Best PSC / PCS / STATE PCS online Current Affairs

Current Affairs JAN-2020

Showing 21 - 40 of 249 entries

21. Which country was the largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI) in India during the first half of the financial year 2019-2020?

B
Switzerland

C
Singapore

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Singapore]

Explaination : [According to the recently released Government data, Singapore remains the largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI) in India during the first half of the financial year with investments amounting to $8 billion. The second largest source was Mauritius with $6.36 billion worth investments followed by the United States, the Netherlands and Japan. India remains as one of the world’s favourite FDI destinations during this year. FDI limits in coal mining and contract manufacturing were recently relaxed by the Government.]

22. ISRO is to set up its second launch port in Tamilnadu for SSLV. What does SSLV stand for?

A
Space Satellite Launch Vehicle

B
Speed Satellite Launch Vehicle

C
Small Satellite Launch Vehicle

D
Solar Satellite Launch Vehicle

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Small Satellite Launch Vehicle]

Explaination : [The Indian Space Research Organisation is to set up its second launch port in Thoothukodi district of southern Tamilnadu. The Government of Tamilnadu will arrange nearly 2300 acres of land for theconstruction of the launch centre. The proposed launch port will mainly handle the Small Satellite Launch vehicle (SSLV), which is under development.SSLVs will be used to carry a payload of up to 500 kg and are expected to be deployed in the first half of 2020.]

23. What is the estimated cost of the new Chandrayaan -3 project, as per the announcement of ISRO?

A
Rs. 600 Crore

B
Rs. 500 Crore

C
Rs. 400 Crore

D
Rs. 300 Crore.

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Rs. 600 Crore]

Explaination : [The Indian Space Research Organisation has recently confirmed the country’s third mission to the moon, named Chandrayaan-3. The Government has approved the project of Chandrayaan-3 and the estimated cost of the project would be more than Rs.600 Crores as announced by the Chairman of ISRO, K Sivan. As per his statement, the new soft-landing mission project is expected to be launched at the end of this year or during early 2021.]

24. Which satellite would be launched on January 17, 2020 as the first satellite of the year 2020?

A
GSAT-30

B
GSAT 29

C
GSAT 17

D
GSAT 11

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [GSAT-30]

Explaination : [As per the recent announcement of the Chairman of ISRO, India will launch GSAT 30, a heavy geo-stationary communication satellite on January 17, 2020. This mission would be the first satellite of the year 2020 for India. The satellite will be launched using Ariane-5ECA launch vehicle from Kourou space centre in French Guiana. The satellite will be used to provide communication links to government and private service providers.]

25. Who was recently reappointed as the Chairman of Railway Board?

A
Vinod Kumar Yadav

B
Rajesh Agrawal

C
Purnendu Sekhar Mishra

D
Vishwesh Chaube

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Vinod Kumar Yadav]

Explaination : [The incumbent Chairman of Railway Board, Vinod Kumar Yadav recently assumed office as the Chairman after his reappointment has been approved by the Appointments Committee of Cabinet. He was appointed as the Chairman for the first term on January 2019. Recently the Cabinet approved the restructuring of the Railway board and the merger of several cadres in the administration. A new post of CEO was also created during the restructuring exercise.]

26. What is the name of the award to be given to the states for good agricultural production, by the Prime Minister?

A
Krishi Samman

B
Krishi Samridhi

C
Krishi Karman

D
Krishi Keerthi

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Krishi Karman ]

Explaination : [The Prime Minister is expected to present the Krishi Karman awards during a function in Karnataka, to 21 states, for their excellent performance in agriculture production. The Krishi Karman award was instituted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers welfare in the year 2010-2011 to recognise the efforts of states in food grain production. Awards are given on the basis of highest total food grain production and highest individual food grain crop production.]

