Best PSC / PCS / STATE PCS online Current Affairs

Current Affairs JULY-2020

Showing 1 - 20 of 236 entries

1. Which Indian institution developed an intensive care unit (ICU) grade ventilator under the name of ‘Project Praana’?

A
Indian Institute of Science (IISc)

B
AIIMS

C
IIT- Delhi

D
IIT- Guwahati

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Indian Institute of Science (IISc)]

Explaination : [A team of engineers at Indian Institute of Science (IISc) had developed an intensive care unit (ICU) grade ventilator under the name of ‘Project Praana’. Recently, the team has successfully completed the prototyping of the ventilator, which is now in the process of being commercialised. The affordable ventilator uses only components made in India or components which are easily available in the domestic markets. The team developed the ventilator in a record 35 days. ]

2. How many countries are members of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), which has held its virtual annual summit?

A
Eight

C
Twelve

D
Fifteen

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Ten]

Explaination : [ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) leaders have met during the recent annual summit held via video conference. ASEAN is a regional association with 10 member countries including Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Cambodia, Myanmar (Burma), Brunei, Laos. The Chair of ASEAN in 2020 is Vietnam, which hosted the virtual summit, due to travel restrictions amid the Covid-19 pandemic. ]

3. A community centre called “Sanskritik Sadbhav Mandap” is being constructed in which state?

A
Madhya Pradesh

B
Uttar Pradesh

C
Maharashtra

D
Bihar

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Uttar Pradesh]

Explaination : [Minister of Minority Affairs Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has laid the foundation stone for “Sanskritik Sadbhav Mandap” at Rampur, Uttar Pradesh. The centre is being constructed with the cost of Rs 92 crore by Union Minority Affairs Ministry under Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karykram (PMJVK). This community centre will be utilized for various socio-economic-cultural activities, skill development training and relief activities. ]

4. Which Union Ministry is set to launch a cashless scheme for road accident victims with an insurance cap of Rs 2.5 lakh?

A
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

B
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways

C
Ministry of Women and Child Development

D
Ministry of Home Affairs

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Ministry of Road Transport and Highways]

Explaination : [The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is set to launch a cashless scheme for road accident victims. The Ministry is to establish a Motor Vehicle Accident Fund under its aegis, for implementing the scheme. It will have an insurance coverage cap of Rs 2.5 lakh per case and enables all road accident victims of Indian or foreign nationality, to be eligible. ]

5. The United States has eliminated the special status and halted Defence Exports to which country?

A
China

B
Hong Kong

C
India

D
Vietnam

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Hong Kong]

Explaination : [The United States has recently eliminated the special status under U.S. law and halted Defence Exports to Hong Kong. U.S has also restricted the access of the country to high technology products. This decision has been taken while China is preparing new Hong Kong security legislation. U.S also proposed to end the export of dual-use technologies to the territory, which have both commercial and military uses. ]

6. What is the theme of the ‘National Doctors Day’ 2020?

A
Lessen the mortality of COVID-19

B
No violence against Doctors

C
Help those who help us

D
Honouring B.C.Roy

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Lessen the mortality of COVID-19]

Explaination : [India celebrates National Doctor’s Day on July 1 each year, in honour of the birth and death anniversary of Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy. He was a veteran physician of the country and the second Chief minister of West Bengal. Indian Government established the Doctor’s Day in the year of 1991. This year, the theme of the day is “Lessen the mortality of COVID-19”. ]

7. How many countries are involved in the USMCA agreement, that was seen in news recently?

A
Three

B
Four

C
Five

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Three]

Explaination : [The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is set to replace the 25-year-old NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement). The renegotiated deal comes into effect from July 1. USMCA is a trilateral agreement between three countries namely the United States, Mexico and Canada. The deal was originally signed in 2018 and since then the countries have been working to implement the new deal. It seeks to support the technology sector and include USD 600 million to address environmental problems. ]

8. Who has been recognised as the constitutional interim President of Venezuela, by the United Kingdom?

A
Nicolas Maduro

B
Juan Guaido

C
Nigel Teare

D
Sarosh Zaiwalla

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Juan Guaido]

Explaination : [The United Kingdom has recently recognised Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country’s constitutional interim President. A case has been held over whether Guaido or Nicolas Maduro have control on the country’s USD 1 billion worth gold reserves held in the Bank of England. In the ruling of the English High Court, it has declared Guaido as Venezuela’s legitimate leader. Though Maduro won the second term, the opposition has majority. ]

9. Which international organisation has released the report titled ‘COVID-19 and Tourism’?

A
UNWTO

B
UNCTAD

C
UNIDO

D
UNFPA

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [UNCTAD]

Explaination : [The United Nation’s trade and development body, UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) has recently released a report ‘COVID-19 and Tourism’. As per the report, the world’s tourism sector could lose at least USD 1.2 trillion or 1.5% of the global gross domestic product (GDP). If the break in international tourism lasts for 8 months, the loss could rise to USD 2.2 trillion or 2.8% of the global GDP. ]

10. Which country has the world’s largest elephant population?

A
Botswana

B
Zimbabwe

C
Thailand

D
Namibia

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Botswana]

Explaination : [Botswana, the landlocked country in South Africa has the largest elephant population in the world, around an estimate of 1,30,000. The country was recently in news, more than 300 elephants have died mysteriously in the famous Okavango Delta of Botswana. As per the head of the wildlife department, the reason of deaths was not poaching, as their tusks were not damaged. ]

