Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 18th May 2021

Correct Answer: E. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank

Explanation: International Invincible Gold Medal of this year has been conferred on Union Education Minister Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank.He has been recognised for his extraordinary commitment and outstanding service to humanity through his writings, social and illustrious public life.The decision was made after due deliberations by a high-powered committee duly constituted under the leadership of Dr Tony Nader who is the global head of the Maharshi organisation.This honour will be given by the worldwide Maharishi Organization & its universities.

Correct Answer – C. May 18

Explanation: World AIDS Vaccine Day, (also known as HIV Vaccine Awareness Day), is observed annually on May 18 to promote the continued urgent need for a vaccine to prevent HIV infection and AIDS.  The first World AIDS Vaccine Day was thus observed on May 18, 1998, to commemorate the anniversary of Clinton’s speech. The concept of World AIDS Vaccine Day was proposed on May 18, 1997, during a commencement speech at Morgan State University made by then-President Bill Clinton, which underlined the need for a vaccine to curb the spread of HIV.

Correct Answer – A. 18 May

Explanation: The International Museum Day is celebrated on 18 May, since 1977, to raise awareness about the fact that “Museums are an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples”. The theme of International Museum Day 2021: “The Future of Museums: Recover and Reimagine”. It is coordinated by the International Council of Museums (ICOM).

Important Points:

• President of International Council Of Museums: Suay Aksoy;
• International Council Of Museums Headquarters: Paris, France;
• International Council Of Museums Founder: Chauncey J. Hamlin;
• International Council Of Museums Founded: 1946.

Correct Answer – C. Iran

Explanation:India lost the ONGC Videsh Ltd-discovered Farzad-B gas field in the Persian Gulf after Iran awarded a contract for developing the giant gas field to a local company. The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) has signed a contract worth USD 1.78 billion with Petropars Group for the development of Farzad B Gas Field in the Persian Gulf.The field holds 23 trillion cubic feet of in-place gas reserves, of which about 60 per cent is recoverable. It also holds gas condensates of about 5,000 barrels per billion cubic feet of gas.ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL), the overseas investment arm of state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC), had in 2008 discovered a giant gas field in the Farsi offshore exploration block. OVL and its partners had offered to invest up to USD 11 billion for the development of the discovery, which was later named Farzad-B.

Important Points:

• Iran Capital: Tehran;
• Iran Currency: Iranian rial;
• Iran President: Hassan Rouhani.

Correct Answer – B. Kobe Bryant

Explanation: Los Angeles Lakers legend, Kobe Bryant has been posthumously inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He was presented at the ceremony in Connecticut by NBA great Michael Jordan and his widow, Vanessa, accepted his induction on his behalf. Los Angeles Lakers great Bryant retired in 2016; he was the NBA Most Valuable Player in 2008. The five-time NBA champion died, aged 41, in a helicopter crash in January 2020.

Correct Answer – B. Pune, Maharshtra

Explanation: According to ‘State of Indian Healthcare – Indian Cities through the lens of healthcare 2021’ report released by Housing.com, an real estate portal – Pune, Maharashtra is the healthiest city among the top 8 urban cities of India.The ranking is done with regard to parameters like number of hospital beds, ease of living, water quality, and local body performance.The top 3 cities are – Pune, Ahmedabad (Gujarat), Bengaluru (Karnataka).

Correct Answer – E. Mali

Explanation: Moctor Ouane was reappointed as Prime Minister of Mali by President Bah Ndaw.Moctor had submitted his resignation letter on May 14, 2021.He will be incharge of forming a new cabinet.He was appointed as Prime Minister of Mali in September 2020, following the military coup which overthrew President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in August, 2020.The Interim Government of Mali is set to hold a constitutional referendum on October 31, 2021 followed by elections in February, 2022.

Correct Answer – A. International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF)

Explanation: The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has entered into a partnership with Stupa Sports Analytics, an Indian start-up company to provide Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled real-time match and practice solutions to leading players in all its 226 member associations.AI will help in taking Table Tennis to the next level by providing real time and in-depth analysis.During COVID-19 pandemic, ITTF collaborated with Stupa Analytics to provide online training lessons.AI analytics will help players to optimise their training, unearth new revelations, patterns and discover data driven insights.

Correct Answer – D. England

Explanation:  England’s Fast bowler Harry Frederick Gurney announced his retirement from Cricket at the age of 34.He has represented the England Cricket Team in 10 One Day Internationals (ODIs) & 2 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is).He picked up 11 wickets in 10 ODIs & 3 wickets in his T20I career.He has played for clubs like Nottinghamshire, Melbourne Renegades (BBL – Big Bash League), Quetta Gladiators (PSL – Pakistan Super League), and Kolkata Knight Riders (IPL – Indian Premier League).

Correct Answer – D. News Showcase

Explanation:Google has announced the launch of its global product called News Showcase in India.Launched in October 2020, News Showcase is a global vehicle to pay news publishers for their content online.It also allows partnering publishers to curate content.It has sealed agreements with 30 Indian publishers to offer access to some of their content on News Showcase, including The Hindu Group.

Correct Answer – C. Gopalapurathu Makkal

Explanation: Noted Tamil writer Ki. Rajanarayanan died in Puducherry in May 2021.Fondly called as KiRa, he was admired as a folklorist and father of Karisal (black soil land) Literature.He was a recipient of the Sahitya Academy award for his novel ‘Gopalapurathu Makkal’ in the year 1991.He also served as a member of the Sahitya Akademi General Council and Advisory Board from 1998 to 2002.

Correct Answer – A. Ashleigh Barty

Explanation: In the women’s section, Italian Open champion Polish teenager Iga Swiatek jumped six places on the WTA Tour rankings to enter the top 10.The player is now ninth, behind American legend Serena Williams, winner of 23 Grand Slams.The top three slots continue to be retained by Australia’s Ashleigh Barty, Japan’s Naomi Osaka, and Romania’s Simona Halep, respectively.

Correct Answer – B. United States

Explanation: The United States will share 80 million vaccine doses globally over the next six weeks, five times more than any other country has shared to date.It represents 13 per cent of vaccines produced in the country by June 2021 end.The 80 million doses will include 20 million doses of the Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines as well as AstraZeneca.

USA:

• Capital – Washington, D.C.
• Currency – US Dollar.
• President- Joe Biden.

Correct Answer: B. 14

Explanation: The CoWIN platform is being made available in Hindi and 14 regional languages by the 4th week of May 2021.The CoWIN platform is used for registration for COVID-19 Vaccination.It is handling minute details for India’s COVID-19 immunisation programme including registering beneficiaries, allocating vaccination centres, sending text messages to beneficiaries.