1. Which Indian State flagged of India’s 1st ‘Fruit Train’ Carries a load of 980 metric tonnes of Bananas under brand name ‘Happy Bananas’ (January 2020)?
1) West Bengal
2) Uttar Pradesh
3) Karnataka
4) Andhra Pradesh
5) Tamil Nadu
Answer – 4) Andhra Pradesh
Explanation: India’s first fruit train was launched from Andhra Pradesh. This is the first time an entire train carrying a load of 980 metric tonnes of locally grown bananas. The bananas will be exported under the brand name ‘HappyBananas’.
Guntakal Railway division (is one of the four divisions of South Coast Railway zone of the
Indian Railways) has loaded bananas for export to West Asian countries from Tadipatri at very first time and also it has been sent to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNP)in Mumbai, Maharashtra from
where it will be exported to Iran.
2.NABARD approved loan to Punjab State Agricultural Development Bank (PSADB) worth ___ at low interest rate to strengthen and providing financial support to the Bank (January 2020)?
1) 120 Crore
2) 125 Crore
3) 130 Crore
4) 135 Crore
5) 140 Crore
Answer – 5) 140 Crore
Explanation: The National bank of Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has given approval for the loanworth of 140 Crore at lower interest rate to Punjab State Agricultural and Rural Development Bank (PSADB) to strengthen and supporting the Punjab State Agricultural Development Bank financially. The decision to provide Rs 140 crore
was taken during a meeting between Punjab Cooperation Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa-
delegation with NABARD Chairman Harsh Kumar Banwala in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
3.Where is Kuno-Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary located at?
Answer – Madhya Pradesh
Explanation:
Recently Supreme court of India allowed the introduction of African Cheetahs to a suitable habitat in India. Kuno-Palpur is chosen as a suitable site as of now.
4.Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) along with which institute released classical swine flu (CSF) cell structure vaccine which costs less than Rs.2 in New Delhi?
1) Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom
2) Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar, Rajasthan
3) Indian Institute of Biotechnology, Hyderabad
4) Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bengaluru
5) Central Institute for Research on Cattle, Meerut
Answer – 4) Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bengaluru
Explanation: Classical Swine Fever (CSF) is one of the most important diseases of the pig causing high mortality. The vaccine was developed by ICAR and IVRI (Indian Veterinary Research Institute) which was released in New Delhi. The new CSF vaccine costing around less than Rs.2/- per dose against RS.15-25/ per- dose of lapinized CSF vaccine and Rs.30/ per-dose of Korean vaccine.
5. Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) signed MoU with CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) to set up Liaison office in Assam to provide technical support to the food industries in the Northeast region. The Headquarters of CSIR-CFTRI located at?
1) Indore
2) Mysore
3) Ahmedabad
4) Lucknow
5) Guwahati
Answer – 2) Mysore
Explanation:
On February 4,2020 A Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) was signed between CSIR-CFTRI and APEDA to set up a Liaison Office, Guwahati, Assam to provide technical support to the food industries in the North East region. Central Food Technological Research Institute, (CSIR-CFTRI), Mysore, Karnataka, working in the area of Food and Science & Technology, Human Resource Development started during 1950.
6.The World’s oldest Bamboo fossil discovered turns as to be a conifer as examined by a professor of Pennsylvania state university. Which open access news journal published the news?
1) PeerJ
2) SAGE open
3) BMC biology
4) Phytokeys
5) PLOS one
Answer – 4) Phytokeys
Explanation:
A fossil of leafy branch was discovered in Eocene, Patagonia in 1941, at that time of Examination it considered as bamboo’s fossil and still it became the oldest bamboo of the world, but in recent
Examination of that fossil by Dr. Peter Wilf from Pennsylvania state university revealed the real
nature of the plant’s fossil and it was published in open-access journal Phytokeys.
7.Ministry of Food processing industries (MoFPI) has sanctioned to 39 mega food parks and 298 Integrated cold chain projects to fill gaps across value chain and establish cold chain grid. Under which scheme the food park and cold chain projects sanctioned?
1) Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY)
2) Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
3) Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)
4) National Agriculture Market (e-NAM)
5) Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY)
Answer – 1) Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY)
Explanation:
The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has sanctioned 39 Mega Food Parks and 298 Integrated Cold Chain Projects in India inorder to fill the gaps across value chain and also to establish Cold Chain Grid. The foodparks and the cold chain projects have been sanctioned under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY).
