Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 13th May 2021

Correct Answer: A. New Delhi

Explanation: Delhi Police has launched a helpline number for senior citizens who are struggling with their essential needs amid Covid-19. South District Police of the national capital has launched a COVI Van Helpline (012- 26241077) for senior citizens in the neighbourhood amid the coronavirus situation here.

About the COVI Van

The information of commencement of COVI Van has been disseminated in the Greater Kailash -1 area through beat officers and Residents Welfare Association (RWA).All the precautions including – sanitisation, gloves, masks and social distancing – will be taken while and after every visit.After receiving any call from COVI Van, deployed police official on COVI Van with a beat officer will go to the house of senior citizens and help them in getting their needs, including any essential item, vaccination and medicines.

Important Points: 

• Chief Minister of Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal; Lieutenant Governor of Delhi: Anil Baijal.

Correct Answer – A. Jerusalem

Explanation: The Israeli military has bombarded rockets in different areas in Gaza. It is the most intense airstrikes in Gaza since 2014. Hamas had red hundreds of rockets towards Israel on Monday. After that, Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes in Gaza. The Gaza-based Palestinian group, Hamas, had red rockets towards Israel in protest of the clash between Israeli police and Palestinian protesters in the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Al-Aqsa Mosque is located in Jerusalem. It is the third holiest place for Muslims.

About the Hamas:

• It was founded in 1987.
• It is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist organization.
• It is active in the West Bank and Gaza Strip region of the Palestine.
• It opposes the secular approach of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Important points:

• Israel Capital is Jerusalem and the currency is the Israeli shekel.
• Benjamin Netanyahu is the Prime Minister of Israel.

Correct Answer – A. 9.2 per cent

Explanation: The domestic rating agency, Care Ratings, has revised the GDP growth forecast of India for the current fiscal year 2021-2022 (FY22) to 9.2 per cent. This is lower than 10.2 per cent estimated earlier in April 2021.

Important Points:

• CARE Ratings Founded: 1993.
• CARE Ratings: Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• CARE Ratings Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer: Ajay Mahajan.

Correct Answer – A. India and Singapore

Explanation:Alphabet Inc’s Google has launched international money transfer partnerships with remittances firms Wise and Western Union Co for users of its U.S. payments app. Google Pay users in the United States can now transfer money to app customers in India and Singapore, with plans to expand to the 80 countries available via Wise, and 200 via Western Union by the end of the year.

About the partnership:

The company has partnered with Western Union and Wise, both of which have integrated their services into Google Play.When Google Pay users in the U.S. attempt to send money to someone in India or Singapore, they will be informed about the exact amount that the recipient will receive.From within the Google Pay app, users also get to choose which payments provider Wise or Western Union, they wish to use and how long it would take for the recipient to receive the money.

Important Points:

• Google CEO: Sundar Pichai.
• Google Founded: 4 September 1998, California, United States.
• Google Founders: Larry Page, Sergey Brin.

Correct Answer – C. PNB

Explanation: Geojit Financial Services has entered into an agreement with Punjab National Bank to provide a three-in-one account to the latter’s customers. The new service gives customers who have a savings account with PNB, a PNB Demat account and a Geojit trading account. Saving and Demat accounts can be opened online in PNB with a hassle-free approach.

About the 3-in-1 account:

The 3-in-1 account makes it easier for PNB customers to transfer funds in real-time via the payment gateway facility from their savings accounts to meet their investment needs.The trading account, which can be opened online in 15 minutes, provides a seamless interface to invest online in the avenues offered by Geojit.PNB clients can now open a Geojit Trading account online and start investing online in equity as well as Geojit’s Smartfolios product. This will help clients diversify their investments and manage them all through one account.

Important Points:

• Punjab National Bank Headquarters: New Delhi.
• Punjab National Bank MD and CEO: S. S. Mallikarjuna Rao.
• Punjab National Bank Founded: 19 May 1894, Lahore, Pakistan.

