’ were also conferred to major
ports for their all-time best performance on select operational and financial parameters
during FY 2022-23.
C) Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Mumbai (Maharashtra) received Sagar Shrestha Samman Award
2023 from Sarbananda Sonowal.
1) Only A
2) Only A & B
3) Only B & C
4) Only A & C
5) All A, B & C
Answer- 2) Only A & B
Explanation:
On May 10, 2023, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and
AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha & Homoeopathy), launched ‘Harit Sagar
Guidelines – 2023’, the Green Port Guidelines, in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The guidelines were prepared by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways to meet the
larger vision of achieving the Zero Carbon Emission Goal.
i. On May 10, 2023 at ‘Harit Sagar Guidelines – 2023’ launch event, the ‘Sagar Shreshtha Samman
Awards 2023’ were also conferred to major ports for their all-time best performance on select
operational and financial parameters during FY 2022-23.
ii. Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) (Andhra Pradesh) received Sagar Shrestha Samman
Award 2023 from Sarbananda Sonowal. VPA’s chairman M Angamuthu received the award. Other
Recipients of Sagar Shreshtha Samman Awards 2023.

23. Name the union minister who has recently (in May ‘23) launched “Poshan Bhi, Padhai Bhi”,
to strengthen Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE).
1) Mansukh L. Mandaviya (Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare)
2) Amit Shah (Union Minister of Home Affairs)
3) Dharmendra Pradhan (Union Minister of Education)
4) Virendra Kumar (Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment)
5) Smriti Zubin Irani (Union Minister of Women and Child Development)
Answer- 5) Smriti Zubin Irani (Union Minister of Women and Child Development)
Explanation:
On 10th May 2023, Union Minister Smriti Zubin Irani, the Ministry of Women and Child Development
(MoWCD), launched “Poshan Bhi, Padhai Bhi”, the flagship programme of MoWCD, to strengthen
Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) component of Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan
2.0 (Mission Poshan 2.0),
• The programme was launched during the national event organised by MoWCD on key
initiatives for strengthening ECCE at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, Delhi.

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i. ECCE is an important component of Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 (Mission Poshan
2.0) and is envisaged under the National Education Policy.
ii. Under this campaign, work will be undertaken in Anganwadis across India to provide nutrition as
well as better education to children in the age group of 3 to 6 years.

24. In May 2023, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) reduced the e-invoicing threshold for all
business-to-business (B2B) transactions to _________ from Rs 10 crore with effect from 1st
August, 2023.
1) Rs 5 crore
2) Rs 3 crore
3) Rs 4 crore
4) Rs 1 crore
5) Rs 2 crore
Answer- 1) Rs 5 crore
Explanation:
The Ministry of Finance (MoF) reduced the threshold of the turnover of the companies that are
mandated to generate electronic or e-invoicing for all business-to-business (B2B) transactions to Rs 5
crore (from Rs 10 crore) with effect from August 1, 2023.
i. Prevailing Case: Currently, businesses with a turnover of Rs 10 crore and above are generating e-
invoice for all B2B transactions.
ii. It is a system of raising invoices, under which invoices generated by one software can be read by
any other software, eliminating the need for any fresh data entry or errors.

25. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the Swachh Bharat Mission –
Gramin (SBM-G) recent date released by the Ministry of Jal Shakti in May 2023?
A) According to the data, 50% of the total villages in India achieved Open Defecation Free
(ODF) Plus status under Phase II of the Swachh Bharat Mission – Gramin (SBM-G).
B) The top performing states in terms of percentage of ODF Plus villages among big states are
Andhra Pradesh (100%), Gujarat (99.5%), Tamil Nadu (97.8%) & Maharashtra (95.2%).
C) Among UTs, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Dadra Nagar Haveli & Daman Diu and
Lakshadweep have 100% ODF Plus Model villages.
1) Only A
2) Only A & B
3) Only B & C
4) Only A & C
5) All A, B & C
Answer- 4) Only A & C
Explanation:
According to the data released by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, as of May 10, 2023, 50% of the total
villages in India achieved Open Defecation Free (ODF) Plus status under Phase II of the Swachh Bharat
Mission – Gramin (SBM-G).
• An ODF Plus village is one that has implemented solid or liquid waste management systems in
addition to maintaining its ODF designation.
i. So far more than 2.96 lakh villages have declared themselves ODF Plus, which is a significant step
towards achieving the SBM-G phase II goals by 2024-25.

