1. In which scheme, three states-Odisha, Sikkim and Mizoram have joined, to bring the total number of implementing states to 20?
[A] PM KISAN
[B] One Nation-One Ration Card
[C] PM Fasal Bima Yojana
[D] PM Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [One Nation-One Ration Card]
Notes:
As per the recent announcement from the Food and Consumer Affairs Ministry, three more States namely Odisha, Sikkim and Mizoram have recently joined the ‘One Nation-One Ration Card’ scheme.
This addition has taken the total number of states and union territories that have joined the scheme to 20. In the three states, the necessary infrastructure work for joining the scheme including upgradation of electronic Point of Sale (e-PoS) software have been completed.
2. What is the name of the scheme that was launched in 2015, to promote organic farming among small and marginal farmers?
[A] Pradhan Mantri KISAN Vikas Yojana
[B] Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana
[C] Organic Farming Mission
[D] Operation Greens
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana]
Notes:
Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) was launched by the Agriculture Ministry under National Mission of Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) in 2015. It was launched with an aim to promote organic farming among small and marginal farmers.
Recently, the NITI Aayog organised an online High-level Roundtable, which was attended by several national and international experts and policy makers. It aims to boost agroecological and natural farming practices in India. The Agriculture Minister said that PKVY covered 7 lakh hectares and 8 lakh farmers.
3. Which country has announced its eleventh outbreak of Ebola virus disease?
[A] Democratic Republic of the Congo
[B] Nigeria
[C] Rwanda
[D] Uganda
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Democratic Republic of the Congo]
Notes:
The Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo recently announced that it has witnessed a new outbreak of Ebola virus disease.
The country located in Central Africa has seen its 11th outbreak since the virus was first discovered in the country in 1976. At present, the disease is occurring in the Equateur province. The World Health Organisation (WHO) also announced about the disease.
4. Which Union Ministry has recently fixed the limit of local content in public procurement of 55 products?
[A] Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers
[B] Ministry of Commerce and Industry
[C] Ministry of MSMEs
[D] Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers welfare
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers]
Notes:
The Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers recently fixed the minimum percentage of local content in public procurement of 55 chemical and pesticide products.
This step is a part of the government’s effort to boost domestic manufacturing and the Make-in-India programme. As per the new norm, the minimum local content has been fixed at 60 per cent for 2020-21, 70 per cent for 2021-23 and 80 per cent during 2023-25. Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) had revised the Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order, 2017 for implementing this norm.
5. 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.
6. Which private sector bank has partnered with Mastercard India to launch a digital point-of-sale solution named ‘Soft POS’?
[A] ICICI Bank
[B] Axis Bank
[C] Kotak Mahindra Bank
[D] Yes Bank
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Axis Bank]
Notes:
Leading Private sector bank of India, Axis Bank has recently partnered with Mastercard India and payment service provider, Worldline India to launch a digital point-of-sale solution named as ‘Soft POS’.
The solution aims to assist offline merchants and local kirana stores in accepting payments using their smartphones, through several digital form factors including Bharat QR, sending payment links to customers etc. It can accept NFC-based payments to boost contactless payments in the country and features like e-Khata for reconciliations.
7. Vahana Mitra scheme is an initiative of which Indian state/UT?
[A] Karnataka
[B] Andhra Pradesh
[C] Odisha
[D] New Delhi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Andhra Pradesh]
Notes:
The state government of Andhra Pradesh has handed over a financial assistance of Rs 10,000 to help auto and taxi drivers affected due to the Covid-19 lockdown.
The assistance has been delivered under the YSR Vahana Mitra scheme, that was originally launched in the year 2019, to provide an annual allowance of Rs 10,000 to auto and taxi drivers to meet insurance premium, license fees and other recurring expenses. This allowance has been advanced by four months.
8. Which Indian has been appointed as the senior advisor to the Executive Director (ED), World Bank?
[A] Surjith Bhalla
[B] Rajeev Topno
[C] Urjit Patel
[D] Abhas Jha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Rajeev Topno]
Notes:
Veteran bureaucrat Rajeev Topno, a 1996 batch IAS officer who had been serving as the private secretary to the Prime Minister, has been appointed as senior advisor to the Executive Director (ED), World Bank.
As per the Personnel Ministry order issued, five other officers have been appointed to various posts abroad. This includes the appointment of Ravi Kota as Minister (Economic) at the Indian embassy in Washington; Lekhan Thakkar as Counsellor (Economic) at the Indian Embassy in Beijing; H Atheli, as Advisor (Director-level) to the ED of the ADB among others.
9. India unveiled ‘Panchsheel’ campaign to secure an elected seat at which international forum?
[A] United Nations Security Council
[B] G-7
[C] G-20
[D] IBSA Dialogue Forum
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [United Nations Security Council]
Notes:
Union External Affairs Minister of India S Jaishankar launched the country’s ‘Panchsheel’ principles for its campaign to secure an elected seat at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
The Panchsheel (Five Principles) includes Samman (respect), Samvad (dialogue), Sahyog (cooperation), Shanti (peace) and Samriddhi (prosperity). The elections are scheduled to be held on June 17, this year. India is the only endorsed candidate of the Asia-Pacific Group. Once selected, this would be the 8th term for India at the UNSC.
10. What would be the contraction in real Gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2020-21, as per the RBI’s Survey of Professional Forecasters?
[A] 0.5%
[B] 1.5%
[C] 2.5%
[D] 3.5%
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [1.5%]
Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India has recently released the latest round of the Survey of Professional Forecasters (SPF).
As per the survey, the negative growth in real Gross domestic product (GDP) in 2020-21 would be 1.5% or the real GDP is to contract by 1.5%. The survey also highlighted that India’s growth would bounce back in the next financial year 2021-22 and estimated to grow at 7.2%. Another measure called Real private final consumption expenditure (PFCE) is expected to decline by 0.5%.