Saturday, March 16, 2013

FEB - 2013 - CURRENT AFFAIRS


1. Researchers working on the accurate calculation of the distance of Milky Way to the nearest galaxy found the exact distance to our nearest galaxy, Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). What is the exact distance?
a) 163000 light years
b) 175000 light years
c) 183000 light years
d) 150000 light years
Answer: (a) 163000 light years

2. Which country ranked first on list of countries which distribute spam all over the world, according to new report of SophosLabs?
a) China
b) India
c) US
d) Spain
Answer: (c) US
3. Which research centre announced that it was developing the largest magnet of the world? This largest magnet would weigh 50000 tons.
a) CERN, Geneva
b) Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, India
c) NASA, US
d) Neutrino Observatory, India
Answer: (b) Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, India

4. According to the study conducted by University of Minnesota in the first week of March 2013, which species of Africa would decline to almost extinction over the period of coming 20-40 years if conservation measures were not undertaken?
a) Elephants
b) Wild Cat
c) Wild Lizard
d) Wild Lion
Answer: (d) Wild Lion
5. Which compost plant became first in India to receive carbon credits worth 25 lakh rupees from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change?
a) Okhla Compost Plant
b) ROTOPALA Composting Plant
c) Mumbai Compost Plant
d) Kanpur Composting Plant
Answer: (a) Okhla Compost Plant
6. The World Bank in the month of March 2013 barred which company from doing any business with it or the projects funded by it for a period of six months?
a) Punj Lloyd Group
b) Lanco Infratech Limited
c) Larsen & Toubro
d) IVRCL Infrastructures & Projects Ltd
Answer: (c) Larsen & Toubro

7. The Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) on 6 March 2013 cleared the investment proposal of which Malaysian budget carrier to launch the new airline along with Tata Group and Arun Bhatia's Telestra Tradeplace?
a) Cebu Pacific
b) AirAsia
c) JetStar
d) Tiger Airways
Answer: (b) AirAsia

8. Which confectionary giant was slapped with a notice demanding 250 crore Rupees by the Directorate General of Central Excise Intelligence on the grounds of excise duty evasion?
a) Cadbury India Ltd
b) Wrigley India
c) Lotte India
d) Perk India Ltd
Answer: (a) Cadbury India Ltd

9. Which telecom company in the month of March 2013 launched high quality voice service for its subscribers in Kenya, Rwanda, Malawi and Nigeria in the African sub-continent?
a) Vodafone
b) Reliance
c) Idea Cellular
d) Bharti Airtel
Answer: (d) Bharti Airtel

10. Microsoft launched the new version of which software for the businesses running in India? This software will facilitate sharing the data seamlessly across the computers and mobiles with the help of cloud computing technology.
a) MS Office 2009
b) MS Office 365
c) MS Office 2013
d) MS Office 2010
Answer: (b) MS Office 365
11. The Surrey Space Centre (SSC) of the University of Surrey on 26 February 2013 announced that a nano-satellite carrying a smartphone was launched successfully into space from India. What is the name of this nano-satellite?
a) STRaND-1
b) Scream in Space
c) iTesa
d) Space Flight
Answer: (a) STRaND-1

12. Six foreign micro and mini spacecrafts as well as the Indo-French oceanographic study satellite were launched successfully by ISRO's PSLV-C20 rocket on 25 February 2013 from the spaceport at Sriharikota. What is the name of the Indo-French oceanographic study satellite?
a) Polar Satellite
b) UniBRITE
c) SARAL
d) SAPPHIRE
Answer: (c) SARAL

13. Researchers from Norway, South Africa, Britain and Germany, in the last week of February 2013 discovered a sunken and small continent beneath the Indian Ocean. What is the name of this newly found lost continent?
a) Gondwana
b) Mauritia
c) Reunion
d) Laurasia
Answer: (b) Mauritia

14. How many satellites were launched successfully by ISRO's PSLV-C20 rocket on 25 February 2013 from the spaceport at Sriharikota?
a) Six
b) Eight
c) Seven
d) Five
Answer: (c) Seven

15. Which Indian state was ranked at number 32 or the worst position in the crucial environmental parameters of Environmental Performance Index (EPI) that evolved by Planning Commission?
a) Maharashtra
b) Goa
c) Sikkim
d) Delhi
Answer: (d) Delhi
 16. Online information storage firm Evernote asked all users to reset their passwords, following a security breach by hackers. What is Evernote?
a) online personal organiser
b) external storage system
c) external server
d) online information storage firm
Answer: (d) online information storage firm

