1. Who is the Chairperson of the 15th Finance Commission?
[A] A K Sikri
[B] N K Singh
[C] Rajiv Kumar
[D] Ranjan Gogoi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [N K Singh]
Notes:
Economist and former Indian Administrative Service officer N K Singh is the Chairperson of the 15th Finance Commission.
Recently, the Finance Commission has decided to form a group to develop a mechanism to incentivise states for carrying out the agricultural reforms, that were announced as part of the Rs 20 lakh crore stimulus package. The group consists of Finance Commission member Ramesh Chand, Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Agarwal and Agriculture, Research and Education Secretary T Mahapatra.
2. Which Indian state/UT has launched the world’s largest convalescent plasma therapy project for treating COVID-19, named PLATINA?
[A] New Delhi
[B] Maharashtra
[C] TamilNadu
[D] Kerala
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Maharashtra]
Notes:
The state government of Maharashtra has launched the world’s largest convalescent plasma therapy project named PLATINA, for treating COVID-19.
The trial-cum-project is expected to save at least 500 lives of critically-ill Covid-19 patients in the state. The trial will be carried out in government medical colleges and BMC medical colleges. All critical patients will receive two doses of 200 ml of convalescent plasma under the project, free of cost.
3. The World Bank has approved USD 250 million loan for affordable housing projects of which Indian state?
[A] Odisha
[B] West Bengal
[C] Tamil Nadu
[D] Kerala
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Tamil Nadu]
Notes:
The World Bank has approved USD 250 million loan for affordable housing projects of Tamil Nadu. The Government of India, state government of Tamil Nadu and the World Bank has signed legal agreements regarding the project.
Out of the total loan, USD 200 million is approved for First Tamil Nadu Housing Sector Strengthening Programme and USD 50 million for Tamil Nadu Housing and Habitat Development Project. It aims to ease regulatory barriers and encourage private sector participation in affordable housing.
4. Which is the first Indian state/UT to launch a dedicated Plasma Bank to treat COVID-19 patients?
[A] Kerala
[B] Maharashtra
[C] New Delhi
[D] Uttar Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [New Delhi]
Notes:
The government of New Delhi has recently announced the launch of the country’s first dedicated plasma bank for treating Covid-19 patients.
The facility would be set up at the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS), and it will be made available to all government and private hospitals of the UT. The therapy involves drawing blood from patients who have recovered from covid-19 and using the plasma and antibodies to treat active patients.
5. What is the theme of the ‘International Day of Parliamentarism’ 2020?
[A] Parliaments in a time of pandemic
[B] Role of Parliaments
[C] Democracy and Parliament
[D] Parliaments Matter
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Parliaments in a time of pandemic]
Notes:
June 30 is the day designated by the United Nations to celebrate the International Day of Parliamentarism.
The United Nations General Assembly recognized the role of parliaments in developing the world, and designated the special day. On the same day in the year 1889, the global organization of parliaments called the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) was established.
6. Which digital platform of the Indian Government won two awards at the prestigious Global Leadership Summit, CogX 2020?
[A] MyGov Corona
[B] Digital India
[C] Fit India
[D] Swachh Bharat Mission
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [MyGov Corona]
Notes:
An Artificial Intelligence enabled digital platform of the Indian Government named MyGov Corona Helpdesk bagged two awards at the Global Leadership Summit, CogX 2020.
The helpdesk bagged two awards under categories namely “Best Innovation for Covid-19 – Society” and “People’s Choice Covid-19 Overall Winner”. CogX 2020 is a prestigious Global Festival of AI & Emerging Technology held annually in London.
7. Who is the head of the national level committee set up by the Home Ministry, for reform in criminal law?
[A] Ranbir Singh
[B] A K Sikri
[C] C Rangarajan
[D] Thaawar Chand Gehlot
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ranbir Singh]
Notes:
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has constituted a national level committee for reform in criminal law.
The committee is to be headed by Ranbir Singh, who is the Vice-Chancellor, National Law University-Delhi. The committee has many veteran legal academicians and it has invited opinions online on the possible reforms in the Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and Indian Evidence Act.
8. Which Indian institution has launched the world’s first online Bachelor of Science Degree in Data Science and programming?
[A] Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras
[B] Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay
[C] Indian Institute of Science (IISc)
[D] Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras]
Notes:
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has launched the world’s first online Diploma and Bachelor of Science Degree in Data Science and programming.
The course has no age limit and students who have passed class 12 can enrol. The course will be conducted online and its exams will be conducted in an offline mode. The course has three levels including the foundation, diploma and degree and it is divided into six semesters.
9. How many countries are involved in the USMCA agreement, that was seen in news recently?
[A] Three
[B] Four
[C] Five
[D] Six
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Three]
Notes:
The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is set to replace the 25-year-old NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement).
The renegotiated deal comes into effect from July 1. USMCA is a trilateral agreement between three countries namely the United States, Mexico and Canada. The deal was originally signed in 2018 and since then the countries have been working to implement the new deal. It seeks to support the technology sector and include USD 600 million to address environmental problems.
10. Which organisation unanimously adopted its first COVID-19-related resolution and demanded an end to hostilities around the world?
[A] G-20
[B] UN Security Council
[C] Commonwealth
[D] NATO
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [UN Security Council]
Notes:
The UN Security Council has unanimously adopted the first COVID-19-related resolution and demanded an end to hostilities around the world.
The resolution was drafted by France and Tunisia. The council was severely criticised for its failure to draft a resolution since the Covid-19 crisis. UNSC’s two permanent veto-wielding members namely the US and China delayed its attempts to adopt a resolution.