Thursday Acknowledge with General Knowledge
Question 1-5
On account of National Statistics Day, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) presented the first (X) National Award in Official Statistics’2020 to Dr. Chakravarthi Rangarajan, Former Governor, (Y) for his contribution to the National Statistical System (NSS).
Rangarajan received the Lifetime Achievement award for his contribution in providing solutions in the issues related to the estimation of national income.
In his acceptance speech he mentioned about the importance of credibility of official statistics.
He headed the Prime Minister’s Advisory Council and he was the Chairman of the National Statistical Commission to review the statistical system.
Chief statistician mentioned that the MoSPI is developing a generalised survey solution “eSigma” to capture data by mobile devices which will be supplemented by the telephonic and web-based interfaces.
1. Who among the following is being referred to as (X) in the above passage?
a. Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis
b. Suresh Chandra Mahalanobis
c. Prakash Chandra Mahalanobis
d. Prashant Chandra Mahalanobis
S-a
EXPLANATION-
• ‘X’ in the above passage is referred to as Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis.
• PC Mahalanobis was an Indian scientist and statistician, and was the founder of the Indian Statistical Institute.
• He is known as the Father of Modern Statistics in India.
2. When is the National Statistics Day observed?
a. 29 June
b. 25 June
c. 22 June
d. 21 June
S-a
EXPLANATION-
• Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis’ birth anniversary is celebrated as the National Statistics Day in India on 29 June annually.
• He is considered the father of modern statistics in India, founded the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI). He shaped the Planning Commission and pioneered methodologies for large-scale surveys.
• He was also instrumental in formulating India’s second five-year-plan (1956-1961), which laid the blueprint for industrialisation and development in India.
• Theme of Statistics Day 2020 is SDG- 3 (Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages) & SDG- 5 (Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls).
3. Who among the following is the Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) ?
a. Rao Inderjit Singh
b. Mahendra Nath Pandey
c. Narendra Singh Tomar
d. Nitin Gadkari
S-a
EXPLANATION-
S. Nos. Minister Ministries/ Department
1 Rao Inderjit Singh Minister of State (Independent Charge)
2 Mahendra Nath Pandey Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
3 Narendra Singh Tomar Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and
Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj
4 Nitin Gadkari Minister of Road Transport and Highways and
Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
4. Dr. Chakravarthi Rangarajan was the Former Governor of which of the following?
a. SEBI
b. RBI
c. NABARD
d. SIDBI
S-b
EXPLANATION-
• Chakravarthi Rangarajan was the 19th Governor of the Reserve Bank of India from 22 December 1992 – 21 November 1997. He served as a Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India from 1982 to 1991.
• RBI is the financial market regulator of India.
• RBI’s HQ-Mumbai
• RBI’s Current Governor- Shaktikanta Das
5. Where are the headquarters of the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) situated?
a. New Delhi
b. Kolkata
c. Chennai
d. Pune
S-b
EXPLANATION-
• The headquarters of Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) are situated at Kolkata, India.
• It has four subsidiary centres focused in academics at Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai and Tezpur, and a branch at Giridih.
• It is one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions focused on statistics and is recognized as institute of national importance in 1959 act of the Indian parliament.
Question (6-10)
India and (X) warships conducted exercises in the Indian Ocean, announced the navies of both the countries. The (X) Maritime Self-Defence Force described the manoeuvres as designed to “promote mutual understanding” and consisted of four warships, two from each country.
Naval exercises are now routine between India and (X), but the timing of the present exercise will be bracketed with the military stand-off between India and China in Ladakh.
“We are using the exercises for strategic communications,” said Vice-Admiral Pradeep Chauhan, director-general of the National Maritime Foundation. The navies were “not there for combat purposes but for signalling,” he added.
“We need to be proximate with our friends and the Chinese know there is a direct ladder of escalation between (X) and the (Y),” said the Vice-Admiral.
The Indian navy training vessels INS Rana and INS Kulush were joined by the (X) navy’s JS Kashima and JS Shimayuki. The (X) embassy in New Delhi said this was the 15th such exercise in three years. “The content of this exercise is tactical training and communications training,” said embassy spokesperson Toshihide Ando, “with no specific scenario.”
The (X) navy has become one of the principal partners of the Indian Navy. Indian naval ships take part in the exercise, both bilaterally with their (X) counterparts and as part of the Malabar Exercises, which include the (Y).
