Current Affairs May 2020 (1 May – 15 May) www.iasprime.com

Which group of countries has launched the “Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator” initiative recently?

Ans: G20

Name the IIT which has designed ‘Warbot’ which can deliver medicines and food to COVID-19 patients.

Ans: IIT Ropar

Mobile App named ‘Covid Pharma’ to trace people buying medicines for fever, cold was launched by which state?

Ans: Andhra Pradesh

Which cricketer from Pakistan was banned from International cricket for 3 years for match fixing?

Ans: Umar Akmal

Which is world’s first airline which conducts rapid antibody test to its passengers? Ans: Emirates

Name the country which will host 2021 men’s world boxing championship. Ans: Serbia

Establishment Day of Maharashtra & Gujarat?

Ans: 1 May

Who has been appointed as India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations? Ans: TS Tirumurti

Which state has become the first in the northeastern region to develop a mobile COVID-19 sample collection kiosk? Ans: Tripura

Which nation has banned Hezbollah and designated it a terrorist organisation? Ans: Germany

Name the country which is going to host Women's World Cup 2021.

Ans: New Zealand

Where is the HQ of International Cricket Council (ICC) located? Ans: Dubai

Which country chaired the digital economy ministerial meeting? Ans: Saudi Arabia

Who was honoured with Nikkei Asia Prizes 2020 in the science and technology category?

Ans: Prof. T. Pradeep of IIT-Madras

Who was named as advisor to Google pay India? Ans: Shikha Sharma

Who has been named as the new Economic Affairs Secretary? Ans: Tarun Bajaj

All districts of Delhi will fall under which among the following zones? Ans: Red Zone

J Arunkumar from Karnataka has been appointed as the head coach of which nationalmen’s cricket team? Ans: USA

Which Ministry released Prof B.B. Lal -India Rediscovered e-book? Ans: Ministry of Culture (B.B.Lal was great archaeologist)

Which of the following state was added to the list of e-NAM (National Agriculture Market) States for the first time as on 1 May 2020? Ans: Karnataka

When is World Press Freedom Day celebrated? Ans: 3 May (India ranked 142 & Norway rank 1)

What is the theme of World Press Freedom Day? Ans: Journalism Without Fear or Favour

Who is to launch 'Bharatmarket', a national e-commerce marketplace? Ans: Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT)

Which country tops the budget transparency, in IBP survey 2019? Ans: New Zealand (India rank 53)

Daily Current Affairs May 2020

Name of National Mission for Clean Ganga operating under Jal Shakti Ministry is? Ans: IDEAthon

Who organized the AYURAKSHA "Corona Se Jung- Delhi Police Ke Sang"? Ans: All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA)

The Saffron cultivated in which among the following regions has received the GI tag? Ans: Kashmir

Which country will launch its first Arktika-M satellite to monitor the Arctic climate by the end of 2020? Ans: Russia

Who launched 'Year of Awareness on Science & Health (YASH)' a programme with focus on COVID-19? Ans: National Council for Science & Technology Communication (NCSTC)

Who developed microwave sterilizer ATULYA to disintegrate coronavirus? Ans: Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT), Pune

Daily Current Affairs

Q.Who was recently awarded the commemorative World War II medal by Russia? Ans: Kim Jong Un (North Korea leader)

Q.Which state government has launched 'Ayush Kavach' app? Ans: Uttar Pradesh

Q.Which state government has extended the lockdown till May 29? Ans: Telangana

Q.India ranks at which position in a scientific publication? Ans: 3rd ( USA 1st & China 2nd)

Q.Where is the headquarter of Small Industries Development Bank of India(SIDBI) ? Ans: Lucknow

Q.Three Indian photojournalists namely Dar Yasin, Mukhtar Khan and Channi Anand were given Pulitzer prize are from which state/UT? Ans: Jammu & Kashmir Daily Current Affairs

