1. Which word has been selected as the ‘Top Word of 2020’, by Merriam-Webster?
[A] Lock down
[B] Pandemic
[C] Vaccine
[D] Immunity
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Pandemic]
Notes:
US based- Merriam-Webster, known for its dictionaries, has recently announced ‘pandemic’ as its 2020 word of the year.
As per the company, when the World Health Organisation declared the novel coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic on March 11, the searches on the site for ‘pandemic’ rose hugely. The word has roots in Latin and Greek. It is a combination of pan, meaning all, and demos, meaning people.
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. Hayabusa2, which was making news recently, is a spacecraft of which country?
[A] China
[B] Japan
[C] South Korea
[D] UAE
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Japan]
Notes:
Japan’s spacecraft named ‘Hayabusa2’ is approaching the Earth after a year-long journey from an asteroid Ryugu, about 300 million kilometers from earth.
As per the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, the spacecraft will bring soil samples and data that could provide clues to the origins of the solar system and life on Earth. The agency would drop the capsule containing the samples, in southern Australia.
4. Which is the world’s most polluted city, as per the US Air Quality Index?
[A] Delhi
[B] Lahore
[C] New York
[D] Beijing
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Lahore]
Notes:
As per the US Air Quality Index released recently, Lahore is named the most polluted city in the world, followed by Delhi and Kathmandu.
Lahore, the cultural capital of Pakistan, has reported a particulate matter (PM) rating of 423. The The United States Environmental Protection Agency registers air quality as ‘satisfactory’ if the AQI is under 50.
5. In which year, did China launch its ambitious ‘One Belt and One Road’ initiative?
[A] 2000
[B] 2005
[C] 2013
[D] 2017
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [2013]
Notes:
China launched the ambitious ‘One Belt and One Road’ (OBOR) initiative in 2013, to link Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Gulf region, Africa and Europe with a network of land and sea routes.
During the 19th meeting of the Council of Heads of Governments of the SCO, all other member nations of SCO, except India reaffirmed their support to the OBOR project of China. India is critical of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a part of OBOR.
6. ‘Balsnehi (Child-Friendly) Police Station’, which was seen in the news recently, was inaugurated in which city?
[A] Mumbai
[B] Pune
[C] Ahmadabad
[D] Varanasi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Pune]
Notes:
Pune City Police has recently inaugurated the ‘Balsnehi (Child-Friendly) Police Station’, on the premises of Lashkar Police Station in Pune Camp.
The Police Station has a room designated for children, who would come to report cases to the station. It also aims to create a set-up to rehabilitate children in need. Earlier, a Child-friendly Police Station was set up in Krishna District on the premises of Machilipatnam.
7. “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”.
8. 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.
9. Which organization has released the provisional 2020 State of the Global Climate report?
[A] UNFCC
[B] WMO
[C] IMF
[D] UNESCO
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [WMO]
Notes:
As per the provisional 2020 State of the Global Climate report released by U.N.’s World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the last 6 years from 2015 to 2020 are the hottest years on record.
The report has stated that the average global temperature in 2020 would be 1.2 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial level
10. 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.