11. Rebate of State Levies (ROSL) Scheme, which was seen in news recently, was launched to support which sector?
[A] Food Processing
[B] Textile
[C] Chemical and Fertiliser
[D] Automobile
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Textile]
Notes:
Under the Rebate of State Levies (ROSL) Scheme, exporters can claim refunds from the Centre for all the levies and duties they pay at the State level. It was extended only to exporters of apparel and made-ups.
It was discontinued last year and replaced with the Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies scheme (RoSCTL). Recently, ₹464.13 crore has been allocated for issue of duty credit scrips (certificates) by the DGFT to exporters who have pending claims under the ROSL scheme.
12. ‘Nigah’ is a new initiative of which state government, that aims to impart awareness among the family members of people coming from other states?
[A] Uttar Pradesh
[B] Himachal Pradesh
[C] Madhya Pradesh
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Himachal Pradesh]
Notes:
The state government of Himachal Pradesh announced that it will launch an initiative called ‘Nigah’, that aims to impart awareness among the family members of people coming to the state from other parts of the country.
The health care workers, ASHA and Anganwadi workers would be deployed in this scheme, to create awareness in maintain social distancing and hygiene during the home quarantine period. The houses of the persons returned would be labelled and members of Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies are asked to ensure proper implementation of the scheme.
13. Which global alliance hosted the Coronavirus Global Response International Pledging Conference, to raise funds for Covid-19 response?
[A] G20
[B] G7
[C] European Union
[D] ASEAN
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [European Union]
Notes:
The European Union and its partners co-hosted the Coronavirus Global Response International Pledging Conference to raise funds to kick-start the global fight against Covid-19, especially to manufacture a vaccine.
The target set by the European Commission for the initial funding was €7.5 billion (8 billion USD). Several world leaders, individuals and organisations participated in the conference and pledged 8 billion USD together. Canada was the highest contributor with $850 million. U.S. did not attend the conference.
14. Among the Road and infrastructure cess and the Special additional excise duty that were recently hiked by the Centre, which one is passed to the states through devolution?
[A] Road and infrastructure cess
[B] Special additional excise duty
[C] Both of them
[D] None of them
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Special additional excise duty]
Notes:
In a recent move, the Centre hiked the duties on petrol and diesel steeply and raised it to Rs 10 and Rs 13 per litre, respectively. It was also announced that there will be no change in the retail prices as the hike will be absorbed by the Oil Marketing companies.
Among the total hike, the Road and infrastructure cess will go the revenue of the Centre only whereas the special additional excise duty will be passed on to all states through devolution at 42%. This decision has been taken at the backdrop of falling crude oil prices in the global market and lower demand during the lock-down.
15. NADA, a national organisation under the Ministry of Sports is set conduct its disciplinary hearings online. What does D stand for in NADA?
[A] Direct
[B] Doping
[C] Disciplinary
[D] Delhi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Doping]
Notes:
The National Anti-Doping Agency, a national organisation under the Ministry of Sports announced that it would conduct its disciplinary hearings online. It is responsible for promoting and monitoring the doping control programs in all forms of sports in India.
Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP) and Anti-Doping Appeals Panel (ADAP) will start hearing cases online, due to the lockdown imposed. NADA will also launch an application to create awareness about anti-doping.
16. Which day is celebrated by Monaco-headquartered IAAF, in the month of May every year?
[A] World Architecture Day
[B] World Athletics Day
[C] World Tuna Day
[D] World Astrology Day
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [World Athletics Day]
Notes:
Monaco-headquartered International Association of Athletics Federations leads the celebration of World Athletics Day in the month of May. The first World Athletics Day was celebrated in 1996.
Every year, the date is decided by IAAF and this year it was celebrated on May 7. IAAF was founded at Stockholm, Sweden in the year 1912. The Athletics Day is celebrated to educate the people about the significance of sports and to encourage athletics as the foundational sport in educational institutions.
17. Which chess player won the recently held $250,000 online chess tournament, considered to be the richest so far?
[A] Hikaru Nakamura
[B] Viswanathan Anand
[C] Magnus Carlsen
[D] Alireza Firouzja
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Magnus Carlsen ]
Notes:
The richest online chess tournament in history held so far was recently organised by the World Chess champion Magnus Carlsen after live tournaments could not be held amidst the Covid-19 crisis.
Named the Magnus Carlsen Invitational, the 16-day contest comprised of a total prize fund of 250,000. Magnus Carlsen won the final match and bagged the winner prize of 70,000 after defeating his American counterpart Hikaru Nakamura 2.5:1.5. Live feeds were offered during the matches with live commentary from chess grandmasters.
18. 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.
19. 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.
20. 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.