👉Top 20 Current Affairs of 29 August 2020👈
💨💨NATIONAL
AFFAIRS💨💨
Pradhan
Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) Completed Six Years of Successful Implementation
.On August 28,
2020, the 6th anniversary of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna (PMJDY) was observed
which was launched on August 28, 2014. On this occasion, Union Minister for
Finance & Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman reiterated the
importance of this biggest financial inclusion initiative in the world.
ii.The
objective of PMJDY is to ensure access to financial services, namely, Banking/
Savings & Deposit Accounts, Remittance, Credit, Insurance, Pension in an
affordable manner.
iii.The
Slogan of PMJDY is “Mera Khata – Bhagya Vidhaata.”
iv.It
is operated by the Department of Financial Services under the
Union Finance Ministry.
Recent Related News:
On June 30, 2020, Prime
Minister Shri Narendra Modi, during televised address to the nation announced
the extension of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY) from
July, 2020 till the end of November 2020, with an outlay of more than Rs 90,000
crore. In this regard, more than 80 crore people will be provided 5 kg free
wheat or rice per month along with 1 kg free whole chana (pulses) to each
family per month.
Union
Minister Piyush Goyal addresses ASEAN-India Business Council Meet
i.On 28th
August, 2020 Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Piyush
Goyal addressed the Association of SouthEast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-India
Business Council Virtual Meet. He extended India’s friendship and partnership
to ASEAN countries and expected to achieve a target of 300-billion-dollar trade
through Business with them.
ii.He
emphasized 3 C’s Cooperation, Collaboration & Commitment as guide for
the strategic partnership between India and ASEAN countries.
Recent Related News:
i.In
order to boost business & economy, the Federation of Indian Chambers of
Commerceand Industry (FICCI) and 5 bodies of Central Asian countries
(Kazakhstan,the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan)
launched the India-Central Asia Business council in New Delhi.
ii.UK
India Business Council (UKIBC) signed a MoU with Maharashtra Industrial
Development Corporation (MIDC), to improve the business relationship between
India(Maharashtra) and the United Kingdom(UK).
About ASEAN:
Secretary General – H.E. Dato Lim Jock Hoi
Headquarters – Jakarta, Indonesia.
Indian
Railways Set to Meet All its Energy Need of Over 33 Billion Units by 2030
On 27th August 2020, Indian Railways organised a discussion over a wide
range of topics with the stakeholders, chaired by Piyush Vedprakash Goyal,
Union Minister of Railways, to become 100% self-sustainable for all its energy
needs and to contribute to the National Solar Mission of India.
Indian Railways has developed a mega plan to install solar power plants
of capacity 20 Gigawatt(GW) by utilising vacant lands by 2030.
Other Project of Indian Railways:
i.The
pilot project of capacity 1.7 megawatt(MW) with direct connectivity to the 25
kilovolts(kV) traction system in Bina, Madhya Pradesh has become
successfully operational.
ii.A
3 MW solar plant has been commissioned for a non-traction application at the
Modern Coach Factory(MCF) Raebareli, Uttar pradesh.
iii.The 2MW projects at Diwana(Haryana) and 50 KW
project at Bhilai(Chattisgarh) are in progress to provide connectivity with
State Transmission Utility(STU) and Central Transmission Utility(CTU) respectively.
Recent Related News:
Indian railways created a benchmark by setting a new world history on
the successful running of the first Double-decker Container Train with a
contact wire of 7.57-metre height on its high reach pantograph in the high rise
Over Head Equipment (OHE) electrified territory on the western railway from
Palanpur and Botad stations in Gujarat.
About Ministry
of Railways:
Union Minister– Piyush Goyal
Minister of State– Suresh Angadi Channabasappa
FM
Nirmala Sitharaman chairs 41st GST Council Meeting to Discuss Compensation for
Loss of Revenue to States
On August 27, 2020, the 41st meeting
of goods and services tax (GST) Council, chaired by Union Finance Minister
Nirmala Sitharaman, was held via video conferencing to discuss the issue of
compensating states on account of revenue loss due to implementation of GST,
and deficit in the compensation cess fund due to the fall in tax collections.
ii.During the meet, Centre offered two borrowing options to states to
overcome shortfall in GST compensation cess fund viz:
·
States can either borrow the full
compensation deficit of Rs 2.35 lakh crore, which includes revenue
loss due to transition to GST and also the Covid-led slowdown, from the
markets, facilitated by the Centre and the RBI, or
·
The shortfall that’s purely due to
GST implementation of Rs 97,000 crore via the RBI special
window.
