Daily GK & Current Affairs Quiz – 17th and 18th May 2020

Correct Answer: D. V. Vidyavathi

Explanation: IAS officer V. Vidyavathi is appointed as the new Director-General of Archaeological Survey of India(ASI) effective from 12th May 2020. She is a 1991 batch Karnataka cadre officer. Vidyavathi will be serving in the rank of Additional Secretary to the Government of India. Her appointment is confirmed by the order of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

• Archaeological Survey of India(ASI)Founder: Alexander Cunningham.
• Archaeological Survey of India(ASI)Founded:
• Archaeological Survey of India(ASI) Headquarters: New Delhi.

Correct Answer – C. Mysuru

Explanation: In order to boost immunity during pandemic, Spirulina groundnut Chikki has been developed by the Mysuru-based Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI).

Correct Answer – D. Rs. 3100 Crore

Explanation: PM CARES (Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations) Fund Trust has allocated Rs 3100 crores to fight against COVID-19 pandemic. Out of the total amount around Rs 2000 crores will be allocated for the purchase of ventilators, Rs 1000 crores to care migrant labourers and Rs 100 crores to support vaccine development.

Correct Answer – A. 2025

Explanation:  According to World Health Organization(WHO)’s Global Nutrition Report 2020, India is one among 88 countries to miss global nutrition targets by 2025 & is with highest rates of domestic inequalities in malnutrition. India along with Nigeria & Indonesia are worst in disparities in stunting & the levels varied four-fold across communities.

Correct Answer – C. Federal Bank

Explanation: MoneyGram Payment System, a subsidiary of MoneyGram International, global leader in P2P payments tied up with Federal Bank Limited, a private bank in India to provide the customers a cost-effective way to receive deposits directly in their bank accounts in India.

Correct Answer – D. export credit

Explanation: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has extended the interest subsidy period by one year to 31 March 2021 on export credit received before and after shipment of goods to exporters. Exporters get the subsidy under the ‘Interest Equalisation Scheme for pre and post shipment Rupee Export Credit’, which was ended on March 31, 2020. RBI in November 2018 has increased the interest subsidy on loan before & after sending export goods to 5% from 3%.

Correct Answer – C. 15th May

Explanation: International Family Day observed globally on 15th May every year. This day is spread awareness about the importance of families and the role of the international community in the development of the families. A happy and healthy family makes up for a supportive society, which in turn makes better citizens of the nation. The United Nation General Assembly proclaimed the International Year of the Families in its resolution 44/82 of 9 December 1989. The General Assembly in 1993 decided in a resolution (A/RES/47/237) to observe 15 May every year as The International Day of Families.

Correct Answer – D. Akshay Kumar

Explanation: Lieutenant Commander Akshay Kumar was awarded the Vice Admiral G.M. Hiranandani Memorial Rolling Trophy for the year 2020. He commissioned in Anti-Submarine Warfare School of the Southern Naval Command in Kochi. The award ceremony was held at the Maritime Warfare Centre, Kochi, Kerala. This trophy was instituted in 2013 for the officer performing best in tactics during the year-long warfare specialisation course. The trophy was instituted within the memory of the late flag officer GM Hiranandani, who was the commissioned naval officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command from 1985 to 1987 and retired as Vice Chief of Naval Staff in 1989.

Correct Answer – C. $8.8 trillion

Explanation:  According to the Asian Development Bank The cost of the coronavirus pandemic could reach as much as $8.8 trillion, or almost 10% of global gross domestic product, depending on how long the outbreak continues and the strength of government responses.

Correct Answer – B. West Bengal

Explanation: West Bengal Government has launched ‘Matir Smristi’ scheme to utilise 50,000 acres of barren land in 6 districts. This scheme helps to generate income activities in horticulture and pisciculture involving the locals. The ‘Matir Smristi’ scheme will benefit around 2.5 lakh people in rural Bengal. In West Bengal at least 50,000 acres of barren land in Birbhum, Purulia, Bankura, Jhargram, West Burdwan and West Midnapore districts, which cannot produce anything naturally nor can the farmers cultivate on the strip. The work has been started in 6,500 acres of land at the micro-level and this is an environment-friendly scheme.

