11. ‘Ayush Kavach-Covid’, an application developed the Ministry of AYUSH, has been launched by which Indian state/UT?
[A] Madhya Pradesh
[B] Uttar Pradesh
[C] Haryana
[D] Bihar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Uttar Pradesh]
Notes:
The state government of Uttar Pradesh has recently launched a mobile application called ‘Ayush Kavach-Covid’, which has been developed the Ministry of AYUSH.
The application was launched with an aim of providing health remedies and measures to boost immunity in the process of fighting Covid-19. The app provides a lot of information authorised by the AYUSH Ministry about the medicinal properties of certain ingredients. It also enables the users to seek advice from experts in the AYUSH field.
12. What is the objective of the “Vande Bharat Mission”, that was seen in news recently?
[A] Testing more samples for Covid-19
[B] Using AYUSH medicines
[C] Evacuating Indian citizens stranded abroad
[D] Educating people about sanitation
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Evacuating Indian citizens stranded abroad]
Notes:
The evacuation exercise of India, considered to be one of the largest, has been named the ‘Vande Bharat Mission’, will engage about 64 flights to bring home Indian nationals stranded abroad.
Several countries including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, UK, Singapore and the US will be covered. In the first week of repatriation, the Gulf countries will be focussed. The highest number of flights to bring back people, were allotted for the states of Kerala (15), Tamil Nadu (11) and Delhi (11).
13. 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%).
14. The strategically important Ghatiabagar-Lipulekh motor road, that was inaugurated recently, is located in which state?
[A] Sikkim
[B] Arunachal Pradesh
[C] Uttarakhand
[D] Himachal Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Uttarakhand]
Notes:
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recently inaugurated the strategically important Ghatiabagar-Lipulekh motor road.
The road connects the last Indian post on the Indo-China border in Uttarakhand’s Vyas valley. The construction of the road commenced in 2008 and was scheduled to be completed in 2013, but it was delayed due to the tough terrain. The Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra from Lipulekh pass is more convenient for pilgrims, after the road has been commissioned.
15. 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.
16. The Union Defence Ministry has signed a contract with which power firm of India for infrastructure modernisation of airfields?
[A] PowerGrid corporation
[B] Tata Power
[C] JSW Energy
[D] Adani Power
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Tata Power]
Notes:
The Union Defence Ministry has signed a contract with Mumbai based power company Tata Power for infrastructure modernisation of 37 airfields.
The airfields of the Indian Air Force, Coast Guard and the Navy are to be modernised at a cost of around Rs 1,200 crore. This is the second phase of the Modernisation of Airfield Infrastructure (MAFI) programme while during the first phase the airfields of the Indian Air Force were upgraded. This project would facilitate the operations of aircrafts in poor weather conditions.
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. 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. 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.
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.