1. National Productivity Council (NPC) is an autonomous organisation functioning under which Union Ministry?
[A] Ministry of Human Resources and Development
[B] Ministry of Commerce & Industry
[C] Ministry of MSME
[D] Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Commerce & Industry]
Notes:
National Productivity Council (NPC) is a national level autonomous organization under the administrative control of the Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, to promote productivity culture in India.
Recently, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal chaired the 49th Governing Council Meeting of National Productivity Council (NPC).
2. The Indian Government has banned 59 Chinese apps, by invoking its power under which act?
[A] Information Technology (IT) Act
[B] Right to Information Act
[C] The Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act
[D] Export-Quality Control and Inspection Act
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Information Technology (IT) Act]
Notes:
The Government of India has banned 59 Chinese mobile apps, including TikTok, UC Browser among others, by invoking its power under Section 69 A of Information Technology (IT) Act.
As per the statement from the Information Technology Ministry, the applications are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, Defence of India and public order. The Government has arranged talks with some firms including TikTok, after the ban was imposed.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Union Home Ministry has extended the Armed Forces Special power Act(AFSPA) in which state for six months?
[A] Assam
[B] Nagaland
[C] Mizoram
[D] Arunachal Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Nagaland]
Notes:
The Union Home Ministry has extended the Armed Forces (Special power Act) (AFSPA) in Nagaland, for six more months.
The whole state has been declared as a “Distributed area” for a period of six months with effect from 30th June. This has been exercised under the powers provided by section 3 of the AFSPA Act. Earlier, Nagaland Governor R. N Ravi has written to the Chief Minister that the law and order has collapsed in the state.
6. Beximco LPG, with which Indian Oil has signed an agreement to form a Joint Venture LPG company, is located in which country?
[A] Malaysia
[B] Russia
[C] Bangladesh
[D] Thailand
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Bangladesh]
Notes:
Indian Oil Corporation and Beximco LPG have signed an agreement to form a Joint venture company for LPG business in Bangladesh.
The Joint venture company (JVC) aims to set up a large LPG terminal at a deep-water port in Bangladesh, to receive LPG and reduce import. It will begin functioning by acquiring existing LPG assets of Beximco.
7. 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.
8. Which financial institution has recently joined the Central Banks and Supervisors Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS)?
[A] BRICS Bank
[B] Asian Development Bank
[C] European Central Bank
[D] BRICS Bank
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Asian Development Bank]
Notes:
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has joined the Central Banks and Supervisors Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS).
NGFS is a group of central banks and supervisors who will share best practices about climate risk management in financial sector. It was launched at the Paris One Planet Summit in the year 2017. It also mobilises finance for maintaining a sustainable economy.
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. Phobos, that was seen in news, is the biggest natural satellite of which planet?
[A] Jupiter
[B] Mars
[C] Saturn
[D] Venus
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Mars]
Notes:
Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Mars Orbiter Mission has recently captured the image of Phobos.
Phobos is the closest and biggest moon of Mars, which has been captured by the Mars Colour Camera (MCC) onboard the MoM spacecraft. The image was taken when the spacecraft was about 7,200 km from Mars and 4,200 km from Phobos.