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. How many countries are members of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), which has held its virtual annual summit?
[A] Eight
[B] Ten
[C] Twelve
[D] Fifteen
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ten]
Notes:
ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) leaders have met during the recent annual summit held via video conference.
ASEAN is a regional association with 10 member countries including Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Cambodia, Myanmar (Burma), Brunei, Laos. The Chair of ASEAN in 2020 is Vietnam, which hosted the virtual summit, due to travel restrictions amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
3. Micheál Martin recently took charge as the Prime Minister of which country?
[A] France
[B] Ireland
[C] Russia
[D] Germany
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ireland]
Notes:
Veteran Opposition leader of Ireland Micheál Martin has been named as the next Prime Minister of the country, by the Parliament.
The 59-year-old leader took charge as the Prime Minister, to head the first coalition uniting the two prime parties. Micheál Martin had earlier held several important ministries including health, trade, foreign affairs and education.
4. Zoox, that was recently acquired by Amazon, is a start-up firm related to which field?
[A] Self-driving Car
[B] Aerial Transport
[C] Social Media
[D] Ride Hailing service
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Self-driving Car]
Notes:
Amazon has recently acquired the Self-driving Car start-up firm Zoox, in a deal estimated to be worth over USD 1 billion.
Zoox is an American company, which employs more than 1000 persons and was also developing an electric self-driving vehicle. As per sources, this is Amazon’s biggest investment so far in self-driving car technology. This is also one of its biggest purchases ever. The technology is expected to be deployed in automated delivery projects of Amazon.
5. Which Union Ministry implements the “PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana” scheme?
[A] Ministry of Rural Development
[B] Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
[C] Ministry of Food and Public Distribution
[D] Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Ministry of Food and Public Distribution]
Notes:
The Union Ministry of Food and Public Distribution implements the “PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana” scheme.
The Minister for Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan has recently released the details of the 2nd Phase of PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana. Under the scheme, 5 kilograms of Wheat or Rice to every family member and 1 kilogram of Chana (Pulse) for each beneficiary family will be provided without price for five more months, till November.
6. Which Indian American author and oncologist has been named as ‘2020 Great Immigrants’ honouree?
[A] Siddhartha Mukherjee
[B] Jhumpa Lahiri
[C] Fareed Zakaria
[D] Sanjay Gupta
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Siddhartha Mukherjee]
Notes:
Pulitzer Prize-winning Indian-American author and oncologist Siddhartha Mukherjee has been named as the ‘2020 Great Immigrants’ honourees by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
Another Indian American Professor of Economics at Harvard University Raj Chetty also jointly received the honour. They have been honoured for their contribution towards the efforts in containing the COVID-19 crisis.
7. Which Indian Badminton star is to launch the series of Fit India’s interactive sessions called ‘Fit India Talks’?
[A] Saina Nehwal
[B] P V Sindhu
[C] Sai Praneeth
[D] Srikanth Kidambi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [P V Sindhu]
Notes:
India’s flagship fitness awareness movement, Fit India is launching a new series of interactive sessions with ace sportspersons of the country.
This series of interactive sessions has been launched with an objective of inspiring young children of the country and to encourage them to actively take part in sports. Badminton star P V Sindhu and Indian football team captain Sunil Chhetri will launch the inaugural session, in the presence of HRD Minister and Sports Minister.
8. Which Mutual Fund House manages the Bharat Bond Exchange Traded Fund (ETF)?
[A] SBI Mutual Fund
[B] ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund
[C] Edelweiss Mutual Fund
[D] Kotak Mahindra Mutual Fund
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Edelweiss Mutual Fund]
Notes:
Edelweiss Asset Management Company manages the Bharat Bond Exchange Traded Fund (ETF). It has formally launched the second series of the ETF.
During December 2019, it had launched the first series. With this tranche, the fund house seeks to raise up to Rs 14,000 crore from retail and institutional investors. Bharat Bond ETFs invest in AAA-rated papers of public sector companies (CPSEs and PSEs).
9. ‘Dharma Chakra Parvattana’ is a famous celebration of which religion?
[A] Jainism
[B] Buddhism
[C] Hinduism
[D] Sikhism
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Buddhism]
Notes:
‘Dharma Chakra Parvattana’ is a famous celebration of Buddhism, which commemorates Gautam Buddha’s first discourse to his first five disciples at Sarnath.
The International Buddhist Confederation, under the Ministry of Culture, celebrates Ashadha Poornima as Dharma Chakra Day. The Prime Minister has recently conveyed his greetings on Ashadha Poornima, also known as Guru Purnima.
10. Which Indian state has banned the sale of dog meat and commercial import and trading of dogs?
[A] Assam
[B] Nagaland
[C] Arunachal Pradesh
[D] Gujarat
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Nagaland]
Notes:
The State Government of Nagaland has banned the sale of dog meat and commercial import and trading of dogs.
Several animal rights activists have been protesting the consumption of dog meat in the state. Earlier, the ‘animal bazaar’ of Dimapur, which sells dog meat was highlighted by several animal activists. Sale of cooked and uncooked dog meat is completely banned.