Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 22nd January 2022

Correct Answer: D. 39.64%

Explanation: The RBI’s Digital Payment Index, which shows the deepening of payments through digital modes in India, rose by 39.64 per cent to 304.06 in September 2021 against 217.74 in the year-ago month. The RBI-DPI Index continues to demonstrate significant growth in adoption and deepening of digital payments across the country. RBI has introduced Digital Payments Index in January 2021 with March 2018 as the base year to capture the extent of digitisation of payments across the country. This means that the DPI score for March 2018 is set at 100.

RBI has started publishing the Digital Payments Index (DPI) on a semi-annual basis from March 2021 onwards with a lag of 4 months. This means that the DPI will be released by RBI for March and September every year in the months of July and January respectively.

About the RBI-DPI:

The RBI-DPI comprises five broad parameters that enable measurement of deepening and penetration of digital payments in the country over different time periods, viz. payment enablers (with 25 per cent weight), payment infrastructure—demand-side factors (10 per cent), payment infrastructure—supply-side factors (15 per cent), payment performance (45 per cent) and consumer centricity (5 per cent). These parameters have sub-parameters which, in turn, consist of various measurable indicators.

Important Points:

• Reserve Bank of India Founded: April 1, 1935;
• Reserve Bank of India Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra;
• Reserve Bank of India Governor: Shaktikanta Das.

Correct Answer – B. Microsoft

Explanation: Microsoft Corp. is set to acquire game making company, Activision Blizzard Inc., in an all-cash transaction for $68.7 billion. ($95.00 per share). This acquisition will boost the competitiveness of Microsoft in the mobile gaming business and virtual-reality technology, across mobile, PC, console and cloud and will provide building blocks for the metaverse.

Activision Blizzard is famous as the maker of Candy Crush and Call of Duty, Xbox, among other leading video games. Upon the completion of the deal, Microsoft will become the world’s third-largest gaming company by revenue, behind Tencent and Sony. This is the biggest deal ever by Microsoft and also the largest-ever deal in the history of the gaming industry.

Important Points:

• Microsoft CEO and Chairman: Satya Nadella;
• Microsoft Headquarters: Redmond, Washington, United States.

Correct Answer – E. Anxiety

Explanation: The Oxford University Press (OUP) has picked up ‘Anxiety’ as the Children’s Word of the Year 2021, based on their recent research. Apart from “anxiety” (21%), “Challenging” (19%), “isolate” (14%), “Wellbeing” (13%) and “resilience” (12%) were the children’s top five words. In 2020, Coronavirus was the Children’s Word of the Year by OUP.

Over 8,000 children from across 85 schools in the UK, spanning Year 3 to Year 9, were surveyed and asked to choose the top words they would use when talking about health and wellbeing. The research highlights the widespread impact lockdown and school closures had on children, with almost a quarter of all surveyed choosing anxiety (21 per cent) as their number one word, closely followed by challenging (19 per cent) and isolate (14 per cent). However, wellbeing (13 per cent) and resilience (12 per cent) closely followed as their top words, signalling children’s positive attitude in the face of recent challenges.

Correct Answer – D. Dileep Sanghani

Explanation: The board of directors of the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO) has unanimously elected Dileep Sanghani as the 17th Chairman of the Cooperative. He succeeds Balvinder Singh Nakai, who passed away earlier on October 11, 2021. Prior to this, Sanghani was serving as vice-chairman of IFFCO since 2019.

Sanghani is a senior co-operator from Gujarat and the chairman of the Gujarat State Cooperative Marketing Federation Ltd. (GUJCOMASOL), a position he has held since 2017. He held various portfolios in the Gujarat government, including agriculture, cooperation, animal husbandry, fisheries, cow-breeding, prison, excise, law and justice, legislative and parliamentary affairs.

Important Points:

• IFFCO Headquarters: New Delhi;
• IFFCO Founded: 3 November 1967, New Delhi

Correct Answer – C. Babar Azam

Explanation: Pakistani skipper Babar Azam has been named as the captain of the ICC Men’s T20I team of the year for 2021. The ICC Team of the Year recognises the 11 best players in men’s cricket who have impressed one and all with their performances in a calendar year, either with the bat, ball or their all-round performance. No Indian male player has found a place in the team of 11.

However, in ICC Women’s T20I Team of the Year for 2021, Smriti Mandhana is the only Indian women player named in the 11 member team. Smriti has made in the list for third time in the T20I team of the year after 2018 (opener) and 2019 (number three). England’s Nat Sciver has been made the captain of ICC Women’s T20I Team of the Year for 2021.

Correct Answer – B. Federal Bank

Explanation:  Federal Bank, in association with Equirus Wealth, has launched a “US Dollar offshore fund” exclusively for their customers.This is in collaboration with SCUBE Capital, a Singapore-based global fund management company.Both NRI and Resident customers of Federal Bank will be able to invest in this fund.The fund offers a portfolio return (IRR) guidance of around $6.50 per cent per annum with a fund tenor of three years from the date of fund closure with an option to extend by one year.

Correct Answer – B. 7.6%

Explanation: India Ratings & Research (Ind-Ra) expects gross domestic product (GDP) to grow 7.6 per cent in fiscal year 2022-23 (FY23).After two years, the Indian economy will show a meaningful expansion, as the real GDP in FY23 will be 9.1 per cent higher than the FY20 (pre-Covid level) GDP level.However, the size of the Indian economy in FY23 will be 10.2 per cent lower than the FY23 GDP trend value.

