Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 13th & 14th June 2021

Correct Answer: A. Nagraj Adiga

Explanation: India’s Nagraj Adiga has been elected as the Asia-Oceania Representative at the recently concluded 2021 International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) Congress at which the IAU council elections were held. Adiga works closely with the Athletics Federation of India and with various Government bodies to promote health, fitness, and encourage budding sportspersons.

Correct Answer – D. Economist

Explanation: Padma Shri winning noted Economist and Environmentalist, Prof Radhamohan Ji has passed away. He was the former information commissioner of Odisha and had also served as a lecturer of Economics in different colleges in Odisha. He along with his daughter Sabarmatee were conferred with the prestigious Padma Shri Award in 2020 for their contribution to the agriculture sector.

Correct Answer – B. Patiala

Explanation: The Athletics Federation of India (AFI), announced that the Indian Grand Prix 4 will be held on June 21 at the National Institute of Sports in Patiala. The decision to host the domestic events was made to give Indian athletes the maximum chance to qualify for Tokyo. India’s star sprinters Dutee Chand & Hima Das are expected to participate in the fourth Indian GP of 2021. National Inter-State Athletics Championships will be held at the same venue from June 25.

Important Points:

• Athletics Federation of India Founded: 1946;
• Athletics Federation of India  Headquarters location: New Delhi.

Correct Answer – C. SBI

Explanation:  State Bank of India (SBI) has launched a collateral-free “Kavach Personal Loan” to enable its customers to meet medical expenses of self and family members for Covid treatment. Under this scheme, customers can avail of loans up to ₹5 lakhs at an effective interest rate of 8.5 per cent per annum for 60 months, which is inclusive of three months moratorium.This loan product will also be part of the Covid loan book being created by banks as per the Reserve Bank of India’s Covid relief measures. The loan will also cover reimbursement of Covid related medical expenses already incurred.

Important Points:

• SBI Chairperson: Dinesh Kumar Khara.
• SBI Headquarters: Mumbai.
• SBI Founded: 1 July 1955.

Correct Answer – B. Act now: End child labour!

Explanation: World Day Against Child Labour is observed globally on 12th June every year. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), there are about 152 million children globally who are engaged in child labour, 72 million of whom are in hazardous work. This year’s World Day Against Child Labour focuses on action taken for the 2021 International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour.The theme of this year’s World Day Against Child Labour is Act now: End child labour!. It is the first World Day since the universal ratification of the ILO’s Convention No. 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour and takes place at a time when the COVID-19 crisis threatens to reverse years of progress in tackling the problem.

About World Day Against Child Labour:

The International Labour Organization (ILO) launched the World Day Against Child Labour in 2002 to focus attention on the worldwide extent of kid labour and therefore the action and efforts needed to eliminate it. Each year on 12 June, this Day brings together governments, employers and workers organizations, civil society, also as many people from around the world to spotlight the plight of kid labourers and what are often done to assist them.

Important Points:

• Headquarters of International Labour Organization: Geneva, Switzerland;
• President of International Labour Organization: Guy Ryder;
• International Labour Organization Founded: 1919.

Correct Answer – C. Indian Bank

Explanation:  Indian Bank has partnered wealth-tech company Fisdom to offer a comprehensive suite of wealth management products and services to the bank’s 10 crore customers.The partnership will focus on enabling large-scale facilitation and distribution of wealth products and services through Indian Bank’s network.In phase one of the partnership, Indian Bank’s customers can access and invest in any mutual fund of choice and the National Pension System through the lender’s IndOASIS mobile banking application and its internet banking portal.Indian Bank is the seventh largest public sector bank in India.

Correct Answer – B. Andhra Pradesh

Explanation:  AP launched interest-free loans under the Jagananna Thodu scheme to help small & petty vendors and artisans.Under the scheme the state govt credited Rs 370 crore to 3.7 lakh small traders as interest free loan.Although 9.05 lakh beneficiaries were identified from the scheme, in the phase-1, only Rs 535 crore was disbursed by the banks to 5.35 lakh beneficiaries.

Correct Answer – A. Water Burial

Explanation:  Water Burial has won the best film award on environment conservation at the 67th National Films Awards 2021.Inspired by the popular Assamese novel Saba Kota Manuh, which is written by Yeshe Dorjee Thongchi, Water Burial is in Monpa dialect and has an intriguing storyline around a dark ritual of a local tribe in Arunachal Pradesh.The film, which is directed by independent filmmaker Shantanu Sen in Monpa dialect, has garnered positive reviews for its uniqueness in portraying the rituals of the tribals of the Northeast and bringing the attention of the mainstream media towards it.Water Burial is presented by Sanjive Narain, Chief Managing Director of Prag News, produced by AM Television and co-produced by Faruque Iftikar.

Correct Answer – C. Russia

Explanation: Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law that formalizes his country’s exit from the Open Skies Arms Control Treaty.Signed on March 24 1992, the pact allows for unarmed surveillance over the territories of its 34 member states.Russia has become the second country to exit the pact following a Donald Trump-led US’ exit from the treaty last year.Open Skies Treaty is an international treaty that allow nations to collect information on one another’s military forces to increase transparency.

