Best PSC / PCS / STATE PCS online Current Affairs

Current Affairs FEB-2021

Showing 41 - 60 of 266 entries

41. Recently, Scientists have discovered the oldest DNA on record from the fossil of which ancient animal?

A
Horse

B
Elephant

C
Mammoth

D
Whale

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Mammoth]

Explaination : [Recently, Scientists have recovered the oldest DNA on record. It has been extracted from teeth of mammoths found in north-eastern Siberia that existed to 1.2 million years. This is seen as a major breakthrough in understanding the evolution of species and determine the characteristics of extinct species. 33.Which Indian personality has ]

42. Which Indian personality has been appointed as the Under-Secretary-General and Associate Administrator of the UNDP?

A
Urjit Patel

B
Usha Rao-Monari

C
R Gandhi

D
Bimal Jalan

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Usha Rao-Monari]

Explaination : [India’s leading investment professional, Usha Rao-Monari, has been appointed by the UN chief Antonio Guterres as Under-Secretary-General and Associate Administrator of the UNDP. She has served in several senior positions in the area of infrastructure investment, including Director of the Sustainable Business Advisory Group at the International Finance Corporation, part of the World Bank Group.]

43. Who chairs the NITI Aayog’s Governing Council meeting?

A
Finance Minister

B
Prime Minister

C
NITI Aayog CEO

D
Home Minister

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Prime Minister]

Explaination : [Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to chair the sixth meeting of the NITI Aayog’s Governing Council sixth. Problems related to agriculture, infrastructure, manufacturing and human resource development will be discussed in the meeting. The council is the apex body of NITI Aayog, which includes all chief ministers, Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories (UTs), Union ministers and senior Government officials.]

44. What is “Helina” which is seen in news recently?

A
New vaccine candidate

B
Missile System

C
Spacecraft

D
Mars Rover

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Missile System]

Explaination : [The trials of Helina – Indian Army version of a Missile system was carried out recently from an Advanced Light Helicopter. Additionally, Dhruvastra – the Indian Air Force Version of the same missile system was also tested. These systems were designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).]

45. .Which is the most trafficked mammal in the world?

A
Blue Whale

B
Pangolin

D
Platypus

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Pangolin]

Explaination : [Pangolins are the most trafficked mammals in the world. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classified all eight species of pangolin as “threatened” to “critically endangered”. The World Pangolin Day is celebrated on the third Saturday of February, to raise awareness on their importance. This year, it has been celebrated on February 20. Pangolins are considered as the pest controllers in the ecosystem.]

46. Which state has sanctioned Rs.9 crore for ‘Smart anganwadis’?

A
Tamil Nadu

B
Andhra Pradesh

C
Telangana

D
Kerala

Show Answer

Correct Answer : D [Kerala]

Explaination : [The State Government of Kerala has sanctioned a sum of Rs.9 crore for converting conventional anganwadis into Smart anganwadis, with better amenities. The project is undertaken by the state’s Department of Women and Child Development under the Smart Anganwadi scheme. Initially 48 anganwadis would be converted into smart structures.]

47. India has signed agreements with which country for Visa Facilitation and Leather Technology?

B
Iran

C
Ethiopia

D
Japan

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Ethiopia]

Explaination : [India has recently signed two agreements with Ethiopia, one on Visa Facilitation and the other on Leather Technology. The agreements were signed in the presence of Ethiopia Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen and India’s External Affairs Minister – S Jaishankar. The two countries have also committed to expanding their relationship in defence, economy, technology and cultural cooperation.]

48. Karlapat wildlife sanctuary, which was making news recently, is located in which state/UT?

A
West Bengal

B
Odisha

C
Bihar

D
Himachal Pradesh

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Odisha]

Explaination : [In the month of February, it was reported that six female elephants and a calf were found dead in the Karlapat wildlife sanctuary, Odisha. Recently, a three-member Central team found the decomposed carcass of an elephant calf near the wildlife sanctuary, making the number of elephant deaths in the sanctuary seven. It is said that the spread of haemorrhagic septicemia (HS) is the reason for the elephant deaths.]

49. Which international organisation conducted the event on ‘Restoring Cross Border Mobility’?

A
United Nations

B
World Economic Forum

C
World Bank

D
World Trade Organisation

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [World Economic Forum]

Explaination : [Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare addressed the event on Restoring Cross Border Mobility, through video conference. The event was organised by World Economic Forum’s Common Trust Network, to discuss the policies and partnerships required to reopen borders and enable essential travel, tourism and commerce in a safe and sustainable method.]

50. The CSIR has partnered with which state/UT for Science and Technology development?

A
Kerala

B
Karnataka

D
Ladakh

Show Answer

Correct Answer : D [Ladakh]

Explaination : [The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has signed an MoU with the Union Territory of Ladakh. The purpose of the MoU is to establish knowledge partnership between the Ladakh UT and CSIR, focussing on the areas such as bioresource utilization, introduction of cash crops and exploration of natural resources.]

