41. ‘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.
42. 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.
43. National Intelligence Grid “NATGRID” is an attached office under which Union Ministry?
[A] Ministry of Finance
[B] Ministry of Home Affairs
[C] Ministry of External Affairs
[D] Ministry of Defence
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Home Affairs]
Notes:
National Intelligence Grid “NATGRID” is an attached office under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. It aims to allow investigation and law enforcement agencies to access real-time information.
Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) is to partner with the NATGRID to share the financial details of any entity with 10 agencies including the CBI, Enforcement Directorate and the NIA. This information-sharing mechanism is done under the NATGRID platform.
44. 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.
45. 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.
46. The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) is to set up its own Cotton Warehouse in which country?
[A] Bangladesh
[B] Thailand
[C] Vietnam
[D] Singapore
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Vietnam]
Notes:
The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) is to set up its own Cotton warehouse in Vietnam, to boost Exports.
A government-to-government Memorandum of Understanding is also being prepared to export 1.5-2 million bales of cotton to Bangladesh. CCI holds surplus stocks of cotton before the next harvest season and this plan has been made.
47. As on July 2020, what is the average completion of time of houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana- Gramin scheme?
[A] 514 days
[B] 314 days
[C] 114 days
[D] 54 days
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [114 days]
Notes:
Ministry of Rural Development has announced that the average completion time for houses under restructured Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) has come down to 114 days.
Earlier, the number of days for construction under the scheme used to be 314 days. The scheme was launched the scheme in the year 2016, with an objective of Housing for all by the year 2022. It strives to construct as many as 2.95 crore houses with all basic amenities by the year 2022.
48. Which state has the highest tiger population, as per the recent report of the Environment Ministry?
[A] Maharashtra
[B] Madhya Pradesh
[C] Andhra Pradesh
[D] Kerala
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Madhya Pradesh]
Notes:
The Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar released an updated report on India’s Tiger Survey from 2018.
As per the updated report, India’s tiger population stood at 2967, the same number given by the Government last year. India has 70% of the world’s total tiger population. Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of tigers at 526, followed by Karnataka and Uttarakhand.
49. Who is the seventh bowler in the world and second England bowler to clinch 500 wickets in Test Cricket?
[A] Stuart Broad
[B] Ben Stoke
[C] Chris Woakes
[D] Jos Buttler
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Stuart Broad]
Notes:
England fast-bowler Stuart Broad has recently become the seventh bowler in cricket history to clinch 500 wickets in Test matches.
The 34-year-old player has achieved this feat during the third and final Test against West Indies at the Old Trafford. He is the second English player to achieve this after James Anderson. Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka is the leading wicket-taker in Test cricket with 800 wickets.
50. Which country’s people are the largest international community to be granted Australian citizenship?
[A] United States
[B] India
[C] England
[D] Indonesia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [India]
Notes:
Australian Minister for Immigration and Citizenship recently announced that out of the over 2,00,000 people who became Australian citizens in 2019-2020, around 38,000 were Indians.
They are the largest international community to be granted the Australian citizenship. This figure is also 60 per cent increase from the previous year. India is followed by the people of the UK, China and Pakistan.