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Current Affairs Quiz: 18 August 2020

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AffairsCloud brings you the complete and important daily Current Affairs 18 August 2020 Quiz to achieve more marks in Banking, Insurance, UPSC, SSC, CLAT, Railways and all other competitive Exams. We have prepared the current affairs quiz question from our daily current affairs 2020 updates.

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Questions Based on Current Affairs 18 August 2020

  1. PM Narendra Modi has announced the launch of National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) recently. Name the nodal agency which will implement NDHM.
    1) Central Drugs Laboratory
    2) Rural Health Training Centre
    3) National Centre for Disease Control
    4) National Health Authority
    5) Central Health Education Bureau
    Answer-4) National Health Authority
    Explanation:
    PM Narendra Modi announced the launch of the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) under which every Indian will get a health ID that will store the individual’s medical records. It will be implemented through National Health Authority (NHA), which is also responsible for the implementation of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). The finance ministry has approved a budget of Rs 470 crore for the proposal, but the final NHA proposal may not seek more than Rs 400 crore. The mission has been rolled out in 6 Union Territories (UTs) viz. Chandigarh, Ladakh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.

  2. PM Modi set the target of 1000 days to provide submarine optical fibre connectivity to connect which UT with mainland India (Department of telecommunications will implement the project)?
    1) Ladakh
    2) Chandigarh
    3) Puducherry
    4) Lakshadweep
    5) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
    Answer-4) Lakshadweep
    Explanation:
    In order to boost mobile and broadband communication between mainland India and the group of islands situated on the Laccadive Sea, off the southwestern coast of India, PM Narendra Modi set a target of 1,000 days to provide submarine optical fibre connectivity to connect Lakshadweep with mainland India. The Department of telecommunications (DoT) under the Ministry of Communications will oversee the project. Also, in the upcoming 1000 days nearly 6 lakh Indian villages will be connected with optical fibre.

  3. How many Indian villages will be connected with optical fibre in next 1000 days (approx)?
    1) 2 Lakh
    2) 6 Lakh
    3) 3 Lakh
    4) 5 Lakh
    5) 4 Lakh
    Answer-2) 6 Lakh
    Explanation:
    In order to boost mobile and broadband communication between mainland India and the group of islands situated on the Laccadive Sea, off the southwestern coast of India, PM Narendra Modi set a target of 1,000 days to provide submarine optical fibre connectivity to connect Lakshadweep with mainland India. The Department of telecommunications (DoT) under the Ministry of Communications will oversee the project. Also, in the upcoming 1000 days nearly 6 lakh Indian villages will be connected with optical fibre. The BharatNet which is the world’s largest rural broadband connectivity programme using Optical fiber being implemented by Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL)

  4. PM Modi announced 10 year long project to conserve which animal (project led by Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Keshav Javadekar)?
    1) Indian Giant Flying Squirrel
    2) Gangetic Dolphin
    3) Dugong
    4) Red Panda
    5) Asiatic Peacock
    Answer-2) Gangetic Dolphin
    Explanation:
    On the lines of “Project Tiger” and “Project Elephant”, PM Modi announced the “Project Dolphin” To give a stronger impetus for the conservation of the Gangetic Dolphins which were declared National Aquatic Species in 2010. It is a 10-year-long project led by Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Keshav Javadekar. The project involves conservation of Dolphins and the aquatic habitat through the use of modern technology specially in enumeration and anti-poaching activities.As per official figures, there are around 3,700 Gangetic River Dolphins in India.

  5. Who heads the committee formed by central government to reconsider the minimum age for marriage for women?
    1) Vinod Paul
    2) Jaya Jaitly
    3) Vasudha Kamath
    4) Dipti Shah
    5) Najma Akhtar
    Answer-2) Jaya Jaitly
    Explanation:
    The centre has set up a committee chaired by Jaya Jaitly to reconsider the minimum age for marriage for women and appropriate action will be taken after a report is submitted. The government is focused towards equal opportunities for self-employment and employment to women.

  6. The Gwalior Chambal Expressway in Madhya Pradesh was named after whom?
    1) Sushma Swaraj
    2) Arun Jaitley
    3) Atal Bihari Vajpayee
    4) Babulal Gaur
    5) Manohar Parrikar
    Answer-3) Atal Bihari Vajpayee
    Explanation:
    Addressing the gathering on the 2nd death anniversary of the former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan, announced that the Gwalior Chambal Expressway will be named as Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Chambal Progressway. Chouhan also stated that a grand statue of Vajpayee will be set up in Bhopal.