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ii. The top performing states in terms of percentage of ODF Plus villages are as follows:
• Among big states – Telangana (100%), Karnataka (99.5%), Tamil Nadu (97.8%) & Uttar
Pradesh (95.2%)
• Among small states – Goa (95.3%) and Sikkim (69.2%)
• Among UTs – Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Dadra Nagar Haveli & Daman Diu and Lakshadweep
have 100% ODF Plus Model villages.

26. Name the company that has recently (in May ‘23) become the 1st firm to receive the Non-
Banking Financial Company (NBFC) licence in the agritech space.
1) Annapurna Finance
2) Veritas Finance Private Limited
3) Ora Finance Private Limited
4) Laxmi India Finance Private Limited
5) Fino Finance Private Limited
Answer- 3) Ora Finance Private Limited
Explanation:
Ora Finance Private Limited, a subsidiary of a fintech-driven agritech firm Unnati, has become the
1st firm to receive the Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) licence in the agritech space.
i. Ora Finance will enable the company to meet the financial needs of those in the agricultural sector,
like farmers, retailers, traders, brands, and food processors.
ii. Unnati has a network of over 1 lakh registered retailers and traders who use its uStore app to
engage with the farmers and manage their agri-business on a day-to-day business.

27. In May 2023, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted the first
integrated test on an intermediate configuration of the 2000kN (Kilonewton) thrust Semi-
cryogenic Engine at the ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC) in ____________.
1) Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh
2) Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
3) Mumbai, Maharashtra
4) Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu
5) Chandipur, Odisha
Answer- 4) Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu
Explanation:
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted the first integrated test on an
intermediate configuration of the 2000kN (Kilonewton) thrust Semi-cryogenic Engine at the newly
commissioned Semi-cryogenic Integrated Engine & Stage Test facility at the ISRO Propulsion Complex
(IPRC) in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu.
i. The design and development of a Semi-cryogenic Engine were undertaken by the Liquid Propulsion
Systems Centre (LPSC) of ISRO with Indian industry participation, and it works on a Liquid Oxygen
(LOX)-Kerosene propellant combination which willpower the booster stages of future launch vehicles.
ii. This test has demonstrated the successful performance of the test facility, and Power Head Test
Article (PHTA) in the first attempt.

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28. Name the Chief Minister who has recently (in May ‘23) launched Ayushman Asom Scheme
under the Mukhya Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (MMJAY).
1) Eknath Shinde
2) Mamata Banerjee
3) Himanta Biswa Sarma
4) Shivraj Singh Chouhan
5) Basavaraj Bommai
Answer- 3) Himanta Biswa Sarma
Explanation:
Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam Chief Minister launched Ayushman Asom Scheme under the Mukhya
Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (MMJAY), aimed at promoting accessible and affordable healthcare across
Assam, during the event organised at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra Auditorium in Guwahati,
Assam.
i. Ayushman Asom-MMJAY is an initiative of the Department of Medical Education and Research,
Government of Assam.
ii. The Ayushman Asom MMJAY scheme covers as many as 1,578 healthcare procedures in more than
300 empanelled hospitals within the state and all Ayushman Bharat-empanelled hospitals across the
country.

29.Which of the following points is/are "correct" with respect to Israel Foreign Minister Eli
Cohen’s Visit to India in May 2023?
A) Israel Foreign Minister Eli Cohen launched the project World on Wheels (WoW) Bus, by the
Embassy of Israel in India.
B) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Israel Foreign Minister Eli Cohen signed an
agreement, that will allow 42,000 Indian workers to work in the Jewish state of Israel in the
fields of construction and nursing
C) New agreements were also signed by both nations in the area of mobility, water, and
agriculture.
1) Only A
2) Only A & B
3) Only B & C
4) Only A & C
5) All A, B & C
Answer- 5) All A, B & C
Explanation:
Foreign Minister of Israel Eli Cohen has arrived in New Delhi, Delhi, for his first official three-day visit
to India from May 9 to 11, 2023.
i.Israel Foreign Minister Eli Cohen launched the project World on Wheels (WoW) Bus, by the Embassy
of Israel in India.
ii.Eli Cohen had a meeting with his Indian counterpart, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
iii.Under the meeting, both ministers signed an agreement that will allow 42,000 Indian workers to
work in the Jewish state of Israel in the fields of construction and nursing.
iv.New agreements were also signed by both nations in the area of mobility, water, and agriculture.

