41. Which country is ranked first for the fourth time in a row, in ‘The World Press Freedom Index 2020’?
[A] Switzerland
[B] Singapore
[C] Norway
[D] Sweden
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Norway]
Notes:
The World Press Freedom Index 2020 has been recently released Paris-based non-profit organisation Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) or Reporters Without Borders.
Norway has been ranked first in the annual index for the fourth time in a row. India has been ranked at 142 out of 180 countries, two ranks below than that of the previous year. The analysis said that though there is no murder of journalists in India in 2019, there were constant violations against press freedom in the country.
42. Who is the head of the recently reconstituted National Shipping Board?
[A] Malini Shankar
[B] Abdulgani Serang
[C] Amar Singh Thakur
[D] Anil Devli
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Malini Shankar]
Notes:
As per the notification of the Shipping Ministry, the government has approved reconstitution of the National Shipping Board. It is the highest advisory board on matters associated with Indian shipping.
The reconstituted board with 16 members is to be headed by Malini Shankar, former Director General of Shipping. Other members include representatives from the Ministry, Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard, National Union of Seafarers of India, Maritime Union of India representative, Thakur and National Ship Owners’ Association.
43. Which UN agency released a report, which says that the repayments of developing countries on their public external debt will create a great economic stress
[A] UNIDO
[B] UNCTAD
[C] IMF
[D] ILO
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [UNCTAD]
Notes:
The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) recently released a report, which says that the repayments of developing countries on their public external debt in 2020 and 2021 will amount to $2.6 trillion and $3.4 trillion respectively due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It also highlighted that this debt burden will create an additional stress for the developing countries, along with the rising health and economic needs during the pandemic. Earlier, UNCTAD announced a $2.5 trillion coronavirus package for developing countries.
44. What is the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act passed by the Parliament on April 24 1992 related to?
[A] Right to Education
[B] Constitutional status to the Panchayati Raj Institutions
[C] Providing legislative assembly and council of ministers for NCT of Delhi
[D] Implement Tenth Finance Commission recommendation
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Constitutional status to the Panchayati Raj Institutions]
Notes:
The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act passed by the Parliament in April 24 1992 provided constitutional status to the Panchayati Raj Institutions of the country.
The status was given through inserting Article 243 to Part IX of the Indian Constitution. To commemorate the occasion, 24 April is celebrated as the Panchayati Raj Day, across the country. The act added certain provisions in constitution including forming Gram Sabha in a village or group of villages; constitution of Panchayats at village levels and direct elections to all seats in Panchayats.
45. As per the recent announcement from the Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, what is the objective of the Rs 1 trillion fund, proposed to be set up by the Government?
[A] Developing Health infrastructure
[B] Repaying outstanding debts of MSMEs
[C] Bail-out package to MSMEs
[D]
Insurance package to MSMEs
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Repaying outstanding debts of MSMEs]
Notes:
As per the recent announcement of the Union MSME Minister Nitin Gadkari, he has devised a scheme to set up a Rs 1 trillion fund, which is to be launched by the Government after the approval of Cabinet.
This fund will be utilised for repaying outstanding payments to MSMEs owed by the PSUs, central and state governments and major industries. This is also expected to increase liquidity in the market. As per his statement, the Ministry is also working on fast-tracking GST refunds to help MSMEs.
46. Which state has launched a scheme to provide loans to the women Self Help Groups (SHGs) of the state at zero per cent interest?
[A] Kerala
[B] Tamil Nadu
[C] Andhra Pradesh
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Andhra Pradesh]
Notes:
The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh YS Jagan Mohan Reddy recently launched a scheme in Amaravati, which seeks to provide loans to the women Self Help Groups (SHGs) of the state, at zero percent interest.
The Chief Minister released about ₹1,400 crore for the scheme, which is expected to benefit nearly 8.78 lakh SHGs. The interest component of ₹20,000 to ₹40,000 will be borne by the state government. At present, the SHGs borrow from banks at interest rate of 7 to 13 per cent.
47. Which IT firm of India has launched an online self-certification course for frontline health workers, named ‘Corona Warriors’?
[A] Wipro
[B] Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)
[C] Infosys
[D] HCL Technologies
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)]
Notes:
A unit of the top IT firm Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), TCS iON, has recently launched a free online self-certification course for frontline health workers, named ‘Corona Warriors’.
The health workers who are dealing with COVID-19 patients will be offered profession-specific modules. The digital course is available in English and it is offered through TCS iON Digital Learning Hub. The software venture of TCS, Digitate has also announced a platform called ‘ignio Cognitive Procurement’ to assist enterprises in decision making of purchases.
48. Which rating agency recently estimated that the total loss for India due to lock-down would be Rs 10 lakh crore or Rs 7,000 per person, in 2020-21?
[A] CRISIL
[B]
Ind-Ra
[C] S&P
[D] Fitch Solutions
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [CRISIL]
Notes:
The CRISIL rating agency has recently released a report, which slashed the GDP forecast of India to nearly half from its previous estimate to 1.8 per cent for 2020-21.
The agency also estimated that the total losses to be faced by the country would be Rs 10 lakh crore or Rs 7,000 per person due to the impact of the lockdown imposed to curb the spread of Covid-19. The agency also asked the government to increase the stimulus response and support.
49. Which Indian has featured in the top 20 global leaders of ‘Medicine Maker Power List 2020’?
[A] Pankaj Patel
[B] Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
[C] Ajay Piramal
[D] Dilip Shanghvi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw ]
Notes:
Bio-con Founder cum Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has recently been named in the ‘Medicine Maker Power List 2020’.
The list celebrates 60 leaders across the world, who had significantly contributed and innovated in the field of biopharmaceuticals. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has been ranked in the prestigious list for six years in a row, since 2015.Recently, she has received EY’s ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ award.
50. ‘KARMI-Bot’, which was seen in news recently, is a robot deployed in the Government Hospital of which state?
[A] Maharashtra
[B] Kerala
[C] Odisha
[D] Telangana
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Kerala]
Notes:
The Government Hospital of Ernakulam, Kerala has deployed a robot named ‘KARMI-Bot’, to serve food and medicines to coronavirus patients in the Covid-19 isolation wards.
The robot has been introduced to reduce risk of the doctors and health workers from being contracted to the coronavirus. Asimov Robotics, a start-up company working under the Kerala start-up mission, has developed the robot. It is also designed to collect trash, disinfect the room and enable video call between the doctor and patients.