Best PSC / PCS / STATE PCS online Current Affairs

Current Affairs Aug-2020

Showing 101 - 120 of 222 entries

101. Which Indian power company is to establish a wholly-owned subsidiary for its renewable energy business?

A
NTPC

B
ONGC

C
NHPC

D
GAIL

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [NTPC]

Explaination : [Government owned power major NTPC Limited has recently announced that it is to establish a wholly-owned subsidiary for its renewable energy business. The company has recently obtained the approval from the Niti Aayog and Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM), Ministry of Finance for formation of a wholly-owned subsidiary.]

102. Which is the most downloaded Covid-19 contact tracing application in the world, as on date?

A
COVIDSafe

B
Stopp Corona

C
eRouška

D
Aarogya Setu

Show Answer

Correct Answer : D [Aarogya Setu]

Explaination : [With more than 15 crore users and more than 6.6 million Bluetooth traced contacts, the official contact tracing application of India, Aarogya Setu is the most downloaded contact tracing app in the world, as on date. The application team has recently introduced ‘Open API Service’, which is used to obtain answers for real-time queries about the health status of their employees or any other Aarogya Setu User who has consented to share their health status.]

103. What is the name of the new Mental health rehabilitation helpline of Social Justice Ministry?

A
Swasthya

B
Suraj

C
Kiran

D
Mann ki Baat

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Kiran]

Explaination : [The Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is to launch a new toll-free helpline for Mental health rehabilitation. The new helpline will provide support to the callers regarding first-aid, psychological support, distress management among others in as many as 13 major languages. Several issues regarding the mental health of people are noted during the Covid-19 crisis.]

104. Which state has decided to exempt all serving and retired soldiers from the Gram Panchayat property tax?

A
Gujarat

B
Maharashtra

C
Andhra Pradesh

D
Haryana

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [ Maharashtra]

Explaination : [The state Government of Maharashtra, has decided to exempt all serving and retired soldiers from the Gram Panchayat property tax. A Government resolution has been passed in this regard. Earlier, the exemption was applicable only to Defence Gallantry Awardees or their dependents. The present decision has included all the serving and retired soldiers.]

105. What is the name of the interaction series launched by the Department of Science and Technology, to formulate STIP 2020?

A
In Conversation with

B
Science Chat

C
Vigyaan Conversation

D
DST Talks

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [In Conversation with]

Explaination : [The Department of Science and Technology (DST) is launching a series of exclusive interactions with experts across the country named ‘In Conversation with’. This is a part of the process of the DST and the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India, in formulating the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP 2020). This is the fifth edition of the policy and will replace the existing policy, which was formulated in 2013.]

106. National e-Governance Division (NeGD) has signed a MoU with Common Service Centre, for delivery of the services of which application?

A
mPassport Seva

B
UMANG

C
BHIM

D
Start-up India

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [UMANG]

Explaination : [A MoU has been signed between the National e-Governance Division (NeGD) and CSC e-Governance Services India. The objective of this association is to make available the UMANG app services to citizens through 3.75 lakh Common Service Centres (CSCs) across the country. The UMANG stands for “Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance”. The app is a single platform for the citizens to access e governance services ranging of central, state and local government bodies.]

107. Which Indian state has passed a resolution for inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution?

A
Assam

B
Arunachal Pradesh

C
Andhra Pradesh

D
West Bengal

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [ Arunachal Pradesh]

Explaination : [The Arunachal Pradesh Assembly has recently passed a resolution to bring the state under the scope of Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. The Sixth Schedule provides protection of tribal people’s rights in the Northeast India. Under the Indian constitution, Arunachal Pradesh is the only North-eastern state without any protective provisions for its tribal communities.]

108. Which is the second Indian zoo to have African hunting cheetahs?

A
Indra Gandhi Zoo, Andhra Pradesh

B
Thiruvananthapuram Zoo

C
Darjeeling Zoo

D
Mysuru Zoo

Show Answer

Correct Answer : D [ Mysuru Zoo]

Explaination : [The Mysuru Zoo in Karnataka is the second Indian zoo to have African hunting cheetahs after the Hyderabad zoo. Under the Animal Exchange Programme, the zoo has acquired one male and two female African hunting Cheetah from Ann Van Dyke Cheetah Centre at Johannesburg, South Africa. One female Cheetah of age 15 months and two male Cheetahs of age 14 and 16 months are brought by air.]

109. Which international financial organization has approved USD 1 billion loan for Delhi-Meerut regional rapid transit system?

A
International Monetary Fund

B
New Development Bank

C
Asian Development Bank

D
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [ Asian Development Bank]

Explaination : [USD 1 billion (equivalent to Rs 7,485 crore) financial support by way of loan has been approved by the Manila based-Asian Development Bank (ADB) for Delhi-Meerut regional rapid transit system. The project is first of the three priority rail corridors in country. The financial assistance from ADB will be used for construction of railway tracks, station buildings, maintenance facilities and power supply.]

110. What is the allocation made for ‘Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme’(ECLGS)?

A
Rs 1 lakh crore

B
Rs 2 lakh core

C
Rs 3 lakh crore

D
Rs 5 lakh crore

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [ Rs 3 lakh crore]

Explaination : [The Government launched ‘Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme’(ECLGS), as a part of the Rs 20 lakh crore economic stimulus package. The allocation made for the ECLGS scheme was Rs 3 lakh crore for five months till October 31st. As per the recent news, public and private sector banks have sanctioned loans worth over Rs 1.5 lakh crore, as of August 18, 2020 and more than Rs 1 lakh crore was already disbursed.]

