Current Affairs Quiz 20th and 21st August 2022 : Daily GK Update

Exp. Mandla becomes country’s first fully ‘functionally literate’ district

Madhya Pradesh’s tribal-dominated ‘Mandla’ region has become the first fully “functionally literate” district in the country.

The literacy rate in the district was 68 percent as per a survey in 2011, while another report in 2020 pointed out that over 2.25 lakh people were not literate in the district and most of them were tribals living in the forest areas.

The district administration in 2020 launched the “Niraksharta Se Azadi Abhiyaan” to make the residents functionally literate.

A person can be called functionally literate when he or she is able to write his or her own name, to count, and read and write in Hindi.

About Madhya Pradesh

• Capital –Bhopal

Chief Minister – Shivraj Singh Chauhan

Governor – Mangubhai C. Patel

Exp. Shiprocket becomes India’s 106th unicorn

Shiprocket became India’s 106th unicorn after raising $33.5 million in a funding round co-led by Temasek and Lightrock India.

Shiprocket was valued at around $1.2 billion with the fresh round of funding.

Shiprocket is a logistics technology platform supported by Zomato. it  was established in 2017 and now serves more than 66 million customers annually while tripling in size year over year.

The term unicorn refers to a privately held startup company with a value of over $1 billion.

Recently in May, Neobank startup, OPEN became the 100th unicorn in India.

UNICORN START – UPS

100th – OPEN FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGIES

101st – PHYSICS WALLAH

102nd – PURPLLE

103rd – LEAD SQUARED

104th – ONE CARD

105th – 5IRE

Exp. Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik scheme completed 5 years

Ministry of Civil Aviation’s flagship program Regional Connectivity Scheme UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) has completed 5 years of success.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was launched first flight under UDAN on April 27, 2017. The scheme aims to connect small and medium cities with big cities through air service.

In the last five years, UDAN has significantly increased the regional air-connectivity in the country. There were 74 operational airports in 2014. Because of the UDAN scheme this number has increased to 141 by now.

68 underserved/unserved destinations which include 58 Airports, 8 Heliports & 2 Water Aerodromes have been connected under UDAN scheme. With 425 new routes initiated under the scheme, UDAN has provided air connectivity to more than 29 States/ UTs across the length and breadth of the country.

In the five years, scheme has benefited more than 1 crore passengers till August 4, 2022.

Exp. Maharashtra declared ‘Dahi Handi’ an official sport

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has announced that ‘Dahi-Handi’ will now be recognised as an official sport in the state.

The govt will introduce “Pro-Dahi-Handi” competitions in the state.

The ‘Govindas’ will also get jobs under the sports category apart from Rs 10 lakh insurance cover.

“Dahi Handi” is a popular event in the state, associated with Lord Krishna’s birthday, Janmashtami.

About Maharashtra

• Capital – Mumbai
• Chief Minister– Eknath Sindhe
• Governor – Bhagat Singh Koshyari

Exp. 17th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas to be held at Indore in January 2023

The 17th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (PBD) will be held at Indore in January 2023.

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is celebrated every year on 9 January to mark the contribution of the overseas Indian community in the development of India.

It also commemorates the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India on 9th January 1915.

16th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (2021) Chief Guest: Chandrikapersad Santokhi, President of Suriname

Last year, amid the COVID-19 pandemic the 16th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas was held in a virtual format on 9th January 2021 with the theme “Contributing to Aatmanirbhar Bharat”.

About Madhya Pradesh

• Capital –Bhopal

Chief Minister – Shivraj Singh Chauhan

Governor – Mangubhai C. Patel

Exp. Rajasthan with highest share in cost of projects approved by banks: RBI

An RBI article has revealed Rajasthan has accounted for the highest share in the total cost of projects sanctioned by banks and financial institutions in FY22.

The state has retained the top position for two consecutive years.

Uttar Pradesh at the second position followed by Gujarat.

State-wise data reveals that during 2021-22, more than half (56.4 percent) of the projects were taken up in five states, viz., Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu.

The share of these five states increased significantly from an average share of 40.7 percent during the period between 2012-13 and 2019-20 to more than 50 percent during the last two years.

