31. What is the unemployment rate in India during 2020-21, as per the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS)?
[A] 5.7 %
[B] 4.9 %
[C] 4.2 %
[D] 3.5 %
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [4.2 %]
Notes:
The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for 2020-21 was recently released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
As per the survey, unemployment rate was 4.2% in 2020-21, compared with 4.8% recorded in the previous year. Rural areas recorded an unemployment rate of 3.3% and urban areas recorded an unemployment rate of 6.7%.
32. The first train under the Indian Railways’ ‘Bharat Gaurav’ scheme was flagged off between which cities?
[A] Mumbai-Ahmadabad
[B] Coimbatore-Shirdi
[C] Rameswaram-Ayodhya
[D] Puri-Hyderabad
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Coimbatore-Shirdi]
Notes:
The first train under the Indian Railways’ ‘Bharat Gaurav’ scheme was flagged off between Coimbatore North railway station in Tamil Nadu for Sainagar Shirdi in Maharashtra.
This particular train will be operated by a private operator ‘South Star Rail’. It will depart from Coimbatore every Tuesday reach Shirdi on Thursdays. The objective of the theme is to showcase India’s rich cultural heritage and historical places, to the people of India and the world.
33. Which major country’s central bank has announced its biggest interest rate rise in nearly 30 years?
[A] UK
[B] USA
[C] Germany
[D] France
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [USA]
Notes:
US central bank has announced its biggest interest rate rise in nearly 30 years to control surging inflation.
The Federal Reserve announced that it would increase its benchmark rate by three-quarters of a percentage point to a range of 1.5 percent to 1.75 percent. It is the largest rate hike since 1994, and is expected to push up the cost of borrowing for homes, cars and other loans.
34. Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has recently developed a new Indian Standard for which product?
[A] Khadi Footwear
[B] Clay cooling cabinet
[C] Cow-dung based Paint
[D] Musical Instrument
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Clay cooling cabinet]
Notes:
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), has developed an Indian Standard for ‘non-electric cooling cabinet made of clay’.
Named as ‘Mitticool refrigerator’, it was developed by a Gujarat-based innovator with an eco-friendly technology. BIS standard specifies the construction and performance requirements of a cooling cabinet made out of clay, which operates on the principle of evaporative cooling without electricity.
35. Which country is the host of FIFA under-17 Women’s World Cup 2022?
[A] India
[B] Bangladesh
[C] China
[D] Japan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [India]
Notes:
India is the host of FIFA under-17 Women’s World Cup 2022, whose schedule was released recently. India will play all its group stage matches of the World Cup at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.
The quarterfinals will be held in Navi Mumbai and Goa on October 21 and 22. The Nehru Stadium in Goa and D.Y. Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai will host maximum matches.
36. NPCI International has signed MoU with a company of which western country to expand Rupay Card and UPI?
[A] Italy
[B] France
[C] Germany
[D] Finland
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [France]
Notes:
NPCI International, the international arm of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Lyra Network of France for ‘Acceptance of UPI & Rupay Card in France.
India is doing 5.5 billion UPI transactions in a month. France is the first Western country with which India has partnered to expand its UPI services.
37. India recently organised ‘Mango festival’ in which country to boost the export of Mangoes?
[A] Saudi Arabia
[B] Bahrain
[C] USA
[D] Nepal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bahrain]
Notes:
Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) organized an eight-day long mango festival in Bahrain to boost the export of Mangoes.
Commerce and Industry Ministry said, 34 varieties of mangoes from states of West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha are being displayed at eight different locations of Bahrain’s Al Jazira group supermarket.
38. Edakoodam is a popular wooden toy made in which Indian state/UT?
[A] Karnataka
[B] Kerala
[C] West Bengal
[D] Jharkhand
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Kerala]
Notes:
Edakoodam is the name of a wooden puzzle toy, which was popular among children and was a part of every household in Kerala, during earlier times.
There are many efforts being taken in Kerala to popularise the wooden puzzle by teaching the art of making and solving Edakoodam popular among children and adults.
39. When is the ‘World Sickle Cell Awareness Day’ observed every year?
[A] June 19
[B] June 23
[C] June 27
[D] June 30
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [June 19]
Notes:
Every year on the 19th of June, the World Sickle Cell Day (SCD) event is conducted by the United Nations General Assembly to raise awareness of sickle cell disease.
Sickle cell anaemia is a group of inherited disorders that cause red blood cells to become sickle in shape instead of normal biconcave shape. In a patient who is suffering from SCD, the red blood cells have abnormal haemoglobin.
40. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Centre for Brain Research (CBR) in which state/UT?
[A] Karnataka
[B] Gujarat
[C] Telangana
[D] Kerala
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Karnataka]
Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Centre for Brain Research (CBR) at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) campus, Bengaluru.
The Centre has been set up at a cost of Rs 280 crore. It is developed as the first research facility which focuses on conducting vital research to provide evidence-based public health interventions to manage age-related brain disorders.