1. What was the real fiscal deficit of India, as a percentage of GDP, for the previous financial year 2019-20?
[A] 3.8%
[B] 4.0%
[C] 4.25%
[D] 4.59%
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [4.59%]
Notes:
As per the data from the Controller General of Accounts (CGA), India’s fiscal deficit was 4.59% of gross domestic product (GDP) for the year 2019-20. Fiscal Deficit is the gap between the government’s revenue and expenditure
The government’s revised target for its fiscal deficit was 3.8%, and the real deficit has exceeded it. However, the budget estimate was 3.5% of GDP. The Union Finance Minister invoked the escape clause in the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act to peg the deficit 0.5% higher than the Budget estimate.
2. When is ‘World No Tobacco Day 2020’ celebrated every year?
[A] May 30
[B] May 31
[C] June 1
[D] June 2
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [May 31]
Notes:
World No Tobacco Day 2020 is celebrated on May 31 every year, across the world. The main objective of celebrating the day is to protect youth from industry manipulation and to prevent them from tobacco and nicotine use.
This year, the World No Tobacco Day 2020 global campaign will expose the manipulation tactics of tobacco and related industries, educate young people about the intentions of the industries and empower the general public in social platforms to protect youth.
3. Who has been nominated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award?
[A] Shikhar Dhawan
[B] Rohit Sharma
[C] Jasprit Bumrah
[D] Ravindra Jadeja
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Rohit Sharma]
Notes:
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has nominated Indian cricket star Rohit Sharma for the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award.
Other stars including Ishant Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Deepti Yadav have been shortlisted by the BCCI for the Arjuna Award. The period of consideration for the awards is between January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2019. Rohit Sharma has been named the ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year for 2019.
4. Which state-owned organisation has developed a multi-purpose disinfection unit named Ultra Swachh?
[A] DRDO
[B] CSIR
[C] HAL
[D] BARC
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [DRDO]
Notes:
Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Allied Sciences (INMAS), the Delhi based laboratory of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed a disinfection unit named Ultra Swachh.
It is a multi-purpose unit, which can be used to disinfect a wide range of objects and materials including Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), fabrics among others. The system is compliant with international standards of personal and environmental safety. The system will be available in two variants namely Ozonated Space and Trinetra Technology
5. STIP 2020, which was seen in news, is a scheme related to which field?
[A] Agriculture
[B] Science & Technology
[C] Sustainable Development Goals
[D] Electronics Manufacturing
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Science & Technology]
Notes:
The Central Government has initiated a consultation process for formulation of a new national Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP 2020).
To formulate this policy, the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India and the Department of Science and Technology (DST) have jointly initiated a decentralised process. This is the 5th Science and Technology policy of the country.
6. Who was the Chairman of the Expert Committees on Rationalisation/Closure/Merger of Film Media Units?
[A] Bimal Julka
[B] Rahul Rawail
[C] Shyama Prasad
[D] Nagabharana
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Bimal Julka]
Notes:
The Expert Committees on Rationalisation/Closure/Merger of Film Media Units and the committee on Review of Autonomous Bodies under the aegis of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting submitted their report to the Union I&B Minister Prakash Javadekar.
The committees were headed by Bimal Julka with an objective of rationalisation and professionalisation of institutes related to film activities. The committee recommended specific roadmaps for the development of institutes including National Film Development Corporation, Films division, Children’s Film Society of India among others.
7. Union Cabinet has approved to rename which major port of India as Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port?
[A] Kandla Port
[B] Chennai Port
[C] Cochin Port
[D] Kolkata Port
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Kolkata Port]
Notes:
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister has recently approved to rename Kolkata Port as Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port.
During the 150th anniversary celebration of the Kolkata Port trust, the Prime Minister announced that the Port trust would be named after the leader Syama Prasad Mookerjee. The Port trust’s board of trustees passed a resolution to re-name Kolkata Port on February 2020. The Kolkata Port is the first Major Port as well as the only riverine port of the country.
8. Who will be the Chairperson of the “Empowered Group of Secretaries (EGoS)”, that has been approved by the Cabinet?
[A] Prime Minister
[B] CEO of NITI Aayog
[C] Cabinet Secretary
[D] Minister of Corporate affairs
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Cabinet Secretary]
Notes:
The Union Cabinet has given its approval for setting up of an “Empowered Group of Secretaries (EGoS) and Project Development Cells (PDCs) in Ministries/Departments of Government of India.
The establishment of the two cells is expected to attract more investments in India. The Cabinet Secretary would serve as the Chairperson of EGoS, with NITI Aayog CEO and Secretaries of other departments as members. The ‘Project Development Cell’ (PDC) will develop projects in coordination with the Central Government and State Governments and increase FDI inflows.
9. Which Indian writer won the regional award for Asia of the Commonwealth Short Story Prize, 2020?
[A] Kritika Pandey
[B] Madhuri Vijay
[C] Aravind Adiga
[D] Vikram Seth
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Kritika Pandey]
Notes:
Indian writer Kritika Pandey has won the regional award for Asia of the prestigious Commonwealth Short Story Prize for this year.
The writer was selected for her work titled ‘The Great Indian Tee and Snakes’. The Commonwealth Short Story Prize is awarded for the best unpublished short fiction, every year. She had also been earlier nominated for the Pushcart Prize. To be eligible for the award, one must be a commonwealth citizen aged above 18 years.
10. ‘The Great Reset’ is the proposed theme of the summit of which international organisation?
[A] Food and Agricultural Organisation
[B] United Nations Children’s Fund
[C] World Economic Forum
[D] World Health Organisation
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [World Economic Forum]
Notes:
As per the latest announcement from the World Economic Forum (WEF), it will adopt a new twin-summit format for its next annual summit.
The flagship annual Davos summit is proposed to be held in January 2021 with a theme of ‘The Great Reset’. The 51st summit is to bring together leaders from across the globe either in person or for virtual dialogues. This year, the 50th WEF Annual Meeting was held from January 21-24, 2020.