Best PSC / PCS / STATE PCS online Current Affairs

Current Affairs JAN-2021

Showing 1 - 20 of 300 entries

1. In which country, the tourist attraction known in winter as the ‘Tsar Icicle’, located?

A
China

C
Canada

D
Russia

Show Answer

Correct Answer : D [Russia]

Explaination : [Vilyuchinsky waterfall, which is also called in winter as the Tsar Icicle is located at Kamchatka peninsula in eastern Russia. The glaciers in this region melts in warm summer, which trickles down the nearby mountains. In winter, this water run off freezes again to become a frozen tower like monument. Recently, an enormous frozen waterfall of Vilyuchinsky collapsed that led to death of one and injured three others.]

2. Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which was making news recently, passes through which Sea?

A
Caspian Sea

B
Baltic Sea

C
Red Sea

D
East China Sea

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Baltic Sea]

Explaination : [Construction of the Baltic Sea pipeline, was suspended after the United States imposed sanctions last year. Only 6 per cent of the pipe-line is yet to be completed. The Nord Stream 2 offshore natural gas pipeline aims to connect Russia and Germany. Recently, the German authorities provided immediate permission to resume work, which will bring natural gas from Russia.]

3. India has signed a MoU with Japan recently, in which field?

A
Air Travel

B
Defence

C
Information and Communication Technology

D
Metro Rail Manufacturing

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Information and Communication Technology]

Explaination : [India and Japan have recently entered into a MoU in the field of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), including 5G standardisation. As per the terms of MoU, both the countries will enhance cooperation in 5G technologies, telecom security, submarine optical fibre cable system to islands, spectrum management, smart cities etc.]

4. Who is the first woman Fighter pilot of India at the Republic Day parade?

A
Bhawana Kanth

B
Mohana Singh

C
Avani Chaturvedi

D
Shivangi

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Bhawana Kanth]

Explaination : [Flight lieutenant Bhawana Kanth is to become the first woman fighter pilot to take part in India’s Republic Day parade. She will be a part of the Indian Air Force’s tableau which will showcase the light combat aircraft, light combat helicopter and the Sukhoi-30 fighter plane. In 2016, She was declared as the first combat pilot along with two other pilots Mohana Singh, and Avani Chaturvedi.]

5. Which company has been ranked at the top in the “2020 Hurun Global 500” list?

A
Apple

B
Amazon

C
Walmart

D
Space X

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Apple]

Explaination : [As per the ‘2020 Hurun Global 500’ list, Apple is the world’s most valuable company with a value of USD 2.1 trillion followed by Microsoft and Amazon with USD 1.6 trillion each. The 2020 Hurun Global 500 is a list of 500 most valuable non-state-controlled companies in the world. 11 Indian firms are a part of the list, which is led by Reliance Industries worth USD 169 billion.]

6. Which country has recently unveiled the USD 1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief package?

A
United Kingdom

B
United States

C
Australia

D
Germany

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [United States]

Explaination : [US President-elect Joe Biden has announced a USD 1.9 trillion plan to revive the country’s economy and combat the coronavirus. The plan has proposed to provide eligible individuals with USD 14000 as stimulus payment. It also seeks to provide USD 130 billion to help the schools in the country to safely reopen.]

7. Where is the headquarters of the ‘National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO)’ located?

A
Mumbai

B
Delhi

C
Hyderabad

D
Kolkata

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Delhi]

Explaination : [The National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) organised its first ever Red Ribbon club Quiz Competition. NACO was established in 1992 as a division of Health Ministry. Headquartered in NeW Delhi, it is implementing the ‘Adolescence Education Programme’ in schools, in association with NCERT. It has also established 12,500 Red Ribbon Clubs (RRCs) to create awareness among the college youth.]

8. The Union Cabinet has approved a MoU with which country on scientific and technical cooperation?

A
United Kingdom

C
France

D
Germany

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [UAE]

Explaination : [The Union Cabinet has recently approved a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on scientific and technical cooperation between India and UAE India’s Ministry of Earth Sciences and UAE’s National Centre of Meteorology will collaborate to share knowledge and oceanic services, deploy meteorological observation networks. The countries also aim to support the Tsunami Early Warning Centre (TEWC).]

9. Union Home Minister is to launch the ‘Single Window Clearance System’ in which sector?

A
Coal Mines

B
DISCOMs

C
Steel Plants

D
Copper Mines

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Coal Mines]

Explaination : [Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to launch the ‘Single Window Clearance System’, for coal mines. It is an online platform to obtain clearances for smooth and seamless functioning of coal mines. Union Minister of Coal Pralhad Joshi will also attend the virtual ceremony.]

10. Siruvani hills, which has been identified as a butterfly super-hotspot, is located in which state?

A
Kerala

B
Karnataka

C
Tamil Nadu

D
Andhra Pradesh

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Tamil Nadu]

Explaination : [After a six-year study conducted by ‘The Nature and Butterfly Society (TNBS)’, the Siruvani hills in the state of Tamil Nadu has been identified as a butterfly super-hotspot. 240 out of the total 325 species found in Tamil Nadu, are from the hills between 2015 and 2020. As per TNBS, if 25% of the state checklist species are found in a single area, it can be identified as a hotspot. Here around 74 per cent of the total species is found in the hills, from six families.]

