11. In the context of recent gas leakage incident at Visakhapatnam polymer plant, which gas was found to be leaked?
[A] Styrene
[B] Ethyl Benzene
[C] Toluene
[D] Xylene
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Styrene]
Notes:
When a polymer plant in Vishakhapatnam resumed its operations after lock down, there was a leakage of styrene gas, that has killed about 11 people. Thousands of people were evacuated from around the plant and many of them were hospitalised.
The styrene gas is a poisonous, inflammable gas used in plastic engineering industry, which caused nausea and dizziness. As per the experts, the gas could have triggered a series of explosions from the LG Polymers plant, which manufactures polystyrene.
12. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) approved a $500 million loan to support India’s Covid-19 operations. Which is the headquarters of AIIB?
[A] Manila
[B] Shanghai
[C] Beijing
[D] Tokyo
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Beijing]
Notes:
Beijing headquartered Multilateral development bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank recently approved a $500 million loan to support India’s Covid-19 operations. The loan is co-financed by the World Bank.
AIIB also highlighted that building a resilient health system to effectively treat COVID-19 patients and preventing its spread is the immediate priority. Last month the bank doubled its initial COVID-19 Crisis Recovery Facility to $10 billion from $5 billion.
13. Which global organisation has recognised the advisories released by two institutes of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)?
[A] World Economic Forum
[B] World Bank
[C] Food and Agricultural Organisation
[D] World Food Program
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Food and Agricultural Organisation]
Notes:
Amidst the Covid-19 outbreak, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (ICAR-CIFT), Kochi prepared advisories for the benefit of the fishing fraternity in 10 different regional languages. ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CIFRI), Barrackpore prepared advisories for the stakeholders involved in freshwater fishing.
The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), Rome has recommended these advisories by including them as ‘Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries’ under the Asia-Regional initiatives.
14. The Union Defence Ministry has signed a contract with which power firm of India for infrastructure modernisation of airfields?
[A] PowerGrid corporation
[B] Tata Power
[C] JSW Energy
[D] Adani Power
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Tata Power]
Notes:
The Union Defence Ministry has signed a contract with Mumbai based power company Tata Power for infrastructure modernisation of 37 airfields.
The airfields of the Indian Air Force, Coast Guard and the Navy are to be modernised at a cost of around Rs 1,200 crore. This is the second phase of the Modernisation of Airfield Infrastructure (MAFI) programme while during the first phase the airfields of the Indian Air Force were upgraded. This project would facilitate the operations of aircrafts in poor weather conditions.
15. What is the theme of the World Migratory Bird Day 2020 observed on May 9?
[A] Love the Birds
[B] Birds Connect Our World
[C] Birds transcend the Globe
[D] Birds are precious
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Birds Connect Our World]
Notes:
The World Migratory Bird Day is celebrated on May 9 every year, across the world. The theme of the World Migratory Bird Day 2020 is ‘Birds Connect Our World’.
The day is celebrated to raise awareness about conservation and ecological importance of migratory birds in the global ecosystem. The day was first introduced in the year 2006 and since then several awareness events and bird watching events for bird enthusiasts will be conducted on the day.
16. The phenomenon ‘Arribada’, that was seen in news recently, is associated with which species?
[A] Snake
[B] Spider
[C] Turtle
[D] Fish
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Turtle]
Notes:
Recently, about 2 Crore Olive Ridley turtle hatchlings walked into the sea from Odisha’s coast. The turtles settle at the Gahirmatha and Rushikulya rookery in the state and lay eggs every year.
Several lakhs of turtles lay eggs on the coast, in a phenomenon called Arribada. These hatchlings will grow up and said to return to the same place for laying their eggs. The turtles get their name from the colour of its olive-green shell. As per the World Wildlife Fund, they are the most abundant of all sea turtles but they are vulnerable because they nest in only a few places.
17. Where is the headquarters of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) located?
[A] Paris
[B] Madrid
[C] New York
[D] Geneva
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Madrid]
Notes:
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of sustainable and universally accessible tourism. Its headquarters is located at Madrid, Spain.
18. The TVS group and the Sundaram Medical Foundation collaborated with which institution to develop a respiratory device called ‘The Sundaram Ventago’?
[A] AIIMS
[B] IISC
[C] IIT-Madras
[D] IIT-Guwahati
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [IIT-Madras]
Notes:
The TVS group and the Sundaram Medical Foundation collaborated with IIT-Madras to develop an affordable and automated respiratory assist device called The Sundaram Ventago.
This device has been developed in collaboration with hospitals like Madras Medical College and Kauvery Hospital along with guidance from institutions like MIT-Boston. The device uses automated squeezing of a self-inflating bag or AMBU bag to provide respiratory support to patients.
19. Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), that was seen in news, is an autonomous organisation of which Union Ministry?
[A] Ministry of Culture
[B] Ministry of External Affairs
[C] Ministry of Home Affairs
[D] Ministry of Tourism
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of External Affairs]
Notes:
The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) is an autonomous organisation of Union Ministry of External Affairs. Its main objective is to build cultural relations with other countries.
Recently, ICCR released a song titled “United We Fight” featuring famous musicians like Usha Uthup and Joe Alvares, as a part of its efforts to instil hope among Indians in their fight against COvid-19. The song was written and composed by Joe Alvares and sung by several famous singers from across the country.
20. What is the liquidity infusion fund allotted for DISCOMs (Distribution Companies), in the recent economic stimulus package?
[A] ₹50000 Crore
[B] ₹75000 Crore
[C] ₹90000 Crore
[D] ₹1 lakh Crore
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [₹90000 Crore]
Notes:
The Union Minister announced ₹90,000 crore one-time liquidity injection for fund-starved DISCOMs. This will be used to pay the central public sector power generation companies, transmission companies, independent power producers and renewable energy generators.
PSUs Power Finance Corporation (PFC) and Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) will infuse the liquidity by raising an amount of about ₹90,000 crore from the market against the receivables of DISCOMs. The state governments are expected to provide a guarantee for the fund.