31. The Central bank of which country slashed its benchmark interest rate to almost zero and announced to buy USD 700 billion in bonds?
[A] China
[B] India
[C] United States
[D] Japan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [United States]
Notes:
The Central bank of the United States-the Federal Reserve has recently cut its benchmark interest rate to almost zero.
The Fed Reserve also announced that it would buy $700 billion in bonds to ease the economic activities. The bank also said that it shall maintain this target range until the economy is on track to achieve its maximum employment and price stability goal.
32. Phool Dei is a harvest festival celebrated in which Indian state?
[A] Manipur
[B] Tripur
[C] Uttarakhand
[D] Arunachal Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Uttarakhand]
Notes:
Phool Dei is the harvest festival celebrated in the state of Uttarakhand. The cultural festival is celebrated to mark the beginning of spring season.
It is usually celebrated in the month of Chaitra (March-April) in the Hindu calendar. The people of the state decorate their houses with flowers as a part of the celebration. Children shower flowers at the doorsteps of houses wishing prosperity.
33. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched a book titled ‘Invincible’, based on which Former Union Defence Minister?
[A] Arun Jaitley
[B] Manohar Parrikar
[C] George Fernandes
[D] Jaswant Singh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Manohar Parrikar]
Notes:
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh paid tribute to the late Goa Chief Minister and former Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar ahead of his death anniversary. He also launched a book titled ‘Invincible-A Tribute to Manohar Parrikar’.
Manohar Parrikar was the Chief Minister of Goa passed away due to an illness and he was succeeded by Pramod Sawant as the next Chief Minister. He served as the Defence Minister of India from 2014 to 2017.
34. Which technological firm along with NASSCOM Foundation launched the ‘Innovate for Accessible India’ campaign?
[A] Google
[B] Microsoft
[C] Amazon
[D] Apple
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Microsoft]
Notes:
Microsoft India and NASSCOM Foundation partnered to launch the ‘Innovate for Accessible India’ campaign. The campaign aims at empowering people with disabilities with the technology required for better access to equal opportunities.
The campaign invites applications from students, citizens and social organisations to build customised solutions that address challenges faced by people with disabilities. The ten best solutions will be provided mentoring support by Microsoft and NASSCOM Foundation, along with financial grants.
35. Which Indian state uses robots to spread awareness on COVID-19 among the public?
[A] Andhra Pradesh
[B] Telangana
[C] Kerala
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Kerala]
Notes:
Kerala has launched an initiative to use robots for creating awareness on COVID-19 among the public. Two robots have been built by a start-up in Kerala called Asimov Robotics, under the Kerala Start-up Mission, an initiative by the state government to promote start-up firms.
One wears a mask and distributes hand sanitisers, napkins, and masks to people while the other robot responds to queries. They are deployed in Kochi on a pilot basis.
36. Which Indian state has set up a panel to study the proposal to pay cash directly to labourers’ bank accounts, to protect them from income loss due to COVID-19?
[A] Odisha
[B] Uttar Pradesh
[C] Kerala
[D] Telangana
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Uttar Pradesh]
Notes:
The most populous state of the country, Uttar Pradesh is planning to provide cash transfers to daily-wage labourers to protect them from income loss in economic slowdown due to COVID-19.
The state has set up a panel to study the proposal for transferring cash directly to bank accounts of labourers. The report is expected to be submitted within three days. Several countries have already launched ‘stimulus package’ to protect their economy and working population.
37. 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.
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. What is the name of the initiative launched by the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) to promote entrepreneurship among tribal people?
[A] Tech for Tribals
[B] Tribal Leader
[C] Start your business
[D] Tribal Entrepreneur
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Tech for Tribals]
Notes:
Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) has launched an initiative called ‘Tech for Tribals’ in partnership with Institutes of National Importance (INIs) to promote entrepreneurship among tribal people.
The initiative, which is supported by Ministry of MSME, aims to impart entrepreneurship skills to tribal forest produce gatherers who are enrolled under the Pradhan Mantri VanDhan Yojana (PMVDY). The programme will be conducted for 30 days.
40. What is the theme of the ‘International Day of Forests 2020’?
[A] Forests and Biodiversity
[B] Forests and Humans
[C] Sustainable Forests
[D] Forests save us
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Forests and Biodiversity]
Notes:
The United Nations General Assembly declared 21 March as the International Day of Forests in 2012. United Nations Forum on Forests and the Food and Agriculture Organization are the main organisers of the Forest Day.
The Day is celebrated to raise awareness about the importance of all types of forests. The theme for each International Day of Forests is selected by the Collaborative Partnership on Forests. The theme for 2020 is Forests and Biodiversity.