31. Which arm of the Indian Army is to recruit women as Pilots for the first time from next year?
[A] Corps of Signals
[B] Armoured Corps
[C] Army Aviation Corps
[D] Corps of Engineers
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Army Aviation Corps]
Notes:
As per the recent announcement of the Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane, women will be inducted as Pilots in the Army Aviation Corps from next year.
Prior to this, women were being allotted only ground duties in the Army Aviation Corps. Women pilots would fly helicopters and be part of operations at the borders.
32. Which Union Ministry is to set up a National Faceless Penalty Centre?
[A] Ministry of Defence
[B] Ministry of Finance
[C] Ministry of Commerce and Industry
[D] Ministry of MSME
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Finance]
Notes:
The Income Tax Department, under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, has launched a new “Faceless penalty scheme”.
It aims to handle the orders for penalty issued under its recently launched faceless assessment programme. Under the scheme, a National Faceless Penalty Centre along with various regional units will be set up, which can confirm or reject the penalty.
33. Rushikulya beach, which was making news recently, is located in which Indian state/UT?
[A] Maharashtra
[B] Odisha
[C] Andhra Pradesh
[D] Kerala
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Odisha]
Notes:
The Zoological Survey of India has started tagging endangered olive ridley turtles in the Rushikulya beach, one of the largest mass-nesting sites for the turtles.
Six turtles floating in the deep water of the Bay of Bengal were attached with tags and released them back. This will enable them to track the migration path of the turtles. The ZSI is also set to tag 30,000 turtles.
34. ‘Inji’, a Sumatran female, which died in the Oregon Zoon, U.S, was an animal of which species?
[A] Elephant
[B] Hippopotamus
[C] Orangutan
[D] Giraffe
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Orangutan]
Notes:
The world’s oldest known orangutan, named Inji recently died in the Oregon Zoo, U.S. It is a 61-year-old female Sumatran Orangutan.
There are three species of orangutans namely Bornean orangutans, Tapanuli orangutans and Sumatran orangutans, all of which are listed as critically endangered, according to the IUCN Red List. At present, there are only 15,000 Sumatran orangutans, while only 800 Tapanuli orangutans are left.
35. Which Indian Armed Force signed a contract with a private company to procure high-altitude SWITCH Drones, for USD 20 mn?
[A] Indian Air Force
[B] Indian Army
[C] Indian Navy
[D] Indian Coast Guard
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Indian Army]
Notes:
The Indian Army has signed a contract with ideaForge to procure the high-altitude version of SWITCH unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
The UAVs, also called as Drones are expected to be delivered to the Indian Army within a year, at a cost of approximately USD 20 million. ideaForge is a Mumbai-based private company, which has been working on Research and Product Development.
36. With reference to STARStreak Air Defence system, India has recently teamed up with which country?
[A] Germany
[B] Israel
[C] Japan
[D] United Kingdom
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [United Kingdom]
Notes:
India’s Bharat Dynamics and the global Aerospace company Thales have signed an agreement to collaborate on the STARStreak Air Defence system.
To be undertaken with the support of both the Governments of India and the United Kingdom, the project will enable the export if the system to various customers including the UK Armed Forces. With this, BDL can also offer the system to Indian Armed Force with 60% indigenous content.
37. Google has removed the Personal Loan applications in which country, amid safety concerns?
[A] China
[B] India
[C] Pakistan
[D] Bangladesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [India]
Notes:
Technology major Google has reviewed hundreds of personal loan apps in India that were flagged by users and government agencies.
It has also removed those apps which were found to violate its user safety policies. Earlier, the RBI had warned the public not to fall prey to the unauthorised digital lending platforms and mobile apps. Google mandates the developers of financial services app to disclose all key information.
38. Which country has recently unveiled the USD 1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief package?
[A] United Kingdom
[B] United States
[C] Australia
[D] Germany
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [United States]
Notes:
US President-elect Joe Biden has announced a USD 1.9 trillion plan to revive the country’s economy and combat the coronavirus.
The plan has proposed to provide eligible individuals with USD 14000 as stimulus payment. It also seeks to provide USD 130 billion to help the schools in the country to safely reopen.
39. Which statutory organization recently observed its 57th foundation year on 14th Jan 2021?
[A] National Housing Bank
[B] National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development
[C] Export Import Bank of India
[D] Food Corporation of India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Food Corporation of India]
Notes:
The Food Corporation of India (FCI) is an organization run by the Government of India and was formed on 14 January 1965.
It is a statutory body under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution formed by the Food Corporation Act 1964. The FCI is headquartered at New Delhi.
40. Padma Shri awardee D Prakash Rao, who was seen in news recently, was associated with which field?
[A] Cricket
[B] Music
[C] Social Activism
[D] Sports
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Social Activism]
Notes:
The noted social activist and Padma Shri awardee D Prakash Rao, died recently in Cuttack. He was 63 years and died of brain stroke.
He is known for his significant contribution for uplifting and imparting education to slum and orphan children of Cuttack. He started the school named ‘Asha O Ashwasana’ in Cuttack to provide free education to children residing in slums.
