Best PSC / PCS / STATE PCS online Current Affairs

Current Affairs JAN-2020

Showing 1 - 20 of 249 entries

1. Dhanu Jatra is currently celebrated in which state?

A
Odisha

B
Telangana

C
Jharkhand

D
Madhya Pradesh

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Odisha]

Explaination : [The famous 11-day Dhanu Jatra, the annual drama-based open-air theatrical performance is conducted in and around the city of Bargarh in Western Odisha. It is based on mythological story of Lord Krishna and his Uncle, King Kansa. In November 2014, it was conferred with the National Festival Status.]

2. Fausta, a female black rhino, believed to be the world’s oldest rhino, had recently died in Tanzanian conservation area. What is the IUCN status of the black rhinos?

A
Least concern

B
Endangered

C
Critically Endangered

D
Near threatened

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Critically Endangered]

Explaination : [Also known as “hook-lipped rhinoceros”, these species, though called “black” are in varying colours of brown and grey. They are found in South and East Africa, including Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Its IUCN status is critically endangered, though the South-Western status of the black rhinoceros is classified under vulnerable. ]

3. Which state is going to observe “No Vehicle Day” on the first day of every month in 2020?

A
Kerala

B
Gujarat

C
Punjab

D
Rajasthan

Show Answer

Correct Answer : D [Rajasthan]

Explaination : [In order to promote road safety and reduce vehicular pollution, Rajasthan Transport department is going to observe a “No Vehicle Day” once a month in 2020. The employees of the transport department are to come to their offices as pedestrians, via bcycles or a public transport.]

4. Where was the event held to commemorate the 76th Anniversary of the First Flag Hoisting by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose?

A
Kashmir

B
Jammu

C
Ladakh

D
Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Show Answer

Correct Answer : D [Andaman and Nicobar Islands]

Explaination : [A function was held to commemorate the 76th Anniversary of the First Flag Hoisting of Netaji SuChandra Bose at Port Blair. Subhash Mela Committee Swarajdweep has organised bike rally. The cultural programmes were also conducted.]

5. Which state is going to conduct its maiden snow leopard survey?

A
Uttrakhand

B
Himachal Pradesh

C
Haryana

D
Punjab

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Uttrakhand]

Explaination : [Uttarakhand is preparing for its maiden snow leopards survey after the winter is over. Experts estimate that there are over 80 snow leopards in Uttarakhand. However, a census of this cat has not yet been conducted.]

6. Which ministry is set to launch “Santusht” portal for rapid grievance redressal for the employers and the employees?

A
Ministry of Commerce and Industry

B
Ministry of Finance

C
Ministry of Labor and Employment

D
Ministry of Human Resource Development

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Ministry of Labor and Employment]

Explaination : [The Ministry of Labour and Employment is going to launch “Santusht” platform next month to ensure an efficient implementation of the labour laws at the grass root levels. It will also look into the services provided by the retirement fund body, EPFO and health insurance and service provider ESIC for those working in the formal sector.]

7. Who is going to head the recently constituted task force for developing the National Infrastructure Pipeline?

A
Cabinet Secretary

B
Economic Affairs Secretary

C
Revenue Secretary

D
Finance Secretary

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Economic Affairs Secretary]

Explaination : [The Union Finance Minister had unveiled a Rs. 102 lakh crore National Infrastructure Pipeline. To create a road map for the national infrastructure pipeline from 2019-2020 to 2024-25, finance ministry had set up a task force. It is to be headed by the Economic Affairs Secretary.]

8. The dornier aircraft, that was recently inducted into the Otters Squadron, belongs to which category?

A
Reconnaissance aircraft

B
Light Utility aircraft

C
Surveillance aircraft

D
Strategic Airlifter

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Light Utility aircraft]

Explaination : [The light utility aircraft Dornier was recently inducted into the No.41 “Otters” Squadron during a ceremony at the Palam Air Force Station. the Dornier-228 aircraft is a multi-purpose, fuel efficient, rugged, lightweight twin turboprop aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear.]

9. Captain Vikram Batra, after whom Delhi is to rename it’s Mukarba Chowk, was martyred in which war?

A
Sino-Indian war of 1962

B
Indo-Pakistan war of 1947

C
Kargil War

D
Bangladesh Liberation War

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Kargil War]

Explaination : [The Delhi government’s naming committee had recommended the renaming of Pragati Maidan metro station as Supreme Court metro station. It had also decided to rename the Mukarba Chowk and its flyover after the Kargil War martyr Captain Vikram Batra.]

10. The agreement on the prohibition of attack against nuclear installations and facilities was signed in 1988 between which two countries?

A
US and USSR

B
USSR and China

C
India and Pakistan

D
India and USSR

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [India and Pakistan]

Explaination : [On 1st January each year, India and Pakistan exchange a list of their nuclear installations in accordance with the Agreement on the Prohibition of attack against Nuclear Installations and Facilities. This agreement prohibits both the countries from attacking each other’s atomic facilities.]

11. From which Indian organization, the four personnel have been selected for training in Russia for the Gaganyaan Mission, that is going to be launched in 2022?