  7. The Indian railways constructing world’s tallest pier bridge across Ijai river in which state/UT?
    1) Uttarakhand
    2) Arunachal Pradesh
    3) Ladakh
    4) Goa
    5) Manipur
    Answer-5) Manipur
    Explanation:
    As a part of 111 kilometre-long Jiribam-Tupul-Imphal line project, Indian Railways’ North East Frontier Railway zone is constructing the world’s tallest pier bridge, having height of 141 metres, across river Ijai in Manipur with an outlay of Rs 280 crore. After completion, it will surpass the existing height record of 139 meters of the Mala – Rijeka Viaduct, Montenegro in Europe. The 703 meters long bridge is located at the hilly terrain of Marangching village in Noney district, about 65 km west of Imphal, Manipur. The project will be completed in March 2022.

  8. Which ministry has launched ‘Nasha-Mukt Bharat’ campaign?
    1) Ministry of Home Affairs
    2) Ministry of Health and Family Affairs
    3) Ministry of Social justice and Empowerment
    4) Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
    5) Ministry of Panchayat Raj
    Answer-3) Ministry of Social justice and Empowerment
    Explanation:
    The State Governments and the 272 District Collectors launched a seven-month-long anti-drugs campaign namely “NashaMukt Bharat” or “Drug-Free India” by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (SJE) which will run till March 31, 2021. In order to give impetus to this launch, Union Minister of SJE Thaawarchand Gehlot addressed 272 district collectors, 31 State Secretaries as well as doctors, NGOs (non-government organizations) and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officers through videoconferencing.

  9. Union minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Thaawarchand Gehlot inaugurated new building of National Institute of Social Defence in which city?
    1) Chennai
    2) Mumbai
    3) New Delhi
    4) Noida
    5) Patna
    Answer-3) New Delhi
    Explanation:
    The union minister Thaawarchand Gehlotinaugurated a building of the National Institute of Social Defence (NISD) in Dwarka, New Delhi during the videoconferencing. The building will serve as the nodal training and research centre for its three main divisions, namely National Centre for Drug Abuse Prevention (NCDAP), Old Age Care Division and Social Defence.

  10. Union minister Nitin Gadkari has laid foundation stone for 13 new highway projects in which state/UT recently?
    1) Arunachal Pradesh
    2) Meghalaya
    3) Assam
    4) Manipur
    5) Tripura
    Answer-4) Manipur
    Explanation:
    Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways, Nitin Jairam Gadkari laid the foundation stone for 13 highway projects and inaugurated a Road Safety Project in Manipur through video conference.

  11. India Post has issued 5 Commemorative Postage Stamps and 1 miniature sheet on UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India-III recently. Where does the Khajuraho Group of Monuments Javeri Temple located?
    1) Delhi
    2) Gujarat
    3) Madhya Pradesh
    4) Telangana
    5) Karnataka
    Answer-3) Madhya Pradesh
    Explanation:
    India Post has issued 5 Commemorative Postage Stamps namely: Historic City of Ahmedabad- Sarkhej Roza, Churches and Convents of Goa- Church of Bom Jesus, Group of Monuments at Pattadakal, Khajuraho Group of Monuments Javeri Temple and QutbMinar its Monuments, Delhi. It also issued 1 miniature sheet consisting of all the above stamps on UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India-III.Group of Monuments at Pattadakal- Karnataka, Khajuraho Group of Monuments Javeri Temple- Madhya Pradesh.

  12. Name the Meghalaya CM who has launched restart Meghalaya Mission worth Rs. 14,515 crores to revive the development activities in the state.
    1) Neiphiu Rio
    2) Pu Zoramthanga
    3) SarbanandaSonowal
    4) Conrad KongkalSangma
    5) N. Biren Singh
    Answer-4) Conrad KongkalSangma
    Explanation:
    On 15th August 2020, on the occasion of the 74th Independence Day, Conrad K Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya launched the restart Meghalaya Mission worth Rs. 14,515 crores to revive the development activities which were stalled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  13. Which ministry has launched “Fit India Freedom Run” on the occasion of Independence Day 2020?
    1) Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
    2) Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
    3) Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
    4) Ministry of Labour and Employment
    5) Ministry of Tribal Affairs
    Answer-2) Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
    Explanation:
    Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Kiren Rijiju has launched a country-wide event “Fit India Freedom Run” from August 15(74th Independence Day) to October 2(151st Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi) through an online programme.

