31. Which pharma company has developed India’s first mRNA vaccine?
[A] Gennova Biopharmaceuticals
[B] Serum Institute
[C] Cipla Pharma
[D] Ranbaxy
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Gennova Biopharmaceuticals]
Notes:
Gennova Biopharmaceuticals has developed India’s first Covid-19 vaccine candidate based on mRNA. It has recently received approval from drug regulators of the country for entrusting it to clinical trials.
HGCO19 is the name of the mRNA vaccine candidate developed by the Pune based institution, using the seed grant received under Ind-CEPI mission of the department of biotechnology of the Union Ministry of science and technology
32. What is the name of the initiative of India, to launch movie series for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation diplomats?
[A] CinemaSCOpe
[B] IndiaSCOpe
[C] KaleidoSCOpe
[D] SCOre
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [CinemaSCOpe]
Notes:
The Indian Embassy in Beijing recently launched a movie series “CinemaSCOpe”, for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
Under the programme, over two dozen Indian films dubbed in Russian, will be screened on a monthly basis. The screening will continue till India’s chairmanship of the SCO ‘Council of Heads of State’ meeting in 2023.
33. Which central armed force has set up the National Centre for Divyang Empowerment (NCDE)?
[A] Indo Tibetan Police Force
[B] Central Reserve Police Force
[C] Central Industrial Security Force
[D] Border Security Force
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Central Reserve Police Force]
Notes:
India’s largest Central Armed Police Force, the Central Reserve Police Force has set up the National Centre for Divyang Empowerment (NCDE).
This is a facility for training the CRPF personnel, who are injured and become physically challenged in the line of duty. The personnel will be trained in the latest technologies like artificial intelligence, cyber security or warfare among others.
34. By what name, the United Nations has declared the year 2021?
[A] International Year of Creative Economy
[B] International Year of Pandemic Research
[C] International Year of Peace
[D] International Year of Vaccination
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [International Year of Creative Economy]
Notes:
The year 2021 has been declared as the International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development, by the United Nations. This has been decided in the UN General Assembly meeting held in December 2020.
The proposal was sponsored by Indonesia and was presented by a group of nations including China, India, Australia, Philippines and Thailand.
35. What type of military vehicle is C-454, which was recently commissioned at Surat?
[A] Interceptor boat
[B] Sea Drone
[C] Offshore Patrol Vessel
[D] Hover craft
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Interceptor boat]
Notes:
An indigenously built interceptor boat C-454 of the Indian Coast Guard was commissioned at Hazira port in Surat, Gujarat.
This Interceptor boat is built by L&T Jetty, Hazira and is capable of operating in shallow water with very high speed. The boat is fitted with advanced navigation and communication equipment.
36. Which country observes ‘Martyred Intellectuals Day’ on December 14?
[A] India
[B] Bangladesh
[C] Pakistan
[D] Sri Lanka
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bangladesh]
Notes:
Bangladesh marks Martyred Intellectuals Day on December 14 every year, to remember the teachers, journalists and poets killed on this day in 1971.
The Bangladesh Liberation War which began in 1971 grew into the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971, and ended with the victory of Bangladesh. After the victory, Bengali intellectuals and professionals were said to have been killed by Pakistani forces and their collaborators.
37. As of 2020, When was the most recent Spectrum auction held in India?
[A] 2014
[B] 2016
[C] 2018
[D] 2019
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [2016]
Notes:
The Union Cabinet headed by the Prime Minister has recently approved the next round of auctioning of the telecommunication spectrum. A total of 2251.25 MHz is being offered for auction valued at Rs.3,92,332.70 crore.
The most recent Spectrum auction in India was held in the year 2016, with the government raising Rs 65,789.12 crore in revenue.
38. Which global institution is to provide USD 1000 mn loan to India, to support MGNREG Scheme?
[A] ADB
[B] AIIB
[C] NDB
[D] IMF
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [NDB]
Notes:
The Government of India and New Development Bank today signed a loan agreement for USD 1000 million.
The loan aims to provide support to Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan through MGNREG Scheme. This is expected to facilitate economic activity and employment generation to stimulate rural demand, which will in turn help the recovery of economy, hit by Covid-19.
39. Which tech major has developed a face recognition software that identifies ethnic minorities?
[A] Amazon
[B] Google
[C] Microsoft
[D] Alibaba
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Alibaba]
Notes:
The Chinese technology major Alibaba has developed a face-recognition software, which enables the users to identify ethnic minorities like Uighurs.
It is said that the company’s cloud-computing technology uses pre-defined facial features to detect ethnic minorities within images and video. The technology could be used to identify videos filmed by Uighurs and other ethnic minorities.
40. When is the International Human Solidarity Day observed?
[A] December 18
[B] December 20
[C] December 22
[D] December 24
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [December 20]
Notes:
International Human Solidarity Day is celebrated every year across the world on December 20, to celebrate Unity in Diversity.
The day has been observed since December 2002, when the United Nations General assembly established the World Solidarity Fund, to fund the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), The United Nations connects Solidarity and Poverty Eradication.
