2024 Latest Current Affairs, Daily Current Affairs in 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020

1 .

PM Narendra Modi recently inaugurated several projects related to Somnath Temple. In which state is the historic temple located?

A)

Maharashtra

B)

Uttar Pradesh

C)

Gujarat

D)

Madhya Pradesh

Correct Answer : Gujarat

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is all set to inaugurate multiple projects at Gujarat’s Somnath August 20, 2021 via video conferencing.

The projects that will be inaugurated include the Somnath Promenade, Somnath Exhibition Centre, and the reconstructed temple precinct of Old (Juna) Somnath.

The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation of Shree Parvati temple during the event. The temple will be constructed under a budget of Rs. 30 crore which will include the construction of Sompura Salats Style, development of Garbha Griha and Nritya Mandap.

The PMO released a statement which said that Somenath Promenade has been constructed under the PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive) scheme at a cost of Rs. 47 crore.

The Somnath Exhibition Centre has been developed under in the area of ‘Tourist Facilitation Centre’ which exhibits the dismantled parts of the Somnath temple and it’s architectural structure which is Nagar style of the old Somnath temple which was destroyed.

The reconstructed areas of the old temple has been done under the Somnath Trust Fund costing Rs. 3.15 crore. The whole old temple complex has been redeveloped for the safety of pilgrims and with increased capacity.

Published On : August 21, 2021

2 .

Which drugmaker's antibody cocktail therapy has proven to be successful at preventing COVID-19, as per a study?

A)

Pfizer

B)

Moderna

C)

Covaxin

D)

AstraZeneca

Correct Answer : AstraZeneca

Trial data from AstraZeneca on 20-08-2021 raised the prospect of a new treatment to prevent COVID-19 beyond vaccines, giving hope in particular for people who respond poorly to immunisation shots.

AstraZeneca, a UK-based biopharmaceutical company, on August 20, 2021, announced that its PROVENT Phase-III prophylaxis trial of its antibody cocktail therapy AZD7442, a combination of two long-acting antibodies (LAAB), met the primary goal of preventing COVID-19 in late-stage cases.

Published On : August 20, 2021

3 .

A 14-yr-old Indian, Diksha Shinde was selected as a panelist on which space agency's MSI Fellowships Virtual Panel?

A)

ESA

B)

NASA

C)

ISRO

D)

JAXA

Correct Answer : NASA

Diksha Shinde, who is a 14-year-old girl in Aurangabad, was selected as a panellist on Minority Serving Institution (MSI) Fellowships Virtual Panel of American Space Agency, NASA.

* She wrote a theory on black holes. It was liked and accepted at NASA.
* Her research paper on ‘We Live in Black Hole?’ was accepted by International Journal of Scientific and Engineering Research in May 2021.

* She won the research competition that was organised by International Astronomical Search Collaboration.

* She has been selected as a panellist for 2021 MSI Fellowships Virtual Panel in June.

* She will get training at NASA when she will turn 18. She will also attend a conference which will be held in October 2021. NASA will bear all her expenses.

Published On : August 20, 2021

4 .

Dronacharya Awardee coach OM Nambiar passed away on August 19th. He was the coach of which Indian track legend?

A)

PT Usha

B)

Dutee Chand

C)

Milkha Singh

D)

Anju Bobby George

Correct Answer : PT Usha

Renowned athletics coach O.M Nambiar, who nurtured one of India’s greatest track and field stars PT Usha, died here on 19-08-2021 due to age-related illness. He was 89. Nambiar is survived by his wife Leela, three sons and a daughter. He breathed his last at his residence in Vadakara, a coastal own in Kozhikode district.

One of the first Dronacharya Award winners and this year’s Padma Shri awardee was hospitalized around a week ago, after which he was brought back home. Usha said Nambiar, who was battling the Parkinson’s disease, had a heart attack 10 days ago.

Published On : August 20, 2021

5 .

Ismail Sabri Yaakob has been appointed as the new Prime Minister of which nation?

A)

Russia

B)

Germany

C)

Nigeria

D)

Malaysia

Correct Answer : Malaysia

Malaysia’s king appointed the country’s third prime minister in just 18 months, marking the return to power of a pro-Malay party that ruled the country for decades as virus cases reach new highs.

The monarch on 20-08-2021 selected Ismail Sabri Yaakob, the deputy leader of the previous government, as the new prime minister. The longtime member of the United Malays National Organisation will be sworn in on Aug. 21, according to a statement from the palace, which said he commanded the support of 114 lawmakers in the 220-member body.

The appointment caps weeks of political upheaval, which prompted Muhyiddin Yassin and his entire cabinet to resign on Monday after 17 months in office amid mounting anger over his handling of the pandemic and the economy. Daily Covid-19 cases hit a record for a third day on Friday despite a seven-month state of emergency and multiple lockdowns.