11. Which bank has partnered with NABFOUNDATION to assist self-help groups (SHGs)?

A
Punjab National Bank

B
Canara Bank

C
Central Bank of India

D
Bank of Maharashtra

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Central Bank of India]

Explaination : [Central Bank of India (CBoI) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NABFOUNDATION. As per the MoU, CBoI will provide collateral-free working capital to those self-help groups (SHGs) having an account with it and are undertaking the Nabard-sponsored ‘My Pad My Right’ project. NABFOUNDATION, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of NABARD.]

12. Which organisation is to adopt 100 Atal Tinkering Labs across the country, to promote ‘STEM’ Education?

A
DRDO

B
ISRO

C
BARC

D
Indian Air Force

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [ISRO]

Explaination : [Atal Innovation Mission of NITI Aayog and Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) jointly announced that ISRO will adopt 100 Atal Tinkering Labs across the country. This step aims to provide mentorship, promote education in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Space Education among the young students of the country.]

13. ‘The Heritage Conversation Committee’, which was in the news recently, is headed by the official of which Union Ministry?

A
Ministry of Home Affairs

B
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs

C
Ministry of Culture

D
Ministry of Tourism

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs]

Explaination : [The Heritage Conversation Committee’ (HCC) is headed by the Additional Secretary of the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. The Committee has recently cleared the proposal of the Central Government for the new Parliament building. The Supreme Court approved the Central Vista project and mandated the clearance from HCC for developing the project. The Committee also includes officials from other departments.]

14. Satya Paul, who recently passed away, was associated with which field?

A
Sports

B
Politics

C
Fashion Designing

D
Literature

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Fashion Designing]

Explaination : [Veteran Fashion designer Satya Paul, known for his contemporary sari designs, died in Tamil Nadu, at the age of 79. Initially he opened a clothing store and export business, and further expanded it to luxury fashion designing. He started a luxury clothing business in his own name. He also opened shops in many countries including UK, France and Japan.]

15. Trade Policy Review (TPR), which was making news recently, is associated with which organisation?

A
World Bank

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [WTO]

Explaination : [Trade Policy Review (TPR) is a mechanism under the World Trade Organisation (WTO), in which trade and related policies of members are examined, to improve compliance to its rules. Recently, India’s seventh Trade Policy Review (TPR) at the WTO concluded in Geneva. India’s previous TPR was conducted in the year 2015. India backed a set of measures to increase manufacturing capacity and timely availability of new diagnostics and vaccines for Covid-19.]

16. Which Union Ministry launched the ‘Longitudinal Ageing Study of India (LASI)’ report?

A
Ministry of Earth Sciences

B
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

C
Ministry of Commerce and Industry

D
Ministry of MSME

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Ministry of Health and Family Welfare]

Explaination : [Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan released the India report on Longitudinal Ageing Study of India (LASI) Wave-1. LASI is a nation-wide survey of scientific investigation of the health, economic, and social factors and consequences of the ageing population in India. The report will be used as a basic framework for developing programmes in national and state-level.]

17. ‘Thai Poosam’ is a religious festival celebrated in which Indian state?

A
Andhra Pradesh

B
Tamil Nadu

C
Odisha

D
Karnataka

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Tamil Nadu]

Explaination : [People of Tamil Nadu celebrate the ‘Thai Poosam’ festival, which is dedicated for the worship of the Tamil God Lord Muruga. After the devotees requested to declare the day as a public holiday, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami issued an order for the same. It is also celebrated in some parts of Kerala and in other countries like Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Mauritius and Indonesia.]

18. Which organisation recently deployed its all-women team for contingency duties?

A
Central Armed Police Force

B
Indo-Tibetan Border Police

C
National Disaster Response Fund

D
Central Industrial Security Force

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [National Disaster Response Fund]

Explaination : [An all-female team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was recently deployed for contingency duties in Uttar Pradesh’s Garh Mukteshwar town, on the banks of the Ganga river. The team who are professionally trained handled the rescue boats and related equipment. The first batch of over a hundred women disaster combatants and rescuers was also inducted in the NDRF.]

19. Where is the headquarters of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) located?

A
Geneva

B
Madrid

C
Rome

D
Lausanne

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Madrid]

Explaination : [The International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) is an association of organizations, which regulate the world’s securities and futures markets. International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), established by the Government of India in 2019, has become an associate member of the IOSCO. With this, IFSCA can exchange information at the global level, learn from the best practices of the other regulators.]

20. Which organisation is to provide USD 100 million to improve power distribution in Bengaluru?

A
AIIB

B
World Bank

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [ADB]

Explaination : [The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is to provide a USD 100 million loan to upgrade the power distribution system in Bengaluru city. Another USD 90 million loan will also be provided to the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company. The project also includes laying over 2500 km of fibre optical cables and moving distribution lines underground.]