Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 27th May 2021

Correct Answer: A. United States

Explanation: The US space agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is developing a new system called the Earth System Observatory, to mitigate efforts related to climate change and disaster mitigation. NASA has also partnered with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) which will provide NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR). NISAR will carry two radar systems to measure changes in the Earth’s surface, during one of the observatory’s first missions intended as a pathfinder.

About the Earth System Observatory:

The Earth System Observatory will be a set of missions designed to study “designated observables” such as aerosols, clouds and weather, water supply, and the Earth’s surface and ecosystems, for an unprecedented understanding of the critical interactions between Earth’s atmosphere, land, ocean, and ice processes, which determines how the changing climate will play out at regional and local levels, on near and long-term time scales.Each new satellite under Earth System Observatory will be uniquely designed to create a 3D, holistic view of Earth, from bedrock to atmosphere, providing a new architecture to advanced space-borne Earth observation systems.

Important Points:

• 14th NASA administrator: Bill Nelson;
• Headquarters of NASA: Washington D.C., United States;
• NASA Founded: 1 October 1958.

Correct Answer – D. Neena Gupta

Explanation: Bollywood actor Neena Gupta is all set to launch her autobiography “Sach Kahun Toh”, publisher Penguin Random House India. she wrote the book in 2020 during the lockdown. The book addresses issues like casting couch, film industry politics, and also talks about what it takes for a young actor to survive without a godfather or guide. From her time at the National School of Drama (NSD) to moving to Bombay (Mumbai) in the 80s and her single parenthood, the book will share Gupta’s life story in the most “unapologetically honest” manner. “She details the big milestones in her life, her unconventional pregnancy and single parenthood, and successful second innings in Bollywood.

Correct Answer – B. Ecuador

Explanation: Guillermo Lasso, a conservative, assumed the presidency of Ecuador and has become the first right-wing leader in 14 years in Ecuador. The 65-year-old former banker beat left-wing economist Andres Arauz in a second-round run-off last month and succeeds the hugely unpopular Lenin Moreno. Guillermo Alberto is a banker, businessman, writer and politician who recently became the 47th president of Ecuador. He is the first centre-right president in two decades.

Important Points:

• Ecuador Capital: Quito;
• Ecuador Currency: United States Dollar.

Correct Answer – E.  Equitas Small Finance Bank

Explanation: Equitas Small Finance Bank has now become the first Small Finance Bank to offer its NRI customer segment the ease of account opening online. The company will also be the only one in the Small Finance Bank sector to have Virtual Relationship Managers based on time zones. The online process of account opening for NRIs can be done via smartphone or computer connected to the Internet.

How to open an account?

• The applicants will have a span of 90 days to courier documents after account opening. With this pioneering move, Equitas Small Finance Bank is seamlessly increasing opportunities for its NRI account holders to manage their investments, deposits and the income earned in India.
• The Equitas Net Banking would also facilitate investment in mutual funds and Portfolio Management Services for the NRI account holders.
• Through Banking alliances, Equitas Bank also offers online and offline remittance facilities to its NRI customers at the best exchange rates thereby making it easier and beneficial to transfer their overseas earnings to India seamlessly.

Important Points:

• Equitas Small Finance Bank MD & CEO Vasudevan P N;
• Equitas Small Finance Bank Headquarters: Chennai;
• Equitas Small Finance Bank Founded: 2016.

Correct Answer- D. D Nageshwar Reddy

Explanation: Padma Bhushan awardee and noted gastroenterologist Dr D Nageshwar Reddy, who is also the chairman of AIG Hospitals, has won the Rudolf V Schindler Award from the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE). Rudolf V Schindler Award is the highest category in the prestigious Crystal Awards named after Dr Schindler who is considered as “the father of gastroscopy.”With this, Dr Reddy becomes the first Indian medical practitioner to win this award. Dr Reddy is one of the first to promote endoscopy in India and has led the charge of educating numerous endoscopists all over the world.

Correct Answer – C. Switzerland

Explanation: World Health Organization (WHO), and Switzerland signed an MoU to launch the first WHO BioHub Facility as part of the WHO BioHub System during the 74th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.The facility will allow the rapid sharing of viruses and other pathogens between laboratories and global partners.It will be set up in Spiez, Switzerland. Under this agreement, the Spiez Biocontainment Laboratory will be made available to WHO and the lab will act as a repository for Sars-CoV-2 viruses or other pathogens with epidemic or pandemic potential.The timely sharing of pathogens will allow the global scientific community to assess the risk and develop countermeasures (such as diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines) rapidly.At present, pathogen sharing is done bilaterally between countries and on a temporary basis. This process is often slow and leaves many countries without access to benefits and tools.

