Q1: Who wins the International Booker Prize 2023 for Time Shelter?
a) Frank Wynne
b) Frederick Studeman
c) Maryse Conde
d) Georgi Gospodinov
Solution: option d.)
Georgi Gospodinov (Bulgarian writer) and Angela Rodel (translator) bagged the 2023 International Booker Prize for their book ‘Time Shelter’.
It is the first book originally written in Bulgarian to be nominated for the award. Time Shelter is a story of a magical clinic for Alzheimer’s patients.
The prize has recognized fiction translated into English and published in the United Kingdom or Ireland in the year leading up to the award.
Prize money: 50,000 pounds (about $62,000) shared equally between the author and translator
Q2: RBI approved the reappointment of whom a part-time chairman of Paytm.
a) K.V Kamath
b) Vijay Shekher
c) Chanda Kochar
d) Prashant Kumar
Solution: option b.)
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has given its approval to Paytm Payments Bank for the re-appointment of Paytm CEO, Vijay Shekhar Sharma as part-time chairman for a year, effective from May 23, 2023.
At present, One97 Communications owns a 49% stake in Paytm Payments Bank and Vijay Shekhar Sharma holds the remaining stakes in the entity.
Vijay Shekhar Sharma is the promoter of Paytm Payments Bank:
It was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Noida
Q3: Who has been appointed as the new President of India Taekwondo?
a) Arjun Gupta
b) Kim Cotton
c) Dilip Tirkey
d) Namdev Shirgaonkar
Solution: option d.)
Incumbent Namdev Shirgaonkar of Maharashtra was re-elected unopposed as the President of India Taekwondo in elections for the executive committee held here.
The election, which was attended by 25 affiliated state associations, was held at a hotel here on Sunday.
The entire election process went off without a hitch, with all the office-bearers being elected unopposed as Bhagwatrao Gaikwad (Retired judge) functioning as the Returning Officer in tandem with Sharad D. Madakre (Retired Deputy Charity Commissioner).
Shirgaonkar, who holds a black belt in Taekwondo and is also secretary-general of the Maharashtra Olympic Association (MOA), voiced his approval of being elected unopposed as chief of India Taekwondo.
Q4: Who becomes the New York-based brand ‘Maybelline’ brand ambassador?
a) Kriti Senon
b) Suhana Khan
c) Ananya Pandey
d) Sara Ali Khan
Solution: option d.)
Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan’s daughter, Suhana Khan is the new face of the New York-based beauty brand, Maybelline. On Monday, the announcement was made officially following Suhana’s first media event in Mumbai.
She will be making her Bollywood debut this year with filmmaker Zoya Akhtar’s next The Archies and her association with the international brand looks quite perfect for her portfolio.
Q5: Which country has conducted the 2nd test firing of the homegrown short-range ballistic missile ‘Tayfun’?
a) Israel
b) Iran
c) Turkey
d) China
Solution: option c.)
Turkey has conducted the second test-firing of homegrown short-range ballistic missile Tayfun, said Ismail Demir, the President of the country’s defence industry agency.
On Tuesday, Demir announced on his Twitter account, congratulating the team involved in the development, Xinhua news agency reported.
The test was carried out by its builder, state-owned weapons manufacturer Roketsan in the Black Sea province of Rize, Demir announced, without providing further details.
Tayfun was first tested in October 2022, when it hit a target from 560 km away.
Turkey Capital: Ankara
Turkey Currency: Lira
Turkey President: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Q6: What is the RBI Forecast for Q1 (April – June) FY 2024?
a) 6.5%
b) 7.5%
c) 7.6%
d) 6.25%
Solution: option c.)
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced its economic activity index nowcast, forecasting a strong GDP growth rate of 7.6% for the first quarter of the fiscal year 2023-2024 (Q1 FY24).
The central bank’s analysis indicates that India’s domestic economic conditions have sustained the momentum witnessed in the previous quarter of FY23. As captured by the RBI’s index, the overall economic activity remains resilient.
The Reserve Bank of India, chiefly known as RBI, is India’s central bank and regulatory body responsible for the regulation of the Indian banking system. It is under the ownership of the Ministry of Finance, Government of India. It is responsible for the control, issuing and maintaining a supply of the Indian rupee.
Q7: Joint Bangladesh – US Naval drill exercise started at Chattogram (Bangladesh). What is the name of the exercise?
a) Mitra Shakti
b) Tiger Shark 40
c) Tiger Triumph
d) Maitri Exercise
Solution: option b.)
The ‘Tiger Shark 40’ Joint Bangladesh-US Naval drill Exercise commenced at BNS Nirvik in Chattogram.
The main aim of the exercise is to enhance the strategic capabilities of both countries and promote the mutual exchange of technical and procedural knowledge.
Bangladesh-US Joint Naval Exercise: Key Points
According to a press release from the Bangladesh Inter Services Press Relations (ISPR), the exercise seeks to strengthen the existing positive relations between the armed forces of the two nations.
The training exercise, overseen by Commodore Swords Command, involved the participation of Special Forces from the Bangladesh Army and Navy as well as US Special Forces. Rear Admiral Abdullah AL Mamun Chowdhury, Commander of Chattogram Naval Area, graced the event as the Chief Guest, and representatives from the US Embassy in Bangladesh also attended.
