Current Affairs Quiz -19th August, 2018 - Current Affairs MCQ

T-he Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully tested indigenously developed light weight glide bomb Smart Anti Airfield Weapon (SAAW) dropped from an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft. Total of three tests with different release conditions and ranges were conducted at Chandan range near Pokhran in Rajasthan. Total of three tests with eighth round of developmental trails with different release conditions were conducted during 16 to 18 August 2018 and all the mission objectives have been achieved. During the test, weapon system was integrated with live warhead. It successfully destroyed targets with high precision.

The astronomers carried out new observations of exoplanet Kelt-9b. Kelt-9b is the hottest exoplanet discovered and was discovered in 2017. Astronomers discovered that the atmosphere is made up of vaporized iron and titanium. The team used the Galileo National Telescope in La Palma, Canary Islands, to observe the planet.

The 11th World Hindi Conference has started in Port Louis the capital of Mauritius. At the beginning of the conference, a two-minute silence was observed to pay tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. After the inauguration session, a condolence meeting will be held in the memory of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. In the afternoon sessions, delegates from 20 countries including India will deliberate on eight sub-topics related to "Hindi World and Indian Culture".

Pitch Black - 18 (PB-18), biennia multinational air exercise hosted by Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) concluded recently Darwin, Australia. Exercise Pitch Black 18 involves the participation of more than 4,000 personnel and 140 military aircraft from different countries across the globe. The exercise is part of the USAF's biennial, capstone International Engagement activity with participation from nearly 15 airforces from different regional and coalition nations. The participating nations include Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Philippines, and the US amongst others.

India successfully test-fired its indigenously developed HeliNa anti-tank missile at the Pokhran Range in Rajasthan. The HeliNa stands for Helicopter-launched Nag, and is a variant of the land-launched Nag anti-tank guided missile. The HeliNa is designed to be launched from the helicopters operated by the Indian Army Aviation Corps. It has been designed to be launched from the HAL Light Combat Helicopter, the HAL Dhruv and its armed variant, HAL Rudra.

Abill for red-labelling of packaged products containing fat, sugar and salt has been halted by the government as per FSSAI's report. Additionally, a group of experts from health and nutrition background has been set up to look into the issue of labeling. The group is headed by B Sesikeran, former director of National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) as well as the current director Hemalatha and doctor Nikhil Tandon.

India football team captain Sunil Chhetri, 34-year-old, is currently taking part in Bengaluru FC's pre-season training in Spain. Special awards would also be given to Hima Das for winning the 400m gold in the under-20 world championship and to Dipa Karmakar for finishing on top on her comeback event in Turkey. The other Award Winners are: Best Junior Sportsperson of the Country: Ishan Porel Lifetime Achievement awards: Aroon Ghosh, Arun Lal, Akhtar Ali Best athlete (men): Safiqul Mondol; Best athlete (women): Bhairabi Roy.

RBI Governor Urjit Patel unveiled UPI version 2.0. The new version has been developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). It will allow the customers to use overdraft limit for making payments for merchants. This has been made in need for ensuring adequate importance on cyber security. UPI 2.0 member banks as on date are: State Bank of India, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, IDBI Bank, RBL Bank, YES Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, IndusInd Bank, Federal Bank and HSBC.

To achieve greater heights in the field of mountaineering, Indian Army is planning to attempt fifth highest mountain peak in the world - Mt Makalu (8,485 metres) in 2019. Under the protection of Army Adventure Wing, an expedition to Mount Kamet (7756 meters), Joshimath (district Chamoli, Uttarakhand), is also being conducted from August to September. Mount Kamet is the third highest peak of India after Kanchanjunga and Nandadevi and the only highest peak available to climb within the country.

ISRO's Aditya-L1 mission, India's first mission to study the solar corona, is planned to be launched in 2019-2020, by Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-XL) from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. Aditya - L1 will be inserted in a halo orbit around the Lagrangian point 1 (L1) that is 1.5 million km from the Earth. Solar corona is the outer layers of the Sun. Lagrangian point is a point where the attraction by the Sun and the Earth becomes equal.

Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has passed away at the age of 80. Annan, who was the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations, served at the UN from 1997 to 2006. He was the first to emerge from the ranks of United Nations staff. Annan, of Ghanaian nationality, died in hospital in Bern, Switzerland. Annan was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize along with the UN in 2001 "for their work for a better organized and more peaceful world".

Actress Scarlett Johansson has emerged as the world's highest paid female actress according to Forbes. Scarlett Johansson is 33 years old. She earned $ 40.5 million in pre-tax earnings from June 1, 2017, to June 1, 2018. Angelina Jolie has ranked second with $28 million and actress Jennifer Aniston, is in third position with $19.5 million.

India defeated Bangladesh in the final of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Under-15 Women's Championship in Thimpu, Bhutan. A solitary second-half strike by Sunita Munda helped the Indian U-15 team clinch the title. This is the second edition of the Championship. Bangladesh had won the inaugural edition last year, beating India, 1-0 in the final played at Dhaka.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Saturday immediate financial assistance of Rs 500 crore for rain-battered Kerala, after reviewing the flood situation in the state. Modi also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh per person to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to those seriously injured from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund.

India's first Humboldt penguin was born on 15th August at Mumbai's Veer Jijamata Udyan. It is the first penguin to be born in the country. Eight Humboldt penguins were brought to Mumbai from South Korea in July 2016. The zoo authorities will later conduct a DNA test to find out its gender and then name it.