1. Which method of COVID-19 testing developed by CSIR- CCMB, without viral transport medium, has been approved by ICMR?
[A] Dry Swab RT-PCR
[B] Gold standard RT-PCR
[C] VTM RT- PCR
[D] RNA RT-PCR
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Dry Swab RT-PCR]
Notes:
The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) has approved the Dry Swab RT-PCR for COVID-19 testing, which was developed by CSIR’s Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad.
In this simple and fast method, nasal swab is collected and transported in dry state, as against the using the viral transport medium used in conventional testing. It does not require RNA isolation from the sample.
2. ‘Technical Recession’, which was making news recently refers to the contraction of GDP for how many consecutive quarters?
[A] Two
[B] Three
[C] Four
[D] Six
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Two]
Notes:
The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of India has contracted by 7.5 % in the second quarter of the financial year 2020-21. The contraction in GDP is registered for the second consecutive quarter and hence India is said to have entered ‘Technical Recession’.
The real GDP in the first quarter of 2020-21 (April – June) registered a record low of 23.9% contraction.
3. Which racing driver won the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix 2020?
[A] Sebastien Vettel
[B] Lewis Hamilton
[C] Charles Leclerc
[D] Max Verstappen
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Lewis Hamilton]
Notes:
British Racing Driver and World Champion Lewis Hamilton has clinched the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix title.
Another French driver Romain Grosjean survived a horrific collision with a barrier on the opening lap. With this victory, Lewis Hamilton has won his 95th Formula one title. This is also his 11th victory of the season.
4. Mount Semeru, which was making news recently, is an active volcano in which country?
[A] Philippines
[B] Indonesia
[C] Russia
[D] Turkey
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Indonesia]
Notes:
Mount Semeru is an active volcano located in East Java, Indonesia. It is the highest mountain on the island of Java. This is also known as Mahameru, meaning ‘The Great Mountain’.
Recently, hot ash fell as far as 3,000 metres down the slopes of Mount Semeru. Earlier, Mount Ili Lewotolok of the country spew out hot clouds for 4,000 metres into the sky. The country’s disaster management team evacuated thousands of people.
5. Which Indian PSU has launched the country’s first 100 Octane petrol?
[A] HPCL
[B] IOC
[C] ONGC
[D] GAIL
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [IOC]
Notes:
Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has recently launched the nation’s first 100 Octane petrol. Union Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched the petrol.
The 100-octane petrol also called as XP100 premium petrol will be initially available at select outlet of IOC in 10 cities. The fuel is manufactured at IOC’s Mathura refinery in Uttar Pradesh. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) had earlier launched Octane 99. Higher the octane number of a fuel, higher will be its compression and performance.
6. Which country has given the name “Burevi” formed in South-western Bay of Bengal?
[A] India
[B] Sri Lanka
[C] Bangladesh
[D] Maldives
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Maldives]
Notes:
The cyclone name “Burevi” was suggested by Maldives. The second cyclone approaching India from Bay of Bengal has been named as “Burevi” as per the guidelines of World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).
The storm commenced its course from South West Bay of Bengal and it is the fifth tropical cyclone system that has developed in the Norther Indian Ocean, this year.
7. ‘The 18th-century idol of Goddess Annapurna’, which was stolen from Varanasi, is being returned by which country?
[A] United Kingdom
[B] Canada
[C] Russia
[D] Brazil
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Canada]
Notes:
The 18th-century idol of Goddess Annapurna that was stolen from a temple in Varanasi, is being returned by Canada.
As per a government statement, the ancient idol was stolen about 100 years ago. The idol is said to have housed in Canada’s MacKenzie Art Gallery. It was handed over to India’s High Commissioner to Ottawa.
8. Which Indian state has approved to rename caste-based settlements?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Andhra Pradesh
[C] Karnataka
[D] Maharashtra
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Maharashtra]
Notes:
The government of Maharashtra has decided to rename the settlements in the state having names based on caste.
Habitations like Maharwada, Mangwada, Bramhanwada etc that have indications of caste-based settlements would be changed and named after leaders of the nation. The State Cabinet has recently approved to change the names of those settlements.
9. As per the Finance Ministry, what is the recovery trajectory of Indian Economy?
[A] Bell Shaped
[B] Hyperbolic
[C] V Shaped
[D] Straight Line
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [V Shaped]
Notes:
As per the Union Ministry of Finance, the Indian Economy is registering a V Shaped recovery of GDP. This was expressed in the latest Monthly Economic Review.
The contraction of GDP in Q1 of current financial year was 23.9% where as the economy has contracted by 7.5 % in Q2. Maximum growth is registered by Agriculture sector followed by Construction.
10. What is the new limit of transaction made using contactless card, as per the recent statement of the RBI?
[A] Rs 1000
[B] Rs 2000
[C] Rs 5000
[D] Rs 10000
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Rs 5000]
Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed to increase the limit for contactless card transactions to Rs 5,000 from Rs 2,000 per transaction from January 1, 2021.
This announcement was part of the RBI’s Statement on Developmental and Regulatory Policies, announced during the RBI’s bi-monetary policy announcement. The limit for e-mandates for recurring transactions using cards and UPI is also raised to Rs 5000.