Correct Answer – A. Google Pay

Explanation: Google Pay has launched International Money Transfers for its United States (US) users, it has launched the initiative in partnership with remittance firms – Wise and Western Union Co.Using the feature, Google Pay users in the US can transfer money to app customers in India & Singapore.Google is planning to expand the feature to around 80 countries through Wise, and around 100 through Western Union by the end of 2021.Google Pay has 150 million users in 40 countries, and this initiative is seen as a step to expand its financial services offering, and increase competition in the digital payments sector.

Correct Answer – B. Dr. Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilsted

Explanation: World Food Prize 2021 has been awarded to Dr. Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilsted for her work in aquatic food systems.World Food Prize is an award that aims to recognise achievements made in the field of food and agriculture.The award is also referred to as the Nobel Prize for Food and Agriculture. Every year, the committee selects one person who will be awarded the title and prize money of $250,000.Dr. Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilsted is a resident of Denmark and was born in Trinidad and Tobago.Dr. Shakantula Haraksingh Thilsted now serves as the Global Lead for Nutrition and Public Health at WorldFish, a global CGIAR research center headquartered in Malaysia.Interestingly, the World Food Prize last year was also awarded to a person of Indian origin. In 2020, the World Food Prize was won by Dr. Rattan Lal who was born and brought up in India.

Correct Answer – C. Table Tennis

Explanation: Arjuna Awardee Venugopal Chandrasekhar, former Indian Table Tennis (TT) player passed away due to COVID-19 related complications in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.He was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. V Chandrasekhar is popularly known as a 3 times national champion.V Chandrasekhar represented India in the Commonwealth Games in 1982.He has also served as a coach.He was honoured with the Arjuna Award in 1982.

Correct Answer – E. Both A and B

Explanation: A Book titled “1971: The Beginning of India’s Cricketing Greatness” by Boria Majumdar and Gautam Bhattacharya will be published by HarperCollins.It is the story of a young country (India)ready and eager to make an impression on the world stage.Boria Majumdar, a Rhodes Scholar, is the author of multiple books on Indian sport and its history, and the co-author of Sachin Tendulkar’s autobiography Playing It My Way.Gautam Bhattacharya, currently the Joint Editor of Kolkata’s leading daily Sangbad Pratidin, has been a longstanding cricket writer and commentator and is the author of several books.He is the co-author of Sourav Ganguly’s book A Century is Not Enough.

Correct Answer – A. 10%

Explanation: HDFC Bank has cut India’s growth projection to 10 per cent from 11.5 per cent for the current financial year, citing the adverse effect of the second Covid-19 wave.In a worst-case scenario of COVID-19, the bank has predicted the GDP rate to be at 8%.

Correct Answer – C. S Balachandran

Explanation: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed on 13 May 2021 that S Balachandran has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Suriname.Currently, Balachandran is the Consul General of India in Jaffna.He is expected to take up the assignment shortly.

Correct Answer – B. Sachin Bansal

Explanation:Flipkart co-founder Sachin Bansal-owned Navi Mutual Fund is all set to launch its first few mutual fund schemes in the next few months.Bansal had acquired Essel Mutual Fund from the Subhash Chandra-owned Essel Group in February 2021 and renamed it.It is part of Bansal’s Navi Group, which offers digital personal loans, home loans, and health insurance.

Correct Answer – B. Larsen and Toubro 

Explanation: Infrastructure company Larsen and Toubro (L&T)’s construction arm has bagged an up to ₹5,000 crore contract from Chennai Metro Rail Corporation.It will construct nearly 12 km twin bored tunnels from Kellys station to Taramani Road.L&T has also secured another order from Chennai Metro Rail Corporation to construct approx 8 Km of elevated Viaduct with 9 elevated metro stations.

Correct Answer: D. Elisabetta Belloni

Explanation: Elisabetta Belloni has been named as the first woman to lead Italy’s secret services.Prime Minister Mario Draghi announced Elisabetta Belloni as head of the Department of Information Security (DIS) on 12 May 2021.The department oversees the country’s foreign and domestic intelligence services and reports directly to the Italian government.