Daily GK & Current Affairs Quiz – 30th & 31st May 2020

Correct Answer: A. Power Finance Corporation (PFC)

Explanation: Power Finance Corporation (PFC) has entered into an agreement with Narmada Basin Projects Company Ltd to fund projects worth ₹22,000 crore in Madhya Pradesh. The funds will be deployed by NBPCL for setting up hydroelectric projects of 225 MW and power components of 12 major multipurpose projects in state. PFC is a central PSU under Ministry of Power and one of India’s leading NBFCs. Narmada Basin Projects Company Ltd. (NBPCL) is a wholly-owned company of Madhya Pradesh government.

Correct Answer – C. International Olympic Committee (IOC)

Explanation: The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have teamed up to fight the battle against Covid-19 and have signed an agreement to work together to promote health through sport and physical activity. The collaboration is to work with host countries to ensure Health of athletes, supporters and workers at the games. The two institutions will also work to ensure that the games leave a healthy legacy in host countries through enhanced awareness of the value of sport.

Correct Answer – B. Narinder Dhruv Batra

Explanation: Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Narinder Batra has been appointed as a member of the Olympic Channel Commission. In a letter to International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach, Mr. Batra, who had become an IOC member in June last year, expressed his gratitude after being selected for the role. The Olympic Channel Commission advises the IOC Session, the IOC Executive Board and the IOC president and provides guidance throughout the launch and operation of the Olympic Channel. The 63-year-old Batra had earlier served as the president of Hockey India (2014-2016) and Asian Hockey Federation (2003-2013). He was also the treasurer of Delhi & District Cricket Association between 2003 to 2013.

Correct Answer – D. JK Rowling

Explanation:  The “Harry Potter” author, JK Rowling will release her latest book, “The Ickabog”, online for free, for the children during this lockdown period. The Ickabog’ is a story about truth and the abuse of power. The first two chapters of The Ickabog are available for free. Rowling has pledged to donate all royalties when the book is published to “groups who’ve been particularly impacted by the pandemic.”

Correct Answer – C. Airtel Payments Bank

Explanation: Airtel Payments Bank has collaborated with Mastercard to create customised financial products for Indian farmers and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). These financial products particularly for those territories where there is less access to bank administrations. The coordinated effort will unite Mastercard’s worldwide and nearby involvement with developing advanced financial solutions and Airtel Payments Bank’s circulation system to arrive at the last mile and its large customer base.

Correct Answer – C. 440 KM

Explanation: Union Minister for Road Transport, Nitin Gadkari has inaugurated the 440 metre-long tunnel as part of the Chardham Connectivity Project in Chamba. The tunnel will significantly reduce the time taken by travellers on the Rishikesh-Dharasu and Gangotri stretch of the Chardham Highway (NH 94).

Correct Answer – D. Taiwan

Explanation: Tsai Ing-wen (63), the current and first female President of Taiwan has been re-elected for a second four-year term of presidency. A representative of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Correct Answer – A. Ola Electric

Explanation: Ola Electric acquired the Netherlands-based Etergo BV, an innovative electric scooter company for an undisclosed sum, as the former has planned to set its own line of premium electric two-wheelers, both globally and nationally. Ola electric will launch its global electric two-wheeler in India in 2021.Etergo BV has developed an all-electric state-of-the-art AppScooter, which has won multiple awards across the world for its innovative design and engineering..

Correct Answer – A. Marcos Troyjo

Explanation:  Marcos Troyjo has been elected as next President of New Development Bank (NDB). He was unanimously elected during the Special Board of Governors meeting of the NDB which was held through the video-conference. He will be taking charge as the President of NDB from July 7, 2020. India was represented by the Union Minister of Finance & Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman in the video-conference.

• Marcos Troyjo from Brazil has been elected as next President of NDB.
• Anil Kishora from India has been elected as next Vice President and CRO of the NDB.

Correct Answer – D. Tejas Mk-1 FOC

Explanation: Tejas Mk-1 FOC aircraft has been inducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) into the recently resurrected No 18 Squadron the “Flying Bullets” at Air Force Station Sulur. Tejas Mk-1 FOC is a single engine, light weight, highly agile and all weather multi role fighter aircraft. The aircraft is capable of air-to-air refueling and hence makes the Squadron the first in the IAF to induct this platform. Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria operationalised the Squadron. The Squadron comes under the operational control of Southern Air Command and hence it will responsible for the integration of the Squadron into the IAF Concept of Operations. The Tejas Mk-1 FOC aircraft is India’s indigenous fighter aircraft and hence marks an important milestone in the country’s indigenous fighter aircraft program along with providing significant boost to the ‘Make In India’ initiative.

