1. A new helicopter service has been unveiled in which state under UDAN scheme and is to be operated by Pawan Hans Limited?
[A] Bihar
[B] Gujarat
[C] Uttarakhand
[D] Maharashtra
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Uttarakhand]
Notes:
An affordable helicopter service on the Dehradun-New Tehri-Srinagar-Gauchar route in Uttarakhand under Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik- Regional Connectivity Scheme (UDAN-RCS) has been inaugurated.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri along with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat virtually inaugurated the service, which is to be operated by Pawan Hans Limited. These helicopter services will be available for three days a week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
2. What will be the effective contribution by the employees and employers to the Employee’s Provident Fund (EPF) from August 2020?
[A] 25%
[B] 24%
[C] 20%
[D] 18%
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [24%]
Notes:
In the month of May, the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had reduced EPF contribution by 4% for three months of May, June and July.
2% of employer’s contribution and 2% of employee’s contribution were reduced. This step was taken as a part of relief measures announced by the Government during the Covid-19 pandemic. From the month of August, the effective contribution will come back to the old deduction rate of 24%.
3. Which day is observed in India, to mark the anniversary of the passage of Law against Triple Talaq?
[A] Muslim Women’s Rights Day
[B] Abolition of Triple Talaq Day
[C] Protection of Women Day
[D] Gender Equality Day
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Muslim Women’s Rights Day]
Notes:
Muslim Women’s Rights Day is being observed on July 31, to commemorate the first anniversary of the passage of law against instant Triple Talaq.
On the same day in 2019, the Union Government passed the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act that prohibits the practice of instant divorce. As per the law, any violation of the law is punishable by jail term of up to three years. The Supreme Court of India declared this practice as unconstitutional.
4. Which country is the first to make Facebook and Google pay its media outlets for news content?
[A] China
[B] Russia
[C] Australia
[D] Germany
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Australia]
Notes:
For the first time in the world, US Technology Giants Facebook and Google will pay the media outlets of Australia for news content.
Australia is set to pass a dedicated law which mandates a royalty-style system. This is a historic move by the country to protest independent journalism. Last year, the Australian government asked the tech firms to negotiate with media companies to use their content.
5. What is the name of India’s solar-powered ferry that has won the prestigious Gustave Trouve Award?
[A] Aditya
[B] Arunan
[C] Ravikant
[D] Soorya
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Aditya]
Notes:
India’s solar-powered ferry Aditya has won the prestigious Gustave Trouve Award for Excellence in Electric Boats and Boating.
It has been named the best electric boat in the category of ferries designed for paid passenger service. Aditya was the first solar-powered ferry of the country when it began its operations in 2017 in Kerala. The ferry built by NavAlt Boats belongs to the Kerala State Water Transport Department.
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. Ebrahim Alkazi, who passed away recently, was associated with which field?
[A] Politics
[B] Arts
[C] Sports
[D] Business
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Arts]
Notes:
Veteran theatre mentor and the longest serving director of the National School of Drama, Ebrahim Alkazi has passed away recently at the age of 94.
He won several prestigious awards including Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award & Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship. He had trained several artists and his significant plays include Tughlaq and Andha Yug.
8. What is the name of the employment generation program proposed by KVIC for promoting Agarbatti production?
[A] Khadi Agarbatti Atma Nirbhar Mission
[B] KVIC Agarbatti Campaign
[C] Agarbatti Avishkar
[D] Divine Campaign
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Khadi Agarbatti Atma Nirbhar Mission]
Notes:
Union MSME Minister Nitin Gadkari has approved the employment generation program proposed by Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) to promote Agarbatti production.
Named the ‘Khadi Agarbatti Atma Nirbhar Mission’, the scheme aims to create employment for the unemployed and migrant workers across the country. KVIC will provide Automatic Agarbatti making machines in subsidised prices.
9. Which Indian bank is set to launch an Artificial-Intelligence powered multilingual voice bot ‘AXAA’?
[A] HDFC Bank
[B] ICICI Bank
[C] Yes Bank
[D] Axis Bank
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Axis Bank]
Notes:
India’s leading private sector bank Axis Bank is set to launch a an Artificial-Intelligence powered multilingual voice bot ‘AXAA’.
The bank has entered into a partnership with a Bengaluru start-up Vernacular.ai in this regard. The partnership aims to optimise AI-based voice solutions and automate customer interactions through human-like dialogues.
10. What is the name of the American computer engineer and co-creator of the computer mouse, who recently passed away?
[A] William English
[B] Elmer Petersen
[C] Eric Bentley
[D] Cecil Leonard
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [William English]
Notes:
American computer engineer William English, who played a key role in creating a computer mouse, has recently passed away at the age of 91 in California.
In 1960’s, he joined Stanford Research Institute (SRI) and worked on the development of a predecessor of modern computer along with Douglas Engelbart. Their model has a mouse which helped users to control the images on the screen interface.