Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 8th January 2021

Correct Answer: D. Madhya Pradesh

Explanation: In Madhya Pradesh, ‘Launch Pad Scheme’ is being started for boys and girls coming out of child care institutions and having completed 18 years of age. The objective is to provide such a platform to these youth, through which they will be able to become self-reliant by continuing their education and training. 5 divisional headquarters are being started in Indore, Sagar, Gwalior, Jabalpur, and Bhopal.

Correct Answer – C. Dharmendra Pradhan

Explanation: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has inaugurated a migrant worker cell of Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) at Udhna based iLab in Surat. The migrant worker cell with linkage with the city livelihood centre will help extend all kinds of assistance and government-led benefits to them. It has been created for the first time in the country under the ‘National Urban Livelihood Mission Scheme’.

Correct Answer – B. Twitter Inc

Explanation: Breaker, a popular podcast app, would be acquired by Twitter Inc. It will shut down its app and website by 15 January 2021. It has asked people to transfer their subscriptions to other podcast-listening apps like those offered by Apple Inc and Spotify. Breaker’s team would also be joining Twitter.

Correct Answer – B. 6,000 crores

Explanation:  The Ministry of Finance has released the 10th weekly installment of 6,000 crores rupees to the states to meet the GST compensation shortfall. Out of this, an amount of over 5,516 crores and 60 lakh rupees has been released to 23 states. The remaining five states- Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Sikkim do not have a gap in revenue on account of GST implementation.

Correct Answer – A. Maha Metro

Explanation: The Defence Research and Development Organisation and the Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), wherein the DRDO will render technical support for the implementation of its advanced biodigester Mk-II technology, for the treatment of human waste (night soil) in the metro rail network. The MoU was signed by Dr DK Dubey, Director DRDE, Gwalior and Atul Gadgil, Director, Maha-Metro Rail Corporation Limited, Pune, as per an official release.

DRDO’s biodigester is an indigenous, green and cost-effective technology, with a rare distinction of having one of the largest numbers of DRDO-licencees (ToT holders). Indian Railways has already installed about 2.40 lakh biodigesters in its fleet of passenger coaches. Now for MAHA-METRO, the technology has been revamped and further improved, in a bid to save water and space.

Correct Answer – B. Jammu

Explanation: A 5 day long ‘National Folk Dance Festival’ was held in Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory-JKUT) from December 26, 2020. It was organised by the North Zone Cultural Centre, Patiala (Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India) jointly with Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages.

Correct Answer – C. 3%

Explanation: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has capped the amount of trans fatty acids (TFA) in oils and fats to 3% for 2021 and 2% by 2022 from the current permissible limit of 5% through an amendment to the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulations. The country’s food regulatory body notified the amendment on December 29, more than a year after it issued a draft on the subject for consultation with stakeholders.

The revised regulation applies to edible refined oils, vanaspati (partially hydrogenated oils), margarine, bakery shortenings, and other mediums of cooking such as vegetable fat spreads and mixed fat spreads. Trans fats are associated with increased risk of heart attacks and death from coronary heart disease. As per the World Health Organisation (WHO), approximately 5.4 lakh deaths take place each year globally because of intake of industrially produced trans fatty acids. The WHO has also called for global elimination of trans fats by 2023.

Correct Answer – A. World Bank

Explanation: The Government of India, the Government of West Bengal and the World Bank on Tuesday signed a $105 million project to improve the inland water transport infrastructure in Kolkata, West Bengal. It will facilitate passenger and freight movement across the Hooghly river; improve accessibility in Kolkata, enhance the quality of life. The loan agreement has a maturity of 17 years, including a grace period of seven years.

Correct Answer – B. 9.6%

Explanation:  The World Bank estimates India’s growth to recover to 5.4% in FY22, as the rebound from a low base is offset by muted private investment growth given financial sector weaknesses. According to the World Bank’s January 2021 Global Economic Prospects report, Output is estimated to contract by 9.6% in the fiscal year 2020-21, due to a drop in household spending and private investment.

Correct Answer – B. Shantanu Dayal

Explanation: Lt Gen Shantanu Dayal has been named the new Deputy Chief of Army Staff (DCOAS). Lt Gen Dayal is the Corps Commander of the Tejpur based 4 Corps. He will take the place of Lt Gen SS Hasabnis who superannuated on December 31 as soon as his replacement arrives. Indian Army has undergone a major reshuffle at the top within the Army Headquarters and at the various other formations including the Corps Commanders, administrative and training institutions witnessing the change of guard.

The other significant change is in the newly-created Department of Military Affairs (DMA) with Chief of Defence Staff as its first Secretary. Lt Gen Taranjit Singh, the first Army officer to join as the Additional Secretary in the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) under the Ministry of Defence.

Correct Answer – C. 6th January

Explanation: The Journalist Day is observed by Maharashtra state government on 6th January every year in the memory of late journalist Balshastri Jambhekar. The first newspaper in the Marathi language named ‘Darpan’, was published on January 6, 1832, the date which also marks the birth anniversary of Balshastri Jambhekar.

Balshastri Jambhekar is also known as ‘The Father of Marathi Journalism’, for his efforts in starting journalism in Marathi language, in the form of first Marathi newspaper and first Marathi monthly.

Correct Answer – D. Another Round

Explanation: The 51st International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will open on 16th January this year, with Indian premiere of the movie ‘Another Round’ by Thomas Vinterberg. The movie starring Cannes Best Actor Award winner Mads Mikkelsen is among a star-studded line up of movies being showcased at IFFI. The movie is also Denmark’s official entry to Oscars. 51st IFFI is being organised from 16th to 24th January in Goa in both online and offline mode together.

Correct Answer – C. Mountaineer

Explanation:  Padma Shri awardee, Colonel Narendra ‘Bull’ Kumar, an iconic mountaineer who played a vital role in securing the Siachen Glacier for India passed away at the age of 87 in Delhi due to age-related ailments. He was born on 8th December 1933 in Rawalpindi, now in Pakistan. In 1964, he was the first Indian to climb Mount Nanda Devi. He climbed Mount Everest in 1965, Mount Blanc (highest peak in the Alps), and later Mount Kangchenchanga.

Correct Answer: B. UK

Explanation: British diplomat Brian Urquhart (101) passed away recently. He was an early leader of the United Nations who played a central role in developing the U.N. practice of peacekeeping. Mr Urquhart, born in Bridport, England in 1919, served in British military and intelligence during World War II before becoming the second official hired by the U.N. after its formation in 1945. Mr. Urquhart worked for the commission that set up the United Nations Secretariat in 1945, arranged the General Assembly’s first meeting in London and settled on New York City as the U.N.’s permanent home.