Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 4th February 2021

Correct Answer: D. Rajasthan

Explanation: The 16th edition of Indo-US joint military exercise ‘Yudh Abhyas’ will be held in Rajasthan between February 8 and 21.The exercise near the India-Pakistan border aims at enhancing cooperation and interoperability between the two armies and will focus on counter-terrorism operations under the United Nations mandate.The exercise is being held in India also assumes significance in the backdrop of recent developments on northern borders, and conveys the strategic posture of the two nations as well as enhanced upward trajectory in Indo-US relations.

Correct Answer – B. Praveen Sinha

Explanation: CBI Additional Director Praveen Sinha, a 1988-batch Gujarat cadre IPS, has been appointed acting chief of the agency till a decision on a new director is taken to succeed Rishi Kumar Shukla who retired after a two-year fixed stint.This is the fourth time since 2014 that an acting director has been given charge to look after duties of the CBI chief.Earlier, Rakesh Asthana, then additional director, held the fort before Alok Verma was appointed as Director.M Nageswara Rao, as additional director, took charge of the agency twice when the government removed Asthana and Verma from the agency following allegations of corruption levelled by them against each other.

Correct Answer – B. 53^rd

Explanation: India slipped two places to 53rd position in the 2020 Democracy Index’s global ranking, according to The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).India’s overall score fell from 6.9 in 2019 to 6.61 in the Index that provides a snapshot of the current state of democracy worldwide for 167 countries.Norway topped The Economist Intelligence Unit’s latest Democracy Index report titled “Democracy in sickness and in health?”, with Iceland, Sweden, New Zealand and Canada making up the top five.Among India’s neighbours, while Sri Lanka, at 68th rank, is classified as a flawed democracy, Bangladesh (76), Bhutan (84) and Pakistan (105) are classified in the ‘hybrid regime’ category. Afghanistan is ranked 139th and classified as an ‘authoritarian regime’ in the index.

Correct Answer – B. Andrew R. Jassy

Explanation:  Jeff Bezos, the Founder and CEO of Amazon, will step down as the CEO of Amazon in the third quarter October 2021 and Andy Jassy, the lead of Amazon Web Services (AWS), the cloud computing unit of Amazon will take over as the New CEO.Jeff Bezos will be taking up the role of executive chair of the Amazon’s Board of Directors.He also stated that he would be focusing on the new products, early initiatives and Philanthropic giving through like Day 1 Fund and the Bezos Earth Fund; Blue Origin, his secretive space venture.

Correct Answer – D. 4th February

Explanation: International Day of Human Fraternity is observed on 4th February every year.International Day of Human Fraternity aims to underline the importance of raising awareness about different cultures and religions, or beliefs, and the promotion of tolerance.It also aims to educate people that tolerance, pluralistic tradition, mutual respect, and the diversity of religions and beliefs promote human fraternity.This year International Day of Human Fraternity 2021 theme:A Pathway to the Future.The UN General Assembly on 21 December adopted a resolution declaring 4 February as the International Day of Human Fraternity. The day is to be observed each year, beginning in 2021.

Correct Answer – D. Australia

Explanation: Former right-arm fast bowler Merv Hughes has been inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame. The 59-year-old played 53 Tests and 33 ODIs for Australia in a career spanning from 1985 to 1994, during which he captured 212 Test wickets and 38 ODI wickets.His career-best figures of 8-87 against the West Indies at the WACA in 1988 included the final wicket of a hat-trick spread across three separate overs, two innings and two different days. In 2005, Hughes became a selector for the Australian cricket team, a role he would hold through until 2010.

Correct Answer – A. Google

Explanation: Ford Motor Co has joined hands with Alphabet Inc’s Google to cooperate in software, artificial intelligence and cloud computing, to develop new consumer services and modernize internal operations. The automaker will deploy Google artificial intelligence technology to improve the efficiency of vehicle development, supply chain and manufacturing operations.The Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker has entered into a six-year partnership with the tech giant, under which it will incorporate the Android operating system of the Google into its Ford and Lincoln vehicles starting in 2023. The customers of Ford will get built-in Google apps, including its map and voice technology.

