Best PSC / PCS / STATE PCS online Current Affairs

Current Affairs JAN-2021

Showing 141 - 160 of 300 entries

141. Which country recently signed an order to allow Transgender persons to serve in Military roles?

A
Singapore

B
United States

C
New Zealand

D
India

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [United States]

Explaination : [The U.S. President Joe Biden signed an executive order which allows all qualified Americans to serve in the country’s military. Former President Barack Obama allowed transgender people to serve in the Military while the previous President Donald Trump banned the process. Now, this new order would repeal the ban while also providing the necessary medical care to the persons.]

142. Janet Yellen has been appointed as the first woman Treasury secretary of which country?

A
New Zealand

B
Australia

C
United States

D
United Kingdom

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [United States]

Explaination : [The United States Senate confirmed veteran economist Janet Yellen as first woman Treasury Secretary of the country. The 74-year-old eminent economist is also the Former chairperson of the Federal Reserve during the Global Financial Crisis. She is the third cabinet member of the Biden Administration to be confirmed by the Senate.]

143. Which country announced a pledge of USD 150,000 for UN peace building operations?

A
China

B
India

C
Japan

D
Germany

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [India]

Explaination : [India announced a pledge of USD 150,000 to the programmes and activities of the UN peacebuilding fund this year. TS Tirumurti, permanent representative of India to the United Nations announced this in a virtual address to the High-Level Replenishment Conference for the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund.]

144. The CCEA approved hike in Minimum Support Price of Copra, in line with whose recommendation?

A
K Santhanam

B
M S Swaminathan

C
Varghese Kurian

D
Saran Singh

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [M S Swaminathan]

Explaination : [The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for milling copra and ball copra. As per M S Swaminathan recommendations, the increase in MSP has been approved. The MSP of copra was raised by Rs 375 from the previous year, 2020 to Rs 10,335 per quintal. Farmers of 12 coastal states are likely to impact by the price hike.]

145. Which country has launched “New Variant Assessment Platform”?

C
China

D
Brazil

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [UK]

Explaination : [The United Kingdom (UK) has launched a New Variant Assessment Platform, which will be used to identify new variants COVID-19 viruses. It uses genomics expertise possessed by UK and has been dedicated for use by countries which does not have sufficient resources for identifying the new Covid virus strains.]

146. The “World Gold Demand Trends report” is released by which organisation?

A
International Monetary Fund

B
World Gold Council

C
Indian Bullion Association

D
Reserve Bank of India

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [World Gold Council]

Explaination : [The report titled “World Gold Demand Trends” has been released by the World Gold Council. As per the report, Gold purchase by central banks of various countries declined sharply in 2020 and fell by nearly 60% to 272.9 tonnes. The decline in purchase was most particular in Q2 of the FY 2020-21.]

147. National Non-communicable Disease Monitoring Survey (NNMS), which was released recently, was conducted during which year?

A
2019-20

B
2018-19

C
2017-18

D
2016-17

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [2017-18]

Explaination : [The Union Health Ministry released the National Non-communicable Disease Monitoring Survey (NNMS). In the survey conducted during 2017-18, it was revealed that two in five adults in India have three or more risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCD). The Health Minister also launched a framework on use of telemedicine for cancer, diabetes, heart diseases and stroke in India.]

148. Who is the Chairperson of the panel set up to review the proposed ban on 27 widely used pesticides?

A
TP Rajendran

B
K Vijay Kumar

C
C Sylendra Babu

D
K Sivan

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [TP Rajendran]

Explaination : [As per media reports, the Government has appointed an expert panel to review industry’s objections to the proposed ban on 27 widely used pesticides. Former assistant director general of ICAR, TP Rajendran is to chair the committee, which will submit the report in next three months. The Government has proposed to ban 27 pesticides, which are said to be harmful to animals and humans.]

149. As a part of Mission SAGAR-III, Indian Naval Ship INS Kiltan as reached which country to deliver relief materials?

A
Madagascar

B
Philippines

C
Cambodia

D
Laos

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Cambodia]

Explaination : [Indian Naval Ship (INS) Kiltan has recently reached the Sihanoukville Port in Cambodia to deliver 15 tonnes of disaster relief items for the flood-affected people. Due to the floods occurred in November, over 8 lakh people are affected and over 40 people have died in Cambodia. This operation of INS Kiltan is a part of Mission Sagar-III under which humanitarian assistance and relief is provided to India’s friendly countries.]

150. Which state’s Municipal Corporation partnered with UNDP India to launch India’s first Social Impact Bond (SIB)?

A
Kerala

B
Tamil Nadu

C
Maharashtra

D
Odisha

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Maharashtra]

Explaination : [The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation has signed an MoU with UNDP India to create India’s first Social Impact Bond (SIB). This bond describes outcome-based targets to be achieved, so that the progress of the outcomes can be tracked. It also ensures the funds are used effectively towards the project. The bonds would support the corporation in improving the healthcare services.]

