Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 23rd December 2020

Correct Answer: C. Paytm

Explanation: Digital financial services platform Paytm has launched a 24×7 RTGS facility to support the companies that make high-value transactions. It also enables businesses to make bulk and instant money transfers to their employees, vendors & partners. Customers can instantly make bulk payments to Bank Accounts, UPI addresses, and Paytm Wallets through Paytm Payouts’ APIs and Paytm for Business Dashboard.

Paytm Payout is the only service provider that offers seamless round the clock money transfers through Wallet, UPI, IMPS, NEFT & RTGS. The company has made this announcement after Reserve Bank of India (RBI) decision to make RTGS facility 24×7. This service saves time and resources and it is beneficial for SME & large enterprises who use it to adopt an automated payment mechanism.

Correct Answer – C. US $4.21 million

Explanation: The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a US $4.21 million project readiness financing (PRF) facility for the preparation of infrastructure development projects to improve urban amenities and develop tourism infrastructure in Tripura. This is ADB’s first PRF facility for a state in the northeastern region of India.

The facility will support the Tripura Government’s priorities of improving urban services and tourism infrastructure that will help boost economic development. The facility aims to ensure high readiness of ensuing infrastructure projects through feasibility studies, preparing detailed engineering designs, and capacity building of state-level agencies while ensuring climate and disaster resilience and sustainability of sub-projects.

Correct Answer – A. Operation Vijay

Explanation: Goa Liberation Day is observed on 19 December every year in India and it marks the day Indian armed forces freed Goa in 1961 following 450 years of Portuguese rule. Goa Liberation Day is marked by an abundance of events and festivities in Goa though this time because of the pandemic the celebrations are expected to be muted. A torchlight procession is ignited from three different locations in the state, eventually all meeting at the Azad Maidan.

The 36-hour military operation, conducted from December 18, 1961, was code-named ‘Operation Vijay’ meaning ‘Operation Victory,’ and involved attacks by the Indian Navy, Indian Air Force and Indian Army.

Correct Answer – C. Haryana

Explanation:  Skill India has established the first Centre of Excellence for Skill Development in Power Sector in the campus of National Institute of Solar Energy, Gurugram Haryana. The Centre of Excellence will focus on creating a pool of highly skilled trainers and assessors for further training to increase the employability of candidates in the field of electricity, automation and solar energy sectors.

Correct Answer – D. Feroz Ahmad Khan

Explanation: In Ladakh, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, LAHDC Kargil CEC Kargil Feroz Ahmad Khan laid the foundation stone of Agriculture Processing and Marketing Centre, Kurbathang.  He later inaugurated training and awareness camp for farmers and self-help groups. The centre will come up at a cost of Rs. 2.5 crores.

Correct Answer – B. Sreenivas Karanam

Explanation: Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has presented the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Telecom Skill Excellence Awards, including a cash award of Rs 50,000 and Rs 30,000 respectively, to both awardees. The nominations were called for the first time for the year 2018.

First Prize: Sreenivas Karanam, Bengaluru was selected for the FIRST prize for his contribution in developing a cost-effective customized technical solution under the brand ‘C mobile’, for deep-sea communication, operating along the Kerala coast, facilitating communication among fishermen and issue of weather alerts etc.

Second Prize: Subrat Kar, New Delhi was selected for the SECOND prize for his innovative solution on development & deployment of a large scale sensor network and devices to avoid a train-animal collision, which works without interfering with natural movements/behaviour of animals, thereby helping in wildlife conservation. The system under the pilot phase is installed in Rajaji National Park in Uttarakhand, to prevent elephant deaths by train-elephant collision.

Correct Answer – B. USD 100 million

Explanation: The World Bank has approved 4 India projects worth over $800 million. The projects will support a range of development initiatives that supports the efforts of India to rebuild itself by creating a sustainable and resilient economy. The projects that have been approved are:

• $400 million Second Accelerating India’s COVID-19 Social Protection Response Program.
• $100 million Chhattisgarh Inclusive Rural and Accelerated Agriculture Growth Project (CHIRAAG).
• $68 million Nagaland: Enhancing Classroom Teaching and Resources Project.
• $250 million Second Dam Improvement and Rehabilitation Project (DRIP-2).

