Daily Current Affairs and GK | 09 and 10 February 2020

1. Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat Campaign started across the country

• Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat Abhiyan has started across the country.
• This campaign will continue till 28 February.
• The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is organizing the 18-day campaign.
• During National Integration Day in 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had put forward the idea of ​​increasing cultural connectivity between different regions of the country.
• It aims to further strengthen the traditional fabric of emotional unity among the people of the country.
• It also aims to showcase the rich culture and heritage, food, handicrafts and customs of the 36 states and union territories of the country.

2. Bangladesh for the first time wins the Under-19 World Cup

• Bangladesh defeated India by three wickets on the basis of Duckworth-Lewis rule and won the ICC Under-19 World Cup.
• Yashaswi Jaiswal scored 88 runs for 121 balls for India.
• Bangladesh captain Akbar Ali was declared player of the match for his captaincy and 43 not out.
• This was the 13^th edition of the Under-19 World Cup and was organized in South Africa.

3. Giriraj Kishore, who was awarded the Padma Shri award, died of a heart attack

• Giriraj Kishore, a renowned Hindi writer and Padma Shri recipient, died of a heart attack at the age of 83 in Kanpur.
• He was famous for his novel Pehla Girmitiya, which is based on Mahatma Gandhi's stay in South Africa.
• In the year 2002, Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj University conferred him with an honorary degree of Ph.D.
• He was also awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award and the Vyas Samman(2000).

4. Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the great saint Guru Ravidas on his birth anniversary

• Every year on the full moon date of Magh month, the birth anniversary of saint Guru Ravidas is celebrated.
• It is believed that the devotional saint Ravidas was born in Kashi was born in 1482 AD.
• 40 Sabads of Sant Ravidas is recorded in Guru Granth Sahib. One of his proverb 'Jo maan changa toh katoti mein ganga' is quite popular.
• Saint Ravidas was the Guru of Meerabai, the supreme devotee of Lord Krishna.

5. Referendum on new law against homophobia was held in Switzerland

• A referendum on a new law against homophobia has been held in Switzerland.
• The legislation was passed in the Parliament of Switzerland in 2018.
• The right-wing Swiss People's Party is opposed to the new law, which is expected to promote discrimination on ethnic and religious grounds, including sexual behavior.
• Switzerland:
  • Switzerland is a landlocked country, with many lakes, villages and high peaks of the Alps.
  • Its capital is Bern, and the currency is the Swiss franc.

6. Nischal claimed the top honour on the last day of the National Rifle / Pistol Trials

• Haryana's Nischal won the top honor in women's 50m rifle 3 position T2.
• On the final day of the National Rifle and Pistol Shooting Trial, Indian Navy shooter Yogesh Singh won the men's 25m center fire pistol T2 and Anuradha in the women's 10m air pistol events.
• Anuradha defeated Manu Bhaker to win the final of the women's 10m air pistol.
• Manu Bhaker captured the Junior Women's 10m Air Pistol T2 event in the final with a score of 243.5.

7. Uttar Pradesh government to launch an internship scheme to provide better employment opportunities to students

• Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced that an internship scheme will be launched to provide better employment opportunities to students of 10^th, 12^th and graduate classes in the state.
• Under this scheme, students will be connected to various technical institutions and industries.
• During the internship of six months or one year, an honorarium of Rs 2500 will be given to each student.
• Out of these 2500 rupees, 1500 rupees will be from the central government and 1000 rupees from the state government.
• After completion of the internship, the state government will also arrange employment for the students. A separate human resource cell will be created for this.

8. Reconstitution of Science Technology and Innovation Council (STIC)

• Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, GC Murmu, will head the Science Technology and Innovation Council (STIC).
• The Council's 24 members include five representatives from the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, 10 from Universities and Research and Development Institutes and eight members from the Department of Science and Technology of the Central Government.
• The Chief Secretary of J&K BVR Subrahmanyam has been nominated as the Chairman of the six-member Executive Committee of STIC.
• Jammu and Kashmir STIC will strive to tap the potential of science and technology as a tool for socio-economic transformation, ensuring that efforts in science and technology are not limited to scientific laboratories and academic institutions, but the grassroot level also.
• The council will organize science popularization programs such as the Children's Science Congress and the Science Talent Promotion Test, award young scientists, and offer fellowships or assistance to scientists.

9. Kaamya Karthikeyan becomes the youngest girl to climb Mount Aconcagua

• The Student of Navy Children School (Mumbai), Kaamya Karthikeyan, has become the youngest girl to climb Mount Aconcagua in South America.
• She hoisted the Indian tricolor on 01 February 2020 on a mountain peak of 6962 meters.
• Aconcagua is the highest peak in South America.

10. Lucknow Declaration 2020 adopted at the India-Africa Defense Ministers' Conclave

• During the 11^th Defense Exhibition held in Lucknow, in the first India-Africa Defense Ministers' Conclave on 06 February, the Lucknow Declaration was adopted.
• Also, it has been agreed between India and Africa to cooperate in the field of defense industry to address common security challenges including intensive cooperation, terrorism and extremism, piracy, human trafficking, drug trafficking, arms smuggling and others.
• It has been agreed to set up defense academies and colleges in Nigeria, Ethiopia and Tanzania.
• During the conclave, the introduction of Africa India Field Training Exercise (AFINDEX) was appreciated. The exercise was held for the first time in March 2019.

11. 92^nd Academy Award (Oscar Awards 2020) announced

• The 92^nd Academy Awards (Oscar Awards 2020) were announced in Los Angeles, California, USA.
• The major awards are:
  1. Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Brad Pitt - Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood
  2. Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Laura Dern - Marriage Story
  3. Best Animated Feature Film - Toy Story 4- Josh Cole, Mark Nielsen and Jonas Rivera
  4. Best International Feature Film - Parasite - South Korea
  5. Best Director - Bong Joon-Ho-Parasite
  6. Best Actor - Joaquin Phoenix - Joker
  7. Best Actress - Renee Zellweger - Judy

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. Recently, which country has won the ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup for the first time?

A. India

B. Bangladesh

C. Australia

D. New Zealand

2. Giriraj Kishore, who recently died of a heart attack, was related to which field?

A. Literature

B. Sports

C. Science

D. Medicine

3. Saint Ravidas was the teacher of who among the following?

A. Mirabai

B. Tukaram

C. Rajaram Mohan Roy

D. Shivaji

4. Recently in which country, a referendum was held on a new law against homophobia?

A. Britain

B. America

C. Vietnam

C. Switzerland

5. Who has won the women's 10m air pistol competition in the national rifle and pistol shooting trials?

A. Anuradha

B. Vijaya Verma

C. Vandana Bhakar

D. Nandana Singh

6. Recently which state government has announced to launch an internship scheme which aimed at providing better employment opportunities to students?

A. Uttar Pradesh

B. Bihar

C. Tamil Nadu

D. Kerala

7. GC Murmu is the Governor of which union territory?

A. Chandigarh

B. Puducherry

C. Delhi

D. Jammu and Kashmir

8. Recently who has become the youngest girl to climb Mount Aconcagua?

A. Kamya Karthikeyan

B. Soumya Tandon

C. Vidya Divya Kirti

D. Pooja Vasistha

9. Which declaration has been adopted recently between India and Africa?

A. Lucknow Declaration

B. Hyderabad Declaration

C. Indore Declaration

D. Chennai Declaration

10. Recently who has been awarded the Academy Award 2020 for Best International Feature Film?

A. Parasite

B. Marriage Story

C. Joker

D. Judy

Solution:

1. B

2. A

3. A

4. D

5. A

6. A

7. D

8. A

9. A

10. A