Best PSC / PCS / STATE PCS online Current Affairs

Current Affairs Apr-2020

Showing 61 - 80 of 400 entries

61. The National Maritime Day is celebrated on April 5, to commemorate the maiden voyage of which ship, that was wholly owned by India?

A
SS Loyalty

B
SS Galia

C
SS Jalabala

D
SS Ramdas

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [SS Loyalty]

Explaination : [The National Maritime Day is celebrated on April 5, to commemorate the maiden voyage of the first wholly owned ship of Indians. It was the first ship was owned by the Scindia Steam Navigation Company Ltd. On the same day in the year 1919, the ship travelled from Mumbai to the city of London, United Kingdom. This year is the 57th edition of the National Maritime Day. World Maritime Day is observed on the last week of September on Thursday annually.]

62. Which teams of Thailand and Malaysia have been banned from participating in Tokyo Olympics?

A
Shooting

B
Archery

C
Weight-lifting

D
Boxing

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Weight-lifting]

Explaination : [The teams of Thailand and Malaysia have been banned from participating in weightlifting events at the Tokyo Olympics. The sanctions panel of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has imposed disciplinary sanctions on the two countries regarding the same. The panel also suspended the Thai Amateur Weightlifting Association (TAWA) for three years and the Malaysian Weightlifting Federation (MWF) for a year. ]

63. Which institution is set to provide emergency loans to small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) named ‘SAFE PLUS’?

A
Khadi Village Industries Commission (KVIC)

B
National Bank for Agriculture and Development (NABARD)

C
Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)

D
National Small Industries Corporation Limited (NSIC)

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)]

Explaination : [The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) recently announced that it will provide emergency loans to small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) named ‘SIDBI Assistance to Facilitate Emergency’ -SAFE PLUS.Working capital of up to Rs 1 Crore will be provided to small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) engaged in manufacturing of medical equipment and products related to Covid-19. The SAFE PLUS collateral-free loans will be disbursed within 48 hours at an interest rate of five per cent. The limit of the loans has been enhanced from 50 lakh rupees to two crore rupees.]

64. Who has been selected as the nominee for the American Presidential elections from the Democratic party, against Donald Trump?

A
Joe Biden

B
Bernie Sanders

C
Hillary Clinton

D
Barrack Obama

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Joe Biden]

Explaination : [The Democratic party of the United States has selected former Vice President Joe Biden as the nominee for the American Presidential Election. Earlier, US Senator Bernie Sanders announced that he is not participating in the upcoming elections, which are due in November. Hence Joe Biden became the official Democratic nominee for the election to take on the incumbent US President Donald Trump.]

65. In the commemoration of small contingent of CRPF who successfully repulsed an attack by a Pakistani Brigade in 1965, April 9 is celebrated as which day?

A
Bravery Day

B
Valour Day

C
Courage Day

D
Martyrdom Day

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Valour Day]

Explaination : [On April 9th, 1965 a small contingent of CRPF successfully fought and repulsed an attack by a Pakistani Brigade at Sardar Post in the Rann of Kutch, Gujarat. That was the first time in the history of military battles, two companies of policemen fought back a whole infantry Brigade. Six CRPF men attained martyrdom during this attack. As a tribute to the martyrs of CRPF, April 9 is celebrated by the CRPF as ‘Valour Day’. ]

66. What is the amount of financial package released by the Centre for ‘India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package’, to the states/UTs?

A
Rs.10000 Cr

B
Rs.15000 Cr

C
Rs.20000 Cr

D
Rs.25000 Cr

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Rs.15000 Cr]

Explaination : [The Union Government has approved Rs. 15,000 crores for ‘India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package’ for states/UTs. This package which has been approved to build the health infrastructure, will be provided in three phases — January 2020 to June 2020, July 2020 to March 2021 and April 2021 to March 2024. This fund would be divided on the basis of the number of positive Covid-19 cases and the size of the state/UT. Rs 7,774 crore is expected to be released for immediate response.]

67. Which Indian personality features in the Twitter campaign launched by the Reserve Bank of India, to promote digital banking amid the lockdown?

