11. 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.
12. Which international rating agency has projected zero economic growth for India in the year 2020-21?
[A] S&P
[B] Moody’s Investor Service
[C] CRISIL
[D] Fitch Ratings
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Moody’s Investor Service]
Notes:
Moody’s Investors Service has recently projected India’s growth at zero per cent for the current fiscal 2020-21.
It had estimated a growth of 4.8 per cent for the last fiscal year. Last month the ratings agency estimated that the Indian economy would grow at 0.2 per cent. It had also provided a ‘Baa2’ rating for India, which represents moderate credit risk. It also said that India would regain its growth rate at 6.6 per cent in the 2021-22 fiscal.
13. What is the name of the helpline launched by the Union HRD Minister for the students of Central University of Odisha?
[A] Suraksha
[B] Bharosa
[C] Shakti
[D] Rakshan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bharosa]
Notes:
The Union Minister for Human Resource Development Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank recently launched the Central University of Odisha Helpline ‘Bharosa’, through a virtual platform in New Delhi.
The helpline has been launched with an aim of assisting the student community during the difficult time of COVID-19 pandemic. The Helpline Number 080 46 80 10 10, aims at redressing grievances and providing services to all the students of the University.
14. How many mandis (markets) are to be integrated with eNAM platform before May 15, as per the target of Agriculture Ministry?
[A] 500
[B] 750
[C] 1000
[D] 2000
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [1000]
Notes:
The Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar recently launched integration of 117 additional wholesale mandis with the electronic National Agriculture Market (eNAM) platform.
After the integration, the total number of online mandis became 962, across the country against the target of 1000 mandis before May 15. In the e-NAM platform, distant bidding facility for wholesale produce in APMC mandis without physical presence of buyer or trader and e-payment facility are provided.
15. Betty Wright, who recently passed away, was associated with which profession?
[A] Sportsperson
[B] Singer
[C] Politician
[D] Scientist
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Singer]
Notes:
Betty Wright, the Grammy winner recently passed away in her hometown Miami, Florida, as per her family sources.
The singer’s real name was Bessie Regina Norris and she was born in 1953. She started her singing career in a musical group called the ‘Echoes of Joy’. The biggest hit of her career was the album named “Clean Up Woman”, which was released when she was eighteen. She won her first Grammy Award for her song, “Where is the Love?”, at the age of 23. She continued her song writing and music production for several years.
16. Which Union Ministry has launched a Management information system named CHAMPIONS portal?
[A] Ministry of Human Resources and Development
[B] Ministry of MSME
[C] Ministry of Science and Technology
[D] Ministry of Home Affairs
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of MSME]
Notes:
Union Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Ministry has launched CHAMPIONS portal www.champions.gov.in.
It is a control room-cum-management information system aimed at assisting Indian MSMEs and solving their grievances. The ‘CHAMPIONS’ stands for Creation and Harmonious Application of Modern Processes for Increasing the Output and National Strength. It uses advanced technology like AI, Machine Learning and integrated with the Centre’s CPGRAMS grievance portal.
17. As per the India State-Level Disease Burden Initiative, what is the cause of 68% of the under-five deaths in India?
[A] Pollution
[B] Child and maternal malnutrition
[C] Early Marriage
[D] Poor healthcare facilities
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Child and maternal malnutrition]
Notes:
As per the Lancet report titled ‘India State-Level Disease Burden Initiative’, 68% of the under-five deaths in India are caused due to child and maternal malnutrition.
The report has the first comprehensive estimates of district-level trends of child mortality in India since 2000. It also highlighted that 83% of the neonatal deaths were due to low birth weight and short gestation. Though the child mortality has improved across the country from 2000 to 2017, inequalities among the districts have also raised.
18. Who represented India in the G-20 Virtual Trade and Investment Ministers Meeting through Video-conferencing?
[A] Nirmala Sitharaman
[B] Piyush Goyal
[C] S Jai Shankar
[D] Amit Shah
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Piyush Goyal]
Notes:
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal participated in the G-20 Virtual Trade and Investment Ministers Meeting through Video-conferencing.
The Minister also said in the meeting that India has provided medical supplies to over 120 countries to fight the coronavirus pandemic, out of which 43 countries received them as a grant. He also highlighted that India has been sharing the medical and public health capacity with them via digital technologies.
19. What is the name of the Padma Bhushan awardee and veteran national Professor of Bangladesh, who passed away recently?
[A] Debesh Roy
[B] Khalid Mahmood
[C] Anisuzzaman
[D] Gurdas Singh Badal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Anisuzzaman]
Notes:
Veteran educationist and litterateur Anisuzzaman, who was also the national Professor of Bangladesh, passed away recently at the age of 83.
He was born in Kolkata and later moved to Bangladesh shortly after the partition of India. He had contributed significantly for the Bangla literature. He also played a crucial role in all democratic movements including the Language Movement of 1952 to Liberation War in 1972 etc. He was awarded Padma Bhushan by India in 2014.
20. What is the outlay of the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, proposed in the economic stimulus package?
[A]
Rs. 25000 Crore
[B] Rs. 50000 Crore
[C] Rs. 1 lakh Crore
[D] Rs. 2 Lakh Crore
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Rs. 1 lakh Crore]
Notes:
In the economic stimulus package, the Finance Minister proposed an ‘Agriculture Infrastructure Fund’, which will be created immediately with an outlay of Rs. 1 lakh crore.
The fund aims to address the lack of adequate cold chain and Post-Harvest Management infrastructure. Financial assistance will be provided for funding Agriculture Infrastructure Projects at farm-gate and aggregation points including Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS), Farmers Producer Organisations (FPO), Agriculture entrepreneurs, Start-ups, etc.