Question 1

What is the position of Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport among the top ten best airports in the world?

Accepted Answer

With the eighth position, the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad has been ranked among the top ten best airports in the world. The survey was conducted by AirHelp. The Hamad International Airport in Qatar has topped the list followed by Japan's Tokyo and Greece's Athens International airports.

Question 2

WHO has partnered with the International Food and Beverage Alliance (IFBA) to eliminate industrial trans-fat by which year?

Accepted Answer

The World Health Organization (WHO) has partnered with the International Food and Beverage Alliance (IFBA) to achieve its target under REPLACE initiative of eliminating industrial trans-fat from industrially produced global food supply by 2023. Trans-fat is also called the worst form of fat in food. It is responsible for over 5,00,000 deaths from coronary heart disease each year globally. Industrially-produced trans-fats are contained in hardened vegetable fats, such as margarine and ghee, and are often present in snack food, baked foods, and fried foods. Manufacturers often use them as they have a longer shelf life than other fats. But healthier alternatives can be used that would not affect taste or cost of food.

Question 3

What is the name of the world's first complete parent-wise genome assembly of buffalo developed by National Dairy Development Board (NDDB)?

Accepted Answer

Anand-based National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) has developed world's first complete parent-wise genome assembly of buffalo named "NDDB_ABRO_Murrah" of riverine buffaloes. This comes on the back of the successful launch of a customized genotyping chip for indigenous cattle and their crosses, named INDUSCHIP. To ensure better accuracy, for the first time a trio binning was used for separating haplotypes of a buffalo, using a father-mother-offspring trio. World buffalo population is estimated to be 224.4 million, of which 219 million (97.58 per cent) are in Asia.

Question 4

Name of the world's fastest bullet train that is tested by Japan recently.

Accepted Answer

Japan has begun testing the ALFA-X version of its fastest-ever Shinkansen bullet train that could reach 400 km per hour (249 mph). The bullet train ALFA-X (Advanced Labs for Frontline Activity in Rail Experimentation) is scheduled to start its service in 2030, when, rail company JR East would operate it at 360 kilometres per hour (224 mph). This speed will make it 10 kph faster than China's Fuxing Hao, which links Beijing and Shanghai and operates at the same top speed. This would make ALFA-X, the world's fastest bullet train. The ALFA-X's futuristic design features 10 cars and a sleek pointed nose.The bullet train will be tested (after midnight, when the line is quiet) twice a week on the line between Sendai and Aomori, 2 Japanese cities, which are 280 kilometres apart.

Question 5

Which IIT inked MoU to launch Centre of Excellence for Waste to Wealth Technologies?

Accepted Answer

Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India and Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) have inked Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for setting up a Centre of Excellence for Waste to Wealth Technologies in India as a commemoration of 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on 2 October 2019. The MoU has been signed by Principal Scientific Advisor to the Govt of India, Prof K. Vijay Raghavan and Director, IIT Delhi, Prof V. Ramgopal Rao in New Delhi. The Centre will work towards the implementation of sustainable, scientific and technological solutions for waste management by deploying available technologies for transformation of waste to wealth. The project has been approved under the recently constituted Prime Minister's Science Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC).

Question 6

UNICEF and __________ has signed a LOI for children Empowerment.

Accepted Answer

Recently, United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) India and NITI Aayog's Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to provide an open platform to promote participation, skill and empowerment among young children across different communities. The plan will be implemented through Atal Tinkering Lab which established under Atal Innovation Mission.

Question 7

Which department has relaxed income tax rules in order to facilitate fundraising by start-ups which is a part of the 'Startup India Vision 2024'?

Accepted Answer

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has brought relaxation in the income tax rules related to residential properties' sale and carry-forward of losses, in order to facilitate fundraising by start-ups.The relaxation laws are part of the 'Startup India Vision 2024' that's been prepared by the DPIIT.The DPIIT recommended amendments in Section 54GB of the Income Tax Act, that is, capital gain on transfer of residential property not to be charged in certain cases and Section 79 that states, carry forward and set off of losses would be done for specific companies.The DPIIT has proposed to reduce shareholding requirements of founders from 50% to 20% and compulsory tenure from 5 years to 3 years. iv. Start-up promoters need to hold 100% shares for carrying forward of losses.

