31. India is set to send a 75-member Tri-Service contingent to participate in the Victory Day parade of which country?
[A] Germany
[B] Russia
[C] France
[D] Italy
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Russia]
Notes:
Russia is to conduct a military parade in Moscow on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of their victory in the Second World War.
The Defence Minister of Russia has invited an Indian contingent to take part in the Victory Day Parade scheduled to be held on June 24, 2020 in Moscow. It was originally scheduled on the occasion of the Victory Day – May 9, but later postponed due to Covid-19. India is sending a 75-member Tri-Service contingent to participate in the parade.
32. Which financial institution is the regulator of housing finance companies (HFCs) after August 2019?
[A] National Housing Bank (NHB)
[B] Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
[C] Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)
[D] Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Reserve Bank of India (RBI)]
Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) took over the powers to regulate HFCs from the National Housing Bank (NHB) in August 2019.
Recently, RBI proposed to modify the rules of housing finance firms, which includes the formal definition of housing finance as “financing, for purchase/ construction/ reconstruction/ renovation/ repairs of residential dwelling unit”. RBI also proposed to classify HFCs as systemically important HFCs and non-systemically important HFCs.
33. US President Donald Trump signed an act, that authorises sanctions against which country, over the mass incarceration of Uighurs?
[A] India
[B] China
[C] Thailand
[D] Vietnam
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [China]
Notes:
US President Donald Trump signed an act to authorise sanctions against Chinese officials over the mass incarceration of Uighur Muslims and other minorities.
The legislation requires the US administration to determine which Chinese officials are responsible for the arbitrary detention, torture and harassment of the minorities. Then, the U.S would freeze any assets held by the officials in the country and would also ban their entry into the U.S. As per some activists, over one million Uighurs and other Turkic Muslims are being homogenised in China.
34. Vadhavan port is proposed to be built in which Indian state/UT?
[A] Gujarat
[B] Maharashtra
[C] West Bengal
[D] Kerala
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Maharashtra]
Notes:
In the month of February, the Cabinet approved to build the Vadhavan port at Palgarh district in Maharashtra at an estimated cost of Rs. 65544 crores.
Recently, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has said that ports as an industry are allowed in the ecologically sensitive Dahanu taluka area, which includes the Vadhavan in Palgarh district. The port will be developed on landlord model by a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to be formed with Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) as the lead partner.
35.
Who is the author of the book titled ‘Klara and the Sun’ that was seen in news recently?
[A] Kazuo Ishiguro
[B] Margaret Atwood
[C] Bernardine Evaristo
[D] Salman Rushdie
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Kazuo Ishiguro]
Notes:
Nobel Prize-winning author Kazuo Ishiguro announced that his book titled ‘Klara and the Sun’ will be released in March 2021. He is a British novelist born in Japan.
The theme of the book is ‘what does it mean to love’. This is the first novel by Kazuo Ishiguro since he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. His previous literary works have earned several prestigious awards including the Booker Prize. He has also won the highest honorary awards from France and Japan.
36. 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.
37. Quantum communications satellite –Micius, that was seen in news recently, was launched by which country?
[A] United States
[B] China
[C] Russia
[D] Israel
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [China]
Notes:
The World’s first Quantum communications satellite, Micius was launched by China in the year 2016. It has pioneered in the field of quantum encryption.
The satellite was seen in news recently, as it sends particles of light to Earth to establish the world’s most secure communication link. This is considered to be a milestone in the research, as long-range secure communication can be obtained without the help of traditional communication satellites. Secure long-distance links such will be the foundation of the future global network called the quantum internet.
38. 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.
39. NITI Aayog has advised which telecom operator to use an indigenously designed, developed and manufactured (IDDM) solution for its 4G network?
[A] Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL)
[B] Reliance Jio
[C] Bharti Airtel
[D] Vodafone Idea
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL)]
Notes:
The think tank of the Union Government, NITI Aayog has advised Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), to use an indigenously designed, developed and manufactured (IDDM) solution for its 4G network.
Earlier, the Government also urged that both BSNL and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam (MTNL) must not use Chinese equipment for the 4G services. BSNL has floated a 4G tender and if NITI Aayog’s recommendation is accepted, it could have an adverse impact on global telecom gear manufacturers, from both China and Europe.
40. A 40-feet-long Bailey bridge, that has recently collapsed near the Sino-India border, is located in which state/UT?
[A] Uttarakhand
[B] Jammu and Kashmir
[C] Sikkim
[D] Assam
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Uttarakhand]
Notes:
A bailey bridge located nearly 50 kilo meters from the Sino-India border has recently collapsed, when a truck carrying a JCB machine was crossing.
The bridge is located in the state of Uttarakhand, which collapsed on increasing the weight over its capacity. The 40-feet-long bridge was built in the year 2009. As the bridge collapsed, about 15 border villages of Johar Valley have been cut off. It is estimated to take 15 days to construct a new bridge.