Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 27th January 2022

Correct Answer: D. Koozhangal

Explanation: P S Vinothraj directed film Koozhangal from India won the best film award in the Asian Film Competition section at the 20th Dhaka International Film Festival. Information and Broadcasting Minister of Bangladesh Hasan Mahmud gave away the awards as Chief Guest during the concluding session organised at the National Museum auditorium in Dhaka.

The list of the award for different categories are:

• The best actor award was given to Jayasurya for Ranjith Sankar-directed film Sunny.
• The Best Script Writer Award went to Indranil Roychowdhury and Sugata Sinha for Indranil Roychowdhury-directed India-Bangladesh film Mayar Jonjal.
• The special audience award was given to Aimee Baruah Directed film Semkhor.
• Sujit Bidari directed film Aina Jhyal Ko Putali from Nepal got the best director award.
• In the Women film maker’s section, the best feature film award was given to Maryam Bahrololumi directed film Shahrbanoo (Lady from the City) from Iran.
• Two Bangladeshi films, Nurul Alam Atique directed Lal Moroger Jhuti and N Rashed Chowdhury directed Chandrabati Kotha got the Audience Award.

Correct Answer – C. Himachal Pradesh and Haryana

Explanation: Governments of Himachal Pradesh and Haryana have signed an MoU at Panchkula, for the construction of Adi Badri Dam that would come upon 77 acres in Himachal Pradesh near the Adi Badri area of Yamuna Nagar district of Haryana. The proposed dam aims for the rejuvenation of the Saraswati river with an estimated cost of Rs 215.35 crore.

About the Dam:

The Dam would get 224-hectare metre water from Himachal Pradesh’s Somb River that falls in the Yamuna near Adi Badri in Yamuna Nagar district. The executing agency for the construction of Adi Badri Dam would be Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited. Adi Badri, also Sri Sarasvati Udgam Tirath, is located in the foothills of the Sivalik Hills in the Bhabar area. It is situated in the northern part of Haryana’s Yamunanagar district.

Correct Answer – D. Ujjivan Small Finance Bank

Explanation: Ujjivan Small Finance Bank (SFB) has launched ‘Platina Fixed Deposit’, offering interest of 15 basis points (bps) higher than the regular term deposit rates provided by Ujjivan SFB. The Platina FD is a non-callable deposit, where partial & premature withdrawal is not applicable. While the interest amount can be received on monthly, quarterly or at the end of the maturity period.

About the Platina Fixed Deposit:

The general FD for 990 days tenure gives 6.75% interest for general citizens and 7.50% for senior citizens, while Platina FD offers 6.90% & 7.65% interest rates

FD limit: the minimum amount is Rs 20 lakh and the maximum amount is Rs 2 crores, with tenure ranging from 1 year to 5 years.

Important Points:

• Ujjivan Small Finance Bank Founded: 2017;
• Ujjivan Small Finance Bank Headquarters: Bengaluru;
• Ujjivan Small Finance Bank MD & CEO: Ittira Davis.

Correct Answer – C. Archaeologist

Explanation: Noted Indian historian, archaeologist and epigraphist from Tamil Nadu, Ramachandran Nagaswamy, has passed away. He was 91. He first director of the Tamil Nadu government’s Department of Archaeology. Nagaswamy was known for his work on temple inscriptions and art history of Tamil Nadu.

In 2018, Nagaswamy was conferred with the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award. He has authored more than 100 books and his latest book was ‘Senthamizh Naadum Pandbum’, published in January 2022.

Correct Answer- E. Ghulam Nabi Azad

Explanation: The Union ministry of home affairs announced the Padma awards on the eve of the country’s 73rd Republic Day. The Awards are given in three categories: Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher-order) and Padma Shri (distinguished service). The award seeks to recognize achievements in all fields of activities or disciplines where an element of public service is involved.

These awards are conferred by the President of India at ceremonial functions which are held at Rashtrapati Bhawan usually around March/ April every year. This year the President has approved conferment of 128 Padma Awards including 2 duo cases (in a duo case, the Award is counted as one) as per list below. The list comprises 4 Padma Vibhushan, 17 Padma Bhushan and 107 Padma Shri Awards. 34 of the awardees are women and the list also includes 10 persons from the category of Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI and 13 Posthumous awardees. In Duo case, the Award is counted as one.

Correct Answer – D. 384

Explanation: Olympian Neeraj Chopra will be honoured with Param Vishisht Seva Medal on the eve of Republic Day by President Ram Nath Kovind. He is the first track and field athlete to win a gold medal for India at the Olympics. Neeraj is a Subedar in the Indian Army. He had enrolled in 4 Rajputana Rifles as a direct entry to Naib Subedar in 2016. He was chosen for training at the Mission Olympics Wing and Army Sports Institute in Pune.

Other honour of Neeraj Chopra:

Chopra was conferred with the Arjuna Award in 2018 and Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) in 2020 for his excellence in sports.

The Haryana state will also showcase the life-size replica of Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra in the form of a tableau during the 2022 Republic Day parade.

Gallantry awards:

President Ram Nath Kovind will honour 384 defence personnel with Gallantry and other awards at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. The awards include 12 Shaurya Chakras, 29 Param Vishisht Seva Medals, 4 Uttam Yudh Seva Medals, 53 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals, 13 Yudh Seva Medals, three Bar to Vishisht Seva Medals. The President will also honour the winners of 122 Vishisht Seva Medals, three Bar to Sena Medals (Gallantry), 81 Sena Medals (Gallantry), two Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry), 40 Sena Medals (Devotion to Duty), eight Nao Sena Medals (Devotion to Duty), and 14 Vayu Sena Medals (Devotion to Duty).

