1. The Prime Minister is going to release the fourth installment of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi. What is the purpose of this scheme?
[A] Farm Loan Waiver
[B] Agricultural loan
[C] Pension for Farmers
[D] Income Support for Farmers
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Income Support for Farmers]
Notes:
The Prime Minister is going to launch the fourth instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, centrally sponsored scheme that provides an income support of Rs. 6,000 annually to all the farmer families in three equal installments.
2. Who received the famous ‘Sangita Kalanithi’ award of the Music Academy, recently?
[A] S. Sowmya
[B] Sudha Ragunathan
[C] Bombay Jeyashree
[D] Aruna Sairam
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [S. Sowmya]
Notes:
The leading Carnatic vocalist S.Sowmya was selected for the ‘Sangita Kalanithi’ award instituted by the Music Academy and recently received the award. Sowmya, a recipient of various awards and titles in her music career, is a visiting faculty at the Madras Advanced School of Carnatic Music, run by the Music Academy. She also serves as the member of the Academic Council of the Tamil Nadu Music and Fine Arts University.
3. The term SPARMVs, sometimes seen in news, is most closely related to which organization?
[A] ISRO
[B] DRDO
[C] Indian Railways
[D] Indian Army
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Indian Railways ]
Notes:
SPARMVs refer to Self Propelled Accident Relief Medical Vans which are vehicles to provide relief during Railway accidents and disasters. Indian Railways is gradually replacing locomotive hauled Accident Relief Medical Vans (ARMVs) with Self Propelled Accident Relief Medical Vans (SPARMVs) to improve response during disaster. Another kind of vehicles, which Railways proposes to include are high speed Self Propelled Accident Relief Trains (HS-SPARTs) with speed of 160 kmph. Railways will soon procure them.
4. The Prime Minister of India recently inaugurated five Young Scientists Labs of which organisation?
[A] Indian Space Research Organisation, ISRO
[B] Defence Research and Development Organisation, DRDO
[C] Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, BARC
[D] Department of Atomic Energy, DAE
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Defence Research and Development Organisation, DRDO]
Notes:
The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi recently launched five new defence laboratories called DRDO Young Scientists Laboratories (DYSL) for the Defence Research and Development Organisation from Bengaluru, Karnataka. The labs will operate from five Indian cities, namely Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkatta. They will focus on developing new and innovative defence technologies for our country and thus enhance our self reliance in the field.
5. Which is the first country to ban sun screens, that are toxic to coral reefs and sea life?
[A] Palau
[B] Philippines
[C] Taiwan
[D] Papua New Guinea
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Palau]
Notes:
Palau, a small island nation in the West Pacific Ocean imposed a ban on sun screens that contain chemicals affecting the coral reefs and other aquatic species. The step is also taken to conserve its Rock Islands Southern Lagoon, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The sun cream with the toxic chemicals including oxybenzone, will not be permitted to be used or sold in the country. Palau is a famous destination among international tourists and is mainly acclaimed for its coral reefs.
6. The Police Department of which state conducts self-defence training program, named ‘Sukanya’ to school girls?
[A] Rajasthan
[B] Punjab
[C] West Bengal
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [West Bengal]
Notes:
The Community Policing wing of Kolkata Police conducts training programs named ‘Sukanya’ to teach self-defence to school girls. The third edition of the programme was recently inaugurated in the state of West Bengal. Under the scheme, training programs are to be conducted to the girls of hundred city-based schools and colleges, which come under the jurisdiction of Kolkata Police. West Bengal Women and Child Development and Social Welfare Department is the funding agency of the scheme.
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. Hyundai partnered with which ride-sharing company to develop electric air taxis?
[A] Didi
[B] Uber
[C] Lyft
[D] Grab
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Uber]
Notes:
Automobile Major Hyundai recently unveiled an air electric taxi, developed in collaboration with Uber, in the Consumer Electronics Show 2020.
According to their partnership, Hyundai will develop and deploy vehicles and Uber will provide support service, ground transport connection and customer Interface. Uber is to launch urban commercial flights by 2023 and Hyundai is its first carmaker partner in the project.
9. Pune is set to host the fifth edition of the Asia Pacific Drosophila Research Conference. What is a Drosophila?
[A] An Insect
[B] A Fish
[C] A plant
[D] Bacteria
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [An Insect]
Notes:
Drosophila is an insect, which is also called as small fruit fly. It belongs to the species of flies and the family of Drosophilidae. This fruit fly serves as the model organism for biological research all over the world.
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) is to organise the fifth edition of the Asia Pacific Drosophila Research Conference (APDRC5) in Pune. The five-day conference will commence from January 6, 2020.
10. Which article of the Indian Constitution confers the Right on minorities to establish and administer educational institutions?
[A] Article 22
[B] Article 25
[C] Article 27
[D] Article 30
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Article 30]
Notes:
Article 30 of the Indian Constitution confers the right on minorities to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice. This right is provided to all language and religious minorities.
The Article was recently in news because the Supreme Court of India held that the appointment of teachers in minority educational institutions can be regulated by the Government and it will not violate Article 30. As per the judgement, the institutions cannot have an absolute right on the appointment.