Aspirants Zone: March 2019

Sunday, March 31, 2019

Daily Current Affairs 31st March, 2019

Daily Current Affairs 31 March 2019 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

Govt extends date of linking PAN with Aadhaar number by till Sep 30

The government extended the deadline for linking PAN with biometric ID Aadhaar by 6 months till September 30. This is the sixth time the government has extended the deadline for individuals to link their Permanent Account Number (PAN) to Aadhaar.

In June last year, the government had said that PAN has to be linked with the biometric ID by March 31.

EC comes up with PWD app for over two lakhs Divyang voters in Maharashtra

In Maharashtra, Election Commission has come up with a mobile application called 'PWD' for making voting easier and implement the poll body's slogan of Accessible Elections for over two lakhs Divyang voters across the state.

The app would facilitate Divyang voters special facilities including wheelchairs, ramps and transport from home at polling booths during the Lok Sabha elections.

RBI sets NBFC-MFIs' average base rate at 9.21% for Apr-Jun

The Reserve Bank set the average base rate to be charged from borrowers by non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) and micro-finance institutions (MFIs) at 9.21 per cent for the first quarter of the next fiscal.

The applicable average base rate to be charged by Non-Banking Financial Company Micro Finance Institutions (NBFC-MFIs) to their borrowers for the quarter beginning April 01, 2019 will be 9.21 per cent.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

PFC Becomes India’s 2nd Largest State-Owned Financial Firm

After acquiring a majority stake in REC Ltd (formerly Rural Electrification Corporation Limited), center backed Power Finance Corporation (PFC) become India’s second largest Govt-owned Financial Firm after State Bank of India (SBI), based on market capitalization.

PFC has bought the 52.63% controlling stake in REC through Rs 14,500 crore deal with Union government.

SPORTS

South Korea wins 2019 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup defeating India in final

South Korea stunned favourites India 4-2 in the shoot-out to lift the Azlan Shah Cup hockey title after the five-time champions conceded an equaliser in the final quarter of the summit clash in Ipoh, Malaysia.

Hosts Malaysia finished third after beating Canada 4-2 in the third-fourth place classification match.

Axelsen beats Srikanth to win India Open 2019

Viktor Axelsen dashed Indian hopes with a 21-7, 22-20 win over Kidambi Srikanth at the India Open 2019 final in New Delhi. In women's singles, Thailand's Ratchanok Intanon created history by becoming the first women's singles shuttler to win the title three times, when she beat the third seed He Bingjiao.

APPOINTMENTS

EC appoints Shailendra Handa & Madhu Mahajan as Special Expenditure Observers

Election Commission has appointed two eminent former Civil Servants Shailendra Handa and Ms. Madhu Mahajan as Special Expenditure Observers for the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections.

Shailendra Handa has been deployed in Maharashtra and Madhu Mahajan has been deployed in Tamil Nadu. The Special Observers will supervise and monitor the work being done by the electoral machinery.

Slovakia gets first female President

Anti-corruption activist Zuzana Caputova has been confirmed as the fifth President of Slovakia, making her the country's first female head of the State.

Caputova, a lawyer by profession, defeated Maros Sefcovic, a candidate nominated by Slovakia's ruling party.

Extra info.:
Slovakia Capital: Bratislava
Currency: Euro

AWARDS

Rita Moreno honoured with Peabody Career Achievement award

Veteran actor Rita Moreno is set to receive 2019 Peabody Career Achievement honour. Moreno will be bestowed with the honour on May 18 at a gala event at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.

The Peabody Career Achievement Award is for individuals whose work and commitment to electronic media has left an indelible mark on the field.

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Saturday, March 30, 2019

Daily Current Affairs 30th March, 2019

Daily Current Affairs 30 March 2019 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

India to be guest country at Paris Book Fair 2020

In a bid to strengthen Indo-French ties, India has been designated as the guest of honour at the Paris Book Fair in 2020, while France will be the guest country at the New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF) in 2022. The announcement was made by the nodal agency - National Book Trust (NBT).

The designation of India as the guest country was declared in the joint statement signed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron during the latter's visit to India in March 2018.

Small savings schemes: Govt keeps interest rates unchanged for Apr-June qtr

The government has kept the interest rates on small savings schemes, including NSC and PPF, unchanged for the April-June quarter. Public Provident Fund (PPF) and National Savings Certificate (NSC) will continue to carry an annual interest rate of 8 per cent, while Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP) will give a yield of 7.7 per cent and mature in 112 months.

The interest rate for the five-year Senior Citizens Savings Scheme has been retained at 8.7 per cent. The interest on the senior citizens' scheme is paid quarterly. Interest on savings deposits has been retained at 4 per cent annually.

The girl child savings scheme Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana account will offer 8.5 per cent rate during the first quarter of the next fiscal.

Term deposits of 1-5 years will fetch interest rate in the range of 7-7.8 per cent, to be paid quarterly, while the five-year recurring deposit is pegged at 7.3 per cent.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

GAIL, BHEL tie up for development of solar power projects

Maharatna public sector units GAIL India Ltd and Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) have inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation in the development of solar power projects.

The MoU is aimed at building a closer strategic partnership between the two state-owned companies for jointly pursuing commercial solar power projects through participation in tariff and viability gap funding based competitive bidding process.

India has set a target to achieve 100 GW of solar power by 2022 so that all citizens can have round-the-clock access to uninterrupted electricity.

Five varieties of Indian coffee get GI certification

5 varieties of Indian coffee have been awarded Geographical Indication (GI), a move that will enhance their visibility globally and allow growers to get the right value. While Coorg Arabica coffee is grown specifically in Kodagu district of Karnataka, Wayanaad Robusta coffee is from Wayanad district in east Kerala, Chikmagalur Arabica coffee from Chikmagalur district in Deccan plateau of Karnataka, Araku Valley Arabica coffee from hilly tracks of Visakhapatnam district in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha region, and Bababudangiris Arabica coffee from central portion of Chikmagalur district.

The Monsooned Malabar Robusta Coffee, a unique specialty coffee from India, was given GI certification earlier

SPORTS

Manu Bhaker, Saurabh Chaudhary clinch gold at Asian Airgun C'ship

Young pistol shooters Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary picked up their second gold medals each as India continued their domination at the 12th Asian Airgun Championships in Taoyuan, Taipei.

Manu won the 10m Air Pistol women's event on day three of competitions, while Saurabh bagged a team gold in the men's event. Abhishek Verma also won individual silver in the men's 10m Air Pistol.

Indonesia to host Asean School Games 2019 in July

Students from Southeast Asian countries and regions will compete at the 2019 Asean School Games in July in Indonesia's Semarang city. Students will take part in athletics, badminton, basketball, swimming, lawn tennis, table tennis, volleyball, sepak takraw and Indonesia's traditional martial art of Pencak Silat.

The 2019 Asean School Games is scheduled to be held from July 17 to 25.

Extra info.:
Indonesia Capital: Jakarta
Currency: Indonesian rupiah

APPOINTMENTS

Mistry appointed AICC poll observer for Maharashtra

Senior Congress leader Madhusudan Mistry was appointed as All India Congress Committee (AICC)'s election observer for Maharashtra for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The Congress had also appointed Mistry as the head of party's screening committee for the Karnataka Assembly elections last year.

In 2014, Mistry was nominated by the Congress to the Rajya sabha from Gujarat.

OBITUARIES

Prafulla Rajguru, veteran journalist, passes away

Veteran journalist and academician Prafulla Rajguru passed away at a hospital in Jorhat (Assam). He was 82. Rajguru had retired as the head of the department of English from DCB Girls College in Jorhat in 1997.

Rajguru authored four books and was a member of several social organizations like the Asom Sahitya Sabha.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Piano day

A travelling piano placed in a transparent cargo van, voyaged through New York City, making stops at various locations, and inviting people to play it as a special way to mark the annual World Piano Day on 30 March.

In 2015, German pianist, Nils Frahm declared the 88th day of a year as the World Piano Day, as modern standard pianos have 88 keys.

