Daily Current Affairs Questions July 2022 Part 15

 Daily Current Affairs Questions

July 2022 Part 15

 

Why in News

1.       Benchmarking India’s Payment Systems’

2.       Brad Pitt

3.       Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage

4.       Defence Salary Package (DSP) scheme

5.       Diabetes

6.       Fin Whale

7.       first ALH Squadron INAS 324

8.       Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Rules

9.       GigaMesh

10.    Global Film Tourism Conference

11.    India’s first pilotless fighter aircraft

12.    India's malnourished population

13.    Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party

14.    Kushinagar.

15.    Markets in Crypto-Assets

16.    Ministry of Minority Affairs

17.    Ministry of Steel

18.    Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo

19.    Namami Gange Amrit Vatika

20.    Nambi Narayanan

21.    National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS)

22.    National Conference on Food and Nutrition Security

23.    National Customs and GST Museum

24.    National Food Security Act

25.    National Health Claims Exchange

26.    National Insurance Company Limited (NICL)

27.    NATO summit

28.    Neelachal Ispat Nigam Limited

29.    New York Convention

30.    Nixtamalisation

31.    NTPC Renewable Energy Limited (NTPC REL)

32.    ozone hole

33.    P. P. Gopinathan Nair

34.    Pariksha Sangam Portal

35.    Parul Chaudhary

36.    Payyoli Express

37.    PM SVANidhi Scheme

38.    Purchasing Managers' Index

39.    RAMP scheme

40.    Rampa Rebellion

41.    Shimla Agreement

42.    Shinzo Abe

43.    Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet technology

44.    South Indian Bank

45.    Suraksha Manthan

46.    SVANidhi Mahotsav

47.    Tamarind

48.    Tanuja Manoj Nesari

49.    Technology Innovation Hub on Autonomous Navigation

50.    Un-Plastic Collective (UPC)

 

1.       Report on ‘Benchmarking India’s Payment Systems’, was released by which? RBI
The benchmarking exercise was first carried out in 2019 with respect to the position in 2017.
India was categorised as a 'leader' or 'strong' in respect of 25 (21 in the previous exercise) out of 40 indicators and categorised as 'weak' in respect of 8 (12 in the previous exercise) indicators, said the report on 'Benchmarking India's Payment Systems', providing a comparative position of the payments ecosystem in India relative to other major countries.

2.       Which actor has claimed that he has face blindness disorder?  Brad Pitt 
Brad Pitt recently revealed that he thinks he has a rare face blindness disorder called prosopagnosia. Prosopagnosia is a face blindness disorder, which means that one cannot recognise people's faces. The disorder generally affects people from birth and usually stays with the person for most of their life. Pitt had first spoken about the possibility of having prosopagnosia face blindness in 2013. 

3.       UNESCO’s 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage was recently held in which city?.
9th General Assembly of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage was held in Paris from 5th to 7th July 2022. India was elected as a member for the 2022-2026 cycle.

4.       Which bank recently (in July’22) renewed the MoU with the Indian Air Force (IAF) for the Defence Salary Package (DSP) scheme? State Bank of India
State Bank of India (SBI) renewed the MoU with the Indian Air Force (IAF) for the Defence Salary Package (DSP) scheme.
i. The DSP scheme offers various benefits and features such as complimentary personal accidental insurance, air accidental insurance, and additional cover in case of on-duty death to all serving and retired Air Force personnel and their families.
ii. State Bank of India (SBI) has also signed a non-financial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Samunnati, an agri finance company for financing farmer producer organizations (FPOs) with an initial outlay of Rs. 100 crores.

5.       A drug molecule recently discovered oral treatment for diabetes by 
(a) IIT Mandi 
(b) IIT Guwahati 
(c) IIT Kharagpur 
(d) Indian Institute of Chemical Biology 
Answer : (A)
Researchers at IIT Mandi have identified a drug molecule that can be used to treat diabetes. The molecule, called PK2, is able to trigger the release of insulin by the pancreas, and can potentially be used as an orally administered medicine for diabetes

6.       What is the name of the world's second-largest animal? Fin Whale
The world's second-largest animal, fin whales, are second only to blue whales in length. The species were almost near-extinction during the 20th Century due to hunting. Whaling was banned after this and for the first time since then, dozens of southern fin whales were caught feasting together recently in a "thrilling" Antarctic spectacle.

