1. Dal Lake, which was seen in the news, is situated in which city/town of Jammu & Kashmir?
[A] Srinagar
[B] Jammu
[C] Anantnag
[D] Leh
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Correct Answer: A [Srinagar]
Notes:
Dal is a lake in Srinagar city, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It is also called as the “Jewel in the crown of Kashmir”.
Recently, illegal constructions have been reported in the lake. The Lakes and Water Ways Development Authority (LAWDA), has demolished more than 170 illegal structures around the lake, in the last three months.
2. Which state has launched the initiative named ‘Mission Fateh 2.0’?
[A] Uttar Pradesh
[B] Rajasthan
[C] Haryana
[D] Punjab
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Correct Answer: D [Punjab]
Notes:
The State Government of Punjab has launched an initiative named Mission Fateh 2.0, which is a part of Corona Mukt Punjab Abhiyan.
Under this initiative, the state government has directed to form a group of 7 “Rural Corona Volunteers” (RCV) per village or per municipal ward, under the aegis of the state’s Department of Sports and Youth Affairs.
3. Indian Army is planning to lease “Heron TP drones” from which country?
[A] USA
[B] Russia
[C] China
[D] Israel
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Correct Answer: D [Israel]
Notes:
The Indian Army has planned to lease Israel’s Heron TP drones and deploy the same along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
This decision comes in the wake of ongoing tensions between India and China along the LAC and these drones would be deployed to monitor the activities of Chinese troops.
4. In context with recent news of Goa, what does the abbreviation GIFT stand for?
[A] Goa Institution For Future Transformation
[B] Goa Institution For Financial Transformation
[C] Goa Institution For Fin Tech
[D] Goa Institute of Foreign Affairs
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Goa Institution For Future Transformation]
Notes:
The State Government of Goa has constituted a Think Tank named Goa Institution For Future Transformation (GIFT).
This institution would assist, advise and guide the state government on various policy matters and welfare decisions. The functions of GIFT would be very similar to that of NITI Aayog.
5. With reference to Covid, what are ‘Kappa’ and ‘Delta’?
[A] New Measure of Covid spread rate
[B] New Labels for Covid variants
[C] New category in Covid positivity rate
[D] New Global vaccine initiatives
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [New Labels for Covid variants]
Notes:
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced new labels, using Greek alphabets, for various variants of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
As per the WHO, Covid variant first found in India (B1.617.2) will be referred to as Delta, while earlier found variant in the country (B.1.617.1) will be known as Kappa.
6. Tardigrades, which would be sent to the International Space Station by NASA, are also called as….
[A] Water Spiders
[B] Water Bears
[C] Water Mice
[D] Water Horses
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Correct Answer: B [Water Bears]
Notes:
NASA has planned to send 128 baby squids and some 5,000 tardigrades, also called as Water Bears to the International Space Station for research purposes.
The water animals will be launched aboard SpaceX’s 22nd cargo resupply mission to the ISS. The experiments will also help to understand how beneficial microbes interact with animals. The experiments would also help design protective measures for astronauts going for long space travel.
7. Oleg Novitsky and Pyotr Dubrov, who performed a 7-hour spacewalk recently, are from which country?
[A] USA
[B] Russia
[C] Israel
[D] France
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Russia]
Notes:
Two Russian cosmonauts named Oleg Novitsky and Pyotr Dubrov ventured out of the International Space Station on a 7-hour spacewalk to prepare for the arrival of a new Russian module.
It’s the first spacewalk for both the cosmonauts, who arrived at the space station in April. They conducted technical works including replacing the old batteries outside the International Space Station, before the arrival of the new Nauka (Science) multipurpose laboratory module.
8. Which country’s environmental agency hosted the International Nitrogen Initiative (INI) 2021?
[A] France
[B] USA
[C] Germany
[D] Australia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Germany]
Notes:
International Nitrogen Initiative (INI) is being hosted by the Germany’s Federal Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt–UBA).
The United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the main focus of the eighth triennial conference of the International Nitrogen Initiative (INI). It is being held virtually from May 31-June 3, 2021.
9. Which institution organises the World Sustainable Development Summit?
[A] IEA
[B] World Bank
[C] TERI
[D] NITI Aayog
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Correct Answer: C [TERI]
Notes:
The World Sustainable Development Summit is the annual flagship event of the Energy and Resources Institute.
The WSDS 2021 is being held under the umbrella theme of ‘Redefining Our Common Future: Safe and Secure Environment for All’. Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Prakash Javadekar addressed the summit on the occasion of the World Environment Day.
10. Which organisation releases the Food Price Index, to track the international prices of a basket of food commodities?
[A] FAO
[B] World Bank
[C] IMF
[D] ILO
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [FAO]
Notes:
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) food price index is a measure of the monthly change in international prices of a basket of food commodities including cereals, oilseeds, dairy products, meat and sugar.
According to the recent index, food prices in May were 4.8% higher than April. This is registered as the biggest monthly rise since October 2010. The prices was also 39.7% higher than this time last year, May 2020.