Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 21st January 2021

Correct Answer: C. 23rd January

Explanation: The birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, on January 23, as ‘Parakram Diwas’ every year, the Ministry of Culture announced. The day is celebrated to honour and remember Netaji’s indomitable spirit and selfless service to the nation. Earlier this month, the Ministry of Culture held a high-level committee, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in a befitting manner.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit West Bengal on January 23 to attend Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary celebrations at the Victorial Memorial in Kolkata. The PM is also likely to visit National Library located in Belvedere Estate, Alipore.

Correct Answer – D. Waman Subha Prabhu

Explanation: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant released a book ‘Manohar Parrikar- Off the Record’ at a function organized at Institute Menezes Braganza hall in the city. The book has been written by senior journalist Waman Subha Prabhu. The book ‘Manohar Parrikar- Off the Record’ is a collection of memories of Mr Prabhu who happened to be with late Parrikar during the journey of his life. In the book the author has endeavored to narrate multi-faceted personality of late Manohar Parrikar.

Correct Answer – D. United Kingdom

Explanation: UK unveiled new laws to protect England’s cultural and historic heritage in the form of statues and monuments. This was done to ensure that they are not removed at a whim. The move comes in the wake of Black Lives Matter protests in the country last year targeting several historic monuments, including with graffiti on Mahatma Gandhi’s statue in Parliament Square in London. Under the new regulations, if the council intends to grant permission for removal of a particular statue and Historic England objects, the Communities Secretary will be notified so he or she can make the final decision about the application in question.

Correct Answer – A. Japan

Explanation:  India and Japan have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) on a basic partnership framework for operation of the ‘specified skilled worker’ (SSW) system. SSW is a new status of residence created in Japan in April, 2019, to accept foreign nationals who have a certain level of expertise and skill. Indian nationals with certain professional and language skills will be eligible to work under the SSW system. There are 14 specified industry fields that fall under SSW and workers and professionals in those sectors could be eligible.

Correct Answer – C. Bilkis dadi

Explanation: Bilkis dadi and social activist and writer Harsh Mander of Karwan-e-Mohabbat were presented the Quaide Milleth Award. Dadi was the face of the Shaheen Bagh anti-CAA protests. Both were awarded for Probity in Political and Public Life at the India Islamic Cultural Centre, New Delhi. The award consists of a shawl, citation and cash of ₹2.5 lakh. Both recipients had made a mark in public life with their determination and zeal to protect the secular fabric of the country.

Correct Answer – B. France

Explanation: India and France will carry out a five-day Mega Air Ex- Desert Knight 21 near Jodhpur. It is expected to see Rafale jets of the two countries engaging in complex maneuvers to enhance operational coordination. The aim of the exercise is to provide operational exposure and share best practices towards enhancing combat capability. Both the air forces will deploy frontline fighter jets as well as transport, and tanker aircraft in the exercise.

Correct Answer – D. ‘Clean India, Green India, Yeh Hai Mera Dream India’

Explanation: National Cadet Corps, NCC has organized ‘Swachhata Pakhwada’ at India Gate, New Delhi. The event was inaugurated by Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar. The theme of this Swachhata Pakhwada is ‘Clean India, Green India, Yeh Hai Mera Dream India’. During the Swachhata Pakhwada the NCC cadets will keep Rajpath clean for the Republic Day Parade – 2021 by spreading awareness through displaying banners, distribution of pamphlets and showcasing Swachhata through Nukkad Nataks.

Correct Answer – B. Rakshita

Explanation: Defence Research and Development Organisation has handed over Motor Bike Ambulance Rakshita to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). The bike ambulance will help in overcoming the problems faced by Indian security forces and emergency health care providers. The bike ambulances will provide life-saving aid for the evacuation of injured patients from low-intensity conflict areas.

