Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 18th March 2021

Correct Answer: A. Delhi

Explanation: New Delhi has been adjudged as the world’s most polluted capital city for the third straight year in the 2020 World Air Quality Report by Swiss organisation, IQAir. Globally, New Delhi is ranked as the 10th most polluted city in the world. The topmost polluted city in the world is Xinjiang in China. This is followed by nine Indian cities as the most polluted cities in the world, which are Ghaziabad, Bulandshahar, Bisrakh Jalalpur, Noida, Greater Noida, Kanpur, Lucknow and Bhiwari.

 IQAir report

• The IQAir report measures air quality levels based on the concentration of lung-damaging airborne particles known as PM 2.5, which is measured by ground-based monitoring stations.
• As per the report, India was home to 35 of the world’s 50 most polluted cities, spanning 106 countries, which means India continues to feature prominently at the top of the most polluted cities ranking.
• The IQAir report seeks to empower individuals, organizations and communities to breathe cleaner air through information, collaboration and technology solutions.

Correct Answer – D. H K Mittal

Explanation: The government has constituted an experts advisory committee for the overall execution and monitoring of the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme. The committee would be chaired by H K Mittal from the Department of Science and Technology. The other representatives of the committee would include members from DPIIT, the department of biotechnology, science and technology, electronics and IT, Niti Aayog, and expert members from the startup ecosystem.

The committee will evaluate and select incubators for allotment of funds under the scheme, monitor progress and take all necessary measures for efficient utilisation of funds towards the fulfilment of objectives of the scheme.

Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS)

• The scheme has been approved for the period of the next four years starting from 2021-22, beginning from April 1, 2021.
• The government has earmarked Rs 945 crore corpus for the scheme, which will be divided over the next four years for providing seed funding to eligible startups through eligible incubators across India.

Correct Answer – A. 33%

Explanation: India’s arms imports fell 33% between 2011-15 and 2016-20, said a report released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri). The report on international arms transfers attributed the drop in India’s arms imports mainly to an attempt to reduce its dependence on Russian arms and complex procurement processes. Russia was the most affected supplier, although India’s imports of US arms also fell by 46%.India’s top three arms suppliers during 2016-20 were Russia (accounting for 49% of India’s imports), France (18%) and Israel (13%), the report. Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Mauritius were the top recipients of Indian military hardware, the report.

According to Sipri, India accounted for 0.2% of the share of global arms exports during 2016-20, making the country the world’s 24th largest exporter of major arms. This represents an increase of 228% over India’s export share of 0.1 % during the previous five-year period of 2011-15.

Important Points: 

• Sipri Headquarters: Oslo, Norway.
• Sipri Founded: 6 May 1966.
• Sipri Director: Dan Smith.

Correct Answer – E. 20

Explanation: Sahitya Akademi announced its annual Sahitya Akademi Awards in 20 languages. Seven books of poetry, four of the novel, Five short stories, two plays, and one each of memoirs and epic poetry in 20 Indian languages. The awards for Malayalam, Nepali, Odia and Rajasthani will be announced later. Sahitya Akademi Award is a literary honour in India. It is a dream for all Indian writers to look forward to one of the prestigious literary awards. The political-writer M Veerappa Moily, poet Arundhathi Subramaniam will be bestowed with the Sahitya Akademi Award 2020.

Sahitya Akademi Award

The Akademi is run by three authorities

• General council.
• Finance committee.
• Executive board.

The Akademi is known for holding the largest library of multi-lingual books in India. The Sahitya Akademi is autonomous. It comes under the Ministry of Culture.

The complete list of winners in different language and genre categories is given in the table below.

Sahitya Akademi Award 2020 winners will be bestowed with the award in the form of a casket, containing the engraved copper-plaque, a shawl and a cash amount of Rs. 1,00,000/- at the Sahitya Akademi Award Presentation function.

