31. What is the theme of ‘World Blood Donor day 2020’?
[A] Safe blood saves lives
[B] Encourage Blood donation
[C] Blood Donors are Angels
[D] Resources for Blood collection
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Safe blood saves lives]
Notes:
The World Blood Donor Day is celebrated on June 14, every year across the world. The day is celebrated to raise awareness about the need for safe blood and blood products.
On this day, general public and other institutions thank blood donors. The theme of ‘World Blood Donor day 2020’ is – Safe blood saves lives. In the year 2005, the World Health Assembly designated this date to thank blood donors and encourage more people to donate blood. It also calls governments to provide resources for blood collection.
32. Sreedhar Shenoy, who passed away recently, is associated with which sport?
[A] Cricket
[B] Hockey
[C] Football
[D] Kabaddi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Hockey]
Notes:
Veteran Hockey coach Sreedhar Shenoy from the state of Kerala has recently passed away. He has produced more than 5000 players including Olympian Dinesh Naik.
He played a crucial role in nurturing hockey at the school level in the state. He served as a great coach and tournament organiser of hockey matches. He has trained various national players including P.R. Sreejesh. He was also the coach for the State senior and junior hockey teams.
33. Which country is set to establish an Anti-racism commission?
[A] United States
[B] United Kingdom
[C] Australia
[D] Brazil
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [United Kingdom]
Notes:
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that a commission to look at racial equality in the UK will be established.
The proposed body would look at all forms of inequality in employment, health outcomes, academics, criminal justice system and all aspects of life. This announcement has been given after protests have been undertaken after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
34. India signed an MoU with which country to construct Rs 2.33 crore sanitation facility in their iconic temple?
[A] Sri Lanka
[B] Nepal
[C] Bhutan
[D] Myanmar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Nepal]
Notes:
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Indian Embassy, Nepal’s Ministry of Federal Affairs & General Administration and Kathmandu Metropolitan City for the construction of the sanitation facility at the Pashupatinath Temple of Nepal.
The famous temple is also listed under the UNESCO World Heritage site. India has pledged to construct a Rs 2.33 crore sanitation facility at the Temple complex to improve the infrastructure for the pilgrims.
35. Achyut Usgaonkar, who recently passed away, is associated with which field?
[A] Sports
[B] Politics
[C] Business
[D] Armed Force
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Politics]
Notes:
Achyut Kashinath Sinai Usgaonkar, former Goa Minister passed away recently, at the age of 92, due to age-related ailments.
Achyut Usgaonkar was a leader of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), the oldest regional party in Goa. He served as a cabinet Minister from 1977 to 1979. Before that, he also served as the deputy speaker of Goa during the government of Dayanand Bandodkar, the first chief minister of Goa.
36. Which institution has been selected as the implementation Agency for PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi)?
[A] Life Insurance Corporation (LIC)
[B] National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)
[C] Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)
[D] NITI Aayog
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)]
Notes:
Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs signed a MoU with Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), to engage SIDBI as the Implementation Agency for PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi).
The scheme aims to provide a working capital loan up to Rs 10000 to street vendors, who have been adversely affected by the Covid-19 lockdown. The loan is repayable in monthly instalments in 1-year tenue. On prompt payment, a subsidy of 7% per annum is also provided.
37. Which technology company has acquired the Swedish mapping technology company, ‘Mapillary’?
[A] Amazon
[B] Facebook
[C] Apple
[D] Google
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Facebook]
Notes:
Technology major Facebook has recently acquired Swedish mapping technology company Mapillary, as per official sources.
Mapillary crowd-sources the images, collects pictures contributed from smart phones and other types of cameras. It then uses computer vision technology to stack them together into a real-time 3-D map. This technology is expected to support Facebook products under development like augmented reality glasses and virtual reality headsets.
38. Which Union Ministry is to conduct a special session titled ‘Bharat: A Cultural Treasure’, to mark International Yoga Day?
[A] Ministry of Culture
[B] Ministry of Tourism
[C] Ministry of External Affairs
[D] Ministry of Home Affairs
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Tourism]
Notes:
Ministry of Tourism is organising a week-long celebration of International day of Yoga from 15th June, 2020.
It has also launched social media activities focussed on Yoga under the central theme “Yoga @ home & Yoga with family”. The Tourism Ministry will also conduct a special session titled ‘Bharat: A Cultural Treasure’ under Dekho Apna Desh Webinar. Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel will attend the session along with celebrity participants.
39. 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.
40. Which Indian-American scientist has been appointed as the head of U.S National Science Foundation?
[A] Sethuraman Panchanathan
[B] Katina Michael
[C] K Subbarao
[D] Chitta Baral
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Sethuraman Panchanathan]
Notes:
The United States Senate has named that veteran Indian-American scientist Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan as the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF).
NSF is a top American body, that promotes fundamental research in non-medical fields of science and engineering. The 58-year old Scientist is the Chief Research and Innovation Officer at Arizona State University, at present. He is to replace France Cordova as the 15th Director of the NSF. He is also the second Indian-American ever to be nominated for the position.