Current Affairs Oct

1. How many people will be pushed towards extreme poverty due to COVID-19 by the end of 2021 as per World Bank report?

1)         78 million

2)         200 million

3)         150 million

4)         142 million

5)         226 million

Answer - 3) 150 million

Explanation: According to the Biennial report ‘Poverty and Shared Prosperity 2020: Reversals of Fortune’ released by the World Bank Group around 150 Million People will be pushed into Extreme Poverty by the end of 2021 due to COVID-19. This is the first rise in Extreme Poverty Percentage in 20 years. The report analyzes three aspects which are driving the increase in global poverty – COVID-19, Armed Conflict and Climate Change.

 

2. The 2nd edition of QUAD (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) held between India, Australia, Japan & United States of America (USA) at which city?

1)         Tokyo

2)         New Delhi

3)         Sydney

4)         New York

5)         Bengaluru Answer - 1) Tokyo

Explanation: External Affairs Minister (EAM), S. Jaishankar visited Tokyo, Japan for a two-day visit from October 6-7, 2020. On October 6, 2020, EAM S. Jaishankar participated in the Second QUAD (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) held between India, Australia, Japan & United States of America (USA) in Tokyo, Japan.

 

3. What is the estimated GDP of India in FY21 as per World Bank?

1) (-) 7.4%

2) (-) 17.1%

3) (-) 12.3%

4) (-) 5.3%

5) (-) 9.6%

Answer - 5) (-) 9.6%

Explanation: As per World Bank’s latest South Asia Economic Focus forecasts, India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to contract by 9.6%(-9.6%) in FY21. This prediction reflects the national lockdown and the income shock experienced by households and firms due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On the other hand, it expects a 5.4% rebound in FY22. Regional growth (South Asia) is expected to contract by 7.7% in 2020, after topping 6% annually in the past five years, and rebound to 4.5% in 2021.

 

4. Which is 1st state in India to use Quick Deployment Antenna (QDA) technology for disaster management?

1)         Arunachal Pradesh

2)         Uttarakhand

3)         Gujarat

4)         Sikkim

5)         Meghalaya

Answer – 2) Uttarakhand

Explanation: Uttarakhand CM inaugurated the State Disaster Response Force’s (SDRF) latest Quick Deployment Antenna (QDA) technology. QDA is a satellite based communication technology which establishes communication in places where network coverage is low or has zero coverage. It will be able to send and receive video or voice calls, and is capable of data transfer which are vital during Emergency Situations. Uttarakhand is the First State to use QDA technology for disaster management.

 

5. Who has got additional charge as the minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution?

1)         Narendra Singh Tomar

2)         Piyush Goyal

3)         Jitendra Singh

4)         Smriti Irani

5)         Prakash Javadekar

Answer – 2) Piyush Goyal

Explanation: Ram Nath Kovind, President of India, as advised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has assigned Union Minister Piyush Goyal with additional charge of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution following the death of Ram Vilas Paswan. Piyush Goyal is currently serving as the Cabinet Minister of Railways and Commerce and Industry and as deputy leader of BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) in Rajya Sabha.

 

6. Who has won 2020 Nobel Prize in Literature?

1)         Jesper Svenbro

2)         Anders Olsson

3)         Per Wästberg

4)         Louise Glück

5)         Rebecka Kärde

Answer – 4) Louise Glück

Explanation: Mats Malm, Permanent Secretary of the Swedish Academy announced the Nobel Prize in Literature 2020 to 77-year-old Louise Glück, American Poet and essayist “for her unmistakable poetic voice that with austere beauty makes individual existence universal”.

 

7. Which organization has won Nobel Peace Prize 2020?

1)         United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

2)         International Committee of the Red Cross

3)         World Food Programme

4)         International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons

5)         Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons

Answer – 3) World Food Programme

Explanation: Berit Reiss-Andersen, Chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced the Nobel Peace Prize 2020 to the United Nations(UN) World Food Programme(WFP) for its efforts to fight hunger, for its contribution to improving peace conditions in conflict-affected areas and for acting as a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict. As the largest specialized agency of the United Nations, the World Food Program is a modern version of the Peace Congresses, that the Nobel Peace Prize aims to promote.

