1. Which Indian state/UT has formed a dedicated commission to create employment opportunities for the migrant labourers?
[A] Odisha
[B] Madhya Pradesh
[C] Uttar Pradesh
[D] Bihar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Madhya Pradesh]
Notes:
The state government of Madhya Pradesh has formed a dedicated commission to create employment opportunities for the migrant labourers.
Named as the Madhya Pradesh State Migrant Labourer Commission (MPSMLC), it aims to create jobs to those who have returned from other parts of the country during the Covid 19-induced lockdown. The state government will nominate the chairman of the commission, which will suggest measures for the welfare of migrant labourers.
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. Who has been conferred with the lifetime achievement award for his contribution to statistics?
[A] D Subba Rao
[B] C Rangarajan
[C] Bimal Jalan
[D] Y V Reddy
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [C Rangarajan]
Notes:
Former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor C Rangarajan has been conferred with the lifetime achievement award for his contribution to statistics.
The award has been given to him on the occasion of Statistics Day, which is celebrated on June 29 every year, to commemorate the birth anniversary of PC Mahalanobis, the ‘father of Indian statistics’. C Rangarajan had served as the Chairman of the National Statistical Commission.
4. What is the theme of the ‘National Statistics Day’ 2020, celebrated on June 29?
[A] Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 5
[B] Honouring P. C. Mahalanobis
[C] Statistics is Life
[D] Indian statistics
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 5]
Notes:
National Statistics Day is observed on June 29 every year in India. This year it was celebrated through virtual conference with the theme of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 (Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages) and SDG 5 (Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls).
The Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation instituted a new award ‘Prof. P. C. Mahalanobis National Award in Official Statistics’, which was conferred upon Former RBI Governor C Rangarajan. ‘Prof. P.V. Sukhatme National Award in Statistics 2020’ was given to Dr Arvind Pandey and Dr. Akhilesh Chandra Kulshreshtha.
5. When is the “International Day of the Tropics” celebrated every year?
[A] June 28
[B] June 29
[C] June 30
[D] July 1
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [June 29]
Notes:
International Day of the Tropics is celebrated every year on 29 June. The United Nations General Assembly declared the day in the year 2016.
The International Day of the Tropics was designated to raise awareness to the specific challenges faced by tropical areas. June 29 was selected because on the same day in 2014, the inaugural State of the Tropics Report was launched by leading tropical research institutions.
6. A new type of swine flu that is capable of triggering a pandemic has been discovered in which country?
[A] Japan
[B] China
[C] United States
[D] Vietnam
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [China]
Notes:
According to a study published in the US science journal PNAS, researchers in China have discovered a new type of swine flu that is capable of triggering a pandemic.
The G4 flu is genetically descended from the H1N1 strain that caused a pandemic in 2009. As per the China’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention, G4 was observed to be highly infectious, replicating in human cells and causing more serious symptoms. More researches are being carried out on ferrets.
7. Asia’s first-ever Continuous Galvanized Rebar (CGR) manufacturing facility has been launched in which state?
[A] Rajasthan
[B] Punjab
[C] West Bengal
[D] Chhattisgarh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Punjab]
Notes:
International Zinc Association (IZA) has launched Asia’s first-ever Continuous Galvanized Rebar (CGR) manufacturing facility in Punjab.
The project would be supported by Hindustan Zinc Limited. It has been launched in collaboration with a private manufacturing company Madhav KRG Group. The new product called Continuously Galvanized Rebars (CGR) are value added rebars for better life and lower maintenance. Rebar is the short form of Reinforced Bar.
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. 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.
10. 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).