Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 21st January 2022

Correct Answer: A. Albert Bourla

Explanation: The global pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc.’s Chairman and Chief Executive, Albert Bourla, has been awarded with the prestigious Genesis Prize 2022 on January 19, 2022. He has been awarded for his efforts in leading the development of a COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine). The award comes with a cash prize of $1 million.

About the awards:

The annual prize is awarded to Jewish people who have achieved significant professional success, in recognition of their accomplishments, contributions to humanity, and commitment to Jewish values and/or to the State of Israel. It is widely referred to as the “Jewish Nobel Prize”.

Correct Answer – E. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs

Explanation: The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) announced the “Open Data Week” that will see participation from all the 100 smart cities, a move aimed at ensuring a collaborative effort towards making Indian cities “data smart”. The Open Data Week will be conducted during the third week of January from 17th January 2022 to 21st January 2022.

It is divided into two segments — first, uploading of datasets, visualisation, APIs and data blogs on the Smart Cities Open Data Portal from January 17 to January 20 and second, the celebration of a “Data Day” by all smart cities on January 21.

Correct Answer – C. Vikram Dev Dutt

Explanation: Senior bureaucrat Vikram Dev Dutt has been appointed as the chairman and managing director (CMD) of Air India Ltd. Dutt is a 1993-batch IAS officer of AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territory) cadre. He has been appointed as the Air India chief in the rank and pay of Additional Secretary, an order issued by the Personnel Ministry. Prior to this, he was the Principal Secretary (Tourism) in Delhi government.

The Centre had in October last year accepted Tata Son’s bid of Rs 18,000 crore to acquire 100 per cent of the debt-laden state-run carrier. The takeover has not been completed yet. Talace Pvt Ltd, a unit of the holding company of the salt-to-software conglomerate, had made the winning bid of Rs 2,700 crore cash and Rs 15,300 crore debt takeover.

Important Points:

• Air India Ltd Founded: 1932, Mumbai;
• Air India Ltd Headquarters: New Delhi.

Correct Answer – D. China

Explanation: The first BRICS Sherpas meeting of 2022 was held virtually on January 18-19 2022, with the members thanking India for its BRICS chairship in 2021. China has taken on the rotating chairmanship of BRICS in 2022. BRICS is a grouping of five major emerging economies — Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

Meanwhile, Sanjay Bhattacharyya India’s BRICS Sherpa said that Last year we saw a significant achievement that our foreign ministers brought about in terms of the document on the strengthening and reform of the multilateral systems. These issues of global governance, particularly the UN systems and other institutions, are extremely important. And I’m happy that we shall continue to attach high importance to its continued relevance.

Correct Answer – E. Chanchal Kumar

Explanation: Chanchal Kumar has been appointed as the Managing Director, National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL), under the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH). He is appointed in the rank and pay of Additional Secretary. He is a 1992 batch IAS officer of Bihar cadre, presently Principal Secretary of Bihar’s Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has also approved the extension in the central deputation tenure of Ashutosh Jindal, Additional Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat for 1 year beyond 16th February 2022 to 16th February 2023.

Important Points:

• NHIDCL Founded: 2014;
• NHIDCL Headquarters: New Delhi.

Correct Answer – B. Mauritius

Explanation: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has signed a contract with the Government of Mauritius (GoM) for export of one Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH)-MkIII for the Mauritius Police Force.Mauritius already operates a ALH and Dornier Do-228 aircraft built by HAL.The ALH Mk III is a multi-role, multi-mission helicopter in the 5.5 tonne category in extensive use by the Indian armed forces and has also been exported.

Correct Answer – D. Spain

Explanation: The oldest person living (male) Saturnino de la Fuente García (112 years & 341 days) has passed away at home in León, a city in northwest Spain,Saturnino claimed the record as the oldest person living (male) in September 2021 when he was exactly 112 years and 211 days.De la Fuente was a cobbler by trade and started working in a shoe factory at age 13.He was born in the Puente Castro neighbourhood of León on Feb. 11, 1909.

Correct Answer – C. Indo-Pak War 1971

Explanation: According to defence officials, the Amar Jawan Jyoti flame at India Gate will be merged with the flame at the newly constructed National War Memorial in the same complex.The Amar Jawan Jyoti was erected as a memorial to fallen soldiers of the 1971 operations that led to the freedom of Bangladesh.It is housed inside the India Gate, a British era memorial to soldiers who lost their lives in preindependence operations.

