Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 16th September 2021

Correct Answer: D. South Korea

Explanation: National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), run by the education ministry, has bagged global recognition from UNESCO for its innovative approach towards education. The recognition is for educating differently-abled people through technology-enabled inclusive learning material. The NIOS move has a specific focus on Indian sign language-based content.

By awarding NIOS the King Sejong Literacy Prize, the jury has recognized the value of providing for the unique educational and language needs of PwD learners by developing teaching content in sign language through digital mode. The award-winning programme focuses on the use of digital tools and local language to help persons with disabilities the option to access Indian Sign Language (ISL)-based content.

Important Points:

• UNESCO headquarters: Paris, France.
• UNESCO Head: Audrey Azoulay.
• UNESCO Founded: 16 November 1945.

Correct Answer – C. Zimbabwe

Explanation: Former Zimbabwe skipper and wicket-keeper batsman, Brendan Taylor has announced his retirement from international cricket. He made the announcement while playing the third final ODI match on September 13, 2021, against Ireland.The 34-year batsman made his ODI debut for Zimbabwe in 2004 against Sri Lanka. He has scored 6677 runs from 204 ODI matches in his 17-year ODI career.

Correct Answer – C. MSME Lending

Explanation: The Reserve Bank of India has announced the theme for the Third Cohort under the Regulatory Sandbox (RS) as ‘MSME Lending’. The application for the Third Cohort will be kept open from October 01, 2021 to November 14, 2021. Regulatory Sandbox (RS) refers to live testing of new products or services in a controlled/test regulatory environment for which regulators may (or may not) permit certain regulatory relaxations for the limited purpose of the testing.

Before this, RBI has launched two cohort under the regulatory sandbox. These are:

First Cohort: First Cohort under the Regulatory Sandbox was launched by RBI in December 2020, with the theme as ‘Retail Payments’. Six entities have completed the testing phase of the cohort.Second Cohort: Second Cohort under the Regulatory Sandbox was announced by RBI in December 2020 with the theme as ‘Cross Border Payments’. Eight entities have been selected for the ‘Test Phase’.

Important Points:

• RBI 25th Governor: Shaktikant Das;
• Headquarters: Mumbai;
• Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata.

Correct Answer – B. 15 September

Explanation: In India, Engineer’s Day is celebrated on September 15 every year.The day is celebrated to recognise the contribution of engineers in the development of the nation. The day marks the birth anniversary of the engineering pioneer of India, Sir Mokshagundam Vishweshvaraya, (popularly known as Sir MV).He was awarded ‘Bharat Ratna’ for his exceptional contribution to the building of India in 1955.He has also conferred the British knighthood and served as Diwan of Mysore from 1912 to 1918.

Engineers’ Day: History

In 1968, the Indian government declared Sir M Visvesvaraya’s birth anniversary as Engineers’ Day. Sir MV was regarded as the “Father of Modern Mysore”. Since then, this day is celebrated to honour and acknowledge all engineers who have contributed and still do so to build a modern and developed India.

Correct Answer – A. United States

Explanation: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to attend the first-ever in-person QUAD ( Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) Leaders’ Summit at the White House, in Washington D.C. on September 24, 2021. Quad nation comprises of India, Japan, the US and Australia. PM Modi will also address the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on September 25, 2021.

About the summit:

This will be the first visit of PM Modi to the United States since President Joe Biden assumed office and also the first in-person meeting between the two leaders since Biden assumed office.The other two leaders, Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia and Japanese premier Yoshihide Suga will also be attending the Summit.Earlier, the first-ever summit of the Quad leaders was held in the virtual format in March 2021.The Quad Summit aims to deepen ties and increase cooperation in areas such as combatting COVID-19, addressing the climate crisis, partnering on emerging technologies and cyberspace, and promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Correct Answer – C. 16th Sept

Explanation: September 16 was designated by the United Nations General Assembly as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer. This designation was made on December 19, 1994, in commemoration of the date, in 1987, on which nations signed the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

Correct Answer – A. Healthcare

Explanation: President of India, Ram Nath Kovind has conferred National Florence Nightingale Awards 2020 at a virtual ceremony to 51 health care workers and nurses for their selfless dedication and compassion, especially during COVID-19.The Award was instituted by Indian Government in 1973 and are named after Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.World Health Organisation (WHO) declared 2020 as the Year of the Nurse and Mid-wife.2020 also marked 200th birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale.