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30. _______________ - became the 1st Indian state to launch Institutional Ranking Framework
recently (in May ‘23) to assess the quality of higher education institutions.
1) Kerala
2) Andhra Pradesh
3) Tamil Nadu
4) Karnataka
5) Maharashtra
Answer- 1) Kerala
Explanation:
On 3rd May 2023, R. Bindu, Minister of Higher Education of Kerala, formally launched the Kerala
Institutional Ranking Framework (KIRF), modelled on the lines of the National Institutional Ranking
Framework (NIRF), to assess the quality of higher education institutions in Kerala.
• With this launch, Kerala became India’s 1st state to establish a State-specific ranking
framework for its higher education institutions.
i. The KIRF is a set of metrics for ranking of academic institutions, based on the parameters agreed
upon by the Executive of the KSHEC.

31. In May 2023, the World Bank approved a loan of USD __________ for Zoonotic Disease
Prevention in India for Animal Health System Support for One Health Program. (AHSSOH).
1) 50 million
2) 82 million
3) 79 million
4) 100 million
5) 70 million
Answer- 2) 82 million
Explanation:
On May 10, 2023, the World Bank’s (WB) Board of Executive Directors has approved USD 82 million
loan for Animal Health System Support for One Health Program (AHSSOH) that will support India’s
Livestock Health and Disease Control Program, which seeks to control animal diseases by adopting
global best practices for animal health management and to prevent, detect, and respond to endemic
zoonotic diseases.
• The loan has a maturity of 11.5 years with a grace period of 4.5 years.
• The loan will be disbursed from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
(IBRD).

32. Which bank has recently (in May ‘23) unveiled the “Privy League” an Exclusive Premium
Banking Programme and offered India’s 1st LED Debit Cards?
1) Yes Bank
2) HDFC Bank
3) ICICI Bank
4) Axis Bank
5) Kotak Mahindra Bank
Answer- 5) Kotak Mahindra Bank

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Explanation:
Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited (KMBL) has launched a premium banking programme, Privy League
targeting High-Net-Worth Individuals (HNI). The program offers lifestyle privileges and bespoke
financial solutions.
i.The Privy League is the Kotak Mahindra Bank’s flagship premium banking program, designed to
celebrate its customers’ achievements.
• It include Signature LED Debit Card, designed for Privy League Platinum tier, which is India’s
first LED card. It offers 75% discount on Priority Pass.
• It also offer Premium Metal Debit Card, designed by artist Arunanshu Chowdhury for the
Privy League black tier, offering luxury deals and complimentary airport lounge access, among
many other benefits.

33. In May 2023, __________________ launched a significant financing program, ‘Innovative Finance
Facility for Climate in Asia and the Pacific’ (IF-CAP).
1) International Development Association
2) World Bank
3) International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
4) Asian Development Bank
5) International Finance Corporation
Answer- 4) Asian Development Bank
Explanation:
In May 2023, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced the launch of a significant financing
program, the ‘Innovative Finance Facility for Climate in Asia and the Pacific’ (IF-CAP), to support Asia
and the Pacific region in the battle against climate change.
• The announcement was made by Masatsugu Asakawa, President of ADB on the first day of the
ADB’s 56th Annual Meeting in Incheon, South Korea.
i.As Asia and the Pacific is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, such as hurricanes, droughts,
heat waves, floods, and sea-level rises. There is an immense climate financing gap that must be filled
to win the battle against climate change.

34. Name the Badminton legends who have recently (in May ‘23) been elected to the BWF Hall
of Fame for 2023 by the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
1) Lee Chong Wei and Axelsen Viktor
2) Axelsen Viktor and Naraoka Kodai
3) Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei
4) Axelsen Viktor and Christie Jonatan
5) Lin Dan and Axelsen Viktor
Answer- 3) Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei
Explanation:
On 2nd May 2023, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) announced that the Badminton legends
Lin Dan from China and Lee Chong Wei from Malaysia have been elected to the BWF Hall of Fame
for 2023.
They will be inducted into the hall of fame at a ceremony on 26th May 2023 at the Kuala Lumpur
Convention Centre (KLCC) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

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35. According to the report released by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) & Internal
Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) in May 2023, the number of internally displaced
people (IDPs) around the globe has reached _____________ in 2022.
1) 80.2 million
2) 71.1 million
3) 86.2 million
4) 92.0 million
5) 79.1 million
Answer- 2) 71.1 million
Explanation:
According to the ‘Global Report on Internal Displacement 2023 (GRID 2023): Internal Displacement
and Food Security’ released jointly by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and Internal
Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), the number of internally displaced people (IDPs) around
the globe reached 71.1 million in 2022, an increase of 20% from 2021.
• Meanwhile, 60.9 million new internal displacements were reported in 2022, with some people
forced to flee multiple times during 2022.
• India recorded the 4th largest disaster displacement, with 2,507,000 displacements.