Click here to read Daily Current Affairs

Current Affairs Quiz: March 30, 2019

Current Affairs 30 March 2019 Quiz

Read our Current Affairs and Newspaper Quiz daily to excel in General Awareness section of upcoming Competitive Exams.

Quiz from Current Affairs 29 March 2019 of A2Z – Click Here to Read Current Affairs of March 29, 2019

RailTel Corporation of India ltd., a Mini Ratna CPSU under the Ministry of Railways, has successfully completed work of turning how many stations into free WiFi zones?
A)1000
B)1500
C)2000
D)2500
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option A
Explanation: RailTel Corporation of India ltd., a Mini Ratna CPSU under the Ministry of Railways, has successfully completed work of turning 1000 railway stations across the country into Free Wi-Fi zones.

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Which state government launched a MSME networking portal recently?
A)Uttar Pradesh
B)Telangana
C)Odisha
D)Andhra Pradesh
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option B
Explanation: The Telangana government launched a MSME networking portal, Telangana State Global Linker in Hyderabad to digitise over 2.3 million MSMEs of the state. The solution aims to address key challenges faced by MSMEs with the core objective of making their business growth simpler, more profitable and enjoyable.

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Which state’s chief electoral officer launched the Enajori initiative?
A)Manipur
B)Assam
C)Mizoram
D)Meghalaya
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option B
Explanation: Assam Chief Electoral Officer Mukesh Sahu launched the Enajori initiative in Guwahati.

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Which state’s Tashigang village is now the highest polling station in the world?
A)Himachal Pradesh
B)Uttrakhand
C)J&K
D)West Bengal
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option A
Explanation: Tucked away deep in trans-Himalayas, Tashigang,a small Himachal Pradesh village at an altitude of 15256 feet, is now the highest polling station in the world. The polling station falls in Buddhist-dominated Lahaul-Spiti, one of the 17 assembly segments that form the Mandi Lok Sabha seat, the second largest constituency in India.

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Who is the author of the book “Indian fiscal Federalism”?
A)NK Singh
B)YV Reddy
C)Bimal Jalan
D)Viral acharya
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option B
Explanation: The Chairman of 15th Finance Commission of India, NK Singh launched the book “Indian fiscal Federalism”. The book has been written by Dr. Y. V. Reddy, former Governor of RBI and Chairman of the 14th Finance Commission of India along with Dr. G. R. Reddy, Advisor (Finance) to the Government of Telangana.

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Who was roped in as brand ambassador of online insurance web aggregator PolicyX.com?
A)KL Rahul
B)Virat Kohli
C)Virendra Sehwag
D)MS Dhoni
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option C
Explanation: An online insurance web aggregator PolicyX.com has roped in legendary cricketer Virendra Sehwag as its brand ambassador.

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According to Open Signal,which city has topped the list of 50 cities in India in terms of 4G availability?
A)Kanpur
B)Dhanbad
C)Nashik
D)Pune
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option B
Explanation: In terms of 4G availability,Dhanbad in Jharkhand has topped the list of 50 cities in India, London-based wireless coverage mapping company Open Signal said.

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Which company acquired Mumbai-based Haptik one of the world’s largest conversational Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms for over Rs 200 crore?
A)TCS
B)IBM
C)Reliance Jio
D)Airtel
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option C
Explanation: Reliance Jio is reportedly acquiring Mumbai-based Haptik one of the world’s largest conversational Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms for over Rs 200 crore.

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Recently,Australian sporting icon Tim Cahill announced his retirement.He was related to which sports?
A)Cricket
B)Football
C)Tennis
D)Baseball
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option B
Explanation: After four World Cups, an illustrious club career and having risen to the rank of Australian sporting icon Tim Cahill has officially quit professional football.

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Recently, Gonzalo Higuain announced his retirement.He was related to which profession?
A)Journalist
B)Sports
C)Social Activist
D)Writer
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option B
Explanation: Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 31. Higuain is sixth on the list of Argentina’s all-time top scorers with 31 goals in 67 matches in an international career that spanned a decade.

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Who assumed charge of the command of the Western Fleet of the Indian Navy in a solemn ceremony at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai?
A)Sanjay Jasjit Singh
B)MA Hampiholi
C)VN Singh
D)Ramesh Parwar Singh
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option A
Explanation: Rear Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh NM assumed command of the Western Fleet of the Indian Navy in a solemn ceremony at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai. Rear Admiral Sanjay took charge of the Navy’s the sword arm from Rear Admiral MA Hampiholi AVSM NM.

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Who was appointed as Central Police Observer for West Bengal and Jharkhand during the upcoming Lok Sabha polls?
A)Manohar Lal Seth
B)Vivek Dube
C)KK Sharma
D)DK Jain
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option B
Explanation: the Election Commission appointed Vivek Dubey , a retired IPS officer of 1981 batch, as the Central Police Observer for West Bengal and Jharkhand during the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

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Who was awarded with the Bodley Medal, the highest honour bestowed by the University of Oxford’s world famous Bodleian Libraries?
A)AR Rehman
B)Arundhati Roy
C)Chetan Bhagat
D)Amartya Sen
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option D
Explanation: Nobel Prize-winning economist Amartya Sen has been awarded the Bodley Medal, the highest honour bestowed by the University of Oxford’s world famous Bodleian Libraries.

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Who was awarded with the 2018 Alan Turing Award?
A)George Saunders
B)Marlon James
C)Geoffrey Hinton
D)Anna Burns
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option C
Explanation: the 2018 Turing Award,known as the “Nobel Prize of Computing”,has been given to Yoshua Bengio,Geoffrey Hinton and Yann LeCun sometimes called the “godfathers of AI” , for their work developing the AI subfield of deep learning.

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who was awarded with the Martha Farrell award 2019 for promoting gender equality?
A)Priyal Patel
B)Arunima Bhateja
C)Manu Gulati
D)Preeti Sngh
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option C
Explanation: Manu gulati, a Delhi government school teacher, has been conferred the Martha Farrell award 2019 for promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. Gulati has been instrumental in helping young girls in receiving formal school education. She has also been working with boys and girls at government schools in sensitising them about gender neutrality.

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Who was awarded with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award for his contributions in the field of science, education and medicine?
A)Mahesh Narvariya
B)Mahesh Jain
C)PS Jaynanad
D)Rajendra Kumar joshi
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option D
Explanation: RUJ Group’s founder and chairman, Dr Rajendra Kumar Joshi,has been awarded with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award for his contributions in the field of science, education and medicine, promoting the honour and prestige of India. Dr. Joshi, who belongs to Rajasthan, is a scientist of Indian origin and is based in Switzerland.

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Recently, Valery Bykovsky passed away.He was related to which field?
A)Professor
B)Social activist
C)Poet
D)Space Pioneer
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option D
Explanation: Valery Bykovsky, , who was the 11th person to venture into space and who held the unbroken record for the longest solo spaceflight, has died aged 84. He first flew aboard a Vostok 5 spacecraft in June 1963 and would go on to take part in two more USSR missions.

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STATIC GK BASED ON CURRENT AFFAIRS

Where is the HQ of RailTel Corporation of India?
A)Chennai
B)New Delhi
C)Mumbai
D)Gurugram
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option D

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Where is the HQ of Policyx.com?
A)Chennai
B)Delhi
C)Gurugram
D)Noida
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option C

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Where is the HQ of OpenSignal?
A)Rome
B)Paris
C)London
D)Mumbai
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option C

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Friday, March 29, 2019

Current Affairs Quiz: March 29, 2019

Current Affairs 29 March 2019 Quiz

Read our Current Affairs and Newspaper Quiz daily to excel in General Awareness section of upcoming Competitive Exams.

Quiz from Current Affairs 28 March 2019 of A2Z – Click Here to Read Current Affairs of March 28, 2019

Which country became the 4th country by successfully destroying a low earth orbit satellite in space by using a missile?
A)India
B)China
C)Japan
D)Pakistan
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option A
Explanation: India successfully conducted an anti satellite missile test, becoming the 4th country to do so by successfully destroying a low earth orbit satellite in space by using a missile which covered a distance of 300 km to engage the target.

