Best PSC / PCS / STATE PCS online Current Affairs

Current Affairs MAY-2021

Showing 281 - 300 of 400 entries

281. Lake Van, the largest soda or alkaline lake on Earth, is located in which country?

A
Turkey

B
Lebanon

C
Egypt

D
France

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Turkey]

Explaination : [The photograph of Lake Van located in Turkey won the Tournament Earth 2021 challenge of NASA. It is the largest soda or alkaline lake on Earth. The photograph was shot by astronaut Kate Rubins in September 2016, showing a part of one of the largest alkaline lakes in the world, with a pH of 10 and high salinity levels. Lake Van is an endorheic lake and since it has no outlet, its water disappears by evaporation.]

282. Zeolite, which was making news recently, is a key component in producing which product?

A
Masks

B
PPEs

C
Oxygen

D
Alcohol-based Sanitiser

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Oxygen]

Explaination : [Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has chartered the Air India (AI) to import ‘Zeolite’ from different countries. Zeolite is a key component in mass-production of Oxygen. Zeolite-based oxygen concentrator systems are used to produce medical-grade oxygen, as it filters impurities to create purified oxygen.]

283. Which organisation has proposed to launch US dollar stable-coin?

A
Orkut

B
Amazon

C
Diem Association

D
World Bank

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Diem Association]

Explaination : [The Digital Currency Firm Diem Association has proposed to launch a US dollar stable-coin. Diem is the digital currency project promoted by Facebook and was initially named as Libra. Stable coins are digital currencies which are pegged to an underlying fiat currency. USA based Silvergate Bank has proposed to issue the Diem USD stablecoin and manage the Diem USD reserve.]

284. Zhurong rover, which sent back its first photographs of Mars, was launched by which country?

B
China

C
Israel

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [China]

Explaination : [The Zhurong rover was carried to Mars on the uncrewed spacecraft of China Tianwen-1. It is the first successful probe landing by any country on its first mission to the planet. Recently, the Zhurong rover has sent back its first photographs of the Red Planet. Solar panels against an alien landscape, ramps and rods are seen in the images. The rover will study the planet’s soil and atmosphere as well as look for signs of ancient life.]

285. Which institution has launched the world’s first satellite-based global coral reef bleaching monitoring system?

A
SpaceX

B
Allen Coral Atlas

C
Oxford University

D
Blue Origin

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Allen Coral Atlas]

Explaination : [The Allen Coral Atlas is led by Asner Lab to map and monitor the world’s coral reefs using satellites and field programs. It has recently released the world’s first real-time, satellite-based global coral reef bleaching monitoring system. The System provides a comprehensive picture of changes to coral reefs over time. This information would be used for conservation of coral reefs.]

286. When is the World Metrology Day observed every year?

A
May 10

B
May 20

C
May 30

D
June 1

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [May 20]

Explaination : [Every year, the World Metrology Day is observed on 20th of May, which is annually celebrated to commemorate the Metre Convention on 20th May 1875. The theme for this year is “Metrology for Health”, which has been chosen to make people aware of the role of measurements in health.]

287. Which Ministry has launched the NMMS app and Area officer monitoring App?

A
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs

B
Ministry of Rural Development

C
Ministry of Finance

D
Ministry of Skill Development

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Ministry of Rural Development]

Explaination : [The Union Ministry of Rural Development, headed by Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has launched the National Mobile Monitoring Software, NMMS app and the Area officer monitoring. NMMS app enables to mark real time attendance of workers at MGNREGA worksites and also enables them to take geotagged photographs. Area Officer Monitoring App is used to record the findings, along with geotagged photographs.]

288. What is the theme of the International Day for Biological Diversity 2021?

A
We’re part of the solution

B
Conservation First

C
Conserving amidst Covid

D
Pandemic Management

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [We’re part of the solution]

Explaination : [May 22 is marked every year as the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) globally, to celebrate natural diversity and spread awareness on conservation. Earlier, December 29 was designated as the International Day for Biological Diversity but after 2000, the UN General Assembly chose May 22 to mark the day. The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) announced the theme of this year as “We’re part of the solution”.]

289. In 2020, India has made 40,300 requests to which social media giant to provide user data?

A
Orkut

B
Facebook

C
Twitter

D
Tik Tok

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Facebook]

Explaination : [In the year 2020, India had made 40,300 requests to the social media giant Facebook, to provide user data. India has ranked second after the USA in making the most data request from Facebook. Also, in response to the directions from the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Facebook has restricted the access to 878 items in the year 2020, since these were violating Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000.]

