Test : July 2019 Weekly Current Affair - 3" - Current Affairs MCQ

The operation, code named ‘Sudarshan’ was launched by the Border Security Force (BSF) to fortify Anti-Infiltration Grid along the Pakistan border in Punjab and Jammu. The massive exercise commenced on July 1, 2019. Name: The exercise is named ‘Sudarshan’ drawing from the legendary and mythological cutting wheel or the ‘sudarshan chakra’ on Lord Krishna’s finger. Coverage: It will cover over 1,000-kms length of the India-Pakistan International Border. Jammu shares about 485-kms of the International border with Pakistan, about 553-kms of the front is in Punjab and on India’s western flank with Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Uttarakhand has been adjudged as one of the country’s five best performing states under the National Programme Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme aimed at addressing declining child sex ratio and issues of women empowerment. As per the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development, the State received this recognition for its consistent performance in respect of sex ratio at birth.

On July 4, 2019, The world’s largest burn and plastic surgery institute named Sheikh Hasina National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute started its functioning in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The Outpatient Department (OPD) of the institute was inaugurated by the Health and Family Welfare Minister of Bangladesh Zahid Maleque. It is a 500-bed hospital with 50 Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and 12 operation theatres. It will provide advanced treatment to burn patients in Bangladesh.It was built at a cost of over 500 crores Taka.

India’s top wrestler Vinesh Phogat, Gold medalist at Jakarta Asian Games, won her 1st gold medal after shifting to the 53kg category by defeating Dutch rival Jessica Blaszka in the final.Asian Games bronze medallist Divya Kakran won gold in the 68 kg category against Poland’s Agnieszka Wieszczek-Kordus in the final.World Championship bronze medallist Pooja Dhanda in 57kg category settled with silver after losing the title clash to Russia’s Veronika Chumikova.Silver medals were also won by Seema (50kg), Manju Kumari (59kg) and Kiran (76kg) who lost their gold medals to Poland’s Iwona Matkowska, Russia’s Liubov Ovcharova and Ksennia Burakova, respectively.

From 7th June to 7th July, FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 or 8th edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup was held in France in 9 cities. United States(US), the defending champion won the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 by defeating the Netherlands. 24 teams participated in the tournament. The prize money was $30 million. United States (US) won the tournament for the record fourth time and became the second nation, after Germany, to have successfully retained the title.The United States already won the tournament in the year 2015, which was held in Canada.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) has removed a ban on the Kuwait Olympic Committee (KOC) and permitted to compete in the 2020 Olympics.Kuwait was suspended in October 2015 following “undue government interference after a sports law that was not compatible with the basic principles that govern the Olympic Movement was passed in the country”. FIFA also suspended the Kuwait Football Association for the same reason in October 2015 but removed the ban in December 2017.KOC had successfully implemented “a roadmap agreed between all parties” and it participated in the 2020 Olympics. Sheikh Fahad Nasser Sabah Ahmad Al Sabah was elected President of the KOC recently.

Toran Yadav(19), a specially-abled boy from Khatti village in Chhattisgarh clinched 3 medals for India at 4th World Yoga Festival and Championship 2019, held at Bulgaria, Sofia. He strikes two silver medals in the rhythmic pair and artistic pair and a bronze medal in athletic yoga.He started yoga from the age of 9 and was selected to represent India.

On July 8, 2019, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, aged 51, of New Democratic Party was sworn-in as the new Prime Minister of Greece. He received 39.85% of the votes against 31.53% for Syriza, led by outgoing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. The New Democracy party won 158 seats in the 300-member Greek parliament.The centre-left Movement for Change (KINAL) received 8.1% votes, followed by the Communist Party with 5.3%, newcomer Greek Solution, a far-right party, received 3.7% votes and MeRa 25, another recently formed party led by Yanis Varoufakis, a former Syriza finance minister received 3.44% votes.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) appointed the former Indian captain Rahul Dravid as Head of Cricket at the National Cricket Academy (NCA). He will look after all cricket related activities at NCA. He will be involved in mentoring, coaching, training and motivating players, coaches and support staff at the NCA. He will work with the National men’s and women’s Head coaches and coaches for India Developmental teams including India A, India Under 19, India Under 23 teams.