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According to Skytrax, which country’s airport has crowned the world’s best aviation hub for the 7th time time in a row?
A)Australia
B)India
C)China
D)Singapore
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option D
Explanation: Singapore’s Changi Airport has been crowned the world’s best aviation hub for the 7th time time in a row, while New Delhi’s IGI Airport featured at number 59, according to the Skytrax World Airport Awards.

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Linkus Infratech has launched a hyper-local connectivity app called “Bhonga” in which city?
A)New Delhi
B)Mumbai
C)Pune
D)Chennai
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option B
Explanation: The Mumbai based company Linkus Infratech has launched a hyper-local connectivity app called “Bhonga” to connect users to people in their neighbourhood in the city even without an Internet connection. “Bhonga” is a word in Marathi language that translates to meaning megaphone or loudspeaker.

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India signed MoU with which organization on health sciences collaboration?
A)AIIB
B)African Union
C)World Bank
D)ADB
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option B
Explanation: The Indian Council of Medical Research and the African Union signed a Memorandum of Understanding which formalised the India Africa Health Sciences Collaborative Platform by establishing a framework.

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In which city,a new centre to repair Russian helicopters of Mi 17V 5 type will be operational?
A)Pune
B)Mumbai
C)Chandigarh
D)New Delhi
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option C
Explanation: A new centre to repair Russian helicopters of Mi 17V 5 type will be operational in Chandigarh by the end of 2019, according to Russian Helicopters Deputy Director General Igor Chechikov.

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Which company has claimed to develop its largest power storage system in Asia?
A)Tesla
B)Indus Towers
C)TCS
D)PFC
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option A
Explanation: In a bid to reduce energy demand and provide emergency backup power to trains in Japan, Tesla has claimed to develop its largest power storage system in Asia.It has installed a bank of 42 Powerpacks at a train station in Japan’s Osaka that can provide sufficient backup power to safely move a train and its passengers to the nearest station in the event of a power outage.

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Which bank will develop an agricultural platform called “Baroda Kisan”?
A)BOB
B)IOB
C)PNB
D)IDBI
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option A
Explanation: Public sector lender Bank of Baroda said it will develop an agricultural platform called “Baroda Kisan” in order to provide solutions for all major agricultural requirements. Six companies Skymet Weather Services, Weather Risk Management Services, BigHaat, Agrostar India, EM3 Agri Services and Poorti Agri Services have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the bank for this project.

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How much fund was infused by the government in bank of Baroda ahead of its merger operation?
A)Rs 4781 cr
B)Rs 5042 cr
C)Rs 4521 cr
D)Rs 5000 cr
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option B
Explanation: Ahead of its merged entity operation, Bank of Baroda will receive Rs 5042 crores fund infusion from the government.

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Which company to buy 75 per cent equity stake in Starter NVa subsidiary of the Dutch based ABN AMRO Bank?
A)IBM
B)TCS
C)Infosys
D)HCL
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option C
Explanation: Global software major Infosys said its consulting arm would buy 75 per cent equity stake in Starter NVa subsidiary of the Dutch based ABN AMRO Bank for Rs 999 crore ($144 million) in cash for strategic partnership in The Netherlands.

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Recenty,which cup is to be replaced by ATP(Association of Tennis Professionals Cup)?
A)Rogers Cup
B)Toronto Cup
C)French Cup
D)Hopman Cup
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option D
Explanation: The city of Perth in Western Australia will no longer play host to the Hopman Cup. Instead, the mixed tournament format will be replaced with an all men’s event called the ATP(Association of Tennis Professionals Cup).

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Who was deployed as special expenditure observer for the state of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland by the Election Commission?
A)DD Goel
B)Gopal Mukherjee
C)Paritosh Tripathi
D)MN Roy
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option A
Explanation: Election Commission appointed 2 former civil servants Gopal Mukherjee and DD Goel as special expenditure observers for the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections. While Mr. Gopal Mukherjee ex-IRS, former Member of CBDT has been deployed in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and Mr D.D.Goel ex-IRS, former DGIT been deployed in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.

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Who was appointed as Goa’s new Deputy Chief minister?
A)Rahul Dev
B)Manohar Ajgaonkar
C)Kamal Nath
D)Vijay Sardesai
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option B
Explanation: Goa Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar, who switched to the Bharatiya Janata Party from Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), was appointed as the state’s new Deputy Chief Minister.

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Who was appointed as Ethics Officer of the Indian Cricket Board?
A)Pranav Bhosle
B)DK Jain
C)AC Menon
D)PS Narayanan
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option B
Explanation: Supreme Court appointed BCCI ombudsman Justice DK Jain will now serve as Ethics Officer of the India Cricket Board on an ad-hoc basis. According to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), provisions in its constitution require an Ethics Officer to be appointed to determine and decide issues related to conflict of interest.

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Who was appointed as special central police observer for Tripura and Mizoram?
A)Mahi Sharma
B)BN Sharma
C)MK Das
D)KK Sharma
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option C
Explanation: The Election Commission of India has appointed Retired DGP of Manipur MK Das as special central police observer for Tripura and Mizoram,while Retired DG BSF KK Sharma has been appointed for west Bengal and Jharkhand.
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Recently,HS D’Lima passed away.He was related to which field?
A)Sports
B)Activist
C)Journalist
D)Poet
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option B
Explanation: HS D’Lima ,activist from Andheri Gaothan, who fought against illegal constructions and slumification of Mumbai’s gaothans (traditional east Indian urban villages) passed away. He was 84 years old.

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STATIC GK BASED ON CURRENT AFFAIRS

Where is the HQ of BCCI?
A)Ahmedabad
B)Mumbai
C)Delhi
D)Kolkata
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option B

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Where is the HQ of Infosys?
A)Kolkata
B)Bengaluru
C)Pune
D)New Delhi
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option B

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Where is the HQ of Dena Bank?
A)Pune
B)Mumbai
C)Chennai
D)Delhi
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option B

[/su_spoiler]

Daily Current Affairs 29th March, 2019

Daily Current Affairs 29 March 2019 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

1,000 railway stations in India are now Wi-Fi enabled

RailTel Corporation of India Ltd, a Mini Ratna CPSU under the Ministry of Railways, has successfully completed work of turning 1000 railway stations across the country into Free Wi-Fi zone. RailTel started the project in January 2016 from Mumbai Central station in Maharashtra. It was the first station to have the fast and free RailWire Wi-Fi and in a span of two years and three months.

The Reay Road station of the suburban line of Central Railways in Mumbai is the 1000th station to go live with Wi-Fi.

Telangana govt launches digital portal for MSMEs

The Telangana Governmet launched a MSME networking portal, Telangana State Global Linker in Hyderabad to digitise over 2.3 million MSMEs of the state. The solution aims to address key challenges faced by MSMEs with the core objective of making their business growth simpler, more profitable and enjoyable.

Telangana State GlobalLinker will provide MSMEs , a digital profile (including an online product catalogue an eCommerce store); access to global networking opportunities to find buyers and suppliers; economies of scale on a wide range of business services; access to industry news, articles and discussions.

Assam CEO Mukesh Sahu launches Enajori initiative in Guwahati

Assam Chief Electoral Officer Mukesh Sahu launched the Enajori initiative in Guwahati. It is a special initiative for persons with disabilities with an aim that 'No Voter to be Left behind'. It is a joint initiative of CEO Assam and Social Welfare Department with an objective to make Lok Sabha Elections accessible to Persons with Disability, PwD voters.

Under this initiative comprehensive mapping of PwDs will be done in consultation with Booth Level Officers, Divyang Sarothis and a woman mascot-Chandraprabha, to facilitate the PwD voters for barrier-free and inclusive accessible elections.

At 15,256 ft, Tashigang in Himachal Pradesh is world’s highest polling station

Tucked away deep in trans-Himalayas, Tashigang, a small Himachal Pradesh village at an altitude of 15,256 feet, is now the highest polling station in the world. The polling station falls in Buddhist-dominated Lahaul-Spiti, one of the 17 assembly segments that form the Mandi Lok Sabha seat, the second largest constituency in India.

