Daily Current Affairs and GK | 25 November 2019

1. Jammu & Kashmir completes 11,400 km road length in 2019 under PMGSY

• Jammu and Kashmir has achieved the highest road length in 2019 under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
• In the current fiscal year, 11,400 km of road length has been completed out of the targeted 19,700 km.
• PMGSY:
  • It is a scheme launched in 2000 by the government to provide all-weather connectivity to unconnected habitations in the rural parts of India.
  • The scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development.

2. Mine Counter Measure exercise held between India and Japan

• A bilateral exercise was held between the Indian Navy and the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) on mine countermeasure and explosive ordnance disposal.
• This is the first time that such exercise is conducted between the two forces.

3. WHO ranks India at 8^th positon in a study on physical activity

• WHO conducted a study regarding the level of physical activity among adolescents.
• Bangladesh topped the ranking while the USA ranked fourth on the list.
• The study was conducted for 146 countries, and India ranked 8^th with a score of 73.9%.
• World Health Organisation (WHO):
  • It is a specialized agency of the United Nations that was founded in 1948.
  • Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
  • Its major role lies in directing international health within the UN System.

4. 8^th International Tourism Mart being held in Manipur

• International Tourism Mart is being organized at Imphal, Manipur, by the Tourism Ministry in collaboration with North-Eastern states.
• It is a three-day event that brings together tourism business individuals and entrepreneurs from the North-Eastern states.
• Theme - "Sustainable Tourism an engine for Economic Growth and Employment".
• Manipur is the host state for the second time.

5. CIC annual report presented in Lok Sabha

• The annual report of the Chief Information Commission (CIC) has been tabled in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on 20^th and 21^st November 2019 respectively.
• The report shows that 13.7 lakh RTI applications were received by the registered Central Public Authorities (PAs), followed by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• The highest percentage of RTI applications were rejected by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (26.54%), followed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (16.41%).
• Chief Information Commission:
  • It is a statutory body that was established under the Right to Information Act, 2005.
  • Chief Information Commissioner and other Information Commissioners are appointed by the President.
  • The current Chief Information Commissioner is Sudhir Bhargava.

6. 50^th Conference of Governors concluded

• The 50^th Conference of Governors was held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.
• The conference concluded with a focus on tribal welfare, education, agriculture, water and ease of living.
• Five-sub groups of Governors presented their reports on the above issues and identified the areas where the respective Governors can play a significant role.

7. UP government launches massive immunisation campaign against the Filariasis

• Uttar Pradesh government has launched a massive immunisation programme against Filaria or Filariasis.
• Under the programme, more than 65,000 teams of health workers will provide medicine to 6.5 crore people in 19 districts till 10^th December 2019.
• These districts will be provided DEC tablets, Albendazole, and Ivermectin.
• Central Government aims to eradicate Filaria completely by 2021.
• Filariasis:
  • It is a parasitic disease which is caused due to roundworms like Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, and Brugia timori.
  • These worms lead to the syndrome of elephantiasis, i.e. swelling of tissues causing enlargement of limbs or body parts.

8. Rafael Nadal wins Sixth Davis Cup Title

• Rafael Nadal, world No. 1 Spanish tennis player, won Sixth Davis Cup title by defeating Canadian Denis Shapovalov 6-3, 7-6, 9-7.
• Nadal won all the eight matches this week to finally clinch the title.
• It is the first title for Spain since 2011.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following Indian states/Union Territories has the highest road length under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in 2019?

1. NCT of Delhi
2. Rajasthan
3. Jammu and Kashmir
4. Karnataka

Correct Answer: c

2. The first ever Mine counter measure exercise was held between-

1. India and Sri Lanka
2. India and Japan
3. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka
4. Japan and USA

Correct Answer: b

3. What is the ranking of India in WHO’s study on physical activity among adolescents?

1. 5^th
2. 6^th
3. 7^th
4. 8^th

Correct Answer: d

4. What is the theme of the 8^th International Tourism Mart 2019?

1. Tourism and Sustainable Development
2. Adventure Tourism
3. Sustainable Tourism an engine for growth and employment
4. Economic growth and Sustainable Tourism

Correct Answer: c

5. Who is the current Chief Information Commissioner?

1. Sudhir Bhargava
2. Wajahat Habibullah
3. Rishi Kumar Shukla
4. Rajiv Mehrishi

Correct Answer: a

6. The 50^th conference of Governors was recently held in-

1. Uttar Pradesh
2. Punjab
3. Haryana
4. New Delhi

Correct Answer: d

7. Filariasis is a __________ disease.

1. Viral
2. Fungal
3. Parasitic
4. Bacterial

Correct Answer: c

8. Who among the following clinched the sixth Davis cup title?

1. Rafael Nadal
2. Roberto Bautista
3. Denis Shapovalov
4. Roger Federer

Correct Answer: a