A
Virat Kohli

B
Viswanathan Anand

C
Amitabh Bachchan

D
Aamir Khan

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Amitabh Bachchan]

Explaination : [To promote digital banking among the general public amid the nation-wide lockdown resulting from the coronavirus pandemic, the Reserve Bank of India has launched a Twitter campaign. The central bank asked the bank customers to adopt digital modes of payment which are convenient and safe. Through the campaign that was launched in public interest, the RBI highlighted the multiple digital payment options such as NEFT, IMPS, UPI and BBPS that are available 24*7. ]

68. National Commission for Women (NCW) launches WhatsApp number to report cases of domestic violence. Where is the Headquarters of NCW located?

A
Lucknow

B
New Delhi

C
Nagpur

D
Mumbai

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [New Delhi]

Explaination : [The National Commission for Women (NCW) has recently launched a WhatsApp number, where people can report cases of domestic violence.The head-quarters of NCW is New Delhi. As per the announcement of NCW, the cases of domestic violence have seen a big increase during the lockdown period resulting from coronavirus pandemic. This WhatsApp number service will be operated in addition to the existing online complaint links and emails and only for the period of lockdown.]

69. Which Public Sector Undertaking of India partnered with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Rishikesh and developed a remote monitoring system for COVID-19?

A
Bharat Electronics Limited

B
Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited

C
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited

D
Electronics Corporation of India Limited

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Bharat Electronics Limited]

Explaination : [Bengaluru-based aerospace and defence Public Sector Undertaking (PSU), Bharat Electronics Ltd has partnered with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Rishikesh and developed a remote monitoring system for COVID-19. This newly developed system reduced the need for personal protective equipment as it uses non-invasive sensors to measure the main parameters of a COVID-19 suspected patient including temperature, pulse rate and respiration rate.]

70. Who represented India in the recently held G20 Extraordinary Energy Ministers’ virtual Meeting?

A
Piyush Goyal

B
Dharmendra Pradhan

C
Harsh Vardhan

D
Nirmala Sitharaman

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Dharmendra Pradhan]

Explaination : [Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Steel, Dharmendra Pradhan represented India in the recently held G20 Extraordinary Energy Ministers’ virtual Meeting. Saudi Arabia, which currently holds the Presidency of G20 nations, had called for the Energy Ministers’ meeting. It was chaired by Energy Minister of Saudi Arabia, Prince Abdulaziz. Heads of several international organizations including OPEC, IEA and IEF also attended the meeting. The meeting focused on measures to ensure stable energy markets.]

71. The Union Ministry of External Affairs has announced a training programme on COVID-19 for healthcare professionals of which regional group?

A
BIMSTEC

B
SAARC

C
BRICS

D
ASEAN

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [SAARC]

Explaination : [The Union Ministry of External Affairs has announced a training programme on COVID-19 for healthcare professionals of SAARC countries. The Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme will conduct this training programme from April 17, 2020. The SAARC leaders had a virtual meeting on March 15, where an idea was proposed by India, to cumulate the efforts of all health professionals against the COVID-19.]

72. The ‘COVID-19 Sample Collection Kiosk’ (COVSACK), which was seen in news recently, was developed by the laboratory of which institution?

A
Defence Research and Development Organisation

B
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited

C
Bharat Electronics Limited

D
Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Defence Research and Development Organisation]

Explaination : [Hyderabad-based Defence Research and Development Laboratory of DRDO has recently developed ‘COVID-19 Sample Collection Kiosk’ (COVSACK), to fight the coronavirus. The kiosk which has an automatic disinfecting feature, has been developed in association with the doctors of Employees’ State Insurance Corporation in Hyderabad. The kiosk enables the healthcare workers to take coronavirus samples from suspected infected patients without frequently changing PPEs.]

73. As of 2020, what is the maximum subscription an individual can make in Sovereign Gold Bonds, issued by the Government of India?

A
1 kg

B
2 kg

C
4 kg

D
8 kg

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [4 kg]

Explaination : [According to a recent notification from the Ministry of Finance, the Government of India has decided to issue Sovereign Gold Bonds, after consultation with the Reserve Bank of India. The Gold Bonds are set to be issued in six tranches from April 2020 to September 2020. As per the prevalent practice, the minimum subscription for an individual in the bond is 1 gram of gold whereas the maximum subscription is 4 kg. The maximum subscription for a HUF and trusts are 4 kg and 20 kg respectively.]