Correct Answer: B. 5.0%

Explanation: S&P Global Ratings has slashed India’s GDP growth rate to 5% in the Fiscal Year 2021. The reduction in the growth rates has been made due to slump in the economic activities in the whole country amid lockdown imposed to contain Covid-19 pandemic. S&P Global Ratings stated that two months of lockdown have led to a sudden stop in the economy which has led to contaraction in the GDP growth rates of the present fiscal year.

Correct Answer – C. SN Rajeswari

Explanation: New India Assurance, General Manager, SN Rajeswari, has been selected as the Chairman and MD of the Oriental Insurance Company (OIC) by Banks Board Bureau (BBB). She will replace AV Girija Kumar, who retiring this month end after reaching 60. BBB had conducted virtual interviews of five senior general managers of the public sector general insurance industry, with two years of residual services untill May 2022,to select a CMD of OIC.

Correct Answer – B. Jonathan Karp

Explanation: Jonathan Karp, who has worked with authors ranging from Sen. Edward M. Kennedy to Susan Orlean, has been named the new chief executive of Simon & Schuster. He replaces Carolyn Reidy, who died two weeks ago. Karp, who joined the company in 2010, most recently served as president and publisher of Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing.

Correct Answer – B. 28th May

Explanation:  World Dugong Day is celebrated on 28th May, every year. This year (2020) the day is being celebrated with the theme of “Save dugong, save livelihood”. Dugong (Dugong dugon) also called ‘Sea Cow’ is one of the four surviving species in the Order Sirenia and it is the only existing species of herbivorous mammal that lives exclusively in the sea including in India. They are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and are protected in India under Schedule I of the Wild (Life) Protection Act, 1972.

Correct Answer D. R Sreelekha

Explanation: R Sreelekha will be the first woman Director General of Police in Kerala. The Kerala government appointed her as Fire and Rescue Services DGP. She is a 1987 batch officer, she is also the first woman IPS officer of Kerala. Presently an Additional Director General of Police, she currently heads the Prisons and Correctional Services Department.

Correct Answer – B. US $ 177

Explanation: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has granted a loan of US $ 177 loan to India to upgrade 450 kms of state highways and major district roads in Maharashtra. As part of the project, 2 major district roads and 11 state highways, with a combined length of 450 km, to 2-lane standard across seven districts of Maharashtra will be upgraded, with improved connectivity to national highways, interstate roads, seaports, airports, rail hubs, district headquarters, industrial areas, enterprise clusters and agricultural areas. The project will also focus on training the Maharashtra Public Works Department (PWD) project staff to build their capacity in climate change adaptation and disaster-resilient features in road design, road maintenance planning and road safety.

Correct Answer – A. 29th May

Explanation: International Day of UN Peacekeepers 2020 will be observed on May 29. The theme for this year’s Day is “Women in Peacekeeping: A Key to Peace” to help mark the 20th anniversary of the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. The first UN peacekeeping mission was established on 29th May 1948, when the Security Council authorized the deployment of a small number of UN military observers to the Middle East.

Correct Answer – C. Bank of India

Explanation: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed a penalty of Rs 6.50 crore on Karnataka Bank, Bank of India and Saraswat Co-operative Bank for non-compliance with central bank’s Income Recognition and Asset Classification norms. It fined Rs 5 crore on Bank of India, while it charged Rs 1.20 crore and Rs 30 lakh from Karnataka Bank and Saraswat Cooperative Bank, respectively. For Bank of India, the fine was imposed because it violated certain provisions on asset classification, divergence, opening of current accounts, and classification and reporting of frauds.

Correct Answer – B. Mujtaba Hussain

Explanation:  Noted Urdu author, humorist and satirist Mujtaba Hussain passed away. He was born on July 15, 1936, in Hyderabad, Telangana. Hussain was described as the Mark Twain of Urdu. He began his literary career from “Siasat”, a leading Urdu daily published from Hyderabad. Hussain was awarded the Padma Shri, the country’s fourth-highest civilian award, in 2007. He published a book titled “Mujtaba Hussain Jaisa Dekha Jaisa Paya” and “Mujtaba Hussain Aayeinon ke Beech” (deals with his art and styles).

Correct Answer – C. R. Shanmugam

Explanation: Former Tamil Nadu footballer and coach R. Shanmugam passed away. Shanmugam, who was born in Burma in 1943, represented the Burmese junior and senior national teams in 1966-67. Shanmugam played for Mohun Bagan in 1968, Indian Railways in the 1969 Nowgong senior Nationals, Tamil Nadu in the 1970 Jalandhar & ’71 Chennai senior Nationals. He’s played for the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) from 1969-77 in the top-tier of the Chennai Football Association (CFA) league. He attended the FIFA Coca Cola coaching course in 1978 & ’91, and the Olympic solidarity course in 1996. He obtained diplomas in football coaching from the National Institute of Sports in 1975-76 and the Brazilian Football Academy in 1995.