31. Who has become the first Indian to participate in the $150,000 Chessable Masters tournament?
[A] B. Adhiban
[B] P. Harikrishna
[C] Praggnanandhaa
[D] Sasi Kiran
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [P. Harikrishna]
Notes:
Indian Grandmaster P. Harikrishna is the first Indian to participate in the in the million-dollar Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour that continues with the $150,000 Chessable Masters.
The Chessable Masters is a 12-player tournament which is to be played by the top six players of the world, on the classical ranking list, including Norway’s Magnus Carlsen, China’s Ling Diren and USA’s Fabiano Caruana. The field has been divided into two groups of six players each.
32. What is the name of the economist and founder of Centre for Economic and Social Studies, who recently passed away?
[A] BPR Vithal Baru
[B] Ramchand Goala
[C] A. L. Raghavan
[D] Vidyaben Shah
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [BPR Vithal Baru]
Notes:
Veteran economist and retired IAS officer BPR Vithal Baru passed away recently, at the age of 93, due to age-related ailments.
Vithal Baru had served in several important assignments including Secretary Finance and Planning in the state of Andhra Pradesh from 1972 to 1982 and Member of 10th Finance Commission. He had also been the Chairman of Expenditure Commission, Kerala. He also established the Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS), Hyderabad.
33. Who is the head of the panel constituted by the Renewable Energy Ministry, to attract investments into the sector?
[A] Amitesh Kumar Sinha
[B] Ruchin Gupta
[C] Raj Kumar Singh
[D] Kailash Choudhary
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Amitesh Kumar Sinha]
Notes:
The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has set up a Project Development Cell (PDC) to attract more investments into the sector.
It is to be headed by the Joint secretary of MNRE, Amitesh Kumar Sinha, and will help meet the country’s 175 GW target for green energy. The PDC aims to create projects that have all prior approvals for investors to adopt them. DPIIT can also nominate some officials to this body.
34. What is the tenure of the ‘Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan’ launched by the Prime Minister of India?
[A] 75 days
[B] 100 days
[C] 125 days
[D] 200 days
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [125 days]
Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan, a Rs 50,000 crore dedicated programme to create job opportunities for millions of migrant workers who returned home during the lockdown imposed due to Covid-19.
It was launched from Telihar village of Bihar’s Khagaria district. The scheme is expected to run in mission mode for 125 days across 116 districts in six states namely Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Odisha. Twelve different ministries or departments will be engaged in implementing the programme.
35. NITI Aayog has advised which telecom operator to use an indigenously designed, developed and manufactured (IDDM) solution for its 4G network?
[A] Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL)
[B] Reliance Jio
[C] Bharti Airtel
[D] Vodafone Idea
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL)]
Notes:
The think tank of the Union Government, NITI Aayog has advised Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), to use an indigenously designed, developed and manufactured (IDDM) solution for its 4G network.
Earlier, the Government also urged that both BSNL and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam (MTNL) must not use Chinese equipment for the 4G services. BSNL has floated a 4G tender and if NITI Aayog’s recommendation is accepted, it could have an adverse impact on global telecom gear manufacturers, from both China and Europe.
36. Which organisation has received a patent for its Liquid Cooling and Heating Garment (LCHG)?
[A] Defence Research and Development Organisation
[B] Indian Space Research Organisation
[C] Indian Navy
[D] Hindustan Aeronautical Ltd
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Indian Space Research Organisation]
Notes:
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has received a patent for its Liquid Cooling and Heating Garment (LCHG).
The special garment is made up of bio-compatible fabrics and a system for circulating temperature controlling fluid into and out of the garments. This would provide a comfortable temperature to the astronauts wearing it in space. The garments can also be used in other military applications, fire-fighting and in extreme environments in industrial areas.
37. What is ‘Dhruva’, that has been developed by researchers and students of IIT-Bombay?
[A] Personal Protective Equipment
[B] COVID-19 Test Kit
[C] Receiver chip for NAVIC
[D] Microprocessor
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Receiver chip for NAVIC]
Notes:
The students and researchers of IIT-Bombay has recently developed a homegrown receiver chip – Dhruva.
The chip can be used in smartphones and navigation devices to find locations and routes within the country. It will receive signals from NAVIC group of navigation satellites of India, as well as the US Global Positioning System-based satellites to determine a person’s location precisely.
38. What is the name of the investment promotion agency, that functions under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade?
[A] Bharat Invest
[B] Vocal for Local
[C] Invest India
[D] Investment made easy
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Invest India]
Notes:
Invest India was set up as a non-profit venture under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry in 2009.
It focusses on sector-specific investor targeting and develops new partnerships for investments in India. Recently, the Minister of Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal launched the Food Processing Edition of the Exclusive Investment Forum, designed by Invest India.
39. Which country has successfully launched the last satellite of its BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS)?
[A] Japan
[B] South Korea
[C] China
[D] North Korea
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [China]
Notes:
China has successfully launched the last satellite of its BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), onboard a Long March-3B carrier rocket.
This BDS system is claimed to be a competitor to the popular Global Positioning System (GPS) of the United States. The satellite was launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in Southwest China. It is the 55th in the family of BeiDou, which means “Big Dipper” in Chinese language.
40. Which country, also the world’s second largest arms producer, is set to join the UN Arms Trade Treaty?
[A] India
[B] United States
[C] China
[D] Germany
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [China]
Notes:
China recently announced that it will join the United Nations (UN) Arms Trade Treaty. China’s top legislative body voted to adopt a decision on joining the treaty.
Under the treaty, the member countries ought to keep records of international transfers of weapons. The members should also prohibit cross-border shipments that could be used in human rights violations. Earlier, the United States had rejected to join in the treaty, which has been designed to control the flow of weapons into conflict zones.