Current Affairs Quiz - May, 2021
1. Which body approves the appointment of Finance Secretary of India?
[A] Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs
[B] Appointments committee of the Cabinet
[C] Banks Board Bureau
[D] Reserve Bank of India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Appointments committee of the Cabinet]
Notes:
The Appointments committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of present Expenditure Secretary TV Somanathan as the Finance Secretary of Government of India. An order by the Personnel Ministry has been issued in this regard.
He is a 1987-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre.
2. Which state has been permitted by the Civil Aviation Ministry to use drones for experimental delivery of vaccines?
[A] Kerala
[B] Karnataka
[C] Telangana
[D] Andhra Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Telangana]
Notes:
The Civil Aviation Ministry has permitted the Telangana government to use drones for experimental delivery of vaccines.
This exemption will be valid for a period of one year or until further orders. In the month of April, the Ministry had permitted the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to conduct a feasibility study on using drones to deliver COVID-19 vaccine.
3. Lag B’Omer is an annual religious holiday celebrated in which country?
[A] Italy
[B] Israel
[C] France
[D] Spain
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Israel]
Notes:
Lag B’Omer, an annual religious holiday celebrated with all-night bonfires, prayer and dancing, at Mount Meron, Northern Israel.
Recently, around 40 people were killed and over 100 were injured in a stampede that broke out during the religious gathering attended by tens of thousands of people. Mount Meron is considered to be one of the holiest sites in the Jewish world.
4. Which organisation releases the ‘Global Electric Vehicle Outlook’ report?
[A] NITI Aayog
[B] TERI
[C] International Energy Agency
[D] International Monetary Fund
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [International Energy Agency]
Notes:
The International Energy Agency releases the Global Electric Vehicle Outlook. As per the new report, the number of electric cars, buses, vans and heavy trucks on roads is expected to hit 145 million by 2030.
The report also highlighted that the electric vehicle fleet could increase to 230 million by the end of the decade, if governments speed up their efforts to meet international climate goals. It also said that around three million new electric cars were registered last year, a 41% rise compared to 2019.
5. Who was Soli J Sorabjee, who passed away recently?
[A] Former Attorney General
[B] Former Chief Justice of Supreme Court
[C] Former Comptroller and Auditor General
[D] Former Chief Election Commissioner
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Former Attorney General]
Notes:
Legal expert and Former Attorney General shri. Soli J Sorabjee died recently, at the age of 91 years. He was tested COVID positive and died due to the infection.
In the year 2002, he was awarded with the second highest civilian award – Padma Vibhushan for his defence of the freedom of expression and the protection of human rights.
6. What is “MACS 1407”, which is seen in the news recently?
[A] Covid vaccine candidate
[B] Soybean variety
[C] New planet
[D] Anti-tank missile
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Soybean variety]
Notes:
Scientists of Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune in collaboration with Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) have developed a new high-yielding and pest-resistant variety of soybean named MACS 1407.
This seed is suited for cultivation in North Eastern states and in states like West Bengal, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.
7. ‘Putola Nach’, which was making news recently, is the traditional string puppetry art of which state?
[A] Assam
[B] Arunachal Pradesh
[C] Uttarakhand
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Assam]
Notes:
‘Putola Nach’ is a traditional form of string puppetry, practised in the state of Assam. It has become a near-forgotten art form.
Recently, an Assam based trust ARMT has created three short videos using string puppetry for creating mass awareness on COVID appropriate behaviour. This project was undertaken in association with UNICEF- Assam.
8. World Tuna Day is observed on May 2 every year. Which SDG calls for sustainable use of Oceans and marine resources?
[A] SDG 7
[B] SDG 9
[C] SDG 11
[D] SDG 14
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [SDG 14]
Notes:
Tuna and tuna-like species is a significant source of food, due to their nutritional properties, in both developed and developing countries.
Their meat is rich in Omega-3 and it also contains minerals, proteins, and vitamin B12. In 2016, the United Nations General Assembly declared to officially observe World Tuna Day on May 2 every year. Sustainable Development Goal 14 aims to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources – applies to the global tuna market.
9. ‘Gopabandhu Sambadika Swasthya Bima Yojana’ is being implemented in which state?
[A] Karnataka
[B] Odisha
[C] West Bengal
[D] Jharkhand
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Odisha]
Notes:
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik declared working journalists of the state as frontline Covid warriors.
Around 7000 working journalists of the state have been covered under the Gopabandhu Sambadika Swasthya Bima Yojana. Under the scheme, the journalists are provided a health insurance cover of Rs 2 lakh each. They would also get priority in the vaccination programme.
10. What is “VINCOV-19”?
[A] Mutated Corona Virus
[B] Covid Vaccine candidate
[C] Oxygen support mechanism
[D] Engineered Antibody product
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Engineered Antibody product]
Notes:
‘VINCOV-19’ is an engineered therapeutic antibody which has been found to effectively neutralize SARS-CoV-2. It has been engineered in a collaborative effort by University of Hyderabad (UoH), CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CSIR-CCMB) and Vins Bioproducts Ltd.
This has obtained the approval from Drugs Controller General of India (DGCI) for clinical trials.
The above questions are part of Daily Current Affairs 20 MCQs Series in GKToday's Academy Android Application. This series can be subscribed in the app only for Rs. 750/- for entire year.
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