1. Little Bloodtail, which is considered as a harbinger of monsoon, belong to which type of species?
[A] Humming Bird
[B] Dragonfly
[C] Frog
[D] Turtle
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Correct Answer: B [Dragonfly]
Notes:
Little Bloodtail is a small dragonfly, which has wide presence in the state of Kerala. This species of dragonfly can be spotted from the beginning of June till September.
Since the life cycle of little bloodtail is very closely linked with monsoon, they are considered as a harbinger of monsoon (which announces the arrival of an event).
2. The Chandra X-ray Observatory was launched by which space agency?
[A] NASA
[B] SpaceX
[C] Blue Origin
[D] ISRO
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Correct Answer: A [NASA]
Notes:
The Chandra X-ray Observatory, previously known as the Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility, was launched by NASA, aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia.
Recently, an image from this observatory was released by NASA. It shows threads of superheated gas and magnetic fields weaving around each other, at the center of our Mily Way Galaxy. These new observations stretch above and below our galaxy’s plane, where most of the stars are found.
3. Which state has introduced India’s first city sewage surveillance system?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Karnataka
[C] Maharashtra
[D] Uttar Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Karnataka]
Notes:
The state government of Karnataka has introduced a city sewage surveillance system in Bangalore. This is aimed to track coronavirus at an early stage.
This effort of Karnataka is supported by USAID (United States Agency for International Development) and COVIDactionCollab (CAC). CAC is supporting the state by providing training to sanitation workers in collecting samples and analysing them in labs.
4. In which country did the Tiananmen Square Massacre take place?
[A] Singapore
[B] Japan
[C] China
[D] USA
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Correct Answer: C [China]
Notes:
Tiananmen Square is located in central Beijing, China. In May 1989 more than a million young Chinese crowded in the square for a protest in favour of greater democracy.
As a repressive measure, Chinese troops and security police stormed through Tiananmen Square and fired extensively on the protesters. At least 300 were killed and more than a 1000 arrested. This incident is known as the Tiananmen Square Massacre. Recently, Hong Kong organisers lost appeal to hold Tiananmen vigil.
5. 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.
6. When is the “World No Tobacco Day” observed by WHO every year?
[A] May 31
[B] June 1
[C] June 10
[D] June 20
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [May 31]
Notes:
Every year, 31st May is observed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as the “World No Tobacco Day”. The theme for this year is “Commit to quit”.
This day was created by the WHO members in the year 1987 to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and the deaths associated with using tobacco. A resolution was passed in 1988 to observe 31st May as the No Tobacco Day.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. Oleg Novitsky and Pyotr Dubrov, who performed a 7-hour spacewalk recently, are from which country?
[A] USA
[B] Russia
[C] Israel
[D] France
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Russia]
Notes:
Two Russian cosmonauts named Oleg Novitsky and Pyotr Dubrov ventured out of the International Space Station on a 7-hour spacewalk to prepare for the arrival of a new Russian module.
It’s the first spacewalk for both the cosmonauts, who arrived at the space station in April. They conducted technical works including replacing the old batteries outside the International Space Station, before the arrival of the new Nauka (Science) multipurpose laboratory module.
10. ‘Taskheer-e-Jabal’ military exercise was conducted by which country?
[A] Israel
[B] Iran
[C] Pakistan
[D] Afghanistan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Pakistan]
Notes:
The Pakistani Army has conducted a military exercise named ‘Taskheer-e-Jabal’ near Kotli in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) region. Under this exercise, the troops rehearsed various defensive and offensive manoeuvres in mountain terrains.
The exercise was overseen by its Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa. It was aimed to enhance the operational preparedness, defensive and offensive formations of various contingencies.