October 12, 2017 - Current Affairs Quiz - Current Affairs MCQ

Answer 2. SANKALP & STRIVE
Explanation: In a bid to provide a boost to ‘Skill India Mission’, on October 11, 2017, Union Cabinet approved two new skill development schemes named Skills Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP) and Skill Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement (STRIVE). Both these schemes are result oriented programmes focusing on vocational education and training.

Answer 1. Haridwar and Varanasi
Explanation: the Central Government approved setting up of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) at Haridwar and Varanasi under its Namami Gange programme.
The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has signed an agreement with Uttarakhand Pey Jal Nigam and Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam and private players for setting up first STPs in Haridwar and Varanasi under hybrid annuity mode.

Answer 3. 100th
Explanation India has ranked at 100th position among 119 countries on the Global Hunger Index (GHI), 2017. This year’s ranking marks a drop of three positions as compared to 97th rank in Global Hunger Index 2016.
i. India’s GHI 2017 score of 4 places it at the high end of the “serious” hunger problem category.

Answer 2. SME Assist
Explanation State Bank of India (SBI) launched a new product called ‘SME Assist’ to provide a short-term working capital demand loan to its Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) clients.
The loans shall be provided on the basis of clients’ input credit claims under Goods and Services Tax (GST), subject to submitting of a certificate from their chartered accountant confirming the input credit claims.

Answer 2. Coal India
Explanation: India’s biggest reinsurer, General Insurance Corp of India (GIC Re)’s Rs. 11,370 crore Initial Public Offer (IPO) opened for subscription on October 11, 2017. GIC Re’s Rs. 11370 crore IPO is Indian primary market’s third largest IPO after Coal India (Rs.15,200 crore in 2010) and Reliance Power (Rs. 11,600 crore in 2008). Following this IPO, government’s stake in GIC Re will fall by 14.22% and will fetch Rs. 9,800 which shall help in meeting its disinvestment target.

Answer 3. John Flint
Explanation: HSBC announced that, it has appointed John Flint as its next CEO, in London.
John Flint currently runs HSBC’s retail and wealth management business. He will take charge as CEO on 21stFebruary, 2018. He would replace current CEO Stuart Gulliver. Gulliver is retiring after seven years in this job.

Answer 2. Falcon 9
Explanation: SpaceX has launched the rocket Falcon 9, that had already flown to space and landed it successfully on an ocean platform. It is as part of SpaceX’s effort to recycle costly rocket components.
At 6:53 pm (2253 GMT), the tall, white Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida carrying the Echostar 105/SES-11 satellite. The satellite aims to provide television coverage and communications capabilities to North America, Hawaii, Mexico and the Caribbean. It is a “dual-mission” satellite for the US-based operator EchoStar and Luxembourg-based operator SES.

Answer 4. Arjen robben
Explanation: Arjen robben, the 33 years old football player announced his retirement news from the international football. He played for Bayern Munich, a German club. He is well known for his speed and accurate shots. He scored two goals against Sweden on the last match and it was not enough for his team to get qualified to World cup 2018. That made him to end up his international carrier.

Answer 5. Ashish Nehra
Explanation: Ashish Nehra announced that, he will be retiring from all forms of cricket, after the first Twenty20 international between India and New Zealand at Delhi’s Feroz Shah Kotla, on 1st November 2017.
Ashish Nehra is glad to retire at his home ground. He wanted to retire while he was still on top. He made his senior debut for India, during the Test series against Sri Lanka in 1999 and helped the Indian cricket team reach the 2003 World Cup final. He is 38 years old.

Answer 3. Prakash Raj
Explanation Prakash Raj, actor and film-maker, received the Kota Shivaram Karanth Huttura Prashasti award, at the Kota Shivaram Karanth Theme Park, in Kota, Udupi district of Karnataka. The Kota Shivaram Karanth Huttura Prashasti award is instituted in the name of Jnanpith awardee K Shivaram Karanth. It is given by the Kotatattu gram panchatyat in Kota, the birthplace of the literary giant, K Shivaram Karanth, in Udupi district of Karnataka.

