Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 21st & 22nd May 2023

Correct Answer:  B. 2027

Explanation:  According to the report titled “The Wealth Report 2023” published by Knight Frank, India’s Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individuals (UHNWI) are estimated to increase 58.4% in the next 5 years from 12,069 in 2022 to 19,119 individuals in 2027. UHNWI is someone with a net worth of USD 30 million or more, including their primary residence. The report stated that India’s billionaire population is expected to increase from 161 individuals in 2022 to 195 individuals in 2027. The report also stated that the high-net-worth individual (HNWI) population will also rise by around 107% in a five-year period. The HNWI population is expected to increase from 797,714 persons in 2022 to 1.65 million in 2027. HNWI is someone with a net worth of USD 1 million or more, including their primary residence.

After a record rise of 9.3% in 2021, the global population of UHNWIs declined by 3.8% in 2022. The global UHNW population grew by 44% in the last five years and it is expected to slow to 28.5% over the next five years. In India, UHNWI population registered a decline of 7.5% in 2022 compared to 2021. The rise in interest rates and the appreciation of the USD impacted the growth of wealth in India. The rise in interest rates and the appreciation of the USD impacted the growth of wealth in India. The HNWI population recorded a year-on-year growth of 4.5% in 2022 and the billionaire population in India increased by 11% y-o-y in 2022, compared to 2021.

Correct Answer:  B. Telangana

Explanation:  Mohammed Mahmood Ali, Minister of Home, Prisons, and Fire Services of Telangana, inaugurated the “SAHAS” initiative, which means ‘Courage’, aimed at enhancing support systems for women facing workplace sexual harassment. SAHAS is the first-of-its-kind initiative in India, involving collaboration. The SAHAS project was developed by Shikha Goel, DGP (Director General of Police) Women Safety Wing. The initiative includes the launch of the Sahas Microsite, Sahas Sathi Chatbot, Sahas Whatsapp Number, Forum, and online support facilities in Hyderabad, Telangana.

Correct Answer:  D. Aditya Birla Capital

Explanation:  Aditya Birla Capital has launched an MSME-focused portal named Udyog Plus. It provides capital and other business solutions to small businesses, including investments, advisory services, and utility services. It offers online loans up to Rs 10 lakhs to MSMEs through various product offerings such as supply chain finance. Loans up to Rs 2 lakhs are provided without collateral or documentation. For loans above Rs 2 lakhs, MSMEs are required to submit financial statements, ITR, and GST returns.

Correct Answer:  C. Kalari

Explanation:  In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the well-known Kalari from the Udhampur District will be served at the G20 Summit being held in Srinagar next week, as a special Dogra culinary item. This initiative has been taken by the Government of India and the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory to promote the Kalari on a global scale. Women in the district of Udhampur have been producing Kalari for decades, selling it at the market to make a living, but they haven’t achieved fame on a national or international scale.

Jammu and Kashmir Rural Livelihood Mission (UMEED) has given Kalari a new lease on life, and after joining the organisation, women now make more money from their produce. Many women who are part of a self-help group in the Dheeran village of Udhampur district, which is sponsored by UMEED, now prepare large quantities of Kalaris at home and are now getting good prices for their produce. Sonia Rajput, a member of a self-help group and a Kalari maker, said that they are all very thrilled that their Kalari is now quickly gaining international fame. She said, “Right now, we are preparing a sizable number of Kalaris for the G20 Meeting, which will take place in Srinagar soon.”

Correct Answer:  C. Ghaziabad-Aligarh Expressway

Explanation:  The Ghaziabad-Aligarh Expressway has created history by achieving a stupendous feat of laying bituminous concrete covering a distance of 100 lane kilometres in just 100 hours. Shri Nitin Gadkari congratulated the team of Cube Highways, L&T and Ghaziabad-Aligarh Expressway Private Limited (GAEPL) for their stupendous achievement. The 118 km Ghaziabad Expressway section of NH-34 plays an important role as a transport link between the densely populated Ghaziabad and Aligarh. The project passes through various cities like Dadri, Gautam Budh Nagar, Sikandrabad, Bulandshahr, and Khurja. It serves as an important trade route, facilitates movement of goods and contributes to regional economic development by connecting industrial areas, agricultural areas and educational institutions.

