11. 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.
12. Which global organisation has recognised the advisories released by two institutes of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)?
[A] World Economic Forum
[B] World Bank
[C] Food and Agricultural Organisation
[D] World Food Program
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Food and Agricultural Organisation]
Notes:
Amidst the Covid-19 outbreak, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (ICAR-CIFT), Kochi prepared advisories for the benefit of the fishing fraternity in 10 different regional languages. ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CIFRI), Barrackpore prepared advisories for the stakeholders involved in freshwater fishing.
The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), Rome has recommended these advisories by including them as ‘Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries’ under the Asia-Regional initiatives.
13. 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.
14. ‘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.
15. 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.
16. 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.
17. ‘Pranavayu’ is a respiratory health awareness programme launched in which Indian city?
[A] New Delhi
[B] Bengaluru
[C] Chennai
[D] Hyderabad
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bengaluru]
Notes:
The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the city corporation of Bengaluru has launched ‘Pranavayu programme’ to create awareness about self-examination of respiratory health for the city-dwellers.
The programme aims at educating people with low oxygen level in their blood to check themselves at an early stage. Under the programme, several advertisements are published in media about self-examination.
18. Which is the venue of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, that has been rescheduled for February-March 2021?
[A] Brazil
[B] India
[C] Japan
[D] China
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [India]
Notes:
The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup was originally scheduled to be held in India from November 2-21 in 2020 and was subsequently postponed due to the pandemic.
Recently, FIFA announced that the World Cup tournament has been rescheduled to February 17-March 7, 2021. It was originally planned to be held across five host cities of India namely – Navi Mumbai, Guwahati, Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Bhubaneswar. The original eligibility criteria of the players will be followed.
19. National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), that has ‘SwasthVayu’ ventilator, is an aerospace laboratory of which organisation?
[A] Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
[B] Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)
[C] Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
[D] Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)]
Notes:
India’s first aerospace firm and a laboratory of Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) has developed a portable non-invasive ventilator, ‘SwasthVayu’.
SwasthVayu is a microcontroller-based control system, that has a potential use to treat moderate or mid-stage patients. It can be used in wards, Make shift Hospitals, dispensaries and homes. The ventilator has been developed by NAL in record 36 days.
20. New Development Bank provided $1 billion loan to India recently. Where is the headquarters of the Bank located?
[A] Shangai
[B] Moscow
[C] Brasilia
[D] Cape Town
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Shangai]
Notes:
New Development Bank (NDB) was established by the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) countries in 2014. Its headquarters is Shangai and is headed by veteran Indian K V Kamath.
BRICS’ New Development Bank was seen in news recently, as it has provided $1 billion loan to India to fight COVID-19. The complete emergency funds have been disbursed by the development institution, to help India in containing the human and economic losses due to Covid-19.