11. Which global alliance hosted the Coronavirus Global Response International Pledging Conference, to raise funds for Covid-19 response?
[A] G20
[B] G7
[C] European Union
[D] ASEAN
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [European Union]
Notes:
The European Union and its partners co-hosted the Coronavirus Global Response International Pledging Conference to raise funds to kick-start the global fight against Covid-19, especially to manufacture a vaccine.
The target set by the European Commission for the initial funding was €7.5 billion (8 billion USD). Several world leaders, individuals and organisations participated in the conference and pledged 8 billion USD together. Canada was the highest contributor with $850 million. U.S. did not attend the conference.
12. ‘Long March 5B’ rocket, which was seen in news recently, is the flagship launch vehicle of which country?
[A] United States
[B] China
[C] Russia
[D] Israel
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [China]
Notes:
‘Long March 5B’ is the flagship launch vehicle of China and it is a variant of the standard Long March 5 rocket, which had its inaugural flight in 2016.
It was seen in news recently, as the rocket launched a prototype crewed spacecraft from the Hainan island. This new-generation spacecraft entered its predetermined orbit 488 seconds after the launch. This success is expected to let China proceed with a mission to send an orbiter and rover to Mars.
13. Who are the beneficiaries of YSR Matsyakara Bharosa scheme of Andhra Pradesh government?
[A] Fishermen Families
[B] School-going children of fishermen
[C] Women in Fishermen families
[D] Individual Fishermen
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Fishermen Families]
Notes:
The State government of Andhra Pradesh has launched a scheme called YSR Matsyakara Bharosa amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Under the scheme, the government will provide a financial assistance of ₹10,000 to each fisherman family. This would help the fishermen community during the lock-down period and during the marine ban period. The monetary relief of fishermen venturing into the sea has also been raised from ₹4,000 to ₹10,000 per head.
14. CSIR’s Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) has partnered with which Indian company to commercialise their FELUDA test kit?
[A] Tech Mahindra
[B] Larsen & Toubro
[C] Tata Sons
[D] Wipro
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Tata Sons]
Notes:
Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), a lab of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) have entered into a partnership to commercialise the FNCAS9 Editor Linked Uniform Detection Assay, FELUDA test kit developed by IGIB.
Under the agreement, the licensing of KNOW-HOW for rapid and accurate diagnosis of COVID-19 will also be undertaken. The FELUDA kit is affordable, easy to use and not dependant on the expensive Q-PCR machines. It uses Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) based technology and paper strip model of chemistry.
15. 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.
16. Which state government has raised the retirement age of government employees to 59 from 58?
[A] Andhra Pradesh
[B] Odisha
[C] Tamil Nadu
[D] Kerala
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Tamil Nadu]
Notes:
The state government of Tamil Nadu has recently raised the retirement age of State Government employees to 59 from 58.
The Government order comes to force with immediate effect, as per the notification released. This order will also apply to all teachers in government and government-aided schools and colleges, and employees working in State public sector undertakings.
17. ‘Mukhyamantri Yuba Yogayog Yojana’, that was seen in news, is an initiative of which Indian state/UT?
[A] Madhya Pradesh
[B] Uttar Pradesh
[C] Haryana
[D] Tripura
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Tripura]
Notes:
‘Mukhyamantri Yuba Yogayog Yojana’ is a welfare scheme of the state of Tripura. It was seen in news as the state’s Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb launched an online portal scholarships.gov.in as a part of the scheme.
Under the scheme, the students who are in final year in colleges or Universities can apply through the portal and the state government will provide Rs. 5,000 as a grant for smart phone. More than 14000 students will be benefitted by this scheme.
18. What is the new borrowing target of the government for the current financial year, after the gross market borrowing target has been raised from the budget estimate?
[A] Rs. 9 lakh crore
[B] Rs 10 lakh crore
[C] Rs 12 lakh crore
[D] Rs 15 lakh crore
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Rs 12 lakh crore]
Notes:
The government has recently raised its gross market borrowing target for the current financial year to Rs 12 lakh crore.
As per the latest budget estimate, the target was Rs 7.8 lakh crore for the current fiscal year. The increase in the target accounts for more than 50% increase from the estimate. The decision has been taken at the backdrop of the Covid-19 outbreak that has crippled the economy. Lower tax collections and the fiscal stimulus required are the reasons for the increased borrowing.
19. What is ‘Covid Kavach Elisa’, that was seen in news recently?
[A] Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
[B] Mask
[C] Testing Kit
[D] Disinfectant
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Testing Kit]
Notes:
Pune-based National Institute of Virology under the Indian Council of Medical Research has successfully developed the first indigenous antibody detection kit for Covid-19 named ‘Covid Kavach Elisa’.
Technically, it is an anti-SARS-CoV-2 human IgG ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) test kit for detecting coronavirus. As per the Union Health Ministry, the kit can test up to 90 samples together in 2.5 hours. This is expected to ramp up the testing speed in the country.
20. 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.