Current Affairs Quiz - August, 2021
21. Which organization released the Global Youth Development Index?
[A] International Development Law Organization
[B] World Youth Alliance
[C] UK Youth Climate Coalition
[D] Commonwealth Secretariat
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Commonwealth Secretariat]
Notes:
Commonwealth Secretariat has released the Global Youth Development Index measuring the condition of young people across 181 countries. The Commonwealth Secretariat is the main intergovernmental agency and central institution of the Commonwealth of Nations. It is responsible for facilitating co-operation between members; organising meetings, including the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings (CHOGM); assisting and advising on policy development; and providing assistance to countries in implementing the decisions and policies of the Commonwealth.
22. Chief Scientist of World Health Organization has urged the nations to prioritize reopening of schools amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Who is the current Chief Scientist of World Health Organization?
[A] Gagandeep Kang
[B] Maria Van Kerkhove
[C] Dr Soumya Swaminathan
[D] Norman Borlaug
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Dr Soumya Swaminathan]
Notes:
Chief Scientist of World Health Organization, Dr Soumya Swaminathan, urged the nations to prioritize reopening of schools amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Chief scientist highlighted that; Covid-19 has indirectly affected the education greatly by shutting down schools globally. So, she asked to prioritize school opening while maintaining proper health and hygiene. Amid the covid-19 pandemic, 1.5 billion children were suddenly out of school and affected their education. In January 2021, Right to Education Forum published its report highlighting that, ten million girls in India could drop out of secondary school amid COVID-19 pandemic.
23. Recently, which bank has launched a fintech accelerator programme?
[A] HDFC Bank
[B] Equitas Small Finance Bank
[C] ICICI Bank
[D] Ujjivan Small Finance Bank
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Equitas Small Finance Bank]
Notes:
Equitas Small Finance Bank has launched ‘Equitech’ – a fintech accelerator programme aimed at the start-up ecosystem. The programme, designed to scale-up, will help fintechs to curate their products and define a go-to-market strategy. The primary aim of Equitas is to provide start-ups legal and regulatory support through the venture capitalists and the experts of the bank. To enrol in Equitech the fintech start-ups should have at least 2 full time members along with team members and it must present an innovative idea. Also, this start-up should be incorporated at least 6 years before the date of applying.
24. Which bank has unveiled ‘Digital Prayaas’ an app-based digital-lending platform?
[A] National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development
[B] National Housing Bank
[C] Bank of Baroda
[D] Small Industries Development Bank of India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Small Industries Development Bank of India]
Notes:
Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), engaged in promotion, financing and development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) has unveiled ‘Digital Prayaas’ an app-based digital-lending platform to facilitate loans to entrepreneurs from low-income groups. The objective is to sanction a loan by the end of the day. To cater to those from the urban area, SIDBI has tied up with BigBasket to provide loans to its delivery partners for purchase of e-bikes and e-vans.
25. Who has been appointed as the new chairman of National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)?
[A] Kamlesh Kumar Pant
[B] Shubhra Singh
[C] Dr. Rakesh Sarwal
[D] Dr. K. Rajeswara Rao
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Kamlesh Kumar Pant]
Notes:
Kamlesh Kumar Pant, a 1993-batch IAS officer of Himachal Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as the new chairman of National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) by the Appointments Committee of the Union Cabinet. The pharmaceutical pricing agency was currently headed by IAS officer Shubhra Singh, who was appointed to the post in 2018. Singh has been repatriated to her cadre state Rajasthan, according to an order of the personnel ministry. Pant, formerly the Principal Secretary (Revenue) in the government of Himachal Pradesh and also the Financial Commisioner (Appeals) at Himachal Pradesh and the head of the Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board, has taken charge of NPPA with immediate effect.
26. Which state/UT has launched the Cleancity app?
[A] Delhi
[B] Uttar Pradesh
[C] Sikkim
[D] Telangana
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Delhi]
Notes:- North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) launched “Cleancity app” on August 13, 2021.
- It is a mobile driven application launched to help residents to register complaints for picking up garbage in that area.
- It was launched by North Delhi Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh ahead of the 75th Independence Day.
- This app will provide citizens to look after GPS location of garbage-lifting vehicles, register their complaints and give suggestions in order to improve the services.
- To mark the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ and 75th year of Independence, NDMC also administered pledge to all municipal school students through online mode in order to discourage use of plastic, and make others to stop using single-use plastic.
27. Which organization has launched door to door delivery of diesel?
[A] Hindustan Petroleum
[B] Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited
[C] Indian Oil Corporation
[D] Oil and Natural Gas Corporation
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited]
Notes:- Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has launched door to door delivery of diesel to meet the growing demand.
- The company will deliver the fuel through 15 mobile bowsers and 9 Jerry can facilities in different corners of the Eastern Region.
- The company has already launched 63 mobile dispensers serving the needs in the States of West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and North East states.
28. Who has inaugurated the Health QUEST study which will be undertaken by 20 private hospitals across India?
[A] Dr. K Sivan
[B] Dr. Harsh Vardhan
[C] Mansukh L. Mandaviya
[D] Dr. Balram Bhargava
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Dr. K Sivan]
Notes:- Dr K Sivan, Secretary, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) formally inaugurated the Health QUEST study (Health Quality Upgradation Enabled by Space Technology of ISRO) which will be undertaken by 20 private hospitals across India.
- Objective of the study is to strive towards reducing human errors and achieve zero defect and quality service in the emergency and intensive care units of hospitals.
- The study aims to upgrade the healthcare system standards in the country in line with the ISRO quality standards and best practices.
29. In collaboration with which organization, has NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) launched Student Entrepreneurship Program 3.0?
[A] Dassault Systemes
[B] Google
[C] Tesla
[D] DRDO
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Dassault Systemes]
Notes:- Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) of NITI Aayog in collaboration with La Fondation Dassault Systemes in India launched the third series of the ‘Student Entrepreneurship Program’ (SEP 3.0) for the young innovators of Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL).
- The theme of SEP 3.0 is based on the ‘Made in 3D – Seed the Future Entrepreneurs Program’, conceptualized and rolled out in France by La Main à la Pate Foundation and La Fondation Dassault Systèmes Europe in 2017.
- As part of this program, a team from each school (6 students and a teacher) will be allocated seed funding towards creating their own start-up, design and prototype their innovation using 3D printing, prepare marketing campaign, define product pricing and create expansion strategy.
- At the end of the program, each school’s start-up will participate in a playful competition and present their marketing campaign in front of experts from industry and academia.
30. With which country, the Union Cabinet has given approval for India to partner with in the field of Disaster Management?
[A] South Korea
[B] Switzerland
[C] Bangladesh
[D] Nepal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Bangladesh]
Notes:- The Union Cabinet has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the field of Disaster Management, Resilience and Mitigation signed between India and Bangladesh in March this year during the visit of Prime Minister Modi to Bangladesh.
- It will also help in strengthening the areas of preparedness, response and capacity building in the field of Disaster Management.
- The MoU envisages that the countries will extend mutual support to each other at the time of large scale disaster in the field of relief, response, reconstruction and recovery.
- Both the countries will also exchange relevant information, remote sensing and other scientific data.
- They will also share best practices in the field of disaster response, recovery, mitigation, capacity building for ensuring resilience, etc.
- India and Bangladesh will extend cooperation in the field of advanced information technology, early warning systems, remote sensing and navigation services and expertise for disaster preparedness, response and mitigation and real time data sharing.
- They will also support training of officials in the field of Disaster Management and conduct joint disaster management exercises bilaterally.
- The MoU also envisages joint research activities in the field of Disaster management.
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