Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 9th March 2021

Correct Answer- B. Madhya Pradesh

Explanation-The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind has laid the foundation stone for the conservation works of Singorgarh Fort in Singrampur village of Damoh district, Madhya Pradesh. He also inaugurated the newly carved Jabalpur Circle of Archaeological Survey of India.Apart from this, President Kovind addressed the State Level Tribal Conference ‘Janjatiya Sammelan’ at Singrampur village in Damoh. The program was organized jointly by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India and the Tribal Affairs Department of Madhya Pradesh.

Important Points:

• Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh: Shivraj Singh Chouhan; Governor: Anandiben Patel.

Correct Answer – D. Google

Explanation- Google has launched a new web platform ‘Women Will’ on March 8, 2021, on the occasion of “International Women’s Day”. This platform will provide its support to 1 million rural women in India in order for them to become entrepreneurs with the help of accelerator programmes, business tutorials and mentorship.

About the Portal:

• This web portal can be accessed in English and Hindi languages. It will offer guidance to the aspiring women in villages to turn their interest or a hobby like beauty services, tailoring, home tuition, food processing, etc. into the business.
• It will also be providing guidance to manage and promote the business. The Women Will platform is designed for women aspiring to explore entrepreneurship.
• To begin with, Google will work with 2,000 ‘Internet Saathis’ to help other women with this resource to start their entrepreneurial journey.

Google also announced a $500,000 Google.org grant to Nasscom Foundation to train 100,000 women Agri workers in Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh on digital and financial literacy. The Foundation will set up a helpline where the women can get counselling on their entrepreneurship-related queries.

Important Points:

• Google CEO: Sundar Pichai.
• Google Founded: 4 September 1998, California, United States.
• Google Founders: Larry Page, Sergey Brin.

Correct Answer- B. Uttarakhand

Explanation- The First Forest Healing centre of the country was inaugurated at Ranikhet in Kalika Uttarakhand. The forest healing centre has been developed by the Research Wing of Uttarakhand Forest Department after research on the healing properties of the forests and its revitalizing impact on overall health and well being. It is spread over an area of around 13 acres.

About the healing centre:

• This healing centre has been established in a pine-dominated forest as it has been found in various studies that coniferous like Pine trees emit certain oil compounds to safeguard themselves from various microbes and pathogens, which are called phytoncides.
• It has been found in various researches that these compounds help to multiply natural killer (NK) cells in our blood, which help in fighting infections and cancerous growth and enhance overall immunity.
• It has been found that because of typical molecular vibration patterns of trees, tree-hugging has a beneficial impact on the increase in the level of feel-good hormones like oxytocin, serotonin and dopamine, creating the pleasant effect and in countries like Iceland forest department has been making efforts to facilitate this activity for benefit of health purpose of local citizens.

Important Points:

• Governor of Uttarakhand: Baby Rani Maurya

Correct Answer- D. Jan Aushadhi – Seva bhi, Rozgar bhi

Explanation– Prime Minister Narendra Modi has addressed ‘Janaushadhi Diwas’ celebrations through video conference. He dedicated to the nation the 7500th Janaushadhi Kendra at NEIGRIHMS, Shillong during the event. He interacts with beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana and also gives awards to stakeholders by recognizing their excellent work. Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers will also be present on the occasion.

1st March to 7th March is celebrated as ‘Janaushadhi Week’ across the nation with the theme of “Jan Aushadhi – Seva Bhi, Rozgar Bhi” for creating awareness about the use of generic medicines. Various functions across the country are organized like health checkup camps, Jan Aushadhi Paricharcha, Teach Them Young, panel discussions with doctors, etc. this week.

About the Janaushadhi Yojana:

Janaushadhi Yojana is becoming a big friend of poor and middle-class families. It is becoming the medium of both service and employment. There were not even 100 centres in India six years ago and we hope to achieve the target of 10,000 centres. Poor and middle-class families are saving about ₹3,600 crores every year on expensive medicines.

