41. 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.
42. Which SAARC member country pledged $1 million to SAARC Coronavirus Emergency Fund?
[A] Afghanistan
[B] Bangladesh
[C] Sri Lanka
[D] Pakistan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Afghanistan]
Notes:
Afghanistan recently pledged $1 million contribution to the SAARC Corona Emergency Fund, which was proposed by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
India proposed an initial contribution of $10 million to tackle the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus. After the announcement, Nepal and Bhutan committed nearly $1 million and $100,000 respectively to the SAARC Corona Emergency Fund. Maldives pledged $ 0.2 million to the fund.
43. Which decade is announced as the International Decade for People of African Descent?
[A] 2012-2021
[B] 2015-2024
[C] 2017-2026
[D] 2020-2029
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [2015-2024]
Notes:
In 2013, the United Nations General Assembly announced the decade commencing 1 January 2015 and ending on 31 December 2024 as the International Decade for People of African Descent. The theme of the international decade is “People of African descent: recognition, justice and development”
Every year, March 21st is celebrated as ‘International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination’ across the world.
44. Which Indian bank announced to provide 0.25% of its annual profit for 2020-21 to fight the coronavirus outbreak in India?
[A] ICICI Bank
[B] HDFC Bank
[C] State Bank of India
[D] Axis Bank
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [State Bank of India]
Notes:
The country’s largest bank State Bank of India (SBI) announced that it will provide 0.25% of its annual profit for the year 2019-20 to support health care for underprivileged people and fight the coronavirus pandemic.
As per the statement of the bank, the contribution will be made from CSR funds. The government has recently notified spending by companies for tackling the coronavirus outbreak as corporate social responsibility (CSR) activity under the Companies law. Recently SBI opened an emergency credit line to meet any liquidity mismatch for its borrowers.
45. A 650 TFLOPS-Supercomputing facility is set to be installed in which institution?
[A] IIT Mumbai
[B] IIT Delhi
[C] IIT Guwahati
[D] IIT Chennai
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [IIT Guwahati]
Notes:
The Technical Advisory Committee of the National Supercomputing Mission (MSM-TAC) has approved the installation of a Supercomputing facility with 650 TFLOPS, at IIT Guwahati, Assam.
The installation of the supercomputing system has been started under the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM). It is co-ordinated by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The mission is being implemented by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Pune, and Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru.
46. A ₹148 crore project of Electric vehicle park and ₹500 crore project of Data centre park are the recent initiatives of which state/UT?
[A] Karnataka
[B] West Bengal
[C] Tamil Nadu
[D] New Delhi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Tamil Nadu]
Notes:
The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has proposed two schemes including ₹148 crore project of Electric vehicle park and ₹500 crore project of Data centre park. The projects are aimed at attracting new investments into Tamil Nadu.
As per his announcement in the Assembly, the electric vehicle park will be set up at Manalur SIPCOT Industrial Estate near Chennai and the data centre park over a 150-acre site near Sriperumbudur. He also announced that a start-up and innovation city with all infrastructure facilities will be established near Chennai, at a cost of ₹350 crore to attract innovative and knowledge-based firms.
47. ‘Mo Jeeban (My Life)’ is an initiative of which Indian state to advise people to stay indoors amid the coronavirus pandemic?
[A] West Bengal
[B] Odisha
[C] Telangana
[D] Bihar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Odisha]
Notes:
Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik launched ‘Mo Jeeban’ programme and advised people to take a pledge for staying indoors to fight the coronavirus outbreak.
The Chief Minister asked people to take oaths of staying indoors and send him those videos. He also asked the people to paste a sticker on the gate of their houses to show their determination to follow this direction.
48. The Members of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) Scheme is implemented by which Union ministry?
[A] Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
[B] Ministry of Home Affairs
[C] Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
[D] Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation]
Notes:
The Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation implements the Members of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) Scheme.
As per the ministry’s latest notification, the Members of Parliament can use the funds allotted to them under the MPLAD scheme to buy testing kits and other medical equipment needed to fight coronavirus pandemic. ₹5 crore is given to every member of the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha, per year under the MPLAD scheme to use for developing the community.
49. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved a ₹1285 Cr project of Aligarh-Harduaganj flyover, which is proposed to be located in which state?
[A] Uttarakhand
[B] Uttar Pradesh
[C] Haryana
[D] Madhya Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Uttar Pradesh]
Notes:
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the construction of 22 km-long railway flyover between Aligarh-Harduaganj in Uttar Pradesh.
The project entails an estimated cost of ₹1,285 crore to remove traffic jam in the area. This project is expected to curb the delays and detention of trains at Aligarh junction. The flyover project is expected to be completed by 2024-25.
50. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has how many members excluding the Chairperson?
[A] Four
[B] Five
[C] Six
[D] Eight
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Six]
Notes:
The Central Board of Direct Taxes is a statutory authority which frames policy for the tax department. It is headed by a Chairperson and composed of six other members.
Recently, Indian Revenue Service officers Satish Kumar Gupta and Krishan Mohan Prasad have been appointed new members in the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT). At present, apart from the Chairman P C Mody, there are three other serving members. After this appointment, there will be one more vacancy in the organisation.