11. Daniele De Rossi, who announced his retirement recently, is a world-cup winning footballer of which country?
[A] Brazil
[B] Italy
[C] Germany
[D] France
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Italy]
Notes:
The ace footballer of the Italy team, Daniele De Rossi recently announced his retirement from professional football. He was associated with the Roma football club and played Serie A league matches for nearly 18 years.
Daniele represented Italy in the 2004 Olympics and he was also a part of the FIFA world cup winning Italy team in 2006. The fourth highest capped player of Italy, retired from the national team in 2017. Recently, he was playing for Argentina’s Boca Juniors club.
12. The second phase of Intensified Mission Indradhanush 2.0 began recently. What is the scheme associated with?
[A] Merger of Banks
[B] Universal Vaccination
[C] Defence Procurement
[D] Space Mission
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Universal Vaccination ]
Notes:
Mission Indradhanush is a Universal Vaccination Programme launched by the Ministry of Health and Family welfare in 2014. The Intensified Intensified Mission Indradhanush 2.0 is carried out from December 2019 to March 2020.
Under the Indradhanush scheme, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children and pregnant women are vaccinated. The target fixed for the scheme is 2020. Recently the Ministry launched IMI 2.0 portal to record the target and real time data of the campaign.
13. What is the estimated GDP growth rate of India for 2019-20, according to Central Statistical Office (CSO)?
[A] 6.8%
[B] 6.4%
[C] 6.0%
[D] 5.0%
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [5.0%]
Notes:
The Central Statistical Office recently released the first advance estimates of the Gross Domestic Product of India for 2019-2020. The CSO forecasted the GDP growth rate of India to be 5 % in the current fiscal year.
The CSO had earlier estimated the GDP growth of the previous fiscal to be 6.8%. The reason for the decrease in the growth rate is cited to the slowdown in manufacturing sector. The Reserve Bank of India also estimated 5% as the GDP growth rate for this fiscal.
14. 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.
15. Which is the first state to integrate its land records with the web portal of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)?
[A] Odisha
[B] Maharashtra
[C] Gujarat
[D] Bihar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Maharashtra]
Notes:
The Department of Agriculture of the state of Maharashtra has seamlessly integrated the state’s land records with the web portal of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). It is the first state in the country to perform such linkage.
After the records are linked online, the farmers are required to provide only their Aadhar number, details of bank and the land records, during the process of insuring crops. The process which is implemented during the current rabi season, is expected to improve efficiency and transparency of the system.
16. According to the recent IMD report, which state had the highest number of deaths due to unusual weather conditions?
[A] Uttar Pradesh
[B] Bihar
[C] Rajasthan
[D] Himachal Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bihar]
Notes:
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recently released a report titled ‘Statement on Climate of India During 2019’. According to the report, almost 1560 people died in 2019 due to unusual weather events including heavy rain and floods, heat wave, lightning and thunderstorm.
With nearly 650 deaths, Bihar had the highest number of people who died due to extremities in weather. The report also cited that five of the eight cyclones that hit India, were on the Arabian Sea, which was against the normal count of 1 cyclone on the west.
17. 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.
18. 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.
19. What is India’s projected growth rate as per first advance estimates of gross domestic product (GDP) growth for 2019-20?
[A] 5%
[B] 5.5%
[C] 6%
[D] 6.5%
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ 5% ]
Notes:
In first week of January, 2020 the government has released the first advance estimates of gross domestic product (GDP) growth for 2019-20. The economy will grow at 5% this year, a massive downgrade from the 7% projected by the Economic Survey last year and much lower than the 6.8% growth in the previous year.
20. Which state is set to conduct a dedicated state-level Adalat for LGBT community?
[A] Telengana
[B] Maharashtra
[C] Kerala
[D] Gujarat
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Kerala]
Notes:
For the first time in the state, the Kerala State Youth Commission has announced that it would conduct a state-level Adalat for LGBT community. The programme would be held at the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram.
The main objective of the Adalat is to encourage the transgender community to come out with their grievances and to make arrangements for redressal of the issues. The Government of Kerala had introduced a Transgender policy in 2015 and it has a dedicated ‘Transgender Cell’ working under the state’s Social Justice Department.