JAN - QUIZ - AC Flashcards
1. Which state government has recently (in Dec ‘23) ranked first for the third consecutive year in recording the highest entries on the Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) platform?
1) Uttar Pradesh
2) Jharkhand
3) Bihar
4) Madhya Pradesh
5) Odisha
Answer: Uttar Pradesh
Explanation:
* Uttar Pradesh (UP) has ranked first for the third consecutive year in recording the highest entries (1,56,22,514 entries) on the Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) platform.
* With 35,04,828 entries, Madhya Pradesh (MP) secured second position, and Bihar is in third place with 16,65,107 entries.
* ICJS is an initiative of the Supreme Court e-committee and implemented by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) in 2013.
* ICJS was created to enable the seamless transfer of data and information among different pillars of the criminal justice system, like courts, police, jails, and forensic science laboratories through a single window system.
* ICJS acts as a centralised database of criminal records;
* Phase II of ICJS extends from 2022-23 to 2025-26. The ICJS Phase II works with the principle of ‘one data one entry’.
2. In December 2023, the Ministry of Finance imposed a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of ‘Wheel Loaders’ from ___________ (country) for a period of 5 years.
1) Japan
2) Indonesia
3) China
4) Singapore
5) Cambodia
Answer: China
Explanation:
* The Ministry of Finance has imposed a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of ‘Wheel Loaders’ from China for a period of 5 years.
* The duty rates, ranging from 18.84% to 82.71%, vary based on the producer and specific goods.
* The duty will be applicable on imports in complete build unit (CBU) and semi-knocked down (SKD) forms, and not on the completely knocked down (CKD) form.
* It has also imposed a definitive anti-dumping duty on gypsum board/tiles with lamination at least on one side (also known as PVC gypsum tiles, gypsum ceiling tiles or ceiling tiles) from China and Oman for five years.
* The duty will range from USD 23.46-47.62 per tonne in case of imports from China, and between USD 71.80-91.42 per metric tonne for Oman.
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As of January 2024, _____________(state) is set to build India’s first Artificial intelligence (AI) city to promote the AI ecosystem.
1) West Bengal
2) Uttar Pradesh
3) Bihar
4) Maharashtra
5) Odisha
Answer: Uttar Pradesh
Explanation:
* Uttar Pradesh (UP) is set to build India’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) city in Lucknow to promote the AI ecosystem.
* The AI city will be a hub integrating cutting-edge technology, research centres, and educational institutions.
* U.P. Electronics Corporation Limited, the nodal agency of the project, has issued an Expression of Interest (EoI) inviting real estate developers to build and operate the AI city.
* U.P. Electronics is a unit of the Department of Information Technology(IT) and Electronics, Government of UP. The government of UP will provide 40 acres in Nadarganj Industrial Area for the project.
4. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the Report on Trend and Progress of Banking in India (2022-2023) released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in December 2023?
A) The remuneration of Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SFBs was 28.4 times the average employee pay in 2022.
B) The RBI revealed that grievances related to loans and advances, deposits increased exponentially to 60%, 70% respectively at the Reserve Bank of Ombudsman.
C) The total number of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) in India increased by 3.5% in FY22.
1) Only A
2) Only A & B
3) Only B & C
4) Only A & C
5) All A, B & C
Answer: Only B & C
Explanation:
* The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the report titled “Report on Trend and Progress of Banking in India” (2022-2023).
* The report provides comprehensive data about the state of the banking system in India.
* According to the RBI report:
* *- The remuneration of Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of
* - Small Finance Banks (SFBs) was 58.1 times the average employee pay in 2022, not 28.4 times.
- For Private Sector Banks (PVBs), it was 26.1 times, and for Public Sector Banks (PSBs), it was 2.4 times the average employee pay in 2022.
- Grievances related to loans and advances, deposits increased exponentially to 60%, 70% respectively at the Reserve Bank of Ombudsman.
- The total number of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) in India increased by 3.5% in FY22. White-label ATMs accounted for the maximum number of ATMs.
5. In December, 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) extended the deadline for implementation of Instructions regarding Penal Charges in Loan Accounts to __________.
1) 1st March 2024
2) 1st May 2024
3) 1st April 2024
4) 1st June 2024
5) 1st February 2024
Answer: 1st April, 2024
Explanation:
* On December 29, 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) extended the deadline for implementation of Instructions regarding Penal Charges in Loan Accounts by three months, from January 1, 2024, to April 1, 2024, as part of fair lending practices.
* All Regulated Entities (REs) must implement the new penal charges instructions for fresh loans from April 1, 2024.
* For existing loans, the transition to the new regime should be ensured by the next review/renewal date on or after April 1, 2024, but no later than June 30, 2024. This extension applies to all Commercial Banks (including Small Finance Banks (SFBs), Local Area Banks, and Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), excluding Payments Banks), All Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, All Non-Banking Financial Company-NBFC (including Housing Finance Companies (HFCs)), and All India Financial Institutions.
- Name the bank that has recently (in Dec ‘23) launched a new scheme called ‘Inspire’ programme for senior citizens.
1) YES Bank
2) Axis Bank
3) HDFC Bank
4) ICICI Bank
5) Bandhan Bank
Answer: Bandhan Bank
Explanation: In December 2023, Bandhan Bank launched a new scheme called the ‘Inspire’ programme for senior citizens. The program offers several benefits tailored specifically for senior citizens, including preferential interest rates, dedicated customer service, and other financial services.
- As per the “Half-Yearly Economic Review 2023-24-November 2023” released by the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance in December 2023, India is expected to achieve a growth rate of over ___________ in FY24.
1) 7.0%
2) 6.5%
3) 7.2%
4) 7.5%
5) 6.9%
Answer: 6.5%
Explanation: The “Half-Yearly Economic Review 2023-24-November 2023” released by the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance, mentioned that India’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 7.7% in the first half (H1) of financial year 2023-2024 (FY24). With this, India is expected to achieve a growth rate of over 6.5% in FY24. India’s real GDP grew by 7.6% on a year-on-year (YoY) basis in the 2nd quarter (Q2) of FY24. The GDP growth during H1 of FY24 was led by the strong domestic demand for consumption and investment. Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE) increased by 4.5%, reaching 60.4% of GDP, the highest since FY12, excluding FY21.
- In December 2023, SpaceX launched US military’s secretive X-37-B military space plane onboard with ___________ rocket from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the United States of America (USA).
1) Razak Demo-2
2) Starhopper
3) Crew Dragon Demo-1
4) Falcon Heavy
5) Transporter-1
Answer: Falcon Heavy
Explanation: On 28th December 2023, SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket carrying the US military’s secretive X-37-B military space plane to orbit was launched from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA. The mission involves tests of ‘new orbital regimes, experimenting with future space domain awareness technologies.’ The mission, codenamed “USSF-52,” is the 7th mission of X-37B. This mission includes multiple cutting-edge experiments and is the first time the X-37B is launched using a Falcon Heavy rocket. The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle, operating since 2010, was designed for the Air Force by United Launch Alliance, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
- Former Indian footballer (defender) ____________, passed away in December 2023.
1) Gouramangi Singh
2) Bhaichung Bhutia
3) Prabir Majumdar
4) Mahesh Gawli
5) Syed Rahim Nabi
Answer: Prabir Majumdar
Explanation: Former Indian footballer (defender) Prabir Majumdar, aged 77, passed away in Kolkata, West Bengal. He played a significant role in the 1974 Asian Games (Tehran, Iran) as a member of the Indian team. In domestic football, he represented East Bengal and Eastern Railways and Bengal in the Santosh Trophy. Majumdar won several titles with East Bengal, including the Calcutta Football League, IFA Shield, Durand Cup, Rovers Cup, DCM Trophy, Bordoloi Trophy, and many more.
- Name the state government that has recently (in Dec ‘23) launched a Non-Resident Indians (NRI) website under the Department of NRI Affairs to provide support and assistance to NRIs.
1) West Bengal
2) Punjab
3) Madhya Pradesh
4) Karnataka
5) Maharashtra
Answer: Punjab
Explanation: Bhagwant Singh Mann, Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab, launched the Non-Resident Indians (NRI) Punjab website (nri.punjab.gov.in), under the Department of NRI Affairs to provide support and assistance to NRIs. The website was developed by the Department of Governance Reforms & Public Grievances (DGRPG), Government of Punjab, in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre (NIC), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The website includes detailed information related to the NRI Police wing, Punjab State Commission for NRIs, and NRI Sabha. It also provides data on registered travel and immigration agents. CM also announced initiatives to enhance services for NRIs, including organizing NRI milnis (meets) for on-the-spot redressal of problems and establishing a 24×7 ‘Facilitation Center’ at the International Terminal at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, to assist NRIs arriving at the terminal.
In January 2024, the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) extended the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Automobile and Auto Components by _____ year, with partial amendments.
1) Five
2) Four
3) Two
4) One
5) Three
Answer: 4) One
Explanation: The Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) extended the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Automobile and Auto Components by one year, with partial amendments. This amended incentive scheme will be applicable for five consecutive financial years, starting from 2023-24 (FY24) and ending in 2027-28 (FY28). The decision was made after receiving the approval of the Empowered Group of Secretaries (EGoS). These amendments aim to provide clarity and flexibility to the scheme. i. Under the amended Scheme, the incentive disbursement will be made in the subsequent financial year i.e. FY25. ii. If a company fails to meet the determined sales value threshold in a year, it won’t receive an incentive for that year. iii. The eligibility for benefits in the next year if the threshold is met with a 10% year-on-year growth.
The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) celebrated its _______ Foundation Day or Raising Day on 1st January 2024.
1) 64th
2) 65th
3) 66th
4) 67th
5) 68th
Answer: 3) 66th
Explanation: Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), the Research and Development (R&D) wing of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), annually celebrates its Foundation Day or Raising Day on 1 January. DRDO, formed in 1958, celebrated its 66th foundation day on 1st January 2024. i. DRDO was formed in 1958 from the amalgamation of the then already functioning Technical Development Establishment (TDEs) of the Indian Army and the Directorate of Technical Development & Production (DTDP) with the Defence Science Organisation (DSO). ii. On 1st January 2024, DRDO Chairman also launched the Quantity-Distance Software developed by Pune(Maharashtra)-based lab, High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), to automate the siting of explosives and related buildings. The software is an essential tool for all MoD establishments engaged in creating explosive-related infrastructure in optimum time and with greater precision.
