21. The head of which international organisation has urged G-20 countries to freeze debt payment of poorest countries in 2021?
[A] International Monetary Fund
[B] World Economic Forum
[C] World Bank
[D] Asian Development Bank
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [World Bank
]
Notes:
The President of World Bank, David Malpass has recently attended a G20 debt conference. He urged G-20 countries to freeze debt payment of poorest countries in 2021.
The World Bank head opined that this freezing of official bilateral debt payments by the world’s poorest countries will permanently reduce the debt load for the severely indebted countries. He also said that this procedure would be more helpful instead of delaying the debt payment.
22. Which Indian state has topped market borrowings among states in the country, during 2020-21?
[A] Maharashtra
[B] Tamil Nadu
[C] Gujarat
[D] Telangana
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Tamil Nadu]
Notes:
As per the recent data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Tamil Nadu has topped market borrowings among states in the country during 2020-21.
Tamil Nadu has raised Rs 30500 crores so far, which is approximately 17% of the borrowings made through issuing bonds. Maharashtra has raised Rs 25000 crores, which is 14% of the borrowings. The state of Tamil Nadu is expected to sustain a revenue shortfall of Rs 12,000- Rs 13,000 crore in a month, due to the effect of lock-down.
23. Which country suffered a failure in its launch of the ‘Kuaizhou-11’ carrier rocket?
[A] Japan
[B] China
[C] South Korea
[D] Israel
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [China]
Notes:
The Kuaizhou-11 carrier rocket, that was launched by China, has recently suffered a failure during its maiden flight.
Kuaizhou means ‘fast ship’ in Chinese. It is a low-cost solid-fuelled carrier rocket, that was designed to launch low-Earth orbit satellites. A malfunction occurred during the flight though the exact reason for the failure is not yet known.
24. Which Indian state is the first to conduct state-wide Lok Adalat through video conferencing?
[A] Maharashtra
[B] Chhattisgarh
[C] Kerala
[D] West Bengal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Chhattisgarh]
Notes:
The state of Chhattisgarh has the become the first in the country, to organise an state-wide e-Lok Adalat, through video conferencing.
As per the State Legal Services Authority, more than 3,000 cases will be taken up for virtual hearing in over 200 benches of various districts, including the High Court. This step is expected to clear pending cases by following precautionary measures amidst Covid-19.
25. Who has become the second fastest all-rounder to score 4000 runs and take 150 wickets?
[A] Ben Stokes
[B] Eoin Morgan
[C] Jason Holder
[D] Kemar Roach
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ben Stokes]
Notes:
England’s present skipper Ben Stokes recently became the second-fastest all-rounder to reach 4000 runs and 150 wickets in test matches.
The 29-year-old all-rounder is only after the West Indies legend Gary Sobers, who achieved the feat in 63 tests, while Stokes reached the milestone in 64 tests. He achieved this during the third day of the first Test match held between England and West Indies at the Ageas Bowl.
26. Padma Shri awardee Nagindas Sanghvi, who recently passed away, was associated with which profession?
[A] Journalist
[B] Politician
[C] Sportsperson
[D] Businessman
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Journalist]
Notes:
Veteran journalist cum political commentator Nagindas Sanghvi has recently passed away, at the age of 100.
He was a popular personality in Gujarati literature as a critic and political commentator. Nagindas Sanghvi was conferred with Padma Shri by the Indian government in the year 2019. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minster Vijay Rupani condoled the demise of the journalist.
27. Global payment tech leader VISA has partnered with which private bank to deploy VISA Secure for e-Commerce?
[A] City Union Bank
[B] Federal Bank
[C] Karnataka Bank
[D] Kotak Mahindra Bank
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Federal Bank]
Notes:
Global leader in payments technology Visa has partnered with Federal Bank to deploy Visa Secure to the bank’s cardholders.
Visa Secure is an authentication program that uses the latest standards of the EMV protocol. This upgraded technology will provide security to curb online frauds and quick check-out experience to the card-holders.
28. Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), that has established stable cultures of coronavirus, is located in which state/UT?
[A] New Delhi
[B] Odisha
[C] Uttar Pradesh
[D] Gujarat
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Odisha]
Notes:
The Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), an autonomous institute of the Department of Biotechnology, has successfully established stable cultures of coronavirus from patient samples.
The Seventeen in-vitro cultures have been established using Vero cells, from samples of different locations and different virus loads. The cultured SARS-Cov-2 can be used in developing antibodies or antidotes, testing of antibodies and identifying therapeutic agents.
29. What is ‘NEOWISE’, that was seen in news recently?
[A] Comet
[B] Asteroid
[C] Star
[D] Exo-planet
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Comet]
Notes:
The comet C/2020 F3 comet also called as NEOWISE was discovered on March 27, this year. It was seen in news recently, as the comet would be visible in the sky.
In India, the NEOWISE comet will be visible in the northwest sky which is 20 degrees from the horizon. It is expected to be visible after sunset for around 20 minutes for 20 days from July 14, 2020 and it will fade away in the month of August.
30. Which industry body through its Economic Outlook Survey projected India’s annual median GDP growth for 2020-21 at -4.5%?
[A] Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry
[B] Confederation of Indian Industry
[C] NASSCOM
[D] Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry of India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry]
Notes:
India’s oldest apex industry body Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) has projected India’s annual median GDP growth for 2020-21 at -4.5%.
This has been projected in the association’s Economic Outlook Survey in the SBI Banking and Economics Conclave. It had previously predicted India’s growth rate to be 5.5 per cent in the January 2020 survey. In the conclave, RBI Governor said that Indian economy has started showing signs of getting back to normalcy.