GK & Current Affairs – January 20, 21, 2016
1. Who has won the 2016 Lady Wigram Trophy motor race?
[A]Jack Brabham
[B]Jehan Daruvala
[C]Jackie Stewart
[D]Pedro Piquet
Answer: Jehan Daruvala
The Sahara Force India Academy racer, Jehan Daruvala has won the 2016 Lady Wigram Trophy motor race, which is one of New Zealand’s most prestigious events. It is the Daruvala’s maiden victory in Formula cars since making the switch from karting in 2015.
2. The Kosi basin project is coming up in which state?
[A]Chattisgarh
[B]West Bengal
[C]Jharkhand
[D]Bihar
Answer: Bihar
The Government of India (GoI) has signed financing agreement with World Bank for US$ 250 million for Bihar Kosi Basin Development Project. The objective of the project is to enhance resilience to floods and increase agricultural production and productivity in the targeted districts in the Kosi River Basin and to enhance Bihar’s capacity to respond promptly and effectively to an eligible crisis or emergency.
3. The Machia Biological Park is located in which state?
[A]Rajasthan
[B]Sikkim
[C]Nagaland
[D]Manipur
Answer: Rajasthan
Recently, the Rajasthan government has inaugurated the state’s second biological park ‘Machia Biological Park’ in Jodhpur. The new park will have a food store, cafeteria, interpretation centre, ticket window, visitors and service roads and will be opened for public in March 2016. The park is spread over 41 hectare and is the house of lions, tigers, jackals, hyenas, desert cats and desert foxes, etc.
4. Who is the author of the book titled “The Z Factor: My Journey as the Wrong Man at the Right Time”?
[A]Mahendra Verma
[B]Vijay Joshi
[C]Subhash Chandra
[D]Narayan Pandit
Answer: Subhash Chandra
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently released a book named “The Z Factor: My Journey as the Wrong Man at the Right Time”. The book is the autobiography of Essel Group Chairman Dr. Subhash Chandra. Dr Chandra is referred to as the Media Moghul of India, revolutionised the television industry by launching the country’s first satellite Hindi channel Zee TV in 1992 and later the first private news channel, Zee News.
5. Which of the following countries will host Exercise Force Eighteen?
[A]Indonesia
[B]China
[C]India
[D]France
Answer: India
India will host a seven-day military exercise “Exercise Force Eighteen” that to be held on March 2 to 8, 2016 in Pune, Maharashtra. The focus of the exercise on humanitarian mine action and peace keeping operations and to allow the armies of these countries to develop a common understanding in handling any complex situation. The exercise is part of a concerted attempt by India towards constructive joint efforts of ASEAN Plus militaries to enhance the peace and security of the region. In the exercise, 18 ASEAN Plus countries, including Japan, China, South Korea and the US, will take part in the exercise.
6. Which of the following committees has been set up on Yoga Education in Universities?
[A]Swami Atmapriyananda committee
[B]Ishwar Bharadwaj committee
[C]H.R. Nagendra committee
[D]Suresh Lal Barnawal committee
Answer: H.R. Nagendra committee
The Union Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry has set up a 12-member committee on Yoga Education in Universities, which is headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Yoga guru Prof. H.R. Nagendra. Prof. Nagendra is the Chancellor of Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana, Samsthana, Bengaluru. The committee will identify Yoga courses to offer and the syllabus for conducting NET in Yogic Art and Science.
7. Who has won the 14th Delhi International Open chess title?
[A]Sayantan Das
[B]Ivan Popov
[C]Vitaly Sivuk
[D]Valeriy Neverov
Answer: Ivan Popov
The Russian chess grandmaster, Ivan Popov has recently won the 14th Parsvnath Delhi International Open Chess Title, after edging out on tiebreak Attila Czebe and Valeriy Neverov, after all three players finished on 8/10 points.
8. The 2016 World Economic Forum (WEF) annual conference has been started in which city?
[A]Berlin
[B]New York
[C]Davos
[D]Paris
Answer: Davos
The 2016 World Economic Forum (WEF)’s 46th annual conference has been started at the Swiss ski resort of Davos, Switzerland. The official theme is “Mastering the Fourth Industrial Revolution”. In this edition of WEF meeting, approx. 2,500 top business leaders, international political leaders, selected intellectuals and journalists would discuss the most pressing issues facing the world like outlook of the global economy, measures to fight terrorism, inequality, etc.
9. Mrinalini Sarabhai, who passed away recently, was related to which fields?
[A]Classical dancer
[B]Scientist
[C]Journalist
[D]Sportsperson
Answer: Classical dancer
Noted danseuse and Padma Bhushan awardee, Mrinalini Sarabhai (97) passed away in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. She was the wife of renowned Indian scientist and the father of India’s space programme Vikram Sarabhai. She was a trained Bharatanatyam, Kathakali and Mohiniyattam dancer.
10. Which of the following satellite vehicles has successfully put the Satellite IRNSS-1E in orbit?
[A]PSLV-40
[B]GSLV III
[C]PSLV-31
[D]GSLV Mk II
Answer: PSLV-31
On January 20, the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) successfully put the IRNSS-1E in orbit using Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-31. The 1,425 kg satellite was the fifth to be launched as part of the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) which will consist of a constellation of seven satellites.