About GST Council:
GST Council is an apex member
committee to modify or to procure any law or regulation based on the context of
goods and services tax in India. The council is headed by the union finance
minister Nirmala Sitharaman assisted with the finance minister of all the
states of India.
·
It was constituted on 15th September
2016 under Article 279A of the Constitution.
NITI
Aayog Launches NDC–Transport Initiative for Asia(TIA) India Component
On 27th August, 2020 NITI Aayog launched the India Component of the
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC)-Transport Initiative for Asia (TIA).
The NDC-TIA India team will focus on establishing a multi-stakeholder dialogue
for decarbonizing transport and providing technical support on Green House Gas
emission reduction measures in India. India’s Think-Tank NITI Aayog will
be the implementing agency in India.
About NITI Aayog:
Chief Executive Officer – Amitabh Kant
Headquarters – New Delhi
INTERNATIONAL
AFFAIRS
Maldives
Launches India backed Infrastructure Projects
i.On August 27, 2020, the
government of Maldives launched India backed infrastructure projects viz.
Hulhumale Central Park and renovation of the Arrival Jetty in Maldives during a
ceremony which was attended by Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid, Hulhumalé MP
Ali Niyaz, High Commissioner Sunjay Sudhir, MD of Housing Development
Corporation Limited (HDC) Suhail Ahmed and officials from the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of Maldives
ii.The
project is being executed by the HDC through an approximate 10 million
Maldivian Rupee grant assistance from India.
iii.It
is a part of 18 grant projects being funded by India in the Maldives under a
total grant assistance of USD 6.9 million (MVR 106 million) extended in 2019.
About Maldives:
Capital– Male
Currency– Maldivian rufiyaa
President– Ibrahim Mohamed Solih
APPOINTMENTS
& RESIGNATIONS
Shinzo
Abe, Prime Minister of Japan Resigned Due to Health Issues
On 28th August 2020, Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan announced his
resignation owing to his worsening health condition due to ulcerative
colitis. 65-year-old Shinzo Abe of Liberal Democratic Party(LDP) was
the longest serving Prime Minister of Japan.
The elected new party leader will hold the post
for the remaining 1-year term of Abe.
On 28th August 2020, Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan announced his
resignation owing to his worsening health condition due to ulcerative colitis.
65-year-old Shinzo Abe of Liberal Democratic Party(LDP) was the
longest serving Prime Minister of Japan.
The elected new party leader will hold the post
for the remaining 1-year term of Abe.
Note:
This is a 2nd time for Abe to resign with a year remaining in his stint.
Abe would be able to serve the rest of his term
which end in September 2021
About Shinzo Abe
i.He won his first
Parliament seat in 1993.
ii.He was appointed to the cabinet for the first time as the Chief
Cabinet Secretary in October 2005.
iii.He later became the Prime Minister of Japan in 2006.
iv.He was the Youngest Leader of Japan since World War II and he stepped
down from his position due to ill health in 2007.
v.He was again elected and has been serving as the Prime Minister of
Japan since December 2012.
About Japan:
Capital– Tokyo
Currency– Yen
UNESCO Heritage sites (natural)– Yakushima, Shirakami-Sanchi, Shiretoko, Ogasawara
Islands.
Vinay
M Tonse Appointed as MD & CEO of SBI Funds Management Pvt. Ltd.; Replaced
Ashwani Bhatia
Vinay M Tonse, Deputy Managing Director(DMD) of State Bank of
India (SBI) appointed as the Managing Director(MD) and Chief
Executive Officer(CEO) of SBI Funds Management Pvt. Ltd. (SBIFMPL).
He replaced Ashwani Bhatia, DMD of SBI, who was appointed as MD(IT-
Information Technology & SARG-Stressed Assets Resolution Group) of SBI.
·
Since June 22, 2020 Vinay M Tonse was
on deputation to SBIFMPL
Other Key Positions held by him in
SBI:
·
General Manager, Corporate Accounts
Group – II, Mumbai, Maharashtra from November 2016 to June 2018
·
Deputy General Manager, Equity &
Commodities (Global Markets), Mumbai, Maharashtra from June 2013 to November
2016
·
CEO of Osaka Branch, Japan from
August 2009 to June 2013.
