Important G.K. & Current Affairs Questions – 17th February 2019

Correct Answer – B. Japan

Explanation: After decades of discrimination, the government of Japan has introduced a bill to recognise the country’s ethnic Ainu minority as an “indigenous” people for the first time. The Ainu people, traditionally a society of hunter-gatherers on the northern island of Hokkaido, have long suffered the effects of a policy of forced assimilation that threatened to wipe out their culture. Even though discrimination has receded gradually, income and education gaps between them and the rest of Japan remain.

Correct Answer – A. New Delhi 

Explanation: The Ministry of Home Affairs in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has organised a meeting of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Cluster Group on Disaster Risk Management (DRM) in New Delhi. Indian Ocean Rim Association is an inter-governmental organisation and has many disaster-prone countries among its 22 members and nine dialogue partners. DRM is one of its priority areas and its Action Plan (2017-2021) has specific goals to improve resilience in IORA countries.

Correct Answer – B. 1964

Explanation: The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) was established in 1964 as a permanent intergovernmental body. UNCTAD is the part of the United Nations Secretariat dealing with trade, investment, and development issues. The organization’s goals are to: “maximize the trade, investment and development opportunities of developing countries and assist them in their efforts to integrate into the world economy on an equitable basis”. UNCTAD was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1964 and it reports to the UN General Assembly and United Nations Economic and Social Council.

Correct Answer – C. BP Sharma

Explanation: BP Sharma has been re-employed as the chief of the state-run helicopter manufacturer Pawan Hans, according to a Personnel Ministry order. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved re-employment ofSharma as the chairman and managing director (CMD) of Pawan Hans Limited for a period of five months, it said. Sharma took over as the CMD of Pawan Hans in March 2015. He superannuated last month-end. Pawan Hans has a fleet of more than 50 helicopters.

Correct Answer – C. 20

Explanation: RBI withdrew the 20 per cent limit on investments by FPIs in corporate bonds of an entity with a view to encourage more foreign investments. As part of the review of the FPI investment in corporate debt undertaken in April 2018, it was stipulated that no FPI should have an exposure of more than 20 per cent of its corporate bond portfolio to a single corporate (including exposure to entities related to the corporate).

Correct Answer – B. Hina Jaiswal

Explanation: Flight Lieutenant Hina Jaiswal “created history” by becoming the first female flight engineer to be inducted by the Indian Air Force. Hina, who was commissioned in the IAF’s engineering branch in 2015, completed her course at the Air Force Station in Yelahanka.

Correct Answer – B. Most Favoured Nation

Explanation: Article 1 of General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), 1994, requires every WTO member country to accord MFN status (or preferential trade terms with respect to tariffs and trade barriers) to all other member countries. Accordingly, India accorded MFN status to all WTO member countries, including Pakistan, from the date of entry into force of the so called Marrakesh Agreement, establishing the WTO. The WTO is the only global international organisation dealing with the rules of trade between nations and the 164 member countries of the WTO represent 98 per cent of world trade. Only a handful of very small countries are out of the WTO.

Correct Answer – B. Jaipur

Explanation: Jaipur has hosted the Early Ed Asia 2019. This two day educational event, touted to be Asia’s largest conference on Early Childhood has been held at the pink city’s most revered heritage structure – The iconic City Palace.

Correct Answer – D. Rajasthan 

Explanation: The Indian Air Force carried out a mega exercise here involving almost all variants of its fighter jets and attack helicopters, in a fire power demonstration near the border with Pakistan. The exercise came two days after 40 CRPF personnel were killed in a suicide attack in Kashmir’s Pulwama by Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed.

Correct Answer  – A. Chandramouli Ramanathan

Explanation: UN has appointed an Indian official in one of the top most positions in its Department of Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said at the United Nations  that Chandramouli Ramanathan has been appointed as Controller, Assistant Secretary-General for Programme Planning, Budget and Finance in the management strategy, policy and compliance department. Dujarric said he succeeds Bettina Tucci Bartsiotas of Uruguay. Ramanathan brings to the position nearly 40 years of executive international experience in diverse organisational settings in finance and budget, management and information technology.