On July 7, 2019, The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully carried out 3 successful test firings of Nag missiles in one day (day & night) in Pokhran, Rajasthan. It is in the final stage to be inducted in the Indian Army.Background: In 2018, the Defence Acquisition Council had approved the procurement of DRDO’s designed and developed NAG Missile System (NAMIS) at the cost of Rs 524 crore. NAMIS includes the Missile Carrier Vehicle (NAMICA). Nag Missile: It is a third generation Anti-Tank Guided Missile. It has top attack capabilities that can effectively engage and destroy all known enemy tanks during day and night. It is one of the first 5 strategic missiles which were planned to be developed under the Integrated Missile Development Programme initiated in the 1980s.

The Finance Bill 2019, one of the documents of the Union Budget 2019-20, gave certain powers to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).More Powers to regulate NBFCs: It has given greater powers to regulate Non-Banking Finance Companies (NBFCs) including powers to seek financial and related information about the group companies. Regulation of HFCs moved from NHB to RBI: The National Housing Bank (NHB) Act, 1987 was amended to take away regulation authority over the Housing Finance Companies (HFCs) from NHB and to RBI. Removal of Directors & Supersession of board: Section 45-ID and 45-IE were added to the RBI Act, 1934. It empowers RBI to remove one director or supersede the entire board of directors in the public interest or financial stability or securing ‘proper’ management or prevent affairs of a NBFC being conducted in a manner detrimental to depositors /creditors. Resolution of NBFCs: Under newly inserted section 45MBA, RBI is empowered to frame schemes to amalgamate an NBFC with any other NBFC or reconstruct it, or split the NBFC into different units. Non-uniform approach and a missed opportunity: These are the extreme provisions empowering the governments/regulators to interfere in legitimate businesses in an emergency. Debarment of Auditors: RBI, has been provided an explicit power to remove or debar the auditor from exercising the duties as auditor of any RBI regulated entities for a maximum period of three years, at a time.

India’s first elephant rehabilitation centre will be set up by the Kerala State Government in its ecotourism village of Kottoor. Rs.105 crore has been allotted to this project which was launched by Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan. At present, the center has only 15 elephants and it will be increased once work has been completed.The centre will have an elephant museum, mahout training centre, super-specialty hospital, a retirement home and crematorium for the animals, will house orphaned, injured and older elephants.Now the state has 507 captive elephants & forest department plans to admit more captive elephants.The centre has set up with 65 hectares of natural forests area will have elephant safari and other activities to attract tourists.

According to the report titled, “Global Prime Office Occupancy Costs survey” (annual report) by CBRE, an American real estate consulting firm, New Delhi’s Connaught Place (CP) was the 9th most expensive office location in the world with an annual rent of nearly $144 per sq ft. 6 of the world’s 10 most expensive office markets were from Asia. First Rank: For the second year, Hong Kong’s Central district retained the top spot as the world’s most expensive market for prime office rents. The prime occupancy costs was valued at $322 per sq.ft. per annum.Other Ranks: London’s West End was ranked 2nd, followed by Hong Kong’s Kowloon, New York’s Midtown Manhattan and Beijing’s Finance Street.Indian cities: Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) and Nariman Point- Central Business District (CBD) were ranked at 27th and 40th positions respectively.

On July 8, 2019, The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released a report titled Global Study on Homicide 2019. It stated that the overall Homicide Rate declined by 10% in India over the period 2009- 2015, from 3.8 to 3.4 per 100,000 population but it was increased ‘Noticeably’ in some Northern States Mumbai, which has a population of over 18 million, had one of the lowest homicide rates- just 0.9 in large metropolises in Asia.The number of female homicide victims were more than that of males. Dowry-related killings was one of the contributors to more female homicide.Males constituted less than 20% of the total homicide victims in 2016.

At the 43rd Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee which was held from June 30 to July 10, 2019 in Baku, Azerbaijan, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) added several new sites into the list of the World Heritage Sites.

On July 9, 2019, Sunil Chhetri, Indian men’s football team captain, was named the Men’s Footballer of the year 2019 at the All India Football Federation‘s (AIFF) Awards. He won the award for the third consecutive year. He is also the second-highest active international scorer (70 goals for India) after Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo. In women’s category, it was conferred to footballer Ashalata Devi.