17. Facebook Inc on 28 February 2013 announced that it agreed to buy advertising technology from the Microsoft Corp. What is the name of this advertising technology?
a) Atlas Advertiser Suite
b) Advertising Suite
c) ABX Advertiser
d) PPC Advertising
Answer: (a) Atlas Advertiser Suite

18. Which company launched a tablet PC called CT910 with 3G SIM as well as a smartphone called A225 in the last week of February 2013?
a) Samsung
b) Celkon Mobiles
c) Motorola
d) Zen Mobiles
Answer: (b) Celkon Mobiles

19. Mozilla, the software community which is known for producing the Firefox web browser, launched Web-based __________ on 24 February 2013?
a) Cloud Computing System
b) Social Networking Site
c) Smartphone Operating System
d) Web Browser
Answer: (c) Smartphone Operating System

20. Name the managing director for Yahoo India and South East Asia who quit Yahoo on 25 February 2013 citing reasons that he wanted to explore fresh opportunities in the world of the Internet.
a) Arun Tadanki
b) Peter Liguori
c) Eva Färnstrand
d) Alan Chapple
Answer: (a) Arun Tadanki
21. Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the captain of Indian Cricket team was recently appointed as the Vice-President of a corporate house. Name the corporate house that appointed Dhoni as its Vice-President?
a) Cement India Limited
b) India Cements
c) Indian Cements
d) Bharat Cements
Answer: (b) India Cement
22. Name the two Cricketers, who recently in February 2013 joined the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame.
a) Glenn McGrath and Charlie Turner
b) Glenn McGrath and Matthew Hayden
c) Charlie Turner and Charles Bannerman
d) Charles Bannerman and Adam Gilchrist
Answer: (a) Glenn McGrath and Charlie Turner
23. Which of the following statements mentioned below about the Marussia F1 Team true?
i. Marussia F1 Team is based in Banbury in the United Kingdom
ii.Marussia F1 team unveiled their new Formula 1 car called MR02 in February 2013
iii.Formula 1 car MR02 of Marussia F1 team is equipped with the KERS (the kinetic energy recovery system) power-boost system which is not found in any other existing teams
iv. Use of KERS technology in the F1 races was legalised in 2008
a) Statement i, ii and iv are true
b) All the four statements are true
c) Statements ii, iii and iv are true
d) Statement i, ii and iii are true
Answer: (d) Statement i, ii and iii are true
24. Name the Olympic Gold Medalist, who announced retirement from all forms of Competitive Swimming?
a) Rebecca Adlington
b) Cameron van der Burgh
c) Matt Biondi
d) Nathan Adrian
Answer: (a) Rebecca Adlington
25. International Cricket Council, ICC rankings for test cricket was released on 4 February 2013 in Dubai. Which of the following statements in context of the rankings true?
i. South Africa was ranked at first position in the list
ii. India was placed at third position in the list
iii.Hasim Amla was placed at first position in the list of best batsman category
iv. Pragyan Ojha was choosen as the best bowler in the rankings
a) Statement i and iii are true
b) Statement ii and iii are true
c) Statement ii is only true
d) Statement i, ii and iii are true
Answer: (a) Statement i and ii are true
26. Name the two PSUs, which were granted the Maharatna status by the Union Government of India in February 2013?
a) ONGC and Gail
b) NTPC and BHEL
c) BHEL and GAIL
d) ONGC and NTPC
Answer: (c) BHEL and GAIL
27. Match the following PSUs with the status granted to them?
i. Coal India Limited                     a. Navratna
ii. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited    b. Miniratna Category I
iii. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited   c. Miniratna Category I
iv. RITES Limited                          d. Maharatana
a) i&d, ii&a, iii&b and iv&c
b) i&c, ii&a, iii&b and iv&d
c) i&d, ii&b, iii&a and iv&c
d) i&a, ii&d, iii&c and iv&c
Answer: (a) i&d, ii&a, iii&b and iv&c
28. Rajasthan Royals was penalized with a fine amount of around 100 crore Rupees for violating the Forex laws in February 2013. Name the body that slapped the fine on the IPL team?
a) BCCI
b) Competition Commission of India
c) Enforcement Directorate
d) None of these
Answer: (c) Enforcement Directorate
29. Which of the following statements mentioned below are true?
i. The Union Government of India gave the Maharatna status to three PSUs- BHEL, AAI and GAIL on 1 February 2013. Granting Maharatna status to BHEL, AAI and GAIL will provide them with better functional and financial freedom and will also guarantee them with better valuation of the shares.
ii. Enforcement Directorate issued a penalty notice to IPL team Rajasthan Royals for violation of Forex Laws. The penalty notice was issued after investigating the matter for 2 years under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).
iii. Maharatna firm has a capacity to take investment decision of around 10000 crore Rupees without taking assistance from the government. On the other hand, forms with Navratna status have this capability of 5000 crore Rupees.
iv. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in February 2013 gave its principle approval for the price pooling mechanism of coal. The mechanism includes cost blending of the domestic coal with the imported one to counterbalance price hike.