  14. The Ministry of AYUSH has launched a three-month campaign on “Ayush for Immunity” recently. Who is the present AYUSH minister (MoS I/C)?
    1) Santosh Kumar Gangwar
    2) KirenRijiju
    3) Rao Inderjit Singh
    4) Raj Kumar Singh
    5) Shripad Yesso Naik
    Answer-5) Shripad Yesso Naik
    Explanation:
    To enhance immunity and prevent any disease, The Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) has launched a three-month campaign on “Ayush for Immunity” through webinar on Ayush Virtual Convention Centre (AVCC),which aims to increase awareness about affordable and easy practices to boost immunity. Shripad Yesso Naik is the MoS Independent charge for AYUSH ministry.

  15. Which PSU has developed an infrastructure to transport fly ash from power plants in bulk to cement plantsat a cheaper cost?
    1) NTPC
    2) GAIL
    3) ONGC
    4) SAIL
    5) BHEL
    Answer-1) NTPC
    Explanation:
    NTPC has developed infrastructure at the Rihand project in Uttar Pradesh to transport fly ash in bulk to cement plants, located at distance, at a cheaper cost. The development is in line with NTPC’s commitment towards 100 percent utilisation of fly ash from power plants.

  16. How much pound worth “Innovation Challenge Fund 2020” was launched by United Kingdom government for India to tackle COVID-19 challenges and climate change?
    1) £3 million
    2) £2 million
    3) £5 million
    4) £4 million
    5) £1 million
    Answer-1) £3 million
    Explanation:
    The government of United Kingdom (UK) launched a £3 million “Innovation Challenge Fund 2020” in India to support scientists in academia and industry to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change. The Innovation Challenge Fund 2020 of £3 million to India is provided to Maharashtra(£1.5 million) & Karnataka(£1.5 million).

  17. Which state government has launched ‘PadhaiTuhar Para’ scheme for school students?
    1) Chhattisgarh
    2) Haryana
    3) Punjab
    4) West Bengal
    5) Odisha
    Answer-1) Chhattisgarh
    Explanation:
    Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel launched the ‘PadhaiTuhar Para’ scheme to enable school students to learn from their respective localities as the classes are being suspended due to the outbreak of the coronavirus. He informed that a Bluetooth-based programme ‘BultuKe Bol’, ‘Mukhyamantri Slum Swasthya Yojana’, ‘Radhabai Diagnostic Centre Scheme’ will also be introduced and committees will be set up for new appointments and promotions in the state.

  18. Which bank has launched ‘DIGITAL APNAYEN’ campaign to promote digital banking?
    1) Indian Overseas Bank
    2) State Bank of India
    3) Canara Bank
    4) Punjab National Bank
    5) Oriental Bank of Commerce
    Answer-4) Punjab National Bank
    Explanation:
    S SMallikarjuna Rao, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Punjab National Bank(PNB) launched a campaign, ‘DIGITAL APNAYEN’ to encourage customers to use digital banking channels and participate in the noble cause of donating to PM CARES Fund for COVID-19. The campaign begins on 15th August 2020 and runs till 31st March 2021.The bank under the campaign will contribute Rs 5 towards the PM CARES Fund on behalf of each customer who conduct the 1st financial transaction.

  19. Name the company which joined hands with Central Water Commission of India for flood forecasting initiatives.
    1) Facebook
    2) Google
    3) Microsoft
    4) Apple
    5) Amazon
    Answer-2) Google
    Explanation:
    Google in association with the Central Water Commission(CWC) of India launched the flood forecasting initiatives across India for the past several months. Central Water Commission is the first governmental partner of Google to measure water levels on an hourly basis using around 1000 stream gauges across India.

  20. The 4th edition of NPPC 2020: Digital Exhibitions and Conferences was virtually inaugurated by Union minister Piyush Goyal recently. Name the organisation which organised the event along with Government e Marketplace (GeM).
    1) Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI)
    2) Electronic Component Industries Association (ELCINA)
    3) National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM)
    4) Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
    5) Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM)
    Answer-4) Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
    Explanation:
    Piyush Goyal, Union Commerce and Industry & Railways Minister virtually inaugurated the 4th edition of 2 day ‘National Public Procurement Conclave (NPPC) 2020: Digital Exhibitions and Conferences’, on August 9, 2020(the anniversary of GeM Establishment Day) under the theme “Technology enabled Govt Procurement -Towards efficiency, transparency, and Inclusiveness”. It is organized by Government e Marketplace (GeM), in association with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) through CII Hives Digital Platform.

  21. Who heads the 5-member committee formed by Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau for the investigation of Kozhikode plane crash?
    1) Ved Prakash
    2) SS Chahar
    3) Mukul Bharadwaj
    4) YS Dahiya
    5) Jasbir Singh
    Answer-2) SS Chahar
    Explanation:
    The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau(AAIB) formed a 5-member panel headed Captain S SChahar to investigate the circumstances of the Air India Express Dubai-Calicut flight IX 1344Crash at the Kozhikode airport, Kerala on 7th August 2020. The 5-member team will probe and determine the cause and contributory factors that led to the accident. The team will also make recommendations to avoid similar accidents in the future. Captain S SChahar, the in charge of the investigation will submit his reports within next 5 months.