36. Which of the following organisations has recently (in May ‘23) collaborated with All India
Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi to ensure patient safety and quality control?
1) World Health Organization -South East Asian Regional Office
2) Duke-NUS
3) Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research
4) Both 1 & 2
5) Both 1 & 3
Answer- 4) Both 1 & 2
Explanation:
All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi has collaborated with World Health
Organization -South East Asian Regional Office (WHO-SEARO) and Duke-NUS to ensure patient
safety and quality control.
i. Under the collaboration, AIIMS will follow the learning curriculum proposed by WHO in
collaboration with the Duke-NUS (Institute of Patient Safety & Quality (IPSQ)).
ii. In May 2023, a meeting was held between AIIMS Director, Dr M Srinivas, and WHO and SEARO
representatives to advance patient safety and quality of patient care at AIIMS to the level of the global
standard of zero avoidable harm.

37. In May 2023, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced that the banks are set to commence a
‘100 Days 100 Pays’ campaign to trace and settle the top 100 unclaimed deposits of every bank
in every district within 100 days.
The banks will commence the campaign on ______________ 2023.
1) 1st October
2) 1st September
3) 1st August
4) 1st June
5) 1st July

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Answer- 4) 1st June
Explanation:
As per the announcement of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on May 12, 2023, banks are set to commence
a ‘100 Days 100 Pays’ campaign, where they will trace and settle the top 100 unclaimed deposits of
every bank in every district within 100 days.The banks will commence the campaign on June 01,
2023.
i. Objective of the ‘100 Days 100 Pays’ campaign is to complement the ongoing efforts and initiatives
by the RBI to reduce the quantum of unclaimed deposits in the banking system and return such
deposits to their rightful owners/ claimants.
ii. As per the RBI data, at the end of February 2023, the total amount of unclaimed deposits
transferred to the RBI by Public Sector Banks in respect of deposits that have not been operated for 10
years or more was Rs 35,012 crore.

38. Name the personality who has recently (in May ‘23) received the first Astronomical Society
of India (ASI) Govind Swarup Lifetime Achievement Award 2022.
1) Thanu Padmanabhan
2) Durgesh Tripathi
3) Ajit Kembhavi
4) G C Anupama
5) Jayant Vishnu Narlikar
Answer- 5) Jayant Vishnu Narlikar
Explanation:
Professor Jayant Vishnu Narlikar, an eminent astrophysicist and past president of the Astronomical
Society of India (ASI) was awarded the first ASI Govind Swarup Lifetime Achievement Award 2022
for his outstanding contributions to the field of Astronomy and Astrophysics in India.
i. In 2022, ASI celebrated its golden jubilee and instituted the Govind Swarup Lifetime Achievement
award for the year 2022, which was named after Professor Govind Swarup (1929-2020), who is
widely recognised as the pioneer of Indian radio astronomy.
ii. Professor Jayant Vishnu Narlikar is the founding director of Inter-University Centre for Astronomy
and Astrophysics (IUCAA) Pune, Maharashtra.

39. Who was recently (in May ‘23) appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Twitter?
1) Linda Yaccarino
2) Dick Costolo
3) Evan Williams
4) Bret Taylor
5) Patrick Pichette
Answer- 1) Linda Yaccarino
Explanation:
Elon Musk, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tesla and SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies
Corporation), officially announced Linda Yaccarino, as the new CEO of Twitter, and she would
succeed Elon Musk as the CEO of both Twitter and X Corp, a technology company.
i. Linda Yaccarino is the current head of New York (United States of America) headquartered
NBC(National Broadcasting Company)Universal’s advertising sales and is set to begin her role as a
CEO of Twitter in six weeks.

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ii. Yaccarino is the first female Twitter CEO and also the first to come from a non-tech background.

