Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 20th August 2021

Correct Answer: A. 19 August

Explanation: World Photography Day is celebrated on 19 August every year to promote photography as a hobby and also inspire photographers around the globe to share a single photo with the rest of the world. The first official World Photo Day was observed on August 19, 2010.

History of the day:

The origin of World Photo Day comes from the invention of the Daguerreotype, a photographic process developed by Frenchmen Louis Daguerre and Joseph Nicephore Niepce in 1837. It was on August 19, 1939 that the French government purchased the patent of Daguerreotype process and announced the invention as a gift “free to the world”.

Correct Answer – C. 400 km

Explanation: In Jammu and Kashmir, the Army organised a 400 Km “JAZBAA-E- TIRANGA” Relay Marathon. The event was flagged off by Major General Rajeev Puri, General Officer Commanding, Ace of Spades Division, who led the relay, closely followed by other military personnel.More than 300 troops took part, carrying the Indian Tricolour all along the Line of Control (LoC).The run inculcated the spirit of brotherhood, as each soldier carried the symbolic National Flag of comradeship across the Area of Responsibility (AOR), handing it over to other units which stand shoulder to shoulder in war.

Correct Answer – A. Bangladesh

Explanation: Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad was adjudged the second most polluted city out of the 50 ‘most polluted cities’ in the world in 2020 by a report prepared by British company HouseFresh. Ghaziabad reported an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 2.5 particulate matter (PM) in 106.6µg/m3.Preceding Ghaziabad, the Chinese city of Hotan in Xinjiang province has been named the most polluted city with a PM2.5 of 110.2µg/m3. The report attributed the air pollution in Hotan to sandstorms resulting from its closeness to the Taklimakan Desert, which is the largest shifting sand desert in the world.Bangladesh, China, India and Pakistan contribute to 49 out of the 50 most polluted cities worldwide. According to the report, Bangladesh was the most polluted country across the world in 2020, followed by Pakistan, India and Mongolia. Meanwhile, Judbury in Australia bagged the top position in the list of cities with the cleanest air with a PM2.5 level of 2.4µg/m3. Kailua Kona in America’s Hawaii and Muonio in Finland with PM2.5 concentrations of 2.6µg/m3 and 2.8µg/m3 respectively were the next top cities of 2020 with clean air.

Correct Answer – D. PR Sreejesh

Explanation: Olympian Parattu Raveendran Sreejesh (PR Sreejesh), goalkeeper and former captain of the Indian National Hockey team is set to be named as the brand ambassador of adventure tourism in Kerala. Sreejesh was a part of the Indian Hockey team that won the bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic games. PR Sreejesh hails from Ernakulam, Kerala.

Important Points:

• Kerala CM: Pinarayi Vijayan;
• Kerala Governor: Arif Mohammad Khan.

Correct Answer – B. Intra BRICS Cooperation for Continuity, Consolidation and Consensus

Explanation: Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has chaired the fifth meeting of BRICS Industry Ministers and called for expanding the horizon of the New Development Bank (NDB). India holds the Chairship of BRICS for 2021. This year, India chose the theme of ‘Intra BRICS Cooperation for Continuity, Consolidation and Consensus’ for its chairship.

About the meeting:

The BRICS ministers called for the need to adopt emerging new technologies, recognising it as an important tool for modernisation and transformation of industry, and promotion of economic growth.They also committed to play a constructive role towards the promotion of IPR, and expressed their intention to collaborate with NDB.The meeting concluded with the ministers committing to work together as a group, share best practices and move ahead in a positive and constructive manner to achieve the 2030 agenda for sustainable development.

Correct Answer – B. NK Singh

Explanation: N.K. Singh, the chairman of the Fifteenth Finance Commission, has been elected as thepresident of the Institute of Economic Growth (IEG) Society.He succeeds Dr. Manmohan Singh, former Prime Minister of India, who retired from the presidency of the IEG Society earlier this month.Tarun Das, former director general, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is the current chairman, board of governors and professor Ajit Mishra is the director of the institute.Founded by Dr. V.K.R.V. Rao, along with the Delhi School of Economics, the Institute of Economic Growth has been at the forefront of applied economics research since the 1950s. It has promoted inter-disciplinary and social science research since its inception.

