Best PSC / PCS / STATE PCS online Current Affairs

Current Affairs FEB-2021

Showing 61 - 80 of 266 entries

61. Antonio Guterres is the Secretary General of which global organisation?

C
World Bank

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [UN]

Explaination : [Antonio Guterres, a Portuguese diplomat, is the ninth Secretary General of the United Nations (UN). His current term which started in the year 2017 is to expire this year. Antonio Guterres announced that he is seeking a second term. Recently, the United Nations commenced the selection of its next Secretary-general by asking all its 193 members to submit their candidature.]

62. Where is the headquarters of the Indian Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Ltd located?

A
Hyderabad

B
Jaipur

C
Gurgaon

D
Bengaluru

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Gurgaon]

Explaination : [Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited (IDPL) is a state-owned pharmaceutical, bulk drug manufacturing and drug discovery company headquartered in Gurgaon. Recently, it was announced that IDPL and Rajasthan Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Ltd (RDPL) would be closed. The Government is to disinvest Hindustan Antibiotics Ltd (HAL), Bengal Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd (BCPL), and Karnataka Antibiotics & Pharmaceutical Ltd (KAPL).]

63. What is the GDP growth forecast for the current fiscal year, as per SBI Research?

A
– 1.2%

B
– 5.6%

C
– 7.0 %

D
– 11.4%

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [– 7.0 %]

Explaination : [As per the recent report by SBI Research, the GDP forecast for the current fiscal year is expected to contract 7 per cent. Earlier, the agency had forecasted a contraction of 7.4 per cent for 2020-21. Q4 growth will record positive growth at around 2.5 per cent.]

64. Which country has announced a series of sanctions on the Myanmar military leaders?

A
China

C
Russia

D
United Kingdom

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [U.S]

Explaination : [US President Joe Biden has announced a series of sanctions on the military leaders of Myanmar. This follows the military action to overthrow a democratically elected leadership. The U.S also announced that it is taking steps to prevent the military leaders from accessing the USD 1 billion Myanmar Government funds held in the United States.]

65. Which scheme is implemented at Anganwadi centres to provide health and pre-school education services?

A
PM Matru Vandana Yojana

B
Integrated Child Development Scheme

C
Mahila Shakti Yojana

D
Beti Bachao Beti Padao

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Integrated Child Development Scheme]

Explaination : [Under the Integrated Child Development Scheme, a package of six services is provided at various anganwadis, including supplementary nutrition, pre-school non-formal education, immunisation, health education etc. As per the recent data, there has been a steady decline in the number of anganwadi beneficiaries, which dropped to 8.55 crore by March,2020 from 10.45 crore beneficiaries in 2014-15.]

66. When is the ‘International Day of Women and Girls in Science’ observed?

A
February 5

B
February 8

C
February 11

D
February 13

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [February 11]

Explaination : [International Day of Women and Girls in Science’ is observed every year on February 11, across the world. This year, the day will mark the sixth International Day of Women and Girls in Science Assembly. United Nations leads the observance of the day. This year, the theme is ‘Women Scientists at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19’.]

67. Which Indian bank has signed pact with Indian Oil Corporation under its ‘e-Dealer’ scheme?

A
Indian Bank

B
Punjab National Bank

C
Bank of Baroda

D
Union Bank of India

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Punjab National Bank]

Explaination : [Punjab National Bank (PNB) has signed an agreement with Indian Oil Corporation to provide up to Rs 2 crore to the dealers of the Oil company. Under the MoU, the bank would provide credit facilities at lower interest rates, nil margin, and with minimum or zero collateral requirements. These measures are to be undertaken under the PNB e-Dealer scheme]

68. Which organization in association with the EU is launching 40-million euro COVID-19 vaccines programme for six former Soviet republics?

A
International Monetary Fund

B
World Health Organisation

C
United Nations

D
UNICEF

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [World Health Organisation]

Explaination : [The World Health Organization (WHO) in association with the European Union are launching the 40-million-euro COVID Vaccine programme in six former Soviet republics. These countries are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova. Also, it has been observed that the number of COVID positive cases in this region has been declining in the past.]

69. As per recent Government data, what percent of India’s prison inmates are illiterate?

C
27.37%

D
47.37%

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [27.37%]

Explaination : [The Union Ministry of Home Affairs have recently released the data pertaining to the literacy levels of prison inmates in India. As per the data, 1,32,729 out of 4,78,600 prison inmates in the country are illiterate. This constitutes 27.37 per cent of the total inmates.]

70. Prime Minister dedicated the 6000-crore petrochemical complex of BPCL in which state?

A
Tamil Nadu

B
Kerala

C
Karnataka

D
Andhra Pradesh

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Kerala]

Explaination : [Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated Bharat Petroleum’s Propylene Derivatives petrochemical complex at Kochi Refinery. The Rs 6,000 crore worth Propylene Derivative Petrochemical Project (PDPP) will produce Acrylic Acid, Oxo-Alcohol and Acrylates, which are mainly imported in India. He also inaugurated the Ro-Ro vessels of Inland Waterways Authority in Kochi, Kerala]

71. Which country launched satellites using the world’s first rocket powered by bio-fuel?

A
China

B
United States

C
Germany

D
Israel

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [United States]

Explaination : [The world’s first commercial launch vehicle powered by bio-fuel was successfully used for a space launch in the United states. Stardust 1.0, the first such rocket was launched from Loring Commerce Centre in Maine, US. The rocket is manufactured by bluShift, a US- based aerospace company. The 250-kg launch vehicle is vehicle suited for student and budget payloads.]