40. When was the 2nd International Day of Plant Health that was observed across the globe by
the United Nations (UN)?
1) 11th May 2023
2) 9th May 2023
3) 13th May 2023
4) 10th May 2023
5) 12th May 2023
Answer- 5) 12th May 2023
Explanation:
The United Nations (UN)’s International Day of Plant Health (IDPH) 2023 was observed across the
globe on 12th May 2023 with the theme of “Plant Health for Environmental Protection”.
• 12th May 2023 marks the observance of the 2nd International Day of Plant Health.
• The 1st ever International Day of Plant Health was observed on 12th May 2022.

41. In May 2023, the Ministry of Defence approved the ________ Positive Indigenization List (PIL)
of 928 strategically-important Line Replacement Units (LRUs) to promote Aatmanirbharta in
Defence.
1) 4th
2) 6th
3) 3rd
4) 5th
5) 2nd
Answer- 1) 4th
Explanation:
The Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence (MoD) approved the 4th Positive
Indigenization List (PIL) of 928 strategically-important Line Replacement Units (LRUs)/Sub-
systems/Spares & Components including high-end materials & spares.
• The import substitution value of this list is worth Rs 715 crore.
• Details of these items are available on SRIJAN Portal and these will only be procured from the
Indian Industry after the timelines indicated in the list.

42. In May 2023, the members of ________________ (organisation) unanimously adopted India’s
proposal to support the development and adoption of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure
(DPI).
1) BRICS
2) Association of Southeast Asian Nations
3) Shanghai Co-operation Organisation
4) BIMSTEC
5) South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
Answer- 3) Shanghai Co-operation Organisation

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Explanation:
The members of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) unanimously adopted India’s
proposal to support the development and adoption of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) like
Aadhaar, Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and DigiLocker.
• The proposal was adopted during the meeting between the Information and Communication
Technology (ICT) Ministers of SCO member states chaired by Union Minister Ashwini
Vaishnaw, Ministry of Communications and Ministry of Electronics and Information
Technology (MeitY), Government of India.
• The DPI aims to deploy digital technology among SCO member states and ensure digitally
inclusive growth.
• The SCO recognizes the need for interoperability and setting common standards for digital
systems.

43. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the National Technology
Week 2023?
A) Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State(MoS) (Independent Charge) for Science and
Technology, graced the valedictory ceremony of the 4-day long event “National Technology
Week 2023” (11th to 14th May 2023) at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, Delhi.
B) The National Technology Awards 2023 was conferred to 11 winners which includes MyLab
Discovery Solutions Private Limited, Maharashtra has won the National Technology Award
(Main).
C) Centre For Development of Telematics (C-DOT) conferred the National Technology Awards
2023.
1) Only A
2) Only A & B
3) Only B & C
4) Only A & C
5) All A, B & C
Answer- 2) Only A & B
Explanation:
Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State(MoS) (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology,
graced the valedictory ceremony of the 4-day long event “National Technology Week 2023” (11th to
14th May 2023) at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, Delhi.
i. During the valedictory ceremony Technology Development Board (TDB) conferred the National
Technology Awards 2023 upon Industries, Entrepreneurs & Scientists who contributed to bringing
innovation to the market and support in contributing to the vision of “Aatma Nirbhar Bharat.”
• The National Technology Awards 2023 was conferred to 11 winners following the two-tier
evaluation process.
• MyLab Discovery Solutions Private Limited, Maharashtra won the National Technology Award
(Main)
• Prof. Govindaraju Thimmaiah won the National Technology Award- Translational Research for
Outstanding contribution of Scientists in commercializing innovative indigenous technologies.
ii. The National Technology Week 2023 took place from 11th to 14th May 2023 at Pragati Maidan,
New Delhi, Delhi under the theme “School to Startup – igniting young minds to innovate”.

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44. In May 2023, the World Health Organisation (WHO) launched its first-ever comprehensive
framework, Accelerating anaemia reduction: a comprehensive framework for action to reduce
the anaemia in women of reproductive age by ___________ (Year).
1) 2026
2) 2028
3) 2024
4) 2027
5) 2025
Answer- 5) 2025
Explanation:
The World Health Organisation (WHO) launches its first-ever comprehensive framework on reducing
anaemia, Accelerating anaemia reduction: a comprehensive framework for action, calling on
countries to accelerate action to reduce the prevalence of anaemia in women of reproductive age
by 2025.
i. The United Nations Health Agency launched a comprehensive framework on reducing anaemia
during the International Maternal Newborn Health Conference (IMNHC) 2023 held from May 8-11
2023, in Cape Town, South Africa.
ii. Reduction of anaemia is one of the World Health Assembly (the decision-making body of WHO)
Global Nutrition Targets for 2025, which is accorded as a 50% reduction of anaemia in women of
reproductive age.