290. Camellia sinesis plant is used to produce which beverage?

A
Coffee

C
Wine

D
None of the above

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Tea]

Explaination : [Tea is a beverage made from the Camellia sinesis plant. It is also the world’s most consumed drink, after water. International Tea Day is celebrated by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) on May 21. This is because the season of tea production begins in May in most of the tea producing countries.]

291. Cabinet has approved the opening of a new Consulate General of India in Addu City in which country?

A
Mauritius

B
Maldives

C
Myanmar

D
Madagascar

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Maldives]

Explaination : [The Union Cabinet has approved the opening of a new Consulate General of India in Addu City, Maldives in 2021. Maldives has an important place in the Neighbourhood First Policy and the SAGAR- Security and Growth for All in the Region- initiative of the Government of India. This opening of a Consulate General in Addu City will help promote India’s diplomatic presence in Maldives.]

292. Which country was in news recently for forcing an airplane to land, to detain a journalist?

A
Italy

B
North Korea

C
Belarus

D
Russia

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Belarus]

Explaination : [Belarus was in news recently as its authorities flagged a false bomb alert to force a Ryanair plane to land before they detained an opposition-minded journalist Roman Protasevich who had been on board. A MiG-29 fighter jet escorted the Ryanair-operated passenger plane going to Lithuania. The plane was suddenly diverted to Minsk, the capital of Belarus, where authorities detained the journalist.]

293. When is the World Turtle Day observed every year?

A
May 23

B
May 25

C
May 30

D
May 31

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [May 23]

Explaination : [Every Year, 23rd May is observed as World Turtle Day, which is aimed to make people aware of turtles – tortoises and their habitats. The theme for this year’s turtle day is “Turtles Rock!”. This day has been celebrated widely since 2000 by a non profit organization named American Tortoise Rescue (ATR).]

294. Indian Army has inaugurated the First Green Solar Energy harnessing plant in which state?

A
Rajasthan

B
Sikkim

C
Punjab

D
Gujarat

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Sikkim]

Explaination : [Indian Army inaugurated the First Green Solar Energy harnessing plant of 56 KVA in North Sikkim, at an altitude of 16000 ft. The project, which uses Vanadium based battery technology, was completed in collaboration with IIT Mumbai. India has fixed a target of producing 175 GW of renewable energy by 2022.]

295. Padma river, the main distributary of the Ganges, flows in which country?

A
Nepal

B
Bangladesh

C
China

D
Myanmar

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Bangladesh]

Explaination : [Padma river is main distributary of the Ganges, which forms the western boundary between India and Bangladesh before it enters Bangladesh. Recently, a ferryboat with over 30 passengers overturned after hitting a sand-laden cargo vessel in the Padma River. At least 26 people dead in the accident occurred at the old Kanthalbari ferry terminal of Bangladesh.]

296. India has initiated anti-dumping investigation against the import of which good from China, Thailand and Vietnam?

A
Plastic Toys

B
Surgical Masks

C
Solar Cells

D
Air Conditioners

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Solar Cells]

Explaination : [The Union Commerce Ministry has initiated an anti-dumping investigation against the import of solar cells from China, Thailand and Vietnam. To boost domestic manufacturing, the Centre had imposed 25% safeguard duty on solar imports from China and Malaysia. Solar cells are the basic ingredient used in the manufacturing of solar modules and Chinese products are sold cheaper than Indian counterparts.]

297. Delete please

A
Mumbai

B
Pune

C
Guwahati

D
Cochin

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Pune]

Explaination : [Delete please]

298. Which Indian-American has been appointed as the White House Senior adviser?

A
Swati Mohan

B
Neera Tanden

C
Vivek Murthy

D
M Rangaswami

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Neera Tanden]

Explaination : [The U.S administration has announced that Indian-American Neera Tanden is set to join the White House as a senior adviser to President Joe Biden. She had withdrawn her nomination to lead the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) amid bipartisan criticism. Tanden serves as president and CEO of CAP and has served as the CEO of the Center for American Progress Action Fund.]

299. Moctar Ouane, who is sometimes seen in the news, is the Prime Minister of which country?

A
Maldives

B
Mali

C
Mauritius

D
Myanmar

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Mali]

Explaination : [After the Mali Prime Minister Moctar Ouane resigned, he was immediately reappointed as the Prime Minister, according to the office of the interim president. Ouane was named prime minister after military officers ousted the elected president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in August. Under the threat of international sanctions, the military handed power to a caretaker government.]

300. Which country has approved sale of $735 million in precision-guided weapons to Israel?

A
Russia

B
China

D
France

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [USA]

Explaination : [US President Joe Biden’s administration approved the sale of $735 million in precision-guided weapons to Israel. The sale of Joint Direct Attack Munitions, or JDAMs, made by Boeing Co comes at the time of the fierce violence between Israel and Palestinian militants.]