7.       Recently who has commissioned the first ALH Squadron INAS 324? Indian Navy 
The first Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 324 on the Eastern Seaboard operating the Advanced Light Helicopter MK III was commissioned at INS Dega, Visakhapatnam in the the Indian Navy.
The first ALH Squadron INAS 324 has been named “KESTRELS” which are birds of prey and have good sensory capabilities. It symbolizes the envisaged role of the Aircraft and the Air Squadron.

8.       Under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Rules, 2022 how much amount have been allowed to be send by the relatives in the form of foreign contribution without informing the government? Rs 10 lakh
It allows Indians to receive up to Rs 10 lakh annually from their relatives abroad under FCRA. The limit earlier was Rs 1 lakh. If the amount exceeds, the individuals will now have 90 days to inform the government instead of 30 days earlier

9.       The term 'GigaMesh' was recently seen in the news. Consider the following in this regard:
1. It is a network solution that wirelessly provides fibre-like backhaul capacity and paves the road for 5G.
2. The technology was developed by a startup named, Astrome through its patented millimetre wave E-band radios and satellite communication solutions.
3. The startup is supported by AI & Robotics Technology Park (ARTPARK), the Technology Innovation Hub (TIH) at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc).
Which of the following statement is/are correct? Select the correct answer using the codes below:
A  1 and 2
B  2 and 3
C  1 and 3
D 1, 2 and 3
GigaMesh is a network solution that wirelessly provides fibre-like backhaul capacity and paves the road for 5G. The technology is developed by Astrome and supported by AI & Robotics Technology Park, the Technology Innovation Hub (TIH) at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc)ARTPARK. It is the world's first multi-beam E-band Radio that communicates from one tower to multiple towers simultaneously while delivering multi GBPS throughput to each of these towers.  A single GigaMesh device can provide up to 40 links with 2+ Gbps capacity, communicating up to a range of ten kilometres. The flexibility in range makes it suitable for both extending rural coverage and decongesting the dense urban networks.  With India's majority population living in rural areas, Astrome can help improve domestic internet connectivity. 

10.    Where was the 5th Global Film Tourism Conference 2022 inaugurated – Mumbai.
Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi inaugurated the fifth Global Film Tourism Conclave (GFTC) at Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach, Mumbai

11.    Where did DRDO successfully test India’s first pilotless fighter aircraft – Karnataka
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully carried out the maiden flight of the Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator. It was carried out from the Aeronautical Test Range, Chitradurga, Karnataka.
The flight named - Unmanned Aerial Vehicle  - has been designed and developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) in Bengaluru.

12.    According to the report released by which of these, India's malnourished population has come down to 224.3 million in the last 15 years?
The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2022 report, issued on July 6 by U.N. agencies Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), UNICEF, World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), said that the number of people affected by hunger globally rose to as many as 828 million in 2021, an increase of about 46 million since 2020 and 150 million since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The report said that in India, the number of undernourished people declined to 224.3 million in 2019–21 from 247.8 million in 2004-06.

13.    Which chief of Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party has passed away – Bhim Singh
The Jammu & Kashmir National Panthers Party is a state political party in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, India. The party was founded on 23 March 1982 by Prof. Bhim Singh and a few prominent youth political personalities of the time.
Prof. Bhim Singh who is locally known as Sher-e-Jammu (Lion of Jammu) was the party's Chief Patron and served as the Panthers Party chairman for 30 years till 2012

14.    Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways of India has sanctioned the construction of 2 flyovers of 2.5 km length at Kushinagar.
1. It is located in Bihar.
2. The place is known/famous for Lord Buddha's Parinirvana.
Select the correct answer using the codes below:
a Only 1
b Only 2
c Both 1 and 2
d Neither 1 nor 2
Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways of India has sanctioned the construction of 2 flyovers of 2.5 km length at Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, with a budget of Rs. 42.67 crores. Kushinagar is known/famous for Lord Buddha's Parinirvana.

15.    Which came up with the first major regulatory framework for the cryptocurrency industry, known as Markets in Crypto-Assets, or MiCA? European Union.
EU Parliament agreed upon a new law Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) to regulate cryptocurrencies.
Stablecoins came in question after the crash of Terraform Labs’ Luna token.

16.    To whom the central government handed over the charge of The Ministry of Minority Affairs – Smriti Zubin Irani
The Ministry of Minority Affairs is a ministry of the Government of India which was carved out of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and created on 29 January 2006 to ensure a more focused approach towards issues relating to the notified minority communities namely Muslim, Christian, Budhist, Sikhs, Parsis and Jain.

