11. What is the name of the scheme that intends to provide working capital facility of Rs.10,000 per year to urban street vendors of the country?
[A] PM KISAN
[B] MUDRA Yojana
[C] PM SVANIDHI
[D] TLTRO
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [PM SVANIDHI]
Notes:
Under the PM SVANIDHI scheme, urban street vendors are sanctioned with working capital credit facilities upto Rs,10,000 per year by banks. This scheme was launched by the Government of India to provide micro-credit facility to vendors during Covid-19 lockdown.
As per a recent data by the Ministry of Home Affairs, out of the total disbursement under the scheme, private banks have contributed only 1.6%.
12. Who has clinched the Miami Open Men’s tennis title recently?
[A] Hubert Hurkacz
[B] Novak Djokovic
[C] Roger Federer
[D] Andy Murray
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Hubert Hurkacz]
Notes:
Hubert Hurkacz of Poland has recently clinched the Miami Open Men’s title. He defeated Jannik Sinner of Italy to take away the cup.
Presently, he is ranked 37th in the world. He has defeated two top 10 opponents in this tournament. With this he is projected to move up to 16th in world ranking.
13. What is India’s target for ethanol blending in petrol for the year 2022?
[A] 1%
[B] 1.5%
[C] 2%
[D] 10%
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [10%]
Notes:
India has fixed a target of 10% ethanol blending in petrol by the year 2022.
Recently, India has achieved more than 7.2 per cent of ethanol blending in fuel, for the first four months of ethanol supply. Some stated like Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra have achieved 9-9.5% ethanol blending. This shows that India is on track to reach 10% ethanol blend by 2022.
14. Which state has approved ordinance to regulate rent and tenancy agreements, which was promulgated in January 2021?
[A] Gujarat
[B] Uttar Pradesh
[C] Bihar
[D] Madhya Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Uttar Pradesh]
Notes:
The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has approved the Uttar Pradesh Regulation of Urban Premises Tenancy (second) Ordinance 2021.
It aims to reduce tenancy disputes as it makes signing of contract compulsory to rent out a property. There is no clear mechanism for conflict resolution under the present law. It was promulgated and implemented in the state of January 2021.
15. As per the ‘Tribunals Reforms Ordinance’ promulgated recently, the powers of Appellate authorities are vested with which body?
[A] Supreme Court
[B] High Courts
[C] Home Affairs Ministry
[D] Enforcement Directorate
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [High Courts]
Notes:
The Centre promulgated the Tribunal Reforms (Rationalisation and Conditions of Service) Ordinance 2021 recently.
As per the ordinance, existing appellate authorities are replaced and their powers are vested High Courts. The laws covered are Cinematograph Act; Copyright Act; Customs Act; Patents Act; AAI Act; Trade Marks Act; GI of Goods (registration and protection) Act; Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Act and Control of NH (land and traffic) Act.
16. As per the latest World Economic Outlook released by IMF in April 2021, what would be India’s growth rate in FY 22?
[A] 10.5 %
[B] 12.5 %
[C] 14%
[D] 16%
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [12.5 %]
Notes:
The latest edition of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) World Economic Outlook was released recently.
It has raised India’s growth projection to 12.5 per cent for FY22 which made the country rank highest among all countries including both the emerging and advanced economies. This year, the country is expected to contract by 8 per cent.
17. Who was Isamu Akasaki, a Japanese Nobel Laureate who passed away recently?
[A] Author
[B] Scientist
[C] Economist
[D] Artist
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Scientist]
Notes:
Veteran Japanese scientist Isamu Akasaki, who shared a Nobel Prize in physics for the invention of blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs), passed away recently.
Akasaki was one of three Japanese-born researchers who was awarded the 2014 Nobel Prize in physics. He was also a recipient of 2009 Kyoto Prize, Japan’s highest honor, recognizing developments in advanced technology.
18. With reference to astronomy, what is ‘Osiris’, that was seen in the news recently?
[A] Meteor
[B] Black Hole
[C] Exo-Planet
[D] Asteroid
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Exo-Planet]
Notes:
‘Osiris’, which is officially called HD 209458 b, is the first-ever planet the astronomers have spotted beyond the Earth’s solar system.
As per a new study published in Nature, it has been found that six chemicals are present in the atmosphere of Osiris. The composition of the chemicals confirm that the exoplanet is over 100 times farther than its current position, when it came into existence.
19. With reference to Bio-diversity, what is “Orretherium tzen”, which was making news recently?
[A] Plant species
[B] Animal species
[C] Bird species
[D] Bacteria
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Animal species]
Notes:
The fossil of a skunk-like mammal that lived during the age of dinosaurs has been discovered in Patagonia region of Chile, South America.
Named as “Orretherium tzen” meaning ‘Beast of Five Teeth’, it is claimed to have lived lived between 72 and 74 million years ago. It is said to have been a herbivore and said to have lived in South America at the end of the Mesozoic era.
20. The ‘BASIC’ countries have expressed concern on ‘Carbon Border Tax’, proposed by which global association?
[A] G-20
[B] G-7
[C] European Union
[D] OPEC
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [European Union]
Notes:
The Ministers of the BASIC countries- Brazil, South Africa, India and China have announced that the European Union’s plan to impose taxes on carbon at its border are discriminatory and unfair to developing nations.
The EU had proposed to impose a levy on carbon-intensive products imported into the Union from countries which do not have a price on carbon.
