1. Which state has recently launched a solar-based electrification programme for its rural households?
[A] Uttar Pradesh
[B] Odisha
[C] Assam
[D] Goa
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Goa]
Notes:
The State Government of Goa headed by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has launched a solar-based electrification programme to provide power connectivity to rural households of the state.
This project aims to deliver renewable power to the households, where grid connectivity is not possible. In this regard, the Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) has entered into an agreement with Convergence Energy Services Ltd (CESL).
2. As a Covid distress mitigating measure, PSBs in India announced to provide unsecured loans to individuals up to which amount?
[A] Rs 1 lakh
[B] Rs 2 lakh
[C] Rs 5 lakh
[D] Rs 25 lakh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Rs 5 lakh]
Notes:
As a measure to mitigate the distress caused due to COVID 19 pandemic, Public Sector Banks (PSBs) in India have announced to provide financial assistance to individuals in the form of unsecured loans up to a limit of Rs 5 lakh.
This is a part of the three new loan products introduced by the PSBs to provide financial support to vaccine manufacturers, hospitals/dispensaries, pathology labs etc.
3. What is the Corporate Profit to GDP ratio in India, as registered in FY 21?
[A] 2.63%
[B] 5.55%
[C] 10.2%
[D] 20.2%
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [2.63%]
Notes:
The combined net profit of all the listed companies in India has moved up by 57.6% in FY 21 to Rs.5.31 trillion.
The Corporate Profit to GDP ratio in India stood at 2.63% in FY 21 which is an all-time high in the last 10 years. Although the sales and revenue of many firms were low due to nationwide lockdown, higher profitability was achieved mainly due to decline in raw material prices and input cost.
4. Which sector accounted for around 43 per cent in the total foreign inflows of India in 2020-21?
[A] Pharmaceutical sector
[B] Computer software and hardware
[C] Precious stones
[D] Petroleum Products
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Computer software and hardware]
Notes:
Foreign direct investment (FDI) in computer software and hardware rose over threefold to $26.14 billion during 2020-21. It accounted for about 43 per cent in the total $59.63 billion foreign inflows that India attracted in 2020-21.
As per the data from the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, the sector received $7.67 billion FDI in 2019-20 and $6.41 billion in 2018-19.
5. The recently reported H10N3 is a strain of __:
[A] Bird Flu
[B] Corona virus
[C] Anthrax
[D] Swine Fever
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Bird Flu]
Notes:
China has reported the first human infection of a rare strain of bird flu known as H10N3. The case has been confirmed in a 41-year-old man, by China’s National Health Commission.
This bird flu variant is supposed to be low pathogenic, which means it causes relatively less severe disease in poultry. No other case of this infection has been reported in the world.
6. What was India’s fiscal deficit for 2020-21 as per the Controller General of Accounts (CGA) data?
[A] 10%
[B] 9.3%
[C] 8%
[D] 3.5%
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [9.3%]
Notes:
As per the data released by the Controller General of Accounts (CGA), India’s fiscal deficit for 2020-21 stood at 9.3% of the gross domestic product (GDP) for the financial year 2020-21. This is lower than the Finance Ministry’s Budget estimates of 9.5%.
As per the CGA data, the revenue deficit stood at 7.42% during 2020-21.
7. Kharg, the largest warship of which country, has recently caught fire and sank in the Gulf of Oman?
[A] Iraq
[B] Iran
[C] Oman
[D] Qatar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Iran]
Notes:
The largest warship in the Navy of Iran has recently caught fire and later sank in the Gulf of Oman, according to the media reports.
The support warship Kharg was named after the island that serves as the main oil terminal for Iran. Though the firefighters tried to contain the blaze, the vessel sank near the Iranian port of Jask, southeast of Tehran on the Gulf of Oman. It is near the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf.
8. ‘MadadMaps’, is a real-time online map, that has been developed for which objective?
[A] Map of vacant beds for COVID-19 patients
[B] Map of Vaccination Centres
[C] Map of Education Institutions
[D] Map of Covid Hotspots
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Map of vacant beds for COVID-19 patients]
Notes:
A group of doctors and professionals from the diaspora in the US and from India has launched a first-of-its-kind online map named MadadMaps.
The map has been created under Project Madad. The portal uses a proprietary algorithm to extract information from all online aggregators of hospital beds availability in every state. The map includes both the government and private hospitals.
9. What is the main objective of the ‘Chip-off technique’, that has been developed recently?
[A] Data Retrieval
[B] Gold Mining
[C] Cryptocurrency Mining
[D] Bio Gas production
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Data Retrieval]
Notes:
The Scientists at Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), Hyderabad have developed an indigenous Chip-off technique.
The main objective of the technique is to retrieve encrypted data from locked and severely damaged smart cell phones. This would benefit investigative agencies to produce credible evidences against criminals.
10. AmB, is the nano-fibre based tablets, developed by IIT-H, for curing which disease?
[A] Kala Azar
[B] Malaria
[C] Dengue
[D] Japanese Encephalitis
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Kala Azar]
Notes:
Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Hyderabad has developed nano-fibre based oral tablets of Amphotericin B, called as AmB.
This was the first-ever attempt to fabricate nanofibrous oral tablets of Amphotericin B for curing Kala Azar. As Kala-Azar treatment is being currently used as a treatment for Mucormycosis, this can be used to treat fungal infections post COVID treatment.