31. How many states have been identified by the Sports Ministry for creating Khelo India State Centre of Excellence (KISCE), in the first phase?
[A] Six
[B] Eight
[C] Ten
[D] Fifteen
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Eight]
Notes:
The Union Sports Ministry is set to establish Khelo India State Centres of Excellence (KISCE) under the flagship Khelo India Scheme.
One KISCE will be identified in each state and union territory, to create a strong sporting ecosystem in the country. In the first phase, the Ministry has identified the sports facilities in eight states out of the 15 proposals, to be converted to KISCEs. The eight centres will be given a grant and the government will extend a Viability Gap Funding, for upgradation.
32. 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.
33. Which global institution has estimated that India’s economy will contract by 4% in the financial year 2020-21?
[A] Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)
[B] Asian Development Bank (ADB)
[C] World Bank
[D] International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Asian Development Bank (ADB)]
Notes:
Manila-based Asian Development Bank recently announced that the economy of India would contract by 4% in the financial year 2020-21.
In its earlier outlook released in the month of April, it had estimated that India would grow at 4%. But it has been reduced to -4%. It also projected that the GDP of India would grow at 5.0% in the following year, as compared to 6.2% projected in April. A growth of 0.1% is expected for the whole Developing economies of Asian region.
34. 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.
35. Which company has become India’s first $150 bn company and has also become net debt-free recently?
[A] Reliance Industries
[B] Tata Consultancy Services
[C] HDFC Bank
[D] State Bank of India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Reliance Industries]
Notes:
Reliance Industries has recently become the first Indian company to be valued at $150 billion. It also became the first company to be valued at over Rs 11 lakh crore, in rupee terms.
Reliance Industries is among the most valued energy companies in the world, at present. In the last two months, the company raised about Rs 1.69 lakh crore from global investors and a rights issue. As per the company’s release, Reliance had a net debt of Rs 1,61,035 crore as on March 31, 2020 and with these investments, RIL has become net debt-free.
36. 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.
37. Vikram Pawah has been appointed as the President of the Indian arm of which automobile company?
[A] BMW India
[B] Mercedes India
[C] Honda India
[D] Nissan India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [BMW India]
Notes:
BMW India, the Indian arm of the Luxury car maker BMW Group has recently named Vikram Pawah as its President.
He is to continue to serve in his present role as Chief Executive Officer of BMW Group Australia and New Zealand. The previous President and Chief Executive Officer Rudratej Singh suddenly passed away in the month of April. Pawah has been engaged with the BMW Group from the year 2017.
38. What is the term of the selected member of the Rajya Sabha?
[A] Three years
[B] Four years
[C] Five years
[D] Six years
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Six years]
Notes:
The Rajya Sabha consists of not more 238 members representing the States and Union Territories, and 12 members nominated by the President. Each member is elected for a term of six years.
In the recent elections to 19 seats in 10 states, BJP won eight and Congress won four seats. The current strength of Rajya Sabha goes up to 244, of which BJP has 86 members and the National Democratic Alliance NDA’s tally is expected to cross 100. The Congress has 41 members while others have 27.
39. Which institution is to launch “Decarbonising Transport in India”, in collaboration with International Transport Forum (ITF)?
[A] NITI Aayog
[B] World Wide Fund for Nature – India
[C] Indian Council of Forestry Research Education
[D] Indian Institute of Forest Management
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [NITI Aayog]
Notes:
Indian Government’s think tank NITI Aayog in collaboration with International Transport Forum (ITF) will launch the “Decarbonising Transport in India” project on 24 June.
The project seeks to promote low-carbon transport system for India. Since 2008, India has been a member of ITF, which is an intergovernmental organisation for transport policy. The project is part of the “Decarbonising Transport in Emerging Economies” (DTEE) family of projects. India, Argentina, Azerbaijan, and Morocco are the present participants of DTEE.
40. 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.