a) Statements ii, iii and iv are true
b) Statements ii and iv are true
c) Statements i and iii are true
d) Statement ii is only true
Answer: (b) Statements ii and iv are true
30. The Reserve Bank of India on 29 January 2013 slashed its key interest rates by 0.25 per cent and released 18000 crore rupees additional liquidity into the system to perk up growth through reduced cost of borrowing. Which of the following statements in context of the same is true?
i. RBI in its third quarter monetary policy review surprised the market by cutting short-term lending rate called repo, by 0.25 per cent to 7.75 per cent
ii. The Cash Reserve Ratio was slashed to 4 percent
iii.The repo rate cut will increase the cost of borrowing for individuals and corporate, whereas the reduction in CRR, which is the portion of deposits that banks have to park with RBI, would improve the availability of funds.
iv. the stance of monetary policy in this review is intended to provide an appropriate interest rate environment to support growth as inflation risks moderate
a) All the four statements are true
b) Statements i, ii and iv are true
c) Statements ii and iii are true’
d) Only statement iii is true
Answer: (b) Statements i, ii and iv are true
31. Name the book on Netaji Subhash Chndra Bose that was presented to the President of India Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan in February 2013 by Professor Anita B. Pfaff.
a) Disappearance of Subhas Chandra Bose
b) Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Germany
c) Subahsh Chandra Bose and The National struggle of independence
d) Netaji and Azad Hind Fouz
Answer: (b) Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Germany
32. India and Bangladesh signed MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) on Health in New Delhi in February 2013. Which of the below mentioned statements in relation to the MoU is True?
i. Fostering cooperation for the development of culturally sensitive and effective public and professional awareness campaign including clinical practices  and best practices guidelines for healthcare providers and caretakers to benefit individuals and families touched by Autism Spectrum Disorders and Developmental Disabilities
ii. Exchange of scientific materials and information as well as joint collaboration in the area of research in medical science.
iii. Participation of specialists / professionals in seminars, workshops, conferences and meetings to be organized by both the parties
iv. Development of human resources, but no exchange of doctors and health care professionals between the two nations
a) Statement i, ii and iii are true
b) Statement i, iii and iv are true
c) Statement ii, iii and iv are true
d) All the four statements are true
Answer: (a) Statement i, ii and iii are true
33. India and France on 14 February 2013 agreed to strengthen counter terrorism and intelligence cooperation between the two countries during the visit of French President Francois Holllande to India. Which of the below mentioned statements about the agreement made between the two countries are true?
i. Both the nations agreed to strengthen cooperation in the fields of the modernisation of the railway, high speed corridors and network upgradation of railway stations.
ii. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and France's CNES under the space cooperation programme jointly identified the means to pursue further cooperation.
iii. MoU was signed between Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and France's CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)
iv. CFA (Credit Facility Agreement) was signed for the Bangalore Metro Rail Project, Phase-1 between Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance and the French Development Agency(AFD)
a) Statement i, ii and iii are true
b) Statement i, iii and iv are true
c) Statement ii, iii and iv are true
d) All the four statements are true
Answer: (d) All the four statements are true
34. Name the court that ordered India to go ahead with the development of Kishanganga hydro-electric project in Gurez valley near Bandipura in North Kashmir?
a) Court of Arbitration at The Hague
b) Permanent Court of International Justice
c) Permanent Court of International Justice
d) Special Court for Sierra Leone
Answer: (a) Court of Arbitration at The Hague
35. Which of the following statements related to Kishanganga hydro-electric Project true?
i. The Court of Arbitration restrained India from adoption of the drawdown technique of flushing for clearing the sedimentation of the run-of-the river project that had been designed and asked it to adopt a different technique for generation of 330 MW power facilities
ii. Pakistan initiated the arbitration against India with a charge that India violated the provisions of the 1960 Indus Water Treaty between the two countries.
iii. The project is being developed at the upstream of Kishanganga River that is known by the name Neelam in Pakistan and is a tributary of Jhelum. India is diverting the waters of the river from the dam site to Bonar Madmati Nallah that is another tributary of Jhelum