Correct Answer – B. Piramal Foundation

Explanation: The Piramal Foundation in support of the NITI Aayog has announced plans to provide COVID home care to 20 lakh citizens staying in rural areas.The Foundation which has been working in 25 districts helping in COVID care to senior citizens since last year has now expanded its scope of work to 112 backward districts called “Aspirational Districts’.Both entities unveiled ‘Surakshit Hum Surakshit Tum Abhiyaan’ which will be rolled out in these 112 districts to assist the district administrations in providing home-care support to patients who are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms.Most of these districts are in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Maharashtra.

Correct Answer – B. Air India

Explanation: Cairn Energy has sued Air India to enforce a $1.2 billion arbitration award that it won in a tax dispute against India, according to a U.S. District Court filing.The British firm Cairn was awarded by an arbitration tribunal in December 2020.The body ruled India breached an investment treaty with Britain and said New Delhi was liable to pay.

Correct Answer – D. Volleyball

Explanation: Former Indian women volleyball team captain Nirmal Kaur passed away recently due to complications related to Covid-19 infection.She was wife of legendary Olympian Milkha Singh.Milkha Singh himself is being treated for Covid-related complications at the PGI Chandigarh.Milkha Singh has been under the observation of a medical team comprising senior doctors of the institute.

Correct Answer – C. Weightlifting

Explanation: India’s Mirabai Chanu, the 2017 world champion in weightlifting, has qualified for the Tokyo Olympics in the women’s 49-kg category.The International Weightlifting Federation announced that Mirabai has qualified on the basis of her world ranking points.The 26-year-old from Manipur lifter is ranked second in the women’s 49-kg category.As per rules of the IWF, top eight lifters in each of the 14 weight categories, including seven in the women’s group, are eligible to compete in Tokyo Games.

Correct Answer: C. 2030

Explanation: During the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Meeting (HLM) on HIV/AIDS (Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired ImmunoDeficiency Syndrome), the assembly approved a declaration to end AIDS by 2030.The Assembly stated that COVID-19 has increased inequalities and pushed access to AIDS medicines, treatments and diagnosis off track.The declaration also committed assembly’s 193 member countries to implement.Reduce annual new HIV infections to under 3, 70, 000 and annual AIDS-related deaths to under 2, 50, 000 by 2025.To eliminate all forms of HIV-related stigma and discrmination and for urgent work towards an HIV vaccine and a cure for AIDS.

Correct Answer: A. Amazon India

Explanation: Amazon India on 13 June 2021 announced the launch of an integrated learning programme for students to learn applied Machine Learning (ML) skills.The programme, ML Summer School, has been introduced to help train students in ML and address the growing demand for talent with this skill set across various industries.The curriculum will cover the fundamental concepts in ML while linking them to practical industry applications through an immersive three-day course.Participants of the ML Summer School will be identified through an online assessment.It is open to engineering students in their pre-final/final year of Bachelors, Masters or PhD studies across select tech campuses in 2021, including Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Delhi, International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Hyderabad, Birla Institute of Technology (BITS), National Institute of Technology (NIT) Tiruchirappalli and Anna University among others.Students will get to learn first-hand on how advanced ML techniques such as Deep Learning and Probabilistic Graphical Models can be leveraged to solve specific business problems in the e-commerce domain.

Correct Answer: C. 498

Explanation: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the budgetary support of Rs. 498 crore to Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), a Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO) for the next 5 years.The scheme is aimed at providing financial support to nearly 300 start-ups, MSMEs and individual innovators and 20 partner incubators under the DIO framework.It aims at empowering a culture of technology co-creation and co-innovation in the sector and boosts innovation among the start-ups and encourages them to be a part of the ecosystem.

Correct Answer: B. Uttarakhand

Explanation: Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Uttarakhand Assembly Dr Indira Hridayesh passed away in June 2021.She was a Congress MLA from Haldwani and one of the seniormost Congress leaders from the state.Hridayesh was the finance minister of Uttarakhand from 2012 to 2017 and also held the portfolios of parliamentary affairs and higher education and planning in the Congress government led by Harish Rawat.

Another Obituary:

Former Indian women volleyball team captain Nirmal Kaur has passed away due to complications related to Covid-19 infection. She was the wife of legendary Olympian Milkha Singh.

Correct Answer: B. Alberta

Explanation: Alberta has now become the first Canadian province to formally recognize the 75-week celebrations of the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence day.A ministerial statement has been recorded in the legislature of the province marking the 75-week global celebrations.India will mark the 75th anniversary of Independence Day on August 15, 2022.

Canada:

• Capital – Ottawa.
• Currency – Canadian dollar.
• Prime Minister – Justin Trudeau.

Correct Answer: A. Dentsu International

Explanation: Advertising firm Dentsu International has announced the launch of its sports marketing unit in India.The launch is supported by Tokyo headquartered Dentsu Sports International (DSI) and Dentsu Sports Asia (DSAsia), Singapore.The agency has appointed former cricketer and sports marketing executive Anand Yalvigi as the Director of the new vertical for India.