31. Which country has announced a funding of USD 122 million for India to prevent avoidable epidemics?
[A] Japan
[B] USA
[C] Germany
[D] Canada
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [USA]
Notes:
The United States has announced a funding of USD 122 million for India, to prevent avoidable epidemics, early detection of disease threats, and rapid and effective response.
The total funding will be distributed to three top health research institutions- ICMR, National Institute of Virology (NIV) and National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE) over a period of five years.
32. Additional assistance of Rs 1,000 crore under National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) was recently approved to which states?
[A] Sikkim and Uttarakhand
[B] Kerala and Uttarakhand
[C] Rajasthan and Nagaland
[D] Punjab and Nagaland
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Rajasthan and Nagaland]
Notes:
A high-level committee (HLC) under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister Amit Shah approved an additional central assistance of over Rs 1,000 crore under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to Rajasthan and Nagaland.
The two states were affected by drought during 2021-22. The assistance of Rs 1,003.95 crore to Rajasthan and Rs 39.28 crore to Nagaland is over and above the funds released by the Centre to the states from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).
33. Which country has recently pledged to cut carbon emissions by 43% from 2005 levels by 2030?
[A] China
[B] India
[C] USA
[D] Australia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Australia]
Notes:
Australia’s new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced ambitious climate targets for his country.
He has pledged to cut carbon emissions by 43% from 2005 levels by 2030, up from the previous government’s target of between 26% and 28%. Australia is one of the world’s highest per capita carbon emitters. While Canada is aiming to reduce emissions up to 40% by 2030 from 2005 levels, U.S has a target of 52%.
34. The European Commission has recommended which country to be granted ‘European Union’ (EU) candidate status?
[A] Malta
[B] Ukraine
[C] Albania
[D] Bulgaria
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ukraine]
Notes:
The European Commission has recommended that Ukraine should be granted European Union candidate status.
The recommendation from the EU’s executive arm will be discussed by leaders of the 27-nation bloc during the upcoming summit in Brussels. The European Commission also proposed making Moldova, which shares a long border with Ukraine, an EU membership candidate.
35. Which institution has won UNESCO’s recognition for use of Information And Communication Technology in Education?
[A] Central Institute of Educational Technology
[B] Central Board of Secondary Education
[C] University Grants Commission
[D] All India Council for Technical Education
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Central Institute of Educational Technology]
Notes:
The Central Institute of Educational Technology (CIET), a unit of the NCERT has been awarded with the UNESCO’s King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa Prize for the use of ICT (Information And Communication Technology) in Education for the year 2021.
The institution has used ICT under the ‘PM eVidya’ scheme during the Covid pandemic. The PM eVIDYA programme was launched as part of the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan’ in May 2020 to unify all efforts related to digital, online, on-air education Each prize-winner receives USD 25,000, a medal and a diploma.
36. Which Indian bagged the Lance Pannell Pacific International Snooker title in Melbourne?
[A] Pankaj Advani
[B] Sourav Kothari
[C] R Praggnananda
[D] Geet Sethi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Sourav Kothari]
Notes:
Former world billiards champion Sourav Kothari of India won the Lance Pannell Pacific International Snooker title in Melbourne and Pacific International Billiards Championship.
The 37 year old became only the second cueist ever to achieve a double title in the Pacific International after Matthew Bolton of Australia.
37. The ‘Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC)’ functions under the aegis of which Union Ministry?
[A] Ministry of Labour and Employment
[B] Ministry of Finance
[C] Ministry of Commerce and Industry
[D] Ministry of MSME
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ministry of Labour and Employment]
Notes:
The ‘Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC)’ functions under the aegis of Ministry of Labour and Employment.
ESIC has announced that its Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) Scheme will be implemented throughout the country by the end of 2022. The health insurance scheme is fully implemented in 443 districts and partially implemented in 153 districts. As many as 148 districts are not covered under the ESI Scheme at present.
38. As per the Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change notification, use of ‘single-use plastic’ is banned with effect from which date?
[A] April 1 2022
[B] July 1 2022
[C] January 1 2023
[D] April 1 2023
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [July 1 2022]
Notes:
The Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change has defined a list of items that will be banned from next month. The announcement of ban was made last year.
As per the notification, the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of following single-use plastic, including polystyrene and expanded polystyrene, commodities shall be prohibited with effect from the 1st July, 2022.
39. ‘Whoever, Whatever, Whenever. Everyone has a right to seek safety’ is the theme of which international day observed in June?
[A] World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
[B] World Refugee Day
[C] World UN Peacekeepers Day
[D] World Child Labour Awareness Day
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [World Refugee Day]
Notes:
Every year, World Refugee Day is observed on June 20, to highlight the difficulties faced by refugees who have been displaced from their homes.
The United Nations has celebrated this day since 2001 and the day marks the 50th anniversary of the 1951 refugee convention. The theme for this year’s World Refugee Day is ‘Whoever, Whatever, Whenever. Everyone has a right to seek safety.
40. The first case of monkeypox in humans was recorded in which country?
[A] Kenya
[B] Nigeria
[C] DRC
[D] India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [DRC]
Notes:
The first case of monkeypox was recorded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in the year 1970. It is a rare zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to the Poxviridae family. Its symptoms are similar to smallpox but milder.