Which state has recently (in Jan ‘24) been recognized as the ‘petro capital’ of India?
1) Gujarat
2) Karnataka
3) Maharashtra
4) Odisha
5) West Bengal
Answer: 1) Gujarat
Explanation: Gujarat has been recognized as the ‘petro capital’ of India due to the presence of the Reliance Industry Limited’s Jamnagar refinery and ONGC Petro Additions Limited (OPaL)’s state-of-the-art petrochemical complex at Dahej in Bharuch district. The RIL-Jamnagar refinery complex is the largest and most complex single-site refinery in the world, processing 1.4 million barrels of crude oil per day. The refinery has a complexity index of 21.1, the highest in the world. i. OPaL Refinery Complex is one of South Asia’s single largest petrochemical complexes. It is a joint venture between the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), the Gas Authority of India (GAIL), and Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation Limited (GSPC). ii. Dahej’s PCPIR is one of the four PCPIRs declared by the Government of India under the PCPIR Policy 2007.
Which bank has recently (in Jan ‘24) launched a Super Special 175 days Fixed Deposit (FD) scheme with an interest rate of 7.50% per annum?
1) Indian Bank
2) State Bank of India
3) Punjab National Bank
4) Bank of Baroda
5) Bank of India
Answer: 5) Bank of India
Explanation: Bank of India (BoI), a Public Sector Bank (PSB), has launched a Super Special Fixed Deposit (FD) scheme with a specified maturity period of 175 days, commencing from January 1st, 2024. The scheme offers an interest rate of 7.50% per annum for deposits ranging from Rs 2 crore to less than Rs 50 crore. i. Senior citizens (aged 60 to 80) will get an additional interest rate of 0.50% on their retail term deposits (below Rs 2 crore) for tenors ranging from 6 months and above up to 3 years. ii. Super senior citizens (aged above 80) will get an extra 0.65% on the same retail term deposits. iii. At present, BoI pays 4.50% interest rate for a 175-day tenor for deposits below Rs 2 crore. 7.25% is the highest interest rate paid by BoI for a 2-year deposit.
Who has recently (in Jan ‘24) been appointed as Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission, constituted by the Government of India?
1) Arvind Virmani
2) Vijay Kumar Saraswat
3) Arvind Panagariya
4) Suman Bery
5) Ramesh Chand
Answer: 3) Arvind Panagariya
Explanation: The Government of India has constituted the 16th Finance Commission of India with Dr Arvind Panagariya, former Vice-Chairman (VC) of NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) (2015 to 2017) as Chairman. Ritvik Ranjanam Pandey, Joint Secretary (Revenue), Ministry of Finance, was appointed as the Secretary to the Commission. He is a 1998 batch IAS officer of Karnataka cadre. The other members of the 16th commission will be notified separately. i. The Chairman and other members of the Commission will hold the post from the date on which they assume office up to the date of submission of the Report or 31st October 2025. ii. The 16th commission is set to submit its report by 31st October 2025 covering a period of five years commencing on the 1st April 2026. iii. Arvind Panagariya is a Professor of Economics and the Jagdish Bhagwati Professor of Indian Political Economy at Columbia University, USA. He has also served as the Chief Economist of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) from 2000 to 2002. He was honored with Padma Bhushan (Literature and Education) in 2012.
In January 2024, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo was re-elected as the President of the ___________ (country) for the 2nd term.
1) Ethiopia
2) Democratic Republic of Congo
3) United Republic of Tanzania
4) Ghana
5) Gabon
Answer: 2) Democratic Republic of Congo
Explanation: Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, the leader of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) party, was re-elected as the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for the 2nd term. He is set to be sworn in as the President of Congo on 20th January 2024. i. He was first elected as the President of Congo in 2019 succeeding Joseph Kabila. During his tenure as President, he also served as Chair of the African Union (AU) in 2021. Note: From 1971 to 1997, Congo was officially known as the Republic of Zaire.
Who has recently (in Jan ‘24) become the first woman President of the European Investment Bank (EIB)?
1) Nadia Calviño Santamaría (Spain)
2) Alisa Weinberger (Germany)
3) Esther Duflo (France)
4) Asli Demirguc-Kunt (Türkiye)
5) Marianne Bertrand (Belgium)
Answer: 1) Nadia Calviño Santamaría (Spain)
Explanation: Nadia Calviño Santamaría, Spain’s current Economy Minister, has been elected as the first woman President of the European Investment Bank (EIB) for a term of 6 years. She will replace Werner Hoyer, a German diplomat who has been the President of the EIB for 12 years (2012-2024). i. Nadia Calviño Santamaría will take office on 1st January 2024. ii. Before being appointed as the Economy Minister of Spain in 2018, she was a Director-General of the Budget at the European Commission. Note: The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the EU’s bank providing finance and expertise for sustainable investment projects that contribute to EU policy objectives.
Which state has recently (in Jan ‘24) launched a new initiative to support startups and innovation called ‘Startup Valley’?
1) Tamil Nadu
2) Andhra Pradesh
3) Karnataka
4) Telangana
5) Kerala
Answer: 4) Telangana
Explanation: The Government of Telangana has launched a new initiative called ‘Startup Valley’ to support startups and innovation in the state. ‘Startup Valley’ aims to create a conducive ecosystem for new ventures and provide them with the necessary resources and mentorship. i. The initiative includes setting up dedicated infrastructure, providing financial support, and facilitating networking opportunities for startups. Note: Telangana has been actively promoting entrepreneurship through various schemes and programs to boost its startup ecosystem.
Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the XPoSat launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in January 2024?
A) ISRO launched XPoSat (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite), India’s 1st dedicated polarimetry mission onboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)-C58 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
B) With this, India becomes the 2nd country in the world (after the United States of America(USA)) to launch a specialised astronomy observatory to study black holes and neutron stars in our galaxy.
C) This mission includes the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-3 (POEM-3) aiming to accommodate and execute 10 payloads contributed by ISRO and Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe).
1) Only A
2) Only A & B
3) Only B & C
4) Only A & C
5) All A, B & C
Answer: 5) All A, B & C
Explanation: On 1st January 2024, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched XPoSat (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite), India’s 1st dedicated polarimetry mission onboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)-C58 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh (AP). PSLV-C58 has launched XPOSAT Satellite into an Eastward low inclination orbit. i. It was PSLV-C58’s 60th mission and lifted a mass of 260 tons. It should be noted that this launch was by PSLV-DL variant. It was PSLV-DL’s 4th mission. ii. The satellite is expected to operate for at least 5 years. iii. The mission aims to study various dynamics of bright astronomical X-ray sources like black holes, neutron stars, active galactic nuclei, pulsar wind nebulae etc. in extreme conditions. iv. With this, India becomes the 2nd country in the world (after the United States of America(USA)) to launch a specialised astronomy observatory to study black holes and neutron stars in our galaxy. v. After the launch, PS4 stage underwent two restarts for orbit adjustment to a stable 350 km circular orbit, ensuring a stable 3-axis mode for Orbital Platform (OP) experiments. vi. This mission includes the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-3 (POEM-3) aiming to accommodate and execute 10 payloads contributed by ISRO and Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe). vii. It carried the following two scientific payloads-POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays) and XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing) in a low Earth orbit (LEO).
In December 2023, Norwegian Grandmaster and World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen won his __________ World Blitz Chess Championships (open tournament) title and Russian grandmaster _________ won the World Women’s Blitz Chess Championships title in 2023.
1) 8th; Polina Shuvalova
2) 7th; Valentina Gunina
3) 8th; Alexandra Kosteniuk
4) 7th; Polina Shuvalova
5) 6th; Valentina Gunina
Answer: 2) 7th; Valentina Gunina
Explanation: Norwegian Grandmaster and World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen won the title at the 2023 World Blitz Chess Championships (open tournament) held at the Samarkand Congress Center, Samarkand, Uzbekistan from 29th to 30th December 2023. i. This marks Carlsen’s 7th World Blitz championship title and 17th World Championship title. ii. Russia’s Valentina Gunina won the title in the Women’s Blitz tournament. This marks her 2nd World Blitz title. She previously won the title in 2012. iii. Top 3 under Open and Women’s tournament: - Open: Magnus Carlsen finished with 16 points scored in 21 games, while Russia’s Daniil Dubov (15.5 points), and Russia’s Vladislav Artemiev (15 points) finished 2nd and 3rd in the Open Blitz tournament. - Women: Valentina Gunina finished with 14 points out of 17 games. The former World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk of Switzerland finished 2nd (13.5), and China’s Zhu Jiner finished 3rd third (12.5). The Russian players are currently playing under the neutral FIDE flag. iv. The prize fund of the 2023 championship is 1 million US dollars, with USD 700,000 for the Open and USD 300,000 for the Women’s tournaments.
In January 2024, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) launched the National Single Window System (NSWS) Portal to streamline import, clinical investigations, and testing of medical devices. The site is designed and developed by Invest India, under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) through _______________ (company) for CDSCO.
1) Infosys Limited
2) Tata Consultancy Service
3) Wipro Limited
4) HCL Technologies Limited
5) Tech Mahindra
Answer: 2) Tata Consultancy Service
Explanation: On January 1, 2024, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) launched the National Single Window System (NSWS) Portal to streamline import, clinical investigations, and testing of medical devices. The portal was designed and developed by Invest India, under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), through Tata Consultancy Service (TCS). i. The portal serves as a one-stop shop for all approvals required by investors and facilitates ease of doing business. ii. It includes guidance for 32 Central Departments and 32 States and hosts applications for approvals from 31 Central Departments and 22 State Governments.
Which country, along with India, has commenced the 1st edition of joint military exercise, Desert Cyclone 2024 in Mahajan, Rajasthan on 2nd January 2024?
1) Mongolia
2) Egypt
3) Oman
4) United Arab Emirates
5) Kyrgyzstan
Answer: 4) United Arab Emirates
Explanation: Desert Cyclone 2024, the 1st edition of the India-United Arab Emirates (UAE) joint military exercise, commenced in Mahajan, Rajasthan on 2nd January 2024. The exercise aims to achieve shared security objectives and foster bilateral relations between the two nations. i. The exercise focuses on boosting interoperability in Sub-conventional Operations, particularly in desert and semi-desert terrain. ii. Participants include 45 personnel from the UAE’s Zayed First Brigade and 45 personnel from the Indian Army’s Mechanised Infantry Regiment.
