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Current Affairs Oct-2020

Showing 1 - 20 of 235 entries

1. What is the name of the paper strip test for SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis to be rolled out by the Ministry of Health?

A
SANA

B
FELUDA

C
MAGNA

D
MEGHA

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [FELUDA]

Explaination : [The Union Minister for Health Harsh Vardhan has stated that the Health Ministry would soon roll out paper strip test for SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis named FELUDA. The test strip has been developed by CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), and has been approved by the Drug Controller General of India.]

2. India has extended USD 400 million loan to which county for financing connectivity projects?

A
Maldives

B
Mauritius

C
South Africa

D
Nigeria

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Maldives]

Explaination : [India has recently extended a soft loan of USD 400 million (about Rs 2900 crore) to the Maldives. The Line of Credit (LoC) has been given by Export-Import Bank (EXIM Bank), to finance connectivity projects in the Maldives. Including the current LoC, India has extended three such loans to Maldives amounting USD 1.2 billion.]

3. Which country is set to host the 7th Meeting of Ministers of Law and Justice of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in 2020?

A
China

B
India

C
Pakistan

D
Russia

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [India]

Explaination : [Union Law Minister of India Ravi Shankar Prasad will host the seventh meeting of Ministers of Law and Justice of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). The virtual meeting which is to be held on October 16 will be attended by Law and Justice Ministers of China, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyz Republic. India will also host the second meeting of the Experts Working Group.]

4. Which astronomical observatory of India has completed five years of mapping stars?

A
Astrosat

B
Risat

C
Cartosat

D
South Asian Satellite

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Astrosat]

Explaination : [India’s first multi-wavelength astronomical observatory named ‘Astrosat’ has recently completed five years of imaging objects in space. The satellite was launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in 2015. It has successfully carried out over 1000 observations of 800 unique celestial sources. A discovery of a galaxy located at a distance of about 10 billion light-years from Earth has been made using it.]

5. Which forest is said to be in a risk of changing from Forest to Savanna, as per a recent study?

A
Congo Rainforest

B
Amazon Rainforest

C
Daintree Rainforest

D
Tongass National Forest

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Amazon Rainforest]

Explaination : [In a recent study published in the journal Nature Communications, the resilience of tropical rainforests under two additional extreme scenarios is explored. As per the study, rainfall in the Amazon is very low that up to 40% of the forest is at a risk of changing into a savanna-like environment, with fewer trees and biodiversity. The study also simulated the effect of emissions from burning fossil fuels between now and the end of the century.]

6. Which technology company has launched a campaign named ‘Make Small Strong’?

A
Go Tribal

B
Tribes India

C
Local to Global

D
India Tribe

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Tribes India]

Explaination : [Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda is to launch India’s largest handicraft and organic products marketplace named ‘Tribes India E-Marketplace’ This marketplace will be launched on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. This initiative of TRIFED will showcase the produce and handicrafts of tribal enterprises from all parts of the country. The Minister will also launch Pakur Honey, gathered by Santhal Tribals from Pakur, Jharkhand.]

7. Ministry of Defence has designated Alpha Design Technologies Limited for upgrading which defence system?

A
Pinaka Artillery System

B
Pechora surface to air systems

C
Brahmos Missile System

D
Navic System

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Pechora surface to air systems]

Explaination : [The Union Defence Ministry has designated Alpha Design Technologies Limited (ADTL) to upgrade the soviet era Pechora surface to air systems. As per the Rs.591 crore contract, the firm would be upgrading 16 such systems. Alpha Design Technologies Limited is a Bengaluru based company that is specialized in defence electronics, avionics and space satellite systems.]

8. Which institution has released the “Time Use Survey in India” report?

A
UNDP

C
Pratham

D
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [NSO]

Explaination : [The National Statistical Office (NSO) conducted the first of its kind “Time Use Survey in India” during the period from January to December 2019. The result of the survey has been released recently in the form of a report. The survey measures the time spent on paid activities, care activities, unpaid activities, etc. NSO conducted the survey covering 1,38,799 households in both urban and rural areas.]

9. Indian Army has signed a project worth Rs.7796 crore with which company for strengthening ASCON communication network?

A
Reliance Industries Ltd

B
ITI Limited

D
Tata Communications Ltd

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [ITI Limited]

Explaination : [Indian Army has signed a Rs.7,796 crore project with ITI Limited, a telecom & Defence equipment manufacturing PSU. The project has been signed for Phase IV of Army Static Switched Communication Network (ASCON) project. The ASCON is a telecom network for secured communication across the country. The project also includes maintenance of the network for a period of 10 years by ITI Limited.]

10. Which institution is to launch an e-learning hub for villagers under Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA)?

A
IIT Madras

B
IIT Delhi

C
IIM Ahmadabad

D
IIM Kozhikode

Show Answer

Correct Answer : D [IIM Kozhikode]

Explaination : [The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Kozhikode is set to launch an e-learning hub and library as a pilot project for villagers in Mavoor. The village is one among the five villages adopted by the institution under the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan. Under the scheme, academicians are engaged in solving the local problems of the society. IIM Kozhikode is a partner institute for the UBA programme.]