In ‘The Commonwealth at 70: From Westminster to the World’ book published by the popular London publishers St James House and the History of Parliament Trust, Aditya Birla World Academy, India’s leading International school situated in Mumbai, Maharashtra, became the only Indian school to be featured in it. An event ‘Commonwealth at 70’ which commemorated 70 years of the Commonwealth (Estb April 26, 1949) was held on June 25, 2019 at Westminster Abbey, United Kingdom. It was attended by Mrs. Neerja Birla, Chairperson of The Aditya Birla World Academy.The Aditya Birla World Academy strives to create a cohesive learning environment which helps to develop a child’s innate talents.

Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt starrer ‘Gully Boy’, directed by Zoya Akthar was honoured with the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) Award for Best Asian Film at the 23rd edition of Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) for the year 2019 held at Bucheon City, South Korea. ‘Gully Boy’ is inspired by the lives of Mumbai street rappers Vivian Fernandes aka Divine and Naved Shaikh aka Naezy. It was released on February 14, 2019.

Approval was given for the introduction of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-lll (PMGSY-III). It is proposed to consolidate 1,25,000 Km road length in the States and will also include Routes and Major Rural Links which connect habitations to Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs), Higher Secondary Schools and Hospitals. It will be implemented for the period from 2019-20 to 2024-25. PMGSY-III scheme was announced in the Budget Speech for the year 2018-19.

Pune based National Film Archive of India (NFAI) has acquired rare footage of the 1948 film ‘Vande Mataram’, in which legendary writer and playwright P.L. Deshpande played the major role along with his wife Sunita Deshpande.

On July 9, 2019, The World Health Organization (WHO) declared that measles disease has been eradicated in Sri Lanka. The last case of measles caused by an indigenous virus was reported in May 2016. Measles is a highly contagious viral disease transmitted via droplets from the nose, mouth or throat of infected persons.With this, it became the 4th country after Bhutan, Maldives, and Timor-Leste to eliminate measles and control rubella in the WHO South-East Asia Region.In 2018, Sri Lanka along with Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, and Timor-Leste had achieved rubella control.

According to the Finance ministry, total deposits in over 36.06 crore bank accounts opened under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) was at Rs 1,00,495.94 crore. The number of zero balance accounts under PMJDY decreased to 5.07 crore (14.37 % of the total accounts) in March 2019 compared to 5.10 crore (16.22% of the total accounts) in March 2018.Basic Savings Bank Deposit (BSBD) accounts are under the PMJDY scheme have the facility of RuPay debit card and an overdraft. More than 28.44 crore account holders have been issued the Rupay debit cards.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development(WCD), Government of India is implementing the Swadhar Greh Scheme for the rehabilitation of women in difficult circumstances so that they could lead their life with dignity. Support: It envisages providing shelter, food, clothing, and health as well as economic and social security for the women who are deserted and without any social and economic support, victims of domestic violence, family tension, and natural disaster.Helpline: The ministry is also implementing Universalisation of Women Helpline Scheme to provide 24 hours emergency and non-emergency response to women affected by violence.

Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) informed that in the Performance Grading Index 2017-18, Chandigarh was ranked best among States and Union territories (UTs) in the field of education. The Index ranked the states on the basis of 5 parameters including learning outcomes and quality, access, infrastructure and facilities, equity and governance process. 36 States/ UTs were ranked in the Index. Kerala was ranked second followed by Gujarat (3), Haryana (4), Tamil Nadu (5), Punjab (7), Rajasthan (8), Delhi(9).Least Rankings: Arunachal Pradesh (36), Nagaland (35) and Meghalaya (34) were the least performing states.

Global market from Chennai facility will help make Tamil Nadu the first state in India to manufacture electric cars. Tamil Nadu ranks 3rd in capital investment in the industrial sector with Rs 4.02 lakh crore, after Gujarat (Rs 8.14 lakh crore) and Maharashtra (Rs 5.02 lakh crore).Industrial o/p: Tamil Nadu has 37,220 factories (the most in India followed by Maharashtra (27,010 units) and Gujarat (25,966 units)) also ranks 3rd in total industrial output(o/p), with Rs 7.66 lakh crore, after Gujarat (Rs 12.22 lakh crore) and Maharashtra (Rs 10.74 lakh crore).