1) Who heads the task force, that prepared the Rs. 102 lakh crore “National Infrastructure Pipeline for the year 2019-20 to 2024-25”?
1) Narendra Modi
2) Girish Murmu
3) Atanu Chakraborty
4) Nirmala Sitharaman
5) None of these

Answer

Answer-3) Atanu Chakraborty Explanation: The union Minister of Finance Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman released a report of the task force on National Infrastructure Pipeline for 2019-2020 to 2024-2025 (NIP 2019-25) inorder to achieve the $5 trillion economy by 2024-25 . Based on the information compiled by the task force headed by Economic Affairs Secretary Atanu Chakraborty, Rs 102 lakh crores has been projected on the capital expenditure in infrastructure sectors in India during the fiscals 2020 to 2025. The capital expenditure will be shared by the Centre, States and the private sector in the ratio 39:39:22 respectively.

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2) Who chairs the 7-member Group of Ministers (GoM) that reviews the crop insurance scheme, “Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)”?
1) Nirmala Sitharaman
2) Rajnath Singh
3) Amit Shah
4) Prakash Javadekar
5) None of these

Answer

Answer-2) Rajnath Singh Explanation: The central Government has formed a 7-member group of ministers (GoM) headed by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh to review the crop insurance scheme ,“Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)” & make suggestions to improve it according to the needs of the farmers. The group also includes Home Minister (HM) Amit Shah and Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Minister of State for Agriculture, Finance, Tribal Affairs and Animal Husbandry.

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3) Name the 5th department that was created under Ministry of Defence (MoD) after a change in
Government of India (Allocation of Business), Rules 1961?
1) Department of Defence
2) Department of Military affairs (DMA)
3) Department of Defence Production
4) Department of Defence Research and Development

Answer

5) None of these Answer-2) Department of Military affairs (DMA) Explanation: Department of Military affairs (DMA)was the newly created department. The new department works for the unity of the three forces Army, Navy and Air Force and will also monitor the services except capital acquisitions according to prevalent rules and procedures. The DMA is the 5th department in the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and was created after a change in Government of India (Allocation of Business), Rules 1961.The other existing 4 departments under MoD are are the Department of Defence, the Department of Defence Production, the Department of Defence Research and Development and the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare. Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Bipin Rawat will be the head of the newly created Department of Military affairs (DMA).

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4) Name the app launched by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor, Shri Shaktikanta Das that
would help visually impaired people to identify denomination of currency notes?
1) “VANIA” (Visually Aided Note Identifier Application)
2) “MVANI” (Mobile app for Visually Aided Note Identifier)
3) “VANI” (Visually Aided Note Identifier)
4) “MANI” (Mobile Aided Note Identifier)

Answer

5) None of these Answer - 4) “MANI” (Mobile Aided Note Identifier) Explanation: On January 1, 2020 the 25th Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Shri Shaktikanta Das launched a mobile app named “MANI” (Mobile Aided Note Identifier) that would help visually impaired people to identify denomination of currency notes correctly. The currency notes will be scanned using a mobile phone’s camera. The most interesting feature of the app is that it can also be used offline after installation. The audio output is available in both Hindi and English languages.

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5) Which state has celebrated Ritualistic festival, ‘Lai Haroba’ recently?
1) Manipur
2) Nagaland
3) Tripura
4) Mizoram
5) None of these

Answer

Answer-3) Tripura Explanation: Lai Haroba, a ritualistic festival observed by Manipuri meitei communities began in Agartala. The five- day long festival was inaugurated by Speaker of State legislative Assembly, Rebati Mohan Das. Lai Haroba was celebrated through oral literature, music, dance and rituals. A cultural troupe from Manipur came and performing manipuri martial arts, folk music and folk dances. The festival was organized by: Department of Information and Cultural Affairs, Government of Tripura. Puthiba Lai Haraoba Committee and Puthiba Welfare & Cultural Society, Agartala.

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6) Which game along with “Cycling” will be included for the first time in the 3rd Khelo India
Games 2020, that is to be held in Guwahati, Assam?
1) Boccia
2) Croquet
3) Lawn bowls
4) Bocce

Answer

5) None of these Answer-3) Lawn bowls Explanation: Chief Executive Officer of “Khelo India Games” has announced the inclusion of “Lawn bowls” and “Cycling” in the 3rd edition of Khelo India Games. These two games will be included in the event for the first time.Around 6500 athletes from 37 teams will take part in the 3rd edition of Khelo India youth games in Guwahati, Assam which is scheduled to be held from 10th of January to 22nd of February at Indira Gandhi Stadium.

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7) World Health Organisation (WHO) has designated 2020 as ________________?
1) International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development
2) International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies
3) International Year of Nurse and Midwife
4) International Year of Indigenous Languages
5) None of these

Answer

Answer-3) International Year of Nurse and Midwife Explanation: The executive board of the World Health Organisation(WHO) has designated 2020 as International Year of Nurse and Midwife in honour of 200th birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale. The WHO will also launch first-ever State of the World’s Nursing report in 2020 prior to the 73rd session of the World Health Assembly.

