1. What was the growth in real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of India in the year 2019-20?
[A] 5.0%
[B] 4.7%
[C] 4.5%
[D] 4.2%
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [4.2%]
Notes:
The National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, has released the Provisional Estimates of National Income for the financial year 2019-20.
As per the data, the Indian economy grew by 4.2 percent in the year 2019-20, as compared to the 6.1 percent growth in 2018-19. This GDP growth rate is said to be the lowest in past 11 years. Also, during the January-March (final) quarter of the year 2019-20, the growth rate of GDP fell to 3.1%. The Per Capita Income (real) had a growth of 3.1 percent during 2019-20, as against 4.8 per cent in the previous year.
2. 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.
3. Which Indian state/UT has launched a mobile application to give real-time information on number of hospital beds?
[A] Goa
[B] New Delhi
[C] Odisha
[D] Kerala
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [New Delhi]
Notes:
Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal has recently launched ‘Delhi Corona’ app for real-time information on availability of hospital beds.
The dedicated application would display the availability of beds at both private and government hospitals in the city, available at any particular time. Moreover, the app will also provide redressal of complaints related to refusal of hospitals in admitting COVID-19 positive patients.
4. What is the estimate of horticulture production in 2019-20, as per the second estimate of Agriculture Ministry?
[A] 270.48 million tonnes
[B] 290.48 million tonnes
[C] 300.48 million tonnes
[D] 320.48 million tonnes
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [320.48 million tonnes]
Notes:
The Agriculture Ministry has released its second advance estimates of total horticulture production in 2019-20.
As per the estimate, the total horticulture production would be 320.48 million tonnes in this year, which is 3.13% higher than last year. The production of fruits is estimated to be 99.07 million tonnes as compared to 97.97 million tonnes in 2018-19. The total production of vegetables is estimated to be 191.77 million tonnes as compared to 183.17 million tonnes in 2018-19.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. Which country is set to re-enter the UN Security Council, as a sole contender for the Asia Pacific seat for non-permanent membership?
[A] Thailand
[B] India
[C] China
[D] Sri Lanka
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [India]
Notes:
India is the sole contender for the Asia Pacific seat in non-permanent category of the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member.
The General Assembly of UNSC is to hold elections for the five non-permanent members of the Security Council on June 17. It has also proposed new secret ballot voting arrangements due to the Covid-19 restrictions. India has been elected as a non-permanent member of UNSC for seven terms starting from 1950-51 till 2011-12.
9. What is the corpus of the Payment Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF), proposed to be set up by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)?
[A] Rs 100 crore
[B] Rs 200 crore
[C] Rs 500 crore
[D] Rs 1000 crore
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Rs 500 crore]
Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India recently announced that it would set up a Payment Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) of Rs 500 crore.
The fund has been created to promote the digital payment ecosystem across the country including deployment of Point of sale (PoS) infrastructure. The Reserve Bank made an initial contribution of Rs 250 crore, while the remaining fund will be provided by the card issuing banks and card networks.
10. In which state is the Keeladi excavation site located, where skeletal remains of an animal have been recently unearthed?
[A] Uttar Pradesh
[B] Tamil Nadu
[C] Kerala
[D] Karnataka
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Tamil Nadu]
Notes:
Skeletal remains of an animal have been recently unearthed at Manalur near Madurai, under the sixth phase of excavation work at Keeladi site, undertaken by the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology (TNSDA).
The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Edappadi K Palaniswami had started the 6th phase of excavation work in February at Keeladi, Kondagai, Agaram and Manalur near Madurai. During the excavation, a variety of materials including weaving, animal husbandry and water management were recovered. The materials were found to be belonging to the 5th century of the Tamil culture.