Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 14th February 2023

Correct Answer:  B. Pune

Explanation:  DHARA, Driving Holistic Action for Urban Rivers, the annual meeting of the members of the River Cities Alliance (RCA) is organized by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMGC), partnered with the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) from 13^th to 14^th February 2023 in Pune. The Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will address the inaugural event while the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, Kaushal Kishore will deliver the valedictory address on day two.

• The DHARA event has strong synergies with the Urban20 initiative under the ambit of India’s G20 Presidency.
• DHARA 2023 will witness multiple sessions over the two-day event that include sessions on ‘National Case Studies on Innovative River-related Practices’ to introduce the participants to several unique and innovative solutions for different aspects of urban river management.
• These solutions involve lake and pond rejuvenation, de-centralized used-water management, enhancing the river-related economy, groundwater management, flood management, and ‘International Case Studies’.
• These will focus on Innovative River-related practices in countries like Denmark, reuse of used water in Israel, floodplain management in the Netherlands, river health monitoring in the USA, pollution control in Japan, and water-sensitive city design in Australia.
• DHARA 2023 is being organized for the Municipal Commissioners of the member cities to initiate in-depth discussions and come up with possible learning solutions for urban river management.
• The expected participants of the event involve representatives of RCA (Commissioners/ Addl. Commissioners), Central and State Government dignitaries, citizens of NIUA and NMCG, Thinktanks (NGOs and thought leaders), students, and young leaders, national experts, international experts, local government agencies, stakeholders from the private sector, funding agencies and media people.

Correct Answer:  D. Appasaheb Dharmadhikari

Explanation:  The state government of Maharashtra has announced that renowned social worker, preacher and reformer Dattatreya alias Appasaheb Dharmadikari will be honoured with Maharashtra Bhushan award for the year 2022. The Maharashtra Bhushan award comprises a medal, a citation and Rs 25 lakh, which will be conferred to Appasaheb at a function later in the year. Appasaheb was honoured with Padmashri in 2017. Nanasaheb, also known as the ambassador of cleanliness, trust has been undertaking various programmes, including environment-friendly initiatives like production of fertilisers through remains of Ganesh idols after visarjan.

The Maharashtra Bhushan is a highest civilian award presented annually by the Government of Maharashtra State in India. When the Shivsena- BJP alliance came to power in 1995, it proposed to institute this award. The Maharashtra Bhushan was first awarded in 1996. It was initially conferred in every years in the fields of Literature, Art, Sport, and Science. Later the fields of Social Work, Journalism, and Public Administration and Health Services were included. The award is presented for outstanding achievement in their field.

Correct Answer:  A. Haryana

Explanation:  Union Home Minister Amit Shah will present the President’s Colour Award to Haryana Police on February 14 for their outstanding service to the nation. The state police will be bestowed with the prestigious President’s Colour Award during a ceremonial function at the Haryana Police Academy, Madhuban in Karnal. The “President’s Colour” is bestowed on any armed forces or a police unit, in recognition of exceptional service rendered to the Nation, both in peace and in war.

Correct Answer:  D. Real Madrid

Explanation:  Real Madrid has won the Club World Cup for a record-extending fifth time after beating Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal 5-3 in the final in Rabat, Morocco. Vinícius Júnior scored twice and assisted Karim Benzema to lead Real Madrid to its record-extending eighth Club World Cup title by beating Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal 5-3. Madrid last won the tournament in 2018. It also lifted the trophy in 2014, 2016 and 2017. Madrid also won three Intercontinental Cups in 1960, 1998 and 2002 — a match between European and South American champions, which merged with the Club World Cup in 2005. The FIFA Club World Cup is an international men’s association football competition organised by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, the sport’s global governing body. The competition was first contested in 2000 as the FIFA Club World Championship.

Correct Answer:  D. Good Financial Behaviour – Your Saviour

Explanation: The theme selected for current year Financial Literacy Week (FLW) 2023 is “Good Financial Behaviour – Your Saviour” which will be observed between February 13 and 17, 2023. The theme aligns with the overall strategic objectives of the National Strategy for Financial Education: 2020-2025 which aims at building financial resilience and well-being while creating awareness among members of public. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has been conducting Financial Literacy Week (FLW) every year since 2016 to propagate financial education messages on a particular theme among members of public across the country.

