Best PSC / PCS / STATE PCS online Current Affairs

Current Affairs JULY-2020

Showing 41 - 60 of 236 entries

41. Department of Science and Technology has launched a 15-crore fund to support research collaboration with which country?

A
Russia

B
Japan

C
Thailand

D
Vietnam

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Russia]

Explaination : [Department of Science and Technology has launched a 15-crore fund to support India-Russia Joint Technology Assessment and Accelerated Commercialization Programme. The fund has been launched in partnership with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises (FASIE) of Russia. Start-ups from India and Russia will work together for technology development and cross-country technology adaptation. FICCI will implement the program in India. ]

42. The Union Government has issued a certificate of GI registration for Saffron, grown in which state/UT?

A
Jammu & Kashmir

B
Sikkim

C
Assam

D
Arunachal Pradesh

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Jammu & Kashmir]

Explaination : [The Union Government has issued a certificate of Geographical Indication (GI) registration for Saffron grown in the Union Territory of Jammu &Kashmir. The GI tag would ensure better remunerative price to the farmers growing Saffron in Kashmir Valley. This would also increase export of the unique Kashmir saffron and curb the fake products being sold. The UT is also inaugurating a Spice Park next month. ]

43. Who is the head of the Committee set up by the Union HRD Ministry, on retaining Indian students in its institutions?

A
D P Singh

B
Anil Sahasrabudhe

C
Vineet Joshi

D
Bhushan Patwardhan

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [D P Singh]

Explaination : [The Union Human Resources and Development Ministry has set up a committee under the Chairperson of University Grants Commission (UGC) D P Singh. The committee will give suggestions on retaining Indian students in the country’s institutions. The Minister also said that the seat capacity in all premier institutions would be increased by 50% by 2024. Under this plan, the number of institutions under the Institutes of Eminence (IoE) programme will also go up to 50. ]

44. Which Asian country has banned all wildlife imports amidst Corona virus spread?

A
China

B
Vietnam

C
Philippines

D
Malaysia

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Vietnam]

Explaination : [The Prime Minister of Vietnam Nguyen Xuan Phuc has recently signed an order that bans all imports of wildlife either dead or alive including eggs and larvae. The order also includes tougher penalties for crimes involving the trade in wildlife. Amidst the coronavirus spread, this ban has been imposed in Vietnam, which is a popular destination for endangered wildlife products used in medicine or cuisine. ]

45. Which country has rejected the claims of China in the South China Sea, in a formal declaration to the United Nations?

A
United States

B
United Kingdom

C
Australia

D
New Zealand

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Australia]

Explaination : [Australia has recently filed a formal declaration statement to the United Nations to reject the claims of China in the South China Sea. Australia has claimed that there were no legal issues to the disputed claims of China in the sea, including those related to construction of artificial islands on shoals and reefs. Earlier, the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared China’s claims of territory and resources in the South China Sea as illegal. ]

46. The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine candidate, being manufactured by Serum Institute of India, is called by which name in India?

A
Covishield

B
Covaxin

C
Covidsafe

D
Covidia

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Covishield]

Explaination : [The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine candidate is to be called as ‘Covishield’ in India, as per the statement of the Serum Institute of India (SII). SII is the largest vaccine maker in the world and it has partnered with AstraZeneca for manufacturing the Oxford vaccine candidate. Recently, it has sought permission from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) to conduct phase 2 and 3 human clinical trials of the potential vaccine. ]

47. The birth anniversary of which Indian personality has been celebrated as ‘World Students’ Day’?RadhaKrishnan

A
RadhaKrishnan

B
A P J Abdul Kalam

C
Homi J Bhabha

D
Vikram Sarabhai

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [A P J Abdul Kalam]

Explaination : [The birth anniversary of 11th President of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, October 15 has been recognised by the United Nations to be celebrated as World Students’ Day. Recently, the country remembered the Missile Man of India on his fifth death anniversary, on July 27. While addressing students at Indian Institute of Management Shillong, the former President died of cardiac arrest. ]

48. Who has been presented the Life Time Excellence Award of Ministry of Earth Sciences National Awards?

A
Ashok Sahni

B
S.V. Karanjkar

C
Ashok Kumar Sharma

D
S. Suresh Babu

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Ashok Sahni]

Explaination : [Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has recently announced the National Awards for excellence in Earth System Science. The Life Time Excellence Award is being awarded to Professor Ashok Sahni for his contribution in the field of Geology and Biostratigraphy. The National Award for Ocean Science and technology is being awarded to Dr. V. V. S. S. Sarma and Dr. M. Ravichandran. ]

49. What is the target to be achieved in Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) by 2025, as per the National Education Policy?

A
25 per cent

B
50 per cent

C
75 per cent

D
100 per cent

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [50 per cent]

Explaination : [The Union Cabinet has recently approved the National Education Policy 2020. It has introduced several major reforms in higher education. As per the policy, a target of 50 per cent Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) by 2035 has been fixed. It also provides academic, administrative and financial autonomy for institutions and proposes a single regulator for all higher education. ]

50. What is the new name of the Ministry of Human Resources and Development?

A
Ministry of Education

B
Ministry of Human Resources

C
Ministry of Education Development

D
Ministry of Tutoring and Teaching

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Ministry of Education]

Explaination : [The Union Cabinet has approved the change in the name of Union Ministry of Human Resource Development. The HRD Ministry that is currently headed by Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, has been renamed as Ministry of Education. The name change was a key recommendation of the National Education Policy. In 1985, Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi changed the name of the Education Ministry to HRD Ministry. ]