The sleepy hamlet of Tashigang also holds the title of highest village in Spiti valley. Earlier, the non-descript tiny settlement of Hikkim, positioned at an altitude of about 14,400 ft, was the highest polling station in the country.

BOOKS & AUTHORS

N.K. Singh authored book ‘Indian Fiscal Federalism’ launched

The Chairman of 15th Finance Commission of India, N.K. Singh launched the book “Indian Fiscal Federalism”. The book has been written by Dr. Y. V. Reddy, former Governor of RBI and Chairman of the 14th Finance Commission of India along with Dr. G. R. Reddy, Advisor (Finance) to the Government of Telangana.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

PolicyX.com introduces legendary cricketer 'Virender Sehwag' as its Brand Ambassador

PolicyX.com - An online insurance web aggregator has roped in legendary cricketer Virender Sehwag as it's Brand Ambassador. By signing him, PolicyX.com has launched its biggest marketing campaign, spread across the insurance products basket of term insurance, health insurance, life insurance, car insurance and others.

Claims to be one of the leading and trusted online insurance web aggregators, the company have come out with the face of the organization for the first time.

Dhanbad best city for 4G availability in India: Study

In terms of 4G availability, Dhanbad in Jharkhand has topped the list of 50 cities in India, London-based wireless coverage mapping company OpenSignal said. Ranchi, capital of Jharkhand, came second after scoring 95 per cent in 4G availability. Srinagar came third with a score of 94.9 per cent.

In Opensignal's latest "India Mobile Network Experience" report, the company found Jio's national 4G availability score was a remarkable 96.7 per cent - over 20 per centage points ahead of its main rivals.

Reliance Jio to acquire Haptik in deal worth over Rs 200 Cr

Reliance Jio is reportedly acquiring Mumbai-based Haptik one of the world's largest conversational Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms for over Rs 200 crore.

Founded by Vaish and Rajdev, Haptik focuses on key customer engagement use cases such as customer support, feedback, order status and live chat and has processed more than a billion interactions till date.

SPORTS

Aussie football legend Tim Cahill officially retires

After four World Cups, an illustrious club career and having risen to the rank of Australian sporting icon, Tim Cahill has officially quit professional football.

In November, the 39-year-old announced he will no longer represent Australia at an international level even though he continued to play for Jamshedpur FC in the Indian Super League.

Gonzalo Higuain retires from international football

Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 31. Higuain is sixth on the list of Argentina's all-time top scorers with 31 goals in 67 matches in an international career that spanned a decade.

APPOINTMENTS

Vice Admiral MA Hampiholi assumes charge as Director General Naval Operations (DGNO)

Rear Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh NM assumed command of the Western Fleet of the Indian Navy in a solemn ceremony at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai. Rear Admiral Sanjay took charge of the Navy's the sword arm from Rear Admiral MA Hampiholi AVSM NM.

Rear Admiral Hampiholi will be proceeding to Naval Headquarters as Director General of Naval Operations (DGNO) on promotion to the rank of Vice Admiral.

EC appoints special police observers for four states

The Election Commission appointed Vivek Dube, a retired IPS officer of 1981 batch, as the Central Police Observer for West Bengal and Jharkhand during the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

He would replace K.K. Sharma, a retired IPS officer of 1982 batch. Sharma has now been assigned the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

AWARDS

Nobel laureate Amartya Sen honoured with Oxford University's Bodley Medal

Nobel Prize-winning economist Amartya Sen has been awarded the prestigious Bodley Medal, the highest honour bestowed by the University of Oxford's world-famous Bodleian Libraries.

The Medal is awarded to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the fields in which the Bodleian is active, including literature, culture, science and communication.

Turing Award Won by 3 Pioneers in Artificial Intelligence

The 2018 Turing Award, known as the “Nobel Prize of computing,” has been given to Yoshua Bengio, Geoffrey Hinton, and Yann LeCun sometimes called the ‘godfathers of AI’, for their work developing the AI subfield of deep learning.

The trio believed in the potential of AI and brought to the world the innovations such as neural networks, self-driving cars, facial recognition. Initiated in 1966, this annual award is named after British mathematician Alan M. Turing, whose work laid the foundation for computer science and artificial intelligence.

Delhi govt school teacher Manu Gulati gets Martha Farrell Award 2019

Manu Gulati, a Delhi government school teacher, has been conferred the Martha Farrell award 2019 for promoting gender quality and women’s empowerment. Gulati has been instrumental in helping young girls in receiving formal school education. She has also been working with boys and girls at government schools in sensitising them about gender neutrality.

The Martha Farrell Awards began in 2017. Instituted in the memory of Dr Martha Farrell, a prominent activist for gender equality and women’s empowerment, the award is co-sponsored by Rizwan Adatia Foundation (RAF) and Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA) and supported by Martha Farrell Foundation (MFF).

Indian origin scientist awarded

RUJ Group's founder and chairman, Dr. Rajendra Kumar Joshi, has been awarded with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award for his contributions in the field of science, education and medicine, promoting the honour and prestige of India. Dr. Joshi, who belongs to Rajasthan, is a scientist of Indian origin and is based in Switzerland.

The theme of 2019 Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention was 'Role of Indian Diaspora in building New India.'

OBITUARIES

Russian space pioneer Valery Bykovsky passes away

Valery Bykovsky, who was the 11th person to venture into space and who held the unbroken record for the longest solo spaceflight, has died aged 84. He first flew aboard a Vostok 5 spacecraft in June 1963 and would go on to take part in two more USSR missions.

His record-setting solo flight saw him spend five days in space aboard the Vostok 5, orbiting the Earth 82 times. Bykovsky was among the first group of USSR cosmonauts alongside Yuri Gagarin, the first person to travel to space.

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Thursday, March 28, 2019

Daily Current Affairs 28th March, 2019

Daily Current Affairs 28 March 2019 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

India tests its 1st anti-satellite missile system, codenamed Mission Shakti

India successfully conducted an anti-satellite (A-SAT) missile test, becoming the fourth country to do so by successfully destroying a low earth orbit satellite in space by using a missile which covered a distance of 300 km to engage the target. The US, Russia and China are the only other country to have tested an A-SAT weapon previously.

Mission Shakti operation was a difficult target to achieve and was completed successfully within 3 minutes of launch.

Singapore airport named world's best, New Delhi's IGI up 8 notches at 59th

Singapore's Changi Airport has been crowned the world's best aviation hub for the seventh time in a row, while New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport featured at number 59, according to the Skytrax World Airport Awards. The list has been compiled by the UK-based Skytrax, a consultancy firm which runs an airline and airport review and ranking site, featuring 100 airports.

The prestigious accolade was awarded at the Passenger Terminal Expo 2019 in London. At number two on the list is Tokyo International Airport (Haneda), up one place from 2018. This hub also won World's Best Domestic Airport and World's Cleanest Airport.

Breaching the top three is Incheon International Airport, down one place from its second-place spot in 2018.

Hyper local connectivity app launched in Mumbai

The Mumbai-based company Linkus Infratech has launched a hyper-local connectivity app called "Bhonga" to connect users to people in their neighbourhood in the city even without an Internet connection. "Bhonga" is a word in Marathi language that translates to meaning megaphone or loudspeaker.

Focusing on security and anonymity, the app only shares location coordinates from where a post originates and it supports voice notes as well as photos. Once the app is downloaded, it automatically lists the user as part of the locality within the radius of one kilometre.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

India, African Union ink MoU on health sciences cooperation

The Indian Council of Medical Research and the African Union (AU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which formalised the India-Africa Health Sciences Collaborative Platform (IAHSP) by establishing a framework.

The IAHSP was established after the first India-Africa Health Sciences Meet in 2016 in New Delhi. The IAHSP strengthens cooperation in the health sector in a structured and organized manner.

India, Russia to open military chopper repair centre by late 2019

A new centre to repair Russian helicopters of Mi-17V-5 type will be operational in Chandigarh by the end of 2019, according to Russian Helicopters Deputy Director General Igor Chechikov.

