Current Affairs Quiz: January 23, 2020

1. Defence Ministry approved procurement of how much amount of hardware?
   A)₹6500 cr
   B)₹4500 cr
   C)₹5000 cr
   D)₹5100 cr
   
   
   

   
   Option D
   Explanation: The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh accorded approval for procurement of equipment worth over ₹5,100 crore from indigenous sources.

   
   
2. Recently the government notified the structure of the National Startup Advisory Council.It is to be chaired by which ministry?
   A)Ministry of HumanResources Development
   B)Ministry of Finance
   C)Ministry of Defence
   D)Ministry of Commerce and Industry
   
   
   

   
   Option D
   Explanation: The government notified the structure of the National Startup Advisory Council.The council to be chaired by commerce and industry minister.

   
   
3. Who chaired the 32nd interaction through PRAGATI – the ICT-based, multi-modal platform for pro-active governance and timely implementation?
   A)Narendra Modi
   B)Smriti Irani
   C)Ram Nath Kovind
   D)Venkaiah Naidu
   
   
   

   
   Option A
   Explanation: Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the 32nd interaction through PRAGATI – the ICT-based, multi-modal platform for pro-active governance and timely implementation.

   
   
4. Which state government has made reading of Preamble of the Constitution after prayer mandatory in all primary and secondary schools, starting from January 26,2019?
   A)Maharashtra
   B)Assam
   C)Uttar Pradesh
   D)Sikkim
   
   
   

   
   Option A
   Explanation: Maharashtra government has made reading of Preamble of the Constitution after prayer mandatory in all primary and secondary schools, starting from January 26,2019.

   
   
5. Which state government has launched Mukhyamantri Krishak Durghatna Kalyan Yojana?
   A)Odisha
   B)Telangana
   C)Bihar
   D)Uttar Pradesh
   
   
   

   
   Option D
   Explanation: Uttar Pradesh Government has launched Mukhyamantri Krishak Durghatna Kalyan Yojana which will provide financial assistance to family of farmers who die or become handicapped while working in fields.

   
   
6. Who will head the panel to firm up a draft legislation to give legal sanctity to disputes settled through mediation?
   A)Niranjan Bhat
   B)Swadesh Lohiya
   C)Vikas Chaturvedi
   D)Sanjeev Singh
   
   
   

   
   Option A
   Explanation: The Supreme Court has set up a panel headed by mediator Niranjan Bhat,to firm up a draft legislation to give legal sanctity to disputes settled through mediation, which would then be sent to the government as a suggestion from the apex court.

   
   
7. Who will head the panel to create tougher law against sexual harassment at work?
   A)Anurag Thakur
   B)Narendra Modi
   C)Smriti Irani
   D)Amit Shah
   
   
   

   
   Option D
   Explanation: The Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by Home Minister Amit Shah, which was constituted to strengthen the legal framework to prevent sexual harassment at the workplace.

   
   
8. Who participated in the High-level roundtable of UNAIDS (The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS) on the theme Access for all: Leveraging Innovations, Investments and Partnerships for Health at World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland?
   A)Mansukh Mandaviya
   B)Narendra Modi
   C)Smriti Irani
   D)Anurag Thakur
   
   
   

   
   Option A
   Explanation: The Union Minister of State for Shipping (I/C) and Chemical & Fertilizers Shri Mansukh Mandaviya participated in the High-level roundtable of UNAIDS (The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS) on the theme Access for all: Leveraging Innovations, Investments and Partnerships for Health at World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland.

   
   
9. What is the rank of RBI in in buying gold abroad in World Gold Council report?
   A)5th
   B)4th
   C)3rd
   D)6th
   
   
   

   
   Option D
   Explanation: According to the report released by World Gold Council (WGC) titled “World Gold Outlook 2020”,the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) bought 7.5 tonnes of gold last October, buttressing its foreign exchange reserves to $450 billion .RBI became the sixth largest buyer when it purchased 25.2 tonnes in first 10 months of 2019 to hedge government’s sovereign gold bond issue.

   
   
10. Which city metro service started carpool services in partnership with redBus?
    A)Delhi
    B)Lucknow
    C)Hyderabad
    D)Mumbai
    
    
    

    
    Option C
    Explanation: In an effort to strengthen its last mile connectivity project, Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited launched a car and bike pooling service in collaboration with redBus. It allows office-goers to avail and offer rides in their personal cars/bikes while commuting between home and their workplace.

    
    
11. Recently which company receives approval from Telecom department to raise FDI in the company to 100%?
    A)Bharti Airtel
    B)Vodafone Idea
    C)BSNL
    D)Jio
    
    
    

    
    Option A
    Explanation: The telecom department has approved raising the foreign direct investment (FDI) limit in Bharti Airtel to 100% from an earlier 49%, a provision that can help the telco draw more overseas funds.

    
    
12. Which telecom company joins hands with Bharti AXA to provide Rs 179 prepaid plan with life insurance of Rs 2 lakh?
    A)Jio
    B)BSNL
    C)Bharti Airtel
    D)Vodafone Idea
    
    
    

    
    Option C
    Explanation: Bharti Airtel Limited (also known as Airtel), an Indian global telecommunications services company has partnered with Bharti AXA Life Insurance Company Limited to offer Rs 2 lakh insurance cover to Airtel users with every recharge of Rs 179 prepaid bundle. In case of insurance cover, the users taking this plan should be between 18 and 54 years old

    
    
13. Recently IMF trimmed India’s GDP forecast for 2019 to how much percent?
    A)5.0%
    B)4.7%
    C)5.5%
    D)4.8%
    
    
    

    
    Option D
    Explanation: The IMF lowered India’s economic growth estimate for the current fiscal to 4.8 per cent from 6.1% and listed the country’s much lower-than-expected GDP numbers as the single biggest drag on its global growth forecast for two years.

