41. Which institution has set up ‘Central Excise and Service Tax Settlement Commission’?
[A] SEBI
[B] CBIC
[C] CBDT
[D] Enforcement Directorate
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [CBIC]
Notes:
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has constituted Customs, Central Excise and Service Tax Settlement Commission.
It aims to resolve and settle the show-cause notices issued under the Customs Act, Central Excise Act and Service Tax regime. This move would ensure speedy disposal of cases under the old indirect tax regime.
42. Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) detected anomalies in updation of National Register of Citizens (NRC) in which state/UT?
[A] West Bengal
[B] Assam
[C] Jammu and Kashmir
[D] Punjab
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Assam]
Notes:
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has detected large-scale anomalies in the updation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) for Assam.
It also flagged the risk of data tampering due to improper software development for the exercise. The updation process of the 1951 NRC for Assam was done under the supervision of the Supreme Court. The updated final NRC was released on August 31, 2019 and it left out 1.9 million of the 33 million applicants on suspicion of their claims as Indian citizens.
43. Which country has banned women from working for domestic and foreign NGOs?
[A] USA
[B] Afghanistan
[C] Iran
[D] Saudi Arabia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Afghanistan]
Notes:
Taliban has banned women from working for domestic and foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Afghanistan.
This order by has been condemned by the United Nations, which said the move violated fundamental rights. The order of Taliban comes just days after female students were banned from universities.
44. Anil Kumar Lahoti has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of which institution?
[A] UIDAI
[B] Railway Board
[C] myGOV
[D] PMFBY
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Railway Board]
Notes:
Former Central Railway General Manager Anil Kumar Lahoti has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Railway Board.
He will be taking over the chairmanship from Vinay Kumar Tripathi on January 1. The Railway board has been transitioning to a new integrated service named Indian Railway Management Service.
45. Australia’s men’s Test Player-of-the-Year award has been named after which player?
[A] Ricky Ponting
[B] Adam Gilchrist
[C] Shane Warne
[D] Brett Lee
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Shane Warne]
Notes:
Cricket Australia has named the men’s Test Player of the Year award after Shane Warne. The legendary cricketer Warne passed away earlier this year.
In 2006, Warne won the Test player of the Year award and finished as the second-highest wicket-taker in Tests by the end of his career. Warne clinched 708 wickets from 145 matches.
46. Which country has ordered its judges to fully enforce aspects of ‘Sharia system’?
[A] Iran
[B] Iraq
[C] Afghanistan
[D] Pakistan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Afghanistan]
Notes:
Afghanistan’s supreme leader has ordered judges to fully enforce aspects of the Sharia system. It is the Islamic law that include public executions, stonings, floggings and the amputation of limbs for thieves among others.
‘Hudud’ refers to offences for which certain types of punishment are mandated under Islamic Law, while ‘Qisas’ is translated as retaliation in kind.
47. ‘Bhadrachalam Group of Temples’, which were seen in the news, are located in which state?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Karnataka
[C] Telangana
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Telangana]
Notes:
The President of India Droupadi Murmu, laid the foundation stone for the project ‘Development of Pilgrimage Facilities at Bhadrachalam Group of Temples’ at Bhadrachalam in the state of Telangana.
She also laid the foundation stone for another project called ‘Development of Pilgrimage and Heritage Infrastructure of UNESCO World Heritage Site at Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple’ in the state. Both these projects have been approved under the PRASHAD (National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive) Scheme of the Ministry of Tourism.
48. Which Indian Armed Force successfully test-fired the extended-range version of BrahMos Air-Launched missile?
[A] Indian Army
[B] Indian Navy
[C] Indian Air Force
[D] Indian Coast Guard
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Indian Air Force]
Notes:
Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully test-fired the extended-range version of BrahMos Air-Launched missile.
It was test fired against a ship target from a frontline SU-30MKI aircraft. The maiden test of the extended range of the Brahmos Air Launched missile was conducted on May 12. BrahMos missiles are designed, developed and produced by BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture company set up by India’s DRDO and Russia’s Mashinostroyenia.
49. Which state has set up a Commission to conduct a survey to ensure that OBCs are provided reservation on the basis of ‘Triple test’?
[A] Jharkhand
[B] Uttar Pradesh
[C] Karnataka
[D] Himachal Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Uttar Pradesh]
Notes:
Uttar Pradesh has set up a five-member commission, which will conduct a survey to ensure that the OBCs are provided reservation on the basis of the triple test, as mandated by the Supreme Court. Earlier, the Allahabad High Court ordered the Uttar Pradesh government to hold urban local body elections without reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) because the ‘triple test’ requirement had not been fulfilled.
50. Election Commission has initiated the delimitation of assembly and parliamentary constituencies in which state?
[A] Himachal Pradesh
[B] Arunachal Pradesh
[C] Assam
[D] Gujarat
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Assam]
Notes:
The Election Commission has initiated the delimitation of assembly and parliamentary constituencies in Assam.
It will use the 2001 census figures for the readjustment of seats. The move to redraw the assembly and parliamentary seats of Assam as per Section 8A of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 has been initiated after a request from the Union Law Ministry.