1. Volodymyr Zelenskiy is the President of which of the following countries?
a. Ukraine
b. Russia
c. Vietnam
d. Syria
S-a
2. President Donald Trump has announced a what value financial rescue package to help the agriculture industry in the staggering economic downturn sparked by measures to defeat the coronavirus.?
a. USD 19 billion
b. USD 20 billion
c. USD 25 billion
d. USD 10 billion
S-a
EXPLANATION-
• President Donald Trump has announced a USD 19 billion financial rescue package to help the agriculture industry in the staggering economic downturn sparked by measures to defeat the coronavirus.
• The government "will be implementing a USD 19 billion relief program for our great farmers and ranchers as they cope with the fallout of the global pandemic.
• The program will include direct payments to farmers, ranchers and producers who Trump said have experienced "unprecedented losses during this pandemic."
3. The Nigerian president's chief of staff died after contracting the new coronavirus. Who was he?
a. Muhammadu Buhari
b. Abba Kyari
c. Fateh Kumar
d. Abdel Fateh
S-b
EXPLANATION-
• The Nigerian president's chief of staff, Abba Kyari, died after contracting the new coronavirus.
• Abba Kyari, who was in his 70s and had underlying health problems including diabetes, was the top official aide to 77-year-old President Muhammadu Buhari and one of the most powerful men in the country.
4. SAPCE-X will launch Demo-2 with which of the following?
a. ISRO
b. JAXA
c. NASA
d. ESA
S-c
EXPLANATION-
• NASA and SpaceX are targeting May 27 for the launch of Demo-2, the first launch of NASA astronauts from the U.S. since 2011 and the first crewed launch for Elon Musk’s space company.
• As its name implies, Demo-2 will be the second time SpaceX launches its Crew Dragon capsule to the International Space Station. But, unlike Demo-1 last year, this time two astronauts will be on board.
5. What percentage of salaries were cut in the salaries of all Members of Parliament in lieu of COVID-19?
a. 30%
b. 25%
c. 40%
d. 15%
S-a
EXPLANATION-
• The Union Cabinet approved a 30% cut in the salaries of all Members of Parliament and a two-year suspension of the MP Local Area Development (MPLAD) scheme so that the amount saved can go to the Consolidated Fund of India to fight COVID-19, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said.
• The Cabinet approved an ordinance to amend the Salaries, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament Act, 1954, to cut the salaries of MPs by 30%.
• All MPs, including the Prime Minister and his Council of Ministers, would take the salary cut for financial year 2020-2021. In addition, the Cabinet had decided to suspend the MPLAD funds for 2020-2021 and 2021-2022. Many MPs had already pledged to use their MPLAD funds, Rs.5 crore a year, for efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic.
• Only the MPs' salaries would be cut, not allowances or the pensions of ex-MPs. According to the Act, as amended in April 2018, MPs are entitled to a monthly salary of Rs.1 lakh, apart from various allowances.
