Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 2nd September 2020

Correct Answer: B. IIT Indore

Explanation: IIT Indore has introduced a unique course to impart mathematical and scientific knowledge from ancient texts in Sanskrit. It is titled “Understanding Classical Scientific Texts of India in an Immersive Sanskrit Environment”. The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)-sponsored quality improvement programme began on August 22, 2020, and will continue till October 2, 2020.

Correct Answer – C. Rs. 3,500 crores

Explanation: India will receive an Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan of an amount of JPY50 billion (approx. Rs. 3,500 crore) from the government of Japan. Japan has committed the loan for the COVID-19 Crisis Emergency Response Support in order to fight the COVID-19 crisis. The ODA loan will support India’s efforts in its fight against COVID-19. It will also assist the country to prepare the health system to handle future epidemics. It will also increase the resilience of India’s health systems against infectious diseases. Japanese government has also committed Grant Assistance of an amount of JPY 1 billion (approx. Rs. 70 crore) for offering medical equipment to bolster the public health and medical system in India.

Correct Answer – C. Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad

Explanation: The GMR led Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad won the ‘National Energy Leader’ and ‘Excellent Energy Efficient Unit’ awards at the 21st National Awards for ‘Excellence in Energy Management’. It was organized by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Godrej Green Business Centre (GBC). The award was given during the 19th edition of ‘Energy Efficiency Summit’, Virtual Conference and Exposition on Energy Efficiency held from August 6-28, 2020. The ‘National Awards for Excellence in Energy Management’ is instituted by CII to recognize significant and innovative practices of the energy efficiency sector, for the energy efficient and sustainable growth of the Indian industry.

Correct Answer – E. Both B & C

Explanation: Indian women’s hockey team defender Deep Grace Ekka and para-athlete Jayanti Behera received the Biju Patnaik sports award for outstanding performance. Both of them received a citation along with cash award of Rs 2 lakh each.

Correct Answer – B. 2030

Explanation: India aims for 100 million tonnes (MT) coal gasification by 2030 with investments worth over Rs. 4 lakh crores. This was announced by Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister of Coal and Mines during a webinar on Coal Gasification and Liquefaction. For encouraging the use of clean sources of fuel, the government has provided for a concession of 20% on revenue share of coal used for gasification.

Correct Answer – D. West Bengal

Explanation: The CSIR’s Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI) has claimed to have developed the world’s largest solar tree. It has been installed at its residential complex in Durgapur in West Bengal. The installed capacity of the solar tree is above 11.5 kWp (kilowatts peak). It has the annual capacity to generate 12,000-14,000 units of clean and green power.

Correct Answer – B. Air Force Sports Control Board

Explanation: Air Force Sports Control Board has been conferred with ‘Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar 2020’. It was awarded for the outstanding contribution in helping sportsperson to excel in their respective disciplines and implement robust sports welfare measures. The award is for sustained efforts towards encouragement and promotion of sports in the country and IAF in particular.

Correct Answer – C. 23.9

Explanation: The Indian economy contracted by 23.9% in the April-June quarter of this fiscal amid the COVID-19 crisis. The gross domestic product (GDP) had expanded by 5.2 per cent in the corresponding April-June period of 2019-20, according to data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO).  The fraction of countries, where GDP per capita would decrease is the highest since 1870.

Correct Answer – C. 650 million

Explanation:  The European Investment Bank (EIB) has decided to invest 650 million euros into the construction of Kanpur’s first city metro line. The agreement to this effect was signed on 31 August 2020. The project aims at enabling some 3 million people in the city to benefit from green, safe, fast, and affordable public transport. This is the second metro rail project supported by the EIB in Uttar Pradesh.

Correct Answer – C. ICICI Prudential Life Insurance

Explanation: ICICI Prudential Life Insurance has launched an AI-powered voice chatbot, LiGo, on Google Assistant as part of its customer service initiative. This new option will enable the policyholders to have their queries addressed by simple voice commands. Customers can use commands such as “Ok Google, I want to speak to ICICI Prudential Life LiGo” or “May I talk to ICICI Prudential Life LiGo”.

Correct Answer – D. Lebanon

Explanation: Lebanon’s ambassador to Germany, Mustapha Adib was appointed prime minister in crisis-hit Lebanon. Adib, who has been Beirut’s Berlin envoy since 2013, is affiliated with a small Sunni party headed by former Prime Minister Najib Mikati. Days after the blast, the government of Prime Minister Hassan Diab, a self-styled technocrat, stepped down. President Michel Aoun asked Lebanon’s ambassador to Germany Mr Adib to form a new government after he secured 90 votes in the 128-member Parliament.

Correct Answer – D. Animation Creator

Explanation: The co-creator of the cartoon series Scooby-Doo, Joe Ruby passed away. Ruby, an American animator, television editor, writer, and producer, created the much-loved characters of beloved kids show Scooby-Doo, along with his creative partner Ken Spears.

Correct Answer – C. Satyendra Singh Lohia

Explanation: Para-swimmer Satyendra Singh Lohia of Madhya Pradesh is the first Divyanga Indian sportsperson of the country, who has been awarded today with the Tenzing Norgay Adventure Award. He is also the first Asian Divyanga swimmer to cross the 42-kilometer Catalina Channel in the US in just 11 hours 34 minutes. Para-swimmer Satyendra Singh was also conferred with the Best Sportsperson National Award by Vice President Venkaiah Naidu on World Divyanga Day. He has also been awarded the highest sports award of Madhya Pradesh as well as many other national and international honours.

Correct Answer: A. Athletic coach

Explanation: India’s former athletic coach Purushotham Rai passed away. The former coach passed away a few hours before receiving the Dronacharya Award, the highest sporting award for a coach in India. He became the third person from the state of Karnataka to win Dronacharya award in Athletics. He coached number of top athletes namely Olympian quarter-miler Vandana Rao, heptathlete Pramila Aiyappa, Ashwini Nachappa, Murali Kuttan, MK Asha, EB Shyla, Rosa Kutty and GG Pramila. Purushotham Rai’s name was announced for the Dronacharya award for year 2020 among the other winners of National Sports Awards 2020. He trained the Indian team for the 1987 World Athletics Championship, 1988 Asian Track and Field Championships, and 1999 SAF Games.