21. Which country’s research team has won the World Bank’s Development Marketplace award?
[A] Bangladesh
[B] Myanmar
[C] India
[D] Cambodia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Cambodia]
Notes:
As per the latest announcement from the World Bank Group and the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI), a research team of Cambodia has won the 2020 ‘Development Marketplace: Innovations to Address Gender-Based Violence’ award.
The award provides fund to the research team to implement a WhatsApp chatline that offers 24×7 support against gender-violence for female entertainment workers in Cambodia.
22. Solar Energy Corporation of India is a public sector undertaking working under which Union Ministry?
[A] Ministry of Power
[B] Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
[C] Ministry of Coal
[D] Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of New and Renewable Energy]
Notes:
Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) is a Central Public Sector Undertaking functioning under the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently launched Asia’s largest solar plant in Madhya Pradesh’s Rewa through video-conferencing. It has been developed by the Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Limited (RUMSL), a joint venture company of Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (MPUVN) and SECI.
23. Mohammed Mushtaque Ahmad has resigned from his President post of which sports association?
[A] Athletics Federation of India
[B] Hockey India
[C] All India Tennis Association
[D] All India Football Federation
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Hockey India]
Notes:
The President of Hockey India Mohammed Mushtaque Ahmad has recently resigned from his post, citing personal commitments.
There had been controversies after the election of Ahmad as the President of HI in the year 2018. The Executive board of Hockey India has named Manipur’s Gyanendro Nigombam as the officiating president, in his place. Prior to this, Nigombam was the Senior Vice-President in the federation.
24. Union Shipping Ministry’s draft ‘Aids to Navigation Bill, 2020’ seeks to replace which colonial act?
[A] Lighthouse Act, 1927
[B] Coasting vessels Act, 1838
[C] Inland Vessels Act, 1917
[D] India Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1925
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Lighthouse Act, 1927]
Notes:
The Union Shipping Ministry has issued a draft ‘Aids to Navigation Bill, 2020’ and sought suggestions from stakeholders and general public.
This draft bill seeks to replace the colonial Lighthouse Act, 1927, which is over nine decades old. The bill seeks to empower the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL) with additional power. It also proposes to include global best practices.
25. Which country’s Tiger Census has set a Guinness Record, for being the world’s largest camera trap wildlife survey?
[A] Indonesia
[B] India
[C] Russia
[D] Malaysia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [India]
Notes:
The Tiger Census of India has set a new Guinness Record for being the world’s largest camera trap wildlife survey.
The fourth edition of the census, which was carried out between 2018-19, has entered the Guinness Book, for being the most comprehensive in resources and data taken. India conducts Tiger Census once in every four years.
26. 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.
27. What is the name of the tropical Storm, that has made heavy rains, flood and landfall in New Jersey?
[A] Franklin
[B] Fay
[C] Freeze
[D] Fana
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Fay]
Notes:
The tropical Storm Fay has created heavy rains and floods and has made landfall in New Jersey, before it weakened and moved over the region.
As per the U.S. National Hurricane Center, the storm was moving north at 27 kph and producing top sustained winds of 64 kph. The storm created landfall along the coast of New Jersey. Several beaches in the place were closed and flash flooding is also expected.
28. Which stock exchange has collaborated with IIT Alumni Council for listing of start-ups?
[A] Bombay Stock Exchange
[B] National Stock Exchange
[C] New York Stock Exchange
[D] Nasdaq
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Bombay Stock Exchange]
Notes:
The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IIT Alumni Council to encourage listing of start-ups.
IIT Alumni Council is the largest body of alumni, students and faculty across all the 23 IITs. The partnership aims at developing confidence among investors in the start-up’s platform. This will also ensure a complete ecosystem for the proposed social stock exchange.
29. Which organisation has estimated that India needs 6.2% additional spending of GDP to achieve 2030 SDGs?
[A] Reserve Bank of India
[B] NITI Aayog
[C] Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation
[D] National Development Council
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [NITI Aayog]
Notes:
NITI Aayog has estimated that India needs 6.2% additional spending of GDP to achieve 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
The country’s think tank said this in its second Voluntary National Review (VNR) at the UN high-level political forum (HLPF) on sustainable development, 2020. India needs to upgrade its statistical system, improve its monitoring mechanism and capacity building of all stakeholders. It also advised that the Budget should be aligned with SDGs.
30. 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.