11. Which Metro rail service in India has become the second largest operational metro rail network in the country?
[A] Delhi Metro
[B] Kochi Metro
[C] Hyderabad Metro
[D] Chennai Metro
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Hyderabad Metro]
Notes:
The Chief Minister of Telangana recently flagged off the stretch of Hyderabad Metro between Hyderabad and its sister city Secunderabad. With this, Hyderabad Metro has become the second largest operational metro rail network in the country, only after the Delhi Metro Rail.
Hyderabad Metro is also the biggest metro project in the world in Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode, with a total project cost of ₹20,000 crore, constructed by Larsen & Toubro.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. The National Deworming Day was recently observed across the country, on which date?
[A] February 7
[B] February 8
[C] February 9
[D] February 10
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [February 10]
Notes:
The National Deworming Day was recently observed across the country on February 10. All children and adolescent boys and girls in all states and Union Territories, who are in the age group of 1 to 19 years are given a single dose of the medicine called Albendazole.
The day is observed with an aim of deworming children and adolescents to reduce the occurrence of parasitic worms in intestine. It is observed under the supervision of the Union Ministry of Health and Family welfare.
15. 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.
16. American Factory, which won the Oscar for the best feature-length documentary, was produced by which famous American personality?
[A] Donald Trump
[B] Barrack Obama
[C] Hillary Clinton
[D] Tiger Woods
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Barrack Obama]
Notes:
Recently, the Oscar award for best feature-length documentary was presented to ‘American Factory’. It was the first documentary released by Barack and Michelle Obama’s production company named ‘Higher Ground’.
The documentary film was released in the Netflix, and it is about an Ohio auto glass factory that is run by a Chinese investor, who employs American and Chinese workers. Many global issues such as the rights of workers, globalization and automation are focussed in the film.
17. Which state government recently approved Ground water Act, 2020, to improve groundwater level?
[A] Bihar
[B] Uttar Pradesh
[C] Jharkhand
[D] Rajasthan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Uttar Pradesh]
Notes:
The state cabinet of Uttar Pradesh chaired by its Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath recently approved the Ground water Act, 2020. The act aims at improving the falling groundwater level of the state.
Under the new act, one has to register with the state records before installing submersible pumps either off-line or on-line. It has also ensured provisions for rain water harvesting in all buildings. People who contaminate ground water would be granted penalty and punishment.
18. 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.
19. Rajinder K Pachauri, who recently passed away, was the founder of which Indian research institute?
[A] The Energy Resources Institute (TERI)
[B] Centre for Science and Environment
[C] Agharkar Research Institute
[D] National Institute of Plant Genome Research
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [The Energy Resources Institute (TERI)]
Notes:
Rajinder K Pachauri, who recently passed away, was the founder and chief executive of the New-Delhi based research institute, the Energy Resources Institute (TERI).
He was elected as Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2002, which was established by the World Meteorological Organisation and the United Nations Environment Programme. He had received the Nobel Peace Prize for the year 2007, on behalf of the IPCC, along with former U.S. Vice-President Al Gore.
20. What is the theme of this year’s multilateral naval exercise of India ‘Milan’?
[A] Indian Ocean Co-operation
[B] Synergy Across the Seas
[C] Opportunities Across the Seas
[D] Maritime Challenges
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Synergy Across the Seas]
Notes:
The biggest multilateral naval exercise in the Indian Ocean region, Milan is set to be organised at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The exercise has been hosted by India since 1995.
The exercise is to be conducted in the month of March, which is expected to be attended by as many as forty-two countries, including the US and Russia. The theme for Milan 2020 is ‘Synergy Across the Seas’.