6. Which of the following countries represented as ‘X’ in the above passage conducted exercise with India in Indian Ocean?
a. Sri Lanka
b. Japan
c. United States
d. Russia
S-b
EXPLANATION-
• (X) stands for Japan.
• India and Japan had conducted wartime exercise in the Indian Ocean
• This happened amid ongoing tension with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Galwan valley area of Eastern Ladakh.
7. What is the name of the exercise conducted by ‘X’ and India in the Indian Ocean?
a. PASSEX
b. HINDJA
c. MAITRI
d. YUDH ABHYAAS
S-a
EXPLANATION-
• The Indian and Japanese navies conducted a small exercise PASSEX (Passing Exercise), towards the Malacca Strait in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
• From India, Rajput-class destroyer INS Rana and Kora-class missile corvette INS Kulish, took part in the exercise and from Japan, JS Shimayuki and JS Kashima participated.
8. Which country is being referred to as ‘Y’ in the above passage?
a. United States
b. Australia
c. Russia
d. Germany
S-a
EXPLANATION-
• ‘Y’ in the passage refers to the United States.
• Malabar is a trilateral naval exercise of India, Japan and the United States.
• It originally was a bilateral exercise between India and the US.
• Japan became a part of Malabar exercise in 2015.
9. What is the name of the annual bilateral military exercise being conducted between India and ‘X’?
a. Yudh Abhyaas
b. Vajra Prahar
c. Dharma Guardian
d. Hamara Saath
S-c
EXPLANATION-
• Dharma Guardian-2019 is the Joint Military Exercise between India and Japan.
• It was conducted to share experience gained during various Counter-Terrorism Operations in respective countries.
• It is an annual training event which is being conducted in India since 2018.
• It commenced at Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School (CIJWS) Vairengte, Mizoram.
10. Who among the following is the Chief of Naval Staff?
a. Karambir Singh
b. Manoj Mukund Naravane
c. Bipin Rawat
d. Rakesh Kumar Bhadauria
S-a
EXPLANATION-
S. Nos. Name Designation
1 Admiral Karambir Singh Chief of Naval Staff
2 General Manoj Mukund Naravane Chief of the Army Staff
3 General Bipin Rawat
First Chief of Defence Staff
4 Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Bhadauria Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force
Question (11-15)
India’s insurance regulator formed a working group to look into and make recommendations for insurance of drones.
The group consists of members from the regulator, as well as from public and private sector insurance and reinsurance companies such as SBI General Insurance and Tata AIG.
The group is being headed by (X) , general manager of the New India Assurance, a public sector insurance company.
There are 9 people in the group, including a chairman, seven members, and one convenor.
The COVID-19 crisis has resulted in increased adoption of drones after they were deployed in multiple states, such as Delhi, Maharashtra, Kerala, Telangana, and Punjab, for surveillance and containment activities. (Y) recently launched a dedicated drone insurance product, but that remains the only product specifically developed for drone liability cover so far.
Draft drone rules, published earlier this month, also propose to mandate insurance cover for drones to be eligible to operate. The draft says that no drone can be operated in India without having a valid third party insurance policy to cover the liability that may arise during mishaps, causing death or bodily injury to any person or damage to property.
11. Which of the following is India’s Insurance regulatory body?
a. IRDAI
b. SEBI
c. RBI
d. PFRDA
S-a
EXPLANATION-
S. Nos. Name Headquarter Chief
1 IRDAI ( Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority) Hyderabad, Telangana Subhash Chandra Khuntia
2 SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) Mumbai, Maharashtra Ajay Tyagi
3 RBI (Reserve Bank of India) Mumbai, Maharashtra Shaktikanta Das
4 PFRDA (Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority) New Delhi Supratim Bandyopadhyay
12. Who among the following will head the working group to look into and make recommendations for insurance of drones?
a. Anjan Dey
b. Arjun Dey
c. Arun Dev
d. Anjan Ray
S-a
EXPLANATION-
• The group is being headed by Anjan Dey, general manager of the New India Assurance, a public sector insurance company.
• There are 9 people in the group, including a chairman, seven members, and one convenor.
