20 February 2021

1.) Recently Cabinet approved CECPA, a trade agreement with which country ?

हाल ही में कैबिनेट ने CECPA को मंजूरी दी, बकस देश के साथ एक व्यापार समझौता? a) Bangladesh/ िांग्लादेश b) Sri Lanka/ श्रीलंका c) Mauritius/ मॉरीशस d) Nepal/ नेपाल

Answer : Mauritius/ मॉरीशस

Explanation : The CECPA will be the first trade agreement to be signed by with a country in Africa. The CECPA between India and Mauritius covers 310 export items for India.

Mauritius will benefit from preferential market access into India for its 615 products, including frozen fish, speciality sugar, biscuits, fresh fruits, juices, mineral water, beer, alcoholic drinks, soaps, bags, medical & surgical equipment.

The union cabinet on Wednesday cleared the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) with Mauritius.

The Agreement is a limited agreement, which will cover Trade in Goods, Rules of Origin, Trade in Services, Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures, Dispute Settlement, Movement of Natural Persons, Telecom, Financial Services, Customs Procedures and Cooperation in other areas.

Mauritius was the second top source of foreign direct investment (FDI) into India in 2019-20.

India received USD 8.24 billion foreign inflows from that country in the last fiscal.

2.) Recently Al based translation software named ‘Amar Vasha’ inaugurated by which Country’s supreme court ?

हाल ही में अल आधाररत अनुवाद सॉफ्टवेयर अमर वशा ’का उद्घाटन बकस देश की सवोच्च अदालत द्वारा बकया गया? GURUJI’S KIRPA, SNM IAS STUDY GROUP SCO 376, Sector 37-D, Chandigarh. Mob: 98145-70784, 98148-21057 WEBSITE: www.snmiasacademy.com

a) Bangladesh/ िांग्लादेश b) Russia/ 셂स c) USA/ यूएसए d) Nepal/ नेपाल

Answer : Bangladesh/ िांग्लादेश

Explanation : Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. A K Abdul Momen has said that the relationship between Bangladesh and India has attained a new level with the government of Prime Minister . Speaking exclusively to Prasar Bharti Spl. Correspondent in Dhaka on Thursday, Dr. Momen said that Bangladesh and India have a rock-solid relationship. Ever since India helped Bangladesh in its liberation war, both the countries have remained good friends. He said that Bangladesh always remembers the sacrifice of Indians along with the Bangladeshis in its liberation war.

Talking about the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh liberation and establishment of diplomatic ties with India, Dr. A K Abdul Momen said that both the countries are organising several events together. Out of 18 events being held across the globe, half of them are being done by India and half by Bangladesh.

He said that as neighbours, leadership of both the countries has great maturity. Bangladesh and India are resolving all the difficult and critical issues amicably through dialogue and discussion. He expressed hope that all the outstanding issues between the two countries will be resolved.

Recalling his time in India in 1971, Foreign Minister Dr. Momen said that he will never forget the way common people treated Bangladeshis.

Dr. Momen said that the victory of Bangladesh in the 1971 liberation war is also the victory of India and both the countries have to work together to make it a great succes s.

3.) World Day of Social Justice is observed on which day every year ?

सामाबजक न्याय का बवश्व बदवस हर साल बकस बदन मनाया जाता है

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a) 17 February b) 18 February c) 19 February d) 20 February

Answer : 20 February

Explanation : World Day of Social Justice is observed on 20th February every year.

Social justice is the view that everyone deserves equal economic, political and social rights and opportunities. The theme of World Day of Social Justice -2021 is “A Call for Social Justice in the Digital Economy”. The digital economy is transforming the world of work. Over the past decade, expansion in broadband connectivity, cloud computing, and data have led to the proliferation of digital platforms, which have penetrated several sectors of the economy and societies.

Since early 2020, the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic have led to remote working arrangements and allowed for the continuation of many business activities, further reinforcing the growth and impact of the digital economy.

The United Nations' (UN) World Day of Social Justice is annually observed to encourage people to look at how social justice affects poverty eradication. It also focuses on the goal of achieving full employment and support for social integration.

On 26 November 2007, the UN General Assembly declared that, starting from the 63rd session of the Assembly, 20 February will be celebrated annually as the World Day of Social Justice.

4.) Which organisation has planned to launch the World Solar Bank ?

बकस संगठन ने बवश्व सौर िℂक शु셂 करने की योजना िनाई है? a) International Solar Energy Society/ अंतरााष्ट्र ीय सौर ऊजाा सोसायटी b) Renewable Energy Group/ अक्षय ऊजाा समूह c) International Energy Agency/ अंतरााष्ट्र ीय ऊजाा एजेंसी

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d) International Solar Alliance/ अंतरााष्ट्र ीय सौर गठिंधन

Answer : International Solar Alliance/ अंतरााष्ट्र ीय सौर गठिंधन

Explanation : The International Solar Alliance have planned to launch the World Solar Bank

The International Solar Alliance have planned to launch the World Solar Bank at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow that is scheduled for November 2021.

