Best PSC / PCS / STATE PCS online Current Affairs

Current Affairs JAN-2021

Showing 161 - 180 of 300 entries

161. Padma Shri awardee D Prakash Rao, who was seen in news recently, was associated with which field?

A
Cricket

B
Music

C
Social Activism

D
Sports

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Social Activism]

Explaination : [The noted social activist and Padma Shri awardee D Prakash Rao, died recently in Cuttack. He was 63 years and died of brain stroke. He is known for his significant contribution for uplifting and imparting education to slum and orphan children of Cuttack. He started the school named ‘Asha O Ashwasana’ in Cuttack to provide free education to children residing in slums.]

162. Which country’s Mars Digger probe named the ‘Mole’ was declared dead recently?

A
China

D
Israel

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [USA]

Explaination : [The Mars Digger probe named the ‘Mole’ was deployed on the Mars by NASA’s InSight Lander. The probe has been recently declared dead by the Scientists, as it failed to burrow deep into the Mars. The heat probe was developed and built by the German Aerospace Center (DLR). It has been trying since 2019, to dig deep and find the internal temperature of the Mars. The InSight lander will continue working till 2022.]

163. What is the name of the application launched by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, for ocean data management?

A
Digi Earth

B
Digital Ocean

C
Bharat Ocean

D
Samudra Digital

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Digital Ocean]

Explaination : [Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), has launched a web-based application for ocean data management. Named ‘Digital Ocean’, the platform aims to share information on marine data and forecast services. The platform provides data for several sectors like research institutions, academic community, maritime industry and the public.]

164. Covishield, the first vaccine to get emergency-use nod from DGCI, is being manufactured by which company?

A
Bharat Biotech

B
Serum Institute of India

C
Biocon

D
Dr Reddys Labs

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Serum Institute of India]

Explaination : [Covishield is the vaccine candidate from Pune-based Serum Institute of India. It has been approved by a Subject Expert Committee (SEC) of the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI). Covishield is equivalent to the vaccine being developed by the Oxford-AstraZeneca. The United Kingdom also granted emergency use approval to the vaccine in the country.]

165. India asked which country to assist its crew members of the stranded cargo vessels MV Jag Anand and MV Anastasia?

A
Sri Lanka

B
China

C
Japan

D
Thailand

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [China]

Explaination : [The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) considered the condition of the sailors as a suo-motto step and asked the Ministry of External Affairs to take care of the crew members. In response, the Ministry has asked China to provide urgent assistance to as many as 39 cre members of the stranded cargo vessels, which have been stuck for months near the Chinese ports of Jingtang and Caofeidian.]

166. Asian Waterbird Census 2021, which was seen in the news recently, is to be conducted in which ?

A
Kerala

B
Tamil Nadu

C
Andhra Pradesh

D
Gujarat

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Andhra Pradesh]

Explaination : [The annual waterbird census is to be conducted in the state of Andhra Pradesh, by the state forest department. The regions included are the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, areas near Godavari estuary, Kolleru Lake, Atapaka Bird Sanctuary and Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary in Krishna estuary. Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and Wetland International will provide technical support.]

167. Pong Dam sanctuary, which was seen in the news recently, is located in which state?

A
Himachal Pradesh

B
Madhya Pradesh

C
Sikkim

D
Gujarat

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Himachal Pradesh]

Explaination : [Over 1700 migratory birds were found dead in the Pong Dam sanctuary in the state of Himachal Pradesh, under mysterious circumstances. Recently, it was found that those birds have tested positive for bird flu. This makes Himachal Pradesh to join the list of states to report cases of the avian influenza after Rajasthan and Kerala.]

168. A three-judge bench headed by Justice A M Khanwilkar delivered verdict on which case, by 2:1 majority?

A
Hathras Case

B
Central Vista Project Case

C
Ayodhya Land Case

D
Covid-19 vaccination case

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Central Vista Project Case]

Explaination : [The Supreme Court’s three-judge bench headed by Justice A M Khanwilkar delivered its verdict on Central Vista Project Case. The bench approved the re-development project by a 2:1 majority and upheld the exercise of power by the Centre as just and valid. It also confirmed the modifications in the change in land use and the recommendations of the environmental committee.]

169. TRIFED is a federation under which ministry?

A
Ministry of Human Resources

B
Ministry of Social Justice

C
Ministry of Agriculture

D
Ministry of Tribal Affairs

Show Answer

Correct Answer : D [Ministry of Tribal Affairs]

Explaination : [The TRIFED (Tribal Co-operative Marketing Federation) is a federation under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. It has recently entered into an MoU with Akhil Bhartiya Vanvasi Kalyan Kendra of Madhya Pradesh which has been working for the welfare of tribal population. The MoU envisages to setup TRIFOOD Parks in 5 districts in Madhya Pradesh.]

