11. During the era of industrialisation, the workers of which country revolted against the exploitative industrialists, which led to the celebration of May Day?
[A] France
[B] Russia
[C] United States
[D] Germany
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [United States]
Notes:
During the era of industrialisation, the labourers of the United States revolted together against the unjust labour system and the exploitative industrialists. They demanded for fair wages, breaks between the work and paid leaves. The revolt on May 1 1886 led to the celebration of May Day.
May Day, also known as International Workers’ Day is celebrated across the world on May 1. In India, the first May Day was celebrated on May 1, 1923, by the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan in Chennai.
12. Kashmir saffron has received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag. Which country is the largest producer of saffron in the world?
[A] India
[B] Iran
[C] Saudi Arabia
[D] Taiwan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Iran]
Notes:
Iran ranks first in the world, in terms of production of saffron and India is a close competitor. Kashmir saffron has received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag recently. It is cultivated and harvested in the Karewa (highlands) of Jammu and Kashmir.
The unique characteristics of Kashmir saffron are its longer and thicker stigmas, natural deep-red colour and high quantity of crocin, safranal and picrocrocin, among others. It is the only saffron variety in the world that is grown at an altitude of 1,600 m to 1,800 m above mean sea level.
13. GARUD (Government Authorisation for Relief Using Drones) portal, which was seen in news recently, was launched by which Union Ministry?
[A] Ministry of Defence
[B] Ministry of Home Affairs
[C] Ministry of Civil Aviation
[D] Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Ministry of Civil Aviation]
Notes:
The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation along with Directorate General of Civil Aviation has launched a portal named GARUD (Government Authorisation for Relief Using Drones).
The portal has been launched with an aim of providing fast-track exemptions to government agencies for drone operations associated with Covid-19 response. However, the Ministry also warned about penal action and cancellation of exemption if the provisions are violated.
14. ‘Internet Saathi’ is a collaborative initiative of which multi-national company along with Tata Trusts in India?
[A] Facebook
[B] Google
[C] Microsoft
[D] Amazon
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Google]
Notes:
‘Internet Saathi’ is an initiative of the Technology giant Google in India, along with the Tata Trusts, launched with an objective to improve digital literacy among rural women of the country.
Recently, Google announced in a statement that the company is assisting the female Internet trainers or Saathis to share official health advice in their villages. Moreover, Google has also enabled the local governments to share the location of food centres, shelters and test centres in Google Maps.
15. What is the objective of the “Vande Bharat Mission”, that was seen in news recently?
[A] Testing more samples for Covid-19
[B] Using AYUSH medicines
[C] Evacuating Indian citizens stranded abroad
[D] Educating people about sanitation
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Evacuating Indian citizens stranded abroad]
Notes:
The evacuation exercise of India, considered to be one of the largest, has been named the ‘Vande Bharat Mission’, will engage about 64 flights to bring home Indian nationals stranded abroad.
Several countries including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, UK, Singapore and the US will be covered. In the first week of repatriation, the Gulf countries will be focussed. The highest number of flights to bring back people, were allotted for the states of Kerala (15), Tamil Nadu (11) and Delhi (11).
16. International Day of Vesak, commemorated on May 7 globally, is associated with which spiritual leader?
[A] Mahavir
[B] Buddha
[C]
Guru Nanak
[D] Guru Gobind Singh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Buddha]
Notes:
The United Nations celebrates May 7 as the International Day of Vesak across the world, to commemorate the day of enlightenment of Lord Buddha.
In India, Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) held a Virtual Prayer Event to celebrate Buddha Poornima. Indian Prime Minister also delivered the keynote address. The virtual celebrations will be streamed live from various historic sites from India, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
17. Which day is celebrated in the month of May, to observe and create awareness on a blood-related disorder?
[A]
World Anaemia Day
[B] World Haemophilia Day
[C] World Thalassaemia Day
[D] World Leukaemia Day
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [World Thalassaemia Day]
Notes:
The World Thalassaemia Day is observed every year across the world on May 8. It is observed with an aim of creating awareness about a blood disorder called Thalassaemia.
Thalassaemia is a genetic blood disorder that affects the production of haemoglobin. Lesser red blood cells and low haemoglobin are the effects of this disorder. This year the theme is “The dawning of a new era for thalassaemia: Time for a global effort to make novel therapies accessible and affordable to patients”.
18. ‘Read along’, that was in news recently, is an application of which multi-national company?
[A] Microsoft
[B] Amazon
[C] Google
[D] Facebook
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Google]
Notes:
Global Information Technology giant Google has recently announced the launch of its mobile application ‘Read Along’ in over 180 countries and in 9 languages.
The application was initially launched in India in the name of ‘Bolo’ along with an in-app reading buddy named Diya. The Read Along app uses Google’s speech recognition technology to develop reading skills of young children along the globe.
19. 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.
20. 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.