About SBIFMPL:
It is a joint venture between SBI and AMUNDI (France), one of the
world’s leading fund management companies.
Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra
Managing Director & Chief Executive
Officer– Vinay M. Tonse
ACQUISITIONS
& MERGERS
Pacific
Alliance Group to Acquire 51% Stake in Edelweiss Wealth Management for About Rs
2,200 Crore
Private equity (PE) firm Pacific Alliance Group (PAG) to
make a strategic investment of approximately Rs 2,200 crore (USD
300 million) for a 51 % stake in Edelweiss Wealth
Management (EWM). PAG with this deal will become a majority owner
of the EWM of Edelweiss Global Investment Advisors(which also houses Edelweiss
Asset Management, India’s largest alternatives and asset reconstruction
platform, which is not part of the investment). The EWM business includes
investment banking and capital markets businesses.
It is to be noted that this is the PAG’s 1st PE investment in India
About Edelweiss Group:
Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra
Chairman & CEO– Rashesh Shah
CEO, EWM Business– Nitin Jain
About PAG: Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer– Weijian Shan
SCIENCE
& TECHNOLOGY
Narendra
Singh Tomar launched Integration of “ICAR-IIHR Seed Portal with SBI’s YONO
Krishi Web Application
.On August 26, 2020,
Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare
virtually launched the integration of State Bank of India’s (SBI) YONO
(You Only Need One) Krishi platform with government’s online seed
portal Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) and Indian
Institute of Horticulture Research (IIHR) to help the farmers i in
increasing the crop production along with the crop quality and income
generation.
ii.With
this integration farmers will also be able to purchase seeds certified by the
research institute.
Recent Related News
On the occasion of Independence Day of the Maldives on July 26, 2020,
the largest Indian public sector bank, State Bank of India (SBI) provided
liquidity support of USD 16.20 million as a COVID-relief for the Government of
Maldives to overcome liquidity shortage. The fund will support economic relief
measures by utilizing it for local businesses and defers loan repayment for
over 200 retail accounts.
About ICAR-IIHR:
Director- Dr. M.R.
Dinesh
Head Office– Bengaluru, Karanataka
SPORTS
Sri
Lanka Cricketer Tharanga Paranavitana retires from International Cricket
On 27th August, 2020 Sri Lankan Opening batsman Nishad Tharanga
Paranavitana announced retirement from all forms of International Cricket at
the age of 38.
West
Indies Cricketer Dwayne Bravo becomes first bowler to scalp 500 wickets in T20I
On 26th August, 2020 West Indies All-Rounder Dwayne John Bravo became
the first bowler in International Cricket to scalp 500 wickets in Twenty20
International (T20I). He achieved the feat in the Carribean Premier League
(CPL)2020 match between his team Trinbago Knight Riders and St Lucia
Zouks.
Bravo took the wicket of Rahkeem Cornwall (18) to register his 500th
wicket.
Bayern
Munich Won the UEFA Championship League 2020
On 23rd August 2020, Bayern Munich (FC
Bayern München), German football club won their 6th Championship in the
Union of European Football Associations(UEFA) Champions League
2020. Bayern Munich became the champions of Europe by defeating the first time
finalists Paris Saint Germain(PSG) 1- 0 at the finals held in
Estadio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal.
Key Points
i.32 teams
participated in the UEFA Championship league 2019-2020, the 65th season of
Europe Premier Club Football Tournament organised by UEFA.
ii.The
League began on 25th Jun 2019 and concluded on 23rd August 2020.
About UEFA:
President– Aleksander
Čeferin
General Secretary- Theodore Theodoridis
Headquarters– Nyon, Switzerland
Ayaka
Takahashi, Japan’s 1st Olympic Gold medalists in Badminton Announces Retirement
Japan’s Ayaka
Takahashi, who won gold medal(Japan’s 1st gold medal in badminton) in Rio
Olympics in 2016 Women’s Doubles Badminton along with Misaki
Matsutomo, announced that she will end her career(retires) on
August 31, 2020 as she has a doubt whether her inner fire and body will get
through another year. She cited the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics 2020 to
2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic as one of the reasons.