17.    To whom the Central Government handed over the charge of the Ministry of Steel – Jyotiraditya Scindia
Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia  assumed the additional charge of the Steel Ministry.
Mr. Scindia is currently in charge of the Civil Aviation Ministry. The 51-year old MP, who represents Madhya Pradesh in the Rajya Sabha, is the third Steel Minister in the current Modi government.

18.    Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo recently (in July’22) passed away. He is the Secretary-General of which organisation? Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
The Secretary-General of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) , Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo passed away at the age of 63 years in Abuja, Nigeria.
i. He was steering OPEC as the group entered into an agreement known as OPEC+. His term as Secretary General ends on 31 July 2022.
ii. He served as the Acting Secretary General of OPEC in 2006 and also represented Nigeria in OPEC’s Economic Commission Board from 1993 to 2008. He led the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) from 2009 to 2010.
iii. In 2016 he was appointed as the Secretary General of OPEC. He was awarded a distinguished fellowship at the Atlantic Council and set to begin upon the completion of his term at OPEC on July 31 2022.

19.    National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has created a Namami Gange Amrit Vatika at Kalindi Kunj Ghat on River Yamuna in which city? New Delhi

20.    Release of the film “Rocketry: The Nambi Effect” is based on the life of which former ISRO scientist – Nambi Narayanan

21.    Under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) the Government pays how much percentage of the stipend given by the organizations to the apprentice? 25%
NAPS was launched in August 2016 by Government of India to promote the Apprenticeship in the country by providing financial incentives, technology and advocacy support.

22.    The Department of Food and Public Distribution will organize National Conference on Food and Nutrition Security in city? New Delhi

23.     Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has inaugurated the National Customs and GST Museum in which state?- Goa

24.    Who topped the state ranking for the implementation of National Food Security Act – Odisha

25.    IRDAI and which has decided to develop a National Health Claims Exchange? National Health Authority

26.    Name the company that recently (in July’22) won a multi-year contract from the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) to accelerate digital transformation. Cognizant
The US-based Information Technology (IT) company, Cognizant has been selected as a strategic technology provider by public sector general insurance company, National Insurance Company Limited (NICL), to accelerate and help manage its digital transformation.
i. NICL has awarded a multi-year contract to Cognizant to elevate its technology roadmap, help manage its centralised web-based core insurance solution consisting of multiple applications, underlying technology infrastructure and security, and provide consulting services, among others.

27.    Where was the NATO summit 2022 held – Madrid.
NATO Leaders gathered in Madrid, Spain to discuss important issues facing the Alliance.

28.    The Strategic Disinvestment of Neelachal Ispat Nigam Limited (NINL) has been completed. Which has taken over NINL? Tata Steel Long Products Limited

29.    New York Convention recently seen in the news is related to:
(a) prevention of pollution from ships.
(b) protection of human health and environment from persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
(c) ensuring the enforcement of foreign arbitration awards worldwide.
(d) prevention of violation of human rights.
Answer : (C)

30.    With reference to Nixtamalisation, consider the following statements: 
1.It has been fortified maize with the chemical process known as ‘nixtamalisation’.
2. It also eliminates certain mycotoxins present in maize.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) Neither 1 nor 2
(b) Both 1 and 2 
(c) 1 only
(d) 2 only
Answer : (B)

31.    Name the company that recently (in July’22) signed an MoU with NTPC Renewable Energy Limited (NTPC REL) to set up India’s 1st commercial-scale Green Ammonia and Green Methanol projects.  Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Ltd.
NTPC Renewable Energy Limited (NTPC REL), a wholly owned subsidiary of NTPC Limited, signed an MoU with Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Limited (GACL) to set up India’s first commercial-scale Green Ammonia and Green Methanol projects.
i. The MoU envisions cooperation in the domains of Renewable Energy (RE), Green Methanol, and Green Ammonia, as well as mutually exploring the opportunities for the supply of 100 MW (megawatts) of RE -RTC (Round The Clock) power.

32.    Scientists have discovered a large ozone hole over which region? Tropics
The scientists at Canada's Waterloo University have discovered a large ozone hole in the lower stratosphere, which is seven times larger than the one over Antarctica. The new ozone hole was discovered over the tropics, the area between the tropic of Cancer and the tropic of Capricorn, and has reportedly been there for over 30 years.

