Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 24th & 25th January 2021

Correct Answer: B. Alappuzha

Explanation: The first-of-its-kind Labour Movement Museum, in India, would be launched in Alappuzha in Kerala, to showcase the history of the world labour movement. The museum will portray the growth of the world labour movement and the history of Kerala’s labour movement, through pictures, documents and other exhibits. Alappuzha is famous as the global houseboat tourism hub. The New Model Cooperative Society Limited, previously run by the Bombay Company, has been converted into the Labour Movement Museum. It will portray, through pictures, documents and other exhibits, the growth of the world labour movement and the history of Keralas labour movement.

Correct Answer – A. Bihar

Explanation: The Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar has inaugurated the first-ever bird festival of the state, ‘Kalrav’, at Nagi-Nakti bird sanctuary, located in Jamui district. The festival was organized by the state environment, forest and climate change department to create awareness among people about birds, especially the migratory birds. He will also launch the logo of the bird festival and also release a coffee table book on the birds available at the sanctuaries. About Nagi- Nakti Bird Sanctuaries

• The Nagi- Nakti Bird Sanctuaries have been the home of a wide variety of indigenous species of birds and of migratory birds that turn up during the winters from places like Eurasia, Central Asia, the Arctic Circle, Russia and Northern China.
• Over 136 species of birds have been spotted at these sanctuaries.
• Not just that, around 1,600 bar-headed geese, which is about 3% of the global population of this variety, have been seen here, as per a report of the Wetlands International and because of this rare phenomenon, the Birdlife International, a global body, has held the Nagi Dam Bird Sanctuary to be globally important for the conservation of birds’ population and has declared it as an important bird area.

Correct Answer – D. Aatmanirbhar Bharat – Start of New Decade

Explanation: The India Digital Summit, the flagship event of the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) is one of the biggest conferences for the digital industry. Honourable Union Minister for Communications, Electronics & IT and Law & Justice, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, who is the chief guest, will deliver the inaugural address at the Summit. About the summit:

• The summit, in its 15th year, will bring thought leadership on various digital initiatives that will cover Policies, Business, Investment, Advertising, Digital Commerce, Start-ups Ecosystem, Emerging Tech, and other Digital Trends.
• The theme for this year’s summit, which is being held virtually is ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat – Start of New Decade’ in line with the government’s ‘Make for the World’ Initiatives.
• The staggering increase in the total number of internet users in rural India recently presents us with the unique opportunity to establish India as a global powerhouse of Digital Growth.

Correct Answer – D. Himachal Pradesh

Explanation: Himachal Pradesh CM Jai Ram Thakur launched the state’s first online youth radio station ‘Radio Hills-Youngistan Ka Dil’. The online radio station would help in promoting culture and traditions of the state besides providing an opportunity to the youth to exhibit their talents. The platform would also be available on Apple i-phones, besides Android.

Correct Answer – A. 7.8%

Explanation: The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the ₹1,500-crore Flipkart-Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd (ABFRL) deal. It will help Flipkart consolidate its position in the apparel business. CCI has approved the acquisition of a 7.8% minority stake in Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd by Flipkart Investments Private Ltd. The deal was announced in October 2020.

Correct Answer – C. Maharashtra

Explanation: Leading stock exchange BSE has joined hands with the Maharashtra government to create awareness about the benefits of listing among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) of the state. In this regard, BSE has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the government of Maharashtra. This MoU will help the micro, small and medium industries in the state to get registered in the capital market and raise capital from the public capital market. BSE will also provide technical support to all the MSME industries in Maharashtra.

Correct Answer – D. Madhya Pradesh

Explanation: Madhya Pradesh has become the first State to give electricity subsidy through Direct Benefit Transfer. With this, it has fulfilled a power reform condition as proposed by the Centre and thus eligible for additional borrowing. The scheme has been implemented in Vidisha district of the State, where electricity is bring supplied through the MP Madhya Kshetra Vidyut Vitaran Co Ltd with effect from December 2020. Under the scheme, an amount of ₹32.07 crore was transferred to the bank accounts of 60,081 beneficiaries in December.

This made the State eligible to mobilise additional financial resources equivalent to 0.15 per cent of its Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). Accordingly, the Expenditure Department under the Finance Ministry gave a go-ahead to borrow additional ₹1,423 crore through Open Market Borrowings.