OBITUARY
Veteran
Assamese Folk Singer Archana Mahanta Passed Away
Veteran Assamese folk singer Archana Mahanta passed
away at the age of 72 in Health City hospital, Guwahati, Assam following
a brain stroke. She was also a reputed artist of All India Radio(Guwahati). She
is the wife of late Khagen Mahanta( known as ‘Bihu King’) and
mother of Angaraag ‘Papon’ Mahanta, popular Indian singer and
founder of the folk-fusion band Papon and The East India Company
Former
Supreme Court Judge Justice A.R. Lakshmanan Passed Away
Former Supreme Court judge
Justice, A.R. Lakshmanan(full name- Arunachalam Lakshmanan),
died at the age of 78 in a private hospital in Trichy(Tiruchirappalli or
Tiruchi), TamilNadu following a heart attack. Currently he was the sitting
representative of Tamil Nadu in the Mullai Periyar Panel headed by Justice
A.S.Anand. He served as the chairman of the Law Commission (18th Law
Commission) after his retirement. He was born in Devakottai in Sivaganga
district, TamilNadu on March 22, 1942.
Supreme court judge- He was appointed as the supreme court judge
on December 20, 2002 and retired on March 22, 2007.
Books- He has authored several books in Tamil and English which
include ”Neethiyin Kural (The voice of justice) and ”The Judge Speaks,” a
compilation of lectures on various judicial and social issues.
Note- He was a part of a bench that banned smoking in public
places.
STATE
NEWS
Assam
Cabinet Approves ‘Assam Skill Development University Bill’
On 27th August, 2020 the Government of Assam approved the ‘Assam Skill
Development University Bill’, which provides for setting up of World Class
Skill University at Mangaldoi, Darrang District at a cost of
900 crore rupees.
Assam Industry and Commerce Minister Chandra
Mohan Patowary made the announcement about the setting up of the university,
after a cabinet meeting.
The University will be the first of its kind in
the North-East Region and will be financed by Asian Development Bank
(ADB).
About Assam:
Capital – Dispur
UNESCO World Heritage Site – Kaziranga National Park, Manas Wildlife
Sanctuary.
Kerala
CM Pinarayi Vijayan Inaugurates State’s First Marine Ambulance ‘Pratheeksha’ in
Kochi
On 26th August, 2020 Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated
the State’s First fully equipped Marine Ambulance ‘Pratheeksha’. It was
acquired by the Fisheries Department at Kochi for rescue operations at
sea. ‘Pratheeksha’ – built by Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) is the
first of the three marine ambulances ordered by the state.
About Kerala:
Governor – Arif
Mohammad Khan
National Parks – Eravikulam National Park, Silent Valley National
Park, Pampadum Shola National Park, Mathikettan Shola National Park, Anamudi
Shola National Park.
JK
Government Launches E-Auction Portal for Kashmir Saffron
On 28th August 2020, The government of Jammu and Kashmir launched the
e-auction portal www.saffroneauctionindia.com created by its department of agriculture
to promote the trade of Kashmir Saffron. The department under the aegis
of India International Kashmir Saffron Trading Centre (IIKSTC) in
partnership with NSE-IT established the portal.
Aim:
i.To
promote the e-trading of Geographical Indications(GI) tagged “Kashmir
Saffron” between registered growers and buyers.
ii.To
ensure the access to quality “Kashmir Saffron” to the buyers.
Recent Related News:
i.J&K Lt Governor
launches salary tracker mobile app “MeraVetan (Version – 1)” for government
employees
ii.Jammu
and Kashmir, launched a Student Health Card scheme for school children aimed to
improve the health and overall wellbeing of over 12 lakh students of government
schools.
About Jammu & Kashmir:
National Park– Dachigam
National Park, Kishtwar high altitude National Park, Dachigam National Park,
Kazinag National Park, Salim Ali National Park or City Forest National Park
Wildlife sanctuary– Overa Aru Wildlife Sanctuary, Achabal Wildlife
Sanctuary, Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary, Ramnagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Nandini
Wildlife Sanctuary.
UPEIDA
Signed a Deal with BOB-led Consortium of 6 Banks to Fund Bundelkhand Expressway
Project
On 25th August 2020, The Uttar
Pradesh Expressway Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) signed
a deal with the consortium of 6 banks led by Bank of Baroda (BoB) for
the construction funding of the Bundelkhand Expressway project.
·
This deal will boost the funding and
construction works of the project.
·
This will also create job
opportunities on the local baiss in the villages amid the global pandemic.
