AffairsCloud brings you the complete and important daily Current Affairs 21 April 2020 Quiz to achieve more marks in Banking, Insurance, UPSC, SSC, CLAT, Railways and all other competitive Exams. We have prepared the current affairs quiz question from our daily current affairs 2020 updates.
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Questions Based on Current Affairs 21 April 2020
- Name the person who heads the high-level task force formed by central government for vaccine and drug testing for covid-19.
1) Vinod Paul
2) Krishnaswamy VijayRaghavan
3) Rajiv Garg
4) Both 1) and 2)
5) Both 1) and 3)Answer-4) Both 1) and 2)
Explanation:
In the wake of increasing death toll, the central government has constituted high-level task force for vaccine and drug testing for coronavirus disease (Covid-19) co-chaired by Vinod Paul, member NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog, and Professor Krishnaswamy VijayRaghavan, principal scientific advisor to the government. The task force members include Director General of Health Services, Dr. Rajiv Garg, Drug Controller General of India, Dr. VG Somani and representatives of Ayush ministry, ICMR, department of biotechnology, among others.Department of biotechnology would act as a nodal agency for the development of the vaccine to fight COVID-19 and to provide government facilitation.The objective of the task force is to catalyze national and international efforts towards vaccine development to treat Covid-19. - Name the 1st state in the country to get geotag for community kitchens (tied-up with Google for Geo-map location).
1) Goa
2) Uttar Pradesh
3) Kerala
4) Bihar
5) OdishaAnswer-2) Uttar Pradesh
Explanation:
Uttar Pradesh (UP) became the first state in the country to geotag its 7,368 community kitchens and community shelters across 75 districts which produce 12 lakh food packets a day, due to the sudden onset of COVID-19 lockdown. The Yogi Adityanath State government has also tied up with Google to “Geo-map” for the location of all these establishments through the Google Maps app for ease of beneficiaries. - Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has approved clinical trial plasma therapy submitted by ICMR. Who is the present DCGI?
1) Balram Bhargava
2) Rajiv Garg
3) K Vijaya Ragavan
4) VG Somani
5) Vinod RaiAnswer-4) VG Somani
Explanation:
The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), Dr. VG Somani has approved the clinical trial proposal for convalescent plasma therapy submitted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Under this therapy, plasma from recovered Covid-19 individuals will be transfused into sick patients to check whether this therapy can be used as a treatment for the pandemic. - Government has amended which policy to curb opportunistic takeover of Indian companies by neighbouring nations during covid-19 pandemic?
1) FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) policy
2) FPI (Foreign Portfolio Investment) policy
3) FII (Foreign Institutional Investment) policy
4) FEM (Foreign Exchange Management) policy
5) FER (Foreign Exchange Reserve) policyAnswer-1) FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) policy
Explanation:
Government amends the extant FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) policy for curbing opportunistic takeovers/acquisitions of Indian companies from neighbouring nations due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. In this regard, the Centre has amended para 3.1.1 of extant FDI policy as contained in Consolidated FDI Policy, 2017. - The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has directed states to set up Renewable Energy (RE) equipment manufacturing parks to meet domestic demand. Name the Renewable Energy minister of India (MoS I/C).
1) Nitin Gadkari
2) Piyush Goyal
3) Raj Kumar Singh
4) Prakash Javadekar
5) Jitendra SinghAnswer-3) Raj Kumar Singh
Explanation:
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has urged states to set up Renewable Energy (RE) equipment manufacturing parks to meet domestic demand and make India a global manufacturing hub.MNRE – Minister of State (I/C)– Raj Kumar (RK) Singh - Name the superhero who (character) was used by central government to educate kids how to beat coronavirus.
1) Parmanu
2) Nagraj
3) Shaktimaan
4) Vaayu
5) BhokalAnswer-4) Vaayu
Explanation:
The Government of India has designated Superhero Vaayu to clear queries related to Coronavirus & to give healthy tips with kids on how to combat COVID-19 pandemic. - Name the company which has become the 1st member of India’s gas trading platform named “Indian Gas Exchange (IGX)”.
1) Adani Power Limited
2) Indane Power Limited
3) Reliance Power Limited
4) HP Power Limited
5) Manikaran Power LtdAnswer-5) Manikaran Power Ltd
Explanation:
The gas trading platform of Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) has found its first member in Manikaran Power Ltd (MPL). Called the Indian Gas Exchange (IGX), it will be India’s first gas trading platform. - Name the private bank in India which has launched voice assistance-based banking services on its integrated AI chatbot ‘iPal’ with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
1) ICICI Bank
2) HDFC Bank
3) Axis Bank
4) Yes Bank
5) IndusInd BankAnswer-1) ICICI Bank
Explanation:
ICICI bank has launched voice assistance-based banking services on its integrated artificial intelligence (AI) powered multi-channel chatbot iPal with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for its retail banking customers by which they can access a wide range of banking services like check balance, seek credit card details & ask queries through voice commands. - What is the reduced limit in G-secs through Foreign Portfolio Investment for FY21 as per RBI (existing limit 2.46 lakh crore)?
