Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 7th January 2022

Correct Answer: C. Google

Explanation: Alphabet Inc-owned, Google has acquired Israeli cybersecurity startup Siemplify, in a deal worth $500 million. This acquisition will expand the U.S. tech giant’s security offerings in the country amid rising cyber-attacks. Siemplify will be integrated into Google Cloud’s Chronicle operation. As a part of Google Cloud’s security team, Siemplify will help companies better manage their threat response.

About the Acquisition:

This purchase marks the fourth acquisition of an Israeli company by Google and its first in the cybersecurity industry outside the US.Siemplify was founded in 2015 by Amos Stern (CEO), Alon Cohen (CTO) and Garry Fatakhov (COO). It has offices in Tel Aviv and headquarters in New York.Siemplify specializes in end-to-end security services for enterprises, typically referred to as security orchestration, automation and response (SOAR) services.

Important Points:

• Google CEO: Sundar Pichai;
• Google Founded: 4 September 1998, California, United States;
• Google Founders: Larry Page, Sergey Brin.

Correct Answer: A. Puducherry

Explanation: Puducherry has been handpicked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to host the 25th National Youth Festival. The 25th National Youth Festival is going to be held in Puducherry from 12th to 16th January 2022. The festival has been organised as part of the Azadi ki Amrit Mahotsav marking the 75th year of Independence, said Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports and Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur.

Key points of the festival:

The festival is likely to draw around 7000 youths in the age group of 18 to 22 from across the country.Around 500 youths from Puducherry will take part in the event.The government of India holds National Youth Festival, as a part of National Youth Week celebrations. It is organised with the aim of propagating the concept of national integration, brotherhood, the spirit of communal harmony, courage and adventure amongst the youth.This aim is achieved by organizing gatherings of youth and encouraging them to take part in different activities.

History:

National Youth Festival started in 1995 as a major activity under the programme held by National Integration Camp (NIC).

Correct Answer: D. Mother of Orphans

Explanation: Social worker Sindhutai Sapkal, who was called as ‘Mother of Orphans’ passed away at the age of 73 years. She was also referred to just as ‘Sindhutai’ or ‘Mai’. She was awarded the Padma Shri in 2021 in the Social Work category. Apart from this, she had received more than 750 awards and honours in her lifetime. She adopted close to 2,000 orphans and is grandmother to even more. She was from Maharashtra. A biopic on her life titled “Mee Sindhutai Sapkal“ was released in the year 2010.

Correct Answer: B. France

Explanation: Scientists and experts in France have reportedly identified a new variant of COVID-19 termed ‘IHU’. The new variant is said to be a more mutated strain than Omicron. The B.1.640.2 or IHU variant was first identified by the academics at institute IHU Mediterranee Infection and contains 46 mutations, which is more than Omicron. Nearly 12 cases of this new variant have been reported near Marseilles and has been linked to the African country Cameroon. But, the Omicron strain is still dominating in most parts of the world.

This new variant can be a major threat, however, the cases have not been reported so far in countries other than France and is not labelled as ‘variant under investigation’ by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Correct Answer: D. Power System Operation Corporation

Explanation: Power and new and renewable energy minister, Raj Kumar Singh has dedicated Automatic Generation Control (AGC) to the nation. The AGC sends signals to power plants every four seconds to maintain the frequency and thereby reliability of India’s power system. It will help in achieving the government’s target of 500 GW non-fossil fuel-based generation capacity by 2030.

About the Automatic Generation Control:

Automatic Generation Control will be operated by Power System Operation Corporation (POSOCO) through National Load Despatch Centre.POSOCO will send signals to every power plant through AGC every 4 seconds to maintain the frequency and reliability of the Power System.R.K. Singh has also released a report titled “Assessment of Inertia in Indian Power System”. It has been prepared by POSOCO with the help of IIT Bombay.India has achieved an installed capacity of 150 GW of renewable energy and aims to achieve a renewable energy capacity of 175 GW in 2022.

Correct Answer: A. Noopur Chaturvedi

Explanation: NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd. (NBBL), the wholly-owned subsidiary of National Payments Corporation of India has introduced a functionality called ‘Unified Presentment Management System’ (UPMS). NBBL through UPMS will enable the customers to set up standing instructions – from any channel and for any mode on their recurring bill payments. The bills will be automatically fetched from the billers and presented to customers for their action, in terms of auto-debit and bill payment management.

About the UPMS:

The bills will be automatically fetched from the billers and presented to customers for their action, in terms of auto-debit and bill payment management.UPMS will be available to customers through the centralized infrastructure and application support provided by Bharat BillPay Central Unit (BBPCU).

Important Points:

• NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd Founded: 2021;
• NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra;
• NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd CEO: Noopur Chaturvedi.