The article is titled ‘Private Corporate Investment: Growth in 2021-22 and Outlook for 2022-23.

About Rajasthan

Capital – Jaipur

Chief Minister – Ashok Gehlot

Governor – Kalraj Mishra

Exp. Government reappointed Ajay Bhalla as Union Home Secretary for one year

The Central Government has extended the term of Union home secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla by one year.

This is his third extension in the post.

He was initially set to retire in November 2020.

Bhalla, a 1984-batch IAS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, was appointed as the Home Secretary in August 2019.

Recent Appointments

• Finance Secretary/ Expenditure Secretary -V.Somnathan
• Cabinet Secretary – Rajiv Gauba
• Home Secretary – Ajay Kumar Bhalla
• Health Secretary – Rajesh Bhushan
• Cheif Economic Adviser – V. Anantha Nageswaran
• Corpoate Affairs Secretary – Rajesh Verma

Exp. Rajnath Singh inaugurated National Seminar on ‘Introspection: Armed Forces Tribunal’ in New Delhi.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has inaugurated a National Seminar on ‘Introspection: Armed Forces Tribunal’.

It has been organized by the Armed Forces Tribunal (Principal Bench) Bar Association in New Delhi.

The objective of the seminar is to analyze its working, suggest remedies for any shortcomings. It also aims at resolving the problems and difficulties faced by the litigants in course of availing speedy justice.

It is being conducted as a part of the Raising Day celebrations of the Armed Forces Tribunal.

Exp. India and China participate in Vostok-2022 held in Russia

Indian army and Chinese Army will attend the Vostok 2022 military exercises that will be held in Russia from August 30 to September 5.

Belarus, Tajikistan, and Mongolia will also contribute troops for the Vostok-2022 drill, according to the China‘s Ministry of Defense.

The strategic command and staff exercise will be held under the chief of Russia’s General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, at 13 training grounds of the Eastern Military District.

In 2021, India had attended ZAPAD 2021 drills in Russia in which 17 countries including China and Pakistan.

About Russia

• Capital –Moscow
• Currency –Rubel
• President –Vladimir Putin

Recent Exercise

The biennial Pacific Dragon ballistic missile defense exercise between the military of South Korea, the United States and Japan is being held from August 01 to August 14, 2022 off the coast of Hawaii.

4th Edition of India-Oman Joint Military Exercise ‘AL NAJAH-IV’ is scheduled to be held in Rajasthan at the Foreign Training Node of Mahajan Field Firing Ranges.

3rd India-Vietnam Bilateral Army Exercise “Ex VINBAX 2022” to begin at Chandimandir in Haryana.

India-Japan conducted a Maritime Partnership exercise (MPX) in the Andaman Sea.

38th India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol (IND-INDO CORPAT) Conducted in Andaman Sea.

Exp. Vietnam & India bilateral army exercise VINBAX-2022 concluded at Chandimandir

The 3rd Edition of Ex VINBAX 2022 Bilateral Army Exercise between India and Vietnam has been concluded at Chandimandir, Haryana.

The next edition of VINBAX will be hosted in Vietnam in 2023.

Theme of Ex VINBAX – 2022: Employment and deployment of an Engineer Company and a Medical Team under United Nations Contingent for Peacekeeping Operations.

Objective – Strengthening mutual confidence and interoperability

About Haryana

• Capital –Chandigarh

Chief Minister – Manohar Lal Khattar

Governor – Bandaru Dattatreya

Recent Exercise

Indian Army participates in a multinational exercise “Ex Khaan Quest 2022” where 16 other countries also took part in Mongolia.

India-Bangladesh bilateral defence cooperation, a joint military training exercise Ex SAMPRITI-X is being conducted at Jashore Military Station in Bangladesh from 05 June to 16 June 2022.

Third edition of Indian Navy – Bangladesh Navy Bilateral Exercise ‘Bongosagar’ commenced at Port Mongla, Bangladesh.

4th edition of India-Bangladesh Navy Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) commenced in the northern Bay of Bengal.