Correct Answer – A. Border Security Force (BSF)

Explanation:Operation Sard Hawa is a regular annual exercise launched by the Border Security Force (BSF).Under the exercise the BSF will increase surveillance along the Pakistan border in Rajasthan.The Operation Sard Hawa is conducted during winters and Operation Garam Hawa is conducted during summers.These operations are held to control the infiltration in the borders.

Correct Answer – D. Both A and B

Explanation: The book titled ‘The Legend of Birsa Munda’ , authored by Tuhin A Sinha and co-authored by Ankita Verma.The has been released by Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari.The Book is the story of a lesser-known tribal hero, Birsa Munda, who courageously fought against the oppressive British Raj for the rights of his tribal community.

Correct Answer – B. Shaylyn Ford

Explanation: Meanwhile, Mrs America, Shaylyn Ford, was crowned as ‘Mrs World 2022’.Mrs Jordan, Jaclyn Stapp and Mrs UAE, Debanjali Kamstra, were declared as the runner ups, respectively.

Correct Answer – D. 112 Years

Explanation: Spaniard Saturnino de la Fuente García, the world’s oldest man, passed away in January 2022 at 112 years of age. Guinness World Records named De la Fuente García as the world’s oldest man back in September, when he was 112 years and 211 days. He was born on February 11, 1909.  Kane Tanaka is the oldest living woman in the world, who is 119 years old.

Additional Information  

The 1st-ever Guinness World Record in Numerology and the first world record of 2022 have been achieved by one of India’s top numerologists JC Chaudhry. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has received the Guinness World Record for constructing & blacktopping the world’s highest motorable road pass in Umlingla Pass, the Union Territory of Ladakh. In September 2021, The Guinness world book of records has recognized Cristiano Ronaldo as a world record breaker for the most goals scored in international football (soccer) matches scored by an individual (male).Guinness World Records, known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as The Guinness Book of Records, is a reference book published annually, listing world records both of human achievements and the extremes of the natural world.

Correct Answer – D. Zara Rutherford

Explanation: Belgian-British 19-year-old Zara Rutherford has become the youngest woman to fly solo around the world. She traveled to 31 countries across five continents to achieve the feat.   Rutherford has also become the first woman to fly alone around the world in a microlight plane. She is also the first Belgian to circumnavigate the globe solo by air.

Additional Information

Captain Harpreet Chandi, an Indian-origin British Sikh Army officer, and physiotherapist also known as Polar Preet, has created history by becoming the ‘first woman of colour’ to complete a solo unsupported trek to the South Pole. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, the Duchess of Cornwall, and Baroness Amos are to be appointed as members of the Order of the Garter, England’s oldest and most senior order of chivalry on 04 January 2022. The former prime minister now will be known as ‘Sir Tony’. India displaces the United Kingdom to be third in the list of countries that are home to such enterprises valued at over $1 billion each or unicorns. French fashion house Chanel named Indian origin British citizen, Leena Nair, an executive from Unilever, as its new global CEO.  British comedian Sean Lock has passed away. He was one of Britain’s finest comedians. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-Great Britain), won the British Grand Prix 2021, for a record-extending eighth time.

Correct Answer – B. Jerri

Explanation:  The Jammu and Kashmir administration has declared Jerri settlement in Reasi district as the first ‘milk village’ of the Union Territory. It has sanctioned 57 more dairy farms under the Integrated dairy development scheme (IDDS) for Jerri. Under the scheme, dairy units of five animals are provided with a 50 percent subsidy. The milk village houses 73 individual dairy units with 370 cows.

Additional Information

Jammu & Kashmir Bank has appointed Baldev Prakash as the Managing Director & CEO of the bank on January 01, 2022.

• J&K Bank Headquarters: Srinagar;
• J&K Bank Founded: 1 October 1938.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on 26 November 2021 inaugurated the Gymnastics Academy of J-K at MA Stadium in Jammu.In June 2021, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Manoj Sinha has launched the “HAUSLAinspiring her growth”, a comprehensive programme for Catalysing Women Entrepreneurship in UT. The Jammu and Kashmir government on 11 October 2021 launched its first ”tourist village” project in Panchari in the Udhampur district. The J&K Government has unveiled the Karkhandar scheme for artisans and weavers.

Correct Answer – A. Amazon India

Explanation: National Innovation Foundation’s Incubation and Entrepreneurship Council and Amazon India have signed an MoU. It is for the online distribution of products of student innovations and outstanding traditional knowledge-based products. The MoU will also make innovations from rural parts of India available universally. Amazon will also create a storefront to boost the discoverability of these.

Additional Information

E-commerce major Amazon India has announced the launch of Amazon Future Engineer, its global computer science education programme in India in October 2021.

Amazon:

• CEO: Andy Jassy (as of January 21, 2022)
• Founder: Jeff Bezos
• Founded: 5 July 1994
• Headquarters: Washington

Important Points

• Elon Musk-owned SpaceX has incorporated its wholly-owned subsidiary in India to start local broadband operations in November 2021.
• The crew of the Inspiration4, the first-ever orbital flight crewed entirely by tourists, is now officially in orbit, according to a Livestream from SpaceX in September 2021.
• SpaceX Founded: 2002.
• SpaceX Headquarters: California, United States of America.
• The US space agency NASA has selected SpaceX to provide launch services for Earth’s first mission to conduct detailed investigations of Jupiter’s moon Europa in August 2021.
• Headquarters of NASA: Washington D.C., United States.
• NASA Founded: 1 October 1958.