About UPEIDA:
CEO– Awanish Kumar Awasthi
Additional CEO– Shrish Chandra Verma
Headquarters– Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
‘Iraada’
Campaign Launched to Cover Eligible Left-Out Beneficiaries under Social Welfare
Schemes: J&K
In Jammu and Kashmir, Dr. Dr Sagar D. Doifode ,
Doda District Deputy Commissioner(DCC) launched ‘Iraada’ campaign to include eligible left-out
beneficiaries, who have not yet been enrolled to receive the financial
assistance benefits under various social welfare schemes, which
includes old age pension, widow and handicap scheme. In other words, the
campaign is for 100% coverage under social welfare schemes.
Recent Related News:
i.The Union Home Minister,
Amit Shah launched ‘Vriksharopan Abhiyan’ the tree
plantation campaign of the Coal Ministry in the presence of Shri
Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs.
ii.United
Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) India joined hands with
Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s (FICCI) Socio
Economic Development Foundation (SEDF) to initiate
UNICEF’s “#Reimagine Campaign” for the support of most
vulnerable populations and children during the ongoing COVID-19 response and
its aftermath in India.
About Jammu and Kashmir:
Lt Governor– Manoj Sinha
Capital– Jammu(winter), Srinagar(summer)
Questions Based on Current
Affairs 28 August 2020
1.
Who has launched
National GIS (Geographic Information System)-enabled Land Bank system for six
states recently?
1) Piyush Goyal
2) Raj Kumar Singh
3) Ravi Shankar Prasad
4) Giriraj Singh
5) Pralhad Joshi
Answer & Explanation
Answer-1) Piyush Goyal
Explanation:
Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal e-launched the National
GIS (Geographic Information System)-enabled Land Bank system for six states.
The system is developed by the integration of the Industrial Information System
(IIS) with State GIS systems.
2.
Which state/UT
government has launched ‘Healthy Body, Healthy Mind’ campaign for students?
1) Ladakh
2) Goa
3) Chandigarh
4) Assam
5) Delhi
Answer & Explanation
Answer-5) Delhi
Explanation:
Delhi Government launched the Fitness Campaign – “Healthy Body, Healthy Mind”,
for the students who are confined in their homes because of the lockdown
imposed on Schools and colleges due to COVID-19 pandemic. As a part of the
“Healthy Body, Healthy Mind” campaign, a YouTube channel has been started which
uploads a video on every Wednesday, by which the students can practice for a
week to maintain fitness and make up for the loss of physical activities amid
pandemic.
3.
Which company has
partnered with UNICEF to map internet connectivity landscape for schools in 35
countries by the end of 2023?
1) AT&T
2) Verizon Communications
3) Reliance Jio
4) Bharti Airtel
5) Ericsson
Answer & Explanation
Answer-5) Ericsson
Explanation:
Ericsson, Swedish Telecom Company, partnered with United Nations Children’s
Fund (UNICEF) to map internet connectivity landscape for schools in 35
countries by the end of 2023 to provide digital learning access to the
children. This joint initiative is a part of the Giga initiative launched by
UNICEF and International Telecommunication Union (ITU), in September 2019 to
provide internet connection to every school and their surrounding communities.
Ericsson is the first private sector partner to make a million-dollar
commitment to the Giga initiative and global UNICEF partner for School
Connectivity Mapping.
4.
Name the
organization which released the report titled, “COVID-19: Are Children Able to
Continue Learning During School Closures?”.
1) International Monetary Fund (IMF)
2) United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
3) United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
4) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
5) United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Answer & Explanation
Answer-3) United Nations Children’s Fund
(UNICEF)
Explanation:
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) released the Report “COVID-19: Are Children
Able to Continue Learning During School Closures?”, which states that at least
a third of the world’s school children, which is around 463 million children
couldn’t not access remote learning amid the closure of schools due to COVID-19
pandemic.
5.
The Reserve Bank of
India has announced the simultaneous purchase and sale of government securities
(G-Secs) under open market operations worth _________ recently.
1) Rs. 15,000 crore
2) Rs. 10,000 crore
3) Rs. 20,000 crore
4) Rs. 30,000 crore
5) Rs. 25,000 crore
Answer & Explanation
Answer-3) Rs. 20,000 crore
Explanation:
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced a simultaneous purchase and sale of
government securities (G-Secs) under open market operations (OMO) for an
aggregate amount of Rs 20,000 crore in two equal tranches of Rs 10,000 crore on
August 27, 2020 and September 03, 2020 on account of current and evolving
liquidity and market conditions.
6.
Which private
sector bank has partnered with Adobe to enhance the Digital Experiences of
Customers.