    
    
14. Recently which players were included in All India Council of Sports?
    A)Yogeshwar Dutt
    B)Deepa Malik
    C)MS Dhoni
    D)Both a and b
    
    
    

    
    Option D
    Explanation: Celebrated wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt and Paralympian Deepa Malik were among the new inductees in the government’s All India Council of Sports (AICS), from which batting great Sachin Tendulkar and chess wizard Viswanathan Anand have been omitted for not being “active” enough.

    
    
15. Who was appointed as Royal Bank of Scotland India head?
    A)Punit Sood
    B)Rameshwar Singh
    C)NK Sharma
    D)Vikas Chaturvedi
    
    
    

    
    Option A
    Explanation: RBS India, the technology and operations hub of the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), has appointed Punit Sood as the Head of RBS India.Punit was earlier appointed as the Head of Technology India, where he shaped the India Technology business to function as a centre of excellence for RBS.

    
    
16. Who were given the Bal Shakti Puraskar 2020 by President Ram Nath Kovind?
    A)Ishan Sharma
    B)Omkar Singh
    C)Gauri Mishra
    D)All of these
    
    
    

    
    Option D
    Explanation: President Ram Nath Kovind presented the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2020 to children under various categories including innovation, scholastic, sports, art and culture, social service and bravery

    
    
17. Which Company recently acquired Essel Finance’s MSME lending business?
    A)PNB MetLife
    B)IDBI Federal
    C)SBI Life
    D)Adani Capital Pvt Ltd
    
    
    

    
    Option D
    Explanation: Adani Capital Pvt. Ltd, the NBFC arm of the Adani Group, focused on lending to small & micro entrepreneurs, has acquired Essel Finance’s MSME loan business. The business has a secured loan book of approximately Rs 145 crore comprising 1100 customers, a staff strength of 40 professionals and operates out of 10 cities in India.

    
    
18. Recently The Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Dr. Harsh Vardhan released Seismic microzonation reports for which cities?
    A)Delhi and Kolkata
    B)Mumbai and Lucknow
    C)Delhi and Lucknow
    D)Pune and Bhopal
    
    
    

    
    Option A
    Explanation: The Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Dr. Harsh Vardhan released Seismic microzonation reports for Delhi and Kolkata in New Delhi . The scientific endeavours should help us to minimize the impact of earthquakes by (a) Proper assessment of Seismic Hazard (b) Implementation of safe building construction codes, and (c) adopting appropriate land-use planning.

    
    
19. Recently WHO included which Indian Molecular test as initial test for TB and MDR-TB in view of its high diagnostic accuracy?
    A)tBNat
    B)RealNat
    C)NatGeo
    D)TrueNat
    
    
    

    
    Option D
    Explanation: WHO Global TB Programme has included an Indian Molecular assay TrueNat as initial test for TB and MDR-TB in view of its high diagnostic accuracy, in the rapid communication document on Molecular assays released by WHO’s Global TB Programme.

    
    
20. Recently which cyclone hitted an island nation of Fiji?
    A)Corona
    B)Levu
    C)Tino
    D)Katrina
    
    
    

    
    Option C
    Explanation: Cyclone Tino has hit an island nation of Fiji. Vanua Levu, which is the second largest island in Fiji was hit by Cyclone Tino, where Winds observed at the speed of 130-140 kmph with warnings of very heavy rains, coastal flooding and flash floods in some parts.

    
    
21. Who is the author of book “The Gateway: A Social Commentary on Safety of Senior Citizens”?
    A)Naseem Khan
    B)Madurai Swami
    C)B Balakrishnan
    D)Hariharan Balagopal
    
    
    

    
    Option D
    Explanation: Hariharan Balagopal authored book “The Gateway: A Social Commentary on Safety of Senior Citizens” was released by Justice Konakuppakatil Gopinathan Balakrishnan, former Chief Justice of India (CJI), at the 14th Security Leadership Summit held in New Delhi. The book was published by Ailum publications. It stresses about the lack of safety faced by senior citizens.

    
    
22. Who is the author of book “Human Dignity – A purpose in perpetuity”?
    A)Ashwini Kumar
    B)Deepak Singh
    C)Manisha Ratnakar
    D)Abhay Soni
    
    
    

    
    Option A
    Explanation: Former Union Minister Ashwani Kumar authored the book title “Human Dignity – A purpose in perpetuity”, which was released by Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during a book launch event at the India International Centre in New Delhi. The book was published by US(United States) based publisher LexisNexis.

    
    
STATIC GK BASED ON CURRENT AFFAIRS
23. Where is the HQ of Bharti AXA General Insurance?
    A)NewDelhi
    B)Lucknow
    C)Mumbai
    D)Chennai
    
    
    

    
    Option C
    

    
    
24. Where is the HQ of International Monetary Fund?
    A)Washington DC
    B)Geneva
    C)Paris
    D)London
    
    
    

    
    Option A