iv. The Indus system of rivers comprises three Eastern Rivers (Ravi, Beas and Sutlej and their tributaries) and threes Western Rivers (Indus, Jhelum and Chenab and their tributaries)
a) Statement i, ii and iii are true
b) Statement i, ii and iv are true
c) Statement ii, iii and iv are true
d) All the four statements are true
Answer: (b) Statement i, ii and iv are true
36. The United States of America in February 2013 filed a civil lawsuit against a credit rating agency alleging that the agency lied about the nations objectivity and independence by the way it rated the mortgage bonds. Name the agency against which the law suit was filed by the nation?
a) Securities and Exchange Commission
b) "Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations" (NRSRO)
c) Standard and Poor's (S&P)
d) Moody's Investor Service
Answer: (c) Standard and Poor's (S&P)
37. India and Austria on 5 February 2013 inked a social security pact at Vienna. Which of the below mentioned statements in reference to the pact are true?
i. Indian professionals working in Austria would be exempted from paying the social security contribution of the country, if such payments are already made in India
ii. Indians working in the country on short-term contracts of up to five years are exempted from making social security contribution in Austria if they continue making the payments in India.
iii. If any Indian worker is sent to Austria by an Indian company from a third country then also he can avail the relief.
iv. Export of the benefits of social security would be offered to the Indian worker, who relocates to India once his/her service term in Austria ends. The self employed Indians can also carry on the same benefits on relocation to India
a) Statements ii, iii and iv are true
b) Statements i, ii and iv are true
c) Statements ii and iv are true
d) All the four statements mentioned above are true
Answer: (d) All the four statements mentioned above are true
38. Name the Iranian President, who visited Egypt for the first time after Tehran's 1979 Islamic revolution.
a) Mohammad Khatami
b) Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani
c) Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
d) Ali Khamenei
Answer: (c) Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
39. Name the port whose operational controlled were transferred in the hands of Chinese Overseas Port Holdings Ltd. by Pakistan in the last week of January 2013.
a) Keti Bandar Port
b) Gwadar port
c) Karachi Port
d) Bin Qasim Port
Answer: (b) Gwadar Port
40. Name the person who was nominated as the U.S. interior secretary for looking after the huge energy reserves as well as the national parks by the US President Barack Obama in February 2013.
a) Sally Jewell
b) Anne Marbury Hutchinson
c) Phillis Wheatley
d) Sarah Josepha Hale
Answer: (a) Sally Jewell
41. India dropped itself nine places in the list of 179 countries in the latest World Press Freedom Index 2013, which is the lowest since 2002.India was ranked at which position in context of World Press Freedom Index 2013?
a) 149
b) 131
c) 79
d) 140
Answer: (d) 140
42. Name the winner of Nobel Prize for literature, 2012 and the movie star who were given a political role in China by being selected as members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, one of the houses of Chinese parliament.
a) Mo Yan and Jackie Chan
b) Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Jackie Chan
c) Mo Yan and Tony Leung Chiu Wai
d) Zhang Ziyi and Mo Yan
Answer: (a) Mo Yan and Jackie Chan
43. The result of first direct Presidential elections held in Czech Republic was declared on 25 January 2013. Name the person who emerged as the winner in the Presidential Elections of Czech Republic?
a) Karel Schwarzenberg
b) Milos Zeman
c) Vaclav Klaus
d) Petr Necas
Answer: (b) Milos Zeman
44. World cancer day was observed on 4 February 2013 in order to raise awareness about this illness as well as to promote the measures, early detection, prevention and treatment of the disease. What was the theme for World Cancer Day, 2013? 
a) Global burden of cancer
b) Cancer - Did you know?
c) Together it is possible
d) Teach children and teenagers to avoid UV exposure by being "sun smart"
Answer: (b) Cancer – Did You Know?
45. A box of books said to be that of Sir Isaac Newton, in the school physics laboratory of UK was discovered in the first week of February 2013. The textbooks are over 300 years old and contain works of Sir Issac Newton who is credited with discovery of gravity. Name the institute where these books were discovered?
a) Newcastle-under-Lyme School, Staffordshire
b) The Royal Institution of Great Britain
c) Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research
d) Silsoe Research Institute
Answer: (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme School, Staffordshire
46. Name the person who was appointed as the Chairman of IRDA?
a) T. S. Vijayan
b) J. Hari Narayan
c) TT Jagannathan
d) Adi Godrej
Answer: (a) T.S. Vijayan
