41. Where is Defence Institute of High-Altitude Research (DIHAR) of DRDO located?
[A] Guwahati
[B] Leh
[C] Shimla
[D] Gairsain
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Leh]
Notes:
The Defence Institute of High-Altitude Research (DIHAR) is a life science laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) working on cold arid agro-animal technologies.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has established a COVID-19 testing facility at the DIHAR in Leh. The testing facility is capable of screening 50 samples per day and it enhances the capacity of testing in the Union Territory of Ladakh.
42. Department of Science and Technology has launched a 15-crore fund to support research collaboration with which country?
[A] Russia
[B] Japan
[C] Thailand
[D] Vietnam
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Russia]
Notes:
Department of Science and Technology has launched a 15-crore fund to support India-Russia Joint Technology Assessment and Accelerated Commercialization Programme.
The fund has been launched in partnership with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises (FASIE) of Russia. Start-ups from India and Russia will work together for technology development and cross-country technology adaptation. FICCI will implement the program in India.
43. ‘ASTHROS’ mission, that was seen in news recently, is associated with the Space Agency of which country?
[A] France
[B] Russia
[C] United States
[D] India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [United States]
Notes:
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced that it has started to work on a new mission named ‘ASTHROS’.
It stands for Astrophysics Stratospheric Telescope for High Spectral Resolution Observations at Sub millimeter-wavelengths (ASTHROS). The mission aims to send a telescope on a football stadium-sized balloon into the stratosphere to observe far-infrared light, that is invisible from the Earth. It is proposed to be launched in 2023 from Antarctica.
44. Who is the head of the Committee set up by the Union HRD Ministry, on retaining Indian students in its institutions?
[A] D P Singh
[B] Anil Sahasrabudhe
[C] Vineet Joshi
[D] Bhushan Patwardhan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [D P Singh]
Notes:
The Union Human Resources and Development Ministry has set up a committee under the Chairperson of University Grants Commission (UGC) D P Singh.
The committee will give suggestions on retaining Indian students in the country’s institutions. The Minister also said that the seat capacity in all premier institutions would be increased by 50% by 2024. Under this plan, the number of institutions under the Institutes of Eminence (IoE) programme will also go up to 50.
45. India has conducted the ‘Joint Economic and Trade Committee meeting’ with which country?
[A] United States
[B] United Kingdom
[C] Japan
[D] Russia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [United Kingdom]
Notes:
India and the United Kingdom has organised the 14th Joint Economic and Trade Committee meeting virtually.
The meeting was co-chaired by Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and UK Secretary of State for International Trade, Elizabeth Truss. Both the countries confirmed their shared commitment to a Free Trade Agreement.
46. Which global organisation has launched a new initiative named ‘COVID-19 Law Lab’?
[A] World Health Organisation
[B] World Trade Organisation
[C] Food and Agricultural Organisation
[D] UNICEF
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [World Health Organisation]
Notes:
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently launched a new initiative named ‘COVID-19 Law Lab’, to ensure that laws are adhered to protect health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.
It is a joint project of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), WHO, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University.
47. Who is the head of the committee for Analysis of QR (Quick Response) Code, set up by the Reserve Bank of India?
[A] D.B. Phatak
[B] Narasimhan
[C] Y V Reddy
[D] D K Mohanty
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [D.B. Phatak]
Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India has released the ‘Report of the Committee for Analysis of QR (Quick Response) Code’.
The Committee was constituted by RBI in December 2019 under the Chairmanship of Prof. D.B. Phatak, to review the present system of QR Codes in India in digital payments. The report asked the Government to provide incentive schemes to popularise QR code transactions among consumers. It also recommended phasing out proprietary and closed loop QR codes.
48. When was the Kargil war fought between the armies of India and Pakistan?
[A] 1961
[B] 1975
[C] 1999
[D] 2001
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [1999]
Notes:
India and Pakistan fought the Kargil War between May and July in the year 1999. India launched ‘Operation Vijay’ and cleared the posts in the Kargil sector that was occupied by the Pakistani soldiers on the Indian side of the Line of Control (LoC).
To commemorate its victory over Pakistan, India has been observing ‘Kargil Vijay Diwas’ on July 26 every year, on the day the war ended. It resulted in 527 deaths in the Indian side. On the Vijay Diwas, India pays tributes to the soldiers who laid down their lives during the war.
49. Which is the world’s largest glacier outside of the polar region?
[A] Lambert-Fisher Glacier
[B] Siachen Glacier
[C] Gangotri Glacier
[D] Rathong Glacier
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Siachen Glacier]
Notes:
The Siachen Glacier, which is located in the eastern Karakoram range in the Himalayas is the world’s largest non-polar glacier.
The glacier is currently a part of the union territory of Ladakh. Recently, the Indian Army announced that it will issue permits for civilian trips to its Siachen Base Camp and Kumar post in Ladakh. It is also claimed to be the highest battlefield.
50. What is the name of the participatory governance platform of India that has completed six years?
[A] MyGov
[B] My India
[C] Bharat Hamara
[D] Mera Desh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [MyGov]
Notes:
A digital platform created for information exchange between the government and citizens India called ‘MyGov’ completed six years from its inception.
The first-of-its-kind participatory governance platform was on July 26, 2014 by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The portal engaged the citizens on important policy issues and governance. There are over 1.22 crore registered members of MyGov platform.