11. Who has been reappointed as the chairperson of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee?
[A] Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury
[B] Mallikarjun Kharge
[C] Anurag Thakur
[D] Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury]
Notes:
Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has been reappointed for another year as the chairperson of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee along with the existing 30 members.
The committee was first formulated as a result of Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms in the year 1921. After 1950, the committee became a parliamentary committee which functioned under the control of the Lok Sabha Speaker along with a non-official chairperson. Since 1967, the chairperson of the committee is selected from the opposition party.
12. 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.
13. An affordable model of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) designed and produced by which Indian Armed Force, has been certified for clinical usage?
[A] Indian Army
[B] Indian Navy
[C] Indian Air Force
[D] Indian Coast Guard
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Indian Navy]
Notes:
Recently, the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) designed and produced by the Indian Navy has been certified for mass production and clinical usage.
The PPE has been developed by the team of Innovation Cell, Institute of Naval Medicine, Mumbai and the Naval Dockyard Mumbai. INMAS (Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences) Delhi, an authorised DRDO organization has tested and certified the PPE. The benchmarks of testing are set by the ICMR and the Health Ministry.
14. 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.
15. Humanitarian aid and disaster relief (HADR) outreach, that was seen in news recently, is a diplomatic initiative of which Armed Force of India?
[A] Indian Air Force
[B] Indian Coast Guard
[C] Indian Army
[D] Indian Navy
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Indian Navy]
Notes:
As a part of the humanitarian aid and disaster relief (HADR) outreach of the Indian Navy, the armed force has deployed five of its biggest amphibious warfare vessels on a mission to provide essential supplies to friendly Indian Ocean Region (IOR) countries.
Indian Naval Ship (INS) Kesari, INS Jalashwa, INS Magar, INS Airawat and INS Shardul are deployed in the operations. On their return journey some of them will bring back the stranded Indian nationals in those countries.
16. 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.
17. Which Indian state/UT has launched ‘Pravasi Rahat Mitra’ application, developed in collaboration with UNDP, to aid incoming migrant citizens?
[A] Odisha
[B] Uttar Pradesh
[C] Madhya Pradesh
[D] Bihar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Uttar Pradesh]
Notes:
The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath has recently launched the ‘Pravasi Rahat Mitra’ application, which aims at incoming aiding migrant citizens.
The application has been developed by the state revenue department in collaboration with United Nation Development Program. The application collects data of the migrant workers, which will be used in formulating programs for employment and livelihood of these citizens. The application will also monitor their health status.
18. 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.
19. Defence Research Ultraviolet Sanitiser (DRUVS), that was seen in news recently, is developed by which organisation?
[A] DRDO
[B] BHEL
[C] HAL
[D] BEL
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [DRDO]
Notes:
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) laboratory based at Hyderabad, Research Centre Imarat (RCI), has developed an automated sanitisation cabinet, called Defence Research Ultraviolet Sanitiser (DRUVS).
The sanitiser uses the UV-C type of light to sanitise currency notes, electronic gadgets and paper. The significant feature of the sanitiser is its contactless operation, which will help in containing the spread of infection.
20. Sebastian Vettel, who is set to leave Ferrari at the end of 2020 F1 season, belongs to which country?
[A] United Kingdom
[B] Germany
[C] France
[D] Brazil
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Germany]
Notes:
Legendary racer from Germany, Sebastian Vettel is set to leave Ferrari at the end of 2020 F1 season, as per the recent statement from Ferrari.
The 32-year-old racer and four times world champion is yet to break the record by another legend Michael Schumacher in winning multiple Formula One titles with Ferrari. Vettel is one of the highest-paid drivers and has so far won 14 races for Ferrari.