41. The World Games, which were previously scheduled Birmingham at 2020, has been postponed to 2022. In which country, Birmingham is located?
[A] United Kingdom
[B] United States
[C] France
[D] Germany
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [United States]
Notes:
The World Games was previously scheduled to be held in Birmingham, Alabama, United States in July 2021. It comprises of sports and events that do not fall under the Olympics.
As it was postponed to 2022 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the organising committee has recently unveiled an updated logo, website and title. ‘The World Games 2022’ is the modified title of the games, which will be held in July 2022.
42. ‘mCOVID19’ is a mobile application launched by which Indian state, to enable the truck drivers to transport essential goods to the state?
[A] Odisha
[B] Mizoram
[C] Assam
[D] West Bengal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Mizoram]
Notes:
The state of Mizoram has launched a mobile application named ‘mCOVID19’, which enables easy transportation of essential goods by the truck drivers to the state from other states.
The new application will act as the online license or pass for the truck drivers. The drivers of the interstate-vehicles will be screened at the entry point. On registering with the application, they will be generated a license called mPASS. An sms with information about the goods and place, will be sent along with a mPASS id, which will be stored at the entry point.
43. 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.
44. Which state/UT has bagged three national awards for outstanding contribution by its Panchayati Raj Institutions in socio-economic development projects?
[A] Telangana
[B] Kerala
[C] Jammu and Kashmir
[D] Punjab
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Jammu and Kashmir]
Notes:
The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has bagged three national awards for outstanding contribution by its Panchayati Raj Institutions in socio-economic development projects.
While Panchayat Jamola Lower has been awarded “Child-friendly Gram Panchayat Award 2020”, Panchayat Dhangri has been awarded “Nanaji Deshmukh Gaurav Gram Sabha Puraskar” for improving the socio-economic aspects of the panchayat. Panchayat Zaloora B has been selected as best performer in “Gram Panchayat Development Plans” awards.
45. 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.
46. What is the name of the major observatory of NASA, which recently celebrated its 30th birthday?
[A] The Hubble Space Telescope
[B] The Compton Gamma Ray Observatory
[C] The Chandra X-ray Observatory
[D] The Spitzer Space Telescope.
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [The Hubble Space Telescope]
Notes:
On April 24, 1990 NASA had launched Hubble Space Telescope, which is one of the longest-living observatories of the space agency.
Hubble is the first major optical telescope to be placed in space. NASA runs the observatory in partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA). The agency also announced that they will continue to operate Hubble as long it remains productive.
47. ‘From the Great Lockdown to the Great Meltdown’ is the report released by which global organisation?
[A] World Bank
[B] International Monetary Fund
[C] World Economic Forum
[D] United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [United Nations Conference on Trade and Development]
Notes:
The UN body for Trade and Development, UNCTAD recently released a report titled ‘From the Great Lockdown to the Great Meltdown’.
In the report, the agency highlights that the repayment of the developing countries towards their public debt will amount to between $2.6 trillion and $3.4 trillion in 2020 and 2021. It also proposed a global debt deal to prevent Covid-19 pandemic from aggravating economic disaster.
48. International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day is observed on April 26. In which country is the Chernobyl power plant located?
[A] Japan
[B] Ukraine
[C] Philippines
[D] Brazil
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ukraine]
Notes:
On April 26, 1986, the nuclear accident took place in the Chernobyl power plant in the Pripyat city of Ukraine. It is one of the worst nuclear disasters that has ever taken place in the world.
In the year 2016, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution designating 26 April as International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day. In the year 2009, UN launched the International Chernobyl Research and Information Network (ICRIN), to support the programmes in developing the affected places.
49. SWAMITVA Scheme, which was seen news recently, is a new initiative of which Union Ministry?
[A] Ministry of Human Resources and Development
[B] Ministry of Finance
[C] Ministry of Panchayati Raj
[D] Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Ministry of Panchayati Raj]
Notes:
The Prime Minister of India recently launched the SWAMITVA Scheme, on the occasion of National Panchayati Raj day. It was in news recently, as the Union Minister of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Narendra Singh Tomar issued guidelines regarding the scheme.
SWAMITVA scheme aims to provide rural people with the right to document their residential properties by engaging the latest Drone surveying technology. It is currently being implemented in six states – Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
50. As per the recent estimate of the India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra), what would be the expected fiscal deficit, in the case of no stimulus measure from the government?
[A] 3.2%
[B] 3.5%
[C] 3.8%
[D]
4.4%
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [
4.4%]
Notes:
Domestic Credit rating agency India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) has further decreased the GDP growth rate of India to 1.9% for the current fiscal. It had previously estimated the growth rate for this fiscal to be 3.6%. The estimate was significant as this would be the lowest GDP growth in the last 29 years.
The report also highlighted that in the absence of any stimulus measures from the government, the fiscal deficit would touch 4.4% of GDP in this fiscal 2020-21, the official target being 3.5%.