Correct Answer: D. Antigua and Barbuda

Explanation: The Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda joined the International Solar Alliance (ISA) as the 102nd member by signing the International Solar Alliance Framework Agreement, the India-led global green energy initiative.The Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne signed the framework agreement in the presence of Indian High Commissioner Dr K. J. Srinivasa to catalyze global energy transition through a solar-led approach.K. J. Srinivasa became the High Commissioner of India to Guyana, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, and the 15-member CARICOM ( Caribbean Community and Common Market) in 2019.

Correct Answer: D. 75th

Explanation: Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has celebrated its 75th Establishment Day on 6 th January 2022. Addressing on the occasion Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Piyush Goyal said that Quality is not expensive it is cost-effective.He highlighted that For BIS to grow it should work as a facilitator not an obstructer.He said that BIS should develop as a global organisation, learn from global experiences and integrate global standard.

Correct Answer: B. Zhang Ming

Explanation: Veteran Chinese diplomat, Zhang Ming has taken over as Secretary-General of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) with effect from 1st Jan 2021 for three years.He succeeded Vladimir Norov, former diplomat from Uzbekistan. SCO comprises: India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan.India took presidency of SCO for 2022-2023.

Correct Answer: A. Collective Security Treaty Organization

Explanation: Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is a Russia-led military alliance.It is a Moscow-based alliance of six former Soviet countries, for assistance.The CSTO has said that it will dispatch peacekeeping forces to Kazakhstan after the country’s President asked for help in controlling protests that escalated into violence, including the seizure and setting afire of government buildings.Protesters in Kazakhstan’s largest city stormed the presidential residence and the mayor’s office and set both on fire.

Correct Answer: C. 20 Gigawatt

Explanation: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the ₹12,031 crores second phase of setting up transmission projects for supplying electricity from renewable energy projects. The project has been approved under the Green Energy Corridor scheme. Green energy corridors are being set up in two phases. The second phase of the transmission corridors will supply 20 GW of renewable energy to the national grid from 7 states of Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and UP. The transmission systems will be created over a period of five years from Financial Year 2021-22 to 2025-26. The first phase of green energy corridors is under implementation in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu and will help supply around 24 GW of renewable energy by 2022.

Additional Information

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) is chaired by the Prime Minister of India. Union Cabinet approved a Rs 76,000-crore production linked incentive (PLI) scheme for boosting semiconductor and display manufacturing in India. In December 2021, the Ken-Betwa inter-linking of rivers project has been approved by the Union Cabinet, which was chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.  Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the extension of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY) for another four months in November 2021. The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the declaration of November 15 as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas. 15 November has been chosen as this date marks the birth anniversary of Sri Birsa Munda who is revered as Bhagwan (God) by tribal communities across the country.

Correct Answer: B. Spain

Explanation: The Cabinet has approved the signing of an agreement between India and Spain on “Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters”. It will help in making available, reliable, quick, and cost-effective information for the investigation of customs offences.It would also provide a legal framework for sharing of information between the customs authorities of the two countries.

Additional Information

In tennis, Garbine Muguruza of Spain beat Anett Kontaveit of Estonia in the final to claim her first WTA Finals title in November 2021. Indian economist and Nobel Laureate, Amartya Kumar Sen has been conferred with the ‘ 2021 Princess of Asturias Award’ by Spain in the social sciences category. 

Spain:

• Capital: Madrid
• King: Felipe VI of Spain
• Currency: Euro
• Prime Minister: Pedro Sánchez (As of Jan 2022).

Correct Answer: B. New Delhi

Explanation: A two-day South Asian Consultation Meeting on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework began in New Delhi on 6 Jan 2022. The meeting was attended by representatives from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav presided over the meet and informed about the Biological Diversity Act.

Correct Answer: D. Chennai Airport

Explanation: As per aviation analytics firm ‘Cirium’, India’s Chennai airport is the only one from India to feature in the Top10 global list for On-time performance, in the year 2021.For Chennai Airport, on-time departures to 70 routes globally analysed by Cirium stand at 89.32 percent. Chennai ranked 8th on the list. The top three airports are Miami Airport in the US, Fukuoka Airport, and Haneda Airport in Japan.

Additional Information

In August 2021, The Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in New Delhi has found a place among the world’s top 50 best airports in the 2021 Skytrax World Airport Awards. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has announced to rename the Hisar Airport as Maharaja Agrasen International Airport in August 2021. The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has declared Kushinagar Airport as a Customs notified airport. Gautam Adani-led Adani Group has taken over the responsibilities of the Jaipur International Airport from the Airports Authority of India (AAI). Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the Kushinagar International Airport in Uttar Pradesh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has laid the Foundation Stone of Noida International Airport at Jewar in Uttar Pradesh.