The WSB will be launched because many member countries of the ISA face the challenge of raising finances on their own. Further, it was launched to assist the 800 million people who do not have access to power.

The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is an alliance of 121 countries initiated by India, most of them being sunshine countries

The International Solar Alliance (ISA) was founded at 2015 climate change conference in Paris. It is the first treaty-based international government organization which is headquartered in Gurugram, Haryana. It is the nodal agency to implement the global electricity grid plan of India called “One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG). Ajay Mathur is Director General of The International Solar Alliance (ISA).

5.) Recently who has been awarded Most Versatile Actor award ?

हाल ही में बकसे मोस्ट वसेटाइल एक्टर का पुरस्कार बदया गया है? a) K.K. Menon/ के .के . मेनन b) Anil Kapoor/ अबनल कपूर c) Akshay Kumar/ अक्षय कुमार d) None of these/ इनमें से कोई नहीं

Answer : K.K. Menon/ के .के . मेनन

Explanation : Kay Kay Menon has been honoured with the award for ‘Most Versatile Actor’ at Dadasaheb Phalke International Film festival 2021.

GURUJI’S KIRPA, SNM IAS STUDY GROUP SCO 376, Sector 37-D, Chandigarh. Mob: 98145-70784, 98148-21057 WEBSITE: www.snmiasacademy.com

DPIFF is one of India’s most prestigious awards ceremony which honours actors and artists who have contributed to the Indian Cinema.

It is India’s only independent award function with a mission to celebrate the legacy of Dadasaheb Phalke, Father of Indian Cinema.

6.) The annual interaction of PM with the students – “Pariksha Pe Charcha” will be held online this year. In which year the first edition of the interaction was held ?

छा配ों के साथ पीएम की वाबषाक िातचीत - "बशक्षा पे चचाा" इस साल ऑनलाइन आयोबजत की जाएगी। बकस वषा िातचीत का पहला संस्करण आयोबजत बकया गया था? a) 2016 b) 2017 c) 2018 d) 2019

Answer : 2018

Explanation : The first edition of “Pariksha Pe Charcha” was held in 2018.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's annual interaction with students 'Pariksha Pe Charcha' will be held online in this year in view of the Covid-19 pandemic, Union education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ informed recently.

The interaction with students from classes 9 to 12 ahead of their exams will be held in March. The registration for the programme began on Thursday and it will conclude on March 14. Students who will get to ask questions will be selected through a competition. The first edition of the prime minister's interaction programme with school and college students ''Pariksha Pe Charcha 1.0'' was held at the Talkatora Stadium on February 16, 2018.

There are different topics assigned for students, parents and teachers in the contest. The applicants can also pose their questions on this platform. The selected participants will be participating in the programme online from their respective state and UT headquarters and will be presented with a special PPC kit (Pariksha Pe Charcha kit) .

GURUJI’S KIRPA, SNM IAS STUDY GROUP SCO 376, Sector 37-D, Chandigarh. Mob: 98145-70784, 98148-21057 WEBSITE: www.snmiasacademy.com

7.) Recently who has been sworn in as the Lt of the Puducherry ?

हाल ही में पुडुचेरी के उपराज्यपाल के 셂प में बकसने शपथ ली है? a) Salim Gangadharan/ सलीम गंगाधरन b) Tamilisai Soundararajan/ तबमबलसाई साउंडराजन c) Murali Ramakrishnan/ मुरली रामकृष्णन d) Ranjana Salgaocar/ रंजना सलगांवकर

Answer : Tamilisai Soundararajan/ तबमबलसाई साउंडराजन

Explanation : Tamilisai Soundararajan was sworn in as the Lt Governor of the Puducherry, the Union Territory.

Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, who was given additional charge of Puducherry, was sworn in as Lt Governor of the Union Territory on Thursday. Chief Justice of the Madras High Court Sanjib Banerjee administered the oath of office to her at a simple function at the Raj Nivas. The Lt Governor took a guard of honour given by the territorial police. Ms. Soundararajan is the fifth woman to hold the post of Lt. Governor of Puducherry. Tamilisai Soundararajan replaced . Velu Narayanasamy is serving as the 10th and current Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Puducherry since June 2016.

Puducherry, also called Pondicherry, city, capital of Puducherry union territory, south- eastern India. The city constitutes an enclave surrounded by state, on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, 105 miles (170 km) south of .

Puducherry is a Union Territory of India, with four exclaved districts; Puducherry district and Karaikal district (surrounded by the state of Tamil Nadu), Mahé district (surrounded by the state of Kerala) and Yanam district (surrounded by the state of Andhra Pradesh), with Pondicherry district having the largest area ...

