41. Which Indian bureaucrat has been appointed honorary advisor to the steering committee for BRICS CCI Young Leaders?
[A] Tina Dabi
[B] Smita Sabharwal
[C] Annies Kanmani Joy
[D] Shantanu Goyal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Tina Dabi]
Notes:
Young Indian Administrative officer Tina Dabi has been appointed honorary advisor to the steering committee for BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) Young Leaders.
The topper of the 2016 civil services examination has been appointed in the honorary role for the session 2020 to 2023. She is currently serving as sub-divisional officer (SDO) in the Bhilwara district of Rajasthan and was hailed for her outstanding efforts to contain Covid-19. Sahil Seth, Deputy Commissioner of Mumbai Customs has also been selected for the post.
42. 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.
43. Which is the first domestic air-carrier of India, to operate to the United States?
[A] IndiGo
[B] SpiceJet
[C] Vistara
[D] GoAir
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [SpiceJet]
Notes:
Gurugram-based Indian air carrier SpiceJet has been designated as Indian scheduled carrier to operate between India and the United States.
SpiceJet is the first air-carrier to operate to the US after Air India. This approval has been given in terms of the Air Services Agreement between the Government of India and the Government of the United States of America. It has also been selected to operate to the United Kingdom.
44. India is set to procure standoff missiles named ‘HAMMER’ from which country?
[A] United States
[B] France
[C] Russia
[D] Israel
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [France]
Notes:
India is set to procure HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) standoff missiles from France.
The Indian Air Force is expected to receive first five Rafale combat aircrafts from France by July 29. HAMMER is a medium-range air-to-ground weapon. It was originally designed and manufactured for the French Air Force and Navy.
45. ‘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.
46. Which financial institution of India has released ‘Financial Stability Report’?
[A] Securities Exchange Board of India
[B] Reserve Bank of India
[C] Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India
[D] State Bank of India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Reserve Bank of India]
Notes:
Reserve Bank of India releases a bi annual report called the financial stability report (FSR). The latest edition was released recently.
RBI has estimated that the gross non performing asset (GNPA) ratio of all banks may increase from 8.5% in March 2020 to 12.5% by March 2021. GNPA ratio of public sector banks will increase to 15.2% in March 2021. The main reason for this dip is the slowdown in the economy due to the Covid-19 induced lock-down.
47. 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.
48. Amala Shankar, who passed away recently, was associated with which profession?
[A] Politician
[B] Dancer
[C] Sportsperson
[D] Writer
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Dancer]
Notes:
Veteran Dancer Amala Shankar has passed away recently in Kolkata at the age of 101. She is the wife of classical dancer Uday Shankar.
She entered the profession at a very younger age and her first dance performance was in Belgium in the year 1931. She was active in the dance field till her 92nd year. She had won several awards and accolades including the West Bengal government’s Banga Bibhusan award in 2011.
49. 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.
50. As per the UN World Wildlife Crime Report, which two countries were the main suppliers of illegal tiger products in the world?
[A] India and China
[B] India and Thailand
[C] China and Thailand
[D] India and Indonesia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [India and Thailand]
Notes:
According to the recently released United Nations World Wildlife Crime Report, India and Thailand supplied highest illegal tiger products in the world.
It also highlighted that the biggest destination of the tiger parts was China, followed by Thailand and Vietnam. The most valuable body part of the tigers is their bones which are used to treat bone and ligament injuries in humans.