Q.Which among the following cities witnessed a horrific toxic gas tragedy on May 7, 2020? Ans: Vishakhapatnam ( Gas Name- Styrene gas from LG polymers)

Q.Which nation has re-opened its mosques for public prayers? Ans: Bangladesh

Q.Which nation has banned the export of alcohol-based hand sanitisers? Ans: India

Q.What is the toll-free number to access Aarogya Setu IVRS service? Ans: 1921

Q.Why Vesak, the Day of the Full Moon observed on May 7, 2020 is considered sacred by the Buddhists? Ans: Lord Budhha born this day in 623 BC

Mera Pani Meri Virasat scheme launched by which state? Ans: Haryana

World Athletics day is observed on which day? Ans: May 7

Daily Current Affairs

Q. Which Indian state/UT has highest unemployment rate as on end of April 2020 as per Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) data? Ans: Puducherry

Q. Sanjeevani, the 1st of its kind vehicle developed at the local level to help health care workers in which state? Ans: Madhya Pradesh

Q. What is the energy demand fall in India during 40days lockdown as per report titled “Global Energy Review 2020” released by International Energy Agency (IEA)? Ans: 30%

Q. Who has been extended as the good will ambassador of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) till 2022? Ans: Dia Mirza

Q.Who has been sworn-in as the Prime Minister of Iraq recently in May 2020? Ans: Mustafa al-Kadhimi

Q. Which ministry which has collaborated with ministry of AYUSH for the development of Ayush Sanjivani mobile application? Ans: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology(MeitY) Daily Current Affairs

When is World Thalassaemia Day? Ans: 8 May

When is World Athletics Day ? Ans: 7 May

Who is re-elected as chairman of public account committee?

Ans: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury (Congress)

When is World Red Cross Day? Ans: 8 May

Country which launched the largest carrier rocket from from Long-March 5B? Ans: China

Which state has suspended major labour laws till 1000 days to attract investment? Ans: Uttar Pradesh

Daily Current Affairs

Where is the HQ of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) located? Ans: Beijing (China)

Who is the present chairman of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Developmen(NABARD)? Ans: Govinda Rajulu Chintala

Who has been appointed as the chief risk officer of YES bank for 3 years in May 2020? Ans: Neeraj Dhawan

Which country launched the ‘Long march 5B’ rocket to space with the aim to operate a permanent space station? Ans: China

Which IIT start-up developed washable N Safe mask to prevent Covid-19? Ans: IIT Delhi

Daily Current Affairs

When is National Technology Day observed? Ans: 11 May (Theme:‘ Focusing on Rebooting the economy through Science and Technology.’)

Which state has banned pan masala containing Magnesium Carbonate for 1 year?

Ans: Jharkhand

Indian Railways are restarting passenger train services from which date? Ans: 12 May

Who has tied up with ICMR(Indian council of Medical research) for delivery of the Covid-19 testing kit? Ans: Indian Post

On the occasion of 40th anniversary of smallpox eradication which International organisation has issued a commemorative postage stamp? Ans: World Health Organization(WHO)

Pravasi Rahat Mitra app launched by which state Government? Ans: Uttar Pradesh

Q Which city witnessed a horrific toxic gas tragedy on May 7, 2020?

Ans: Vishakapatnam

Daily Current Affairs

Which Union Ministry has launched CHAMPIONS Portal?

Ans: MSME Msinistry

When is the International Day of the Nurse observed?

Ans: 12 May (Theme: Nursing the World to Health)

Which among the following states became the first one to launch an innovative Scheme “FIR Aapke Dwar Yojana”?

Ans: Madhya Pradesh

What is the name of the mission launched by government of India (Defence and External affairs ministry collab) to send medical aid to five Island nations in the Indian Ocean?

Ans: Mission Sagar

Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) signed a MoU with which organisation to collaborate in programmes of each organisation to promote the tribal enterprises? Ans: Art of Living

Which country named a street in Tel Aviv after celebrated Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore as a tribute on his 159th birthday?

