Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 19th January 2021

Correct Answer: A. China

Explanation: Rapidly digitalising India was ranked 4th in “Break Out Economies” in the third edition of the Digital Evolution Scorecard developed by Tufts University’s Fletcher School in partnership with Mastercard. China which leads the countries in the “Break Out Economies” group is more evolved digitally due mainly to its combination of rapidly growing demand and innovation. Third rank Indonesia, and India, which ranks number four in momentum, have displayed increasing digital momentum suggesting the potential to rapidly digitalise for both post-COVID economic recovery and longer-term transformation.

About “Break Out Economies”: “Break Out Economies” are those that are digitalising very quickly and yet have a lot of room to grow before matching those in the developed economies, such as those in Europe and in more developed Asian countries like Singapore, South Korea, and Hong Kong.

Correct Answer – B. 7.5%

Explanation: Swiss brokerage major UBS Investment Bank has projected the Indian economy to contract 7.5 per cent in the current fiscal FY21, ending March 2021. UBS further expects the economy to rebound at 11.5 per cent in FY22. For the FY23, GDP growth is expected to stabilise at 6 per cent.

Correct Answer – C. State Bank of India

Explanation: Realty firm Mahindra Lifespace Developers Ltd has signed an MoU with SBI for faster home loan approvals as well as to offer special discounts to customers and employees of both companies. Mahindra Lifespace and SBI have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enable an improved and more seamless experience for homebuyers across India. It provides various co-promotional activities and outreach initiatives, customers and employees of SBI and Mahindra Lifespaces. Homebuyers will benefit by saving on expenses incurred on obtaining Title Investigation Report (TIR) and valuation for approved projects.

Correct Answer – B. China, Japan and South Korea

Explanation: The Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has named 4 Asian Tea Cultivation Sites – 2 from China & 1 each from South Korea & Japan as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems. The Pu’er Tea Agroecosystem in Yunnan is the world’s largest area of tea forest plantations established by village ancestors thousands of years ago. The Fuzhou Jasmine and Tea Culture System developed over more than 2000 years is rich in biodiversity. GIAHS is an initiative started by FAO in 2002 for the identification & conservation of traditional agricultural systems all over the world. These sites also represent models of sustainable agriculture production.

Correct Answer – B. 13.5%

Explanation: The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) Financial Stability Report (FSR) of December 2020 has stated that banks’ gross non-performing assets (GNPAs) may rise sharply to 13.5 percent by September 2021, and escalate to 14.8 percent, nearly double the 7.5 percent in the same period of 2019-20, under the severe stress scenario. And banks will have to brace for a rollback of regulatory forbearance that was announced in the wake of the pandemic and enhance their capital positions.

Correct Answer – B. Arjun Munda

Explanation: Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda virtually received the SKOCH Challenger Award conferred to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for e-Governance. The award has been given to the Ministry for its IT-led initiatives and other transformational initiatives leading to outcome-based performance improvement. It has digitalized all the processes leading to a paperless office.

Correct Answer – C. Dushyant A. Dave

Explanation: Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president, Dushyant Dave has resigned from his post with immediate effect, he has forfeited his right to continue. Acting SCBA Secretary Rohit Panday confirmed the development that the senior advocate has resigned with immediate effect.

• The SCBA is an Indian bar association, comprising the practising lawyers of the Supreme Court of India.
• The SCBA has been in the vanguard of the movement for upholding, maintaining and consolidation of the constitutional values of democracy, rule of law and independence of Judiciary. In its meeting dated 4th May 1951.
• The Committee in its resolution observed that no attempt should be made to abridge or limit the Fundamental Rights.
• The Committee further pointed out that the Constitution was in operation only for a short period of sixteen months and the Supreme Court had no occasion to pronounce on the validity of various State laws.

Correct Answer – B. USD 20 million

Explanation: The Indian Army has recently signed a contract with Mumbai-based drone manufacturing company, ideaForge, to procure high-altitude variant of SWITCH unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The total cost of the deal is approximately USD 20 million. However, the quantity of UAVs to be procured is not disclosed. These UAVs will be delivered to the Indian Army over a period of one year.

SWITCH UAV is an indigenous system built to cater for the most demanding surveillance operations of the Indian Forces. This Fixed-Wing VTOL (Vertical Take-off and Landing) UAV can be deployed at high altitude and harsh environments for day and night surveillance in Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions. It is man-portable and has the highest time on target compared to any other UAV in its class.

Correct Answer – B. 9mm

Explanation: India’s first indigenous 9mm Machine Pistol has been jointly developed by DRDO and Indian Army. Infantry School, Mhow and DRDO’s Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune have designed and developed this weapon using their respective expertise in the complementary areas. The weapon has been developed in a record time of four months. The weapon is aptly named “Asmi” meaning “Pride”, “Self-Respect” & “Hard Work”.

• The Machine Pistol fires the in-service 9mm ammunition and sports an upper receiver made from aircraft-grade Aluminium and lower receiver from carbon fibre.
• The 3D Printing process has been used in designing and prototyping of various parts including trigger components made by metal 3D printing.
• The weapon has huge potential in Armed forces as a personal weapon for heavy weapon detachments, commanders, tank and aircraft crews, drivers/dispatch riders, radio/radar operators, Closed Quarter Battle, counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations etc.
• This is also likely to find huge employability with the central and state police organizations as well as VIP protection duties and Policing.
• The Machine Pistol is likely to have a production cost under rupees 50000 each and has potential for exports.

Correct Answer – A. Kerala

Explanation: Kerala has become the 8th State in the country to successfully undertake “Ease of Doing Business” reform stipulated by the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance. Kerala has become eligible to mobilise additional financial resources of Rs.2,373 crore through Open Market Borrowings. Permission for the same was issued by the Department of Expenditure on 12th January 2021.

Kerala has now joined the seven other States namely, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, who have completed this reform. On completion of reforms facilitating ease of doing business, these eight States have been granted additional borrowing permission of Rs.23,149 crore.

Correct Answer – A. Fiji

Explanation: Fiji won the presidency of the UN Human Rights Council. It beat Bahrain and Uzbekistan in a secret ballot. Fiji’s Nazahat Shameen Khan won with 29 votes versus 14 for Bahrain and 4 for Uzbekistan. The presidency rotates geographically with each region typically making a selection by consensus but this was the first-ever secret ballot in the Council.

Correct Answer – C. Sandeep Aggarwal

Explanation: Sandeep Aggarwal has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Telecom Equipment and Services Export Promotion Council (TEPC). He is the MD of Paramount Communications Ltd., a cable manufacturer. He will take over from Shyamal Ghosh, ex-Telecom Secretary. The TEPC was set up by the Government of India to promote and develop the export of Telecom Equipment and Services.

Correct Answer – D. Politics

Explanation:  Former Member of Parliament B. S. Gnanadesikan passed away in January 2021. He served as Rajya Sabha Member from the Congress Party twice from 2001 to 2013. He was also the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee Chief. He resigned from the Congress and joined the Tamil Maanila Congress led by G. K. Vaasan.

Correct Answer: D. New Zealand

Explanation: John Fulton(F) Reid, a former New Zealand cricketer passed away at the age of 64 after a long illness at Christchurch, City in the South Island, New Zealand. The Left-handed batsman was born on March 3, 1956 in Auckland, City in the North Island, New Zealand. He served as the New Zealand Test captain. He played 25 ODIs, 19 tests from 1979 to 1986, where he scored 633 runs in ODIs and 1296 runs in Tests. The test runs of him came at an average of 46.28, along with 6 centuries and 2 half-centuries. He holds the New Zealand record of scoring over 1,000 test runs in the fewest innings.