11. 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.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. Which Indian state/UT has launched the new initiative ‘FIR Aapke Dwar Yojana’?
[A] Uttar Pradesh
[B] Punjab
[C] Madhya Pradesh
[D] Maharashtra
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Madhya Pradesh]
Notes:
The government of Madhya Pradesh has launched a new scheme called ‘FIR Aapke Dwar Yojana’ in Bhopal.
The scheme has been launched on a pilot basis in 23 Police stations across the state. Under the scheme, people need not visit Police stations to lodge an FIR, rather they can use the number 100. The Dial 100 vehicle would have trained Head Constables to lodge FIR. For serious complaints, guidance will be given by senior officers.
16. 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.
17. Who is the first Indian to win the Fed Cup Heart Award for Asia/Oceania zone?
[A] Leander Paes
[B] Sania Mirza
[C] Rohan Bopanna
[D] Prajnesh Gunneswaran
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Sania Mirza]
Notes:
Tennis star Sania Mirza became the first Indian to win the Fed Cup Heart Award for Asia/Oceania zone. The Fed Cup Heart Award winners were determined through online voting by fans, starting from May 1.
She has been nominated for her successful return post motherhood. She secured more than 10,000 votes out of the total 16,985 cast for the nominees of this year. The Fed Cup Heart Award is an International Tennis Federation (ITF) initiative that was established in 2009 to recognise the Fed Cup players for their distinction, courage and commitment.
18. What is the theme of the International Nurses Day 2020?
[A] Nursing the World to Health
[B] Honour the Nurses
[C] Nurses are Warriors
[D] Nursing the Globe
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Nursing the World to Health]
Notes:
Every year the International Nurses Day is celebrated on May 12. It is celebrated to mark the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale. 2020 also marks the 200th birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale. World Health Organization (WHO) has declared 2020 as the ‘Year of the Nurse and the Midwife’.
This year, the theme of the International Nurses Day is “Nursing the World to Health”. As per the WHO, Nurses account for more than half of health workers and still 5.9 million more nurses are needed across the world.
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. Which official index of India recently declined sharply to 16.5% in the month of March, 2020?
[A] Consumer Price Index
[B] Index of Industrial Production
[C] Wholesale Price Index
[D] Net national Income
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Index of Industrial Production]
Notes:
The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is an index published by the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO), MoSPI every month. It shows the growth rate of industry groups in the economy such as manufacturing and electricity.
Recently, the IIP of March recorded a sharp decline of 16.7 per cent to 120.1 in the month of March. The data also showed that the industrial growth during the fiscal year 2019-20 slipped 0.7 per cent, against the 3.8 per cent rise in 2018-19.