51. What is the tenure of the Taxable Floating Rate Savings Bonds, 2020 introduced by the Government?

A
5 years

B
6 years

C
7 years

D
8 years

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [7 years]

Explaination : [The Union Government has announced the launch of Taxable Floating Rate Savings Bonds, 2020, that will be available for subscription for retail investors from July 1, 2020. The bonds are issued by the Reserve Bank of India on behalf of the Government, replacing the recently withdrawn 7.75% bonds. The interest rate on these bonds will be reset every six months while the initial rate of interest is fixed at 7.15 per cent. The bonds shall be repayable on the expiration of seven years from the date of issue. ]

52. Which Union Ministry launched the Pradhan Mantri FME Scheme, to generate investments of Rs 35,000 crore?

A
Ministry of MSME

B
Ministry of Food Processing Industries

C
Ministry of Agriculture and Family Welfare

D
Ministry of Commerce and Industry

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Ministry of Food Processing Industries]

Explaination : [Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, Harsimrat Kaur Badal has launched the Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM FME) scheme. The scheme has been launched as a part of “Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan”. It is claimed to generate a total investment of Rs 35,000 crore and generate 9 lakh skilled and semi-skilled employment. The scheme would benefit 8 lakh units through access to information, training and better exposure. ]

53. Which state government is set to launch the ‘Kill Corona’ campaign, to control the spread of coronavirus?

A
Bihar

B
Uttar Pradesh

C
Madhya Pradesh

D
Gujarat

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Madhya Pradesh]

Explaination : [The state government of Madhya Pradesh is set to launch a campaign called ‘Kill Corona’, to control the spread of coronavirus in the state. The 15-day campaign, which is to be carried out from July 1, involves door-to-door survey and tests for other diseases. During the campaign, 2.5 lakh tests will be carried out and about 20,000 samples would be collected daily. ]

54. Kholongchhu is the first joint venture hydroelectric project between India and which country?

A
Singapore

B
Bangladesh

C
Bhutan

D
Myanmar

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Bhutan]

Explaination : [Kholongchhu is the first joint venture hydroelectric project between India and Bhutan. A concession agreement for project was recently signed virtually. This agreement will commence the construction and related works of the project, which is expected to be completed in the second half of 2025. The 600 MW project is located on the Kholongchhu river in eastern Bhutan. It will be implemented by Kholongchhu Hydro Energy Limited, a JV company formed between DGPC of Bhutan and Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL) of India. ]

55. A new type of swine flu that is capable of triggering a pandemic has been discovered in which country?

A
Japan

B
China

C
United States

D
Vietnam

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [China]

Explaination : [According to a study published in the US science journal PNAS, researchers in China have discovered a new type of swine flu that is capable of triggering a pandemic. The G4 flu is genetically descended from the H1N1 strain that caused a pandemic in 2009. As per the China’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention, G4 was observed to be highly infectious, replicating in human cells and causing more serious symptoms. More researches are being carried out on ferrets. ]

56. World Trade Organisation (WTO) has set up a dispute panel on which country’s tariffs on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) goods?

A
United States

B
India

C
Japan

D
China

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [India]

Explaination : [World Trade Organisation (WTO) has set up a dispute panel on India’s tariffs on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) goods such as mobile phones, cameras, headphones. WTO has agreed to the second request from the European Union for establishing the panel. The requests for dispute panels against India’s tariffs on ICT products were examined by the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) of the WTO. ]

57. Which former Union Minister is to lead the proposed Co-Operative Development Forum (CDF)?

A
Suresh Prabhu

B
Gopinathrao

C
Kalraj Mishra

D
Maneka Sanjay Gandhi

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Suresh Prabhu]

Explaination : [Former Union minister and Rajya Sabha member Suresh Prabhu is to lead a Co-Operative Development Forum (CDF). The CDF forum, that is likely to be formally launched on July 24, aims to work towards promoting cooperative movement in the country and boost the rural economy. Suresh Prabhu is also the Sherpa of India for G 20. The forum also aims to formulate the modern National/ State Cooperative Policy. ]

58. When is ‘Chartered Accountants (CA) Day’ celebrated in India?

A
July 1

B
July 2

C
July 3

D
July 4

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [July 1]

Explaination : [Charted Accountants (CA) Day is celebrated on July 1 every year to commemorate the finding of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) was established by the parliament of India in 1949 under an Act. It is the national professional accounting body and the second biggest accounting organization in the world. ]

59. Which Union Ministry implements the “PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana” scheme?

A
Ministry of Rural Development

B
Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises

C
Ministry of Food and Public Distribution

D
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Ministry of Food and Public Distribution]

Explaination : [The Union Ministry of Food and Public Distribution implements the “PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana” scheme. The Minister for Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan has recently released the details of the 2nd Phase of PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana. Under the scheme, 5 kilograms of Wheat or Rice to every family member and 1 kilogram of Chana (Pulse) for each beneficiary family will be provided without price for five more months, till November. ]

60. Which Indian state holds the top position in marine fish production in 2019, as per the report of CMFRI?

A
Kerala

B
Tamil Nadu

C
Gujarat

D
Maharashtra

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Tamil Nadu]

Explaination : [The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has released its report on the Annual Marine Fish Landings in India for 2019. As per the report, the marine fish production of India recorded a marginal rise of 2.1% in 2019, with 3.56 million tonnes in total landings. It also ranked Tamil Nadu in the first position with 7.75 lakh tonnes. It is followed by Gujarat and Kerala. Gujarat was at the top spot in the recent years. ]