27. Which city is host to the 107th edition of the Indian Science Congress (ISC)?

A
New Delhi

B
Lucknow

C
Kolkatta

D
Bengaluru

Show Answer

Correct Answer : D [Bengaluru]

Explaination : [ The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 107th edition of the Indian Science Congress (ISC) at the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka from January 3 to 7, 2020.The theme of the five-day event will be ‘Science and technology: rural development’. The congress would also host various programmes like Women Science Congress, Children Science Congress, Science Communicators Meet and Farmer’s Science Congress. ]

28. Who received the famous ‘Sangita Kalanithi’ award of the Music Academy, recently?

A
S. Sowmya

B
Sudha Ragunathan

C
Bombay Jeyashree

D
Aruna Sairam

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [S. Sowmya]

Explaination : [The leading Carnatic vocalist S.Sowmya was selected for the ‘Sangita Kalanithi’ award instituted by the Music Academy and recently received the award. Sowmya, a recipient of various awards and titles in her music career, is a visiting faculty at the Madras Advanced School of Carnatic Music, run by the Music Academy. She also serves as the member of the Academic Council of the Tamil Nadu Musicand Fine Arts University. ]

29. After Indore at first rank, which cities ranked second and third (in first quarter) in Swachh Survekshan League, 2020, released recently?

A
Ahmedabad and Jaipur

B
Gurugram and Bengaluru

C
Pune and Bhubaneswar

D
Bhopal and Surat

Show Answer

Correct Answer : D [Bhopal and Surat]

Explaination : [The result of Swachh Survekshan League 2020 was recently released by the Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri for the first and second Quarters of this year. Under the category of cities with 10 lakh plus population, Indore topped in both the first and second quarters. The famous city of Madhya Pradesh, Indore was also the topper of the league in the previous year. Bhopal and Surat were ranked second and third in the first quarter respectively and Rajkot and Navi Mumbai in the second quarter.]

30. The Prime Minister of India recently inaugurated five Young Scientists Labs of which organisation?

A
Indian Space Research Organisation, ISRO

B
Defence Research and Development Organisation, DRDO

C
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, BARC

D
Department of Atomic Energy, DAE

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Defence Research and Development Organisation, DRDO]

Explaination : [The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi recently launched five new defence laboratories called DRDO Young Scientists Laboratories (DYSL) for the Defence Research and Development Organisation from Bengaluru, Karnataka. The labs will operate from five Indian cities, namely Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkatta.They will focus on developing new and innovative defence technologies for our country and thus enhance our self reliance in the field.]

31. Which state has recently declared 2020 as the year of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and has signed MoUs with tech firms for AI research?

A
Andhra Pradesh

B
Telengana

C
Odisha

D
Assam

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Telengana ]

Explaination : [Recently, Telengana Government organised an event to declare the year 2020 as the year of Artificial Intelligence (AI). In the event, Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed with several technological firms and institutions for development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) research in the state. As per the partnerships, a Centre for Research in Applied Artificial Intelligence (CRiAA) and a Research & Development (R&D) park will be soon set up in Telengana.]

32. According to the recent data from the Ministry of Forest Environment and Climate Change (MoEFCC), what is the total number of tiger deaths occurred in India during 2019?

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [95]

Explaination : [According to the recent data from the Ministry of Forest Environment and Climate Change (MoEFCC),the total number of tiger deaths was under 100 after three years. In the year 2019, 95 tigers were dead in total, among them 84 tigers were actually dead and 11 of them were presumed dead by identifying their body parts. In the previous year 2018, there were 100 deaths of tigers in total and in 2017, the count was 115.]

33. David Stern who passed away recently was the Commissioner of which famous Sports league?

A
Formula 1, F1

B
National Basketball Association, NBA

C
Major League Baseball, MLB

D
National Hockey League, NHL

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [National Basketball Association, NBA]

Explaination : [A famous figure among the basketball Community David Stern passed away recently. He served as the Commissioner of National Basketball Association, NBA from 1984 to 2014. He also made a record of being the longest serving Commissioner of a major league. He played a crucial role in broadening the scope of NBA in the international arena and making it popular and successful. The Women’s National Basketball Association was founded under his leadership.]