45. In May 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued an advisory to banks & other RBI-
regulated entities to ensure a complete transition from the international benchmark reference
rate USD London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) from __________ 2023.
1) 1st August
2) 1st June
3) 1st September
4) 1st July
5) 1st October
Answer- 4) 1st July
Explanation:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued an advisory to banks and other RBI-regulated entities to
ensure a complete transition from the international benchmark reference rate US$ London Interbank
Offered Rate (LIBOR) or the Mumbai Interbank Forward Outright Rate (MIFOR) from July 1, 2023.
• After June 30, 2023, Financial Benchmarks India Pvt. Ltd. (FBIL) will cease to publish Mumbai
Interbank Forward Outright Rate (MIFOR).

46. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) constituted a 5-
member expert committee under the chairmanship of ____________ to provide advice related to
mental health and insurance.
1) G. Gururaj
2) Pratima Murthy
3) B.N. Gangadhar
4) Satish Chandra Girimaji
5) N Pradhan

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Answer- 2) Pratima Murthy
Explanation:
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) constituted a 5-member
expert committee comprising medical experts and insurers under the chairmanship of Pratima
Murthy, Director of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), to provide
advice and inputs to IRDAI on matters related to mental health and insurance.
i. Objective: To make a complete examination of the various aspects such as types of conditions, and
types of treatments from an insurance perspective to deal with products designed to cover mental
illnesses and other related aspects.

47. Who was recently (in May ‘23) appointed as the new director of the Central Bureau of
Investigation (CBI)?
1) Rishi Kumar Shukla
2) Praveen Sood
3) Alok Kumar Verma
4) Subodh Kumar Jaiswal
5) Anil Sinha
Answer- 2) Praveen Sood
Explanation:
According to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) order, Karnataka Director General of
Police (DGP) Praveen Sood was appointed as the new director of the Central Bureau of Investigation
(CBI) after his name was finalized by a three-member high-powered selection committee led by Prime
Minister Narendra Modi.
i. Approval of the Competent Authority conveyed the appointment of Praveen Sood, as Director, CBI
for a period of two years, extendable for up to five years.
ii. The outgoing CBI Director Subodh Kumar Jaiswal’s two-year tenure will end on May 25 2023. He is
a 1985-batch IPS (Indian Police Service) officer from the Maharashtra cadre, who is going to complete
his tenure, and took over as CBI director on May 26 2021.

48. Indian Navy has recently (in May ‘23) test-fired the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from
Indian Naval Ship (INS) ____________.
1) INS Visakhapatnam
2) INS Kolkata
3) INS Surat
4) INS Kochi
5) INS Mormugao
Answer- 5) INS Mormugao
Explanation:
A BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was successfully test-fired from the Indian Navy’s frontline
guided missile destroyer INS (Indian Naval Ship) Mormugao.
• The indigenous ship (INS Mormugao) and weapon (BrahMos supersonic cruise missile), mark
the symbol of ‘AatmaNirbharta’ and the Indian Navy’s firepower at sea.
• This marks INS Mormugao’s first BrahMos Supersonic cruise missile firing.

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i. India is also exporting BrahMos missiles: The Philippines was the first country to buy the BrahMos
supersonic cruise missile system. The BrahMos missile is acquired by the Philippines Army under the
Horizon 3 Modernisation programme of the Philippines (Year 2023-2027).

49. Name the Union Minister who has recently (in May ‘23) launched the mobile app ‘Meri LiFE
(My life)’ to track the progress being made on Mission LiFE.
1) Bhupender Yadav (Union Minister of Environment, Forest & Climate Change)
2) Amit Shah (Union Minister of Home Affairs)
3) Subrahmanyam Jaishankar (Union Minister of External Affairs)
4) Mansukh L. Mandaviya (Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare)
5) Giriraj Singh (Union Minister of Rural Development)
Answer- 1) Bhupender Yadav (Union Minister of Environment, Forest & Climate Change)
Explanation:
Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change launched a mobile
application named Meri LiFE (My life) in New Delhi, Delhi to activate the youth action for climate
change.
i. This app is inspired by the concept of LiFE, envisioned by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi at
COP (Conference of the Parties) 26, which emphasises mindful and deliberate utilisation instead of
mindless and wasteful consumption.
Objective:
• The Meri LiFE app will showcase the power of citizens, especially young people in saving the
environment.
• This app will help in creating a structured way to track the progress being made on Mission
LiFE.

