41. Which Union Minister represented India in the G20 Digital Ministers’ Meet?
[A] Prakash Javadekar
[B] Ravi Shankar Prasad
[C] Jitendra Singh
[D] S JaiShankar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ravi Shankar Prasad]
Notes:
Union Information and Technology minister Ravi Shankar Prasad represented India in the G20 Digital Ministers’ Meet.
The Ministerial meet is hosted by Saudi Arabia, which holds the current Presidency. The Union Minister called for digital platforms to be accountable and sensitive to the concerns of all countries in terms of safety and privacy.
42. ‘Grand Renaissance Dam’ that was seen in news recently, is located in which country?
[A] Nigeria
[B] Sudan
[C] Egypt
[D] Ethiopia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Ethiopia ]
Notes:
Grand Renaissance Dam is a Hydroelectric power plant being constructed in Ethiopia since 2011. The dam formerly known as the Millennium Dam, is in the Benishangul-Gumuz Region, on the Blue Nile river of Ethiopia.
The construction has been in conflict as Sudan and Egypt fear that the hydroelectric dam could lead to water shortage in their countries. But Ethiopia insists that the it needs the USD 4 billion dam to generate electricity for its people. Recently, the three countries have accepted to resume talks on the dam.
43. Who is the winner of the Australian 2020 Miles Franklin Literary Award?
[A] Tara June Winch
[B] Tony Birch
[C] Bruce Pascoe
[D] Melissa Lucashenko
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Tara June Winch]
Notes:
The 36-year old Australian writer Tara June Winch has won the prestigious 2020 Miles Franklin Literary Award.
She has been awarded the prize for her book titled THE YIELD. The award has been presented since 1957, to the best novel focussing on Australian life. Tara June Winch is a Wiradjuri author who is famous for her novels including Swallow the Air and short story collection After the Carnage.
44. India is developing a 30-second rapid testing kit for Covid-19, in collaboration with which country?
[A] United States
[B] Russia
[C] Israel
[D] Germany
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Israel]
Notes:
India is in the process of developing a rapid testing kit for Covid-19, in collaboration with Israel. The proposed kit is expected to give results in less than 30 seconds.
A team from Israel’s Research and Development (R&D) Team of Defence Ministry will arrive in India to develop the rapid testing kit. The team has been working with India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Principal scientific adviser, K. Vijay Raghavan.
45. Indian Scholastic Assessment (Ind-SAT) Test is conducted under which Government programme?
[A] Unnat Bharat Abhiyan
[B] Study in India
[C] ManoDarpan
[D] Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Study in India]
Notes:
Human Resources and Development Ministry of India conducted the first ever Indian Scholastic Assessment (Ind-SAT) Test 2020 under its Study in India programme.
Based on the scores obtained in the Ind-SAT, foreign students for studying in select universities in India will be granted admissions and scholarships for under graduate as well as post graduate programmes. Over 5000 students attended the first exam conducted by the National Testing Agency.
46. Who has been appointed as the new Health Secretary of India succeeding Preeti Sudan?
[A] Rajesh Bhushan
[B] Sushil Kumar
[C] Ram Kumar Mishra
[D] Anil Kumar Jain
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Rajesh Bhushan]
Notes:
1987 batch Bihar cadre IAS officer Rajesh Bhushan has been appointed as the new Health secretary, after July 31 this year.
As per the recent Personnel Ministry order, Rajesh Bhushan, the Officer on Special Duty in the Department of Health and Family Welfare will succeed the present Secretary Preeti Sudan. Sushil Kumar has been appointed secretary of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes. Ram Kumar Mishra has been named Women and Child Development secretary.
47. India-Indonesia Defence Ministers’ Dialogue was held in which city?
[A] New Delhi
[B] Guwahati
[C] Lucknow
[D] Ahmadabad
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [New Delhi]
Notes:
The India-Indonesia Defence Ministers’ Dialogue was held in New Delhi. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh led the Indian delegation while Indonesia’s Defence Minister General Prabowo Subianto led their delegation.
Both the countries affirmed to further expand defence and military ties between the countries in areas including technology sharing. The countries had signed a new defence cooperation agreement in 2018 for a comprehensive strategic partnership.
48. India is to collaborate with which country for new anti-microbial resistance (AMR) projects?
[A] United Kingdom
[B] Brazil
[C] Germany
[D] Switzerland
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [United Kingdom]
Notes:
India is collaborating with the United Kingdom for five new projects worth eight million pounds, to tackle anti-microbial resistance (AMR).
All the five projects are planned for September this year, after they receive clearances. The United Kingdom is to contribute four million pounds from the UK Research and Innovation Fund for the partnership. The UK has also partnered with India’s Serum Institute to manufacture the vaccine for COVID-19.
49. Which country is to inaugurate its new Supreme Court building, constructed with Indian assistance?
[A] Mauritius
[B] Sri Lanka
[C] Bangladesh
[D] Maldives
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Mauritius]
Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth will jointly inaugurate the new Supreme Court building of Maldives.
The new building located in Port Louis has been built with the financial assistance of India. It is one among the five projects implemented under a USD 353-million special economic package provided by India in 2016.
50. What is the target to be achieved in Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) by 2025, as per the National Education Policy?
[A] 25 per cent
[B] 50 per cent
[C] 75 per cent
[D] 100 per cent
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [50 per cent]
Notes:
The Union Cabinet has recently approved the National Education Policy 2020. It has introduced several major reforms in higher education.
As per the policy, a target of 50 per cent Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) by 2035 has been fixed. It also provides academic, administrative and financial autonomy for institutions and proposes a single regulator for all higher education.