Important G.K. & Current Affairs Questions – 16th January 2019

Correct Answer – B. Pranav R Mehta

Explanation: A visionary in the field of Solar Energy and the chairman of National Solar Energy Federation, Shri Pranav R Mehta, has taken over as the president of Global Solar Council (GSC) from January 1, 2019. The GSC has its headquarters in Washington D.C., USA. The Global Solar Council (GSC) was launched on December 6, 2015, following the historic United Nations Climate Change Conference (UN COP 21). The GSC came into being as International Coalition of more than 30 nations, utilising maximum solar energy, decided to harness the renewable energy for the greater good.

Correct Answer – B. Telangana

Explanation: Telangana government has been given the green nod for its Rs 13,384.80 crore Sita Rama Lift Irrigation Project that aims to divert Godavari river water to irrigate 2.72 lakh hectare in three districts, a senior central government official said. The project, which is expected to be completed in three years, would lead to submergence of about 1,930 hectare area and 157 villages consisting of 9,696 families are likely to be affected, the official added.

Correct Answer – B. Mohali

Explanation: The Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi stressed upon the need for training and development of elected women representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) to ensure that fruit of development may reach the grassroots level through their active participation and actual empowerment. She was addressing the function after inaugurating the 5th Regional Centre of National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD) at Sahibzada Ajit Singh  Nagar (Mohali), Punjab. NIPCCD is a premier organisation devoted to promotion of voluntary action, research, training, and documentation in the overall domain of women and children development.NIPCCD already has  four such Regional Centres one each at Bangalore, Guwahati, Indore and Lucknow besides the Headquarters at New Delhi.

Correct Answer – A. Womaniya on GeM

Explanation: Government e Marketplace [GeM] has launched “Womaniya on GeM”, an initiative to enable women entrepreneurs and women self-help groups [WSHGs] to sell handicrafts and handloom, accessories, jute and coir products, home décor and office furnishings, directly to various Government ministries, departments and institutions. The initiative seeks to develop women entrepreneurship on the margins of society to achieve gender-inclusive economic growth.

Correct Answer – B. Sikkim

Explanation: Sikkim chief minister Pawan Kumar Chamling on launched the ‘One Family, One Job’ scheme that envisions jobs to a member of every family which does not have a government job in the state.

Correct Answer – D. 6084 crore

Explanation: The Government of India has allocated an additional Rs. 6,084 crore at RE stage to MGNREGA. This brings the total allocation to the scheme to Rs. 61,084 crore in 2018-19, making it the highest ever allocation. Governance reforms and thrust on sustainable livelihoods through durable assets has ensured better lives for the poor through wages, incomes and durable assets. MGNREGA is a flagship programme of the Ministry which addresses poverty in a holistic manner by overcoming social inequalities and creating a base for sustainable & long term development.

Correct Answer – B. Hyderabad

Explanation: The 1st National Level Sports Meet for the students of Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) was inaugurated yesterday by Shri Jaswantsinh Sumanbhai Bhabhor, Minister of State for Tribal Affairs at G.M.C Balayogi Stadium, Gachibowli, Hyderabad in the presence of Dr. Benhur Mahesh Dutt Ekka, Secretary, Tribal Welfare, Dr Christina Z Chongthu, Commissioner, Tribal Welfare, Govt of Telangana,  Dr. R. S. Praveen Kumar, IPS, Secretary, Telangana Tribal Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society, Hyderabad and Shri. A.Venkateshwar Reddy, Chairman, Sports Authority of Telangana besides senior. Officials of Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Govt. of India.

Correct Answer – A. IDFC First Bank

Explanation: Private sector lender IDFC Bank said its name has been changed to IDFC First Bank Ltd. “The name of the Bank has been changed from IDFC Bank Ltd to ‘IDFC First Bank Limited’ with effect from January 12, 2019, by virtue of ‘Certificate of Incorporation pursuant to a change of name’ issued by the Registrar of Companies, Chennai,” it said in a BSE filing.

Correct Answer – C. Narendra Modi

Explanation: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday became the first recipient of the prestigious Philip Kotler Presidential award.“The award focuses on the triple bottom-line of ‘People, Profit and Planet’ which will be offered annually to the leader of a nation,” a Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) statement said.According to the citation of the award, Modi was selected for his “outstanding leadership for the nation”. Prof. Philip Kotler is a world renowned Professor of Marketing at Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management. Owing to his ill-health, Jagdish Sheth of EMORY University, Georgia, US, was deputed to confer the award.

Correct Answer  – B. January 15

Explanation: Army Day is celebrated on 15 January every year in India, in recognition of Field Marshal Kodandera M. Cariappa’s (then a Lieutenant General) taking over as the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from General Sir Francis Butcher, the last British Commander-in-Chief of India, on 15 January 1949.