11. Which Indian city was recently certified formally as a World Heritage site by UNESCO?
[A] Varanasi
[B] Ahmedabad
[C] Jaipur
[D] Nagpur
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Jaipur]
Notes:
The Pink City of India, Jaipur was formally certified as a World Heritage site by the Director General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay. The World Heritage City certificate was presented at a ceremony held at the historic Albert Hall of Jaipur.
It was also announced that UNESCO would collaborate with the Tourism department of Rajasthan Government to promote tourism sector in Western Rajasthan. The walled city of Jaipur was named as a UNESCO World Heritage site in July 2019, at the 43rd Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in the city of Baku, Azerbaijan.
12. Israel’s Elbit Systems recently signed an MoU with which Indian company for developing an unmanned aerial vehicle?
[A] Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
[B] Defence Research and Development Organisation
[C] Bharat Electronics Limited
[D] Indian Space Research Organisation
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Hindustan Aeronautics Limited]
Notes:
During the on-going exhibition DefExpo-2020, an MoU was signed between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Israel’s Elbit Systems, for joint development of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
The agreement aims at analysing the feasibility of developing an UAV, which performs vertical take-off and landing, for maritime and land-based military operations. The proposed UAV will cut down the huge costs associated with maintenance of manned helicopters. The vehicles with greater potential, will also be more efficient in military operations. The Indian armed forces could deploy them for operating in unsafe areas or for surveillance missions.
13. Fashion E-Commerce portal Jabong, which was shut down recently, was owned by which company?
[A] Amazon
[B] Flipkart
[C] Snapdeal
[D] Shopclues
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Flipkart]
Notes:
E-Commerce major Flipkart recently shut down its Jabong- lifestyle and fashion e-commerce portal. The users are being redirected to the website of its another fashion company, Myntra.
Flipkart, which is now owned by Walmart, had acquired Jabong for $70 million four years back. As there was a dip in number of app downloads and its business, the portal was closed. Myntra was acquired by Flipkart in the year 2014. After it was bought by Walmart, Flipkart had merged Myntra and Jabong.
14. As per the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), what was the Unemployment rate in the country in 2017-18?
[A] 4.8%
[B] 5.8%
[C] 6.1%
[D] 6.8%
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [6.1%]
Notes:
Minister of State for Labour Santosh Gangwar recently announced that the government is conducting a new Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS). The survey conducted this year comprises of new parameters and bigger sample size.
As per the results of the PLFS survey being conducted by the government, the Unemployment rate in the country in 2017-18 was 6.1 per cent. The labour force participation in the country in the same time period was found to be 36.9 per cent. The Minister also announced that the new survey conducted through the Ministry of Statistics provides more authentic data.
15. Which Indian PSU signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with RailTel Corporation of India for mutual co-operation in communication and defence projects?
[A] Bharat Electronics Limited
[B] Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
[C] Defence Research and Development Organisation
[D] Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Bharat Electronics Limited]
Notes:
India’s leading defence PSU Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with RailTel Corporation of India for mutual co-operation in the fields of Cloud Services, IoT, e-Governance and Networks for Defence projects.
BEL also signed an agreement with a Bengaluru-based start-up, Newspace & Research Technologies Limited (NRT), for co-operation in design, testing and supply of Unmanned Systems. The PSU also partnered with Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) to develop and market products for defence and non-defence applications. All the agreements were inked during the ongoing defence exhibition-DefExpo 2020, at Lucknow.
16. The term “SPICe”, sometimes seen in news, is related to which of the following fields?
[A] Science & Technology
[B] Environment Protection
[C] Business & Economy
[D] Defence and Arms Production
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Business & Economy]
Notes:
Ministry of Corporate Affairs is replacing the existing SPICe (Simplified Proforma for Incorporating Company Electronically) form with a new web form called SPICe+. The existing form, which is used for reservation of name, company incorporation, DIN allotment, and application for PAN/TAN, in its new avatar, would offer 10 services by three central government ministries and departments.
17. Which Indian crop faces danger due to a fungus called Alternaria brassicae as per recent news?
[A] Rice
[B] Wheat
[C] Mustard
[D] Sugarcane
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Mustard]
Notes:
Alternaria brassicae is a fungus that causes blight in the Mustard and Rapeseed crops. Yield in a field infected by fungus Alternaria brassicae can come down by as much as by 47 per cent, if remedial measures are not taken.
18. Pinelopi Koujianou Goldberg, who recently submitted her resignation, was associated with which global organisation?
[A] World Bank
[B] International Monetary Fund
[C] United Nations
[D] Asian Development Bank
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [World Bank]
Notes:
The Chief economist of World Bank, Pinelopi Koujianou Goldberg recently announced her resignation. The economist is expected to step down from her role on March 1 and return to teach at Yale University.
Pinelopi Koujianou assumed charge as the Chief economist at the end of April 2018. World Bank President David Malpass announced that Research Director Aart Kraay would take over as an interim Chief economist.
19. Recently, the Supreme Court of India upheld the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act. When was the original act of 1989 amended?
[A] 2016
[B] 2017
[C] 2018
[D] 2019
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [2018]
Notes:
The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act of 1989 was legislated to protect the scheduled communities from harassments and atrocities.
In March 2018, the Supreme court gave a judgement diluting the original act and it even granted anticipatory bail for those booked in the atrocity case. After huge protest, the government amended the original act and passed the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2018. This amendment has been upheld by the apex court.
20. 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.