Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 19th March 2021

Correct Answer: B. 12

Explanation: India’s gross domestic product (GDP) is projected to grow by 12% in 2021, Moody’s Analytics informed on 18 March 2021.In an earlier estimate in November 2020, it predicted India’s GDP will grow at 9% in the calendar year.Near-term prospects for Asia’s third-largest economy have turned more favorable, but the second wave of covid-19 infections is a key risk to recovery.

Correct Answer – B. 2

Explanation: Bengaluru ranked second on the Kearney retail index released on 18 March 2021.It overtook Mumbai in the 2021 edition of the report.Kearney noted Bengaluru’sbrand penetration per capita is higher when compared to Mumbai making it attractive for retailers.More recently, Bengaluru was also named the most liveable city in the country.

Correct Answer – B. Taiwan

Explanation: Taiwan has given regulatory approval to AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine and might start giving the first inoculation as early as 22 March 2021.Taiwan is prioritizing health workers in the first wave of its vaccination programme and about 60,000 people are in line to get the first vaccinations.In December, Taiwan said it had agreed to buy almost 20 million vaccine doses, including 10 million from AstraZeneca.

Correct Answer – B. Nitin Gadkari

Explanation:  Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari informed that more than 3.7 crore job opportunities will be created in the country with the implementation of the Vehicle Scrapping Policy.Additional GST revenue of 30 to 40 thousand crore rupees will be generated through this move.The policy is aimed at creating an eco-system for phasing out unfit and polluting vehicles.

Correct Answer – B. Lloyd J Austin

Explanation: US Defence Secretary Lloyd J Austin arrived in India on 19 March 2021.During the visit, he will meet Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and other senior dignitaries of the government to discuss deepening the India US Major Defense Partnership.They will also discuss advancing cooperation for a free, prosperous, and open Indo-Pacific Region.His visit is a part of his first overseas travel.

USA:

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

Correct Answer – D. 6.9%

Explanation: According to the report ‘Out of the frying pan …Into the fire?’ published by by UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) India’s economy, estimated to contract by 6.9 per cent in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.However, it forecasted to record a “stronger recovery” in 2021 and grow by 5 per cent in FY 2021-22.The September 2020 report by UNCTAD had said that India’s economy was forecast to contract by 5.9 per cent in 2020 and recover to 3.9 per cent in 2021.

Correct Answer – C. National Institute of Technology (NIT), Rourkela

Explanation:Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and National Institute of Technology (NIT), Rourkela have signed an MoU for setting up a Space Technology Incubation Centre (S-TIC).The MoU was signed after ISRO agreed to set up a Space Technology Incubation Centre(S-TIC) at NIT Rourkela.This collaboration with ISRO will open up new opportunities for research and development as well as space start-ups.

Correct Answer – C. NPCI

Explanation: India’s digital payments umbrella entity called National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has launched ‘UPI-Help’ on BHIM UPI.The ‘UPI-Help’ will help in the grievance redressal mechanism for BHIM app users.With this application, users will be able to check the status of the pending transactions, raise complaints against transactions that are not processed if the money has not reached the other end and raise complaints against merchant transactions.The feature has gone live on the BHIM app by NPCI for the customers of State Bank of India, AXIS Bank, HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank. And soon it will be extended to the customers of Paytm Payments Bank and TJSB Sahakari Bank as well.

Correct Answer – A. Amazon Web Services

Explanation: IT major Amazon Web Services (AWS) and NITI Aayog announced a tie-up to train students on the fundamentals of cloud computing through Atal Tinkering Labs.A statement of intent (SoI) was signed between Niti Aayog and Amazon Internet Services Private Limited (AISPL), which undertakes the resale and marketing of AWS Cloud services in India, to roll out the project.The education and tools will establish a strong foundation in cloud computing for students of Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) across India, while the support of AWS EdStart for startups will accelerate their productisation and potential commercialization.Under the program, AWS will introduce the fundamentals of cloud computing such as cloud storage, virtual compute power, web hosting, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and virtual reality (VR), to students at more than 7,000 ATLs in India.

Correct Answer – C. 73

Explanation: The new ISA Framework Agreement came into force on January 8, 2021.Under the new amended framework, the membership of ISA is open to all member states of the United Nations. Previously, it was open to countries that were partially or entirely located within the Tropics.The signed copies of the agreement were received by an additional secretary (ER) as representative of MEA. MEA is the depositary of the ISA Framework Agreement.It is an alliance of over 121 countries.At present 73 countries have signed and ratified the ISA Framework Agreement.As March 2021, 90 countries have signed the framework agreement of the ISA and of these, 73 have deposited their instruments of ratification.

Correct Answer – B. S Dhanalakshmi

Explanation: Sprinter S Dhanalakshmi beat national record holder Dutee Chand to win women’s 100m sprint final in the Federation Cup Senior National Athletics Championships in Patiala. The 22-year-old Dhanalakshmi of Tamil Nadu clocked 11.39 seconds to become the fastest woman of the championships. Odisha-based Dutee clocked 11.58 seconds to be placed in second place.Another Tamil Nadu runner Archana Suseendran was third in 11.76 seconds. Hima Das was disqualified after a false start. In men’s 100m final category, Gurindervir Singh of Punjab won gold in 10.32 seconds, while Elakkiyadasan Kannada of Tamil Nadu (10.43) and Maharashtra’s Satish Krishnakumar (10.56) were second and third respectively.

Correct Answer – B. Nippon India

Explanation: Nippon India has announced the launch of its ETF (Exchange-traded fund) Nifty SDL – 2026.The fund will track a composition of Nifty SDL April 2026 Top 20 Equal Weight Index that constitutes 20 SDLs.The scheme carries a lower risk as it will buy and hold securities till maturity.New Fund Offer for the fund closes on March 19, 2021.

Correct Answer – B. Scrapping

Explanation: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has notified draft rules for setting up Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility (RVSF).These shall be provided access to the VAHAN database and shall be authorized to make entries regarding scrapping of the vehicle and issuance of Scrapping Certificate.The government will also develop a portal for single-window clearance.destroyed in the battle.The book also features the firsthand accounts of all the surviving fighter pilots who were involved in the battle.

Correct Answer –  B. Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL)

Explanation: The Union Defence Ministry has signed a ₹1,188 crore deal with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for the supply of 4,960 Milan-2T Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMs) to the Indian Army.It is a ‘Repeat Order’ of contract, which was signed with BDL on March 8, 2016.The missile is a Tandem Warhead ATGM with a range of 1,850 meters, produced by BDL under license from MBDA Missile Systems, France.