31. What is the new upper ceiling for family pension, as per the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions?
[A] Rs 50,000
[B] Rs 75,000
[C] Rs 1,00,000
[D] Rs 1,25,000
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Rs 1,25,000]
Notes:
Union Minister Jitendra Singh announced that the upper ceiling has been raised from Rs 45,000 to Rs 1.25 lakh per month.
This increase is in accordance with the increase of salary as per the recommendations of the seventh pay commission. This step will ensure that the family members of the deceased employees get access to adequate financial security.
32. What is Arjun Mk1A, which was seen in the news recently, with reference to Indian Defence?
[A] Anti-tank Guided Missile
[B] Main Battle Tank
[C] Fighter jets
[D] Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Main Battle Tank]
Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi handed over the Arjun Main Battle Tank Mark-1A (MK-1A) to the Indian Army, at a function held at Chennai.
The battle tank has been indigenously designed, developed and manufactured by the DRDO’s Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE), Chennai.
33. Which Indian state/UT has launched the ‘Maa’ scheme, to provide meal at Rs 5 to the poor people?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] West Bengal
[C] Odisha
[D] Madhya Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [West Bengal]
Notes:
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has virtually launched the ‘Maa’ scheme under which the state government would provide meal at Rs 5 to poor people.
A platter of food including vegetable and egg curry is to provided at Rs 5 with the state bearing a subsidy of Rs 15 per plate.
34. Which institution is to provide Rs 100 crore to Gurgaon-based hospital chain Medanta, to fight Covid-19 pandemic?
[A] AIIB
[B] ADB
[C] World Bank
[D] IMF
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [ADB]
Notes:
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced that it will provide Rs 100 crore loan to Gurgaon-based hospital chain Medanta.
The financial assistance would aid the multi-speciality hospital chain in enhancing healthcare services and medical equipment to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. It also includes staff training programmes on infection control.
35. Which cricketer is/was the first in the world to take 200 wickets against left-handed batsmen?
[A] Muthiah Muralidharan
[B] Ravichandran Ashwin
[C] Anil Kumble
[D] Shane Warne
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ravichandran Ashwin]
Notes:
India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin became the first player in the 143-year history of Test cricket to take 200 wickets against left-handed batsmen.
He achieved the feat during the second day of India’s second Test against England at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. With 391 wickets, he is also the second highest wicket taker in the country.
36. 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.
37. What is S&P’s growth projections for India for the next financial year?
[A] 9%
[B] 10%
[C] 15%
[D] 20%
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [10%]
Notes:
Global Ratings major “S&P Global Ratings” has projected Indian economy to grow at 10% for the next financial year 2021-22.
This is 1% less than the growth projections made by the Economic Survey (11%) for the next financial year. S&P’s projections is based on continued normalisation of economic activities in India.
38. What is the target year of the Jal Jeevan Mission, to provide tap water connection to every rural household?
[A] 2022
[B] 2023
[C] 2024
[D] 2025
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [2024]
Notes:
The Jal Jeevan Mission was launched by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 15th August, 2019. It aims to provide tap water connection to every rural household by 2024.
Recently, the scheme has reached a new milestone by providing 3.53 Crore rural household tap water connections. 35.24% of rural households receive potable water through taps, against only 17% in 2019.
39. Which Union Ministry conducts all-India surveys including on migrant and domestic workers?
[A] Ministry of Home Affairs
[B] Ministry of Skill Development
[C] Ministry of Labour and Employment
[D] Ministry of Rural Development
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Ministry of Labour and Employment]
Notes:
Union Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar is to launch software applications for five all India surveys, being conducted by the Labour Bureau.
The Ministry will also release instruction manuals with questionnaire for five All India Surveys including All India Survey on Migrant workers, All India Survey on Domestic Workers, All India Survey on Employment Generated by Professionals, All India Survey on Employment Generated in Transport Sector, and All-India Quarterly Establishment based Employment Survey.
40. ‘Pahela Phagun’, the spring festival, is celebrated in which country?
[A] India
[B] Bangladesh
[C] Nepal
[D] Myanmar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bangladesh]
Notes:
The first day of the spring called ‘Pahela Phagun’ is celebrated in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The country’s top cultural organisations including the Bangladesh Shilpa Kala Academy held programmes to celebrate the beginning of the spring.
On account of the Covid pandemic, the traditional programme of ‘Basanta Utsab’ at the Fine Arts faculty in Dhaka university was cancelled.