Correct Answer – B. Ministry of  Steel

Explanation:  National Mineral Development under Ministry of Steel has won highest and most prestigious award, Rajbhasha Keerthi Puraskar during Rajbhasha Diwas Samaroh in New Delhi.Award was received by Shiva Shanmuganathan, Executive Director (Corporate Affairs) on behalf of NMDC.NMDC has been winning this award for the last 3 years in a row, which goes on to show its dedication towards the implementation of Hindi as the Official Language.

Correct Answer – D. Russia

Explanation: The sixth edition of the military exercise ‘Peaceful Mission-2021’ was hosted by Russia in the Orenburg region.The exercise began on September 13 and was end on September 25.Also, India participated in the exercise organised by the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).The aim of the exercise is to foster close relations between SCO member states and to enhance abilities of the military leaders to command multi-national military contingents.The SCO is an economic and security bloc in which India and Pakistan were admitted as full members in 2017.Its founding members included China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Correct Answer – B. 7.2%

Explanation:  The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has pegged India’s economic growth rate to hit a four-year high of 7.2 per cent for 2021 against a contraction of 7 per cent in 2020.At this rate, India would be the fastest growing economy after China, which is projected to grow by 8.3 per cent.Calculations are based on GDP at constant dollars in 2015.The report said India’s economy, which shrank by seven per cent in 2020, showed strong growth of 1.9 per cent in the first quarter of Calendar 2021, on the back of the momentum of the second half of 2020 and supported by government spending in goods and services.

Correct Answer – C. Andhra Pradesh

Explanation: Vi (Vodafone-Idea) has partnered with the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority and Celltick to launch the first cell broadcast-based Public Warning System to alert citizens on a real-time basis on disasters. Celltick’s state-of-the-art Cell Broadcast Entity (CBE) and its Cell Broadcast Center (CBC) would deliver emergency warning alerts on Vi’s network in the state.

Vi is the first telecom service provider in the state to support the Common Alerting Protocolcompliant Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS). IPAWS is a World Bank-aided project and Andhra Pradesh now joins countries like the USA, Canada, Japan, Australia, Israel and South Korea in deploying the system.

Correct Answer – C. Randhir Singh

Explanation: Veteran India sports administrator Randhir Singh has been appointed as Acting President of the Olympic Council of Asia. He was appointed after incumbent Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad al-Sabah had to step aside. Randhir had served as Secretary-General of the OCA for 24 years from 1991 to 2015. Randhir, a five-time Olympian shooter, is currently an Honorary Life Vice-President of the OCA.The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) is a governing body of sports in Asia, currently with 45 member National Olympic Committees. The headquarters of the OCA is located at Kuwait City, Kuwait.

Correct Answer – B. 10

Explanation: The Government will sell upto 10% stake in Hindustan Copper Ltd through an offer for sale option in the stock exchanges, that could fetch around Rs. 1121 crore to the exchequer. The offer opens on 16 September 2021 for non-retail investors at a floor price of Rs. 116 per share. Hindustan Copper reported a net profit of ₹110 crore in FY21 against a loss of ₹598 crore in the preceding year.

The Centre has so far garnered  ₹8,369 crore, against the disinvestment target of  ₹1.75 trillion for FY22. It has sold its entire stake in Axis Bank held through Specified Undertaking of the Unit Trust of India (SUUTI) for ₹3,994 crore and got  ₹3,654 crore and  ₹720 crore through stake sales in NMDC Ltd and Hudco Ltd, respectively.

Correct Answer: D. HANCOM Inc

Explanation: HCL Technologies has signed a pact with South Korean software company HANCOM Inc to share advanced software technology solutions and establish a mutual bridgehead for overseas expansion. HCL Technologies would support training for software development at HANCOM’s research and development (R&D) centre in India. The two companies also plan to cooperate on the global market expansion.