Ans: Israel Daily Current Affairs

Which city has launched initiative “Pranavayu” to monitor blood oxygen levels and heart rates of patients showing influenza-like illnesses (ILI). Ans: Bengaluru

Who became president of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), Britain, for the 2nd time (May 2020)?

Ans: Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka)

Name the 1st Indian tennis player who has won the Fed Cup heart award 2020 for Asia/Oceania Zone. Ans: Sania Mirza

Name the digital conference launched by Science and Technology minister Harsh Vardhan on occasion of National Technology Day May 11, 2020?

Ans: RESTART(‘Reboot the Economy through Science, Technology and Research Translations’)

Which country is going to host the FIFA U-17 women’s world cup in February 2021? Ans: India

Atal Pension Yojana (APY) is launched in which year?

Ans: 2015 Daily Current Affairs

What is the name of the multimedia guide on COVID-19 launched by the Union Health Minister? Ans: Covid KATHA

Which three nations will co-host the men's 2026 FIFA World Cup? Ans: USA, Canada, Mexico

Which organisation launched the musical creation “United We Fight”, written and composed by Joe Alvares?

Ans: Indian Council for Cultural Relations(ICCR)

Where is the Headquarter of BRICS(Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa)? Ans: Shanghai, China.

Which state has re-launched ‘Sambal Yojana’ to strengthen the lives of the poor and dalit communities?

Ans: Madhya Pradesh

Who is the newly appointed Chief of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)? Ans: Manoj Ahuja

India was ranked at which position on the Global Energy Transition Index 2020? Ans: 74

Daily Current Affairs

What places of Pakistan occupied Kashmir which has been included in Indian Meteorological Department’s (IMD) weather forecasting for the 1st time?

Ans: Gilgit-Baltistan & Muzaffarabad

Which Indian airport has won the SKYTRAX Award 2020 for Best Regional Airport in India and Central Asia.

Ans: Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru (Karnataka)

Which Indian state which has launched ‘HOPE’ portal to help unemployed youth of the state? Ans: Uttarakhand

Hoogly river which is in news recently belongs to which Indian state? Ans: West Bengal

What is the amount that was allocated from PM CARES Fund Trust to fight COVID-19 pandemic? Ans: 3100 crores

What will be the criteria for “Medium” units as per New definition set for MSME (in terms of investment & turnover)?

Ans: 20 crores & 100 crores

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced how much amount of collateral-free emergency credit line to MSME?

Ans: 3 lakh crore

Part – II Current Affairs

16 May – 31 May 2020

Q. Which is the First European country to be free of Corona virus?

Ans: Slovenia

Q. Which state launched Matir Sristi Prokolpa Scheme ?

Ans: West Bengal

Q. International Family Day celebrated on which date ?

Ans: 15 May

Q. Who launched ‘Hateful Memes’ challenge online competition to develop algorithms against it ?

Ans: Facebook

Q. Who launched "Family Safety app" that can help to develop healthy digital habits in kids ?

Ans: Microsoft

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Q. How many Rafale fighter jets are set to arrive in India by July-end ?

Ans: Four

Q. Which among the following organization’s Chief, Roberto Azevedo has decided to step down early?

Ans: World Trade organization (WTO)

Q. Name the state who launched Atmanirbhar Sahay Yojna to help lower-middle-income group?

Ans: Gujarat (under the scheme, the state will provide a loan of Rs 1 lakh each from banks at just 2 percent annual interest)

Q. What is the name of India's first automated COVID-19 testing machine that can test 1200 samples in 24-hours ?

Ans: COBAS-6800

Q. Which country's Footwear brand Von Wellx shifts production from China to India?

Ans: Germany

Q. Which Indian smartphone maker company plans to shift production to India from China ?

Ans: LAVA

Q. Which state has launched Atmanirbhar Sahay Yojna to help lower-middle-income group?

Ans: Gujarat (₹ 1 lakh loan at 2 % per annum)

Q. Which State's Police has launched India’s first ‘Thermal Corona Combat Headgear’ to ensure the safety of frontline warriors and enforce social distancing ?

