11. Which multilateral funding agency has tripled its Covid-19 response package, initially announced for its developing member countries, to $20 billion?
[A] World Bank
[B] Asian Development Bank
[C] World Economic Forum
[D] BRICS Bank
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Asian Development Bank]
Notes:
The multilateral funding agency Asian Development Bank (ADB) has tripled its Covid-19 response package initially announced for developing member countries to $20 billion.
Last month, ADB had announced a 6.5 billion package for its 31 DMC (developing member countries) to assist them in recovering the economies. The lender has also announced that 2 billion will be provided through loans for private sector and financial institutions and microfinance loans for medium-sized enterprises.
12. A new initiative titled ‘Food Bank’, has been launched in which Indian state to provide free food to the poor and needy, amidst the lockdown due to coronavirus pandemic?
[A] Assam
[B] Kerala
[C] Manipur
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Manipur]
Notes:
In the North-eastern state of Manipur, a new initiative titled ‘Food Bank’ has been introduced, to provide free food to the poor and needy, amidst the lockdown due to coronavirus pandemic.
The Imphal East District Administration has been implementing this initiative, which aims to provide free food and essential items which were donated by the general public, to the beneficiaries. Other items like hand sanitisers and face masks are also being distributed.
13. Which technological company has launched a Braille keyboard called ‘TalkBack’, for assisting the visually challenged users?
[A] Google
[B] Apple
[C] Xiaomi
[D] Nokia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Google]
Notes:
Google has recently announced that it has launched a Braille keyboard named ‘TalkBack’, for assisting the visually challenged users.
This new type of keyboard is integrated directly into its Android operating system and the visually challenged users can use the keyboard easily without having to install any extra hardware. The keyboard uses a six-key layout, wherein each key represents one among the six Braille dots.
14. ‘Nearby Spot’ is an initiative of which technological firm, to provide information on locating local stores that sells essential things?
[A] Facebook
[B] Google
[C] Amazon
[D] Apple
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Google]
Notes:
Technological giant Google has recently launched a new feature under its flagship app Google Pay, called ‘Nearby Spot’.
This feature enables the users to locate the local stores that sells essential things and to check if they are open amidst the lock-down. The feature has been launched in Bengaluru on a pilot basis and will be extended to other cities of the country soon.
15. Name the veteran Army officer and former Director General of Rashtriya Rifles, who recently passed away?
[A] M. V. Rajasekharan
[B]
KP Dhal Samanta
[C] Ahfazur Rahman
[D] Walter D’Souza
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [
KP Dhal Samanta]
Notes:
The veteran Army officer and former Director General of Rashtriya Rifles, Lt Gen KP Dhal Samanta has recently passed away at the age of 70.
He played a very crucial role in the 1971 India-Pakistan War, 1984 Operation Blue Star and 1999 Kargil War. After retirement, he served as a member of the Armed Forces Tribunal at Kolkata. He received many prestigious awards including Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal.
16. Chief Information Commissioner and all Information Commissioners have decided to take a 30% voluntary cut in their basic salaries. Who is the Chief Information Commissioner of India?
[A] Bimal Julka
[B] Sunil Arora
[C] Ashok Lavasa
[D] Sushil Chandra
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Bimal Julka]
Notes:
The Chief information commissioner of India, Bimal Julka and all 6 information commissioners have decided to take 30-per cent cut in their basic salary for a year starting April 2020, to contribute to government’s move in fighting COVID-19.
In March 2020, President of India Ram Nath Kovind administered the oath of office to Bimal Julka as the CIC of India. At present, four positions of information commissioners are remaining vacant. The Chief Election commissioner and Election commissioners will also undergo a 30% pay cut.
17. The Union Ministry of External Affairs has announced a training programme on COVID-19 for healthcare professionals of which regional group?
[A] BIMSTEC
[B] SAARC
[C] BRICS
[D] ASEAN
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [SAARC]
Notes:
The Union Ministry of External Affairs has announced a training programme on COVID-19 for healthcare professionals of SAARC countries.
The Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme will conduct this training programme from April 17, 2020. The SAARC leaders had a virtual meeting on March 15, where an idea was proposed by India, to cumulate the efforts of all health professionals against the COVID-19.
18. ‘World Economic Outlook (WEO)’ is the flagship report of which international institution, that recently lowered India’s growth to 1.9 % in 2020-21?
[A] World Bank
[B] Asian Development Bank
[C] International Monetary Fund
[D] United Nations
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [International Monetary Fund]
Notes:
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released the latest version of its flagship report ‘World Economic Outlook (WEO)’.
In the report, it has lowered India’s Gross Domestic Product growth rate to 1.9 per cent in the fiscal year 2020-21 amid the prevailing lock-down. However, the global agency expects the GDP growth rate of India to rise to 7.4 per cent in the next fiscal year 2021-22.
19. Which is the first Indian state to get approval from the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) for ‘pool testing’ the samples for Covid-19?
[A] Kerala
[B] Maharashtra
[C] Uttar Pradesh
[D] Rajasthan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Uttar Pradesh]
Notes:
The state of Uttar Pradesh becomes the first to be approved by the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) to start the method of ‘Pool Testing’ the samples for Covid-19.
The pool testing method is aimed at speeding up the process of testing the samples. In this method, multiple swab samples are pooled together and tested. If the result of the particular pool comes negative, it is assured that all samples of the pool are negative. If the result is positive, all individual samples are tested again. This method was widely used in Germany.
20. World Art Day is celebrated on April 15 every year, by which global organisation?
[A] World Art Foundation
[B] UNICEF
[C] UNESCO
[D] FAO
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [UNESCO]
Notes:
During the 40th session of General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2019, it was proclaimed to celebrate April 15 as World Art Day every year.
The day is celebrated to create awareness about the diversity of artistic freedom and highlight the contribution of artists to sustainable development of the world. April 15 is also the birth anniversary of the legendary artist Leonardo da Vinci.