31. Which date in August is observed as World Mosquito Day?
[A] 19 August
[B] 21 August
[C] 18 August
[D] 20 August
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [20 August]
Notes:- World Mosquito Day is observed on 20 August annually to raise awareness about the causes of malaria and how it can be prevented.
- This day is observed to highlight the efforts of health officials, non-governmental organizations and other organizations in the fight against the disease caused by malaria.
- On World Mosquito Day every year, awareness is created around diseases caused by mosquitoes.
- This year the theme of World Mosquito Day 2021 is “Reaching the zero-malaria target”.
- The day also commemorates the discovery by British physician Sir Ronald Ross in 1897 that female mosquitoes transmit malaria between humans. In 1902 Ross won the Nobel Prize in Medicine and became the first Briton to receive it.
32. With the inauguration of the first solar electric vehicle charging station at the Karnal lake resort, which highway has become the first e-vehicle friendly highway in India?
[A] Delhi-Jaipur Highway
[B] Delhi-Chandigarh Highway
[C] Delhi–Gurgaon Expressway
[D] Delhi-Mumbai Highway
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Delhi-Chandigarh Highway]
Notes:- The Union Heavy Industries Minister Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey inaugurated the country’s very first Solar Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station at the Karnal Lake Resort.
- With the inauguration of the first solar electric vehicle charging station at the Karnal lake resort, the Delhi-Chandigarh Highway has become the first e-vehicle friendly highway in India.
- The EV charging station at the Karnal lake resort is strategically located at the midpoint of the Delhi-Chandigarh highway and is equipped to cater to all types of E-cars plying currently in the country.
- The network of Solar-based Electric Vehicle Charging stations (SEVCs) is set up by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) under the FAME-1 [Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid) & Electric Vehicles in India] scheme of the Ministry of Heavy Industries.
33. Which organization has launched Urja, an AI enabled virtual assistant?
[A] Hindustan Petroleum
[B] NTPC Limited
[C] Power Grid Corporation of India
[D] Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited]
Notes:- Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), has launched Urja, a virtual assistant with AI/NLP (Artificial Intelligence/Natural Language Processing) capabilities and trained on more than 600 use cases.
- In an effort to make BPCL’s customer interface complete and digitally integrated, Urja, the chabot is now available on the company’s website for any questions.
- Urja speaks in 13 languages (English, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Telugu, Marathi, Gujarati, Oriya, Bengali, Punjabi, Urdu and Assamese).
34. Which organization has launched Google Cloud Garages?
[A] Infosys
[B] Tata Consultancy Services
[C] Accenture
[D] Deloitte
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Tata Consultancy Services]
Notes:- Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS) has launched ‘Google Cloud Garages’ to help enterprise customers evaluate cloud solutions, prototype applications, and apply analytics to address business opportunities.
- These new cloud garages or centres, part of TCS’s strategic partnership with Google Cloud, will be launched at its co-innovation and advanced research centres in Amsterdam, New York, and Tokyo.
35. Which date in August is observed as the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to victims of terrorism?
[A] 20 August
[B] 22 August
[C] 21 August
[D] 19 August
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [21 August]
Notes:- Terrorism is the biggest threats to our civilization currently with thousands of innocent people lose their lives to these ghastly acts of terror. To remember and pay tribute to the victims who lose their life or suffer the trauma of terrorism, United Nations observes August 21 as the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to victims of terrorism.
- The day is observed with the aim to provide and promote human rights and fundamental freedoms to these victims.
36. Recently, which State/UT has launched COVID-19 Affected Livelihood Support Scheme to provide assistance to those who had been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?
[A] Manipur
[B] Puducherry
[C] Maharashtra
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Manipur]
Notes:- Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has launched COVID-19 Affected Livelihood Support Scheme to provide assistance to those who had been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in the State.
- The distribution of a total amount of Rs 1.56 crore to 6,276 beneficiaries of the scheme at the rate of Rs 2500 per beneficiary marked the launch function.
- A total of 22,336 applications were received so far including 13,651 from street vendors, 4,890 from transport drivers, 3,680 from van drivers and 145 artists.
- Out of the applications received, 7,943 had been verified and the first instalment of Rs 2500 each was distributed to 6,276 applicants. The total amount was around Rs 1.56 crore.
37. In how many categories the government has launched Amrit Mahotsav App Innovation Challenge 2021 for Indian entrepreneurs and start-ups?
[A] 15
[B] 16
[C] 19
[D] 20
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [16]
Notes:- The Government has launched Amrit Mahotsav App Innovation Challenge 2021 for Indian entrepreneurs and start-ups.
- Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar launched this challenge in New Delhi.
- The innovation challenge has been launched in 16 categories including Culture and Heritage, Health, Education, Social Media, Skills, News, Games, Agriculture, Business and Retail, Fintech, and Others.
- The Innovation Challenge will be available on – innovateindia.mygov.in and the last date of submission of entries is 30th September this year.
- The applicants need to apply online to submit their proposals by registering and logging on to the MyGov portal.
38. In association with the Planning Department of which state has the Vice President of India launched Vaccinate India Programme?
[A] Uttar Pradesh
[B] Rajasthan
[C] Haryana
[D] Karnataka
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Karnataka]
Notes:- Vice President of India, M. Venkaiah Naidu, launched “Vaccinate India Programme” on August 24, 2021.
- This programme was organised by Give India Foundation and Sustainable Goals Coordination Centre in Bengaluru.
- It was launched under CSR in association with Planning Department of the Karnataka government.
- Programme was organised at Raj Bhavan in Bengaluru.
- India started its COVID-19 vaccines programme on January 16, 2021
39. Which organization has secured contracts under the aegis of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) to help set up solar projects in Cuba, Niger and Malawi?
[A] Power Grid Corporation of India
[B] NTPC Ltd
[C] BHEL
[D] Tata Power
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [NTPC Ltd]
Notes:- NTPC Ltd has secured contracts under the aegis of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) to help set up solar projects in Cuba, Niger and Malawi.
- NTPC has been awarded the project management consultancy (PMC) contract for setting up 900 megawatt (MW) solar projects in Cuba.
- It has also secured contracts in Malawi and Niger to set up 100MW and 50MW solar capacity, respectively.
- These are the countries after Mali (500MW) and Togo (285MW) where India’s largest power generation utility has been awarded the PMC contracts via ISA.
- International Solar Alliance (ISA) is a treaty-based inter-governmental organization headquartered in India.
- The ISA is co-founded by India and France, is also called International Agency for Solar Policy and Application (IASPA).
- The projects are seen as part of India’s strategy to negate China’s growing influence in Africa.
40. Which organization has launched a mobile app called ANANDA?
[A] State Bank of India
[B] Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation
[C] India Post
[D] Life Insurance Corporation of India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Life Insurance Corporation of India]
Notes:- Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) launched a mobile app called “Ananda mobile app” for its agents and intermediaries in order to onboard the prospective customers.
- ANANDA stands for Atma Nirbhar Agents New Business Digital Application. ANANDA is the paperless solution for new business processes.
- This digital application will help in onboarding process to get insurance policy by a paperless module with the help of agent or intermediary.
- The app comprises of all distinctive features of the digital app.
- App could be developed as a result of high-level usage of ANANDA module.
- It was built on paperless KYC process by using Aadhaar based e-authentication.
- It provides an easy access to the field force in reaching out the prospective customers by means of latest technology.