Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 19th June 2021

Correct Answer: D. 18 June

Explanation: Sustainable Gastronomy Day is observed on 18 June globally to focus the attention of the world on the role that sustainable gastronomy plays in our lives. The day was designated by UN General Assembly on 21 December 2016.Gastronomy means the practice or art of choosing, cooking, and eating good food. In other words, Sustainable gastronomy takes into account where the ingredients are from, how the food is grown and how it gets to our markets and eventually to our plates. The day reaffirms that all cultures and civilizations are contributors and crucial enablers of sustainable development.

Correct Answer – D. IDBI Bank

Explanation: LIC Cards Services (LIC CSL) has launched a contactless prepaid gift card, ‘Shagun’, in collaboration with IDBI Bank on the RuPay platform. The purpose of this card is to expand the gift card market with an intent to promote cashless ways of gifting and present a wide range of end-use choices and in a future foray into the market of e-gift cards. NPCI partnered with LIC CSL & IDBI Bank for the launch of the Shagun Gift Card on RuPay network. About the card:Shagun card, in the initial phase, will be available to LIC and its subsidiaries for official use. The card will be used to facilitate awards and special rewards during official conferences and functions.The Shagun gift card offers customisation in the form of flexible loading of any amount ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 10,000. With this card, the customer can perform multiple transactions within the validity of 3 years.They can also use it to shop online, pay utility bills, book tickets for air, rail, bus, and so on through various mobile wallets and E-commerce portals or apps using this card. The contactless (tap & go) feature of the card is aimed at transforming the transaction experience for users.

Important Points:

IDBI Bank CEO: Rakesh Sharma.

IDBI Bank Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Correct Answer – D. European Space Agency

Explanation: The European Space Agency (ESA) has planned to launch the world’s first wooden satellite. It is going to be launched from New Zealand. It will be launched from a Rocket Lab Electron rocket by the end of 2021. The satellite is the brainchild of Jari Makinen.

About the Satellite:

The satellite, WISA Woodsat, is a nanosatellite. It is 10cm on each side, length, height, and width.The sensors of the satellite have been developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) and designers have placed the wood in a thermal vacuum chamber to keep it dry.A very thin aluminium oxide layer has been used to minimize the vapour coming from the wood and to protect it from the erosive effects of atomic oxygen. The non-wooden external parts are made up of aluminium rails.

Important Points:

European Space Agency Headquarters: Paris, France;

European Space Agency Founded: 30 May 1975, Europe;

European Space Agency CEO: Johann-Dietrich Worner.

Correct Answer – B. 2nd

Explanation: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was second in terms of reserves transferred to the government as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) for the fiscal year 2020-21. Turkey has been ranked first. RBI has transferred Rs 99,122-crore surplus to the government for FY21 which is 73% higher than the Rs 57,128 crore paid out in 2019-20. The surplus transferred by RBI constitutes 0.44% of GDP, while that of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey constitutes 0.5% of GDP.

Correct Answer – A. Aashish Chandorkar

Explanation: The government of India has appointed a private person Aashish Chandorkar as Counsellor in India’s Permanent Mission in the World Trade Organisation for three years. For the first time, a private person has been appointed at the Mission. Chandorkar is director of Bengaluru-based policy think tank Smahi Foundation of Policy and Research. The WTO is a 164-member multi-lateral body, which deals with global trade. India is a member since 1995.

Important Points:

• World Trade Organization Director-General: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala;
• World Trade Organization Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland;
• World Trade Organization Founded: 1 January 1995.

Correct Answer – B. Army Man

Explanation: Mahavir Chakra awardee legendary veteran, Brigadier Raghubir Singh has passed away due to old age illness.Brigadier Raghubir Singh was honoured with Maha Vir Chakra, the second highest gallantry award in India by the then President of India, Dr S Radhakrishnan.He is fondly called as “Dadosa”.He served as the Provost Marshal in the Military police, during the 1971 Indo-Pak war.During the 1965 Indo Pak war,he was commanding his battalion, 18 Rajputana Rifles (later 11 Mechanised Infantry).He was also part of the United Nations Emergency Force, during the 1958-59 Israel – Egypt war.

