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 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.
3. When is International Everest Day celebrated across the world?
[A] May 29
[B] May 31
[C] June 1
[D] June 2
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [May 29]
Notes:
International Everest Day is celebrated on May 29, across the world every year. On the same day in the year 1953, Tenzing Norgay of Nepal and Edmund Hillary of New Zealand had successfully scaled the Mt. Everest.
The mountaineer duo were the first human beings to achieve the prestigious feat. Nepal decided to observe the day as International Everest Day since the climber Edmund Hillary passed away in the year 2008.
4. Ashwani Bhatia has been appointed as the new Managing Director of which Indian public sector bank?
[A] Punjab National Bank
[B] Bank of India
[C] State Bank of India
[D] Union Bank of India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [State Bank of India]
Notes:
The Banks Board Bureau (BBB) has recently recommended the appointment for the top-level position of three public sector banks.
The BBB recommended the appointment of Ashwani Bhatia as the next Managing Director of State Bank of India. Ashwani Bhatia is currently the Deputy Managing Director in SBI. The Board also recommended the appointment of Matam Venkat Rao as the MD & CEO of Central Bank of India and PP Sengupta as the MD & CEO of Indian Overseas Bank.
5. What is the theme of the World Milk Day 2020?
[A] Milk connecting nations
[B] Milk for All
[C] Milk for SDGs
[D] 20th Anniversary of World Milk Day
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [20th Anniversary of World Milk Day]
Notes:
World Milk Day is celebrated on June 1, every year across the world. The first World Milk Day was held in the year 2001.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations chose June 1 as the World Milk Day, to highlight the role of milk and to publicise activities connected with milk and the milk industry. This year, the overarching theme is the “20th Anniversary of World Milk Day”. A virtual campaign rally named ‘Enjoy Dairy Rally’ was held from May 29-31.
6. Trionychidae, that was seen in news recently, belongs to which species?
[A] Spider
[B] Snake
[C] Turtle
[D] Owl
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Turtle]
Notes:
Recently, a rare species of Trionychidae turtle was caught by local fishermen at Deuli Dam under the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha.
It was rescued and released by the forest department in Deuli dam. Trionychidae turtles are softshell turtles, that are usually found in Africa, Asia, and North America. As per the forest department, the turtles weigh more than 30 kilograms and has a maximum life is 50 years.
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. Who has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom?
[A] Gaitri I. Kumar
[B] Ruchi Ghanshyam
[C] Vinay Kumar
[D] Alok Kumar Sinha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Gaitri I. Kumar]
Notes:
Veteran diplomat Gaitri I. Kumar has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom.
She is a 1986 batch Indian Foreign Service officer and is presently serving as the Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union. Gaitri I. Kumar is to replace Ruchi Ghanshyam who just retired. In her 3-decade long career, the diplomat has served in many Indian missions including in Paris, Kathmandu, Lisbon and Geneva.
10. Which association celebrated its 125th Annual session on the theme “Building India for a New World: Lives, livelihood, growth”?
[A] Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
[B] Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)
[C] National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM)
[D] Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)]
Notes:
The Prime Minister has recently delivered the inaugural address at the 125th Annual Session of Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) through video conference.
The theme of this year’s annual conference is “Building India for a New World: Lives, livelihood, growth”. The Prime Minister addressed the conference on “Getting Growth Back”. He congratulated the industry body on completing 125 years of the organisation and said Intent, Inclusion, Investment, Infrastructure and Innovation important to build an Aatmanirbhar Bharat.