Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 3rd October 2020

Correct Answer: B. Goa

Explanation: The Goa government has announced its ambitious programme to increase economic activities and make every village in the state self-reliant by “harnessing resources available within the area”. The initiative is called ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Swayampoorna Goa’. Under this initiative, the benefits of all the state and central government schemes will be brought to the doorsteps of people.

Correct Answer – A. Haryana

Explanation: The Haryana govt has appointed senior IAS officer Vijai Vardhan as the new chief secretary. Vardhan replaces Keshni Anand Arora, who retired on Sept 30, 2020. He will be the 34th chief secretary of Haryana since it was carved out as a separate state in 1966. Currently, Vardhan is the Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Home, Jails, Criminal Investigation and Administration of Justice Dept.

Correct Answer – C. B S Dhanoa

Explanation: The country’s largest two-wheeler maker Hero MotoCorp has appointed Air Chief Marshal (Retd) BS Dhanoa as a non-executive and independent director on the company’s board with immediate effect. Dhanoa served as the Chief of the Indian Air Force from January 1, 2017 to September 30, 2019. The company has also appointed Sanjay Bhan as Head of Global Business.

Correct Answer – B. HUL

Explanation:  SBI and FMCG major HUL, Hindustan Unilever Limited announced a partnership to enable easy access to credit to small retailers and also help them join the digitisation bandwagon in order to “survive in the new world”. Under the partnership, HUL’s retailers who use the company’s Shikhar app will be able to avail of credit facility for payments to distributors through integration with SBI Yono app.

Correct Answer – B. Anil Kumar

Explanation: Industry body CII has nominated Anil Kumar Chaudhary, Chairman, SAIL as the Chairman of its PSE Council. This PSE Council plays a vital role in the overall functioning of CII, which works with Government and the public sector enterprises on various policy issues and serves as a reference point for the industry. Formed in 2007, the Council has grown from strength to strength over the years.

Correct Answer – C. Thaawarchand Gehlot

Explanation: Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot e-launched the “Ambedkar Social Innovation and Incubation Mission (ASIIM)”. The mission has been launched under the Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Castes (SCs) in order to promote innovation and enterprise among SC students studying in higher educational institutions. The Objective of this fund is to provide concessional finance to the entities of the SC entrepreneurs. Under this fund, 117 companies promoted by SC entrepreneurs have been sanctioned financial assistance to set up business ventures. Under the name “Ambedkar Social Innovation Incubation Mission (ASIIM)” initiative, 1,000 SC youth would be identified in the next 4 years with start-up ideas through the Technology Business Incubators (TBIs) in various higher educational institutions.

Correct Answer – B. Sourav Ganguly

Explanation: Kolkata based Real Estate Developer, Bengal Peerless Housing Development Company Limited appointed Former National Cricket Team Captain and Current President of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Sourav Ganguly as it’s Brand Ambassador. He will lead the campaign of Bengal Peerless’s Residential Project Avidipta II.

Bengal Peerless Housing Development Company Limited was established in 1994 with West Bengal Housing Board and The Peerless General Finance and Investment Company Limited. Since its inception, Bengal Peerless has successfully built about 5000 numbers of dwelling units for people of all sections of the society.

Correct Answer – Punjab National Bank

Explanation: Yes Bank has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) to empower the SME segment through awareness and knowledge-sharing programmes. Under this MoU, both BSE and Yes Bank will conduct knowledge events for SMEs, export promotion of SME scale companies, in addition to providing banking and financial solutions. This MoU shall further entail services pertaining to the development and imparting industry-specific and related knowledge-based information. The Bank will also offer customised services and products to the listed SME members of the platform and advisory solutions to EXIM potential listed SMEs.

Correct Answer – C. Gujarat

Explanation: Gujarat Government has signed a 5-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Denmark in the water sector. The state government arm Gujarat Water Supply and Sewerage Board has signed the MoU with ‘Danish Water Forum’ through an online interactive platform. This MoU will help in technology exchange, training, capacity building, knowledge exchange, cooperation in water supply, wastewater treatment- reuse and water management between the two organizations. MoU has been signed for a five-year period in order to set up the Indo-Danish Water Technology Alliance in Gujarat and contribute to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal -6.

Correct Answer – B. 2nd October

Explanation: Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh launched the Defence India Startup Challenge (DISC 4) during the iDEX event. iDEX4Fauji initiative and Product Management Approach (PMA) guidelines were also launched by the Raksha Mantri during the event. Each of these initiatives is expected to facilitate iDEX-Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO) to scale up the program qualitatively and quantitatively. iDEX4Fauji is a first of its kind initiative, launched to support innovations identified by members of the Indian Armed Forces and will bolster frugal innovation ideas from soldiers/ field formations. iDEX4Fauji will allow our soldiers to become part of the innovation process and get recognised and rewarded.

Under Defence India Startup Challenge (DISC) 4, eleven challenges from Armed forces were thrown open to prospective startups, innovators, MSMEs alike to provide their innovative ideas on technologies which find their application in the defence sector.

Correct Answer – B. Rajat Sud

Explanation: Rajat Sud has been appointed as the Managing Director (MD) of the Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) from immediate effect. Sud takes over from S Gopal, director (commercial), who had taken on the additional charge of interim managing director. Before joining EESL, he served as executive vice president at Sterlite Power Transmission Ltd. He has also served in leadership positions at Siemens IT Solutions and PwC.

Correct Answer – C. Amir Khan

Explanation: CEAT Tyres has signed Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan as its brand ambassador for two years. As part of an integrated marketing campaign, Aamir Khan will feature in two commercials during the course of the IPL 2020 to promote CEAT’s SecuraDrive range of premium car tyres. The first ad will be aired at the beginning of IPL and will also be rolled out/promoted across different media platforms both online and offline.

Correct Answer – D. Alexander De Croo

Explanation:  Flemish liberal leader Alexander De Croo will be Belgium’s new prime minister at the head of a seven-party coalition government. De Croo’s French-speaking socialist rival Paul Magnette confirmed that the parties had chosen the 44-year-old finance minister as premier. Belgium has had no governing majority for 21 months since the collapse of former leader Charles Michel’s government, and it has been 493 days since federal elections failed to resolve the crisis. Leaders from seven parties met until the early hours on Wednesday before coming to an agreement on a government programme and cabinet line-up to be presented to King Philippe. De Croo will replace French-speaking liberal leader Sophie Wilmes who has served as acting premier during the coronavirus epidemic but never wielded a parliamentary majority.

Correct Answer: D. Nagaland

Explanation: The Nagaland government launched a programme to provide skill development training to migrant workers who have returned to the state from other parts of the country due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The state government, with support from the North East Council, will initially train around 100 such returnees under the ”Livelihood Generation Programme for Returned Migrant Workers”.