For sustainability and cost-effectiveness, the project has implemented the use of Cold Central Plant Recycling (CCPR) technology. This innovative green technology involves the use of 90 percent milled material, which is equivalent to approximately 2 million square meters of road surface. As a result, the consumption of virgin material is reduced by only 10 percent. Adopting this approach has significantly reduced fuel consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions, thereby contributing significantly to reducing the carbon footprint.

Correct Answer:  B. 2040

Explanation:  Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri stated that India is projected to account for 25 percent of global energy demand growth in the next two decades. Speaking at the Asian Petrochemical Industry Conference in New Delhi today, the Minister emphasized the potential of the Indian chemicals and petrochemicals sector, which currently stands at a market size of 190 billion dollars. Mr Puri highlighted that the sector aligns with the government’s Make in India initiative and can transform India into a global manufacturing hub. The Minister also mentioned that the Indian petrochemical industry is expected to contribute nearly ten percent to the incremental growth in global petrochemical demand. He said, the country’s chemicals and petrochemicals demand is estimated to reach one trillion dollars by 2040.

Correct Answer:  D. Uttar Pradesh

Explanation:  The Uttar Pradesh government and its agencies procured goods and services worth Rs 12,152 crore from the union commerce ministry’s platform Government e-marketplace (GeM) during last fiscal year. It was followed by Gujarat (Rs 7,964 crore), Maharashtra (Rs 4,130 crore), Jammu and Kashmir (Rs 1,999 crore) and Madhya Pradesh (Rs 1,983 crore). Overall procurement of goods and services from GeM has crossed Rs 2 lakh crore this fiscal year on account of an increase in buying activities by different ministries, departments and states. The GeM portal was launched on August 9, 2016 for online purchases of goods and services by all the central government ministries and departments.

GeM has over 63,000 government buyer organisations, over 6 crore sellers and service providers offering a wide range of products and services.Among central government ministries, the power ministry was the top buyer in 2022-23 from the platform. The ministry procured goods and services worth Rs 30,572.9 crore . It was followed by the defence ministry (Rs 28,741.2 crore), Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (Rs 28,157.2 crore), steel ministry (Rs 12,527.3 crore), and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Rs 7,158.3 crore). South Korea’s KONEPS is the largest such platform in the world. Currently, GeM stands at the third position after Singapore’s GeBIZ.

Correct Answer:  C. 21st May

Explanation:  International Tea Day is an annual observance on May 21st to celebrate the long history and cultural significance of tea around the world. The day also aims to raise awareness of the importance of tea in fighting hunger and poverty, as well as the sustainable production and consumption of tea.

• Tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world, with over 2 billion cups consumed every day. It is grown in over 50 countries, and the tea industry employs millions of people worldwide. Tea is also a major source of income for many developing countries.
• The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed May 21st as International Tea Day in 2019. The day is an opportunity to celebrate the many benefits of tea, and to raise awareness of the challenges facing the tea industry.

Correct Answer:  B. MH60R

Explanation:  MH-60R helicopter undertakes maiden landing at sea. The Indian Navy’s MH60R helicopter has achieved a significant milestone by landing on the INS Kolkata.  It is known for its exceptional surveillance, anti-shipping, and Search and Rescue capabilities. The integration of the MH60R helicopter with Indian Navy warships will further strengthen the Navy’s capability to counter underwater threats and conduct surveillance operations. According to Indian Navy, the MH60R helicopter is a versatile platform known for its exceptional ASW, surveillance, anti-shipping and Search and Rescue capabilities.

