Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 11th January 2022

Correct Answer: B. Tata Consultancy Services

Explanation: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has signed an agreement with Tata Consultancy Services Limited (TCS) for the second phase of the Passport Seva Programme (PSP-V2.0). TCS will be the service provider for the Passport Seva Project, which it has been for over 10 years. The PSP-V2.O envisages rolling out chip-enabled e-passports, increasing data security and ensuring the next level of customer experience with the use of biometrics, artificial intelligence, advanced data analytics and auto-response.

In the next phase of the programme, TCS will refresh existing facilities and systems, and develop new solutions to enable the issuance of e-passports using technologies such as biometrics, artificial intelligence, advanced data analytics, chatbots, auto-response, natural language processing, and the cloud.

Important Points: 

• Tata Consultancy Services Limited CEO: Rajesh Gopinathan (21 Feb 2017–);
• Tata Consultancy Services Limited Founded: 1 April 1968;
• Tata Consultancy Services Limited Headquarters: Mumbai.

Correct Answer – E. Jhulan Goswami

Explanation: Legends League Cricket (LLC) has appointed Jhulan Goswami as an ambassador to its All Women Match Official Team to promote Women’s Empowerment initiatives of the LLC and to increase participation of women in cricket. The LLC set up an All Women Match Official Team for the League. This is the first of its all-women official teams that would officiate an entire men’s league.

About the Legends League Cricket (LLC):

Legends League Cricket (LLC) is the professional cricket league for retired cricketers. The inaugural session of LLC will be organized from January 20 2022 at Oman Cricket Stadium in Muscat, Oman. Legends League Cricket (LLC) 2022 teams: Indian Maharaja, Aisan Lions, World Giants.

Correct Answer – E. Chandigarh University

Explanation: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has inaugurated Kalpana Chawla Centre for Research in Space Science and Technology (KCCRSST) at Chandigarh University. The Union Minister also launched Chandigarh University’s Defence Scholarship Scheme, worth Rs 10 Crore, for the wards of Defence Personnel of the three services. Kalpana Chawla was the first woman of Indian origin to go to space.

Established with the objective of training students in space science and satellite development and to meet future challenges in the area of space research, this state-of-the-art space centre would be the Ground Control Station (GCS) for the Chandigarh University’s Student Satellite (CUSAT), an in-house developed nano-satellite being designed by the students of Chandigarh University, and a Geo Spatial Centre for research, besides other important projects.

Correct Answer – B. Satish Adiga

Explanation: A professor in the clinical embryology department at Kasturba Medical College (KMC), under Manipal Academy of Higher education (MAHE), Dr Satish Adiga has been selected by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for its national award. He will receive Dr Subhas Mukherjee Award from ICMR in recognition for his outstanding contribution to the field of in-vitro fertilization (IVF). He has contributed significantly to both clinical IVF and fertility research.

Correct Answer – E. 26 December

Explanation: Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi has declared that starting from the year 2022, December 26 will be observed as ‘Veer Baal Diwas’ every year. The day will be commemorated as a tribute to the courage of the 4 Sahibzades (the four sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji), who attained martyrdom in the 17th century. The announcement was made by PM Modi on January 09, 2022, on the occasion of the Parkash Purab of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, or the birth anniversary of the 10th guru of Sikhs and the founder of the Khalsa community.

History of the day:

26 December marks the day on which Sahibzada Zorawar Singh Ji and Sahibzada Fateh Singh Ji (younger pair of Sahibzade) attained martyrdom after being sealed alive in a wall, at the tender age of 6 and 9 years. Sahibzada Ajit Singh Ji and Sahibzada Jujhar Singh Ji (older pair of Sahibzade) attained martyrdom on December 21, 1705, fighting the enemy in battle at Chamkaur Sahib at the young age of 18 and 14 years.

Correct Answer – D. Nodirbek Abdusattorov

Explanation: Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzbekistan), won the World Rapid Chess Championship 2021 by defeating Ian Nepomniachtchi (Russia) in a tiebreaker and dethroning Magnus Carlsen, the current World Number 1. 2020 FIDE Championship was won by Magnus Carlsen.

