11. Which chess player won the recently held $250,000 online chess tournament, considered to be the richest so far?
[A] Hikaru Nakamura
[B] Viswanathan Anand
[C] Magnus Carlsen
[D] Alireza Firouzja
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Magnus Carlsen ]
Notes:
The richest online chess tournament in history held so far was recently organised by the World Chess champion Magnus Carlsen after live tournaments could not be held amidst the Covid-19 crisis.
Named the Magnus Carlsen Invitational, the 16-day contest comprised of a total prize fund of 250,000. Magnus Carlsen won the final match and bagged the winner prize of 70,000 after defeating his American counterpart Hikaru Nakamura 2.5:1.5. Live feeds were offered during the matches with live commentary from chess grandmasters.
12. Humanitarian aid and disaster relief (HADR) outreach, that was seen in news recently, is a diplomatic initiative of which Armed Force of India?
[A] Indian Air Force
[B] Indian Coast Guard
[C] Indian Army
[D] Indian Navy
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Indian Navy]
Notes:
As a part of the humanitarian aid and disaster relief (HADR) outreach of the Indian Navy, the armed force has deployed five of its biggest amphibious warfare vessels on a mission to provide essential supplies to friendly Indian Ocean Region (IOR) countries.
Indian Naval Ship (INS) Kesari, INS Jalashwa, INS Magar, INS Airawat and INS Shardul are deployed in the operations. On their return journey some of them will bring back the stranded Indian nationals in those countries.
13. Where is the head-quarters of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) located?
[A] Rome
[B] Geneva
[C] Grand-Saconnex
[D] New York
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Grand-Saconnex]
Notes:
International Organization for Migration (IOM) is an intergovernmental organization that provides services and advice regarding migration to governments and migrants. It is headquartered at Grand-Saconnex, Switzerland.
Recently, the Director-General of the UN migration agency Antonio Vitorino said in a notification that thousands of migrants have been stranded all over the world and they face an increased risk of COVID-19 infection. The agency also advised the governments to allow health care and screening available to all migrants.
14. When is the “Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War” observed by the United Nations, every year?
[A] 1-2 May
[B] 4-5 May
[C] 8-9 May
[D] 11-12 May
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [8-9 May]
Notes:
On 8 and 9 May every year, the United Nations commemorates the millions who lost their lives during the Second World War. The World War-II led to the formation of the United Nations.
The commemoration to pay tribute to all victims is officially called the “Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War”. It was created by a General Assembly resolution in 2004.
15. Coir Board signed a MoU with which institute, to establish a Centre of Excellence for Coir Applications?
[A] IISc, Bengaluru
[B] IIT, Madras
[C] IIT, Delhi
[D] IIT, Mumbai
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [IIT, Madras]
Notes:
Coir Board, a statutory body under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises has recently signed an MoU with the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras, to establish a Centre of Excellence for Coir Applications.
As per the announcement of the MSME Ministry, Coir Board will provide a financial assistance of five crore rupees for two years for the establishment and running of the Centre of Excellence. The Centre will take up and develop the Research and Development work done in the coir sector.
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. 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.
18. Which Indian state witnessed the death of as many as 13000 pigs due to the outbreak of African swine fever (AFS)?
[A] Himachal Pradesh
[B] Assam
[C] West Bengal
[D] Bihar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Assam]
Notes:
Due to the outbreak of African swine fever (AFS), more than 13,000 pigs have died in the last few days in nine districts of Assam. The officials have dug a two km long canal inside Agoratoli range to prevent wild boars from going to nearby villages and domestic pigs from entering.
According to a 2019 census, the pig population in the state was 21 lakhs which has become 30 lakhs now. This outbreak has affected the livelihood of hundreds of people involved in the animal husbandry.
19. Which Indian organisation administers the social-security scheme Atal Pension Yojana?
[A] Reserve Bank of India
[B] Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority
[C] Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority
[D] Securities Exchange Board of India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority]
Notes:
The social security scheme of Government of India ‘Atal Pension Yojana’ (APY) has completed five years of successful implementation. The scheme has witnessed 2.23 Crore enrolments since its launch.
It was launched in the year 2015 by the Indian Prime Minister to deliver a minimum guaranteed pension to workers in unorganised sector. The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) administers the scheme.
20. Indian sportsperson Manmeet Singh Walia, who passed away recently, was associated with which sports?
[A] Tennis
[B] Football
[C] Table Tennis
[D] Hockey
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Table Tennis]
Notes:
Former national table tennis champion of India, Manmeet Singh Walia has recently passed away in Canada, at the age of 58.
Manmeet was suffering from ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) disease that led to voluntary muscle impairment. The veteran player became the national champion in 1989 in Hyderabad. He had represented India at several international events after making his debut at the Asian Championships in 1980.