Daily Current Affairs MCQs : 1 June 2023 - Humanities/Arts MCQ

The Ministry of Defence has recently finalized a contract worth Rs 2,971 crore with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for the procurement of Astra MK-I beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missiles. This agreement aims to fulfill the requirements of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Navy. Therefore, the correct answer is option c.

The Astra MK-I beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in collaboration with the Indian Air Force (IAF). The DRDO, in coordination with the IAF, has developed the Astra MK-I missile, along with its launch systems, ground handling equipment, and testing facilities. The missile has already undergone successful trials by the IAF. Therefore, the correct answer is option c.

The Astra MK-I missile is currently fully integrated with the Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter aircraft. It offers a significant advantage to the Indian Air Force's fighter jets by providing large stand-off ranges. The missile will be gradually integrated into other fighter jets, including the Light Combat Aircraft (Tejas). The Indian Navy also plans to integrate the Astra MK-I missile with the MiG-29K fighter aircraft. Therefore, the correct answer is option b.

ellayani Arjunan, who recently passed away, was a renowned scholar, linguist, academician, and writer. He had a remarkable presence in the academic, cultural, and literary circles of Kerala for several decades. Arjunan was known for his diverse literary works, including over 40 books encompassing poetry, short stories, children's fiction, essays, and literary criticism. Therefore, the correct answer is option a.

Vellayani Arjunan held impressive educational qualifications. He had post-graduate degrees in Malayalam, English, and Hindi, along with postgraduate diplomas in Telugu, Kannada, and Tamil. His contributions to literature and language studies earned him three D.Litt degrees, solidifying his position as a prominent figure in Kerala's literary sphere. Therefore, the correct answer is optionc) Four degrees.

The talented Indian playback singer Krishnakumar Kunnath, widely known as KK, sadly passed away at the age of 54 due to a suspected cardiac arrest. KK had captivated audiences with his melodious songs, including popular tracks like 'Pal,' 'Yaaron Dosti,' 'Tadap Tadap,' and 'Aankhon Mein Teri.' He began his singing career by lending his voice to various advertising jingles and made his film debut in 1996 with the soundtrack of an A.R. Rahman film. KK's versatile singing talent allowed him to record songs in multiple languages, such as Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Bengali, Assamese, and Gujarati.

Prof Ved Kumari Ghai, who recently passed away at the age of 91 after a brief illness, was a veteran Sanskrit scholar and Padma Shri awardee. She had an illustrious career as an academician and author. Born on December 16, 1931, in Jammu, Prof Ved Kumari Ghai held multiple degrees, including an MA in Sanskrit from Punjab University and a PhD in Sanskrit from Banaras Hindu University. She served as the head of the Sanskrit Department at Jammu University until her retirement in 1991. Throughout her career, she received numerous accolades, including the prestigious Padma Shri in 2014 and the President's Award for Sanskrit. Therefore, the correct answer is option c.

Ashwani Kumar, the current Executive Director of Indian Bank, has been appointed as the Managing Director and CEO of UCO Bank. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved this appointment, which became effective from June 1. Ashwani Kumar succeeded Soma Sankara Prasad. As the head of UCO Bank, Ashwani Kumar's term will span three years, with the possibility of extension based on performance. Therefore, the correct answer is option a.

Natarajan Sundar, a former executive of State Bank of India (SBI), has been appointed as the Managing Director and CEO of the National Asset Reconstruction Company Limited (NARCL) starting from May 30. The NARCL, established as a joint initiative of public and private sector banks, aims to take over bad loans from banks and focus on resolution and recoveries. Karnam Sekar, another former SBI employee, has been appointed as the non-executive chairman of NARCL. Natarajan Sundar served at SBI for over 37 years and retired as the deputy managing director and chief credit officer. His extensive experience and expertise in handling banking operations and credit management make him well-suited for his new role at NARCL. These appointments are expected to strengthen the leadership of NARCL in addressing the challenges related to bad loans and resolving them effectively. Therefore, the correct answer is option b.

Ajay Yadav, a seasoned IAS officer from the 2005 batch of the Bihar cadre, has taken charge as the Managing Director of the Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI). SECI is a Miniratna Category-I Central Public Sector Enterprise that plays a pivotal role in implementing renewable energy schemes and projects under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India. Ajay Yadav's expertise in renewable energy and extensive experience in the administrative services make him well-suited for this position. SECI has been instrumental in promoting solar energy projects, facilitating investments, and contributing significantly to India's sustainable energy goals. Therefore, the correct answer is option c.