1. BrahMos Aerospace is a joint venture company set up by Russia’s Mashinostroyeniya and which other company of India?
[A] ISRO
[B] DRDO
[C] HAL
[D] BHEL
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [DRDO]
Notes:
BrahMos Aerospace is a joint venture company set up by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Mashinostroyenia of Russia.
Recently, Indian Navy test-fired the naval version of BrahMos missile in the Bay of Bengal. The missile was test-fired from a Rajput-class destroyer INS Ranvijay, hitting a decommissioned target ship. Earlier, the Indian Army and Air Force test-fired the missile.
2. Which country is the first in the world to permit the sale of lab grown meat?
[A] China
[B] Japan
[C] Singapore
[D] Russia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Singapore]
Notes:
The Government of Singapore has allowed a US-based start up to sell lab grown chicken meat in the country.
The meat is generated from animal tissues in laboratories. This is the world’s first regulatory approval for lab-grown meat also called as cultured meat. Its production cost is higher compared to the original meat.
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. 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.
5. 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.
6. Which country has decided to phase out all oil exploration activities by 2050?
[A] Saudi Arabia
[B] UAE
[C] Denmark
[D] Italy
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Denmark]
Notes:
The Government of Denmark has made a land mark decision to phase out all its oil & gas exploration activities by the year 2025.
This decision has been seen as significant step by the nation to combat climate change. The country is presently is a major oil producer carrying out oil exploration in the North Sea.
7. The “Sikandra to Taj Gate” corridor, which is to be inaugurated by the Prime Minister, is a part of which Metro Rail service?
[A] Delhi Metro
[B] Noida Metro
[C] Meerut Metro
[D] Agra Metro
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Agra Metro]
Notes:
The Government of India is set to inaugurate the construction of 1st phase of Agra Metro. The first phase of the metro would connect Sikandra to Taj Gate.
The estimated project cost for the first phase construction is Rs.8379 crore. It would have 6 stations, with three elevated and three underground stations.
8. Hampi Chariot is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located in which state?
[A] Kerala
[B] Tamil Nadu
[C] Karnataka
[D] Andhra Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Karnataka]
Notes:
The famous stone chariot in front of the Vijaya Vittala Temple in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Hampi, has been covered by a protective ring by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
This chariot is among three famous stone chariots in India while the other two are in Konark, Odisha, and Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu. Hampi chariot, was built during the dynasty of Vijayanagara rulers who ruled from 14th to 17th century CE.
9. Gaofen-14 earth observation satellite has been sent to space by China using which launch vehicle?
[A] PSLV C 51
[B] GSLV Mark 3
[C] Long March 3B
[D] Fat Boy 1A
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Long March 3B]
Notes:
The Chinese space agency has recently launched an optical stereo mapping Earth Observation satellite named Gaofen-14.
The satellite was placed in its designated orbit using Long March-3B carrier rocket. The satellite can capture high resolution images of ground objects across the globe.
10. What would be the GDP growth of India in the current fiscal year FY21, as per the Fitch ratings in December 2020?
[A] -4.4
[B] -6.4
[C] -9.4
[D] -11.4
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [-9.4]
Notes:
In its Global Economic Outlook, the Fitch ratings has raised India’s GDP forecast to -9.4 per cent in the current fiscal year.
Earlier, Fitch had estimated that Indian economy would contract by 10.5 per cent in current fiscal 2020-21. Now, the firm says that the outlook is brighter due to an expected rollout of vaccines in 2021.