 

8. Name the India’s 1st Anti-radiation missile which was tested from Sukhoi-30 Fighter Aircraft.

1)         Alarm 1

2)         Hormoz 1

3)         MAR 1

4)         Rudram 1

5)         Prithvi 1

Answer – 4) Rudram 1

Explanation: India successfully test-fired its first indigenous anti-radiation missile, Rudram 1, a New Generation Anti- Radiation Missile (NGARM) integrated on Su-30MKI fighter aircraft of Indian Air Force. Developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), this air-to-surface missile was tested at the interim test range Balasore, off the coast of Odisha in the Bay of Bengal.

 

9. Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan who passed away recently was elected from which Lok Sabha constituency?

1)         Vellore, Tamil Nadu

2)         Ahmedabad, Gujarat

3)         Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

4)         Hajipur, Bihar

5)         Jamshedpur, Jharkhand

Answer – 4) Hajipur, Biha

Explanation: Ram Vilas Paswan, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (elected from the Hajipur constituency of Bihar) passed away at the age of 74 in a hospital at New Delhi due to heart ailments. He was born on 5th July 1946 at Khagaria, Eastern Bihar. He was the leader of the Lok Janshakti Party(LJP) and a stalwart of socialist movements and known as the foremost Dalit leader of Bihar. He was elected to the Lok Sabha for the first time in 1977 with highest margin as a member of Janata Party and he held the Guinness record for winning his constituency, Hajipur, with the highest margin for many years.

 

10. Which state/UT has become the 1st ‘Har Ghar Jal’ state by providing FHTCs to every rural household?

1)         Ladakh

2)         Maharashtra

3)         Goa

4)         Puducherry

5)         Arunachal Pradesh

Answer – 3) Goa

Explanation: Goa has become the first ‘Har Ghar Jal’ state in the country under Centre Governments Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) by providing 100% tap water connections in Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) covering 2.30 lakh households. The state has achieved the target before time i.e. by 2021. There are 1 lakh 65 thousand rural households in North Goa and 98,000 rural households in South Goa in 191 Gram Panchayats. Now, to strengthen water testing facilities, the State is in process of getting 14 National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accredited water quality testing laboratories.

 

11. What is the current repo rate of India?

1) 4.4%

2) 3.25%

3) 4%

4) 3.5%

5) 3.75%

Answer – 3) 4%

Explanation: The 6-member 25th Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was held from October 7-9, 2020 which was headed by RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das. The 6-member 25th Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was held from October 7-9, 2020 which as headed by RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das. During the meeting it was projected that the economy will contract by 9.5% in 2020-21 amid COVID-19 with risks tilted to the downside: -9.8% in Q2/2020-21, -5.6% in the third quarter, and 0.5% in the fourth quarter.

Category	Rate
Policy Repo Rate	4.00%
Reverse Repo Rate	3.35%
Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) Rate	4.25%
Bank Rate	4.25%

 

 

 

12. Which is 1st state/UT in India to go digital in public education?

1)         Kerala

2)         Chhattisgarh

3)         Telangana

4)         Puducherry

5)         Delhi

Answer – 1) Kerala

Explanation: The state of Kerala has become the First State in India to make the public education sector completely digital. It has been implemented at a cost of INR 42.36 Crores, out of which KIIFB has contributed INR 34.75 crores. The project was implemented by Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE).

Financial assistance was provided by Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB).

 

13. How many beaches in India have been awarded with ‘Blue Flag’ certification by Denmark based Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) recently (October 2020)?

1) 8

2) 5

3) 12

4) 4

5) 9

Answer – 1) 8

Explanation: Eight Beaches of India have been awarded “BLUE FLAG” by Denmark based Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). India became the First Country to be awarded the Coveted International Blue Flag ertification for 8 beaches in one attempt. It was selected by an International Jury consisting of eminent members from United Nations Economic Programme (UNEP), United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), FEE & International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

List of 8 beaches:

Beach	State
Shivrajpur	Gujarat
Ghoghla	Diu
Kasarkod	Karnataka
Padubidri	Karnataka
Kappad	Kerala
Rushikonda	Andhra Pradesh
Golden Beach	Odisha
Radhanagar	Andaman & Nicobar Islands

 

14. Who has won women’s singles title in 124th edition of French open/Roland Garros (Rafael Nadal won Men’s singles title for 13th time)?