Correct Answer – C. Robert Lewandowski

Explanation: Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski was awarded with Europe’s Golden Shoe, as he finished as the top scorer in Europe’s leading domestic leagues.He scored a record-breaking 41 goals in the Bundesliga en route to Bayern’s ninth consecutive league title.By breaking Gerd Muller’s single season Bundesliga record, Lewandowski became the first Bundesliga striker to win the Golden Shoe.He beat out Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, Juventus’s Cristiano Ronaldo, PSG’s Kylian Mbappe, and fellow Bundesliga rivals Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund), and Andre Silva (Eintracht Frankfurt).Tottenham Hotspur captain and striker Harry Kane has won the Premier League Golden Boot for the third time.

Correct Answer – A. Bernard Arnault

Explanation: According to the Forbes Real-Time Billionaires List, on 24th May 2021, French tycoon Bernard Arnault, CEO and majority owner of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH), became the world’s richest person with an estimated net worth of 186.3 billion USD. He overtook Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, whose net worth was 186 billion USD and Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla whose net worth was 147.3 billion USD.The net worth of Bernard Arnault has risen from 76 Billion USD (March 2020) to 186.3 billion USD with a massive rise of around 110 Billion USD in 14 months.

Correct Answer – A. Aditya Gupta

Explanation:  Delhi-based entrepreneur and mountaineer Aditya Gupta recently released a book titled ”7 Lessons from Everest – Expedition Learnings from Life and Business”. The book aims to raise one crore rupees (approx $150K) for Covid-19 relief from its sales.The proceeds from the book will be given to NGO Child Rights and You (CRY).The campaign is initiated by The Rug Republic (a brand owned by Aditya Gupta)to extend support in ensuring care, protection and education to children amidst these trying times.It is a coffee-table book, with 350 stunning images spread over 250 pages.It narrates the author’s experience of scaling Mt Everest at the age of 50 in 2019 and shares the virtues of preparation, passion, perseverance, mental toughness, and resilience.

Correct Answer – A. 2.66%

Explanation: The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare (DAC & FW) has released the 3rd Advance Estimates of production of major agricultural crops for 2020-21. According to the estimates, the total foodgrain production in India is estimated to rise by 2.66% to a record 305.44 Million Tonnes (MT) in 2020-21 (compared to 2019).It is an increase of 7.94 MT than the production of foodgrain of 297.50 MT achieved during 2019-20.The 305.44 MT estimate is higher by 26.66 MT compared to average production of foodgrains of the previous five years (2015-16 to 2019-20).The assessment is based on data received from States.

Correct Answer – A. Sri Lanka

Explanation: The Sri Lanka Parliament has passed the Port City Economic Commission Bill.The bill officially declares 269 hectares of land reclaimed from the ocean and annexed to the city of Colombo as the country’s first special economic zone (SEZ) for service-oriented industries.Under the legislation, a President-appointed commission will be established to govern the SEZ.

Sri Lanka: 

• Capital – Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (Administrative capital), Colombo (Commercial capital).
• Currency – Sri Lankan rupee.

Correct Answer – A. Achinta Sheuli

Explanation: Indian weightlifter Achinta Sheuli ended with the silver medal in the men’s 73 kg category at the Junior World Weightlifting Championships 2021 in Uzbekistan, on 26 May 2021.He lifted a total of 313 kg (141 kg snatch and 172 kg clean and jerk) to finish behind Indonesia’s Rizki Juniansyah, who lifted a world record 349 kg (155 kg snatch and 194 kg clean and jerk) for the gold medal.He lifted 137kg in his first attempt and then bettered that to 141kg in his second.

Correct Answer – A. ICICI Bank

Explanation:  ICICI Bank has launched a facility for linking a UPI ID with its digital wallet, ‘Pockets’.New users, including those who are not customers of ICICI Bank, can now instantly get a UPI ID, which is automatically linked to ‘Pockets’. ICICI Bank is the first in the industry to enable customers to make UPI transactions from their wallet balance instead of their savings account.

Correct Answer – C. 15 lakh crore

Explanation: Banks and financial institutions have sanctioned about Rs 15 lakh crore to over 28 crore beneficiaries under the Mudra scheme in the last six years.Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY) was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 8, 2015, to promote entrepreneurship.As of March 26, 2021, loans sanctioned by member lending institutions amount to Rs 15.10 lakh crore.

PMMY:

• PMMY is a scheme that provides loans up to 10 lakh to non-corporate, non-farm small/micro-enterprises.
• These loans are given by Commercial Banks, RRBs, Small Finance Banks, MFIs, and NBFCs.
• Under the aegis of PMMY, MUDRA has created three products namely ‘Shishu’, ‘Kishore’, and ‘Tarun’ to signify the stage of growth/development and funding needs of the beneficiary micro unit/entrepreneur.