1. Which country, that currently holds the BRICS Presidency, hosted the Meeting of the BRICS Heads of Tax Authorities?
[A] Brazil
[B] Russia
[C] China
[D] South Africa
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Russia]
Notes:
Russia, that currently holds the BRICS Presidency, hosted the meeting of the Heads of Tax Authorities of the BRICS countries.
Though the meeting was originally scheduled to be held in Moscow, owing to Covid-19 restrictions, it was held through video conferencing. The Finance Secretary of India Ajay Bhushan Pandey represented India at the meeting. Possibilities of exploring areas of cooperation in tax matters and response of tax authorities were discussed.
2. Which state is to launch a project to develop 800 km roads as Herbal roads?
[A] Gujarat
[B] Uttar Pradesh
[C] Himachal Pradesh
[D] Assam
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Uttar Pradesh]
Notes:
As per the recent announcement of the Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, the state is to develop 800 km roads as Herbal roads in the state.
The Herbal roads will have medicinal trees on both sides, including Peepal, Neem, Sehjan and other important herbal trees. The state’s Public Works Department will implement the project and rain water recharging system on the roads.
3. 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.
4. Which is the first private space company to send astronauts into space?
[A] Blue Origin
[B] Tesla
[C] SpaceX
[D] Orbital
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [SpaceX]
Notes:
California-based American aerospace manufacturing and space transportation services firm SpaceX has become the first private company to send astronauts into space.
The firm is owned by the tech-billionaire Elon Musk. The Crew Dragon spacecraft of SpaceX carried two astronauts of NASA Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken to the International Space Station (ISS). Earlier, this feat has been achieved by the governments of the United States, Russia and China. The US halted to use its own shuttles nine years ago.
5. Bobby Morrow, who recently passed away, was associated with which field?
[A] Politics
[B] Sports
[C] Business
[D] Space Science
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Sports]
Notes:
Bobby Joe Morrow, veteran athlete from the United States, recently passed away at the age of 84. The sprinter had won three gold medals in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.
Bobby Morrow won the 100 and 200 meters in Melbourne Olympics and was a crucial part of the winning 400 relay team of the US and helped the relay team set a world record. He was honoured as “Sportsman of the Year” by Sports Illustrated. He won the AAU’s James E. Sullivan Award and was also inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1989.
6. India’s largest energy exchange Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) launched its RTM platform. What does RTM stand for?
[A] Renewable Energy Market
[B] Real-Time Electricity Market
[C] Regulatory Electricity Medium
[D] Renewable Energy Medium
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Real-Time Electricity Market]
Notes:
Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) is the largest electronic system-based power trading exchange of India and it is regulated by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission. IEX platform provides physical delivery of electricity and Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs).
IEX has recently launched its Real-Time Electricity Market (RTM) platform. The objective of the platform is to help the DISCOMs plan their power requirements. The trade in electricity is carried out through half-hourly auctions i.e. 48 daily sessions.
7. What are the large group of asteroids that share the Jupiter’s orbit around the Sun, commonly called as?
[A] Trojan asteroids
[B] Dragon Asteroids
[C] Migrant Asteroids
[D] Queen Asteroids
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Trojan asteroids]
Notes:
The large group of asteroids that share the Jupiter’s orbit around the Sun are commonly called as Trojan asteroids or Jupiter Trojans. The trojans follow the same orbit of planet but stay either around 60 degrees ahead or 60 degrees behind along the orbit.
Recently, a team of astronomers from the University of Hawaii and Queen’s University Belfast have found that 2019 LD2 is the first known Jupiter trojan asteroid to have a comet-like tail. It was first discovered in June 2019 by the ATLAS system funded by NASA. But it could not be observed then, as it passed behind the sun.
8. What is the name of the former Union Minister and 3-time Member of Parliament from Ladakh, who recently passed away?
[A] Bejan Daruwalla
[B] Ajit Jogi
[C] P Namgyal
[D] K N Lakshmanan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [P Namgyal]
Notes:
Veteran politician and former Union Minister P Namgyal recently passed away at the age of 83, after contracting Covid-19.
He was also 3-time Member of Parliament from Ladakh representing the Congress Party. He had served as Minister of state for Parliamentary Affairs, Surface Transport and Chemicals & Petro chemicals. The Senior leader played a crucial role in obtaining ‘Tribal area’ status for Ladakh.
9. The Union Government has launched a drive to issue Kisan Credit Card (KCC) to which category of farmers?
[A] Dairy farmers
[B] Poultry farmers
[C] Horticulture farmers
[D] Pisciculture farmers
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Dairy farmers]
Notes:
The Union Government has recently launched Kisan Credit Card campaign to help dairy farmers.
The Government will provide Kisan Credit Card (KCC) to about 1.5 crore dairy farmers who belong to Milk Unions and Milk producing Companies. The drive seeks to provide KCC to the farmers within the next two months before July 31, under a special drive. The special drive to provide KCC is part of the Prime Minister’s Atma Nirbhar Bharat package.
10. 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.