• Rakshita is fitted with a customized reclining Casualty Evacuation Seat (CES), which can be fitted in and taken out as per requirement.
• Other major features are the head immobilizer, safety harness jacket, hand and foot straps for safety, adjustable footrest, physiological parameter measuring equipment with wireless monitoring capability and auto warning system for the driver.
• The bike ambulance will help in overcoming the problems faced by Indian security forces and emergency health care providers. The bike ambulances will provide life-saving aid for the evacuation of injured patients from low-intensity conflict areas.

Correct Answer – D. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Explanation: The US-India Business Council (USIBC) has selected three top corporate leaders as the Vice-Chairs of 2021 Global Board of Directors of USIBC with immediate effect. The three new appointees will now work with USIBC President Nisha Biswal and the Council’s policy directors, for strengthening US-India commercial relationship for the future.

The three newly appointed VCs are

• Biocon Executive Chairperson: Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw.
• Amway CEO: Milind Pant.
• Vice-chair at Nasdaq: Edward Knight.

Correct Answer – D. Ramchandra Guha

Explanation: Ramchandra Guha’s latest book ‘The Commonwealth of Cricket’ would be launching virtually in the Tata Literature Live (The Mumbai Lit fest) this month. His latest book juxtaposes his life with his abiding love for the game & this conversation could not come at a better time with India and Australia in the midst of an enthralling test series.

• In his upcoming book, ‘The commonwealth of cricket: The most subtle and sophisticated game known to mankind’, Guha has penned down his personal account of being intimately involved with the game starting from the time he was a child growing up in Dehradun to his days in college, from his encounters with the best Indian and foreign cricket players to becoming part of the BCCI.
• As he traces his multifaceted encounters with the game through anecdotes, memoirs and evocative portraits of cricketing legends, he charts the extraordinary social and historical changes that cricket underwent in India and the world.

Correct Answer – C. Suryoday Small Finance Bank

Explanation: Paytm Payments Bank Ltd (PPBL) has announced its partnership with Suryoday Small Finance Bank to facilitate fixed deposit services to its account holders. With this new partnership, PPBL has become the first payments bank in the country to launch the multi-partner FD service where an account holder can select the partnered bank as per their preference. The payments bank facilitates zero penalty charges for liquidation of the fixed deposit placed with either of the partnered banks.

Correct Answer – C. Ladakh

Explanation: In Ladakh, Khelo India 1st Zanskar Winter Sports Festival began recently.  Engaging the youth and opening new vistas of tourism in Zanskar are the main aims of the festival. A series of snow-based activities are scheduled for the next 13 days in Zanskar. Chadar Trek was also inaugurated as part of the festival.

Correct Answer – D. Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan

Explanation:  Legendary Indian classical musician and Padma Vibhushan awardee Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan passed away. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1991, the Padma Bhusan in 2006, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2018. In 2003, he was also awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, which is the highest recognition given to practising Indian artists by the Sangeet Natak Akademi.

Correct Answer – C. Carolina Marin

Explanation: Reigning Olympic champion Carolina Marin bolstered her chances of defending her title in Tokyo later this year after claiming the Thailand Open in Bangkok over top seed Tai Tzu-Ying. The Yonex Thailand Open Super 1000 badminton tournament was held from 12 January 2021 to 17 January 2021. It was the first badminton tournament of 2021 by Badminton World Federation (BWF).

Winners of Singles Title:

• Men’s Category: Viktor Axelsen (Denmark) defeated Angus Long (Hong Kong) to clinch the Men’s Singles Title.
• Women’s Category: Carolina Marin (Spain) defeated Tai Tzu-Ying (Taiwan) to bag the Women’s Singles Title.

Winners of Doubles Title:

• In the Men’s Doubles, Taiwan’s Lee Yang & Wang Chi-Lin beat Malaysia’s Goh V Shem & Tan Wee Kiong to bag the Doubles Title.
• In the Women’s Doubles, Indonesia’s Greysia Polii & Apriyani Rahayu defeated Thailand’s Jongkolphan Kititharakul & Rawinda Prajongjai to clinch the Doubles Title.

Winners of Mixed Doubles:

• Thailand’s Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai defeated Indonesia’s Praveen Jordan & Melati Daeva Oktavianti to clinch the mixed doubles title.