Correct Answer:  C. $723 million

Explanation:  Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) announced that it has bagged a 600 million british pounds (or $723 million) deal from its United Kingdom-based client Phoenix Group. Phoenix Group is UK’s largest long-term savings and retirements provider. Under the deal, TCS will transform Phoenix’s ReAssure business using the its BaNCS based platform. Phoenix Group acquired ReAssure, a UK-based life insurance provider, in 2020, and has now engaged with TCS to drive synergies and enhance customer experience for ReAssure’s policyholders.

Correct Answer:  C. Shubman Gill

Explanation:  India batter Shubman Gill was  named ICC Men’s Player of the Month for January following a series of impressive innings in the ODI format, while England U-19 skipper Grace Scrivens became the youngest player to be named for the women’s honour. The awards were decided in a global vote conducted among media representatives, ICC Hall of Famers, former international players, and fans registered at the ICC website.

ICC Men’s Player of the Previous Month:

• January 2022: Keegan Petersen (South Africa)
• February 2022: Shreyas Iyer (India)
• March 2022: Babar Azam (Pakistan)
• April 2022: Keshav Maharaj (South Africa)
• May 2022: Angelo Mathews (Sri Lanka)
• June 2022: Jonny Bairstow (England)
• July 2022: Prabath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka)
• August 2022: Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe)
• September 2022: Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan)
• October 2022: Virat Kohli (India)
• November 2022: Jos Buttler (England)
• December 2022: Harry Brook (England)

ICC Women’s Player of the Previous Month:

• January 2022: Heather Knight (England)
• February 2022: Amelia Kerr (New Zealand)
• March 2022: Rachael Haynes (Australia)
• April 2022: Alyssa Healy (Australia)
• May 2022: Tuba Hassan (Pakistan)
• June 2022: Marizanne Kapp (South Africa)
• July 2022: Emma Lamb (England)
• August 2022: Tahlia McGrath (Australia)
• September 2022: Harmanpreet Kaur (India)
• October 2022: Nida Dar (Pakistan)
• November 2022: Sidra Ameen (Pakistan)
• December 2022: Ashleigh Gardner (Australia)

Correct Answer:  B. Paytm

Explanation:  In honour of India’s G20 presidency and the nation’s prominence in mobile payments, One97 Communications Limited, the owner of the top payments and financial services startup Paytm, unveiled a special G20-themed QR Code. Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Union Minister for Railways and IT, introduced the QR code at the India Habitat Center’s “Digital Payment Utsav.” Paytm was a key player in the development of mobile payments in India and is regarded as the inventor of QR code payments.

• The “DigiDhan Mission” logo from MeitY, the G20 2023 logo, and the 75th anniversary of India’s independence are all included in the special commemorative QR code.
• Paytm is hosting a special event called “Digital Payments Utsav” in which a branded automobile will tour different parts of Delhi with active audience engagement.
• To raise public knowledge and usage of digital payments, the corporation announced that it will air educational videos on the subject.
• Paytm Payments Bank, an affiliate of the company, was given MeitY’s highest honour for consistently achieving one of the lowest average technical dips (TD) in BHIM UPI transactions.
• Vijay Shekhar Sharma, the founder of Paytm, also serves as the leader of Startup20’s financial task group.

The working group will assist create models that can be applied in developing ecosystems to strengthen investment capacity and give global investors with a best practice framework for financing start-ups in G20 member nations. With 6.1 million active smartphones, Paytm controls the offline payments market. With more than 1,765.87 million transactions in January 2023, Paytm Payments Bank continued its 20-month streak of dominance as the largest UPI beneficiary bank, surpassing all other banks in the nation. According to the most recent NPCI statistics, the bank is among the top 10 remittance banks for UPI transactions with 389.61 million recorded transactions.