He highlighted the possibility of extending the capabilities of this centre in the future, provided the Indian side is "interested".

Tesla builds its 'largest energy storage system in Asia'

In a bid to reduce energy demand and provide emergency backup power to trains in Japan, Tesla has claimed to develop its largest power storage system in Asia. It has installed a bank of 42 Powerpacks at a train station in Japan's Osaka that can provide sufficient backup power to safely move a train and its passengers to the nearest station in the event of a power outage.

In the event of a grid outage, this Osaka Powerpack installation is designed to provide emergency backup power to safely move a train and its passengers to the nearest station.

BANKING & FINANCE

BoB to develop agri-digital platform 'Baroda Kisan', inks MoUs with 6 firms

Public sector lender Bank of Baroda said it will develop an agri-digital platform called 'Baroda Kisan' in order to provide solutions for all major agricultural requirements. Six companies Skymet Weather Services, Weather Risk Management Services, BigHaat, Agrostar India, EM3 Agri Services and Poorti Agri Services have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the bank for this project.

The agri-digital platform will be executed by IT Centre of Excellence (ITCoE) of Bank of Baroda in partnership with IBM India.

Bank of Baroda to get Rs 5,042 cr capital infusion

Ahead of its merged entity operation, Bank of Baroda will receive Rs 5,042 crore fund infusion from the government. The Ministry of Finance has conveyed its decision to infuse the capital in Bank of Baroda. The infusion will be by way of preferential allotment of equity shares (special securities/bonds) of the bank during FY 2018-19 as government's investment.

The merged entity also involving Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank will start operation from April 1.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Infosys arm to buy 75% stake in Dutch bank subsidiary

Global software major Infosys said its consulting arm would buy 75 per cent equity stake in Starter N.V., a subsidiary of the Dutch-based ABN AMRO Bank for Rs 999 crore ($144 million) in cash for strategic partnership in The Netherlands.

The Amsterdam headquartered third largest Dutch bank ABN will hold the remaining 25 per cent of the shareholding in Stater.

SPORTS

31-year-old Hopman Cup replaced by new ATP Cup

The city of Perth in Western Australia (WA) will no longer play host to the Hopman Cup. Instead, the mixed tournament format will be replaced with an all men's event called the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) Cup.

Played across three cities, Perth will join Sydney and Brisbane as the hosts of the new competition which is set to feature 100 of the world's top male players.

APPOINTMENTS

ECI appoints special expenditure observers for AP, Arunachal, Gujarat, Karnataka, Nagaland, Telangana

Election Commission appointed 2 former civil servants Gopal Mukherjee and D.D. Goel as special expenditure observers for the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections. While Mr. Gopal Mukherjee ex-IRS, former Member of CBDT has been deployed in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and Mr D.D.Goel ex-IRS, former DGIT been deployed in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.

Further, the Commission has decided to give additional charge of Gujarat and Karnataka to Shailendra Handa and Madhu Mahajan, respectively.

Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar appointed Deputy CM of Goa

Goa Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar, who switched to the Bharatiya Janata Party from Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), was appointed as the state's new Deputy Chief Minister.

Ajgaonkar has become the second deputy chief minister after Vijai Sardesai in the Pramod Sawant government in Goa.

BCCI Ombudsman Justice D.K.Jain to serve as ad-hoc Ethics Officer

Supreme Court-appointed BCCI Ombudsman Justice D K Jain (retd) will now serve as the Ethics Officer of the Indian cricket board on an ad-hoc basis. According to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), provisions in its constitution require an Ethics Officer to be appointed to determine and decide issues related to conflict of interest.

Justice Jain, who was appointed the first Ombudsman of the cricket board on February 21 this year by the apex court, is already looking into the Hardik Pandya-KL Rahul chat show controversy following which the two players were handed a provisional suspension.

EC appoints special central police observer for Tripura and Mizoram

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has appointed Retired DGP of Manipur M K Das as special central police observer for Tripura and Mizoram.

They were assigned to oversee the deployment and other security-related issues in the states.

OBITUARIES

Well known Mumbai civic activist HS D'Lima passes away

HS D’Lima, activist from Andheri Gaothan, who fought against illegal constructions and slumification of Mumbai’s gaothans (traditional east Indian urban villages) passed away. He was 84 years old.

D’Lima on several occasions exposed the nefarious links between the Slum Rehabilitation Authority, BMC and builders.

Click here to read Daily Current Affairs

Current Affairs Quiz: March 28, 2019

Current Affairs 28 March 2019 Quiz

Read our Current Affairs and Newspaper Quiz daily to excel in General Awareness section of upcoming Competitive Exams.

Quiz from Current Affairs 27 March 2019 of A2Z – Click Here to Read Current Affairs of March 27, 2019

The Indian Railways has decided to run how many special summer trains to handle extra rush of passengers during this season?
A)100
B)150
C)120
D)50
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option A
Explanation: The Indian railways said that 100 summer special trains would be run to handle extra rush of passengers during this season.

[/su_spoiler]

Researchers at the GRAPE-3 moun telescope facility have measured the electrical potential, size and height of a thundercloud. Where is the GRAPE-3 facility located?
A)Dehradun
B)Ooty
C)Mumbai
D)Shimla
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option B
Explanation: For the first time in the world, researchers at the GRAPE-3 moun telescope facility in Ooty have measured the electrical potential, size and height of a thundercloud that passed overhead on December 1, 2014. At 1.3 gigavolts (GV), this cloud had 10 times higher potential than the previous record in a cloud.

[/su_spoiler]

Which company launched 2 new india specific tools “Candidate Connect” and “Share You Voted”?
A)Google
B)WhatsApp
C)Facebook
D)Imo
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option C
Explanation: Social-networking site facebook launched 2 new india specific tools “Candidate Connect” and “Share You Voted” to boost civic engagement on its platform during the general elections that commence in April.

[/su_spoiler]

Which city’s railway station has received Gold Rating by the Indian Green Building Council?
A)Mumbai
B)Lucknow
C)Chennai
D)Vijayawada
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option D
Explanation: Vijayawada Railway Station, one of the busiest railway junctions in the country, has received Gold Rating by the Indian Green Building Council. Council Chairman Meka Vijaya Sai presented the gold rating shield to Divisional Railway Manager R Dhananjayulu.

[/su_spoiler]

Indian Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba commissioned a state-of-the-art “Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Training Facility-ABHEDYA” in which state?
A)Maharashtra
B)Andhra Pradesh
C)Uttar Pradesh
D)Odisha
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option A
Explanation: Indian Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba commissioned a state-of-the-art “Nuclear ,Biological ,Chemical Training Facility-ABHEDYA” at INS Shivaji in Lonavala. The ceremony was attended by a host of dignitaries, including VAdm AK Chawla, FOC-in-C Southern Naval Command, VAdm GS Pabby, Chief of Materiel and Cmde BB Nagpal CMD, GSL

[/su_spoiler]

Recently,Bangladesh celebrated its which independence Day?
A)45th
B)47th
C)50th
D)49th
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option D
Explanation: Bangladesh celebrated the 49th Independence Day tight security. The day was celebrated with parades and paying of respects at Jatiyo Smriti Soudho, national memorial at Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka.

[/su_spoiler]

How much percent growth was witnessed by Indian Incense Industry in FY 2018-19?
A)8-10%
B)7-9%
C)5-7%
D)4-6%
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option A
Explanation: Incense sticks have been an integral part of Indian lifestyle. Adoption of agarbathis beyond praying rituals has given a boost to the category not only in India but in international markets as well.

[/su_spoiler]

Which company has acquired Middle East rival Careem?
A)Oyo
B)Uber
C)Ola
D)Meru
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option B
Explanation: Uber has confirmed that it is acquiring its Middle East rival Careem in a deal worth USD 3.1 billion.Careem was founded in 2012 as a ride-hailing service. Over the years, it expanded its services to include food and package delivery, bus services, and credit transfers.