50. Name the personality who has recently (in May ‘23) become India’s 82nd GrandMaster
(GM) by defeating GM Hans Niemann from United States of America (USA) in the penultimate
round of the Baku Open 2023.
1) Sayantan Das
2) Vuppala Prraneeth
3) Vignesh NR
4) Pranesh
5) Koustav Chatterjee
Answer- 2) Vuppala Prraneeth
Explanation:
16-year-old Vuppala Prraneeth from Telangana, has become India’s 82nd GrandMaster (GM) by
defeating GM Hans Niemann from United States of America (USA) in the penultimate round of the
Baku Open 2023, which took place from May 4-12, in Baku Crystal Hall, Baku, Azerbaijan.
i. With this win Vuppala Prraneeth crossed the required 2500 FIDE’s (International Chess Federation
or World Chess Federation) Elo live ratings, to achieve the GM title.
ii. He is the sixth Grandmaster from the Telangana State.
Note- Indian GM Leon Luke Mendonca won the Baku Open 2023 title defeating Vuppala Prraneeth in
the final round of Baku Open 2023.

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 STATIC GK

51. In which year, the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Secretariat was
established?
1) 1997
2) 1990
3) 1996
4) 1992
5) 1995
Answer- 4) 1992
Explanation:
The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) is an intergovernmental treaty aiming to
protect the world's plant resources from the spread and introduction of pests, and promoting safe
trade.
i. The Convention introduced International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) as its main
tool to achieve its goals, making it the sole global standard setting organization for plant health.
ii. The IPPC Secretariat, established in 1992 and hosted at FAO headquarters in Rome, coordinates the
work of IPPC contracting parties to achieve the Convention’s goals.
iii. It develops a variety of resources to provide technical guidelines, it implements plant health
related projects and organizes the CPM and other major committee meetings, and is responsible for
the communication and external cooperation programmes.

52. In which state, the Bathinda Fort is located?

1) Haryana
2) Punjab
3) Rajasthan
4) Madhya Pradesh
5) Maharashtra
Answer- 2) Punjab
Explanation:
The Bathinda Fort in Punjab, believed to be the oldest surviving fort in the country. The fort, which
dates back to over 1,600 years, is currently undergoing repairs and restoration to preserve its legacy
for future generations.
i. The Bathinda Fort has a rich history that dates back to the Kushan era in 100 AD. The fort is believed
to have been constructed by Bhatti Rajput rulers during the 6th century.
ii. The fort’s walls, made of clay bricks, are 10 to 12 feet thick, with several bastions spread across the
complex. The fort covers an area of about 6 acres, and its main entrance is called the Delhi Gate.

53. In May 2023, the central government prohibited the import of apples where the CIF (Cost,
Insurance, and Freight) import price is less than or equal to ________ (amount) per kilogram.
1) Rs 100
2) Rs 50
3) Rs 80
4) Rs 70
5) Rs 60

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Answer- 2) Rs 50
Explanation:
The central government has prohibited the import of apples where the CIF (Cost, Insurance, and
Freight) import price is less than or equal to Rs 50 per kilogram.
i. The import policy remains "Free" for those apples costing above Rs 50 per kilogram. The
amendment in apple import policy will not be applicable to India's neighbour Bhutan, the Directorate
General of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

54. In May 2023, a government panel formed by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
recommended that India should ban the use of diesel-powered four-wheeler vehicles by
_________ (year).
1) 2027
2) 2025
3) 2028
4) 2024
5) 2026
Answer- 1) 2027
Explanation:
India should ban the use of diesel-powered four-wheeler vehicles by 2027 and switch to electric and
gas-fuelled vehicles in cities with more than a million people and polluted towns in order to cut
emissions, a panel formed by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is recommending.
i. India, one of the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, wants to produce 40% of its electricity from
renewables to achieve its 2070 net zero goal.

