Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 29th January 2021

Correct Answer: A. India

Explanation: India has signed a strategic partnership framework with the International Energy Agency (IEA). IEA is the world’s premier energy monitor. India is the third-largest energy consumer globally. IEA’s 30 member countries hold 1.55 bn barrels in public emergency oil stocks. In addition, 650 mn barrels are held by industry under govt obligations and can be released as needed.

Correct Answer – B. 11.5%

Explanation: International Monetary Fund has projected an 11.5 percent growth rate for India in 2021. With the latest projections, India has regained the tag of the fastest developing economies of the world. In 2020, the Indian economy is estimated to have contracted by 8%. In IMF’s latest World Economic Outlook Update, China is next with 8.1 percent growth in 2021 followed by Spain and France.

Correct Answer – D. Uttar Pradesh

Explanation: In Uttar Pradesh, a new 3,300-metre-long airstrip has been constructed near Kurebhar on Purvanchal Expressway. With this new airstrip, Uttar Pradesh has become the first state in India having two airstrips on expressways. Uttar Pradesh also has an airstrip on Lucknow-Agra Expressway. Airstrips on expressways are designed to facilitate emergency landing and take-off of fighter planes.

Important facts:

• Earlier, the Indian Air Force had examined Yamuna Expressway and Agra Expressway. Aircraft like Mirage 2000, Jaguar, Sukhoi 30 and Super Hercules had already landed on Lucknow-Agra Expressway.
• Uttar Pradesh government is trying to connect the entire northern part of the country with expressways.
• The Hindon and Agra airbases of the Indian Air Force will be able to use the runway of all three expressways if needed.
• Also, these airstrips of Uttar Pradesh can serve the Air Force to respond against China and Pakistan in case of any war.

Correct Answer – D. Madhya Pradesh

Explanation:  In Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has launched a new scheme ‘PANKH Abhiyan’ on 24 January, to mark the occasion of National Girl Child Day. The scheme has been launched under the ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ scheme for the empowerment and growth of the girl child. The CM also announced scholarships worth Rs 6.47 crore for 26,099 girls under Ladli Laxmi Yojana. ‘PANKH Abhiyan’ is a year-long programme. The letter in the PANKH scheme stands for:

• ‘P’ – protection
• ‘A’ – awareness of their rights
• ‘N’ – nutrition
• ‘K’ – knowledge
• ‘H’ – health.

Correct Answer – B. 143

Explanation: SpaceX successfully launched its ambitious rideshare mission called Transporter-1, carrying 143 small satellites, and created a new record of launching many satellites from a single rocket. With this launch, SpaceX broke the record set by ISRO in February 2017 for deploying 104 satellites onboard PSLV in a single mission.

The SpaceX used two-stage Falcon 9 rocket for the mission, from the Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The 143 satellites included 133 commercial and government satellites and 10 Starlink satellites of SpaceX.

Correct Answer – B. Portugal

Explanation: The incumbent President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has won a second five-year term after winning the 2021 Portuguese presidential election with a landslide victory. The 72-year-old former leader of the Social Democratic Party won 61 per cent of the total votes. He is serving as the President of the country since 9 March 2016 and would start his second term on March 9, 2021.

Correct Answer – C. 7.3%

Explanation: India’s economic growth is forecast to be 7.3 per cent in the Calendar Year 2021 by the UN. The Indian economy is estimated to contract by 9.6 per cent in the Calendar year 2020, as per the World Economic Situation and Prospects 2021, produced by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA). In addition to this, the global economy is estimated to shrink by 4.3 per cent in 2020. The UN has estimated the Global GDP to recover to 4.7 per cent in 2021.

Correct Answer – C. Surface-to-Air

Explanation: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted successful maiden launch of Akash-NG (New Generation) Missile from Integrated Test Range off the coast of Odisha. Akash-NG is a new generation Surface-to-Air Missile for use by Indian Air Force (IAF) with an aim of intercepting high manoeuvring aerial threats. The launch met all the test objectives by performing high maneuvers during the trajectory.

The performance of the Command and Control system, onboard avionics and aerodynamic configuration of the missile was successfully validated during the trial. The Multi Function Radar was tested for its capability of integration with the system. The Akash-NG system has been developed with better deployability compared to other similar systems with canisterized launcher and much smaller ground system footprint.

Correct Answer – C. 8%

Explanation:  The gross domestic product (GDP) of India is expected to contract by 8 per cent in 2020-21, according to the latest Economic Outlook Survey of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI). Apart from this, FICCI expects the economy to perform much better in the financial year 2021-22 with a GDP growth rate of 9.6 percent in FY22.

Correct Answer – A. IIM Indore

Explanation: Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Indore & Madhya Pradesh Industrial Development Corporation (MPIDC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to build a roadmap to achieve MP’s goal of ‘Atmanirbhar Madhya Pradesh’, the agreement will be valid for a period of three years. IIM Indore will help MP to frame New Industrial Policy & help in Improving the Ease of Doing Business in MP.  IIM Indore will devise Strategic campaigns for ‘Brand Madhya Pradesh’ as ‘Atmanirbhar Evam Samriddh’. IIM Indore will also provide advisory support & management consultancy for Global & national summits which will be conducted by the Government of MP.

Correct Answer – C. China

Explanation: China became world’s largest current account surplus nation in 2020 overtaking Germany, as per the survey of IFO institute. Current account surplus of China is $310 billion in 2020, while current account surplus of Germany shrank to $261 billion in 2020.  China and Germany is followed by Japan with current account surplus of $158 billion.  Ifo (Information and Forschung) Institute for Economic Research is based in Munich, Germany and analyses economic policy.

Correct Answer – B. M M Kutty

Explanation: Former Delhi Chief Secretary M. M. Kutty has been appointed first chairperson of Air Quality Commission. The Centre has notified the Commission for Air Quality Management for the National Capital Region (NCR) to set up the new agency with sweeping powers to monitor and act against sources of air pollution across five north Indian states (Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan). Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has begun the process of setting up Decision Support System (DSS) for air quality for Delhi-NCR.

It will have Geographical Information System (GIS) and multi-model based operational and planning decision support tool. It will help immensely in capturing the static and dynamic features of the emissions from various sources. It will have an integrated framework to handle both primary and secondary pollutants using AI tools.

Correct Answer – C. Mohamed Zeeshan

Explanation:  The book titled ‘Flying Blind: India’s Quest for Global Leadership’ is authored by Mohamed Zeeshan, a foreign affairs columnist, consultant and the editor-in-chief of Freedom Gazette. The book is published by Penguin Random House. The book describes the difficulties that stand has an obstacle to the current India’s foreign policy, each of which have led to many instabilities in the foreign policy practice, which in turn has affected India’s interests. It tries to explain why the ordinary Indian citizen should care about foreign policy and how a more proactive foreign policy can deliver economic growth at home.

Correct Answer: D. Football

Explanation: Former Indian National Football team goalkeeper, Prasanta Dora has passed away. He was represented Tollygunge Agragami, Calcutta Port Trust, Mohammedan Sporting, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal in domestic football. He has also adjudged the Best Goalkeeper when Bengal lifted back-to-back Santosh Trophy titles in 1997-98 and 99. At the national level, Dora made five appearances in competitions such as SAFF Cup and SAF Games.