Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 26th January 2022

Correct Answer: B. Fullerton India

Explanation: Fullerton India and One97 Communications Limited, which owns the brand Paytm, have announced a partnership to provide lending products to merchant partners and consumers. With the partnership, the two established institutions will leverage data-driven insights and wide reach to bring credit to new-to-credit users. They aim to co-create innovative merchant loan products using customer payment behaviour and Fullerton’s years of experience of understanding of this segment.

About the program:

• The program will offer Paytm Postpaid (buy-now-pay-later) to millions of consumers on the Paytm platform while utilizing Fullerton’s deep risk assessment capabilities and scale.
• Fullerton India and Paytm will further expand their product offerings to include instant personal loans, which are end-to-end digitally originated and disbursed using Paytm’s technology and Fullerton’s pan India presence.
• The two institutions would establish a wide network, specifically catering to MSMEs across small cities and towns and help them grow their business.

Important Points:

• Fullerton India CEO: Shantanu Mitra;
• Fullerton India Founded: 1994;
• Fullerton India Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Correct Answer – A. 150 million

Explanation: Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), a multilateral development bank has committed USD 150 million to invest in the development of data centres that mostly serve emerging Asia. This project is being AIIB’s 1st data centre project. India is a key founding member of AIIB. AIIB’s investment of USD 100 million through a parallel fund structure and USD 50 million through co-investments mark the final close of KDCF II, a development fund making strategic investments in the fast-growing data center sector with a focus on the Asia Pacific.

The project is aligned with AIIB’s thematic priorities of Connectivity and Regional Cooperation, Green Infrastructure and Private Capital Mobilization. It will also support Alpha in developing climate finance monitoring indicators, incorporating the joint MDB methodology for tracking climate finance and an Environmental and Social Management System at the Fund level. This partnership benefits AIIB’s geographical diversification given the diverse pipeline covering Southeast Asia and East Asia, among other regions across Asia Pacific.

Important Points:

• AIIB Headquarters: Beijing, China;
• AIIB Membership: 105 Members;
• AIIB Formation: 16 January 2016;
• AIIB Head: Jin Liqun.

Correct Answer – A. Shaheen Afridi

Explanation: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the winners of the 17th edition of ICC Awards for the year 2021 to recognise and honour the best international cricket players of the previous 12 months, between January 01, 2021, and December 31, 2021. Notably, these awards honour players for their performances for their respective national side in a year. The apex international cricket governing body has named the winners in the different categories such as: Emerging Cricketer of the Year, T20I Cricketer of the Year and Associate Cricketer of the Year for both men’s and women’s cricket.

Winners are listed Below:-

Correct Answer – B. CSIR – CDRI

Explanation: CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI) has developed an indigenous RT-PCR diagnostic kit, ‘Om’, for the testing of the Omicron variant of coronavirus. It is the first kit made by any government institution, and the third to be made indigenously, for specific testing of Omicron. Currently, two more such kits developed by private players are available in the market. The kit will give test results in around two hours.

About “Om”

• Om enables quick and cost-effective detection of omicron variants over genome sequencing for a large population. It was made within two months and will cost around Rs 150.
• Further, it will give the test results in around two hours. According to the scientists, it can also be aligned for the detection of other emerging variants of Covid infection and other respiratory infections.
• Once the kit gets approval from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), it will be launched by mid-February. The kit has been referred to the ICMR-National Institute of Virology (NIV) and is yet to be validated.

Correct Answer- B. $ 10 billion

Explanation: Food-ordering and instant grocery delivery platform, Swiggy has signed a $700 million funding round led by asset manager Invesco. With this, the total valuation of Swiggy has reached to $10.7 billion i.e. it is now a decacorn. A decacorn is a startup with a valuation of more than $10 billion. Swiggy’s latest valuation is almost double that of Zomato before the latter went for its initial public offering. Zomato was valued at $5.4 billion before its IPO.

Bengaluru-based Swiggy has overtaken budget hospitality company Oyo, whose valuation dropped to $8 billion in 2020 from $10 billion in 2019, and then increased to $9 billion in 2021. Swiggy has overtaken sports technology company Dream Sports, the parent firm of fantasy sports platform Dream11. This investment in Swiggy comes at a time when the adoption of food and online grocery is accelerating and consumer demand for Swiggy’s many services continues to grow.

Correct Answer – D. Vinodanand Jha

Explanation: Vinodanand Jha has been appointed as the Chairperson of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) Adjudicating Authority, for a period of 5 years. Jha is a 1983-batch retired IRS officer, who was serving as the Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax in Pune before this.

About the PMLA Adjudicating Authority:

The PMLA Adjudicating Authority is a three-member body whose mandated is to adjudicate the cases of attachment of assets orders issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and order for its continuity and further confiscation or release, considering the merits of the investigation.

Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 is an Act of the Parliament of India enacted by the NDA government to prevent money laundering and to provide for confiscation of property derived from money laundering. PMLA and the Rules notified there under came into force with effect from July 1, 2005.