72. Which country released its new anti-monopoly guidelines targeting internet platforms?

A
Singapore

B
China

C
South Korea

D
Vietnam

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [China]

Explaination : [The market regulator of China released new anti-monopoly guidelines targeting internet platforms. The rules seek to tighten the restrictions faced by the tech giants of the country. The country released the anti-monopoly draft law in November last year. The guidelines will impact e-commerce sites such as Alibaba Group’s Taobao, Tmall marketplaces, JD.com and payment services like Ant Group’s Alipay and WeChat Pay.]

73. As per the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) latest report, what is the position of India, in Energy consumption?

A
Second

B
Fourth

C
Fifth

D
Seventh

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Fourth]

Explaination : [The International Energy Agency (IEA) released the ‘India Energy Outlook 2021’ recently. As per the report, India is the world’s fourth-largest energy consuming country. The report also highlighted that India will have the biggest share of energy demand growth at 25% over the next two decades. It will overtake EU as the third largest energy consumer by 2030. India’s energy consumption could touch USD 8.6 trillion by 2040.]

74. Soyuz-2 carrier rocket is the flagship launch vehicle of which country?

A
China

B
Russia

C
Israel

D
United States

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Russia]

Explaination : [Soyuz-2 is a flagship three-stage launch vehicle of Russia, which places satellites in the low Earth orbit. It is the modernised form of the Soyuz rocket. Recently, it was announced that the country has planned to launch around 40 satellites from over 12 countries using the Soyuz-2 rocket. It includes the CAS500-1 (Compact Advanced Satellite 500) of South Korea.]

75. The Major Port Authorities Bill, 2020 seeks to replace which act?

A
Major Port Trusts Act, 1963

B
Major Port Trusts Act, 1897

C
Major Port Trusts Act, 1921

D
Major Port Trusts Act, 2000

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Major Port Trusts Act, 1963]

Explaination : [Rajya Sabha has passed the Major Port Authorities Bill, 2020, which seeks to replace the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963. The bill seeks to provide for regulation of major ports and provide autonomy to these ports. Board of Major Port Authority would be created for each major port, to replace the existing Port Trusts.]

76. Which is the largest combat exercise of the Indian Navy, which is being held in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)?

A
INDRA

B
MALABAR

C
TROPEX

D
MILAN

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [TROPEX]

Explaination : [Theatre Level Operational Readiness Exercise (TROPEX-21) is the Indian Navy’s largest exercise. It is being held in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). This month-long drill also includes joint exercises by ships and aircraft and other assets of the Indian Air Force, Army and the Indian Coast Guard in the IOR and the waters in the adjacent regions.]

77. Which day is observed on February 10 and August 10 every year in India?

A
National Deworming Day

B
National Anaemia Day

C
National Diabetes Day

D
National Cancer Day

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [National Deworming Day]

Explaination : [In India, every year February 10 and August 10 are observed as the National Deworming Day (NDD). The day aims to eradicate intestinal worms within the age bracket of 1-19 years, which are also referred to as Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH). As per the World Health Organisation, about 241 million children in India between 1-14 years are at risk of parasitic intestinal worms.]

78. What is the new upper ceiling for family pension, as per the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions?

A
Rs 50,000

B
Rs 75,000

C
Rs 1,00,000

D
Rs 1,25,000

Show Answer

Correct Answer : D [Rs 1,25,000]

Explaination : [Union Minister Jitendra Singh announced that the upper ceiling has been raised from Rs 45,000 to Rs 1.25 lakh per month. This increase is in accordance with the increase of salary as per the recommendations of the seventh pay commission. This step will ensure that the family members of the deceased employees get access to adequate financial security.]

79. Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) is a statutory body under which Union Ministry?

A
Ministry of Science and Technology

B
Ministry of Education

C
Ministry of Electronics and IT

D
Ministry of Power

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Ministry of Science and Technology]

Explaination : [Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) is a statutory body of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology. On the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, four young women fellows of National Science Academies have been awarded the SERB Women Excellence Award. The award includes a grant of Rs. 15 lakhs for three years to pursue their research ideas.]

80. Which disease causes the highest deaths among all vector-borne diseases?

A
Malaria

B
Dengue

C
Cholera

D
Polio

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Malaria]

Explaination : [Malaria caused over 400,000 human deaths in the year 2019. It is said to be causing highest number of deaths among all vector-borne diseases. Researchers from Tata Institute for Genetics and Society (TIGS), and Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology have released the detailed genome of the malaria mosquito vector.]