Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 9th & 10th May 2021

Correct Answer: C. Portugal

Explanation- Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the India-EU Leaders’ Meeting, held in a hybrid format. The India-European Union Leaders’ Meeting is hosted by Portugal.Portugal currently holds the chair of the grouping.PM Modi attended the event at the invitation of the President of the European Council Mr Charles Michel.The leaders of all the 27 EU Member States, as well as the President of the European Council and the European Commission, participated in the meeting. This is the first time that the EU hosted a meeting with India in the EU+27 format.

Correct Answer- A. Naomi Osaka

Explanation- World number two tennis player Naomi Osaka of Japan has been named “Sportswoman of the Year” at the 2021 Laureus World Sports Awards. This is Osaka’s second Laureus Sports Awards. In 2019, she won the “Breakthrough of the Year” award.

Correct Answer- A. N Rangasamy

Explanation- The All India NR Congress (AINRC) founder leader N Rangasamy has been sworn in as the Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Puducherry, for a record fourth time, on May 07, 2021.N Rangasamy was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Lieutenant governor (additional charge) Tamilisai Soundararajan.Prior to this, the 71-year-old served as Chief Minister of Puducherry from 2001 to 2008 as a member of the Indian National Congress and then from 2011 to 2016 as a member of AINRC.

Correct Answer- A. Gita Mittal

Explanation- Former Chief Justice of Jammu & Kashmir High Court, Justice Gita Mittal, has been declared as one of the two recipients of the Arline Pacht Global Vision Award for 2021.The Award will be presented at IAWJ’s Biennial Conference during the virtual opening ceremony on May 7, 2021.She shares the honour with Margarita Luna Ramos from Mexico.International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ) instituted this award in 2016. Justice Mittal would be the first Indian judge to receive the award.Award is presented to a sitting/retired woman judge to recognize her contribution to IAWJ.

Correct Answer- C. Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment

Explanation- The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE) has issued a notification mandating all State/UT Governments to issue a certificate of disability through online mode only using Unique Disability ID Portal (UDID Portal) – (www.swavlambancard.gov.in) from June 1, 2021.The requirement of a Certificate of disability is mandated under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPwD Act, 2016).Using the certificate, people with disabilities can avail benefits of different government schemes.The sector has been demanding online issuance of certificates, as people with disabilities were unable to get certificates due to prevalent restrictions in Pandemic times.Department of Health, and Department which deals with disability matters in States/UTs will ensure the compliance of the notification.

Correct Answer- C. Israel

Explanation- A new coronavirus treatment being developed in Israel’s Tel Aviv’s Ichilov Medical Center has successfully completed phase one trials.It has helped numerous moderate-to-serious cases of COVID-19 quickly recover from the disease.The EXO-CD24 substance had been administered to 30 patients whose conditions were moderate or worse.

All 30 of them recovered.

Israel:

• Capital – Jerusalem.
• Currency – Israeli Shekel.
• President – Reuven Rivlin.
• Prime Minister – Benjamin Netanyahu.
• National Sport – Association football.

Correct Answer- D. Aryna Sabalenka

Explanation- In Tennis, Aryna Sabalenka defeated world number one Ashleigh Barty to win the Madrid Open for the first time on 9 May 2021.German World number six Alexander Zverev registered a come-from-behind win to clinch his second Madrid Open title on 9 May 2021.Alexander Zverev defeated Matteo Berrettini in the final of Madrid Open 2021.In the women’s doubles final, Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova, both from the Czech Republic, defeated Gabriela Dabrowski of Canada and Demi Schuurs of France 6-4, 6-3.

Correct Answer- C. 80

Explanation- Continuing a positive growth, India’s exports grew by 80 percent to $7.04 billion during the first week of May 2021, according to preliminary data of the Commerce Ministry.Exports during May 1-7, 2020 stood at $3.91 billion and $6.48 billion in the same week of May 2019, data showed.Imports too rose by 80.7 percent to $8.86 billion during May 1-7, 2021 as against $4.91 billion in 2020.

Correct Answer- A. MyPetrolPump

Explanation- Delhi-based fuel delivery startup FuelBuddy has acquired Bangalore-based fuel delivery startup MyPetrolPump.MyPetrolPump is a venture owned by ANB Fuels Pvt. Ltd., for a cash and stock consideration.It is a first-of-its-kind on-demand fuel delivery service in India. FuelBuddy is an app-based tech-enabled platform that provides doorstep fuel delivery along with value-added services.

Correct Answer- D. GiveIndia

Explanation-  Ola Foundation has partnered with online donation platform GiveIndia to provide consumers with oxygen concentrators for free through its own app.The service will start rolling out in Bengaluru from the third week of May 2021 with an initial set of 500 oxygen concentrators.Ola and GiveIndia will scale it up across cities with up to 10,000 concentrators in the coming weeks.

