31. 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.
32. What is the theme of the World Refugee Day 2020?
[A] Every Action Counts
[B] Everyone on earth matters
[C] Anti-racism wins
[D] Rights of Refugees
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Every Action Counts]
Notes:
World Refugee Day is observed annually on June 20, to create awareness of the situation of refugees across the world.
The theme of this year’s observance is “Every Action Counts”. On December 4, 2000, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) decided that June 20 would be celebrated as World Refugee Day. The 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol protect the refugees, who are present throughout the world.
33. India Ideas Summit is an annual conference held to promote trade between India and which country?
[A] Japan
[B] Souh Korea
[C] Russia
[D] United States
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [United States]
Notes:
The US Chamber of Commerce has recently announced that ‘India Ideas Summit 2020’ is scheduled to be held virtually on July 21-22.
The summit is organised by US India Business Council (USIBC). This year is the 45th annual meeting and will focus on geopolitics in the post-COVID world, technology trends and the future of healthcare, among others. Last year, the Summit was organised in Washington. It brings together scholars, diplomats and think tanks for high-level dialogue on key issues related to India.
34. What is the limit of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in pension funds in India, under automatic route?
[A] 26%
[B] 49%
[C] 75%
[D] 100%
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [49%]
Notes:
The Finance ministry has recently proposed restrictions on pension fund investments from any of India’s bordering countries, including China.
Foreign Direct investment (FDI) in pension funds, that are regulated by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) is fixed at 49 per cent under the automatic route. Till now, government permission is mandatory only for investments coming from Bangladesh and Pakistan. The draft guidelines make government permission mandatory for all bordering countries.
35. When is the ‘World Music Day’ celebrated across the world?
[A] June 20
[B] June 21
[C] June 22
[D] June 24
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [June 21]
Notes:
World Music Day is celebrated on June 21, to promote peace and spread positivity through music. The event is also popularly called as ‘Fete de la Musique’.
This special day was a music festival, which began in France in 1982. French Minister of Culture Jack Lang proposed the idea of the celebration of Music Day in the year 1981. Every year, on this day, amateur and professional musicians are encouraged to showcase their work.
36. Which Indian state/UT became the first to operationalise rail coaches converted into isolation units for Covid-19?
[A] New Delhi
[B] Madhya Pradesh
[C] Uttar Pradesh
[D] Gujarat
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Uttar Pradesh]
Notes:
The Uttar Pradesh Government has started using rail coaches as isolation units for COVID-19 suspected patients.
COVID coaches are deployed at Mau junction in Varanasi in the state of Uttar Pradesh, in a first in the country. Indian Railways is ready to offer as many as 5,231 isolation coaches to the states and the respective zonal railways have converted the coaches as quarantine facilities. After Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Madhya Pradesh have also been using rail coaches.
37. Which major technology company has shut its video game streaming service ‘Mixer’?
[A] Facebook
[B] Microsoft
[C] Amazon
[D] Apple
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Microsoft]
Notes:
Major technology company Microsoft has recently announced to shut its video game streaming service Mixer.
Microsoft partnered with Facebook to enable the users of Mixer to transit to Facebook Gaming. If the user is voluntary to switch over to Gaming service of Facebook, it has been made easy. Earlier, Apple rejected Facebook Gaming app on the iOS App Store. However, Microsoft is working on their new project ‘xCloud’.
38. As per a recent study, the researchers detected an exoplanet named ‘HIP 67522 b’. What is it otherwise called?
[A] Hot Jupiter
[B] Super-Earth
[C] Mini-Neptune
[D] Ice giant
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Hot Jupiter]
Notes:
According to the new study published in the Astronomical Journal, the researchers have detected the exoplanet HIP 67522 b.
The exoplanet appears to be the youngest hot Jupiter ever found. It also orbits around a well-studied star that is about 17 million years old. This means that the hot Jupiter is only a few million years younger probably. As most known hot Jupiters are more than a billion years old, this is likely the youngest hot Jupiter.
39. What is the name of the platform launched by the HRD Minister, for higher educational institutions?
[A] DHRUV 2.0
[B] YUKTI 2.0
[C] SHAKTI 2.0
[D] EKTA 2.0
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [YUKTI 2.0]
Notes:
Union Minister of Human Resource Development, Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has recently launched an initiative named ‘YUKTI 2.0’.
YUKTI stands for ‘Young India combating COVID with Knowledge, Technology and Innovation’. Earlier, the Minister launched the YUKTI portal on April 11, 2020. The 2.0 portal will serve as an online depository for innovative ideas and help students, teachers and researchers in higher educational institutions.
40. Which is the Headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)?
[A] Geneva
[B] Paris
[C] Amman
[D] New York
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Amman]
Notes:
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is an UN agency created to support the relief and human development of Palestinian refugees. Its headquarters is located in Amman, Jordan.
Recently, India has pledged contributing 10 million US dollar to the UNWRA over the next two years. This was announced during the Extraordinary Virtual Ministerial Pledging Conference for UNRWA. This year, India has already disbursed two million dollars and will soon remit the balance three million dollars. India also provides 250 annual scholarships to Palestinian youth and officials.