74. The term ‘Long Range Forecast (LRF)’, which was seen in news recently, is used to predict which parameter?

A
Inflation

B
Industrial Production

C
Monsoon Rainfall

D
Pandemic

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Monsoon Rainfall]

Explaination : [The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has recently released the first stage of Long Range Forecast (LRF) for south-west monsoon season. As per its forecast, the southwest monsoon from June to September over India may be normal across the country. It also forecasted that the intensity of monsoon rainfall would be between 96 and 104 per cent of the long period average (LPA) of the country, which is 880 mm during 1961-2010.]

75. Which country recently held parliamentary elections, amid the Covid-19 pandemic?

A
Thailand

B
Vietnam

C
South Korea

D
Laos

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [South Korea]

Explaination : [South Korea recently held the parliamentary elections of the country, amid the Covid-19 pandemic, becoming one of the first countries to hold election, after the pandemic began. On the day of election, the total number of positive cases in South Korea was 10,564, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The self-quarantined citizens were allowed to vote after the other voters left. All voters are made to maintain safety measures while waiting to vote.]

76. Which international air carrier launched the world’s first coronavirus blood test for its passengers, which gives the result in 10 minutes?

A
Singapore Airlines

B
Qantas Airways

C
Emirates

D
ANA All Nippon Airways

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Emirates]

Explaination : [The largest air carrier of the Middle East region, the Emirates has launched the world’s first 10-minute coronavirus blood test for passengers, who are departing from Dubai. Limited passenger flights have been operated by the airline form this month for foreign citizens who want to leave the country. But it does not allow passengers to come to its country. The on-site rapid blood tests are being conducted by the Health Authorities of Dubai.]

77. As per the latest guidelines of the Union Home ministry on the extended lock-down, industries operating in which areas have been exempted?

A
Metropolitan areas

B
Urban areas

C
Semi-urban areas

D
Rural Areas

Show Answer

Correct Answer : D [Rural Areas]

Explaination : [The Union Home ministry has recently announced a set of revised guidelines on the extended lock-down till May 3, 2020. As per the guidelines, travel by air, rail, metro, public buses, taxis, cab aggregators will remain suspended. However, the industries operating in rural areas, outside the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities, will be exempted. The industries should maintain measures of social distancing and sanitation. ]

78. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) comprises of how many members, excluding the Chairman?

A
Four

C
Eight

Show Answer

Correct Answer : D [Ten]

Explaination : [Article-316 of our constitution explains about the appointment and term of office of members of the Union Public Service Commission. The President appoints the Chairman and the ten members of UPSC. The term of a member of UPSC is six years from the date he enters his office or until the age of sixty-five years. Recently, the chairman and members of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) have decided to give up 30 per cent of their basic pay for one year to the PM CARES fund and support the government in fighting Covid-19 pandemic.]

79. In the National assembly elections held amid the Covid-19 pandemic, who has been re-elected as the President of South Korea?

A
Moon Jae-in

B
Kim Jong-un

C
Kim Jae ryong

D
Nguyen Phu Trong

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Moon Jae-in]

Explaination : [South Korea recently conducted its national assembly elections amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, prevalent across the world. In the elections, the ruling party of South Korea has won a landslide victory, confirming the incumbent President Moon Jae-in rule the country again. The turn-out in the elections was 66.2%, which was higher than any of the election held in the country since 1992. ]

80. ‘PUSA decontamination and sanitizing tunnel’, which was inaugurated recently, has been developed by which research organisation?

A
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research

B
Agharkar Research Institute

C
National Institute of Biomedical Genomics

D
Indian Agricultural Research Institute

Show Answer

Correct Answer : D [Indian Agricultural Research Institute]

Explaination : [The New Delhi-based ICAR- Indian Agricultural Research Institute, which is commonly known as the Pusa Institute, has recently developed ‘PUSA decontamination and sanitizing tunnel’. The government research institute has developed the tunnel in New Delhi. It has a hand-washing set-up using soap and water dispenser, operated by foot. The tunnel uses Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QAC) at recommended concentration.]