GURUJI’S KIRPA, SNM IAS STUDY GROUP SCO 376, Sector 37-D, Chandigarh. Mob: 98145-70784, 98148-21057 WEBSITE: www.snmiasacademy.com

8.) Recently PM laid the foundation stone of India's longest bridge which will connect which two North-Eastern states ?

हाल ही में पीएम ने भारत के सिसे लंिे पुल की आधारबशला रखी जो पूवोत्तर के दो राज्यों को जोडेगा? a) Arunachal Pradesh and Assam / अ셁णाचल प्रदेश और असम b) Assam and Meghalaya / असम और मेघालय c) Meghalaya and Manipur / मेघालय और मबणपुर d) Manipur and Assam / मबणपुर और असम

Answer : Assam and Meghalaya / असम और मेघालय

Explanation : Recently PM laid the foundation stone of India's longest bridge which will connect Assam and Meghalaya.

The Dhubri - Phulbari Bridge is a proposed bridge over the Brahmaputra River between Assam and Meghalaya in North-East India.

The Dhubri - Phulbari bridge, planned to be completed by 2026–27, would be India’s longest bridge over water and would span more than 19 km. This proposed bridge, close to the Bangladesh border, will connect Assam's Dhubri with Meghalaya's Phulbari which is also a missing link of National Highway 127B. Civil works will start on 2019–2020. This is being funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency and it would be executed by NHIDCL. This is one of 6 proposed bridges on the Brahmaputra.

9.) Recently 11th IEA-IEF-OPEC Symposium on Energy Outlooks held virtually from which country ?

हाल ही में एनजी आउटलुक पर 11 वीं IEA-IEF-OPEC संगोष्ठी बकस देश से ई है? a) Singapore / बसंगापुर b) Saudi Arabia / सऊदी अरि c) Malaysia / मलेबशया

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d) United Arab Emirates / संयुक्त अरि अमीरात

Answer : Saudi Arabia / सऊदी अरि

Explanation : Recently 11th IEA-IEF-OPEC Symposium on Energy Outlooks held virtually from Saudi Arabia.

Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas &Steel, participated in the 11th IEA-IEF-OPEC Symposium on Energy Outlooks he virtually on 17th February 2021 under the patronage of the Minister of Energy of Saudi Arabia HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud.

The symposium saw the presence of heads of all top inter-governmental energy agencies -IEF, IEA, OPEC, IRENA and the GECF. Also, dignitaries like, H.E. Norma RocíoNahle García, Secretary of Energy, Mexico and H.E. Timipre Sylva, Minister of

State of Petroleum Resources of Nigeria participated in the event. Apart from the comparative analysis of short, medium, and long-term energy outlooks that OPEC and the IEA published in 2020, the trilateral symposium reflected on the long-term outlooks of key producer and consumer countries.

The 11th IEA-IEF-OPEC Symposium was hosted by its permanent sides – the International Energy Agency (IEA), the International Energy Forum (IEF) and the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

10.) Arunachal Pradesh Foundation Day is celebrated every year on 20 th February. In which year Arunachal Pradesh became a full-fledged State ?

अ셁णाचल प्रदेश थापना बदवस हर साल 20 फरवरी को मनाया जाता है। बकस वषा अ셁णाचल प्रदेश पूणा बवकबसत राज्य िना? a) 1972 b) 1977 c) 1987 d) 1989

Answer : 1987

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11.) Recently which state has expanded Atal Bhujal Yojana in all of its districts ?

हाल ही में बकस राज्य ने अपने सभी बजलों में अटल भुजल योजना का बवस्तार बकया है? a) Uttar Pradesh / उत्तर प्रदेश b) Andhra Pradesh / आंध्र प्रदेश c) Madhya Pradesh / मध्य प्रदेश d) Himachal Pradesh / बहमाचल प्रदेश

Answer : Uttar Pradesh / उत्तर प्रदेश

Explanation : Uttar Pradesh state has expanded Atal Bhujal Yojana in all of its districts. 'Atal Bhujal Yojana', the Centrally-sponsored scheme aimed at ensuring public participation and improvement in Ground Water Conservation and Management, will be implemented in all districts of the state, the government announced recently.

Following of 'Atal Bhujal Yojana', success in the districts of Mahoba, Jhansi, Banda, Hamirpur, Chitrakoot, Lalitpur, Muzaffarnagar, Shamli, Baghpat and Meerut, the state government decided to implement the scheme in the remaining 65 districts as well.

“Atal Bhujal Yojana” is a groundwater management scheme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the 95th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister , on 25 December 2019. The purpose of the scheme is to improve groundwater management in seven states of India.

GURUJI’S KIRPA, SNM IAS STUDY GROUP SCO 376, Sector 37-D, Chandigarh. Mob: 98145-70784, 98148-21057 WEBSITE: www.snmiasacademy.com