SIPVS Knowledge is Power
1) What is the name of the world’s most powerful rocket that was launched into space by the private rocket company SpaceX on 6 February 2018 and which carried a Tesla car as a mock payload with it? – Falcon Heavy
Explanation: Falcon Heavy is a reusable super heavy-lift launch vehicle (rocket) designed and manufactured by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk’s private rocket company SpaceX. The 23-story-tall jumbo rocket, carrying a cherry red Tesla Roadster automobile into space as a mock payload, was launched into space on 6 February 2018 from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral (Florida).
– The flight capitalized SpaceX’s pioneering cost-cutting reusable rocket technology in which the two side boosters flew themselves back to Earth for safe simultaneous touchdowns on twin landing pads. The launch was conducted from the same site used by NASA’s towering Saturn 5 rockets to carry Apollo missions to the moon more than 40 years ago.
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2) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 7 February 2018 held the policy repo rate at 6%. Five of the six members of the RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted in favour of keeping the benchmark interest rate unchanged. Which member recommended a 25 basis points (bps) rate increase? – M.D. Patra
Explanation: The lone member of the 6-member MPC who recommended a rate increase (of 25 basis points) was RBI Executive Director M.D. Patra while remaining 5 members voted in favour of keeping the benchmark interest rate unchanged. This was third consecutive meeting in which status quo was maintained as was as policy repo rate is concerned.
– Other 5 members of RBI’s MPC are Governor Urjit Patel (who heads the MPC), Deputy Governor R. Gandhi (both along with RBI Executive Director M.D. Patra are internal members), Chetan Ghate, Pami Dua and Ravindra Dholakia (these three are external members).
– On the other hand the MPC raised the estimate for fourth-quarter inflation and flagged concerns about the future outlook for price gains. Inflation is now estimated at 5.1% in fourth quarter (Jan-Mar 2018) while the RBI had in December 2017 projected inflation to range between 4.3-4.7% for second half of the current financial year.
– The MPC has a mandate to ensure inflation remains in a band between 2% and 6%.
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3) Which city is seemingly poised to become first major city to run out of drinking water, with the city authorities imposing strict water usage policy during February 2018? – Cape Town (South Africa)
Explanation: South Africa’s most populous city Cape Town is poised to become the world’s first major city to run out of drinking water. The shortage is the result of a three-year drought that emptied the city’s dams.
– Experts initially calculated “Day Zero,” (the date upon which there is insufficient water in the city) to be around 16 April 2018. It has since been pushed back to mid-May. Cape Town’s more than 4 million residents have been told to cut their daily limits from 87 litres to 50 litres per person.
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4) Which Indian player on 7 February 2018 became the first-ever female cricketer to take 200 ODI wickets? – Jhulan Goswami
Explanation: India’s veteran pacer Jhulan Goswami on 7 February 2019 added another feather to her illustrious cap by becoming the first female cricketer to take 200 ODI wickets. She achieved the feat during the second ODI between India and South Africa that was played in Kimberley in South Africa.
– The 35-year-old Indian, playing her 166th ODI, dismissed opener Laura Wolvaardt for her 200th scalp. It is worth mentioning that the first male cricketer to pick 200 ODI wickets, was also an Indian – the great Kapil Dev.
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5) Which South Korean automobile company made its debut in India by unveiling its concept vehicle at the Auto Expo 2018 on 6 February 2018? – Kia Motors
Explanation: Kia Motors, the world’s eighth largest and South Korea’s second largest automaker made its debut in India by unveiling its SP Concept vehicle at the Auto Expo 2018. SP Concept is an SUV designed and developed for the Indian market. It will be Kia’s first product to go on sale in India.
– The South Korean company will start retail sales in the country by the second half of 2019. It has invested USD 1 billion in its plant in Andhra Pradesh. It is worth mentioning that Korea’s largest automobile company Hyundai Motors has been in India for almost 2 decades now.
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Source: nirdeshak.com