Capital of USA: Washington, D.C.
Currency of USA: United States dollar (USD)
President of USA: Joe Biden
Capital of Bangladesh: Dhaka
Currency of Bangladesh: Bangladeshi taka (BDT)
PM of Bangladesh: Sheikh Hasina
Commander of Chattogram Naval Area: Rear Admiral Abdullah AL Mamun Chowdhury
Q8: Robert E Lucas’ who passed away recently, was associated with which field?
a) Economics
b) Maths
c) Physics
d) Medicines
Solution: option a.)
Nobel laureate Robert E Lucas has recently passed away at the age of 85. He was an American economist at the University of Chicago.
Dr Lucas, the recipient of the 1995 Nobel Prize in economic sciences, was best known for his role in developing a concept called the theory of rational expectations approach in macroeconomics
Q9: No TCS on LRS transactions up to Rs 7 lakh via international debit, or credit cards from which date onwards (2023)?
a) 30 June
b) 31 July
c) 31 October
d) 31 December
Solution: option b.)
The Indian government has recently announced a relaxation in the Tax Collected At Source (TCS) rules for international transactions made using debit or credit cards. Starting from July 1, 2023, individuals conducting international transactions up to Rs 7 lakh will be exempt from the 20 per cent TCS levy.
This exemption will also exclude these transactions from the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) limits of $250,000 per annum. i) Private visits to any country (except Nepal and Bhutan) ii) Gift or donation iii) Going abroad for employment iv) Emigration v) Maintenance of close relatives abroad vi) Travel for business, attending a conference or specialised training or for meeting expenses for meeting medical expenses, or check-up abroad, or for accompanying as an attendant to a patient going abroad for medical treatment/ check-up etc.
Q10: Sydney’s Harris Park renamed what during PM Modi’s visit to Australia?
a) Mumbaiyan Park
b) Little India
c) Small India
d) Kashmiri Park
Solution: option b.)
PM Modi along with his Australian counterpart jointly laid the foundation stone of the ‘Little India’ gateway to be built in Harris Park.
Harris Park is home to a large Indian community and is well-established as a unique destination for Indian cuisine, and Indian-owned businesses. According to the Australian government website, Harris Park is a “thriving, dynamic, multicultural hub known for its blend of cultures and large Indian population”.
Notably, the first proposal for officially naming the Harris Park area ‘Little India’ was made in 2015.
Australia Capital: Canberra
Australia Currency: Australian Dollars
Australia PM: Anthony Norman Albanese
Q11: Which international Cricketer has been provisionally banned for match-fixing by ICC?
a) Devon Thomas
b) Karyl Mayor
c) Shakib Al Hasan
d) Shadab Khan
Solution: option a.)
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has charged West Indies batter Devon Thomas with match-fixing. Conway has also been provisionally banned from playing on Tuesday. The apex cricket governing body in the world laid seven charges against Thomas which include attempting to fix the outcome of a cricket match as well as trying to obstruct the investigations.
Four of the seven charges levied against him are related to the Lanka Premier League 2021 matches while two are from the 2021 edition of the Caribbean Premier League. The remaining charge is related to a T10 Cricket League match in United Arab Emirates (UAE) also in the same year.
Q12: Which number of Vande Bharat will start from Delhi to Dehradun on 25th May?
a) 17
b) 18
c) 20
d) 21
Solution: option b.)
In a first for the hill state of Uttarakhand, the first Vande Bharat train connecting Dehradun and Delhi will be flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually on Thursday (25 May).
The inaugural run will be held on 25 May from Dehradun, departing at 11 am. The 22458 /22457 Dehradun-Anand Vihar Terminal-Dehradun Vande Bharat express will commence its commercial journey starting 29 May and will run six days a week except for Wednesday in an eight-coach car configuration. It will be the 18th Vande Bharat.
Q13: GRSEs launched which Startup Challenge across India?
a) Profit
b) Money
c) Gains
d) Progress
Solution: option c.)
Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd launched GRSE Accelerated Innovation Nurturing Scheme (GAINS) 2023 in Kolkata.
Aim: To identify and encourage the development of innovative solutions toward technological advances in shipbuilding by Startups Focus: AI, Renewable/Green Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Efficiency Enhancement.
It was launched by G Surya Prakash, Assistant Manager (Finance) of GRSE.
GRSE was established as a Category 1 Mini Ratna Company. It has a rich history dating back to its inception as a DPSU (Defence Public Sector Undertaking) in 1960. In 1961, GRSE achieved a remarkable milestone by delivering the first indigenous warship, INS Ajay, to the Indian Navy.
Q14: Ministry of Education and PARAKH organise which edition of the National level workshop?
a) 1st
b) 3rd
c) 4th
d) 2nd
Solution: option a.)
Ministry of Education and PARAKH (The National Assessment Centre) organize the 1st National level workshop on assessment with States and UTs. PARAKH has been set up as the organisation under NCERT.
It will work on bringing the school boards across the States and the Union Territories on a common platform.
As a first step, a workshop on school assessments, examination practices and equivalence of boards across the country was organised by the Ministry of Education and PARAKH today in New Delhi.
PARAKH will act as a common platform for the interaction of all concerned stakeholders in order to develop a holistic approach that ensures a fair assessment system which promotes equity in performance and equivalence in the assessment of students.