Correct Answer – C. Smriti Mandhana

Explanation:  Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana was named in 2021 ICC (International Cricket Council) Women’s T20I team of the year.No Other Indian Player named in Men’s as well Women’s List.Smriti Mandhana is India’s highest scorer who scored 255 runs at an average of 31.87 in 2021.She scored two fifties in the nine matches with the strike-rate of 131.44.It is also the 3rd time Smriti Mandhana won the title for the T20I team of the year after.

Correct Answer – B. 39.64%

Explanation: The RBI’s Digital Payment Index, which shows the deepening of payments through digital modes in India, rose by 39.64 per cent to 304.06 in September 2021 against 217.74 in the year-ago month.The Index captures the extent of digitisation of payments across the country.As per latest RBI data, the total volume of digital payments rose about 57.50 per cent year-on-year to 645.84 crore in November 2021 against 410.07 crore in November 2020.The total value of digital payments was up 32 per cent y-o-y to ₹1,48,03,884 crore in November 2021 against ₹1,11,99,549 crore in November 2020.

Correct Answer – D. Israel

Explanation: The 8th Governing Body meeting was held between India and Israel on 18 January 2022. Experts from both sides deliberated on widening the scope of the India-Israel Industrial Research and Development and Technological Innovation Fund (I4F). They approved 3 joint R&D projects worth $5.5 million and suggested measures to create a broader India-Israel collaborative ecosystem.

Additional Information

During the 15th India-Israel Working Group Meeting on October 29, 2021, in Tel Aviv, India and Israel decided to set up a new Task Force to boost the Defence Cooperation. India, Israel, United Arab Emirates, and the United States have launched a new quadrilateral economic forum.  The United Arab Emirates has become the first Gulf nation to open an embassy in Israel in August 2021.

Israel:

• Capital: Jerusalem
• Currency: Israeli New Shekel
• Prime Minister: Naftali Bennett (As of Jan 2022).
• President: Isaac Herzog (As of Jan 2022).

Correct Answer – D. 10.3%

Explanation: Business-to-business (B2B) spending in India is expected to increase by 10.3% in 2022, according to the India Business Spend Indicator (IBSI) report. The report was launched by American Express and Invest India in partnership with the Centre for Business and Economic Research (CEBR), in Jan 2022. The IBSI report is based on a survey of more than 500 small, medium, and large companies.

Additional Information

The India Business Spend Indicator (IBSI) leverages survey data from companies across sole traders, micro-businesses, small businesses, medium-sized businesses, and large businesses. Axis Bank & CRMNEXT Solution won the IBS Intelligence (IBSi) Global FinTech Innovation Awards 2021 for the “Best CRM (Customer Relationship Management) System Implementation”. Vayana Network has been awarded the ‘Most Effective Bank-Fintech Partnership: Agile and Adaptable’ at the IBSi-Global Fintech Innovation Awards 2021.

Correct Answer – B. Israel and USA

Explanation: Israel and the US conducted a successful flight test of the Arrow Weapon System (AWS) and the Arrow 3 interceptor on 18 January 2022. It is designed to intercept ballistic missiles outside of the earth’s atmosphere.  The test was carried out by the Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO), together with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and the Israeli Defense Forces.

Additional Information

Brahmos was successfully test-fired from Integrated Test Range, Chandipur off the coast of Odisha on January 20, 2022. The Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh has set up an online Raksha Pension Shikayat Nivaran Portal to resolve pension-related grievances of ex-servicemen (ESM) and their dependents. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight tested the ManPortable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM).

Correct Answer – B. 3

Explanation: Meghalaya cabinet has approved the recommendations of three regional committees, namely West Khasi Hills, Ri-Bhoi, East and West Jaintia Hills, to resolve the Meghalaya-Assam border issue. The committees were formed to examine the present status of the six areas of differencesTarabari, Gizang, Hahim, Boklapara, Khanapara-Pilingkata, and Ratacherra.

Important Points

The regional committees comprised of members from both Assam and Meghalaya. The regional committees had meticulously gone and visited 36 villages in six areas where the dispute is about 36.79 sq km. Both the Chief Minister of Assam and Meghalaya will proceed to New Delhi to meet the Union Home Minister and submit a common report as both the States have agreed 100 per cent to the recommendations of the regional committees.

Additional Information

Meghalaya:

• Lok Sabha seats – 2.
• Rajya Sabha seats – 1.
• State Animal – Clouded leopard.
• State Bird – Common hill myna.
• National Parks – Balphakram National Park, Nokrek Ridge National Park.