1. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has approved eight names for features on the Moon, in which language?
[A] English
[B] Chinese
[C] Spanish
[D] French
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Chinese]
Notes:
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has approved eight Chinese names for features around the area on the Moon
Last year, China’s spacecraft Chang’e-5 probe landed near those places to collect samples from the lunar surface and return to Earth. China has been naming geographical entities on the Moon since 2010.
2. As per the World Health Assembly, when is the ‘World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day’ to be observed?
[A] January 30
[B] February 28
[C] March 31
[D] April 30
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [January 30]
Notes:
The ongoing 74th World Health Assembly declared January 30 as ‘World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day’.
The proposal to recognise the day was initiated by the United Arab Emirates and it was adopted unanimously by the member countries. NTDs are a group of infections caused by a variety of pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, protozoa and parasitic worms.
3. Under which scheme, the central government would support children who have lost both parents due to COVID 19?
[A] PM JDY
[B] PM JJBY
[C] PM CARES for Children
[D] PM Sishu Suraksha Yojana
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [PM CARES for Children]
Notes:
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that, children who have lost both parents due to COVID-19 would be taken care and supported by the Government of India, under the PM CARES for Children scheme.
Such children would be entitled to receive a monthly stipend once they attain 18 years of age and would receive a corpus of Rs.10 lakh on attainment of 23 years, out of the funds available in PM CARES.
4. 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.
5. ESIC and EPFO schemes are implemented by which ministry?
[A] Finance Ministry
[B] Labour Ministry
[C] MSME Ministry
[D] Ministry of Social Justice
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Labour Ministry]
Notes:
The Union Ministry of Labour and Employment has announced additional benefits for workers enrolled under ESIC and EPFO schemes, to remove fear and anxiety about the well-being of their family.
As per the new benefit, in case of an employee’s death due to COVID, all dependent family members of the insured person would be entitled to receive the same benefits as in the case of death resulting from employment injury.
6. The Artemis Accord, that was recently making news, an agreement for space exploration of New Zealand and which agency?
[A] Roscosmos
[B] ISRO
[C] NASA
[D] ESA
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [NASA]
Notes:
New Zealand has entered into an agreement for space exploration with NASA.
With this, New Zealand becomes the eleventh country to sign the Artemis Accord, which is an agreement with NASA to be a part of its plans to send humans to the moon by 2024 and further to Mars.
7. Which institution implements the “Horticulture Cluster Development Programme”?
[A] Food and Agricultural Organisation
[B] National Horticulture Board
[C] NABARD
[D] Ministry of Food Processing Industries
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [National Horticulture Board]
Notes:
The Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has launched the Horticulture Cluster Development Programme. The programme has been launched on a pilot basis in 12 clusters covering 11 States/UTs.
This is a central sector programme implemented by the National Horticulture Board (NHB), which aims to make identified horticulture clusters globally competitive.
8. What is Canadarm2, which was making news recently?
[A] Covid Vaccine Initiative
[B] Robotic Arm of International Space Station
[C] Super Computer
[D] New Microprocessor
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Robotic Arm of International Space Station]
Notes:
Recently, a piece of space debris hit and damaged a part of the ISS’s robotic arm, called as Canadarm2.
The astronomers confirmed that the arm’s functions will not be impacted by the damage. Canadarm2, the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS), is used to move objects outside the station and to help in repairing works in the station.
9. ‘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.
10. APEDA identified Mathura and Banaskantha as clusters for export development in which sector?
[A] Textile
[B] Dairy
[C] Cotton
[D] Fruits
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Dairy]
Notes:
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has set up an Export Promotion Forum (EPF) to promote exports of dairy products.
It also aims to address various issues in the sector. The authority has recognized two clusters: Mathura in Uttar Pradesh and Banaskantha in Gujarat, to develop dairy merchandise. Farmers and small dairy owners in these clusters shall be given coaching and aid in capability building in exports.