31. ‘Abhyudaya’ scheme, which was making news recently, is the initiative of which state?
[A] Madhya Pradesh
[B] Uttar Pradesh
[C] Gujarat
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Uttar Pradesh]
Notes:
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the Abhyudaya scheme. It aims to provide coaching facilities to the interested candidates for competitive exams like NEET and IIT-JEE.
This scheme would provide facilities similar to that of Kota and Prayagraj to those in other parts of the state who are not able to avail those services. Over 50,000 students are selected under the scheme.
32. The Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LRSAM), which was in news recently, was developed by which organisation?
[A] HAL
[B] BEL
[C] ISRO
[D] DRDO
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [DRDO]
Notes:
The final production batch of Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LRSAM) was recently flagged off at DRDL, A P J Abdul Kalam Missile Complex, Hyderabad.
The missiles have been designed and developed by DRDO in collaboration with various industry partners and integrated by Bharat Dynamics Limited. The missile system provides defence against aerial targets including fighter aircrafts and missiles.
33. As per the recent statistics, which country is the biggest trading partner of the European Union in 2020?
[A] China
[B] United States
[C] India
[D] United Arab Emirates
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [China]
Notes:
As per the recent data from the EU statistics agency Eurostat, China was the biggest trading partner of the European Union.
Last year, China overtook the United States as the biggest trading partner of the EU. As per the agency, Britain which is not a part of the European Union at present, was the third-largest trading partner.
34. Which Indian origin Banker has been appointed as the Executive Secretary of UN Capital Development Fund?
[A] Preeti Sinha
[B] Devan Nair
[C] Kamala Harris
[D] Praneeti Verma
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Preeti Sinha]
Notes:
Indian Origin investment and development banker Preeti Sinha has been appointed as the Executive Secretary of UN Capital Development Fund.
It is an organisation that provides micro finance access to Least Developed Countries (LDCs). It is headquartered in New York.
35. Kiran Bedi has been removed as the Lieutenant Governor of which UT?
[A] New Delhi
[B] Puducherry
[C] Andaman and Nicobar Islands
[D] Jammu & Kashmir
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Puducherry]
Notes:
As per a communication issued by the President Ramnath Kovind, Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi was removed from her post.
This step has been taken amid a political crisis in the Puducherry Union territory and ahead of the assembly elections in April-May this year. The additional charge of the UT has been given to the Telengana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan.
36. The third edition of the Indian Sign Language (ISL) Dictionary includes how many terms?
[A] 2000
[B] 3000
[C] 5000
[D] 10000
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [10000]
Notes:
Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thaawarchand Gehlot released the third edition of the Indian Sign Language (ISL) Dictionary.
This edition has 10,000 terms of daily use and technical terms including academic, legal, medical terms. The second edition of the dictionary released in 2019 had 6,000 terms and the first edition released in 2018 had 3,000 terms.
37. Which Union Ministry has unveiled the draft blue economy policy?
[A] Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Diarying
[B] Ministry of Earth Sciences
[C] Ministry of Jal Shakti
[D] Ministry of External Affairs
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Earth Sciences]
Notes:
The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has unveiled the draft blue economy policy in the public domain, inviting suggestions and inputs from various stakeholders.
The draft policy document highlights the strategy that can be adopted by the government to utilise the oceanic resources available in the country. It also has recognised seven thematic areas.
38. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and FICCI organised a CEO forum with which country?
[A] Japan
[B] United States
[C] Singapore
[D] United Kingdom
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Singapore]
Notes:
India-Singapore CEO Forum was recently organised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and FICCI.
The India-Singapore CEO Forum was launched in November 2018. Union Minister Piyush Goyal addressed the forum and expressed that both the countries can work together in areas such as e-commerce, fintech, smart manufacturing and healthcare.
39. Tamilisai Soundararajan has been sworn in as the Lt Governor of which state / UT?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Pondicherry
[C] Kerala
[D] Karnataka
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Pondicherry]
Notes:
Tamilisai Soundararajan has been sworn in recently as the Lt Governor of the Union Territory of Pondicherry. Her oath was administered by the Chief Justice of Madras High Court Sanjib Banerjee.
She becomes the 5th women Governor of the UT of Pondicherry. She has replaced Kiran Bedi as the Governor.
40. The resolution plan for DHFL submitted by which company has been approved by RBI?
[A] Tata Group
[B] Adani Group
[C] State Bank of India
[D] Piramal Capital and Housing Finance
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Piramal Capital and Housing Finance]
Notes:
The resolution plan for the dent ridden Dewan Housing Finance Ltd (DHFL), submitted by Piramal Capital and Housing Finance has been recently approved by the Reserve Bank of India.
In 2019, RBI referred the case of DHFL to National Companies Law Tribunal (NCLT). The committee of creditors (CoC) had earlier in January approved the plan submitted by Piramal Capital.