31. In context with the new recruitment system to be followed from 2021 for various government jobs, what does CET stand for?
[A] Common Eligibility Test
[B] Common Entrance Test
[C] Central Eligibility Test
[D] Central Entrance Test
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Common Eligibility Test]
Notes:
As per the recent announcement from Minister for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh, there shall be a common eligibility test (CET) from 2021 for applicants for jobs in railways, banks and lower levels of Central government jobs.
The Centre is to set up an autonomous National Recruitment Agency (NRA) to conduct this online test. The CET is expected to replace the first level tests conducted by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC), the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) and the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS).
32. An important personality in Ambedkar’s historic conversion to Buddhism passed away recently. What is his name?
[A] Santu Mukherjee
[B] Sadanand Fulzele
[C] H R Bhardwaj
[D] Potturi Venkateswar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Sadanand Fulzele]
Notes:
Sadanand Fulzele, the founder secretary of the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Smarak Samiti, recently passed away at the age of 91.
The federation looks after Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur, the site of Babasaheb Ambedkar’s conversion to Buddhism in 1956. Fulzele was a follower of Ambedkar’s ideologies and was instrumental in building the stupa at the place. Fulzele was also the Deputy Mayor of Nagpur when the leader converted along with over 6 lakh followers.
33. Which Indian institution has launched a re-skilling programme for women called ‘Career Back 2 Women’?
[A] Indian Institute of Science
[B] Indian Institute of Management-Ahmadabad
[C] Indian Institute of Technology-Madras
[D] Indian Institute of Technology-Kharagpur
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Indian Institute of Technology-Madras]
Notes:
The Indian Institute of Technology-Madras has recently launched a re-skilling programme for women called ‘Career Back 2 Women’.
The programme aims at offering 150 hours of training to re-skill women who have taken a break from their career. The certification course comprises of artificial intelligence, machine learning, cyber security data science and big data. This programme is done through the Institute’s Digital Skills Academy.
34. The football coach Francisco Garcia, who has recently passed away after contracting coronavirus,belonged to which country?
[A] United States
[B] Spain
[C] South Korea
[D] Thailand
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Spain]
Notes:
Spanish football coach Francisco Garcia has recently passed away after contracting coronavirus, at the age of 21. He is also the youngest victim of the illness in the region.
Garcia was serving as the manager of Atletico Portada Alta’s youth team and he was tested positive for COVID-19 last week. During his treatment, it was found out that he was also suffering from leukaemia. All major football competitions like have been suspended due to coronavirus outbreak.
35. Rishi Sunak, the Finance Minister of which country unveiled a 330-Billion Pound Rescue Package to help fight corona virus?
[A] Sri Lanka
[B] Thailand
[C] United Kingdom
[D] Italy
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [United Kingdom]
Notes:
The first Indian-origin Finance Minister of the United Kingdom Rishi Sunak unveiled a 330-Billion Pound Rescue Package, which aims to help the businesses of the country to survive the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
The £330 billion of loan guarantees will help them meet their day to day needs during the lock-down. He also extended a business rates holiday and cash grant to all businesses in the retail and hospitality sector for 12 months.
36. What will be the economic growth of India in 2020, as predicted by S&P Global Ratings in March 2020?
[A] 5.7%
[B] 5.5%
[C] 5.2%
[D] 5%
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [5.2%]
Notes:
S&P Global Ratings lowered India’s economic growth forecast to 5.2 per cent for the year 2020. The rating agency had earlier predicted the growth rate of 5.7% for 2020.
The agency also estimated that the Asia-Pacific economic growth in 2020 will dip to less than 3 per cent. It also revealed that saying the global economy is entering a recession amidst the coronavirus pandemic.
37. The ‘COVID-19 Economic Response Task Force’, unveiled by the Prime Minister of India, is to be headed by which Union minister?
[A] Piyush Goyal
[B] Harsh Vardhan
[C] Nirmala Sitharaman
[D] Rajnath Singh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Nirmala Sitharaman]
Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his public address, announced the setting up of a COVID-19 economic response task force.
The task force is to be headed by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, to measure the economic impact of the pandemic and take appropriate steps. The Finance Minister is set to meet the Ministers of animal husbandry, dairy and fisheries, civil aviation, tourism and MSME, for getting feedback and assessing the economic impact of COVID-19.
38. Which financial institution is set to launch ‘Swavalamban Express’ Train to promote entrepreneurship?
[A] Small Industries Development Bank of India
[B] National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development
[C] National Housing Bank
[D] Export and Import Bank of India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Small Industries Development Bank of India]
Notes:
The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) said that it will launch Swavalamban Express Train on June 5 this year for budding entrepreneurs.
The Swavalamban Express will travel to 11 cities covering 7,000 km in 15 days. This is a part of its umbrella mission Swavalamban. Under this mission, youths will board the train with an idea and they shall get down with effective business plan after a series of experimental learning
39. Satyarup Siddhanta, who was sometimes seen in news recently, is associated with which field?
[A] Space Research
[B] Mountaineering
[C] Sports
[D] Business
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Mountaineering]
Notes:
Bengaluru-based mountaineer Satyarup Siddhanta was seen in news recently as he has been nominated for the Limca Book of World Records for becoming the first Indian to climb the highest volcanoes of all 7 continents.
He had also been named in the Guinness Book of World Records. He achieved the feat in 2019 and the acknowledgement came recently. He scaled the highest volcano of Antarctica – Mt Sidley as he completes his 7 summits and Volcanic 7 summits. He also holds a world record for being the world’s youngest to summit the highest mountains of each continent.
40. ‘RAISE 2020’, which was seen in news, is the first global Artificial Intelligence Summit of which country?
[A] France
[B] United States
[C] India
[D] United Arab Emirates
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [India]
Notes:
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology is to organise the first Global AI Summit in India (RAISE 2020).
This was in news recently, as the AI summit was postponed to October 5-6, 2020 due to the rising number of cases of Covid-19. It was initially scheduled to be held in the month of April. The summit is to be attended by academics, AI start-ups and big tech firms.