Important G.K. & Current Affairs Questions – 7th January 2019

Correct Answer – A. MP

Explanation: Struggling with funds crunch, Chief Minister Kamal Nath led Congress government in Madhya Pradesh has put a ban on the purchase new vehicles and air conditioners (ACs) by the government departments along with a slew of other items. The Finance Department, on the instruction of Chief Minister Nath, has issued a directive prohibiting the purchase of scores of items. The directive, which is apparently an attempt to contain frivolous expenditure, also prohibits the publication of diaries and calendars of the New Year. Also, the expenditure incurred on office furniture, books, magazines, stationery, guest expenses, press and publication, consultancy, sanitation, security, and other such heads has been limited.

Correct Answer – B. Delhi HC

Explanation: The Delhi High Court, in what seems to be an inclusive move, has ruled that section 354A of the Indian Penal Code can now be used by transgender persons to register complaints of sexual harassment. Section 354A of the IPC deals with sexual harassment and punishment for sexual harassment. This came as the High Court heard a petition by a transgender student from Delhi University who wanted to lodge a complaint against male students who allegedly sexually harassed her, but was not entertained by the police. According to the police, there was a lack of an appropriate penal section under which they could register such a complaint.

Correct Answer – B. Arunima Sinha

Explanation: Arunima Sinha, the Indian mountaineer who became the world’s first woman amputee to climb Mount Everest in 2013, has now become the first woman amputee to climb Mount Vinson (highest peak of Antarctica).

Correct Answer – D. New Delhi

Explanation: Indian Panorama Film Festival, being organized by Directorate of Film Festivals, Ministry of I&B, was inaugurated by Secretary, Ministry of I&B, Shri Amit Khare in the presence of Shri Shaji N Karun, the director of the opening feature film ‘Olu’, at Siri Fort Auditorium II, New Delhi.

Correct Answer – C. Initiative

Explanation: On the final day of 2018, U.S. President Donald J. Trump signed into law the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act (ARIA), which passed the U.S. Senate earlier that month. The act “establishes a multifaceted U.S. strategy to increase U.S. security, economic interests, and values in the Indo-Pacific region,” according to the White House. Specifically, the ARIA will authorize $1.5 billion in spending for a range of U.S. programs in East and Southeast Asia and “develop a long-term strategic vision and a comprehensive, multifaceted, and principled United States policy for the Indo-Pacific region, and for other purposes.”

Correct Answer – D. Pankaj Sharma

Explanation: Private sector lender RBL Bank appointed Pankaj Sharma as its chief operations officer (COO). Prior to this, Sharma was heading retail operations of Axis Bank. Under his leadership, the ATM channel, phone banking and branch automation and digital initiatives at Axis Bank took shape.

Correct Answer – B. Hemant Bhargava

Explanation: Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) on Tuesday gave Hemant Bhargava additional charge as chairman. The announcement to appoint Bhargava, who is currently a managing director, comes after the retirement of VK Sharma. The top management of LIC consists of chairman and four MDs. In the next few months other three MDs will retire. Officials say Sunita Sharma will retire by March 2019, B Venugopal in May 2019 and Hemant Bhargava in July 2019.

Correct Answer – D. ICICI Bank

Explanation: ICICI Bank has signed a memorandum of understanding with Small Business FinCredit India Pvt Ltd (SBFC) to jointly provide credit to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The partnership has been forged under the aegis of RBI’s circular dated September 21, 2018, that permits banks to engage with a non-banking financial company (NBFC) to co-originate loans for the creation of priority sector assets, the bank said.

Correct Answer – D. East Siang

Explanation: In Arunachal Pradesh, East Siang District has achieved 100 percent electrification under the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana- Saubhagya Scheme.  This was informed by the state’s Power Department. Pasighat Electrical division has electrified 2,662 households which were earlier left out till the end of December last year. The power department has electrified 1,483 villages under Deen Dayal Upadhyaya-Gram Jyoti Yojana in the state so far.

Correct Answer  – B. Odisha

Explanation: Odisha will participate as a partner state in the upcoming mega international food and beverage show ‘Indus Food 2019’. The Indus Food meet is a mega international food exposition organized at India Exposition Mart, Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh on January 14 and 15. The event is organized jointly by Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI) and Department of Commerce.