Correct Answer – A. Export-oriented firms and startups

Explanation: Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched an ambitious ‘Ubharte Sitaare Fund’ for export-oriented firms and startups.The fund has been set up by Exim Bank and SIDBI.It will be launched in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.In her Budget speech last year, Sitharaman had mentioned that MSMEs are vital to keep the wheels of economy moving. They also create jobs, innovate and are risk takers.Accordingly, India Exim Bank’s Ubharte Sitaare Programme (USP) identifies Indian companies that have the potential to be future champions in the domestic arena while catering to global demands, said the release.The fund is expected to identify Indian enterprises with potential advantages by way of technology, products or processes along with export potential, but which are currently underperforming or unable to tap their latent potential to grow.Exim Bank and SIDBI have developed a pipeline of over 100 potential companies, including those in Uttar Pradesh across various sectors such as pharma, auto components, engineering solutions, agriculture, and software.

Correct Answer – D. Vietnam

Explanation: India and Vietnam navies have carried out bilateral maritime exercise in the South China Sea.Accordingly, Indian Naval Ship (INS) Ranvijay and INS Kora undertook bilateral maritime exercise with the Vietnam People’s Navy frigate VPNS Ly Thai To (HQ-012).This bilateral military exercise was conducted with the aim of consolidating a strong bond shared by both the navies. It is a step towards strengthening India-Vietnam defence relations.

Correct Answer – C. 20th August

Explanation: Akshay Urja Diwas (Renewable Energy Day) is observed every year on 20 August to raise awareness about the developments and adoption of renewable energy in India.The Akshay Urja Day was initiated by the Indian Ministry for New & Renewable Energy Sources in 2004.Energy such as Biogas, Solar Energy, Wind energy, hydroelectrical power is a few examples of Akshay Urja.The main motive of Akshya urja Diwas is to make people aware that they have to think about renewable energy (Akshya Urja) apart from traditional energy.

Correct Answer – C. The Human Race

Explanation: World Humanitarian Day is commemorated annually on August 19, 2021 to honour those who are working for a humanitarian cause across the world.The day is observed to pay tribute to all the people who lost their lives working for humanitarian causes and those who continue to provide protection and life-saving support to people in need.The theme of World Humanitarian Day is decided every year based on particular humanitarian crisis to raise awareness about it around the world.

Correct Answer – C. 2013

Explanation: Tamil actor Anandha Kannan passed away in August 2021. He was also a popular TV host. He was a part of a science fiction Tamil film Adisaya Ulagam (2012). Anandha Kannan was awarded the International Youth Icon at World Universities Tamil Conference in 2013 and the ‘Best Actor’ in Television Actors Guild Award (South India). He was also honoured as ‘best host’ for Savaal Singapore.

Correct Answer – D. 1000

Explanation: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal will inaugurate the country’s first smog tower on August 23, 2021, at Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Connaught Place, Delhi. The smog tower will clean 1,000 cubic metres of air every second and reduce PM 2.5 and PM 10 levels in Delhi. The scientists of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee will accordingly assess the performance of the tower and present a monthly report. It must be noted that Central Government is also constructing one such tower at Anand Vihar. This is being done after Supreme Court ordered both Delhi and Central Government to immediately install smog towers in the national capital.

Correct Answer – E. All 1, 2 and 3

Explanation: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on 19 August 2021 announced that Jorhat central jail would be preserved as a heritage site. The government will develop a heritage site in 100 bighas of jail land. During the freedom struggle, prominent freedom fighters such as former President Fakaruddin Ali Ahmed, Gopinath Bordoloi (first Chief Minister of Assam), and Kamakhya Tripathi were imprisoned in this jail. Freedom fighters Beja Bauri and Kamala Miri breathed their last inside this jail. Before that Maniram Dutta Baruah, popularly known as Maniram Dewan, a pioneer in tea cultivation in Assam was hung at Jorhat jail for conspiring against the British in 1858.The Jorhat Central Jail, formerly known as Jorhat District Jail was constructed during the British rule in India in 1909 and was opened in 1911. It has a total capacity to house 670 prisoners, including 24 women.

Correct Answer –  B. Sunil Lulla

Explanation: Sunil Lulla has quit as Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of television viewership monitoring agency BARC (Broadcast Audience Research Council) India. Lulla had joined the firm in October 2019, taking over from Partho Dasgupta, its first CEO.   BARC India is a Joint Industry Body founded by stakeholder bodies that represent Broadcasters, Advertisers, and Advertising and Media Agencies.