13. Which of the following referred to as ‘Y’ has launched a dedicated drone insurance product?
a. HDFC Ergo
b. Tata AIG
c. Bajaj Allianz
d. Oriental Insurance Company
S-a
EXPLANATION-
• In an industry-first initiative, the third largest private sector general insurer HDFC Ergo tied up with tech firm Tropogo to offer commercial drone owners and operators third-party liability cover for property damage and physical injuries from the flying machines.
• This policy will be offered on-demand to customers on a ‘pay as you fly’ concept.
• Third-party insurance liability claim is mandatory for drone operations in the country.
14. DGCA had released Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Rules of 2020. What does ‘C’ stand for in DGCA?
a. Court
b. Civil
c. Company
d. Corporate
S-b
EXPLANATION-
• DGCA stands for Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
• It is the statutory body formed under the Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020 and functions under Ministry of Civil Aviation.
• Director General- Arun Kumar
• HQ- New Delhi
15. According to the Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Rules 2020, what should be the minimum age for owning and using a drone in India?
a. 18 years
b. 21 years
c. 25 years
d. 30 years
S-a
EXPLANATION-
• The Ministry of Civil Aviation has notified the draft Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Rules, 2020.
• The draft rules have been issued at a time when the use of drones has increased due to a coronavirus lockdown, for purposes like surveillance, disinfection and videography.
• For owning and using a drone, one has to be at least 18 years old.
Question (16-20)
(X) has issued an arrest warrant and asked Interpol for help in detaining President Donald Trump and dozens of others it believes carried out the US drone strike that killed a top (X) general in Baghdad, a local prosecutor reportedly said Monday.
Interpol later said it wouldn't consider (X’s) request, meaning Trump faces no danger of arrest. However, the charges underscore the heightened tensions between (X) and the United States since Trump unilaterally withdrew America from Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers.
Tehran prosecutor Ali Alqasimehr said Trump and 35 others whom (X) accuses of involvement in the January 3 strike that killed (X’s) general in Baghdad face murder and terrorism charges," the state-run IRNA news agency reported.
Alqasimehr did not identify anyone else sought other than Trump but stressed that (X) would continue to pursue his prosecution even after his presidency ends.
Alqasimehr also was quoted as saying that (X) requested a 'red notice' be put out for Trump and the others, which represents the highest-level arrest request issued by Interpol.
Local authorities generally make the arrests on behalf of the country that requests it. The notices cannot force countries to arrest or extradite suspects, but can put government leaders on the spot and limit suspects' travel.
After receiving a request, Interpol meets by committee and discusses whether or not to share the information with its member states. Interpol has no requirement for making any of the notices public, though some do get published on its website.
Interpol later issued a statement saying its guidelines for notices forbids it from any intervention or activities of a political nature. Interpol would not consider requests of this nature, it said.
Brian Hook, the US special representative for (X), dismissed the arrest warrant announcement during a news conference in Saudi Arabia on Monday. ''It's a propaganda stunt that no one takes seriously and makes the (X) look foolish,'' Hook said.
The US killed General, who oversaw the Revolutionary Guard's expeditionary Quds Force, and others in the January strike near Baghdad International Airport. It came after months of rising tensions between the two countries. (X) retaliated with a ballistic missile strike targeting American troops in Iraq.
16. In the given passage, which of the following country is ‘X’?
a. Pakistan
b. Maldives
c. Turkey
d. Iran
S-d
EXPLANATION-
• ‘X’ in the passage is Iran.
• Iran has issued an arrest warrant and asked Interpol for help in detaining President Donald Trump and dozens of others it believes carried out the US drone strike that killed a top Iranian general in Baghdad.
17. What is the name of the X’s general killed by the US airstrike in Baghdad?
a. Abu Azrael
b. Ali Khamenei
c. Qassem Soleimani
d. Hassan Rouhani
S-c
EXPLANATION-
• Qassem Soleimani is the Iran’s general killed by the US airstrike in Baghdad on 3 January 2020 via a drone strike near Baghdad International Airport.
• Soleimani was commander of the Quds Force.
• The force has been designated a terrorist organization by the U.S., Canada, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
• He was considered the second most powerful person of Iran.
18. Where are the headquarters of Interpol situated?
a. France
b. United States
c. Germany
d. China
S-a
EXPLANATION-
• INTERPOL is the International Criminal Police Organisation and the World’s largest police organization.
