Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 7th September 2021

Correct Answer: B. 24

Explanation: India finished their campaign at the Tokyo Paralympics 2020 with an all-time high of 19 medals which includes five gold, eight silver, and six bronze. This is the best medal tally for India a single edition of the Paralympic Games. India is placed at 24th position in the overall medal tally out of a total of 162 nations.

Indian Flag Bearers:

Javelin thrower Tek Chand was the flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Paralympics.Shooter Avani Lekhara was India’s flag-bearer at the closing ceremony.

India at Paralympics 2020:

India sent its biggest ever contingent of 54 para-athletes at Tokyo Paralympics to compete across as many as 9 sporting disciplines at the Games.Prior to this, India had won a total of 12 Paralympics medals, since making its first appearance at the Paralympics in 1968, till the 2016 Rio.The Indian theme song of Paralympics 2020 “Kar de kamaal tu”. The composer and singer of the song is Sanjeev Singh, a Divyang cricket player from Lucknow.

List of Indian medallists winners of Tokyo Paralympics 2020:

Gold

• Athletics: Sumit Antil (Men’s Javelin Throw)
• Badminton: Pramod Bhagat (Men’s Singles)
• Badminton: Krishna Nagar (Men’s Singles)
• Shooting: Manish Narwal (Mixed 50m Pistol)
• Shooting: Avani Lekhara (Women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing)

Silver

• Athletics: Yogesh Kathuniya (Men’s Discus Throw)
• Athletics: Nishad Kumar (Men’s High Jump)
• Athletics: Mariyappan Thangavelu (Men’s High Jump)
• Athletics: Praveen Kumar (Men’s High Jump)
• Athletics: Devendra Jhajharia (Men’s Javelin Throw)
• Badminton: Suhas Yathiraj (Men’s Singles)
• Shooting: Singhraj Adhana (Mixed 50m Pistol)
• Table Tennis: Bhavina Patel (Women’s Singles)

Bronze

• Archery: Harvinder Singh (Men’s Individual Recurve)
• Athletics: Sharad Kumar (Men’s High Jump)
• Athletics: Sundar Singh Gurjar (Men’s Javelin Throw)
• Badminton: Manoj Sarkar (Men’s Singles)
• Shooting: Singhraj Adhana (Men’s 10m Air Pistol)
• Shooting: Avani Lekhara (Women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions)

Important Points:

Tokyo Paralympics was the 16th Summer Paralympic Games, held in Tokyo, Japan from August 24, to September 05, 2021.Badminton and Taekwondo were inducted for the first time in Tokyo Paralympics.

Team China topped the final medal tally at Tokyo Paralympic Games. The country won a total of 207 medals (96 golds, 60 silvers and 51 bronzes). United Kingdom (124) gets the second position followed by the USA(104).This is the fifth consecutive time China dominated Paralympic Games in both gold medal tally and overall medal tally.The closing ceremony was entitled ‘Harmonious Cacophony’ and involved both able-bodied actors and others with disabilities. The theme was described by organizers as a ‘world inspired by the Paralympics, one where differences shine’

Correct Answer: E. Angelina Jolie

Explanation: Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie has recently announced her upcoming book, titled “Know Your Rights and Claim Them: A Guide for Youth”. The book has been written jointly by Angelina Jolie, Amnesty International and human rights lawyer Geraldine Van Bueren QC.

About the book:

This book will be helpful to young people and children from around the world in making them aware of their rights and how to claim these rights decided years ago based on what would make them healthy, balanced, safe and stable adults.

Correct Answer: B. Max Verstappen

Explanation: Max Verstappen (Red Bull – Netherlands) has won the formula one Dutch Grand Prix 2021. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-Great Britain) came second while Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-Finland) came third. The Red Bull driver’s leading seventh win of the season and 17th of his career moved him three points ahead of the defending champion, who finished second but softened the blow with a bonus point for fastest lap.

Correct Answer: A. Cyrus Poncha

Explanation: Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI) Secretary-General, Cyrus Poncha has been unanimously elected as Vice-President of the Asian Squash Federation (ASF), during the 41st annual general meeting of ASF. The Dronacharya Awardee has been elected for a period of the four-year term.David Mui of Hong Kong was elected unopposed as the President of ASF for a second term. Apart from Cyrus Poncha, Mr Fayez Abdullah S.Al-Mutairi of Kuwait and Tae-sook Hee of Korea have been also elected as the Vice-Presidents of ASF.

Important Points:-

• Asian Squash Federation Headquarters: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia;
• Asian Squash Federation General Secretary: Duncan Chiu;
• Asian Squash Federation Founded: 1980.

Correct Answer: C. 05 September

Explanation: The International Day of Charity is observed annually on September 05. It was declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012. September 5 was chosen in order to commemorate the death anniversary of Mother Teresa, who had always been engaged in charitable work. Mother Teresa received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for “work undertaken in the struggle to overcome poverty and distress, which also constitute a threat to peace.”

Purpose of the day:

The prime purpose of the International Day of Charity is to raise awareness and provide a common platform for charity related activities all over the world for individuals, charitable, philanthropic and volunteer organizations for their own purposes on the local, national, regional and international level.