[/su_spoiler]

Which company recently announced a new credit card in partnership with Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Mastercard Inc?
A)Apple
B)Google
C)Microsoft
D)TCS
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option A
Explanation: Apple inc. announced a new credit card in partnership with Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Mastercard Inc. Cardholders receive a titanium card that has no card number, security code, or expiration date printed on the physical card.

[/su_spoiler]

Which company becomes first indian port operator to record 200 MMT cargo movement?
A)Reliance
B)APM Terminals
C)KPL
D)Adani
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option D
Explanation: Adani Ports and Special economic Zone(APSEZ) said that it has recorded cargo movement of more than 200 million metric tonnes (MMT) at nine ports along the east and west coasts, becoming the first Indian port operator to achieve the milestone.

[/su_spoiler]

Which company launches Bharat Consumption Scheme?
A)IDBI Federal
B)HDFC Ergo
C)ICICI Prudential
D)Reliance
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option C
Explanation: ICICI Prudential announced launched the ICICI Prudential Bharat Consumption Scheme.The Scheme aims to benefit from the Indian consumption story, considered as one of the fastest growing consumption markets globally.

[/su_spoiler]

The 12th Asian Airgun Championship held in which city?
A)Tokyo
B)Mumbai
C)Beijing
D)Taipei
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option D
Explanation: In Shooting, Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary have bagged a gold medal in the 10 metre Air Pistol Mixed Team Event at the 12th Asian Airgun Championship at Taoyuan in Taipei.
[/su_spoiler]

Who was appointed as Special Central Police Observer for West Bengal and Jharkhand by Election Commission of India?
A)KK Sharma
B)PV Roy
C)Vikas Anirban
D)Anurag Kishor
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option A
Explanation: Election Commission of India has appointed KK Sharma,retired DG BSF as Special Central Police Observer for West Bengal and Jharkhand. Sharma, a 1982 batch IPS official, would oversee the deployment and other security-related issues in both the states.

[/su_spoiler]

Who was elected as President of Comoros?
A)Azali Assoumani
B)Yoweri Museveni
C)Mohammed Abdel fateh
D)Idi Amin
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option A
Explanation: Comoros President Azali Assoumani was reelected according to results published by the electoral commission of the Indian Ocean archipelago. Azali, who first took office in 2016, was way ahead of his closest rival Mahamoudou Ahamada, who garnered only 14.62 percent of the ballots cast.

[/su_spoiler]

Who was roped in as new head coach of the Indian men’s basketball team?
A)Bobi Wine
B)Ramesh Abhishek
C)Vesilin Matic
D)Kale Kayihura
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option C
Explanation: the Basketball Federation of india roped in vesilin Matic as the new head coach of the Indian men’s basketball team.Zoran Visic, who was earlier in charge of both the men’s and women’s national sides will continue with the women’s team after the recruitment of Visic took over the men’s side for the FIBA World Cup and the Asian qualifiers after taking over following a poor run during the Commonwealth Games in 2018.

[/su_spoiler]

Who received received Croatia’s highest civilian honor,the Grand Order of the King of Tomislav?
A)Sumitra Mahajan
B)Ram Nath Kovind
C)Arun Jaitley
D)Narendra Modi
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option B
Explanation: President Ram nath Kovind received Croatia’s highest civilian honor,the Grand Order of the King of Tomislav, during his official visit to the nation.

[/su_spoiler]

Recently,writer Ashita passed away.She was the writer of which language?
A)Bengali
B)Malayalam
C)Tamil
D)Hindi
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option B
Explanation: Well-known Malayalam writer and poet Ashita passed away at the age of 63 at a private hospital in Thrissur.

[/su_spoiler]

Recently,Ranking Roger passed away.He was related to which profession?
A)Journalism
B)Poet
C)Sports
D)Singer
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option D
Explanation: Ranking Roger , popularly known as the vocalist of the Beat, has passed away. He was 56. He had suffered a stroke last summer and was diagnosed with two brain tumours and lung cancer in recent months.

[/su_spoiler]

Recently,spin bowler Bruce Yardley passed away.He belongs from which country?
A)Zimbabwe
B)Bangladesh
C)Australia
D)England
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option C
Explanation: Bruce Yardley,the former Australian spin bowler , coach and, commentator passed away after a prolonged fight with cancer at the age of 71.

[/su_spoiler]

Recently,Scott Walker passed away.He was related to which field?
A)Wrestling
B)Poet
C)Professor
D)Songwriter
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option D
Explanation: Scott Walker,one of the most innovative and enduring songwriters of the 20th century, has passed away aged 76. Walker first came to fame in the mid-1960s in the group the Walker Brothers, before creating a string of acclaimed solo albums – Scott, Scott 2, Scott 3 and Scott 4 – that are regarded as some of the most adventurous and boundary-pushing pop albums of the era.

[/su_spoiler]

STATIC GK BASED ON CURRENT AFFAIRS

What is the currency of Croatia?
A)Kuna
B)Won
C)Krone
D)Peso
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option A

[/su_spoiler]

What is the capital of Croatia?
A)Bishkek
B)Addis Ababa
C)Kiev
D)Zagreb
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option D

[/su_spoiler]

What is the capital of Comoros?
A)Tirana
B)Yerevan
C)Moroni
D)Luanda
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option C

[/su_spoiler]

Daily Current Affairs 27th March, 2019

Daily Current Affairs 27 March 2019 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

Railways to run 100 summer special trains

The Indian Railways said that 100 summer special trains would be run to handle extra rush of passengers during this season. These special trains will be run from March 28. A superfast weekly special train between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Gorakhpur will make a total of 26 round trips between the two stations every Friday from April 12 to July 5.

The Indian Railways will also run weekly special trains from the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus to Manduadih, from Pune to Gorakhpur and from Pune to Manduadih.

Ooty’s muon detection facility measures potential of thundercloud

For the first time in the world, researchers at the GRAPES-3 muon telescope facility in Ooty have measured the electrical potential, size and height of a thundercloud that passed overhead on December 1, 2014. At 1.3 gigavolts (GV), this cloud had 10 times higher potential than the previous record in a cloud.

Using a computer simulation and the observed muon intensity variations, the group worked out the relationship with the electric potential of the cloud.

Facebook launches tools to boost election engagement

Social-networking site Facebook launched 2 new India-specific tools "Candidate Connect" and "Share You Voted" to boost civic engagement on its platform during the general elections that commence in April.

While "Candidate Connect" will help people learn more about candidates, the "Share You Voted" will provide people with polling information and enable them to announce and celebrate their vote.

Vijaywada Railway Station Gets 'Gold Rating' For Green Measures

Vijayawada railway station, one of the busiest railway junctions in the country, has received Gold Rating by the Indian Green Building Council. Council Chairman Meka Vijaya Sai presented the gold rating shield to Divisional Railway Manager R Dhananjayulu.

The station boasts of 100 per cent LED lighting,five star rated fans, pumps and motors and solar water heating systems.

Navy chief commissions ABHEDYA at INS Shivaji in Lonavala

Indian Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba commissioned a state-of-the-art "Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Training Facility - ABHEDYA", at INS Shivaji in Lonavla. The ceremony was attended by a host of dignitaries, including VAdm AK Chawla, FOC-in-C Southern Naval Command, VAdm GS Pabby, Chief of Materiel and Cmde BB Nagpal CMD, GSL.

This unique facility will assist Indian Navy in providing realistic simulation of Nuclear, Chemical & Biological warfare to its personnel during their NBC damage control training, which till now was limited to theoretical training largely.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Bangladesh celebrates 49th Independence Day

Bangladesh celebrated the 49th Independence Day amid tight security. The day was celebrated with parades and paying of respects at Jatiyo Smriti Soudho, national memorial at Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka.

On March 26, Bangladesh commemorates the declaration of independence on late hours of March 25, 1971.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Indian Incense Industry witnesses 8-10 percent growth in FY 2018-19

Incense sticks have been an integral part of Indian lifestyle. Adoption of agarbathis beyond praying rituals has given a boost to the category not only in India but in international markets as well.

In the last financial year, agarbathi industry has witnessed a growth of 8-10% in the domestic market with Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal and UP driving the maximum consumer demand.