1) HDFC Bank
2) ICICI Bank
3) RBL Bank
4) IDBI Bank
5) None of the Above
Answer & Explanation
Answer-1) HDFC Bank
Explanation:
HDFC Bank announced a strategic partnership with Adobe to enhance the Digital
Experiences of its Customers. The partnership is powered by Adobe Experience
Cloud Solutions and will help HDFC Bank to deliver personalized digital
experiences to existing as well as new customers, at anytime and anywhere.
7.
Which insurance
company has launched 1st of its kind technology service named ‘Smart Assist’?
1) Reliance Life Insurance Company
2) TATA AIG Life Insurance Company
3) ICICI Lombard Life Insurance Company
4) Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company
5) Oriental Insurance Company Limited
Answer & Explanation
Answer-4) Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company
Explanation:
Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company Limited has launched ‘Smart Assist’, a 1st
of its kind technology service in the insurance industry. Through a secure
screen sharing feature, the service allows the customers to connect with the company
to avail real-time assistance on completing the purchase anywhere. It helps the
customers to know about product details while enjoying virtual assistance and
maintaining social distance protocol.
8.
Find the company
which has partnered with Innoviti Payment Solutions to develop installments
platform for face-to-face transactions.
1) Capital One
2) Visa
3) Mastercard
4) Rupay
5) American Express
Answer & Explanation
Answer-2) Visa
Explanation:
Innoviti Payment Solutions Pvt. Ltd. (Innoviti) and Visa have partnered to
develop an installment platform, which will enable the issuers to extend credit
to their cardholders at face-to-face Point of Sale (PoS) in India. The
installments platform with the suite of platform capabilities leveraging Innoviti’s
uniPAYNEXT platform and Visa’s APIs, provides shoppers the ability to choose
how they pay during the purchase.
9.
Which company
collaborated with Nepal’s Sastodeal to open new market for MSMEs?
1) Amazon
2) Flipkart
3) Snapdeal
4) Myntra
5) None of the Above
Answer & Explanation
Answer-2) Flipkart
Explanation:
Walmart-owned Flipkart on announced it has entered into a strategic partnership
with Nepal’s Sastodeal, a move that will help lakhs of Flipkart sellers get
access to the neighbouring country’s e-commerce market. Under the partnership,
Sastodeal will host over 5,000 products from Flipkart marketplace sellers
operating across the categories. Flipkart Private Brands – MarQ and SmartBuy –
will also be listed on the Sastodeal platform with a focus on categories such
as electronics, home appliances/home decor and furnishings.
10.
National
e-Governance Division (NeGD) signed MoU with CSC e-governance services India to
facilitate ‘which’ app’s services to citizens through Common Service Centers?
1) UMANG
2) ROSHNI
3) SHIKSHA VANI
4) SAHYATRI
5) GATI
Answer & Explanation
Answer-1) UMANG
Explanation:
National e-Governance Division (NeGD), Ministry of Electronics &
Information Technology (MeitY) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU)
with CSC (Common Service Center) e Governance Services India Limited to
facilitate delivery of UMANG (Unified Mobile Application for New-Age
Governance) app services to citizens through the network of 3.75 lakh CSCs.
11.
Association of
Indian Football Coaches (AIFC) signed MoU with which country’s coaches’
association recently?
1) United Kingdom
2) Argentina
3) Germany
4) Australia
5) Portugal
Answer & Explanation
Answer-4) Australia
Explanation:
Association of Indian Football Coaches (AIFC) and Football Coaches Australia
(FCA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support the development of
football in both India and Australia.
12.
Find the company
which has signed MoU with Israel based REE automotive to develop electric
commercial vehicle.
1) Ashok Leyland
2) Mahindra & Mahindra
3) Force Motors
4) Hindustan Motors
5) ICML
Answer & Explanation
Answer-2) Mahindra & Mahindra
Explanation:
Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), a Mumbai based company (a part of Mahindra
Group) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with REE Automotive, a
Tel-Aviv, Israel based startup firm to explore development and manufacturing of
electric commercial vehicles for the global market.
13.
Who heads the
5-member committee constituted by central government to review charter of
duties of 57 DRDO labs?
