1. Which two cities are additionally selected by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban affairs to be made as smart cities?
[A] Leh and Kargil
[B] Ludhiana and Amritsar
[C] Jaipur and Jodhpur
[D] Gangtok and Namchi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Leh and Kargil]
Notes:
The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban affairs has formed a five-member central team under Smart Cities Director Rahul Kapoor.
The panel will formulate project reports for both the cities, to improve infrastructure and employment opportunities in Ladakh. These cities have been selected in addition to the 100 smart cities in different states. This idea was initially proposed by the Home Affairs Ministry.
2. Which technology company released the ‘Security Endpoint Threat Report 2019’?
[A] Google
[B] Microsoft
[C] Amazon
[D] Apple
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Microsoft]
Notes:
Major technology company Microsoft has unveiled the latest edition of its Security Endpoint Threat Report 2019.
As per the report, India has been placed among the countries with the highest cryptocurrency mining encounters in the last year. India registered the seventh highest malware encounter rate in the past year and the third highest ransomware encounter rate across the Asia-Pacific region.
3. Who is the head of the Sports Ministry’s committee to select this year’s National Sports Awards winners?
[A] Mukundakam Sharma
[B] S B Sinha
[C] Markandey Katju
[D] Jagannadha Rao
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Mukundakam Sharma]
Notes:
The Sports Ministry has constituted a 12-member committee to select this year’s National Sports Awards winners.
The committee is to be headed by retired Supreme Court Justice, Mukundakam Sharma. It will select the award winners among both athletes and coaches. The members include Former India Cricketer Virender Sehwag, Hockey star Sardar Singh and Paralympic silver-medallist Deepa Malik.
4. SABIC chemical plant that is set to become the world’s first to run entirely on renewable power, is located in which country?
[A] Russia
[B] Spain
[C] Germany
[D] United Kingdom
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Spain]
Notes:
Global chemical company SABIC’s polycarbonate plant in Spain is set to become the world’s first that will run entirely on renewable power.
The Riyadh-headquartered company has signed a major agreement with an electricity utility company Iberdrola, in this regard. This plant is expected to be completely operational by the year 2024.
5. Who is the Chairman of the High-Level Group on Agricultural Exports set up by the Fifteenth Finance Commission?
[A] Narendra Singh Tomar
[B] Radha Singh
[C] Sanjiv Puri
[D] Preeti Sudan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Sanjiv Puri]
Notes:
The 15th Finance Commission had set up an eight-member High-Level Group on Agricultural Exports headed by the Chairman of ITC, Sanjiv Puri.
It was set up to recommend performance incentives for States to encourage agricultural exports. The group has recently submitted the report that recommended a State-led Export Plan for a crop Value chain cluster (VCC). It also suggested to focus on 22 crop value chains.
6. Hamed Bakayoko has been named as the Prime Minister of which country?
[A] Ivory Coast
[B] Guinea
[C] Liberia
[D] Ghana
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ivory Coast]
Notes:
The former Defence Minister of the African country Ivory Coast Hamed Bakayoko, has been recently named as the Prime Minister of the country.
Earlier, the previous Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly passed away suddenly on July 8 and Hamed Bakayoko has been serving as the acting Prime Minister. The 55-year old leader has been serving as the Defence Minister since 2017 after serving as the Interior Minister since 2011.
7. Which global firm became the world’s most valuable publicly listed company, after surpassing Saudi Aramco?
[A] Apple
[B] Amazon
[C] Reliance
[D] Google
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Apple]
Notes:
Apple surpassed multinational petroleum company Saudi Aramco to become the world’s most valuable publicly listed company.
The market capitalisation of the technology company surged to USD 1.82 trillion, as per the regulatory filing of the company. Whereas, the market capitalisation of Aramco stood at USD 1.760 trillion.
8. Which state has launched a cyber-crime awareness programme named ‘E-Rakshabandhan’?
[A] Odisha
[B] Andhra Pradesh
[C] Karnataka
[D] Kerala
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Andhra Pradesh]
Notes:
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy launched a cybercrime awareness programme E-Rakshabandhan.
It is a first-of-its-kind virtual programme of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the State Police. The one-month-long programme aims to create awareness among the public, especially women, youth and children in cyberspace.
9. What is the maximum amount of guaranteed emergency credit line funding under the ECLGS scheme, after the notification in August 2020?
[A] Rs 10 crore
[B] Rs 7.5 crore
[C] Rs 5 crore
[D] Rs 2.5 crore
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Rs 10 crore]
Notes:
The Union Government has expanded the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) by doubling the upper ceiling of loans to Rs 50 crore.
The scheme also includes individual loans given for business purposes to professionals like doctors, lawyers and chartered accountants under its scope. The maximum amount of guaranteed emergency credit line funding under the ECLGS scheme is also increased from Rs 5 crore to Rs 10 crore.
10. Which oil company has formed a Joint Venture to manufacture Bitumen Derivatives?
[A] Indian Oil
[B] Hindstan Petroleum
[C] Oil and Natural Gas Corporation
[D] Bharat Petroleum
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ Indian Oil]
Notes:
State-owned oil and gas company and the largest commercial oil company in the country, Indian Oil has partnered with France’s Total.
The Joint Venture has been formed to make Superior Quality Bitumen derivatives and specialty products for India’s road construction industry. The JB would initially take over the existing plant of Total at Jodhpur, Rajasthan and then invest Rs 226 crore to set up six new plants across India.