Question 8

SEBI ordered NSE to pay more than ________ in the case of misuse of its co-location facility.

Accepted Answer

Markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) directed National Stock Exchange (NSE) to disgorge more than ₹625 crore in the case of misuse of its co-location facility. SEBI has been probing alleged lapses in high-frequency trading offered through NSE's co-location facility. National Stock Exchange (NSE) to pay more than ₹625 crore along with interest calculated at the rate of 12% per annum from April 1, 2014 onwards to the Investor Protection and Education Fund (IPEF) created by SEBI. The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has been prohibited from accessing the securities market directly or indirectly for six months.

Question 9

Under which scheme does,Central Government has made compulsory for Electric Vehicle (EV) manufactures in India to locally source at least 50% components for receiving subsidies?

Accepted Answer

Under the FAME II scheme, the Central Government has made compulsory for Electric Vehicle (EV) manufactures in India to locally source at least 50% components for the provision of receiving subsidies. This step has been taken to encourage local manufacturing and relying less on imports. The conditions under FAME II scheme were decided by the Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee of National Mission for Transformative Mobility headed by Amitabh Kant, (Chief executive Officer) CEO of NITI Aayog.Only the companies that meet the 50% localisation threshold will be eligible for incentives and subsidies under Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME-II) scheme for enhancing electric mobility.

Question 10

Government and this institute signs MoU to set up a Centre of Excellence for Waste to Wealth Technologies.

Accepted Answer

To commemorate 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on 2 October 2019, the Office of Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to Government of India and Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in a move to come together and to bring best of science and technology to implement waste management by setting up a Centre of Excellence for Waste to Wealth Technologies in India. The waste to wealth mission project has been approved under Prime Minister's Science Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC). The GoI and IIT-Delhi partnership will provide an effective platform for stakeholders to bring together integrated approaches for effective recycle, reuse and resource recovery of waste.

Question 11

Who distributed 1 lakh bee-boxes under the 'Honey Mission' recently?

Accepted Answer

For the first time in India, under the 'Honey Mission' initiative, (KVIC) Khadi and Village Industries Commission (in less than 2 years) distributed more than 1 lakh bee-boxes among farmers and jobless youths across India. KVIC has helped in creating more than 10,000 new jobs and 25,000 additional man-days through the manufacturing of bee boxes and honey extractors. Bee-keeping would also open many job avenues for aspiring young entrepreneurs. In August 2017, the initiative of 'Honey Mission' was launched in accordance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for 'Sweet Revolution' in 2016 while introducing Banas Honey project at Deesa, Gujarat. The KVIC had offered the beekeepers training on the effective examination of the honeybee colonies, wax purification, and management of the bee colonies.

Question 12

Who plans to launch #VaccinesWork to emphasize on the importance of vaccines?

Accepted Answer

UNICEF is launching a new global campaign on 24 April, called #Vaccineswork. The objective of the campaign is to emphasize the power and safety of vaccines among parents and wider social media users. The campaign will be running alongside World Immunization Week from 24 to 30 April to spread the message that together communities, including parents, can protect everyone through vaccines. #VaccinesWork has long been used to bring together immunization advocates online. This year, UNICEF is partnering with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Health Organization (WHO), and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance to encourage even greater reach.

Question 13

Who has distributed a special kit SAECKs to investigate sexual assault cases?

Accepted Answer

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs distributed over 3,100 special kits Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kits (SAECKs) to carry out immediate investigations into sexual assault cases among states and Union Territories. It is expected that SAECKs can be used for collecting blood and semen samples, besides other evidence which can be used for investigation purpose. SAECKs are specially designed kits to carry out the immediate medico-legal investigation. The kit comprises of a set of test tubes and bottles, which mention contents and specifications together with instructions on collection of evidence from the crime scene.

Question 14

Which ministry has constituted a committee to implement the National Clean Air Program (NCAP) recently?

