Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 15th January 2022

Correct Answer: B. Puducherry

Explanation: On the occasion of the National Youth Day 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated an ‘MSME Technology Centre’, which will function under the Union Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), in Puducherry. The technology centre was built at a cost of Rs 122 crore with a focus on the Electronic System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) Sector.

The centre was inaugurated during the inauguration event of the 25th National youth Festival (12th & 13th January 2022) in Puducherry. He also inaugurated the ‘Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Manimandapam’, a modern auditorium with an open-air theatre in Puducherry.

Correct Answer – A. Manipur

Explanation: The 18th edition of the two days long Kachai Lemon Festival began in Manipur at the Local Ground of Kachai Village in Ukhrul district. The Kachai Lemon Festival is organised annually to promote this unique kind of lemon fruit and to encourage lemon farmers. This year, altogether 260 stalls are put up at the festival showcasing the rich reap of lemon this year. This year the festival is being organised under the theme ‘Organic Kachai Lemon for Safe Environment and Rural Transformation’. A training program for lemon farmers will be held tomorrow as part of the festival.

Kachai Lemon of Manipur has been accorded Geographical Indication (GI) registration tag and widely grown in the Kachai Village of Ukhrul district. Unlike the other lemon varieties grown in other parts of the world, Kachai Lemon is considered to be unique as it is a rich source of ascorbic acid and famous for its juice content.

Important Points:

Chief Minister of Manipur: N. Biren Singh; Governor: La. Ganesan.

Correct Answer – C. Cyprus

Explanation: Cyprus has detected a new variant dubbed as “Deltacron”, that has a similar genetic background to the Delta variant, coupled with 10 mutations from Omicron. The variant has already affected 25 people in Cyprus. According to Dr Leondios Kostrikis, the head of the laboratory of biotechnology and molecular virology at the University of Cyprus, of the 25 samples taken in Cyprus, 11 were hospitalised due to the virus, while 14 were from the general population.

The new variant from the lineage named B.1.640.2 is believed to have infected 12 people in the country, according to the yet-to-be peer-reviewed study supported by the French government. Studies have shown that the co-existence of Delta and Omicron increases the chances of a new variant as a result of them trading genes.

Important Points:

• Cyprus Capital: Nicosia;
• Cyprus Currency: Euro;
• Cyprus Continent: Europe;
• Cyprus President: Nicos Anastasiades.

Correct Answer – B. Ujjivan Small Finance Bank

Explanation: Reserve Bank of India has approved the appointment of Ittira Davis as managing director & chief executive officer of (MD & CEO) of Ujjivan Small Finance Bank for one tenure. He will take charge of the extended tenure from January 14, 2022. The post had been lying vacant since three-month following the sudden exit of incumbent Nitin Chugh.

Prior to Ujjivan, Davis was the Managing Director with the Europe Arab Bank, London. He has also held leadership positions with Arab Bank plc, Bahrain and Citibank, India. He has over 40 years of work experience in India, Middle East and Europe.

Important Points:

• Ujjivan Small Finance Bank Headquarters: Bengaluru;
• Ujjivan Small Finance Bank Founder: Samit Ghosh;
• Ujjivan Small Finance Bank Founded: 1 February 2017.

Correct Answer – C.  SBM Bank

Explanation:  LazyPay, a Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) solution by PayU Finance, announced its partnership with SBM Bank India to launch LazyCard, a prepaid payment instrument backed by a credit line that works on the Visa payment network. To empower financially underserved Indians with easy access to credit as their card has limited credit options. LazyCard reaches over 62 million pre-approved users of LazyPay, with a credit limit of up to 5 lakhs. Consumers could avail the Lazycard at zero joining fees and zero annual fees along with multiple transactional benefits and rewards.

Important Points:

• SBM Bank Incorporated: 1st December 2018
• SBM Bank Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
• SBM Bank CEO & MD: Sidharth Rath

Correct Answer – C.  Forest Survey of India (FSI)

Explanation: The Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change released the biennial “India State of Forest Report (ISFR)”.The report is published by the Forest Survey of India (FSI).In the year 2022, 17th edition of the report is released by the environment minister Bhupender Yadav.This report was first published in the year 1987.According to the report, in 2021, the total forest and tree cover in India is 80.9 million hectares.This is over 24.60 percent of the geographical area of the country.

Correct Answer – D. 24 .62%

Explanation: According to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021 report, India’s total forest and tree cover is now spread across 80.9 million hectares, which is 24.62% of the geographical area of the country.The top five states in terms of increase in forest cover are Andhra Pradesh (647 sq km), Telangana (632 sq km), Odisha (537 sq km), Karnataka (155 sq km) and Jharkhand (110 sq km).The report is published by the Forest Survey of India (FSI).In the year 2022, 17th edition of the report is released by the environment minister Bhupender Yadav.This report was first published in the year 1987.

