Best PSC / PCS / STATE PCS online Current Affairs

Current Affairs MAR-2021

Showing 21 - 40 of 121 entries

21. NASSCOM has partnered with which technology company to launch ‘AI Gamechangers’ programme?

A
Google

B
Microsoft

C
Apple

D
Amazon

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Microsoft]

Explaination : [The National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) has partnered with Microsoft India to launch an ‘AI Gamechangers’ programme. Under the programme, NASSCOM will identify feasible and impactful AI-driven innovations that are taking place in India. Microsoft has been designated as the ‘Innovation Partner’ for the programme. ]

22. The International Waste Pickers’ Day is observed on which date?

A
March 1

B
March 2

C
March 3

D
March 4

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [March 1]

Explaination : [International Waste Pickers’ Day is observed on March 1 to mark the Colombian massacre that led to the brutal death of 11 workers. This day seeks to give voice and recognition to waste pickers/recyclers across the world. During this occasion, a new report released by the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) highlighted the role of informal recyclers in enabling transition towards zero waste systems and the overall economic recovery. ]

23. A nine-year-old girl from which state has become the youngest Asian girl to climb the Mount Kilimanjaro?

A
Tamil Nadu

B
Kernataka

C
Andhra Pradesh

D
Bihar

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Andhra Pradesh]

Explaination : [Mount Kilimanjaro, located in Tanzania, is the highest peak in Africa. With height of 5,895 metres, it the highest single free-standing mountain in the world. This large dormant strato-volcano consists of three volcanic cones – Kibo, Mawenzi and Shira. A nine-year-old from Andhra Pradesh Kadapala Rithvika Sri has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. She is also the youngest Asian girl to climb the Mountain. ]

24. Who is the first Asian celebrity to reach the 100 million followers milestone on Instagram?

A
Narendra Modi

B
Virat Kohli

C
Deepika Padukone

D
Mukesh Ambani

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Virat Kohli]

Explaination : [Indian cricket team skipper Virat Kohli became the first Asian celebrity to reach the 100 million followers-milestone on Instagram. Portuguese star footballer Christiano Ronaldo tops the chart with 266 million followers, followed by singer Ariana Grande with 224 million followers and former WWE superstar Dwayne Johnson with 220 million followers. Footballers Messi and Neymar are also in the Top-5 list. ]

25. Which private sector bank has launched WhatsApp Banking facility recently?

A
RBL Bank

B
Yes Bank

C
Axis Bank

D
IDBI Bank

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Axis Bank]

Explaination : [India’s leading private sector bank Axis Bank has recently launched WhatsApp Banking facility, to resolve the queries of consumers 24×7. This new facility will allow customers to seek information regarding their account balance, recent transactions, credit card payments, fixed and recurring deposit details. It also enables them to get their queries answered in real-time. ]

26. What is the full form of ADFOSC?

A
Aries-Devasthal Faint Object Spectrograph & Camera

B
Aries-Devasthal Faint Object Scanning Camera

C
Aries-Devasthal Faded Object Scanning Camera

D
None of the above

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Aries-Devasthal Faint Object Spectrograph & Camera]

Explaination : [ADFOSC or Aries-Devasthal Faint Object Spectrograph & Camera is a low-cost optical spectroscope that was designed and developed by the scientists of ARIES, Nainital. This spectroscope will help the Devasthal Optical telescope use event faint light to locate distant quasars, galaxies, etc. ]

27. Which Indian state for the first time presented the outcome-based budget?

A
Kerala

B
West Bengal

C
Odisha

D
Jharkhand

Show Answer

Correct Answer : D [Jharkhand]

Explaination : [The Jharkhand state government for the first time presented an outcome-based budget. Under the mechanism, 11 departments have been given targets and responsibilities, the results of which will be measured by the end of next financial year. The departments have submitted a detailed document on the work they are planning to do in the next fiscal. ]

28. Which organisation has released the report named ‘World Report on Hearing’?

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [WHO]

Explaination : [The World Health Organisation (WHO) released the first World Report on Hearing recently. It was launched ahead of World Hearing Day on March 3. As per the report, nearly 2.5 billion people worldwide, which is almost 1 in 4 people, will be living with some degree of hearing loss by 2050. The report also warns that at least 700 million of these people will require access to hearing care and rehabilitation services. ]

29. Which state is to conduct its first survey of the social and educational conditions of people from backward classes?

A
Haryana

B
Odisha

C
Madhya Pradesh

D
Maharashtra

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Odisha]

Explaination : [The Odisha government is set to begin its first state survey of the social and educational conditions of people from backward classes. In the state there are nearly 209 communities identified as socially and educationally backward classes (SEBCs). The classes comprise around 54 per cent of the state’s population. A proposal by the Odisha State Commission for Backward Classes (OSCBC) was approved in this regard. ]