51. What is India’s rank in “’Asia-Pacific Personalised Health Index” released by the EIU?

D
10th

Show Answer

Correct Answer : D [10th]

Explaination : [The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has recently released an index named “’Asia-Pacific Personalised Health Index”. India has ranked 10th out of 11 Asia Pacific countries in the index. This index measures the readiness of 11 countries – Australia, China, Japan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and New Zealand in adopting personalised healthcare.]

52. Who has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of the National Health Authority (NHA)?

A
N S Viswanathan

B
R S Sharma

C
Tarun Gogoi

D
B P Kanungo

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [R S Sharma]

Explaination : [Former chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), RS Sharma is appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of National Health Authority (NHA). He is to replace Indu Bhushan after his three-year term. NHA is responsible for implementing the public health insurance scheme ‘Ayushman Bharat’ or Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. Sharma is also the Chairperson of an empowered committee on Co-WIN platform.]

53. Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is associated with which sport?

A
Hockey

B
Cricket

C
Foot Ball

D
Golf

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Cricket]

Explaination : [In this year’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 cricket tournament held at Ahmedabad, Tamil Nadu team defeated Baroda to win the trophy title. Last year Tamil Nadu lost the trophy against Karnataka. During this year’s tournament, Tamil Nadu remained un beaten till the final match. At the finals, the team chased Baroda’s modest score of 120, with 2 overs and 7 wickets remaining.]

54. As per the recent Union Budget, the Gig economy workers are to be covered under which organisation?

B
ESIC

C
EPFO

D
PFRDA

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [ESIC]

Explaination : [In the recent Union Budget, the Finance Minister announced that all social security benefits will be extended to gig and platform workers. Minimum wages will be ensured to all categories of workers. All those workers will also be covered by the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC). She also announced that women will be allowed to work in all categories and in the night-shifts with adequate protection.]

55. What is the name of the Global conference being hosted by Kerala State Planning Board?

A
Global Keralites

B
Kerala Looks Ahead

C
Kerala Vision 2021

D
New Kerala

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Kerala Looks Ahead]

Explaination : [Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the ‘Kerala Looks Ahead,’ a three-day virtual global conclave. The conference aims to frame the roadmap for long-term development of the state by reaping opinions from top economists, industry leaders and administrators. Star speakers include Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, WHO Scientist Soumya Swaminathan and top industry leaders.]

56. Which country has announced that it will formally apply for the trans-Pacific trade association, CPTPP?

A
United States

B
United Kingdom

C
Russia

D
Italy

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [United Kingdom]

Explaination : [The United Kingdom has recently announced that it will formally apply to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). CPTPP is a trans-Pacific trading association which removes most tariffs between 11 countries including Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.]

57. ‘Manufacturing Zones under Atmanirbhar Bharat Package’ scheme is to be implemented by which Union Ministry?

A
Ministry of Heavy Industries

B
Ministry of Power

C
Ministry of Commerce and Industry

D
Ministry of Communication

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Ministry of Power]

Explaination : [The Ministry of Power is set to launch a domestic manufacturing programme for critical power and renewable energy equipment. The scheme titled ‘Manufacturing Zones under Atmanirbhar Bharat Package’ was announced in the Union Budget. With an outlay of Rs 1,500 crore in the coming financial year, the scheme includes setting up three manufacturing zones per year.]

58. What is the nominal growth of India, as estimated by Moody’s for the FY 2021-22?

Show Answer

Correct Answer : D [17%]

Explaination : [The global rating agency Moody’s has estimated India’s nominal economic growth at 17% for the next financial year 2021-22. The firm said that the 2021-22 budget presented recently in the Parliament has a focus on higher capital expenditure, financial sector reforms and asset sales. These measures are expected to stimulate growth.]

59. SEBI has banned the Chairperson and promoters of which company from the Securities Market?

A
Reliance

B
Future Retail

C
DHFL

D
Lakshmi Vilas Bank

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Future Retail]

Explaination : [Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has banned the Future Retail’s Chairman Kishore Biyani and other promoters from the securities market for one year. They have been charged for indulging in insider trading in the shares of the company. SEBI has also imposed a fine of Rs 1 Crore each on the promoters and ordered them to pay back Rs 17.78 crore with interest.]

60. Which Ministry is to conduct four national surveys to study the status of migrants and domestic workforce?

A
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship

B
Ministry of Labour and Employment

C
Ministry of Home Affairs

D
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Ministry of Labour and Employment]

Explaination : [The Ministry of Labour and Employment announced that it is to conduct four national surveys to study the status of migrants and domestic workforce. The surveys, which will be conducted by the Labour bureau from this April, will study the employment data with a focus on jobs in the transport sector. It will also study on jobs created by professionals such as doctors and lawyers.]