1. Which state government of India has won the 2019 WHO award for tobacco control?
[A] Jharkhand
[B] Andhra Pradesh
[C] Rajasthan
[D] Haryana
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Rajasthan ]
Notes:
The Medical & Health Department of Rajasthan government has won the prestigious 2019 World Health Organization (WHO) award in recognition of its achievements in the field of tobacco control. The department’s Additional Chief Secretary, Rohit Kumar Singh, received the award at a function to mark 2019 World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) in New Delhi. The Health Department of the State is the only government body in India which is awarded for its Tobacco-Free Initiatives (TFIs). Beside this, WHO has selected five organisations from the South-East Asian region for the prestigious award. Three other organizations in the South-East Asian region have been selected from Thailand and Indonesia, while the Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute (of New Delhi) is also among the recipients of the award. Every year, WHO recognizes individuals or organizations in each of the six WHO Regions for their accomplishments in the area of tobacco control. This recognition takes the form of WHO Director-General Special Recognition Award and WNTD Awards.
2. Puerto Williams, which has become the world’s southernmost city, is located in which of the following countries?
[A] Ecuador
[B] Peru
[C] Argentina
[D] Chile
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Chile]
Notes:
Puerto Williams is the main settlement, port and naval base on Navarino Island in Chile. It faces the Beagle Channel. Recently, Puerto Williams has become the world’s southernmost city after the Chilean authorities upgraded its status from hamlet to city. It took over the title from Ushuaia, the capital of the Argentine province of Tierra del Fuego. Puerto Williams is the port of entry and major hub for scientific activity linked to Antarctica and the islands south of Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego.
3. Who took charge as the Union Minister in the newly formed Ministry of Jal Shakti?
[A] Giriraj Singh
[B] Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
[C] Mahendra Nath Pandey
[D] Pralhad Joshi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Gajendra Singh Shekhawat ]
Notes:
The Government of India (GoI) has formed a new ‘Jal Shakti’ Ministry by merging the ministries of Water Resources and Drinking Water and Sanitation with Gajendra Singh Shekhawat at its helm. The ambit of the Ministry will encompass issues ranging from international and inter-states water disputes, the Namami Gange project, the flagship initiative to clean the Ganges, its tributaries and sub-tributaries and provide clean drinking water. Rattan Lal Kataria will be the Minister of State in the newly formed ministry. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Shekhawat defeated Vaibhav Gehlot, the son of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, from Jodhpur by a margin of 2.74 lakh votes.
4. On which date, the 2019 edition of International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression is observed?
[A] June 2
[B] June 5
[C] June 4
[D] June 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [June 4]
Notes:
The International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression is observed every year on June 4 to acknowledge the pain suffered by children throughout the world who are the victims of physical, mental and emotional abuse. This day affirms the UN’s commitment to protect the rights of children.
5. The Aapki Beti scheme is associated to which of the following state governments?
[A] Uttar Pradesh
[B] Chhattisgarh
[C] Madhya Pradesh
[D] Rajasthan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Rajasthan]
Notes:
The Rajasthan government has recently increased the financial assistance given to school girls under the ‘Aapki Beti’ scheme and ex-gratia payment to the families of polling personnel who die during election duty. Under the Aapki Beti scheme, girls living under the Below Poverty Line (BPL) and whose mother or father or both have died get annual financial assistance in the state. The amount has been increased to 2,100 from Rs 1,100 for the girls studying in class 1 to 8 and for the girls in class 9 to 12, the financial aid has been increased to Rs 2,500 from Rs 1,500. Similarly, the government has also increased ex-gratia payment to the next of kin of an official killed on election duty to Rs 20 lakh from Rs 15 lakh.
6. Which state government has recently passed resolution to increase reservation for OBCs to 27 %?
[A] Madhya Pradesh
[B] Rajasthan
[C] Haryana
[D] UP
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Madhya Pradesh]
Notes:
In Madhya Pradesh, the state Cabinet has passed a resolution to increase reservation quota for Other Backward Classes (OBC) from existing 14% to 27%. The matter will now be taken up in the monsoon session of the state Assembly. The move will lead to reservation in the state breaching the Supreme Court-mandated 50% cap to reach 63%. If implemented, Madhya Pradesh will become the only state in the country to have a 27% quota for OBCs. Earlier, the Madhya Pradesh government passed an Ordinance on March 9 to implement the quota. However, the Madhya Pradesh High Court had stayed the Ordinance on March 19. Now the resolution will be taken in the monsoon session of the state assembly.
7. Exercise ‘Kharga Prahar-2019’ has recently carried out by the Indian Army in which of the following states?
[A] Haryana
[B] Uttarkhand
[C] Punjab
[D] Jammu & Kashmir
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Punjab]
Notes:
The Indian Army and Indian Air Force (IAF) has jointly carried out a week-long special training exercise “Kharga Prahar-2019” in the plains of Punjab. The exercise, which began on May 27, was undertaken by various units and formations of Army’s Kharga Corps. The exercise setting also incorporated aspects of joint training wherein para drops from Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft were carried out and simulated battlefield air strikes were conducted in support of ground forces. Ambala-based 2-Corpa, popularly called as Kharga Corps, possesses 50% of the Indian Army’s offensive capabilities and has the mandate to launch offensive attack, in case any conflict or war breaks out with neighbouring Pak. Integrated with multiple military formations, Kharga has proved an effective weapon in various wars. In 1971, while positioned in West, it helped in division of Pakistan. The elite force was deployed somewhere in the desert sector during the Kargil conflict. The Kharga Corps has been stationed at Ambala since 1985.
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. Which social networking site has launched its first interactive game show ‘Confetti’ in India?
[A] Instagram
[B] Pinterest
[C] Twitter
[D] Facebook
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Facebook ]
Notes:
Facebook has launched its first interactive game show titled “Confetti” in India, which will start from June 12 on its dedicated video platform – Facebook Watch. The interactive show will air from Wednesday to Sunday and will challenge participants to answer pop culture trivia questions for a chance to win Rs 3 lakh as cash prize every day. In 2018, the social networking giant globally rolled out Facebook Watch as its video-on-demand service in an attempt to take on its rival YouTube. The video service allows users to enjoy videos from different genres, including entertainment, sports and news in their personalised “Watch Feed” that carries a collection of recent videos from the pages they follow.
10. Who has become the first South Asian American woman to chair US House?
[A] Medha Yodh
[B] Kausalya Hart
[C] Pramila Jayapal
[D] Gayatri Spivak
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Pramila Jayapal]
Notes:
Indian-American Congresswoman, Pramila Jayapal has become the first South Asian American woman to preside over the US House of Representatives. She is a Democrat from Washington DC. The 116th Congress broke records with women and lawmakers crossing racial and religious barriers, including an all time high for Asian American lawmakers. A record number of 17 Asian Americans serve in Congress, with 14 in the House and three in the Senate.