GK & Current Affairs – July 17, 2016

1. Which state government of India has recently granted scheme for students of local language schools?
[A]West Bengal
[B]Goa
[C]Maharashtra
[D]Punjab
Answer: Goa
Notes:
The Goa government has recently granted scheme for students of local language schools. As per the scheme, aided primary schools having Konkani and Marathi as Medium of Instruction (MoI) will be provided a special grant of Rs.400 per student per month for 10 months in a year. The new monthly-grant scheme has been designed in the wake of difficulties faced by schools in accessing benefits under government’s “one-time grant scheme”.
2. The Transforming India portal has been launched by which union ministry?
[A]Ministry of Urban Development
[B]Ministry of Home Affairs
[C]Ministry of Finance
[D]Ministry of Law and Justice
Answer: Ministry of Law and Justice
Notes:
Ravi Shankar Prasad, the Union Minister of Law and Justice and the Communication and Information Technology, has recently launched ‘Transforming India’ web portal in New Delhi to share the impact of various governance initiatives with citizens in real-time basis. The web portal “www.transformingindia.mygov.in” will provide information in a user-friendly format and allow citizens to post pictures, videos and feedback on any schemes by the government. The portal will bridge the gap between citizens and government and provide a seamless interface for two way information interchange.
3. The Ramayana Masam has started in which state of India?
[A]Tamil Nadu
[B]Kerala
[C]Andhra Pradesh
[D]Telangana
Answer: Kerala
Notes:
The Ramayana Masam has begun in Kerala in the Malayalam month “Karkidakam” on July 16, 2016 and will ends on August 16. The famous Malayalam version of the Ramayana titled “Adhyatma Ramayanam Kilippattu” written by Thunchath Ezhuthachan is the one recited in the month. The book, considered holy by devotees, is recited by elder people from the beginning till the end of the Karkidakam month.
4. Which ancient site of India has recently declared as the UNESCO World Heritage Site?
[A]Mountain Railways of India
[B]Churches and Convents of Goa
[C]Nalanda Mahavihara
[D]Mahabodhi temple
Answer: Nalanda Mahavihara
Notes:
The archaeological site of Nalanda Mahavihara (also known as Nalanda University) in Bihar has been declared as the World Cultural Heritage by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) at the 40th session of the World Heritage Committee meeting in Istanbul, Turkey. The Nalanda site consists of the archaeological remains of a monastic and scholastic institution dating from the 3rd century BC to the 13th century AD. Besides the site of India, Zuojiang Huashan Rock Art Cultural Landscape (China), the Persian Qanat (Iran), Nan Madol: Ceremonial Center of Eastern Micronesia (Micronesia), Archaeological Site of Philippi (Greece), Antequera Dolmens Site (Spain), Archaeological Site of Ani (Turkey),Gorham’s Cave Complex (Britain) and Stecci — Medieval Tombstones Graveyards (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia) are also included.
5. Which committee has been constituted by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to study the regulatory issues relating to financial technology and digital banking in India?
[A]Nachiket Mor committee
[B]Sudarshan Sen committee
[C]M V Nair committee
[D]K S Krishnaswamy committee
Answer: Sudarshan Sen committee
Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has constituted Sudarshan Sen committee to study the regulatory issues relating to financial technology and digital banking in India. The committee will scope the developments in the Fin Tech space relating to technological platforms, major innovations, key players and how markets have adopted these new developments. It will also frame an appropriate regulatory response with an aim to increase Fin Tech and digital banking opportunities and also manage risks and challenges. The committee will submit its report within 6 months.
6. Which Indian personality will be the face of the “city compost campaign” under Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban)?
[A]Salman Khan
[B]Amitabh Bachchan
[C]Priyanka Chopra
[D]Deepika Padukone
Answer: Amitabh Bachchan
Notes:
The Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan will be the face of the “city compost campaign” under Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) to encourage citizens to use compost produced from municipal solid waste. He will appeal to all citizens, nursery owners and horticulture agencies to pledge to use only city compost in their gardens, farm houses and public gardens. In addition, he will make an appeal to bulk waste generators like educational institutions and hotels to set up decentralized composite equipment in their respective premises and encourage the citizens to segregate organic waste for further composting.
7. Suresh Ketkar, who passed away recently, was related to which field?
[A]Politics
[B]Sports
[C]Journalism
[D]Poetry
Answer: Politics
Notes:
Suresh Ketkar (84), the senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) pracharak, has recently passed away at Latur, Maharashtra.
8. Which state has become the first Indian state to set up ‘Happiness Department’?
[A]Himachal Pradesh
[B]Sikkim
[C]Madhya Pradesh
[D]Tripura
Answer: Madhya Pradesh
Notes:
Madhya Pradesh has become the first Indian state to set up ‘Happiness Department’. The new department will work to ensure happiness in the lives of common people on the lines of Bhutan. It will map and define parameters of happiness and efficiency and would chalk out directives/guidelines for coordination between departments in the direction of spreading happiness in the state. The Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will head the department. Bhutan is the only country in the world that measures its progress through the Gross Happiness Index (GHI).
9. Which is the the world’s first hospital on a train?
[A]Gatiman Express
[B]Jyoti Express
[C]Lifeline Express
[D]Red Cross Express
Answer: Lifeline Express
Notes:
The Lifeline Express (or Jeevan Rekha Express) is the world’s first hospital on a train, has celebrated 25 years of service to the poor and underprivileged masses of rural India in Mumbai, Maharashtra on July 16, 2016. It is also known as the Magic Train of India.The train, which is the flagship of Impact India Foundation, in partnership with the Indian Railways, has medically served more than 10 lakh poor in rural India, restoring sight, movement, hearing and correction of cleft lips with dental and neurological treatment and more, completely free of cost. The train has covered 173 projects in 18 states and also covered 2 lakh km distance.
10. The book “Courage & Commitment: An Autobiography” has been authored by whom?
[A]Pratibha Patil
[B]Margaret Alva
[C]Manmohan Singh
[D]Sonia Gandhi
Answer: Margaret Alva
Notes:
The book “Courage & Commitment: An Autobiography” has been authored by Margaret Alva. It is the story of the author that shows how a woman, a minority, from a small town middle class family grew up and survived in the turbulent politics of her times, without the backing of money power or business lobbies. It narrates the author’s 44-year career under four Prime Ministers- Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, PV Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh. It also tells about her transition from politician to Governor. .

The above 5 questions are part of Daily Current Affairs 20 MCQs Series in GKToday Android Application. This series can be subscribed in the app only for Rs. 799/- for entire year. Download Now