Current News and Affairs

In August 2020, a blast has taken place at Beirut killing about one hundred people and thousand wounded. The blast was caused by

[amp_mcq option1=”dynamite” option2=”ammonium nitrate” option3=”RDX” option4=”mercury nitride” correct=”option2″]

The massive explosion that occurred in Beirut, Lebanon, in August 2020 was caused by the detonation of a large quantity of ammonium nitrate (2,750 tonnes) that had been stored improperly at the port for several years.

Ammonium nitrate is a chemical compound primarily used in agriculture as a highly soluble source of nitrogen fertilizer. It is also used in the production of explosives, particularly for mining and construction. Under specific conditions (e.g., contamination, confinement, and a strong initiator), it can detonate violently.

The blast caused widespread damage across Beirut, resulting in hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries, and leaving hundreds of thousands homeless. The incident highlighted issues of negligence and corruption regarding the storage of hazardous materials.

Which one of the following States is planned to host the Khelo India Youth Games (4th Edition)?

[amp_mcq option1=”Kerala” option2=”Haryana” option3=”Gujarat” option4=”Manipur” correct=”option2″]

The 4th Edition of the Khelo India Youth Games was planned to be hosted by Haryana.

Initially scheduled for 2021, the 4th edition of the Games was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was eventually held from 4 to 13 June 2022 in Haryana.

The games were held across five cities in Haryana – Panchkula, Ambala, Shahabad, Pehwa (Kurukshetra), and Delhi. Haryana topped the medal tally in this edition.

Who among the following played the role of Shakuntala Devi in the biopic movie based on the life of the famous mathematician?

[amp_mcq option1=”Madhuri Dixit” option2=”Rani Mukherjee” option3=”Tabu” option4=”Vidya Balan” correct=”option4″]

Vidya Balan played the role of Shakuntala Devi, the famous mathematician often known as the ‘Human Computer’, in the biopic movie based on her life.

The movie, titled “Shakuntala Devi”, was released in 2020 and starred Vidya Balan in the titular role.

Shakuntala Devi was an Indian writer and mental calculator, who was renowned for her ability to make incredibly fast calculations. The film depicted her life journey, achievements, and personal challenges.

Which one of the following countries had chosen the name ‘Nisarga’ for the cyclone which devastated the coastline of Maharashtra and Gujarat in June 2020?

[amp_mcq option1=”Maldives” option2=”Bangladesh” option3=”Thailand” option4=”Japan” correct=”option2″]

The name ‘Nisarga’ for the cyclone that affected the coastlines of Maharashtra and Gujarat in June 2020 was chosen by Bangladesh.

Tropical cyclones in the North Indian Ocean are named by member countries of the World Meteorological Organization/United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (WMO/ESCAP) Panel on Tropical Cyclones.

The naming system involves a list of names contributed by the thirteen member countries in the region. When a cyclone forms, the next available name from the list is used. The name ‘Nisarga’ was the next name on the list, contributed by Bangladesh.

August 12 is celebrated as

[amp_mcq option1=”the World Environment Day” option2=”the World No-Tobacco Day” option3=”the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking” option4=”the International Youth Day” correct=”option4″]

August 12 is celebrated annually as International Youth Day. This day was designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 1999 and was first observed in 2000.

International Youth Day aims to recognize the efforts of the world’s youth in enhancing global society and to promote ways to engage them in becoming actively involved in making positive contributions to their communities.

World Environment Day is celebrated on June 5th. World No-Tobacco Day is on May 31st. The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is observed on June 26th.

Which one of the following statements about Indian economy during 2019-20 is not correct?

[amp_mcq option1=”There has been deceleration in growth rate.” option2=”There has been sluggish growth in tax revenue relative to the Budget Estimates.” option3=”Fiscal deficit as percentage of GDP has been as per the Budget Estimates.” option4=”The non-tax revenue registered a considerably higher growth.” correct=”option3″]

The fiscal year 2019-20 for the Indian economy was characterised by a slowdown in growth rate, sluggish tax revenue collection, and higher-than-budgeted fiscal deficit. Non-tax revenues, on the other hand, saw relatively strong growth.

Statement A is correct; India’s GDP growth rate decelerated in 2019-20. Statement B is correct; tax revenue growth was sluggish and fell short of the Budget Estimates due to the economic slowdown. Statement D is correct; non-tax revenue, boosted by factors like a large dividend transfer from the RBI, registered considerable growth. Statement C claims that the fiscal deficit as a percentage of GDP was as per the Budget Estimates. This is incorrect. The Budget Estimate for 2019-20 fiscal deficit was 3.3% of GDP, but the actual fiscal deficit for 2019-20 turned out to be significantly higher (later reported around 4.6%) due to revenue shortfalls and increased expenditure.

The government revised the fiscal deficit target upwards during the year, and the final figure exceeded the initial Budget Estimate, reflecting the economic challenges faced in 2019-20 even before the full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was reflected in the figures for that specific year (which ended March 31, 2020).

In India, May 21 is observed as

[amp_mcq option1=”NRI Day” option2=”National Youth Day” option3=”National Technology Day” option4=”National Anti-Terrorism Day” correct=”option4″]

May 21 is observed as National Anti-Terrorism Day in India.

This day marks the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, who was assassinated on May 21, 1991, by terrorists.

The objective of observing this day is to wean away the youth from terrorism and violence, to highlight the suffering of common people due to terrorism, and to uphold the peace and unity of the nation.

Who among the following was elected as the President of Indonesia for the second term ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Joko Widodo” option2=”Prabowo Subianto” option3=”Sandiaga Uno” option4=”Jusuf Kalla” correct=”option1″]

Joko Widodo was re-elected as the President of Indonesia for his second term in the elections held in April 2019.

He defeated his challenger Prabowo Subianto in the presidential election.

Joko Widodo’s first term as President was from 2014 to 2019. His second term ran from 2019 to 2024.

Why was India’s G.S. Lakshmi in news recently ?

[amp_mcq option1=”She was the first Indian to play cricket for an English County Club.” option2=”She became the first female ICC match referee.” option3=”She was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for the year 2019.” option4=”She was the recipient of the Booker Prize in the year 2019.” correct=”option2″]

G.S. Lakshmi became the first female match referee in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) panel of match referees in May 2019.

Her appointment was a significant step towards promoting women officials in cricket at the international level.

Prior to this, she had overseen matches in domestic women’s cricket tournaments in India and had also served as a match referee in three Women’s One Day International matches and three Women’s Twenty20 International matches.

‘Triples’ is a new format of

[amp_mcq option1=”Boxing” option2=”Judo” option3=”Chess” option4=”Badminton” correct=”option4″]

‘Triples’ is a new format of Badminton.

Triples is an experimental format of Badminton featuring three players per team. It was introduced by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) to potentially make the sport more dynamic and appealing, especially for possible inclusion in multi-sport events like the Olympics.

In the Triples format, teams consist of three players (can be mixed-gender). Specific rules govern which players can hit the shuttlecock in sequence. It is distinct from traditional singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.