Important G.K. & Current Affairs Quiz – 11th December 2018

Correct Answer – C. 24

Explanation: India’s national academy of letters Sahitya Academy has announced names of 24 poets and authors who will be conferred the prestigious 2018 Sahitya Akademi Award in 24 different Indian languages. The award has recognised leading works in 24 Indian languages that contains 7 guides of poetry, 6 novels, 6 limited stories, three of literary criticism and two of essays.

Correct Answer – B. World Bank

Explanation: In a bid to transform rural Maharashtra, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has launched a unique initiative called “SMART”, which stands for State of Maharashtra’s Agribusiness and Rural Transformation. This World Bank assisted project aims to revamp agricultural value chains, with special focus on marginal farmers across 1,000 villages.

Correct Answer – A. Witness Protection Scheme 2018

Explanation: The Supreme Court approved India’s first Witness Protection Scheme, noting that one of the main reasons for witnesses to turn hostile is that they are not provided appropriate protection by the State. A Bench of Justices A K Sikri and S Abdul Nazeer asked the Centre, states and Union Territories to “enforce” the scheme “in letter and spirit” The court said, “it shall be the ‘law’ under Article 141/142 of the Constitution, until the enactment of suitable Parliamentary and/or State Legislations on the subject”. The programme identifies three categories of witnesses as per threat perception.

Correct Answer – A. 52.63%

Explanation: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ‘In Principle’ approval for strategic sale of the Government of India’s existing 52.63% of total paid up equity shareholding in Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) to Power Finance Corporation (PFC) along with transfer of management control. The acquisition intends to achieve integration across the Power Chain, obtain better synergies, create economies of scale and have enhanced capability to support energy access and energy efficiency by improved capability to finance power sector.  It may also allow for cheaper fund raising with increase in bargaining power for the combined entity.

Correct Answer – A. Heather Nauert

Explanation: United States President Donald Trump nominated State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert as the country’s next ambassador to the United Nations, PTI reported. Nauert, a former Fox News journalist, will replace Nikki Haley, who had announced her plan to leave the post.

Correct Answer – C. China

Explanation: China has launched a ground-breaking mission to land a robotic craft on the far side of the Moon. A robotic lander and rover lifted off today from China’s Xichang space centre as part of the Chang’e 4 mission. China hopes to be the first country to ever successfully undertake such a landing on the largely unexplored far side of the Moon.

Correct Answer – A. Chandigarh

Explanation: The three-day Military Literature Festival (MLF) 2018, kick-started in Chandigarh. It is a joint initiative of military historian and Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh and Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore. Open to one and all sans entry fee, MLF 2018 aims to offer an opportunity for the younger generation to get acquainted with India’s glorious military heritage, while also bringing a host of cultural activities, food cuisines and competitions to the public.

Correct Answer – C. Asian Tour Order of Merit

Explanation: City golfer Shubhankar Sharma became the youngest Indian to clinch the Asian Tour Order of Merit on Saturday with a groundbreaking 2018 season. The Chandigarh-lad won the Order of Merit by winning $500,000 even as the last two events of the year are yet to finish. Sharma, 22, joins fellow Indian golfers Jyoti Randhawa, Arjun Atwal, Jeev Milkha Singh and Anirban Lahiri who have won the Order of Merit as the top-earning pros on the Asian Tour, with Jeev the only Indian to have done so twice – in 2006 and 2008.

Correct Answer – B. December 8

Explanation: The Indian Navy has recently celebrated Submarine Day. The day commemorates the induction of the first submarine, the erstwhile INS Kalvari, into the Navy on this day in 1967.

Correct Answer  – D. Dhaka

Explanation: SAARC was founded in Dhaka on 8 December 1985. Its secretariat is based in Kathmandu, Nepal. The organization promotes development of economic and regional integration. It launched the South Asian Free Trade Area in 2006. SAARC maintains permanent diplomatic relations at the United Nations as an observer and has developed links with multilateral entities, including the European Union.