In January 2024, __________ became the first Union Territory (UT) in India to implement the Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojana (PMVY).
1) Lakshadweep
2) Ladakh
3) Puducherry
4) Delhi
5) Jammu and Kashmir
Answer: 5) Jammu and Kashmir
Explanation: Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) became the first Union Territory (UT) in India to implement the Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojana (PMVY). i. The training program for the first batch of 30 trainees in ‘darzi craft’ under PMVY was inaugurated at Industrial Training Institute (ITI) Shopian, J&K. ii. Trainees will receive a stipend of Rs 500 per day and a free modern toolkit worth Rs 15,000.
Which of the following countries did ‘Not’ join the BRICS as new members in January 2024?
1) United Arab Emirates
2) Egypt
3) Argentina
4) Saudi Arabia
5) Iran
Answer: 3) Argentina
Explanation: In January 2024, five countries—Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)—joined the BRICS bloc. Argentina, which was initially expected to join, withdrew from the entry. i. The BRICS membership count increased to 10 from 5 with this expansion. ii. Russia took over the BRICS chairmanship on January 1, 2024, with the 16th BRICS summit scheduled to be held in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024.
In January 2024, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued revised guidelines for classifying accounts and deposits as inoperative accounts and unclaimed deposits by banks which will come into effect from ___________ 2024.
1) 1st August
2) 1st April
3) 1st March
4) 1st June
5) 1st July
Answer: 2) 1st April
Explanation: On January 1, 2024, the RBI issued revised guidelines for classifying accounts and deposits as inoperative accounts and unclaimed deposits by banks, effective from April 1, 2024. i. The guidelines apply to all Commercial Banks, Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), and Co-operative Banks. ii. Banks are required to review accounts annually and notify account holders if there has been no activity for the past year.
In January 2024, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) revised Bulk Deposits limit for Scheduled Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks in Tier 3 and 4 to Rs ____________ from Rs 15 lakh and above.
1) 60 lakh and above
2) 75 lakh and above
3) 50 lakh and above
4) 1 crore and above
5) 25 lakh and above
Answer: 4) 1 crore and above
Explanation: The RBI revised the Bulk Deposits limit for Scheduled Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks in Tier 3 and 4 to Rs 1 crore and above from Rs 15 lakh and above. i. This change is a significant increase from the previous threshold. ii. The revision means that customers depositing amounts below Rs 1 crore will now earn a uniform rate of interest.
Name the Payments Bank that has recently (in Jan ‘24) collaborated with LEO1 to launch MasterCard Powered ‘LEO 1 Card’, India’s first numberless Prepaid ID card.
1) NSDL Payments Bank
2) Fino Payments Bank
3) Jio Payments Bank
4) Airtel Payments Bank
5) Paytm Payments Bank
Answer: 1) NSDL Payments Bank
Explanation: LEO1, in collaboration with NSDL Payments Bank Limited (NPBL), launched the ‘LEO 1 Card’, India’s first numberless Prepaid ID card with MasterCard as a network partner. i. The card acts as both a contactless debit card and an identity card. ii. It includes a virtual wallet managed via the LEO1 mobile application and can be used at POS outlets and ATMs without a traditional bank account.
Which bank has recently (in Jan ‘24) launched the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) RuPay Reloadable Prepaid Card under the ‘One Nation, One Card’ initiative?
1) Indian Bank
2) Bank of Baroda
3) Bank of India
4) State Bank of India
5) Punjab National Bank
Answer: 2) Bank of Baroda
Explanation: The Bank of Baroda (BoB) launched the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) RuPay Reloadable Prepaid Card under the ‘One Nation, One Card’ initiative. i. The card is a chip-enabled contactless RuPay Platinum EMV prepaid card. ii. It can be used for public transport and traditional ATM transactions, with a maximum online wallet balance of Rs 1 lakh and offline wallet balance of Rs 2,000.
Which of the following companies have recently (in Jan ‘24) received approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to act as a Payment Aggregator (PA)?
1) DigiO
2) Tata Communications Payment Solutions
3) DirecPay
4) Both 1 & 2
5) Both 2 & 3
Answer: 4) Both 1 & 2
Explanation: Tata Communications Payment Solutions Limited (Tata Pay) and DigiO received approval from the RBI to act as Payment Aggregators (PAs). i. Tata Pay will handle e-commerce transactions for Tata Group’s subsidiary entities. ii. DigiO, backed by Groww, also received the PA license from RBI.
Who has recently (in Jan ‘24) won the Pubity Sport Men’s Athlete of the Year 2023 Award?
1) Lionel Messi
2) Novak Djokovic
3) Virat Kohli
4) Max Verstappen
5) Cristiano Ronaldo
Answer: 3) Virat Kohli
Explanation: Virat Kohli won the Pubity Sport Men’s Athlete of the Year 2023 Award, defeating Lionel Messi in an online poll. i. Kohli received 78% of the votes, while Messi received 22%. ii. The Pubity Sport Female Athlete of the Year 2023 Award went to Aitana Bonmati, who defeated Coco Gauff.
In January 2024, the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) extended the deadline to upload wage details of higher pension options online till ___________.
1) 30th June 2024
2) 31st May 2024
3) 31st March 2024
4) 30th April 2024
5) 31st July 2024
Answer: 2) 31st May 2024
Explanation: On January 3, 2024, the EPFO approved a five-month extension for employers to upload wage details of higher pension options online till 31st May 2024 from 31st December 2023. This was done to facilitate the processing of over 3.6 lakh pending applications for the Validation of Options/ Joint Options.
Which centre of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has recently (in Jan ‘24) signed an MoU with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to develop and report a “Green Cover Index” for National Highways in India?
1) North Eastern Space Applications Centre
2) Master Control Facility
3) National Remote Sensing Centre
4) ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network
5) ISRO Inertial Systems Unit
Answer: 3) National Remote Sensing Centre
Explanation: The NHAI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the NRSC, a primary centre of ISRO, to develop and report a “Green Cover Index” for the National Highways network in India. This initiative supports the Green Highways Policy introduced by MoRTH and NHAI in 2015, enhancing the monitoring and management of green cover along highways.
Which state’s products ‘Adi Kekir, Handmade Carpet and Wancho Wooden Craft’ have recently (in Jan ‘24) received Geographical Indication (GI) tag status from Geographical Indications Registry?
1) Odisha
2) Arunachal Pradesh
3) Assam
4) Mizoram
5) Madhya Pradesh
Answer: 2) Arunachal Pradesh
Explanation: The Geographical Indications Registry based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, awarded the GI tag to three indigenous products from Arunachal Pradesh: Adi Kekir (ginger), Handmade Carpet (by Tibetan settlers), and Wancho Wooden Craft. With these additions, Arunachal Pradesh now has a total of 8 GI products.
Which organisation/association has recently (in Jan ‘24) signed an MoU with the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) to improve the quality of Khadi products & to introduce Made-in-India label for khadi?
1) Quality Council of India
2) Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry
3) Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry
4) Confederation of Indian Industry
5) National Association of Software and Service Companies
Answer: 1) Quality Council of India
Explanation: The Quality Council of India (QCI) signed an MoU with the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) to enhance the quality of Khadi products, introduce a Made-in-India label, and empower Khadi artisans. This collaboration aims to position Khadi as a symbol of quality globally.
Name the company that has recently (in Jan ‘24) launched India’s First Credit Pass, powered by TransUnion CIBIL Limited.
1) Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Limited
2) Aditya Birla Finance Limited
3) Bajaj Finserv Limited
4) IIFL Finance Limited
5) Muthoot Finance Limited
Answer: 3) Bajaj Finserv Limited
Explanation: Bajaj Finserv Limited launched the Credit Pass, a first-of-its-kind subscription in India, powered by TransUnion CIBIL Limited. It enables customers to get real-time access to their credit dashboard to track and monitor credit health, along with tools like the Credit Score Simulator and EMI Calculator.
Which company has recently (in Jan ‘24) launched digital Fixed Deposit (FD) with interest rates up to 8.85%?
1) L&T Finance Limited
2) Mahindra and Mahindra Financial Services Limited
3) Shriram Finance Limited
4) Bajaj Finance Limited
5) Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Limited
Answer: 4) Bajaj Finance Limited
Explanation: Bajaj Finance Limited launched digital Fixed Deposits offering interest rates of up to 8.85%. These FDs can be booked through the Bajaj Finserv mobile application and website. The revised rates are applicable on fresh deposits and renewals of maturing deposits of up to Rs 5 crore for a tenure of 42 months (3.5 years). Senior citizens are offered 8.85% interest rates, while other depositors receive 8.6%.
Which Small Finance Bank (SFB) has recently (in Jan ‘24) partnered with Mastercard to launch ‘Mastercard Platinum Debit Card’ designed for Corporate Salary Customers?
1) Equitas SFB
2) AU SFB
3) Capital SFB
4) Utkarsh SFB
5) Ujjivan SFB
Answer: 2) AU SFB
Explanation: On 3rd January 2024, AU Small Finance Bank (SFB) Limited in partnership with United States of America (USA) based Mastercard launched ‘Mastercard Platinum Debit Card’ designed for Corporate Salary Customers. The card was introduced under the theme #Swipe&Save. The contactless Platinum Debit Card provides exclusive and convenient benefits to Corporate Salary class people in their daily lives. The cardholders can withdraw and make purchases up to Rs 2 lakh per day. The Automated Teller Machine (ATM) fund transfer limit made by the card is limited to Rs.20,000 and contactless transactions are limited to Rs.5000. The card offers a personal accident insurance cover of Rs.2 lakh and purchase protection benefits up to Rs.25,000. The cardholder can also avail card liability cover of Rs.2 lakh. With the launch of this card, AU SFB has expanded its card offerings in all the payment networks (MasterCard, Rupay, and Visa) in India.
Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to funds raised through issuing bonds in three different currencies by the World Bank in January 2024? A) The World Bank (WB) has launched a 5-year bond with the value of AUD 2 billion which will be maturing on 10th January 2029. B) WB has launched a 7-year bond valuing USD 5 billion from investors and this transaction is the first in the SSA market in 2024 to generate the largest order book. C) WB has launched a 5-year bond valued at CAD 1.4 billion to finance sustainable development initiatives in International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) member countries.
1) Only A
2) Only A & B
3) Only B & C
4) Only A & C
5) All A, B & C
Answer: 5) All A, B & C
Explanation: The World Bank (WB) has raised funds by issuing bonds in three different currencies, namely Canadian dollars (CAD), Australian dollars (AUD), and United States Dollars (USD) to support the financing of green and social projects, programs, and activities in the member countries. The World Bank’s arm, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), acts as the issuer. The World Bank has launched a 5-year bond with the value of AUD 2 billion, maturing on 10th January 2029. It was the first benchmark transaction as it achieved a transaction size of AUD 2 billion, the largest AUD Sovereign, Supranational and Agency (SSA) transaction. WB has launched a 7-year bond valuing USD 5 billion from investors, and this transaction is the first in the SSA market in 2024 to generate the largest order book. The World Bank has launched a 5-year bond valued at CAD 1.4 billion to finance sustainable development initiatives in IBRD member countries. The bond is set to mature on 12th January 2029. These bonds are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (LSE) in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg; all the bonds are rated as Aaa/AAA.
In January 2024, India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) Private Limited increased India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth estimate for 2023-2024 (FY24) to ___________ from 6.2%.
1) 6.7%
2) 6.5%
3) 6.8%
4) 6.4%
5) 6.3%
Answer: 1) 6.7%
Explanation: On January 3, 2024, India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) Private Limited, part of the Fitch Group, increased India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth estimate for 2023-2024 (FY24) to 6.7% from 6.2%. The increase in GDP forecast is led by various factors like the resilience of the Indian economy, which grew 7.6% Y-o-Y (Year-on-Year) in second-quarter growth (Q2FY24), after growing 7.8% Y-o-Y in 1QFY24. Sustained government (Capital Expenditure), the prospect of a new private corporate capex cycle, and sustained momentum in business and software services exports, along with remittances from the rest of the world.
The ____________ World Braille Day observed across the globe on 4th January 2024 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Louis Braille, a 19th-century French educator, who invented the Braille script for the blind and visually impaired.
1) 2nd
2) 5th
3) 3rd
4) 6th
5) 4th
Answer: 4) 6th
Explanation: The United Nations (UN) World Braille Day is annually observed across the globe on 4 January to raise awareness about the significance of Braille as a communication medium for people who are blind or partially sighted. The Day commemorates the birth anniversary of Louis Braille, a 19th-century French educator, who invented the Braille script for the blind and visually impaired in 1824. 4th January 2024 marks the observance of the 6th World Braille Day and the 215th birth anniversary of Louis Braille. The 1st ever World Braille Day was observed on 4 January 2019. On this occasion of World Braille Day, the National Institutes and Composite Regional Centres under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment organised a range of engaging programs at various locations across India.
Which state’s products ‘Tangail Cotton Sarees, Korial Sarees and Garad Silk Sarees’ have recently (in Jan ‘24) received Geographical Indication (GI) tag status from Geographical Indications Registry?
1) Odisha
2) West Bengal
3) Assam
4) Mizoram
5) Madhya Pradesh
Answer-2) West Bengal
Explanation: The Geographical Indications Registry under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry has recently awarded geographical indication (GI) tags to 3 handloom sarees of West Bengal, namely Tangail, Korial and Garad received geographical indication (GI) tags under the goods of Textiles. - The tangail sarees are woven in Nadia and Purba Bardhhaman districts, while korial and garad are woven in Murshidabad and Birbhum. - Tangail Cotton Sarees: Finer count, adorned with extra warp designs using colored yarn; named after Tangail district in present Bangladesh. - Korial Sarees: Lavish silk in white or cream; feature heavy gold and silver embellishments akin to Benarasi sarees in border and pallu. - Garad Silk Sarees: Plain white or off-white body, unornamental colored border, striped pallu; traditionally worn during pujas; handwoven with pure silk in Murshidabad, West Bengal.
**Name the bank that has recently (in Jan ‘24) signed an MoU with the REC Limited to jointly offer loans for power, infrastructure & logistics projects for a duration of three years. **
1) Bank of Baroda
2) Bank of India
3) Punjab National Bank
4) State Bank of India
5) Bank of Maharashtra
Answer-1) Bank of Baroda
Explanation: REC Limited (formerly Rural Electrification Corporation Limited) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bank of Baroda (BoB) to jointly offer loans for power, infrastructure and logistics projects for a duration of three years (till 2026). - The MoU was signed in presence of Vivek Kumar Dewangan, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD), REC Limited and Debadatta Chand, MD and CEO, Bank of Baroda - The MoU aims to catalyse transformative projects that will positively impact communities and drive socio-economic progress in India. Note- REC Limited is a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of Power (MoP).
In January 2024, _______________ has become the 1st Indian electric two-wheeler (e2W) company to get eligible for the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme after receiving approval from the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI).
1) TVS Motors
2) Ola Electric Mobility
3) Hero MotoCorp
4) Royal Enfield India
5) Bajaj Auto
Answer-2) Ola Electric Mobility
Explanation: Ola Electric Mobility Private Limited (Ola), has become the 1st Indian electric two-wheeler (e2W) company to get eligible for the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme after receiving approval from the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI). - The PLI certification offers Ola a financial benefit of Rs 15,000 to Rs 18,000 per unit. - This financial incentives will help to increase the penetration of Electric Vehicles (EVs) across India. - Ola Electric has fulfilled all the requirements outlined in the PLI Scheme, including a minimum of 50% domestic value addition to its vehicles.
Who has been recently (in Jan ‘24) appointed as the Prime Minister (PM) of the Republic of Chad?
1) Moussa Faki
2) Saleh Kebzabo
3) Succes Masra
4) Albert Pahimi Padacké
5) Emmanuel Nadingar
Answer-3) Succes Masra
Explanation: Succes Masra, president of ‘The Transformers’ party and former opposition leader, was appointed as the Prime Minister (PM) of the Republic of Chad by the transitional government under the presidentship of General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno following a referendum. - Succes Masra will replace Saleh Kebzabo who resigned from the post in December 2023. - Succes Masra is a former Senior Economist at the African Development Bank (AfDB), and a former Senior Consultant at Ernst & Young Global Limited and BNP Paribas Bank Group (Paris, France). - He started the Les Transformateurs (“The Transformers” in English) party in 2018.
In January 2024, Sheikh Mohammed Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah was appointed as the Prime Minister (PM) of ____________ (country).
1) Yemen
2) United Arab Emirates
3) Lebanon
4) Kuwait
5) Qatar
Answer-4) Kuwait
Explanation: Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad Al-Jaber al-Sabah, Emir of Kuwait, has appointed Sheikh Mohammed Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah as the Prime Minister (PM) of Kuwait and has been tasked to form a new cabinet. - He succeeds Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah, the son of late Emir Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who has been serving as the PM of Kuwait since 2022. - Sheikh Mohammed was born in 1955 and is the fourth son of Sheikh Sabah Al Salem Al Sabah, the 12th Emir of Kuwait, who ruled Kuwait from 1965 until 1977. - He served as the ambassador of Kuwait to the United States of America from 1993 to 2001. - He has also served as the minister of state for foreign affairs from 2001 to 2003, and minister of foreign affairs from 2003 to 2011. - He served as the deputy PM of Kuwait from 2006 to 2011.
Which company is set to launch GSAT-20 (renamed GSAT-N2), a Ka-band high throughput satellite (HTS), onboard the Falcon-9 rocket of Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) in the 2nd quarter of 2024?
1) NewSpace India Limited
2) Godrej Aerospace
3) KaleidEO Space Systems
4) Dhruva Space
5) Skyroot Aerospace
Answer-1) NewSpace India Limited
Explanation: NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), is set to launch GSAT-20 (renamed GSAT-N2), a Ka-band high throughput satellite (HTS), onboard the Falcon-9 rocket of Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) in the 2nd quarter of 2024. - This will be ISRO’s first partnership with SpaceX to launch the satellites. About GSAT-N2: - GSAT-N2 is specifically designed to meet the broadband, In-flight and Maritime Connectivity (IFMC) and cellular backhaul service needs of remote/ unconnected regions. - It offers 32 user beams in the Ka-Ka band having Pan-India coverage including Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep islands. - GSAT-N2, weighing 4700 kg, offers an HTS capacity of nearly 48 Gigabytes Per Second(Gpbs). - GSAT-N2 satellite will be fully owned, operated and funded by NSIL.
Which company has recently (in Jan ‘24) unveiled ‘GoRoga’ India’s first anti-stress wearable?
1) Nazara Technologies Limited
2) GSS Infotech Limited
3) Tracxn Technologies Limited
4) GlobalSpace Technologies Limited
5) Zensar Technologies Limited
Answer-4) GlobalSpace Technologies Limited
Explanation: Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra) based GlobalSpace Technologies Limited has unveiled ‘GoRoga’ India’s first anti-stress wearable. - The device uses non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) technology to reduce anxiety and promote mental wellness. - The device is manufactured and patented as RogaLife in the United States of America (USA) and the software is developed in India under the ‘Make in India’ initiative. - ‘GoRoga’ is designed to activate cortisol (steroid hormone) by connecting to a phone and utilizing sticky pads on the ears.
In which Tiger Reserve, a New Herbaceous Plant Species named “Polygonum Chaturbhujanum” was discovered in January 2024?
1) Pakke Tiger Reserve (Arunachal Pradesh)
2) Manas Tiger Reserve (Assam)
3) Sunderban Tiger Reserve (West Bengal)
4) Satkoshia Tiger Reserve (Odisha)
5) Pench Tiger Reserve (Maharashtra)
Answer-5) Pench Tiger Reserve (Maharashtra)
Explanation: A New Herbaceous Plant Species named “Polygonum Chaturbhujanum” was discovered at Gol Pahadi Island of the Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Nagpur, Maharashtra. The new species was discovered during the floral survey carried out in Pench with technical support of the Forest Survey of India(FSI). Note- This one of a kind species belongs to the genus Polygonum which includes flowering plants in the knotweed and buckwheat family Polygonaceae. - The floral survey, carried out over 1 year in Pench, reported over 863 plant species belonging to 554 genera and 117 families. - Out of this, 46 species are indigenous to India, 32 plant species are of rare distribution and 6 plant species are endemic to the Indian subcontinent. - After the survey, Dr K Chandramohan and Dr D Ravivarma, who worked on the floral survey in Pench, authored a book titled ‘Flowering Plants of Pench Tiger Reserve’. The book was edited by Dr. Prabhu Nath Shukla and Chaturbhuja Behera. - The book was released by Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister (Dy CM) of Maharashtra.
