11. 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.
12. Who was recently awarded the International Gandhi Awards for Leprosy, by the Indian President?
[A] Dr Mandeep Kumar Bhandari
[B] Dr N.S. Dharmashaktu
[C] Dr. Manohar Agnani
[D] Dr Nipun Vinayak
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Dr N.S. Dharmashaktu]
Notes:
Indian President Ramnath Govind recently conferred the International Gandhi Awards for Leprosy on Dr N.S. Dharmashaktu under the Indian nomination (individual) category. Dr N.S. Dharmashaktu was the former Principal adviser (Public health), Ministry of Health and family welfare.
The Leprosy Mission Trust was presented the award under the institutional category. The President also announced that India has accomplished the level of leprosy elimination which is defined as less than one case per ten thousand population.
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. Which country has reportedly auctioned licenses to hunt elephants, to tackle human-animal conflict?
[A] Zimbabwe
[B] Namibia
[C] Botswana
[D] Mozambique
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Botswana]
Notes:
The South African country Botswana has the largest elephant population in the world. Recently, the country was seen in news as it auctioned licenses to hunt elephants, to tackle human-animal conflict.
In the capital city of the country Gaborone, the licenses to hunt 70 elephants were said to be auctioned. The government had lifted the ban on hunting, which was prevalent for five years.
16. Municipal Performance Index (MPI), is an index recently launched by which organisation/ Ministry?
[A] NITI Aayog
[B] Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs
[C] Ministry of Home Affairs
[D] National Development Council
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs]
Notes:
The Union Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs has recently launched two Assessment Frameworks, namely Ease of Living Index (EoLI) and Municipal Performance Index (MPI) 2019.
The two indices are expected to assess the quality of life of citizens in 100 Smart Cities and 14 other cities, with more than 1 million population. The MPI assesses the performance of municipalities based on five parameters of Service, Finance, Planning, Technology and Governance.
17. Which country won its maiden Under-19 World Cup title, in this year’s ICC World cup cricket tournament?
[A] Afghanistan
[B] Pakistan
[C] Bangladesh
[D] Sri Lanka
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Bangladesh]
Notes:
The Cricket team of Bangladesh has clinched its maiden Under-19 World Cup title, in the ICC World cup 2020 cricket tournament, held at Potchefstroom, South Africa.
They beat the Indian team led by Priyam Garg in the Super League final match, by 3 wickets. The team was announced to have won, by D/L method. This is India’s seventh final appearance and the team has missed to earn its record fifth World Cup title.
18. Which Union Ministry has recently launched the web portal for ‘Star rating of Coal mines’?
[A] Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
[B] Ministry of Coal
[C] Ministry of Mines
[D] Ministry of Earth Sciences
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Coal]
Notes:
Ministry of Coal (MoC) has recently launched a web portal for star rating of coal mines. Under the portal, all operational coal mines across the country will be enabled for self-rating. The mines will be subsequently validated by Coal Controller’s Organization (CCO), the subordinate office of Ministry of Coal.
The mechanism on the portal would award star rating to the mines with certain evaluation parameters under 7 modules.
19. 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.
20. The National Institute of Financial Management (NIFM) is set to be renamed after which former Union Minister?
[A] Jaswant Singh
[B] Yashwant Sinha
[C] Arun Jaitley
[D] Sushma Swaraj
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Arun Jaitley]
Notes:
The Indian government has recently announced that it has decided to rename the National Institute of Financial Management (NIFM), Faridabad, as ‘Arun Jaitley National Institute of Financial Management’ (AJNIFM).
NIFM, Faridabad was established in 1993 under the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance. The Union Finance Minister serves as the President of NIFM. It trains officers of finance and accounts services recruited by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and Indian Cost Accounts Service (ICoAS) officers.