1) 2.34 lakh crore
2) 2.22 lakh crore
3) 2.18 lakh crore
4) 2.45 lakh crore
5) 2.40 lakh croreAnswer-1) 2.34 lakh crore
Explanation:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has reduced the investment limit for general category foreign portfolio investors’ (FPI) in central government securities (G-secs) to Rs 2.34 lakh crore for FY 20-21 from the existing limit of Rs 2.46 lakh crore. The limits have been brought down by almost $1.5 billion to just above $31 billion. - What is India’s revised GDP growth forecast as per Fitch solutions (credit agency)?
1) 2.5%
2) 2.6%
3) 2%
4) 1.8%
5) 1.6%Answer-4) 1.8%
Explanation:
Fitch Solutions has declined India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth for the Financial Year (FY) 2020-21 (April 2020 to March 2021) to 1.8% from 4.6% previously as they expect private consumption to contract against a previously weak expansion & the net exports will continue to drag heavily, due to the large-scale loss of income across the economy because of the impact of a worsening domestic outbreak of COVID-19. - What is the number of inter-ministerial teams which was formed by central government under Disaster Management Act, 2005?
1) 5
2) 6
3) 7
4) 9
5) 11Answer-2) 6
Explanation:
The central government under Section 35(1), 35(2)(a), 35(2)(e) and 35(2)(i) of the Disaster Management Act 2005 has formed 6 Inter-Ministerial Teams (IMCTs), 2 each for West Bengal, Maharashtra and 1 each for Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The objective is to make on-the-spot assessment of the situation and issue necessary directions to redressal of state authorities, to submit their report to the Central Government so as to fight and contain the spread of COVID-19 - Pravin Kumar Purwal the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of BSNL has taken over additional charge as the CMD of Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) for 6 months. Where is the HQ of MTNL located?
1) New Delhi
2) Noida
3) Gurugram
4) Mumbai
5) BengaluruAnswer-1) New Delhi
Explanation:
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL)’s Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Pravin Kumar (PK) Purwar took additional charge as CMD of Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL – HQ at New Delhi) for 6 months or until further orders, whichever is earlier. - Name the person who has been appointed as the Chief Justice of Bombay high court.
1) Bhushan Dharmadhikari
2) Dipankar Datta
3) Sanju Panda
4) Biswanath Somadder
5) Mohammad RafiqAnswer-2) Dipankar Datta
Explanation:
The Supreme Court (SC) Collegium led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sharad Arvind Bobde has recommended the appointment of new Chief Justices for the Bombay, Orissa and Meghalaya High Courts (HC).Name High court in which appointed Dipankar Datta Bombay High Court Biswanath Somadder Meghalaya High Court Mohammad Rafiq Orissa High Court - The G20 Health ministers meeting about covid-19 was conducted recently. Name the person who is present Health & Family welfare minister of India.
1) Piyush Goyal
2) Prakash Javadekar
3) Smriti Irani
4) Harsh Vardhan
5) Nitin GadkariAnswer-4) Harsh Vardhan
Explanation:
An international forum of Health Ministers of G20 countries was held on April 19, 2020 via Video Conference. From Indian side, Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr. Harsh Vardhan participated. The objective behind this meet was to discuss weaknesses in health systems that made the world vulnerable to the coronavirus outbreak to pursue unified efforts towards mitigation of COVID-19. - Who is the head of empowered committee formed by government to look into supply chain and logistics management & availability of necessary items such as food and medicines.
1) Amit Khare
2) P Iyer
3) Nandhan Nilakeni
4) VK Paul
5) Siddharth GoshAnswer-2) P Iyer
Explanation:
2 empowered committees are formed to look into the implementation of exits from lockdown by states to ensure that only areas designated as hotspots continue with the strict restrictions. 1st Committee- To oversee the facilitating of supply chain and logistics management & of necessary items such as food and medicines. It is headed by P Iyer, secretary of the department of drinking water and sanitation. 2nd Committee- For the purpose of public grievances & suggestions to look into any problems in concern with the exit from lockdown. It is headed by Amit Khare, secretary, ministry of human resource development. - Name the person who is thehead of empowered committee formed by government for the purpose of public grievances & suggestions to look into any problems concerning lockdown.
1) Amit Khare
2) Nandhan Nilakeni
3) Siddharth Gosh
4) P Iyer
5) VK PaulAnswer-1) Amit Khare
Explanation:
2 empowered committees are formed to look into the implementation of exits from lockdown by states to ensure that only areas designated as hotspots continue with the strict restrictions. 1st Committee- To oversee the facilitating of supply chain and logistics management & of necessary items such as food and medicines. It is headed by P Iyer, secretary of the department of drinking water and sanitation. 2nd Committee- For the purpose of public grievances & suggestions to look into any problems in concern with the exit from lockdown. It is headed by Amit Khare, secretary, ministry of human resource development. - Researchers at Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) has discovered hundreds of Lithium (Li) rich giant stars recently. Where is IIA located?