Accepted Answer

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has constituted a committee to implement the National Clean Air Program (NCAP). The objective is to reduce the PM (particulate matter) 2.5 and PM 10 concentration by 20% to 30% in at least 102 cities by 2024. The committee will be headed by the Secretary, Union Environment Ministry. The headquarters of the committee will be in New Delhi.The other members of the committee will be Joint Secretary (Thermal), Ministry of Power; Director General, The Energy Resources Institute (TERI) and Professor Sachidananda Tripathi, IIT Kanpur.The 102 cities, across 23 states and Union Territories will be identified by the Central Pollution Control Board (CBCB). The selection criteria will be based on their ambit air quality data between 2011 and 2015. The NCAP is envisioned as a five-year action plan with 2019 as the first year. There would be a review every five years.

Question 15

Which High Court has recently released a report about the problem of increasing backlog and pendency of cases?

Accepted Answer

Delhi High Court has recently released a report that talks about the problem of increasing backlog and pendency of cases. Prompted by the urgent need to ensure timely justice, the Delhi High Court started a Pilot Project titled "Zero Pendency Courts" in certain subordinate courts in Delhi. The primary goal of the project was to study the flow of cases in the absence of backlog. The conclusions from this project would help in identifying benchmarks for different types of cases time lines, number of judges, case flow management rules and a host of other relevant factors.

Question 16

Who launched a probe against UPL for poll code violation, Recently?

Accepted Answer

The Mumbai police have started an investigation into the seizure of campaign material of the BJP from the premises of United Phosphorous Ltd (UPL) in Mumbai. A flying squad of the Election Commission (EC) had raided the premises of UPL at suburban Khar, where electronic cards for the BJP's poll campaign were being allegedly assembled. The returning officer had then issued a show-cause notice to the company. Sanjay More, senior inspector at the Khar Police station said the Khar police had earlier registered a non-cognisable offence in the case. The police have now started an investigation in this case after seeking proper permission from the local court.

Question 17

The Ministry of Commerce and Industries instructed the Health Ministry to frame law banning manufacture and sale of __________ in the country.

Accepted Answer

The Ministry of Commerce and Industries instructed the Health Ministry to frame law banning manufacture and sale of e-cigarettes in the country as in the absence of the domestic legislation, it would not be possible to put a blanket ban on its imports. The Commerce Ministry stated that without banning domestic sale and manufacturing of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) through the law, it will be an infringement of global trade norms to put an import ban. Electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes are devices that do not burn or use tobacco leaves but instead vaporise a solution, which a user then inhales. As per the World Health Organization report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2017, governments of 30 countries which includes Mauritius, Australia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay, Bahrain, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, have already banned the Electronic cigarettes.

Question 18

India and Republic of Korea jointly issue the Postage Stamp under which of the following theme?

Accepted Answer

Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave its approval about an MoU, which was signed in February, 2019 between India and Republic of Korea. Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications, Government of India and The Ministry of Science and ICT (Korea Post), Government of the Republic of Korea have mutually collaborated to issue Postage Stamps on the theme "Queen Hur Hwang-ok of Korea".

Question 19

Bank of Maharashtra and __________ has partnered for MSME bill discounting.

Accepted Answer

Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) has partnered with M1Xchange Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) platform for MSME bill discounting. TReDS is a digital platform to support micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to get their bills financed at a competitive rate through an auction where multiple registered financiers can participate.Mynd Solutions is a technology management firm which runs the TReDS platform of M1Xchange. The main purpose of TReDS platform is to facilitate smooth flow of liquidity in the system and make finance available at a competitive rate.

Question 20

Name the cyclone that has hit the Indian States of Odisha and West Bengal recently.

Accepted Answer

Cyclone Fani with a maximum wind speed of 240-250 kmph, is one of the most biggest and fiercest cyclonic storm over the east coast in nearly two decades. Several villages nearby Puri in Odisha have submerged due to heavy rains and till now at least 3 people have lost their life. Central government has released Rs 1086 crore advanced financial assistance to four states for undertaking preventive and relief measures to deal with cyclone 'Fani'. Out of this sanctioned amount, Odisha will receive Rs 340.87 crore, West Bengal Rs 235.50 crore, Tamil Nadu Rs 309.37 crore and Andhra Pradesh will get Rs 200.25 crore. ii. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has started helpline number 1938 for Cyclone Fani. The people can call this helpline number and can ask for help from the government.

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