11. As per the recent report of the Internet & Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), which areas of the country comprised of the highest number of Internet users?
[A] Metropolitan Areas
[B] Urban Areas
[C] Semi-urban Areas
[D] Rural Areas
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Rural Areas]
Notes:
According to the ‘Digital in India’ report recently released by the Internet & Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), there were more Internet users in rural areas when compared to those in urban areas for the first time.
As of last November, out of the total 504 million active internet users, there were 227 million active internet users in rural areas while there were 205 million in urban areas. But the time spent on internet is higher among the urban people. The report also highlighted that there was an increase of 21% in female internet users, higher than that of male users (9%).
12. ‘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.
13. The first high-level foreign dignitary to travel to India after Covid-19 restrictions, Zalmay Khalilzad, was the special envoy of which country?
[A] Afghanistan
[B] United States
[C] Pakistan
[D] Iran
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [United States]
Notes:
United States Special envoy and Special Representative for Afghanistan reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad recently visited India as a part of his three-nation tour including Qatar and Pakistan.
This is the first high-level foreign dignitary to travel to New Delhi since Covid-19-related travel restrictions came into effect. He met with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. While providing details of peace & reconciliation efforts of the U.S. in Afghanistan, he also said that US recognises India’s contribution to Afghanistan.
14. ‘Read along’, that was in news recently, is an application of which multi-national company?
[A] Microsoft
[B] Amazon
[C] Google
[D] Facebook
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Google]
Notes:
Global Information Technology giant Google has recently announced the launch of its mobile application ‘Read Along’ in over 180 countries and in 9 languages.
The application was initially launched in India in the name of ‘Bolo’ along with an in-app reading buddy named Diya. The Read Along app uses Google’s speech recognition technology to develop reading skills of young children along the globe.
15. 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.
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 provisions of which act is relaxed by the states to increase the working hours of labourers?
[A] Companies Act
[B] Factories Act
[C] Epidemic Diseases Act
[D] Trade Unions Act
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Factories Act]
Notes:
Several states in India including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha and Goa have relaxed the provision of the Factories Act, 1948 and increased the working hours of labourers, after facing a shortage of workers following the lock-down.
Recently, Odisha and Maharashtra labour departments exempted their industries from four sections of the Factories Act, 1948, related to working hours of the staff, till June 30. Uttar Pradesh suspended key labour laws for three years through an ordinance. With the approved exemption, employers can allow labourers to work in two shifts of 12 hours each.
18. ‘Mission Sagar’ the outreach initiative launched by India covers how many countries?
[A] Two
[B] Four
[C] Five
[D] Seven
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Five]
Notes:
India launched an outreach initiative named ‘Mission Sagar’, to assist Island nations in the Indian Ocean in tackling the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Indian Naval Ship Kesari has departed for the five island nations: Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar and Comoros, to deliver Food, Medicines including HCQ Tablets and Special Ayurvedic Medicines, related to Covid-19. A team of select medical personnel was also sent earlier to Maldives to help increase their preparedness.
19. How many mandis (markets) are to be integrated with eNAM platform before May 15, as per the target of Agriculture Ministry?
[A] 500
[B] 750
[C] 1000
[D] 2000
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [1000]
Notes:
The Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar recently launched integration of 117 additional wholesale mandis with the electronic National Agriculture Market (eNAM) platform.
After the integration, the total number of online mandis became 962, across the country against the target of 1000 mandis before May 15. In the e-NAM platform, distant bidding facility for wholesale produce in APMC mandis without physical presence of buyer or trader and e-payment facility are provided.
20. Haryana and Jammu &Kashmir have committed to provide tap connections to the people by 2022, under which scheme?
[A] Jal Amirtha Mission
[B] Jal Jeevan Mission
[C] Atal Bhujal Yojana
[D] National Drinking Water Programme
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Jal Jeevan Mission]
Notes:
Recently, Haryana submitted its action plan to the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation and committed to provide tap water connection to all rural households by December, 2022 under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). Haryana plans to provide tap connections in 7 lakh households by 2020-21.
The UT of Jammu and Kashmir also has planned to provide tap water connection to all rural households by December, 2022 under JJM. The national target under the scheme is to reach all households by 2024-25.