33.    The Padma Shri awardee, “P. P. Gopinathan Nair,” recently (in July’22) passed away. In which field did he receive the Padma Shri Award in 2016?  Social Work
The Padma Shri award recipient and Freedom fighter, Padmanabha Pillai Gopinathan Nair (P. P. Gopinathan Nair) passed away at the age of 100 due to age-related illness in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
i. P. P Gopinathan Nair was known for following Gandhi’s ideologies and was actively involved in the freedom struggle. He was honoured with Padma Shri in 2016 for his contributions to society (in the field of Social Work).

34.    Who launched Pariksha Sangam Portal – CBSE
The CBSE Board has launched a portal called 'Pariksha Sangam' to streamline board examination results, sample papers, and other details in one single window.
The Pariksha Sangam has been divided into three main sections: Schools (Ganga), Regional offices (Yamuna), and Head office (Saraswati).

35.    Parul Chaudhary set a new national record in Indian women track athlete in how many meters race – 3000 meters
Parul Chaudhary smashed the national women’s 3,000 metres record at the Sound Running meet in Los Angeles, becoming the first athlete from India to clock a sub-nine minute time in the event.
The 27-year-old from Meerut covered the distance in 8 minutes 57.19 seconds as she finished third in the race on Saturday night. Chaudhary, who specialises in steeplechase, broke Suriya Loganathan’s record of 9:04.5, set in New Delhi six years ago.

36.    Who is popularly known as Payyoli Express? PT Usha
Popularly known as the Payyoli Express or the Queen of Indian track and field, PT Usha is one of India's most iconic sportspersons. She had narrowly missed winning India's first medal in track and field after finishing fourth in women's 400M at the 1984 Olympics. She is from Kozhikode, Kerala. 

37.    PM SVANidhi Scheme is often seen in the news. Consider the following statements about it: 
1. Street vendors are the beneficiary of the scheme.
2. The scheme incentivises the repayment by way of a 7% interest subsidy.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct? Select the correct answer using the codes below:
A Only 1
B Only 2
C Both 1 and 2
D Neither 1 nor 2
The Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs is organising ‘SVANidhi Mahotsav’ – a cultural festival for celebrating the success of the PM SVANidhi Scheme from 09 July to 31 July 2022.  Street vendors are the beneficiary of the PM SVANidhi Scheme.   The scheme facilitates collateral-free working capital loans upto ₹10,000, of 1-year tenure, with an enhanced loan of ₹20,000 and ₹50,000 in the second and third term, respectively, on repayment of earlier loans, to enable business expansion. The scheme incentivises the adoption of digital transactions by way of cashback of upto ₹ 100 per month, which would build their credit profile, facilitating future loans from the Lending Institutions. The scheme incentivises the repayment by way of a 7% interest subsidy. The structuring of the product was done in such a way that if a Street Vendor repays the loan EMIs promptly and conducts the required number of digital transactions, the interest subsidy and the cashback availed would make the loan interest-free.

38.    With reference to regarding Purchasing Managers' Index, consider the following statements: 
1. It shows trends in both manufacturing and services sector.
2. PMI is a number from 0 to 100.
3. PMI above 50 represents an expansion, under 50 represents a contraction, and reading at 50indicates no change.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer : (D)
The Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) is an index of the prevailing direction of economic trends in the manufacturing and service sectors.

39.    Who launched the RAMP scheme in Entrepreneur India Program – Narendra Modi

40.    Prime Minister unveiled a 30-feet tall bronze statue of Alluri Sitarama Raju in Bhimavaram town, Andhra Pradesh. Alluri Sitarama Raju is related with which rebellion? Rampa Rebellion, 1922
The Rampa Rebellion of 1922, also known as the Manyam Rebellion, was a tribal uprising led by Alluri Sitarama Raju in Godavari Agency of Madras Presidency, British India. It began in August 1922 and lasted until the capture and killing of Raju in May 1924

41.    The Shimla Agreement between India and Pakistan was signed by which Prime Minister from India? Indira Gandhi
The Simla Agreement signed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto of Pakistan on 2nd July 1972 was much more than a peace treaty seeking to reverse the consequences of the 1971 war (i.e. to bring about withdrawals of troops and an exchange of PoWs)

42.    Japan’s longest-serving leader and former PM Shinzo Abe recently (in July’22) passed away. In which year did the Netaji Research Bureau Honour him with the Netaji Award? 2022
Japan’s longest-serving leader and former Prime Minister (PM) Shinzo Abe passed away at the age of 67, after being shot by Tetsuya Yamagami (41-year-old resident of Nara), in the city of Nara in Japan.
i. He was a Japanese politician who served as PM of Japan and President of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2012 to 2020.
ii. Indian Honour- In January 2022, He was awarded Netaji Award 2022 by Netaji Research Bureau on the 125th Birth Anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

