1. The recent #indiasupportscaa campaign was launched via which app?
[A] MyGov
[B] UMANG
[C] Twitter
[D] NaMo
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [NaMo]
Notes:
To gain popular support for the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, #IndiaSupportCAA campaign was launched on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official app, NaMo. It stated that Act is not taking away anybody’s citizenship but is only giving citizenship to the minorities.
2. The Molotov Ribbentrop Pact, which is currently being debated in news, was signed by Nazi Germany with which country?
[A] Soviet Union
[B] Italy
[C] Britain
[D] Poland
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Soviet Union]
Notes:
Eighty years after the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany signed a non-aggression treaty dividing Europe into spheres of influence, Russia has put the original Molotov-Ribbentrop pact and its secret protocol into the public. Alongside the pact, 1938 Munich Agreement and other documents related to the occupation of Czechoslovakia until the outbreak of Second World War was also displayed to state that the west sought to redirect Nazi Germany’s aggression towards Moscow.
3. The Turkey government had recently signed military and maritime agreement with GNA. GNA is _________.
[A] Libya’s interim government
[B] Guinea’s interim government
[C] Nigeria’s interim government
[D] Liberia’s interim government
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Libya’s interim government]
Notes:
Government of National Accord and Turkey had recently inked military and maritime agreement. It is feared by many that it may escalate the war in Libya. The conflict was initiated in 2011 when the NATO-backed uprising had toppled and killed the Libyan dictator.
4. Which nation has recently banned the ‘reef toxic’ sunscreen?
[A] Australia
[B] New Zealand
[C] Palau
[D] Nauru
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Palau]
Notes:
Palau has banned “reef-toxic” sunscreens. The scientific evidence showed that chemicals found in most sunscreens were toxic to corals. Therefore, from New Year’s Day, any reef-toxic sunscreens that are imported or sold in Palau will be confiscated and the owner will be fined.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Which city is host to the 107th edition of the Indian Science Congress (ISC)?
[A] New Delhi
[B] Lucknow
[C] Kolkatta
[D] Bengaluru
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Bengaluru]
Notes:
The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 107th edition of the Indian Science Congress (ISC) at the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka from January 3 to 7, 2020.The theme of the five-day event will be ‘Science and technology: rural development’. The congress would also host various programmes like Women Science Congress, Children Science Congress, Science Communicators Meet and Farmer’s Science Congress.
8. What is the outlay of the National Infrastructure Plan, recently announced the Union Finance Minister?
[A] Rs.72 lakh crore
[B] Rs.82 lakh crore
[C] Rs.92 lakh crore
[D] Rs. 102 lakh crore
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Rs. 102 lakh crore]
Notes:
The Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a ₹102 lakh crore national infrastructure pipeline. The Ministry of Finance had set up a committee headed by Atanu Chakraborty to prepare a road map for the the ₹100 lakh crore ‘National Infrastructure Pipeline’ (NIP) from 2019-20 to 2024-25. In the plan which involves spending in various sectors, the central government and state governments would have an equal share of 39% each and the private sector would have 22% share.
9. When is the World Braille day celebrated every year?
[A] January 2
[B] January 3
[C] January 4
[D] January 5
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [January 4]
Notes:
The World Braille Day is celebrated across the world on the 4th day of January. The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution in November 2018, to announce January 4 as World Braille Day. Following the proclamation, the day has been observed since 2019. According to the World Health Organization, there are 36 million blind people and 216 million people with moderate to severe visual impairment. Invented by Louis Braille, Braille is a representation of letters and number using six dots, which could be interpreted by the visually impaired.
10. The Chief Minister of Kerala recently launched the state’s regulatory authority ‘K-RERA’. The authority is related to which field?
[A] Research
[B] Revenue
[C] Real Estate
[D] Railways
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Real Estate]
Notes:
The Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan recently launched the Kerala Real Estate Regulatory Authority ‘K-RERA’ to boost the confidence of customers and make the real estate sector more transparent. Under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, passed in 2016, all state governments were directed to establish the regulating authority for real estate sector, RERA for regulation and dispute redressal in the sector.