Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2019
This page presents 50 random questions from Current Affairs January, 2019 category for January, 2019 month in GKToday. These questions are suitable for SSC, Banking / IBPS, UPSC, IAS, NTSE, CLAT, Railways, NDA, CDS, Judiciary, UPPSC, RPSC, GPSC, MPSC, MPPSC and other states civil services / government job recruitment examinations of India. GKToday publishes 15-20 questions every day in its Yearly Current Affairs Series in GKToday Android App. Download Now.
1. Which country has announced 2019 as the ‘Year of Active Investment and Social Development’ in backdrop of wider business with India?
[A] Kyrgyzstan
[B] Tajikistan
[C] Turkmenistan
[D] Uzbekistan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Uzbekistan]
Notes:
President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoye has recently announced 2019 as the ‘Year of Active Investment and Social Development’ in the backdrop of proposed investments from India to boost economy of this Central Asian country, in his annual address to the Parliament. The President stated that concrete measures will be taken on creating an open economy, radically improving the business environment and investment climate, reducing the state presence in the economy. Activities on improving the health of the population will continue at a new level. He further stressed that investment was the driver of economy, new technologies, advanced experience and highly qualified specialists come with investments into all sectors and regions.
2. Who is the head of the government committee that suggested AICTE to stop setting up new engineering colleges from 2020?
[A] Bhaskar Ramamurthy
[B] B V R Mohan Reddy
[C] Devang Vipin Khakhar
[D] Partha Pratim Chakraborty
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [B V R Mohan Reddy]
Notes:
A government committee, headed by IIT-Hyderabad chairman B V R Mohan Reddy, has advised the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to stop setting up new colleges from 2020 and review the creation of new capacity every two years after that. The panel has also suggested that no additional seats should be approved in traditional engineering areas such as mechanical, electrical, civil and electronics and that institutes should be encouraged to convert current capacity in traditional disciplines to emerging new technologies. This recommendation has been justified on the ground that current capacity utilisation in traditional disciplines is just 40% as opposed to 60% seat occupancy in branches such as computer science and engineering, aerospace engineering and mechatronics. For the same reason, the committee has urged the AICTE to introduce undergraduate engineering programmes exclusively for artificial intelligence, blockchain, robotics, quantum computing, data sciences, cyber security and 3D printing and design.
3. ISRO has launched which initiative with students to engage them on space science activities?
[A] Space
[B] Sansad
[C] Samwad
[D] Sangrah
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Samwad ]
Notes:
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has recently launched Samwad with Students as part of its outreach programme. The Indian Space agency will engage youngsters across the country in activities concerning space science under this programme. The new conversation mission will inspire students cutting across schools and colleges. During the inauguration in Bengaluru, 40 students and 10 teachers from select schools interacted with ISRO Chairman Dr. K Sivan about the Indian Space Programme and their benefits to the common man.
4. Which of the following countries have officially quit UNESCO?
[A] Russia and Qatar
[B] Japan and UK
[C] United States and Israel
[D] Iran and Qatar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [United States and Israel]
Notes:
The United States and Israel officially quit the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) with the close of 2018. The countries had announced their decisions in 2017 of withdrawing from the agency, accusing it of bias against Israel. America has demanded fundamental reform in UNESCO, which was co-founded by it after World War II to foster peace UNESCO also works to improve education for girls, promote understanding of the Holocaust’s horrors, and to defend media freedom. The withdrawals will not greatly impact UNESCO financially since it has been dealing with a funding slash ever since 2011 when both Israel and the US stopped paying dues after Palestine was voted in as a member state. . Israel joined the agency in 1949. It is best known for its World Heritage program, which designates cultural sites and aims to preserve traditions.
5. Who is the recipient of the 2019 National Nritya Shiromani Award?
[A] Gudiseva Shyam Prasad
[B] Upmaka Durga Prasad Rao
[C] Talluri Sunil Chowdaryu
[D] Anindita Neogy Anaam
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Anindita Neogy Anaam]
Notes:
On January 2, US-based Kathak exponent Anindita Neogy Anaam has been honoured with the National Nritya Shiromani award for promoting the dance form across the world. The award was conferred on her in Cuttack at the 10th Cuttack Mahotsav : International Dance and Music festival in Odisha. The fest is organised by Utkal Yuva Sanskrutik Sangh (UYSS) in association with Cuttack district administration. Anindita Anaam is also recipient of prestigious national awards like Jayadev Rashtriya Puraskar and Bidagdha Nartaki Samman for her outstanding achievement in the preservation and promotion of Indian art in India and abroad.
