1. The Environment Ministry recently released a National action plan for conservation of which species?
[A] Marine Turtle
[B] Great Indian Bustard
[C] Brahmaputra Dolphin
[D] Black Buck
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Marine Turtle]
Notes:
The Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has recently released ‘Marine Mega Fauna Stranding Guidelines’ and ‘National Marine Turtle Action Plan’.
The documents contain framework for handling stranded animals on shore, entangled animals in the sea or boat, management actions for reducing threats to marine species and their habitats, rehabilitation of degraded habitats, among others.
2. Which international organisation conducted the event on ‘Restoring Cross Border Mobility’?
[A] United Nations
[B] World Economic Forum
[C] World Bank
[D] World Trade Organisation
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [World Economic Forum]
Notes:
Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare addressed the event on Restoring Cross Border Mobility, through video conference.
The event was organised by World Economic Forum’s Common Trust Network, to discuss the policies and partnerships required to reopen borders and enable essential travel, tourism and commerce in a safe and sustainable method.
3. The CSIR has partnered with which state/UT for Science and Technology development?
[A] Kerala
[B] Karnataka
[C] Goa
[D] Ladakh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Ladakh]
Notes:
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has signed an MoU with the Union Territory of Ladakh.
The purpose of the MoU is to establish knowledge partnership between the Ladakh UT and CSIR, focussing on the areas such as bioresource utilization, introduction of cash crops and exploration of natural resources.
4. As per the Economic Survey 2020-21, what would be India’s GDP growth rate in FY 2021-22?
[A] 5%
[B] 10%
[C] 11%
[D] 15%
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [11%]
Notes:
In the Economic Survey 2020-21 tabled in the budget session of the Parliament recently, the Government has pegged in the country’s GDP growth rate for FY 2021-22 at 11%. The GDP growth for the current financial year has been estimated at minus 7.7%.
Economic survey is an annual document prepared by the Ministry of Finance under the guidance of Chief Economic Advisor. Krishnamurthy Subramanian is the present Chief Economic Advisor.
5. What is the corpus of the Start-up India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS), which was approved recently?
[A] Rs 95 crore
[B] Rs 250 crore
[C] Rs 500 crore
[D] Rs 945 crore
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Rs 945 crore]
Notes:
The Central Government has approved the Start-up India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) with a corpus of Rs 945 crore to provide financial assistance to start-ups.
As per the recent notification of thethe Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), the funds will be disbursed through selected incubators across India from 2021 to 2025. DPIIT will also set up an Experts Advisory Committee (EAC) to monitor the scheme.
6. According to the WHO, which country has the highest number of new Leprosy cases in the world annually?
[A] China
[B] Pakistan
[C] India
[D] Indonesia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [India]
Notes:
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), India has the highest number of new cases of leprosy in the world annually.
India is followed by Brazil and Indonesia in the largest number of cases. In India, more new cases are reported from the rural belts of Bihar, Lakshadweep, Dadra and Nagar Haveli. January 31 is observed as World Leprosy Day.
7. As per Union Budget 2021-22, what is the new threshold for paid up capital applicable to ‘small companies’?
[A] Rs.10 lakh
[B] Rs.1 crore
[C] Rs.20 lakh
[D] Rs.2 crore
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Rs.2 crore]
Notes:
As per the Union Budget 2021-22, the threshold for paid up capital applicable for Small Companies has been revised from “not exceeding Rs 50 lakh” to “not exceeding Rs 2 crore”.
This enhancement in capital limit is expected to benefit more than 2 lakh small companies and would ease various compliance requirements for them.
8. What is the outlay for PM AtmaNirbhar Swasth Bharat Yojana?
[A] Rs 1000 crore
[B] Rs 2000 crore
[C] Rs 10,000 crore
[D] Rs 64,180 crore
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Rs 64,180 crore]
Notes:
PM AtmaNirbhar Swasth Bharat Yojana, a new centrally sponsored scheme has been announced in the Union Budget 2021-22. The scheme would be launched with an outlay of Rs.64,180 crore over a period of 6 years.
The scheme aims to develop capacities of primary, secondary, and tertiary care Health Systems.
9. As per a recent research, protein-bases devices have been designed to detect which disease?
[A] Covid-19
[B] Tuberculosis
[C] Pneumonia
[D] Polio
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Covid-19]
Notes:
According to a recent research published in the journal Nature, Scientists have developed a new protein-based biosensor to detect the novel coronavirus.
These devices recognise the unique molecules on the surface of the virus and bind to them. Subsequently, they emit light through a biochemical reaction. This technique does not rely on genetic amplification as used in the RT-PCR method and saves time.
10. Which organisation proposed a plan to develop ‘Little Andaman Island’ as a tourism hotspot?
[A] Tourism Ministry
[B] NITI Aayog
[C] NHAI
[D] IRCTC
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [NITI Aayog]
Notes:
NITI Aayog has recently released the ‘Sustainable Development of Little Andaman Island – Vision Document’.
As per the document, it has proposed a plan for the sustainable development of the 680 sq km Little Andaman Island in the Andaman and Nicobar island group. A new greenfield coastal city is to be developed as a free trade zone to compete with Singapore and Hong Kong.