Ans: Delhi police (in collaboration with Indian Robotics Solution)

Q. Which Indian state’s education department has partnered with Doordarshan to provide school education to students of the state through video lectures?

Ans: Jharkhand

Q. Which country has named one of its streets after Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore on his 159th birth anniversary recently ?

Ans: Israel (Tel Aviv)

Q. What is the grant approved for India ‘s COVID-19 social protection program by world bank (in May 2020)?

Ans: 1 billion US dollars

Q. Name the ministry which has launched the SAMARTH an e-Governance platform.

Ans: Human Resource Development ministry

Q. What is the name of the cylone that is likely to hit the coasts of West Bengal and Odisha on May 20?

Ans: Cyclone Amphan

Q. When is World Telecommunication and Information Society Day as celebrated by United Nations(UN)?

Ans: 17 May

Q. Which Ministry has launched initiative named GOAL – Going Online As Leaders in partnership with Facebook ?

Ans: Ministry of Tribal Affairs

Note: GOAL is designed to provide mentorship to tribal youth with digital mode.

Q. From which date the Central government has declared the ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ system to completely roll out in all UTs and states ?

Ans: March 2021

Q. What is the maximum limit of loan under MUDRA – Shishu?

Ans: ₹50,000 (Mudra Shishu is meant for small business)

Q. Which Ministry which has launched the SAMARTH an e-Governance platform ?

Ans: Human Resource Development ministry (to provide quality education to students across all Universities & Higher Education Institutes(HEIs))

Q. Where is the HQ of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) located?

Ans: Gland, Switzerland

Q. Name the state which has decided to provide video-calling facility, TV sets to corona virus patients?

Ans: Madhya Pradesh

Q. Which state government will launch Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana on May 21?

Ans: Chattisgarh

Q. World Hypertension Day ?

Ans: 17 May (Theme: Measure Your Blood Pressure, Control It, Live Longer)

Q. Which state has launched India's first Cyberspace Accelerator to promote start ups ?

Ans: Karnataka

Q. Who is the new CEO of video sharing app TikTok ?

Ans: Kevin Mayer

Q. Name the National Award-winning director who passed away on May 17, 2020 after testing positive for coronavirus.

Ans: Ratnakar Matkari (Maharashtra)

Germany’s Bundesliga becomes World’s First major sports competition to resume after COVID-19 lockdown

Q. In which among the following countries, world’s first major football league resumed its season after COVID-19 lockdown ?

Ans: Germany (Germany’s Bundesliga)

Q. Which state government has divided its areas into 2 zones, Red and non-red zones?

Ans: Maharashtra www.iasprime.com

Q. Which US investment firm, has decided to invest around Rs 6600 crore in Jio Platforms ?

Ans: General Atlantic

Q. Who became the new prime minister of Israel ?

Ans: Benzamin Netanyahu

Q. Which nation’s exclusion from the World Health Assembly is condemned by the United States ?

Ans: Taiwan

Q. Which nation has included disputed territories of Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura in its new map?

Ans: Nepal

Q. Mee Annapurna, an inclusive programe has been launched for the welfare of farmers in which state?

Ans: Maharashtra

International Tea Day ? 21 May

National Anti terrorism day? 21 May

Q. What is the name of Scheme for 3 years stint in army for general citizens of India ?

Ans: Tour of Duty

Q. Name the person who has been honored with 2019 Alexander Dalrymple Award from United Kingdom (UK) ?

Ans: Vinay Badhwar

Q. Which multinational company has acquired Ahmedabad based Artificial Intelligence (AI) startup Byte Prophecy ?

Ans: Accenture

Q. Which company has developed India’s 1st service robots named as “Sona 1.5 and Sona .5” to help health workers ?

Ans: Club First (Jaipur)

