41. Which committee had recommended the setting up of the post of chief of defence staff?
[A] Abhjit Sen Committee
[B] Abid Hussain Committee
[C] Ajit Kumar Committee
[D] Kargil Review Committee
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Kargil Review Committee]
Notes:
The cabinet recently approved the creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff. This post will help coordinate the 3 arms of the armed forces. The post is to be given to a 4 star general who is senior to the chiefs of all three defence forces. The creation of the post was recommended by the Kargil review committee after the Kargil conflict.
42. Which pre-renaissance artist painted the ‘Christ Mocked’ painting which France is seeking to buy?
[A] Leonardo Da Vinci
[B] Michelangelo
[C] Cimabue
[D] Bernini
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Cimabue]
Notes:
The painting ‘Christ Mocked’ is a work by Cimabue. The work is from 13th century pre-renaissance era. The French government is blocking the export of this artwork until sufficient funds are raised to buy it from the current owners.
43. Pakistan, one among the three countries in the world with Polio endemic, is planning to import Polio markers from India. Which are the other two countries:
[A] Afghanistan and Mongolia
[B] Nigeria and South Africa
[C] Afghanistan and Nigeria
[D] Nigeria and Kenya
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Afghanistan and Nigeria]
Notes:
Pakistan, in response to the abrogation of Article 370, had suspended the import of polio markers from India. Currently, there are only three countries in the world where Polio is still an endemic – Pakistan, Nigeria and Afghanistan. Recently, Pakistan’s cabinet had decided to import polio markers, which is used to mark the fingers of the children after they were given polio vaccination.
44. Which organisation gives forecast on general locust situation to the global community?
[A] FAO
[B] WWF
[C] IFAD
[D] WFP
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [FAO]
Notes:
Food and Agriculture organisation gives timely information on the general locust condition to the global community and provide warning and forecasts to those countries that are likely to be in danger of locust invasion. Northern parts of Gujarat is currently being invaded by swarms of locust leading to a significant damage to the crops.
45.
Which American firm is developing the Project Kuiper, which is to launch thousands of satellites into space?
[A] SpaceX
[B] NASA
[C] Amazon
[D] Blue Origin
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Amazon]
Notes:
Amazon is set to launch over 3,000 satellites into space as part of the Project Kuiper. It will form a megaconstellation that will provide lost cost space internet to the public. The satellites are to operate from the Low Earth Orbit.
46. Which river is the cruise ship Sabrina Victoria operate on?
[A] River Nile
[B] River Yangtze
[C] River Danube
[D] River Thames
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [River Yangtze]
Notes:
Sabrina Victoria is a river cruise ship to be operationalised in 2020 in China’s River Yangtze. It is the largest river cruise ship and is to make use of the increased water levels on this river. It is being built by New York-based Victoria Cruise Line.
47. Which state-run company had recently commissioned the first lignite-based thermal power plant?
[A] Bharat Dynamics
[B] Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited
[C] Central Mine Planning and Design Institute
[D] Coal India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited]
Notes:
The State-run Bharat Heavy Electronics Limited has recently commissioned the first lignite-based 500 MW thermal unit in Neyveli New Thermal Power Project in Tamil Nadu. This is the first lignite-fired 500 MW power plant in India.
48. Which organization has recently launched the five-year programme SnowEx?
[A] ESA
[B] CERN
[C] CNES
[D] NASA
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [NASA]
Notes:
NASA’s SnowEx, a five-year programme, which was initiated in 2016-17 would study the water that is contained during each winter’s snowfall and how much water will be available when it melts during spring. It uses airborne measurements, ground measurements and computer modelling to study the snow.
49. Which state recorded the highest forest cover in the recently released India State of Forest Report 2019?
[A] Andhra Pradesh
[B] Madhya Pradesh
[C] Nagaland
[D] Meghalaya
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Madhya Pradesh]
Notes:
Madhya Pradesh recently recorded the highest forest cover in terms of area. Other high forest covers were recorded in Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Maharashtra. The State of Forest report is released biennially by the Forest Survey of India which is under the ministry of environment, forest and climate change.
50. The UK-based CEBR’s 11th annual report was recently released. According to the report, in 2019, Indian economy is _______.
[A] 4th largest economy
[B] 5th largest economy
[C] 6th largest economy
[D] 7th largest economy
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [5th largest economy]
Notes:
According to the UK-based Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR)’s report titled “World Economic League Table 2020”, India has overtaken France and UK to become the fifth-largest economy in 2019. This report also estimated that India might overtake Germany to become the fourth largest economy by 2026 and surpass Japan in 2034 to become the third largest economy.
