1. The government had recently launched central Equipment Identity Register portal. It operates under which department?
[A] Department of Science and Technology
[B] Department of Telecom
[C] Department of Biotechnology
[D] Department of Public Enterprise
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Department of Telecom]
Notes:
The Indian government, on December 2019, had launched the Central Equipment Identity Register Portal to block and trace mobile phones. It has the database of the International Mobile Equipment Identity number of the blacklisted mobile phones.
2. Which is the world’s first major city to celebrate the start of the 2020 New Year and new decade?
[A] Sydney
[B] Auckland
[C] Christchurch
[D] Welllington
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Auckland]
Notes:
Auckland in New Zealand has become the world’s first major city to celebrate the start of the 2020. Australia and New Zealand were followed by Europe, the Middle East and Asia to welcome the year 2020. The firework display in Sydney, Australia was put up despite the ongoing bushfire crisis.
3. Wildlife Institute of India (WII) is going to initiate the Asiatic Lion Census in May 2020. What is the IUCN status of the Asiatic Lions?
[A] Endangered
[B] Critically Endangered
[C] Vulnerable
[D] Near threatened
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Endangered]
Notes:
Asiatic Lions are listed as an endangered species by the IUCN. They are currently confined to the Gir National Park. These lions are one among the 5 Pantherine cats living in India. Other Pantherine cats include Bengal Tiger, Snow Leopard, Indian Leopard and Clouded Leopard.
4. What is the name of the award to be given to the states for good agricultural production, by the Prime Minister?
[A] Krishi Samman
[B] Krishi Samridhi
[C] Krishi Karman
[D] Krishi Keerthi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Krishi Karman]
Notes:
The Prime Minister is expected to present the Krishi Karman awards during a function in Karnataka, to 21 states, for their excellent performance in agriculture production. The Krishi Karman award was instituted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers welfare in the year 2010-2011 to recognise the efforts of states in food grain production. Awards are given on the basis of highest total food grain production and highest individual food grain crop production.
5. What is the new integrated helpline number of the Indian Railways, launched recently?
[A] 138
[B] 139
[C] 1071
[D] 1072
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [139]
Notes:
The Indian Railways has recently launched an integrated helpline number ‘139’ for its passengers by merging several other existing helpline numbers. The only other number which can still be used is ‘182’, which is the helpline number for assistance related to theft and criminal issues. This new helpline 139 is based on Interactive Voice Response system (IVRS) and is made available in 12 languages. The number can be even dialled from basic phones.
6. ArogyaSri Scheme, which is an initiative to provide free medical treatment to the poor, is the flagship scheme of which state?
[A] Telengana
[B] Andhra Pradesh
[C] Kerala
[D] Tamil Nadu
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Andhra Pradesh]
Notes:
ArogyaSri Scheme is the flagship scheme of Andhra Pradesh Government is an initiative to provide free medical treatment to the poor. Named as Dr. YSR ArogyaSri scheme, the scheme is available to people with annual income up to Rs. 5 Lakhs. The people will be given cards with QR codes and they can use it for availing treatment above Rs.1000. Under the scheme, several super-speciality hospitals are to be included in the network and various medicines are to be made available in the state government run hospitals.
7. What is the name of the learning platform launched by NSE Academy of National Stock Exchange?
[A] NSE Learning Centre
[B] NSE Knowledge Hub
[C] NSE Learning Academy
[D] NSE Learning Portal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [NSE Knowledge Hub]
Notes:
The subsidiary of National Stock Exchange, NSE Academy recently launched a learning platform named ‘NSE Learning Hub’. This platform is powered by Artificial Intelligence and it is designed to help the Banking and Finance sector in improving the skills of the employees. Union Minister Piyush Goyal launched the platform along with the MD and CEO of National Stock Exchange, Vikram Limaye. The technical experts will use this platform to transfer their financial knowledge to others in the field.
8. The second phase of Intensified Mission Indradhanush 2.0 began recently. What is the scheme associated with?
[A] Merger of Banks
[B] Universal Vaccination
[C] Defence Procurement
[D] Space Mission
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Universal Vaccination ]
Notes:
Mission Indradhanush is a Universal Vaccination Programme launched by the Ministry of Health and Family welfare in 2014. The Intensified Intensified Mission Indradhanush 2.0 is carried out from December 2019 to March 2020.
Under the Indradhanush scheme, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children and pregnant women are vaccinated. The target fixed for the scheme is 2020. Recently the Ministry launched IMI 2.0 portal to record the target and real time data of the campaign.
9. Which Indian city is host to the 1st edition of ‘Khelo India University Games 2020’?
[A] Guwahati
[B] New Delhi
[C] Bhubaneswar
[D] Kolkata
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Bhubaneswar]
Notes:
The Union Sports Minister recently released the schedule of the 1st edition of ‘Khelo India University Games 2020’. The event is to be conducted in Bhubaneswar from February 21 to March 1, 2020.
Students from various universities across the country will take part in the event in 17 different sports. The logo and the jersey of the players were also released by the Sports Minister along the Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik.
10. What is the estimated GDP growth rate of India for 2019-20, according to Central Statistical Office (CSO)?
[A] 6.8%
[B] 6.4%
[C] 6.0%
[D] 5.0%
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [5.0%]
Notes:
The Central Statistical Office recently released the first advance estimates of the Gross Domestic Product of India for 2019-2020. The CSO forecasted the GDP growth rate of India to be 5 % in the current fiscal year.
The CSO had earlier estimated the GDP growth of the previous fiscal to be 6.8%. The reason for the decrease in the growth rate is cited to the slowdown in manufacturing sector. The Reserve Bank of India also estimated 5% as the GDP growth rate for this fiscal.
