Monthly Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2018

Notes:
As part of the 2018 Republic Day celebrations, cultural extravaganza Bharat Parv will organize by the Union Ministry of Tourism at the Red Fort in Delhi from January 26 to 31, 2018. The prime objective of the 3-day event is to generate a patriotic mood, promote the rich cultural diversity of the country and to ensure wider participation of the general public. The event includes display of Republic Day Parade Tableaux, Performances by the Armed Forces Bands, a Multi-Cuisine Food Court, Craft Mela, Cultural Performances from different regions of the country and Photo Exhibition by the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP). The Cultural Performances include choreographed Folk and Tribal Dances and Music arranged through the North Zonal Cultural Centre as well as performances by cultural troupes from the different States and Union Territories. Bharat Parv will be open for public from 12 Noon to 10 PM. The event is open for public and entry is free. However, identity proof is to be carried for entry to the event.

Notes:
The Andhra Pradesh government has signed a sister-state agreement with the Canton of Zurich in a bid to strengthen the friendly ties and promote mutual understanding. The Letter of Intent (LOI) was signed by Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu and Zurich Councillor and Head of the Department for Economic Affairs Carmen Walker Späh in the presence of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. The purpose of LOI is to achieve mutual prosperity and development. The agreement will strengthen economic and scientific relations between the two governments in the areas such as information and communication technology, environmental technology, life sciences and urban and regional Development.

Notes:
Rachel Morrison, an American cinematographer, has been nominated for the 90th Academy Awards 2018 for her work in the film ‘Mudbound’. With this, she has become the first female cinematographer to receive an Oscar nomination in the 89-year-old history of the Awards.

Notes:
India’s first indigenously developed vaccine “Rotavac” has been pre-qualified by the World Health Organisation (WHO). To be “pre-qualified” means that the vaccine can be sold internationally to several countries in Africa and South America. The vaccine was developed by the Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech Limited (BBL) and was included in India’s national immunisation programme. The Rotavac vaccine protects against childhood diarrhea caused by the rotavirus. Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhoea and kills more than 200,000 children every year.

Notes:
Supriya Devi, the veteran Bengali film actress and Padmashri awardee, has passed away in Kolkata, West Bengal on January 26, 2018. She was best known for her portrayal of Neeta in Ritwik Ghatak’s ‘Meghe Dhaka Tara’ (The Cloud-Capped Star). During her over five-decade career in the Bengali film industry she delivered hits and classics like Sonar Harin, Chowringhee, Bagh Bandi Khela, Meghe Dhaka Tara, among others. Some of her other contemporaries and co-stars include Soumitra Chatterjee and Sabitri Chattopadhyay.

Notes:
Roger Federer, a Swiss professional tennis player, has won the 2018 men’s Singles title in the Australian Open 2018. He successfully defended his title by defeating 6th seeded Marin Cilic of Croatia by 6-2,6-7, 6-3 3-6, 6-1. With this, Federer won his sixth title at the Australian Open equalling the record held by Roy Emerson and Novak Djokovic. The win has brought the Swiss to the elite group of Margaret Court, Serena Williams and Steffi Graf, the only players to have won 20 or more Grand Slam singles titles.

Notes:
Dr. Gurcharan Singh Kalkat (91), the former agriculture commissioner of India and Padam Shri and Padam Bhushan awardee, has passed away in Chandigarh, Punjab on January 27, 2018. He was known for his contribution during the Green Revolution era which led to a boom in the production of wheat and rice in the country. He was the one who even ushered a soybean revolution in Punjab. Kalkat was also the former vice-chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University (Ludhiana) from 1998-2001.

Notes:
The 2018 International Bird Festival will be held at the Dudhwa National Park in Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh from February 9 to 11 with nearly 200 leading ornithologists expected to attend. The purpose of the bird fest is to promote eco-tourism in Dudhwa and to give it a distinct international identity besides highlighting its traditional Tharu arts, culture, and heritage. Eminent documentary maker Mike Pandey will be the brand ambassador of the festival. During the three-day event, the bird experts would visit various parts of Dudhwa to gather information about the 450 bird species existing there.

Notes:
Kalamandalam Geethanandan (58), the acclaimed Ottanthullal artist, has passed away while performing at Avittathur Mahavishnu Temple in Avittathur, Kerala on January 28, 2018. He, who performed on more than 5,000 stages across the country, was also a tutor of Ottanthullal at Kerala Kalamandalam for decades. He had acted in many films, including Mohanlal’s Kamaladalam.

Notes:
Achanta Sharath Kamal from Tamil Nadu has won the 79th edition of the 11Even Sports National Senior Table Tennis Championship 2018 by defeating top-seed Anthony Amalraj in the final by 4-1 in Ranchi, Jharkhand. With this, he lifted the National men’s singles title for the 8th time and equaled the record of Kamlesh Mehta. The winner received Rs 2 lakh as prize money. Suthirta Mukherjee from West Bengal emerged the new women champion, beating Hyderabad Nationals winner Manika Batra 4-3. Her maiden effort fetched Rs 1.5 lakh, while Manika received 50% less in prize money.