  22. The astronomers at which institute has found a baby galaxy called “SPT0418-47” through ALMA telescope recently?
    1) Harvard university
    2) Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    3) Stanford University
    4) Max Planck Institute of Astrophysics
    5) ETH Zurich
    Answer-4) Max Planck Institute of Astrophysics
    Explanation:
    The Astronomers at the Max Planck Institute of Astrophysics found a baby galaxy called “SPT0418-47” a look-alike of the Milky galaxy at 12 billion light-years away using the Atacama Large Millimeter/sub-millimeter Array(ALMA) Telescope.

  23. Who is the 1st Indian cricketer to score century in all the 3 formats (Test, ODI, T20)?
    1) MS Dhoni
    2) Rohit Sharma
    3) Suresh Raina
    4) KL Rahul
    5) Virat Kohli
    Answer-3) Suresh Raina
    Explanation:
    Former India Skipper and Wicket-Keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni& Veteran middle-order Batsman Suresh Kumar Raina announced retirement from International Cricket on August 15, 2020.Suresh Kumar Raina was born on 27 November 1986 in Muradnagar, Uttar Pradesh, India. He is the first Indian batsman to hit a century in all three formats of international cricket and is considered as one of the best fielders.

  24. Name the person who claims the record number of podium finishes in F1 history.
    1) Charles Leclerc
    2) Lewis Hamilton
    3) Valtteri Bottas
    4) Sebastian Vettel
    5) Max Verstappen
    Answer-2) Lewis Hamilton
    Explanation:
    Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton claimed his 156th Podium with a victory in Spanish Grand Prix. It is the Fourth race of the season at the Circuit de barcelona-Catalunya, Spain. Lewis Hamilton now holds the record for most podium finishes in F1 history surpassing Former F1-Great Michael Schumacher’s record.

  25. Who is the only captain in the history of the cricket to win three ICC trophies (T20 WC, ODI WC, CT)?
    1) MS Dhoni
    2) Ricky Ponting
    3) Stephen Fleming
    4) Steve Waugh
    5) Virat Kohli
    Answer-1) MS Dhoni
    Explanation:
    Former India Skipper and Wicket-Keeper Mahendra Singh PansinghDhoni& Veteran middle-order Batsman Suresh Kumar Raina announced retirement from International Cricket on August 15, 2020.Dhoni is the only captain in the history of the game to win three ICC trophies – 2007 World T20, 2011 World Cup and 2013 ICC Champions Trophy.

  26. Who authored the book named “The Beauty of Living Twice”?
    1) Angelina Jolie
    2) Jennifer Lawrence
    3) Gal Gadot
    4) Natalie Portman
    5) Sharon Stone
    Answer-5) Sharon Stone
    Explanation:
    Hollywood Actor Sharon Stone announced the release of her Memoir “The Beauty of Living Twice” in March 2021. She unveiled the cover of the book on Twitter.The book is set to be published by Alfred A Knopf, and is set to release both in hardcover and ebook.

  27. Name the person who written the book titled, “Full Spectrum: India’s Wars, 1972-2020”.
    1) Idris Latif
    2) Kapil Kak
    3) Arjun Subramaniam
    4) Manmohan Bahadur
    5) None of the Above
    Answer-3) Arjun Subramaniam
    Explanation:
    Retired Air Vice Marshal Arjun Subramaniam has authored a new book titled, “Full Spectrum: India’s Wars, 1972-2020″. The book portrays the comprehensive account of war and conflict in contemporary India over the past five decades next month. It will be published by HarperCollins Publishers India Pvt. Ltd. It is the sequel to his 1st book, ‘India’s Wars: A Military History, 1947-1971’.

  28. Who authored the book titled, ‘Tharoorosaurus’?
    1) Tarun Vijay
    2) Anil Baluni
    3) Mahendra Singh Mahra
    4) Jairam Ramesh
    5) Shashi Tharoor
    Answer-5) Shashi Tharoor
    Explanation:
    Author and MP Shashi Tharoor is known for his excellent language and diction. He has often gone viral for using an obsure or large word and causing all his followers to look it up. Now, he is coming out with a new book just dedicated to such words. Titled Tharoorosaurus, the book name is a wordplay of his name mixed with the word thesaurus, which is a book or software that helps find synonyms for words. The book is published by Penguin Random House India and will have 53 words, one for each letter of the alphabet.

