Best PSC / PCS / STATE PCS online Current Affairs

Current Affairs JULY-2020

Showing 161 - 180 of 236 entries

161. When is World Nature Conservation Day celebrated every year?

A
July 28

B
July 29

C
July 30

D
July 31

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [July 28]

Explaination : [World Nature Conservation Day is celebrated every year on July 28, to create and increase awareness about the importance of natural resources. The day encourages people to protect Earth’s natural resources and lead a sustainable life style. It also educates people to use the resources judiciously without exploiting the nature Earth. Ministry of Culture has said that Worshipping Nature is a part of Indian culture.]

162. Which country’s 300-year-old historic temple has been reconstructed with the Indian assistance?

A
Sri Lanka

B
Bangladesh

C
Myanmar

D
Thailand

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Bangladesh]

Explaination : [The Sree Sree JoyKali Matar temple, one of the oldest temples in Bangladesh, has been reconstructed with the Indian assistance of Taka 97 lakh. The High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh Riva Ganguly Das has inaugurated the reconstructed temple at Natore. The MoU for the process was signed in the year 2016. The Indian assistance was given under its High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP). Several other community projects are also being carried out under this fund.]

163. A France-based refinery has spilled toxic chemicals over 15 acres in which sea

A
Mediterranean Sea

B
Red Sea

C
Pacific Ocean

D
Atlantic Ocean

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Mediterranean Sea]

Explaination : [Following a leak at a Lavera petrochemical refinery in southern France, an orange-brown chemical sheet spread over 15 acres in the Mediterranean Sea. This area includes the nationally recognized marine life area. The plant is said to have spilled 200 gallons or more of iron chloride into the sea. The chemical could harm eyes and mucous membranes and could even cause death.]

164. When is ‘Aaykar Diwas (Income Tax Day)’ celebrated in India?

A
July 23

B
July 24

C
July 25

D
July 26

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [July 24]

Explaination : [Aaykar Diwas or Income Tax Day is celebrated on July 24 by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and all field offices. On the same day in the year 1860, Income tax was originally introduced in India by Sir James Wilson, to compensate for the losses incurred during the first war of independence. This is the 160th anniversary of Income Tax Day.]

165. Which is the first Indian state/UT to launch a dedicated Plasma Bank to treat COVID-19 patients?

A
Kerala

B
Maharashtra

C
New Delhi

D
Uttar Pradesh

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [New Delhi]

Explaination : [The government of New Delhi has recently announced the launch of the country’s first dedicated plasma bank for treating Covid-19 patients. The facility would be set up at the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS), and it will be made available to all government and private hospitals of the UT. The therapy involves drawing blood from patients who have recovered from covid-19 and using the plasma and antibodies to treat active patients.]

166. Which Union Ministry has developed a new web portal to issue No Objection Certificate (NOC) for power projects

A
Ministry of Coal

B
Ministry of Power

C
Ministry of Defence

D
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Ministry of Defence]

Explaination : [Union Defence Ministry has launched a new portal to issue No Objection Certificate (NOC) for power projects and Research Survey Exploration Exploitation (RSEE) activities in the Indian Territorial Waters and Exclusive Economic Zone. The Ministry of Defence gives security clearances to various Private and Public Sector Undertakings for power, wind and solar projects in areas near defence installation. The new portal will allow applicants to submit their proposals online for seeking security clearance from the Ministry.]

167. Which financial institution has approved a USD 750 million MSME Emergency Response program

A
Asian Development Bank

B
World Bank

C
International Monetary Fund

D
United Nations

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [World Bank]

Explaination : [The World Bank has approved a USD 750 million MSME Emergency Response program, to support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. As per the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors, the programme will help in improving funding capacity of Small finance banks (SFBs) and Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) for the MSME sector. This is expected to provide liquidity to about 1.5 million viable MSMEs. The loans have a maturity period of 19 years.]

168. A new Sanskrit school building, that was funded by India, has been inaugurated in which country

A
Sri Lanka

B
Nepal

C
Bangladesh

D
Myanmar

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Nepal]

Explaination : [As per the recent announcement from the Indian embassy, a new school building built with Indian assistance of Rs 1.94 crore has been inaugurated in Nepal. The new four-storey building has been built in the premises of the Shri Saptmai Gurukul Sanskrit Vidyalaya school, which was constructed in the year 2009. It is a prestigious institution which teaches both Vedic and Modern education.]

169. Which state has the highest count of inbred tigers in the country, as per the National Centre for Biological Sciences?

A
Madhya Pradesh

B
Rajasthan

C
West Bengal

D
Karnataka

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Rajasthan]

Explaination : [As per the recent research report of National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Rajasthan has the highest count of inbred tigers in the country. Inbreeding refers to the process of producing offspring from breeding of individuals or genetically related organisms. Tigers have dispersed from the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve to Sarika Tiger Reserve in Alwar and Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve in Kota, and NCBS explained that these tigers are related.]

170. Which financial institution has approved USD 400 million loan to support the Namami Gange programme of India?

A
Asian Development Bank

B
World Bank

C
International Monetary Fund

D
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [World Bank]

Explaination : [The World Bank and the Government of India has recently signed a loan agreement to provide support for the Namami Gange programme. The programme aims to rejuvenate the Ganga river. The USD 400 million fund comprises a loan of USD 381 million and a guarantee of up to USD 19 million. The Second National Ganga River Basin Project aims to reduce population and support river basin management.]

