1. China is set to impose a ban on pork related imports from China after concerns regarding which disease?
[A] Corona virus Disease
[B] African swine fever
[C] Porcine parvovirus
[D] Mastitis
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [African swine fever]
Notes:
China recently announced that it will impose a ban on imports of pigs, wild boar and pork related products from India.
After India reported African swine fever (ASF) in Assam last month and nearly 14,000 deaths among pigs and wild boars in Assam, China is set to ban those products. This was released by Chinese state media Global Times amidst the border tensions between the countries.
2. Which major technology company has launched a new application named ‘Sodar’, to help people maintain distancing?
[A] Facebook
[B] Amazon
[C] Google
[D] Apple
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Google]
Notes:
Major technology firm Google has launched a new application named ‘Sodar’, to help people maintain social distancing.
The application uses Augmented reality (AR) for this purpose. It creates a visual boundary using the user’s smartphone camera and show who is breaching that distance, on a real-time basis. Earlier, the UN Technology Innovation Labs released a free mobile social distancing app 1point5 which uses Bluetooth signal.
3. Which is the smallest state of India by area, that celebrates its statehood day on May 30?
[A] Goa
[B] Sikkim
[C] Tripura
[D] Meghalaya
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Goa]
Notes:
Goa is the smallest state of India, by are and the fourth-smallest state by population. It recently celebrated its statehood day on May 30.
In 1961, Indian Army invaded and annexed Goa, Daman and Diu into the Indian union, through Operation Vijay. After that, Goa along with Daman and Diu, was categorised as a centrally administered Union territory of India. On 30 May 1987, the union territory was split and Goa was made the 25th state of India and Daman and Diu remained as a UT.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Google’s former Chief financial officer Patrick Pichette has been appointed as the board chairman of which major technology company?
[A] Amazon
[B] Apple
[C] Twitter
[D] Facebook
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Twitter]
Notes:
Social networking giant Twitter has recently appointed Patrick Pichette, a former chief financial officer at Google as the next chairman of its board.
This is the first time in the history of Twitter that an outsider is presiding over the board. Patrick Pichette served as the lead independent director of Twitter since the end of 2018. He is to replace Omid Kordestani in leading the directors as Chairman. Investors have been urging for appointing outsiders to preside over boards.
7. Union Cabinet recently approved the MoU between India and which country, on cooperation in the field of Environment?
[A] New Zealand
[B] Bhutan
[C] Japan
[D] Finland
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bhutan]
Notes:
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister has given its approval for signing a Memorandum of Understanding between India and Bhutan on cooperation in the field of Environment.
Under the agreement, the countries will work together in the areas of environment protection including air, waste, chemical management, climate change and management of natural resources by taking into account the applicable legal provisions in each country.
8. 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.
9. Which country passed a bill which criminalises the insulting of Chinese national anthem?
[A] South Korea
[B] North Korea
[C] Hong Kong
[D] Thailand
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Hong Kong]
Notes:
The legislature of Hong Kong has recently approved a bill that makes it illegal to insult the Chinese national anthem.
In Hong Kong, the pro-democracy camp sees the anthem bill as an infringement of freedom of expression whereas the pro-Beijing majority said the law was necessary to show appropriate respect for the anthem. If one intentionally abuses the “March of the Volunteers” anthem, he might face up to three years in prison and a fine of up to 50,000 Hong Kong dollars.
10. Who is the only Indian to be ranked in the Forbes 2020 list of World’s Highest-Paid Celebrities?
[A] Virat Kohli
[B] Akshay Kumar
[C] Ranveer Singh
[D] Priyanka Chopra
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Akshay Kumar]
Notes:
Bollywood Actor Akshay Kumar is the only Indian to feature on Forbes 2020 list of World’s Highest-Paid Celebrities at rank 52 and earnings of 48.5 million dollars.
The first spot was bagged by American media person and businesswoman Kylie Jenner, famous for her Kylie Cosmetics. She is followed by US based musician Kanye West with an estimated USD170 million earnings. Ace Tennis player Roger Federer is placed at the third place, followed by Football stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.