1. In which two countries has the UPI payment system been launched recently?
(A) Brazil and Argentina
(B) Japan and South Korea
(C) France and Italy
(D) Sri Lanka and Mauritius
(E) USA and Bahrain
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
The scope of Unified Payment Interface (UPI) services is gradually increasing.
Now the names of Sri Lanka and Mauritius have also been added to this list.
NPCI launched UPI services in the year 2016.
UPI system is a mobile application-based system that provides the facility of payment from bank accounts.
Recently this facility was also launched in France.
2. Who recently won the singles title of the Chennai Open Tennis Tournament?
(A) Andy Murray
(B) Sumit Nagal
(C) Rohan Bopanna
(D) Luca Nardi
(E) Shang Juncheng
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
India’s top singles player Sumit Nagal won the singles title of the Chennai Open tennis tournament.
In the final, he defeated Luca Nardi of Italy to win his fifth Challenger-level singles title.
He won his first Challenger at the Bengaluru Open in 2017 and won the Buenos Aires Challenger title a few years later.
3. In which city was ‘Dakshin Bharat Sanskritik Kendra’ established?
(A) Chennai
(B) Visakhapatnam
(C) Hyderabad
(D) Bhubaneswar
(E) Kochi
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (c)
The first regional center of its kind was established in Hyderabad by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, which will be known as “Dakshin Bharat Sanskritik Kendra”.
Former Vice President Shri M Venkaiah Naidu and Union Minister G Kishan Reddy inaugurated it on 12 February.
Along with this, the foundation stone of “Bharat Kala Mandapam Auditorium” was also laid.
4. With whom has IREDA signed an agreement for innovation and research in the renewable energy sector?
(A) IIT Varanasi
(B) IIT Delhi
(C) IIT Bhubaneswar
(D) IIT Mumbai
(E) IIT Kanpur
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) has entered into an agreement with IIT Bhubaneswar to promote innovation and research in the renewable energy sector.
IREDA, an Indian public sector enterprise, was established in 1987.
Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited is an Indian public sector enterprise that provides financial assistance and other services to projects related to renewable sources of energy and energy efficiency/conservation.
5. Which country won the title of ICC Under-19 World Cup 2024?
(A) Sri Lanka
(B) Australia
(C) India
(D) South Africa
(E) Ireland
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
Defending champion Australia won the title by defeating India in the final of the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2024.
This is the fourth time that Australia has won this title.
This is the third consecutive time that Australia defeated India in the final.
The most runs in the tournament were scored by India’s Uday Saharan (397 runs) and the most wickets were taken by South Africa’s Kwena Mafaka (21 wickets).
6. Alexander Stubb has been elected as Prime Minister of which country?
(A) Norway
(B) Sweden
(C) Iceland
(D) Finland
(E) Netherlands
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
Former Prime Minister of Finland Alexander Stubb has registered a historic victory in the presidential elections held in the country.
National Coalition Party candidate Stubb got 51.6 percent of the votes, while Haavisto got 48.4 percent of the votes.
Stubb served as the country’s Prime Minister in 2014–2015.
Finland is a Northern European country, bordering Sweden, Norway, and Russia.
The capital of Finland is Helsinki.
7. Who has become the first Sri Lankan cricketer to score a double century in ODI?
(A) Angelo Mathews
(B) Pathum Nissanka
(C) Kusal Mendis
(D) Avishka Fernando
(E) Dimuth Karunaratne
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
Pathum Nissanka has created history by becoming the first Sri Lankan cricketer to score a double century in One Day International.
Nissanka played a brilliant inning of 210* runs in 139 balls.
Nissanka broke Sanath Jayasuriya’s previous record of 189 runs.
Jayasuriya played this innings against India in Sharjah in 2000.
8. The 2024 KPP Nambiar Award has been awarded to whom by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Kerala?
(A) Sivan Kailasavadivoo
(B) S Somanath
(C) P Veeramuthuvel
(D) Nambi Narayanan
(E) A S Kiran Kumar
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Kerala section awarded the 2024 KPP Nambiar Award to ISRO Chairman S Somanath.
Somanath has played a key role in ISRO’s lunar exploration program, Chandrayaan-3.
The annual award is instituted to honor individuals or groups in Kerala, for their significant contributions to the IEEE vision of advancing technology for humanity.
9. What is the name of the entrepreneurship program initiated by the Meghalaya government in February 2024?
(A) CM-Innovate
(B) CM-Empower
(C) CM-Elevate
(D) CM-Enrich
(E) CM-Reform
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
The entrepreneurship program initiated by the Meghalaya government is called CM-Elevate.
Under this program, the Meghalaya government aims to support over 20,000 entrepreneurs in the state.
The program offers financial assistance and support to entrepreneurs for various business ventures.
CM-Elevate aims to create a culture of entrepreneurship and empower the youth to capitalize on opportunities within the state.
The government has earmarked Rs. 300 crore for this scheme, demonstrating its commitment to promoting entrepreneurship and job creation in the private sector.
Through CM-Elevate, the government seeks to reduce dependency on government jobs and encourage youth participation in private sector development.
10. Which national waterway is involved in the trial movement of vessels between Maia Port in India and Sultanganj Port in Bangladesh?
(A) NW-1
(B) NW-2
(C) NW-3
(D) NW-4
(E) NW-5
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
The trial movement of vessels between Maia Port in India and Sultanganj Port in Bangladesh involves National Waterway 2 (NW-2).
NW-2 runs from Dhubri in Assam to Sadiya, covering a significant stretch of the Brahmaputra River.
The waterway route from Maia to Dhubri via Aricha will reduce the distance by about 930 kilometers compared to the existing route.
This initiative aligns with the Act East Policy of the Indian government and aims to boost trade and connectivity between India and Bangladesh.
The trial movement signifies efforts to explore direct shipping links between the two countries, as agreed during the state visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India in 2022.