1. Which Indian state has passed order for 7.5% reservation to government school students?
[A] Andhra Pradesh
[B] Tamil Nadu
[C] Telangana
[D] Kerala
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Tamil Nadu]
Notes:
The Tamil Nadu government has recently passed an order to provide 7.5% reservation in medical colleges to students from government schools who have cleared NEET.
Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit has recently given his assent to the Bill. As per the bill, those who studied from the 6th standard to higher secondary schools in schools managed by the state government will be benefitted.
2. ‘Privileged Partnership’, which was seen in news recently, is associated in the Joint Commission Meeting between India and which country?
[A] Japan
[B] Mexico
[C] Brazil
[D] United Kingdom
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Mexico]
Notes:
The 8th India-Mexico Joint Commission Meeting was recently held through Video-Conference. The Meeting was co-chaired by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and his Mexican counterpart Marcelo Ebrard.
Both the countries agreed to promote economic strengths and work on strengthening their ‘Privileged Partnership’.
3. Which technology major has announced to launch a virtual private networks (VPN) service for consumers?
[A] Microsoft
[B] Google
[C] Apple
[D] Amazon
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Google]
Notes:
Alphabet Inc’s Google has recently announced that it is set to launch a virtual private networks (VPN) service for its consumers.
The VPN service would be available for its Google One cloud storage services. VPN is used by individuals in countries where access to certain sites and services have been banned by governments.
4. What is the theme of World Cities Day 2020?
[A] Valuing Our Communities and Cities
[B] Towards the New Urban Agenda.
[C] Global urbanization
[D] Sustainable urban development
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Valuing Our Communities and Cities]
Notes:
The United Nations General Assembly has designated the 31st of October as World Cities Day. This year the theme is ‘Valuing Our Communities and Cities’.
The Day aims to promote international community’s interest in global urbanization and contribute to sustainable urban development around the world. UN-Habitat launched Urban October in 2014, to highlight the urban challenges around the world.
5. Which body has released a draft model Act and rules on conclusive land titling?
[A] Ministry of Home Affairs
[B] Ministry of Agriculture
[C] NITI Aayog
[D] Land Development Authority of India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [NITI Aayog]
Notes:
India’s premier think tank Niti Aayog has recently released a draft model Act and rules on conclusive land titling, to be used by the states. The draft rules aim to reduce litigations and ease the land acquisition process for infrastructure projects.
The draft provides state governments with power to order for establishment, administration and management of a system of title registration of immovable properties.
6. What amount has been released as the 2nd tranche to 16 states and 3 UTs for GST compensation?
[A] Rs 3000 crore
[B] Rs 4500 crore
[C] Rs 6000 crore
[D] Rs 10000 crore
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Rs 6000 crore]
Notes:
The Central Government is set to release the second tranche of Rs 6,000 crore to 16 states and 3 union territories.
As per the recent statement from the Finance Ministry, the total amount released to states to meet the compensation shortfall under goods and services tax (GST) under the special window is Rs 12,000 crore.
7. When is the ‘International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists’ observed every year?
[A] November 1
[B] November 2
[C] November 3
[D] November 4
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [November 2]
Notes:
The United Nations General Assembly designated 2 November as the ‘International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists’.
As per the United Nations, during the past fourteen years (2006-2019), around 1,200 journalists have been killed for reporting the news to the public. It also reveals that in nine out of ten cases the killers go unpunished.
8. The Government has asked which organisation to tie up with rice mills for increasing supply of fortified rice?
[A] Food Corporation of India
[B] Food and Agriculture Organization
[C] The Energy and Resources Institute
[D] World Food Programme
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Food Corporation of India]
Notes:
The government has announced that the Food Corporation of India (FCI) has been asked to tie up with rice mills for increasing supply of fortified rice.
The state-run organisation is asked to supply fortified rice through ration shops and other welfare schemes. Out of the 15 states identified for ‘Central scheme on fortified rice and its distribution via public distribution system (PDS)’, five states are implementing it in one district each.
9. ‘Char-chaporis’, which were seen in news recently, is associated with which state/ UT?
[A] West Bengal
[B] Odisha
[C] Assam
[D] Jammu & Kashmir
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Assam]
Notes:
Char-chaporis are shifting riverine islands of the Brahmaputra river and they are primarily inhabited by the Muslims of Bengali-origin referred to as ‘Miyas’.
Several people of Assam were requesting the government to fast-track the establishment of Miya museum reflecting the culture and heritage of the people living in char-chaporis. Recently, ahead of the Assembly elections, this was again in news.
10. India has handed over around Rs 62 crores to which country as reimbursement of Housing Reconstruction Project?
[A] Bangladesh
[B] Nepal
[C] Sri Lanka
[D] Myanmar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Nepal]
Notes:
Indian Ambassador to Nepal Vinay Mohan Kwatra has recently handed over a cheque of NPR 1 billion (around Rs 62 crore) to the Nepal government as reimbursement of Nepal Housing Reconstruction Project.
India has partnered with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), to provide funds to its neighbouring country.