Current Affairs Quiz: March 8, 2020

1. The three-day-long Namaste Orchha festival started in which state?
   A)Maharashtra
   B)Uttar Pradesh
   C)Assam
   D)Madhya Pradesh
   
   
   

   
   Option D
   Explanation: The three-day-long Namaste Orchha festival kick-started in Madhya Pradesh to promote tourism by showcasing the rich culture and history of the town.

   
   
2. Which state government approved renaming the airport at Aurangabad as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Airport?
   A)Assam
   B)Jharkhand
   C)Maharashtra
   D)Goa
   
   
   

   
   Option C
   Explanation: Maharashtra government approved renaming the airport at Aurangabad as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Airport.Sambhaji Maharaj was the son of Maratha warrior king Chhtrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

   
   
3. International Conference on Nano Science and Technology” (ICONSAT) held in which city?
   A)Pune
   B)Chennai
   C)Kolkata
   D)Mumbai
   
   
   

   
   Option C
   Explanation: International Conference on Nano Science and Technology” (ICONSAT) held at Kolkata in West Bengal which was organized by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) Nano Mission that functions under the Ministry of Science and Technology.

   
   
4. What is the rank of India in Freedom in the World 2020 report?
   A)83
   B)81
   C)71
   D)89
   
   
   

   
   Option A
   Explanation: The Freedom in the World 2020 report ranks India at the 83rd position, along with Timor-Leste and Senegal. This is near the bottom of the pile among the countries categorised as “Free”, with only Tunisia receiving a lower score. India’s score fell by four points to 71, the worst decline among the world’s 25 largest democracies this year.

   
   
5. As per Consulting firm MicroSave Consulting (MSC) report, Women’s ownership of bank accounts rose to how much percent in 2017 under PMJDY?
   A)81%
   B)85%
   C)77%
   D)79%
   
   
   

   
   Option C
   Explanation: Consulting firm MicroSave Consulting (MSC) in a report titled ‘The real story of women’s financial inclusion in India’ says the Modi government’s flagship scheme, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), has helped raise women’s ownership of bank accounts from 43 per cent in 2014 to 77 per cent in 2017.

   
   
6. The Yonex Dutch Junior International 2020 is being held in which country?
   A)Netherlands
   B)Sweden
   C)Switzerland
   D)Denmark
   
   
   

   
   Option A
   Explanation: Young Indian shuttlers Tasnim Mir and Mansi Singh won a bronze medal each in the girls’ singles Badminton event at the Yonex Dutch Junior International 2020 in Haarlem, Netherlands. It was the first time India won two bronze medals in girls’ singles at this BWF Junior International Grand Prix tournament.

   
   
7. The World Half Marathon Championships was recently postponed due to coronavirus.It was scheduled to be held in which place?
   A)Poland
   B)Thailand
   C)Austria
   D)Australia
   
   
   

   
   Option A
   Explanation: World Athletics agreed with the Mayor of Gdynia and the organisers of the World Athletics Half Marathon Championships Gdynia 2020 to postponed the event until October due to coronavirus scare

   
   
8. The International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) World Cup schedule to be held in which city was postponed due to coronavirus outbreak?
   A)Paris
   B)Wuhan
   C)NewDelhi
   D)Mumbai
   
   
   

   
   Option C
   Explanation: The International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) World Cup, scheduled to be held in New Delhi from March 15 to 26, has been postponed amid coronavirus outbreak, National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) confirmed.

   
   
9. Who was appointed as new spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)?
   A)Rakesh Sharma
   B)Avinash Singh
   C)Raveesh Kumar
   D)Anurag Srivastava
   
   
   

   
   Option D
   Explanation: Anurag Srivastava will replace Raveesh Kumar as the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

   
   
10. Recently which Actress was signed as brand ambassador of Puma?
    A)Deepika Padukone
    B)Katrina Kaif
    C)Kareena Kapoor Khan
    D)Disha Patani
    
    
    

    
    Option C
    Explanation: German sportswear brand Puma has signed Bollywood actor Kareena Kapoor Khan as its new brand ambassador. With this association, Khan joins the brand’s roster of women personalities such as Sara Ali Khan, MC Mary Kom, Dutee Chand in India and Adriana Lima, Selena Gomez as well as Cara Delevingne globally who endorse the brand.

    
    
11. Who was appointed as MD and CEO of SBI Life Insurance Company?
    A)Sanjeev Nautiyal
    B)VS Jain
    C)Taraknath Banerjee
    D)Vikas Chaturvedi
    
    
    

    
    Option A
    Explanation: SBI Life Insurance said it has re-appointed Sanjeev Nautiyal as managing director and chief executive officer of the company with effect from March 10, 2020.

    
    
12. Recently Denys Shmygal became new PM of which country?
    A)Poland
    B)Zimbabwe
    C)Ukraine
    D)Thailand
    
    
    

    
    Option C
    Explanation: The Ukrainian Parliament selected Denys Shmygal to be the country’s new prime minister after President Volodymyr Zelensky asked for and received the resignation of Oleksiy Honcharuk.

    
    
13. Who is set to be the new director-general of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)?
    A)Francis Gurry
    B)Tedros Adhemhen
    C)WilliamRegel
    D)Daren Tang
    
    
    

    
    Option D
    Explanation: Mr Daren Tang is set to be the new director-general of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) after winning a vote in Geneva. He will replace Australian Francis Gurry

    
    
14. Who recently took oath as new Chief Information Commissioner?
    A)Bimal Julka
    B)Amita Pandove
    C)SS Jha
    D)Varun Agarwal
    
    
    

    
    Option A
    Explanation: President Ram Nath Kovind administered the oath of office to Bimal Julka as Chief Information Commissioner (CIC). The post was vacant after the transparency watchdog chief Sudhir Bhargava retired on January 11.

    
    
15. The International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) which was scheduled to be held in which city was postponed due to coronavirus outbreak?
    A)Mumbai
    B)Lucknow
    C)Indore
    D)Bhopal
    
    
    

    
    Option C
    Explanation: The International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) which was scheduled to be held in Indore Madhya Pradesh at the end of March, has now been postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak

    
    
16. Who was named named Sportsperson of the Year at the fourth Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) 2019?
    A)PV Sindhu
    B)Mithali Raj
    C)Harmanpreet Kaur
    D)Mary Kom
    
    
    

    
    Option A
    Explanation: World champion shuttler PV Sindhu named Sportsperson of the Year while India’s star batsman Rohit Sharma was named the cricketer of the year at the fourth Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) 2019.

    
    
17. Which city to host India Smart Utility Week 2020 (ISUW)?
    A)Bengaluru
    B)Chennai
    C)NewDelhi
    D)Pune
    
    
    

    
    Option C
    Explanation: The India Smart Grid Forum is organizing the India Smart Utility Week (ISUW) 2020 from 3rd March to 7th March 2020 at The Lalit Hotel, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi. This Utility Week is organized as an International Conference and Exhibition on Smart Utilities for Smarter Cities

    
    
STATIC GK BASED ON CURRENT AFFAIRS
18. What is the capital of Poland?
    A)Wehgrow
    B)Bangkok
    C)Warsaw
    D)Grydnia
    
    
    

    
    Option C
    

    
    
19. Where is the HQ of International Shooting Sports Federation?
    A)France
    B)USA
    C)Germany
    D)Japan
    
    
    

    
    Option C
    

    
    
20. What is the currency of Ukraine?
    A)Hryvnia
    B)Krone
    C)Peso
    D)Rial
    
    
    

    
    Option A