Correct Answer – C. UAE

Explanation:  In a major boost to exports of GI certified agricultural produce, a consignment of fibre and mineral rich Jalgaon banana has been exported to Dubai.In 2016, Jalgaon Banana got GI certification which was registered with Nisargraja Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) in Jalgaon.Country’s banana export has been rising sharply because of adoption of farm practices as per the global standards.During 2020-21, India has exported banana worth of 1.91 lakh tonnes valued at 619 crore rupees.India is the world’s leading producer of bananas with a share of around 25 per cent in total output.

Correct Answer – B. Peris

Explanation: PM Modi addressed the 5th edition of VivaTech, the largest digital and start-up events in Europe.The Prime Minister has been invited as a Guest of Honour. He said that India is adaptable and agile even in the middle of the pandemic.VivaTech is being held in Paris every year since 2016.It is jointly organized by Publicis Groupe, a prominent advertising and marketing conglomerate and Les Echos – a leading French media group.

Correct Answer – D. 11%

Explanation: According to global consultancy BCG, the financial wealth in India grew 11 per cent to USD 3.4 trillion in 2020 despite the coronavirus pandemic.This growth was at par with the compounded annual growth rate for the five years to 2020.Financial wealth is defined as the total wealth excluding real assets and liabilities held by adult individuals.As per the report India is expected to lead the percentage growth of individuals with fortunes of over USD 100 million till 2025.The real assets are expected to grow by 8.2 per cent per annum to USD 18.5 trillion by 2025, the report estimated.

Correct Answer – C. Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises

Explanation: The Ministry of heavy industries and public enterprises (MoHI&PE) made partial modifications over the ‘Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles in India Phase II’ (FAME India Phase II) scheme, which began on 1 April 2019.The FAME scheme was administered by the department of heavy industries (DHI).MoHI&PE has decided for the aggregation of electric three-wheelers and electric buses component of the scheme via state run Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL), to bring down the cost of electric 3 Wheelers to that of ICE-3 Wheelers.For Electric Buses, EESL will generate demand in 9 cities with over 4 million-plus population like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Chennai, Surat, and Pune.

Correct Answer – A. RBI

Explanation: The RBI has given an in-principle nod to Centrum Financial Services to set up a small finance bank (SFB).This approval has been accorded in specific pursuance to Centrum Financial Services Limited’s offer dated 1 Feb 2021, in response to the Expression of Interest notification dated November 3, 2020, published by the Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative (PMC) Bank.

Small Finance Banks:

They are the financial institutions that provide financial services to the unserved and unbanked region of the country.They are registered as a public limited company under the Companies Act, 2013.

RBI:

• Governor – Shaktikanta Das.
• Headquarters – Mumbai.
• Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata.

Correct Answer – C. 19 June

Explanation: US President Joe Biden has signed legislation establishing June 19 as Juneteenth National Independence Day.It is a US federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the US.Juneteenth commemorates 19 June 1865, when Union Major General Gordon Granger announced the end of slavery in Galveston, Texas, in accordance with President Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 Emancipation Proclamation.

USA:

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

Correct Answer – B. Sumant Sinha

Explanation: The United Nations Global Compact has recognized Sumant Sinha as one of ten 2021 SDG Pioneers.He is the Chairman and MD of ReNew Power.SDG Pioneers are business leaders selected by the UN Global Compact for doing an exceptional job to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the implementation of the UN Global Compact Ten Principles.

Correct Answer –  D. Japan

Explanation: Japan will make a vaccine passport available from July 2021 for Japanese travellers.The certificate will be paper-based rather than digital and will be issued by local governments.The passports will include information such as the holder’s date of inoculation and the manufacturer of the shot they received. They will be available both in English and Japanese.

Japan:

• Capital – Tokyo.
• Currency – Japanese yen.
• Prime Minister – Yoshihide Suga.
• National Sport – Sumo wrestling.