A
ISRO

C
MARCOS

D
Indian Navy

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [IAF]

Explaination : [Recently, four men from Indian Air Force have been identified for Gaganyaan, India’s first manned mission to space. They will undertake astronauts’ training in Russia. Gaganyaan is a crewed orbital spacecraft intended to send astronauts into space for a minimum of 7 days by 2022 as a part of the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme.]

12. Who will launch the “Earthshot Prize” to motivate new solution to tackle climate crisis?

A
Duke of Cambridge

B
Queen Elizabeth II

C
Duke of Sussex

D
Prince of Wales

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Duke of Cambridge ]

Explaination : [Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge will launch the environmental prize called the Earthshot.The multi-million pound award will be given to five winners each year for the next 10 years, starting from 2021. Its aim is to provide at least 50 solutions to the world’s greatest problems by 2030.]

13. Who will be the head of the recently created Sainya Karta Vibhag?

A
Prime Minister

B
Defence Minister

C
Finance Minister

D
Chief of Defence Staff

Show Answer

Correct Answer : D [Chief of Defence Staff]

Explaination : [A new Department of Military Affairs, also known as Sainya Karta Vibhag will be headed by the Chief of Defence Staff. This department is an addition to the four other departments of the Ministry of Defence – the Department of Defence, Defence Production, Defence and Development and Ex-service welfare.]

14. Which nation has recently banned the ‘reef toxic’ sunscreen?

A
Australia

B
New Zealand

C
Palau

D
Nauru

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Palau]

Explaination : [Palau has banned “reef-toxic” sunscreens. The scientific evidence showed that chemicals found in most sunscreens were toxic to corals. Therefore, from New Year’s Day, any reef-toxic sunscreens that are imported or sold in Palau will be confiscated and the owner will be fined. ]

15. The US was recently praised by the UAE for its role in the Global Coalition against Daesh. What is the other name for Daesh?

A
Al Qaeda

B
Hezbollah

C
ISIS

D
Houthis

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [ISIS]

Explaination : [The UAE had expressed its support for all the measures taken by the US to defend and protect its interests and forces in the region and also praised the US’ role in the Global Coalition against Daesh (ISIS). The term “Daesh” is an acronym for the Arabic phrase al-Dawla al-Islamiya al-Iraq al-Sham (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant).]

16. Which is the world’s first major city to celebrate the start of the 2020 New Year and new decade?

A
Sydney

B
Auckland

C
Christchurch

D
Welllington

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Auckland]

Explaination : [Auckland in New Zealand has become the world’s first major city to celebrate the start of the 2020.Australia and New Zealand were followed by Europe, the Middle East and Asia to welcome the year 2020. The firework display in Sydney, Australia was put up despite the ongoing bushfire crisis.]

17. What aspect of agriculture is focused upon by Krishi Karman Award?

A
Supply

B
Sales

C
Production

D
Water Management

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Production]

Explaination : [The Prime Minister is to visit Karnataka on January 2nd and 3rd. He will confer Krishi Karman Award to 21 states that have recorded good agriculture production in various categories during the previous crop seasons.]

18. What is the aim of the recently formed Akhil Bharatiya Gujarati Samaj Sankalan Samiti?

A
Include NRIs in the State’s development process

B
Include non-resident Gujaratis in the state’s development process

C
Include persons of Indian origin in state’s development process

D
Include Indians outside Gujarat in the development process

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Include non-resident Gujaratis in the state’s development process]

Explaination : [The Akhil Bharatiya Gujarati Samaj Sankalan Samiti, with the state’s chief minister as chief patron and the Minister of Non-resident Gujaratis (NRGs) as the president, aims to include Gujaratis living outside the state in the state’s developmental process. The Samiti will meet twice a year – once in Gujarat and next in another state.]

19. What is Landouria tonywhitteni that was named after Tony Whitten?

A
Snail

B
Grasshopper

C
Snake

D
Beetle

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Snail]

Explaination : [Tony Whitten was a British conservationist who documented biodiversity in Asia before he died due to cycling crash. Aprize fund was set up in his name after his death. One of the recent winners of this prize named a snail in Indonesia after him. These species live in a limestone habitat and are threatened due to quarrying for the cement industry.]

20. On January 2, 2020, Prakash Parv was celebrated as birth anniversary of which Sikh Guru?

A
Guru Harkrishan Sahib

B
Guru Har Rai

C
Guru Gobind Singh

D
Guru Teg Bahadur

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Guru Gobind Singh]

Explaination : [The birth anniversary of the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh was celebrated across the country and many parts of the world on January 2, 2020. The birth anniversary of a Sikh Guru is also called as “Prakash Parv”. As per the traditional Sikh calendar (Nanakshahi) , birthday of Guru Gobind Singh falls on January 2, this year (Though he was born on 5 January 1666 by Gregorian Calendar).Guru Gobind Singh was named as the tenth Sikh guru, at the age of 9, after the ninth Guru and his father Guru Teg Bahadur was killed. ]