47. A 1000 page report was submitted by a Institution to the Finance Ministry with an estimation that unlawful wealth would exceed 10 percent or more of GDP, i.e., above 10 lakh crore Rupees as per the size of the economy. Name the institution that submitted its report to the ministry?
a) Risk Capital and Technology Finance Corporation Limited (RCTC)
b) Technology Development and Information Company of India Ltd. (TDICI)
c) National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP)
d) Development Finance Institutions (DFI)
Answer: (c) National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP)
48. The State Government of Uttar Pradesh on 18 February 2013 appointed a retired Justice of Allahabad High Court to conduct Judicial Probe into the Allahabad Railway Station Stampede that occurred during Kumbh Mela. Name the person appointed to conduct the judicial probe into the incident?
a) Onkareshwar Bhatt
b) R.R.K. Trivedi
c) Chaudhary Abdur Rahim
d) O.N. Asthana
Answer: (a) Onkareshwar Bhatt
49. Name the person who was appointed as the next Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations in February 2013.
a) Dilip Sinha
b) Nirupam Sen
c) Asoke Kumar Mukerji
d) Hardeep Singh Puri
Answer: (c) Asoke Kumar Mukerji
50. Which of the following statements mentioned below are true?
i. Rajya Sabha on 25 February 2013 approved the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Bill. The bill seeks protection for women in all type of organised, unorganized as well as Private Sectors, including the sexual harassment of domestic help as well as agricultural workers.
ii. National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare signed the first MoU with the Ministry of Shipping in February 2013 as a part of its efforts to highlight issues relating to HIV/AIDS.
iii. Priority Sector Lending (PSL) to Minorities increased considerably from 10.60 percent of total PSL in 2007-2008 to 25.01 percent in 2012-2013
iv. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on 8 February 2013 arranged the first of its kind Live Twitter Conference based on the theme- Community Radio: Road Travelled & Way Forward.
a) Statements i, iii, and iv are true
b) Statement, i, ii and iv are true
c) All the four statements are true
d) Statements i, ii and iii are true
Answe: (b) Statement, i, ii and iv are true
51. National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare signed the first MoU with the Ministry of Shipping on 14 February 2013 as a part of its efforts to highlight issues relating to HIV/AIDS. Which of the below mentioned statements in relation to the MoU is true?
i. NACO’s commitment is to provide technical support and build capacity of ports health personnel to facilitate integration of HIVIAIDS in the Health Services.
ii. Ministry of Shipping is responsible to provide training to major port health personnel (Doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians) on integrated counseling and testing services for HIV, which could be direct training or training of trainers as per the number of personnel. Provide technical support for implementation of IEC and awareness activities around major ports with support of ports authorities
iii. Ministry of Shipping is responsible for promotion of safe sexual practices among vulnerable population in port setting with necessary support from State AIDS Control Societies.
iv. NACO’s responsibility is to share reporting formats and monitoring mechanisms
a) Statements i, iii, and iv are true
b) Statement, i, ii and iv are true
c) All the four statements are true
d) Statements i, ii and iii are true
Answer: (b) Statement, i, ii and iv are true
52. Supreme Court of India ordered Seizure of operations of Unsuccessful Bidders of Auction of 2G Spectrum Auction. Which of the following statements mentioned below is false in context of the court’s order?
a) Supreme Court bench of two Judges directed the telecom companies whose licenses were scrapped on 2 February 2012 but allowed to function were supposed to pay back the reserved price fixed for the licenses during the first round of November 2012 auction
b) Court in its declaration cleared that the Judgment pronounced in February 2012 was not applicable for the telecom companies that holds spectrum in 900 MHz band as the orders of February 2012 held’s no bearing on litigations related to 900 MHz band
c) Court also ordered to put on immediate and fresh auction the entire 2G Spectrum, whose licenses were cancelled by it
d) The fresh auction took place before the licenses issued earlier were scrapped by the Court
Answer: (d) The fresh auction took place before the licenses issued earlier were scrapped by the Court
53. The President in February 2005 announced that Government of India would recast the 15 Point Programme for the Welfare of Minorities. Which of the statements in relation to the objectives of the 15 point program true?
i. To enhance the opportunities for agriculture
ii. To ensure an equitable share for minorities in economic activities and employment, through existing and new schemes, enhanced credit support for self-employment, and recruitment to State and Central Government jobs
