Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 3rd April 2021

Correct Answer – B. Echo, Indonesia

Explanation: Facebook and Google are planning to build new subsea cables from the US to Singapore and Indonesia. Facebook has partnered with leading regional and global partners to build two new subsea cables Echo and Bifrost that will provide vital new connections between the Asia-Pacific region and North America. While Google is only investing in Echo. These cables will increase overall transpacific capacity by 70 per cent.These projects are still subject to regulatory approvals, when completed, these cables are expected to deliver much-needed Internet capacity, redundancy, and reliability.The announcements come at a time when the Covid-19 pandemic has increased the need for reliable Internet access.

Important Points:

• Google CEO: Sundar Pichai.
• Google Founded: 4 September 1998, California, United States.
• Google Founders: Larry Page, Sergey Brin.
• Chief Executive Officer of Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg.
• Facebook Headquarters: California, US.

Correct Answer – C. Bangladesh

Explanation: India has slipped 28 places to rank 140 among 156 countries in the Global Gender Gap Report 2021, by World Economic Forum. In 2020, India ranked 112th among 153 countries. Iceland has topped the index as the most gender-equal country in the world for the 12th time. Afghanistan is the worst-performing country in the report.

South Asia:

India emerged as the third-worst performing country in South Asia.Bangladesh is the best performer in South Asia.Among India’s neighbours, Bangladesh ranked 65, Nepal 106, Pakistan 153, Afghanistan 156, Bhutan 130 and Sri Lanka 116.In South Asia, only Pakistan and Afghanistan ranked below India.

Top 10 gender-equal country

1. Iceland
2. Finland
3. Norwa
4. New Zealand
5. Rwanda
6. Sweden
7. Namibia
8. Lithuania
9. Ireland
10. Switzerland

Global Gender Gap Report

The Global Gender Gap Report 2021 is the 15th edition of the annual publication by WEF.The Global Gender Gap Index was first introduced by the World Economic Forum in 2006 to compare countries’ gender gaps across four dimensions: economic opportunities, education, health and political leadership.

Important Points:

• World Economic Forum Headquarters: Cologny, Switzerland.
• World Economic Forum Founder: Klaus Schwab.
• World Economic Forum Founded: January 1971.

Correct Answer – B. Robust Peace Keeping Operations

Explanation: A multinational Military Exercise named ‘SHANTIR OGROSHENA’ 2021 (Front Runner of the Peace) is scheduled to be held in Bangladesh from April 04 to 12, 2021. The theme of the exercise is “Robust Peace Keeping Operations”. The exercise is being held to commemorate the birth centenary of Bangladesh ‘Father of the Nation’ Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and mark glorious 50 years of liberation of the country.

About the exercise:

The Indian Army is also participating in this multinational exercise, along with a contingent of the Royal Bhutan Army, Sri Lankan Army and Bangladesh Army.The Indian contingent will comprise 30 personnel including Officers, JCOs and Jawans of a Battalion from The DOGRA Regiment.USA, UK, Turkey, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Singapore will also attend the exercise as Military observers.

Correct Answer – A. 7.0%

Explanation: The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) said in the latest update that, India’s is estimated to record economic growth of 7% in 2021-22, over a contraction of 7.7% witnessed in the previous fiscal on account of the pandemic’s impact on normal business activity. It also noted that maintaining low borrowing costs while keeping non-performing loans in check would be a challenge.

Important Points:

• UNESCAP Founded: 28 March 1947.
• UNESCAP Headquarters: Bangkok, Thailand.

Correct Answer – D. Rajinikanth

Explanation: The legendary actor Rajinikanth has been selected to be honoured with the 51st Dadasaheb Phalke Awards, the highest film honour in India. The iconic actor Rajinikanth will receive the Dadasaheb Phalke award for 2019 for his stupendous contribution to Indian cinema. Rajinikanth will receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award on May 3, 2021.Rajinikanth is the 12th South Indian to get this award. Legends like Dr Rajkumar, Akkineni Nageshwar Rao, K Balachander have been awarded before. The legendary actor has been honoured with the Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan in the past.The jury this year for the prestigious award included playback icon Asha Bhosle, director-producer Subhash Ghai, Malayalam superstar Mohanlal, music composer and singer Shankar Mahadevan and Biswajeet Chatterjee.