Correct Answer:  C. 21st May

Explanation:  India observes the National Anti-Terrorism Day on May 21 every year. The day is observed to commemorate the death of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, who was assassinated on this day in 1991. The day is also observed to spread awareness about the dangers of terrorism and to reaffirm India’s commitment to combating terrorism. On National Anti-Terrorism Day, government offices and other public institutions hold special events to commemorate the day. These events often include speeches by government officials, the laying of wreaths at the memorials of victims of terrorism, and the reading of the Anti-Terrorism Pledge. On this day, various events and activities are organized across the country to educate people about the destructive impact of terrorism and to emphasize the importance of peace, harmony, and national security. The objective is to raise public awareness about the threats posed by terrorism and to foster a sense of solidarity among citizens in combating this global menace.

Correct Answer:  D. Ankur Bhattacharjee

Explanation:  The 3-day international event South Asian Youth Table Tennis Championship 2023 concluded in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh. Indian contingent bagged all gold medals that were on offer, here on the final day of the event at the Dorjee Khandu Indoor Stadium. In the Under-19 Boys singles, Ankur Bhattacharjee defeated Payas Jain. Suhana Saini won the Under-19 Girls singles. In this event more more than 100 athletes and officials from six countries Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Nepal participated.

Correct Answer:  C. 22nd May

Explanation:  Every year on May 22, the world marks the International Day for Biological Diversity to increase understanding and encourage the preservation of the Earth’s diverse ecosystems. This significant day serves as a reminder of the crucial role biodiversity plays and emphasizes the urgency to safeguard and revive it. In 2023, particular attention is given to moving beyond mere pledges and translating them into tangible measures that actively restore and conserve biodiversity. The theme for International Day for Biological Diversity 2023 is “From Agreement to Action: Build Back Biodiversity.” This theme reflects the urgent need to move beyond commitments and translate them into tangible actions to restore and protect biodiversity.

Correct Answer:  B. Kazakhstan

Explanation:  In Italian Open Tennis, Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan won the women’s singles title defeating Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina 6-4, 1-0, on 20th May at theInternazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome. It was Rybakina’s second title of the year. With this, Rybakina won the fifth singles title of her career. 7th seed Rybakina defeated 30th seed Kalinina to win the trophy. Kalinina was ruled out of the final due to a left thigh injury. The men’s singles final of the tournament will be played between Denmark’s Holger Rune and Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in Rome.

In the Italian Open final, world number three tennis star Daniil Medvedev defeated Holger Roon on 21 May to win his first claycourt title. In the men’s singles final, the Russian player defeated the 20-year-old Danish player 7-5, 7-5. This is Medvedev’s fifth title of 2023 and the win has lifted him above Novak Djokovic to the second spot in the world rankings. He won his 20th career title. He will also be seeded second in the French Open, which begins on 28th of this month at Roland Garros. Hugo Nieves and Jan Zielinskihave captured the men’s doubles title in Rome. The Monegasque-Polish pair won their first ATP Masters 1000 title by defeating Robin Haase and Bottic van de Zandschulp 7-5, 6-1 in the men’s doubles final. The Australian-Belgian pair of Storm Hunter and Elise Mertens defeated top-seeded Americans Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula 6-4 6-4 to become the women’s doubles champions. Earlier, Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina won her fourth WTA title with a win in the women’s singles final.

Correct Answer:  B. Rs 7 lakh

Explanation:  The Indian government has recently announced a relaxation in the Tax Collected At Source (TCS) rules for international transactions made using debit or credit cards. Starting from July 1, 2023, individuals conducting international transactions up to Rs 7 lakh will be exempt from the 20 percent TCS levy. This exemption will also exclude these transactions from the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) limits of $250,000 per annum.

The government’s decision to relax the TCS rules on international transactions aims to alleviate the burden on individuals conducting small transactions and avoid procedural ambiguities that may have arisen from recent amendments to the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). It is important to note that this relaxation applies only to transactions made by individuals and does not extend to transactions charged to institutional or corporate credit cards.