Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 10th April 2021

Correct Answer: C. Italy

Explanation: Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman has participated virtually in the Second G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting. This meeting held under the Italian Presidency to discuss policy responses to global challenges to restore strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth.

About the meeting:

• The G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors discussed Updates of the G20 Action Plan in response to COVID-19.
• They also discussed supporting the financing needs of the most vulnerable economies, the progress on the international taxation agenda, promoting greener transitions and the pandemic related financial regulation issues.
• Sitharaman urged all G20 members to ensure equitable access and widespread distribution of vaccines.
• Sitharaman reflected on the global growth projections and underlined the need for continued coordination amidst the persistence of uncertainties associated with the virus.
• The Finance Minister said that the G20 Action Plan has served as a good guidance tool and shaping recovery is the mainstay of its current update.

Correct Answer – E. 2017

Explanation: India has contributed an additional $500,000 to the United Nations Trust Fund for Counter-Terrorism, taking the country’s donation to the UN office set up to combat terrorism to over $1 million. With this amount, India’s total contribution to it so far is $1.05 million.The UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, established in 2017, enhances coordination and coherence across the Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact entities to ensure the balanced implementation of the four pillars of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.In line with General Assembly resolution 71/291 that established UNOCT in June 2017, the UN Trust Fund for Counter-Terrorism was transferred to UNOCT.

Correct Answer – B. Japan

Explanation: The Union Cabinet recently apprised an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) signed between India and Japan. The MoU was signed between the National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL) that operates under the Department of Space, GoI and the Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere called the RISH that operates under the Kyoto University of Japan.

The main objectives of the MoU are as follows:

• According to the MoU signed, the NARL and RISH will continue their cooperation in the areas of technology, atmospheric sciences, collaborative scientific experiments and other related modelling studies.
• They will exchange scientific materials, information, publications, students, faculty members and researchers.
• The MoU will allow the countries to utilize the facilities such as Middle and Upper atmosphere radar in Japan, Mesosphere-Stratosphere-Troposphere radar, Equatorial Atmosphere Radar in Indonesia.

Important Points:

• Japan Capital: Tokyo;
• Japan Currency: Japanese yen;
• Japan Prime minister: Yoshihide Suga.

Correct Answer – D. 9 April

Explanation:  Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Valour Day (Shaurya Diwas) is observed on 9 April every year, as a tribute to the brave men of the Force. 2021 marks the 56th CRPF Valour Day. It was on this day in 1965, a small contingent of CRPF created history by defeating an invading Pakistani army, several time larger, at the Sardar Post located in the Rann of Kutch, Gujarat. The CRPF men eliminated 34 Pakistani soldiers and captured four alive. In the conflict, CRPF lost six personnel who had attained martyrdom.

Important Points:

• Central Reserve Police Force Headquarters: New Delhi, India.
• Central Reserve Police Force Formed: 27 July 1939.
• Central Reserve Police Force Motto: Service and Loyalty.
• CRPF director general: Kuldiep Singh.

Correct Answer – B. 2018

Explanation: The updated version of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s book named ‘Exam Warriors’ was launched. The book gives out various suggestions to both students and parents to deal with the examination pressure and stress. The book raise the awareness on topics like mental health, the role of technology and time management. The book has new Mantras and a range of interesting activities. The book reaffirms the need to remain stress-free before an exam.

About the book:

• Exam Warriors, first published in 2018.
• It was written by PM Modi to help young students deal with the stress of exams.
• Published in 15 languages, its Braille version was launched on World Braille Day (January 4) in 2020.

Correct Answer – B. Urjit Patel

Explanation: The Board of Britannia Industries has appointed former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Urjit Patel as the Additional Director of the company.He has been appointed for a period of five years, in the category of Non-Executive and Independent Director.

Correct Answer – A. Indian Institute of Science (IISc)

Explanation: As many as 15 Indian universities have made it to the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) 2020, also known as Shanghai Ranking, released recently.As per the ARWU Ranking 2020 of top institutions in India, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) was on the number one rank while the University of Calcutta was on the third spot among all premier higher educational institutions in the country.Calcutta University has secured first place among Indian universities and third position among top higher educational institutions in the country in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) 2020.

Correct Answer – C. West Bengal

Explanation: West Bengal accounts for the highest collection of about Rs 90,000 crore from small savings schemes such as NSC and PPF among the states and union territories, which is about 15 per cent of the total corpus.It is followed by Uttar Pradesh, the largest state in terms of population, with gross collection of Rs 69,660.70 crore out of the Rs 5.96 lakh crore garnered during 2017-18 (last updated), as per data collated by the National Savings Institute under the finance ministry.The rate of interest on various small savings schemes for the first quarter of 2021-22 starting from April 1 and ending on June 30, 2021 would remain unchanged from those notified for the fourth quarter (January 1 to March 31, 2021) of 2020-21.

Correct Answer – A. Punjab

Explanation: The World Bank(WB) and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) have approved the loan for the 300 Million USD (around Rs.2190 crore) canal-based drinking water project in Punjab.The entire project will be co-financed by International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) of World Bank (USD 105 million), AIIB (USD 105 million) and the Government of Punjab (USD 90 million).

Correct Answer – A. ICICI Bank

Explanation:  ICICI Bank and PhonePe have announced their partnership for the issuance of FASTags using UPI on the PhonePe app.This integration allows over 280 million registered users to order and track FASTag conveniently on the app.PhonePeusers, who may be customers of any bank, will have a fully digitised experience as they don’t have to visit physical stores or toll locations to buy a FASTag.ICICI Bank is the first bank to partner with PhonePe for the issuance of FASTag.

Correct Answer – D. USA

Explanation: An Indo-U.S. Cricket eSports Competition was conducted to celebrate the growing trade ties between the two countries.The event was live-streamed on April 8, 2021.Sixteen players from India and the U.S. competed on a mobile cricket gaming platform, ‘Real Cricket ‘20’, in a five-over format.The U.S. finalist beat the Indian player by 13 runs.

Correct Answer – D. 150

Explanation: Banks in India have crossed the milestone of ₹150 trillion in deposits.Deposits had touched the ₹100-trillion mark in September 2016 and had crossed ₹50 trillion in February 2011.Outstanding bank deposits stood at ₹151.13 trillion as on 26 March 2021, the last fortnight of the financial year, as per the data released by RBI.This translates into a growth of 11.3% from the same period in 2020.

Correct Answer – C. Saudi Arabia

Explanation:  The construction subsidiary of Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has secured a major contract to set up a 1.5 GW solar plant in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.It has secured the contract from the consortium of ACWA Power.This project is considered the largest solar plant in Saudi Arabia.It is also one of the largest such plants in the world.The project will be spread across a 30.8 square kilometre land.

Saudi Arabia:

• Capital – Riyadh.
• Currency – Saudi riyal.
• King – Mohammed bin Salman.

Correct Answer: C. 2.25 lakh

Explanation: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is planning to award projects worth around Rs 2.25 lakh crore in the current fiscal (FY 2022).The authority awarded 141 projects (4,788 km) worth Rs 1.71 lakh crore in 2020-21.The share of engineering procurement and construction (EPC) in the awards last fiscal was 50% followed by the hybrid annuity model (HAM) at 49%.