Important G.K. & Current Affairs Questions – 19th February 2019

Explanation: JP Morgan is set to become the first US bank to launch its own cryptocurrency as it looks to find a new way of settling payments between its global clients. The JPM Coin is a digital currency designed to represent the US dollar. It follows a recent trend of so-called stablecoins, which aim to minimise the volatility in price of cryptocurrencies by pegging the digital assets to a fiat currency.

Correct Answer – C. Salil Gupte

Explanation: Boeing India announced the appointment of Salil Gupte as its president with effect from March 18. Gupte, who was vice-president of Boeing Capital Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Boeing Company, succeeds Prat Kumar, who was appointed vice-president and program manager of Boeing’s F-15 fighter aircraft program in November 2018.

Correct Answer – B. Bank of Singapore

Explanation: Edelweiss Group has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Bank of Singapore to form a strategic partnership to provide clients of both entities the opportunity to access their respective product platforms. “This is the first time that an Indian wealth manager of Edelweiss’ size and stature is partnering with an offshore private bank,” Edelweiss Financial Services said in a BSE filing. Bank of Singapore had previously signed similar strategic partnerships with two financial institutions – one from Japan and another from Switzerland.

Correct Answer – A. Raigarh

Explanation: Chhattisgarh’s Raigarh municipal corporation Friday won the “Swachhata Excellence awards 2019”, according to a statement issued Friday. The municipal corporations of Ambikapur and Kumbakonam bagged the second and third prizes respectively. According to the statement issued by the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry, Nagar Palika Parishad of Jashpur Nagar,Malappuram Municipality, and Nagar Palika Parishad Surajpur have claimed the prizes in the “Statutory Towns” category. It said that for million-plus cities, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation has won the award.

Correct Answer – B. Kurkure

Explanation: Kurkure has roped in leading Bollywood actress, Taapsee Pannu as its brand ambassador. The announcement is strategically timed as Kurkure embarks on a new journey with its new positioning – ‘Khayal toh Chatpata hai’, celebrating progressive thinking that young Indian homemakers bring in to traditional Indian families. With a promise to add more fun and excitement to family time, the brand rings in a new mantra, together with the boundless energy of Taapsee, who stands synonymous to the essence of Kurkure.

Correct Answer – A. 25 km

Explanation: The government has issued a set of guidelines to set up charging stations for electric vehicles across the country, outlining ways to build such fueling points every 25 km. According to the Union Housing an Urban Affairs Ministry, the government expects 25 per cent of the total vehicles on roads will be electric vehicles by 2030, necessitating to erect robust electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across the country.

Correct Answer – A. Pramod Chandra

Explanation: Internal Revenue Service (IRS) officer Pramod Chandra Mody took over as the new chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the policy making body of the Income Tax Department. Mody, a 1982-batch Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax Cadre) officer has been appointed in place of Sushil Chandra, who was named as Election Commissioner ahead of the Lok Sabha polls due this summer.

Correct Answer – E. None of these

Explanation: The country’s second-largest IT services firm Infosys on Saturday announced the launch of ‘InfyTQ’, a digital platform to offer learning and engagement experiences to engineering students in the country. InfyTQ is a free platform open to all engineering students in their third and fourth years across India, Infosys said in a statement.

Correct Answer – D. 100

Explanation: The Centre has identified over 100 coastal and marine sites as conservation reserves under its National Wildlife Action Plan for 2017-2031, a biennial report released by the government said. As per the second biennial update report (BUR) of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, submitted to the UN body on climate change in December 2018, India is encouraging participation of local communities in governance by recognising the conservation reserves. “India is implementing measures to sustainably harness the potential of blue economy while building the climate resilience of the ecosystems and local coastal communities. Around 106 coastal and marine sites have been identified as conservation or community reserves to increase participation of local communities in governance,” it said

Correct Answer  – E. None of these

Explanation: Breathing life into more than a three-decade old committee report, the Karnataka government has decided to amend rules to give primacy to Kannadigas in jobs under Group C and D category in the private sector. The state cabinet decided to amend the Karnataka Industrial Employment (Standing Orders), Rules, 1961, to implement the Sarojini Mahishi report, a statement from Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said.