Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 9th June 2021

Correct Answer- A. Food and Agriculture Organization

Explanation- The United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration has been officially launched, which will run from 2021 to 2030. United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration will be co-led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO). It was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in a 2019 resolution. Purpose:Protection and revival of millions of hectares of ecosystems all around the world for the benefit of people and nature. This in turn will contribute to the achievement of all the Sustainable Development Goals.A Multi-Partner Trust Fund has also been launched for the Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Germany is the first country to provide funding of Euro 14 million towards this fund.In order to support the launch of the UN Decade, a report has also been released which defines the need of having such a global restoration effort.

Important Points:

• United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA.
• Mr Antonio Guterres is the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Correct Answer- E. The Ocean: Life and Livelihoods

Explanation– World Ocean Day is observed globally on 8th June every year. This day is observed to raise global awareness about the importance of the ocean in our lives and the ways through which we can protect it. The purpose of the Day is to tell the general public of the impact of human actions on the ocean, develop a worldwide movement of citizens for the ocean, and mobilize and unite the world’s population on a project for the sustainable management of the world’s oceans.

“The Ocean: Life and Livelihoods” is the theme for World Oceans Day 2021, as well as a declaration of intentions that launches a decade of challenges to get the Sustainable Development Goal 14, “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources”, by 2030. This year’s theme is especially relevant in the lead-up to the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, which will run from 2021 to 2030. The Decade will strengthen international cooperation to develop scientific research and innovative technologies that can connect ocean science with the needs of society.

History of World Oceans Day:

The government of Canada had proposed the concept of World Ocean Day, at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. Officially World Ocean Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2008 to be celebrated worldwide annually on 8 June to resolve the issues of oceans and also to save ocean water. By the collaboration of The Ocean Project and the World Ocean Network, it has been started celebrating on the international level.

Correct Answer- C. Three

Explanation- The Indian Navy is set to receive its first set of multi-role helicopters as America is set to hand over three MH-60 Romeo helicopters to the force in the United States in July. The first batch of Indian pilots has also reached the US for training on the helicopters which would be arriving in India next year in July. India and the US had signed over-Rs 16,000 crore deal to buy 24 MH-60 Romeo helicopters from Lockheed Martin in 2020 under fast track procedures on a government-to-government deal to hasten the process.

About the Romeo:

The 24 MH-60 Romeos would be equipped with multi-mode radars and night-vision devices as well as armed with Hellfire missiles, torpedoes and precision-guided weaponry.The helicopters are designed to operate from frigates, destroyers, cruisers and aircraft carriers.The choppers are designed for hunting submarines as well as knocking out ships and conducting search-and-rescue operations at sea.India and the US are also working on finalising a deal for buying 30 Predator drones to enhance the strike capabilities of the three defence forces.

Correct Answer- B. Sanjeev Nandan Sahai

Explanation– Senior administrator and former power secretary, Sanjeev Nandan Sahai is set to take over as next chairman of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB). A search committee headed by V K Saraswat, Member (S&T), NITI Aayog, cleared the name of Sahai. Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board is a statutory body in India.

About the Sanjiv Nandan Sahai:

Sanjiv Nandan Sahai is a 1986 batch IAS officer of the Arunachal Pradesh-Goa- Mizoram and Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre. He took over as Secretary in the Ministry of Power in 2019. He has also held several positions in the bureaucracy throughout his career, including five years as the Prime Minister.

Important Points:

• Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board HQ: New Delhi.

Correct Answer- A. Water Burial

Explanation- Arunachal Pradesh’s Water Burial has bagged the best film National Award on environment conservation at 67th National Films Awards 2021. The film, which is directed by independent filmmaker Shantanu Sen.Water Burial is produced by AM Television. Inspired by the popular Assamese novel Saba Kota Manuh, which is written by Yeshe Dorjee Thongchi, Water Burial is in Monpa dialect and has an intriguing storyline around a dark ritual of a local tribe in Arunachal Pradesh.

