1. Unnat Bharat Abhiyan centre of which institution has partnered with CSIR and Vijnana Bharti for promoting rural development?
[A] IIT Madras
[B] IIT Delhi
[C] IIT Kharagpur
[D] IIT Guwahati
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [IIT Delhi]
Notes:
A tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Unnat Bharat Abhiyan-Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (UBA-IITD) and Vijnana Bharti (VIBHA), New Delhi.
The objective of the MoU is to provide joint action in the area of Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) for rural development of India. UBA is a flagship program of the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) by connecting academic institutions with local communities.
2. What is the modified deadline for filing income tax returns, as announced by the Union Government after July 31?
[A] August 31
[B] September 30
[C] October 31
[D] December 31
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [September 30]
Notes:
The Union Government has extended the deadline for filing income tax returns for 2018-19 fiscal by two months till September 30.
The reason for the extension is constraints due to the Covid-19 induced lockdown. The Central Board of Direct Taxes has extended the deadline for the third time to September 30. Earlier it was postponed from March 31 to June 30 and then to July 31.
3. Which Union Ministry has received SKOCH Gold Award for its IT enabled Scholarship Schemes?
[A] Ministry of HRD
[B] Ministry of Tribal Affairs
[C] Ministry of Women and Child Development
[D] Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Tribal Affairs]
Notes:
Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) has received SKOCH Gold Award for its “Empowerment of Tribals through IT enabled Scholarship Schemes”.
The 66th SKOCH award ceremony was organised on the title “India responds to Covid through Digital Governance”. The Tribal affairs won the award in ‘Digital India & E-Governance’ competition. The Ministry had integrated its 5 Scholarship Schemes with Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) Portal.
4. Which global institution has inked deal with Reliance Power for constructing power plant in Bangladesh?
[A] World Bank
[B] Asian Development Bank
[C] Asian Investment Infrastructure Bank
[D] International Monetary Fund
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Asian Development Bank]
Notes:
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed a USD 200 million deal with the Reliance Bangladesh LNG and Power Limited (RBLPL).
Under the deal, Reliance power would build and operate a 718-megawatt combined-cycle power plant in Bangladesh. USD 100 million would be provided by the ADB while the other 100 million would be sourced from the Leading Asia’s Private Infrastructure Fund (LEAP) of Japan International Cooperation Agency.
5. Which former RBI Governor was appointed as an independent Director in Great Eastern Shipping Company?
[A] Raghuram Rajan
[B] Urjit Patel
[C] Y V Reddy
[D] D Subba Rao
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Urjit Patel]
Notes:
India’s largest private shipping company, Great Eastern Shipping Company has named former Reserve Bank of India Governor Urjit Patel as an additional and Independent director.
The Mumbai headquartered company has named him for a term of five years with effect from August 1, 2020. Urjit Patel served as the 24th governor of the RBI from September 2016 to December 2018.
6. What is the name of the politician and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who passed away recently?
[A] John Hume
[B] Hawa Abdi
[C] Pete Hamill
[D] Agathonas Iakovidis
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [John Hume]
Notes:
Veteran politician and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, John Hume passed away recently at the age of 83 due to age related illness.
He was a Catholic leader of the moderate Social Democratic and Labour Party. John Hume was known for initiating the agreement that ended violence in his native Northern Ireland. He was also called as the ‘Champion of Peace’.
7. India has contributed USD 15.46 million to which international Partnership Fund?
[A] India-UN Development Partnership Fund
[B] India- BIMSTEC Fund
[C] G20 Partnership Fund
[D] ASEAN Partnership Fund
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [India-UN Development Partnership Fund]
Notes:
India has recently contributed a sum of USD 15.46 million to the India-UN Development Partnership Fund.
India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti handed over it to the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC). This UN Office manages the India-UN Development Partnership Fund. In the 15 million fund, USD 6 million goes to the overall fund and the remaining to the Commonwealth countries.
8. Who has been given an 18-month extension as the Chairman of the Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI)?
[A] Ajay Tyagi
[B] M S Sahoo
[C] U K Sinha
[D] S K Mohanty
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ajay Tyagi]
Notes:
The present Chairman of Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Ajay Tyagi has been given an 18-month extension till February 2022.
According to a Personnel Ministry order, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved his extension. The 1984 batch IAS (retired) officer has been serving as the Chairman since March 2017.
9. The ‘Eat Right India’ movement that has won the ‘Food System Vision Prize’, is being implemented by which organisation?
[A] Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
[B] Food Corporation of India (FCI)
[C] Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
[D] Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)]
Notes:
India’s food safety regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Sunday has been awarded the ‘Food System Vision Prize’ for its ‘Eat Right India’ movement’s vision.
The award is presented by the Rockefeller Foundation, SecondMuse and OpenIDEO, for recognising the efforts of organisations across the globe for developing a nourishing and sustainable food system. Hyderabad-based NGO Naandi Foundation also won the Food Vision Prize.
10. Which Indian organisation is celebrating ‘Cleanliness Week’ from August 10, to mark the Independence Day?
[A] Indian Railways
[B] Airport Authority of India
[C] Indian Space Research Organisation
[D] National Highways Authority
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Indian Railways]
Notes:
Indian Railways is observing ‘Cleanliness Week’ from August 10, to commemorate the Independence Day.
During the week, a special Cleanliness campaign will be launched and Cleaning of tracks, offices and other areas near Railway premises will be focussed. Collection of wastes with separate pool of plastic waste will also be done. Awareness drives will also be organised to keep the places clean.