171. Which special week is observed by the United Nations from July 6 to July 10, 2020?

A
Covid Awareness week

B
Counter-Terrorism Week

C
Anti-Racism Week

D
End Malnutrition week

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Counter-Terrorism Week]

Explaination : [The United Nations is observing the Virtual Counter-Terrorism Week from July 6 to July 10, 2020. The event has been convened under the theme of “Strategic and Practical Challenges of Countering Terrorism in a Global andemic Environment”. Throughout the week, several webinars and interactive discussions on the fields like bio and cyber terrorism, flagship UN counter-terrorism programmes, among others. ]

172. Asia Cup is a popular tournament of which sports?

A
Foot ball

B
Cricket

C
Hockey

D
Badminton

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Cricket]

Explaination : [The Asia Cup is a popular cricket tournament organised by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). It was established in 1983 and includes men’s One Day International and Twenty20 International cricket tournament. Recently, the Asian Cricket Council announced that the tournament that was scheduled to be held in September this year in Sri Lanka, has been postponed till June 2021.]

173. Which organization has prepared the White paper on ‘Focused Interventions for ‘Make in India’: Post COVID 19’?

A
Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC)

B
National Atlas Organisation

C
National Innovation Foundation

D
Institute of Advanced Study in Science & Technology

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC)]

Explaination : [Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC), an autonomous organization under the Department of Science & Technology has prepared a white paper on “Focused Interventions for ‘Make in India’: Post COVID 19” and “Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients: Status, Issues, Technology Readiness and Challenges”. Union Minister Harsh Vardhan released the white papers prepared by TIFAC, during a virtual event. The paper highlights high priority sectors, technologies and strategies to accelerate growth in the time of COVID-19. ]

174. Andrzej Duda has been re-elected as the President of which country?

A
France

B
Poland

C
The Netherlands

D
Egypt

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Poland]

Explaination : [The incumbent President of Poland, Andrzej Duda has been re-elected to a second term, in a narrow count. Andrzej Duda was backed by the ruling party, the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party. He won with 51.21% of the votes, as per the country’s election committee. Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, of the center-right opposition Civic Platform party (PO) secured 48.79%. ]

175. Which organization has estimated that India needs 6.2% additional spending of GDP to achieve 2030 SDGs?

A
Reserve Bank of India

B
NITI Aayog

C
Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation

D
National Development Council

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [NITI Aayog]

Explaination : [NITI Aayog has estimated that India needs 6.2% additional spending of GDP to achieve 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The country’s think tank said this in its second Voluntary National Review (VNR) at the UN high-level political forum (HLPF) on sustainable development, 2020. India needs to upgrade its statistical system, improve its monitoring mechanism and capacity building of all stakeholders. It also advised that the Budget should be aligned with SDGs.]

176. Which institution has developed an Ultraviolet sanitizing product named SHUDH?

A
IIT Madras

B
IIT Kanpur

C
IISc Bangalore

D
AIIMS

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [IIT Kanpur]

Explaination : [The Imagineering Laboratory department of IIT Kanpur has developed an Ultraviolet sanitizing product named SHUDH. SHUDH is an abbreviation of Smartphone operated Handy Ultraviolet Disinfection Helper. The device comprises of six ultra-violet lights, which can be monitored even from a distance. It can disinfect a small room in 15 minutes.]

177. Which country recorded the largest reduction in number of people in multi-dimensional poverty between 2006 and 2016?

A
China

B
India

C
Japan

D
Indonesia

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [India]

Explaination : [As per the data recently released by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), India has recorded the largest reduction in the number of people living in multi-dimensional poverty between 2005-06 and 2015-16. About 273 million Indians moved out of multi-dimensional poverty in the said decade. As per the report, 65 out of 75 countries reduced their multi-dimensional poverty levels between 2000 and 2019.]

178. Which state is implementing a pension scheme named ‘Madhu Babu Pension Yojana’?

A
Andhra Pradesh

B
Odisha

C
Chhattisgarh

D
Telangana

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Odisha]

Explaination : [The state Government of Odisha is implementing a pension scheme named ‘Madhu Babu Pension Yojana’. Recently, it was announced that the people of transgender community will also be included in the Pension scheme. Under the scheme, financial assistance is provided to the destitute elderly, differently-abled persons and widows. Now, Around 5,000 transgenders will get a monthly pension between Rs 500 and Rs 900 based on their age. ]

179. Jon Rahm, who was seen in news recently, is associated with which sports?

A
Racing

B
Golf

C
Basket Ball

D
Football

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Golf]

Explaination : [25-year-old Spanish professional Golfer Jon Rahm claimed the top spot in the world, after he clinched victory in the Memorial Tournament. He surpassed Rory McIlroy to claim the top spot in the World Golf Rankings for the first time in his career. This is also his fourth straight season with a victory. After Seve Ballesteros, he is only the second player from Spain to be placed in the Number one rank.]

180. IRCTC partnered with which organisation to launch a new Co-branded Contactless RuPay Credit Card?

A
SBI Card

B
Citibank

C
American Express

D
IndusInd Bank

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [SBI Card]

Explaination : [IRCTC and SBI Cards & Payment Services have jointly launched their Co-branded Contactless Credit Card on RuPay Platform. Railway Minister Piyush Goyal introduced this new card. The card has several advanced features like Near Field Communication and payback for AC tickets among others. The cards can also be used for retail, dining and entertainment payments.]