Answer: D) Venus Explanation: The Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) is planning its maiden mission to Venus and its second one to Red planet. The same was confirmed by the newly allotted budget to the department of space, which mentions provisions for 'Mars Orbiter Mission II and Mission Venus'.

Answer: C) China Explanation: China's amphibian aircraft, which is stated to be the world's largest, has successfully passed engine tests and is expected to make its maiden flight in the first half of the year 2017.

Answer: B) 7 Explanation: NASA announced a Seven new system of Exoplanets, which are Earth-size, and could potentially hold life.These exoplanets are located outside of our solar system and orbit a star. NASA has named the system of planets after the ‘Transiting Planets and Planetesimals Small Telescope,’ which is located in Chile. This telescope first discovered three of the planets in this system in May 2016. Unlike Earth, which rotates on its axis, the planets are “tidally locked to the star.” This means that one side of the planet has only day, and one side has only night. It also means the weather conditions are unlike what we experience on Earth.

Answer: A) February 23 Explanation: The Central Excise Day (CED) is celebrated every year on February 23 in India to commemorate the enactment of the Central Excise and Salt Act, 1944. The Central Excise officers all over the country celebrate this day by organizing seminars, workshops, trade interactions and cultural events etc.

Answer: B) Shilpa Shetty Explanation: The government has roped in actress Shilpa Shetty as a brand ambassador for the Modi government's cleanliness initiative Swachh Bharat Mission.The 41-year-old actress will feature in TV and radio campaigns aimed at discouraging people from littering on roads. Soon, campaign posters featuring her will be displayed at various places across the country.

Answer: C) Thiruvananthapuram Explanation: Thiruvananthapuram, capital of Kerala has topped in city governance ranking of the Annual Survey of India’s City Systems (ASICS) 2016 conducted by Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy. This year it was the fourth edition the annual survey which had evaluated 21 major cities from the 18 states. It highlighted inadequacies in urban governance that could affect public service delivery and quality of life.

Answer: A) J s Deepak Explanation: Telecom Secretary J S Deepak was on Wednesday named India’s next Ambassador to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) from June this year. A 1982 batch IAS officer from Uttar Pradesh, Deepak, who is at present attending the World Mobile Congress at Barcelona, has been shifted with “immediate effect” from the telecom ministry and has been made Officer on Special Duty in the commerce department.

Answer: C) Uranus Explanation: