21. SAMARTH (Enterprises Resource Planning) is a e-governance platform, launched by which Union Ministry?
[A] Ministry of MSME
[B] Ministry of Human and Resource Development
[C] Ministry of Defence
[D] Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Human and Resource Development]
Notes:
Ministry of Human and Resource Development has developed an e-Governance platform, SAMARTH- Enterprises Resource Planning (ERP).
The platform has been developed under National Mission of Education in Information and Communication Technology Scheme (NMEICT). SAMARTH is an open source automation engine for Universities and Higher Educational Institutions. It has been launched at National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra, to automate the processes of the Institute.
22. 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.
23. Debesh Roy, who passed away recently, was associated with which field?
[A] Literature
[B] Politics
[C] Sports
[D] Business
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Literature]
Notes:
Veteran Bengali author Debesh Roy passed away recently at the age of 84, after he suffered from a massive cardiac arrest.
The author was actively writing articles in several Bengali dailies and had participated in protests against the attack on liberals. He had won several awards during his five-decade long writing career. He was conferred the Sahitya Akademi award for his novel ‘Teesta Parer Brittanto’. His other famous works are ‘Borisaler Jogen Mondal’, ‘Manush Khun Kore Keno’ and ‘Samay Asamayer Brittanto’.
24. When is the International Day of Light celebrated every year by the UNESCO?
[A] May 15
[B] May 16
[C] May 17
[D] May 18
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [May 16]
Notes:
Every year, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) celebrates the International Day of Light (IDL) on 16 May, to raise awareness on the role of light-based technologies.
The day marks the anniversary of the first successful operation of the laser in 1960 by physicist and engineer, Theodore Maiman. The UN observed International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies in 2015. After the success, it was proposed to celebrate a specific day and the first IDL was held on May 16, 2018.
25. When is the International Day of Living Together in Peace celebrated by the United Nations?
[A] May 12
[B] May 14
[C] May 16
[D] May 18
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [May 16]
Notes:
The UN General Assembly declared 16 May the International Day of Living Together in Peace, with an objective of sensitising the international community to promote peace, tolerance and solidarity.
Every year, May 16 has been celebrated as the International Day of Living Together in Peace. The year 2000 was declared as the “International Year for a Culture of Peace” and the decade 2001-2010 as the “International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for Children of the World”.
26. What is the name of the initiative launched by the Finance Minister, to provide psychosocial support to students, teachers and families?
[A] PM Educare
[B] PM Support
[C] Manodarpan
[D] Manosamridhi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Manodarpan]
Notes:
As a part of the economic stimulus package, the Union Finance Minister launched an initiative called ‘Manodarpan’, which aims to provide psychosocial support to students, teachers and families, at the backdrop of the global pandemic, the time when students, teachers and their families need support for their mental well-being.
The initiative is proposed to be launched through a website, a toll-free helpline through a national directory of counsellors. In another step, top 100 universities are allowed to start online courses and online component in conventional Universities and programmes will also be raised from present 20% to 40%.
27. Which country recently sworn in its new government led by the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz?
[A] Iran
[B] Oman
[C] Israel
[D] Iraq
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Israel]
Notes:
The parliament of Israel recently sworn in its new government led by the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz.
Israel was functioning without a stable government for over 500 days and held three inconclusive elections. The law-makers of the country have approved the coalition of Netanyahu-Gantz. Benny Gantz was a former rival of Netanyahu. This step is expected to end the longest political crisis in the country’s history.
28. How many cities of the country were given the ‘five-star garbage-free’ tag, under the garbage-free star rating for the cities?
[A] Four
[B] Six
[C] Ten
[D] Fifteen
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Six]
Notes:
The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced the results of garbage-free star rating for the cities.
The top ‘five-star garbage-free’ tag was given to six cities including Chhattisgarh’s Ambikapur, Madhya Pradesh’s Indore, Gujarat’s Rajkot and Surat, Karnataka’s Mysore and Maharashtra’s Navi Mumbai. As many as 141 cities were rated based on their garbage management. 65 cities were given three-star while 70 were given one-star.
29. What is the name of first agri-futures index of India, to be launched by the National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange Limited (NCDEX)?
[A] AGRIDEX
[B] AGROINDEX
[C] NCAGRINDEX
[D] AGRIFUTURE
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [AGRIDEX]
Notes:
National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange Limited (NCDEX) is an online multi-commodity exchange, headquartered at Mumbai, India.
NCDEX was recently in news as the exchange announced that it will launch the country’s first agri-futures index, NCDEX AGRIDEX. The exchange said it has already begun the mock trading in agri-index futures contracts. AGRIDEX represents a basket of ten liquid agricultural commodities on the NCDEX and will serve as a benchmark for India’s strong agricultural sector.
30. India recently signed an addendum with which country to operationalise five new ports of call, to enhance trade and connectivity?
[A] Sri Lanka
[B] Bangladesh
[C] South Korea
[D] Japan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bangladesh]
Notes:
High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh signed an addendum to the ‘Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade’ with the Shipping Ministry of Bangladesh, in Dhaka.
It was signed to operationalise five new ports of call and two more protocol routes to enhance trade and connectivity between the two countries. The number of Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) routes are also being increased from 8 to 10. Among the newly added ports of call, Dhulian, Maia, Kolaghat, Sonamura and Jogigopha are in India while Rajshahi, Sultanganj, Chilmari, Daudkandi and Bahadurabad are in Bangladesh.