21. Which bank has signed a MoU with Paralympic Committee of India to become one of the Banking Partners ahead of the Paralympic Games?
[A] State Bank of India
[B] Indian Bank
[C] Bank of Baroda
[D] Punjab National Bank
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Indian Bank]
Notes:
- Indian Bank has signed a MoU with Paralympic Committee of India to become one of the Banking Partners ahead of the Paralympic Games, Tokyo 2020.
- The Paralympic Games are scheduled to start from the 24th August, 2021.
- In a year-long association, the bank will provide financial assistance to Paralympic athletes to prepare for the coveted sporting events in domestic arena as well as global platforms.
- India is sending its largest-ever contingent to the Paralympic Games in Tokyo — 54 para-sportspersons across nine sports disciplines.
22. Which country, the Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has provided a soft loan of USD 100 million for the procurement of defence items?
[A] Maldives
[B] Thailand
[C] Mauritius
[D] Morocco
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Mauritius]
Notes:
- The government will provide a soft loan of USD 100 million to Mauritius for the procurement of defence items by the island nation.
- The Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has entered into an agreement for USD 100 million line of credit to Mauritius for procurement of defence items from India.
- Under the agreement, India will export eligible goods and services to Mauritius. Line of credit or soft loans are charged at nominal rate of interest.
23. Recently, who has inaugurated an exhibition named Katha Kranthiveeron Ki?
[A] Narendra Modi
[B] G. Kishan Reddy
[C] Amit Shah
[D] Dharmendra Pradhan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [G. Kishan Reddy]
Notes:
- Union Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) G. Kishan Reddy inaugurated an Exhibition Katha Kranthiveeron Ki, an exhibition of revolutionaries in New Delhi.
- The exhibition Katha Kranthiveeron Ki has been put up at Rabindra Bhawan as part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ being celebrated to commemorate 75 years of Independence.
- The Exhibition “Katha Krantiveeron Ki” has on display more than 100 artworks recognising unsung heroes like Alluri Sitarama Raju and Artwork created during Shaheedi Diwas, Champaran Satyagraha and Jallianwala Bagh camp.
24. Which state/UT has announced smart health cards under its Swasthya Kalyan Yojana?
[A] Kerala
[B] West Bengal
[C] Odisha
[D] Karnataka
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Odisha]
Notes:
- Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said Odisha would provide smart health cards to 3.5 crore people in the State under Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY), which would enable each family to get treatment cost up to ₹5 lakh per annum.
- Odisha is the first State in the country to provide such smart health cards.
- The BSKY was redesigned to provide smart health cards to people that would work as a debit cards.
- According to the re-launched BSKY, each family can avail treatment cost up to ₹5 lakh per annum while women members can avail this benefit up to ₹10 lakh every year.
- The beneficiaries could avail health services in more than 200 hospital chains of the country, including Odisha.
25. Which organization has launched ‘My e-Haat’ to empower artisans in the country?
[A] Wipro
[B] HCL Foundation
[C] Infosys
[D] Tech Mahindra
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [HCL Foundation]
Notes:
- HCL Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of HCL Technologies has launched an online portal, ‘My e-Haat’, to empower artisans and strengthen the value chain of the handicraft sector in the country.
- Currently, more than 30 partners from eight states with over 600 products are listed on the portal.
- The portal will assist in showcasing the ingenuity of skilled artisans from all over the country in front of the globe, resulting in increased recognition, appreciation, and remuneration.
26. Who has inaugurated the Health QUEST study which will be undertaken by 20 private hospitals across India?
[A] Dr. K Sivan
[B] Dr. Harsh Vardhan
[C] Mansukh L. Mandaviya
[D] Dr. Balram Bhargava
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Dr. K Sivan]
Notes:
- Dr K Sivan, Secretary, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) formally inaugurated the Health QUEST study (Health Quality Upgradation Enabled by Space Technology of ISRO) which will be undertaken by 20 private hospitals across India.
- Objective of the study is to strive towards reducing human errors and achieve zero defect and quality service in the emergency and intensive care units of hospitals.
- The study aims to upgrade the healthcare system standards in the country in line with the ISRO quality standards and best practices.
27. India’s first cattle genomic chip ‘IndiGau’ has been developed by scientists of National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NAIB). Where is this organization located?
[A] Mumbai
[B] Bengaluru
[C] Kolkata
[D] Hyderabad
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Hyderabad]
Notes:
- Dr Jitendra Singh has released India’s first cattle genomic chip ‘IndiGau’ for the conservation of pure varieties of indigenous cattle breeds like, Kankrej, Gir, Ongole, Sahiwal etc.
- The chip has been developed by scientists of National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NAIB), Hyderabad.
- It is an autonomous institution which comes under the aegis of the Department of Biotechnology.
- This chip will help in achieving the goal of conservation of our own breeds with better characters and help towards doubling the income of the farmers by the year 2022.
28. Recently, researchers from which country has developed a COVID-19 diagnostic test that uses electrodes made from graphite?
[A] China
[B] United States
[C] Japan
[D] Switzerland
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [United States]
Notes:
- A new cheaper, faster, and more accurate COVID-19 diagnostic test that uses electrodes made from graphite (the material found in pencil lead) to detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been developed by researchers in the United States.
- Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania in the US have developed this test.
- The research published in the journal PNAS stated that graphite electrodes in the new low-cost COVID-19 detection test known as the Electrochemical Advanced Diagnostic (LEAD) test aid in reducing the cost to $1.50 per test and take only 6.5 minutes to detect the COVID-19 virus.
29. Which State/UT has launched the Karkhandar Scheme?
[A] Ladakh
[B] Jammu & Kashmir
[C] Himachal Pradesh
[D] Sikkim
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Jammu & Kashmir]
Notes:
- The Jammu & Kashmir Government issued orders for giving a fresh impetus to the training in handicraft sector in the UT by unveiling the ‘KARKHANDAR’ scheme which is a unique concept as far the upliftment of artisans and weavers through training is concerned.
- The scheme will be implemented throughout the UT by Directorate of Handicrafts and Handloom Kashmir/ Jammu.
- The main thrust of this scheme will be to identify and impart skill upgradation training in such crafts which are facing human resource crunch like walnut wood carving, silver filigree, carpet, kanishawl weaving, khatamband and Paper Machie crafts.
- Under the scheme the meritorious trainees will be given RS 2000/month as honorarium and the trainer will get Rs 2000/month for each trainee and plus Rs 25000/- for logistics, raw materials etc.
30. Which State/UT has launched the second phase Naadu-Nedu programme?
[A] Telangana
[B] Andhra Pradesh
[C] Tamil Nadu
[D] Kerala
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Andhra Pradesh]
Notes:
- Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, has launched the second phase Naadu-Nedu programme in Konaseema region in East Godavari district to renovate 16,000 government schools by spending ₹4,500 crore.
- The Chief Minister has also launched the distribution of Jagananna Vidhya Kanuka-2, spending a whopping ₹726 crore to provide the education kits to the 4.73 crore students of government and aided schools in the academic year 2021-22.
- The kit comprises of three pairs of uniform cloths, books, stationary and shoes. This year, the dictionary is an additional gift. For the primary and upper primary students, SCERT dictionary will be presented and Oxford Dictionary will be given to the high school students.
