1. “Wolf Brigade 44”, which was seen in the news recently, is associated with which country?
[A] United States
[B] China
[C] Germany
[D] Pakistan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Germany]
Notes:
The Interior Ministry of Germany has recently banned the far-right group named “Wolf Brigade 44”, which openly pledged loyalty to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.
The Government also banned the symbols of the group including a skull with two grenades marked with the number 44. In Nazi code, the number 44 was an abbreviation for the so-called “Division Dirlewanger”.
2. India’s Apex Committee for the Implementation of the Paris Agreement (AIPA), formed recently has how many members?
[A] 5
[B] 11
[C] 17
[D] 25
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [17]
Notes:
The Indian Government has constituted a Apex Committee for the Implementation of the Paris Agreement (AIPA). It was formed through a gazette notification.
The committee comprises of 17 members. It is entrusted with the responsibility of formulating policies and programmes for implementing the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), under Paris Agreement 2015. The Secretary of Union Environment Minister would be the Chairperson.
3. What is the new repo rate after the RBIS’s Monetary Policy Committee meeting of December 2020?
[A] 4.2 per cent
[B] 4.0 per cent
[C] 3.8 per cent
[D] 3.5 per cent
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [4.0 per cent]
Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) held on December 4, 2020 decided to keep interest rates unchanged with an “accommodative” policy stance.
The MPC has kept repo rate unchanged at 4% and maintained reverse repo rate at 3.35%. RBI also predicted a real GDP growth of -7.5% for FY21, from the earlier prediction of -9.5%. MPC also expected that the inflation rate will remain high.
4. Bashan Char Island, which were seen in the news, are located in which country?
[A] Japan
[B] China
[C] Bangladesh
[D] Laos
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Bangladesh]
Notes:
Bhasan Char is an uninhabited island in Bangladesh. It is located in the Bay of Bengal, about 60 kilometers from the mainland.
The Bangladesh government started the process of relocating the Rohingyas from Cox’s Bazar refugee camp to the newly developed facility at the Bhashan char Island. Bangladesh constructed shelter houses for Rohingya refugees at an estimated cost of 2,300 crore takas.
5. 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.
6. Lesser florican birds, tagged in which Indian state, has flown to Telangana recently?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Gujarat
[C] Maharashtra
[D] Rajasthan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Gujarat]
Notes:
One of the two lesser florican birds that was tagged by the Gujarat forest department has flown all the way to the state of Telangana.
The bird was tagged at the Blackbuck National Park (BBNP), Velavadar, in Bhavnagar. This has confirmed a research finding that lesser florican birds migrate to peninsular India from the western part of India after their breeding season.
7. Roshni Nadar is the Chairperson of which company?
[A] Infosys
[B] HCL Technologies
[C] Biocon
[D] Syngene
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [HCL Technologies]
Notes:
The Chairperson of HCL Technologies Roshni Nadar is listed to be wealthiest woman of India in the year 2020.
The list of 100 leading Wealthy Women in India has been recently released by Kotak Wealth Hurun. Out of the 100 women, 31 self-made women on the list. Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar Shaw has been ranked second in the list.
8. The 3D-object creation platform named “Poly” is operated by which technology major?
[A] Microsoft
[B] Google
[C] Intel
[D] Amazon
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Google]
Notes:
The 3D-object creation platform named “Poly” is operated by the Technology company Google.
Google has proposed to shut down the poly platform from next year, since its service will expire in June 2020. From then on, users will not be able to upload 3D models on the platform.
9. Hayabusa 2 is a spacecraft launched by which country?
[A] India
[B] Japan
[C] New Zealand
[D] USA
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Japan]
Notes:
The Hayabusa2 spacecraft belonging to Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAEA) has successfully separated from a capsule in space, and is descending toward Earth.
The capsule is carrying samples from distant asteroid that is expected to provide information about the origin of Earth. The spacecraft was launched from Japan last year.
10. Special Borrowing Window to meet GST Compensation Cess Shortfall, is announced by which body?
[A] GST Council
[B] Finance Commission
[C] Finance Ministry
[D] NITI Aayog
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Finance Ministry]
Notes:
The Special Borrowing Window to make good the GST Compensation Cess shortfall is operationalised by the Union Finance Ministry.
All states and 3 Union territories have opted for the “option 1”, under which centre has set up the special borrowing window under which the Government would borrow funds to be passed on to the states.