“His Majesty expressed his views that with the appointment of the prime minister, the government should continue efforts to fight the Covid-19 pandemic immediately for the benefit and safety of the people and the country’s wellbeing, which are greatly affected by this crisis and the pandemic threat,” the palace said in a statement.

Published On : August 21, 2021

6 .

Who recently developed advanced Chaff Technology to safeguard IAF Jets?

A)

HAL

B)

ISRO

C)

DRDO

D)

NASA

Correct Answer : DRDO

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed an advanced chaff technology, which is used to distract enemy's radar-guided missiles, to safeguard Indian Air Force fighter jets from enemy missiles.

The IAF has started the process of induction of this technology after the completion of successful trials, a DRDO statement said 19-08-2021.

Two DRDO laboratories developed the "advanced chaff material and chaff cartridge - 118/I" and it has met the qualitative requirements of the IAF, the statement mentioned.

"The importance of this (advanced chaff) technology lies in the fact that very less quantity of chaff material deployed in the air acts as decoy to deflect enemy's missiles for ensuring safety of the fighter aircraft," it stated.

The technology has been given to the industry for production in large quantities to meet the annual rolling requirement of the IAF, it noted.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh 19-08-2021 lauded the DRDO, the IAF and the industry for indigenous development of this critical technology, terming it one more DRDO step towards 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' in the strategic defence technologies, the statement mentioned.

Published On : August 20, 2021

7 .

The â€œJAZBAA-E- TIRANGAâ€ Relay Marathon was organised in which state/UT by the Indian Army?

A)

Uttarakhand

B)

Jammu & Kashmir

C)

Uttar Pradesh

D)

Himachal Pradesh

Correct Answer : Jammu & Kashmir

In Jammu and Kashmir, the indian Army organised a 400 Km “JAZBAA-E- TIRANGA” Relay Marathon. The event was flagged off by Major General Rajeev Puri, General Officer Commanding, Ace of Spades Division, who led the relay, closely followed by other military personnel.

Published On : August 20, 2021

8 .

How much amount has been earmarked by the Ministry of Defence for domestic procurement through Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative for the financial year 2021-2022?

A)

Rs 500 crore

B)

Rs 1000 crore

C)

Rs 2000 crore

D)

Rs 3000 crore

Correct Answer : Rs 1000 crore

The Ministry of Defence has earmarked Rs 1,000 crore for domestic procurement through iDEX initiative for the financial year 2021-2022. The Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence has approved a budgetary support of Rs. 498.80 crore for iDEX for the next 5 years from 2021-22 to 2025-26.

Published On : August 20, 2021

9 .

Which tech platform has been launched by India in collaboration with the UN, for improving the safety and security of the UN peacekeepers?

A)

Unite Aware

B)

Plugged Ware

C)

Ultimate Visual

D)

Cognizant View

Correct Answer : Unite Aware

United Nations, Aug 18 (PTI) India, in collaboration with the United Nations, on 18-08-2021 launched a technology platform to ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers who are operating in an increasingly complex and risky environments across the world.

The launch of the UNITE AWARE platform came as India assumed the Presidency of the 15-nation UN Security Council for the month of August.

The project, for which India has contributed USD 1.64 million, was launched in the presence of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar here at the UN headquarters.

Later, in his address to the UN Security Council's open debate on Technology & Peacekeeping, Jaishanakar said that UN peacekeeping “simply cannot” afford to cede the information advantage to actors determined to undermine prospects for peace by using modern technology to aid their violent cause.

“21st-century peacekeeping must be anchored in a strong ecosystem of technology and innovation that can facilitate UN peacekeeping operations in implementing their mandates in complex environments," he said.

Published On : August 20, 2021

10 .

The Minister of State for Culture addressed the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Culture Ministers Meeting under the Chairship of Tajikistan. Name the MoS for culture in GoI.?

A)

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat

B)

Ashwini Kumar Choubey

C)

Mansukh Mandaviya

D)

Arjun Ram Meghwal

Correct Answer : Arjun Ram Meghwal

Minister of State for Culture, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal participated in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Culture Ministers Meeting on 18 August, 2021 hosted by Tajikistan during their ongoing Chairship of SCO in 2021.

Discussion was held on the development of cultural and humanitarian cooperation, prospects for cooperation in the field of culture within the SCO, including in the post-pandemic period and importance of cultural cooperation within the SCO, which has enormous potential for strengthening inter-state understanding.

The Minister of State for Culture addressed participants of the meeting and presented India’s perspective on cultural cooperation within SCO. He mentioned India’s association with SCO as Member State and commitment towards mutual support and cooperation in the field of culture. He cited India’s initiatives of online exhibition on ‘Shared Buddhist Heritage’ and translation of Indian Classics in official languages of SCO (Russian and Chinese) accomplished on the sidelines of SCO Council of Heads of Government Meeting, 2020 hosted by India.

Published On : August 20, 2021