11. India has become the fifth country to successfully isolate the strains of Covid-19. The Scientists at which institution have achieved this feat?
[A] National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research, Bengaluru
[B] National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune
[C] All India Institute of Medical Science
[D] National Institute of Traditional Medicine, Belagavit
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune]
Notes:
National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research, Bengaluru
Scientists at the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune have isolated 11 strains of the Covid-19, which is the first step towards developing a vaccine for containing a disease. India has become the fifth country to successfully isolate the strains.
NIV Pune is a part of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), which has more than 6,500 samples of 5,900 individuals. It is also the testing agency for the virus and has expanded its network of labs equipped to test Covid-19 from 51 to 65.
12. Which social-media platform launched ‘Coronavirus Information Hub’ in partnership with WHO, UNICEF and UNDP?
[A] Twitter
[B] WhatsApp
[C] Instagram
[D] Telegram
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [WhatsApp]
Notes:
Facebook-owned WhatsApp has recently announced the global launch of “WhatsApp Coronavirus Information Hub” in partnership with the World Health Organization, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), and the United Nations Development Program.
It has also contributed $1m to the Poynter Institute’s International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), to enhance the fact-checking network to curb fake news and rumours around coronavirus.
13. What is the name of the first indigenous testing kit for COVID-19 in India, which was launched at Pune?
[A] Patho Detect
[B] Covid Detect
[C] India Detect
[D] Mylab Detect
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Patho Detect]
Notes:
The Research and Development team of the Pune-based Mylab Discovery, headed by the virologist Minal Dakhave Bhosale has designed the first made-in-India testing kit for the Covid-19 disease.
This first indigenous kit, which has been developed in a record time of six weeks, is called ‘Patho Detect’. Usually developing such testing kits would take three to four months. Mylab Discovery is a molecular diagnostic company, which is also the first Indian firm to get full approval to make and sell Covid-19 testing kits.
14. The research centre of which organisation have developed full-body disinfection chamber called ‘Personnel Sanitization Enclosure’?
[A] Defence Research and Development Organisation
[B] All India Institute of Medical Science
[C] Indian Institute of Science
[D] Bharat Electronics Limited
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Defence Research and Development Organisation]
Notes:
One of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) laboratories Vehicle Research Development Establishment (VRDE), Ahmednagar has designed a full body disinfection chamber called as Personnel Sanitisation Enclosure (PSE).
This enclosure is a walk-through set-up, which is designed for personnel sanitization. The portable system which sanitises one person at a time, is equipped with sanitiser and soap dispenser. An electrically operated pump creates a disinfectant mist of hypo sodium chloride for 25 seconds.
15. ‘KARMI-Bot’, which was seen in news recently, is a robot deployed in the Government Hospital of which state?
[A] Maharashtra
[B] Kerala
[C] Odisha
[D] Telangana
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Kerala]
Notes:
The Government Hospital of Ernakulam, Kerala has deployed a robot named ‘KARMI-Bot’, to serve food and medicines to coronavirus patients in the Covid-19 isolation wards.
The robot has been introduced to reduce risk of the doctors and health workers from being contracted to the coronavirus. Asimov Robotics, a start-up company working under the Kerala start-up mission, has developed the robot. It is also designed to collect trash, disinfect the room and enable video call between the doctor and patients.
16. What are the large group of asteroids that share the Jupiter’s orbit around the Sun, commonly called as?
[A] Trojan asteroids
[B] Dragon Asteroids
[C] Migrant Asteroids
[D] Queen Asteroids
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Trojan asteroids]
Notes:
The large group of asteroids that share the Jupiter’s orbit around the Sun are commonly called as Trojan asteroids or Jupiter Trojans. The trojans follow the same orbit of planet but stay either around 60 degrees ahead or 60 degrees behind along the orbit.
Recently, a team of astronomers from the University of Hawaii and Queen’s University Belfast have found that 2019 LD2 is the first known Jupiter trojan asteroid to have a comet-like tail. It was first discovered in June 2019 by the ATLAS system funded by NASA. But it could not be observed then, as it passed behind the sun.
17. Which generic steroid drug has been found to reduce deaths by a third for patients affected by COVID-19?
[A] Dexamethasone
[B] Aspirin
[C] Indomethacin
[D] Naproxen
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Dexamethasone ]
Notes:
Scientists in UK have claimed that the generic steroid drug dexamethasone has reduced deaths by up to one third in severely ill hospitalised patients, affected by COVID-19.
This result is a part of one of the world’s largest randomised trial of drugs to treat COVID-19 patients, that also showed hydroxychloroquine was not working against the coronavirus. The drug is shown to cut the risk of death by a third for patients on ventilators and a fifth for those on oxygen. However, World Health Organisation said that the drug is reserved for severely ill and critical patients.
18. Quantum communications satellite –Micius, that was seen in news recently, was launched by which country?
[A] United States
[B] China
[C] Russia
[D] Israel
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [China]
Notes:
The World’s first Quantum communications satellite, Micius was launched by China in the year 2016. It has pioneered in the field of quantum encryption.
The satellite was seen in news recently, as it sends particles of light to Earth to establish the world’s most secure communication link. This is considered to be a milestone in the research, as long-range secure communication can be obtained without the help of traditional communication satellites. Secure long-distance links such will be the foundation of the future global network called the quantum internet.
19. Which Indian institution developed an intensive care unit (ICU) grade ventilator under the name of ‘Project Praana’?
[A] Indian Institute of Science (IISc)
[B] AIIMS
[C] IIT- Delhi
[D] IIT- Guwahati
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Indian Institute of Science (IISc)]
Notes:
A team of engineers at Indian Institute of Science (IISc) had developed an intensive care unit (ICU) grade ventilator under the name of ‘Project Praana’.
Recently, the team has successfully completed the prototyping of the ventilator, which is now in the process of being commercialised. The affordable ventilator uses only components made in India or components which are easily available in the domestic markets. The team developed the ventilator in a record 35 days.
20. Asia’s largest certified tier IV Data centre has been inaugurated in which Indian state?
[A] Gujarat
[B] Maharashtra
[C] Punjab
[D] Tamil Nadu
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Maharashtra]
Notes:
The Chief Minister of Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray has virtually inaugurated the Asia’s largest certified tier IV data centre, near Mumbai.
The Yotta NM1 data centre building is the largest tier IV Data centre in India. It is also claimed to be the second largest in the world. The private data centre is expected to serve the engineering and real estate businesses and boost investments in the state.
