21. 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.
22. Which company has launched its new video conferencing app named ‘BlueJeans’?
[A] Jio Platforms
[B] Bharti Airtel
[C] Amazon
[D] Facebook
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bharti Airtel]
Notes:
India’s leading telecom service provider Bharti Airtel has recently launched its new video conferencing app named ‘BlueJeans’.
This application is expected to compete its rival applications namely Zoom, Google Hangouts, Microsoft Teams and the recently launched JioMeet. BlueJeans has been launched in partnership with US-based telecom company Verizon.
23. Which country has made the ‘Hong Kong Autonomy Act’ into law and ended its preferential treatment for Hong Kong?
[A] China
[B] United States
[C] India
[D] United Kingdom
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [United States]
Notes:
The United States President Donald Trump has signed the Hong Kong Autonomy Act into law. He also signed an executive order ending US preferential treatment for Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong Autonomy Act was passed unanimously by the Congress. It gives provisions to the country, to hold accountable the individuals involved in suppressing Hong Kong’s freedom. After this act, Hong Kong will be treated the same as mainland China by the US.
24. Which Minister has launched the guidelines of the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund, (AHIDF)?
[A] Giriraj Singh
[B] Narendra Singh Tomar
[C] Harsimrat Kaur Badal
[D] Arjun Munda
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Giriraj Singh]
Notes:
Union Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister Giriraj Singh launched the implementation guidelines for Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund, AHIDF.
The 15000 crore rupees worth fund was approved by the Union Cabinet last month under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan stimulus package. Under the fund, Farmer Producer Organizations, MSMEs, Private Companies and individual entrepreneurs with minimum 10% margin are given 90% loans from scheduled banks, for developing infrastructure for animal husbandry.
25. Elyes Fakhfakh, who recently resigned, was the Prime Minister of which country?
[A] Tunisia
[B] Algeria
[C] Turkey
[D] Egypt
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Tunisia]
Notes:
Elyes Fakhfakh, the Prime Minister of the North African country Tunisia, has recently submitted his resignation.
Earlier, there was an allegation that the Prime Minister holds a stake in a waste processing company that won government contracts worth 15 million euro. Investigations are being carried out in this case.
26. The International Olympic Committee has postponed the 2022 Dakar Youth Olympics to which year?
[A] 2023
[B] 2024
[C] 2025
[D] 2026
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [2026]
Notes:
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has postponed the 2022 Dakar Youth Olympics for four years, to 2026.
This decision has been taken due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Youth Summer Games, to be held in Senegal’s capital, will be the first Olympics to be organised in Africa. The Tokyo Olympics is scheduled to be held in July 2021 and Beijing Winter Olympics in February 2022.
27. The import of which agricultural equipment has been curbed by the Indian Government by amending its import policy?
[A] Tractor
[B] Power tiller
[C] Power weeder
[D] Rotary tiller
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Power tiller]
Notes:
As per the statement released by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), the Government has amended the import policy of Power tillers and its components from ‘free’ to ‘restricted’.
The importer is required to seek a license from the DGFT for importing the product categorised as ’restricted’. This move is expected to curb the inward shipment of the equipment that comes mainly from China.
28. Lourdes Roman Catholic shrine, that arranged the world’s first e-pilgrimage, is located in which country?
[A] Italy
[B] France
[C] Germany
[D] United States
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [France]
Notes:
The Lourdes Roman Catholic shrine located in France has recently organised the world’s first ever e-pilgrimage after the coronavirus crisis.
About 80 million from across the world attended the programme. Mass and prayers are broadcasted on television and social media for the e-pilgrimage named ‘Lourdes United’. During summer, pilgrims visit the shrine and light candles in the sanctuary, where Virgin Mary is believed to have appeared.
29. Which state is the top investment destination in India in first quarter of 2019-20, as per Projects Today?
[A] Maharashtra
[B] Tamil Nadu
[C] Gujarat
[D] Karnataka
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Tamil Nadu]
Notes:
According to a survey by Projects Today, an online database of projects, Tamil Nadu is the top investment destination in India in first quarter of 2019-20.
The investment flow in the state amounts to Rs 18,236 crore, which is around 18.63 per cent of the total fresh investment. The state has signed as many as 17 agreements in May 2020. It is followed by Maharashtra with investment flow of Rs 11,229 crore.
30. Who is the Chairperson of the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT)?
[A] Shiva Kirti Singh
[B] Syed Rafat Alam
[C] Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud
[D] Shyamal Kumar Sen
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Shiva Kirti Singh]
Notes:
The Supreme Court of India has extended the tenure of the chairperson and members of the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) by three months.
The chairperson of TDSAT is former Supreme Court judge Justice Shiva Kirti Singh. His tenure was to end on July 20 this year and the tenure of other members of the tribunal has already ended. TDSAT has recently set aside TRAI’s order that blocked Vodafone-Idea’s premium tariff plan RedX.