31. How many non-permanent members are elected by the UN Security Council every year?
[A] Four
[B] Five
[C] Six
[D] Seven
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Five]
Notes:
India has been recently elected as the non-permanent member of UN Security Council for 2021-22, along with Ireland, Mexico and Norway. India’s term is to begin from January 2021.
Each year the General Assembly elects five non-permanent members, out of the 10 total seats, for a two-year term. In the recent election, India won 184 votes out of 192 valid votes cast. Previously, India has been elected as a non-permanent member of the Council for seven terms.
32. 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.
33. 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.
34. 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.
35. Which Union Ministry has organised a webinar titled ‘National Sickle Cell Conclave’?
[A] Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
[B] Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
[C] Ministry of Tribal Affairs
[D] Ministry of Science and Technology
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Ministry of Tribal Affairs]
Notes:
The Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs along with FICCI and two private healthcare institutes organised a webinar titled ‘National Sickle Cell Conclave’, to mark World Sickle Cell Day.
Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda addressed the webinar and announced that the government has launched a new portal with registration facility, information about the disease and various government initiatives undertaken. The Ministry has initiated ‘Action Research’ project for helping SCD patients. A report titled ‘Stepping out of the shadows – Combating Sickle Cell Disease in India’ was released.
36. Who has been appointed as the Chairman of National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP)?
[A] Raghuram Rajan
[B] Urjit Patel
[C] U K Sinha
[D] M S Sahoo
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Urjit Patel]
Notes:
Former Reserve Bank of India Governor Urjit Patel has been appointed as Chairman of the economic think tank, the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP).
Urjit Patel will be the Chairperson of NIPFP for a four-year term from June 22, 2020. He will replace Vijay Laxman Kelkar, who had been the Chairman of the think-tank since 2014. Urjit Patel served as the Deputy Governor of RBI in 2013 and Governor of RBI from 2016 to 2018.
37. What is the expansion of LLP Act, that was seen in news recently?
[A] Limited Logistics Partnership Act
[B] Limited Liability Partnership Act
[C] Legal Liability Partnership Act
[D] Logistics Liability Partnership Act
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Limited Liability Partnership Act]
Notes:
The Union Ministry of Corporate affairs (MCA) has proposed to decriminalise some compoundable offences under the Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) Act.
In the draft proposal, the Ministry has listed as many as 20 sections of the LLP Act and sought public comments and stakeholder consultations. It includes change of designated partners, maintaining books of accounts etc. Certain minor, procedural or technical violations which does not involve any harm to public interest are to be decriminalized.
38. What is the theme of the ‘World Hydrography Day 2020’?
[A] Hydrography enabling autonomous technologies
[B] Work and Contribution of Hydrographers
[C] Opportunity to highlight Hydrography
[D] Celebrating Hydrographic data
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Hydrography enabling autonomous technologies]
Notes:
The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) and its international members celebrate World Hydrography Day every year on June 21.
The day highlights the importance of hydrography and its relevance in the modern world. This year, the theme of the World Hydrography Day is “Hydrography enabling autonomous technologies”. The autonomous technologies include aerial, surface and underwater survey drones as well as autonomous ships.
39. 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.
40. Which is the first country in Europe to successfully conduct its national elections, amidst Covid-19 pandemic?
[A] France
[B] Serbia
[C] Germany
[D] Italy
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Serbia]
Notes:
Serbia is the first country in Europe to successfully conduct its national election in Europe during the coronavirus epidemic.
The voting, which had been initially planned for April, was postponed because of the pandemic. However, the turnout appeared lower compared to previous elections due to the fear of coronavirus. The ruling governing conservative party led by President Aleksandar Vucic is set to obtain a landslide victory.