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. As per a recent report on medical data leaks, which state is at the top of Indian states that are affected by leaks in medical details?
[A] Madhya Pradesh
[B] Mizoram
[C] Maharashtra
[D] West Bengal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Maharashtra]
Notes:
A German cybersecurity firm called Greenbone Sustainable Resilience recently published a report on medical data leaks. It revealed that the medical details of more than 120 million Indian patients have been leaked and made available on the Internet.
The state of Maharashtra is placed at the top of the list of states that are affected by the data leak, followed by Karnataka and West Bengal. It also classifies countries in three categories of good, bad and ugly, based on the action taken by the governments after its first report was released. India is placed second in the ugly category.
13. The fifth India-Russia Military Industrial Conference was recently organised in which city?
[A] Moscow
[B] New Delhi
[C] Lucknow
[D] St. Petersburg
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Lucknow]
Notes:
The fifth edition of the India-Russia Military Industrial Conference was recently organised in the northern Indian city, Lucknow. The Conference was organised on the sidelines of the biennial Defence exhibition DefExpo 2020.
As many as 14 MoUs related to production of different defence equipment, radar systems, ASW Rocket launchers and 3D modeling were signed between the companies from India and Russia. Among several Indian companies, the prominent ones which signed the agreements were BHEL, Bharat Dynamics Limited and Vista control.
14. 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.
15. Which city recently organized the Nutan International Theatre Festival (NITF)?
[A] New Delhi
[B] Chandigarh
[C] Jammu
[D] Dehradun
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Jammu]
Notes:
The Nutan International Theatre Festival (NITF) began on Feb 1 in Jammu and has veen a big it. This is first time in history of Jammu & Kashmir that a theatre festival of international repute was organized here.
16. Which sports coach / guru of India has received an honorable mention in the male category of the prestigious 2019 International Olympic Committee’s Coaches Lifetime Achievement Award?
[A] P. Gopichand
[B] Ramakant Achrekar
[C] Mahavir Singh Phogat
[D] Michael Ferreira
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [P. Gopichand]
Notes:
Chief national badminton coach Pullela Gopichand has received an honourable mention in the male category of the prestigious 2019 International Olympic Committee’s Coaches Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of the role he played in the development of the game in the country.
17. 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).
18. Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana is the flagship scheme of which Union Ministry?
[A] Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
[B] Ministry of Tribal Affairs
[C] Ministry of Earth Sciences
[D] Ministry of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Tribal Affairs]
Notes:
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs launched the ‘Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana’ in 2019, through TRIFED. It aims at creating livelihood for tribal people by using the forest produce. Van Dhan Kendras are set up to add branding and packaging their products.
Recently, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Shri Arjun Munda inaugurated the “Workshop on Van Dhan and Entrepreneurship Development” organized by TRIFED (Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India).
19. What is the capital package recently approved for infusion in three state-owned general insurance companies?
[A] Rs. 1000 Cr
[B] Rs. 2500 Cr
[C] Rs. 3000 Cr
[D] Rs. 5000 Cr
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Rs. 2500 Cr]
Notes:
The Union Cabinet approved a proposal for capital infusion and immediate release of Rs 2,500 crore to three state-owned general insurance companies. The three public sector companies are: United India Insurance, National Insurance Company and Oriental Insurance Company.
The capital infusion is announced at the backdrop of their critical financial position and breach of regulatory solvency requirements, stipulated by the insurance regulator IRDAI. The companies are expected to be merged in this year.
20. Global code hosting platform GitHub, which recently launched its operations in India, is owned by which technological company?
[A] Google
[B] Microsoft
[C] Amazon
[D] Apple
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Microsoft]
Notes:
Global open-source code hosting and software development platform GitHub, recently launched its operations in India in the name ‘GitHub India Private Limited’.
It is owned by the Tech major Google, as it acquired the platform two years ago for $7.5 billion. The platform offers distributed version control and source code management. The software development platform is used by several million organisations.