Best PSC / PCS / STATE PCS online Current Affairs

Current Affairs FEB-2021

Showing 101 - 120 of 266 entries

101. ‘What does ‘R’ stand in the STARS project, co-sponsored by World Bank, which was in news recently?

A
Response

B
Results

C
Remote

D
Redressal

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Results]

Explaination : [‘STARS’ stand for Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States. It is a project of the Union Ministry of Education for improving the quality of education in six selected states. The total project cost of project is Rs 5718 crore with the financial support of World Bank amounting to approximately Rs. 3700 crore. Recently, the agreement for the financial support of the project was signed with World Bank.]

102. Which country has the highest share in global basmati rice trade?

A
China

B
India

C
Pakistan

D
Nepal

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [India]

Explaination : [India exported 4.45 million tonnes basmati rice (worth USD 4.33 billion) in financial year 2019-20. It has a 65 per cent share in global basmati trade. Pakistan makes the rest of the global trade. Recently, Pakistan’s basmati rice has received a Geographical Indication (GI) registration within the country. India has applied to the EU for the GI tag for its basmati rice in September 2020. Both countries are exporting basmati to the EU without a GI tag from it.]

103. The cabinet of which state has recently cleared new Industrial Policy and proposals over Rs 52000 crores?

A
Kerala

B
Tamil Nadu

C
Maharashtra

D
Assam

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Tamil Nadu]

Explaination : [The cabinet of Government of Tamil Nadu, has approved new investments in the state amounting Rs.52,257 crores. This includes investment by Tata Electronics amounting Rs.5,763 crores, for manufacture of mobile phone components. These investments are expected to generate over 93,935 jobs in the state. The state’s cabinet has also cleared the Tamil Nadu Industrial Policy 2021.]

104. What is the rank of India in the production of silk, globally?

A
First

B
Second

C
Third

D
Fourth

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Second]

Explaination : [China is the largest producer of silk, in the world. It is followed by India in the second place. India is the only country in the world which produces all four major varieties of silk namely – Mulberry, Eri, Tassar, and Muga. Recently, the Textiles Minister Smriti Irani inaugurated India’s biggest silk fair, the 8th India International Silk Fair. It is held on the virtual platform of Indian Silk Export Promotion Council.]

105. Which Union Ministry has launched a unified portal for ‘Gobardhan’ scheme?

A
Ministry of Home Affairs

B
Ministry of Power

C
Ministry of Jal Shakti

D
Ministry of Agriculture

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Ministry of Jal Shakti ]

Explaination : [The Union Jal Shakti Ministry has recently launched a unified portal on the ‘Gobardhan’ scheme. The portal aims to monitor the progress made under the scheme. The Gobardhan scheme was launched by the Government of India to manage cattle and biodegradable waste and also help enhance farmers’ income. It is being implemented under the Swachch Bharat Mission Grameen-Phase 2.]

106. Defence Ministry has signed a deal to procure Tejas Light Combat Aircraft from which organisation?

A
DRDO

C
ISRO

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [HAL]

Explaination : [Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recently inaugurated a new plant at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Bengaluru. It aims to double the production of the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft, India’s indigenous fighter jet. The Defence Ministry also signed a Rs 48000 crore deal to procure 83 Tejas LCA from HAL. This is said to be the biggest indigenous defence procurement.]

107. The Supreme Court has directed which Mutual Fund company to distribute Rs 9122 crores to its unitholders?

A
Baroda Mutual Fund

B
BNP Paribas Mutual Fund

C
Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund

D
Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund]

Explaination : [The Supreme Court has directed Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund to distribute Rs 9,122 crore to unitholders of the six schemes that were shut by the company in April 2020. SBI Mutual Fund has been directed to carry out the process of disbursement. Franklin Templeton has been mandated to distribute the said money within twenty days from the date of order.]

108. Which country is set to create a public platform to track polluters?

A
United Kingdom

B
China

C
Brazil

D
Australia

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [China]

Explaination : [China has recently announced that it will set up a new information platform to track emissions of polluting enterprises. It will also help the authorities to penalise those who break the rules or try to evade the supervisory guidelines. Around 2 million companies in China are obliged to obtain permits, for emitting pollutants like sulphur dioxide or wastewater.]

109. Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), which was making news recently, is a commando force of which CAPF?

B
CRPF

C
CISF

D
ITBP

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [CRPF]

Explaination : [The Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) was raised under the CRPF for intelligence-based jungle warfare operations. It was launched in the year 2009. Recently, a maiden contingent of 34 CRPF women personnel was inducted into the CoBRA force, which contained only male personnel till now. The new women team will be deployed in the anti-Naxal operations.]

110. Applications from Siemens Healthcare and Wipro GE Healthcare have been approved by the Government under which scheme?

A
Arogya Rakshak Scheme

B
Production Linked Incentive Scheme

C
Total Fertility Rate Scheme

D
Mission Indradhanush

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Production Linked Incentive Scheme]

Explaination : [The Government of India has approved applications from leading medical devices manufacturing companies, under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, by the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. These companies include Siemens Healthcare, Sahajanand Medical Technologies, Nipro India Corporation and Wipro GE Healthcare.]