1) Bengaluru
2) New Delhi
3) Hyderabad
4) Pune
5) KolkataAnswer-1) Bengaluru
Explanation:
A team of researchers at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), a premier institute devoted to research in astrophysics based in Bengaluru, (Karnataka), have discovered hundreds of Lithium (Li) rich giant stars, which proves it is being produced in the stars and accounts for its abundance in the interstellar medium.The study has been published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters. - Which institute of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has collaborated with King George’s Medical University (KGMU) to sequence virus strains obtained from covid-19 patients?
1) Open Source Drug Discovery, New Delhi
2) Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute, Bhopal
3) Genomics and Integrative Biology, Delhi
4) Centre for Cellular Molecular Biology, Hyderabad
5) Central Drug Research Institute, LucknowAnswer-5) Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow
Explanation:
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), Lucknow, UP with King George’s Medical University (KGMU) has written a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to sequence the virus strains obtained from COVID-19 patients in Uttar Pradesh. - Name the astronauts who are sent to International Space Station (ISS) by NASA and SpaceX (NASA’s human mission after 9 years).
1) Doug Hurley
2) Bob Behnken
3) Peggy Whitson
4) Both 1) and 2)
5) Both 1) and 3)Answer-4) Both 1) and 2)
Explanation:
For the first time since July 21, 2011, a human mission from American Earth will go into space. That is after 9 years, the US space agency NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) & SpaceX will send two veteran astronauts –Bob Behnken & Doug Hurley- from the Florida’s Kennedy Space Centre in indigenous 23-story Falcon 9 rockets to the International Space Station (ISS) on May 27, 2020. - Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG) has developed a global model to predict the ionospheric electron density which is needed for communication and navigation. Where is IIG located?
1) Navi Mumbai
2) Gurugram
3) Ranchi
4) Guwahati
5) KolkataAnswer-1) Navi Mumbai
Explanation:
Researchers from Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG), Navi Mumbai, an autonomous Institute of the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India (GOI), have developed a global model to predict the ionospheric electron density with larger data coverage- a crucial need for communication and navigation. Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) replicate the processes in the human brain (or biological neurons) to solve problems such as classification, clustering, pattern recognition, linear & nonlinear data fitting and time series prediction. - To whom the central government created and launched an online data pool to combat and contain COVID-19?
1) Volunteers
2) Farmers
3) Healthcare professionals
4) Both 1) and 2)
5) Both 1) and 3)Answer-5) Both 1) and 3)
Explanation:
The Union government created & launched an online data pool of operational healthcare professionals and volunteers for ground level administration at state, district or municipal levels along with contact details of the nodal officers so as to combat & contain COVID-19. - Name the person who authored the book titled “How the Onion Got Its Layers”.
1) Sudha Murty
2) Anita Desai
3) Kamila Shamsie
4) Kiran Desai
5) Anuja ChauhanAnswer-1) Sudha Murty
Explanation:
A book titled “How the Onion Got Its Layers” authored by Sudha Murty was published by Puffin. The book is being released in its e-book and audio form for young children. - Abba Kyari the chief of staff to Muhammadu Buhari passed away recently. Muhammadu Buhari is the president of which country?
1) Nigeria
2) Kenya
3) Namibia
4) Bermuda
5) SudanAnswer-1) Nigeria
Explanation:
The Chief of Staff to Nigeria’s president Muhammadu Buhari, Abba Kyari, 70, passed away due to Covid-19 after a month-long infection, who was in his 70s and the top official aide to 77-year-old President Muhammadu Buhari. - April 19 of every year will be observed as which day?
1) World Liver Day
2) International Kidney Day
3) World TB Day
4) World Health Day
5) International Day of ForestsAnswer-1) World Liver Day
Explanation:
World Liver Day (WLD) is observed every year on April 19, to spread awareness about the importance of liver in our body and liver related diseases. - When was UN’s Chinese Language Day celebrated annually?
1) April 9
2) April 20
3) March 30
4) May 10
5) May 2Answer-2) April 20
Explanation:
20th April of every year is observed as the Chinese Language Day by the United Nations (UN) as a contribution of Chinese Literature, poetry, and Language as well as to celebrate the multilingualism and cultural diversity and to promote the use of Chinese as one of its six official languages (Arabic, English, French, Russian, Spanish) of UN.
STATIC GK based on Current Affairs
- Which Indian city is named as ‘Marble city of India’? Answer-Kishangarh
Explanation:
Kishangarh, Rajasthan has come to be known as the marble city of India.It is the only place in the world with a temple of nine planets. - Thailand has found a large number of nests of which animal in beaches? Answer-Turtle
Explanation:
Deserted Thai beaches lure rare turtles to build most nests in 20 years. - What is the capital and currency of Nigeria? Answer-capital – Abuja & currency – Naira
- Dudhwa national park is in which state? Answer-Uttar Pradesh
- Where is the HQ of ICICI bank located? Answer-Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Who is the present Chief Justice of India? Answer-Sharad Arvind Bobde
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