Correct Answer: E. 65 Lakh

Explanation: As a part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebration, the Ministry of AYUSH has launched a campaign titled ‘AYUSH AAPKE DWAR’, which aims to distribute medicinal plant saplings to 75 lakh households in one year.The campaign was inaugurated by the Union Minister of AYUSH Sarbananda Sonowal from Mumbai, during which he distributed medicinal plant saplings to citizens. Subsequently, the campaign was launched from more than 45 locations across the country. The medicinal plants being distributed include Tejpatta, Stevia, Ashoka, Giloy, Ashwagandha, Lemongrass, Tulsi, Sarpagandha and Amla. Under this campaign, it is proposed to undertake the cultivation of medicinal plants across 75,000 hectares in one year.

Correct Answer: D. World-Wide Fund for Nature-India

Explanation: India has become the first country in Asia to launch a Plastics Pact, a new platform to promote a circular system for plastics. The India Plastic Pact platform was launched on September 03, 2021, by the British High Commissioner to India, Alexander Ellis, at the 16th Sustainability Summit hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

About the ‘India Plastic Pact’:

The new platform ‘India Plastic Pact’ is a joint effort of the World-Wide Fund for Nature-India (WWF India) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), and envisions to create a world where plastic is valued and does not pollute the environment.The Pact targets the businesses to transition towards a circular economy for plastics by 2030.The initiative is supported by UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) and WRAP, a global NGO based in the UK, and endorsed by the British High Commission in India.

Correct Answer: D. 44

Explanation: President Ram Nath Kovind on 5 September 2021 awarded 44 unique teachers from all over India with the National Teachers’ Award 2021. They were awarded for their exemplary work in education including the development of innovative methods of teaching to improve school education and enrich the lives of students. A documentary film on each of the 44 awardees was also shown at the online ceremony. The National Awards to Teachers were first instituted in 1958 to recognise excellence and commitment of teachers in shaping the minds as well as future of the youth.The award is to accord public recognition to meritorious teachers working in elementary and secondary schools.

Correct Answer: C. 130th

Explanation: The 130th edition of the Durand Cup kicked off on 5 September 2021 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata. Mohammedan Sporting Club started their campaign in the tournament with an emphatic win against the Indian Air Force Football team. 16 teams are playing in this edition of the oldest club football tournament in Asia. The final match will be held on 3rd October 2021.The Durand Football Tournament or Durand Cup is a football competition in India that was first held in 1888 in Annadale, Shimla. Since 1940 the tournament has been played in New Delhi.  In the previous 129th edition, held for the first time in Kolkata in 2019, Gokulam Kerala emerged champions. Kolkata will host the tournament till 2025.

Correct Answer: C. ITBP

Explanation:  A team from the first battalion of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has successfully climbed the Mount Balbala peak (21,050 feet) in Uttarakhand. The ITBP Sector Level Mountaineering Expedition (SHQ Dehradun) code name ‘Parakram’ summited the peak on September 4, 2021. The expedition was launched on 7 August from Joshimath, Uttarakhand.

It was the first summit by any Indian expedition after a Swiss expedition made a successful climb to Mount Balbala in 1947. The mountain trained force- ITBP is accredited to have successfully completed more than 220 peaks since 1962, which is a record.

 Mount Balbala of the Garhwal Himalaya is situated in the Zanskar Range on the border between India and China. It is the 100th highest located entirely within Uttrakhand. Nanda Devi is the highest mountain in this category.

Correct Answer: A. 9000

Explanation: Chandrayaan-2 has completed more than 9,000 orbits around the Moon. The imaging and scientific instruments onboard have been relaying excellent data. ISRO opened a two-day Lunar Science Workshop 2021 on 6 September 2021 to commemorate the completion of two years of operation of Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft around the lunar orbit.

There will be lectures on the Chandrayaan-2 mission, tracking, operations, and data archival aspects. Along with the scientists from ISRO/DoS, there will also be lectures on lunar science to be delivered by scientists from Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, and Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee.

Chandrayaan-2 was launched on July 22, 2019, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. It is a totally indigenous mission comprising of an Orbiter, Lander (Vikram) and Rover (Pragyan). The Orbiter which was injected into a lunar orbit on September 2, 2019, carries eight experiments to address many open questions on lunar science. Chandrayaan-1 was launched in October 2008. It was India’s first lunar mission.

Correct Answer: D. Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd.

Explanation: Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) signed an MoU with the Tamil Nadu Generation & Distribution Corporation Limited (TANGEDCO) on 6 September 2021. It has been signed for providing IREDA’s technical expertise in developing renewable energy projects and fundraising. TANGEDCO is planning for 20,000 MW of solar power project, with adequate battery storage.

IREDA will also assist TANGEDCO in debt raising through developing financial models, underwriting services for the proposed debt requirement, and conducting pre-market surveys. It will facilitate knowledge sharing and provide consultancy services, which will contribute to driving sustainable development of the country.

Correct Answer: B. Raveena Tandon

Explanation: iAir has roped in famous Bollywood actress and celebrity, Raveena Tandon as their Brand Ambassador. iAir is a leading company, that provides a quality experience with the latest technology in various electronic products such as LED TV, mobile, and mobile accessories. Raveena Tandon will further help the company spread awareness about the product and brand all over India.

Correct Answer: B. Satish Parekh

Explanation: Managing Director and Promoter of Ashoka Buildcon, Satish Parekh has taken over as the President of the India Chapter of the International Road Federation (IRF). He took over from Subhmay Gangopadhyay, former Director of Central Road Research Institute (CRRI). The Geneva-based global road safety body IRF works for better and safer roads worldwide.