Important Points:

• Ford Motor Co-Founder: Henry Ford.
• Ford Motor Co-Founded: 16 June 1903, Detroit, Michigan, United States.
• CEO of Google: Sundar Pichai;
• Headquarters: California, United States.

Correct Answer – B. Karnataka

Explanation: Engineering college students in Hubballi, Karnataka have come up with ‘Maya’, a robot that has been programmed to serve in banks and speaks in many regional languages. The students of the Automation and Robotics department of KLE Technological University have spent nearly eight months and spent Rs 5 lakh to develop the robot.

About the Maya:

It was developed keeping banking sectors in mind and programmed with all banking activities such as advising the customers on opening accounts, sending them to designated counters for queries.With the help of artificial intelligence, it recognises customers’ faces and responds to them by using a chatbot. After the banking hours, it automatically goes to the docking yard and charges its batteries without the help of any human being.

Correct Answer – B. 50th

Explanation: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has presented the 50th Kerala State Film Awards 2019 and the J C Daniel Award at a function here. Pinarayi Vijayan released the stamp published in connection with the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK).Veteran filmmaker Hariharan, who was conferred with the J C Daniel Award, is an artist who had travelled with cinema for about half a century and made films which went on to become milestones in the annals of Malayalam tinsel town.The film awards were also distributed. Culture Minister A K Balan presided.

Correct Answer – D. Ministry of Education

Explanation:The Union Education Minister, Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ has addressed the inaugural ceremony of the ASEAN India Hackathon 2021 on February 1. The Ministry of Education has launched the ASEAN India Hackathon 2021.The ASEAN India Hackathon 2021 is being conducted virtually from February 1 to 3, 2021. The 10 ASEAN countries are- Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Brunei, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.

About ASEAN-INDIA Hackathon 

• The ASEAN-INDIA Hackathon is an initiative by PM Modi and is launched by the Ministry of Education.
• This unique hackathon presents opportunities for India and all the 10 ASEAN countries to improve and strengthen their economic and cultural ties through cooperation in science and technology and education.

Correct Answer – C. Amazon

Explanation: Amazon will invest $200 million in eastern Tennessee to build a new warehouse distribution site that will result in 800 jobs.The facility is expected to be completed in 2022.It will be Amazon’s third fulfilment centre to use robotics technology in Tennessee and the company’s eighth fulfilment centre in Tennessee.Separately, Amazon is also building an operations hub in Nashville.

Correct Answer – B. Bikram Singh Bedi

Explanation: Google Cloud has announced the appointment of Bikram Singh Bedi as the Managing Director for its India business.With the current appointment, Bedi will succeed Karan Bajwa, who was recently elevated as the Vice President of Google’s Asia Pacific Cloud.He joined Google Cloud from Indian online grocery delivery startup, Grofers where he served as President Strategy and New Initiatives.

Correct Answer – A. 1

Explanation:  Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli retained the top celebrity endorser rank for the fourth consecutive year in the 2020 Duff & Phelps celebrity brand valuation report.His brand value stands at $237.7mn.Akshay Kumar retained the second position with a brand value of $118.9 mn,registering a 13.8% jump.Ranveer Singh maintained the third position with a brand value of $102.9 mn.

Correct Answer: B. China

Explanation: China plans to provide 10 million doses of a Covid-19 vaccine to developing countries through the global vaccine sharing initiative COVAX.China joined the COVAX in October 2020.COVAX is expected to start distributing vaccines in February 2021, mainly to poor and middle-income countries.It has a target of procuring 2 billion doses by end of 2021.

• China:
• Capital – Beijing.
• Currency – Chinese Yuan.
• President – Xi Jinping.
• National Sport – Table Tennis.