11. The final stretch of phase 1 of which Metro service was inaugurated recently?
[A] Kolkata
[B] Kochi
[C] Mumbai
[D] Delhi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Kochi]
Notes:
The Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the Kochi Metro’s final stretch of the Phase-I covering Thykoodam to Petta which is 3 km long.
The inauguration was made virtually. With this, the phase-1 of Kochi Metro is complete at a cost of Rs.6218 crore. The inaugural function was presided by Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs.
12. What is the name of the illegal software that has been blocked by Railway Protection Force (RPF) of Indian Railways?
[A] Tik Tok
[B] Pub G
[C] Real Mango
[D] Real Apple
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Real Mango]
Notes:
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) of Indian Railways has disrupted the operation of illegal software called “Real Mango”, in a nationwide investigation.
The investigation was made on account of increase in touting activity after restart of the passenger train services. RPF have been able to arrest 50 criminals so far including the King pin (system developer) and key managers involved in operation of this illegal software.
13. The Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) that has been tested for hot and high weather conditions, is developed by which organisation?
[A] Hindustan Aeronautical Limited
[B] Defence Research and Development Organisation
[C] Bharat Electronics Limited
[D] New Space India Limited
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Hindustan Aeronautical Limited]
Notes:
The Hindustan Aeronautical Limited-HAL’s indigenously developed Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) has successfully demonstrated high altitude capability in hot and high weather conditions in the Himalayas.
The helicopter also demonstrated its payload capability in Siachen glacier. The Army version of LUH is to be presented for Initial Operational Clearance.
14. India has held a Joint Commission Meeting with which country recently, for the first time?
[A] Angola
[B] Argentina
[C] Cuba
[D] Costa Rica
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Angola]
Notes:
The first Joint Commission Meeting between India and Angola was held recently.
The meeting was co-chaired by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his counterpart Tete Antonio. During the meeting, the two countries agreed to diversify their trade relationship. The leaders also discussed regarding cooperation in health, pharmaceuticals, defence, agriculture sectors.
15. The country’s second Kisan Rail that was flagged off recently, would connect which two cities?
[A] Bangalore – Mumbai
[B] Chennai – Delhi
[C] Anantapur – Delhi
[D] Hyderabad – Kolkata
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Anantapur – Delhi]
Notes:
The Country’s second and South India’s first Kisan Rail service has been recently flagged off.
This would connect Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh to Adarsh Nagar Railway Station in Delhi. The train was flagged off by the Union Minister for Agriculture Narendra Singh Tomar. The Kisan Rail scheme was announced in Budget 2020-21 for transport of agricultural products.
16. US- based Aerospace company Northrop Grumman has named its Spacecraft after which Indian-origin astronaut?
[A] Rakesh Sharma
[B] Kalpana Chawla
[C] Sunita Williams
[D] Laurel Clark
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Kalpana Chawla]
Notes:
The US-based Aerospace and Defence company Northrop Grumman has named its spacecraft named after Kalpana Chawla, the first woman of Indian descent to go to space.
The company’s next space station resupply ship, which is a NG-14 Cygnus spacecraft has been named as ‘S.S. Kalpana Chawla’. The company has a tradition of naming each of its Cygnus ship after an individual achiever in Human spaceflight.
17. Which Indian city is to play host to the Asia’s largest aero show, Aero India-21?
[A] Gurgaon
[B] Bengaluru
[C] Vishakhapatnam
[D] Kolkata
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bengaluru]
Notes:
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has launched the website of Aero India 2021, which is claimed to be the largest aero show of Asia.
The 13th edition of show is scheduled to be held at Air Force Station, Yelahanka, Bengaluru from February 3 to February 7 next year. The newly launched website will host and stream all online services related to the event.
18. Who represented India in the virtual Meeting of Labour and Employment Ministers of G-20 nations?
[A] Piyush Goyal
[B] Santosh Gangwar
[C] Nirmala Sitharaman
[D] Jitendra Singh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Santosh Gangwar]
Notes:
Union Labour and employment minister Santosh Gangwar represented India in the virtual Meeting of Labour and Employment Ministers of G-20 nations.
The G20 meet focussed on the G20 Youth Roadmap 2025 and discussed measures to curb the impact of Covid-19 on the Labour market. The meet also identified indicators relating to youth for the first time.
19. Which Indian state has partnered with SIDBI to provide support to MSMEs in the state?
[A] Rajasthan
[B] Karnataka
[C] Andhra Pradesh
[D] Tamil Nadu
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Rajasthan]
Notes:
The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Rajasthan government to develop the MSME ecosystem in the state.
This is the initiative of the Department of Industries, Rajasthan to provide financial and technical support to MSMEs in the state. The state has also amended the MSME Act to promote industries and exempt businesses from permissions and inspections for three years.
20. What may be the growth in India’s GDP in FY 2020-21, as per the recent estimates of Moody’s, after its earlier estimate of -4%?
[A] – 6.5%
[B] – 9.5%
[C] -11.5%
[D] -15%
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [-11.5%]
Notes:
Global rating agency Moody’s Investors Service has estimated that India’s real GDP would contract by 11.5 per cent in fiscal year 2020-21.
Earlier, the agency has estimated that India’s economy would contract by 4.0 per cent during 2020-21. CRISIL also said that the collapse in GDP was one of the sharpest among all major G-20 nation and the growth is expected to rebound to 10.6 per cent in 2021-22.