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. Which country has formed its first all-woman communication team?
[A] New Zealand
[B] United States
[C] Myanmar
[D] Germany
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [United States]
Notes:
US President-elect Joe Biden has recently appointed the country’s first all-female White House communications team.
He also appointed Jen Psaki, who earlier served as the spokesperson in Barack Obama administration, as the White House Press Secretary. Six other women who had held important positions, were appointed in the official Press Team.
3. What amount of grant has been allotted under “Mission COVID Suraksha”, by the Central Government?
[A] Rs.100 crore
[B] Rs.500 crore
[C] Rs.900 crore
[D] Rs.1000 crore
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Rs.900 crore]
Notes:
The Union Government has launched “Mission COVID Suraksha” and has allotted a package of Rs.900 crore for the same. The grant by the central government would be given to Department of Biotechnology (DBT) for Research & Development of Indian COVID-19 vaccines.
The mission aims at development of approximately 5 or 6 COVID 19 vaccine candidates and ensure their faster availability to the public.
4. ‘Dev Deepawali’ festival is celebrated in which Indian city?
[A] Varanasi
[B] Haridwar
[C] Rishikesh
[D] Gangotri
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Varanasi]
Notes:
The festival named Dev Deepawali is celebrated in Indian city. This is a festival of lights and is celebrated in the Poornima day of the Karthik Month of Hindu calendar.
This year’s celebration is attended by the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi. During the event, 11 lakh earthern lamps were lit on both sides of river Ganga.
5. National Pollution Control Day is observed in the memory of Bhopal Gas tragedy happened in which year?
[A] 1975
[B] 1984
[C] 1992
[D] 2003
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [1984]
Notes:
December 2 is observed as National Pollution Control Day every year, in the memory of those who lost their lives in the Bhopal Gas tragedy and to create awareness on environment pollution.
Bhopal Gas tragedy, one of the biggest industrial pollution disasters of the country, occurred on the night of December 2nd and 3rd, 1984. Many people died due to the leakage of the poisonous gas Methyl Isocyanate.
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. Which country has become the first in the West, to approve coronavirus vaccine for mass production?
[A] USA
[B] UK
[C] France
[D] Germany
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [UK]
Notes:
The United Kingdom has become the first nation in the world to approve coronavirus vaccine made by Pfizer – BioNTech.
The country’s medical regulator has given a nod for commercial production and mass vaccination. The vaccine is said to offer 95% protection against Covid disease. The country aims to produce 8 lakh doses in the next few days.
8. When is the International Day of Persons with Disability observed?
[A] November 30
[B] December 3
[C] December 5
[D] December 10
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [December 3]
Notes:
The International Day of Persons with Disability is observed on 3rd December of every year.
The theme for this year is “Building back better: towards an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post COVID-19 world by, for and with persons with disabilities”. UNESCO is organizing a global awareness camp named “Tell our stories, enable our rights” on this occasion.
9. Which organization has become India’s first regulated Gas Exchange?
[A] NCDEX
[B] IGX
[C] MCX
[D] NCML
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [IGX]
Notes:
Indian Gas Exchange (IGX) was launched in 2020 as India’s first automated national-level trading platform for physical delivery of natural gas.
IGX is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Indian Energy Exchange (IEX). Recently, IGX obtained all necessary approvals as per the provisions of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (Gas Exchange) Regulations, 2020. It becomes the first regulated Gas Exchange of the country.
10. As per a recent study by the IIT-Kharagpur, which region of India is named as the global hot-spot of atmospheric ammonia (NH3)?
[A] Southern Coastal region
[B] Indo-Gangetic Plain
[C] Deccan Plateau
[D] Western Ghats
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Indo-Gangetic Plain]
Notes:
According to researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) is the global hot-spot of atmospheric ammonia (NH3).
This is due to concentrated agricultural activities and fertilizer production in the region. The satellite data of agricultural emissions show that atmospheric ammonia is related with total fertilizer consumption and temperature.