Daily GK & Current Affairs Quiz – 1st August 2020

Correct Answer: A. Kerala

Explanation: The ”CM Entrepreneurship Development Programme” has been launched by the Kerala state government to identify 2,000 entrepreneurs per year and plans to launch 1,000 new small and medium ventures every year for the next five years, creating 5,000 new ventures. The programme will be implemented through the Kerala Financial Corporation (KFC), which will provide loans up to 90 percent of the project cost subject to a maximum of Rs 50 lakh at 10 percent interest. The government will give 3% interest as subsidy thereby; the net interest rate will be 7%.

Correct Answer – D. Bandicoot

Explanation: Guwahati Development Department Ministry has inaugurated first manhole cleaning robot ‘BANDICOOT’ to ensure minimal human involvement to clean the sewers. Guwahati is the first city in the entire Northeast region to get a manhole cleaning robot. Guwahati is the third city in the entire country to procure this innovative technology to clean manholes after Gurugram and Coimbatore. The automatic sewer cleaning robot has been procured by the Guwahati Municipal. The BANDICOOT robot is also the first of its kind in the world that was developed by a Start-up India company called Genrobotics under the Make in India initiative, funded by CSR of Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL).

• Assam Chief Minister: Sarbananda Sonowal.
• Capital of Assam:
• Governor of Assam: Jagdish Mukhi.

Correct Answer – B. Spain

Explanation: SABIC’s polycarbonate facility in Spain is set to become the world’s first large scale chemical production plant which will run entirely on renewable power after a major agreement was signed with Iberdrola, an electricity utility company. The plant is expected to be completely operational by 2024 and is expected to help SABIC reach it’s 2025 clean energy target. Once the solar plant is operational, SABIC’s customers including the ones from automotive and constructive sectors will have access to polycarbonate solutions produced with 100 per cent renewable power.

SABIC is a global diversified chemicals company, headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It manufactures on a global scale in the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Asia Pacific, making distinctly different kinds of products including chemicals, commodity and high performance plastics, agri-nutrients and metals.

Correct Answer – B. Zimbabwe

Explanation The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has given ex-post facto approval to Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Zimbabwe on Cooperation in the field of Traditional Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy, which was signed on November 3rd, 2018. The objective of the MoU is to promote traditional systems of medicine and homeopathy between two nations on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.

Correct Answer – C. Harsh Vardhan

Explanation: The Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare (MoH& FW), Dr. Harsh Vardhan, released an ebook, titled ‘Standard Treatment Guidelines (STG) for the Management of Substance Use Disorders (SUD) and Behavioural Addictions’ virtually. The book was released in the presence of State Minister of (MoH & FW), Ashwini Kumar Choubey. Aim: The book centers the tackling of substance abuses and behavioural addiction of the country. The guidelines in the book were developed by a group that works under the Tobacco control and Drug Dependence and Treatment program.

Correct Answer – A. New Delhi

Explanation: Defence Ministers’ Dialogue between India and Indonesia was held in New Delhi. The Indian delegation was led by the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh while the Indonesian delegation was led by Defence Minister General Prabowo Subianto. During the defence ministers dialogue, General Subianto was honored with ceremonial Guard of Honour. Defence Ministers’ Dialogue led to the agreement between the participants to further improve the bilateral defence cooperation in mutually agreed areas. They also identified the potential areas of cooperation such as in the field of defence industries and defence technology and committed themselves to bolster bilateral cooperation in these areas and take them to the next level of deliverables.

Correct Answer – D. 6%

Explanation: Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the first education policy of the 21st century i.e. National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 which has replaced 34 years old NPE, 1986. This was announced by Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Prakash Keshav Javadekar. With this, the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) will officially be renamed the Ministry of Education (MoE). It should be noted that from now onwards the education sector will get allocation of 6% of total Gross Domestic Product (GDP). National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 emphasizes setting up of Gender Inclusion Fund, Special Education Zones for disadvantaged regions and groups.

Correct Answer – B. M. Phil

Explanation: The new policy aims for universalisation of education from pre-school to secondary level with 100 per cent Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in school education by 2030 and aims to raise GER in higher education to 50 per cent by 2025. To enroll for a Ph.D, a Master’s degree or a 4-year Bachelor’s degree with Research shall be required. The M.Phil programme shall be discontinued.

Correct Answer – B. Praj Industries

Explanation:  Praj Industries (Praj) and Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under which they will jointly develop advanced biofuels application technology for the usage in industry and transportation. This technology will help to reduce the health risks posed by air pollution in the transportation sector. This collaboration will enable them to jointly address technologies to expand the use of biofuels in a variety of applications, including the use of Internal Combustion Engines (ICEs) in the transportation sector.

Correct Answer – C. Aditya

Explanation: India’s first solar-powered ferry, Aditya has won the prestigious Gustave Trouve Award for Excellence in Electric Boats and Boating. The ferry was adjudged the world’s best electric boat in the category of ferries designed for paid passenger service. The Aditya, from Navalt Boats, is a sun-powered commuter ferry that is one of the great stories of the future of electric marine propulsion. The ferry belongs to the Kerala State Water Transport Department (KSWTD) and has been plying on the Vaikkom-Thavanakkadavu route in Alappuzha district since January 2017.

Correct Answer – B. Bohot Zaroori Hai

Explanation: Bharti AXA General Insurance has launched a crop insurance campaign titled ‘Bohot Zaroori Hai’ for farmers in Maharashtra and Karnataka to encourage them about their yield protection and financial security. It includes Ahmednagar, Nashik, Chandrapur, Solapur, Jalgaon and Satara in Maharashtra and Dharwad, Mysuru and Kodagu in Karnataka. Under the campaign:

• Bharti AXA General Insurance will ensure the farmers in Maharashtra and Karnataka for a period of three years under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY).
• Bharti AXA General Insurance has received Rs 800 crore worth crop insurance mandate from the governments of Maharashtra and Karnataka for 3 years.
• Apart from this, under ‘Bohot Zaroori Hai’, the farming communities will be made aware about the relevance and significance of crop insurance that mitigates the rural distress caused by crop failure or damage due to factors like unseasonal rains, monsoon failure, storms, floods, pests and diseases.

Correct Answer – A. Varun Sridhar

Explanation: The investment & wealth management subsidiary of Paytm, Paytm Money has appointed Varun Sridhar as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company. He will replace former MD and CEO Pravin Jadhav who resigned from the startup due to differences with the management of Paytm. Sridhar will be reporting to Amit Nayyar, the President at Paytm. Sridhar will lead the launch and development of equity brokerage services for the firm, and grow existing products around mutual funds, national pension system and gold services, which the company offers.

Correct Answer – B. Iran

Explanation: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a paramilitary force, launched the underground ballistic missiles from the depths of the Earth for the 1st time in a completely camouflaged way during the last day of ‘Great Prophet 14’ (code name- “Payambar e Azam 14”) military exercise near Gulf waters.

Correct Answer: C. Director

Explanation: Bollywood action director, Parvez Khan passed away. He had been working in the film industry since 1986. Some of his well-known films include Andhadhun, Badlapur, Bullett Raja, Fukrey, Ra-One, Johnny Gaddaar, Vishwaroopam, Vishwaroopam 2, Dev.D, Gangster, Sehar, Ab Tak Chhappan, The Legend Of Bhagat Singh, Soldier, and Mr And Mrs Khiladi.