1)         Sofia Kenin

2)         Iga Swiatek

3)         Timea Babos

4)         Alexa Guarachi

5)         Kristina Mladenovic Answer – 2) Iga Swiatek

Explanation: The 124th Edition of French Open (also known as Roland Garros) took place at the Roland Garros Stadium, Paris, France from 27th September – 11th October, 2020. The French Open is a Clay Court Tennis Tournament. Rafael Nadal (Spain) defeated Novak Djokovic (Serbia) to clinch his 13th French Open title.

With the French Open win, Rafael Nadal equalled Roger Federer’s all-time men’s record of 20 Grand Slams. He became the Second Man and Fourth Player to win 20 Grand Slams. Iga Swiatek (Poland) defeated Sofia Kenin (United States of America – USA) to win the 2020 French Open Women’s Title. This is Swiatek’s Maiden Grand Slam Title and she is the first Polish Tennis Player to win a Grand Slam. She became the first player born in the 21st Century (Both Male & Female) to win a Grand Slam Singles Title.

 

 

 

French Open 2020 Winners:

Category	Winner	Runner-up
Men’s Singles	Rafael Nadal (Spain)	Novak Djokovic (Serbia)
Women’s Singles	Iga Swiatek (Poland)	Sofia Kenin (USA)
Men’s Doubles	Kevin Krawietz (Germany), Andreas Mies (Germany)	Mate Pavic (Croatia), Bruno Soares (Brazil)
Women’s Doubles	Timea Babos (Hungary), Kristina Mladenovic (France)	Alexa Guarachi (Chile), Desirae Krawczyk (USA)

 

15. Which state government has formed the 1st of its kind welfare board for the upliftment of farmers (October 2020)?

1)         Haryana

2)         Karnataka

3)         Telangana

4)         Kerala

5)         Odisha

Answer – 4) Kerala

Explanation: Kerala Government has formed ‘Kerala Karshaka Kshemanidhi Board’ (Kerala Farmers Welfare Fund Board) – a Board for upliftment of Farmers in the State. It is the first time in India that a Welfare Fund Board has been formed for upliftment of farmers. The State Cabinet has appointed Dr. P. Rajendran as Chairman of Kerala Farmers Welfare Fund Board.

 

16. Name the organization which has released the report titled “The human cost of disasters: an overview of the last 20 years (2000-2019)”.

1)         Food and Agriculture Organization

2)         United Nations Industrial Development Organization

3)         United Nations System-Wide Earth watch

4)         United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention

5)         United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction

Answer – 5) United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction

Explanation: The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction(UNDRR) published the report titled “The human cost of disasters: an overview of the last 20 years (2000-2019)” which states that climate change is the major cause for the doubling of natural disaster in the past 20 years (2000- 2019). The report was released to mark the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction on 13th October 2020.

 

17. According to Reserve Bank of India, digital payments increased at a compounded annual growth rate of         from FY2015-16 to FY19-20.

1) 41.6%

2) 36.5%

3) 55.1%

4) 72.3%

5) 64.6%

Answer – 3) 55.1%

Explanation: In accordance with the latest data of Reserve Bank of India (RBI), between 2015-16 and 2019-20, digital payments increased at a compounded annual growth rate of 55.1% from 593.61 crore in FY2015-16 to 3,434.56 crore in FY19-20. In absolute terms, this value has grown from Rs 920.38 lakh crore to Rs 1,623.05 lakh crore during this period at an annual compounded rate of 15.2%. As percent of card usage, they are being used increasingly for payments–from 20 per cent in FY16 to 45 per cent in FY20, with debit card turnover outpacing credit card values.

 

18. Who heads the panel formulated by central government to streamline telecom spectrum allocation?

1)         Rajiv Gauba

2)         Ajit Seth

3)         PK Sinha

4)         Kamal Pande

5)         Kapil Dev Tripathi

Answer – 1) Rajiv Gauba

Explanation: Central Government has formulated a panel of secretaries under cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba to streamline telecom spectrum allocation process and examine the possibility of making the auction of spectrum an annual calendar event. The panel comprises the secretaries of home, defence, railways, telecom, Information and Broadcasting (I&B) and department of space.

 

19. Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani launched First-Ever brand & logo for Indian cotton on occasion of World Cotton Day on October 7, 2020. By which name Indian premium cotton will be referred in World Cotton Trade?

