Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 15th & 16th August 2021

Correct Answer: B. Narendra Singh Tomar

Explanation:The Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar has addressed the 6th meeting of Agriculture Ministers of the member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), through videoconferencing. The meeting was organized under the chairmanship of Tajikistan in Dushanbe.

About the meeting:

During the meeting, Narendra Singh Tomar highlighted the taking several steps being taken by the Government of India to develop innovative technologies and their dissemination from Lab to Land to empower rural youth, farmers and farm women.Apart from Tomar, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shobha Karandlaje also attended the meet.

Correct Answer – D. United States

Explanation: The Indian Navy participated in the U.S. Navy-led Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) military exercise in Singapore, to demonstrate its maritime manoeuvres. The main objective of SEACAT 2021 was to enhance the interoperability and shared maritime security concerns and preserve rules-based international order. The exercise comprised approximately 400 personnel and 10 ships.

The 20th edition of the exercise was organised by the U.S. Navy, in Hybrid format, and included 20 other partner nations from the Indo-Pacific region, including India. Other countries participating in the exercise include Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Canada, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, New Zealand, Philippines, South Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, United Kingdom and Vietnam.

About the SEACAT:

SEACAT was held for the first time in 2002. The exercise aims to foster enhanced cooperation between Southeast Asian countries by incorporating standardized training, tactics and procedures when faced with crises, contingencies or illegal activities in the maritime domain.

Correct Answer – A. Singapore

Explanation: The Indian Navy participated in the U.S. Navy-led Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) military exercise in Singapore, to demonstrate its maritime manoeuvres. The main objective of SEACAT 2021 was to enhance the interoperability and shared maritime security concerns and preserve rules-based international order. The exercise comprised approximately 400 personnel and 10 ships.

The 20th edition of the exercise was organised by the U.S. Navy, in Hybrid format, and included 20 other partner nations from the Indo-Pacific region, including India. Other countries participating in the exercise include Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Canada, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, New Zealand, Philippines, South Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, United Kingdom and Vietnam.

About the SEACAT:

SEACAT was held for the first time in 2002. The exercise aims to foster enhanced cooperation between Southeast Asian countries by incorporating standardized training, tactics and procedures when faced with crises, contingencies or illegal activities in the maritime domain.

Correct Answer – B. M Venkaiah Naidu

Explanation:  The Vice President, M. Venkaiah Naidu has released a book ‘Accelerating India: 7 Years of Modi Government’ at Upa-Rashtrapati Nivas. The book commemorates the achievement and evaluation of two elected terms of PM Modi as the Head of Parliamentary. Releasing the book, VP Naidu said that as India will celebrate 75 years of independence, it was time to study the progress of the constitutional promise of a ‘dignified life to the common man.

Correct Answer – D.  54

Explanation:  The upcoming Tokyo Paralympics will witness the largest ever Indian contingent being send, with 54 para-sportspersons participating across 9 sports disciplines. The 54-member Indian contingents were given a formal and virtual send-off on August 12, 2021, by Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag. The 2020 Summer Paralympics Games are scheduled to be held in Tokyo, Japan from August 24 to September 05, 2021.

Correct Answer – E. Rs. 100 lakh Crores

Explanation: While addressing the nation on its 75th Independence Day Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a ₹100 lakh crore Pradhan Mantri Gatishakti National Master Plan.This plan will create employment opportunities for the country’s youth and help in a holistic infrastructure growth.It will create jobs and new opportunities and bring in employment opportunities for the youth, he added.”Gatishakti will help local manufacturers turn globally competitive and also develop possibilities of new future economic zones.The ₹100 lakh crore Gatishakti initiative will bring employment opportunities for youth and help in holistic infrastructure growth.

Correct Answer – D. 2047

Explanation: Prime Minister Narendra Modi set a target of becoming ‘energy independent’ by 2047 through a mix of electric mobility, gas-based economy, doping ethanol in petrol and making the country a hub for hydrogen production.Delivering his Independence Day address from the ramparts of the Red Fort, he said India spends over Rs 12 lakh crore on energy imports every year.The roadmap for that is to increase usage of natural gas in the economy, setting up a network of CNG and piped natural gas network across the country, blending 20 per cent ethanol in petrol and electric mobility.The country has achieved the target of 100 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity ahead of the target.

Correct Answer – A. Siachen

Explanation: Union Minister, Virendra Kumar has flagged off pioneering world record expedition named as ‘Operation Blue Freedom’ from Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi on the 75th Independence Day.Operation Blue Freedom expedition comprise of a team of people with disabilities from across the country to reach Siachen Glacier to create a new World Record for the largest team of people with disabilities reaching the world’s highest battlefield.The team of people with disabilities were trained by ‘Team CLAW’ (Team of Armed Forces veterans).

