1. Where did the BRO construct Daporijo bridge?
a. Andhra Pradesh
b. Arunachal Pradesh
c. Madhya Pradesh
d. Assam
S-b
EXPLANATION-
• Daporijo bridge over Subansiri river has been constructed by Border Roads Organisation (BRO), keeping in mind utmost precautions against COVID-19 so as to connect this strategic Line of Communication in Arunachal Pradesh.
• Bridge on Daporijo River is a strategic link towards the LAC between India and China. All supplies, rations, constructional material and medicines pass over this bridge.
• Old Bridge developed cracks which could lead to a major catastrophe like on 26 Jul 1992 when a passenger bus fell off the bridge leaving no survivors.
• With the intervention of DGBR and CE Arunank expeditious sanctions were obtained from the MoD and Arunachal Government. The difficult and dangerous launch was completed in record time adhering to all COVID-19 precautions.
• Work had started for construction of the bridge on March 17, 2020 by 23 BRTF.
• Finally after 27 days on April 14, 2020 the bridge was jacked down successfully and safely on the supports. It has been successfully upgraded from class 24 tons to class 40 tons thereby allowing heavier vehicles to pass catering for not only Army requirements but the future Infrastructure development requirements of Upper Subansiri district.
2. The government has declared banking industry as a public utility service for six months till October 21 under the provisions of which of the following acts?
a. Industrial Disputes Act
b. Payment of Wages Act
c. Disaster Management Act
d. Banking Regulation Act
S-a
EXPLANATION-
• The government has declared banking industry as a public utility service for six months till October 21 under the provisions of the Industrial Disputes Act.
• Bringing banking services under the provisions of this Act means that the banking sector would not see any strikes by employees or officers during the operation of the law starting from April 21.
• With the latest move, employees and officers of the highly unionised banking sector would not be able to go on strike besides certain other activities.
3. Which of the following is National Highway Authority of India's centralized call number?
a. 1033
b. 1032
c. 1021
d. 1035
S-a
EXPLANATION-
• National Highway Authority of India's centralized call number 1033 has also been activated to answer calls and provide information about the dhabaas and repair shops along National Highways.
4. Which is the first Arab country to legalise cannabis farming for medical use?
a. Lebanon
b. Qatar
c. Egypt
d. Oman
S-a
EXPLANATION-
• Lebanon has become the first Arab country to legalise cannabis farming for medical and industrial purposes – a move that could generate lucrative exports and foreign currency as the country struggles to cope with a financial crisis.
• Although growing the plant was previously illegal, cannabis has long been farmed openly in the fertile and impoverished Bekaa Valley. According to the United Nations, the country is the world’s third largest supplier of cannabis resin, or hashish, after Morocco and Afghanistan.
• The new law will regulate the already existing cultivation efforts and help stem unlawful production of the plant, with all recreational production and use remaining illegal.
• The legislation aims to build a multimillion-dollar industry that could generate products ranging from textiles to pharmaceuticals, and even such items as cannabidiol (CBD) oil.
5. Which country has named its first independent interplanetary mission Tianwen-1?
a. China
b. Russia
c. France
d. Germany
S-a
EXPLANATION-
• China has named its first independent interplanetary mission Tianwen-1, with the combined Mars orbiter and rover spacecraft apparently proceeding towards launch in July.
• The name and mission logo were unveiled at a China National Space Administration online ceremony to mark the 50th anniversary of the launch of the country’s first satellite.
• DFH-1 launched on a Long March 1 rocket from Jiuquan April 24, 1970, making China the fifth country to independently launch a satellite.
• Tianwen-1, meaning ‘questions to heaven’, is taken from the name of a long-form poem by Qu Yuan, a poet born in the fourth century B.C.