11. The world’s largest COVID care centre has been inaugurated in which Indian state/UT?

A
Maharashtra

B
New Delhi

C
Gujarat

D
Tamil Nadu

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [New Delhi]

Explaination : [The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Anil Baijal has recently inaugurated the Sardar Patel COVID care centre, which is claimed to be the largest in the world. The 10,000-bed care centre has been built in a record time of 10 days. It has a COVID Care Centre (CCC), to treat asymptomatic positive patients and a Dedicated COVID Health Care (DCHC), to treat symptomatic cases. ]

12. Which country has launched a dedicated 1.57 billion pounds rescue package for arts, culture and heritage industries?

A
United Kingdom

B
Australia

C
New Zealand

D
France

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [United Kingdom]

Explaination : [United Kingdom Minister Rishi Sunak has recently unveiled a dedicated 1.57 billion pounds rescue package for arts, culture and heritage industries. Under the rescue package, affordable loans will be provided to the industries across the country, that employ more than 700,000 people. Thousands of organisations including performing arts and theatres, museums etc will be benefitted. ]

13. The algae species Ancylonema nordenskioeldii, is said to be the reason of the recent pink appearance of which mountain range?

A
Alps

B
Andes

C
Alaska

D
Himalayas

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Alps]

Explaination : [A mysterious appearance of pink glacial ice was found in the highest mountain range lying across Europs, the Alps. The species of algae known as Ancylonema nordenskioeldii, that is present in Greenland is said to be the reason for this phenomenon. The ice is said to be melting in the same place. Scientists say that this is a natural phenomenon that occurs during the spring and summer. ]

14. Which Indian state celebrates ‘Farmers Day’ on July 8, to commemorate the birth anniversary of its former Chief Minister?

A
Tamil Nadu

B
Andhra Pradesh

C
Karnataka

D
Maharashtra

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Andhra Pradesh]

Explaination : [The state of Andhra Pradesh celebrates Farmer’s Day on the birth anniversary of its former Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy. The Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy had announced that every year July 8 will be observed as ‘YSR Rythu Dinotsavam’ or Farmers Day. The former Andhra Pradesh CM and the father of Jagan Mohan Reddy, was known for his farmer-friendly schemes. ]

15. Which country has notified the United Nations about its withdrawal from the World Health Organisation (WHO)?

A
China

B
Russia

C
United States

D
Germany

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [United States]

Explaination : [The United States has formally notified the United Nations about its withdrawal from the World Health Organisation (WHO). The withdrawal notice was sent to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and it will take effect in a year, on July 6, 2021. The US is the largest donor of WHO and provides more than USD 400 million per year. It currently owes the WHO around USD 200 million in current and past dues. ]

16. National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) has partnered with which technology company to provide digital skills to Indian youth?

A
Google

B
Microsoft

C
Facebook

D
Infosys

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Microsoft]

Explaination : [The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) has partnered with Microsoft, to provide digital skills to more than 1 lakh youth in the country. Microsoft is set to collaborate with NSDC’s eSkill India portal to conduct digital skilling awareness programmes in the next 12 months. This program is a part of the global skilling initiative carried out across the world by Microsoft. ]

17. Which Public sector General Insurance company is not included in the capital infusion of PSGICs approved by the Cabinet?

A
New India Assurance Company Limited

B
United India Insurance Company Limited

C
Oriental Insurance Company Limited

D
National Insurance Company Limited

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [New India Assurance Company Limited]

Explaination : [The Union Cabinet has approved the capital infusion for an overall value of Rs.12,450 crore in the three Public Sector General Insurance Companies (PSGICs) namely Oriental Insurance Company Limited (OlCL), National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) and United India Insurance Company Limited (UIICL). This includes the Rs 2500 crore infused in the year 2019-20. The Cabinet also approved to increase the authorised share capital of NICL to Rs.7,500 crore and that of UIICL and OICL to Rs 5,000 crore. ]

18. The world’s largest producer of nickel and palladium, ‘Norilsk Nickel’ mining company is located in which country?

A
Spain

B
Italy

C
Russia

D
France

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Russia]

Explaination : [The world’s largest producer of nickel and palladium, ‘Norilsk Nickel’ mining company is located in Russia. It is headed by the famous Russian billionaire Vladimir Potanin. The company was seen in news, as Russia has directed it to pay USD 2 billion, for damages caused over the huge fuel spill in the Arctic Ocean. Earlier, Russia had declared national emergency after 21,000 tonnes of diesel fuel leaked. ]

19. The IIT Alumni Council is setting up the world’s largest molecular diagnostic lab in which city?

A
Mumbai

B
New Delhi

C
Bengaluru

D
Hyderabad

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Mumbai]

Explaination : [The IIT Alumni Council is setting up the world’s largest molecular diagnostic lab in Mumbai, Maharashtra named ‘MegaLab Mumbai’. Recently, the council has partnered with a CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB), to conduct research on spread of COVID-19 and patient data analysis. The IIT Alumni Council is the largest association of alumni, students and teachers from all the 23 IITs and partnering technical institutes. ]

20. Which armed force of India has directed its personnel to delete 89 mobile applications including Facebook, TikTok and PUBG?

A
Indian Navy

B
Indian Army

C
Indian Air Force

D
Indian Coast Guard

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Indian Army]

Explaination : [Indian Army has directed its personnel to delete 89 applications from their smartphones including Facebook, TikTok, Tinder, PUBG, and Instagram. This decision has been taken to curb leakage of information, as per the Indian Army sources. Several applications including Snapchat and UC Browser that are in the order, were also in the list of applications banned by the Indian Government earlier. ]