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8) Where was the India’s 1st of its kind turtle rehabilitation centre inaugurated?
1) West Bengal
2) Gujarat
3) Uttar Pradesh
4) Bihar
5) None of these

Answer

Answer-4) Bihar Explanation: A 1st of its kind rehabilitation centre for freshwater turtles is to be inaugurated in January 2020 in the Bhagalpur forest division of Bihar. This centre spread over half a hectare will be able to shelter 500 turtles at a time. The centre will also treat turtles that are sick, severely injured or smuggled, and then be returned safely into its natural habitat.

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9) How many States have finalized action plan for Agriculture Export Policy (AEP) to enhance
exports?
1) 5
2) 6
3) 7
4) 8

Answer

5) None of these Answer-4) 8 Explanation: On January 5, 2020, As per Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), eight states namely Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Nagaland, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Punjab, and Karnataka finalized an action plan for Agriculture Export Policy (AEP) to enhance exports.

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10) Name the 1st state in India that shortlist migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and
Afghanistan for eligibility under the new Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019?
1) Maharashtra
2) Uttar Pradesh (UP)
3) Gujarat
4) Tamil Nadu

Answer

5) None of these Answer-2) Uttar Pradesh (UP) Explanation: Uttar Pradesh (UP) became the 1st state in India to conduct an exercise to shortlist migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan for eligibility under the new Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019. This exercise will also eventually identify the people living illegally in UP. All the 75 district magistrates of UP have been asked to track down migrants from the above three countries who have settled without citizenship for decades. Migrants from Pakistan and Bangladesh were reported to be found mainly in Lucknow, Hapur, Rampur, Shahjahanpur, Noida and Ghaziabad cities of UP.

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11) Who will chair the group of ministers that will discuss and examine the proposed National
Tariff Policy 2016?
1) Nirmala Sitharaman
2) Narendra Modi
3) Rajnath Singh
4) Amit Shah

Answer

5) None of these Answer-4) Amit Shah Explanation: Amit Shah has been announced to head the Group of Ministers (GOM) to discuss and examine the proposed National Tariff Policy 2016. Before being sent to Shri Amit Shah, the draft policy was first sent for approval to the cabinet secretariat. The policy if implemented, will bring a major reform in the stressed power sector but is opposed the states govts and discoms (Distribution Companies) due to clauses like penalties for load shedding. GoM: The interministerial group will have 10 ministers comprising of 8 ministers in the cabinet rank and 2 ministers with independent charge.

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12) Name the most powerful military commander of Iran, who was killed by the American
airstrike at Baghdad International Airport in Iraq?
1) Qassem Soleimani
2) Hassan Nasrallah
3) Mohammad Javad Zarif
4) Abu Azrael

Answer

5) None of these Answer-1) Qassem Soleimani Explanation: On January 03, 2020 Iran’s most powerful military commander,General Qassem Soleimani, who was the head (since 1998) of the Quds Force, a unit of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was killed in an American drone airstrike at Baghdad International Airport in Iraq. The airstrike was conducted by the order of United States(US) President Donald Trump.Soleimani was seen as the 2nd most powerful person in Iran after Iran’s supreme leader Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei. Reason for airstrike: The drone strike came days after US(United States) embassy in Baghdad was attacked by protestors. Previously in April 2019, the US also designated Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and its Quds Force as foreign terrorist organisations.

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13) Name the 1st of its kind Standardised Health Insurance Products (SHIP) introduced by Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) that must be offered by all general and standalone health insurers with effect from April 1, 2020?
1) Arogya Swasthiya
2) Arogya Scheme
3) Arogya Rashtiya
4) Arogya Sanjeevani
5) None of these

Answer

Answer-4) Arogya Sanjeevani Explanation: On January 02, 2020 the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has mandated all the health and General Insurance Companies(GICs) to offer 1st of its kind standardized health insurance products (SHIP) in the name “Arogya Sanjeevani” policy with effect from April 1, 2020. All the health products offered by those companies will be succeeded by this name. It is to be noted that no health insurance companies will mention any other name other than the standard name of Arogya Sanjeevani in any of the documents.

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14) Which country will host the Commonwealth Games Shooting and Archery events under the
aegis of the Commonwealth Games (CWG) Friendship Program in March 2022?
1) Thailand
2) Russia
3) Germany
4) India

Answer

5) None of these Answer-4) India Explanation: On January 4, 2020 the Sports Ministry has given ‘in principle’ approval to hold the Commonwealth Games shooting and archery events in India. These events will be held under the aegis of the Commonwealth Games (CWG) Friendship Program in March 2022.Last year CWG has decided to exclude Shooting event in 2022 CWG but Indian Olympic Association (IOA) was against the decision. India won 66 medals including 26 golds in 2018 CWG in Gold Coast, Australia and also won 16 medals in Shooting event.