Uber acquires rival Careem for USD 3.1 billion to expand in Middle East

Uber has confirmed that it is acquiring its Middle East rival Careem in a deal worth USD 3.1 billion. Careem was founded in 2012 as a ride-hailing service. Over the years, it expanded its services to include food and package delivery, bus services, and credit transfers.

After the acquisition is complete, Careem will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Uber.

Apple partners with Goldman Sachs and Mastercard for Apple Card

Apple Inc. announced a new credit card in partnership with Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Mastercard Inc. Cardholders receive a titanium card that has no card number, security code, or expiration date printed on the physical card.

Apple uses machine learning to give cardholders more precise details about where their transactions occurred and lets users text for customer-service requests.

Adani becomes first Indian port operator to record 200 MMT cargo movement

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) said that it has recorded cargo movement of more than 200 million metric tonnes (MMT) at nine ports along the east and west coasts, becoming the first Indian port operator to achieve the milestone.

Adani Ports embarked its journey in 2001 and has become one of the largest port operators in the world.

ICICI Pru Mutual Fund launches Bharat Consumption Scheme

ICICI Prudential announced launched the ICICI Prudential Bharat Consumption Scheme. The Scheme aims to benefit from the Indian consumption story, considered as one of the fastest growing consumption markets globally.

The benchmark for the Scheme is Nifty India Consumption Index and will be managed by Rajat Chandak and Dharmesh Kakkad. The overseas investments of the scheme will be managed by Priyanka Khandelwal.

SPORTS

Manu Bhaker-Saurabh Chaudhary bag Gold medal in 10m Air Pistol Mixed event at Asian Airgun C’ship

In Shooting, Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary have bagged a Gold medal in the 10-metre Air Pistol Mixed team event at the 12th Asian Airgun Championship at Taoyuan in Taipei.

The pair made it to the Final after smashing the world record in the qualification. 17-year-old Manu and 16-year-old Saurabh shot a combined score of 784, breaking the record set by Russians Vitalina Batsarashkina and Artem Chernousov at the European Championships.

APPOINTMENTS

Comoros President Azali Assoumani re-elected

Comoros President Azali Assoumani was re-elected according to results published by the electoral commission of the Indian Ocean archipelago. Azali, who first took office in 2016, was way ahead of his closest rival Mahamoudou Ahamada, who garnered only 14.62 percent of the ballots cast.

The Comoros is a volcanic archipelago off Africa’s east coast, in the warm Indian Ocean waters of the Mozambique Channel.

Extra info.:
Comoros Capital: Moroni
Currency: Comorian franc

Basketball Federation of India appoints Serbian Veselin Matic as coach of Indian men’s team

The Basketball Federation of India roped in Veselin Matic as the new head coach of the Indian men’s basketball team. Zoran Visic, who was earlier in charge of both the men’s and women’s national sides will continue with the women’s team after the recruitment of Visic took over the men’s side for the FIBA World Cup and the Asian qualifiers after taking over following a poor run during the Commonwealth Games in 2018.

The Serbian will be tasked with turning around the fortunes of the men’s national team as well as sort an alleged rift among the group of players.

AWARDS

President Kovind receives Croatia's highest civilian order

President Ram Nath Kovind received Croatia's highest civilian order, the Grand Order of the King of Tomislav, during his official visit to the nation. The civilian order is awarded to heads of state for their contribution towards the strengthening of ties between the European nation and their respective country, amongst other things, according to Kumar.

Kovind, who is the first Indian President to visit Croatia, is currently on a three-country trip from March 25 to April 4.

Extra info.:
Croatia Capital: Zagreb
Currency: Croatian kuna

OBITUARIES

Malayalam writer Ashita passes away

Well-known Malayalam writer and poet Ashita passed away at the age of 63 at a private hospital in Thrissur. Some of her noted works include 'Apoorna Viramangal, 'Vismaya Chhihnangal and Ashithayude Kathakal.

Ashita has been the recipient of several awards including the prestigious Padmarajan Award - Thathagatha (2000), Lalithambika Antharjanam Award (1994) and Edaserri Award (1986).

The Beat singer Ranking Roger passes away

Ranking Roger, popularly known as the vocalist of The Beat, has passed away. He was 56. He had suffered a stroke last summer and was diagnosed with two brain tumours and lung cancer in recent months.

Roger founded The Beat in Birmingham in 1978. The band was behind the hit songs "Mirror in the bathroom", "Too nice to talk to" and their cover versions of "Can't get used to losing you".

Former Australian spinner Bruce Yardley passes away

Bruce Yardley, the former Australian spin bowler, coach and, commentator passed away after a prolonged fight with cancer at the age of 71.

The off-spinner played 33 Tests and seven ODI's for Australia between 1978 and 1983. He also enjoyed a long career at Western Australia.

Scott Walker, Experimental Pop Hero, Passes Away

Scott Walker, one of the most innovative and enduring songwriters of the 20th century, has passed away aged 76. Walker first came to fame in the mid-1960s in the group the Walker Brothers, before creating a string of acclaimed solo albums – Scott, Scott 2, Scott 3 and Scott 4 – that are regarded as some of the most adventurous and boundary-pushing pop albums of the era.

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Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Current Affairs Quiz: March 27, 2019

Current Affairs 27 March 2019 Quiz

Read our Current Affairs and Newspaper Quiz daily to excel in General Awareness section of upcoming Competitive Exams.

Quiz from Current Affairs 26 March 2019 of A2Z – Click Here to Read Current Affairs of March 26, 2019

India started joint military exercise “MITRA SHAKTI” with which country?
A)Nepal
B)China
C)Australia
D)Sri Lanka
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option D
Explanation: In a bid to further cement the relationship between armies of both the nations, a contingent of Indian Army left for Sri Lanka to participate in 6th edition of joint military exercise “Mitra Shakti” involving practicing tactical level operations in an international Counter Insurgency and Counter Terrorist environment under UN mandate.

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According to Joint United Nations Programme on the UNAIDS, India recorded how much percent reduction in TB deaths among people living with HIV by 2017?
A)76%
B)87%
C)84%
D)78%
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option C
Explanation: India has achieved an 84 percent reduction in TB deaths among people living with HIV by 2017. According to the Joint United Nations Programme on the UNAIDS , it is the highest recorded decline among over 20 nations and it is also three years ahead of the 2020 deadline.

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Which Indian INS to participate in LIMA 19 in Malaysia?
A)Tarini
B)Makar
C)Kadmatt
D)Mhadei
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option C
Explanation: Indian Navy’s frontline anti submarine warfare(ASW) corvette INS Kadmatt reached at Langkawi in Malaysia , on a seven-day official visit, to participate in Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition.
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Which country become the first country in the world to install wireless charging systems for electric taxis?
A)Norway
B)Australia
C)USA
D)Canada
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option A
Explanation: Norway’s capital Oslo will become the first city in the world to install wireless charging systems for electric taxis , hoping to make recharging quick and efficient enough to speed the take up of non-polluting cabs.

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Recently,RBI slapped which bank with a penalty of Rs 2 crore for non-compliance of regulatory directions with regard to SWIFT operations?
A)IOB
B)PNB
C)IDBI
D)BOB
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option B
Explanation: The RBI has slapped a penalty of Rs 2 crore on PNB for non-compliance of regulatory directions with regard to SWIFT operations. SWIFT is a global messaging software used for transactions by financial entities.

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Who will head the committee that has been formed Nilekani to further deepen digital payments and enhance financial inclusion through Fintech?
A)Nandan Nilekani
B)Viral Acharya
C)Pranav Sehgal
D)Ravneet Singh Gill
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option A
Explanation: RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das has said that the central bank of the country has appointed 5-member committee under the chairmanship of Nandan Nilekani to further deepen digital payments and enhance financial inclusion through Fintech.

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Recently,Conor Mcgregor announced his retirement.He was related to which sports?
A)MMA
B)Cricket
C)Basketball
D)Tennis
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option A
Explanation: Conor Mcgregor, the Irish UFC Star,announced his retirement from MMA.McGregor, the former two-division UFC champion, last fought at UFC 229 in October, falling in a lightweight title fight to Khabib Nurmagomedov by fourth-round submission.

