1. Which country has the largest number of paid newspapers in the world?

Which country has the largest number of paid newspapers in the world?

China
USA
UK
India
This question was previously asked in
UPSC SO-Steno – 2018
The correct answer is India.
According to various reports and statistics, including data from the Registrar of Newspapers for India (RNI) and global press surveys, India has the largest number of registered and actively published paid newspapers in the world, primarily due to its large population, multiple languages, and widespread readership.
While countries like China and the USA have large media industries, India’s newspaper landscape, especially in terms of the sheer number of titles and circulation for paid newspapers across various languages, often ranks first globally.

2. The International Dance Day (IDD) is observed every year on 29th April

The International Dance Day (IDD) is observed every year on 29th April to celebrate the birth anniversary of

Anna Pavlova
Jean-Georges Noverre
Mikhail Baryshnikov
Rudolf Nureyev
This question was previously asked in
UPSC SO-Steno – 2018
The correct answer is Jean-Georges Noverre.
International Dance Day is celebrated annually on April 29th, which is the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727-1810), a French choreographer and balletmaster considered the creator of modern ballet. The day was established in 1982 by the Dance Committee of the International Theatre Institute (ITI).
Anna Pavlova, Mikhail Baryshnikov, and Rudolf Nureyev were also highly celebrated ballet dancers, but the day commemorates Noverre’s contribution to dance history.

3. Which among the following is not from ‘The G7 informal forum of the le

Which among the following is not from ‘The G7 informal forum of the leading industrialized nations’?

France
Indonesia
Germany
Japan
This question was previously asked in
UPSC SO-Steno – 2018
The correct answer is Indonesia.
The G7 is an informal forum of leading industrialized nations comprising Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Indonesia is not a member of the G7.
The European Union is also a non-enumerated member of the G7. The G7 countries represent about 10% of the world’s population, 31% of global GDP, and 20% of global military spending.

4. In which event did the 94-year-old Bhagwani Devi create history by win

In which event did the 94-year-old Bhagwani Devi create history by winning a gold medal at the World Masters Athletics Championships 2022 ?

100 meters sprint
200 meters sprint
100 meters hurdles
200 meters hurdles
This question was previously asked in
UPSC SO-Steno – 2018
The correct answer is 100 meters sprint.
In July 2022, 94-year-old Bhagwani Devi Dagar won a gold medal in the 100 meters sprint event at the World Masters Athletics Championships held in Tampere, Finland. She also won a bronze medal in the Shot Put event at the same championship.
Masters Athletics is a category of sport for athletes typically aged 35 and above. Bhagwani Devi’s achievement garnered significant media attention due to her age and performance on an international stage.

5. Which institution organized the ‘Fintech Open Summit’ ?

Which institution organized the ‘Fintech Open Summit’ ?

Reserve Bank of India
UIDAI
NITI Aayog
SEBI
This question was previously asked in
UPSC SO-Steno – 2018
The ‘Fintech Open Summit’ was organized by NITI Aayog.
– The Fintech Open Summit is a collaborative initiative aimed at fostering an open and inclusive ecosystem for the Fintech industry in India.
– NITI Aayog, the government’s policy think tank, organized this event to bring together regulators, industry leaders, startups, and experts to discuss innovation and growth in the sector.
– NITI Aayog partnered with entities like PhonePe and Amazon Web Services (AWS) for the summit.
While RBI regulates the financial sector and SEBI regulates the securities market, and UIDAI deals with Aadhaar, the initiative to create a broad ‘open’ ecosystem and bring diverse stakeholders together for such a summit aligns well with NITI Aayog’s role in policy promotion, innovation, and cross-sector collaboration.

6. The ‘Operation Sadbhavana’ is being undertaken in which Union Territor

The ‘Operation Sadbhavana’ is being undertaken in which Union Territory (UT) to address the basic needs of the local population ?

Delhi
Andaman and Nicobar
Jammu and Kashmir
Lakshadweep
This question was previously asked in
UPSC SO-Steno – 2018
‘Operation Sadbhavana’ is being undertaken by the Indian Army primarily in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (and Ladakh) to address the basic needs of the local population.
– Operation Sadbhavana is an initiative of the Indian Army aimed at winning the hearts and minds of the people in regions affected by militancy or having difficult living conditions.
– The operation focuses on various welfare activities, including running schools, providing healthcare facilities, organizing skill development programs, and undertaking community development projects like building infrastructure.
– While the Army undertakes similar welfare activities in other areas as well, ‘Operation Sadbhavana’ is specifically known in the context of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
The operation contributes to nation-building efforts and helps in integrating the local population by providing essential services and improving their quality of life, often in remote or challenging areas where government reach may be limited.

7. The 15th India-European Union Summit which endorsed “India-EU Strategi

The 15th India-European Union Summit which endorsed “India-EU Strategic Partnership: A Roadmap to 2025” was held on

15th July, 2020
20th December, 2021
15th July, 2022
20th December, 2022
This question was previously asked in
UPSC SO-Steno – 2018
The 15th India-European Union Summit, during which the “India-EU Strategic Partnership: A Roadmap to 2025” was endorsed, was held on 15th July, 2020.
– This summit was held in a virtual format due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
– The “Roadmap to 2025” is a framework guiding joint action and strengthening the strategic partnership between India and the EU over the following five years.
– It covers various areas of cooperation including foreign policy and security, trade and investment, digital transformation, climate action, energy, connectivity, and cooperation on global challenges.
Subsequent summits have built upon this roadmap. The date is a key detail for this specific summit and the endorsement of the 2025 roadmap.

8. The feasibility report of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (

The feasibility report of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) was approved by the Government of India in

November, 2014
December, 2014
December, 2015
November, 2015
This question was previously asked in
UPSC SO-Steno – 2018
The question likely refers to the feasibility report for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project (often called the Bullet Train project), for which the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) conducted a feasibility study. The feasibility report was submitted by JICA in July 2015, and the Union Cabinet of India approved the project based on this report in December 2015.
The JICA feasibility report for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project was approved by the Government of India in December 2015.
This project is a flagship infrastructure initiative involving significant technical and financial assistance from Japan. The approval of the feasibility report was a critical step towards the implementation of India’s first high-speed rail line.

9. The International Day of Happiness is celebrated on

The International Day of Happiness is celebrated on

10th March
15th March
20th March
25th March
This question was previously asked in
UPSC SO-Steno – 2018
The International Day of Happiness is celebrated on March 20th.
The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed March 20th as the International Day of Happiness in its resolution 66/281 of 12 July 2012.
The resolution recognized the relevance of happiness and well-being as universal goals and aspirations in the lives of human beings around the world and the importance of their recognition in public policy objectives. The day is observed to promote the idea that economic growth must be inclusive, equitable, and balanced, promoting sustainable development, poverty eradication, happiness, and well-being of all peoples.

10. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has announced to set up the

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has announced to set up the first ‘Thunderstorm Research Testbed’ of the country in

Odisha
Andhra Pradesh
Tamil Nadu
West Bengal
This question was previously asked in
UPSC SO-Steno – 2017
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced the setting up of the first ‘Thunderstorm Research Testbed’ of the country in Balasore, Odisha.
This initiative aims to study thunderstorms and lightning in detail to improve forecasting and early warning systems, particularly relevant for eastern India which is prone to such events.
The testbed is being established in collaboration with the Ministry of Earth Sciences, IMD, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Balasore was chosen due to its high frequency of thunderstorm occurrences.