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15) Which state government launched the “Mukhyamantri karmchari swasthya bima yojana” for
the welfare of all 12.55 lakh employees of the state?
1) Madhya Pradesh (MP)
2) Maharashtra
3) West Bengal
4) Assam

Answer

5) None of these Answer-1) Madhya Pradesh (MP) Explanation: On January 5, 2020, Madhya Pradesh (MP) state Cabinet led by its Chief Minister (CM), Kamal Nath has approved the Mukhya Mantri Karmchari Swasthya Bima Yojana (Chief Minister Employees Health Insurance Scheme) implementation from April 1, 2020, for the welfare of all 12.55 lakh employees of the state. Benefits of the scheme: Under this, Rs 5 lakh for general illness and 10 lakh for critical illness & Cashless treatment facility up to Rs 10,000 per annum in OPD (Outpatient Department) will be provided / free medicines will be distributed.

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16) Which 2 Countries participated in the naval exercise named ‘Naseem-Al-Bahr’ , that held in
Goa recently?
1) India and Russia
2) India and Oman
3) India and Japan
4) India and United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Answer

5) None of these Answer-2) India and Oman Explanation: On January 05,2020 2 ships of the Royal Navy of Oman (RNO) arrived at Mormugao Port in Goa to participate in the 12th edition of the Indo-Oman bilateral naval exercise ‘Naseem-Al-Bahr‘. The meaning of the biennial exercise Naseem-Al-Bahr that has been conducted since 1993 between India and Oman is sea breeze.Participating ships:Among the Indian Navy ships(INS) Beas and Subhadra are participating while 2 naval ships of the RNO i.e, RNOV (Royal Navy of Oman Vessel) Al Rasikh and RNOV Khassab are participating.

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17) Which state will organize the 1st edition of Zo Kutpui festival 2020 across 10 states in India?
1) Uttar Pradesh
2) Mizoram
3) Nagaland
4) West Bengal
5) None of these

Answer

Answer-2) Mizoram Explanation: In a bid to unify different tribes of Mizo community, the state Government of Mizoram will organize the 1st edition of Zo Kutpui festival 2020 across 10 states in India & also in countries such as Maryland in the US (United States), Tahan in Myanmar and Bangladesh from January 9, 2020.The 1st such festival, organized by the Mizoram tourism department, would be held at Vanghmun, a hub of Mizos in neighbouring Tripura, from January 9 – 11,2020. Then festival will carry forward to other states which have a significant Mizo population.

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18) Which city will host the 1st edition of the 2020 Khelo India University Games (KIUG) from
February 22nd to March 1, 2020?
1) Guwahati, Assam
2) New Delhi, Delhi
3) Bengaluru, Karnataka
4) Bhubaneswar, Odisha

Answer

5) None of these Answer-4) Bhubaneswar, Odisha Explanation: Bhubaneswar, Odisha has been selected to host the 1st edition of the 2020 Khelo India University Games (KIUG) which will be held from February 22nd to March 1, 2020, at Bhubaneswar’s KIIT University (Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology University). The Union Sports Minister Shri Kiren Rijiju and Odisha’s Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik unveiled the logo and jersey of Khelo India University Games during a event in Bhubaneshwar. Mascots of the 1st edition of the 2020 Khelo India University Games (KIUG):‘Jay and Bijay‘.

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19) What was the theme of the 107th edition of the Indian Science Congress (ISC) for the year
2020?
1) Theme – “Science and Technology: Rural Development”
2) Theme – “Science for shaping the future of India”
3) Theme – “Reaching the Unreached through Science and Technology”
4) Theme – “Future India: Science and Technology”

Answer

5) None of these Answer-1) Theme – “Science and Technology: Rural Development” Explanation: Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the 107th edition of the Indian Science Congress (ISC) also known as ISC 2020 at the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The theme of ISC for the year 2020 was “Science and Technology: Rural Development”.

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20) Who chaired the 2nd edition of the National GST (Goods and Service Tax) Conference of the
Commissioners of State Tax and Chief Commissioners of Central Tax that held in New Delhi?
1) Krishnamurthy Subramanian
2) Subhash Chandra Garg
3) Ajay Bhushan Pandey
4) Ajay Narayan Jha

Answer

5) None of these Answer-3) Ajay Bhushan Pandey Explanation: On January 07, 2020 the 2nd edition of the National GST Conference of the Commissioners of State Tax and Chief Commissioners of Central Tax was held in New Delhi under the chairmanship of Dr Ajay Bhushan Pandey, Revenue Secretary of the Ministry of Finance(MoF). The conference was held to streamline the GST (Goods and Service Tax) system and also to plug revenue leakages.

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