170. Which state declared itself as a ‘controlled area’ amid the outbreak of the Avian Influenza?

A
Punjab

B
Sikkim

C
Himachal Pradesh

D
Uttar Pradesh

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Punjab]

Explaination : [The entire state of Punjab has been declared a ‘controlled area’ amidst the outbreak of the Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) in neighbouring states. It has also imposed a complete ban on the import of live birds and unprocessed poultry meat into the state. Bird Flu has been reported from as many as six states including Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Gujarat.]

171. The first edition of National Youth Parliament Festival was held in which year?

A
2015

B
2017

C
2019

D
2020

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [2019]

Explaination : [The first National Youth Parliament Festival (NYPF) was organised in February 2019 at District, State and National levels. The second edition of the festival was launched in the month of December 2020. After District and State-level events, the final event was held recently Central Hall of Parliament. Youth between 18 to 25 years will speak before the National jury and out of them, three will be declared winners.]

172. Which country’s passport is declared the most powerful, as per the Henley Passport Index?

A
Singapore

B
Japan

C
United States

D
United Kingdom

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Japan]

Explaination : [As per the recent report of the Henley Passport Index, Japanese passport has retained the rank of topmost powerful passport in the world. With the Japanese passport, one can travel to as many as 191 countries by visa-free or visa-on-arrival mode. India ranks 85th in the list while Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan remain the the countries with the worst passport to hold.]

173. U.S. has recently named which country as the “State Sponsor of Terrorism”?

A
Argentina

B
Cuba

C
Chile

D
Brazil

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Cuba]

Explaination : [The United States has recently designated Cuba as a ‘State sponsor of terrorism’. The U.S Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced this decision. U.S alleges that Cuba repeatedly provides support for acts of international terrorism. This move is against the decision of former President Barrack Obama to remove this label, and the incoming Presidents efforts to normalize ties.]

174. The Leader of which country has been given a title of “General secretary” of the ruling Workers’ Party?

A
China

B
North Korea

C
Thailand

D
Vietnam

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [North Korea]

Explaination : [North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un was recently given a new title, “General secretary” of the ruling Workers’ Party. The new title, which was formerly held by his late father and grandfather, was announced by the ongoing Congress of the country. In 2016, he was named as the ‘Party Chairman’. The family’s bloodline named “Paektu”, empowers their direct family members to rule the country.]

175. India has decided to set up one-million-dollar facility for academic collaboration with countries of which region?

A
Europe

B
South America

C
Arab

D
Asia

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Arab]

Explaination : [India has decided to establish a one-million-dollar facility for academic collaboration with the Arab World. This was decided at the 3rd Senior Officials Meeting of the Arab-India Cooperation Forum. The meeting was held in a virtual format. The proposal for establishing the facility for academic collaboration is expected to have far reaching impact on contacts between India and Middle east.]

176. The researchers of Durham University have developed a supercomputer simulation to explain the formation of which space body?

A
Moon

B
Mars

D
Earth

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Moon]

Explaination : [Recently, researchers of Durham University have developed a supercomputer simulation to explain the formation of moon. The researchers have stated that Earth collided with a Mars like planet named Theia about 4.5 billion years ago. The resulting debris is found to be a self-gravitating body, which has a great resemblance to moon in term of mass and ferric properties.]

177. Sweden’s Autoliv Inc. has proposed to establish its manufacturing unit in which state?

A
Maharashtra

B
Andhra Pradesh

C
Gujarat

D
Tamil Nadu

Show Answer

Correct Answer : D [Tamil Nadu]

Explaination : [The fortune 500 company Autoliv Inc., headquartered in Sweden has proposed to establish its manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu. The company is to invest a sum of Rs.100 crore for its plant and is expected to create 400 job opportunities. The company is involved in design, manufacturing and marketing of air-bags, seat belts and steering wheels.]

178. Ved Parkash Mehta, who was seen in news recently, was associated with which field?

A
Space Science

B
Cricket

C
Journalism

D
Atomic energy

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Journalism]

Explaination : [Ved Parkash Mehta was a well-known Indian-American novelist and journalist who died recently, at the age of 86 years. He was visually challenged from a very early age and was known for the monumental autobiography, through which he introduced Americans to Indian history and culture. He was associated with the New Yorker magazine for a long time.]

179. The UN and its partners are seeking USD 1.3 billion, for which country affected by war?

A
Syria

B
Iraq

C
Afghanistan

D
Palestine

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Afghanistan]

Explaination : [The UN and its humanitarian partners in Afghanistan are seeking USD 1.3 billion to assist over 16 million people, affected by war. Six years ago, only 2.3 million people were targeted for assistance, which has now increased 6 times. The people are in need of life-saving assistance after decades of conflict, natural disasters and the prevalent Covid-10 pandemic.]

180. Who is the head of RBI’s working group on regulation of Digital lending space?

A
AK Mohanty

B
Jayant Kumar Dash

C
Raghuram Rajan

D
Injetti Srinivasan

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Jayant Kumar Dash]

Explaination : [The Reserve Bank of India has formed a 6-member working group headed by its Executive Director Jayant Kumar Dash, on regulation of digital lending space. The committee would study digital lending in regulated as well as unregulated financial sector to devise a regulatory framework for the same.]