iii. Improve the living conditions of minorities by ensuring an appropriate share for them in infrastructure development schemes
iv. Prevention and control of communal disharmony and violence
a) Statements i, iii, and iv are true
b) Statement, ii, iii and iv are true
c) All the four statements are true
d) Statements i, ii and iii are true
Answer: (a) Statement, ii, iii and iv are true
54. Name the Commission that was constituted by the Union Government on 26 December 2012 to inquire into the different aspects of the brutal rape and assault incident of the girl on 16 December 2012 on the streets of Delhi and was asked to submit the report of its findings within three months?
a) Kalelkar Commission
b) Usha Mehra Commission
c) Narendran Commission
d) Mandal Commission
Answer: (b) Usha Mehra Commission
55. Life Time Achievement Award 2012 was conferred to an Indian by Ernst & Young. Name the person who was conferred with the award?
a) Azim Premji
b) Aditya Vikram Birla
c) Gautam Thapar
d) Ratan Tata
Answer: (d) Ratan Tata
56. I&B Ministry Constituted Expert Committee to Review Functioning of Prasar Bharti in February 2013. Which of the below mentioned statements in relation to the committee is true?
i. Expert Committee to review the institutional frame work of Prasar Bharati as well as its relationship with Government, its role in continuance as a public broadcaster and the measures that needs to be taken to ensure technical upgradation of the organization
ii. To suggest measures to sustain, strengthen and amplify Prasar Bharati`s role as a Public Broadcaster with special reference to its relationship with Government in the emerging context.
iii. The committee is responsible for reviewing the status of implementation of the recommendations, which were made by different committees after undertaking the study of Prasar Bharati, mainly, the Sengupta committee, the Bakshi Committee and the Narayanamurthy committee. It is also responsible to suggest a road map ahead to enhance the reach and potential of Prasar Bharati
iv. The committee is responsible for identifying the ways for digitization of the archived material available with Doordarshan (DD) and All India Radio (AIR), which includes digitization of the materials of the Independence Movement. As well suggest the measures for development of infrastructure data centre, digitalization system and networks
a) Statements i, ii, and iii are true
b) Statement, i and ii are true
c) All the four statements are true
d) Statements i, iii and iv are true
Answer: (c) All the Four Statements are true
57. I&B Ministry Constituted Expert Committee to Review Functioning of Prasar Bharti under the chairmanship of?
a) Sam Pitroda
b) Shekhar Kapur
c) Shri Jawhar Sircar
d) Dr. B.K. Gairola
Answer: (a) Sam Pitroda
58. The Union Cabinet of India on 6 February 2013 gave its nod to the proposal of decreasing the headcounts to what number in habitations under the government's flagship programme, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, PMGSY
a) 125
b) 140
c) 100
d) 200
Answer: (c) 100
59. My India Initiative-A Digital Volunteer Programme was launched by which ministry of the Government of India?
a) Information and Broadcasting Ministry
b) Agricultural Ministry
c) Science and Technology Ministry
d) New and Renewable Energy
Answer: (a) Information and Broadcasting Ministry
60. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on 8 February 2013 arranged the first of its kind Live Twitter Conference. What was the theme of the conference?
a) Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference
b) Community Radio: Road Travelled & Way Forward
c) Climate Change and Sustainable Development  Conference
d) Live Twitter Conference
Answer: (b) Community Radio: Road Travelled & Way Forward
61. UK scientists in the third week of January 2013 discovered a set of hydrothermal vents, the deepest anywhere in the world while exploring the ocean floor in the __________. Fill in the blank with an appropriate option.
a) Caribbean Islands
b) Cayman Trough
c) Atlantic
d) None of these
Answer: (a) Caribbean Islands
62. Where did the researchers in the third week of February 2013 detected water traces inside the crystalline structure?
a) Mars
b) Sun
c) Earth
d) Moon
Answer: (d) Moon
63. The astronomers in the second week of February 2013 discovered the proof that cosmic rays originate as the results of explosions of stars or supernova, these are termed as the most energetic event in the galaxy. Who discovered the cosmic rays first in 1912?
a) Eratosthenes
b) Victor Hess
c) Claudius Ptolemy
d) Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi
Answer: (b) Victor Hess
64. Scientists discovered in their study that Bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) can detect the electric fields of _________. Fill in the blank with an appropriate option.
a) Plants
b) Vegetables
c) Flowers
d) Fruits
Answer: (c) Flowers
65. Where will the first wildlife skywalk of India come up?
a) Shillong
b) Manali
c) Manipur
d) Sikkim
Answer: (d) Sikkim
66. A group of various banks agreed to loan 937 crore Rupees for 1000-MW NTPL power project. NTPL power project is the joint venture of Tamil Nadu Power Generation and Distribution Corporation as well as Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC). Where will the project come up?
