Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 28th February 2023

Correct Answer:  D. Amazon

Explanation:  E-commerce giant Amazon announced that it will join the Indian government’s ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce) platform, and as part of its initial collaboration will integrate its Smart Commerce and logistics services with the ONDC network. Amazon logistics services include pickup and delivery, while Smart Commerce is a suite of SaaS (software-as-a-service) products hosted on AWS that can assist MSMEs build and scale their business and integrate it with the ONDC network.

Amazon said it will continue to explore potential opportunities for a stronger integration with the ONDC network. ONDC is a non-profit organization set up by the commerce ministry’s Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) to democratise e-commerce services and provide small e-commerce stores and online sellers with a level playing field.

Correct Answer:  C. RRR

Explanation:  SS Rajamouli’s directorial, ‘RRR’ has bagged the ‘Best International Film’ award at the Hollywood Critics Association Film Awards. The film director Rajamouli and actor Ram Charan accepted the award with joy and pride. It has also won three more awards at the HCA film awards. Before bagging the ‘Best International Film’ award, ‘RRR’ won three awards at HCA – ‘Best Action Film’, ‘Best Stunts’, and ‘Best Original Song’.

Team ‘RRR’ is currently in Los Angeles and will be attending the Oscars on March 12. ‘RRR’ song ‘Naatu Naatu has been nominated for the Oscars in ‘Original Song’ category. In January this year, ‘Naatu Naatu’ won the Golden Globes in the ‘Best Original Song’ category. ‘RRR’ bagged two more awards at the 28th edition of the Critics Choice Awards.’RRR’ starring Jr NTR and Ram Charan bagged the Critics’ Choice Award for Best Song for its track ‘Naatu Naatu’. It also picked up the ‘Critics’ choice award for ‘Best Foreign language film’ in a ceremony held in Los Angeles.

Correct Answer:  C. Singapore

Explanation:  Foreign direct investment (FDI) into India declined by 15 per cent to USD 36.75 billion during the April-December this fiscal, according to the latest Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade data. The FDI inflows stood at USD 43.17 billion during the corresponding period of the previous year.

• The total FDI inflows, which includes equity inflows, re-invested earnings and other capital, declined to USD 55.27 billion during the nine months of the current fiscal year as against USD 60.4 billion in the year-ago period.
• During April-December 2022-23, Singapore emerged as the top investor with USD 13 billion FDI.
• It was followed by Mauritius (USD 4.7 billion), the US (about USD 5 billion), the UAE (USD 3.1 billion), the Netherlands (USD 2.15 billion), Japan (USD 1.4 billion), and Cyprus (USD 1.15 billion), the data showed.
• The computer software and hardware sector attracted the highest inflows of USD 8 billion during the nine-month period of this fiscal.
• It was followed by services (USD 6.6 billion), trading (USD 4.14 billion), chemicals (USD 1.5 billion), automobile industry (USD 1.27 billion) and construction (infrastructure) activities (USD 1.22 billion).

Correct Answer:  B. Assam

Explanation:  Assam CM inaugurates North East’s 1st compressed biogas plant. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, inaugurated the North East India’s first-ever compressed biogas plant project at Sonapur in Kamrup district of Assam. The plant will have a production capacity of five tonne-per-day of compressed biogas that would be produced from raw materials such as cattle-dung, municipal solid wastes, etc. It is being set-up by entrepreneurs Pankaj Gogoi and Rakesh Doley under the banner of Redlemon Technologies. The plant is proposed to be operational from November 2023.

Correct Answer:  A. UAE

Explanation:  For the first time, India’s indigenously-made light combat aircraft Tejas will be participating in an international multilateral air exercise — Exercise Desert Flag VIll — in the UAE, reflecting India’s increasing efforts at showcasing the jet at the world stage. An Indian Air Force contingent comprising of 110 Air Warriors arrived at the Al Dahfra airbase of the United Arab Emirates to participate in the exercise, in which five LCA Tejas and two C-17 Globemaster III aircraft would take part, the IAF said. “This is the first occasion when the LCA Tejas shall participate in an international flying exercise outside India,” the IAF said in a statement. The exercise is scheduled from 27 February to 17 March.

• As per the IAF, Exercise Desert Flag is a multilateral air exercise which will see participation from the air forces of the UAE, France, Kuwait, Australia, the UK, Bahrain, Morocco, Spain, Republic of Korea, and the US.
• “The aim of the exercise is to participate in diverse fighter engagements and learn from the best practices of various air forces,” the IAF said.

Correct Answer:  C. Bikaner

Explanation:  President Droupadi Murmu has laid emphasis on wide publicity of the country’s art, traditions and culture through new technology. Ms. Murmu was addressing the inauguration function of Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav in Bikaner this evening. She said that it is necessary to match technology with traditions and science with art. Technology is also being adopted in the field of art and culture. She added, through the internet, the talent of new and young artists is also spreading in every corner of the country.

• It is organized by the Union Ministry of Culture, was inaugurated with a Shobha Yatra, in which artists from different states of the country participated in traditional dresses.
• During the event, Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra and Union MoS for Culture Arjun Ram Meghwal inaugurated the craft fair.
• 9 days long festival is being organized with the support of  7 regional cultural centers and various academies.
• Performances of about one thousand well-known artists from across the country based on folk dance, folk music, drama and Sufi music will take place during the festival.

Correct Answer:  C. Shailesh Pathak

Explanation:  The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has announced the appointment of former bureaucrat Shailesh Pathak as its Secretary General from 1 March 2023. He has worked with the government as an IAS officer. FICCI also announced that Arun Chawla, Director General, will superannuate on June 30, 2023, and transition to an advisory role.

