41. Which Indian vaccine maker is to begin trials of the Covid-19 vaccine candidate developed by Oxford University-AstraZeneca?
[A] Serum Institute of India
[B] Biocon
[C] Panacea Biotech
[D] Cadila Healthcare
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Serum Institute of India]
Notes:
Pune-based Serum Institute of India announced that the company will start trials of the Covid-19 vaccine candidate developed by Oxford University-AstraZeneca.
The trials are to be carried out by the end of August on about 5,000 Indian volunteers after getting the necessary permissions. The company also hoped that the vaccine will be hopefully launched by June next year. To manufacture 300 million doses, the company is to spend USD 200 million.
42. Which state has commenced a New Development Bank-funded Water Supply Project?
[A] Assam
[B] Bihar
[C] Manipur
[D] Haryana
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Manipur]
Notes:
Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi has recently laid the foundation stone for a Water Supply Project in the state of Manipur.
It is an externally funded project with an outlay of Rs 3054.58 crores with a loan funded by the New Development Bank. The Centre had provided funds under Jal Jeevan Mission for freshwater household tap connections (FHTCs). The project aims to provide FHTCs to remaining households across 16 districts of Manipur.
43. Ramesh Babu Boddu has been appointed as the new Managing Director and CEO of which Indian Private sector bank?
[A] Federal Bank
[B] Karur Vysya Bank
[C] Karnataka Bank
[D] City Union Bank
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Karur Vysya Bank]
Notes:
Indian leading Private Sector bank Karur Vysya Bank (KVB) has named Ramesh Babu Boddu as the Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer for three years.
The bank’s Board of Directors has also selected Ramesh Babu Boddu as an Additional Director. Three months back, he superannuated as Deputy Managing Director in State Bank of India. KVB is headquartered in Karur in Tamil Nadu and has completed 100 years of operation.
44. 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.
45. What is the duration for which waterway usage charges have been waived off by the Shipping Ministry?
[A] 3 years
[B] 5 years
[C] 7 years
[D] 10 years
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [3 years]
Notes:
Union Shipping Ministry has announced that it has waived off waterway usage charges for a period of three years.
This decision has been taken to promote inland waterways as a cheaper mode of transport. Water usage charge was previously applicable on use of all national waterways by vessels. This waiver is estimated to increase the inland waterway traffic movement to 110 million metric tonne (MMT) in 2022-23.
46. Which is the world’s biggest energy firm, in terms of market capitalization, as on July 2020?
[A] Saudi Aramco
[B] Reliance Industries
[C] Exxon Mobil
[D] BP
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Saudi Aramco]
Notes:
The Saudi Arabian Oil Company otherwise called as Saudi Aramco is a multinational petroleum and natural gas company. It is the world’s biggest energy firm, with USD 1.75 trillion market capitalization.
Recently, the Reliance Industries surpassed Exxon Mobil Corp. to become the world’s second largest energy company. Reliance has the world’s biggest oil refinery complex. Its market value is USD 189 billion, as on July 27, 2020.
47. What is the name of the weather forecast application launched by the India Meteorological Department?
[A] Weather Check
[B] IMD Forecast
[C] Mausam
[D] IMD Check
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Mausam]
Notes:
India Meteorological Department, Union Ministry of Earth Sciences launched a weather forecast application for general public.
Named as Mausam, the application offers information on five details including current temperature, humidity, wind speed and wind direction for 200 cities. The information is updated eight times a day. While this app is meant for everyone, IMD already has another app meant only for farmers and agriculturists called Meghdoot.
48. As per the United Nations, which Indian city witnessed a drop in levels of nitrogen dioxide by more than 70%, during lock-down?
[A] Mumbai
[B] New Delhi
[C] Dhanbad
[D] Ranchi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [New Delhi]
Notes:
As per the latest United Nations policy brief on’COVID-19 in an Urban World’, the capital city of India New Delhi has witnessed a drop in levels of nitrogen dioxide by more than 70%, during lock-down.
The UN also highlighted that if the cities re-open without policies to prevent air pollution and promote de-carbonisation, this environmental gains could only be temporary. It also said that urban areas are the epicentre of the pandemic, with estimated 90 per cent of all reported cases.
49. Which Union Ministry launched ‘Indian Report on Digital Education, 2020’?
[A] Ministry of Science and Technology
[B] Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
[C] Ministry of Human Resource Development
[D] Ministry of Finance
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Ministry of Human Resource Development]
Notes:
Union Ministry of Human Resource Development has recently launched the ‘Indian Report on Digital Education, 2020’.
The report has details on innovative methods adopted by Education Departments of various States and Union Territories for providing inclusive education to children at home. Initiatives of HRD Ministry including DIKSHA platform and Swayam Prabha TV Channel are highlighted.
50. What is the new name of the Ministry of Human Resources and Development?
[A] Ministry of Education
[B] Ministry of Human Resources
[C] Ministry of Education Development
[D] Ministry of Tutoring and Teaching
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ministry of Education]
Notes:
The Union Cabinet has approved the change in the name of Union Ministry of Human Resource Development.
The HRD Ministry that is currently headed by Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, has been renamed as Ministry of Education. The name change was a key recommendation of the National Education Policy. In 1985, Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi changed the name of the Education Ministry to HRD Ministry.