Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 15th December 2020

Correct Answer: C. Madhya Pradesh

Explanation: Indian athletes, Bajrang Punia (Freestyle-Wrestling) and Elavenil Valarivan (Shooting), bagged the top honours at the virtually held FICCI India Sports Awards 2020 on the back of the 10th Global Sports Summit. The two athletes, who have had an impressive 2019-20 season, won the Sportsperson of the Year awards in their respective categories. Here is the list of Winner in different Categories:

Correct Answer – A. Nepal

Explanation: The Indian government has decided to start an “air bubble” with Nepal. The Indian Foreign Ministry has agreed to a proposal from Nepal to restart flight operations between the two countries in a phased manner to ensure people are not inconvenienced due to COVID related embargos. There will be two flights a day between Kathmandu and New Delhi initially, one each by Nepal Airlines and Air India.

Correct Answer – D. Lakshadweep

Explanation: The Union Territory of Lakshadweep has been declared as Organic Agricultural Area by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer’s welfare. The UT is second after Sikkim to achieve the status of 100% organic region. It is first in the Union Territories of India to achieve the status. The entire 32 sq km area of the UT has been certified as organic under the Union Government’s Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (organic farming improvement programme).

 Lakshadweep has been separated from the main stream India geographically. There has been no shipment of chemicals and fertilizers to the island group for the last 15 years. The UT administration has been practicing farming only using inputs like compost, poultry manure, green leaf manure. The UT has not made any expenditure for procurement of chemicals.

Correct Answer – C. R K Mathur

Explanation:  Ladakh Lt Governor R K Mathur inaugurated the second edition of Ladakh Literature Festival, 2020, in Leh. The 3-day festival will host a series of talks, folk music, cultural dance, etc. The theme of the festival is “Ladakh at the Crossroads”. The platform will provide an opportunity for the local talented persons and also help to boost the tourism industry in the UT.

Correct Answer – D. Maharashtra

Explanation: Maharashtra Government has announced that no charges will be levied for procuring blood in government hospitals. The decision will be effective from 12th December 2020 to mark NCP Chief Sharad Pawar’s birthday. 800 rupees is usually charged as processing and other fees for buying one unit of blood. 800 rupees is usually charged as processing and other fees for buying one unit of blood. Same will now be available for free for all patients, rich or poor in all public hospitals.

Correct Answer – B. BSNL

Explanation: BSNL in partnership with Skylotech India has announced a breakthrough in satellite-based NB-IoT (Narrow Band-Internet of Things). It has been indigenously developed by Skylo and will connect with BSNLs satellite- ground infrastructure and provide PAN-India coverage, including Indian seas. The coverage will be so vast that it will not leave any dark patch within the boundary of India.

Correct Answer – C. Myanmar

Explanation: The co-founder of KESAN and Salween Peace Park in Myanmar, Paul Sein Twa has won the Goldman Environmental Prize 2020 for Asia, in recognition of his efforts in promoting the self-determination of the Karen people in managing their natural resources. Sein Twa received the prestigious prize along with five other grassroots environmental activists from the Bahamas, Ghana, Ecuador, Mexico and France. Dubbed the “Green Nobel Prize,” this award is given annually to environmental heroes from each of the world’s six inhabited continents.

Correct Answer – C. New Delhi

Explanation: The Minister of Science and Technology has virtually inaugurated the 2nd TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) 2020 Conference in New Delhi. The Conference brings together scientists and clinicians from across the globe to build Indian Cancer Genome Atlas (ICGA). It aims to create an indigenous, open-source and comprehensive database of molecular profiles of all cancers prevalent in Indian population. Diverse molecular mechanisms including genetic and lifestyle factors contribute to cancer, posing significant challenges to treatment. Therefore, it is necessary to better understand the underlying factors patient by patient.

Correct Answer – E. Both C & D

Explanation:  The 5th India Water Impact Summit (IWIS) held with theme “Comprehensive analysis and Holistic management of rivers and water bodies with a focus on Arth Ganga”. The Summit was organised by the National Mission for Clean Ganga and the Centre for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies. This summit is aimed at discussing and disseminating the needs for the modalities of embracing Arth Ganga. The 5th IWIS will forge greater interaction between the investors and the stakeholders in the water sector and promote international cooperation between India and many foreign countries for water and river management.

Correct Answer – C. USD 9 billion

Explanation: The Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) has launched an initiative called, the Asia Pacific Vaccine Access Facility (APVAX), for its developing member countries. The bank has allocated USD 9 billion for APVAX.APVAX will play a critical role in helping our developing members meet these challenges, overcome the pandemic, and focus on economic recovery. Through APVAX, the ADB will offer rapid and equitable support to its developing members, who need financing to procure vaccines as well as offer appropriate plans and knowledge to be able to safely, equitably and efficiently manage and deliver the COVID-19 vaccine.

Correct Answer – B. RBL Bank

Explanation: RBL Bank and ICICI Prudential have joined hands under a bancassurance partnership. 398 RBL Bank branches across 28 states will distribute ICICI Prudential Life’s protection and savings products. The protection products of ICICI Prudential Life will help the bank’s customers to develop a strong financial plan and its long-term savings products will help the customers of the bank to achieve their financial goals.

This partnership will allow more than 8.7 million customers of RBL Bank to access and purchase ICICI Prudential Life’s customer-centric protection and long-term savings products. It provides financial security to the customers and their families through life insurance cover. It will deepen and strengthen the multi-channel distribution network of ICICI Prudential Life. It will also accelerate the value creation for the bank and ICICI Prudential Life.

Correct Answer – B. BTS

Explanation: Time magazine has named the Korean pop group BTS as its Entertainer of the Year, and basketball star LeBron James as Athlete of the Year.  Zoom founder Eric Yuan was aptly named Businessperson Of The Year, as the video communications company has come to define the way millions have connected with each other during the pandemic.

US President-elect, Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris have been jointly named Time magazine’s 2020 “Person of the Year”. The TIME magazine releases the annual list since 1927, to recognise a person or organisation who affected the news or impacted the country and world the most, for better or worse, during the calendar year.

Correct Answer – B. SBI General Insurance

Explanation:  SBI General Insurance has partnered with Mahindra Insurance Brokers through Sajhedaari programme. It is a socially inclusive initiative designed to identify, train and certify Point of Sales Persons (POSPs) for insurance distribution while enabling deeper insurance penetration in the country. The two companies are already associated with each other for providing insurance for new cars.

Correct Answer: B. Football

Explanation: Paolo Rossi of Italy, who scored 6 goals in the 1982 World Cup, passed away. He is the only male player in history to win the World Cup, the Golden Boot, the Golden Ball and Ballon d’Or in the same year. In 1982 was Italy’s first victory after 1938.