Correct Answer – D. Bangladesh

Explanation: Barrister Moudud Ahmed, who held various political offices for short stints in the Government of Bangladesh, has passed away. He had served as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh (1988–1989), Vice President of Bangladesh (1989–1990), Deputy Prime Minister (1976–1978 and 1987–1988), and Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs (2001–2006). He was also a standing committee member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

Correct Answer – B. Dr. Harsh Vardhan

Explanation: Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan has been appointed as the Chairman of the international body Stop TB Partnership Board.He was appointed in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the movement to eradicate Tuberculosis from India by 2025.Dr Harsh Vardhan will serve a three-year term, commencing from July this year.The Stop TB Partnership is a unique international body with the power to align actors all over the world in the fight against TB.The participation of a wide range of constituencies gives this global body the credibility and the broad range of medical, social and financial expertise needed to defeat TB.The Partnership’s vision is a TB-free world.

Correct Answer – C. Punjab National Bank

Explanation: Public sector lender Punjab National Bank on Wednesday said it has incorporated a wholly-owned subsidiary, PNB Cards & Services Limited, which will deal with the banks’ non-financial support services related to its credit card business.The authorised capital of the company is Rs 25 crore, which is divided into 25 million shares of Rs 10 each, and the paid-up capital is Rs 15 crore.It is important to note that among public sector banks, State Bank of India, the country’s largest lender, has a separate arm for its card business — SBI Cards and Payment Services.

Correct Answer – B. Power Trading Corporation of India Limited

Explanation:  PTC India Limited, a leading provider of power trading solutions in India has signed an initial pact with the National Productivity Council (NPC) to explore the business opportunities in consultancy services.Under this pact, both NPC and PTC have agreed to jointly explore and develop business opportunities for consultancy/project management services in the areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy, productivity enhancements, quality assurances, optimization of technology, and others within India and overseas.

Correct Answer – A. Tech Mahindra

Explanation: Tech Mahindra announced its plan to acquire a 70 % stake in Ireland-based Perigord Asset Holdings Ltd for around Rs 182 crore and plans to buy the remaining 30% shareholding over a period of 4 years at a valuation of its financial performance.It is intended to help in augmenting its expertise in the domains of global pharmaceutical, and HLS (Healthcare and Lifesciences).It is a part of Tech Mahindra’s long-term growth plan which is to make a presence across key markets in Ireland, Germany, the USA, and India with enhanced global delivery.

Correct Answer – A. 16th to 31st March 2021

Explanation: Ministry of Women and Child Development is celebrating Poshan Pakhwada from 16th to 31st March, 2021.Addressing nutritional challenges through Food Forestry and organizing Poshan Panchayats are the key focus areas for Poshan Pakhwada 2021.To address nutritional challenges, distribution of 4 saplings of nutrition rich plants per Anganwadi Centre (AWC) in the Aspirational Districts will be done under the supervision of local panchayat and DM/DC by National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of AYUSH.Poshan Panchayat will be organized involving members of PRIs for generating awareness on topics like malnutrition prevalence and its consequences, Poshan Vatika, food forestry, identification of SAM/MAM children and its management.Poshan  Abhiyaan, launched by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 8th March 2018, has reached a long way in ensuring wider people’s participation.

Correct Answer – C. India

Explanation: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is offering a $41 million loan portfolio guarantee to India.It will help in investments by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in renewable energy.These include rooftop solar installations and the loans will enable SMEs to access reliable power and cut costs.

Correct Answer – B. 2 lakh

Explanation: The Income Tax Department has informed that it has issued over 2 lakh crore rupees worth refunds to more than 2.1 crore taxpayers so far this fiscal.Of this, personal income tax refunds of 73,607 crore rupees have been issued to over 2.06 crore taxpayers, and corporate tax refunds of over 1.3 lakh crore rupees issued in 2.2 lakh cases.The refund was issued between 1 April 2020 to 15 March 2021.

Correct Answer – C. South Tripura

Explanation:  BSF-BGB Maitree Football Match series began from Belonia in the South Tripura District on 18 March 2021.Border Security Force, BSF is organising the friendly football match series in all six Frontiers of Eastern Command BSF to mark the celebration of 50 years of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.The final would take place at Dhubri under the Guwahati frontier on May 1, 2021.

Correct Answer: D. 5

Explanation: The National Highways Authority of India, NHAI will develop world-class wayside amenities at more than 600 locations in the next five years.The wayside amenities will be provided at every 50 kilometers of the length of National Highways, which will be developed through private participation.These will provide rest and refreshment for highway commuters during their journey.