31. Which debutant film-maker has been selected for the Gollapudi Srinivas National Award 2019, along with Aditya Dhar?
[A] Prem Kumar
[B] Madhu C. Narayanan
[C] Konkona Sen Sharma
[D] Prithviraj Sukumaran
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Madhu C. Narayanan]
Notes:
The Gollapudi Srinivas National Award 2019 is to be presented jointly to two debutant film-makers for the first time since 23 years of its inception.
Aditya Dhar for the Hindi film ‘Uri: The Surgical Strike’ and Madhu C. Narayanan for the Malayalam movie ‘Kumbalangi Nights’ are selected as the winners. Both the filmmakers will be awarded at a ceremony in Chennai. The award was established in 1998 after Gollapudi Srinivas, a young director, who passed away tragically.
32. Which former Chief Justice of India has been nominated to Rajya Sabha?
[A] Ranjan Gogoi
[B] Dipak Misra
[C] Jagdish Singh Khehar
[D] T. S. Thakur
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ranjan Gogoi ]
Notes:
The former Chief Justice of India, Ranjan Gogoi has been nominated to Rajya Sabha by the President Ram Nath Kovind, as per the notification of the Union Home Ministry
The nomination is done to fill the vacancy arising due to retirement of one of the members. The maximum strength of Rajya Sabha is 250 members out of which 12 are nominated by the President of India. Gogoi was the 46th Chief Justice in India and was known for his several landmark judgments.
33. As per the recent notification from the Reserve Bank of India, PAs are to be regulated by the central bank. What does ‘PA’ stand for?
[A] Payment Agency
[B] Payment Aggregator
[C] Payment Authority
[D] Processing Authority
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Payment Aggregator]
Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India recently announced that it will regulate the entire activities of Payment Aggregators (PAs). Payment Aggregators enable the e-commerce sites and merchants to accept various payment instruments from the customers.
As per the guidelines on regulation of PAs and Payment gateways (PGs), the existing PAs should attain a net-worth of Rs 15 crore by March 31, 2021 and a net-worth of Rs 25 crore on or before March 31, 2023. Thereafter the net-worth of Rs 25 crore shall be maintained at all times.
34. In context with the recently passed Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020, how many regulatory institutions are to be converted into statutory bodies?
[A] 2
[B] 3
[C] 4
[D] 5
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [3]
Notes:
A bill that seeks to convert three existing regulatory bodies under the Civil Aviation Ministry into statutory bodies was passed by Lok Sabha. The Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020 was passed by a voice vote and the bill seeks to amend Aircraft Act, 1934.
The regulatory institutions, which are mentioned in the bill are DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation), BCAS (Bureau of Civil Aviation Security) and AAIB (Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau).
35. 12 journalists were selected for Road Safety Media Fellowship 2019, which is implemented by Centre for Media Studies (CMS) in association with which global organisation?
[A] United Nations
[B] World Bank
[C] World Health Organization
[D] UNESCO
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [World Health Organization]
Notes:
Centre for Media Studies (CMS) in partnership with World Health Organization (WHO) is implementing a media fellowship programme on road safety, called WHO Road Safety Media Fellowship.
Recently it was offered to 12 journalists based in Delhi and Karnataka from print, broadcast and online media of Hindi, English and Kannada languages. The fellowship is aimed at improving the capacities of journalists in coverage of news related to road safety.
36. The study of the fossil of a fish called Elpistostege watsoni revealed the evolutionary origin of which part of the human body?
[A] Heart
[B] Hand
[C] Lungs
[D] Brain
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Hand]
Notes:
The recent research of the fossil of a fish called Elpistostege watsoni has revealed the evolutionary origin of human hands.
After the research on the fossil of the fish, which was believed to be in today’s Canada about 380 million years ago, scientists have found the evolutionary origins. This research represents a crucial stage in the history of life on Earth especially the transition of fish to land vertebrates.
37. What is the economic growth of India in FY 2020-21, as estimated by Fitch Ratings?
[A] 5.7%
[B] 5.5%
[C] 5.3%
[D] 5.1%
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [5.1%]
Notes:
Fitch Ratings has recently cut India growth forecast to 5.1 per cent for FY 2020-21. Fitch had projected India to grow at 5.6 per cent in 2020-21 and 6.5 per cent in the following year, in its previous report released in December 2019.
In its Global Economic Outlook 2020, Fitch also estimated that India will witness increased number of people affected by coronavirus, in the coming weeks. It also announced that the outbreak will remain contained amidst the downside risks to this scenario.
38. According to the World Happiness Report 2020, which is the happiest country in the world?
[A] United States
[B] Norway
[C] Finland
[D] Switzerland
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Finland]
Notes:
The World Happiness Report is published by the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Solutions Network. This year, the report has ranked Finland as the happiest country for the third time in a row.
People in 156 countries were asked to evaluate their own levels of happiness while measures like GDP, social support, personal freedom and levels of corruption were also considered to arrive at a score. This year, the rankings are based on data collected in 2017-2019. India is ranked 144 in the list of 156 countries.
39. Former RBI Deputy governor R Gandhi and Ananth Narayan have been appointed on the board of which Indian bank?
[A] State Bank of India
[B] Punjab National Bank
[C] Yes Bank
[D] Bank of Baroda
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Yes Bank]
Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has appointed former RBI Deputy Governor R Gandhi and former banker Ananth Narayan on the board of Yes Bank.
They have been appointed as Additional directors on the board for two years. Ananth Narayan was serving as the regional head of financial markets in the Standard Chartered Bank. R Gandhi was earlier appointed to Yes Bank’s board last year. Prashant Kumar has been appointed Chief Executive of Yes Bank.
40. When is the International Day of Happiness celebrated all over the world?
[A] March 20
[B] March 21
[C] March 22
[D] March 23
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [March 20]
Notes:
The International Day of Happiness is celebrated on March 20 all over the world. The General Assembly of the United Nations proclaimed 20 March the International Day of Happiness in 2012.
The day is celebrated to highlight the relevance of happiness as universal goal in the lives of human beings and to reflect it in public policy objectives. The resolution to the United Nations was initiated by Bhutan, the country which adopted the goal of Gross National Happiness over Gross National Product.