31. Gulzar Dehlvi, who recently passed away, was associated with which profession?
[A] Politician
[B] Poet
[C] Mountaineer
[D] Sportsperson
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Poet]
Notes:
Veteran Urdu poet Anand Mohan Zutshi Gulzar Dehlvi recently passed away at the age of 93, in New Delhi.
The poet was earlier infected by Coronavirus and was undergoing treatment. Though he returned home after recovering from Covid-19, he has passed away. He was the editor of ‘Science ki Duniya’, the only science magazine published by the government in Urdu from 1975. He also played an instrumental role in opening Urdu schools across India.
32. Which organisation launched ‘e-Office’ application in over 500 of its offices to improve e-governance?
[A] Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC)
[B] Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
[C] Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT)
[D] Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC)]
Notes:
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has launched ‘e-Office’ application in over 500 GST and customs offices.
The application has been developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC). This will enable the automation of internal processes of handling files that have been handled manually and help improve e-governance. Over 50000 officers and staff will use this application.
33. Which technology company has launched a new feature called ‘Teams for Education’, to support online education?
[A] Google
[B] Microsoft
[C] Amazon
[D] Apple
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Microsoft]
Notes:
Technology Giant Microsoft has recently launched a new feature called ‘Teams for Education’, to support online education.
The new feature seeks to engage and prepare students and teachers for new remote learning ecosystem. It also has an expanded audience view of up to 49 participants, custom backgrounds and virtual breakout rooms among others. Students can digitally raise their hands during class meetings in the feature.
34. Which agency of the United Nations releases the report titled ‘Annual report on displacement’?
[A] International Labour Organization
[B] United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
[C] World Tourism Organization
[D] World Health Organization
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees]
Notes:
The UN Agency for refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has released its Annual report on displacement.
As per the report, nearly 80 million people were forcibly displaced by the end of 2019 globally. The main reason for displacement has been war, violence, persecution and other emergencies. This count is almost double the total figure of the past decade. The report also revealed that an additional 11 million people were newly displaced in 2019 alone.
35. What is ‘Swift J1818.0-1607’, that was seen in news recently?
[A] Neutron star
[B] Black Hole
[C] White Dwarf
[D] Nebula
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Neutron star]
Notes:
Recently, a team of astronomers at NASA and European Space Agency ESA have discovered a neutron star called ‘Swift J1818.0-1607’.
The neutron star has been estimated to be about 240 years old. It was first discovered in March 2020, when it released a massive burst of X-rays. Neutron stars are the smallest and densest stars. According to NASA, Swift J1818.0-1607 contains twice the mass of our Sun in a volume of more than one trillion times smaller.
36. 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.
37. Which type of animal is Stegodon, the fossil of which has been recently found in Uttar Pradesh?
[A] Elephant
[B] Turtle
[C] Giraffe
[D] Lion
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Elephant]
Notes:
The fossil of Stegodon, a variety of the elephant, was recently discovered near Saharanpur in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
Stegodon is an extinct type of elephant with unique tusks and molars, that was found at an early age in Asia and Africa. The fossil found is claimed to be five to eight million years old and from the Dhok Pathan formation of Siwalik range. More researches are to be carried out in the vicinity of the place.
38. Which country has committed to provide 200 million euros to India, to support the country’s response to tackle COVID-19?
[A] Japan
[B] Australia
[C] Germany
[D] France
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [France]
Notes:
Under the recently signed agreement, France committed to provide 200 million euros to India, to support the country’s response to tackle COVID-19.
The programme design has been developed by the World Bank in collaboration with the Indian authorities. It seeks to fast track the existing social protection measures of the Indian Government including the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana. The programme will provide assistance to low-income families and protect essential frontline workers.
39. The Indian pavilion at Cannes Film Market has been jointly set up by Information & Broadcasting Ministry and which association of India?
[A] CII
[B] FICCI
[C] NASSCOM
[D] Digital Media Association
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [FICCI]
Notes:
Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar has recently inaugurated the India Pavilion at the Cannes Film Market 2020 virtually.
The Indian pavilion at Cannes Film Market has been jointly set up by Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). The Minister also informed that the Marathi movie titled ‘Mai Ghat’ and the Gujarati movie ‘Hellaro’ are the official entrants to be showcased in the Cannes film festival this year.
40. Which organisation is manufacturing around 30000 ventilators, ordered from the PM Cares Fund?
[A] Defence Research and Development Organisation
[B] Bharat Electronics Limited
[C] Hindustan Aeronautical Limited
[D] Ordnance Factory Board
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bharat Electronics Limited]
Notes:
The PM CARES Fund Trust has allocated Rs 2000 crore for supply of 50000 ‘Made-in-India’ ventilators to government-run COVID hospitals in all States and UTs.
Out of the 50,000 ventilators ordered, 30,000 ventilators are being manufactured by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). The remaining ventilators are being jointly manufactured by other Indian companies including AgVa Healthcare and AMTZ Basic among others. Maharashtra, Delhi and Gujarat received maximum out of 1340 ventilators distributed.