21. 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.
22. As per the recent Transparency report released by the Facebook, which nation sought for the highest number of user data?
[A] India
[B] China
[C] United States
[D] North Korea
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [United States]
Notes:
According to the latest Transparency Report released by Facebook, government requests for user data increased by 9.5% during the second half of 2019. United States topped the list with 51,121 requests for user data. It is followed by India and UK.
The report also revealed that India topped the list for internet disruption affecting Facebook services during both the first and second half of 2019, accounting for 40 disruptions. Also, the number of user data requests from the Indian government to Facebook increased 28% during the second half of 2019.
23. What is the name of the first automated testing machine procured by the Government of India, for testing of COVID-19 cases?
[A] CDC 6800
[B] COVID 6800
[C] COBAS 6800
[D] NCDC 6800
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [COBAS 6800]
Notes:
Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan recently dedicated the first testing machine that has been procured by the Government called COBAS 6800. It has been installed in the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). It is an institute under the Indian Directorate General of Health Services, Health Ministry.
COBAS 6800 is a fully automated, high end machine which performs real time PCR testing for COVID-19. It will also provide high-quality testing and can perform around 1200 samples in 24 hours. This is expected to increase the testing capacity in the country.
24. ‘HOPE’ – Helping Out People Everywhere, portal is an initiative of which Indian state?
[A] Odisha
[B] Uttarakhand
[C] Punjab
[D] Kerala
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Uttarakhand]
Notes:
Uttarakhand government has recently launched a portal named ‘HOPE’ – Helping Out People Everywhere, to assist the workers of the state to find suitable employment.
The portal has started to collect data on the youngsters of the state and migrant workers returned from other states. The workers can upload their skill-sets on the website and based on that, they will be able to find suitable jobs at home-state. The data collected will be used for implementing the Mukhyamantri Swarojgar Yojana, implemented by the state earlier.
25. What is the name of the Padma Bhushan awardee and veteran national Professor of Bangladesh, who passed away recently?
[A] Debesh Roy
[B] Khalid Mahmood
[C] Anisuzzaman
[D] Gurdas Singh Badal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Anisuzzaman]
Notes:
Veteran educationist and litterateur Anisuzzaman, who was also the national Professor of Bangladesh, passed away recently at the age of 83.
He was born in Kolkata and later moved to Bangladesh shortly after the partition of India. He had contributed significantly for the Bangla literature. He also played a crucial role in all democratic movements including the Language Movement of 1952 to Liberation War in 1972 etc. He was awarded Padma Bhushan by India in 2014.
26. Which institution published the corona studies series titled “Psycho-Social impact of pandemic & lockdown and how to Cope With”?
[A] NCERT- National Council of Education, Research and Training
[B] CBSE- Central Board of Secondary Education
[C] NBT- National Book Trust
[D] IGNOU- Indira Gandhi National University
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [NBT- National Book Trust]
Notes:
National Book Trust (NBT) India has published the corona studies series titled “Psycho-Social impact of pandemic & lockdown and how to Cope With”.
Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank recently virtually launched the print and e-editions of the seven titles of the series. The series was prepared by a Study Group, that also has recommended strengthening of ‘Preventive Mental Health component’ of the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP), as a long-term strategy to prepare a post-Corona society.
27. Operation Greens, that was in news recently, is a scheme under which Union Ministry?
[A] Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
[B] Ministry of Food Processing Industries
[C] Ministry of MSME
[D] Ministry of Rural Development
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Food Processing Industries]
Notes:
Operation Greens was introduced in 2018, under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, with a main aim to enhance value realisation of TOP (Tomatoes, Onion and Potatoes) farmers by strengthening production clusters and FPOs and to connect them with market.
In the recent stimulus package, it was announced that Operation Greens will be extended from Tomatoes, Onion and Potatoes (TOP) to ALL fruits and vegetables (TOTAL), as a pilot project for 6 months. 50% subsidy on transportation from surplus to deficient markets and 50% subsidy on storage, including cold storages will be provided.
28. In the economic stimulus package, what is the proposed limit of FDI limit in the defence manufacturing under automatic route?
[A] 25%
[B] 49%
[C] 74%
[D] 100%
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [74%]
Notes:
One among the stimulus measures announced by the Finance Minister was promoting the defence Production under its ‘Make in India’ initiative, as the foreign direct investment (FDI) limit was raised from 49% to 74% under the automatic route.
The Minister also announced that the government will notify a list of weapons and platforms that will not be imported and will only be purchased from domestic industries. Every year, this list will be expanded in consultation with the armed forces. It was also proposed to corporatize the Ordnance Factory Board.
29. What is the minimum threshold to initiate insolvency proceedings under the IBC (Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code), as proposed in the economic package?
[A] Rs. 15 lakh
[B] Rs. 25 lakh
[C] Rs. 50 lakh
[D] Rs. 1 Crore
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Rs. 1 Crore]
Notes:
The Union Finance Minister recently announced to raise the minimum threshold to initiate insolvency proceeding to Rs 1 crore from the present limit Rs 1 lakh to benefit MSMEs.
This move will give relief to the companies that default on loans due to the Covid-19 stress. It was also announced that no fresh insolvency will be initiated for one year under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code and the Covid-19 related debt will be excluded from the definition of default. She also proposed decriminalisation of the Companies Act for violations involving minor technical and procedural defaults.
30. What is the modified borrowing limit of states as a percentage of Gross state domestic product (GSDP) for the year 2020-21?
[A] 3.5%
[B] 4%
[C] 5%
[D] 7.5%
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [5%]
Notes:
As a part of the economic stimulus package, the Centre has increased the borrowing limit of states to 5% of Gross state domestic product (GSDP) in 2020-21.
The present limit of the state’s borrowing is 3% of their corresponding GSDP. This move is expected to make an additional Rs 4.28 lakh crore available to the states. But, the additional borrowing beyond the 3.5% of GDSP limit shall be linked to specific reforms carried out by the states, including ‘One Nation, One Ration card,’ ease of doing business and power distribution etc.