Who authored the book, ‘Sanskriti ke Ayaam’, released by General V.K. Singh (Retd.), Union Ministers of State (MoS) of Road Transport and Highways & Civil Aviation in January 2024?
1) Manorama Mishra
2) Shashi Tharoor
3) Amitav Ghosh
4) Ravi Subramanian
5) Ashwin Sanghi
Answer-1) Manorama Mishra
Explanation: General V.K. Singh (Retd.), Union Ministers of State (MoS), Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) released the book ‘Sanskriti ke Ayaam’ authored by Manorama Mishra. - The book, authored in Hindi language, is published by the National Book Trust, India functioning under the Ministry of Education (MoE). - The book speaks about Indian knowledge, tradition and culture.
Which state has recently (in Jan ‘24) launched India’s first ever Report Management Portal (RMP) and Meeting Management Portal (MMP) for efficient governance?
1) Karnataka
2) Uttarakhand
3) Himachal Pradesh
4) Uttar Pradesh
5) Bihar
Answer-3) Himachal Pradesh
Explanation: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister(CM) Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu launched India’s first ever Report Management Portal (RMP) and Meeting Management Portal (MMP) for efficient governance. - The portals were developed by the Department of Digital Technology and Governance (DDTG) of the Himachal Pradesh government. - The RMP is designed to enhance the process of sending and monitoring various reports across departments, boards, and corporations more efficiently. - It enables real-time data access for informed decision-making, as well as one-click SMS and email capabilities, as well as automatic reminders and notifications to concerned officers. - The MMP collects clean, authentic data in a standardised format with the goal of increasing transparency, accountability, and efficiency in government affairs. - MMP serves as a comprehensive solution for issuing meeting notices and proceedings, fostering communication from the Secretariat to the field offices.
Which organisation has recently (in Jan ‘24) signed an MoU with Indian Railways (IR) to reduce energy and water consumption and lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions?
1) Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India
2) Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry
3) National Association of Software and Service Companies
4) Quality Council of India
5) Confederation of Indian Industry
Answer: 5) Confederation of Indian Industry Explanation: On 4th January 2024, Indian Railways (IR) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to reduce energy and water consumption and lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The MoU has been renewed for the 3rd consecutive time since 2016. This renewed MoU with CII-Green Business Centre (GBC) aims to achieve IR’s target of Net Zero Carbon Emission by 2030. Under this renewed MoU, IR and CII jointly focus on bringing new/relevant technologies, achieving ISO 50001 certification for workshops/production units, developing a Net-Zero Energy Railway station framework, and creating an information dashboard for green initiatives.
According to the United Nations Department of Economic & Social Affairs (UN-DESA) released the World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2024 report in January 2024, India’s economic growth is projected to reach __________ in 2024.
1) 6.2%
2) 6.0%
3) 6.5%
4) 6.4%
5) 6.3%
Answer: 1) 6.2% Explanation: On January 5, 2024, according to the United Nations Department of Economic & Social Affairs (UN-DESA) released the World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2024 report projecting India’s economic growth to reach 6.2% in 2024 which is slightly lower than the 6.3% estimate for 2023. India’s GDP is estimated to reach 6.6% in 2025. South Asia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to increase by 5.2% in 2024. It grew by an estimated 5.3% in 2023. The report forecasts a slowdown in global economic growth from 2.7% in 2023 to 2.4% in 2024 with short-term risks and structural vulnerabilities. Global headline inflation fell from 8.1% in 2022 to an estimated 5.7% in 2023 and is projected to decline to 3.9% in 2024.
Name the arm of the World Bank that has recently (in Jan ‘24) priced a 5-year Sustainable Development Bond in Great British Pound sterling (GBP) to raise GBP 1.5 billion from investors.
1) International Finance Corporation
2) International Development Association
3) International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
4) Multilateral Guarantee Agency
5) International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes
Answer: 3) International Bank for Reconstruction and Development Explanation: The World Bank (WB) arm International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) has priced a 5-year Sustainable Development Bond in Great British Pound sterling (GBP) to raise GBP 1.5 billion from investors, contributing to finance sustainable development initiatives in World Bank member countries. The bond will mature on 2nd October 2028 and it is listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (LSE) in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. Citigroup Inc., NatWest Markets Plc, Santander Bank, and Toronto Dominion Securities are the joint lead managers of the transaction. Belgium-based Euroclear and Luxembourg-based Clearstream will offer clearing systems service for the transaction. Investor distribution: By Investor Type - Central Banks / Official Institutions (53%), Banks/Bank Treasuries/Corporates (25%), Asset Managers /Insurance/Pension Funds (22%); By Geography – United Kingdom (UK – 59%), Asia (32%), Europe / Middle East (6%), Americas (3%).
Who has recently (in Jan ‘24) appointed as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of National Asset Reconstruction of India Limited (NARCL)?
1) P Santhosh
2) Natarajan Sundar
3) Ajit Nair
4) Rakesh K. Singh
5) Malvika Sinha
Answer: 1) P Santhosh Explanation: P Santhosh, Chief General Manager (CGM) of Canara Bank, has been appointed (on deputation) as Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of National Asset Reconstruction of India Limited (NARCL) with effect from 5th January 2024. He succeeds Natarajan Sundar, MD & CEO of NARCL (from 2022), who resigned from the post. Santhosh will hold the post until the appointment of a regular CEO. The majority of NARCL’s stake is held by Public Sector Banks (PSBs) and the balance by private banks. Canara Bank is among the sponsor banks of NARCL with a 10% stake.
Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the appointment cleared by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) in January 2024?
A) ACC chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, cleared the appointment of 7 civil servants to key posts abroad to represent India in foreign missions and captive posts within GoI across various multilateral bodies.
B) Vikas Sheel was appointed as Executive Director (ED) of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila (Philippines) for 3 years.
C) Senthil Pandian has been appointed as Ambassador/Permanent Representative (PR) at the Permanent Mission of India (PMI) to the Geneva (Switzerland)-based World Trade Organisation (WTO) for 3 years.
1) Only A
2) Only A & B
3) Only B & C
4) Only A & C
5) All A, B & C
Answer: 5) All A, B & C
Explanation: On 5 January 2024, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, cleared the appointment of 7 civil servants to key posts abroad to represent India in foreign missions and captive posts within the Government of India (GoI) across various multilateral bodies. Vikas Sheel, a 1994-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Chhattisgarh cadre, was appointed as Executive Director (ED) of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila (Philippines) for 3 years. Senthil Pandian, a 2002-batch IAS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as Ambassador/Permanent Representative (PR) at the Permanent Mission of India (PMI) to the Geneva (Switzerland)-based World Trade Organisation (WTO) for 3 years. M Balaji, a 2005-batch IAS officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre, has been appointed Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of India, Brussels (Belgium) for 3 years. Parveen Kumar, Indian Revenue Service (IRS) (Income Tax) officer of the 2004 batch, was appointed as Adviser to the ED of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Washington DC, USA. Smita Sarangi, a 2008 batch IAS officer of the Nagaland Cadre, was appointed as Adviser to the ED of the ADB, Manila for 3 years. Senior bureaucrat Kalyan Revella, a 2010-batch IRS officer, has been appointed Counsellor (Economic) at the Embassy of India in Beijing, China for 3 years, replacing Lekhan Thakkar. Tanu Singh, a 2012-batch Indian Trade Service (ITradeS) officer, has been named as the First Secretary of the PMI to the WTO (Geneva) for 3 years, replacing Anwar Hussain Shaik, who is completing his tenure on 31 March 2024.
In January 2024, Ravindra Kumar Tyagi assumed charge as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of ____________(company).
1) NTPC Limited
2) Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited
3) Power Grid Corporation of India
4) Power Finance Corporation Limited
5) Indian Railway Finance Corporation
Answer: 3) Power Grid Corporation of India
Explanation: Ravindra Kumar Tyagi assumed charge as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID) with effect from 1 January 2024. He succeeded K. Sreekant, whose tenure as CMD ended on 31 December 2023. RK Tyagi served as Director (Operations) of POWERGRID from August 2022 to December 2023. In November 2023, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointment of RK Tyagi as CMD of POWERGRID. RK Tyagi has more than 37 years of experience in the power transmission system.
Name the personality who has been recently (in Jan ‘24) appointed as the Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive officer (CEO) of National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Limited (NIIFL).
1) A.K.T Chari
2) Sanjiv Aggarwal
3) Rajiv Dhar
4) Ashwani Kumar
5) Prashant Kumar Ghose
Answer: 2) Sanjiv Aggarwal
Explanation: On 5th January 2023, Sanjiv Aggarwal, Partner (Energy Infrastructure), Actis, was appointed as the Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive officer (CEO) of National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Limited (NIIFL), with effect from February 2024. He will succeed Rajiv Dhar, who has been serving as interim MD and CEO of NIIFL since May 2023. Note: NIIF is a collaborative investment platform for international and Indian investors, anchored by the Government of India (GoI).
Who has been recently (in Jan ‘24) appointed as the Executive Director (ED) of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for a period of three years?
1) Kamlesh Chandra Varshney
2) Ananth Narayan G
3) Ashwani Bhatia
4) Govindayapalli Ram Mohan Rao
5) Amarjeet Singh
Answer: 4) Govindayapalli Ram Mohan Rao
Explanation: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), has appointed Govindayapalli Ram Mohan Rao as Executive Director (ED) of SEBI for a period of three years. He will handle the Investigation Department and Internal Inspection Department in SEBI headquarters in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Prior to joining SEBI, G Ram Mohan Rao served as Regional Director of the Eastern Regional Office (ERO) of SEBI in Kolkata, West Bengal. He also served at the Northern Regional Office (NRO) and Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) in New Delhi, Delhi.
Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)’s Aditya-L1 spacecraft, as of January 2023?
A) ISRO successfully performed the crucial manoeuvre (final manoeuvre) of injecting the Aditya-L1 spacecraft, India’s first space-based observatory-class solar probe to study the Sun, into the halo orbit around Lagrangian point 1 (L1), travelled around 2.1 million kilometres in 75 days.
B) Between 3rd and 15th September 2023, the ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) in Bengaluru, Karnataka, has carried out 4 Earth-Bound Manoeuvres (EBN).
C) Aditya L1 carries 7 payloads to observe the photosphere, chromosphere, and corona (the outermost layers of the Sun) using electromagnetic and particle detectors.
1) All A, B & C
2) Only A & B
3) Only B & C
4) Only A & C
5) Only A
Answer: 3) Only B & C
Explanation: On 6th January 2024, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully performed the crucial manoeuvre (final manoeuvre) of injecting the Aditya-L1 spacecraft, India’s first space-based observatory-class solar probe to study the Sun, into the halo orbit around Lagrangian point 1 (L1). Aditya L1 has travelled around 3.7 million kilometres in 126 days to reach L1. This marks the transition of the Aditya L1 mission from cruise phase to orbit phase. After a flight duration of 63 minutes and 20 seconds, Aditya L1 was successfully injected into an elliptical orbit of 235×19500 km around the Earth. Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C57) launched Aditya L1 on 2nd September 2023 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh (AP). Between 3rd and 15th September 2023, the ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) in Bengaluru, Karnataka, has carried out 4 Earth-Bound Manoeuvres (EBN). On 30th September 2023, Aditya L1 travelled beyond a distance of 9.2 lakh km from Earth and escaped the sphere of Earth’s influence and began its journey towards L1. Mission Director: Nigar Shaji, a scientist at the UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), part of ISRO, in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Nigar Shaji hails from Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu. Aditya L1 carries 7 payloads to observe the photosphere, chromosphere, and corona (the outermost layers of the Sun) using electromagnetic and particle detectors. 4 payloads will directly view the Sun and 3 payloads will carry out in-situ studies of particles and fields at the L1. These payloads were indigenously developed in collaboration with various ISRO Centres and Scientific Institutes.
When was the World Day of War Orphans 2024 observed across the globe?
1) 5th January 2024
2) 4th January 2024
3) 6th January 2024
4) 3rd January 2024
5) 2nd January 2024
Answer: 3) 6th January 2024
Explanation: World Day of War Orphans 2024 was observed across the globe on 6th January 2024 to raise awareness about the challenges faced by children who have been left orphaned by wars and about the trauma experienced by war orphans globally. The Day addresses social, psychological, and physical obstacles confronted by war orphans, protects their rights and well-being, and emphasizes the need for global attention and support. A war orphan is a child or children whose parents or parents died while serving in military duty. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) defines an orphan as any child under 18 who has lost one or both parents to any cause of death.
Which Union Minister has recently (in Jan ‘24) launched Portal for Affordable Credit and Interest Subvention Access (PAiSA Portal) Dashboard and the Prime Minister Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) Mission Monitoring Portal?
1) Jitendra Singh (Union Minister of State of Science and Technology)
2) Hardeep Singh Puri (Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs)
3) Mansukh L. Mandaviya (Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare)
4) Giriraj Singh (Union Minister of Rural Development)
5) Virendra Kumar (Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment)
Answer-2) Hardeep Singh Puri (Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs)
Explanation: Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), launched 2 portals namely the refreshed Portal for Affordable Credit and Interest Subvention Access (PAiSA Portal) Dashboard; and the Prime Minister Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) Mission Monitoring Portal during the inauguration of a seminar on ‘Grievance Redressal Committee (GRC) for Street Vendors.
These portals will provide real-time progress updates on the mission and scheme, fostering transparency and accountability.
The seminar on ‘GRC for Street Vendors’ was organised by the MoHUA on January 04, 2024 at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, Delhi.
i. The MoHUA launched the PM SVANidhi scheme on 1 June 2020, to address challenges faced by Street Vendors and help them resume businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
ii. The PAiSA portal was launched on November 26, 2018. The web portal was designed and developed by Allahabad Bank.
It is a centralized hub for processing interest subvention on bank loans to beneficiaries under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM).
In which state, Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Mansukh Mandaviya has recently (in Jan ‘24) inaugurated “PRASADAM”, India’s 1st Healthy & Hygienic Food Street?
1) Bihar
2) Uttar Pradesh
3) Maharashtra
4) Gujarat
5) Madhya Pradesh
Answer- 5) Madhya Pradesh
Explanation: On 7th January 2024, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, inaugurated “PRASADAM”, India’s 1st Healthy & Hygienic Food Street, at Neelkanth Van, Mahakal Lok, in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh (MP).
Dr. Mohan Yadav, Chief Minister(CM) of MP along with other dignitaries were present during the inauguration.
PRASADAM, with a total number of 17 shops spread across 939 square meters, offers convenient and culturally rich dining options for devotees of Mahakaleshwar Temple.
i. The Union Minister also launched the Mannhit app, an initiative facilitating screening for mental health.
ii. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) released “The DART Book” to empower consumers to tackle adulteration at home with simple tests.
In January 2024, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) mandated Machine-to-Machine (M2M) and Wireless Personal Area Network/Wireless Local Area Network (WPAN/WLAN) registration to all entities engaged in these businesses.
The registration process must be completed by _________ 2024, through the SaralSanchar portal
1) 31st March
2) 30th April
3) 31st July
4) 30th June
5) 31st May
Answer-1) 31st March
Explanation: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), under the Ministry of Communications (MoC), has mandated Machine-to-Machine (M2M) and Wireless Personal Area Network/Wireless Local Area Network (WPAN/WLAN) registration to all entities engaged in these businesses.
The registration process must be completed by March 31, 2024, through the SaralSanchar portal (saralsanchar.gov.in)
The reason behind this mandate is to broaden the scope of registration to foster a standard-based and secure M2M/IoT ecosystem.
i. All entities, include Companies, Government departments, Organizations, Partnerships, LLPs (Limited Liability Partnerships), Institutions, Undertakings, Proprietorship firms, Societies, Trusts engaged in M2M service provisioning and WPAN/WLAN Connectivity Provisioning,
ii. Non-compliance may result in the withdrawal or disconnection of telecom resources from Authorized Telecom Licensees.
As per the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)’s Food Price Index (FFPI) December 2023 stood at 118.5 points, _________ lower than December 2022 level.
1) 16.4%
2) 14.5%
3) 13.3%
4) 10.1%
5) 12.9%
Answer- 4) 10.1%
Explanation: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Food Price Index (FFPI) December 2023 stood at 118.5 points, 1.8 points (1.5%) lower than November 2023 level(120.3) and 13.3 points (10.1%) lower than December 2022 level(130.4).
For 2023 as a whole, FFPI stood at 124.0 points, 19.7 points (13.7%) lower than the average value in 2022.
The FAO’s World Food Price Index tracks monthly changes in the international prices of a set of globally-traded food commodities.
i. December 2023’s FAO Cereal Price Index increased by 1.8 points(1.5%) from November 2023 level but 24.2 points(16.6%) lower than December 2022 level(147.3).
In December 2023, the FAO All Rice Price Index rose 1.6% above its November 2023 level.
In January 2024, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) sold a dual-tranche global benchmark bond valued with a maturity of 3 years and with a maturity of 10 years to raise USD __________ to promote social and economic development in Asia and the Pacific region.
1) 6 Billion
2) 7 Billion
3) 3 Billion
4) 4 Billion
5) 5 Billion
Answer-5) 5 Billion
Explanation: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) sells a dual-tranche global benchmark bond valued at USD 3 billion with a maturity of 3 years and at USD 2 billion with a maturity of 10 years to raise USD 5 Billion to promote social and economic development across its member countries in Asia and the Pacific region.
The raised funds will be contributed to ADB’s ordinary capital resources.
i. This 3 year bond will be maturing on 12th January 2027 and this 10-year bond will be maturing on 12th January 2034.
Who recently (in Jan ‘24) won 75th Creative Arts Emmy Award under the Outstanding Narrator category for Netflix documentary series Working: What We Do All Day “The Middle”?
1) Barack Obama
2) Ellen DeGeneres
3) Oprah Winfrey
4) Robert Downey
5) Naomi Campbell
Answer-1) Barack Obama
Explanation: Barack Obama, former President of the United States of America(USA) (2009-2017), won the 75th Creative Arts Emmy Award under the Outstanding Narrator category for his Netflix documentary series title Working: What We Do All Day “The Middle”.
i. Previously, he won the award in the same category in 2022 for the Netflix documentary series Our Great National Parks “A World Of Wonder”.
ii. He also has 2 Grammys under the Best Spoken Word Album category for “The Audacity Of Hope: Thoughts On Reclaiming The American Dream” in 2008 and “Dreams From My Father (Senator Barack Obama) in 2006.
Note: The Television Academy presented the 75th Creative Arts Emmy® Awards honouring outstanding artistic and technical achievement in television on 6th and 7th January 2024 at Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California, USA. List of winners of the 75th Creative Arts Emmy Award(List 1 & List 2)
Name the personality who has recently (in Jan ‘24) appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Indian Olympic Association (IOA).
1) Kalyan Chaubey
2) Sahdev Yadav
3) Raghuram Iyer
4) Gagan Narang
5) Alaknanda Ashok
Answer-3) Raghuram Iyer
Explanation: On January 5, 2024, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) appointed Raghuram Iyer as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
i. Previously, he has served as the CEO of Indian Premier League (IPL) teams such as Rajasthan Royals, Lucknow SuperGiants and Rising Pune Supergiant.
Raghuram Iyer was unanimously selected for the post by IOA Nomination Committee.
ii. Prior to this appointment, the functions of the CEO at IOA were managed by Kalyan Chaubey, the joint secretary of the IOA and the President of the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
Name the Australian batsman who has recently (in Jan ‘24) announced his retirement from one-day international (ODI) cricket and test cricket.
1) David Warner
2) Marcus Harris
3) Peter Handscomb
4) Travis Head
5) Matt Renshaw
Answer-1) David Warner
Explanation:
Australian batsman David Warner announced his retirement from one-day international (ODI) cricket and test cricket during his last test match against Pakistan, held from 3-6 January 2024 in Sydney, Australia.
