11. Britain’s Prince Charles has launched a new Children’s protection fund for which Asian country?
[A] Sri Lanka
[B] India
[C] Bangladesh
[D] Nepal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [India]
Notes:
The Prince of Britain, Charles has recently unveiled a new children’s protection fund for India. This fund is a part of the charity founded by him in 2007, the British Asian Trust. The trust was founded to fight poverty in South Asia.
Noted American singer Katy Perry was named as the ambassador of the new fund. The Protection fund will focus on reducing the exploitation of children by 50 per cent in India over 10 years. The Children’s Protection Fund will primarily cover child sexual abuse, child labour and trafficking. School safety nets are also proposed to be aet up through child-friendly village models.
12. 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.
13. The Belum Caves festival was recently organized in which state?
[A] Maharashtra
[B] Andhra Pradesh
[C] Karnataka
[D] Tamil Nadu
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Andhra Pradesh]
Notes:
Belum cave system is the largest cave system open to the public on Indian subcontinent extending about 3,229 meters. It is located in Kurnool District of Andhra Pradesh. The recently concluded Belum Caves festival promoted the caves system.
14. Which state announced that a centre called ‘Bharosa centre’, to monitor the impact of social media on youth?
[A] Uttar Pradesh
[B] Maharashtra
[C] Madhya Pradesh
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Maharashtra]
Notes:
The state of Maharashtra recently announced that ‘Bharosa Centre’ would be launched in the state to monitor the impact of social media on youth.
The proposed Centre would comprise a psychologist, woman police officer and counsellor in the Raigad district of the state to monitor the impact of social media on youth. The announcement was made during the closing ceremony of the seventh Aurangabad International Film Festival.
15. Which city is host to the 33rd African Union (AU) summit, being held recently?
[A] Addis Ababa
[B] Nairobi
[C] Cairo
[D] Harare
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Addis Ababa]
Notes:
The 33rd African Union (AU) summit has commenced recently in Addis Ababa, the capital of the African nation Ethiopia. The summit is being held under the theme ‘Silencing the Guns: Creating conducive conditions for Africa’s development’.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, took over as the African Union chair, from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Heads of countries and government officials from across Africa have assembled in the city for participating in the summit.
16. Which Union Ministry releases the Public Enterprises Survey, on the performances of Central Public Sector Enterprises?
[A] Ministry of Finance
[B] Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
[C] Ministry of Corporate Affairs
[D] Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises]
Notes:
The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) under the Union Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, releases the annual Public Sector Enterprises Survey, on the performance of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs).
Recently, the Public Enterprises Survey -2018-19 was tabled in both the Houses of Parliament, which stated that BSNL, Air India and MTNL are the top loss-making PSUs for the third consecutive year. The top three profit-making PSUs include Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Indian Oil Corporation and NTPC.
17. Which state government recently launched the ‘Reading Mission’ initiative for students?
[A] Odisha
[B] Kerala
[C] Haryana
[D] West Bengal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Haryana]
Notes:
The state government of Haryana has launched an initiative called ‘Reading Mission- Haryana’. The initiative was launched to encourage reading habit among the young students of the state.
The scheme is on the lines of the ‘Reading Mission 2022’, launched by the central government. Under the state’s initiative, monthly book review sessions and mass book reading are to be organised by students in educational institutions.
18. Which famous cricketer of Australia received the Allan Border medal from Cricket Australia?
[A] Aaron Finch
[B] Marnus Labuschagne
[C] David Warner
[D] Steven Smith
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [David Warner]
Notes:
The 33-year-old cricket star of Australia, David Warner won the Allan Border medal of Cricket Australia, for being the Player of the year.
He had been suspended in 2018 for ball-tampering. This is Warner’s third award after he won the coveted award in 2016 and 2017. He was also named the T20 player of the year. Women’s all-rounder Ellyse Perry won the Belinda Clark award.
19. Electronic Dealer Financing Scheme (e-DFS) is a flagship product of which Indian public sector bank?
[A] State Bank of India
[B] Bank of Baroda
[C] Punjab National Bank
[D] Union Bank of India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [State Bank of India]
Notes:
State Bank of India (SBI) recently partnered with the mobile phone manufacturer Realme, to offer credit facilities. The partnership is made under the bank’s electronic lending product- Electronic Dealer Financing Scheme (e-DFS).
Under this MoU, the dealers and distributors of Realme would get access to credit facilities at low interest rates and minimum collateral. The inventory transactions could also be reported real-time, using the product.
20. 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.