Correct Answer- A. Anup Chandra Pandey

Explanation- The Union government appointed Anup Chandra Pandey as the Election Commissioner.He is a retired IAS officer of the 1984 batch, Uttar Pradesh cadre.Pandey has been appointed to the position left vacant by former Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora’s retirement on April 12.This restores the three-member commission to its full strength, which will now oversee the next set of crucial assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Manipur and Uttarakhand next year.Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra and Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar are the other two members on the panel.

Correct Answer- A. Indian Institute of Science

Explanation- A record 63 Indian universities have made it to the Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings 2021.India is third overall in terms of representation, behind Japan (116 universities) and Mainland China (91).While Indian Institute of Science (37th) remains the country’s highest ranked university for the seventh year in a row, Indian Institute of Technology Ropar (55th) and Indian Institute of Technology Indore (78th) have also made it to the top 100 this year.King George’s Medical University (139th), Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi (143rd) and Mahatma Gandhi University (154th) figure among the top 200 for the first time.Of the 49 Indian universities appearing in the rankings for at least a second consecutive year, 51% have maintained or improved on their 2020 rankings.

Correct Answer- D. 9 June

Explanation- World Accreditation Day (WAD) is celebrated every year on 9 June to promote the role of accreditation in trade & the economy.The theme for WAD 2021 is “Accreditation: Supporting the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”.It provides the opportunity for ILAC and IAF members to share examples with stakeholders, regulators and consumers of how accreditation may be applied to meet objectives such as increasing trade, addressing environment and health and safety concerns, and improving the general overall quality of output in an economy.

Correct Answer- B. Maldives

Explanation- The Maldives’ Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid was elected as the new President of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), winning a three-fourth majority against contender Afghanistan’s former foreign minister Zalmai Rassoul.Shahid garnered 143 votes while Rassoul received 48 votes out of the 191 votes polled.The election to the UNGA presidential post is held on an annual basis, rotated amongst various regional groupings. The 76th UNGA session (2021-22) was the turn of the Asia-Pacific group.This is the first time the Maldives will be occupying the office of the President of the UNGA.

Correct Answer- C. Sergio Perez

Explanation-  Sergio Perez won his second Formula One race at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after a dramatic finish to the race in Baku.Driver Championship leader and Perez’s Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen crashed with just 4 laps to go.Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, went off course while trying to win the race on the standing restart in the two-lap shootout.Four-time champion Sebastian Vettel took second for Aston Martin after an impressive drive after qualifying 11th.Pierre Gasly was third for AlphaTauri.

Correct Answer- B. Roop Mallik

Explanation- Roop Mallik, a professor in the Department of biosciences and bioengineering at IIT Bombay, has been elected as an associate member of the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO).He is the fifth Indian scientist and the only one from IIT Bombay to join the life scientists’ community.He is the only Indian among nine associate members elected to EMBO for the year 2021.

Correct Answer- B. ​El Salvador

Explanation- El Salvador has become the first country in the world to formally adopt bitcoin as legal tender.The decision came after Congress approved President Nayib Bukele’s proposal to embrace cryptocurrency.With 62 out of 84 possible votes, a majority of lawmakers voted in favor of the initiative to create a law that will formally adopt bitcoin.

Correct Answer-  B. Li Ning

Explanation- The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has dropped Chinese sportswear maker Li Ning as its official kit partner.Its athletes will wear unbranded apparel at the Tokyo Games instead.Chinese companies have faced a backlash in India since 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a clash with Chinese forces in a Himalayan border dispute in 2020.

Correct Answer- B. Politics

Explanation- The senior leader of BJP in Karnataka C M Udasi passed away in Bengaluru in June 2021. Udasi, who entered the Assembly in 1983 as an Independent from Hangal, has represented the constituency six times.

Another Obituary:

Former Haryana Minister and veteran BJP leader Kamla Verma, passed away in June 2021.She was elected as MLA from Haryana’s Yamunanagar in 1977 and later served as a cabinet minister.