Important G.K. & Current Affairs Quiz – 10th December 2018

Correct Answer – A. We Protect

Explanation: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) protects India’s maritime interests and enforces maritime law, with jurisdiction over the territorial waters of India, including its contiguous zone and exclusive economic zone. The Indian Coast Guard was formally established on 18 August 1978 by the Coast Guard Act, 1978 of the Parliament of India as an independent Armed force of India. It operates under the Ministry of Defence.

Correct Answer – A. UAE

Explanation: India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed a currency swap agreement to boost investment and enable direct trade without using dollars or other international currencies. India also signed an MoU with UAE to on development cooperation in Africa. The currency swap has been fixed at 200 crore dirhams or Rs 3,500 crore ($ 496 million), depending on which country’s central bank requests the amount, an official statement said. The bilateral currency swap agreement between India and UAE is expected to reduce the dependency on hard currencies like US dollar.

Correct Answer – B. Surat

Explanation: The list of fastest growing cities is dominated by India with 17 among the top 20 cities in the world, according to a global economic research report. “When future GDP growth rates are compared, the story is mostly very different. In particular, 17 of the 20 fastest-growing cities in the world between 2019 and 2035 will be Indian, with Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai among the strongest performers,” said a report from Oxford Economics, a research house engaged in global forecasting and quantitative analysis. Surat tops the list of top 10 fastest growing cities in the world between 2019 and 2035, followed by Agra and Bengaluru. Hyderabad is in the fourth place, followed by Nagpur, Tirupur, Rajkot, Tiruchirappalli, Chennai and Vijayawada. Surat is a major diamond trading and processing centre and also has a strong IT sector.

Correct Answer – B. World Bank

Explanation: Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Thursday said it has entered into an arrangement with the World Bank to put in place a single framework that will make co-financed projects more efficient. ADB’s first Alternative Procurement Arrangement (APA) with the World Bank will allow procedures on co-financed projects to follow a single procurement framework, it said in a statement.

Correct Answer – B. Nagaland

Explanation: The Centre has recently launched a project in Nagaland under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme to develop the state as a tourist destination. The project named ‘Development of Tribal Circuit: Peren-Kohima-Wokha Project’ has been inaugurated by Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio in the presence of Union minister of state for tourism KJ Alphons. This is the first project to be implemented in the state under Swadesh Darshan Scheme of the ministry of tourism.

Correct Answer – A. Leprosy

Explanation: Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease (HD), is a long-term infection by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae or Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Initially, infections are without symptoms and typically remain this way for 5 to 20 years. Symptoms that develop include granulomas of the nerves, respiratory tract, skin, and eyes. This may result in a lack of ability to feel pain, which can lead to the loss of parts of extremities due to repeated injuries or infection due to unnoticed wounds. Weakness and poor eyesight may also be present.

Correct Answer – B. 20

Explanation: After facing a loss of Rs 700 crore, the Cooperative department of Punjab has decided to merge 20 District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs) with the Punjab State Cooperative Bank (PSCB). The Punjab Cabinet gave its approval for the merger. The 20 DCCBs, having 804 branches across the state, were district-wise independent authorities. With the merger, the DCCBs would now be the branches of the PSCB and function like other commercial banks.

Correct Answer – B. Bangalore

Explanation: Sweden and India signed two MoUs in the Renewable Energy sector to enhance the technology and bring in power efficiency. The first MoU was signed between Swedish firm Spowdi and EMVEE for setting up local manufacturing and assembly unit in Bangalore.

Correct Answer – C. 7.2

Explanation: Fitch Ratings revised downwards the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast to 7.2 per cent for current fiscal citing higher financing cost and reduced credit availability. In its Global Economic Outlook, Fitch projected that for 2019-20 and 2020-21 financial years, India’s GDP growth will be 7 per cent and 7.1 per cent respectively. Fitch had in June projected India to grow at 7.4 per cent in current fiscal and 7.5 per cent in 2019-20. “We have lowered our growth forecasts on weaker-than-expected momentum in the data (GDP), higher financing costs and reduced credit availability. We now see GDP growth at 7.2 per cent in the fiscal year ending March 2019 (FY19), followed by 7.0 per cent in FY20 and 7.1 per cent in FY21,” it said.

Correct Answer  – A. Yasir Shah

Explanation: Pakistan’s leg-spinner Yasir Shah became the fastest cricketer to take 200 Test wickets, breaking an 82-year-old record on the fourth day of the third Test against New Zealand. The 32-year-old trapped nightwatchman Will Somerville leg before for four — his second wicket of the New Zealand second innings — to reach the milestone in his 33rd Test, beating Australian leg-spinner Clarrie Grimmett’s record of 36 Tests achieved against South Africa in Johannesburg in 1936.