Correct Answer – D. Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment

Explanation: Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has launched an online portal titled as TAPAS (Training for Augmenting Productivity and Services) to provide free of cost filmed lectures/courses and e-study material in the field of social defence.Presently there are 5 courses under TAPAS: Drug (Substance) Abuse Prevention, Geriatric/Elderly Care, Care and Management of Dementia, Transgender Issues and on comprehensive course on Social Defence Issues.TAPAS is the initiative of National Institute of Social Defence (NISD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Correct Answer – C. Haryana

Explanation: Four more wetlands from India have been added to the list of Ramsar sites, giving it the status of ‘Wetland of International Importance’. These sites are:

• Thol, Gujarat
• Wadhwana, Gujarat
• Sultanpur, Haryana
• Bhindawas, Haryana

With this, the total number of Ramsar sites in India have reached 46, covering a surface area of 1,083,322 hectares.

Correct Answer – C. Akshay Patra Foundation

Explanation: The Jammu and Kashmir administration signed an MoU with Akshay Patra Foundation for providing pre-cooked meals to 15,000 students studying in government schools in the union.In the initial phase, two districts — Jammu and Samba – would be covered.Under Mid-Day Meal scheme, cooked meals are provided to students studying in elementary level classes from 1st to 8th.Akshaya Patra Foundation is an NGO headquartered in Bengaluru working to eliminate classroom hunger by implementing the Mid-Day Meal Scheme in the government schools and governmentaided schools.It also aims at countering malnutrition and supporting the right to education of socio-economically disadvantaged children.

Correct Answer – D. 40.7

Explanation: Deal activity in India during the first half of 2021 amounted to USD 40.7 billion across 710 deals, including both private equity (PE) and strategic acquisitions (M&A), informed by a report by Price waterhouse Coopers (PwC).The report has been titled ‘Deals in India: Mid-year review and outlook for 2021 — resilience and recovery’.The deal value in H1 2021 was 2 per cent higher than H2 2020.

Correct Answer – A. Tamil Nadu

Explanation:  The DMK government presented a budget in the Tamil Nadu assembly exclusively for agriculture featuring schemes for the overall development of the farm sector and farm growth in villages. This is the first time a separate budget for agriculture is presented in Tamil Nadu. During 2021-2022, Rs.34,220.65 crore is provided for agriculture and related departments like animal husbandry, etc.

Tamil Nadu:

• Chief Minister – M.K. Stalin
• Governor – Banwarilal Purohit.
• Lok Sabha seats – 39.
• Rajya Sabha seats – 18.

Correct Answer: B. G. Kishan Reddy

Explanation: The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) G. Kishan Reddy inaugurated two exhibitions on 15 August 2021.The first one is Katha Kranthi Veeron Ki- an exhibition of revolutionaries at Lalit Kala Akademi While the second one is Monuments of Victory and Valour– containing photos of resistance and valour across millennia and organised at NMMA.This will include photos of the Kakaitya Kala Thoranam at Warangal, the fort of Jhansi Laxmi Bhai that symbolises her valour against the British in the war of independence in 1857 and the Vijaya Stambh in Chittorgarh that commemorates the victory over the sultanates led by Mahmud Khilji.

Correct Answer: D. Both 1 and 2

Explanation: The Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 2021 received the assent of the President on August 13, 2021.It would scrap the retrospective taxation clause in income tax law.The bill which has now become a law, amends the Finance Act, 2012, and the Income Tax Act, 1961, nullifying demands raised on transactions prior to May 28, 2012.

Correct Answer: E. All 1, 2 and 3

Explanation: 3 CoBRA commandos of the Central Reserve Police Force have been awarded the Shaurya Chakra.They have been awarded for displaying bravery and killing four Naxals in the Sukma district of Chhattisgarh.The Shaurya Chakra is the third-highest peacetime military gallantry medal. The 3 commandos are Deputy Commandant Chitesh Kumar, Sub Inspector Manjinder Singh, and Constable Sunil Choudhary.

Correct Answer: D. 11

Explanation: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on 15 August 2021 announced an 11 percent hike of dearness allowance for state government employees and pensioners.With this hike, DA for Bihar state government employees and pensioners would rise to 28 percent from the existing 17 percent. The hike in dearness allowance would come into effect retrospectively from July 1, 2021.

Bihar:

• Lok Sabha seats – 40.
• Rajya Sabha seats – 16.

Correct Answer: B. Komalika Bari

Explanation: Komalika Bari became the new under-21 recurve world champion at the World Archery Youth Championship in Wroclaw.She became the second Indian woman after Deepika Kumari to claim both the U-21 World Championship and the U-18 title.In the U21 men’s recurve team final the Indian team of Dhiraj Bommadevara, Aditya Choudhary, and Parth Sushant Salunkhe clinched the gold medal.

Correct Answer: B. HCL Foundation

Explanation: HCL Foundation, on 15 August 2021 launched an online portal, ‘My e-Haat’. HCL Foundations is the corporate social responsibility arm of HCL Technologie. It aims to empower artisans and strengthen the value chain of the handicraft sector in the country. The portal would offer e-payment options, cash on delivery, and integrated logistic support in addition to real-time product tracking.