Best PSC / PCS / STATE PCS online Current Affairs

Current Affairs Dec-2020

Showing 201 - 220 of 233 entries

201. Which method of COVID-19 testing developed by CSIR- CCMB, without viral transport medium, has been approved by ICMR?

A
Dry Swab RT-PCR

B
Gold standard RT-PCR

C
VTM RT- PCR

D
RNA RT-PCR

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Dry Swab RT-PCR]

Explaination : [The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) has approved the Dry Swab RT-PCR for COVID-19 testing, which was developed by CSIR’s Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad. In this simple and fast method, nasal swab is collected and transported in dry state, as against the using the viral transport medium used in conventional testing. It does not require RNA isolation from the sample.]

202. Long March 8 Y-1, which was making news, is the flagship carrier rocket of which country?

A
Japan

B
China

C
United States

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [China]

Explaination : [Long March series carrier rockets are the flagship rockets of China, operated by the China National Space Administration (CNSA). Recently, a new carrier rocket Long March 8 Y-1 made its first flight from Hainan carrying five satellites. China is also planning to develop reusable rockets under the Long March 8 series, similar to SpaceX.]

203. What is the new limit of Foreign Direct Investment in the DTH service, as of December 2020?

D
100%

Show Answer

Correct Answer : D [100%]

Explaination : [The Union Cabinet has recently approved 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in Direct-to-Home (DTH) broadcasting services. The Cabinet also approved revised guidelines for DTH services, similar to those of Commerce Ministry and increased the licence period to 20 years, from the present scenario of 10 years.]

204. Which is the first private sector Defence company to be granted Green channel status?

A
L& T Defence

B
Tata Group

C
Bharat Forge

D
Kalyani Group

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [L& T Defence]

Explaination : [The Defence Ministry has recently granted ‘Green channel status’ to L&T Defence, which became the first private sector defence company to be granted this status. If a company is granted this status, it would have several benefits like deemed registration status and waiver from pre-dispatch inspection, among others. The Green Channel Policy was introduced in 2017 by the Defence Ministry, as part of the ‘Make in India’ initiative.]

205. The Border Security Force of India is to collaborate with which country to prevent smuggling?

A
Myanmar

B
Sri Lanka

C
Bangladesh

D
Nepal

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [ Bangladesh]

Explaination : [The Border Security Force (BSF) of India and Border Guard Bangladesh have decided to strengthen joint night vigil, to prevent smuggling. Recently, the countries organized a joint co-ordination conference in Guwahati. Both BSF and BGB have identified the vulnerable regions for night vigil. The countries will also take steps to prevent infiltrations thorough Indo – Bangladesh border.]

206. Nation State Law, which was seen in the news recently, is associated with which country?

A
Tibet

B
Israel

C
Italy

D
Chile

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [ Israel]

Explaination : [Israel passed its controversial Nation State Law before two years. Recently, the Arab-Israeli citizens and rights groups moved the country’s Supreme Court to scrap these laws. As per the petition, the articles in the law, especially those related to Israel’s official language and land allocation laws, are unconstitutional and are discriminatory towards non-Jewish citizens of the country.]

207. Which state cabinet has approved Dharma Swatantrya (Religious Freedom) Bill 2020?

A
Andhra Pradesh

B
Madhya Pradesh

C
Odisha

D
Jharkhand

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [ Madhya Pradesh]

Explaination : [Madhya Pradesh cabinet has recently approved the Dharma Swatantrya (Religious Freedom) Bill 2020. This ordinance outlaws the marriages which are done with an aim of religious conversions. Under the new Bill, forcing religious conversion on someone will attract 1-5 years of imprisonment and a minimum Rs 25,000 fine. Earlier, Uttar Pradesh cabinet passed a similar ordinance.]

208. Which Indian Tennis player has been given a singles wildcard entry for the Australian Open 2021?

A
Sumit Nagal

B
Prajnesh Gunneswaran

C
Ramkumar Ramanathan

D
Yuki Bhambri

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Sumit Nagal]

Explaination : [The 23-year-old Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal has been given a singles wildcard entry for the Australian Open 2021. Sumit and Wang Xiyu of China will compete in the main draw of the event. Former world number one Andy Murray has received a wild-card entry into the event, which is going to take place at Melbourne park in February 2020.]

209. Which country has recently announced the discovery of four new oil and gas fields?

A
Oman

B
Turkey

C
Saudi Arabia

D
Madagascar

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [ Saudi Arabia]

Explaination : [Saudi Arabia has recently announced the discovery of four new oil and gas fields, as announced by the Saudi Energy Minister. The state-owned Oil company Saudi Aramco has discovered the new Non-conventional oil and gas fields in different locations around the country. In August, the country has announced the discovery of two oil and gas fields.]

210. Indian Navy concluded the two-day naval passage exercise PASSEX in the South China Sea, with which country?

A
Thailand

B
Vietnam

C
Myanmar

D
Laos

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [ Vietnam]

Explaination : [The Navies of India and Vietnam has concluded the two-day naval passage exercise PASSEX in the South China Sea. This exercise has been organised as part of efforts to boost maritime cooperation between the two countries. Indian Navy Ship (INS) Kiltan reached Vietnam under Mission Sagar-III with Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) stores for flood-affected people of Central Vietnam.]

211. Which leading Global Car manufacturer is to start its sale operations in India in 2021, as per the Road Transport Ministry?