Correct Answer – C. Karnataka

Explanation: NITI Aayog released the second edition of the India Innovation Index on 20 January 2021, along with the Institute for Competitiveness. India Innovation Index 2.0 or 2nd edition has released by NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Rajiv Kumar. The index demonstrates the government’s continued commitment towards transforming the country into an innovation-driven economy. The report examines the innovation capabilities and performance of the states and union territories.

The innovation index ranking is based on five enabler parameters:

• Human Capital
• Investment
• Knowledge Workers
• ‘Business Environment
• ‘Safety and Legal Environment

Two performance parameters:

• Knowledge Output
• Knowledge Diffusion

In the India Innovation Index-2020, the States and Union Territories have been divided into the 17 Major States, 9 City-States and Union Territories, and 10 North-East and Hill States.

In the 2020 ranking:

• Karnataka retained its first position in the Major States category. Maharashtra moved one position higher and stood at 2nd spot while Tamil Nadu slid to 3rd position.
• In the North East and Hill States category, Himachal Pradesh stands at first position followed by Uttarakhand and Manipur.
• Delhi stands at the first position while Chandigarh retained its second spot in the Union Territories and small States category.

Correct Answer – C. Rajiv Lochan

Explanation:  The board of Sundaram Finance has named Rajiv Lochan (director Strategy) as managing director with effect from April 1. Sundaram Finance Ltd has made top-level changes as the current managing director T.T. Srinivasaraghavan will be retiring on March 31, 2020. While the current deputy managing director Harsha Viji will assume the office of executive vice-chairman, and take responsibility for the overall strategy and direction of Sundaram Finance Ltd., and other group companies in financial services.

Correct Answer – C. Rishabh Pant

Explanation: Rishabh Pant was signed by JSW Sports, the sports arm of JSW Group. The multi-year association between the two parties will see JSW Sports manage all commercial interests and marketing rights of the 23-year-old cricketer, who most recently played a starring role in India’s magnificent Test series win in Australia. As part of the association, JSW Sports will manage the athlete’s image positioning and all his commercial engagements, including brand endorsements and appearances, social media monetisation, and business deals.

Ever since its inception in 2012, JSW Sports has worked towards maximising India’s sporting potential by working with promising Indian talents across Olympic sports, football, and kabaddi; including Olympic medalist Sakshi Malik and wrestling star Bajrang Punia.

Correct Answer – C. 24th January

Explanation: The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 24 January as International Day of Education, in celebration of the role of education for peace and development. The first-ever International Day of Education was celebrated on 24 January 2019 as per the resolution passed by the United Nations General Assembly on December 3rd 2018 to celebrate the role of education in development.

The third International Day of Education will be marked under the theme ‘Recover and Revitalize Education for the COVID-19 Generation’. Now is the time to power education by stepping up collaboration and international solidarity to place education and lifelong learning at the centre of the recovery.

Correct Answer – B. Mihir Dalal

Explanation: Mihir Dalal has won the Gaja Capital Business Book Prize 2020 for his debut book, Big Billion Startup: The Untold Flipkart Story. He was chosen from a shortlist of six books. Established by the equity firm Gaja Capital in 2020, the Gaja Business Book Prize seeks to recognize business writing. With prize money of ₹15 lakh for the winner, it is the biggest business book prize in the country.

Correct Answer – B. HDFC Bank

Explanation:  The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has imposed a fine of ₹1 crore on HDFC Bank. It has been fined for invoking securities pledged by BRH Wealth Kreators in violation of SEBI’s interim orders. The bank had extended loan facility of ₹87.75 cr against shares to BRH and BRH Commodities. However, it invoked securities pledged to the extent of ₹158.68 cr without giving any notice.

Correct Answer – C. Politics

Explanation: Former Arunachal Pradesh Governor Mata Prasad passed away in January 2021. Mata Prasad served as a Minister in the Congress government in Uttar Pradesh in 1988- 89 and was appointed as the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh in 1993. He belonged to the Jaunpur district in Uttar Pradesh. He authored many books including a book on Arunachal Pradesh titled ‘ManoramBhoomi-Arunachal’.