David Warner was awarded Australian Cricket Awards(formerly Allan Border Medal) three times in 2020,2017 & 2016 by Cricket Australia (The national governing body for cricket in Australia) for his outstanding performance.
He was part of the cup-winning Australian team in the following tournaments, including
ODI World Cup (2015) hosted by New Zealand and Australia
Twenty20 (T20) World Cup (2021) held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman
World Test Championship (2021–2023) held in London, United Kingdom(UK)
ODI World Cup (2023) held in India
David Warner holds the record for Australia’s second-highest run scorer across all three formats(ODI,T20I and Test) with 18,612 runs, behind Ricky Ponting (27,483 runs).
Which country has recently (in Jan ‘24) won the United Cup 2024 title by defeating the Poland tennis team?
1) Serbia
2) France
3) Australia
4) Norway
5) Germany
Answer-5) Germany
Explanation:
The German tennis team won the United Cup 2024 title by defeating Poland 2-1 in the finals held at the Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney, Australia. The second edition of the United Cup was held from 29th December 2023 – 7th January 2024 in Perth and Sydney, Australia.
i. Each tie (round) in the United Cup 2024 features three matches (men’s singles, women’s singles, and mixed doubles).
Germany’sAlexander Zverev (6th in the ATP ranking) defeated Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz (9th ranked) in the men’s singles finals.
In the women’s singles finals, Poland’s Iga Swiatek(1st in WTA ranking) defeated Angelique Kerber (Germany).
In the mixed doubles event, Alexander Zverev and Laura Siegemund (Germany) defeated Hubert Hurkacz and Iga Swiatek (Poland) in the finals.
Winners of men’s singles and women’s singles in the final receive USD 251,000 prize money, while mixed doubles winners get USD 47,255.
The final winning team received USD 23,155 in prize money.
Which state’s Transport Corporation has recently (in Jan ‘24) launched Baayu, India’s First 100% electric and decentralised open mobility electric bike (e-bike) taxi service?
1) Odisha
2) Assam
3) West Bengal
4) Gujarat
5) Madhya Pradesh
Answer- 2) Assam
Explanation:
obility electric bike (e-bike) taxi service.
The e-bike taxi service was launched by Parimal Suklabaidya, Minister of Transport of Assam Government, in Guwahati, Assam.
i. Baayu Clean Air Movement is a sustainable mobility initiative launched by ASTC in collaboration with Guwahati based Bikozee Ecotech Private Limited led by the Department of Transport, Government of Assam.
ii. The movement is supported by the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog’s Shoonya Zero Pollution Mobility campaign.
Which of the following points is “Incorrect” with respect to the cabinet approval on 5th January 2024?
1) The union cabinet has approved the overarching scheme “PRITHvi Vigyan (PRITHVI)” of Ministry of Earth Sciences with a total outlay of Rs 4,797 crore.
2) The Union Cabinet appraised the MoU signed between the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC) for cooperation on the development of a Joint Small Satellite.
3) Cabinet approved the MoU signed between Indian Railways(IR), the Government of India and the United States for International Development / India (USAID/India) to support IR to achieve Net Zero Carbon Emission by 2030.
4) The proposal was approved to declare Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya Airport as an International Airport and name it “Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhyadham”.
5) The Cabinet approved the MoU signed between the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas(MoPNG), GoI and the Ministry of Natural Resources, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector.
Answer-5) The Cabinet approved the MoU signed between the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas(MoPNG), GoI and the Ministry of Natural Resources, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector.
Explanation:
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has approved the following proposals on 5th January 2024,
The union cabinet chaired by PM Modi has approved the overarching scheme “PRITHvi Vigyan (PRITHVI)” of MoES with a total outlay of Rs 4,797 crore. The scheme will be implemented during the period from 2021 to 2026.
The Union Cabinet appraised the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC) for cooperation on the development of a Joint Small Satellite.
The Union Cabinet approved the MoU signed between Indian Railways(IR), the Government of India and the United States Agency for International Development / India (USAID/India) on 14th June 2023 to support IR to achieve Net Zero Carbon Emission by 2030.
The Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi has approved the proposal to declare Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya Airport as an International Airport and name it “Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhyadham”.
The Union Cabinet approved the MoU signed between the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas(MoPNG), Government of India and the Ministry of Natural Resources, Republic of Guyana on cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector.
The MoU is signed for 5 years and can be automatically renewed on a quinquennium basis.
As per the report ‘MSMEs: Unleashing the Engines of Economic Prosperity’, prepared by CBRE India Research in January 2024, __________ (state) has accounted for the highest share (17%) of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in India.
1) Odisha
2) Gujarat
3) Madhya Pradesh
4) Maharashtra
5) Karnataka
Answer-4) Maharashtra
Explanation:
According to a report titled MSMEs: Unleashing the Engines of Economic Prosperity, prepared by CBRE India Research, Maharashtra has accounted for the highest share (17%) of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in India followed by Tamil Nadu (TN) (10%) and Uttar Pradesh (UP) (9%).
The report was unveiled during the CREDAI National New India Summit 2024 (5th edition) held in Varanasi, UP from 7th to 9th January 2024.
CBRE India Research is the knowledge partner of the New India Summit 2024.
i. The MSME sector plays a vital component in the economic progress of India, contributing nearly 30% to India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and about 44% of Exports in India.
UP in particular has a 90-lakh MSME base and contributes around 14% share of India’s total MSMEs.
As per the State Bank of India (SBI) Economic Research Department (ERD) released a report ‘SBI Research: Debunking K-shaped recovery’ in January 2024, the individual income inequality in India has declined from 0.472 to __________ during 2013–2014 (FY14) to 2021–2022 (FY22).
1) 0.329
2) 0.402
3) 0.392
4) 0.400
5) 0.385
Answer-2) 0.402
Explanation:
On January 8, 2023, the State Bank of India (SBI) Economic Research Department (ERD) released a report titled ‘SBI Research: Debunking K-shaped recovery‘ which stated that individual income inequality in India has declined during 2013–2014(FY14) to 2021–2022(FY22).
The Gini coefficient of taxable income, which captured income inequality, dropped from 0.472 to 0.402 during this period.
36.3% taxpayers moved to higher income groups, leading to a 21.3% income increase.
Top 2.5% taxpayers’ share dropped from 2.81% to 2.28% (2014–2021).
Taxpayers earning Rs 5-10 lakh increased by 295% (Assessment Years AY 2013–14 to AY 2021–22).
Income disparity of people earning less than 3.5 lakh decreased from 31.8% to 15.8%.
In January 2024, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) increased the minimum capital requirement for Small Finance Banks (SFBs) from Rs 100 crore to Rs __________, and permitted Payments Banks to upgrade as SFBs.
1) 600 crore
2) 400 crore
3) 200 crore
4) 300 crore
5) 500 crore
Answer-3) 200 crore
Explanation:
On January 8, 2024, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) increased the minimum capital requirement for Small Finance Banks (SFBs) from Rs 100 crore to Rs 200 crore, and permitted Payments Banks to upgrade as SFBs.
The reason behind this is to improve the financial resilience of SFBs and ensure their long-term sustainability.
It is noted that the net worth of all operational SFBs is in excess of Rs 200 crore.
i. Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs) transitioning to Small Finance Banks (SFBs) need an initial net worth of Rs 100 crore, to be increased to Rs 200 crore within five years.
ii. Payments Banks, eligible as per guidelines, can apply for SFB conversion after five years of operation.
Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the 81st edition of Golden Globe Awards (2024) presented in January 2024?
A) Five-time Oscar nominee Christopher Nolan’s film “Oppenheimer” won the 5 awards in 81st Golden Globe Awards under the categories Best Film in Drama, Best Actor in Drama, Best Supporting Actor and for best original score.
B) Lily Gladstone won best female actor in Drama for Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon.
C) Succession won the Golden Globe Award under the Best Television Series-Drama Category.
1) Only A
2) Only A & B
3) Only B & C
4) Only A & C
5) All A, B & C
Answer-5) All A, B & C
Explanation:
The 81st edition of Golden Globe Awards (2024) held on 8th January, 2024 at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, United States of America (U.S.A.).
The Golden Globe Awards are held annually and are presented by Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA).
American Actor and Comedian, Joseph Glenn Herbert Sr. also known as Jo Koy hosted the 2024 award ceremony.
i. Five-time Oscar nominee Christopher Nolan’s film “Oppenheimer” steals the entire spotlight at 81st Golden Globe Awards by securing 5 awards in coveted categories such as: Best Film in Drama, Best Actor in Drama, Best Supporting Actor and for best original score by Ludwig Goranson.
Christopher Nolan won his career 1st Golden Globe Award for Best Director for his film “Oppenheimer”. Though, he was nominated for Golden Globe 6 times.
ii. Cillian Murphy won the Golden Globe for best male actor in Drama for his role as the father of the atomic bomb ”J. Robert Oppenheimer” in Oppenheimer.
iii. Lily Gladstone won best female actor in Drama for Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon.
iv. After Oppenheimer, Succession (T.V. Series in Drama) stood out at 81st Golden Globe Awards by winning 4 awards- Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Series – Drama, Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Series – Drama, Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role on Television and Best Television Series-Drama.
Succession won the Golden Globe Award under the Best Television Series-Drama Category.
Who has recently (in Jan ‘24) nominated as the Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee (SCLSC)?
1) Venugopala Gowda
2) Sanjiv Khanna
3) Bhushan Ramakrishna Gavai
4) Sanjay Kishan Kaul
5) Amarjit Singh Chandhiok
Answer-3) Bhushan Ramakrishna Gavai
Explanation:
The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) has nominated Justice Bhushan Ramakrishna (BR) Gavai, a judge of the Supreme Court of India, as the Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee (SCLSC).
He succeeds Justice Sanjiv Khanna, the senior most puisne judge of the Supreme court.
Note: The Department of Justice, under the Ministry of Law & Justice, issued the notification to this effect on 29th December 2023.
i. The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, in exercise of the powers conferred under Clause (b) of sub-section (2) of Section 3 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 has nominated Justice Sanjiv Khanna as the Executive Chairperson of NALSA with effect from 26th December 2023.
He succeeded Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, who retired on 25th December 2023.