Correct Answer – C. 29

Explanation: Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) for the year 2022 has been conferred to 29 children. These winners include 15 Boys and 14 Girls, belonging to 21 States and UTs. The PMRBP award is given by the Government of India to children with exceptional abilities and outstanding accomplishments in 6 categories. The award carries a cash prize of Rs.1,00,000/-.

Category wise distribution of awards is given below:

• Innovation: 7
• Social Service: 4
• Scholastic: 1
• Sports: 8
• Art & Culture: 6
• Bravery: 3

List of the winners of PMRBP 2022 is given below:

Correct Answer – C. Karnataka

Explanation: Karnataka was the first Indian state to introduce an AVGC policy in 2012.The state is now home to the country’s first to set up such a centre, which is also said to be the biggest in Asia, the government said in a release.

Correct Answer – C. Ladakh

Explanation: The Ladakh women’s team has won the ninth national women’s ice hockey championship organised by the Ice Hockey Association of India in Himachal Pradesh.The championship was held in Kaza area of Himachal Pradesh from January 15-21. Six teams from Delhi, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Telangana and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police participated in the championship.

Correct Answer – C. Lucknow

Explanation: Country’s first state-of-the-art, high-performance para-badminton academy with advanced equipment and facilities has been set up in Lucknow.The centre has been launched by Dronacharya awardee and head national coach of Indian parabadminton team, Gaurav Khanna, in association with Ageas Federal Life Insurance.Khanna also unveiled the Ageas Federal ‘Quest for Fearless Shuttlers’ programme to spot and nurture new talent for the 2028 and 2032 Paralympics.

Correct Answer – A. Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu

Explanation: ISRO successfully fired the high thrust Vikas engine that would power India’s first human-carry rocket.The Vikas engine for the Gaganyaan human space mission underwent the qualification test for a duration of 25 seconds at the ISRO Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu.Two engines have undergone tests under nominal operating conditions for a total duration of 480 seconds.The trial involved stress testing the fuel-oxidiser ratio and chamber pressure.

Correct Answer – A. 73rd

Explanation: 73rd Republic Day of India is being celebrated on 26 January 2022. It was on this day in 1950 that the Indian Constitution came into effect. India thus became a sovereign state, declaring it a republic. Dr BR Ambedkar headed the Drafting Committee of the Constitution.  The main attraction of the celebrations is the annual parade which begins at Rajpath, Delhi, and ends at the India Gate.

Additional Information

The celebrations of this year are special as India is in the 75th year of Independence being celebrated as ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’. Republic Day Of India: India became independent on the 15th of august, 1947. Even after independence, the country did not have its own constitution. The government of India appointed a Drafting Committee on 28th of August 1947 to draft it and Dr, B. R. Ambedkar as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee. After almost 3 years, the 308 members of the Assembly, after many consultations and a few modifications finally signed a constitution on the 24th of January 1950, which came into effect on the 26th of January 1950.

Correct Answer – A. Lieutenant Governor R K Mathur

Explanation: Ladakh Lieutenant Governor R K Mathur on 25 Jan 2022 awarded the first-ever “commendation certificates” to 10 personnel of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). They were awarded in recognition of their extraordinary contribution towards the creation and maintenance of infrastructure in Ladakh. The awardees include Lakhan Kumar Singh, Avinash Chandra, Pawan Sharma, Ramesh K, to name a few.

Important Points

Assistant engineer (civil) Ramesh K, junior engineers (civil) Lakhan Kumar Singh and Avinash Chandra, multi-skilled worker (mason) Pawan Sharma and CP Maz Tundup Dorjey from Project Vijayak; and junior engineers (Civil) Vineet Kumar Singh and Diwakar Kumar, SS Sonu Kumar Singh, driver mechanical transport -II Narsude Devendra Limbaji and vehicle mechanic Lovedeep from Project Himank will receive their certificates on the occasion of the 73rd Republic Day. BRO is a premier organisation constructing and maintaining infrastructure in the most challenging terrains of India. It is entrusted with creating and maintaining several strategic roads in Ladakh, including the prominent Umling La, Chang La, Khardung La, Zoji La, Lachung La, Namki La, Hamboting La and Fotu La passes.

Correct Answer – A.  Ayesha Malik

Explanation: Justice Ayesha Malik on 24 Jan’22 took oath as the first woman judge of Pakistan’s Supreme Court. Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed administered the oath to her. Justice Malik was appointed as a judge of the Lahore High Court in March 2012. She will now work as a Supreme Court judge until her superannuation in June 2031. She is likely to become the Chief Justice of Pakistan in Jan 2030.

Additional Information

Pakistani skipper Babar Azam has been named as the captain of the ICC Men’s T20I team of the year for 2021. Pakistani all-rounder, Mohammad Hafeez has announced his retirement from international cricket on January 03, 2022. General MM Naravane released a book ‘Bangladesh Liberation @ 50 years: ‘Bijoy’ with Synergy, India-Pakistan war 1971’, a compilation of personal accounts of the war by veterans from India and Pakistan.  Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, the man regarded as the “Father of Pakistan’s nuclear bomb”, has passed away in November 2021.