Daily Current Affairs Quiz: July 03,2021

ANSWER: C

Why in news ?
India and majority members of OECD and G20 Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion & Profit Shifting adopted a high-level statement that outlines a consensus solution in a bid to address tax challenges that are arising from digitalisation of economy.

About:

• This proposed solution comprises of two components:

1. First pillar is about reallocation of additional profit share to market jurisdictions and
2. Second pillar comprises of minimum tax and subject to tax rules.

• However, some significant issues like share of profit allocation and scope of subject to tax rules are open and need to be addressed.
• Technical details of proposal will be worked out soon and a consensus agreement will come by October 2021.

ANSWER: B

Why in news ?

United States military has left Afghanistan’s Bagram airfield after nearly two decades.

About:

• Bagram airfield was the site of several military encounters and an epicenter of US ‘war on terror’ in Afghanistan in the backdrop of 9/11 terror attacks.
• Bagram airfield has now been handed over to Afghan National Security and Defense Force.
• This airbase has been the site of US military’s war against Taliban and al-Qaida terrorist outfits.
• It remained staffed by 455th Air Expeditionary Wing of US Force.
• It has been used as a base by rotating units of US Army, Navy, and Marine Corps also used the airfield as a base.
• Background

US president Joe Biden had promised for withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan completely by September 11. Current withdrawal of 2,500-3,500 US troops from Bagram airbase is an indication of the follow-up on that promise. Now, United States harbours around 6,500 troops in Afghanistan to protect American embassy in Kabul. However, they have not yet divulged when last US soldier will leave Afghanistan for security reasons.

• Bagram Airfield

It is also known as Bagram Air Base and is located near ancient city of Bagram. It was largest U.S. military base in Afghanistan. Its distance from Parwan Province is 11 kilometres. It has a single runway which is capable of handling large military aircraft including Lockheed Martin C-5 Galaxy and Antonov An-225. It was staffed 455th Air Expeditionary Wing of U.S. Air Force.

ANSWER: A

Why in news ?

Maana Patel has become the first female and only the third swimmer from India to qualify Tokyo Olympics 2021 ticket.

About:

• Maana Patel joins Srihari Nataraj and Sajan Prakash to have qualified for the Olympics.
• She is a 21-year-old backstroke swimmer from Ahmedabad who have won gold medals in 50 metre backstroke and 200 metre backstroke at National Games.
• She also won gold in 100 metre backstroke at 60th National School Games (2015) and broke the national record in backstroke.
• She was selected for Olympic Gold Quest in 2015 making it the first time a swimmer was roped in.
• In 2018, she secured three gold medals at 72nd Senior National Aquatic Championships.

Maana Patel

She was born on March 18, 2000. She is an Indian backstroke swimmer from Ahmedabad, Gujarat. She started at the age of seven. At 13, she clocked 2:23.41s in 200m backstroke at 40th Junior National Aquatics Championship in Hyderabad.  In 2019, she won six medals (1 gold, 4 silvers, 1 bronze) at 10th Asian Age-group Championships, Bangalore. She has won 11 international, 61 national and 75 state level medals; as of 2016.

ANSWER: A

Why in news ?

• Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari will be the new Vice Chief of Indian Air Force succeeding Air Marshal Harjit Singh Arora.
• Air Marshal Chaudhari is currently serving as commander-in-chief of the IAF’s Western Air Command (WAC) that looks after the security of the country’s air space in the sensitive Ladakh sector as well as various other parts of north India. Air Marshal Arora retired from service and Air Marshal Chaudhari is likely to take charge of the new assignment.

ANSWER: B

Why in news ?

• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has extended the tenure of NITI Aayog Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Amitabh Kant, by one year till June 30, 2022.
• This is for the third time that Kant’s tenure has been extended. Mr Kant was first appointed as the CEO of the federal policy think tank on February 17, 2016, for a fixed two-year term.
• The 1980 batch IAS officer was given an extension for the first time till 30 June 2019, after his tenure was to expire in February 2018. Again he was given two years extension till June 30, 2021.

ANSWER: D

Why in news ?

• India stands at the 20th spot among the top 100 countries that have been ranked in the Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2021 by Startup Blink. The country was in the 17th spot in 2019, after which it slid six spots down and stood at 23 in 2020.
• According to the report, India needs to better its infrastructure and Internet speed in order to further strengthen its start-up ecosystem.
• India currently has 43 of its cities listed in the top 1000, globally, with Bengaluru(10th), New Delhi (14th) and Mumbai (16th) in the top 20.
• Like last year, the US, the UK, Israel, Canada and Germany are in the top five spots this year too and continue their lead.

ANSWER: C

Why in news ?

• Freelance filmmaker Deepti Pillay Sivan’s most touted documentary, “Decoding Shankar” about the life and career of the celebrated musician Shankar Mahadevan, recently won the Best Film Award in the Documentary section (Best Biographical) at the Toronto International Women Film Festival, 2021.
• The 52-minute docu-film released a few years ago is a sketch of the life of the prolific musician focusing on how he balances his career as a singer, music composer, and teacher. The film gives interesting titbits about his family life and shares interesting moments about his passion for cooking.

ANSWER: B

Why in news ?

• The Kuvempu Rashtriya Puraskar, the national award instituted in memory of late poet laureate Kuvempu, has been awarded to renowned Odia poet Dr. Rajendra Kishore Panda for the year 2020.
• The prestigious award carries a cash award of Rs 5 lakh, a silver medal, and a citation. Founded in 1992, Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Trust instituted this national annual literary award in 2013 in the name of Kuvempu to recognize litterateurs who had contributed in any language recognized by the Constitution of India.

ANSWER: D

Why in news ?

• Filmmaker Raj Kaushal,who directed movies like “Shaadi Ka Laddoo” and “Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi”, passed away. He was married to actor-TV presenter Mandira Bedi.
• Apart from direction, Kaushal had also produced filmmaker Onir’s 2005acclaimed drama “My Brother… Nikhil”, starring Sanjay Suri and Juhi Chawla.
• His last directorial was the 2006 thriller, “Anthony Kaun Hai?”,starring Arshad Warsi and Sanjay Dutt.