43.    With reference to Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet technology, consider the following statements: 
1. A ramjet is a form of air-breathing jet engine that uses the vehicle’s forward motion to compress incoming air for combustion without a rotating compressor.
2. Ramjets work most efficiently at supersonic speeds around Mach 3 and can operate up to speeds of Mach 6.
3. However, ramjet efficiency starts to drop at hypersonic speeds.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer : (D)
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight tested Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) booster at the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha on April 08, 2022

44.    Which bank recently (in July’22) signed an agreement with Kerala’s Forest & Wildlife Department for digital payments collection at eco-tourism centres? South Indian Bank
The South Indian Bank (SIB) has signed an agreement with Kerala’s Forest and Wildlife Department to enable digital collection of payments at eco-tourism centres, Vanasree shops, mobile Vanasree units and eco-shops across Kerala.
i. The partnership will commence by setting up 124 Point-of-sale (POS) machines under 36 forest department agencies across Kerala. After this partnership, the digital collection system of South Indian Bank will now be available at all 124 tourist spots that fall under the Forest Department.
About South Indian Bank (SIB):
MD & CEO – Murali Ramakrishnan
Establishment – 1929
Headquarters – Thrissur, Kerala

45.    The Indian Army organised the “Suraksha Manthan 2022” in which states/Union Territory? Rajasthan
The Desert Corps of the Indian Army organised the “Suraksha Manthan 2022”, on aspects of Border & Coastal Security at Jodhpur (Rajasthan).

46.    The Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs has recently launched ‘SVANidhi Mahotsav’ to celebrate the success of the PM SVANidhi Scheme. PM SVANidhi Scheme aims to benefit whom?
The Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs is organising ‘SVANidhi Mahotsav’ – a cultural festival for celebrating the success of the PM SVANidhi Scheme and the beneficiary street vendors & their families, from 09 July to 31 July 2022 in 75 cities across 33 States/UTs of the country. About PM SVANidhi Scheme:  The Scheme facilitates collateral-free working capital loans upto ₹10,000, of 1-year tenure, with an enhanced loan of ₹20,000 and ₹50,000 in the second and third term, respectively, on repayment of earlier loans, to enable business expansion. The Scheme incentivises the adoption of digital transactions by way of cashback of upto ₹ 100 per month, which in turn would build their credit profile, facilitating future loans from the Lending Institutions. The Scheme incentivises the repayment by way of a 7% interest subsidy. The structuring of the product was done in such a way that if a Street Vendor repays the loan EMIs promptly and conducts the required number of digital transactions, the interest subsidy and the cashback availed would make the loan interest-free.

47.    With reference to regarding Tamarind, consider the following statements: 
1.It is a semi evergreen tree native to Africa but also grows in India, Pakistan, and many other tropical regions.
2.It requires a good rainfall, average being 500-1500 mm during its growth, flowering and fruiting periods. It thrives best on deep, loamy or alluvial soils.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) Neither 1 nor 2
(b) Both 1 and 2 
(c) 1 only
(d) 2 only
Answer : (B)
More than 150 tamarind trees are facing the axe on the Sriperumpudur-Manimangalam state highway for a road expansion project.

48.    Who was awarded with the Ayurveda Ratna Award by the UK Parliament? Dr Tanuja Manoj Nesari

49.    Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated first-of-its-kind “Technology Innovation Hub on Autonomous Navigation” facility in which institution? IIT, Hyderabad
India’s first Autonomous Navigation Testbed (Aerial & terrestrials) facility, TiHAN was inaugurated by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Hon’ble Minister of State for Science and Technology & Earth Sciences at IIT Hyderabad on 4th July, 2022
It is seen as one of the steps toward India’s vision of ‘Atmanibhar Bharat’, ‘Skill India’ and ‘Digital India’.

50.    The Un-Plastic Collective (UPC) initiative is co-founded by
1) Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
2) United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
3) WWF-India
Choose the correct Option:
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (C)
The Un-Plastic Collective (UPC) is a voluntary initiative, co-founded by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and WWF-India.
The Collective seeks to minimize the externalities of plastics on the ecological and social health of our planet.
The word ‘un-plastic’ specifically refers to moving all types of plastics in a circular economy and removing unnecessary plastic in the long run, while using sustainable alternative materials.