  29. Chetan Chauhan who passed away in August 2020 is a renowned ________.
    1) Cricketer
    2) Politician
    3) Singer
    4) Both 1) and 2)
    5) All the 1), 2) and 3)
    Answer-4) Both 1) and 2)
    Explanation:
    Former Indian cricketer and Uttar Pradesh (UP) Cabinet Minister of Sainik Welfare, Home Guards, PrantiyaRakshak Dal and Civil Security Chetan Chauhan(Full Name- Chetan Pratap Singh Chauhan) passed away at 73 in Medanta hospital, Gurugram, Haryana due to COVID-19.He belongs to Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP). He was honoured with the Arjuna award in 1981. He was born on July 21, 1947 in Bareilly, UP.

  30. Find the organisation which has partnered with Sports Authority of India and jointly launched E-Pathshala, a web platform?
    1) Billiards and Snooker Federation of India (BSFI)
    2) Boxing Federation of India(BFI)
    3) All India Football Federation(AIFF)
    4) National Rifle Association of India(NRAI)
    5) Archery Association of India (AAI)
    Answer-3) All India Football Federation (AIFF)
    Explanation:
    On 15th August 2020, on the occasion of 74th Independence Day, The All India Football Federation(AIFF) and the Sports Authority of India(SAI), jointly launched the E-Pathshala, a web platform to recognise creativity of the children and to develop their interest in football.

  31. Find the state government which has launched ‘Yellow Chain’ e-commerce platform on Independence Day 2020.
    1) Assam
    2) Tripura
    3) Mizoram
    4) Nagaland
    5) Manipur
    Answer-4) Nagaland
    Explanation:
    Chief Minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio launched ‘Yellow Chain’ an e-commerce platform during the State level celebration of India’s Independence Day at Secretariat Plaza, Kohima. The centralized e-commerce platform is expected to promote local business & entrepreneurship in the state. It is seen as a “new era in Naga marketing culture”.‘Yellow chain’ is developed by Investment & Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN) to promote local business & entrepreneurship. It has also released an app for mobile services in the same name.

STATIC GK based on Current Affairs

  1. Which state government has planned to develop biodiversity park on around 100 acres in Kasan in the Aravalli mountain range?
    1) Madhya Pradesh
    2) Punjab
    3) Rajasthan
    4) Haryana
    5) Maharashtra
    Answer-4) Haryana
    Explanation:
    A biodiversity park will be developed on about 100 acres in the Aravalli mountain range at Gurgaon’s Kasan village, Haryana Forest and Tourism Minister Kanwar Pal announced recently.

  2. Bhitarkanika National Park is located in which state?
    1) Rajasthan
    2) Bihar
    3) West Bengal
    4) Odisha
    5) Gujarat
    Answer-4) Odisha
    Explanation:
    Endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles have finished their eight-day-long ‘arribada’ or nesting on Nasi-1 and Nasi- 2 islands at the Gahiramatha marine sanctuary in Odisha. Around 4,07,194 turtles laid eggs from 14-21 March, 2020, in the sanctuary that is known as the world’s largest rookery of sea turtles and is located within the Bhitarkanika National Park in Kendrapara district.

  3. Blue Bay Marine Park which is in news recently is located in which country?
    1) Sri Lanka
    2) Indonesia
    3) Maldives
    4) Mauritius
    5) Australia
    Answer-4) Mauritius
    Explanation:
    A Japanese bulk-carrier ship MV Wakashio which was carrying fuel oil has split into two parts near Blue Bay Marine Park in south-east Mauritius. The ship was already leaking and has caused an oil spill of over 1000 tonnes in the Indian Ocean.The vessel has broken near Pointe d’esny in Mauritius and the area has many environmentally sensitive zones.

  4. Indravati National Park is located in which state?
    1) Chhattisgarh
    2) Haryana
    3) Punjab
    4) West Bengal
    5) Odisha
    Answer-1) Chhattisgarh
    Explanation:
    The Indravati National Park is located in Chhattisgarh.

  5. What is the constituency of union Railway minister, Piyush Goyal?
    1) Uttarakhand (Rajya Sabha)
    2) Karnataka (Rajya Sabha)
    3) Madhya Pradesh (Rajya Sabha)
    4) Gujarat (Rajya Sabha)
    5) Maharashtra (Rajya Sabha)
    Answer-5) Maharashtra (Rajya Sabha)
    Explanation:
    The constituency of union Railway minister, Piyush Goyal is Maharashtra (Rajya Sabha).