8.As per study conducted by scientists of Centre for Wildlife Sanctuaries (CSW) and Wildlife Institute of India (WII) population of which animal has declined by 75-90% in India over past 120 – 200 years (Feb 2020)?
1) Indian Leopard
2) Indian aurochs
3) Asiatic cheetah
4) Great Indian bustard
5) Vaquita
Answer – 1) Indian Leopard
Explanation: On February 7,2020 Scientists found that the Leopard population has decreased to 75-90% in India over the past 120 to 200 years, suggesting that leopards need similar conservation attention like tigers in India. The study was conducted by scientists from the Centre for Wildlife Sanctuaries (CWS), Bengaluru, Karnataka and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) Uttarakhand, Dehradun.
9.The World Pulse Day was observed on February 10. The 1st edition of World Pulse day commenced on ____?
1) 2020
2) 2016
3) 2019
4) 2017
5) 2018
Answer – 3) 2019
Explanation:
World Pulses Day was observed on Feb 10, 2020. World Pulses day was established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations to recognize the importance of pulses. World Pulses day has been designated on Feb 10 every year since 2019 by the 73rd session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly on December 20, 2018.
10.February 11 was celebrated as ______?
1) World Yoga Day
2) World Unani Day
3) World Ayurveda Day
4) World Homeopathy Day
5) World Siddha Day
Answer – 2) World Unani Day
Explanation:
World Unani Day was celebrated on February 11, 2020, since 2017. The day marks the birthday of great Unani scholar and social reformer “Hakim Ajmal Khan”. Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh was the chief guest of the 4th Unani day function organized by AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) Ministry, New Delhi, India.
11.What was the Theme of 43rd International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) council held at Rome, Italy on February 2020?
1) Theme: “Rural Transformation: Key to Sustainable Development”
2) Theme: “Investing in sustainable food systems to end hunger by 2030”
3) Theme: “Rural Innovation and Entrepreneurship”
4) Theme: “Fragility to long-term resilience: investing in sustainable rural economies”
Answer – 2) Theme: “Investing in sustainable food systems to end hunger by 2030”
Explanation:
The IFAD’s 43rd Governing Council meeting was held in Rome, Italy on 11-12 February 2020 on the theme “Investing in sustainable food systems to end hunger by 2030”.
12. The 43rd International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) council held at Rome, Italy on February 2020 stated, due to climatic change around 100 million people will be pushed to poverty by _____?
1) 2022
2) 2025
3) 2024
4) 2027
5) 2030
Answer – 5) 2030
Explanation:
The International Fund for Agricultural Development 43rd Governing Council meeting was held in Rome, Italy on 11-12 February 2020 on the theme “Investing in sustainable food systems to end hunger by 2030”. During the meet, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) stated that the sequences of climate change and it’s impacts on agriculture will push around 100 million people to poverty by 2030.
13.Which Indian State’s forest department & Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT) has radio tagged Indian Pangolin for the first time inorder to know its ecology and to develop conservation plan?
1) Mizoram
2) Arunachal Pradesh
3) Himachal Pradesh
4) Jharkhand
5) Madhya Pradesh
Answer – 5) Madhya Pradesh
Explanation:
The Madhya Pradesh (MP) forest department & Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT) has radio-tagged an Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) for the first time in order to know its ecology and develop an effective conservation plan.
14.The Department of Animal husbandry & Dairying under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying announced doubling of Milk processing capacities to _____ by 2025?
1) 100 MT
2) 104 MT
3) 108 MT
4) 112 MT
5) 120 MT
Answer – 3) 108 MT
Explanation: The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying under the Ministry of Fisheries,Animal Husbandry and Dairying announced that the Government will facilitate the increase of milk processing capacity to 108 million metric tonne (MT) from 53.5 million metric tonne by 2025 .
14.The cabinet has approved to raise the interest subvention given to farmers in the dairy sector from 2% to _______?
1) 2.25%
2) 2.5%
3) 3%
4) 3.25%
5) 2.75%
Answer – 2) 2.5%
Explanation:
The Union Cabinet has given its approval to increase the interest subvention on loans given to farmers in the dairy sector from 2% to 2.5 % under the scheme Dairy processing and Infrastructure Development Fund (DIDF)with the revised outlay of Rs 11184 Cr.
