11. As per the recent survey on Research and Development Statistics and Indicators 2019-20 by NSTIMS, what is the rank of India in number of scientific publications?
[A] Three
[B] Four
[C] Six
[D] Ten
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Three]
Notes:
National Science and Technology Management Information (NSTMIS), Department of Science and Technology (DST) has conducted a survey on Research and Development Statistics and Indicators 2019-20.
As per the survey, India is placed at the third position in terms of number of scientific publications. The number of researchers per million population has doubled since 2000 and India’s gross expenditure in R&D has tripled between 2008 and 2018, during the year the expenditure stood at Rs 1,13,825 crores.
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. Among the Road and infrastructure cess and the Special additional excise duty that were recently hiked by the Centre, which one is passed to the states through devolution?
[A] Road and infrastructure cess
[B] Special additional excise duty
[C] Both of them
[D] None of them
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Special additional excise duty]
Notes:
In a recent move, the Centre hiked the duties on petrol and diesel steeply and raised it to Rs 10 and Rs 13 per litre, respectively. It was also announced that there will be no change in the retail prices as the hike will be absorbed by the Oil Marketing companies.
Among the total hike, the Road and infrastructure cess will go the revenue of the Centre only whereas the special additional excise duty will be passed on to all states through devolution at 42%. This decision has been taken at the backdrop of falling crude oil prices in the global market and lower demand during the lock-down.
14. 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).
15. 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.
16. The India International Exchange Limited (India INX), that was seen in news recently, is a subsidiary of which Indian stock exchange?
[A] National Stock Exchange of India (NSE)
[B] Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE)
[C] Calcutta Stock Exchange
[D] United Stock Exchange of India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE)]
Notes:
India International Exchange Limited (India INX) is India’s first international stock exchange located in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT) city and is a subsidiary of Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).
Recently the Union Finance Minister launched INR-USD futures and options contracts on the two international exchanges — BSE’s India INX and NSE’s NSE-IFSC, at GIFT city, Gandhinagar. This decision of allowing rupee derivatives will bring the rupee trading to our country, which are presently dominated by exchanges in Dubai and Singapore.
17. The phenomenon ‘Arribada’, that was seen in news recently, is associated with which species?
[A] Snake
[B] Spider
[C] Turtle
[D] Fish
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Turtle]
Notes:
Recently, about 2 Crore Olive Ridley turtle hatchlings walked into the sea from Odisha’s coast. The turtles settle at the Gahirmatha and Rushikulya rookery in the state and lay eggs every year.
Several lakhs of turtles lay eggs on the coast, in a phenomenon called Arribada. These hatchlings will grow up and said to return to the same place for laying their eggs. The turtles get their name from the colour of its olive-green shell. As per the World Wildlife Fund, they are the most abundant of all sea turtles but they are vulnerable because they nest in only a few places.
18. 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.
19. Which day is celebrated in India on May 11, to mark the achievement of its nuclear tests made at Pokhran in 1998?
[A] National Nuclear Power Day
[B] National Technology Day
[C] National Nuclear Weapon Day
[D] Pokhran Day
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [National Technology Day]
Notes:
May 11 is celebrated as National Technology Day in India every year, to mark the day on which India conducted its nuclear tests at Pokhran, Rajasthan in the year 1998.
India conducted its first nuclear test, codenamed “Smiling Buddha” in 1974. In 1998, under the code name Operation Shakti, the next nuclear mission was carried out. Dr APJ Abdul Kalam led the scientific team which carried out the nuclear weapon tests on May 11. At present, India is among eight countries in the world that own a nuclear weapons program.
20. As per the new guidelines issued regarding the Aarogya Setu app, what is the maximum number of days the data can be stored?
[A] 120
[B] 150
[C] 180
[D] 200
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [180]
Notes:
The Government of India has recently issued a set of guidelines to be followed for data processing of Aarogya Setu app users.
As per the new rules, the storage of data beyond 180 days is prohibited and users can seek deletion of their data from the government’s records within 30 days of request. The new norms allow collection of only demographic, contact, self-assessment and location data of infected persons and their contacts. Any violation of these directions may lead to penalties under the Disaster Management Act, 2005.