11. As per the recent report of the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), which area of the country recorded maximum unemployment rate after Covid-19?
[A] Rural areas
[B] Urban areas
[C] Semi-urban areas
[D] Hilly areas
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Urban areas]
Notes:
Mumbai based think tank, the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) has recently released its report on unemployment rates of the country in various parts.
As per the report, unemployment rate of India has risen to 27.11% for the week ended May 3, against 7% in the month of March. The monthly unemployment rate is 23.52% in April. It also highlighted that the unemployment rate was the highest in urban areas and the lowest in hilly areas.
12. As per the recent judgement of the Supreme Court, which category of banks may also be included under SARFAESI Act?
[A] Regional Rural Banks
[B] Cooperative Banks
[C] Small Finance Banks
[D] Local Area Banks
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Cooperative Banks]
Notes:
The Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest (SARFAESI) Act, 2002, allow banks and financial institutions to auction properties, when borrowers fail to repay their loans.
Recently as per the judgement of the Supreme Court, the cooperative banks that are involved in the banking activities are considered as a ‘banking company’. Hence the SARFAESI act may be modified to include the procedure of loan recovery by cooperative banks.
13. ‘Long March 5B’ rocket, which was seen in news recently, is the flagship launch vehicle of which country?
[A] United States
[B] China
[C] Russia
[D] Israel
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [China]
Notes:
‘Long March 5B’ is the flagship launch vehicle of China and it is a variant of the standard Long March 5 rocket, which had its inaugural flight in 2016.
It was seen in news recently, as the rocket launched a prototype crewed spacecraft from the Hainan island. This new-generation spacecraft entered its predetermined orbit 488 seconds after the launch. This success is expected to let China proceed with a mission to send an orbiter and rover to Mars.
14. ‘Mukhyamantri Yuba Yogayog Yojana’, that was seen in news, is an initiative of which Indian state/UT?
[A] Madhya Pradesh
[B] Uttar Pradesh
[C] Haryana
[D] Tripura
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Tripura]
Notes:
‘Mukhyamantri Yuba Yogayog Yojana’ is a welfare scheme of the state of Tripura. It was seen in news as the state’s Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb launched an online portal scholarships.gov.in as a part of the scheme.
Under the scheme, the students who are in final year in colleges or Universities can apply through the portal and the state government will provide Rs. 5,000 as a grant for smart phone. More than 14000 students will be benefitted by this scheme.
15. Which international organisation has launched a USD 6.7 billion global appeal to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, as a part of its updated response plan to help fragile nations?
[A] World Economic Forum
[B] International Monetary Fund
[C] United Nations
[D] Asian Development Bank
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [United Nations]
Notes:
The United Nations along with its partner agencies has launched a USD 6.7 billion global appeal to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
The UN also updated a global plan to fight the COVID-19 in fragile and more vulnerable countries. The plan includes nine more vulnerable countries including the Philippines, Togo and Zimbabwe, beyond the 54 countries covered in the original appeal-the COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan.
16. What is the permitted stay period of an individual in India, to be included as a Non-Resident Indian (NRI), in context of tax calculation?
[A] 60 days
[B] 90 days
[C] 120 days
[D] 150 days
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [120 days]
Notes:
The Union Budget 2020 proposed to reduce the stay period of an individual in India to 120 days, from the previous 182 days. But this reduction is only applicable to persons with less than Rs 15 lakh as Indian income during the Financial year.
Recently, Finance Ministry allowed a relief in determining the residential status during 2019-20, where a person came to India before 22nd March, 2020 and was unable to leave India on or before 31st March 2020, his period of stay in India from 22nd March to 31st March shall not be taken into account. Otherwise they shall have to file tax returns as Indian residents.
17. ‘Mission Sagar’ the outreach initiative launched by India covers how many countries?
[A] Two
[B] Four
[C] Five
[D] Seven
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Five]
Notes:
India launched an outreach initiative named ‘Mission Sagar’, to assist Island nations in the Indian Ocean in tackling the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Indian Naval Ship Kesari has departed for the five island nations: Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar and Comoros, to deliver Food, Medicines including HCQ Tablets and Special Ayurvedic Medicines, related to Covid-19. A team of select medical personnel was also sent earlier to Maldives to help increase their preparedness.
18. What is ‘Covid Kavach Elisa’, that was seen in news recently?
[A] Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
[B] Mask
[C] Testing Kit
[D] Disinfectant
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Testing Kit]
Notes:
Pune-based National Institute of Virology under the Indian Council of Medical Research has successfully developed the first indigenous antibody detection kit for Covid-19 named ‘Covid Kavach Elisa’.
Technically, it is an anti-SARS-CoV-2 human IgG ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) test kit for detecting coronavirus. As per the Union Health Ministry, the kit can test up to 90 samples together in 2.5 hours. This is expected to ramp up the testing speed in the country.
19. Defence Research Ultraviolet Sanitiser (DRUVS), that was seen in news recently, is developed by which organisation?
[A] DRDO
[B] BHEL
[C] HAL
[D] BEL
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [DRDO]
Notes:
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) laboratory based at Hyderabad, Research Centre Imarat (RCI), has developed an automated sanitisation cabinet, called Defence Research Ultraviolet Sanitiser (DRUVS).
The sanitiser uses the UV-C type of light to sanitise currency notes, electronic gadgets and paper. The significant feature of the sanitiser is its contactless operation, which will help in containing the spread of infection.
20. Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) is an organisation under which Union Ministry?
[A] Ministry of Defence
[B] Ministry of Home Affairs
[C] Ministry of Law and Justice
[D] Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Home Affairs]
Notes:
Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) was established under Ministry of Home Affairs in 1970, as a think-tank with the objective of modernization of police force.
Recently BPRD released a 40-page manual titled ‘Fake News and Disinformation: How to Spot and Investigate’ to help investigators and police officers to identify fake news aimed at spreading communal hatred among the people.