Q. Which country is going to convert one of the world’s last horse serving cavalry into regular armored regiment ?

Ans: India

Q. Which nation’s Senate has passed a bill to delist Chinese firms from stock exchanges?

Ans: USA

Q. Which State permitted inter-state movement of people amid lockdown 4.0 without pass ?

Ans: Karnataka

Q. When was International Day for Biological Diversity observed ?

Ans: 22 May (Theme : “Our solutions are in nature”)

Q. Which social reformer born on May 22, is regarded as the father of the ‘Indian renaissance’?

Ans: Raja Ram Mohan Roy

Q. Which famous temple is going to be completely on solar energy ?

Ans: Konark Sun Temple (Odisha)

Q. Flipkart ties up with whom to provide digital motor insurance ?

Ans: Bajaj Allianz General Insurance

Q. Who launched 100% Cricket 'Leading the Game' webinar series to celebrate women’s cricket ?

Ans: International Cricket Council (ICC)

Q. Which state started "Tatpar Yojana" ?

Ans: Jharkhand

Q. Which health care program became largest in the world, crossing 1 crore beneficiary mark recently ?

Ans: Ayushman Bharat (started in September 2018 as Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana-Ayushman Bharat)

Q. Which UT started SUKOON- Covid-19 Beat the Stress ?

Ans: Jammu & Kashmir

Q. Which state started Didi Vehicle Service for the safe delivery of pregnant women in rural areas ?

Ans: Jhabua (Madhya Pradesh). This vehicle service is completely Free.

Q. Which Indian is set to take over as the Head of the World Health Organization's (WHO) Executive Board ?

Ans: Dr. Harsh Vardhan (Union Health Minister)

Q. Which organisation has joined hands with Airtel Africa to extend e-learning support to students affected in corona virus affected area ?

Ans: United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

Q. Which Indian state has rolled out ‘Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana’ for farmers?

Ans: Chattisgarh

Q. The International tea day was observed every year on ?

Ans: 21 May

Q. Union HRD minister has launched Online Master’s Programme (to strengthen Bharat Padhe online) of which university in Hindi recently?

Ans: Indira Gandhi National Open University

Q. Which country's researchers has developed “heat resistant” coral to fight bleaching?

Ans: Australia

Q. What is the rank of India in manufacturing of personal protective equipment (PPE) body coveralls?

Ans: 2nd

Q. Which PSU has signed agreement with NTPC to start joint venture for renewable energy project ?

Ans: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC)

Q. US based equity giant KKR has bought what percentage stake in Reliance Jio ?

Ans: 2.32%

Q. Which company has acquired 10% stake in Gurugram based Voicezen? Ans: Bharati Airtel

Q. Name the company which acquires popular GIF database GIPHY ?

Ans: Facebook

Q. Which IIT has developed a solar ‘parabolic trough collector’ system for concentrating solar energy for industrial applications?

Ans: IIT Madras

Q. Name the region in Ladakh, which China claims is a part of it's country ?

Ans: Galwan Valley

Q. With which state of United States, Infosys is partnering for privacy first contact tracing solution to help slow spread of coronavirus ?

Ans: Rhode Island

Q. What is ‘S’ in SWAYAM (portal of HRD ministry) stands for?

Ans: Study (SWAYAM - Study Webs of Active–Learning for Young Aspiring Minds)

Q. Union Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Ministry launched Biodiversity Samrakshan Internship Programme recently. The programme was conducted by National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) and which world organisation?

Ans: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Q. Name the Indian state which has launched ‘ReStart’ programme to support MSME sector in the state?

Ans: Andhra Pradesh

Q. Which company has partnered with Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company Limited (CIFCL) to launch ‘Buy Now Pay Later’ financing scheme?

Ans: Maruti Suzuki

Q. General Atlantic, Vista Equity Partners, Silver Lake, Facebook – these companies have recently invested in which Indian company?