a) Vishakhapatnam
b) Tuticorin
c) Tamil Nadu
d) Kalpakkam
Answer: (b) Tuticorin
67. Which company launched WiFi-only Galaxy Camera in February 2013? The new WiFi-only Galaxy Camera is powered by Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) operating system.
a) Nikon
b) Sony
c) Samsung
d) Cannon
Answer: (c) Samsung
68. Dabur India on 18 February 2013 launched Dabur Babool + Salt Powder Toothpaste. Who was chosen for endorsing this brand?
a) Bipasha Basu
b) Sonakshi Sinha
c) Salman Khan
d) Irrfan Khan
Answer: (d) Irrfan Khan
69. Telecom Regulator Authority of India (TRAI) started the pre-consultation process for the country-wide __________. Fill in the blank with appropriate option.
a) mobile number portability
b) free roaming
c) free international SMS
d) lower STD rates
Answer: (a) mobile number portability
70. The Union Cabinet of India approved merger of Bharat Heavy Plate & Vessels Ltd. (BHPV) Vishakhapatnam with which company?
a) Akaltara Power Ltd.
b) BEML Ltd.
c) Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)
d) Bharat Electronics Ltd.
Answer: (c) Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)
71. NASA on 9 February 2013 announced that its Mars rover Curiosity drilled into the surface of the planet for first time. Which of the following statements is not true in context to this statement?
a) As an outcome of the drilling, the pictures were sent by Curiosity which depicted a hole of around 0.63 inches wide and 2.5 inches deep in the fine-grained sedimentary bedrock.
b) Engineers are absolutely clear whether the powder was produced in what quantity but it is enough for laboratory analysis.
c) NASA announced that using drill was the biggest achievement for the team of Curiosity ever since the rover landed on Mars in August 2012.
d) The final target of Curiosity is 3-mile- (5-km) high mound of layered sediment which rises from floor of Gale Crater landing site.
Answer: (b) Engineers are absolutely clear whether the powder was produced in what quantity but it is enough for laboratory analysis.
72. A new study using data from a pair of gravity-measuring NASA satellites found on 12 February 2013 that large parts of the arid __________ region lost freshwater reserves rapidly during the past decade. Fill in the blank with an appropriate option.
a) Middle East
b) South Eastern
c) Saudi Arabia
d) North Western
Answer: (a) Middle East
73. Astronomers in the third week of February 2013 discovered six speeding stars which were racing through the space at a speed of 3.2 million kilometres per hour. The mass of these stars is equivalent to what?
a) Moon
b) Earth
c) Milky Way
d) Sun
Answer: (d) Sun
74. NASA scientists discovered the youngest black hole in our galaxy, Milky Way in February 2013. How far is this black hole from Earth?
a) 26000 light years away
b) 12000 light years away
c) 10000 light years away
d) 25000 light years away
Answer: (a) 26000 light years away
75. The core of Milky Way is actually cloaked in dust which makes all stars unclear from telescopes of the astronomers, except the brightest stars. But these hypervelocity stars were useful in providing a peep into _________. Fill in the blank with an appropriate option.
a) Deaths of stars in Milky Way
b) Birth of the stars in the universe
c) Deaths of the stars around the Sun
d) Formation of stars in Milky Way
Answer: (d) Formation of stars in Milky Way
76. Name the Mars rover of NASA.
a) Era
b) Curiosity
c) Discovery
d) Challenger
Answer: (b) Curiosity
77. Where was the first bionic man of the world called Rex unveiled on 7 February 2013?
a) London's Science Museum
b) American Science Museum
c) Paris Science Museum
d) Europe Science Museum
Answer: (a) London's Science Museum
78. Which of the following statements is not true?
a) NASA on 9 February 2013 announced that its Mars rover Curiosity drilled into the surface of the planet for first time.
b) The drilling into Martian surface took place for the first time on 8 February 2013.
c) As an outcome of the drilling, the pictures were sent by Challenger which depicted a hole of around 0.63 inches wide and 2.5 inches deep in the fine-grained sedimentary bedrock.
d) The first drill target of Curiosity was a Martian rock which was laced with the veins which appeared like water-deposited minerals.
Answer: (c) As an outcome of the drilling, the pictures were sent by Challenger which depicted a hole of around 0.63 inches wide and 2.5 inches deep in the fine-grained sedimentary bedrock.
79. In the first bionic man of the world, Rex, where did the synthetic blood come from?
a) MIT
b) Swansea
c) University College London
d) Sheffield University
Answer: (d) Sheffield University
80. Curiosity is on a _________ mission on Mars for finding out the chemical and geologic conditions on Mars which are required for supporting as well as preserving the microbial life. Fill in the blank with an appropriate option:
a) 3-year
b) 5-year
c) 2-year
d) 10-year
Answer: (c) 2-Year
