41. Which organisation has given nod for Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) to be used for navigation in the Indian Ocean Region?
[A] International Maritime Organization
[B] United Nations
[C] International Telecommunication Union
[D] World Tourism Organisation
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [International Maritime Organization]
Notes:
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has recently accepted the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) as a component of the World-Wide Radio Navigation System (WWRNS) for operation in the Indian Ocean Region.
After this approval, merchant vessels can use IRNSS for obtaining position information similar to GPS and GLONASS.
42. India’s first moss garden has been developed in which state/UT?
[A] Himachal Pradesh
[B] Uttarakhand
[C] Sikkim
[D] West Bengal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Uttarakhand]
Notes:
India’s first moss garden has been developed at Khurpatal, Nainital district, Uttarakhand. It was inaugurated by renowned water conservation activist Rajendra Singh.
The moss garden was approved under the CAMPA scheme by the Uttarakhand Forest Department, last year. It aims to conserve various species of moss and other bryophytes. Two of the moss species found here- Hyophila involuta (Cement Moss) and Brachythecium Buchanani are in IUCN red list.
43. Indian-origin economist and author Lord Meghnad Desai has resigned from a major party in which country, citing racism?
[A] United States
[B] United Kingdom
[C] Germany
[D] Australia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [United Kingdom]
Notes:
Indian-origin economist and author Lord Meghnad Desai has resigned as a member of the UK’s Opposition Labour Party, over its failure to tackle racism.
The 80-year-old peer was against the readmission of former party leader Jeremy Corbyn without apology, after being suspended. The Labour Party has been alleged of antisemitism over several years.
44. SATAT initiative, which was seen in the news recently, is associated with which Union Ministry?
[A] Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
[B] Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
[C] Ministry of New and Renewal Energy
[D] Ministry of Home Affairs
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas]
Notes:
A MoU was signed between the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and leading oil & gas marketing companies and technology providers to set up Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) plants across India.
The CBG plants are to be set up under the Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) initiative. The Union Government has set a target to set up 5000 CBG plants by 2023-24 with production target of 15 MMT.
45. Which platform has launched a short-video making feature named ‘Spotlight’?
[A] Telegram
[B] WhatsApp
[C] Snapchat
[D] Tik Tok
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Snapchat]
Notes:
American messaging app Snapchat has recently rolled out a new short-video making feature called ‘Spotlight’.
It would allow users to share short-form videos publicly in its Snapchat app. By the launch of the new feature, Snap Inc. is expected to compete with ByteDance-owned TikTok and Instagram Reels launched by Facebook.
46. The land-attack version of which missile was test-fired in the Andaman and Nicobar?
[A] BrahMos
[B] Prithvi- III
[C] Agni- III
[D] Dhanush
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [BrahMos]
Notes:
Indian army has successfully test fired the land-attack version of the surface-to-surface supersonic cruise missile BrahMos, in the Andaman and Nicobar.
The range of the new version of the missile has been extended to 400 km from the original 290 km. The Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy will carry out separate test-firing of the new version of the air-launched and naval versions of the missile.
47. The Small Industries Development Bank of India (Sidbi) has signed MoU with which southern state to develop MSME ecosystem?
[A] Kerala
[B] Tamil Nadu
[C] Andhra Pradesh
[D] Telangana
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Tamil Nadu]
Notes:
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by the Small Industries Development Bank of India (Sidbi) with the Tamil Nadu government to develop the ecosystem for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the state.
Under the MoU, Sidbi will deploy a project management unit (PMU) in the government of Tamil Nadu. It will undertake the process of designing the training and capacity-building programmes to be taken up by the state government in areas.
48. Which new type of Farmer Produce Organisation (FPO) of NAFED has been inaugurated by the Agricultural Minister?
[A] Bamboo FPO
[B] Honey FPO
[C] Silk FPO
[D] Rubber FPO
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Honey FPO]
Notes:
The Honey FPO Programme of National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited. (NAFED) has been inaugurated by Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar.
Beekeeping will be promoted as an occupation for unemployed women and tribal populations, through these Honey FPOs. A new Central Sector Scheme for Formation & Promotion of new 10,000 FPOs was launched and 2200 FPO clusters for 2020-21 are already allocated.
49. Which state has proposed to make forcible religious conversions a punishable offence with 10 years imprisonment?
[A] Uttar Pradesh
[B] Gujarat
[C] Bihar
[D] Madhya Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Madhya Pradesh]
Notes:
The Government of Madhya Pradesh has made a change in “Draft Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Bill 2020”. As per the revised draft, marriages for forcible religious conversions would be a punishable offence with a jail term of 10 years.
Earlier, the proposed bill contained that the term of jail would be 5 years. The Government is expecting to table the bill in the state assembly session to be held in December.
50. The state Government of Kerala has announced a two-day mourning to mark respect to which personality?
[A] Diego Maradona
[B] C K Bhaskaran
[C] Verghese Kurian
[D] SP Balasubramanian
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Diego Maradona]
Notes:
The state Government of Kerala has announced a two-day mourning in the state, to mark respect for the Foot Ball legend Diego Maradona, who passed away recently.
Diego Maradona was a professional football player belonging to Argentina. He has won the most prestigious “FIFA Player of the 20th Century award” and is recognised as the greatest football players of all times.