11. Which country has donated 20 million pounds for developing vaccine to combat the deadly coronavirus?
[A] United States
[B] Russia
[C] United Kingdom
[D] France
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [United Kingdom]
Notes:
The United Kingdom government has recently donated 20 million pounds, equivalent to nearly $25 million, for developing vaccine to combat the deadly coronavirus.
The country’s investment is set to be given to the global body named CEPI (the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations), which aims to develop the vaccine in six to eight months. The World Health Organisation has categorised the coronavirus outbreak as a global health emergency. The death toll in China due to the virus infection has crossed 400. Philippines and Hong Kong also reported their first deaths from the outbreak.
12. The flagship biennial Defence exhibition of India ‘DefExpo’ is organised in which Indian city?
[A] New Delhi
[B] Lucknow
[C] Bengaluru
[D] Hyderabad
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Lucknow]
Notes:
The biennial Defence exhibition of India, ‘DefExpo’ was recently inaugurated at Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister also attended the inaugural programme.
A live demonstration of naval systems, aerial systems and land systems was performed during the ceremony. The main theme of the DefExpo 2020 is ‘India: The Emerging Defence Manufacturing Hub’ and the focus will be on ‘Digital Transformation of Defence’. The five-day-exhibition is to be attended by delegates and military manufacturers from more than 70 countries. The fifth India-Russia Military Industry Conference is also to be held on the side-lines of the event.
13. Which Asian country imposes a Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) on tourists to support conservation and infrastructure?
[A] Thailand
[B] Bhutan
[C] Cambodia
[D] Sri Lanka
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bhutan]
Notes:
Bhutan is the correct answer. The country follows a ‘high value, low volume’ tourism policy and charges a Sustainable Development Fee from visitors to help finance environmental protection, cultural preservation, and infrastructure development. The current standard SDF is US$100 per person per night for most foreign visitors, while Indian nationals pay a preferential rate of Nu./INR 1,200 per person per night. This fee is a key part of Bhutan’s tourism model.
14. India’s 13th major port is set to be established in which state, as per the recent Cabinet approval?
[A] Gujarat
[B] Kerala
[C] Maharashtra
[D] Tamil Nadu
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Maharashtra]
Notes:
The Union Cabinet of India recently approved to set up 13th major port of India, at Vadhavan in Maharashtra. The project is to entail a total cost of Rs 65,544 crore.
The government is expected to hold 51 per cent stake in the project of the new port. All related business activities would be done under private-public partnership (PPP) mode. A special purpose vehicle is proposed to be formed, which would develop the infrastructure of the new port. This port would promote cargo movement from Gujarat, Maharashtra and other land-locked states.
15. Who has been named as the head of the trust for construction of the Ram Temple, which was recently constituted by the Centre?
[A] K. K. Venugopal
[B] K Parasaran
[C] G E Vahanvati
[D] Maninder Acharya
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [K Parasaran]
Notes:
As per the Supreme Court ruling on November 9, 2019, a trust had to be set up for the construction of the Ram Temple within three months of the court order. Hence the Indian Government constituted the trust, which is named as ‘the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra’.
Former Attorney General of India, Advocate K Parasaran has been named as the head of the trust, which will function at his residence in Delhi. The advocate had earlier represented the litigant ‘Ram Lalla’ in the dispute and earned the verdict in its favour. An independent 15-member team has been named as the members of the trust, which will always have a trustee from the Dalit community, as per the Union Home Ministry.
16. Recently, Esperanza Base on the Antarctic Peninsula reached a temperature of 18.3 °C , thus becoming the hottest on record for continental Antarctica. Esperanza Base is a research station of which country on Antarctica?
[A] France
[B] Portugal
[C] Argentina
[D] England
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Argentina]
Notes:
Esperanza Base (Hope Base) is a permanent, all-year-round Argentine research station in Hope Bay, Trinity Peninsula in Antarctica.
17. Who is the author of “Gandhi’s Hinduism: The Struggle Against Jinnah’s Islam”?
[A] Natwar Singh
[B] M J Akbar
[C] Inder Malhotra
[D] Fatima Zakaria
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [M J Akbar]
Notes:
M.J. Akbar’s new book “Gandhi’s Hinduism – The Struggle Against Jinnah’s Islam” chronicles the endgame that led to the partition of the subcontinent in 1947 and the creation of Pakistan.
18. Giriraj Kishore, who recently passed away recently, was associated with which field?
[A] Literature
[B] Arts
[C] Politics
[D] Sports
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Literature]
Notes:
Renowned writer and academician Giriraj Kishore passed away recently. The Gandhian writer was 82-years-old. He was also the recipient of the prestigious civilian award ‘Padma Shri’.
The famous literary works of Giriraj Kishore include ‘Pahla Girmitiya’ and ‘Dhaai Ghar’. A recipient of ‘Sahitya Samman’, he was also a former member of the Sahitya Academy working committee.
19. American Factory, which won the Oscar for the best feature-length documentary, was produced by which famous American personality?
[A] Donald Trump
[B] Barrack Obama
[C] Hillary Clinton
[D] Tiger Woods
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Barrack Obama]
Notes:
Recently, the Oscar award for best feature-length documentary was presented to ‘American Factory’. It was the first documentary released by Barack and Michelle Obama’s production company named ‘Higher Ground’.
The documentary film was released in the Netflix, and it is about an Ohio auto glass factory that is run by a Chinese investor, who employs American and Chinese workers. Many global issues such as the rights of workers, globalization and automation are focussed in the film.
20. Which automobile firm is set to acquire the automotive business of Ford India?
[A] Mahindra & Mahindra
[B] Tata Motors
[C] Hyundai
[D] Kia Motors
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Mahindra & Mahindra]
Notes:
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has recently approved the formation of Joint Venture (JV) between Mahindra & Mahindra and Ford Motor and the transfer of automotive business of Ford India to the JV.
The new venture to be formed would acquire the automotive business of Ford India Pvt Ltd (FIPL), which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ford Motor company. The automotive business includes manufacturing plants of Ford India in Chennai and Sanand (Gujarat).