GK & Current Affairs – May 20, 2016

1. Which state government of India has launched the Green Passage scheme for orphan students?
[A]Jharkhand
[B]Nagaland
[C]Manipur
[D]Odisha
Answer: Odisha
Notes:
The Odisha government has launched a special scheme “Green Passage” for orphan students to ensure that they get free of cost higher education in the state. As per the scheme, orphan students pursuing higher education from Plus-II level to post-graduation level, will no longer have to bear the education expenses.
2. How much loan amount has been sanctioned by World Bank for Indian solar programme?
[A]$575 million
[B]$625 million
[C]$720 million
[D]$875 million
Answer: $625 million
Notes:
The World Bank (WB) has recently sanctioned $625 million loan to support India’s grid connected rooftop solar programme to generate clean energy. The project will finance the installation of at least 400 MW of grid connected rooftop solar photovoltaic ( GRPV ) across India. The project will be implemented by the State Bank of India (SBI) which will lend the funds to parties who wish to invest in rooftop photovoltaic systems.
3. Which Indian-American student has won the prestigious Intel Foundation Young Scientist Award ?
[A]Dibandhu Ghose
[B]Syamantak Payra
[C]Santilata Bose
[D]Pilavullakandi Gogoi
Answer: Syamantak Payra
Notes:
Syamantak Payra (15), an Indian-American student, has won the prestigious Intel Foundation Young Scientist Award for developing a low-cost electronically-aided knee brace that allows a person with a weakened leg to walk more naturally. The award has been given by Intel Corporation and the Society for Science and the Public (SSP) at the 2016 ‘Intel International Science and Engineering Fair’ in Arizona.
4. The world’s largest single rooftop solar power plant has been opened in which state of India?
[A]Punjab
[B]Rajasthan
[C]Gujarat
[D]Odisha
Answer: Punjab
Notes:
The world’s largest single rooftop solar power plant with capacity of 11.5 MW has been opened at Dera Baba Jaimal Singh at Beas in Amritsar district, Punjab. It is spread over 82 acres of rooftop in single campus on multiple roofs with installed capacity of 19.5 MW. The plant has been set up with the cost of Rs. 139 crore. The project will generate clean and green energy sufficient to power approximately 8,000 homes.
5. Which committee has been constituted to give recommendations on Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM)?
[A]Ajay Shankar committee
[B]NR Madhava Menon committee
[C]N.K. Singh committee
[D]H Devaraj committee
Answer: N.K. Singh committee
Notes:
The Union Government has recently constituted a 5-member committee to comprehensively review and give recommendations on the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) roadmap for the future. The committee will be headed by former Revenue and Expenditure Secretary N.K. Singh. The committee will examine the need and feasibility of having a ‘fiscal deficit range’as the target in place of the existing fixed percentage of GDP and make specific recommendations. It will also examine the need and feasibility of aligning the fiscal expansion or contraction with credit contraction or expansion respectively in the economy and submit its report by October 31, 2016.
6. Who is the author of the book “The World Outside My Window”?
[A]Ruskin Bond
[B]Amrish Tripathi
[C]R.K. Narayan
[D]Vikram Seth
Answer: Ruskin Bond
Notes:
The book “The World Outside My Window” has been authored by Ruskin Bond. Through the book author gives details of the most interesting facts about the insects, birds, trees and flowers he has observed in hilly areas. From the butterfly, dragonfly, scorpion and ant lion to different varieties of cacti, semul trees, the jasmine flower and the wild flowers found in the Himalayan region, as well as birds of the hills and the urban areas like Delhi, the author describes them all and also advises readers to spent some time with nature & love it.
7. What is the theme of 2016 International Museum Day (IMD)?
[A]Museum collections make connections
[B]Museums and Cultural Landscapes
[C]Museums for a Sustainable Society
[D]Museums for social harmony
Answer: Museums and Cultural Landscapes
Notes:
The International Museum Day (IMD) is observed every year on May 18 to raise awareness on how important museums are in the development of society. The 2016 theme is “Museums and Cultural Landscapes”.
8. Who has been honoured with the 2016 PEN/Allen Foundation Literary Service Award?
[A]J.K. Rowling
[B]Tom Stoppard
[C]Salman Rushdie
[D]Philip Roth
Answer: J.K. Rowling
Notes:
British author J.K. Rowling has been honoured with the 2016 PEN/Allen Foundation Literary Service Award at the PEN Literary Gala in New York’s Museum of Natural History, United States for her extraordinary creativity and for her efforts on behalf of institutionalised children and other humanitarian causes.
9. The World’s first Scanning Helium Microscope (SHeM) has been built by which country?
[A]Japan
[B]Russia
[C]China
[D]Australia
Answer: Australia
Notes:
The World’s first Scanning Helium Microscope (SHeM) has been built by Australian researchers to examine materials without disturbing them. The new microscope will facilitate scientists to study human, animal, and plant samples, as well as computer chips and pharmaceutical drugs, without damaging or changing them. The SHeM has been developed by the University of Newcastle, (UON), led by Professor Paul Dastoor in collaboration with researchers from the University of Cambridge (UK).
10. The 2016 Women Economic Forum (WEF) has been hosted by which country?
[A]South Africa
[B]Brazil
[C]India
[D]Russia
Answer: India
Notes:
The 2016 Women Economic Forum (WEF) has been hosted by New Delhi, India under the theme “Women: Uplifting and Uniting the World” from May 16-21, 2016. The WEF is a mega marquee global event hosted by ALL Ladies League (ALL), the world’s largest league of women. In the 2016 WEF, 1500 Women from 75 countries and all walks of life will meet to discuss social empowerment, leadership, economic, business and social issues like innovation, start-ups, leadership, entrepreneurship, business and globalization, diplomacy, sustainable development, peace and spirituality, social empowerment, environment and art. .

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