Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 20th May 2021

Correct Answer: C. Maharashtra

Explanation: A consignment of Dahanu Gholvad Sapota, a Geographical Indication (GI) certified product from the Palghar district of Maharashtra was shipped to the UK on 19 May 2021.GI certification of Ghovad Sapota is held by Maharashtra Rajya Chikoo Utpadak Sangh and the fruit is known for its sweet and unique taste.It is believed that the taste is derived from the calcium-rich soil of Gholvad village.

Maharashtra:

• Chief Minister – Uddhav Thackeray.
• Governor – Bhagat Singh Koshyari.
• Number of Districts – 36.

Correct Answer – D. Cipla Limited

Explanation: Cipla Limited has launched ‘ViraGen’, a polymerase chain reaction (Covid-19 RT-PCR) test for Covid-19 in India.It has announced the commercialization of it in partnership with Ubio Biotechnology Systems Pvt. Ltd.ViraGen is the company’s third offering in the Covid-19 testing segment.It helps to identify and detect SARS CoV-2 N Gene and ORF Lab Gene with a sensitivity of 98.6%.

Correct Answer – C. 2,000

Explanation: Now Money kept in various online wallets like Amazon pay, Ola money, Mobikwik, Phone pe, Delhi Metro Card, etc. can be withdrawn using an ATM or Point of Sale Terminal.RBI has permitted cash withdrawal of Rs. 2,000 per transaction with a maximum limit of Rs. 10,000 per month.Now maximum of two lakh rupees can be kept in various wallets after completion of full KYC.

Correct Answer – D. Dr S Jaishankar

Explanation:  External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on 19 May 2021, addressed the UN Security Council on peace and security in Africa.He informed that India has helped 42 countries in the African continent deal with the covid crisis.He spoke about 189 Indian projects in 41 African countries, 43 thousand education and training slots in the last five years, and 17 digital programs.

Correct Answer – B. Indian Navy

Explanation: Indian Navy has designed an Oxygen Recycling System, ORS to mitigate the current oxygen crisis.The Diving School of the Southern Naval Command of the Indian Navy has conceptualized and designed the system to alleviate the existing Oxygen shortage.It is designed to extend the life of the existing medical oxygen cylinders two to four times.

Correct Answer – B. Professor Shankar Balasubramanian

Explanation: Cambridge University chemists Shankar Balasubramanian and David Klenerman were declared the winners of the 2020 Millennium Technology Prize.It is a prestigious global science and technology prize awarded for their development of revolutionary sequencing techniques which means DNA can now be read in super-fast times.The prize, awarded by Technology Academy Finland (TAF) at two-year intervals since 2004 – when Sir Tim Berners-Lee was honoured for his discovery of the World Wide Web – to highlight the extensive impact of science and innovation on the wellbeing of society, is worth Euro 1 million.Sir Balasubramanian, an India-born British professor of medicinal chemistry, and Sir Klenerman, a British biophysical chemist, co-invented the Solexa-Illumina Next Generation DNA Sequencing (NGS), technology enabling fast, accurate, low-cost and large-scale genome sequencing.

Correct Answer – A. GPL Finance and Investments Ltd.

Explanation:  The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the acquisition of 100 percent equity shares of YES Asset Management Ltd and YES Trustee Limited by GPL Finance and Investments Limited (GPL).YES AMC and YES Trustee were the wholly-owned subsidiaries of YES Bank.Through these acquisitions, GPL will acquire Yes Mutual Fund and become its sole sponsor and it marks the exit of the YES bank from the mutual fund market.

Correct Answer – D. 20th May

Explanation: World Bee Day is observed globally on 20th May every year. On this date, 20 May, the pioneer of beekeeping Anton Janša was born in 1734 in Slovenia.The purpose of the bee day is to acknowledge the role of bees and other pollinators in the ecosystem.About 33% of the world’s food production depends on bees thus they are vital for the preservation of biodiversity, ecological balance in nature and helpful in reducing pollution.The theme of World Bee Day 2021 is “Bee engaged: Build Back Better for Bees”.

