GK & Current Affairs – January 5, 6, 2016

1. In which of the following states Kakatiya thermal plant is located?
[A]Andhra Pradesh
[B]Telangana
[C]Karnataka
[D]Tamil Nadu
Answer: Telangana
Recently, the 600-MW Kakatiya thermal power plant Stage-II has been commissioned at Bhoopalapally in Warangal, Telangana. This is the first major power plant to be commissioned after the formation of the new State of Telangana in June 2014. The power plant is one of the coal based power plants of Telangana Power Generation Corporation Limited (TSGENCO).
2. Who of the following has been appointed as new chief of UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)?
[A]Helle Thorning
[B]Jeffry Sachs
[C]Filippo Grandi
[D]Achim Steiner
Answer: Filippo Grandi
Italian diplomat, Filippo Grandi has become the new chief of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). He succeeded Antonio Guterres, who was high commissioner for refugees since 2005. Prior to this, Grandi was the head of the UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA from 2010 to 2014. He was also deputy envoy to the UN aid mission in Afghanistan. The UNHCR organisation works worldwide to protect, assist and find solutions for refugees, internally displaced people and stateless populations.
3. Who of the following has become the first batsman to score more than a 1,000 runs in an innings in any form of cricket?
[A]Ravindra Wade
[B]Pranav Dhanawade
[C]Prithvi Shaw
[D]Mobin Sheikh
Answer: Pranav Dhanawade
The Mumbai cricketer, Pranav Dhanawade (15) has become the first batsman to score 1009 runs in an innings in any form of cricket in an officially recognised match. Dhanawade broked a 116-old cricketing record held by the English school boy A. E. J. Collins since 1899, of 628 not out. The match is played between K. C. Gandhi High School and Arya Gurukul School in a Bhandari Cup tournament. The tournament is an under-16 inter-school event organised by the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) for the benefit of suburban schools.
4. Who of the following has won the gold in the women’s 10 metre air rifle event at the Swedish Cup Grand Prix?
[A]Rahi Sarnobot
[B]Apurvi Chandela
[C]Rajyashree Kumari
[D]Chandro Tomar
Answer: Apurvi Chandela
Apurvi Chandela has won the gold in the women’s 10 metre air rifle event at the Swedish Cup Grand Prix with a score of 211.2 points. In this event, Chandela also broked the world record of Chinese gold medallist Yi Siling, who held the world record of 211 points. The silver and bronze went to Swedish shooters Astrid Steffensen and Stine Nielsen.
5. In which of the following states the Ganga Gram Yojana has been launched?
[A]Uttarakhand
[B]Bihar
[C]West Bengal
[D]Uttar Pradesh
Answer: Uttar Pradesh
The Union Government has launched Ganga Gram Yojana at Village Puth in Hapur district, Uttar Pradesh. Under the programme, 1600 villages will be developed. In the first phase of the yojana, 200 villages have been selected. In these villages open drains falling into river Ganga will be diverted to alternative arrangements for sewage treatment. The villages will have toilets in every household. It is proposed to incur an expenditure of Rs 1.0 crore on every village. These villages will be developed under the Sichewal model. It may be noted that Sichewal is situated in Punjab where villagers cooperation has been solicited for the water management and waste disposal is a meticulous way.
6. For what purpose, the Stand Up India Scheme has been launched?
[A]to promote entrepreneurship among SC/ST
[B]to promote entrepreneurship among rural youth
[C]to promote entrepreneurship among Woman
[D]to promote entrepreneurship among SC/ST and Women
Answer: to promote entrepreneurship among SC/ST and Women
Recently, the Union Government has launched the Stand Up India Scheme to promote entrepreneurship among SC/ST and women entrepreneurs through banks. In it, every bank branch, including private sector, has to provide credit facilities to at least one SC/ST and one women entrepreneur at lower rates. Under the scheme, the loans are for greenfield enterprises in the non-farm sector and will range between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 1 crore. These bank loans would be repayable up to 7 years. The scheme will be a refinance window through Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) with an initial amount of Rs.10,000 crore.
7. Who of the following is the author of the novel titled – Go Set a Watchman?
[A]Cynthia Lord
[B]Bill Clegg
[C]Marlon James
[D]Harper Lee
Answer: Harper Lee
Harper Lee’s second novel – Go Set a Watchman topped the US bestseller list in 2015, selling 1.6 million copies more than half a century after her Pulitzer-winning first book was published.
8. Which of the following companies publishes Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI)?
[A]National Stock Exchange of India Limited
[B]BSE Institute Limited
[C]Markit
[D]HSBC Analytics
Answer: Markit
The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) is an economic indicator of business activity, is published by Markit Limited. The index is a survey-based measure in the manufacturing and services sectors. The index figure above 50 denotes expansion in business activity and anything below 50 denotes contraction. The Markit limited is a leading global diversified provider of financial information services. It provides independent data, trade processing of derivatives, foreign exchange and loans, customised technology platforms and managed services.
9. The “fountain of oneness” is located in which of the following cities?
[A]Ajmer
[B]Delhi
[C]Agra
[D]Khajuraho
Answer: Delhi
The unique architectural structure “fountain of oneness” has been opened by the Sant Nirankari Mission in Nirankari Sarovar Complex at Burari Road, Nirankari Chowk in Delhi (North). The visitors can experience a divine show of music, light and water in evening time on every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The fountain gives the message of the oneness of mankind and the four pathways of the architecture depict people from varied religions, cultures and languages to come together at one place and join hands with love, affection and brotherhood.
10. Who of the following is the creator of Star Wars?
[A]Catherine Winder
[B]Scott Murphy
[C]George Lucas
[D]Lawrence Kasdan
Answer: George Lucas
Star Wars is a science fiction franchise comprised of movies, books, comics, video games, toys, and animated shows. It is a fictional universe created by George Lucas.

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