111. Which country has displayed its locally made ballistic missile ‘martyr Qassem Soleimani’?

A
Iraq

B
Iran

D
Israel

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [ Iran]

Explaination : [Iran has displayed a surface-to-surface ballistic missile, that has a range of 1,400 kilometres, named martyr Qassem Soleimani. The country also displayed a new cruise missile called martyr Abu Mahdi, with a range of over 1,000 km, amidst the demand from the United States to stop its missile programme. The head of Iran’s Quds Force, Soleimani and Iraqi commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis were killed in a U.S. strike.]

112. Which organisation released a report titled ‘Population projections for India and States 2011 – 2036’?

A
National Commission on Population

B
United Nations Population Fund

C
UNICEF

D
World Economic Forum

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [National Commission on Population]

Explaination : [The National Commission on Population under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has recently released a report titled ‘Population projections for India and States 2011 – 2036’. As per the report, the sex ratio of the country is estimated to increase from 943 in 2011 to 957 during 2036. The Infant Mortality rate (IMR) is to go down to 30 by the end of 2031-35. The total population of India is estimated to increase from 121.1 crores to 151.8 crores.]

113. Which Bank has decided to sell two of its wholly owned subsidiaries to GPL Finance and Investments Limited?

A
HDFC Bank

B
ICICI Bank

C
Yes Bank

D
Kotak Mahindra Bank

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [ Yes Bank]

Explaination : [Yes Bank has executed an agreement with GPL Finance and Investments Limited for the complete sale of equity shareholding of YES Asset Management Limited “YESAMC” and YES Trustee Limited “YTL”. Both these firms are wholly owned subsidiaries of YES Bank Limited. It is expected that the sale would be completed in the next 8 to 12 months. After completion of the sale, the two firms Yes Bank will completely exit from its mutual fund business.]

114. Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) has collaborated with which technology company to launch Student Entrepreneurship Programme (SEP) 2.0?

A
Amazon

B
Google

C
Dell Technologies

D
Cisco

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [ Dell Technologies]

Explaination : [The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) in association with Dell Technologies has launched SEP 2.0 (Student Entrepreneurship Programme 2.0). The programme is launched for the young innovators of Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs). The first version of the SEP was launched in January 2019 and the second series (Sep 2.0) has been launched now. The program facilitates young student innovators to work in close association with DELL Technologies. Under this programme, the students would get mentoring support, feedback support and patenting ideas.]

115. A webinar titled “Weaves of Maharashtra and Textiles of Odisha” was organized by which organization, along with India Tourism?

A
NITI Aayog

B
Press Trust of India

C
Press Information Bureau

D
Central Weaving Institute

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [ Press Information Bureau]

Explaination : [A webinar titled “Weaves of Maharashtra and Textiles of Odisha” was organized by Press Information Bureau (PIB) – Mumbai and India Tourism – Mumbai. The key focus of the webinar was on the handlooms & fabrics of Maharashtra and Odisha. August 7 is celebrated as National Handloom Day in India, to honour the handloom weavers of the nation. August 7 was chosen to mark the Swadeshi Movement which was launched on this day in 1905 to protest against partition of Bengal by the British Government.]

116. Which fin-tech company has launched Stock Trading services on its platform?

A
Paytm

B
Freecharge

C
PhonePe

D
Google Pay

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Paytm]

Explaination : [Paytm Money, a leading Indian e-commerce payment system and financial technology company has launched Stock Trading services on its platform. It has launched the service in its beta version of Paytm Money App initially. The cash delivery trades are free on the application with minimal charge for intraday charges. It also permits a fully digital KYC and paperless accounting process.]

117. Which smartphone maker is set to distribute over 2500 smartphones to Indian children, to promote online education?

A
Oppo

B
Vivo

C
Xiaomi

D
Huawei

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Xiaomi]

Explaination : [Chinese smartphone giant Xiaomi announced that its arm MI India will distribute over 2,500 smartphones worth Rs 2 crore to Indian children, to support online education. MI India will partner with Indian non-profit organisation ‘Teach for India’, to carry out the distribution process. The hand sets would be used in shifts to utilise the service effectively, to enable children access quality education.]

118. Which Union Ministry implements Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)?

A
Ministry of Home Affairs

B
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs

C
Ministry of Rural Development

D
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers welfare

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [ Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs]

Explaination : [Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs implements the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT). The scheme aims to provide basic infrastructure for water supply, sewage and seepage management in 500 Mission cities. Recently, the scheme was in news because the states across India have completed 2,854 projects worth ₹11,110 crore under the scheme. Tamil Nadu completed the highest number of works.]

119. Which is the first neighbouring country with which India has made the ‘Air Bubble’ agreement?

A
Sri Lanka

B
Bangladesh

C
Maldives

D
Nepal

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [ Maldives]

Explaination : [Maldives is the first neighbouring country with which India is operating transport services under the air bubble agreement. Recently, the Director-General of Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) announced that Indians holding any kind of valid visa can travel through air to US, UK, Canada under air bubble agreement.]

120. The “Konkurs Missile Test Equipment” launched by the Defence Minister, has been developed by which organisation?

A
DRDO

B
Bharat Earth Movers Limited

C
Bharat Dynamics Limited

D
Bharat Electronics Limited

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [ Bharat Dynamics Limited]

Explaination : [The “Konkurs Missile Test Equipment” and “Konkurs Launcher Test Equipment” indigenously developed by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) has been launched by the Defence Minister. Launched as a part of the “Atma Nirbhar Bharat Week” celebrations, the two equipment have been designed by BDL to check the serviceability of Konkurs-M anti-tank guided missiles and Konkurs-M missile launchers. These products were earlier imported from Russia.]