Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 16th February 2021

Correct Answer: D. Russia

Explanation: The United States has extended the “New START” nuclear disarmament treaty with Russia for a period of five years. The New START, which stands for Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, is a nuclear arms reduction treaty between the United States and the Russian Federation.

The new strategic arms reduction treaty was formally signed on April 8, 2010, and after ratification, entered into force on 5 February 2011. The New START treaty was set to expire on February 5, 2021, but both the parties have further extended it for five more years, till February 2026.

Important Points:

President of United States: Joe Biden; Capital: Washington, D.C.

Russia President: Vladimir Putin.

Russia Capital: Moscow.

Russia Currency: Russian Ruble.

Correct Answer – A. S Y Quraishi

Explanation: In Puducherry, a campaign has been launched titled “Zero Covid by Feb28” to ensure that there are no COVID-19 cases by the end of February 2021, in the union territory. The overall caseload in Puducherry was 39,448 while 38,533 had recovered so far, leaving 258 active cases. Under the campaign, all those who had come into contact with people infected with coronavirus would be identified and provided treatment, so that the further spread of the pathogen could be prevented.

Important Points: 

• Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry (UT): Dr Kiran Bedi.
• Chief Minister of Puducherry: V. Narayanasamy.

Correct Answer – D. Madhya Pradesh

Explanation: The three-day famous “Mandu Festival” began at the historic town of Mandu in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh on February 13, 2021. The festival will culminate on February 15, 2021. The festival is organised by the state government of Madhya Pradesh to showcase each and every aspect of the ancient Mandu city, ranging from food, music, history & heritage, art & craft etc. During the festival, the state culture and tourism minister Usha Thakur inaugurated the newly constructed Dino Adventure Park and Fossils Museum in Mandu and construction of Astro Park building at a cost of Rs 59 lakh. The Dinosaur Park is the first modern fossil park in India which has 24 eggs and other fossils of dinosaurs on display.

Correct Answer – D. MapMyIndia

Explanation: India’s homegrown app MapMyIndia ties up with ISRO to build an alternative to Google Maps. The agreement between ISRO and MapmyIndia is suggested to become an alternative to Google maps and similar platforms. The collaboration with MapMyIndia will turn out to be a benefit for users because it will use digital maps of MapmyIndia and satellite imagery and earth observation data of ISRO.

According to this collaboration the mapping data along with the information regarding pollution, agricultural output, weather, land-use changes, flood and several disasters will be visible to the users. Rohan Verma, CEO of MapmyIndia, called the agreement a path-breaking milestone with the aim of fulfilling the objective of Atamanirbhar Bharat.

About the app:

• The app will benefit the Indians because it will ensure the maps according to the true sovereignty of India while depicting the Indian borders as per the Indian government. The Department of Space signed an MoU with CE Info Systems Private Limited, a geospatial technology company owned by MapmyIndia.
• The most exhaustive digital map database of the country was created indigenously over the last 25 years by MapmyIndia covers 7.5 lakh Indian villages, 7500+ cities at the building and the street level which are connected through a road network of almost 63 lakh kilometres.
• ISRO generates earth observations and satellite imagery through its satellite constellation. ISRO will be more responsive in terms of satellite imagery needed by the Indians, required especially during crises and disasters.

Correct Answer – E. ICICI Lombard

Explanation: Private general insurer ICICI Lombard has launched the ‘Corporate India Risk Index’. This is intended to be a unified, standardised corporate risk index that spans industries and companies. This will help companies understand the level of risk that their business is facing and also assist in developing a successful risk aversion plan. It has worked with consulting firm Frost and Sullivan to develop the risk measurement tool.

Important Points:

ICICI Lombard CEO: Bhargav Dasgupta.

ICICI Lombard Headquarters: Mumbai.

ICICI Lombard Founded: 2001.

Correct Answer – C. Yes Bank

Explanation:Maharashtra government has signed an MoU with Flipkart to promote wooden toys, local artefacts, handicrafts. Maharashtra Small Industries Development Corporation and Maharashtra State Khadi & Village Industries Board have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Flipkart.

