Important G.K. & Current Affairs Questions – 10th January 2019

Correct Answer – D. January 12

Explanation: National Youth Day is celebrated in India on 12 January on the birthday of Swami Vivekananda. In 1984 the Government of India declared the day as the National Youth Day and since 1985 the event is celebrated in India every year. The National Youth Day is observed all over India at schools and colleges, with processions, speeches, recitations, music, youth conventions, seminars, Yogasanas, presentations, competitions in essay-writing, recitations and sports on 12 January every year. Swami Vivekananda’s lectures and writings, deriving their inspiration from Indian spiritual tradition and the broad outlook of his Master Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa, are the source of inspiration and have motivated numerous youth organizations, study circles and service projects involving the youth.

Correct Answer – D. 100 percent

Explanation: With hundreds of millions of people joining the global middle-class, the demand for air travel is witnessing an unforeseen upsurge.  The International Civil Aviation Organization has predicted a 100 percent increase in global air travel by the year 2030, creating a need for extensive efforts to bring the entire aviation ecosystem to pace. To ride this strong tailwind of growth and pave the way forward for the sector, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), in collaboration with FICCI is organizing a Global Aviation Summit with an overarching theme of “Flying for all” on 15-16 January 2019 in Mumbai, the financial capital of India.

Correct Answer – D. Ranjan Gogoi

Explanation: The Supreme Court has recently formed a 5-Judge Constitution Bench to hear Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid Case. The bench would be headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and comprise of justices SA Bobde, NV Ramana, UU Lalit and DY Chandrachud.

Correct Answer – B. January 6

Explanation: World Day for War Orphans is observed on January 6. Civilians bear the brunt of the suffering in war. Of the big number of war victims, the most often neglected are children. Orphans throughout the world face many challenges: Malnutrition, starvation, disease, and decreased social attention. As the most vulnerable population on planet Earth, they have no one to protect them and are most likely to suffer from hunger, disease, and many other problems. In recent decades, the proportion of civilian casualties in armed conflicts has increased dramatically and is now estimated at more than 90 per cent. About half of the victims are children. An estimated 20 million children have been forced to flee their homes because of conflict and human rights violations and are living as refugees in neighbouring countries or are internally displaced within their own national borders.

Correct Answer – A. Freedom of Literature Bill

Explanation: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor recently introduced the “Freedom of Literature Bill” in the Lok Sabha as a private member bill. The Bill seeks the omission of Section 295A and 298 of IPC, which punish acts done to outrage or wound religious feelings.These provisions, in effect, act as a blasphemy law and are worded in wide and vague terms.The provisions are mostly used to suppress alternate views expressed by writers, thinkers and scholars. Notably, Section 153A of IPC already deals with speeches and acts intended to disrupt communal harmony.

Correct Answer – C. Cambodia

Explanation: Lakhon Khol or Khmer masked drama dance is a dance drama genre that is performed in Cambodia. Lakhon Khol was recently listed by UNESCO, the United Nations’ cultural agency, as an intangible cultural heritage, along with neighbouring Thailand’s version of the dance, known as Khon. There are different variations in Southeast Asia.

Correct Answer – B. Microsoft

Explanation: PhotoDNA is a technology developed by Microsoft and improved by Hany Farid of Dartmouth College that computes hash values of images, video and audio files to identify similar images. PhotoDNA is primarily used in the prevention of child pornography, and works by computing a unique hash that represents the image. This hash is computed such that it is resistant to alterations in the image, including resizing and minor color alterations. It works by converting the image to black and white, resizing it, breaking it into a grid, and looking at intensity gradients or edges. Recently, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sent an official request to social media platforms to use Microsoft’s PhotoDNA for purposes of investigation in regular criminal cases.

Correct Answer – B. World Bank

Explanation: World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim unexpectedly resigned recently, more than three years before his term ends in 2022, amid differences with the Trump administration over climate change and the need for more development resources. Mr Kim, appointed twice by former US President Barack Obama for five-year terms, had pushed financing for green energy projects and largely dropped support for coal power investments, but had avoided public clashes with the Trump administration, which has made reviving the US coal sector a priority. Just last month, the World Bank announced it would double its investments to fight climate change to around $200 billion over the next five years.

Correct Answer – B. Third

Explanation: A report by World Economic Forum said that India is set to become the world’s third largest consumer market behind only USA and China by 2030. The report said consumer spending in India is expected to grow from 1.5 trillion US dollar at present to six trillion US dollar by 2030. The report said that with the annual GDP growth rate of 7.5 percent, India is currently the world’s sixth largest economy. The report titled ‘Future of Consumption in Fast-Growth Consumer Market – India’ also noted that growth of the middle class will lift nearly 25 million households out of poverty.

Correct Answer  – C. Gita Gopinath

Explanation: Mysore-born Gita Gopinath has joined International Monetary Fund as its chief economist, becoming the first woman to occupy the top IMF post. Gopinath’s joined last week at a time, when she believes the world is experiencing a retreat from globalisation, posing challenges to multilateral institutions. The John Zwaanstra professor of International Studies and Economics at Harvard University, Gopinath, 47, succeeds Maurice (Maury) Obstfeld as Economic Counsellor and Director of the IMF’s Research Department. Obstfeld retired December 31. Announcing her appointment on October 1, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde described her as one of the world’s outstanding economists with impeccable academic credentials, a proven track record of intellectual leadership and extensive international experience.