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. 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.
43. India is set to renew the ‘Agreement on Scientific cooperation’ for the next five years with which global association?
[A] ASEAN
[B] BIMSTEC
[C] European Union
[D] G-20
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [European Union]
Notes:
India and the European Union are set to renew the Agreement on Scientific cooperation for the next five years, 2020-2025.
This was announced at the virtual 15th India-EU Summit, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen led the EU. The mentioned Agreement was initially signed in 2001 and has been renewed two times in 2007 and 2015.
44. Which Asian country has banned all wildlife imports amidst Coronavirus spread?
[A] China
[B] Vietnam
[C] Philippines
[D] Malaysia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Vietnam]
Notes:
The Prime Minister of Vietnam Nguyen Xuan Phuc has recently signed an order that bans all imports of wildlife either dead or alive including eggs and larvae.
The order also includes tougher penalties for crimes involving the trade in wildlife. Amidst the coronavirus spread, this ban has been imposed in Vietnam, which is a popular destination for endangered wildlife products used in medicine or cuisine.
45. 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.
46. Union Minister Sadananda Gowda launched four schemes including a production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme and industry park scheme, for manufacturing which products?
[A] Bulk drugs and medical devices
[B] Textile
[C] Automobile
[D] Steel
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Bulk drugs and medical devices]
Notes:
The government has released guidelines for four schemes to boost domestic manufacturing of bulk drugs and medical devices.
Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers DV Sadananda Gowda launched and issued guidelines for the schemes, which aim to reduce imports in pharmaceutical raw materials like drug intermediates, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and medical devices.
47. When is ‘Global Tiger Day’ celebrated across the world every year?
[A] July 27
[B] July 29
[C] July 31
[D] August 1
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [July 29]
Notes:
During the Saint Petersburg declaration on tiger conservation that was signed by Tiger range countries in 2010, it was decided to celebrate 29th July as Global Tiger Day across the world.
The countries had pledged to double the tiger population by the year 2022. Global Tiger Day aims to create awareness on tiger conservation. Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar has released the All India Tiger Estimation Report-2018 and said that India has nearly 70 per cent of the global tiger population.
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 is India’s first Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)-approved drone training school?
[A] Bombay Flying Club
[B] Madras Flying Club
[C] Hyderabad Flying Club
[D] Delhi Flying Club
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Bombay Flying Club]
Notes:
One of the oldest flying clubs in India, the Bombay Flying Club has become the first drone training school approved by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
DGCA has approved the application of the club for conducting remote pilot training for remotely piloted aircraft systems. All drones should be registered with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and should receive Drone acknowledgement numbers (DANs).
50. 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.