Correct Answer – C. September 30, 2021

Explanation:  RBI has extended the timeline for processing recurring online transactions by 6 months till Sep 30, 2021.Prior to this, in December 2020, RBI had directed all banks including RRBs, NBFCs, and payment gateways that processing of recurring transactions (domestic or cross-border) using cards or Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPIs) or Unified Payments Interface will not be continued beyond March 31, 2021 if they do not comply with Additional Factor of Authentication (AFA).

Correct Answer – D. 10.1%

Explanation: World Bank has raised Indian GDP growth prediction to 10.1% for 2021-22 fiscal from 5.4% projected in January in its South Asia Economic Focus Spring update report.Real India GDP growth will be in the range from 7.5% to 12.5%.As per World Bank, government consumption is expected to rise by about 16.7% during the reported fiscal.Report forecast growth for the South Asia region at 7.2% in 2021 and 4.4% in 2022.

Correct Answer – A. Nirmala Sitharaman

Explanation: Union Minister of Finance & Corporate Affairs and India’s Governor in New Development Bank (NDB), Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman attended the 6th Annual Meeting of Board of Governors of New Development Bank through video-conference in New Delhi today. The meeting was also attended by Governors/Alternate Governors of Brazil, China, Russia and South Africa.

Correct Answer – D. Daribha Lyndem

Explanation: The debut book of Daribha Lyndem titled “Name Place Animal Things” examines the boundaries between the adult world and the world of a child. The book takes its name from a beloved school game.The book is published by Zubaan Publishers Pvt. Ltd.The book features a young khasi woman who lives in the city of Shillong, Meghalaya in early 2000s.The book has interconnected stories that move through age, lives and places and covers the breadth of childhood and moves into the awareness of adulthood.

Correct Answer – D. Rs 14,500 crore

Explanation: Govt has announced to infuse Rs 14,500 crore in 4 state-owned banks in 2020-21, by issuing non-interest-bearing bonds to these banks.Four Banks: Central Bank of India, Indian Overseas Bank, Bank of India and UCO Bank.Recapitalisation bonds will be issued with six different maturities, and special securities will be at par for the amount as per eligible bank application.This infusion will complete govt’s total capital infusion of Rs 20,000 crore in PSBs for 2020-21.

Correct Answer – A. Mastercard

Explanation: Airtel Africa has announced that Mastercard would invest USD 100 million in its wholly-owned subsidiary Airtel Mobile Commerce BV (AMC BV).Mastercard would hold a minority stake in AMC BV on completion of the deal, with Airtel Africa continuing to hold the majority stake.The latest deal values Airtel Africa’s mobile money business at USD 2.65 billion on a cash and debt-free basis.

Correct Answer – B. Qualcomm

Explanation: Jio has partnered with Qualcomm to announce the beginning of a year-long collaboration on JioGames ‘Esports platform’.The collaboration will start with the first contest, ‘Call of Duty Mobile Aces Esports Challenge’, featured on the JioGames Esports platform.JioGames Esports is an initiative by Jio to build a robust domestic Esports ecosystem for India’s fast-growing ESports community.

Correct Answer – D. Andhra Pradesh

Explanation: Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan has been conferred the ‘Kalinga Ratna’ award for the year 2021.The award instituted by Sarala Sahitya Sansad was presented to him during the 600th birth anniversary of Adikabi Sarala Das and the 40th annual celebrations of Sarala Sahitya Sansad.The Kalinga Ratna award carried a silver statue of Goddess Saraswati and a copper plaque.

Andhra Pradesh:

• Chief Minister – Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy.
• Governor – Biswabhusan Harichandan.
• Number of Districts – 13.

Correct Answer: B. Uzbekistan

Explanation:The 2023 Men’s Boxing World Championships will be held in Uzbekistan capital Tashkent.International Boxing Association (AIBA) President Umar Kremlev has confirmed Tashkent as the host city.The 22nd edition of the competition will be the first time when Uzbekistan will be hosting it. The central Asian nation won 3 gold medals in boxing at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Uzbekistan: 

• Capital – Tashkent.
• Currency – Uzbekistani Som.
• President – Shavkat Mirziyoyev.