Correct Answer- E. 10 May

Explanation– In 2021, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 10 May the International Day of Argania. The resolution, submitted by Morocco, was co-sponsored by 113 member states of the United Nations and adopted by consensus. The argan tree (Argania Spinosa) is a native species of the sub-Saharan region of Morocco, in the southwest of the country, which grows in arid and semiarid areas.

The argan tree

The argan tree is typically a multipurpose tree that supports income generation, increases resilience and improves climate adaptation, playing a very important role in achieving the three dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental – at the local level.The sustainable argan production sector contributes to the economic empowerment and financial inclusion of local communities, especially women living in rural areas. Cooperatives are instrumental in promoting local job opportunities and can play an important role in contributing to food security and in eradicating poverty.

History of the day:

The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated in 1988 the endemic production area as the Arganeraie Biosphere Reserve.Also, all know-how concerning the argan tree was inscribed in 2014 on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.Moreover, in December 2018, FAO recognized the Argan-based agro-sylvo-pastoral system within the area of Ait Souab – Ait Mansour in Morocco as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System.And lastly, in 2021, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 10 May the International Day of Argania.

Correct Answer- D. All of the above

Explanation- The European Union recently approved the requests of Norway, Canada and the United States to participate in the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) defence initiative. This is the first time, the European bloc has allowed a third state to participate in the PESCO project. The countries will now participate in the Military Mobility Project in Europe.

Military Mobility Project

It is to aid the free movement of military units in the European Union through the improvement of infrastructure and removal of bureaucratic barriers. It mainly revolves around two areas namely bureaucratic barriers (like passport checks) and the requirement of advance notice. During a NATO emergency, the troops can move freely and fastly. However, during peacetime, advance notice is required.

About PESCO:

It is a part of the European Union security and defence policy. It was introduced based on the Treaty of the European Union introduced by the Treaty of Lisbon in 2009.  Around four-fifths of the PESCO members are also NATO members. NATO is North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.In November 2020, the European Union allowed non-EU members to participate in PESCO. Following this, Canada, the US and Norway had requested to participate in PESCO.Four of the states in the European Union declare themselves as neutral. They are Austria, Ireland, Finland and Sweden.

Correct Answer-  B. Kami Rita

Explanation- Nepalese climber, Kami Rita has scaled Mount Everest for the 25th time, breaking his own record for the most ascents of the world’s highest peak. Rita, 51, first scaled Everest in 1994 and has been making the trip nearly every year since then. He is one of many Sherpa guides whose expertise and skills are vital to the safety and success of the hundreds of climbers.

Important Points:

• Nepali name of Mt. Everest: Sagarmatha;
• Tibetan name: Chomolungma.

Correct Answer- C. Brussels, Belgium

Explanation- The European Union (EU) is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union of 27 member states that are located primarily in Europe.

Correct Answer-  C. Tripura

Explanation- Ratan Lal Nath, Education Minister of Tripura launched the first of its kind Auro Scholarship Programme of Sri Aurobindo Society for all the students of Tripura. The programme was launched at the virtual event organised by the Sri Aurobindo Society.Auro Scholar is the World’s first Micro Scholarship programme aimed to encourage the students to improve their learning.Sri Aurobindo Society partnered with the Government of Tripura to make the scholarship accessible to all the students of Tripura.

Correct Answer-  B. Attorney General

Explanation- The former attorney general of India Soli J Sorabjee (91) passed away.Sorabjee was awarded Padma Vibhushan in 2002 for his defence of the freedom of expression and the protection of human rights.He was known for his contribution to the field of constitutional law.He had also helped India win in the International Court of Justice against Pakistan in the Atlantique downing case of 1999.

Correct Answer-  A. Sitar Maestro

Explanation- Sitar Maestro Pandit Devabrata(Debu) Chaudhuri passed away at the age of 85 in Delhi due to covid-19.He was born in 1935 in Mymensingh (now in Bangladesh).Pandit Debu Chaudhuri had been awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1992 for his contribution to arts.He has also won the Padma Shri and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.He was also a teacher and writer, who penned six books.Apart from being an artist he was a disciple of Mushtaq Ali Khan.

Correct Answer-  C. Philippines

Explanation- Investigative journalist and media executive Maria Ressa of the Philippines has been named as the 2021 laureate of the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize 2021.The $25,000 prize “recognizes outstanding contributions to the defence or promotion of press freedom especially in the face of danger,” according to UNESCO.The prize was named after Guillermo Cano Isaza, the Colombian journalist.Over a career spanning more than thirty years, Ressa has worked as CNN’s lead investigative reporter for Asia and the head of ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs.She has also been involved in many international initiatives to promote press freedom.In recent years, she has been the target of online attacks and judicial processes relating to her investigative reporting and status as manager of online outlet Rappler.

Correct Answer-  B. Twitter

Explanation- Twitter on 6 May 2021 introduced Tip Jar, a new feature that makes it easy for users to send money to their favourite creators on the micro-blogging service.Users will be able to connect their Twitter accounts with Tip Jar to their accounts on Bandcamp, Cash App, Patreon, PayPal or Venmo.Twitter will take no cut of money sent through the feature.