11. Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJK) has started to accept orders for medicines on WhatsApp. PMBJK functions under which Union Ministry?
[A] Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
[B] Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
[C] Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
[D] Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers]
Notes:
Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJK) which functions under the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers have started accepting the orders for medicines on WhatsApp and e-mail. The prescriptions uploaded online are delivered at the doorsteps of the users.
Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) was launched with an aim of providing quality generic medicines to the people at affordable rates. At present there are over 6300 PMBJKs operating in 726 districts across the country.
12. 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.
13. MeerKAT, which has captured high-quality imaging of a PKS 2014-55 galaxy, is a satellite of which country?
[A] South Korea
[B] Israel
[C] South Africa
[D] United States
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [South Africa]
Notes:
According to the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO), using the high-quality imaging of a galaxy called PKS 2014-55, sent by the South African satellite MeerKAT, the ‘X’ galaxies were found to be of a ‘double boomerang’ shape.
The galaxy that is located 800 million light years from Earth, is classified as ‘X-shaped’ because of its appearance from previous blurry images. The study also showed that these structures ultimately turn black due to the pressure of tenuous intergalactic gas.
14. Which international organisation has launched a USD 6.7 billion global appeal to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, as a part of its updated response plan to help fragile nations?
[A] World Economic Forum
[B] International Monetary Fund
[C] United Nations
[D] Asian Development Bank
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [United Nations]
Notes:
The United Nations along with its partner agencies has launched a USD 6.7 billion global appeal to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
The UN also updated a global plan to fight the COVID-19 in fragile and more vulnerable countries. The plan includes nine more vulnerable countries including the Philippines, Togo and Zimbabwe, beyond the 54 countries covered in the original appeal-the COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan.
15. Jharkhand banned the manufacture, sale and storage of 11 brands of pan masala for a year, to curb which harmful chemical present in them?
[A] Magnesium carbonate
[B] Magnesium chloride
[C] Magnesium oxide
[D] Sodium carbonate
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Magnesium carbonate]
Notes:
The state government of Jharkhand has recently banned manufacture, sale and storage of 11 brands of pan masala for a year.
This step has been taken to curb the harmful chemical Magnesium carbonate, present in pan masala. The chemical is carcinogenic and harmful to the heart and banned for usage, as per the Food Safety Act, 2006 regulations. Earlier, Maharashtra and Bihar also had imposed a ban on pan masala.
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 supplies the majority of jute bags used in packaging, across the country?
[A] Assam
[B] West Bengal
[C] Kerala
[D] Tamil Nadu
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [West Bengal]
Notes:
West Bengal supplies about 95 per cent of the jute bags used across the country, mainly in packaging of food-grains. As the lock-down has stopped the production of jute bags in the state, the Food Corporation of India faces a shortage of bags.
Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan announced that the government has allowed packaging of food-grains in used gunny sacks and plastic bags during the ongoing procurement season. A task force has been constituted by the Ministry to assess the shortage of jute bags for packaging amid the lock-down.
18. Where is the headquarters of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) located?
[A] Paris
[B] Madrid
[C] New York
[D] Geneva
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Madrid]
Notes:
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of sustainable and universally accessible tourism. Its headquarters is located at Madrid, Spain.
19. The Suraksha Store initiative has been launched by which Union Ministry?
[A] Ministry of Home Affairs
[B] Ministry of Consumer Affairs
[C] Ministry of Finance
[D] Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Consumer Affairs]
Notes:
The Suraksha Store initiative has been launched by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
The aim of this scheme to educate Kirana store owners across the country about safety guidelines and sanitation measures to be followed while running their businesses. Recently the Department of Consumer Affairs has partnered with tech start-ups Safejob and Seekify to leverage technology in implementing this scheme.
20. What is ‘HR 6819’, that has been discovered by the European Southern Observatory (ESO)?
[A] Galaxy
[B] Black hole
[C] Star
[D] Exo-planet
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Black hole]
Notes:
A team of astronomers using the Chile-based La Silla Observatory of the European Southern Observatory (ESO) has recently discovered the nearest black hole from Earth.
This triple-structure black hole named as HR 6819, is located just 1000 light-years from Earth. Unlike the other black holes that have been detected till date, HR 6819 does not actively interfere with their surroundings. The team was able to distinguish its existence and measure its mass.