Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 2nd December 2020

Correct Answer: D. London

Explanation: Face-to-face negotiations between the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU) over a trade deal have restarted in London. EU negotiator Michel Barnier and the UK’s chief negotiator David Frost are working to secure a deal before the UK’s transition period with the EU ends on December 31, 2020. A no-deal scenario will cause economic chaos, with customs checks required at the borders.

Correct Answer – B. 28,102 Million Dollars

Explanation: Total Foreign Direct Investments inflows into India during the 2nd quarter of FY 2020-21 is 28,102 mn dollars, out of which FDI equity inflows is 23,441 mn dollars. This takes the FDI equity inflows during the financial year 2020-21 up to September 2020 to 30,004 million dollars. In rupee terms, the FDI Equity inflows of 2 lakh 24 thousand 613 crore rupees are 23% more than 2019.

Correct Answer – C. 900

Explanation: The Centre has announced the third stimulus package of Rs 900 crore for the Mission COVID Suraksha- The Indian COVID-19 Vaccine Development Mission. This grant will be provided to the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) for Research and Development of Indian COVID-19 vaccines with end-to-end focus. It would consolidate all available and funded resources towards accelerated product development.

Correct Answer – C. Assam

Explanation: The Assam government will launch ‘Orunodoi’ scheme on 1 December 2020. Over 18 lakh families in the state will receive a minimum of 830 rupees per month in their bank accounts under the scheme. This is the biggest ever scheme in Assam post-Independence. It will strengthen the role of the women as the money will be deposited in the bank accounts of the women of the families.

Correct Answer – C. UAE

Explanation: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is all set to become the first Arab Gulf country, and probably the last, to generate electricity from coal, as; the Acwa Power of Saudi Arabia is developing a $3.4 billion Hassyan coal plant in Dubai. In this regard, the company has already inked a long time agreement with Japan’s Jera Co under which the latter will supply coal. The capacity of the plant will be 600 megawatts (MW) initially which will be increased to 2,400 MW by 2023.

Correct Answer – C. China

Explanation: China has powered up its first domestically developed nuclear reactor, the Hualong One. It is a significant step in Beijing’s attempts to become less dependent on Western allies for energy security and critical technology. The reactor, which was connected to the national grid, can generate 10 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity each year and cut carbon emissions by 8.16 million tons. Nuclear plants supplied less than five percent of China’s annual electricity needs in 2019, according to the National Energy Administration, but this share is expected to grow as Beijing attempts to become carbon neutral by 2060.

Correct Answer – A. India

Explanation: India hosted the 19th meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government in a virtual format. The Summit was chaired by Vice President Venkaiah Naidu.  This is the first time that a Summit-level Meeting will be held under India’s Chairmanship since it gained full membership of the organisation in 2017. The Prime Ministers from the SCO Member States of Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan will attend the SCO meeting. Pakistan will be represented by the Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs. Apart from the SCO Member States, the four Observer States of SCO will also participate- including the President of Afghanistan, the First Vice President of Iran, the Prime Minister of Belarus, and the Deputy Prime Minister of Mongolia.

Correct Answer – B. Neera Tanden

Explanation: U.S. President-elect Joe Biden Joe Biden intends to nominate Indian-American Neera Tanden as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. It is a top position inside the White House responsible for managing the administration’s budget. Ms. Tanden (50) would be the first woman of colour to head the influential Office of Management and Budget at the White House. Ms. Tanden is currently chief executive of the left-leaning Center for American Progress.

Correct Answer – D. Narendra Singh Tomar

Explanation:  Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has virtually inaugurated Honey Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) Programme in 5 states for producing honey. Aim: To address the issues faced by the beekeeping industry and also promote honey production in the country increasing farmer’s income. These 5 FPOs will be set up by National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited (NAFED). It will be set up at East Champaran (Bihar), Morena (Madhya Pradesh), Bharatpur (Rajasthan), Mathura (Uttar Pradesh), and Sunderbans (West Bengal). It has been launched under the Central Sector Scheme for Formation & Promotion of new 10,000 FPOs.

Correct Answer – D. Andhra Pradesh

Explanation: Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation will soon introduce electric buses to transport visiting pilgrims to Tirumala Hills. The famous temple of Lord Venkateswara is located at the same place. With an aim to maintain the holy hills a ‘zero carbon emission zone’, the TTD that manages the hill shrine took a decision to introduce electric buses in the place of those operated by diesel.

Correct Answer – D. 2nd December

Explanation: In India, the National Pollution Control Day is observed every year on December 2 to commemorate the life of people lost in the unfortunate incident of Bhopal Gas Tragedy that occurred in the year 1984 on the night of 2–3 December. The year 2020 marks the 36th anniversary of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy. Through this day, awareness is created about the rising pollution of air, water, and soil, as well as shifts the attention of people with regards to the pollution control acts.

Correct Answer – C. Lewis Hamilton

Explanation: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-Great Britain) has won the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix at Bahrain International Circuit, Bahrain. The race was the fifteenth round of the 2020 Formula One World Championship. This is the 11th victory for Hamilton of the season, and 95th F1 win of his career. Also, Hamilton now holds the records for the most wins (95), in Formula One history. Red Bull Racing teammates Max Verstappen (Netherlands) and Alexander Albon (Thailand) were second and third respectively.

Correct Answer – B. 2nd December

Explanation:  International Day for the Abolition of Slavery is observed annually on 2nd December since 1986 by the United Nations General Assembly. The focus of this day is on eradicating contemporary forms of slavery, such as trafficking in persons, sexual exploitation, the worst forms of child labour, forced marriage, and the forced recruitment of children for use in armed conflict. The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, 2 December, marks the date of the adoption, by the General Assembly, of the United Nations Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others (resolution 317(IV) of 2 December 1949).

Correct Answer: B. Sudan

Explanation: Sadiq al-Mahdi(also known as Sadiq as-Siddiq), Sudan’s Last Democratically Elected Prime Minister(PM) passed away at the age of 84 in a hospital in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to COVID-19. He was the head of the National Umma Party. He was born on December 25, 1935 in Al-Abasya, Omdurman, Sudan. Sadiq al-Mahdi served as the PM twices, one in 1966–67 and another from 1986 until 1989 Sudanese coup d’état, a military coup, headed by Omar al-Bashir. He was the leader of Ansar or followers of the Mahdi, a Sufi religious movement in the Sudan whose followers are disciples of Muhammad Ahmad, who claimed to be the Mahdi, the messianic saviour of Islam.