34. Sunita Lakra, who announced her retirement recently, is a famous Indian player of which Sports?

A
Tennis

B
Badminton

C
Hockey

D
Cricket

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Hockey]

Explaination : [Former Indian Hockey team captain and the team’s defender Sunita Lakra recently announced her retirement from International Hockey citing her knee injuries. In the 2018 Asian Champions Trophy, India bagged the second place under her captaincy.She was also a part of the Indian team that participated in the Rio Olympics, 2016. Though she could not participate in Tokyo Olympics, Sunita will hopefully return to play domestic Hockey after her knee surgery.]

35. Which state has recently announced a scheme to deliver sand to customer’s doorstep from January 2, 2020?

A
Odisha

B
Maharashtra

C
Andhra Pradesh

D
Kerala

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Andhra Pradesh ]

Explaination : [ The State Government of Andhra Pradesh recently announced that it would deliver sand to the customer’s doorstep. The scheme was launched as a pilot project in the Krishna District and would be expanded to other districts as well.The Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation (APMDC) would be the implementing agency of the delivery scheme.The state recently launched the new sand policy in September 2019 and has been taking various steps to curb illegal sand trade. ]

36. Umaro Cissoko Embalo was recently elected as the President of which country?

A
Gambia

B
Senegal

C
Guinea-Bissau

D
Guinea

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Guinea-Bissau ]

Explaination : [Former Prime Minister and Army General of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Cissoko Embalo recently won in the second round of the presidential elections of the country. Jose Mario Vaz is the incumbent President of the country,who failed to win in the first round elections held earlier. Umaro Embalo, served as the Prime Minister under the presidency of Jose Mario Vaz from 2016 to 2018. Guinea-Bissau is a country in West Africa, which gained independence from Portugal in 1974.]

37. Who was recently presented with the ‘Lokmanya Tilak National Journalism Award‘?

A
Ravish Kumar

B
Arnabh Goswami

C
Shekar Gupta

D
Sanjay Gupta

Show Answer

Correct Answer : D [Sanjay Gupta]

Explaination : [Sanjay Gupta, the Chief Editor of the leading Hindi daily, ‘Jagran’ was recently honoured with the ‘Lokmanya Tilak National Journalism Award’. This award was instituted by the Pune based Kesari-Maratha Trust for recognising the contributions made by individuals in the field of journalism. The award will be presented at the event organised to commemorate the Foundation day of ‘Kesari’, the newspaper started by famous freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak. ]

38. What is the new integrated helpline number of the Indian Railways, launched recently?

C
1071

D
1072

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [139 ]

Explaination : [The Indian Railways has recently launched an integrated helpline number ‘139’ for its passengers by merging several other existing helpline numbers. The only other number which can still be used is ‘182’, which is the helpline number for assistance related to theft and criminal issues. This new helpline 139 is based on Interactive Voice Response system (IVRS) and is made available in 12 languages. The number can be even dialled from basic phones.]

39. What is the annual financial assistance given to eligible farmers under the PM-KISAN scheme?

A
Rs. 10000

B
Rs. 8000

C
Rs. 6000

D
Rs. 5000

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Rs. 6000]

Explaination : [The 3rd installment of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM- KISAN) scheme was released by the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi in Tumakuru, Karnataka. This latest installment is expected to benefit nearly six crore beneficiaries.The PM- KISAN scheme was launched by the Prime Minister on February 2019 to provide financial assistance of Rs.6000 per year to eligible farmers in three installments of Rs.2000 each. The payment of second installment began from April 2019.]

40. Qassim Soleimani ,who was killed in the US air strike was the Military Commander of which country?

A
Iraq

B
Iran

C
Israel

D
Syria

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Iran]

Explaination : [The powerful Military Commander of Iran, General Qassim Soleimani was killed in the air strike conducted by the United States. The President of the US is said to have ordered a drone attack on the vehicles, in which the Iran military perssident of the US is said to have ordered a drone attack on the vehicles, in which the Iran military personnel were travelling near the Bhagdad Airport. Another commander and adviser to Soleimani, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis was also killed in the attack. Soleimani was the commander of the Quds Force of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).]