111. Which Indian bowler becomes the second highest wicket-taker in tests played in India?

A
Bhuvaneshwar Kumar

B
Jusprit Bumrah

C
Ravichandran Ashwin

D
Munaf Patel

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Ravichandran Ashwin]

Explaination : [India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin became the second highest wicket-taker in tests played in India, after surpassing Harbhajan Singh. Out of the 391 wickets taken from 76 Tests, Ashwin has clinched 265 wickets in India at an average of 28.76. He achieved this feat during the test match being held against England. Anil Kumble, with 350 wickets, is the leading wicket-taker in Tests in India.]

112. Which organisation endorsed the first-ever voluntary guidelines on food systems and nutrition?

A
UNICEF

B
Committee on World Food Security

C
World Wide Fund for Nature

D
World Bank

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Committee on World Food Security]

Explaination : [Members of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) endorsed the first-ever voluntary guidelines on food systems and nutrition. CFS is an international and intergovernmental platform, hosted and co-funded by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. It enables all stake holders to work towards ensuring food security and nutrition for all.]

113. Finance Ministry is to infuse a capital of ……………… into the three state-owned general insurance companies.

A
Rs 1000 crore

B
Rs 2000 crore

C
Rs 3000 crore

D
Rs 5000 crore

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Rs 3000 crore]

Explaination : [Union Finance Ministry is set to infuse Rs 3,000 crore capital into state-owned general insurance companies, during the current quarter. The cabinet decided to increase the authorised share capital of National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) to Rs 7,500 crore and that of United India Insurance Company Limited (UIICL) and Oriental Insurance Company Limited (OICL) to Rs 5,000 crore each.]

114. What is the theme of the International Day of Human Fraternity 2021?

A
A Pathway to the Future

B
Fraternity and Unity

C
Together we stand against Covid-19

D
Global Brotherhood

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [A Pathway to the Future]

Explaination : [The International Day of Human Fraternity is observed every year by the United Nations on February 4. This year the theme is :A Pathway to the Future In the year 2019, on the same day, the document entitled “Human fraternity for world peace and living together” was signed in 2019.]

115. As per the Union budget, what is the limit for tax-free interest on Provident Fund Contributions?

A
Rs 2.5 lakh

B
Rs 5 lakh

C
Rs 7.5 lakh

D
Rs 10 lakh

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Rs 2.5 lakh]

Explaination : [The Union Budget has proposed to impose tax on the interest income on Provident Fund (PF) accounts contributions exceeding Rs 2.5 lakh a year, from 2021-22. The Central Board of Direct axes announced that the contributions to Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) above Rs 2.5 lakh a year will be kept in a separate basket and taxed simar to that of fixed deposits.]

116. ‘Chah Bagicha Dhan Puraskar’ is an initiative of which Indian state/UT?

A
Rajasthan

B
Assam

C
Madhya Pradesh

D
Odisha

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Assam]

Explaination : [The Chah Bagicha Dhan Puraskar scheme is a scheme launched by the Assam State government in 2017-18, to provide financial assistance to those working in tea gardens. Rs 5000 had been deposited to the bank account holders in tea garden areas. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is to attend the third phase of Chah Bagicha Dhan Puraskar mela in Guwahati, to distribute Rs 3000 each to nearly 7.5 lakh people at tea garden areas.]

117. Which Union Ministry is promoting the Floating Structure infrastructure in India?

A
Ministry of Commerce and Industry

B
Ministry of Jal Shakti

C
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways

D
Ministry of MSME

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways]

Explaination : [Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is promoting the Floating Structure infrastructure in India. It has implemented projects including passenger floating jetties in Goa, water-aerodromes at Sabarmati River and seaplane services at Sardar Sarovar Dam. Recently, the Ministry issued guidelines for floating structures to suggest technical aspects for implementation of Minor Harbors, Waterdromes, Floating Jetties among others.]

118. Tianwen-1, is a Mars probe launched by which country?

A
Russia

B
China

C
Japan

D
Israel

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [China]

Explaination : [China launched the Tianwen-1 Mars probe in July 2020. The space craft is expected to enter the Mars orbit around February 10 and to touch down the planet later this year. The probe has recently sent back its first image of Mars, with the geological features including the Schiaparelli crater and the Valles Marineris stretch of canyons. As per the country’s space agency CNSA, the photograph was taken about 2.2 million kilometres from Mars.]

119. Dobhi – Durgapur Natural Gas Pipeline, a part of Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga project, is located in which state/UT?

A
Assam

B
West Bengal

C
Odisha

D
Bihar

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [West Bengal]

Explaination : [The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi dedicated the 348 km Dobhi – Durgapur Natural Gas Pipeline section The LPG import terminal is a part of the Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga project. He also laid the foundation stone of the second Catalytic-Isodewaxing unit of Haldia Refinery in the state.]

120. When is the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation observed?

A
January 31

B
February 1

C
February 6

D
February 28

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [February 6]

Explaination : [The International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation is observed every year by the United Nations on February 6th. It was first observed in the year 2003. This is a part of the UN’s efforts to eradicate Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The theme for this year is “No Time for Global Inaction, Unite, Fund, and Act to End Female Genital Mutilation.”]