Daily GK & Current Affairs Quiz – 9th May 2020

Correct Answer– A. Madhya Pradesh

Explanation–

• Madhya Pradesh has become the first state in the country to provide mid-day meal ration amid the COVI-19 lockdown.
• The Central Government has also appreciated the successful efforts and innovation in the implementation of Mid-Day Meal Scheme in Madhya Pradesh.
• The support of Anganwadi workers, Panchayat representatives and local teachers was taken in sending ration to the students at their home after the school closing in April.
• An amount of Rs 117 crore has been transferred online in the bank account of the parents of 66 lakh 27 thousand students of primary and secondary school by the state government. This was done to provide mid-day meal to school children in the corona outbreak.

In addition, under door-to-door mid-day meal scheme, ration has also been provided to 56 lakh 87 thousand children.

Correct Answer– A. Sudhir Krishnaswamy

Explanation–

• Facebook’s new oversight board has chosen National Law School of India University (NLSIU) Vice-Chancellor Sudhir Krishnaswamy as one of its first 20 members.
• He has been chosen among the former Prime Minister of Denmark, a Nobel Laureate, non-profit organisation leaders, and journalists from all over the world.

Facebook’s Oversight Board is similar to an independent, internal court. It will review content referred to it by both users and Facebook. The main focus is to moderate content posted on social media platforms-Facebook and Instagram.

Correct Answer– A. Iran

Explanation–

• The Government of Iran will change its existing currency from ‘Rial’ to a new currency named ‘Toman’.
• The government has passed Iran’s Monetary and Banking bill that will cut four zeros from Iran’s currency.
• One toman will be equal to 10,000 rials.

This has been done due to the US sanctions imposed on Iran due to the alleged breach of the Iran Nuclear deal of 2015.

Correct Answer– B. Assam

Explanation–

• Tripura’s CM Biplab Kumar Deb has launched an online portal scholarships.gov.in under ‘Mukhyamantri Yuba Yogayog Yojana.
• The scheme aims to provide grants of Rs. 5,000 to 14,608 youths for the purchase of smartphones to the students of final year to empower them digitally .
• They can use these smartphones to get jobs through different digital platforms and stay updated.

The scheme has a total budget of Rs 7.30 crores

Correct Answer– A. Nanosafe Solutions

Explanation–

• An IIT-Delhi startup named ‘Nanosafe Solutions’ has launched an antimicrobial and washable face mask that can be reused up to 50 launderings.
• It is a triple-layered product consisting of – inner hydrophilic layer for comfort, middle layer having antimicrobial activity and outer most layer having water and oil repellent behaviour.
• The mask has been designed to maximize durability and dimensional stability.
• It can be reused 50 times and this will also help to resolve the huge disposal issues.

It has 99.2 per cent bacterial filtration efficiency (at 3 microns) as tested according to American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards. There is an elastic band in the chin region and wire in the nose region provides adequate fit of the mask to the wearer.

Correct Answer– C. Styrene

Explanation–

• At least 10 people were killed and nearly 350 hospitalised after styrene gas leaked from Multinational LG Polymers Ltd. , a chemical factory on the outskirts of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.
• This incident happened after the factory was being prepared for reopening after the easing of the lockdown.
• Stagnation and changes in temperature inside the storage tank could have resulted in auto polymerization and could have caused vapourisation.

Correct Answer– B. Two

Explanation–

• The Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran is responsible for developing and maintaining the Iranian rial. It will have two years to change Iran’s currency to Toman.
• The government had to introduce new currency as the existing currency ‘Rial’ was crippling badly because of the sanctions imposed by the US.
• This will make it easier for people to transact without wasting time calculating the price of eggs or chicken, which can run into tens of thousands of rials. E.g. Instead of paying 250,000 rials for a packet of eggs, you’ll pay just 25 tomans.

Due to high inflation, the value of rial has eroded over the years. It costs more than 150,000 rials to buy one US dollar in the open market while the official exchange rate is pegged at 42,000 rials to one US dollar.

Correct Answer– B. 38

Explanation–

• The Uttar Pradesh government passed an ordinance to suspend 38 labour laws in the state.
• Labour is a concurrent subject, states can frame their own laws but will need the approval of the Centre to enforce them. Therefore, the ordinance will also be sent to the Central government for approval.
• This rule will apply to both the existing businesses and the new factories being set up in the state.
• Provisions related to children and women in the labour laws would continue.
• These laws have been suspended for the for next three years.

The laws related to settling industrial disputes, health and working conditions of workers and trade unions, contract workers and migrant workers will remain suspended for three years.

Correct Answer– E. 5

Explanation– Under the Uttar Pradesh Temporary Exemption from Certain Labour Laws Ordinance, 2020 the following sections have been retained:

• Section 5 of the Payment of Wages Act, 1936 provides that wages of a person earning less than Rs 15,000 a month cannot be deducted.
• Workmen Compensation Act, 1932,
• Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976, and

the Building and Other Construction Workers Act, 1996.

Correct Answer– B. 80 km

Explanation–

• Union Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh inaugurated the road link from Dharchula (Uttarakhand) to Lipulekh (China Border) through video conferencing.
• It is a 80 kilometre road and the altitude rises from 6,000 to 17,060 feet.
• The road link was built successfully by Borders Road Organization (BRO).

The road originates from Ghatiabagarh and terminates at Lipulekh Pass, the gateway to Kailash-Mansarovar.