1) Valipe Ramagopal Rao
2) Sandeep Singh
3) S Somanath
4) Benjamin Lionel
5) Samir Vankatpati Kamat
Answer & Explanation
Answer-1) Valipe Ramagopal Rao
Explanation:
G Satheesh Reddy, Secretary, Department of Defence Research and Development (DDR&D),
and Chairman of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has
constituted the five-member committee under the chairmanship of Indian
Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi director Valipe Ramagopal Rao to review
charter of duties of 57 DRDO labs on the basis of current and futuristic
defence and battlefield needs.
14.
Who has bagged 2020
International Booker Prize for the book ‘The Discomfort of Evening’ (youngest
author to receive the award)?
1) David Grossman
2) Jokha al-Harthi
3) Marieke Lucas Rijneveld
4) RajKamal
5) Han Kang
Answer & Explanation
Answer-3) Marieke Lucas Rijneveld
Explanation:
Dutch Author Marieke Lucas Rijneveld won the 2020 International Booker Prize
for the Literary fiction book ‘The Discomfort of Evening’. Rijneveld became the
youngest author to win the prize at the age of 29. The Book was first published
in Dutch in 2018 and eventually translated into English by Michele Hutchison.
The International Booker prize is separate from the main Booker Prize.
15.
Who represented India
in 5th BRICS Industry ministers meeting held recently?
1) Ashwini Kumar Choubey
2) Som Prakash
3) Arjun Ram Meghwal
4) Babul Supriyo
5) Anurag Thakur
Answer & Explanation
Answer-2) Som Prakash
Explanation:
Som Prakash, Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry represented
India and addressed the 5th BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South
Africa) Industry Ministers Meeting held through Virtual Conference. In the
meeting they discussed the ways to enhance cooperation in areas like 5G, Artificial
Intelligence(AI) & industrial Internet, among BRICS countries. The meeting
adopted a Joint Declaration to commence the implementation of the BRICS
Partnership on New Industrial Revolution (PartNIR).
16.
The Competition
Commission of India has approved the acquisition of 64.90% of share capital of
J B Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Limited by which company?
1) SunTrust
2) JPMorgan Chase
3) Tau Investment Holdings
4) UniCredit
5) ING Group
Answer & Explanation
Answer-3) Tau Investment Holdings
Explanation:
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the acquisition of up to
64.90% of share capital of J B Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Limited by Tau
Investment Holdings Pte. Ltd. (Tau Investment). CCI gave a nod to the
acquisition of compulsorily convertible preference shares and few equity shares
of Nxtra Data Limited (Airtel’s data centre business), by Carlyle Group’s
Comfort Investments II. Also, Under Section 31(1) of the Competition Act, 2002,
CCI has approved the acquisition by Lightstone Fund S.A., for and on behalf of
Lightstone Global Fund (LGT) of certain equity stakes in the following:
91Streets Media Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (91Streets), Ascent Health and Wellness
Solutions Pvt. Ltd. (Ascent). API Holdings Pvt. Ltd. (API), Aahaan Commercials
Pvt. Ltd. (Aahaan) and Lokprakash Vidhya Pvt. Ltd. (Lokprakash).
17.
The IIT Alumni
Council along with Russoft and ‘which’ university going to build the world’s
largest and fastest hybrid quantum computer in India?
1) Nanyang Technological University
2) Imperial College London
3) ETH Zurich
4) Moscow State University
5) University of Hong Kong
Answer & Explanation
Answer-4) Moscow State University
Explanation:
Indian Institute of Technology’s (IIT) Alumni Council has signed an agreement
with Russia’s Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU) and Russoft, an
association of software developing companies, to access and transfer key
technologies from Russia to build the world’s largest and fastest hybrid
quantum computer in India. The agreement with Russia is the first step to
aggregate global key technologies from front runners.
18.
Software Technology
Parks of India (STPI) plans to set up ______ centres of excellence this year.
1) 17
2) 19
3) 21
4) 23
5) 15
Answer & Explanation
Answer-3) 21
Explanation:
State-owned Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) expects to have the
largest ecosystem of incubating new technologies in the country by setting up
21 centres of excellence as per STPI Director General Omkar Rai.
19.
Cricketer Cameron
White who announced retirement recently played for which country?
1) South Africa
2) West Indies
3) New Zealand
4) England
5) Australia
Answer & Explanation
Answer-5) Australia
Explanation:
Australian All-Rounder Cameron Leon White announced his retirement from Cricket
at the age of 37. He has captained the Australian Team Seven Times including
One Day International (ODI) & Twenty20 Internationals(T20I). He has
represented Australia in 4 Tests, 91 ODIs & 47 T20Is scoring 146 runs in
Tests, 2072 in ODIs and 984 runs in T20I.