Correct Answer:  C. Rs 13,879 crore

Explanation:  Minister of State for Health, Dr Bharti Pawar in a written reply in the Lok Sabha said that the Government of India has signed loan agreements worth Rs 13,879 crore from international agencies to strengthen health infrastructure. With whom the loan agreement has been signed are-

• Asian Development Bank (ADB) ($300 million or Rs 2,474 crore).
• Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) (50 billion Japanese yen or Rs 3,162 crore)
• World Bank ($1 billion or Rs 8,243 crore)

This loan has been taken to strengthen the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Infrastructure Mission (PMABHIM) which is the largest health mission in India. PMABHIM was launched to fill the gaps in the field of health infrastructure, especially critical and primary care facilities.

• It is one of the biggest health schemes to strengthen the health care infrastructure in India.
• The mission was announced in the Budget 2021-22 with an outlay of Rs 64,180 crore.
• It was launched in October 2021 with an aim to provide comprehensive health services across the country.
• It aims to fill gaps in public healthcare infrastructure, especially in critical care facilities and primary care in urban and rural areas.

Correct Answer:  C. Mohammad Shahabuddin

Explanation:  According to the notification issued by the Election Commission of Bangladesh on 13th February Mohammad Shahabuddin will be the next President of Bangladesh.  He will be the 22nd President of Bangladesh. He was the only candidate to file his nomination after the time for nomination and withdrawal was over. Retired judge, Anti-Corruption Commission commissioner and freedom fighter Mohammad Shahabuddin was nominated for the post by the ruling Awami League. The term of current President Abdul Hamid ends on April 23. He served as the President of Bangladesh for two consecutive terms. The Constitution of Bangladesh does not allow any person to hold the presidency for more than two terms.

About Mohammad Shahabuddin

• He was born in 1949 in Pabna. He took part in the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971.
• After the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 15 August 1975 along with most of his family members, he was imprisoned for several years.
• He is a member of the Awami League Advisory Council.

Correct Answer:  C. Rs.22,500 crore

Explanation:  The government has approved Namami Gange Mission-II with a budgetary outlay of Rs.22,500 crore till 2026, including projects for existing liabilities of Rs.11,225 crore and new projects/interventions of ₹11,275 crore, minister of state for Jal Shakti, Bishweswar Tudu said. A total of 409 projects are taken up at an estimated cost of ₹32,912.40 crore till 31 December, 2022. Namami Gange Programme was launched in June 2014 for a period up to 31 March, 2021 to rejuvenate River Ganga and its tributaries with a budgetary outlay of Rs.20,000 crore. Sh. Tudu added that a total of Rs.14,084.72 crore is released by the Centre to the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), from FY 2014-15 till 31 January 2023.

Correct Answer:  C. 24%

Explanation:  Gross direct tax collections grew 24% to Rs 15.67 lakh crore so far this fiscal, the finance ministry said. After adjusting for refunds, the net direct tax collection stood at Rs 12.98 lakh crore, a growth of 18.40%. The net collections are about 79% of revised estimates of direct tax collection for current fiscal, the CBDT said. The revised estimates for the current fiscal pegged direct tax revenues at Rs 16.50 lakh crore, higher than the budget estimates of Rs 14.20 lakh crore. In the current fiscal (2022-23), the revenues from direct tax (which includes income and corporate taxes) are projected to grow by over 17% compared to 2021-22 fiscal when the collection was Rs 14.08 lakh crore.

Correct Answer:  B. Mumbai

Explanation:  The first double-decker electric AC bus in India was unveiled in Mumbai, Maharashtra, by the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST). The regional transportation agency ‘BEST’ in Mumbai has not yet completed the registration process for the electric bus and will begin offering the service to passengers after conducting a few tests. The bus will run between the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) and the Kurla bus depot after all clearances have been granted. A minimum fare of Rs 6 will be levied for a distance of 5 km, and the ticket prices will remain the same. The electric double-decker bus can accommodate 73 passengers. It can be charged in 80 minutes and has automatic doors and CCTV cameras.

Correct Answer:  B. 13rd February

Explanation:  National Women’s Day is annually observed across India on February 13 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sarojini Naidu, who was referred to as the “Nightingale of India”. National Women’s Day is celebrated to honour the social, cultural, political, and economic accomplishments of Indian women. 13th February 2023 marks the 144th birth anniversary of Sarojini Naidu. The United Nations (UN)’s International Women’s Day is annually observed across the globe on March 8.