1. Who is the head of the committee that recently submitted the Draft National Education Policy (NEP) to the Union HRD Minister?
[A] Madhav Gadgil
[B] M Radhakrishnan
[C] K Kasturirangan
[D] M G K Menon
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [K Kasturirangan]
Notes:
Former ISRO chief Dr. K Kasturirangan led Committee has recently submitted the draft National Educational Policy (NEP) to HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank in New Delhi. The policy draft recommends incorporation of Indian knowledge systems in the curriculum, constituting a National Education Commission and curbing arbitrary fees hikes by private schools. The expert panel also proposed massive transformation in Teacher Education by moving all teacher preparation and education programmes into large multidisciplinary universities or colleges. It added that the topics will include Indian contribution to mathematics, astronomy, philosophy, psychology, yoga, architecture, medicine, as well as governance, polity, society, and conservation course on Indian knowledge systems. The existing NEP was framed in 1986 and revised in 1992.
2. Who has become the first-ever spinner to bowl the first over in a World Cup?
[A] Dale Steyn
[B] Hashim Amla
[C] Monty Panesar
[D] Imran Tahir
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Imran Tahir]
Notes:
Imran Tahir, the leg-spinner of South Africa, has scripted history by becoming the first-ever spinner to bowl the first over in a World Cup during the opening match of the 2019 World Cup against England at the Oval. Tahir (40 years and 64 days) also became the oldest South African to play in a World Cup match. Prior to this, New Zealand great Martin Crowe had surprised everyone in the 1992 cricket World Cup by bringing off-spinner Dipak Patel into the attack in the second over. Patel bowled the second over in his side’s clash with Australia, which the Kiwis won by 37 runs.
3. Which state government has recently banned Ads & sale of e-cigarettes?
[A] Uttar Pradesh
[B] Rajasthan
[C] Madhya Pradesh
[D] Karnataka
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Rajasthan ]
Notes:
On the occasion of 2019 World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) on May 31, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has banned production, distribution, advertisement and sale of Electronic-cigarette in the state. The decision will be an important step to curb addiction among youths. According to the health department officials, both online or offline sale, storage, production, distribution and advertisement of e-cigarettes in the state has been banned.
4. Who has been appointed as the new National Security Advisor (NSA)?
[A] Rajiv Mathur
[B] Dineshwar Sharma
[C] Rajiv Jain
[D] Ajit Doval
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Ajit Doval]
Notes:
Ajit Doval, a 1968-batch IPS officer & a former Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief, has been reappointed as the National Security Adviser (NSA) for a five-year tenure. He has also been given a cabinet rank in recognition of his contribution in the national security domain. This is for the first time that an NSA has been given a cabinet rank. Doval is among the best operational brains within intelligence circles. He had played a key role during the Balakot air strike after the Pulwama terror attack and the cross-border surgical strike. He also drew praise for his role during the 73-day stand-off between India and China at Doklam — situated at a tri-junction between India, China and Bhutan. He was also India’s main negotiator with the hijackers of Indian Airlines plane IC-814 taken to Kandahar in 1999. Doval worked as an intelligence officer for over 33 years during which he served in the North East, Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab.
5. Which city hosted the 14th summit of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC-2019)?
[A] Baghdad
[B] Damascus
[C] Mecca
[D] Tehran
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Mecca]
Notes:
In a strong reaction, the Government of India (GoI) has recently rejected the reference of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in its final communique at the 14th Islamic summit in Mecca, Saudi Arabia on May 31, 2019. The Union Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has stated that the OIC has no locus standi in matters relating to the state of Jammu and Kashmir, which is an integral part of India. It is reiterated that OIC should refrain from making such unwarranted references. Earlier, at the 2019 Mecca Summit, the OIC reiterated its support for the legitimate rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and also appointed a special envoy for the state. The OIC is an international organization consisting of 57 member states & 53 of them Muslim-majority nations. It is not for the first time that OIC has made references on J&K, and India has slammed the 57-strong grouping of Muslim countries each time. Pakistan has been behind such anti-India references in the OIC communiqués / resolutions.
6. Dinyar Contractor, who passed away recently, was associated to which field?
[A] Sports
[B] Film Industry
[C] Photography
[D] Arts
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Film Industry]
Notes:
Dinyar Contractor (79), the veteran actor and theatre legend, has passed away in Mumbai, Maharashtra on June 5, 2019. He was best known for his comic roles in films and was awarded a Padma Shri in 2019. He was appeared in many Bollywood films like Chori Chori Chupke Chupke, Khiladi, Badshah, Daraar and 36 China Town. He was also part of many TV shows such as Khichdi and Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah.
7. Which country’s women hockey team has clinched the Cantor Fitzgerald U21 International title?
[A] India
[B] China
[C] Bhutan
[D] Bangladesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [India]
Notes:
The Indian junior women’s hockey team clinched the 2019 Cantor Fitzgerald U21 International 4-Nations title after beating Ireland 1-0 in the final at Dublin, Ireland on June 4. The win meant India ended the tournament with an unblemished record. With three goals in four games, Mumtaz Khan finished as the highest goal scorer of the tournament.
8. Who has been appointed as Director General (DG) of the India Meteorological Department (IMD)?
[A] Mrutyunjay Mahapatra
[B] K J Ramesh
[C] Avinash Chander
[D] S Christopher
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Mrutyunjay Mahapatra]
Notes:
Mrutyunjay Mahapatra, the renowned scientist and cyclone warning specialist, has been appointed as the chief of India Meteorological Department (IMD). Popularly known as the ‘Cyclone man of India’, he will take charge of his new assignment on August 1 for a period of five years. Mohapatra and his team at the Cyclone Warning Division (CWD) of the IMD have earned praise for their accurate forecasts on cyclones, its wind-speed and likely impact on life and property including during the recent cyclone ‘Fani’, when their timely warnings enabled the authorities to ensure early evacuation of millions of people. Over the last six years, the CWD has given accurate forecasts on cyclones including when Phailin (2013), Hudhud (2014) and Titli (2018) hit the eastern coast. The IMD is responsible for weather and climate-related forecasts in the country. It is also mandated to issue warning to people about severe weather phenomenon like cyclones, dust storms, heavy rain and snow, cold and heatwaves, among others.
9. Sidharth Rawat is associated to which sports?
[A] Table Tennis
[B] Tennis
[C] Football
[D] Badminton
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Tennis ]
Notes:
Indian tennis player Sidharth Rawat defeated Rio Noguchi of Japan to win his first title in the $25,000 ITF men’s Futures tennis tournament on June 2, 2019. With the ATP points being restored for events of this level, he will be able to improve his current rank of 510. He had a career-best rank of 430.
10. Who has won the 2019 Women’s Prize for Fiction?
[A] Zadie Smith
[B] Kamila Shamsie
[C] Tayari Jones
[D] Kate Mosse
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Tayari Jones]
Notes:
American author Tayari Jones has won the 2019 Women’s Prize for Fiction for her novel “An American Marriage”. The book portraits a young African American’s wrongful conviction and how it affects his marriage. It is a story of love, loss and loyalty, the resilience of the human spirit painted on a big political canvas – that shines a light on today’s America. Jones wins £30,000 and the “Bessie” – a limited edition bronze figurine. The prize is one of the biggest international celebrations of women’s creativity.