11. Mustafa al-Kadhimi, who was seen in news recently, is the new Prime Minister of which country?
[A] Iraq
[B] Iran
[C] Israel
[D] Oman
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Iraq]
Notes:
The new Prime Minister of Iraq, Mustafa al-Kadhimi assumed office after the country’s parliament approved a new government. The parliament also approved 15 ministers in a vote of confidence and seven ministries including Foreign affairs and Oil were left empty.
There has been political crisis for more than six months in the country. The two previous nominees for the role of prime minister, Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi and Adnan al-Zurfi failed to secure the required support from cabinet ministers.
12. Project CARD, that was seen in news recently, is associated with the launching of which product?
[A] Temporary PDS card
[B] Covid-19 Testing kit
[C]
Temporary AADHAR card
[D] Face Masks for Doctors
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Covid-19 Testing kit]
Notes:
NITI Aayog and the Department of Biotechnology have launched the Consortium for Affordable & Rapid Diagnostics (CARD) project.
The project aims to scale up India’s capacity to make coronavirus testing kits. The primary goal is to manufacture at least 10 million rapid antibody tests for Covid-19 by July. It also aims to expand RT-PCR test kits in India. The announcement has come after quality issues faced with Chinese-made antibody testing kits.
13. United Nations Environment Programme extended the term of which Indian personality as its Goodwill ambassador?
[A] Deepika Padukone
[B] Virat Kohli
[C] Dia Mirza
[D] Vidya Balan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Dia Mirza]
Notes:
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has recently extended the term of Bollywood star and environmentalist Dia Mirza, as its National Goodwill Ambassador for another two years.
Dia Mirza is also an advocate of United Nations Sustainability Development Goals. She was famous for her #BeatPlasticPollution campaign when she was the UNEP Goodwill ambassador for the first time.
14. MeerKAT, which has captured high-quality imaging of a PKS 2014-55 galaxy, is a satellite of which country?
[A] South Korea
[B] Israel
[C] South Africa
[D] United States
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [South Africa]
Notes:
According to the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO), using the high-quality imaging of a galaxy called PKS 2014-55, sent by the South African satellite MeerKAT, the ‘X’ galaxies were found to be of a ‘double boomerang’ shape.
The galaxy that is located 800 million light years from Earth, is classified as ‘X-shaped’ because of its appearance from previous blurry images. The study also showed that these structures ultimately turn black due to the pressure of tenuous intergalactic gas.
15. 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.
16. 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.
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. 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. What is ‘HR 6819’, that has been discovered by the European Southern Observatory (ESO)?
[A] Galaxy
[B] Black hole
[C] Star
[D] Exo-planet
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Black hole]
Notes:
A team of astronomers using the Chile-based La Silla Observatory of the European Southern Observatory (ESO) has recently discovered the nearest black hole from Earth.
This triple-structure black hole named as HR 6819, is located just 1000 light-years from Earth. Unlike the other black holes that have been detected till date, HR 6819 does not actively interfere with their surroundings. The team was able to distinguish its existence and measure its mass.
20. 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.