1. 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.
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. 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.
4. ISRO is to set up its second launch port in Tamilnadu for SSLV. What does SSLV stand for?
[A] Space Satellite Launch Vehicle
[B] Speed Satellite Launch Vehicle
[C] Small Satellite Launch Vehicle
[D] Solar Satellite Launch Vehicle
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Small Satellite Launch Vehicle]
Notes:
The Indian Space Research Organisation is to set up its second launch port in Thoothukodi district of southern Tamilnadu. The Government of Tamilnadu will arrange nearly 2300 acres of land for the construction of the launch centre. The proposed launch port will mainly handle the Small Satellite Launch vehicle (SSLV), which is under development. SSLVs will be used to carry a payload of up to 500 kg and are expected to be deployed in the first half of 2020.
5. Australia recently witnessed which disaster that killed many lives and caused huge destruction?
[A] Flood
[B] Cyclone
[C] Wild fires
[D] Tsunami
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Wild fires]
Notes:
Australia recently witnessed severe wild fires that killed nearly 25 people and destroyed several homes across the country. More than hundred bush fires were burning in New South Wales and they could not be controlled. Several million animals are also reported to be killed by the severity of bush fires. Scientists have cited Global warming to be the reason of this early and devastating wild fires.
6. Which famous actress won the ‘Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama’ award in the Golden Globe awards 2020?
[A] Awkwafina
[B] Laura Dern
[C] Renee Zellweger
[D] Angelina Jolie
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Renee Zellweger]
Notes:
Academy award winning American actress Renee Zellweger won the ‘Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama’ award in the Golden Globe awards 2020. With this year’s award, Zellweger has been presented with the coveted Golden Globe awards for the fourth time. In the biopic film ‘Judy’, she had played the critically acclaimed role of Judy Garland. She had earlier won the Academy award for best supporting actress for her role in the movie titled ‘Cold Mountain’.
7. The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) which recently discovered a new habitable exoplanet, belongs to which space agency?
[A] Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
[B] National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
[C] Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
[D] China National Space Administration (CNSA)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)]
Notes:
The planet finder satellite of NASA, named the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) recently discovered a new exoplanet in the habitable region of its host star.
The newly found exoplanet, known as ‘TOI 700 d’ has approximately the same size of the Earth. The Space Scientists of NASA also announced that the exoplanet is only 101.5 light years from the earth, making it easy for further observations and research.
8. Which state government has started a project to save paper by using digital medium for administrative work?
[A] Odisha
[B] Kerala
[C] West Bengal
[D] Telengana
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [West Bengal ]
Notes:
The State Government of West Bengal has started an environmental-friendly project to save paper. It has also decided to use digital medium for most administrative works. The State Secretariat,Nabanna already follows the method, which will be extended to other districts as well.
The government also proposed to recycle the paper used for administrative purpose, by converting them into writing pads and reusing them. The process is to be continuously monitored by the state secretariat.
9. The ‘National Traders convention’ was held in which Indian city recently?
[A] Mumbai
[B] Lucknow
[C] New Delhi
[D] Varanasi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [New Delhi]
Notes:
The National Traders Convention was recently inaugurated by the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi. The three-day event is organised by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) and it will highlight the issues faced by the traders.
On the second day, The Union Finance Minister participated in the event and addressed the traders. She assured that the Goods and Service Tax (GST) would be further simplified. Recently Government constituted a committee under the Revenue Secretary for rationalising the GST tax structure.
10. What will the GDP growth rate of India for FY20, as estimated by the State Bank of India’s economic research department?
[A] 5.6%
[B] 5.4%
[C] 4.8%
[D] 4.6%
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [4.6%]
Notes:
The State Bank of India’s economic research department has lowered its projection for the GDP growth rate of India for FY 20 to 4.6%. Earlier it has projected the GDP rate to be 5%.
The research department also estimated that the GDP of India would be below 6% for two successive years. The CSO also recently estimated the GDP growth of FY20 to be 5%, in lines with the Reserve Bank of India. But the RBI projected 5.9 – 6.3% growth rate for the next fiscal.