151. Which country generated over half of its power from wind, due to the Storm Bella?

A
United States

B
United Kingdom

C
Italy

D
Germany

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [United Kingdom]

Explaination : [Recently, the Strom Bella hit parts of France and United Kingdom and caused heavy rain and winds in Northern France. The United Kingdom created a record of generating over 50 per cent of the country’s electricity generation from wind. This was generated from the heavy winds of speed up to 100 miles per hour. It also enabled the country to record the ‘Greenest year’.]

152. Which country’s space agency has recently approved two Sun-exploration heliophysics missions?

A
India

B
United States

C
Russia

D
China

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [United States]

Explaination : [The United States’ space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has announced that it has given approval to two Sun exploration heliophysics missions. Under these missions, researchers study the Sun and relate them to the events taking place in the solar system. The missions include NASA-led Electrojet Zeeman Imaging Explorer (EZIE) mission and Japan-led Extreme Ultraviolet High-Throughput Spectroscopic Telescope Epsilon Mission (EUVST) mission.]

153. The Ministry of Electronics and IT is set to impact assessment of which mobile application?

A
My FASTag

B
UMANG

C
DigiLocker

D
Arogya Setu

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [UMANG]

Explaination : [The Ministry of Electronics and IT (Meity) is to select an agency that will do an impact assessment of the UMANG application. UMANG (Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance) app was launched in 2017. It aimed to provide over 2000 government services on a single platform. The Government wants to analyse why some citizens are not using the application.]

154. Who is the Chairperson of the academic advisory council, recently set up by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)?

A
B P Kanungo

B
R Gandhi

C
N S Vishwanathan

D
Urjit Patel

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [N S Vishwanathan]

Explaination : [The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has set up an academic advisory council to advise the full-time director of the RBI’s College of Supervisors (CoS). Former RBI Deputy Governor N S Vishwanathan has been named the chairperson of the council. This move aims to strengthen supervision over regulated entities and supervisory skills among its regulatory and supervisory staff.]

155. Which country raised USD 1 billion to fund Covid-19 vaccination campaigns in developing countries?

A
United States

B
Germany

C
France

D
United Kingdom

Show Answer

Correct Answer : D [United Kingdom]

Explaination : [The United Kingdom has raised USD 1 billion from global donors to fund COVID-19 vaccination campaigns in developing countries. This fund is including the USD 744.5 million of the pledged UK aid, with the remaining fund from global donors, under COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC). It aims to distribute one billion doses of coronavirus vaccines to 92 developing countries.]

156. A portal has been launched for the sale of items under AFD-1 category, related to which Ministry?

A
Ministry of MSME

B
Ministry of Tribal Affairs

C
Ministry of Defence

D
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers welfare

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Ministry of Defence]

Explaination : [Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched a portal for the online sale of items falling under AFD-I category, through the Canteen Stores Department (CSD). Against Firm Demand (AFD-I) category has expensive items including washing machines, microwave ovens, refrigerators, air-conditioners, mobile phones among others. Through this portal, lakhs of armed forces personnel and ex-servicemen can purchase the items from home.]

157. Which organisation announced to provide offer a free Domain Name in any of the 22 official Indian language?

A
ICANN

B
NIXI

C
DSCI

D
APNIC

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [NIXI]

Explaination : [The National Internet Exchange of India, NIXI is a leading not-for-profit organization. It has been working to provide improved internet services, since 2003. Recently NIXI has announced that it would provide a free Internationalized Domain Name (IDN) in any of the 22 official Indian language. Along with every IN domain booked, the applicant Applicant will also get a free email in local language.]

158. Which country is to chair the Taliban and Libya sanctions committees and the Counter-Terrorism Committee of UNSC?

A
United States

B
India

C
China

D
Sweden

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [India]

Explaination : [India has been asked to chair three important committees in the UN Security Council. India has just begun its two-year tenure as non-permanent member of the powerful 15-nation Council. The Taliban Sanctions Committee (also known as the 1988 Sanctions Committee), the Libya Sanctions Committee (also called the 1970 Sanctions Committee) and the Counter-Terrorism Committee are the crucial committees.]

159. Who is/was the first U.S President to be impeached twice?

A
Bill Clinton

B
Andrew Johnson

C
Donald Trump

D
Ronald Reagan

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Donald Trump]

Explaination : [United States House of Representatives has voted to impeach President Donald Trump after the riots at the Capitol building. With this round of impeachment, the Donald Trump becomes the only US president to be impeached a second time. The House impeached him on the charge of incitement of insurrection for his role in the recent riot by his supporters, at the US Capitol.]

160. Which Technology Major has recently acquired ‘Fitbit’ fitness application?

A
Amazon

B
Microsoft

C
Google

D
Apple

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Google]

Explaination : [Google has completed its USD 2.1 billion acquisition of fitness-gadget making firm Fitbit for approximately USD 2.1 billion. This acquisition has come at the time when the US government regulators are pursuing an antitrust case. Google announced about this acquisition before 14 months, which will help expand the Tech Major’s presence in the market.]