Trishakti Corps conducts EX KRIPAN SHAKTI in Siliguri, West Bengal.

Exp. IAF to participate in Exercise Pitch Black 2022

An Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent has reached Australia to participate in Exercise ‘Pitch Black 2022.’

This exercise is scheduled to be held from 19 Aug to 08 Sep 2022 in Australia’s Darwin.

Four Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jets and two C-17 heavy-lift aircraft of the Indian Air Force joined a 17-nation air combat exercise in Australia.

It is a biennial, multi-national exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force.

Over 100 aircraft and 2,500 personnel from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Indonesia, India, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Republic of Korea, the UAE, Singapore, Thailand, the US, and the UK are participating in the exercise in Australia’s Northern Territory.

The IAF contingent, led by Group Captain YPS Negi, comprises over 100 air warriors in this exercise.

Exp. Paralympian Rahul Jakhar won Gold in WSPS Shooting World Cup 2022

Paralympian Rahul Jakhar has won the gold medal in the WSPS Shooting World Cup 2022 in Changwon, South Korea.

He won the gold medal in the 25-metre competition.

Besides Rahul, Avani Lekhara & Pooja Agarwal won the silver and bronze medals respectively.

Exp. Manisha Kalyan becomes 1st Indian to play in UEFA League

Manisha Kalyan has become the first Indian footballer to play at the UEFA Women’s Champions League 2022.

She made her debut for Apollon Ladies FC in the European Club competition in Engomi, Cyprus.

She was recently awarded the AIFF Women’s Footballer of the Year for the 2021-22 season.

Kalyan had produced impressive performances for the national team and Gokulam Kerala in the Indian Women’s League (IWL).

Kalyan is the second player from Gokulam Kerala to sign for an overseas club after Dangmei Grace joined Uzbek outfit FC Nasaf.

Exp.  FIBA U-18 women Asian Basketball championship to be held in Bengaluru

Karnataka Sports and Youth Empowerment minister Dr. Narayanagowda has announced that Bengaluru will host FIBA U-18 women Asian Basketball championship from September 5th to 11th.

The international event will be organised in the Sree Kanteerava Indoor stadium and Koramangala Indoor stadiums.

Division A team will compete with Division B team in the championship to qualify for the FIBA World Championship to be held in July 2023 in Spain.

Division A will consist of teams from India, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Chinese Taipei, Australia, and New Zealand. Division B will consist of teams from Hong Kong, Jordan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Philippines, and Thailand in the FIBA U-18 women’s Asian Basketball Championship.

The event in Bengaluru would feature 192 basketball players from 16 different countries, 96 officials, and 100 volunteers.

About Karnataka

• Capital –Bengaluru

Chief Minister –Basavaraj Bommai

Governor – Thawar Chand Gehlot

Exp. 19 August – World Photography Day

World Photography Day is observed every year on August 19 to celebrate the beautiful art of photography.

Objective – To create awareness, share ideas and encourage people to take up photography

Theme 2022 – Pandemic Lockdown through the lens

This day was originated after the invention of the ‘daguerreotype’. Daguerreotype is a photographic process that was developed in 1837 by Frenchmen Louis Daguerre and Joseph Nicephore Niepce.

On August 19, 1839, the French government has announced about the invention of the daguerreotype.

Exp. 20 August – World Mosquito Day

World Mosquito Day is observed on August 20 every year.

Objective – To create awareness among the public so that they can handle mosquito-borne diseases in a careful manner.

Theme 2022 – Harness innovation to reduce the malaria disease burden and save lives

World Mosquito Day is recognised in honour of Sir Ronald Ross, who in 1897 identified the connection between mosquitoes and the spread of malaria.

Exp.  Author of Kocharethi, Narayan passed away

Kerala’s first tribal novelist and short story writer Narayan has passed away at the age of 82 in Kochi.

He was born in the Malayaraya community in Kadayathur hills in Thodupuzha taluk in 1940.

His debut novel, ‘Kocharethi’ published in 1998, was selected for the Kerala Sahitya Akademi award in 1999.

The novel has been translated to English, Hindi and south Indian languages.