1. On November 29 every year, the UN observes ‘International Day of Solidarity’ related to which country?
[A] Israel
[B] Palestine
[C] Turkey
[D] Syria
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Palestine]
Notes:
‘International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People’ is observed every year on November 29, across the world.
The day was established in the year 1977 and it marks the day in 1947 when the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution partitioning Palestine into an Arab State and a Jewish State. The UN Chief called on Israel and Palestine to achieve a two-State solution.
2. 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.
3. Which type of eclipse is also known as the ‘Beaver moon’?
[A] Full Lunar Eclipse
[B] Partial Lunar Eclipse
[C] Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
[D] Solar Eclipse
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Penumbral Lunar Eclipse]
Notes:
Based on the shadow of the earth falling on the moon, the lunar eclipse is classified into three categories. Full, Partial or Penumbral Lunar Eclipse.
The Penumbral Lunar Eclipse occurs when the moon passes through the outer shadow of the earth. The last full moon occurring in November, before the winter solstice, is also called as the ‘Beaver moon’, named after Beavers, the rodents found in temperate regions.
4. ‘Gurupurab’ is the celebration of birth anniversary of which Sikh Guru?
[A] Guru Nanak
[B] Guru Gobind Singh
[C] Guru Tegh Bahadur
[D] Guru Arjan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Guru Nanak]
Notes:
The birth anniversary of the first Sikh guru, Guru Nanak is celebrated as the Guru Nanak Dev Gurpurab, commonly called as ‘Gurupurab’.
On this occasion, a book titled ‘Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Government’s Special Relationship with Sikhs’ was launched. It is published by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and was released in English, Hindi and Punjabi languages with the messages of Guru Nanak.
5. ‘TOPS’ scheme, which was making news, is being implemented by which Ministry?
[A] Ministry of Education
[B] Ministry of Home Affairs
[C] Ministry of Women and Child Development
[D] Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports]
Notes:
Four Indian Boxers who are bound to appear for the forth coming Olympics have been included in the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS).
The TOPS scheme is launched by the Ministry of Sports and is implemented through the Sports Authority of India. Through the scheme, potential Medal winning athletes and sports personalities are identified for the forthcoming Olympic games.
6. Which regulator has launched an asset restructuring web module for MSMEs named ARM-MSME?
[A] RBI
[B] NABARD
[C] NHB
[D] SIDBI
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [SIDBI]
Notes:
Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has recently launched an asset restructuring web module for the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).
The module named ARM-MSME would assist MSMEs to get benefitted from RBI’s MSME restructuring guideline. MSMEs will be able to prepare restructuring proposals by inputting only the most essential data. This service is being offered by SIDBI at no cost to the MSMEs.
7. Which country has proposed a new security bill that intends to protect Police officers from online violence?
[A] China
[B] Japan
[C] USA
[D] France
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [France]
Notes:
The France’s new security bill makes it an offence to show the face or identity of any Police Officer on duty with the aim of damaging the officer’s integrity. The offence would make the convict liable of one-year imprisonment.
This proposed amendment is protested by many people in France and is seen a curtail of press freedom. It is feared by many that this law would increase police brutality on civilians.
8. “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”.
9. 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.
10. Which country has recently declared a climate emergency and pledged to become carbon neutral by 2025?
[A] USA
[B] Netherlands
[C] New Zealand
[D] Australia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [New Zealand]
Notes:
The New Zealand Government has recently declared a climate emergency. This decision has been taken by the government to stress the fact that if emission cuts are not recorded, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predictions on adverse environmental effects would be witnessed.
The country also announced that its public sector would strive to become carbon neutral by 2025.