11. This year’s Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to three Scientists for their work in which field?

A
Photonics

B
Optics

C
Cosmology

D
Nuclear Physics

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Cosmology]

Explaination : [Three scientists namely Roger Penrose of Britain, Reinhard Genzel and American Andrea Ghez of Germany have won this year’s Nobel Prize in Physics. The award has been presented for their contribution in the field of Cosmology. As per the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the Scientists advanced our understanding of black holes.]

12. Dinesh Kumar Khara has been appointed as the Chairman of which public sector bank?

A
State Bank of India

B
Punjab National Bank

C
Union Bank of India

D
Canara Bank

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [State Bank of India]

Explaination : [The Union Government has appointed Dinesh Kumar Khara as Chairman of State Bank of India for three years from 7 October. According to a notification issued by the Finance Ministry, Khara will replace SBI Chairman Rajnish Kumar, whose three-year term is ending on October 7. Khara was serving as the Managing Director of SBI since August 2016.]

13. The National Mission for Clean Ganga has launched a campaign related to which animal, along with the Wildlife Institute of India?

A
Bengal Tiger

B
Dolphin

C
Turtle

D
Sea Horse

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Dolphin]

Explaination : [The National Mission for Clean Ganga along with Wildlife Institute of India and the Forest Department launched the ‘My Ganga My Dolphin’ campaign. This has been launched on the occasion of Ganga River Dolphin Day observed on October 5, 2020. A Dolphin-based ecotourism programme was also launched at various sites along the Ganga River. Under the campaign, Dolphin Census will be conducted and awareness campaigns would be held.]

14. ‘MSME Prerana’, that was seen in the news recently, is a programme launched by which bank?

A
Indian Overseas Bank

B
Indian Bank

C
Bank of Maharashtra

D
Union Bank of India

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Indian Bank]

Explaination : [Union Finance Minister Nirmala itharaman has recently launched ‘MSME Prerana’, an online business mentoring programme for MSMEs. The programme is to implemented by Indian Bank and is aimed at empowering entrepreneurs through skill development and capacity building workshops. The mentoring programmes would be available in all local languages.]

15. The United States is to set up a Foreign Commercial Service Office in which Asian country?

A
Bangladesh

B
Nepal

C
India

D
Sri Lanka

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Bangladesh]

Explaination : [The United States has decided to open its Foreign Commercial Service Office in Dhaka, Bangladesh to boost its economic ties with the country. The US also agreed to ask the American companies to invest in various sectors like energy, IT, pharmaceutics and agriculture in Bangladesh. The dignitaries also discussed issues relating to cooperation in the field of energy.]

16. Who has been appointed as the new Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)?

A
M Rajeshwar Rao

B
Ashima Goyal

C
Jayanth R Varma

D
Shashanka Bhide

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [M Rajeshwar Rao]

Explaination : [The Central government has appointed M Rajeshwar Rao as the new Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). He is currently serving as the Executive Director of the country’s central bank. The Appointment Committee of the Union cabinet has approved the appointment and he will succeed NS Vishwanathan as the fourth Deputy Governor.]

17. Which Indian state has inaugurated its largest Greenfield oxygen plant commissioned by INOX Air Products?

A
Gujarat

B
Uttar Pradesh

C
Bihar

D
Jharkhand

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Uttar Pradesh]

Explaination : [The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has virtually inaugurated the state’s largest oxygen plant in Modinagar, Ghaziabad. The plant is commissioned by the leading manufacturers of industrial and medical gases, INOX Air Products (INOX). The project outlay of the plant is Rs 135 crore and it has a capacity of 150 tonnes liquid medical oxygen per day.]

18. Which special day related to bureaucracy is celebrated on October 9 since 2011?

A
IAS Day

B
IPS Day

C
IFS Day

D
IRS Day

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [IFS Day]

Explaination : [The Indian Foreign Service (IFS) day is celebrated on 9 October every year since 2011, to commemorate the day the Indian Cabinet created the Indian Foreign Service. Several National Leaders including the Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister extended their greetings to all Indian Foreign Service officers in the country. The Prime Minister also mentioned their contribution in the Vande Bharat Mission.]

19. The Prime Minister released a commemorative coin of Rs 100 denomination, to honour which personality?

A
Vijaya Raje Scindia

B
Syama Prasad Mukherjee

C
Deendayal Upadhyaya

D
M. S. Golwalkar

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Vijaya Raje Scindia]

Explaination : [The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a commemorative Rs 100 coin as part of the end of birth centenary celebrations of Vijaya Raje Scindia. She was also called as the Rajamata of Gwalior and was born on the same day in the year 1919. Vijaya Raje Scindia started her political career from the Congress and later joined the Swatantrata Party before becoming a member of the BJP’s parent party, Jana Sangh.]

20. The ZojiLa tunnel, which is seen in the news recently, is being constructed in which state / UT?

A
Jammu and Kashmir

B
Ladakh

C
Uttarakhand

D
Himachal Pradesh

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Jammu and Kashmir]

Explaination : [The ZojiLa tunnel is being constructed in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir. The tunnel would provide all-weather safe connectivity between Srinagar valley and Leh through Drass and Kargil. The tunnel is being constructed on the National Highway NH1 and is 14.15 km long at an altitude of 3000m. Once completed, the tunnel would reduce the time for crossing ZojiLa Pass from 3 hours to 15 minutes.]