41. Which Central Asian country has become the 25th Observer of the World Trade Organization (WTO)?
[A] Turkmenistan
[B] Uzbekistan
[C] Afghanistan
[D] Kyrgyzstan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Turkmenistan ]
Notes:
Turkmenistan became the 25th country with a status of an observer in the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The member-states of the WTO General Council unanimously adopted the resolution on granting the status of an observer in WTO to the Central Asian country. There are 164 WTO member-states at present and 25 countries possess the status of an observer including Turkmenistan.
42. Best Price, that was acquired by Flipkart, is the wholesale business of which company?
[A] Snapdeal
[B] Reliance
[C] Walmart
[D] Indiamart
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Walmart]
Notes:
E-Commerce Giant Flipkart has announced that it will acquire parent Walmart’s wholesale business, ‘Best Price’.
The loss-ridden cash-and-carry business of Walmart in India is the last part of Walmart to be acquired by Flipkart marking a complete consolidation. This acquisition is expected to help Flipkart to expand its business-to-business vertical.
43. The Union Government has issued a certificate of GI registration for Saffron, grown in which state/UT?
[A] Jammu &Kashmir
[B] Sikkim
[C] Assam
[D] Arunachal Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Jammu &Kashmir]
Notes:
The Union Government has issued a certificate of Geographical Indication (GI) registration for Saffron grown in the Union Territory of Jammu &Kashmir.
The GI tag would ensure better remunerative price to the farmers growing Saffron in Kashmir Valley. This would also increase export of the unique Kashmir saffron and curb the fake products being sold. The UT is also inaugurating a Spice Park next month.
44. Which Indian institution has developed a new portable device that gives result in an hour?
[A] IIT Kharagpur
[B] IIT Madras
[C] IIT Bombay
[D] IIT Guwahati
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [IIT Kharagpur]
Notes:
Researchers at IIT Kharagpur have developed a new low-cost, portable device that can test for Covid-19 and give results in an hour.
The new technology has accuracy similar to the RT-PCR test, which is now considered the standard for testing. The device uses a disposable paper strip for analysing the sample and the results are made available in a mobile application.
45. The Gwalior-Chambal belt of Madhya Pradesh is to be converted into arable land with support from which international institution?
[A] World Bank
[B] Asian Development Bank
[C] Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
[D] New Development Bank
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [World Bank]
Notes:
The Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar announced that the Union Government is to collaborate with the World Bank, to convert the Gwalior-Chambal belt of Madhya Pradesh into arable land.
This has been decided in the virtual meeting with the World Bank representative. As per the statement, more than 3 lakh hectares of rugged land that remains not cultivable can be improved. As a result, the region’s agricultural development, environmental protection and employment opportunities can be improved.
46. Which district has topped the list of aspirational districts ranked by NITI Aayog for the February-June 2020 period?
[A] Nawada
[B] Moga
[C] Bijapur
[D] Bahraich
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Bijapur]
Notes:
Bijapur district in Chhattisgarh has topped the list of aspirational districts ranked by Niti Aayog for the February-June 2020 period.
Ri-Bhoi district in Meghalaya and Bahraich district in Uttar Pradesh have been placed at the second and third positions respectively. This delta ranking considers incremental progress made by over 112 aspirational districts across six developmental areas including Health and nutrition, education, agriculture and water resources, financial inclusion, skill development and basic infrastructure.
47. Which Union Ministry monitors infrastructure projects worth Rs 150 crore and above?
[A] Ministry of Finance
[B] Ministry of Corporate Affairs
[C] Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
[D] Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation]
Notes:
As per the latest report released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), about 403 infrastructure projects are hit by cost overruns of Rs 4.05 lakh crore.
Due to delays and other reasons, the projects each worth Rs 150 crore or more have been affected by overruns. MoSPI monitors infrastructure projects worth Rs 150 crore and above. Out of the 1686 projects, while 403 ones reported cost overruns and 530 projects reported time escalation.
48. India has pledged to end the HIV/AIDS pandemic by which year?
[A] 2022
[B] 2025
[C] 2030
[D] 2035
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [2030]
Notes:
At the 2016 high-level meeting at the UN General Assembly, India pledged to fast track efforts towards ending HIV/AIDS as a public health threat in the next five years, and to end the epidemic by 2030.
Recently, a study published by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) stated that India may miss the national target to end AIDS by 2030. The decline in annual new HIV infections is only 27% from 2020 to 2017 against the national target of 75% by 2020.
49. Thierry Bollore has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of which automobile company?
[A] Mercedes Benz
[B] Jaguar Land Rover
[C] BMW
[D] Aston Martin
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Jaguar Land Rover]
Notes:
The Chairman of Tata Sons N Chandra Sekaran announced that Thierry Bollore would be appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tata’s British luxury arm Jaguar Land Rover (JLR).
Thierry Bollore, who was previously working with the Renault, will assume office with effective from September 10. He is to succeed Professor Sir Ralf Speth, who would take up the position of Non-Executive Vice Chairman of Jaguar Land Rover.
50. Thudiyurulippara hill, which was announced as a biodiversity heritage site, is located in which state?
[A] Karnataka
[B] Kerala
[C] Tamil Nadu
[D] Andhra Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Kerala]
Notes:
Thudiyurulippara hill in the Pramadom grama panchayat of Kerala has been announced as a biodiversity heritage site.
The Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) has formally announced the ecologically sensitive hill as a biodiversity heritage site on the recommendations of the Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB). This has been announced on the occasion of World Nature Conservation Day.