81. Reckitt Benckiser (RB) on 13 Feb 2013 signed a global partnership deal of 8-million US dollars with which NGO?
a) Smile Foundation
b) Save the Girl Child
c) Plan India Children
d) Save the Children
Answer: (d) Save the Children
82. Twitter on 11 February 2013 launched its first pay-by-tweet service in whose partnership?
a) American Express
b) Microsoft Office
c) Facebook
d) Google
Answer: (a) American Express
83. Which third national stock exchange made its debut in India on 11 February 2013?
a) SX40
b) MCX-SX
c) BSE
d) NSE
Answer: (b) MCX-SX
84. Which company in February 2013 became the first Indian FMCG brand that crossed 5000 crore Rupees mark in terms of retail sales in one year?
a) Britannia's Tiger
b) ITC's Sunfeast
c) Parle-G
d) None of these
Answer: (c) Parle-G
85. Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) acquired stake of Navistar International Corporation in how many joint ventures?
a) One joint venture
b) Two joint ventures
c) Three joint ventures
d) Four joint ventures
Answer: (b) two joint ventures
86. Which mobile company launched an emergency alert service for the subscribers in Odisha, Bengal and Kolkata on 1 February 2013? The service is directed towards the women primarily.
a) Vodafone
b) Bharti Airtel
c) Aircel
d) Tata Indicom
Answer: (b) Bharti Airtel
87. Thirty Indian software product companies joined hands to form their own new association, marking a break-up with the IT industry body NASSCOM. What is the name of this newly formed association?
a) Indian Software Product Industry Round Table
b) iSpirt
c) Both these are the same
d) None of these
Answer: (c) Both these are the same
88. ICICI Bank, the largest private sector bank of India partnered with Aircel to announce the launch of their mobile banking service. What is the name of this mobile banking service?
a) Mobile Money
b) Mobile Market
c) Mobile Finance
d) Mobile Corporate
Answer: (a) Mobile Money
89. Who was appointed as the group spokesperson and brand custodian of TATA Group on 6 February 2013?
a) Cyrus Mistry
b) Ratan Tata
c) Manjushree Khaitan
d) Mukund Govind Rajan
Answer: (d) Mukund Govind Rajan
90. Who on 5 February 2013 took over as the top executive of the BK Birla flagship, Kesoram Industries which is a 6000 crore Rupees company?
a) Kumar Mangalam Birla
b) Bharat Singh
c) Manjushree Khaitan
d) Lalit Naik
Answer: (c) Manjushree Khaitan
91. The space telescope of NASA discovered astonishing magnetic braids of super-hot matter in outer atmosphere of the Sun. Which of the following statements is true in context with this statement?
a) The scientists claimed that this discovery could help in explaining the mysterious hot centre of the Sun.
b) The NASA’s telescope captured 1000 photographs depicting astonishing details.
c) It was found out that the Sun’s surface was almost up to 6125 degrees Celsius.
d) The scientists also discovered that the powerful magnetic waves which rippled from within the surface of the Sun. 
Answer: (c) It was found out that the Sun’s surface was almost up to 6125 degrees Celsius.
92. Iran on 28 January 2013 announced that it had successfully sent into space a primate. Which primate did it send into space?
a) Worms
b) Monkey
c) Turtle
d) Mouse
Answer: (b) Monkey
93. NASA on 1 February 2013 marked 10th anniversary of which Space Shuttle?
a) Columbia
b) Challenger
c) Both of these
d) None of these
Answer: (a) Columbia
94. Scientists from NASA in the last week of January 2013 discovered an old star called TW Hydrae which they believe could create new planets even now. How old is this star?
a) 100 million years old
b) 50 million years old
c) 20 million years old
d) 10 million years old
Answer: (d) 10 million years old
95. The Japanese scientists from the Saitama University in the first week of February 2013 filmed for the first time, the thoughts of which animal while it was tracking its prey?
a) A fish
b) A zebra
c) An elephant
d) A snail
Answer: (a) A fish
96. Which leading car manufacturer acclaimed the title of top selling automaker of the world in 2012, recording the highest sales and beating its arch rivals Volkswagen and General Motors?
a) Nissan Motors
b) Honda Motors
c) Toyota Motor
d) Chevrolet
Answer: (c) Toyota Motor
97. Which bank was appointed as the depository bank for Global Depository Receipt (GDR) of Indiabulls Infrastructure and Power Limited (IIPL)?
a) JPMorgan Chase Bank
b) Deutsche Bank
c) ERSTE Group Bank
d) Citi Bank
Answer: (b) Deutsche Bank
98. Which mobile company on 28 January 2013 launched a product called One Nation, One Rate which offers users one rate for voice, SMS and data in home circles and on roaming?
a) Airtel
b) Vodafone
c) Idea
d) Aircel
Answer: (d) Aircel
99. Name the only Indian private airline to launch its flights to Guangzhou, China. The flights were launched in the first week of February 2013.
a) SpiceJet
b) Jet Airways
c) Kingfisher
d) None of these
Answer: (a) SpiceJet
100. Which electronics company sold the audio and video business to Funai Electric of Japan in the deal which exited it from consumer electronics completely in India?
a) Bajaj Electronics
b) Philips Electronics
c) Sony Electronics
d) Samsung Electronics
Answer: (b) Philips Electronics