Daily GK & Current Affairs Quiz – 31st July 2020

Correct Answer: C. SBI Card

Explanation: Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and SBI Card has launched a new Co-branded Contactless Credit Card on RuPay Platform. The card was revealed by Union Minister of Railways and Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal. The newly launched card aims to ensure a safe, convenient and improved travel experience for the rail passengers. The new RuPay credit card is empowered with Near Field Communication (NFC) technology which will enable users to expedite their transactions at the POS machines by just tapping the card on the machines instead of swiping. The card will reward frequent railway travellers by offering them maximum savings proposition on their travel together with exclusive benefits.

Correct Answer – D. Both A & B

Explanation: Bharti AXA General Insurance has launched its crop insurance campaign,’Bohot Zaroori Hai’ for farmers in Maharashtra and Karnataka to encourage them about their yield protection and financial security. It aims to create awareness to farming communities about the relevance and significance of crop insurance, which can alleviate rural distress caused by crop failure or damage due to unseasonal rains, monsoon failure among others. Bharti AXA General Insurance had received Rs 800 crore worth crop insurance mandate from the governments of Maharashtra and Karnataka to insure their farmers under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).

Correct Answer – C. Anil Kumar Jha

Explanation: The government appointed the former chairman of Coal India Ltd. (CIL), Anil Kumar Jha, as a member of the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) that deals with the violation of environmental rules. The panel was earlier constituted in June 2017 for three years. Its tenure has now been extended till June 2021.

Correct Answer – D. Archana Soreng

Explanation:  Indian climate activist, Archana Soreng has been named by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to his new advisory group comprising young leaders who will provide perspectives and solutions to tackle the worsening climate crisis, as the global body mobilizes action as part of the COVID-19 recovery efforts. Archana Soreng joins six other young climate leaders from around the world who have been named by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to his new Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change. Archana is experienced in advocacy and research, and she is working to document, preserve, and promote traditional knowledge and cultural practices of indigenous communities.

Correct Answer – A. Jamie Vardy

Explanation: Leicester City striker, Jamie Vardy has bagged the Premier Leagues Golden Boot football award after netting 23 goals across the 2019/20 season. He beat Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (22 goals), Southampton Danny Ings (22 goals), and Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling (20 goals) to scoop the prestigious individual award. Jamie is the first Leicester City player to claim the award and is only the second Englishman after Harry Kane to take the crown in the last 20 years. Manchester City’s Brazilian keeper Ederson won the Golden Glove award after keeping his 16th clean sheet of the season against Norwich City to beat Burnley’s Nick Pope to the award.

Correct Answer – B. 30th July

Explanation: International Day of Friendship is observed globally on 30th July. This day is celebrated to mark the importance of friends and friendship in life. The day also advocates the role that friendship plays in promoting peace in several cultures across the world.

Correct Answer – C. Thierry Bollore

Explanation: Thierry Bolloré has been appointed as the new chief executive officer of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) effective September 10, 2020. He will succeed Ralph Speth, who will continue as non-executive chairman of JLR. Bollore has worked in automotive and auto component companies like Renault, Faurecia and Michelin. He most recently was the CEO of Groupe Renault. The appointment of Bollore comes at a time when the world is grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic and JLR has not remained aloof from its impact. Most recently, hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, JLR reported a significantly lower sales, suffering a loss of £501 million in the quarter ended March 31, 2020, and reported revenues of £5.4 billion

Correct Answer – C. Madhya Pradesh

Explanation: Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar released an updated report on India’s Tiger Survey from 2018. India has 2,967 tigers, a third more than in 2014, according to results of a census made public on July 29 last year. The present survey is a more granular estimate of these numbers. As per the report Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of tigers at 526, closely followed by Karnataka (524) and Uttarakhand (442). Chhattisgarh and Mizoram saw a decline in tiger population and all other States saw a “positive” increase.

Correct Answer – B. Bijapur, Chhattisgarh

Explanation:  In accordance with the delta rankings for aspirational districts by government think-tank NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog, Bijapur district in Chhattisgarh has topped the list of aspirational districts in Overall Delta Ranking for the February-June 2020 period. Bijapur has been followed by Ri-Bhoi (Meghalaya) and Bahraich (Uttar Pradesh) at 2nd and 3rd positions respectively. The delta rankings for aspirational districts considers an incremental progress in five developmental areas viz. Health and Nutrition, Education, Agriculture and Water Resources, Financial Inclusion & Skill Development and Basic Infrastructure.

Correct Answer – B. Mizoram

Explanation: Green-Agriculture(Green-Ag), a project funded by Global Environment Facility (GEF) was launched in Mizoram, India. It was launched by Agriculture minister of Mizoram C Lalrinsanga. Mizoram is first among the 5 states where the project is to be implemented. The other states are Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand. The project covers land in two districts of Lunglei and Mamit, Mizoram including Dampa Tiger Reserve and Thorangtlang Wildlife Sanctuary.

Correct Answer – A. N. Sivaraman

Explanation: The domestic rating agency, ICRA has appointed N Sivaraman as its new managing director and group chief executive officer for three years. He succeeds former MD and Group CEO Naresh Takkar. The post has been left vacant for one year after the termination of Naresh Takar in August 2019. Sivaraman will drive ICRA Group’s business strategy and innovation, build organisational capabilities, nurture a strong culture of analytical excellence, strengthen the independence and objectivity of ratings and enhance the company’s thought leadership.

• ICRA Headquarters: Gurgaon, Haryana.
• ICRA Non-Executive Chairman and Director: Arun Duggal.

Correct Answer – D. Stuart Board

Explanation: England cricketer, Stuart Broad becomes 7th bowler to take 500 wickets in Test cricket. Stuart Broad achieved an elusive milestone on Day 5 of the third Test against West Indies in Manchester. Kraigg Brathwaite became Stuart Broad’s 500th-Test wicket. Board is the second England bowler after Anderson and the 7th overall in the overall list of highest wicket-takers, which is led by Sri Lankan legend Muttiah Muralitharan with 800 scalps, Shane Warne (708), Anil Kumble (619), Anderson (589), Glenn McGrath (563) and Courtney Walsh (519) are ahead of Broad at the moment.

Correct Answer – D. Kazi Anik Islam

Explanation:  Bangladeshi pacer, Kazi Anik Islam has been handed a 2-year ban by the national cricket board for failing a dope test in 2018. Kazi, who was Bangladesh’s leading wicket-taker in the 2018 U-19 World Cup, tested positive for Methamphetamine, a prohibited substance, during a National Cricket League game in the same year. The 21-year-old admitted to the offence. His two-year ban began on February 8, 2019.

Correct Answer: D. Child Rights Activist

Explanation: The founder and President of Balala Hakula Sangham, P Achyuta Rao passed away due to COVID-19. He was a well-known child rights activist and had founded Balala Hakula Sangham in 1984. He is known to have helped prevent child marriages, incidents of child sexual abuse, and child labour. Rao recently filed a petition in Telangana High Court demanding that mid-day meal be served to students in government schools since they have not been able to access it due to the pandemic-imposed lockdown.