15.Which Indian state government has launched the Atal kisan – Majdoor canteens to provide affordable meals to the farmers (Rs. 10 per plate)?
1) Odisha
2) Haryana
3) Punjab
4) Karnataka
5) Gujarat
Answer – 2) Haryana
Explanation:
According to the Haryana Governor , the state Government will open Atal Kisan – Majdoor canteens (named after former Prime minister (PM) late Atal Bihari Vajpayee) in the ‘mandis’ and sugar mills across the state to provide affordable, cheap meals to farmers and labourers at concessional rate of Rs 10 per plate.
16.Under which scheme the government has paid Rs. 50, 580 crores for farmers to meet farm input cost and domestic expenses (as on Feb 2020)?
1) Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
2) Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY)
3) Gramin Bhandaran Yojna
4) Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)
5) Pradhan Mantri Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)
Answer – 5) Pradhan Mantri Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)
Explanation:
The centre stated that it has paid Rs 50,850 crore to farmers under Pradhan Mantri Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme (Launched on February 24, 2019). The scheme is under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Union Ministry of Agriculture Narendra Singh Tomar launched PM KISAN mobile application, which is aimed at broadening the reach of the scheme. Under the scheme farmers will be provided with Rs. 6000 in 3 equal installments to meet farm input cost and domestic expenses.
17.To which Indian State/UT NABARD has granted 400.64crore under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) to boost the infrastructure (Feb 2020)?
1) Jammu & Kashmir
2) Haryana
3) Gujarat
4) Himachal Pradesh
5) Odisha
Answer – 1) Jammu & Kashmir
Explanation:
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), an Apex Development Financial Institution in India, has granted a sum of Rs 400.64 crore to the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir(J&K).
The amount has been sanctioned under its ‘Rural Infrastructure Development Fund
(RIDF) – Trench XXV’for boosting rural infrastructure during the current financial year-FY (2019-20).
18.Name the person who was awarded with ‘Lifetime Achievement Award” by ICAR- National
Research Center for Banana at International Conference on Banana (ICB) 2020?
1) Tenith Adithyaa
2) S. Uma
3) P. Suresh Kumar
4) Dr N Kumar
5) R. Selvarajan
Answer – 4) Dr N Kumar
Explanation:
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) Vice-Chancellor (VC) Dr N Kumar was awarded with
‘Lifetime Achievement Award” by ICAR- National Research Center for Banana, during the
International Conference on Banana (ICB) 2020 held in Trichy, Tamil Nadu (TN).
19.The International Conference on Banana (ICB) 2020 with the theme ‘Innovations in Sustainable Production and Value Chain Management in Banana’ held at?
1) Nagpur, Maharashtra
2) Cochin, Kerala
3) Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
4) Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu
5) Indore, Madhya Pradesh
Answer – 4) Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu
Explanation:
The International Conference on Banana (ICB) 2020 with the theme ‘Innovations in Sustainable
Production and Value Chain Management in Banana’ held in Trichy, Tamil Nadu (TN) between Feb 22-25, 2020.
20.The Government of India (GoI) has approved Rs.162 crores for Operations Green (OG) scheme (Feb 2020). The OG scheme works under which ministry?
1) Ministry of Food Processing Industries
2) Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
3) Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare
4) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
5) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Answer – 1) Ministry of Food Processing Industries
Explanation:
The government approved Rs 162 crore under Operations Green (OG) Scheme which was announced in 2018-19 budget with an outlay of 500 crores to stable the supply of TOP crops (Tomato, Onion & Potato) & to confirm their availability throughout the year without price volatility. The scheme works under Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI).
The aim of the scheme is to enhance TOP Crops value chain & promote Farmer Producers Organizations (FPOs), agri-logistics, processing facilities and professional management.
21.The Central government has approved 32 projects (covers 17 states with the investment worth of Rs. 406crores) under the PMKSY scheme. The ‘S’ in PMKSY denotes?
1) Swachh
2) Sadak
3) Sampada
4) Shiksha
5) Samriddhi
Answer – 3) Sampada
Explanation:
Government approved a total of 32 projects under ‘unit’ scheme of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) [scheme for Agro-Marine Processing and Development of Agro Processing Clusters] in the meeting of Inter-Ministerial Approval Committee (IMAC) presided over by Union Minister of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) Harsimrat Kaur Badal. The project covers about 17 states, leveraging an investment worth of Rs 406 crores.
