1. Which global organisation has adopted a new voting procedure involving secret ballots for its elections, amidst Covid-19 pandemic?
[A] European Union
[B] United Nations
[C] World Health Organisation
[D] North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [United Nations]
Notes:
The United Nations General Assembly has recently adopted a new voting procedure for the upcoming election of new members of the Security Council.
This change is due to the restrictions for large gathering and to ensure social distancing during the Covid-19 pandemic. Usually, the assembly meet in a horseshoe-shaped assembly chamber at UN headquarters. But now, the ambassadors from 193 UN member nations will cast secret ballots at predetermined places and time slots.
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. K-FON project, that is to be implemented in Kerala this year, is associated with which field?
[A] Nutrition-added food
[B] Internet access
[C] Water conservation
[D] Space Science
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Internet access]
Notes:
The Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan has announced that Kerala Fibre Optic Network (K-FON) project would be launched by December 2020.
The objective of the Rs 1,500 crore scheme is to provide free internet access to the poor and at affordable rates to others. It is being implemented by Kerala State IT Infrastructure Limited and Kerala State Electricity Board. Using the KSEB posts, optical fibre cables are being laid across the state.
4. What is the name of the scheme launched by the Uttarakhand state government, to provide loans to migrant workers?
[A] Mukhya Mantri Samriddhi Yojana
[B] Mukhya Mantri Yatra Yojana
[C] Mukhya Mantri Pravasi Yojana
[D] Mukhya Mantri Swarojgar Yojana
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Mukhya Mantri Swarojgar Yojana]
Notes:
The state government of Uttarakhand has recently launched a scheme called ‘Mukhya Mantri Swarojgar Yojana’, to provide loans to the migrant workers amid Covid-19 pandemic.
Under the scheme, Uttarakhand government will provide loans worth ₹25 lakh in the manufacturing sector and ₹10 lakh in the service sector. The migrant workers who are returning to the state are eligible to apply for the loans, that will be provided by nationalised banks, scheduled commercial banks and co-operative banks.
5. Which file-sharing website has been ordered to be blocked by the Department of Telecom (DoT)?
[A] Media Fire
[B] WeTransfer
[C] Drop Box
[D] One Drive
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [WeTransfer]
Notes:
As per the recent order issued by the Department of Telecom (DoT), it has directed all internet service providers (ISPs) to block the computer file-sharing website ‘WeTransfer’, due to security reasons.
All internet service providers (ISPs) are directed to block two download links on the website WeTransfer as well as the entire website. We Transfer is an Internet-based computer file transfer service platform founded at Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
6. Which consumer electronics company has partnered with Indian start-up incubator T-Hub to support start-up ecosystem in India?
[A] Realme
[B] OPPO
[C] Xiaomi
[D] Huawei
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [OPPO]
Notes:
Chinese mobile communication cum consumer electronics company OPPO has recently partnered with Indian start-up incubator T-Hub to support start-up ecosystem in India.
Under the partnership, the start-ups specialising in the areas of Artificial Intelligence, 5G, Battery, Camera and Image Processing will be scaled up. The selected start-up firms will receive incubation support and market access from OPPO as well as mentorship from T-Hub.
7. Which private foundation is set to become the largest funder of the World Health Organisation (WHO)?
[A] Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance
[B] Ford Foundation
[C] Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
[D] Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation]
Notes:
After the United States President Donald Trump announced that the country is to terminate its relationship with the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is set to become the largest funder of WHO.
This would be the first time a private foundation is to become the biggest funder of a United Nations Agency. Among the present top 10 funders, only four are member countries, one is European Commission and the remaining are foundations or philanthropies.
8. Which state has launched a month-long drive to spread awareness about COVID-19 pandemic under Mission Fateh?
[A] Rajasthan
[B] Punjab
[C] Odisha
[D] Jharkhand
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Punjab]
Notes:
During April, the state of Punjab launched an operation to contain the outbreak of Coronavirus (Covid-19) named ‘Mission Fateh’.
Recently, the Chief Minister of Punjab Amarinder Singh has launched a month-long drive to spread awareness about COVID-19 pandemic under Mission Fateh. This campaign will expand the coverage of the original mission beyond the frontline workers to include all general public of the state in fighting the crisis. Various awareness programmes are to be held across the state.
9. Which state has made Aadhaar card mandatory for services like Salons and beauty parlours, to facilitate contact tracing?
[A] Kerala
[B] Tamil Nadu
[C] Andhra Pradesh
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Tamil Nadu]
Notes:
The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu released the standard operating procedure for the salons, beauty parlours and spas, when they resume their service after the lockdown.
As per the rules, the mentioned service providers will have to maintain a record of the name, phone number, address and Aadhaar number of the customers as a preventive measure against Covid-19. It would also facilitate contact tracing. Other sanitation procedures were also provided for resuming.
10. What is the name of the tropical Storm that has hit El Salvador and Guatemala?
[A] Amphan
[B] Nisarga
[C] Harold
[D] Amanda
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Amanda]
Notes:
Central American countries El Salvador and Guatemala have recently witnessed a tropical storm Amanda.
The heavy rains from Tropical Storm Amanda caused many people dead and missing. It has caused extreme damages across the two countries. The countries have set up temporary shelters to accommodate thousands of people after their homes were damaged.