20.
Who released a book
titled, “National Security Challenges: Young Scholars’ Perspective”?
1) K. M. Cariappa
2) Manoj Mukund Naravane
3) Bipin Rawat
4) Karambir Singh
5) Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria
Answer & Explanation
Answer-2) Manoj Mukund Naravane
Explanation:
General Manoj Mukund (MM) Naravane, Chief of Army Staff released a book titled,
“National Security Challenges: Young Scholars’ Perspective” authored by
university students, ranging from the undergraduate level to doctoral
candidates. The book contains various themes pertaining to national security.
It aims to develop strategic thinking among the youth of this country. The book
was published by Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), the Army think-tank.
The book is a tribute to Field Marshal Manekshaw, the strategist of 1971
Indo-Pakistan War, that resulted in the liberation of Bangladesh.
21.
Computer designer,
Arnold Spielberg who passed away in August 2020, was the co-designer of which
among the following?
1) IBM z9 mainframe computer
2) IBM 704 mainframe computer
3) GE-225 mainframe computer
4) GE-s45 mainframe computer
5) None of the Above
Answer & Explanation
Answer-3) GE-225 mainframe computer
Explanation:
Arnold Spielberg (Full Name- Arnold Meyer Spielberg), a Pioneered computer
designer & an innovative engineer passed away at the age of 103 in Los
Angeles, California of natural causes. He along with Charles Propster designed
(in late 1950s) the GE-225 mainframe computer, while he worked for General
Electric. He is the father of filmmaker Steven Spielberg. He was born in
Cincinnati, Ohio, on February 6, 1917. He helped to develop the 1st
point-of-sale computerised cash register, it is regarded as his greatest
contribution. He designed and patented the 1st electronic library system, which
was implemented as an interrogation system for data stored on an array of
magnetic tapes.
22.
Name the app which
was launched by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for NCC training?
1) DGNCC
2) AGNCC
3) CHNCC
4) APNCC
5) TNNCC
Answer & Explanation
Answer-1) DGNCC
Explanation:
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched Directorate General National Cadet
Corps (DGNCC), a mobile training app which will help in conducting a
countrywide online training for the National Cadet Corps (NCC).
STATIC GK based on Current Affairs
1.
Pulikkali is the
folk art form of which state?
1) Madhya Pradesh
2) Punjab
3) Maharashtra
4) Karnataka
5) Kerala
Answer & Explanation
Answer-5) Kerala
Explanation:
The street pageant of Thrissur will be an online-only affair this year due to
COVID-19 Pulikkali is an inevitable part of Onam Celebrations in Thrissur,
Kerala. The hallmark street pageant of the cultural capital will bring the
curtains down for the Onam celebrations.
2.
Hirakud Dam is
built across which river?
1) Ganges
2) Mahanadi
3) Indus
4) Yamuna
5) Krishna
Answer & Explanation
Answer-2) Mahanadi
Explanation:
Twenty-four of the 64 sluice gates of Hirakud Dam were opened on August 28,
2020 by authorities to discharge the floodwaters, following incessant rain that
caused Mahanadi river water level to rise. Hirakud is the longest earthen Dam
in the world and stands across the mighty river, Mahanadi, in the Sambalpur
region of Odisha.
3.
Arun Jaitley
cricket stadium (formerly Feroz Shah Kotla cricket stadium) is located in which
state/UT?
1) Ladakh
2) Goa
3) Chandigarh
4) Assam
5) Delhi
Answer & Explanation
Answer-5) Delhi
Explanation:
The Arun Jaitley stadium (formerly known Feroz Shah Kotla cricket stadium) is
located in Delhi.
4.
Who is the present
Union Minister for Commerce and Industry?
1) Ravi Shankar Prasad
2) Anurag Thakur
3) Nirmala Sitharaman
4) Piyush Goyal
5) None of the Above
Answer & Explanation
Answer-4) Piyush Goyal
Explanation:
Piyush Goyal is the Minister of Railways and Minister of Commerce &
Industry in the Government of India.
5.
Which country holds
the chairmanship of BRICS in 2020?
1) Brazil
2) Russia
3) India
4) China
5) South Africa
Answer & Explanation
Answer-2) Russia
Explanation:
BRICS: chairmanship 2020 – Russia (India will assume the chairmanship of BRICS
in 2021).
THANK YOU
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