Correct Answer – A. Gurugram

Explanation: The Haryana government has proposed to set up the first heli-hub of the country in Gurugram designed to have many aviation facilities like heliport, hangars, repairs, and any other related services.The heli-hub is proposed to be built in Gurugram & would be near the metro facility along with easy connectivity to industrial areas (Noida & Bhiwadi).

Significance:

One of the 10 helicopter hubs and corridors proposed under the new Helicopter Policy of the Civil Aviation Ministry. Is in alignment with the NCRPB Regional Plan 2041 to introduce heli-taxi service in the region.

Correct Answer – D. Indian Bank

Explanation: The Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode’s Business incubator Laboratory for Innovation Venturing and Entrepreneurship (LIVE) and Indian Bank on January 13 signed a game-changing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).The inked agreement launched a startup funding scheme, ‘IndSpring Board’ to support early-stage startups by providing loans up to ₹50 crore.The loan amount disbursed to startups under the IndSpring Board scheme from IIMK LIVE and Indian Bank will be used to meet a startup operational expenditure and capital expenditure which includes working capital, purchase of fixed assets and other expenses.

Correct Answer – D. Actor

Explanation: Veteran Odia actor Mihir Das passed away while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Cuttack.The popular actor was suffering from renal ailments for years.The versatile actor had won the State government’s best actor award for his performance in ‘Laxmi Pratima’ (1998), and ‘Pheria Mo Suna Bhauni’ (2005).He had won the best comedian award for his role in ‘Mu Tate Love Karuchhi’ (2007). His acting in ‘Pua Mora Bholashankara’ will always be remembered.

Correct Answer – C. 20th

Explanation: The 20th Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF) is taking place between January 15-23, 2022 at multiple venues in Dhaka. The festival will showcase 225 films from 70 countries under 10 categories. The Indian entries include films like Koozhangal directed by P S Vinothraj, Avijatrik directed by Subhrajit Mitra, Mayar Jonjal directed by Indranil Roychowdhury, etc.

Important Points

The film festival is being organised in a hybrid model with many films being streamed online during the festival. The festival will have ten sections including the Asian Competition Section, Retrospective, Tribute, Bangladesh panorama, Wide Angle, Cinema of the World, Children’s Film, Spiritual film, Women Filmmakers section and short and independent films. The retrospective section will screen five films by the renowned Japanese Filmmaker great Japanese filmmaker and screenwriter Yasujirō Ozu. These include Tokyo Story (1951), Tokyo Twilight (1957), Equinox Flower (1958), Late Autumn (1960) and An Autumn Afternoon (1962) directed by him. 21 films are competing under the Asian Competition Section. The best film will be decided by a reputed jury for the award of Taka 1 lakh along with a crest and certificate. The DIFF will also organise the 8th edition of the ‘Women in Cinema’ international conference, as well as the 4th edition of the ‘West, meets East’ screenplay lab during the festival. The Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF) is organised by the Rainbow film Society established in 1977. The DIFF was started in 1992.

Correct Answer – C. 23rd January

Explanation: Republic Day celebrations will now begin every year from 23rd January instead of 24th. The step was taken to include the birth anniversary of freedom fighter Subash Chandra Bose. The birth anniversary of Subhas Chandra Bose is celebrated as Parakram Divas across the country.

Correct Answer – D. Kino Garcia

Explanation:  Indian Super League side Odisha FC has appointed Kino Garcia as the interim head coach replacing Kiko Ramirez. Odisha managed just two wins in their last 7 matches and slipped to 9th place in the 11-team standings. Garcia, who served as the assistant coach of the club, will be taking over the duties of the head coach from Odisha’s next game which is against NorthEast United FC on 18 January 2022.

Correct Answer: C. KP Arvindan

Explanation: Rear Admiral KP Arvindan took over charge as Admiral Superintendent of Naval Dockyard, Mumbai from Rear Admiral B Sivakumar on 14 January 2022. A recipient of the Vishisht Seva Medal, the Admiral was serving as Chief Staff Officer (Technical) at Headquarters, Western Naval Command, prior to taking over the present assignment.

Additional Information

Rear Admiral KP Arvindan is an alumnus of Naval College of Engineering, INS Shivaji, Lonavla. He is from the first batch of the Naval Engineering Course and was commissioned into the Indian Navy in November 1987. The Admiral holds a B-Tech degree in Marine Engineering and an M-Tech degree in Industrial Engineering from NITIE, Mumbai. He has served onboard a Petya class patrol vessel, the missile corvette Kirpan and guided-missile destroyers Rajput and Ranjit.