1.Which Indian snooker has won the 15-frame IBSF World Snooker Men Championship 2017?
[A] Pankaj Advani
[B] Subhash Agarwal
[C] Yasin Merchant
[D] Lucky Vatnani
Correct Answer: A [Pankaj Advani]
Explanation:
India’s top cueist Pankaj Advani has won the 15-frame IBSF World Snooker Men Championship 2017 at the Al Arabi Sports Club in Doha on November 27, 2017. Advani defeated Amir Sarkhosh of Iran 8-2 (19-71, 79-53, 98-23, 69-62, 60-05, 0-134, 75-07, 103-4, 77-13, 67-47) in the final. It was his 18th world title.
2.Under whose chairmanship the 15th Finance Commission has been constituted by the Union Government?
[A] Arvind Mehta
[B] Ramesh Chand
[C] NK Singh
[D] Shaktikanta Das
Correct Answer: C [NK Singh]
Explanation:
Under the chairmanship of NK Singh, who is the former bureaucrat and ex-Member of Parliament, the 15th Finance Commission has been constituted by the Union Government. The Commission will make recommendations for the five years commencing 1st April 2020. It will recommend devolution of shareable central taxes to the States and will also review several important aspects of federal fiscal finance. It will also look at the impact of the GST, including payment of compensation for possible loss of revenues for 5 years. Former Secretary Economic Affairs Shaktikanta Das and Adjunct Professor of Georgetown University, Dr Anoop Singh will be the members of the Commission. Chairman of Bandhan Bank, Dr Ashok Lahiri and NITI Aayog Member Dr Ramesh Chand will be the Part-time members. Arvind Mehta will be the Secretary to the Commission. The Commission will make its report available by 30th October 2019.
3.Who has been appointed as the first-ever female UK Ambassador to United Nations (UN)?
[A] Cicely Mayhew
[B] Karen Pierce
[C] Anne Warburton
[D] Sally Axworthy
Correct Answer: B [Karen Pierce]
Explanation:
Karen Pierce, the Foreign Office (FCO) political director, has been appointed the first-ever female UK ambassador to the United Nations (UN). She had previously served as Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, and more recently as the Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva. Pierce succeeded Matthew Rycroft under whom UK suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of India in the recent election to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). This is for the first time in 70 years that Britain would have no judge in the 15-member panel of the ICJ.
4.Which Indian monument has officially been declared the most visited place of the world by World Book of Records (WBR)?
[A] Red Fort
[B] Taj Mahal
[C] India Gate
[D] Golden Temple
Correct Answer: D [Golden Temple]
Explanation:
The Golden Temple in Amritsar has officially been declared the most visited place of the world in 2017 by London-based organization World Book of Records (WBR). The WBR team presented the award certificate to Shriomani Gurdwara Pharbandhak Committee (SGPC), the management body of the Golden Temple. The certificate was given to Golden Temple as over a lakh devotees visit the holy shrine every day. The award, which is bestowed after every three months, has been conferred basis observations made from September 2017. The international organization, established in 2015, catalogues and verifies world records with authentic certification. The Golden Temple stands as a symbol of peace, unity and spirituality and is the holiest pilgrimage site of Sikhism.
5.Who has been elected the new President of the Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA)?
[A] Nirmala Sitharaman
[B] Charan D. Wadhva
[C] S Jaishankar
[D] G.K. Pillai
Correct Answer: A [Nirmala Sitharaman]
Explanation:
Nirmala Sitharaman, the Union Defence Minister, has been elected as the new President of the Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA). The IDSA was set up in 1965 by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) as an autonomous think tank, and it is customary to have the Defence Minister as its President. The Minister chairs the Executive Council which governs the Institute. IDSA is funded by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and its faculty conducts research in military, foreign and strategic affairs. Significantly, the Government has sought its views before taking major policy initiatives, like conducting nuclear tests, as in 1974 and 1998. IDSA also executes specific assignments from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The headquarters of IDSA is loacted in New Delhi.
