1. John Witherspoon, who passed away recently, was the noted actor and comedian of which country?
[A] United States
[B] France
[C] Japan
[D] China
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [United States]
Notes:
John Witherspoon, the US actor and comedian, has passed way . He was best known for his role as rapper Ice Cube’s father in the comedy trilogy Friday. He made his film debut in the 1980 ‘The Jazz Singer’ and appeared in Hollywood Shuffle, Boomerang, Vampire in Brooklyn and The Ladies Man
2. Saint Kittis and Nevis, which recently signed ISA Framework Agreement, is an island country of which ocean?
[A] Pacific Ocean
[B] Indian Ocean
[C] Arctic Ocean
[D] Atlantic Ocean
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Atlantic Ocean]
Notes:
India hosted the 2nd International Solar Alliance (ISA) assembly in New Delhi on 30th-31st October 2019. In it, two countries – Eritrea and Saint Kittis and Nevis – have signed the ISA’s Framework Agreement and took the total number of signatories to 83. The ISA was jointly launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then French President Francois Hollande at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris in November 2015. It is a major global initiative for contributing to the implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement through rapid and massive deployment of solar energy. The Saint Kittis and Nevis is an island country in the West Indies, which is the region of the North Atlantic Ocean.
3. The Indo-French exercise ‘Shakti-2019’ has started at which region?
[A] Udaipur
[B] Jodhpur
[C] Bikaner
[D] Jaipur
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Bikaner]
Notes:
The 14-day long joint Indo-French exercise ‘Shakti-2019’ has started at the Mahajan field firing ranges in Bikaner, Rajasthan. The aim of the exercise is to enhance interoperability between the two armies and further strengthening the military relations between them. The exercise will facilitate both the armies to know each other better, share their operational experience and enhance awareness through information exchange.
4. Which country has won the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan?
[A] Japan
[B] England
[C] South Africa
[D] Singapore
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [South Africa]
Notes:
The South African team “Springboks” has won the 3rd edition of Rugby World Cup 2019. In the final, they defeated England at International Yokohama Stadium in Yokohama, Japan. With this win, Springboks became the 2nd team after New Zealand to win three World Cup titles.
5. The biennial Commonwealth Law Ministers’ Conference has recently begun in which city?
[A] New Delhi
[B] Colombo
[C] Tokyo
[D] Male
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Colombo ]
Notes:
In Sri Lanka, the biennial Commonwealth Law Ministers’ Conference has recently begun in Colombo under the theme Equal Access to Justice and the Rule of Law. In the 4-day conference participated by Law Ministers and Attorney Generals from Commonwealth countries seeks to address challenges faced by millions of people seeking to resolve legal problems or disputes. Union Minister for Law and Justice Ravi Shankar Prasad isrepresenting India at the conference.
6. Which IT initiative has recently launched as an Ease of Doing Business (EODB) monitoring dashboard of the Indian Customs?
[A] TECHDASH
[B] CUSTOMDASH
[C] ICEDASH
[D] PORTDASH
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [ICEDASH ]
Notes:
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has recently launched two new IT Initiatives – ICEDASH and ATITHI – for improved monitoring and pace of customs clearance of imported goods and facilitating arriving international passengers. ICEDASH is an Ease of Doing Business (EODB) monitoring dashboard of the Indian Customs that allows public see and compare import clearance times at all ports and airports across India. The ATITHI app will facilitate hassle-free and faster clearance by Indian Customs at the airports and increase the experience of international tourists and other visitors at the airports.
7. On which date, the 2019 edition of World Tsunami Awareness Day (WTAD) is observed?
[A] November 5
[B] November 4
[C] November 6
[D] November 7
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [November 5]
Notes:
The World Tsunami Awareness Day (WTAD) is observed every year on 5th of November to spread awareness about precautionary measures against tsunami and share innovative approaches to risk reduction. In 2019, the day promotes Target (d) of the “Sendai Seven Campaign,” which focuses on reducing disaster damage to critical infrastructure and disruption of basic services.
8. Danakil Depression, which is in news recently, is associated to which African country?
[A] Morocco
[B] Ethiopia
[C] Algeria
[D] Kenya
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ethiopia]
Notes:
The Danakil Depression is the northern part of the Afar Triangle or Afar Depression in Ethiopia. It is one of the world’s hottest as well as lowest places on Earth (100 m below sea level). The hot springs in Danakil Depression offer a research opportunity for studying extremophile microbes. It is in news recently because according to new study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, active and naturally occurring life cannot be sustained at Danakil. It identifies two barriers: a) magnesium-dominated brines that cause cells to break down; and b) an environment having simultaneously very low pH and high salt. Hence, the combination of both barriers makes adaptation highly difficult.
9. India’s CO2 emissions growth poised to slow sharply by what % in 2019, according to an analysis published in Carbon Brief?
[A] 3%
[B] 1%
[C] 4%
[D] 2%
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [2%]
Notes:
According to an analysis published in Carbon Brief, India’s Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions growth is expected to slow down by 2% in 2019. The emissions are lower than the annual increase seen in any year since 2001 due to a slower growth in coal-based power generation and rise in renewable power generation. The Oil demand growth slowed to 2.6% in the first eight months of 2019, compared with 4.6% in 2018, and 5% on average over the past 10 years. Carbon Brief is a site that tracks emission and CO2 trends.
10. Who has been chosen for the Tata Literature Live! Lifetime Achievement Award for 2019?
[A] Shanta Gokhale
[B] Arun Kolatkar
[C] K Satchidanandan
[D] Bhau Panchbhai
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Shanta Gokhale]
Notes:
The 10th edition of Tata Literature Live! The Mumbai LitFest will be held from 14-17 November 2019. In it, noted Marathi literature Shanta Gokhale will be conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award for 2019. While, a pioneer of modernism in Malayalam poetry K Satchidanandan will receive the Poet Laureate for 2019. Both the awards will be conferred for their work which has made a significant impact in the Indian literary field.
