31. Which Indian Table-Tennis player won the men’s singles title at ITTF Challenger plus Oman Open?
[A] Achanta Sharath Kamal
[B] Sathiyan Gnanasekaran
[C] Anthony Amalraj
[D] Soumyajit Ghosh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Achanta Sharath Kamal]
Notes:
The 37-year-old Indian paddler Achanta Sharath Kamal recently won the ITTF Challenger plus Oman Open held in Muscat. Sharath Kamal beat top-seeded Portugal’s Marcos Freitas in the final.
This was his international title after 2010 when Sharath had bagged at Egypt Open. Sharath is the only Indian paddler to become Senior National Champion for nine times. He was presented with the prestigious ‘Padma Shri’ award in 2019.
32. “Chief Ministers Akhannaba Sanaroisingi Tengbang (CMAST)” and “Chief Ministergi Artiste Singgi Tengbang (CMAT)” are the new schemes of which state?
[A] Manipur
[B] Assam
[C] Meghalaya
[D] Nagaland
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Manipur]
Notes:
Chief Minister of Manipur N Biren Singh recently launched two new schemes named “Chief Ministers Akhannaba Sanaroisingi Tengbang (CMAST)” and “Chief Ministergi Artiste Singgi Tengbang (CMAT)” with an outlay of Rs 7.36 crore and Rs.5.7 crore respectively.
The CMAST scheme aims to provide suitable government job to sportspersons who win medals in international events. Incentive to local clubs, cash awards to medal winners, assistance for purchasing sports items are also included. CMAT scheme aims to support artistes in performing arts, literary arts and visual arts.
33. Which European country recently imposed a record 1.1 billion euro fine on tech-firm Apple for its anti-competitive behaviour?
[A] Germany
[B] France
[C] Italy
[D] Spain
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [France]
Notes:
The competition authority of France recently slapped a record 1.1 billion euro (equivalent to $1.2 billion) fine on US tech major Apple.
The fine was imposed for the firm’s anti-competitive behaviour towards its independent retail distributors. The country’s authority announced that it found Apple prevented independent retailers in France from competing on price and allegedly used its economic power on them.
34. 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.
35. ‘Hemostat’ which was in news recently, is a material developed to stop rapid blood loss during accidents. It is made up of which component?
[A] Starch
[B] Plastic
[C] Cotton
[D] Paper
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Starch]
Notes:
Scientists from the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), an autonomous institute under the Department of Science & Technology, have developed a material called ‘Hemostat’.
It is a starch-based ‘hemostat’ developed to stop rapid blood loss during accidents, as it physically absorbs excess fluid and concentrates the natural clotting factors in blood. The product possesses increased absorption capacity, improved absorption, inexpensive and biodegradable.
36. ‘World Cities Summit’ is a global biennial conference hosted by which country?
[A] United Kingdom
[B] Japan
[C] Singapore
[D] United Arab Emirates
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Singapore]
Notes:
‘World Cities Summit’ is a global biennial conference hosted by Singapore. This year, World Cities Summit (WCS) 2020 is scheduled to be held from July 5 to 9.
The theme of this year’s summit as announced by the Singapore government is ‘Liveable and Sustainable Cities: Adapting to a Disrupted World’. Leaders from several governments and industry experts discuss on challenges in climate change, social shifts and technological disruptions.
37. The Scientists of which institution have developed a chemical-free hand sanitiser in India?
[A] Council of Scientific & Industrial Research
[B] Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
[C] National Institute of Biomedical Genomics
[D] Agharkar Research Institute
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Council of Scientific & Industrial Research ]
Notes:
The scientists at Himachal Pradesh based Council of Scientific & Industrial Research -Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT) have developed a chemical-free hand sanitiser in India.
Due to the increasing demand for sanitisers amid the corona virus scare, many companies manufacture fake products. Hence the Scientists have developed this product with the natural constituents and alcohol content as per the guidelines of the World Health Organisation (WHO). Another firm is to commercially produce this sanitiser as per a new agreement.
38. 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.
39. Which country has handed over the Olympic flame to Tokyo 2020 organisers?
[A] China
[B] Greece
[C] Brazil
[D] United Kingdom
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Greece]
Notes:
In a ceremony at iconic Panathenaic stadium of Athens, Greece has handed over the Olympic flame to Tokyo 2020 organisers.
The ceremony did not include the planned cultural ceremonies from Greece or Japan, due to COVID-19 pandemic. The Governing Olympic body of Greece, Hellenic Olympic Committee’s President Spyros Capralos handed the torch over to the Tokyo Organising Committee. The Hellenic Olympic Committee organises the lighting ceremony of Olympic Torch and its relay in Greece.
40. P.K. Banerjee, who recently passed away, was a legendary personality associated with which sports?
[A] Cricket
[B] Football
[C] Hockey
[D] Boxing
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Football]
Notes:
Legendary India footballer P.K. Banerjee recently passed away at the age of 83. He was a member of the 1962 Asian Games gold-medal winning India football team.
The veteran football player scored 65 international goals in a total of 84 appearances for the national team. Banerjee represented India in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics and led India in the 1960 Rome Olympics. The international governing body of Football game, FIFA awarded him the Centennial Order of Merit in 2004.