11. As of April 2020, which country holds the presidency of United Nations Security Council?
[A] China
[B] Dominican Republic
[C] Argentina
[D] France
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Dominican Republic]
Notes:
The current President of the United Nations Security Council is the Dominican Republic, which assumed rotating presidency of the council from China for the month of April.
As per the Ambassador of Dominican Republic, the 15-nation council is to meet for the first time before next week to discuss about the ongoing pandemic. The council has not held a meeting since the coronavirus pandemic hit the world and caused serious damages.
12. The application called ‘Neighbourly’, which was recently shut down, was initially launched by major tech firm?
[A] Microsoft
[B] Google
[C] Facebook
[D] Amazon
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Google]
Notes:
Technological major Google has recently shut down its neighbourhood community app called Neighbourly, which will be completely closed on May 12, 2020.
The application which was launched two years ago, hasn’t gained much userbase as expected and hence it has been shut down. The users will be able to download the content of the application until October 12 of this year.
13. Which Indian Non-Governmental organisation (NGO) won the prestigious USD 1.5 million Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship?
[A] CARE India
[B] CRY
[C] ARMMAN
[D] SMILE
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [ARMMAN]
Notes:
An India-based non-profit organization ARMMAN has been awarded the prestigious Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship 2020.
The NGO has been selected for its contribution towards the maternal and child health sector in India. Out of the five organisations which won this USD 1.5 million award, it is the only one selected from Asia and Africa. The NGO has been implementing mobile health programs in partnership with the Government of India.
14. Which state has topped the country in micro-irrigation coverage in the financial year 2019-20?
[A] Punjab
[B] Rajasthan
[C] Tamil Nadu
[D] Gujarat
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Tamil Nadu]
Notes:
In the last financial year 2019-20, Tamil Nadu has topped the micro-irrigation coverage in the financial year 2019-20.
This has been achieved as part of implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY). While Tamil Nadu has topped the coverage in the year 2019-20, in the cumulative total coverage under the PMKSY during 2015-2020, Tamil Nadu is in the fourth place, where the list is topped by Karnataka.
15. What is the name of the online challenge for students, launched by the innovation cell of MHRD and AICTE, for developing solutions to the Coronavirus pandemic?
[A] SAMRIDDHI
[B] SAMADHAN
[C] SOOCHNA
[D] CHUNAUTI
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [SAMADHAN]
Notes:
The innovation cell of Ministry of HRD and AICTE have recently launched an online challenge for students called ‘SAMADHAN’, in collaboration with Forge and InnovatioCuris.
This challenge calls for students to search and develop quick solutions to the Coronavirus pandemic, that will assist the government agencies and health services. Under the programme, the students and teachers of the country will be motivated for conducting new experiments.
16. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), along with which private firm, has developed a face shield for doctors and medical staff treating COVID-19 patients?
[A] Tata
[B] Wipro
[C] Larsen &Toubro
[D] HCL
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Wipro]
Notes:
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), along with Wipro, has developed a unique shield for doctors and medical staff treating COVID-19 patients.
This full-face shield will protect the healthcare personnel from directly contracting the coronavirus infection. DRDO has also developed bio-suit to protect the front-line health workers and has supplied masks, full-body suits and personal protection equipment (PPE) for the medical staff
17. Indian-American Brahm Kanchibotla, who recently passed away after affected by Covid-19 in the United States, was associated with which profession?
[A] Businessperson
[B] Journalist
[C] Writer
[D] Economist
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Journalist]
Notes:
Veteran Indian-American journalist Brahm Kanchibotla has passed away due to Covid-19 at the age of 66, in the United States.
He was serving as one of the correspondents for United News of India. He had settled in the United States after a long experience in Indian publications. He had been in the field of journalism in the United States for nearly 28 years. He was associated with Merger Markets and News India-Times weekly.
18. Government has directed Food Corporation of India to provide food grains to NGOs at OMSS rates. What does OMSS stand for?
[A] Open Market Sale Scheme
[B] Out Market Sale Scheme
[C] Open Market State Scheme
[D] Out Market Sale Scheme
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Open Market Sale Scheme]
Notes:
Government has directed Food Corporation of India to provide food grains to NGOs and charitable organisations providing cooked meals to the needy at OMSS (Open Market Sale Scheme).
During the period of nationwide lockdown, the organisations can buy wheat and rice from FCI godowns without going through the e-auction. OMSS reserve price for rice is ₹2,250 per quintal and price of wheat is ₹2,135 per quintal. Earlier, only State governments and registered bulk users were allowed to buy from FCI under OMSS rates.
19. According to the Forbes 34th annual world’s billionaires list, who was named the richest person in the world?
[A] Bill Gates
[B] Jeff Bezos
[C] Mark Zuckerberg
[D] Bernard Arnault
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Jeff Bezos]
Notes:
Forbes released its 34th annual world’s billionaires list recently. As per the list, Amazon Founder and CEO Jeff Bezos has been named the world’s richest man with a net worth of $113 billion.
Jeff Bezos who tops the billionaires list for the third year, is followed by Bill Gates in the second spot at 98 billion. Chairman and CEO of LVMHF, Bernard Arnault has been placed in the third place. The total combined net worth of the billionaires of this year is 8 trillion.
20. The report titled ‘Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) 2020: Towards sustainable economies’ has been released by which global organisation?
[A] United Nations
[B] World Bank
[C] World Economic Forum
[D] International Labour Organisation
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [United Nations]
Notes:
The United Nations has recently released a report titled ‘Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) 2020: Towards sustainable economies’.
As per the report, the GDP growth of India for the current fiscal is expected to dip to 4.8 per cent. The report also warned that the COVID-19 pandemic would result in adverse economic impacts globally. UN had earlier estimated the GDP growth of India at 5% for the current fiscal.