1. Where has the Department of Posts launched India’s free digital parcel locker service?
a. Kolkata
b. Delhi
c. Mumbai
d. Pune
S-a
EXPLANATION-
• For the first time in India, the Department of Posts is introducing a free digital parcel locker service in Kolkata to enable customers collect their consignment from specified post offices at their convenience.
• The facility, which is popular in European countries, will be limited to consignments received through registered post or speed post. This is for the first time that the digital parcel locker service will be introduced in India keeping in mind the benefit of the common man. This facility has been chosen for working people who cannot receive parcels because they have no one at home to receive consignments during office hours.
• A customer will be given a specific locker number as the address where India Post will drop the parcel. Consignments will be dropped into the digital parcel locker and an SMS will be issued along with an OTP number to the customer concerned. The consignment will remain accessible to customers for seven days during which they can collect the parcel any time of the day.
2. According to the World Energy Statistics, what is India’s rank in terms of producer of electricity in the world?
a. First
b. Third
c. Fourth
d. Fifth
S-b
EXPLANATION-
• The World Energy Statistics published by the International Energy Agency (IEA) in 2019 states that India is the 3rd largest producer of electricity in the world. India ranked 106th in terms of per capita consumption in 2017.
• As per the list, the reforms in the power sector has grown continuously. India has now become a power surplus from a power deficit situation.
• The power sector reforms focus on the supply of 24×7 quality power to consumers, higher standards of service, promotion of renewable energy sources, development of hydropower, improving efficiency, especially in the distribution sector, etc. Also, the Central government is planning to implement reforms linked distribution schemes and changes in tariff policy, among others.
3. Who among the following will head the committee that will create a road map for fiscal consolidation for the Center and the States?
a. Shaktikanta Das
b. Viral Acharya
c. NK Singh
d. Nirmala Sitharaman
S-c
EXPLANATION-
• The Finance Commission has constituted a committee under the chairmanship of NK Singh in order to create a road map for fiscal consolidation for the Center and the States. The Finance Commission submitted its first report to the Government of India in February 2020.
• The Finance Commission will submit its final report by October 30, covering the years 2021-22 to 2025-26.
• NK Singh Committee will recommend the definition of deficit and debt. This committee will also define contingent liabilities of PSUs. Fiscal consolidation is a policy adopted by the government to reduce losses. Its main objective is to reduce the administrative cost of the government.
4. Which of the following was the origin of the pandemic being referred to in the above passage?
a. Wuhan
b. Beijing
c. Shanghai
d. Tianjin
S-a
EXPLANATION-
• The pandemic being referred in the above passage is COVID-19. THE virus first emerged in the Wuhan city of Hubei province of C hina in late December and has spread throughout the world claiming lives of lakhs of people.
• WHO announced “COVID-19” as the name of this new disease on 11 February 2020, following guidelines previously developed with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
• Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.
• The COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so it’s important that you also practice respiratory etiquette (for example, by coughing into a flexed elbow).
5. Which of the following will be launching the Swavalamban Express?
a. SIDBI
b. SEBI
c. RBI
d. Finance Ministry
S-a
EXPLANATION-
• Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has announced that it is going to start Swavalamban Express on June 05, 2020, to promote budding business aspirants and entrepreneurs. It has been decided to start a special train based on the opinions and suggestions of various stakeholders.
• The Swavalamban Express will depart from Lucknow, and travel to the 11 entrepreneurial cities. The entrepreneurs will be taken through a meticulously planned route of building business throughout the journey. It will also focus on several government schemes to promote self-employment in the country. The journey would focus on the Prime Minister’s vision of becoming a five trillion-dollar economy by 2024-25.
• It will be 15 days of a journey that will cover about 7000 km of track. The train will cover 17 major cities under its mission. It has also planned that more than 150 experts and mentors will travel together to share and meet their expertise and experiences.
