Current Affairs Quiz Set 56

1. Till when will be the term of Fifteenth Finance Commission be valid?

1. 30^thNovember, 2019
2. 1^st December, 2019
3. 30^thOctober, 2019
4. 20^thNovember, 2019

S-a

E-

• The Union Cabinet has approved the extension of the term of Fifteenth Finance Commission up to 30^thNovember, 2019.
• It will enable the Commission to examine various comparable estimates for financial projections in view of reforms and the new realities to finalise its recommendations for the period 2020-2025.
• The Fifteenth Finance Commission has been constituted by the President on 27^tnNovember, 2017 in ' pursuance of clause (1) of article 280 of the Constitution and Finance Commission (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1951.

2. With which of the following countries will India have ‘Hand in Hand’ exercise?

1. China
2. Bhutan
3. Nepal
4. Bangladesh

S-a

E-

• Hand-in-Hand is a joint military exercise of India and China. This year it will be held in Umroi near Shillong, Meghalaya.
• It was started in 2007.

3. How many beaches in India have been shortlisted for the Blue Flag challenge?

1. 12
2. 11
3. 10
4. 14

S-a

E-  

• The Union Environment Ministry has selected 12 beaches in India to vie for a ‘Blue Flag’ certification, an international recognition conferred on beaches that meet certain criteria of cleanliness and environmental propriety.
• There are nearly 33 criteria that must be met to qualify for a Blue Flag certification, such as the water meeting certain quality standards, having waste disposal facilities, being disabled- friendly, have first aid equipment, and no access to pets in the main areas of the beach.

4. Where will be India’s first space tech park situated?

1. Kerala
2. Telangana
3. Andhra Pradesh
4. Gujarat

S-a

E-  

• The Kerala government will set up the country’s first space tech park at Thiruvananthapuram's Knowledge City. The move is aimed at making the city a manufacturing hub for space-related technology.
• The entire investment will be made by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), a major space research centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

5. Which of the following has acquired Yatra Online Inc.?

5. Trivago
6. Make My Trip
7. GoIbibo
8. Ebix

S-d

E:  

• Ebix Inc., a supplier of on-demand software and e-commerce services has acquired online travel portal Yatra Online Inc., for an enterprise value of $337.8 million, in an all stock transaction.
• However, Yatra will continue to be independently run and will retain its brand and status in India.

6. Till when is India planning to convert all electricity meters to prepaid smart meters?

1. 2022
2. 2021
3. 2020
4. 2023

S-a

E:

• In what will help improve the fortunes of India’s beleaguered power sector, the government plans to convert all electricity meters into smart prepaid meters by 2022.
• The strategy is part of the government’s electricity distribution plan prepared by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), India’s apex power sector planning body, and comes at a time when the new government is trying to step up its efforts to supply 24x7 power to all.
• Creating a smart meter architecture minimises human intervention in metering, billing and collection process and helps in reducing theft by identifying loss pockets.
• It requires a two-way communication network, control centre equipment and software applications that enable near real-time gathering and transfer of energy usage information.

7. According to the latest amendment of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), what will be the timeline for the insolvency resolution process, including any legal challenges, and uphold secured creditors’ priority right on the sale or liquidation proceeds of bankrupt companies?

1. 330 days
2. 320 days
3. 300 days
4. 290 days

S-a

E:

• The Union cabinet cleared major changes to the bankruptcy law that will enforce a strict 330-day timeline for the insolvency resolution process, including any legal challenges, and uphold secured creditors’ priority right on the sale or liquidation proceeds of bankrupt companies.
• The eight amendments to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) will also aid decision-making in the case of bankrupt entities such as property developers, which have a large number of creditors, including homebuyers.
• IBC currently allows a maximum of 270 days for clearing a resolution plan, but courts have taken the lenient approach of excluding the time spent on legal challenges by various parties from this time frame.

8. Who among the following won the women Wimbledon 2019?

1. Simona Halep
2. Serena Williams
3. Naomi Osaka
4. Maria Sharapova

S-a

E:

• Romanian tennis star Simona Halep stunned seven-time champion Serena Williams to win the Wimbledon title for the first time in her career .
• Halep beat Serena 6-2, 6-2 to win the title at the iconic venue in London. This is Halep’s second grand slam title after winning French Open in 2018.
• The result denied Williams from equalling Margaret Court’s all-time record of winning 24 Grand Slam singles titles.
• She became the first Romanian to win the Wimbledon title.

9. Which of the following countries won the ICC World Cup 2019?

1. England
2. New Zealand
3. India
4. Australia

S-a

E:  

• In the grand finale of ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 (CWC 19), England cricket team defeated New Zealand cricket team in the Super Over thriller to lift their maiden World Cup title at The Lord’s cricket stadium in London.

10. Who among the following has been named as the player of the Tournament in the ICC World Cup 2019?

1. Kane Williamson
2. Ben Stokes
3. Virat Kohli
4. Jasprit Bumrah

S-a

E:

• Kane Williamson, New Zealand’s captain was awarded with the Man of the Tournament and Ben Stokes awarded with the Man of the Match award at the Lord's.

11. Which of the following countries will host the World Cup 2019?

1. Sri Lanka
2. India
3. Pakistan
4. New Zealand

S-b

E:

• The 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup will be held in India from February 9 to March 26, 2023.
• It will be the 13th edition of the men's Cricket World Cup and will also mark the first time that the tournament will be solely hosted by India.
• The country has previously hosted the tournament thrice (1987, 1996, 2011) but every time co-hosting it with its Asian neighbours

12. Who among the following has won the Wimbledon Men 2019 title?

1. Dominic Thiem
2. Rafael Nadal
3. Novak Djokovic
4. Roger Federer

S-c

E:

• Novak Djokovic became the first man in 71 years to win Wimbledon after facing match points in the final, coming back to beat Roger Federer in an unprecedented fifth-set tiebreaker. This triumph also earned Djokovic his 16th Grand Slam trophy, moving him closer to the only men ahead of him in tennis history: Federer with 20, and Rafael Nadal with 18.

13. When is the International Nelson Mandela Day observed?

1. 10 July
2. 11 July
3. 12 July
4. 18 July

S-d

E:

• International Nelson Mandela Day is observed every year on July 18. This years’ celebration marks 100 years since the birth of Nelson Mandela.
• This day is an occasion to reflect on his life and legacy, and to follow his call to ‘make of the world a better place.’
• United Nation on November 2009 announced that every year 18 July will be celebrated as Nelson Mandela Day.

14. When is the World Youth Skills Day observed?

1. 14 July
2. 15 July
3. 11 July
4. 12 July

S-b

E:

• The United Nations, at its General Assembly in November 2014, declared 15 July as World Youth Skills Day.  Theme 2019- Learning to learn for life and work

15. Who among the following has been conferred with the Arjuna Award in 2019?

1. Smriti Mandhana
2. Rohan Bopanna
3. Both (a) & (b)
4. Hema Das

S-c

E:

• Cricketer Smriti Mandhana and tennis star Rohan Bopanna were conferred with the Arjuna Awards by Union Sports minister Kiren Rijiju.