1. Who is the head of the Health ministry’s committee, which recommended the Serological survey?
[A] V K Paul
[B] Harsh Vardhan
[C] Amitabh Kant
[D] V.K. Saraswat
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [V K Paul]
Notes:
The Union Health Ministry had constituted a committee headed by NITI Aayog member V K Paul. As per the recommendations of the committee, the Delhi health department has prepared a new Covid-19 response plan.
As a part of the plan, a serological survey to carry out a comprehensive analysis of the spread of Covid-19 in Delhi began in some parts of the city. The exercise, that will test 20,000 people to find anti-bodies, will be carried out jointly by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Delhi government.
2. Which is the parent organisation of “Global Forum on transparency and exchange of information for tax purposes”?
[A] Financial Action Task Force
[B] Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
[C] G-20
[D] Common Wealth
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development]
Notes:
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is the parent organisation of Global Forum on transparency and exchange of information for tax purposes.
According to the latest study by the Global Forum, India has been among the top-three jurisdictions to which Switzerland provided information about bank accounts and beneficiary ownership of entities, on request. The other two countries were France and Germany. The report recorded the requests during the period from July 2015 to June 2018.
3. Which global institution has approved a project for India called ‘Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States Program (STARS)’?
[A] World Bank
[B] World Economic Forum
[C] International Monetary Fund
[D] Asian Development Bank
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [World Bank]
Notes:
The World Bank has recently approved of project called ‘Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States Program (STARS)’ for India.
The project aims to improve the quality and governance of school education in six States of India namely Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Rajasthan, through the Samagra Shiksha. World Bank would provide an assistance of USD 500 million (about Rs 3,700 crore).
4. What is the name of the first edition of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Newsletter, that was recently launched?
[A] AQUA EDUCARE
[B] MATSYA SAMPAD
[C] Fishery AQUA
[D] MACHAVATAR
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [MATSYA SAMPAD]
Notes:
Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Giriraj Singh has launched the first edition of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Newsletter.
The newsletter has been named MATSYA SAMPADA and it is published by the Department of Fisheries, Ministry for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying. The Minister also launched the Operational Guidelines of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
5. The United States has eliminated the special status and halted Defence Exports to which country?
[A] China
[B] Hong Kong
[C] India
[D] Vietnam
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Hong Kong]
Notes:
The United States has recently eliminated the special status under U.S. law and halted Defence Exports to Hong Kong.
U.S has also restricted the access of the country to high technology products. This decision has been taken while China is preparing new Hong Kong security legislation. U.S also proposed to end the export of dual-use technologies to the territory, which have both commercial and military uses.
6. 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.
7. Which organisation builds the Su-30 MKI aircraft, that was seen in news recently?
[A] Defence Research and Development Organisation
[B] Indian Space Research Organisation
[C] Hindustan Aeronautical Ltd
[D] Bharat Electronics Ltd
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Hindustan Aeronautical Ltd]
Notes:
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has approved the proposal for procurement of 21 MiG-29 and upgradation of existing 59 MiG-29 aircraft from Russia at a cost of Rs 7418 crore.
It has also approved the procurement of 12 Su-30 MKI aircraft from Hindustan Aeronautical Ltd, at an estimated cost of Rs 10,730 cr. DAC cleared the acquisition of 248 Astra Beyond Visual Range air-to-air missiles for the Indian Air Force and the Navy. Other important equipment required by the Armed Forces were also approved for Rs 38,900 crore.
8. Who are the beneficiaries of the state agency ‘APCOS’, launched by the government of Andhra Pradesh?
[A] MSMEs
[B] Outsourcing staff
[C] Farmers and Fishermen
[D] School Students
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Outsourcing staff]
Notes:
The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has formally launched Andhra Pradesh Corporation for Outsourced Services (APCOS).
The Chief Minister handed over the 47,000 appointment letters to the outsourcing staff selected through the APCOS. The newly formed body ensures to maintain transparency in recruitments and payments of workers in outsourced services. The government will also follow reservation in recruitments.
9. What is the theme of “International Day of Cooperatives” 2020?
[A] Cooperatives for Climate Action
[B] Cooperatives and SDGs
[C] Cooperatives and their challenges
[D] Cooperatives across the globe
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Cooperatives for Climate Action]
Notes:
International Day of Cooperatives is celebrated on the first Saturday of July every year. This year, it is observed on July 4, 2020.
The theme of the International Day of Cooperatives 2020 is Cooperatives for Climate Action. The objective of the day is to create awareness about cooperatives and highlight the contributions of the cooperative movement to the development of the world.
10. Which country has passed the Expat quota bill, which could force about 8 lakh Indians to leave, when enacted?
[A] United Arab Emirates
[B] Kuwait
[C] Oman
[D] Bahrain
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Kuwait]
Notes:
The legal and legislative committee of Kuwait’s National Assembly has recently approved the draft expat quota bill.
If the bill is enacted into a law, over 8 lakh Indians could be forced out of Kuwait. As per the proposed bill, Indians should not exceed 15% of the population. Out of the 4.3 million population of Kuwait, there are 3 million expats. Moreover, Indians are the largest expatriate community with 1.45 million.