Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 16th October 2020

Correct Answer: B. Amazon

Explanation: Amazon.com Inc. ended the development of its first big-budget video game Crucible, highlighting its continued struggle to make headway in the industry. Crucible was seen as a key test for Amazon’s games division, which was formed in 2012. The game’s launch in May 2020 was a disaster, with negative reviews. The Crucible development team will now focus on another original game called New World.

Correct Answer – C. Goa

Explanation: The Goa Government has tied up with India Post to get 11,000 farmers enrolled in the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sanman Nidhi scheme. This is the first such exercise in India to enrol farmers in the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, whereby the postman will be utilised to benefit farmers. All 255 post offices in Goa and 300 staff are involved in this initiative. This PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme where the farmers directly received direct benefit transfer of Rs 2,000 in three instalments every year, is for the economically weaker farmers.

The scheme provides Rs 6000 per annum for one landholding farmers’ families in the country. The amount is given in 3 equal instalments of Rs. 2000 each. This financial support helps farmers to procure various inputs related to agriculture and allied activities and domestic needs.

Correct Answer – B. -10.3%

Explanation: According to ‘World Economic Outlook’ report, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected the Indian economy to contract by 10.3 per cent in 2020-21, from its earlier prediction of 4.5 per cent due to rise in Covid cases. However, IMF estimates the GDP of India to grow at 8.8 per cent in 2021-22, as compared to 6 per cent predicted earlier, regaining the position of the fastest-growing emerging economy. On the other hand, the Fund expects the world economy to contract by 4.4 per cent in 2020. This projection was -5.2 per cent earlier.

Correct Answer – B. Rs 7.5 crore

Explanation:  Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has raised the banks’ maximum aggregate retail exposure limit to entities with turnover up to Rs 50 crore to Rs 7.5 crore. Earlier this limit was Rs 5 crore. The decision has been taken to increase credit flow to small businesses. The risk weight of 75 per cent will apply to all fresh exposures and also to existing exposures where incremental exposure may be taken by the banks up to the revised limit of Rs 7.5 crore.

RBI has also decided to extend the existing enhanced Held to Maturity (HTM) limit of 22 per cent for SLR securities acquired between September 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021, up to March 31, 2022. This means that Banks may continue to hold such excess SLR securities in HTM category up to March 31, 2022. The enhanced HTM limit would be restored to 19.5 per cent in a phased manner, beginning from the quarter ending June 30, 2022.

Correct Answer – B. GBS Sidhu

Explanation: A former intelligence officer with the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), GBS Sidhu has written a book. The upcoming book ‘The Khalistan Conspiracy’, is a first-person account that brings out little-known facts about the Khalistan movement and the role of senior politicians of the time in creating and sustaining it. The book published by HarperCollins will be released on October 24, 2020.

Correct Answer – B. 15th October

Explanation: World Students’ Day is observed every year on 15 October to mark the birth anniversary of former President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. This year marks the 89th birth anniversary of the former president and ‘Missile Man’ Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. In 2010 the United Nations declared 15 October “World Students’ Day”, due to Kalam’s love for students and who himself was a dedicated teacher and identified himself foremost in that role before anything else.

Correct Answer – C. Sunil Abraham

Explanation: Facebook has announced the appointment of Sunil Abraham as the director-public policy for data and emerging tech. He will lead the company’s stance on tech policy issues in India. He joins Facebook from ArtEZ University for the Arts in the Netherlands where he spent a year as an endowed professor.

Correct Answer – B. Rs. 49.78 crore

Explanation: In J&K, Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha inaugurated sports infrastructure worth Rs. 49.78 crore on 11 October 2020. He also laid the foundation of various projects costing across the Union Territory. He further informed that PM Narendra Modi has sanctioned Rs. 200 crores under the PM’s Development Package for upgradation of sports infrastructure.

Correct Answer – C. Uttar Pradesh

Explanation:  The multi-national food and beverage major PepsiCo is setting up a greenfield potato chips production unit in Uttar Pradesh with an investment of Rs. 814 crore. The unit is being set up in Kosi – Mathura on 35 acres of land provided by UP State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDA). The unit, which is expected to commence commercial production by middle of the next year, will facilitate direct and indirect employment to about 1,500 patrons. MoU was signed by PepsiCo to set up this project at UP Investors Summit-2018 and the project started with the arrangement of land at the ground breaking ceremony held in July 2019. This is the first time that PepsiCo is setting up a greenfield project in state itself.

Correct Answer – C. Axis Bank

Explanation: Axis Bank has launched a new entry-level credit card named Axis ACE Credit Card, with a focus on increasing participation of users in the digital economy. It also aims to bring a seamless, digital experience to users from application to issuance. The card has been launched in collaboration with Google Pay and will run on Visa (Signature) platform.

Correct Answer – D. BharatPe

Explanation: BharatPe has announced the launch of its high impact TV campaign starring ‘Team BharatPe’ with 11 Cricket stars as brand ambassadors. The TVC series has been directed by ace Bollywood director, Puneet Malhotra, and communicates the message ‘Hum Hai Team BharatPe – Jo Desh Ke Har Dukandaar Ke Saath Hai Khade’. Team BharatPe includes Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, Mohammed Shami, Ravindra Jadeja, Suresh Raina, Shreyas Iyer, Prithvi Shaw, Sanju Samson, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Shubhman Gill.

Correct Answer – C. Suraksha Kavach

Explanation: Indian Army and Maharashtra Police organised an anti-terror exercise “Suraksha Kavach” at Lullanagar, Pune, Maharashtra. The aim of the exercise was to harmonize the drills and procedures of both Army and Police for activating anti-terrorist Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs) to counter any terrorist actions in Pune. The exercise involved the participation of Quick Reaction Teams, Dog Squads and Bomb Disposal Teams of Army as well as Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and Quick Reaction Team of Maharashtra Police.

The exercise was carried out taking all safety norms of COVID-19 into consideration and strength of participating troops was scaled down accordingly. The exercise provided an opportunity for both Army and Police to cooperate, coordinate, coopt and streamline their drills and procedures. Overall, it was a great learning experience for both.

Correct Answer – C. 129th

Explanation:  India has been ranked 129 among 158 countries in the 2020 Commitment to Reducing Inequality (CRI) Index. The third edition of the index focuses on Fighting Inequality in the time of COVID-19. The 2020 CRI index has been topped by Norway. South Sudan is the lowest ranking country in the index at 158th position.

As per the index, India is among the world’s worst-performing countries in tackling inequality going into the pandemic. India’s health budget is the world’s fourth-lowest and only half of the population has access to even the most basic healthcare services. India’s health budget is the world’s fourth-lowest and only half of the population has access to even the most basic healthcare services.

Correct Answer: A. Bihar

Explanation: Minister for Backward and Extremely Backward Classes in Bihar, Vinod Kumar Singh passed away due to COVID-19. He was a BJP MLA from Pranpur Assembly constituency of Katihar district in northeast Bihar and has been elected MLA thrice from the constituency.