Correct Answer – C. Uttar Pradesh

Explanation: The Uttar Pradesh government has launched a special campaign ‘Varasat’ (natural succession) to curb property & land-related disputes in rural areas. This is a first of its kind campaign in the state which aims to put an end the land-related issues in the rural areas and eradicate the exploitation of the villagers over succession rights by land mafias, who generally target disputed properties. The two-month-long special drive will continue till 15th February 2020.

Under the arrangements, the villagers will get both online and offline facilities for registering their ‘Varasat’. For the people who have landed in the village but they are living at some other place, a special counter will be opened at the Tehsil-level where they can apply for the same.

Benefits of the scheme:

• People will get proper paper documents for their land property.
• They can even avail loans from banks.
• It would be helpful in minimizing disputes and animosity within families and relatives.
• Villagers would also get rid of facing lawsuits, that sometimes trail for generations.
• All the information related to such land will be uploaded on the website of the revenue board based on which the progress of the scheme will be reviewed.

Correct Answer – A. UNESCO

Explanation:  The ‘State of the Education Report for India 2020: Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), was launched virtually by UNESCO. Over 400 representatives have participated that includes the government, civil society, academia, partners, and youth. The second edition of the State of Education Report focuses on technical and vocational education and training (TVET). India’s often cited demographic dividend, the aspirations of its youth and the skill requirements of the growing economy – all hinge on a well-functioning TVET system for achieving an inclusive and equitable growth that will propel the country to the next phase of socio-economic development.

The report aims to support the Government of India which has already announced skills development as a key national priority under the Skill India Mission.

Correct Answer – A. Oman

Explanation: Oman, India’s oldest strategic partner in West Asia, has announced to establish Oman-India Friendship Association, in what would be the first such initiative in West Asia led by the Foreign Ministry. Oman’s Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi held detailed dialogue with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar on giving further momentum to strategic ties. The aim of the association to provide a platform that promotes friendship, understanding and matters of mutual interest between Oman and India business and social communities in the Sultanate.

Correct Answer – D. Pakistan

Explanation: Sri Lanka will host the 2021 Edition of Asia Cup, Cricket tournament and Pakistan will host the 2022 Edition of Asia Cup, Cricket tournament. In July 2020, Asia Cup’s Governing body, Asia Cricket Council (ACC) announced that the 2020 Edition of Asia Cup was cancelled due to Pandemic. The 2020 Edition was originally set to be hosted by Pakistan, as it was cancelled Pakistan were awarded to host the 2022 Edition as Compensation.

Asia Cup is a men’s One Day International (ODI) & Twenty20 International Cricket Tournament. It is organized by ACC, which has 5 full members – India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh & Afghanistan. India were the Champions of the Last Edition of the Asia Cup (2018) held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Correct Answer – B. Zimbabwe

Explanation: Zimbabwe will host the qualifiers of the 2023 ODI World Cup between June 18 and July 9, according to a revised scheduled announced by the ICC due to the postponements caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. India, the hosts of the rescheduled 2023 ODI World Cup, along with seven other top Super League teams will qualify directly for the tournament to be held in October-November. The bottom five teams from the Super League will compete in the 2023 World Cup qualifier, joining the best three teams from League 2.

Correct Answer – C. 23rd December

Explanation:  National Farmer’s Day (Kisan Diwas) is observed every year on 23 December in India to remember the role of Indian farmers in the economy. The day is observed to mark the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh. He brought farmer-friendly policies and worked towards the welfare of the farmers. He was the fifth Prime Minister of India and served the country as Prime Minister from 28 July 1979 to 14 January 1980.

Correct Answer – B. Sanskrit

Explanation: Senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ideologue, MG Vaidya has passed away. He was a veteran journalist, a Sanskrit scholar, and the first official spokesperson of the RSS. He became a member of the RSS in 1943.