31. Which Indian software company signed on to the Climate Pledge and announced to go net carbon free by 2040?
[A] Wipro
[B] Tata Consultancy Services
[C] Infosys
[D] Tech Mahindra
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Infosys]
Notes:
Indian software major, Infosys signed on to ‘The Climate Pledge’, an initiative by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Global Optimism founder and former United Nations climate chief Christian Figueres.
The initiative seeks to fast-track the transition to a low carbon economy. Infosys also announced that it will make its business net zero carbon by 2040, ten years ahead of the deadline set out by the Paris Agreement. US-based Verizon and British firm Reckitt Benckiser also signed on the climate pledge.
32. What is the name of the rural public work scheme, to be launched by the Prime Minister, to help migrant workers?
[A] Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan
[B] Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Abhiyan
[C] Rojgar Protsahan Yojana
[D] Pradhan Mantri Shramik Abhiyan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan]
Notes:
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to launch a Rs 50,000 crore employment scheme named ‘Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan’ from a village of Bihar.
The scheme aims to provide income support to migrant workers who returned to their home states during the coronavirus lockdown. It will primarily focus on six states Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Odisha, where maximum migrant workers have returned. This scheme aims to provide livelihood for 125 days to 25,000 migrant workers of 116 districts.
33. Which country is named the President of the UN Security Council for August 2021?
[A] United States
[B] China
[C] India
[D] Norway
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [India]
Notes:
India, which has been elected as a non-permanent member of the Security Council recently, will serve as its president for the month of August, 2021.
India, Norway, Ireland, Mexico and Kenya were elected as the non-permanent members of the 15-nation-UNSC for a two-year term beginning January 1, 2021. Tunisia will begin 2021 as the President of the Council in January. It will be followed by each of the members in turn for one month, as per the English alphabetical order of the name of member states.
34. 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.
35. 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.
36. When is the ‘International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict’ observed?
[A] June 19
[B] June 20
[C] June 22
[D] June 23
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [June 19]
Notes:
Every year, on June 19, the ‘International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict’ is observed by the United Nations.
The UN General Assembly proclaimed 19 June of each year as this special day in the year 2015, in order to raise awareness to prevent conflict-related sexual violence, to honour the victims and survivors of sexual violence. The day also pays tribute to people who have fought against this crime and laid down their lives. On the same day in 2008, the Security Council resolution condemning sexual violence as a tactic of war, was adopted.
37. Mount Merapi, that was seen in news recently, is located in which country?
[A] Philippines
[B] Indonesia
[C] Vietnam
[D] Australia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Indonesia]
Notes:
Mount Merapi is the most volatile volcano located in the country of Indonesia. It was seen in news, as the mountain spewed ash and hot gas to about 6 kilometers into the sky.
The mountain has a height of 2,968-meter and it is one of the most active of 500 Indonesian volcanoes. It has been generating dark hot clouds since last year. The last major eruption of the mountain happened in 2010, which killed 353 people.
38. Which country is the chair of the ASEAN association for the year 2020?
[A] Singapore
[B] Vietnam
[C] Thailand
[D] Malaysia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Vietnam]
Notes:
As per the recent data from Vietnam, the 36th ASEAN Summit will be held via video conference on June 26.
Vietnam is the chair of ASEAN in 2020 and its Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc will chair the opening session, plenary session and special sessions on woman empowerment in digital era among other meetings. The 36th ASEAN Summit, which had been scheduled to be held in April, has been postponed to June end due to COVID-19.
39. Which Indian state/UT is set to launch a welfare scheme for poor named ‘Indira Rasoi Yojna’?
[A] Chhattisgarh
[B] Rajasthan
[C] Punjab
[D] Maharashtra
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Rajasthan]
Notes:
The Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot has recently announced that Rajasthan will soon launch the ‘Indira Rasoi Yojna’.
The scheme seeks to provide pure and nutritious food on concessional rates to the needy people residing in the state, twice a day. For implementing the Indira Rasoi Yojna (Indira Kitchen Scheme), the state is to spend Rs 100 crore every year. Local NGOs will be engaged to implement the scheme.
40. Which Union Minister inaugurated the country’s first Virtual Healthcare & Hygiene Expo 2020?
[A] Mansukh Mandaviya
[B] Amit Shah
[C] Harsh Vardhan
[D] Prakash Javadekar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Mansukh Mandaviya]
Notes:
Union Minister of State for Shipping (IC) and Chemicals & Fertilisers, Mansukh Mandaviya has recently inaugurated India’s one the largest first Virtual Healthcare & Hygiene EXPO 2020.
The Expo has been organised by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the leading association of business organisations in India. This is the first ever largest virtual exhibition in India. The Chairman of FICCI, the President of FICCI, Tennis star P V Sindhu were also present during the virtual Expo.