11. A devastating earthquake hit Puerto Rico recently. Which is the capital city of Puerto-Rico?
[A] Santo Domingo
[B] San Juan
[C] Kingston
[D] Havana
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [San Juan]
Notes:
The Government of Puerto Rico recently declared a state of emergency, after it was hit by a deadly earthquake. The 6.4 magnitude quake was the strongest and the most devastating earthquake, the country has ever had for hundred years.
Puerto Rico is a group of islands located in the Caribbean Sea. It is one of the unincorporated territories of the United States. The capital city and the largest city of the country is San Juan.
12. The Court of which country ordered the government to impose a ban on single use plastic?
[A] Thailand
[B] Vietnam
[C] Nepal
[D] Bangladesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Bangladesh]
Notes:
The Bangladesh High Court recently ordered the Government to impose a ban on single use plastic in the country’s coastal areas and hotels.
Polythene has been banned in the country since 2002, but the usage of polythene could not be controlled in the country. Hence the court ordered to enforce the ban in a strict manner across the nation within one year from the order.
13. Madhavpur Mela is a famous attraction of which state of India?
[A] Rajasthan
[B] Gujarat
[C] Madhya Pradesh
[D] Haryana
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [ Gujarat ]
Notes:
Madhavpur Mela is a weeklong cultural festival of Gujarat to be held at Madhavpur Ghed in Porbandar district in April, 2020, a day after Ram Navami festival. This year, eight states of the Northern Eastern region will participate.
14. How many routes have been identified by NITI Aayog and Indian Railways towards running Private Trains in India?
[A] 100
[B] 120
[C] 150
[D] 200
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ 100 ]
Notes:
Niti Aayog and Indian Railways have recently released a discussion paper for running 150 trains on 100 routes by private operators. The plan envisages a total investment of Rs. 22500 crore. The discussion paper titled ‘Private Participation: Passenger Trains’ has identified 100 routes, including Mumbai Central-New Delhi, New Delhi- Patna, Allahabad-Pune and Dadar-Vadodara.
15. Which country has recently proposed a “Global Electricity Grid”?
[A] China
[B] India
[C] United States
[D] Australia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [ India ]
Notes:
Proposed “Global Electricity Grid” was an idea mooted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The grid plans to leverage solar power generated in one geography to feed the electricity demands of other nations. India is reportedly in talks with World Bank as its technical partner to implement the plan.
16. Which Union Ministry is set to launch a program for development of eastern states called ‘Purvodaya’?
[A] Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
[B] Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
[C] Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region
[D] Ministry of Steel
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Ministry of Steel]
Notes:
The Union Ministry of Steel is to launch a program called ‘Purvodaya-Accelerated Development of Eastern Region through an Integrated Steel hub’. The Union Minister for Steel and Petroleum & Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan will launch the program.
The Eastern states of India such as Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Northern Andhra Pradesh possess a huge share of reserves but lag in development. This proposed Integrated Steel Hub in the Eastern region would lead to an inclusive socio-economic development in the region.
17. Union Minister Smriti Irani recently launched a welfare scheme named ‘Yashaswini’ from Goa. What does the scheme aim at?
[A] Vaccination to Children
[B] Assistance to women Self Help Groups
[C] Cleaning of Beaches
[D] Assistance to schools
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Assistance to women Self Help Groups]
Notes:
Union Minister for Women and Child Development and Textiles, Smriti Irani recently launched a scheme named ‘Yashaswini’ from Goa. It is a women empowerment scheme, which aims at supporting women Self Help Groups (SHGs) with interest free loans up to ₹5 lakh. The scheme will also help them to get guidance from experts.
During the event, the Minister also launched Swasthya Sakhi Project and a mobile breast cancer screening initiative, which will be carried out by Anganwadi workers to screen all women of Goa for breast cancer.
18. Which country recently launched a driver-less bullet train with the speed up to 350 km/h?
[A] Russia
[B] China
[C] Singapore
[D] USA
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [China]
Notes:
China recently added a significant bullet train to its Fuxing series of bullet trains. The recently added train is capable to ply with a speed up to 350 kilometres per hour. Another great feature of the train is it could run without a driver for operating the train.
The new train would connect the cities of Beijing and Zhangjiakou and is expected to be deployed during the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Each seat of the train is furnished with a touch screen and a wireless charging port. The train also features 5G connectivity and removable seats to assist Paralympians.
19. The Vice President of India is to inaugurate the Centre of Excellence for studies of which Indian language, in Nellore?
[A] Kannada
[B] Telugu
[C] Tamil
[D] Malayalam
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Telugu]
Notes:
The Vice President of India Venkaiah Naidu is to inaugurate the Centre of Excellence for studies in Classical Telugu in Nellore.
Venkaiah Naidu had earlier suggested the Union Government to shift the Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Telugu, situated in the Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysuru, to one of the Telugu States. It has now been shifted to Nellore in Andhra Pradesh. The centre performs several activities research on the evolution of the Telugu script, digitisation, and publishing of classical Telugu literature.
20. The Indian Navy recently revised its fuel standards to bring down its carbon footprint, by conducting a study with which Indian Oil and Gas company?
[A] Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited
[B] Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited
[C] Indian Oil Corporation Limited
[D] Oil and Natural Gas Corporation
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Indian Oil Corporation Limited]
Notes:
The Indian Navy recently carried out an extensive study in collaboration with Indian Oil Corporation Limited about the existing international regulations in fuel standards. The study resulted in a revised technical specification, which will ensure a better-quality fuel and a reduced carbon footprint.
The new fuel (High Flash High-Speed Diesel) HFHSD – IN 512, with revised technical specifications was launched recently. The modified fuel will be supplied by the Haldia and Paradip refineries of the IOCL.