11. 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.
12. Arun-III, is the hydropower project of which country, to be built with assistance from India?
[A] Sri Lanka
[B] Bangladesh
[C] Nepal
[D] Bhutan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Nepal]
Notes:
India and Nepal recently signed the financial closure of Arun-III, which is the largest hydropower project of Nepal. The 900 MW hydropower project is under construction in Nepal, with an estimated cost of $1.04 million.
The project, which is to be built with the financial assistance from India, is to be completed in 5 years. It is being built by Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) Arun-III Power Development Company (SAPDC), a joint venture of the Government of India and the Government of Himachal Pradesh.
13. The Pollution Control Board of which state recently received the national award for e-Governance 2019-20?
[A] Odisha
[B] Kerala
[C] Telangana
[D] Andhra Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Andhra Pradesh]
Notes:
The Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) bagged the national award for e-Governance 2019-20 for its Real-Time Pollution-Monitoring System (RTPMS) project, during the 23rd National Conference on e-Governance held in Mumbai.
Under the RPTMS project, an alert is sent to the concerned officials if an industrial unit exceeds the desired pollution levels.
14. Which city is host to the 13th UN Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) (COP 13), 2020?
[A] Mumbai
[B] Madrid
[C] Gandhinagar
[D] Tokyo
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Gandhinagar]
Notes:
The 13th UN Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) (COP 13) is scheduled to be hosted by India in 2020, at Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The COP-13 (Conference of Parties) is to be held from February 15-22, 2020.
It was recently announced that the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the summit. The theme of this year’s summit is, ‘Migratory species connect the planet and we welcome them home’.
15. 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.
16. Which state government recently launched toll-free helpline numbers for students to resolve their queries by experts?
[A] Odisha
[B] Uttar Pradesh
[C] West Bengal
[D] Haryana
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Uttar Pradesh]
Notes:
The state government of Uttar Pradesh has recently launched toll-free helpline numbers for students. This initiative is aimed at solving queries of students ahead of the Board Examinations.
A senior officer of Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad is designated as Nodal Officer of the initiative. Several academicians and experts of different subjects will be made available on call, to resolve the doubts of students.
17. ‘Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi’, is a newly formed district of which state?
[A] Jharkand
[B] Haryana
[C] Chhattisgarh
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Chhattisgarh]
Notes:
Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi was recently inaugurated as the 28th district of the state of Chhattisgarh, by the state’s Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.
The new district, which has been carved out of Bilaspur, has three tehsils and three development blocks namely Gaurela, Pendra and Marwahi. The district has 166 Gram panchayats, 222 villages and two nagar panchayats.
18. The School Health and Wellness Ambassador initiative has been launched under which scheme?
[A] Swachh Bharat Mission
[B] Ayushman Bharat
[C] Poshan Abhiyaan
[D] Fit India Movement
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ayushman Bharat]
Notes:
Union Minister of Health and Union Minister of HRD jointly launched the School Health and Wellness Ambassador initiative under Ayushman Bharat scheme. Under the initiative, two teachers in every school will be designated ‘Health and wellness ambassador’ to create awareness about health issues.
The programme will be implemented in 200 districts, initially and will be linked with other government schemes including Fit India movement, Eat Right campaign, Poshan Abhiyaan.
19. Which product is recently banned in all airports and aircrafts, by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS)?
[A] Alcohol
[B] e-Cigarettes
[C] Drugs
[D] Face masks
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [e-Cigarettes]
Notes:
The regulator of Aviation security in India, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) recently notified that it has banned e-cigarettes and similar products in all airports and aircrafts in India.
It has also prohibited distribution, sale, storage of such products in any airport premises or any aircraft that departs or arrives in India. Last year, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare banned production, sale and import of e-cigarettes, as they include electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS).
20. Which Indian activist was recently presented with the prestigious Dan David Prize?
[A] Gita Sen
[B] Medha Patkar
[C] Indira Jaising
[D] Aruna Roy
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Gita Sen]
Notes:
India’s renowned feminist scholar and activist Gita Sen has won the prestigious Dan David Prize, which annually awards three prizes of $ 1 million to inspiring individuals and organisations across the world.
The Dan David Foundation is headquartered at Tel Aviv University, Israel. Gita Sen is also the Director of a Public Health Foundation of India. She has worked hard in the fields of women’s rights, reproductive and sexual health and poverty eradication.