Correct Answer: A. Roberto Azevedo

Explanation: The World Trade Organisation (WTO) chief Roberto Azevedo on Thursday resigned unexpectedly, amidst the coronavirus pandemic that has affected the world economy, and trade at an unprecedented level. “At a virtual meeting of all WTO members on May 14, WTO Director-General Roberto Azevedo announced that he would step down on August 31, cutting his second term short by exactly one year,” WTO said in a statement.

Correct Answer – D. Rajasthan

Explanation: Recently, the Rajasthan government has levied 2% Krishak Kalyan fees on agricultural produce brought or bought or sold in mandis. The 2% fees collected will be deposited in the Krishak Kalyan Kosh — dedicated to the welfare of farmers in the state. The Rajasthan government had announced the creation of the Krishak Kalyan Kosh for the purpose of ensuring fair price for farmer’s produce and to strive towards “ease of doing farming” in 2019.

Correct Answer – C. Application

Explanation: The CHAMPIONS stands here for ‘Creation and Harmonious Application of Modern Processes for Increasing the Output and National Strength’. It is a technology driven Control Room-Cum-Management Information System which utilises modern information and communication technology (ICT) tools.

Correct Answer – C. Agricultural and Processed Foods Export Promotion Development Authority (APEDA)

Explanation:  Centre set up a new body Rice Export Promotion Forum (REPF) to give impetus to rice exports under the aegis of Agricultural and Processed Foods Export Promotion Development Authority (APEDA). The Constitution of Rice Export Promotion Forum has been done considering the importance of exporting rice and inherent the potentials and multifarious issues faced in the exportation.

Correct Answer – C. India

Explanation: India is to hold the chair of the World Health Organization in May 2020 after Japan completes its tenure. India will continue to hold the chair for the next three years. This comes during the time when there are world wide criticisms faced by WHO. Especially the US, one of India’s primary trading partner, accused WHO being China-centric. It is to be noted that US has also cut the funds allocated to the WHO.

Correct Answer – D. Saudi Arabia

Explanation: The second edition of Extraordinary G20 Virtual Trade and Investment Ministerial Meet was held under the presidency of Saudi Arabia. The meeting was chaired by the Saudi Minister of Commerce, Majid Al Qasabi, in the presence of the Minister of Investment, Khalid Al-Faleh. In the virtual meeting, India was represented by the Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.

Correct Answer – D. 1.2%

Explanation: The United Nations has released its report “World Economic Situation and Prospects” as of mid-2020. In this report, UN has projected growth rates of individual countries as well as global economy for fiscal year 2020 & 2021. According to the “World Economic Situation and Prospects” as of mid-2020, the growth rate of India has been projected to grow at 1.2% in fiscal year 2020. While the report has also indicated a slight recovery in the growth rate of India for fiscal year 2021 and stated that it would clock a 5.5% growth rate in 2021. As the COVID-19 pandemic has paralysed the world, the UN has projected that the global economy will contract sharply by 3.2% in fiscal year 2020, with only a gradual recovery of lost output projected for fiscal year 2021.

Correct Answer – A. Sai Gundewar

Explanation: Film actor, model, voiceover artist and an entrepreneur, Sai Gundewar passed away. His popularity rose in 2010 after his participation in the hit Reality TV show MTV Splitsvilla, Season 4. He has also acted alongside Aamir Khan in PK, and Rock on.

Correct Answer – C. COBAS 6800

Explanation:  The COBAS 6800 is the first fully automated, high-end machine for performing RT-PCR tests for COVID-19, procured by the Government and has been installed at the National Centre for Disease Control in Delhi.

Correct Answer – C. March 2021

Explanation: The Centre has declared that the technology driven ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ system will be fully rolled out in all states and Union Territories (UTs) by March 2021. Currently, 20 states have implemented this inter-state ration card portability.