A
Tesla

B
Ferrari

C
Lamborghini

D
Porsche

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Tesla]

Explaination : [Billionaire Elon Musk’s Electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla is to start selling cars in India in early 2021. This was announced by Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Real Transport and Highways. Elon Musk also tweeted about the company’s plans for India. The Company would consider to establish manufacturing and assembly units in India, as per the Minister.]

212. Which Indian company, along with UK based BP is to start Oil production from the deepest offshore gas field in Asia?

A
Indian Oil Corporation

B
Reliance Industries Ltd

C
ONGC

D
Hindustan Petroleum

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [ Reliance Industries Ltd]

Explaination : [Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) and British multinational oil and gas company BP announced the commencement of Oil production from R Cluster. It is the ultra-deep-water gas field in block KG D6 off the east coast of India. It is said to be the deepest offshore gas field in Asia, as it is located at a water depth of over 2,000 m. Three deep water gas projects are to be developed by the two companies.]

213. The Liberation Day of which Indian state/UT is observed on December 19?

A
Assam

C
West Bengal

D
Sikkim

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [ Goa]

Explaination : [Goa Liberation Day is observed on December 19 every year in India to mark the day on which the Indian armed forces freed Goa in 1961. When India gained independence in 19547, Goa was under the Portuguese rule. After unsuccessful negotiations, the then Indian Prime Minister ordered for a military operation. The Armed Forces conducted ‘Operation Vijay’ from December 18, 1961, and freed Goa.]

214. What is the theme for Second Cohort under the RBI’s Regulatory Sandbox (RS)?

A
Financial Inclusion

B
Fin Tech

C
Aadhaar Enabled Payment System

D
Cross Border Payments

Show Answer

Correct Answer : D [ Cross Border Payments]

Explaination : [The Reserve Bank of India has recently announced opening of Second Cohort under the Regulatory Sandbox (RS) with ‘Cross Border Payments,’ as its theme. The Test Phase under the First Cohort on “Retail Payment” has already commenced. RBI has also stated that “MSME Lending” would be the theme for the Third Cohort. A regulatory sandbox (RS) refers to live testing of products or services in a test regulatory environment.]

215. What is the name of the first spokesperson of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), who passed away recently?

A
Madhav Govind Vaidya

B
Motilal Vora

C
Budal Krishnamoorthy

D
Moan Rawale

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Madhav Govind Vaidya]

Explaination : [The first spokesperson of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Madhav Govind Vaidya recently passed away. The 97-year-old leader had earlier recovered from coronavirus infection. He also served as the former Chief Editor of the daily Tarun Bharat. He has a eight decade-old association with RSS, since he joined the movement in 1943.]

216. The country’s first advanced Hyper sonic Wind Tunnel (HWT) test facility was inaugurated in which city?

A
Bangalore

B
Hyderabad

C
Cochin

D
Noida

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [ Hyderabad]

Explaination : [Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the advanced Hypersonic Wind Tunnel (HWT) test facility to Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO’s) Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex in Hyderabad. India is the third country to have such a large HWT Test facility. The system, which has been developed in collaboration with Indian industries, will play a major role on futuristic Aerospace and Defence Systems.]

217. A Committee to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, is to be constituted under which Minister?

A
Rajnath Singh

B
Amit Shah

C
S Jai Shankar

D
Piyush Goyal

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [ Amit Shah]

Explaination : [The Indian Government has decided to constitute a High-Level Committee to commemorate the 125th Birth Anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. The Committee headed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah will work on the activities for a yearlong commemoration starting 23rd January, 2021. Other members of the Committee will include historians, authors, family members of Netaji, as well as persons associated with Azad Hind Fauj-INA.]

218. Cattle meat has been discovered in the remains of the settlements of which civilization?

A
Mohenjo-Daro Civilization

B
Indus Valley Civilization

C
Keeladi Civilization

D
Nile River Civilization

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Indus Valley Civilization]

Explaination : [Recently, researchers have found the presence of animal products, such as the meat of pigs, cattle, buffalo, sheep and goat in the remains of Indus Valley Civilization. This has been conformed from the Lipid residue analysis of ceramic vessels found in the urban and rural settlements of the civilization in North and western part of India.]

219. What is the term seen in news, which means allowing Ayurveda doctors to undertake certain surgeries?

A
Allopathy Plus

B
Ayurvedapathy

C
Mixopathy

D
Ayur Surgery

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [ Mixopathy]

Explaination : [The term “Mixopathy” means allowing a section of Ayurveda doctors to undertake certain surgeries. Allopathy Doctors and surgeons are agitated by the mixopathy, by which Government has decided to permit Ayurveda doctors to undertake certain surgeries. A strike is being proposed by the Indian Medical Association to express its opposition against the Government’s decision.]

220. Which country has spotted the Royal Bengal Tiger at an altitude of over 3000 m above sea level?

A
India

B
Nepal

C
Brazil

D
South Africa

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [ Nepal]

Explaination : [Nepal has recently spotted the majestic Royal Bengal Tiger (Panthera Tigris), at an altitude of 3,165 m above sea level for the first time. The largest of all Asian big cats has been spotted by a camera trap set up by the Forest Department. The country is to provide special attention to the Kanchenjunga Landscape in eastern Nepal. It provides connectivity to India’s Singalia National Park and Dooars floodplains.]