Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2021
41. Col Quazi Sajjad Ali Zahir, who was conferred the Padma Shri award, belongs to which country?
[A] India
[B] Pakistan
[C] Sri Lanka
[D] Bangladesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Bangladesh]
Notes:
Lt. Col. (Retd.) Quazi Sajjad Ali Zahir and musicologist Sanjida Khatun, who belong to Bangladesh have been conferred with India’s Padma Shri award for the year 2021.
This is seen as a soft diplomatic move of the country. These awards were announced on the eve of Republic Day. This year, 7 Padma Vibhushan, 10 Padma Bhushan and 102 Padma Shri awards have been conferred.
42. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has been re-elected as the President of which nation?
[A] Portugal
[B] Italy
[C] Germany
[D] France
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Portugal]
Notes:
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has been re-elected as the President of Portugal. The right-wing President won the elections with 60.7 percent of the vote.
Although the Prime Minister Antonio Costa is a Socialist, the President has a prominent role in the nation’s polity with superior role in foreign policy and national security. President of Portugal has the power to dissolve the Parliament.
43. What is the name of the Tax to be imposed in India on pollution causing vehicles?
[A] Green Tax
[B] Pollution Tax
[C] Fuel Tax
[D] Environment Tax
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Green Tax]
Notes:
The Union Ministry of Road transport and highways has approved a proposal to impose green tax on some category of vehicles that are old and causes pollution.
This move is seen as a means to phase out old and pollution causing vehicles from the country. The ministry has also approved a policy for deregistration and scrapping of vehicles owned by government departments which are more than 15 years old.
44. As per the International Monetary Fund, which is the only key country that would record a double-digit growth in FY22?
[A] China
[B] India
[C] United States
[D] Germany
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [India]
Notes:
The International Monetary Fund released its latest World Economic Outlook Update recently. As per the report, Indian economy would grow 11.5 per cent in FY22. It has revised the earlier forecast of 8.8 per cent growth.
As per the IMF, India would be the only key country to record a double-digit growth and reclaim the status of the fastest-growing major economy of the world.
45. The space agency of which country has recently released the images of the “The Lost Galaxy” of the Virgo Cluster?
[A] India
[B] U.S.
[C] Japan
[D] China
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [U.S.]
Notes:
NGC 4535 is a famous galaxy and is one of the largest of the Virgo constellation. It is also dubbed as the “The Lost Galaxy”.
Virgo Cluster is located about 50 million light-years from Earth. The Scientists at NASA have spotted the spiral galaxy through their Hubble Space Telescope and released its images. It is a vast swirl of stars containing a distinct bar structure at its center.
46. Janet Yellen has been appointed as the first woman Treasury secretary of which country?
[A] New Zealand
[B] Australia
[C] United States
[D] United Kingdom
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [United States]
Notes:
The United States Senate confirmed veteran economist Janet Yellen as first woman Treasury Secretary of the country.
The 74-year-old eminent economist is also the Former chairperson of the Federal Reserve during the Global Financial Crisis. She is the third cabinet member of the Biden Administration to be confirmed by the Senate.
47. Which Indian city recently unveiled a first-of-its kind Young Readers’ Boat Library?
[A] Mumbai
[B] Kolkata
[C] Ahmedabad
[D] Cochin
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Kolkata]
Notes:
The West Bengal Transport Corporation in association with a heritage book store has launched a Young Readers’ Boat Library.
Under the initiative, children can choose from a selection of 500 titles in English and Bengali on cruising on the waters of Hooghly river on a three-hour-long trip.
48. What is the name of India’s initiative to deliver Covid-19 vaccines to friendly countries?
[A] Covid Maitri
[B] Vaccine Maitri
[C] Helping Hands
[D] Friends in Need
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Vaccine Maitri]
Notes:
India is set to despatch 500,000 doses of Covishield vaccines to Sri Lanka as grant assistance under its “Vaccine Maitri” initiative.
Under the initiative, India has already delivered nearly five million doses to seven countries in the neighbourhood including Maldives, Nepal, Mauritius among others. The Vaccine Maitri (Vaccine Friendship) initiative was launched on January 20.
49. What is Melatonin?
[A] Covid-19 drug candidate
[B] Plant based chemical
[C] Hormone secreted in humans
[D] By-product of fractional distillation
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Hormone secreted in humans]
Notes:
A recent research by University of Sao Paulo has revealed that Melatonin hormone secreted in the lungs of human beings act as an effective barrier against Covid-19 infection.
It has been identified that the hormone secretion inhibits the expression of genes that are entry points for the virus.
50. Which country has launched “New Variant Assessment Platform”?
[A] USA
[B] UK
[C] China
[D] Brazil
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [UK]
Notes:
The United Kingdom (UK) has launched a New Variant Assessment Platform, which will be used to identify new variants COVID-19 viruses.
It uses genomics expertise possessed by UK and has been dedicated for use by countries which does not have sufficient resources for identifying the new Covid virus strains.
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.
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