1. What are ‘the camel’, ‘the mongoose’, ‘kaboom’ and ‘aluminum’ that have been in news recently?
[A] Cricket bats
[B] Military codes
[C] Squadrons
[D] Chess moves
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Cricket bats]
Notes:
These terms were mentioned in the news recently to indicate the different the cricket bats used. “The Camel” bat was recently used by Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan. Mangoose, Kaboom and Aluminium are some of the other names used to describe different cricket bats.
2. Who will launch the “Earthshot Prize” to motivate new solution to tackle climate crisis?
[A] Duke of Cambridge
[B] Queen Elizabeth II
[C] Duke of Sussex
[D] Prince of Wales
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Duke of Cambridge]
Notes:
Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge will launch the environmental prize called the Earthshot. The multi-million pound award will be given to five winners each year for the next 10 years, starting from 2021. Its aim is to provide at least 50 solutions to the world’s greatest problems by 2030.
3. What aspect of agriculture is focused upon by Krishi Karman Award?
[A] Supply
[B] Sales
[C] Production
[D] Water Management
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Production]
Notes:
The Prime Minister is to visit Karnataka on January 2nd and 3rd. He will confer Krishi Karman Award to 21 states that have recorded good agriculture production in various categories during the previous crop seasons.
4. Miss Teen International 2019 was conferred to an individual from which of the following countries?
[A] South Africa
[B] Zimbabwe
[C] India
[D] Pakistan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [India]
Notes:
Miss Teen International is the oldest running teen pageant in the world. Aayushi Dholakia from India had bagged the title of Miss Teen International 2019, becoming the first Asian to do so in the last 27 years. She also won Best in National Costume Award and Best in Speech award.
5. On January 2, 2020, Prakash Parv was celebrated as birth anniversary of which Sikh Guru?
[A] Guru Harkrishan Sahib
[B] Guru Har Rai
[C] Guru Gobind Singh
[D] Guru Teg Bahadur
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Guru Gobind Singh]
Notes:
The birth anniversary of the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh was celebrated across the country and many parts of the world on January 2, 2020. The birth anniversary of a Sikh Guru is also called as “Prakash Parv”. As per the traditional Sikh calendar (Nanakshahi) , birthday of Guru Gobind Singh falls on January 2, this year (Though he was born on 5 January 1666 by Gregorian Calendar). Guru Gobind Singh was named as the tenth Sikh guru, at the age of 9, after the ninth Guru and his father Guru Teg Bahadur was killed.
6. Which portal was recently launched by the Prime Minister in the Indian Science Congress, Bengaluru?
[A] I-STEM
[B] I-SCITECH
[C] I-SCIENCE
[D] I-SPACE
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [I-STEM]
Notes:
The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi has launched the Indian Science Technology and Engineering facilities Map (I-STEM) portal during the Indian Science Congress at Bengaluru. All academic institutions with R&D facility and research labs across the country will list themselves in the portal, so that a live inventory about the research facilities available in India will be created. The researcher can apply online for the research facility after he/she maps it in the portal.
7. Ratna Ojha, who recently passed away was a theatre artist and activist of which state?
[A] Odisha
[B] Meghalaya
[C] Assam
[D] West Bengal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Assam]
Notes:
Veteran Theatre artist and Social Activist of Assam, Ratna Ojha passed away at Guwahati. He played an instrumental role in reviving the theatre play movement of the state. He had also actively participated and addressed demonstrations in several social issues of the country including those against Citizenship amendment act. For his great contribution towards the theatre art, he was honoured with the ‘Natasurya Award’ by the Assam Government.
8. Which Union Ministry recently set up a new division called the ‘New, emerging and strategic technologies (NEST) division’?
[A] Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
[B] Ministry of Communication
[C] Ministry of External Affairs
[D] Ministry of Defence
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Ministry of External Affairs]
Notes:
The Ministry of External Affairs recently announced that it would set up a new division under its aegis called the New, emerging and strategic technologies (NEST) division’. The proposed NEST would act as the nodal division under the ministry for addressing the issues related to emerging technologies. It will help our country to closely work with foreign partners in the field of 5G and artificial intelligence. Recently all companies including the Chinese major Huawei were allowed to participate in 5G trials.
9. The academic centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation is set up in which state?
[A] Kerala
[B] Karnataka
[C] Andhra Pradesh
[D] Tamil Nadu
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Karnataka]
Notes:
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) recently signed an MoU with National Institute of Technology (NITK), Suratkal located in Karnataka, to set up its regional academic centre for space research at the institution. The academic centre would jointly participate in research and development in emerging space technologies. ISRO would also provide an annual financial support of Rs. 2 Crore to the centre for the research projects.
10. Common Service Centre (CSC) recently partnered with which bank for sale of FASTags?
[A] Airtel Payment Bank
[B] Paytm Payment Bank
[C] State Bank of India
[D] Equitas Bank
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Paytm Payment Bank]
Notes:
The Common Service Centre (CSC) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Paytm Payment Bank Ltd (PPBL) for selling digital toll payment tags called FASTags. CSC will integrate its platform with that of the bank to sell the PPBL FASTags. The digital tags are made mandatory to be fixed in all vehicles from December last year. The Common Service Centres sell the FASTags through its Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs). Earlier CSCs had integrated with State Bank of India, Equitas Bank and HDFC Bank for sale of FASTags.