Correct Answer:  C. Analyst equity

Explanation:  One of the renowned stock market analysts, Ashwani Gujral passed away. He died at the age of 52. He was widely known for his technical analysis of the equity market. He was also the author of many capital market-related books where he has given an insider’s guide on how to trade in instruments such as equities, derivatives, futures, and options among others.

According to his Linkedin profile, Gujral was a chief market strategist and had nearly 26 years of experience in appearing as a panelist on renowned media channels such as CNBC-TV18 and ET Now. He would usually provide his technical analysis and market outlook, appearing every day on these channels.

Correct Answer:  A. UK

Explanation:  An Indian Air Force contingent comprising 145 Air Warriors has departed from Air Force Station Jamnagar to participate in Exercise Cobra Warrior at the Waddington Air Force Base of the Royal Air Force in the United Kingdom (UK). The Exercise Cobra Warrior is a multilateral Air exercise in which Air Forces from Finland, Sweden, South Africa, the United States of America and Singapore would also be participating. The exercise aims to participate in fighter aircraft engagements and learn from the best practices of various Air Forces. The IAF will be participating in the exercise with five Mirage 2000 fighters, two C-17 Globemaster III and an IL-78 mid-air refueller aircraft.

Correct Answer:  D. Kerala

Explanation:  The Kerala government has launched robotic scavenger, “Bandicoot”, to clean sewages in the temple town of Guruvayur, becoming the first state in the country to use robotic technology to clean all its commissioned manholes. Water Resources Minister, Roshi Augustine, launched Bandicoot under the Guruvayur Sewerage Project in Thrissur district by the Kerala Water Authority (KWA), as part of the 100-day action plan of the state government.

• Bandicoot, developed by Kerala-based Genrobotics, had recently bagged ‘Kerala Pride’ award at the Huddle Global 2022 conclave organised by Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM).
• Bandicoot robots are currently deployed in few towns across 17 states in India and three Union Territories. In 2018, KWA started using Bandicoot to clean the manholes in Thiruvananthapuram. Later, it was introduced in Ernakulam also, the release said.
• Genrobotics, a Technopark-based company, have developed “the world’s first robotic scavenger” Bandicoot in an effort to eliminate manual scavenging providing respite for workers engaged in manhole cleaning.

Correct Answer:  C. USD 50,000

Explanation:  The Bihar Cabinet approved USD 50,000 (about Rs 41.41 lakh) for technical support that will be carried out by the state government and US-NCAR. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be also signed between the Bihar government and NCAR. The proposal for this project was given by the Planning and Development Department. Early warning systems aim to reduce the damages caused by extreme weather conditions. It is the main element of climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. The Bihar Mausam Seva Kendra (BMSK) is developing an app under which early warning for dense fog and cold wave conditions will be provided to citizens.

The Bihar government also approved the guidelines for providing government jobs to medal-winning sportspersons. Sportspersons bringing medal in national and international sports event would get grade ‘one’ jobs in Bihar Administrative Service and Bihar Police Service. The US National Center for Atmospheric Research is funded by the National Science Foundation and managed by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR).

Correct Answer:  D. 28th February 

Explanation: On February 28 each year, National Science Day honours Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman as C.V. Raman, an Indian scientist and physician, for discovering the “Raman Effect.” Every year, it is celebrated to honour the value of science and to serve as a reminder of the influence it has had on humankind’s way of life. In honour of India’s G20 leadership, the event this year has the theme “Global Science for Global Wellness.” In 1986, the Government of India, under then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, designated February 28 as National Science Day to commemorate the announcement of the discovery of the “Raman Effect”

Correct Answer:  C. China

Explanation:  China sent the Zhongxing-26 communications satellite into orbit Feb. 23, marking the resumption orbital launches following a pause for Chinese New Year. A Long March 3B rocket lifted off at 6:49 a.m. Eastern (1149 UTC) from Xichang, southwest China, successfully sending Zhongxing-26 (ChinaSat-26) into geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO). The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) confirmed launch success within the hour. The launch was China’s first since Jan. 15, following which activities paused for Chinese New Year. It is the fifth Long March launch this calendar year, with CASC planning more than 60 launches in 2023. Various Chinese commercial companies plan to add 20 or more launches to the overall figure.

• Zhongxing-26 is based on the DFH-4E satellite bus and uses chemical and electric propulsion. It is China’s first satellite providing more than 100 gigabits per second (Gbps) and was developed by CASC’s China Academy of Space Technology (CAST).
• CAST states the satellite is equipped with 94 Ka-band user beams. This is 3.5 times more than the 26-beam, 20 Gbps, Dongfanghong-3B-based Zhongxing-16 launched in 2017. That satellite has been supplying connectivity to aviation passengers such as Sichuan Airlines’ Airbus A320 flights using Viasat in-flight connectivity equipment.
• Operator China Satcom describes the satellite as an important piece of national space infrastructure and helping to meet national requirements for connectivity.
• Zhongxing-26 will mainly provide broadband access for fixed terminals and aviation in shipbourne users in China and surrounding areas from 125 degrees East in the geostationary belt. The overall cost was 2.3 billion yuan ($333 million) according to a feasibility study.

Correct Answer:  C. UAE and USA

Explanation:  India has joined a global platform launched by the US and the UAE with an aim to accelerate investment and support for climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation, the state department said here. The Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM4C) was launched by the two nations in November 2021.