30. OPELIP, a tribal livelihood development program is funded by which organisation?

A
World Bank

B
IFAD

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [IFAD]

Explaination : [Odisha Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups Empowerment and Livelihoods Improvement Programme (OPELIP) is a programme funded by the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD). The objective is to improve living conditions and reduce poverty among particularly vulnerable tribal groups through capacity building and improved agricultural practices. ]

31. The Starship mission was developed by which country?

B
China

C
Russia

Show Answer

Correct Answer : D [US]

Explaination : [The Starship mission was developed by SpaceX, a firm based at the United States. SpaceX Starship system is a fully reusable, two-stage-to-orbit heavy-lift launch vehicle. The system comprises of a booster stage called Super Heavy. The second stage of the vehicle is called as Starship. ]

32. Cabinet has approved to sign a MoU with which country on renewable energy cooperation?

B
Australia

C
New Zealand

D
France

Show Answer

Correct Answer : D [France]

Explaination : [The Union Cabinet gave ex-post facto approval to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and France on renewable energy cooperation. The MoU was signed in the month of January 2021. The MoU involves exchange and training of scientific and technical personnel, information and data, organisation of workshops and seminars and development of joint research projects. ]

33. The Union Cabinet has approved agreement with which country for co-operation in the field of agriculture and allied sectors?

A
Thailand

B
Fiji

C
Sri Lanka

D
France

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Fiji]

Explaination : [The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Fiji, for co-operation in the field of agriculture and allied sectors. The MoU provides for cooperation in various areas including promotion of joint ventures between private sectors of both countries. It includes exchange of research personnel, technology and infrastructure. ]

34. Where is the headquarters of ICRISAT situated?

A
Hyderabad

B
Chennai

C
Mumbai

D
Bangalore

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Hyderabad]

Explaination : [The International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) is an international organisation involved in agricultural research for rural development. Its headquarters is located at Patancheru, Hyderabad. It was recently roped in by the Odisha government for providing capacity-building initiatives for the state’s Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups via OPELIP scheme. ]

35. India has commemorated the ‘Chabahar Day’ on which date?

A
March 4, 2021

B
March 5, 2021

C
March 6, 2021

D
March 7, 2021

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [March 4, 2021]

Explaination : [The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that, India commemorates the ‘Chabahar Day’ on March 4, 2021 along the lines of the Maritime India Summit 2021 held in Delhi from March 2 to March 4. The virtual event witnessed the participation of ministers from Afghanistan, Iran, Armenia, Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. ]

36. What is the outlay of the Dwarka Expressway project?

A
6000 crores

B
7000 crores

C
8000 crores

D
9000 crores

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [7000 crores]

Explaination : [The Dwarka Expressway project, with an outlay of Rs.7,000 crore, will connect Kherki Daula and Shiva temple in Mahipalpur in Delhi This project was handed over by the Haryana government after several delays to the National Highways Authority of India in 2016. It is being developed in 4 phases with 2 phases in Gurugram and the other 2 in Delhi. ]

37. Which country has launched the satellite Arktika-M?

B
Russia

D
France

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Russia]

Explaination : [The Russian Space Agency has launched its satellite Arktika-M. This satellite is intended to monitor the climate in the Arctic region. A Soyuz rocket took off from the Russian cosmodrome in Kazakhstan carrying Russia’s first satellite launched for monitoring the Arctic’s climate. Russia seeks to utilise the energy-rich region for the nation’s developmental interest. ]

38. The fossil of Australopithecus “Little foot” has been discovered in which country?

B
South Africa

C
Saudi Arabia

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [South Africa]

Explaination : [“Little Foot” is the nickname given to a nearly complete Australopithecus fossil skeleton found in 1994–1998 in the cave system of Sterkfontein, South Africa. The nickname “little foot” was given to the fossil in 1995. This discovery is said to provide more insights on the origin of human beings. ]

39. Which is the only country to register a 3-digit growth in the wearable market, as per the recent report of IDC?

A
China

B
India

C
U.S.A

D
Australia

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [India]

Explaination : [The International Data Corporation (IDC) released a report titled “Worldwide quarterly wearable device tracker’. As per the report, India is the only country to register a 3-digit growth in the wearable market, with a year-on-year growth of a 144.3 percent in 2020. A total of 36.4-million-unit wearable shipments were registered in the country in 2020. ]

40. Which country is set to impose Anti-dumping tax on aluminium sheet exporters from 18 countries?

A
Russia

B
U.S.A

C
China

D
India

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [U.S.A]

Explaination : [The U.S. Department of Commerce is set to tax aluminium sheet exporters from 18 countries as it claims that they had benefited from subsidies and dumping. It has determined that the imports from Germany benefited from dumping ranging from 40% to 242%. The investigation was initially launched under the Donald Trump administration. ]