Correct Answer – C. Tamil

Explanation: Eminent Tamil writer, novelist, and Sahitya Akademi awardee Rayangala Shri Krishna Raja Narayana Perumal Ramanujam Naicker foundly known as Ki Rajanarayanan passed away at the age of 97 due to age related health-issues in Puducherry.He was born on 16 September 1923 in Kovilpatti,Tamil Nadu.Ki. Rajanarayanan was honored with Sahitya Academy award in 1991 for his novel ‘Gopalla Purathu Makkal’.He is famously called by his Tamil initials as KiRa, he was known as the pioneer of ‘Karisal Literature’.He also served as a member of Sahitya Akademi General Council and advisory board from 1998 to 2002.

Correct Answer – D. Karanataka

Explanation: Karnataka has been ranked as the Number One state in establishing a Health & Wellness Centre (HWC) under the Ayushman Bharat project for the year 2020-21.HWCs are established to provide comprehensive primary healthcare in rural areas.Ayushman Bharat was launched in 2018 with its two main pillars of HWCs & Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY).The Central Government has set a target of 1.5 lakh functional AB-HWCs by December 2022.

Correct Answer – A. China

Explanation: China has successfully sent a new ocean-monitoring satellite into orbit as part of its effort to build an all-weather and round-the-clock dynamic ocean environment monitoring system that would provide early warning on marine disasters. The satellite was launched by a Long March-4B rocket carrying the Haiyang-2D (HY-2D) satellite from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China.

About the satellite:

The HY-2D will form a constellation with the HY-2B and HY-2C satellites to build an all-weather and round-the-clock dynamic ocean environment monitoring system of high frequency and medium and large scale.The HY-2D was developed by the China Academy of Space Technology, and the carrier rocket by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology.China’s space programme made significant advancements last week when it landed a spacecraft on Mars, becoming the second country after the United States to have a rover on the red planet.

Important Points:

• China National Space Administration Founded: 22 April 1993;
• China National Space Administration Administrator: Zhang Kejian;
• China National Space Administration Headquarters: Haidian District, Beijing, China.

Correct Answer – E. Measurement for Health

Explanation: World Metrology Day is observed globally on 20th May every year. Many nations on this day, internationally collaborate to create awareness about metrology and its advancement in the respective field. The theme for World Metrology Day 2021 is Measurement for Health. This theme was chosen to create awareness of the important role measurement plays in health, and thus in the wellbeing of every one of us.

History of the World Metrology Day:

World Metrology Day is an annual celebration of the signature of the Metre Convention on 20 May 1875 in Paris, France by representatives of seventeen nations. The World Metrology Day project is realized jointly by the International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML) and Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM).

Important Points:

• International Organization of Legal Metrology Headquarters: Paris, France.
• International Organization of Legal Metrology Founded: 1955.

Correct Answer – E. USA

Explanation: India has moved a notch higher at the third spot on EY’s Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index due to exceptional performance on the solar photovoltaic (PV) front. India has moved one position above (3rd) from the previous index (4th), this is primarily because of the exceptional performance on the solar PV front. The US retains the top position on RECAI 57, China has remained a buoyant market and maintains the second position. India also committed to setting up 450 GW for renewable energy power capacity (installed) by 2030 in the recent climate summit hosted by the US.

Correct Answer –  B. West Bengal

Explanation: The West Bengal cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has approved the formation of the Legislative Council. At present, only Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Maharashtra, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh have Legislative Council. Previously, West Bengal had a bicameral legislature but it was abolished by the United Front government in 1969.

About the State Legislative Council:

The State Legislative Council is the Upper house of the state legislature.It is established under Article 169 of the Indian Constitution.The size of the State Legislative Council cannot be more than one-third of the members of the State Legislative Assembly.Parliament of India can create or abolish the State Legislative Council of a state if that state’s legislature passes a resolution for that with a special majority.

Important Points:

• Chief Minister of West Bengal: Mamata Banerjee; Governor: Jagdeep Dhankhar.