11. What is the repo rate, after the sixth bi-monthly monetary policy committee meeting of the Reserve Bank of India, in February 2020?
[A] 5.5%
[B] 5.4%
[C] 5.15%
[D] 4.90%
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [5.15%]
Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently conducted its sixth bi-monthly Monetary policy committee (MPC) meeting and released the statement. The repo rate was left unchanged at 5.15%, as a unanimous decision taken by the MPC members.
The central bank also announced that it had no plans to monetise the government’s fiscal deficit, which means to print fresh currency notes to balance the deficit. A Self-Regulatory Organisation (SRO) for digital payment system is also to be set up by April 2020. RBI also decided to extend the Cheque Truncation System (CTS) to all regions across India.
12. What is the profession of Christina Koch, who recently created a world record?
[A] Sportsperson
[B] Astronaut
[C] Writer
[D] Musician
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Astronaut]
Notes:
The noted astronaut of the US- based National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Christina Koch recently completed the longest-ever single spaceflight by a woman.
Christina Koch landed through a parachute at Kazakhstan, from the Russian Soyuz spacecraft she was onboard. She had created a record by spending 328 days on the International Space Station (ISS) and surpassed the previous record held by the American astronaut Peggy Whitson. In October last year, she performed the first all-female spacewalk along with her fellow astronaut Jessica Meir.
13. Which state/UT has recently renamed its Public Health Engineering, Irrigation and Flood Control Department as the ‘Jal Shakti Department’?
[A] New Delhi
[B] Puducherry
[C] Jammu and Kashmir
[D] Chandigarh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Jammu and Kashmir]
Notes:
The Administrative Council under the chairmanship of Lt Governor G C Murmu recently approved the renaming of the state’s Public Health Engineering, Irrigation and Flood Control Department as the ‘Jal Shakti Department’.
The council also approved the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission and the strategy to achieve 100 per cent coverage of piped water supply across the UT, by December 2021. It was also proposed to set up a Mission Directorate of Jal Jeevan Mission for implementation of the scheme. Seven districts of the UT would be covered for 100 per cent piped water supply by June 2020, in the initial phase.
14. What is the theme for this year’s International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, observed on February 6?
[A] End Female Genital Mutilation
[B] Unleashing Youth Power
[C] A Piece of Me
[D] Intensify global efforts
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Unleashing Youth Power]
Notes:
International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation is observed annually on February 6, across the world. Genital Mutilation, or altering the female genitalia for non-medical reasons is prevalent in 30 countries in Africa the Middle East and other parts of the world.
In 2012, the UN General Assembly designated February 6th as the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation and the UN works for the complete eradication of the practice by 2030. United Nations Population Fund, jointly with UNICEF, holds a global programme to eliminate the practice.
15. High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), which recently tied up with the Russian organisation Rosoboronexport to import new technologies, is a lab of which Indian organisation?
[A] Indian Space and Research Organisation (ISRO)
[B] Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
[C] Ordnance Factory Board (OFB)
[D] Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)]
Notes:
High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) is a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Head-quartered in Pune, it conducts research in the area of High Energy Materials and Explosive materials.
Recently, the lab has tied up with the Russian state military organisation Rosoboronexport to import new technologies for the development of high energy materials required for missiles, rockets and guns. A technology development contract was signed with the organisation in this regard.
16. Seer Goverdhanpur in Uttar Pradesh is the birth place of which Bhakti saint?
[A] Kabir
[B] Dadu
[C] Ravidas
[D] Ramanand
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Ravidas]
Notes:
Sant Ravidas was a 14th-century saint and founder of the Bhakti movement in North India. He was born at Seer Goverdhanpur near Banaras.
17. Which city recently organized the Nutan International Theatre Festival (NITF)?
[A] New Delhi
[B] Chandigarh
[C] Jammu
[D] Dehradun
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Jammu]
Notes:
The Nutan International Theatre Festival (NITF) began on Feb 1 in Jammu and has veen a big it. This is first time in history of Jammu & Kashmir that a theatre festival of international repute was organized here.
18. Jiri Vesely, who clinched the Tata Open Maharashtra 2020, belongs to which country?
[A] Czech Republic
[B] Serbia
[C] France
[D] Switzerland
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Czech Republic]
Notes:
Jiri Vesely of Czech Republic clinched the Tata Open Maharashtra 2020, held recently in Pune. He won the title after five years of his maiden ATP Tour title in Auckland.
He also become only the eighth player since 2013 to save six match points across two matches in a row, towards winning the ATP Tour crown. The tournament had been previously conducted at Chennai.
19. Which Indian hockey player was named as the 2019 Women’s Rising Star of the Year, by the International Hockey Federation (FIH)?
[A] Rani Rampal
[B] Lalremsiami
[C] Navneet Kaur
[D] Vandana Katariya
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Lalremsiami]
Notes:
Ace Indian hockey player Lalremsiami has been named as the ‘2019 FIH Women’s Rising Star of the Year’, by the International Hockey Federation (FIH). The 19-year-old player from the state of Mizoram, is the first Indian woman player to win the award.
In the men’s category, the Indian men’s team midfielder Vivek Sagar Prasad was named as the ‘2019 Rising Star of the year’ by FIH.
20. As per the notification of the Ministry of health and family welfare, which component will be treated as ‘drugs’ from April 1, 2020?
[A] Medical devices
[B] AYUSH drugs
[C] Alcohol
[D] Raw materials for drugs
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Medical devices]
Notes:
The Ministry of health and family welfare recently said in a notification that all medical devices sold in the country would be treated as drugs and would be regulated under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1940, from April 1, 2020.
As of now, only 23 medical devices are being categorised as drugs. Only a few of these including cardiac stents and intrauterine devices have been brought under price control. The decision was taken after discussing with the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB).