Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 29th & 30th August 2021

Correct Answer: B. Rs 2.0 Lakh

Explanation:  Ministry of Labour & Employment has launched e-Shram Portal to link Unorganised Workers with social security schemes being implemented by the Central and State Governments. Minister for Labour and Employment, Bhupender Yadav has launched the portal where 38 crore Unorganised Workers can register themselves and in turn benefit from various social security schemes.

About the eSHRAM Portal:

Every unorganised worker who registers on the eSHRAM Portal will get Rs 2.0 Lakh Accidental Insurance cover. (Rs 2.0 Lakh on death or permanent disability and Rs 1.0 lakh on partial disability).Upon registration on the eSHRAM Portal, the worker will get an eSHRAM card with a unique 12 digit Universal Account Number (UAN) and will be able to access the benefits of the various social security schemes through this Card anywhere anytime.eSHRAM Portal will help in the creation of a National Database of Unorganized Workers (NDUW).

Correct Answer – D. Gandiv

Explanation: The third edition of the week-long annual exercise called ‘Gandiv’ was launched at these locations by the NSG from August 22 and it will continue till August 28. Multiple cities in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and the National Capital Region are hosting synchronised commando drills as part of a national mock exercise being carried out by the counter-terrorism force National Security Guard (NSG) to check its response time and reaction to hostage and hijack-like situations. Gandiv was the name of Arjuna’s bow in Mahabharata.The drills are aimed to “validate the planning parameters” of the commando force in the event of a terrorist attack, hijack of an aircraft or hostage situation. The NSG was raised as a federal counter-terrorism force in 1984 to undertake surgical commando operations in order to neutralise terrorist and hijack threats. It also has a special squad that provides armed security cover to at least 13 high-risk VVIPs at present.

Important Points: 

• National Security Guard Headquarters: New Delhi.
• The motto of the National Security Guard: Sarvatra Sarvottam Suraksha.

Correct Answer – A. China

Explanation: The armed force of the country China, Pakistan, Mongolia and Thailand will take part in a multinational peacekeeping exercise named “Shared Destiny-2021”. The exercise will be held in China in the month of September 2021. The four countries will take part in the first multinational peacekeeping live exercise “Shared Destiny-2021” at the combined-arms tactical training base of the PLA in Henan’s Queshan county. All the four countries will dispatch more than 1,000 troops to participate in the drills, involving units of infantry, fast response, security, helicopter, engineering, transportation and medical services. The scenario of the exercise is joint operations of multinational peacekeeping forces and the exercise will be held in a close-to-real battlefield environment set in accordance with the international, professional and realistic combat standards.

Correct Answer – C. DRDO

Explanation: The Election Commission of India (ECI) organized the Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) Consultation Workshop. As a part of this workshop, the Chief Election Commissioner, Sushil Chandra along with Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar unveiled a new initiative. The main objective of the two-day workshop was to review State SVEEP Plans, conduct extensive deliberations on the important aspects of SVEEP and formulate a comprehensive strategy for future elections.

What is the SVEEP program?

The SVEEP program is the flagship program of the Election Commission of India for voter education & awareness.The new voters would send a personalized letter from the Commission when sending out their Voter ID Cards.The package would include a Voter Guide for new voters, a congratulatory letter and a pledge for ethical voting.

Important Points:

• Election Commission Formed: 25 January 1950;
• Election Commission Headquarters: New Delhi;
• First executive of Election Commission: Sukumar Sen.

Correct Answer- C. AICTE

Explanation:  The Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) in collaboration with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) have launched a unique national Hackathon named ‘MANTHAN 2021’. The basic objective of this hackathon is to identify innovative concepts and technology solutions for addressing the security challenges of the 21st century faced by the intelligence agencies of the country and empower these enforcement agencies.

About the Hackathon:

The Hackathon is scheduled to be held from November 28 to December 01, 2021, in an online mode.The winning team will receive a number worth Rs. 40 Lakh.The Hackathon will be held under 6 themes for 20 different challenge statements using new technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Deep Learning, Augmented reality, Machine Learning among others.

Correct Answer – B. Mahindra Defence Systems

Explanation: Mahindra Defence Systems has bagged a contract worth Rs 1,349.95 cr for manufacturing of Integrated Anti-Submarine Warfare Defence Suite (IADS) for modern warships of Indian Navy.MDS would be supplying 14 IADS systems for the Indian Navy.IADS is high-end underwater equipment that uses the latest technology along with a complex array of sensors.It is designed to detect and protect warships from underwater threats.It is capable of operations from all sizes of warships.

Correct Answer – B. Mansukh Mandaviya

Explanation:  Union Health Minister, Mansukh Mandaviya has been appointed as the Chairperson of Stop TB Partnership Board.He succeeded former Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Harsh Vardhan.India aims to end TB by 2025 while the UN aims to end TB by 2030.

Stop TB Partnership

It is an UN-hosted partnership program that aims to fight against tuberculosis collectively.It was founded in 2001Aim: to serve every person who is vulnerable to TB and ensure that high-quality diagnosis, treatment and care is available to all who need it.

Correct Answer – C. Avani Lekra

Explanation: Indian shooter Avani Lekhara has won Gold medal in Women’s 10 metre Air Rifle Shooting at Tokyo Paralympics.She has won the first Gold for the country at the Tokyo Paralympic Games.Yogesh Kathuniya won Silver medal in Discus Throw.This is the fifth medal for the country at the Tokyo Paralympics.

Correct Answer – B. Rs. 2 Lakh

Explanation:  RBI has increased the limit of fund transfer under Indo-Nepal Remittance Facility Scheme from Rs 50,000 per transaction to Rs 2 lakh per transaction with effect from October 1, 2021.Earlier, there was a ceiling limit of 12 transactions in a year. Now, this limit has also been removed.However, for cash-based transfers under Indo-Nepal Remittance Facility, the per transaction limit of Rs 50,000 will still be present with a maximum number of transfers in a year allowed at 12.It will boost trade payments between the two countries.

Correct Answer – C. Bhavinaben Patel

Explanation: Indian paddler Bhavinaben Patel (34 years) has claimed historic silver medal at 2020 Paralymic Games at Tokyo in the women’s singles table tennis summit clash.She lost to Chinese paddler Ying Zhou by 0-3, in her maiden Paralymic Games.This is the first medal for India at the ongoing Tokyo Paralymic Games.She is the only second Indian woman to win a medal at the Paralympics, after Deepa Malik, who claimed silver in shotput at 2016 Rio Olympics.

Correct Answer – B. T M Bhasin

Explanation: The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)  re-appointed T M Bhasin as chairman of the Advisory Board for Banking and Financial Frauds (ABBFF).Bhasin served as vigilance commissioner in the CVC for four years from June 2015 to June 2019.  Other members of the said ABBFF would be Madhusudan Prasad, former secretary of Ministry of Urban Development; D K Pathak, and David Rasquinha. The CVC, in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), constituted the ABBFF comprising of four members on August 21, 2019, for an initial term of two years. The ABBFF framed the standard operating procedure (SOP) and functioned efficiently as a “Safety Valve” to examine the gravity of lapses or accountability, if any, for general managers and above, in the fraud cases of Rs 50 crore and more, referred to it by the public sector banks (PSBs).

Correct Answer – D. 29 August

Explanation: National Sports Day is celebrated every year in India on 29 August. The day is celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of Indian hockey legend, Major Dhyan Chand. He played a very significant role in helping India complete their first hat-trick of Olympic gold medals with victories at the 1928, 1932 and 1936 Summer Olympics. First National Sports Day was celebrated in India in 2012. He played a crucial role in India’s 8-1 triumph over Germany in the 1936 Berlin Olympic final, emerging as the top-scorer with three goals. He was also the leading goal-scorer at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics, scoring 14 goals.Earlier, on 6 August 2021, PM Modi announced that the Khel Ratna award would be named after Major Dhyan Chand. Earlier, the award was named after former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Correct Answer – C. Ritu Menon

Explanation:  A book titled ‘Address Book: A Publishing Memoir in the time of COVID’ has been written by writer Ritu Menon. Menon co-founded Kali for Women, India’s first feminist press in 1983. She is also a founder-director of Women Unlimited, an associate of Kali for Women.

Correct Answer – B. World Economic Forum

Explanation: The annual Sustainable Development Impact Summit would take place on September 20-23, 2021. It would be organized by World Economic Forum(WEF). The theme of the summit is ‘Shaping an Equitable, Inclusive and Sustainable Recovery’. Established in 1971, WEF is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. This event is the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting for integrating and leveraging the best examples of public-private cooperation, systems thinking and Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies to contribute to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Correct Answer – A. Ram Nath Kovind

Explanation: President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the Ramayana Conclave in Ayodhya on 29 August 2021. The 65 days long conclave will be organised in Gorakhpur, Baliya, Varanasi, Vindhyachal, Chitrakoot, Lalitpur, Shringverpur bithoor, Bijnor, Bareilly, Ghaziabad, Mathura, Garhmukteshwar, Saharanpur and Lucknow.It will have special experts who will narrate and discuss the various events of Ramayana. President Ram Nath Kovind has become the first Indian President to visit the temple town. The conclave will continue till 1st November this year in different parts of state. Many cultural programs in different dialects will also be organised during the conclave.

Correct Answer – C. Sarbananda Sonowal

Explanation: Ayush Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has announced week-long activities and campaigns, from 30th August to 5th September, to commemorate Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. The Ayush week will begin with a national webinar for Ayush students on the topic “Surviving the storm through Ayush Shelter” on August 30.The activities include the cultivation of medicinal plants on 75,000 hectares of land to benefit farmers on 31st Aug and the launch of the Y-Break App on 1 Sep 2021. The application will be launched from Vigyan Bhawan. The Yoga protocol includes Asanas, Pranayam and Dhyan and is helpful for all workaholics including government and private employees to de-stress, refresh and re-focus with enhanced immunity at their workplaces.The Y-Break mobile application has been developed by MDNIY (Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga).Through this app, yoga and meditation can be done anywhere in just 5 minutes The activity will be implemented through National Medicinal Plants Board.

Correct Answer – D. 30 August

Explanation: The National Small Industry Day is observed every year on 30 August. The day is dedicated to motivate and promote small industrial businesses. It is a medium to provide balanced growth to existing small, medium and large scale enterprises and provide assistance for setting up new industries.The government of India had introduced an extensive policy package for the small scale industry on 30 Aug 2000, since then the National Small Industry Day is observed every year.On the other hand, the UN has declared June 27 as the MSME Day.

Correct Answer – A. New Delhi

Explanation: Ministry of Minority Affairs organised ‘Mera Watan Mera Chaman’ Mushaira in New Delhi as part of Amrit Mahotsav of 75th Year of India’s Independence, on 28 August 2021. Renowned poets from the country mesmerised the audience through their poetry and couplets. The Minority Affairs Ministry will organise the “Mera Watan, Mera Chaman” Mushairas and Kavi Sammelans across the country till 2023.Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi is the Union Minister of the Ministry of Minority Affairs.

Correct Answer – C. Nishad Kumar

Explanation: In Tokyo Paralympics, India’s Nishad Kumar has won silver medal with a best effort of 2.06 meters in the Men’s High Jump T47 event.Nishad Kumar equalled his own Asian record with a jump of 2.06m in the final of the high jump event.  The other Indian Ram Pal finished fifth, equalling his personal best jump of 1.94m. Roderick Townsend set a new world record by jumping 2.15m to win the gold.