1)         Kanchi Cotton

2)         Poorva Cotton

3)         Kasturi Cotton

4)         Purna Cotton

5)         Sarvesh Cotton

Answer - 3) Kasturi Cotton

Explanation: Union Minister for Textiles, Smriti Zubin Irani launched First-Ever Brand & Logo for Indian Cotton through virtual mode on occasion of World Cotton Day on October 7, 2020. India’s Premium Cotton is set to be known as ‘Kasturi Cotton’ in World Cotton Trade. It will represent Whiteness, Brightness, Softness, Purity, Luster, Uniqueness and Indianness. India produces 51% of the total organic cotton production in the world.

 

20. Who among the following has been appointed as the new deputy governor of Reserve Bank of India?

1)         Dinesh Kumar Khara

2)         Rajnish Kumar

3)         M Rajeshwar Rao

4)         J Venkatramu

5)         Suresh Kumar Sethi

Answer - 3) M Rajeshwar Rao

Explanation: Government of India appointed M Rajeshwar Rao as the new 4th deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India(RBI) responsible for Financial regulations. He will succeed NS Vishwanathan, the former 4th Deputy Governor of RBI, who resigned in March 2020 before the completion of his term (June 2020). M Rajeshwar Rao is currently serving as the executive director of RBI.

 

21. Jewer Airport is located in which state?

1)         Maharashtra

2)         Madhya Pradesh

3)         Chhattisgarh

4)         Uttar Pradesh

5)         Gujarat

Answer - 4) Uttar Pradesh

 Explanation: The Government of Uttar Pradesh(UP) and the Zurich Airport International AG(ZAIA) signed a 40-year concession agreement which grants license to Zurich Airport for designing, building and operating the Noida International Airport(NIA) (also known as Jewar Airport) at Jewar, outskirts of Delhi.

 

22. What is the minimum limit in Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) transfer?

1)         5 Lakh

2)         1 Lakh

3)         2 Lakh

4)         10 Lakh

5)         15 Lakh

Answer – 3) 2 Lakh

Explanation: RBI has decided to allow real-time gross settlement (RTGS) facility round the clock i.e. 24*7*365 starting December 2020. This decision has been taken to provide wider payment flexibility to domestic corporates and institutions and to facilitate India’s efforts to develop international financial centers. With this, India will be among very few countries globally with a 24x7x365 large value real-time payment system. Currently this service is available between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. on all working days of the week. RTGS facility is typically used by companies to transfer large sums of money for payments or repayments. The minimum amount for RTGS transfer is Rs 2 Lakh with no or maximum ceiling. In December 2019, the RBI made all transactions through the National Electronic Fund Transfer (NEFT) facility 24×7.

 

23. Mount Kilimanjaro the highest peak in Africa is located in which country?

1)         Tanzania

2)         Ethiopia

3)         Nigeria

4)         Uganda

5)         Kenya

Answer – 1) Tanzania

Explanation: Recently, a fire that has broken out on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa. The cause of the fire is not clear but strong winds and dry weather have caused it to spread fast. Mount Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano in Tanzania.

 

 

24. The National Authority of Ship Recycling will be set up in which place?

1)         Gandhinagar, Gujarat

2)         Mumbai, Maharashtra

3)         Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh

4)         Kandla, Gujarat

5)         Cochin, Kerala

Answer – 1) Gandhinagar, Gujarat

Explanation: Government of India (GoI) notified Directorate General of Shipping as National Authority for Recycling of Ships under Section 3 of the Recycling of Ships Act, 2019. As apex body, DG Shipping will administer, supervise and monitor all activities related to recycling of ships. National Authority of Ship Recycling will be set up in Gandhinagar, Gujarat

 

25. Name the Life Insurance Product which was introduced by IRDAI and made it mandatory to All Life Insurance Companies from January 1, 2021?

1)         Safal Jeevan Bima

2)         Sabal Jeevan Bima

3)         Umang Jeevan Bima

4)         Anand Jeevan Bima

5)         Saral Jeevan Bima

Answer – 5) Saral Jeevan Bima

Explanation: On October 15, 2020, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) released Guidelines for Standard Life Insurance Product ‘Saral Jeevan Bima’. The insurance scheme should  be mandatorily offered by All Life Insurance Companies from January 1, 2021. A Standard Insurance

The product will enable the customers to easily make an informed choice, enhance trust between Insurers and insured and reduce mis-selling.