Nodirbek won the title along with a prize of $60,000, where he lost only one match against the Ukrainian Anton Korobov, and tied in five others. The Uzbeki Grand Master (GM), received the Mard Uglon (“Brave Son”) Presidential medal.

Correct Answer – A. Belfast

Explanation:  British actor and filmmaker Kenneth Branagh won Golden Globe for the ‘Best Screenplay Motion Picture’ category for his movie ‘Belfast’ . ‘Belfast’ is a 2021 coming-of-age comedy-drama film written and directed by Kenneth Branagh.The film stars Caitriona Balfe, Judi Dench, Jamie Dornan, Ciaran Hinds, Colin Morgan, and newcomer Jude Hill.The movie centres around a young boy’s childhood amidst the tumult of Belfast, Northern Ireland, in the 1960s.

Correct Answer – B. Doon School

Explanation: Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has virtually addressed 82nd Indian Public Schools’ Conference Principals’ Conclave and urged all schools attending the conclave to reflect how inclusive our leading schools are.It is being organized by Doon School.IPSC started in 1939 with a few residential schools now has a strength of 81 schools including Sainik Schools and Military Schools.Chairperson of IPSC: Nishi Misra.

Correct Answer – B. England           

Explanation: Participating members are Quad nations (United States, Australia, India and Japan), Canada and South Korea.It includes more than 270 hours of in-flight training, classroom sessions for pilots, flight officers.Sea Dragon: US led multi-national exercise that focuses on anti-submarine warfare (ASW) training in Indo-Pacific region.

Correct Answer – A. Indian Bank

Explanation: Diversified financial group Edelweiss Edelweiss Housing Finance Ltd (EHFL) and ECL Finance Ltd (ECLF) have entered into co-lending partnership with Indian Bank for lending to priority sector areas.Agriculture, micro enterprises and advances to weaker sections of the society are amongst the categories that form the priority sector in lending space.The lenders recently signed a (Memorandum of Understanding) MoU under RBI’s Co-Lending Model (CLM), thus significantly expanding their portfolio of lending products available to the target customers, increasing their access to credit.

Correct Answer – D. Kannada

Explanation: Noted Kannada writer and activist Professor Chandrashekhar Patil (82 years) passed away in Bengaluru due to age related illness.He is popularly known as Champa.He was one of the prominent ‘Bandaya sahithi’ in Kannada literary school of thought and was an important voice in public discourse of Karnataka for over half a century.His street play Jagadambeya was against the imposition of Emergency by then PM Indira Gandhi.He was honored with the Rajyotsava Award by state.

Correct Answer – A. Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade

Explanation: The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry is organizing the Startup India Innovation Week from January 10-16, 2022. It aims to commemorate the 75th year of India’s independence Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. It will have sessions ranging from topics like enhancing market access opportunities, discussions with industry leaders, etc.

Important Points

The programme is expected to bring together top policymakers, industry, academia, investors, startups, and all ecosystem enablers from across the globe. The event aims to exchange knowledge on nurturing startup ecosystems; to develop entrepreneurial ecosystem capacities; to mobilise global and domestic capital for startup investments; etc. Union Minister of Ministry of Commerce and Industry: Piyush Goyal

Correct Answer – D. Cyprus

Explanation: Scientists in Cyprus have detected a new variant of coronavirus dubbed as ‘Deltacron’- combining both the Delta and Omicron variants. As per reports, 25 cases have been detected so far. Out of 25, 11 patients were hospitalized while the remaining were from the general public. The frequency of the mutation among hospitalized patients was higher. The sequences of the 25 deltacron cases were sent to GISAID on January 7, 2022.

Additional Information  

• GISAID is a global science initiative and primary source established in 2008 that provides openaccess to genomic data of influenza viruses and the coronavirus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic.
• It is headquartered in Munich, Germany.
• It was founded in May 2008

Correct Answer: D. Navrang Saini

Explanation: The Centre has extended the additional charge of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) Wholetime Member Navrang Saini as Chairperson till March 5, 2022. The Centre had in October 2021 assigned the additional charge to Navrang Saini for a period of three months (till January 13, 2022). IBBI is the regulator for overseeing insolvency proceedings and entities.