Current Affairs 17th January 2021

Current Affairs of the morning are here with the top headlines of the morning. Current Affairs are very important for all competitive exams including Banking, SSC, RBI, NABARD, etc.

 

01. Uttar Pradesh Government has
made it compulsory to have a
COVID-19 negative report for all
the devotees who want to attend
Magh Mela. Magh Mela
celebrations took place at
________.
A. Agra
B. Meerut
C. PrayagRaj
D. Varanasi

Answer: C.

Explanation: Uttar Pradesh Government has made it compulsory to have a
COVID-19 negative report for all the devotees who want to attend Magh Mela in Prayagraj.
● It is mandatory for devotees coming to the Magh Mela,
Prayagraj and Sant Samagam, Mathura, and other religious
congregations to bring negative reports of RT-PCR test done before five days of attending the fair.
● The COVID -19 negative report must be done through the RT
– PCR test method.

02. Recently, India and ADB signed an
USD 10 million project readiness
financing (PRF) to help expand
horticulture production and farm
household income in _________.
A. Rajasthan
B. Punjab
C. Himachal Pradesh
D. Uttarakhand

Answer: C.

Explanation: India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a USD
10 million project readiness financing (PRF) to help finance piloting
activities and design and capacity building for an ensuing project
that aims to expand horticulture production and farm household
income in Himachal Pradesh.
● The PRF project will support advanced actions to achieve a high
level of project readiness through detailed design activities.

03. Which of the following state/UT
has signed a historic MoU with
National Agricultural Cooperative
Marketing Federation of India Ltd
(NAFED) for the Horticulture
sector?
A. Andaman and Nicobar
B. Punjab
C. Sikkim
D. Jammu and Kashmir

Answer: D.

Explanation: In Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Territory Administration
signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with
National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of
India Ltd. (NAFED), an apex organization of marketing
cooperatives for agricultural produce.
● The MoU is seen as a game changer for the Horticulture
sector in the Union Territory.
● High Density plantation of Apple, Walnut, Cherry, Flowers etc
has potential to increase the income of farmers by three to
four times.

04. Recently, Dzuko Valley is in news
due wildfire in its hill ranges.
Dzuko Valley is in _________.
A. Assam
B. Sikkim
C. Arunachal Pradesh
D. Manipur

Answer: D.

Explanation: In Manipur, efforts to extinguish a wildfire in the
hill ranges of Dzuko Valley in Senapati District
continued.
● Two Indian Air Force Mi-17 V5 helicopters
were deployed to spray water.

05. World Braille Day is observed every
year on __________.
A. 02 January
B. 03 January
C. 04 January
D. 05 January

Answer: C.

Explanation: World Braille Day is celebrated every year on January 4.
● The day is observed to commemorate the birth
anniversary of Louis Braille — the inventor of Braille for
persons with visual disabilities.
● Louis Braille was born on January 4, 1809, in Coupvray,
France.

06.  Who among the following released
the inaugural issue of the National
Police K-9 Journal in New Delhi?
A. Rajnath Singh
B. Amit Shah
C. Piyush Goel
D. Nirmala Sitharaman

Answer: B.

Explanation: Union Home Minister Amit Shah released the inaugural
issue of the National Police K-9 Journal in New Delhi.
● It is the first such publication in the country on the subject
of Police Service K9s, Police Dogs.
● This is a unique initiative that will further enrich the
subjects related to Police Service Dog, K-9, PSK teams in
the country.

07.  In January, 2021 The Prime Minister
Narendra Modi laid the foundation
stone of AIIMS at ___________.
A. Indore
B. Imphal
C. Belgaum
D. Rajkot

Answer: D.

Explanation: The Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the
foundation stone of AIIMS Rajkot.
● AIIMS Rajkot will boost health infrastructure,
medical education and provide employment
opportunities in Gujarat.

08. According to an recent report
prepared by Climate Resilient
Observing Systems Promotion
Council (CROPC), which of the
following state has observed
maximum number of deaths due to
Lightning?
A. Bihar
B. Uttar Pradesh
C. Rajasthan
D. Assam

Answer: B.

Explanation: Lightning strikes have caused 1,771 deaths between April 1, 2019 and March 31, 2020.
● Uttar Pradesh with 293 deaths, Madhya Pradesh 248, Bihar 221, Odisha 200 and Jharkhand 172 deaths
together accounted for more than 60 per cent of the numbers, which are 33 percent of total fatalities from all
natural disasters during the time period.

09. Which of the following country has
been chosen as the co-chair of the
IUCN-supported Asia Protected
Areas Partnership (APAP) for a
period of three years till November
2023?
A. India
B. Vietnam
C. Bangladesh
D. Indonesia

Answer:  A.

Explanation: India has been chosen as the co -chair of the IUCN -supported Asia Protected Areas Partnership (APAP) for a period of three years till
November 2023.

● The APAP is chaired by IUCN ( International Union for Conservation
of Nature) Asia and co-chaired by an APAP nation member on a rotational basis.
● India will replace South Korea,which held the post for 3 years until
November, 2020
.

● As a co-chair, India would be responsible to assist other Asian countries in managing their protected areas.

10. Recently, the DCGI has approved the
restricted use in emergency situation
of two Covid19 vaccines- Astra
Zeneca’s Covishield and Bharat
Biotech’s Covaxin. Who among the
following is the current Drug
Controller General of India?
A. Rakesh Asthana
B. Sandeep Desai
C. V G Somani
D. Pradeep Joshi

Answer: C.

Explanation:

Drugs Controller General of India, DGCI has given approval for
restricted use in emergency situations of two Covid19 vaccines Astra Zeneca’s Covishield and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin.
● The decision of the DGCI came after the Subject Expert
Committee (SEC) of Central Drugs Standard Control
Organisation (CDSCO) recommended their emergency use.
● The announcement in this regard was made by Drug Controller
General of India V G Somani.