Test: Current Affairs (India and World) - Software Development MCQ

The correct answer is Israel.

Key Points

• India and Israel on 9 November 2021 signed a pact.
• It is aimed at spurring innovation and speeding up the development of dual-use technologies by small and medium sized firms in both countries.
• The agreement is known as the Bilateral Innovation Agreement (BIA).
• It was signed between India’s DRDO and Israel’s Directorate of Defence Research and Development (DDR&D). 
• Under the agreement, startups and industry of both countries will work together to bring out next generation technologies and products in the areas such:
  • Drones.
  • Robotics.
  • Artificial Intelligence.
  • Quantum Technology.
  • Photonics.
  • Biosensing.
  • Brain-machine interface.
  • Energy storage.
  • Wearable devices.
  • Natural language processing.
• Products and technologies will be customised to meet unique requirements of both the countries.
• The technologies developed under BIA will be available to both countries for their domestic applications.

Additional Information

• Ties between India and Israel have warmed steadily since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1992.
• Bilateral trade between the two countries is around $ 5 billion annually.
• Israel:
  • Capital - Jerusalem.
  • Currency - Israeli Shekel.
  • National Sport - Association football.

The correct answer is Nirmala Sitharaman.

Key Points

• Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman participated in the 6th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) on 26 October 2021.
• It was jointly organized by AIIB and the Government of the UAE on the theme of "Investing Today and Transforming Tomorrow".

Additional Information

• ​India is a founding member and the second-largest shareholder in AIIB.
• India also has one of the largest project portfolios within AIIB.
• AIIB’s membership has grown to 102 countries.
• While India owns 83,673 shares with a capital subscription of $8.4 billion in AIIB, China owns 297,804 shares with a $29.8 billion capital subscription.
• It is headquartered in Beijing, China.
• It was formed on 16 January 2016.

The correct answer is Moscow.

In News

• Indian Air Force (IAF) Sarang helicopter display team performed at the MAKS-2021 air show in Moscow on 19 July 2021.
• The IAF aerobatic team Sarang (Peacock) will participate in the MAKS-2021 International Air Show, which will be held from July 20 to 25 in Russia.
• The previous edition of the bi-annual international event was held in 2019.​

The correct answer is ​New York.

Key Points

• The foreign ministers of G4 countries – India, Brazil, Germany, and Japan met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on 22 September 2021.
• The ministers were India’s S Jaishankar, Brazil’s Carlos Alberto Franco Ranca, Germany’s Heiko Maas, and Japan’s Toshimitsu Motegi.
• They underlined the urgency of reforming the UN Security Council in order to make it more effective.

Additional Information

• ​The G4 nations support each other's bids for permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council.
• The UN currently has five permanent members with veto power in the Security Council: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The correct answer is Maldives.

Key Points

• Comptroller and Auditor General of India and Auditor General of Maldives have signed an MoU to strengthen the audit process of public finance.
• Both will develop and strengthen the respective institution's professional capacity and improve methodologies in the field of audit of public finance.
• The MoU also aims at exchanging information in the field of public sector audit between them.

Important Points

• ​The MoU was signed by Girish Chandra Murmu, CAG of India and Hussain Niyazy, Auditor General of Maldives in Male.
• Both parties also agreed to conduct training programmes in their respective countries for their staff on a need basis and explore other means of capacity development support, and cooperate on mutually beneficial areas.
• Sustainable development is at the forefront of the partnership between the two SAIs (Supreme Audit Institutions).

Additional Information

• CAG:
  • CAG audits the accounts related to all expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of India, Consolidated Fund of each state and UT having a legislative assembly.
  • The CAG is mentioned in the Constitution of India under Article 148 – 151.
  • He is the head of the Indian Audit and Accounts Department. 
  • Shri Girish Chandra Murmu assumed office as the Comptroller and Auditor General of India on 8th August 2020.
• Maldives: 
  • Capital - Malé.
  • Currency - Maldivian rufiyaa.
  • National Sport - Association football.

The correct answer is the United States Agency for International Development.

Key Points

• United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on 1 October 2021 launched the U.S.-India Alliance for Women’s Economic Empowerment.
• It was announced during the fourth annual leadership summit of the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF).
• The alliance aims to catalyze civil society commitments to advance women’s entrepreneurship and workforce participation in India.

The correct answer is S. Jaishankar.

Key Points

• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on 18 October 2021 unveiled the “Bhoodan Grove” plaque at the Jerusalem Forest, Israel.
• He was given a certificate by the Jewish National Fund after unveiling the plaque at “Bhoodan Grove”.
• Jayaprakash Narayan, and Indian independence activist, had planted the “Bhoodan Grove” in Jerusalem Forest on May 22, 1960, while returning from Israel to India.

Additional Information

• ​Israel:
  • Capital - Jerusalem.
  • Currency - Israeli Shekel.
  • National Sport - Association football.

The correct answer is Dubai.

Key Points

• The first consignment of fiber and minerals-rich dragon fruit was exported to Dubai on 26 June 2021.
• In India, this dragon fruit is also known as Kamalam.
• It was sourced from the farmers of Tadasar village, Sangli district, Maharashtra.
• Scientifically referred to as Hylocereusundatus, the production of dragon fruit commenced in India in the early 1990s.

Additional Information

• UAE:
  • Capital - Abu Dhabi.
  • Currency - United Arab Emirates dirham.
  • President - Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
  • National Sport - Camel racing.

The correct answer is Australia.Key Points

• India has partnered with Australia in areas such as agrifood, mining, infrastructure, healthcare, and education.
• The aim is to boost industrial and manufacturing activity and to drive economic growth.
• Leaders and Ministers from India and Australia came together under the Australia-India Business Exchange (AIBX) 2021 Business Leaders Forum.

Important Points

• ​The Australian government's 'Indian Economic Strategy 2035' envisions significantly raising trade and investment with India.

• Australia offers a wide range of investment opportunities in mining and resources, low emissions technology, food processing and agribusiness, education, advanced manufacturing, space, and emerging tech.

The correct answer is Rajnath Singh.

Key Points

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed a webinar on India-Sweden Defence Industry cooperation on 8 June 2021.
• He emphasised that India is the third-largest business partner for Sweden.
• He informed that the India-Sweden defence cooperation MoU which was signed during the EU-India summit in November 2009 has scope for exchange of expertise, training, logistic and maintenance and R&D cooperation.

Additional Information

• Sweden: 
  • Capital - Stockholm.
  • Currency - Swedish krona.
  • Prime Minister - Stefan Löfven.