Correct Answer – E. Rajasthan

Explanation: Ramgarh Vishdhari Wildlife Sanctuary, which is among the proposed five sites in the country, is expected to be formally notified as tiger reserve (TR) soon before the Global Tiger Summit, which is to be held at Vladivostok, Russia. The Centre also announced the development during the 4th Asia ministerial conference on tiger conservation. The Centre has already given its approval of granting tiger reserve status to Ramgarh Vishdhari Wildlife Sanctuary, along with MM Hills in Karnataka, Guru Ghasidas National Park in Chhattisgarh.

About the Ramgarh Vishdhari Sanctuary:

The Ramgarh Vishdhari Sanctuary will be spread across 1,071 sq kms. A 302 Sq Km area in the proposed tiger sanctuary will be left as critical habitat for Tigers and the rest of the area will act as a buffer zone for the Ranthambore National Park.

Ramgarh Vishdhari Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1982. The core areas of the sanctuary have 8 villages and are home to large numbers of wild animals like sambhars, caracals, wild boars, nilgai, and striped Hyena.

Important Points:

• Chief Minister of Rajasthan: Ashok Gehlot;
• Governor: Kalraj Mishra.

Correct Answer – A. Western Naval Command

Explanation: Western Naval Command of the Indian Navy conducted a joint maritime exercise Paschim Lehar (XPL-2022) off the West Coast which concluded. The exercise continued for 20 days and was conducted with an aim to enhance Inter-Service synergy among the Indian Navy, IAF, Indian Army and Coast Guard. The Western Naval Command (HQ- Mumbai) is one of the three command-level formations of the Indian Navy. The other two are Eastern Naval Command (HQ- Visakhapatnam) and Southern Naval Command (HQ- Kochi).

A variety of weapon firings in a realistic tactical scenario, besides validation of operational missions and tasks under varying settings, were undertaken during the exercise. The exercise provided all participating forces an opportunity to operate together under realistic conditions, in responding to contemporary maritime challenges, across the areas of the Command’s responsibility.

Correct Answer – A. Tata Motor

Explanation:  Tata Motors will be the sponsor of the Tata Open Maharashtra tennis tournament for the fourth consecutive year.The tournament, scheduled from 31 January to 6 February at the Balewadi stadium.It is South Asia’s only ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) tournament and India’s oldest international sporting event.The fourth edition of the tournament is all set to make its return after a one-year break due to the pandemic.

Correct Answer – A. Muthoot Homefin

Explanation: India Mortgage Guarantee Corporation (IMGC) partnered with Muthoot Homefin to offer mortgage guarantee-backed home loan products to MHIL’s customers seeking home loans in the affordable housing segment.Muthoot Homefin aims to leverage mortgage guarantee as a risk mitigation tool as demand for affordable and mid-income housing increases.The tie-up with IMGC will help Muthoot Homefin deepen its penetration in existing markets across its 108 branches/locations.

Correct Answer – D. MR Sharan

Explanation: MR Sharan authored the, Last among Equals: Power, Caste, and Politics in Bihar’s Villages.The book is an account of the author’s field study in a group of villages in Bihar.The book lays bare how the best of policies, crafted with the best of intentions, get subverted by local village-level power structures.The hero of this book is the little-known Sanjay Sahni, an immigrant from Bihar eking out a comfortable living as an electrician in Delhi.

Correct Answer – A. Badrinath Srinivasan

Explanation: Wipro Limited has appointed Badrinath Srinivasan as the MD for Southeast Asia.He will focus on Wipro’s vision for business growth, revenue expansion, client and influencer relationships, talent development and brand building.He will also strengthen the key markets of Southeast Asia, focusing on large deals and strategic transformational engagements.

Correct Answer – B. PM Narendra Modi

Explanation:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host the first India-Central Asia Summit in a virtual format on 27 January 2022. This will be the first engagement of its kind between India and the Central Asian countries at the level of leaders. The virtual summit will see the participation of the five countries Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and the Kyrgyz Republic.

Additional Information

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Davos Agenda virtual event on 17 Jan’22. PM Narendra Modi has been invited as the chief guest at the 54th convocation ceremony of the IIT Kanpur on 28th Dec 2021. Amid the Omicron scare, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced the Covid-19 vaccine for children and booster doses for Health workers and senior citizens in December 2021. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has laid the foundation stone of Ganga Expressway in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh in December 2021. In October 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the Indian Space Association (ISA). Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been named among the 100 most influential people of 2021 by Time Magazine. In August 2021, Narendra Modi has become the first Indian Prime Minister to chair an open debate at United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

Correct Answer – D. Reliance BP Mobility Ltd

Explanation: A joint venture of billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) and energy supermajor BP has opened one of the country’s largest EV charging hubs in Delhi. Reliance BP Mobility Ltd (RBML) is operating under the brand name Jio-bp. RBML had launched its first Jio-bp branded Mobility Station at Navde, Navi Mumbai in October 2021 and since then it has been scaling up the network.

Additional Information

Reliance Industries Ltd’s retail arm has purchased a 55.7% stake in Addverb Technologies, a Noida-based robotics company, for $132 million. Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has announced the acquisition of a controlling stake of 73.37% in Mandarin Oriental New York Hotel. Reliance Retail has invested $200 million or around Rs 1,488 crore in Dunzo for a 25.8 percent stake. Reliance Industries Ltd, India’s largest corporate by revenues, profits, and market value, topped the 2021 Wizikey News Score ranking as India’s most-visible corporate in the media.

Important Points

Reliance Industries Ltd:

• CEO: Mukesh Ambani (As of Jan 2022).
• Founder: Dhirubhai Ambani;
• Founded: 8 May 1973, Maharashtra;
• Headquarters: Mumbai.