Correct Answer- A. Govinda Rajulu Chintala

Explanation– NABARD chairman, G R Chintala has assumed charge as the chairman of APRACA (Asia Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association). He has taken over from DPK Gunasekera, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Bank of Ceylon. Chintala, in his address as APRACA Chairman, appreciated the role of the members of APRACA in promoting the development of rural finance in Asia Pacific.

About the APRACA:

APRACA, established in 1977, is an association of institutions involved in agricultural, rural and microfinance policy and development, representing 21 countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

Correct Answer- C. 121st

Explanation- The Economic Freedom Index 2021 was published by US conservative think-tank, The Heritage Foundation.Globally, the Foundation rates India’s economy as the 121st freest.Although its overall score is unchanged, improvements were made in business freedom.This was offset by declines in judicial effectiveness and other scores.In the index, Singapore has topped the global ranking for the second consecutive year.The index was prepared by covering 184 countries this time for the period of July 2019 to June 2020.

Correct Answer- D. Switzerland

Explanation- Switzerland narrowly voted in favour of banning full facial coverings including the niqab and burqa in almost all public places.As many as 51.21 per cent of voters voted in support of the controversial proposal in the referendum.The approval by voters means that facial covering will be banned in all publicly accessible places, including on the streets, in public offices, on public transport, in restaurants, shops and in the countryside.The places where the full facial coverings will be allowed include places of worship and other sacred sites.Besides, it will be allowed for health and safety reasons and also in situations where it is “local custom” such as carnivals.There will be no additional exceptions, for example for tourists, according to the proposal by the Swiss federal government.

Correct Answer- A. SahilPay

Explanation- The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) collaborated with SahiPay, an Android-based integrated platform developed by Manipal Business Solutions (MBS) to promote nano-entrepreneurship amongst youth in the financial services sector.As a part of collaboration, candidates will be provided access to free digital skilling on ‘Online Entrepreneurship Program’ through NSDC’s eSkill India portal.It will provide youth an opportunity to explore self-employment for sustainable livelihood.

Correct Answer- C. Rajasthan

Explanation- A centre of excellence for the dairy sector will be set up in Rajasthan in collaboration with Denmark.Denmark Ambassador Freddy Svane discussed the idea at a meeting with chief minister Ashok Gehlot.The possibilities of Denmark’s cooperation in the field of water conservation and purification were also discussed in the meeting.

Correct Answer- C. 18 crore

Explanation-  Zolgensma which has a reported list price of £1.79 mn( ₹18 crore) per dose is labeled the most expensive drug in the world.It was approved by the National Health Service England on 8 March 2021 to treat babies with a rare fatal genetic disorder.It is a gene therapy indicated for the treatment of pediatric patient less than 2 years of age with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).

Correct Answer- C. 69000

Explanation- The Delhi government presented a ₹69,000-crore budget themed on “patriotism” for the financial year 2021-22 on 9 March 2021.The government has proposed to allocate ₹45 crores to install high masts to hoist the national flag at 500 places in the national capital.An amount of ₹10 crores will be allocated for programmes on Bhagat Singh’s life during the 75-week “Deshbhakti” celebrations.

Correct Answer- A. Kiren Rijiju

Explanation- To commemorate International Women’s Day, the Fit India Movement in association with Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) organized an All Women Fit India Walkathon at Delhi’s Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium.The 2km event, was flagged off by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju.Similar walkathons were organized in 1000 venues across India.

Correct Answer-  E. All 1, 2 and 3

Explanation- BJP’s Biswajit Daimary on 8 march 2021, took oath as the Member of Parliament in Rajya Sabha.Earlier, in February 2021, Daimary was elected unopposed to the upper house of Parliament.Dineshchandra Jemalbhai and Rambhai Mokariya from Gujarat also took oath as Rajya Sabha MPs.Chairman M.Venkaiah Naidu administered the oath to the new members.

Correct Answer- C. 68

Explanation- Government has informed that more than 81% accounts under the Stand Up India Scheme and about 68% of loan accounts under MUDRA scheme belong to women entrepreneurs.Out of the total of over 41 crore accounts opened under Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana, over 23 crore accounts belong to women.The three schemes were launched in the years 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.