1. What is the name of the robotic Mars rover launched by NASA?
[A] Endeavour
[B] Perseverance
[C] Achiever
[D] Patriot
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Perseverance]
Notes:
NASA has successfully launched its Mars rover named ‘Perseverance’ from Cape Canaveral Florida on a United Launch Alliances Atlas V rocket.
The vehicle with the size of a large car is also accompanied by a helicopter called Ingenuity which will study Mars’s atmosphere. It will drill into Mars and collect geological specimens. The rover is expected to land at the base of a crater called Jezero on February 18, 2021.
2. India has imposed restrictions on the import of which electronic gadget after two decades?
[A] Mobile Phones
[B] Colour Television sets
[C] Speakers
[D] Microwave Ovens
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Colour Television sets]
Notes:
India has recently imposed restrictions on the import of Colour Television sets, in an effort to promote its domestic production.
The import of the TV sets was freed from previous restrictions two decades ago and since then there has been no amendments in the import policy. Now the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) notified to change the policy from free to ‘restricted’. However, there is no restriction on importing monochrome TVs.
3. What is the name of the mobile application launched by the Directorate of Cashew Research (DCR)?
[A] Cashew Care
[B] Cashew India
[C] Cashew Credit
[D] Quality Cashew
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Cashew India]
Notes:
The Directorate of Cashew Research (DCR) located in the state of Karnataka has developed the ‘Cashew India’ application for farmers of cashew in India.
The app gives information on cashew grafts, cultivation, post-harvest processing, and market information to stakeholders such as farmers, researchers and processors. The app is available in 11 languages and funded by the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture.
4. Mahatma Gandhi Setu (bridge), that was seen in news, is located in which state?
[A] West Bengal
[B] Bihar
[C] Gujarat
[D] Uttarakhand
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bihar]
Notes:
Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the upstream lane of Mahatma Gandhi bridge, through video conference.
The 5.5 km four lane bridge is built over river Ganga connecting Patna and Hajipur of Bihar. The reconstruction work of this bridge started in the year 2017 and the cost outlay is Rs 1742 crore. The downstream lane of the bridge is to be completed by 2021. The concrete structure of the old bridge will be replaced by new steel deck.
5. India observed the 100th death anniversary of which freedom fighter, on August 1?
[A] Lala Lajpat Rai
[B] Bal Gangadhar Tilak
[C] Subash Chandra Bose
[D] Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bal Gangadhar Tilak]
Notes:
The 100th death anniversary of Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak is being observed on 1st August, across the country.
Tilak was a prominent extremist leader in the Indian National Congress. Being an integral part of the Lal-Bal-Pal trio, he proclaimed “Swaraj is my birth right and I shall have it”. Tilak was born on July 23, 1856 in Maharashtra and passed away on August 1 in the year 1920.
6. Which company has been approved to set up the third Power exchange of India?
[A] PTC India
[B] REC Ltd
[C] Oil India
[D] Tata Power
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [PTC India]
Notes:
PTC India Limited, previously called as Power Trading Corporation of India has been approved to set up the third Power exchange of India.
At present, India has two power exchanges namely Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) and Power Exchange India (PXIL), to enable over-the-counter sale and purchase of power. The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission has approved the proposal of PTC India made along with BSE Investments and ICICI Bank.
7. What is the proposed target of Defence and Aerospace exports by the year 2025, as per the Draft DPEPP 2020?
[A] USD 1 billion
[B] USD 2 billion
[C] USD 3 billion
[D] USD 5 billion
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [USD 5 billion]
Notes:
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has unveiled the draft ‘Defence Production & Export Promotion Policy (DPEPP) 2020’ for public feedback.
As per the policy, the aim is to achieve Defence and Aerospace exports of USD 5 billion by the year 2025. It also seeks to increase the manufacturing turnover in Defence sector to $25 bn or ₹1,75,000 crore.
8. Which country has witnessed a massive blast that occurred by explosives stored at a port?
[A] Australia
[B] Lebanon
[C] France
[D] Germany
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Lebanon]
Notes:
As per the Health Minister of Lebanon, at least 137 people were killed and more than 5000 people were wounded in a massive blast by seized explosives stored at its port.
An estimated 2,750 metric tons of the explosive ammonium nitrate stored at a warehouse in its port allegedly exploded. The government declared the capital of Lebanon, Beirut a ‘disaster city’ and imposed a two-week state of emergency.
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. When is National Handlooms Day celebrated in India?
[A] August 6
[B] August 7
[C] August 8
[D] August 9
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [August 7]
Notes:
National Handloom Day is being celebrated on August 7 across India, to commemorate the Swadeshi Movement.
The Movement was launched on the same day in the year 1905. National Handloom Day also aims to create awareness about the Indian Handloom Industry among the general public. A virtual event was organised by the Ministry of Textiles to mark the occasion.