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Recently, Nikki Bella announced her retirement.She was related to which sports?
A)Volleyball
B)Wrestling
C)Tennis
D)Cricket
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option B
Explanation: Actress wrestler Nikki Bella has announced his retirement from the WWE. The 35-year-old now happily wants to put her WWE jersey away to focus on other things. Bella made her WWE debut back in 2007, her SmackDown debut with her twin sister, Brie Bella was in 2008, and has won the Divas Championship twice.

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Recently, Rafi Eitan passed away. He belongs to which profession?
A)Tennis
B)Spy
C)Journalism
D)Wrestling
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option B
Explanation: Rafi Eitan,the legendary Israeli Spy who led the operation to capture the architect of the Holocaust, Adolf Eichmann, has passed away aged 92. Eitan was among the founders of Israel’s revered intelligence agencies.

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When is the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the transatlantic slave trade is observed?
A)March 25
B)March 26
C)March 27
D)March 28
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option A
Explanation: Every year on March 25,the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the transatlantic slave trade is observed.

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STATIC GK BASED ON CURRENT AFFAIRS

What is the currency of Sri Lanka?
A)Rupee
B)Rufiyaa
C)Yen
D)Peso
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option A

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What is the currency of Malaysia?
A)Peso
B)Ringgit
C)Krone
D)Won
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option B

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What is the currency of Norway?
A)Euro
B)Dollar
C)Krone
D)Won
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option C

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Tuesday, March 26, 2019

Current Affairs Quiz: March 26, 2019

Current Affairs 26 March 2019 Quiz

Read our Current Affairs and Newspaper Quiz daily to excel in General Awareness section of upcoming Competitive Exams.

Quiz from Current Affairs 25 March 2019 of A2Z – Click Here to Read Current Affairs of March 25, 2019

What is the rank of India on a global energy transition index compiled by World Economics forum (WEF)?
A)76th
B)78th
C)77th
D)75th
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option A
Explanation: India has moved up two places to rank 76th on a global energy transition index. This annual list, compiled by Geneva based World Economics forum(WEF). The report, released by the WEF, said India is amongst the countries with high pollution levels and has a relatively high CO2 intensity in its energy system.

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According to the Airports Council International(ACI),which airport is the world’s 12th busiest airport?
A)Kempegowda International Airport
B)Indira Gandhi International Airport
C)Sardar Vallabhbhai International Airport
D)Jolly Grant Airport
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option B
Explanation: The nation capital’s Indira Gandhi International Airport has now become the world’s 12th busiest airport moving up four places from the 16th spot in 2017. According to the preliminary world airport traffic rankings for 2018 released by the Airports Council International(ACI), it over took mega-hubs like Frankfurt, Dallas Forth Worth, Guangzhou and Istanbul Ataturk airports.

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In which city/UT,NITI Aayog organized a day-long FinTech Conclave?
A)Pune
B)Bengaluru
C)New Delhi
D)Mumbai
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option C
Explanation: NITI Aayog has organized a day-long FinTech Conclave at Dr Ambedkar International Center in New Delhi.
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Recently,a yarn bank has been set up in which city to benefit the state’s weavers?
A)Nashik
B)Nagpur
C)Pune
D)Mysore
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option D
Explanation: A yarn bank has been set up at the Mysore Powerloom Silk Manufacturers Cooperative Society on Avenue Road to benefit the state’s weavers.

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Recently, Naresh Goyal stepped away from his post.He was the former chairman of which company?
A)Jet Airways
B)AirIndia
C)Indigo
D)Vistara
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option A
Explanation: Jet airways chairman Naresh Goyal stepped down, paving way for lenders to bail out the financially troubled airline he set up 25 years ago. The airline has over one billion dollars in debt and has to repay money to banks, lessors of planes and suppliers besides clearing pending salaries to its pilots.

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According to ICRA,Housing Finance Companies are expected to show credit growth at how much percent in FY 19?
A)11-13%
B)13-15%
C)15-17%
D)12-14%
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option B
Explanation: The liquidity crisis has crimped credit growth for housing finance companies and is unlikely to improve much in FY20, even as the weak external environment will put a pressure on asset quality, warns a report.

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The world’s largest e-waste recycling facility has opened up in which city?
A)Vienna
B)London
C)Dubai
D)Abu Dhabi
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option C
Explanation: The world’s largest e-waste recycling facility has opened up in Dubai.
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Who won the Sportsperson of the year award at the Telangana Sports Journalist Association awards held at the The Park?
A)Sania Mirza
B)Virat Kohli
C)KL Rahul
D)Saina Nehwal
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option D
Explanation: Badminton ace Saina Nehwal walked away with the Sportsperson of the year award at the Telangana Sports Journalist Association awards held at the The Park.
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Who was unanimously re-elected as president of the Basketball Federation of India?
A)K Govindaraj
B)Vithal Koteswara Rao
C)Swami Venkatesh
D)Chander Mukhi Sharma
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option A
Explanation: K Govindaraj was unanimously re-elected as president of the Basketball Federation of india at its annual general-body meeting in Bengaluru. Chander Mukhi Sharma was re-elected secretary-general.

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Who won the 2019 Global Teacher Prize?
A)Peter Tabichi
B)Andria Zafeirakou
C)Maggie MacDonnell
D)Sunny Varkey
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option A
Explanation: A science teacher from rural Kenya, who gives away most of his salary to support poorer pupils, has won a $1m prize (£760,000) for the world’s best teacher.Peter Tabichi,, a member of the Franciscan religious order, won the 2019 Global Teacher Prize.

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Recently,Vinjamuri Anasuya Devi passed away.She was related to which field?
A)Writer
B)Actor
C)Journalist
D)Teacher
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option A
Explanation: Noted folk artist,music director and writer Vinjamuri Anasuya Devi passed away at Houston in the U.S. at the age of 99. A recipient of Kala Prapoorna award, she got her first gramophone record at the age of 8 years.

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Recently,Ghulam Nabi Rathar passed away.He was related to which field?
A)Politics
B)Social Activist
C)Poet
D)Actor
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option B
Explanation: Ghulam Nabi Rathar, 62, of Manigam Kangan, a social activist, passed away after brief illness. Rather, a retired horticultural officer, was ex-chairman of Shaheen Public High School Manigam and owner of Alamdar Public school Wussan Kangan.

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Recently,Shahnaz Rahmatullah passed away.He was related to which field?
A)Journalist
B)Poet
C)Actor
D)Singer
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option D
Explanation: Shahnaz Rahmatullah,a renowned South Asian Singer , passed away in Bangladesh after suffering a heart attack. The 67-year-old singer’s career spanned five decades and encompassed a number of genres, particularly national songs.

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Recently,which one of the last disciples of Acharya Ramchandrasurishwarji passed away?
A)Guru Amar Das
B)Hargobind Singh
C)Muni Har Rai
D)Muni Hitruchivijay
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option D
Explanation: Muni Hitruchivijay ji,one of the last disciples of Acharya Ramchandrasurishwarji, was known to have taken diksha at Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad. The monk passed away after a short ailment in Ahmedabad. His body was kept at Dasha Porvad Jain Sangh in Paldi for the last darshan.

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What is the theme of this year’s World Meteorological day?
A)Weather ready,Climate Smart
B)Hotter,drier weather
C)The Sun,the earth and the Weather
D)Understanding Clouds
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option C
Explanation: World Meteorological day is observed on 23 March.The theme is “The Sun,the earth and the Weather”.

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STATIC GK BASED ON CURRENT AFFAIRS

Where is the HQ of Basketball Federation of India?
A)New Delhi
B)Pune
C)Nashik
D)Kolkata
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option A

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Where is the HQ of Investment Information and Credit Rating Agency of India Limited(ICRA)?
A)Chennai
B)Mumbai
C)Delhi
D)Gurugram
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option D

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Where is the HQ of World economic Forum?
A)USA
B)Switzerland
C)Denmark
D)France
[su_spoiler title=" View Answer " icon="chevron-circle"] Option B

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