• Founded in 1923
• HQ-Lyon, France
• President-Kim Jong Yang
19. By when is ‘X’ planning to establish its new military base?
a. April 2021
b. March 2021
c. May 2021
d. June 2021
S-b
EXPLANATION-
• Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) plans to establish a permanent military base in the Indian Ocean by March 2021. This was announced by IRGC Navy Commander Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri.
• This is being done to expand Iran’s presence in the international waters.
20. When did ‘X’ sign a nuclear deal with the P5+1?
a. 2015
b. 2019
c. 2017
d. 2020
S-a
EXPLANATION-
• The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action is commonly as the Iran nuclear deal or Iran deal.
• It is an agreement on the Iranian nuclear program reached in Vienna on July 14, 2015, between Iran and the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council—China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, United States—plus Germany) together with the European Union.
Question (21-25)
India’s ‘first’ indigenous Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin, developed by Hyderabad-based vaccine manufacturer (X) in collaboration with the (ICMR), is all set to begin human clinical trials.
The CDSCO had granted the company permission to initiate Phase I and II human clinical trials on 29 June, after it submitted results generated from pre-clinical studies, demonstrating the vaccine’s safety and immune response to the infection.
Recently, ICMR Director-General Dr Balram Bhargava also wrote to the principle investigators in the Covaxin trial asking for the vaccine to be launched by 15 August, triggering a massive controversy about how the timeline would be shrunk. Earlier, the company had submitted that the trials will be conducted over 15 months.
Vaccines can broadly be categorised into two types — inactivated and live vaccines.
(X’s) Covaxin vaccine falls under the category of inactivated vaccines.
In such vaccines, the pathogen is ‘deactivated’ so that it can no longer cause infection. However, parts of the virus can still be identified by the body’s immune system and can trigger an immune reaction.
Hepatitis A, influenza, and polio vaccines used in India are some examples of inactivated vaccines.
Conversely, live attenuated vaccines carry a live but extremely weakened pathogen which cannot cause the disease, such as the measles or the Bacillus Calmette–Guérin vaccine, used primarily against tuberculosis.
Inactivated vaccines are not as powerful as live ones and typically require booster shots. However, the inactive pathogen cannot replicate in the vaccinated person, making it safer for people with an impaired immune system response.
Once the vaccine is administered, the body produces antibodies that can fight off the novel coronavirus infection.
21. Which of the following company is being referred to as ‘X’ in the above passage?
a. Bharat Biotech
b. Cipla
c. Zydus Cadila
d. Nectar Lifesciences
S-a
EXPLANATION-
• Bharat Biotech in collaboration with Indian Council of Medical Research’s National Institute of Virology developed Covaxin vaccine.
• It is the first indigenous Covid-19 vaccine candidate to receive approval to conduct human clinical trials’.
• Drug Controller General of India Dr V G Somani approved Bharat Biotech’s application to conduct phase I and II clinical trials for Covaxin.
22. Where are the headquarters of ICMR situated?
a. Mumbai
b. Pune
c. New Delhi
d. Kolkata
S-c
EXPLANATION-
• ICMR is Indian Council of Medical Research that works under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• Secretary and Director General-Dr. Balram Bhargava
• HQ-New Delhi
23. Who among the following is the Drugs Controller General of India?
a. Dr. V. G. Somani
b. Dr. Harsh Vardan
c. Dr. Harish Mehta
d. Dr. Vivek Somani
S-a
24. What does ’S’ stand for in CDSCO?
a. Standard
b. Social
c. Society
d. Scientific
S-a
EXPLANATION-
• CDSCO stands for Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation.
• National regulatory body for Indian pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
• The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) regulates pharmaceutical and medical devices
• HQ- New Delhi
25. Which of the following has launched FabiFlu for the treatment of patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 patients?
a. Glenmark Pharmaceuticals
b. Zydus Cadila
c. Bharat Biotech
d. Cipla Ltd.
S-a
EXPLANATION-
• Glenmark Pharmaceuticals has launched antiviral drug Favipiravir, under the brand name FabiFlu, for the treatment of patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 patients.
• Favipiravir can be used for coronavirus patients with co-morbid conditions such as diabetes and heart disease with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms.
• It offers rapid reduction in viral load within four days and provides faster symptomatic and radiological improvement.