6. The Union Government has launched Ujjwala sanitary napkin initiative in which of the following states?
[A] Uttar Pradesh
[B] Odisha
[C] Jharkhand
[D] Haryana
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Odisha ]
Notes:
Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has recently launched the Ujjwala Sanitary Napkin initiative in Bhubaneswar to improve female hygiene and health and employability of rural women. Under the new initiative, 100 manufacturing units will be set up at Common Service Centres (CSCs) covering 93 blocks in the State at an estimated cost of Rs 2.94 crore. Each manufacturing unit will employ five or six Ujjwala beneficiaries with an aim to provide employment to nearly 600 women across all districts. The women will first receive training in manufacturing and sale of sanitary napkins. Each facility will have the capacity to produce 1200-2000 pads per day and will have a sterilisation room to ensure that the napkins are sterilised before they are packed for use. The sanitary napkins will be priced at Rs 42 per pack of eight pads. This initiative will provide women with an opportunity to earn between Rs 5,000 and Rs 15,000 per month. Thus, the Central scheme will be a counter to the Odisha government’s Khushi scheme, in which sanitary napkins are provided free of cost to female students of government and government-aided schools in the state.
7. Which European country has recently introduced GAFA Tax on Global Internet, Technology Firm?
[A] Sweden
[B] France
[C] Italy
[D] Germany
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [France ]
Notes:
France has recently introduced a new “GAFA tax” – named after the large internet and technology companies viz. Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon – to ensure the global giants pay a fair share of taxes on their massive businesses in Europe. The so-called GAFA tax targeting major digital firms comes into force on 1st January 2019. Some other EU member states such as Britain, Spain and Italy are also working on national versions of a digital tax, with Singapore and India also planning their own schemes.
8. Who has been honoured with the Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja National Award for Lifetime Achievement in Literature?
[A] Nabaghana Parida
[B] Suresh Chandra
[C] Yashwardhan Sinha
[D] Manoj Das
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Manoj Das]
Notes:
Prof. Manoj Das, an eminent English and Odia Litterateur, received the Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja National Award for Lifetime Achievement in Literature. This ceremony was instituted by the Berhampur University, Odisha. During the 53rd foundation day ceremony, the university also honoured noted folk dance guru Nabaghana Parida with Dakshin Odisha Loksanakruti Samman.
9. Who has been appointed as Chairman of Ordnance Factory Board (OFB)?
[A] Ajay Jain
[B] Kuldeep Saxena
[C] Hemant Bhargava
[D] Saurabh Kumar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Saurabh Kumar]
Notes:
Saurabh Kumar, a 1982-batch Indian Ordnance Factory Service officer, has taken charge as new Director General of Ordnance Factories (DGOF) and chairman of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) in Kolkata. An expert in the manufacture of ordnance, Kumar was on deputation to the Ministry of Defense as the director of planning and coordination from 2002 to 2009. During this period, he was involved in drafting the Indian offset policy for defence purchases and the ‘Make’ procedure in the Defence Procurement Procedure of 2003-04. He was also instrumental in piloting the proposals and obtaining the approval of the government for setting up two new greenfield ordnance factories at Nalanda and Korwa in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh respectively.
10. Who has been conferred with ISRS National Geospatial Award for Excellence-2017 (LTA Award)?
[A] Jayanta Kumar Ghosh
[B] Manorhar Reddy
[C] Hardeep Singh Puri
[D] Pon Radhakrishnan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Jayanta Kumar Ghosh ]
Notes:
Prof. Jayanta Kumar Ghosh of IIT Roorkee was conferred with ISRS National Geospatial Award for Excellence-2017 (Life Time Achievement Award) at the Space Application Centre in Ahmedabad. He won the award for his contribution towards the development of geospatial science and applications. The award comprised a citation, a medal and Rs 1 lakh. The Indian Society for Remote Sensing (ISRS ) is an organization known in the area of space science, remote sensing and geo-spatial technology.
The above questions are part of Daily Current Affairs 20 MCQs Series in GKToday's Academy Android Application. This series can be subscribed in the app only for Rs. 750/- for entire year.
Download NowAdvertisement