This MoU will enable artisans, weavers, craftsmen & MSMEs from Maharashtra to showcase their products to millions of customers in India. Flipkart will provide free training for packaging and branding to all these manufacturers. Also, product photography will also be done by the company.

Important Points:

• Maharashtra Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari.
• Maharashtra Capital: Mumbai.
• Maharashtra CM: Uddhav Thackeray.

Correct Answer – A. Medanta Hospitals

Explanation: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Monday said it will provide Rs 100 crore loan to hospital chain Medanta for healthcare services and medical equipment to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.The project will support the purchase of personal protective equipment, basic hygiene products, and patient care equipment such as ventilators and beds. It will also support staff training programmes on infection prevention and control.The funding complements ADB’s sovereign support to India, including a USD 1.5 billion loan approved in April last year for COVID-19 containment and prevention, and social protection for poor and economically vulnerable communities such as women.

Correct Answer – C. Arun Karmarkar

Explanation: Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir released the book titled ‘Tipane Kashmirchi (Notes on Kashmir), untold stories’ authored by Arun Karmarkar. The book features the researched facts about Jammu and Kashmir.Manoj Sinha, stated that the new industrial development scheme of Rs.28,400 has been introduced which will attract investment to J&K and it will also create various opportunities to the youngsters.

Correct Answer – A. Maharashtra

Explanation: The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has partnered with National Health Authority (NHA) to upgrade the medical infrastructure available under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) in the state of Maharashtra.

Initially, the partnership with PM-JAY was implemented on a pilot basis in Maharashtra in the district of Ahmednagar.Now, it has been extended to the entire state except the south Mumbai region, Pune and Kolhapur districts.This means that, now 807 PM-JAY empanelled hospitals will be available to the already existing empanelled hospitals in the state.

Correct Answer – C. Ajay Mathur

Explanation:  India’s Ajay Mathur was elected as the next director general of the International Solar Alliance (ISA).Mathur succeeds Upendra Tripathy, who has served as director general since 2017.A coalition of 73 member countries, ISA, aims to mobilize over USD 1 trillion of investment into solar projects by 2030 through policy and regulatory support, capacity building, and by overcoming perceived investment barriers.

Correct Answer – D. IIT Bombay

Explanation: IIT Bombay has launched its 1st-ever annual fundraising campaign ‘Cherish IIT Bombay 2021’.The funds will be used for the creation of world-class laboratory complexes, modernization of lecture halls and continuation of awards to attract and retain faculty.Donations made to IIT Bombay by corporate bodies and individuals are 100% tax-deductible under section 80G of the Indian Income Tax Act.

Correct Answer – D. Microsoft

Explanation: Microsoft and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) have partnered to deliver edge computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and Azure cloud computing capabilities on the International Space Station.The collaboration aims to further accelerate space exploration by delivering state-of-the-art technologies to tackle a range of data processing needs while in orbit.HPE’s Spaceborne Computer-2 (SBC-2) will be connected to Azure via NASA and the HPE ground station.

Correct Answer – C. Pinarayi Vijayan

Explanation: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan has launched the KFON (Kerala Fibre Optic Network) to provide free internet service.Service will be provided to 20 lakh BPL families, including villages in all 14 districts of Kerala.30,000 government institutions will also get high bandwidth connectivity with KFON.KFON is a JV of Kerala State IT Infrastructure Limited and Kerala State Electricity Board.

Kerala:

• Chief Minister – Pinarayi Vijayan.
• Governor – Arif Mohammad Khan.
• Number of Districts – 14.

Correct Answer: B. West Bengal

Explanation:West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has launched a scheme, ‘Maa’, to provide a meal to the poor for ₹5.Under this scheme, Self-help groups will operate the kitchens between 1-3 pm every day and will offer rice, dal, a vegetable, and egg curry.For this scheme, the State Government will bear a subsidy of ₹15 per plate.

West Bengal:

• Chief Minister – Mamata Banerjee.
• Governor – Jagdeep Dhankhar.
• Lok Sabha seats – 42.
• Rajya Sabha seats – 16.