Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 11th February 2021

Correct Answer: B. Odisha

Explanation: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has announced to set up the first ‘Thunderstorm Research Testbed’ of the country at Odisha’s Balasore district. The main objective of the “Thunderstorm Research Testbed” is to minimalise human fatalities and loss of property due to lightning strikes.The facility will be established in a collaboration between the Ministry of Earth Sciences, IMD, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Besides this, the IMD has also planned to set up a first-of-its-kind monsoon testbed near Bhopal. Currently, both the projects are in the planning stage and detailed project reports are being made.

Important Points:

India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director-General: Mrutyunjay Mohapatra.

India Meteorological Department Founded: 1875.

India Meteorological Department Headquarters: Mausam Bhavan, Lodhi Road, New Delhi

Correct Answer – D. M Hamid Ansari

Explanation: A book titled ‘By Many a Happy Accident: Recollections of a Life’ has been authored by M Hamid Ansari. Mohammad Hamid Ansari was the vice president of India and chairman of the Rajya Sabha for two consecutive terms from 2007 to 2017. A former diplomat, he served as ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Iran, and Saudi Arabia, as high commissioner to Australia and as permanent representative to the United Nations in New York.

About the book:

The book is an account of a life of unplanned happenings that took M. Hamid Ansari away from his preferred fancy for academia to professional diplomacy and then be co-opted in public life and catapulted to the second-highest office in the land for two consecutive terms. None of his predecessors, except Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, had experienced this honour.Besides chairing the Rajya Sabha and shedding interesting light on some of its functional aspects, Ansari used the vice presidency as a formidable pulpit to express himself candidly on a range of issues at different times in India’s changing political landscape.

Their overarching theme was the need for modern India to re-commit itself to the constitutional principles of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity, to the values of a composite culture, and for correctives in polity relating to identity, security and empowerment of the weaker segments of our society.

Correct Answer – E. Rs 5,000

Explanation: The Delhi cabinet has approved “Mukhyamantri Vigyan Pratibha Pariksha” in which Rs 5,000 will be provided to 1,000 meritorious students of Class 9 in schools of Delhi as a science scholarship. The scholarship will provide a boost to science education in secondary classes at the school level.Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal termed this as a crucial step for our government to promote excellent and talented students. Delhi government seeks to promote the pursuit of excellence and scientific temper among the children.

According to the release, the students studying in Delhi schools who have secured more than 60 per cent in Class 8 are eligible for the examination. Students belonging to SC, ST, PH, or OBC category will be given a relaxation of up to 5 per cent of marks.

Correct Answer – A. 100 foot-high

Explanation:The Indian Army has laid the foundation stone of the tallest ‘Iconic National Flag’ at the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir.The flag will be on a 100 feet-high pole, the highest Tricolour in the Valley. The Indian Army in collaboration with the Solar Industry India will install the ‘Iconic National Flag’ at Gulmarg.The foundation stone for the iconic national flag was laid by Dagger Division General Officer Commanding (GoC) Major General Virendra Vats along with Bollywood actor-producer Arbaaz Khan and actress Vidya Balan. This iconic Indian national flag will be a first in many ways. The site is expected to become another tourist attraction, among the snow-clad mountains of Kashmir.

Correct Answer – E. Sangeet Paul Choudhary

Explanation: A Book titled ‘Platform Scale: For a Post-Pandemic World’ has been authored by Sangeet Paul Choudhary. It is published by Penguin Random House India. It explains the importance of inner workings of platform business models and their ability to scale rapidly.The 1st edition of Platform Scale was published in 2015.

About the book:

The book tells how the decade leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic witnessed the rise of platform business models as they drove stock market gains and extended their influence across the economic and political activity.

Correct Answer – B. BYJU’S

Explanation: International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced Indian edu-tech company BYJU’S as its global partner from 2021 to 2023.It will see BYJU’S partner all ICC events over the period, including forthcoming men’s T20 World Cup in India and women’s World Cup in New Zealand.

Correct Answer – D. Kane Williamson

Explanation:  Kane Williamson from New Zealand has secured top batsman position in MRF Tyres ICC Test Player Rankings.Virat Kohli Slips to 5th Position in Latest ICC Test Rankings for Batsmen.

Correct Answer – D. Robert Irwin

Explanation:Australian wildlife photographer, Robert Irwin has won Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2021 People’s Choice Award Contest.Robert won the award for the image titled ‘bushfire’, which is the picture of devastating Australian Bushfire in 2020, he captured using a drone, near the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve in Cape York, Queensland.Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Largest wildlife photography competition in the world, organised by the Natural History Museum.

Correct Answer – A. Jiten Chopra

Explanation:   Jiten Chopra has been appointed as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of InterGlobe Aviation Limited (IndiGo) with effect from February 21, 2021.He will succeed Aditya PandeHe joined IndiGo airline in February 2020 as head of governance, risk, and compliance.

Correct Answer – B. RBI

Explanation:  RBI has released Annual Report of the Ombudsman Schemes for the year 2019-20 that depicts an increase of around 65% in the receipt of complaints out of which almost 92% have been disposed of.RBI has 3 Ombudsmen that can be approached by common man for their grievances: Banking, NBFC and Digital transactions.As per Monetary Policy Statement, 3 Ombudsman Schemes are being merged and integrated into a single scheme from June 2021.

Correct Answer: C. -7.0

Explanation: State Bank of India’s Economic Research Department has revised FY21 GDP estimates to -7.0%.Previously it had estimated GDP at -7.4%.As per the report authored by SBI’s Group Chief Economic Advisor Dr. Soumya Kanti Ghosh ‘SBI Nowcasting Model’, the GDP growth forecast for Q3 would be around 0.3%.Apart from Q3 FY21, the Q4 growth will also be in positive territory (approx 2.5%).

Correct Answer – B. Telangana

Explanation: Telangana’s Manasa Varanasi was crowned VLCC Femina Miss India World 2020 on 10 February 2021.Haryana’s Manika Sheokand was declared VLCC Femina Miss Grand India 2020, while Uttar Pradesh’s Manya Singh was crowned VLCC Femina Miss India 2020 – runner-up.It was the 57th edition of the Femina Miss India beauty pageant.

Telangana:

• Chief Minister – K. Chandrashekar Rao.
• Governor – Tamilisai Soundararajan.
• Number of Districts – 33.

Correct Answer – C. Karnataka

Explanation: Karnataka Mines and Geology Minister Murugesh Nirani has announced a new Sand policy to ensure a hassle-free supply of sand to the common man.The new sand provisions will benefit Ashraya and other housing schemes of the Government.A single window agency will clear the extraction of sand from 183 sand blocks in the state.A mines university will also be set up in the state.

Karnataka:

• Chief Minister – B. S. Yediyurappa.
• Governor – Vajubhai Vala.
• Number of Districts – 30.

Correct Answer: B. Bangladesh

Explanation: Bangladesh has received USD 200 million for Water Sanitation, Hygiene (WASH) project for rural areas from the World Bank.An agreement regarding this was signed between the government of Bangladesh and the World Bank on 9 February 2021.The project will help 3.6 million to access hygienic sanitation facilities and about 6 lakh people to access clean water in rural areas.

Bangladesh: 

• Capital – Dhaka.
• Currency – Bangladeshi Taka.
• President – Abdul Hamid.
• Prime Minister – Sheikh Hasina.