21. What is the name of the special “Yoga Module” developed by India’s Permanent Mission to the UN to mark International Yoga Day 2020?
[A] Yoga for Health – Yoga at Home
[B] Yoga for Heart
[C] Yoga during Covid-19
[D] Yoga during Lock down
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Yoga for Health – Yoga at Home]
Notes:
India’s Permanent Mission to the UN has recently developed a special Yoga Module, to mark International Yoga Day 2020.
The International Yoga Day is celebrated on June 21, every year across the world. To commemorate this year’s Yoga Day, the Permanent Mission of India to the UN has created a special yoga module, ‘Yoga for Health – Yoga at Home’, along with yoga teachers and therapists. The module has yoga exercises, breathing and meditation practices to improve physical and mental health.
22. When is the ‘World Day against Child Labour’ celebrated?
[A] June 10
[B] June 12
[C] June 14
[D] June 15
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [June 12]
Notes:
World Day Against Child Labour is celebrated on 12 June, every year. This year, the theme of the World Day against Child Labour 2020 is ‘COVID-19: Protect children from child labour, now more than ever’.
The event focusses on the impact of child labour crisis. Due to the prevalent Covid-19 pandemic, this is conducted as a virtual campaign. It is being organized jointly with the Global March Against Child Labour and the International Partnership for Cooperation on Child Labour in Agriculture (IPCCLA).
23. Which Indian state/UT has launched a scheme called ‘Panchvati Yojna’, to develop parks and gardens in rural areas?
[A] Uttar Pradesh
[B] Himachal Pradesh
[C] Odisha
[D] Karnataka
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Himachal Pradesh]
Notes:
The Chief minister of Himachal Pradesh Jai Ram Thakur has recently launched a new scheme called ‘Panchvati Yojna’.
Under the scheme, that is being implemented by the rural development department, parks and gardens would be developed for senior citizens of rural areas in the state. The main aim of the scheme is provide an opportunity to the elder people to spend their leisure time in a clean environment with Ayurvedic and medicinal plants.
24. Who is the ex-officio Chairperson of the PM CARES fund trust?
[A] Union Finance Minister
[B] Prime Minister
[C] Union Home Minister
[D] RBI Governor
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Prime Minister]
Notes:
The PM CARES fund has the Prime Minister as its ex-officio Chairperson. It has the Union Ministers of Defence, Home and Finance as its ex-officio trustees. The Prime Minister has the power to nominate three trustees to the Board.
Recently, the trustees of PM CARES fund appointed SARC Associates as the independent auditor of the fund for three years. The Prime Minister’s Office will be its head office and two PMO officials will administer the fund on an honorary basis.
25. What is the annual rate of inflation based on monthly Wholesale Price Index (WPI), in May 2020?
[A] 3.21%
[B] 0.25%
[C] -0.25%
[D] -3.21%
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [-3.21%]
Notes:
As per the recent notification from the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), the annual rate of inflation based on monthly Wholesale Price Index (WPI) contracted to 3.21% in the month of May 2020.
It means that the annual rate of inflation is -3.21% in May 2020. The government had suspended the release of wholesale price index (WPI) data in April, due to the nationwide lockdown. Hence the provisional figures of May are compared with final figures of March.
26. Which Union Ministry of India released a report titled ‘Assessment of Climate Change over the Indian Region’?
[A] Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
[B] Ministry of Earth Sciences
[C] Ministry of Science and Technology
[D] Ministry of Jal Shakti
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Earth Sciences]
Notes:
Union Ministry of Earth Sciences has recently released a report titled ‘Assessment of Climate Change over the Indian Region’.
As per the first edition of the report released this year, the average surface air temperatures over India could rise by up to 4.4 degrees Celsius by the end of the century, in a worst-case scenario. This estimate is provided as compared to the period between 1976 and 2005. The report also revealed that under an intermediate scenario, the country’s average temperature could rise by up to 2.4°C.
27. Where is the fourth edition of the Asian Youth Para Games scheduled to be held?
[A] United Arab Emirates
[B] Bahrain
[C] Thailand
[D] India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bahrain]
Notes:
The Asian Paralympic Committee (APC) recently announced that Bahrain will host the fourth edition of the Asian Youth Para Games from December 1 to 10 next year.
This would be the first time that Bahrain is to host a big para-sport event, which will take place across several venues in Khalifa Sports City and Isa Sports City of the country. Around 800 athletes under the age of 20 are expected to take part in the event in nine different sports.
28. Which zone of the Indian Railways has installed ATMA (Automated Ticket Checking & Managing Access) machine?
[A] Southern Railway Zone
[B] Northern Railway Zone
[C] Central Railways Zone
[D] Western Railway Zone
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Central Railways Zone]
Notes:
Indian Railways Central Railway zone has installed an automated ticket kiosk called ATMA – Automated Ticket Checking & Managing Access machine.
The innovative machine has been introduced at the Nagpur railway station, under the New, Innovative Non-Fare Revenue Ideas Scheme (NINFRIS) policy to prevent transmission of COVID-19. The system has features for automated boarding protocol by ticket checking, human body temperature checking, and face mask checking.
29. As per the recent report of the National Centre of Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), which ocean has seen the greatest decline of ice in the last 41 years?
[A] Arctic Ocean
[B] Antarctic Ocean
[C] Pacific Ocean
[D] Indian Ocean
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Arctic Ocean]
Notes:
The National Centre of Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) has found that the Arctic Ocean has seen the largest decline in the last 41 years due to global warming.
This has led to localised increase in evaporation, air humidity, cloud cover and rainfall. NCPOR noted that this decline in Arctic Sea ice was -13 per cent in July 2019 while it was -4.7 per cent per decade in the last 40 years. The study also noted that if this trend continues, there would be no ice left in the Arctic sea by 2050.
30.
Who is the author of the book titled ‘Klara and the Sun’ that was seen in news recently?
[A] Kazuo Ishiguro
[B] Margaret Atwood
[C] Bernardine Evaristo
[D] Salman Rushdie
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Kazuo Ishiguro]
Notes:
Nobel Prize-winning author Kazuo Ishiguro announced that his book titled ‘Klara and the Sun’ will be released in March 2021. He is a British novelist born in Japan.
The theme of the book is ‘what does it mean to love’. This is the first novel by Kazuo Ishiguro since he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. His previous literary works have earned several prestigious awards including the Booker Prize. He has also won the highest honorary awards from France and Japan.