55. In May 2023, Union Minister of Culture G Kishan Reddy announced that Santiniketan in
__________ (state) has been recommended for inscription to the World Heritage List by the
International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS).
1) West Bengal
2) Odisha
3) Karnataka
4) Andhra Pradesh
5) Madhya Pradesh
Answer- 1) West Bengal
Explanation:
Union Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy announced that Santiniketan in West Bengal has been
recommended for inscription to the World Heritage List by International Council on Monuments and
Sites (ICOMOS), the advisory body to UNESCO World Heritage Centre,”
i. India has been striving for a long time to get a UNESCO tag for this cultural site located in West
Bengal’s Birbhum district.

56. In May 2023, the Indian Army decided that brigadiers and above rank officers will have a
common uniform from __________ irrespective of their parent cadre and appointment.
1) 1st October 2023
2) 1st July 2023
3) 1st August 2023

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4) 1st June 2023
5) 1st September 2023
Answer- 3) 1st August 2023
Explanation:
The Indian Army has decided that brigadiers and above rank officers will have a common uniform
from 1st August 2023 irrespective of their parent cadre and appointment.
i. The decision was taken after detailed deliberations during the recently concluded Army
Commanders Conference and extensive consultations with all stakeholders.

57. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recently (in May ‘23) increased its gold reserves by
_________ to 794.64 metric tonnes in the fiscal year (March 31), 2023.
1) 3.5%
2) 3.9%
3) 4.5%
4) 4.0%
5) 4.2%
Answer- 3) 4.5%
Explanation:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has increased its gold reserves by 4.5% to 794.64 metric tonnes in
the fiscal year that ended on March 31, 2023.
• The Reserve Bank's gold reserves increased by 34.22 tonnes year-on-year to reach 794.64
tonnes at March-end 2023.
• The Reserve Bank held 760.42 metric tonnes of gold (including gold deposits of 11.08 metric
tonnes) at the March-end of 2022.
• While 437.22 tonnes of gold is held overseas in safe custody with the Bank of England and the
Bank of International Settlements (BIS), 301.10 tonnes of gold is held domestically.

58. In May 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) was ending a 10-month-long global
health emergency for ________a viral disease.
1) Hepatitis B
2) Chickenpox
3) mpox
4) Ebola
5) Rabies
Answer- 3) mpox
Explanation:
The World Health Organization (WHO) was ending a 10-month-long global health emergency for
mpox, a viral disease that led to confirmed cases in more than a hundred countries.
i. The organization declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern in July 2022
and backed its stand in November and February.

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59. In which city, India's first undersea twin tunnels is located?
1) Mumbai, Maharashtra
2) Chandipur, Odisha
3) Kochi, Kerala
4) Mormugao, Goa
5) Kachchh, Gujarat
Answer- 1) Mumbai, Maharashtra
Explanation:
More than two years after 35 men and a giant Chinese Tunnel Boring Machine began cutting though
complex geological strata, India’s first undersea twin tunnels in south Mumbai, Maharashtra are
close to completion.
i. The Tunnel set to open in November, the tunnels start near Girgaon (ahead of Marine Drive), extend
north under the Arabian Sea, Girgaon Chowpatty and Malabar Hill, and end at Breach Candy’s
Priyadarshini Park.
ii. The 2.07-km tunnels are a part of the Rs 12,721-crore Mumbai Coastal Road Project (MCRP) being
built by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
iii. The tunnels, which have a diameter of 12.19 metres, run 17-20 m below sea level. A nearly 1-km
stretch lies under the sea. The tunnels hit peak depth at Malabar Hill at 72 m.

60. Which of the following companies of Adani Group were removed from the list of
“companies taking action” published by the Science Based Targets initiative in May 2023?
1) Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone Ltd
2) Adani Green Energy Ltd
3) Adani Transmission Ltd
4) Both 1 & 2
5) All 1, 2 & 3
Answer- 5) All 1, 2 & 3
Explanation:
Three Adani Group companies, including Adani Green Energy Ltd., have lost their endorsement from
the world’s leading arbiter of corporate green goals, a blow to the industrial conglomerate’s attempt
to reposition itself as a leader of India’s energy transition.
i. Adani Green, Adani Transmission Ltd. and Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone Ltd. were
removed in April 2023 from the list of “companies taking action” published by the Science Based
Targets initiative.
ii. The UN-backed group helps companies establish concrete plans to reduce emissions consistent
with the Paris Agreement’s target on limiting global warming.

GA Questions Asked in Exams

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