Ans: Reliance Jio

Q. Sebastian Vettel will be leaving which historic F1 team at the end of this year’s delayed F1 season?

Ans: Ferrari

Q. What is the new name of NASA’s WFIRST Hubble Telescope?

Ans: Nancy Grace Roman (NASA's first chief astronomer )

Q. Which country is giving training to the four Indian cosmonauts selected for Gaganyaan mission(Indian Human Spaceflight Programme) ?

Ans: Russia

Q. Which state has become the first Indian state to accord industrial status to sports ?

Ans: Mizoram

Q. Which state has decided to open temples from June 1?

Ans: Karnataka

Q. World Hunger day is on ?

Ans: 28 May

Q. Which state will set up a Migration Commission for the employment of migrant labourers in the state ?

Ans: Uttar Pradesh

Q. Which Indian institute has got first of it’s kind Infectious Disease Block facility ?

Ans: Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar

Q. Name the Indian state which starts Implementation of Solar Fence Farmland Protection Programme.

Ans: Tamil Nadu

Q. Who has penned the song titled ‘Jayatu Jayatu Bharatam – Vasudev Kutumbakkam’?

Ans: Prasoon Joshi

Q. Which company has launched the modified PM Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY) pension scheme recently ?

Ans: Life Insurance Corporation of India

Q. What is the name of the group calling app named launched by Facebook ?

Ans: Catch up

Q. Who has been selected for the prestigious United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award (2019) ?

Ans: Major Suman Gawani

Q. Which Indian initiative is listed among the top 10 global initiative released by UN secretary general's Envoy of youth ?

Ans: 'Khudol' initiative (Manipur) (Khudol has been lauded by the UN for its inclusive fight against the ongoing COVID-19 initiative)

Q. India helped which country to set up military war game centre named ' INDIA '?

Ans: Uganda (President: Yoweri Kaguta Museveni)

Q. Which country developed its first unmanned helicopter drone ?

Ans: China

Q. Name the world leader whose tweet has been labelled as misleading by the Twitter ?

Ans: Donald Trump (USA)

Q. Which state government has decided to implement Herbal Roads Project ?

Ans: Uttar Pradesh (Medicinal plants like Neem, Sehjan will be planted on either side of the roads

Q. Missile park called ‘Agneeprastha’ is to be setup in which naval ship ?

Ans: INS Kalinga

Q. International Day of UN Peacekeepers observed on ?

Ans: 29 May [Theme “Women in Peacekeeping: A key to Peace”]

Q. Rozgar Setu Scheme for skilled workers is launched by which state ?

Ans: Madhya Pradesh

Q. Which state has decided to maintain a ‘State Health Register’ of all citizens ?

Ans: Karnataka

Q. RBI to raise 80,000 crores through CMBs. CMB is abbreviated as Cash ____ Bills.

Ans: Management (CMB - Cash Management Bills). These are shorter duration sovereign debt instruments.

Q. Who is appointed as the new CMD of Oriental Insurance Company ?

Ans: S N Rajeswari

Q. When is International Everest Day is being observed ?

Ans: 29 May

(Nepalese Tenzing Norgay and New Zealand’s Edmund Hillary had climbed the Mt. Everest on this day (29th May) in 1953, as the first humans to achieve the feat.) www.iasprime.com

Q. Who became the new Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Wipro?

Ans: Thierry Delaporte

Q. When is the International Day of UN Peacekeepers observed ?

Ans: 29 May (Theme “Women in Peacekeeping: A key to Peace”)

Q. Who was appointed as the new president of New Development Bank(NDB) replacing KV Kamath ?

Ans: Marcos Prado Troyjo (Brazil)

Q. ISRO has received patent for method of manufacturing which planet's soil recently ?

Ans: Moon

Q. Who has been appointed as the first women DGP of Kerala ?

Ans: R Sreelekha

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