1. Name the eminent writer, who has been awarded the prestigious Kerala Jyothi Award 2023.
(A) T Padmanabhan
(B) Shaji N Karun
(C) KP Kesava Menon
(D) Anjum Rajabali
(E) Edasseri Govindan Nair
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
Eminent writer T Padmanabhan has been awarded the prestigious Kerala Jyothi Award for his remarkable contributions to literature.
Retired Justice M Fathima Beevi was selected for her contributions to social service and civil service.
Nataraja Krishnamoorthy was recognised for his accomplishments in the field of arts, both receiving the Kerala Prabha Award.
Established in 2021, the awards are conferred on individuals.
The awardees are announced every year on 1 November, which is observed as the Kerala Piravi.
The Kerala Awards are of three categories –
Kerala Jyothi: This is the highest award and will be conferred only on one person.
Kerala Prabha: This is the second-highest award and is conferred on three individuals.
Kerala Sree: This is the third highest award and is conferred on six persons.
2. Who has inaugurated a joint workshop with the National Science Foundation, USA?
(A) Ashwini Vaishnaw
(B) Pankaj Oswal
(C) S Krishnan
(D) Anurag Thakur
(E) Rajeev Chandrasekhar
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology Secretary S Krishnan inaugurated a joint workshop with the National Science Foundation, USA.
In areas like semiconductor research, next-generation communication tech, cybersecurity, green technologies, and Intelligent Transportation Systems, R&D will be done.
This will bolster the strategic technology partnership between the two countries.
3. India has recently signed a Mobility and Migration Partnership Agreement with which country?
(A) France
(B) Germany
(C) Greece
(D) Serbia
(E) Italy
Solution: Option E.)
Ans (E)
India, Italy signs Mobility and Migration Partnership Agreement.
To facilitate the movement of workers, students, and professionals, the agreement is done.
EAM S. Jaishankar met his Italian counterpart and signed it.
They conversed about deepening the India-Italy strategic partnership.
They agreed that potential in agro-tech, innovation, space, defense, and the digital domain has to be explored.
4. Which Indian city has ranked fourth globally in terms of price rise of luxury homes?
(A) New Delhi
(B) Bangalore
(C) Chennai
(D) Mumbai
(E) Hyderabad
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
Mumbai ranked fourth globally in terms of price rise of luxury homes.
Bengaluru’s rank increased to 17th rank in the quarter under review against 27th rank in the third quarter of 2022, a year-on-year growth of 2.2%.
Real estate consultant Knight Frank India released the Prime Global Cities Index Q3 2023.
New Delhi and Bengaluru also recorded an upward movement in their index rankings.
5. Which government entity has celebrated its 71st Foundation Day recently on 01 November?
(A) ESIC
(B) EPFO
(C) LIC
(D) BSNL
(E) UPSC
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
Bhupender Yadav inaugurated the 71st Foundation Day of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) on 1st November at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
The ‘Nidhi Aapke Nikat’ outreach program is conducted by every EPFO office on the 27th of each month.
The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is one of the two main social security organizations under the Government of India’s Ministry of Labour and Employment and is responsible for the regulation and management of provident funds in India, the other being Employees’ State Insurance.
On 1 October 2014, the Government of India launched a Universal Account Number for employees covered by EPFO to enable Provident Fund number portability.
6. Which company has launched the National Efficient Cooking Programme?
(A) EESL
(B) Tata Power
(C) NTPC
(D) Coal India
(E) REC
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
Energy Efficiency Services Limited, under the Ministry of Power, launched its National Efficient Cooking Program and Energy Efficient Fans Programme.
Unveiled by the Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy Shri R. K. Singh, at an event held in New Delhi.
EESL will distribute 1 crore efficient BLDC fans and 20 Lakh energy-efficient induction cook stoves nationwide under this event.
7. Who has been appointed as Chairman of the Armed Forces Tribunal?
(A) Amreshwar Sahi
(B) Dipak Misra
(C) Rajendra Menon
(D) Surya Kant
(E) Badar Durrez Ahmed
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
Former Delhi High Court Chief Justice Rajendra Menon has been re-appointed as Chairman of the Armed Forces Tribunal for four years.
Justice Menon began his judicial career as an additional judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court on April 1, 2002, and his dedication and expertise led to his elevation to the position of a permanent judge in 2003.
Armed Forces Tribunal is a military tribunal of India, established on 2009.
It is a statutory body set up under the Armed Forces Tribunal Act of 2007.
The Ministry of Defence controls it.
Chairperson – Retd judge of SC or Retd CJ of the high court.
Judicial Members – Retd HC Judges.
Administrative members – Retd Maj Gen rank or above officers, Judge Advocate General.
8. According to the EdelGive Hurun India’s Philanthropy List for 2023, who has topped in the list with Rs 2042-crore donations?
(A) Cyrus S Poonawalla
(B) Azim Premji
(C) Shiv Nadar
(D) Mukesh Ambani
(E) Kumar Mangalam Birla
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
According to the EdelGive Hurun India’s Philanthropy List for 2023, Shiv Nadar is India’s leading philanthropist with an annual donation of Rs 2,042 crore.
Azim Premji, Mukesh Ambani, and Kumar Mangalam Birla also feature in the top four positions.
The top 10 philanthropists collectively donated Rs 5,806 crore in 2022-23.
9. With whom has the Election Commission signed an agreement to promote electoral literacy?
(A) SCERT
(B) CBSE
(C) NCTE
(D) NCERT
(E) UPSC
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
The Election Commission of India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Education to bring electoral literacy in schools across the country.
Its objective is to include voter education and electoral literacy in the curriculum from classes 6th to 12th in all schools.
Under the MoU, study material on electoral literacy will be included in NCERT school textbooks and state education boards will also be advised to follow the same.
10. Who has inaugurated the domestic sailing of the first international cruise liner ‘Costa Serena’ in India?
(A) Anurag Thakur
(B) Sarbananda Sonowal
(C) Smriti Irani
(D) S Jai Shankar
(E) Himanta Biswa Sarma
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal launched the domestic sailing of “Costa Serena’, the first international cruise liner in India, in Mumbai.
The target of 50 million cruise passengers in India by the year 2047 has also been discussed in the recently concluded Global Maritime India Summit 2023.
Such cruise initiatives are part of “Dekho Apna Desh”.