Answer 5. Yuvraj Singh
Explanation Yuvraj Singh was announced as the first Indian ambassador of Laureus at an event in Mumbai. Yuvraj Singh has become the first Indian ambassador of Laureus. Laureus works to improve the lives of young people through sport. Yuvraj Singh is an Indian cricketer. He is a left-hander. Laureus consists of Indian cricket legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Kapil Dev.

Answer 3. Pakistan
Explanation: The Pakistan football federation was suspended from FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) by the Bureau of FIFA council on 10th Oct 2017.
The reason behind the suspension was the “Interference of third party” in PFF i.e, the PFF accounts and their offices were under the control of an administrator appointed by court and this actually violated the rules of FIFA that it should manage its affairs independently and without the interference of third parties.

Answer 1. 10%
Explanation: Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan announced the formation of an internal ‘think-tank’, consisting of experts to advise on technology and build a successful gas network in India.
Dharmendra Pradhan made this announcement at the India Energy Forum by CERAWeek. He said that, the ‘think-tank’ is formed to reduce the target set by the Prime Minister to reduce oil import dependence by 10 %. The think tank will be in an advisory role and will look after gas infrastructure, financing model for projects, price competitiveness etc.

Answer 1. 6 months
Explanation: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) instructed banks and non-bank entities to make their digital wallets/prepaid payment instruments (PPIs), interoperable through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) within six months.
As per RBI’s master directions, in the first phase, all PPIs that are Know Your Customer (KYC)-compliant should be made interoperable amongst themselves through UPI.

Answer 5. Pune, Maharashtra
Explanation American financial technology company Mastercard launched its first innovation lab in India in Pune, Maharashtra. This centre is Mastercard’s ninth lab in the world and the second in Asia Pacific besides Singapore. The centre in Pune will focus on new payment technology ideas for the rapidly growing digital economy in India.

Answer 4. None of these
Explanation
Some Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs):
• Power Finance Corporation
• Reliance Capital
• Muthoot Finance
• Infrastructure Development Finance Company
• LIC Housing Finance

Answer 5. 1&3
Explanation SEBI announced that, listed companies not following the norms with regard to Minimum Public Shareholding (MPS) would be taken action including fine (penalty) and delisting. According to MPS norms, any listed company must have at least 25 % as public shareholders and 75 % can be held by promoters. Companies not following these norms should to pay a fine of Rs.5,000 a day.

Answer 5. Garments and Apparel Policy
Explanation Gujarat State Government under Chief Minister Vijay Rupani announced its Garments and Apparel Policy-2017.
The policy has been prepared with an aim to make Gujarat number 1 state in textiles sector. It is to be noted that Gujarat is a major producer of cotton. Under this policy, Gujarat Government will make efforts to make supply chain in textiles sector suitable for farm-to-fibre, fibre-to-fabric, fabric-to-fashion and fashion to foreign exports.

Answer 4. Uttar Pradesh
Explanation: Yogi Adityanath said that, to honour the sacrifices of the martyrs, the Uttar Pradesh state government will construct ‘Gaurav Marg Path’ which will contain statues of the martyrs.

Answer 1. Nomadic tribes
Explanation Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced ration cards for nomadic tribes living in different parts of Haryana. Khattar announced that, the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department would organise camps to issue ration cards to nomadic tribes. This would provide identification to them as permanent residents.

Answer 2. Gibraltar
Explanation Union Cabinet gave its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and Financial Services Commission (FSC), Gibraltar for mutual co-operation and technical assistance.
• The MoU will strengthen economic links and will enhance cooperation between SEBI and FSC.
• It would help in making the information sharing framework between the two regulators more effective.
• Gibraltar is a British Overseas territory located at the Southern coast of Spain.

Answer 2. Mumbai
Explanation: Headquarters – Mumbai
Interim Chairman – Ratan Tata