As of January 2024, Brookfield Asset Management (BAM) through its affiliate Data Infrastructure Trust (DIT) is set to fully acquire the Indian unit of American Tower Corporation (ATC) for an enterprise value of around USD ____________.
1) 2.5 Billion
2) 3.1 Billion
3) 2.9 Billion
4) 2.0 Billion
5) 3.2 Billion
Answer-1) 2.5 Billion
Explanation:
Canada-based Brookfield Asset Management(BAM) through its affiliate Data Infrastructure Trust(DIT) is set to fully acquire the Indian unit of American Tower Corporation (ATC) for an enterprise value of around USD 2.5 Billion.
The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and expected to close in the second half of 2024.
Following the acquisition, Brookfield will become India’s largest tower company with 2.53 lakh towers.
Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (RJIL) is the anchor client of Brookfield whereas Vodafone Idea Limited (VI) is the anchor client of ATC.
In January 2024, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched five payloads to soft land on the Moon’s surface aboard ____________ (Mission) through United Launch Alliance (ULA)’s Vulcan Centaur Launch Vehicle (VC2S) from Cape Canaveral, Florida, United States of America (USA).
1) Able 5A (Pioneer P-30)
2) Akatsuki Mission One
3) Concordia Mission One (TO2-AB)
4) ARIEL mission One
5) Peregrine Mission One (PM1) (TO2-AB)
Answer-5) Peregrine Mission One (PM1) (TO2-AB)
Explanation:
On 08th January 2024, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched five payloads to soft land on the Moon’s surface aboard Peregrine Mission One (PM1) (TO2-AB). The mission was launched through United Launch Alliance (ULA)’s Vulcan Centaur Launch Vehicle (VC2S) from Cape Canaveral, Florida, United States of America (USA).
This is the first launch of NASA under the Commercial Lunar Payload Services(CLPS) Initiative. PM1 is the first commercial mission of Astrobotic Technology to land on another planetary body.
Sharad Bhaskaran, who is of Indian origin, is the mission director.
i. The five payloads of the mission are:
Laser Retro-Reflector Array (LRA) – function as a permanent location marker on the Moon.
Linear Energy Transfer Spectrometer (LETS) – demonstrates the capabilities of the radiation monitors on the lunar surface.
Near-Infrared Volatile Spectrometer System (NIRVSS) – Studies lunar soil composition and finds hidden minerals and volatiles.
Peregrine Ion-Trap Mass Spectrometer (PITMS) – analyses thin lunar atmosphere and studies escaping gases & molecules.
Neutron Spectrometer System (NSS) – detects potential water present in the lunar soil.
Note- This is the first lunar mission of NASA after the launch of Apollo 17 in 1972.
When was the Earth’s Rotation Day 2024 observed across the globe?
1) 5th January 2024
2) 8th January 2024
3) 6th January 2024
4) 9th January 2024
5) 7th January 2024
Answer-2) 8th January 2024
Explanation:
Earth’s Rotation Day is annually observed across the globe on 8 January to highlight the significance of Earth’s rotational motion. It commemorates the anniversary of the scientific demonstration of Earth’s rotation by the French physicist Léon Foucault in 1851.
Earth’s Rotation Day 2024 observed on 8th January 2024 commemorates the 173rd anniversary of Léon Foucault‘s demonstration.
i. Basics of Earth’s Rotation:
The spinning of the Earth around its axis is called ‘rotation.’ Earth completes a full rotation on its axis every 23 hours and 56 minutes, which is rounded up to 24 hours.
This rotation around its axis is known as one Earth Day and this rotation is responsible for day and night cycles.
Earth rotates on its axis from West to East, and the Sun and Moon appear to move from East to West across the sky.
In which city, the International Kite Festival 2024 was inaugurated in January 2024?
1) Kolkata, West Bengal
2) Chennai, Tamil Nadu
3) Chandipur, Odisha
4) Mumbai, Maharashtra
5) Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Answer-5) Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Explanation:
Chief Minister(CM) of Gujarat, Bhupendrabhai Patel has inaugurated the International Kite Festival 2024 at Sabarmati Riverfront, Vallabh Sadan in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
i. The festival will be held from 7th to 14th January 2024 in Ahmedabad.
ii. The festival marks the days in the Hindu calendar when winter begins turning to summer, known as Makar Sankranti or Uttarayan.
iii. The festival features over 153 international kite flyers from 55 countries, 68 national kite flyers from 12 states, and 865 kite enthusiasts from 23 cities in Gujarat.
Note: Since 1989, the city of Ahmedabad has hosted the International Kite Festival as part of the official celebration of uttarayan.
In January 2024, the Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC) committed an investment of Rs __________ for development of river cruise tourism in India in its first meeting.
1) 60,000 crore
2) 45,000 crore
3) 55,000 crore
4) 65,000 crore
5) 50,000 crore
Answer-2) 45,000 crore
Explanation:
On 8th January 2024, the first meeting of Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC), chaired by the Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), committed an investment of Rs 45,000 crore for development of river cruise tourism in India.
Rs 35,000 crore of this sum has been allocated for cruise vessels and Rs 10,000 crore is set aside for development of cruise terminal infrastructure by 2047(end of Amrit Kaal).
i. The Union Minister also launched ‘Harit Nauka– Guidelines for Green Transition of Inland Vessels’ and ‘River Cruise Tourism Roadmap, 2047’ during the meeting. Click here to read more.
India is set to chair and host the ______ session of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee in July 2024 in New Delhi, Delhi.
1) 49th
2) 52nd
3) 46th
4) 50th
5) 48th
Answer-3) 46th
Explanation:
India is set to chair and host the 46th session of the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Committee from July 21–31, 2024 in New Delhi, Delhi. This marks the first time for India to chair and host the UNESCO heritage committee.
i. Bureau Members:
Chairperson– Vishal V Sharma(Permanent Representative of India to UNESCO)
Vice–Chairpersons: Bulgaria, Greece, Kenya, Qatar, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Which bank has recently (in Jan ‘24) collaborated with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to launch the Unified Payments Interface (UPI)-enabled Samman RuPay Credit Card for government sector employees?
1) YES Bank
2) HDFC Bank
3) ICICI Bank
4) Axis Bank
5) IndusInd Bank
Answer-5) IndusInd Bank
Explanation:
IndusInd Bank Limited in collaboration with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has launched the Unified Payments Interface (UPI)-enabled ‘IndusInd Bank Samman RuPay Credit Card’ for government sector employees.
The contactless credit card enhances the day-to-day transactional experience of the cardholders thereby offering them a multitude of convenient payment options.
Name the bank that has recently (in Jan ‘24) introduced a ‘Savings Account Portability Online’ scheme.
1) Karur Vysya Bank
2) South Indian Bank
3) City Union Bank
4) Indian Overseas Bank
5) Kotak Mahindra Bank
Answer-4) Indian Overseas Bank
Explanation:
Chennai (Tamil Nadu)-based public sector bank, Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) introduced a ‘Savings Account Portability Online’ scheme to simplify the savings account portability process for customers who move to different locations (for work or education).
The scheme aims to streamline the process, eliminating manual paperwork and reducing the waiting period to relocate bank accounts.
Who has recently (in Jan ‘24) became the youngest-ever Prime Minister (PM) of France?
1) François Fillon
2) Gabriel Attal
3) Jean Castex
4) Bernard Cazeneuve
5) Manuel Valls
Answer-2) Gabriel Attal
Explanation:
French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed 34-year-old Gabriel Attal as the New Prime Minister (PM) of France. With this, Attal becomes the youngest-ever PM of France since the founding of the French Fifth Republic in 1958. He is also the first openly gay PM of France.
i. Gabriel Attal replaces Élisabeth Borne, who resigned after 20 months in office on 8 January 2024. She was appointed as the PM of France in May 2022.
Name the assault rifle that has recently (in Jan ‘24) launched by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Army (IA).
1) Kiran
2) Sitara
3) Pushpak
4) Deepak
5) Ugram
Answer- 5) Ugram
Explanation:
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) launched the “Ugram (ferocious)” assault rifle for the Indian Army (IA). It was unveiled by Shailendra Gade, the Director General of the Armament and Combat Engineering (ACE) system of the DRDO.
i. It has been developed by Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune, Maharashtra and a Hyderabad-based private firm Dvipa Armour India Private Limited (DAIPL).
ii. It is 7.62 x 51 mm caliber, weighs less than four kilograms, and has a 500-meter firing range. It has a rivet-free design.
The Indian cricket team won the One Day International (ODI) series under the captainship of _________ during India’s tour of South Africa from December 2023 to January 2024, while T20I and test series ended in a draw.
1) Hardik Pandya
2) Suryakumar Yadav
3) KL Rahul
4) Rohit Sharma
5) Shreyas Iyer
Answer-3) KL Rahul
Explanation:
The Indian cricket team toured South Africa from 10th December 2023 to 07th January 2024 to play Three Twenty20 International (T20I), Three One Day International (ODI), and two test matches.
The Indian cricket team won the ODI series while T20I and test series ended in a draw.
i. During three-match T20I series, Indian T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav scored his fourth century in the third T20I match against South Africa and he equalled the record for most T20 centuries in international cricket jointly held by Rohit Sharma and Glenn Maxwell (Australia).
ii. During the ODI series, KL Rahul captained the Indian ODI team, which won the 3-match ODI series 2-1 against South Africa and with this KL Rahul became 2nd Indian captain after Virat Kohli (2018) to lead India to an ODI Series victory in South Africa.
Renowned Hindustani classical singer and Padma awardee, Ustad Rashid Khan passed away in January 2024.
In which year did he receive the Padma Bhushan award in the field of Art?
1) 2018
2) 2021
3) 2019
4) 2022
5) 2020
Answer-4) 2022
Explanation:
Renowned Hindustani classical singer and music maestro, and Padma awardee, Ustad Rashid Khan passed away in Kolkata, West Bengal.
Ustad Rashid Khan belongs to Rampur-Sahaswan gayaki (style of singing) which is related to the Gwalior gharana.
i. Ustad Rashid Khan was awarded the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award, in 2006 and Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award in 2022 in the field of arts and received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2006.
When was the World Hindi Day 2024 observed across the globe?
1) 8th January 2024
2) 10th January 2024
3) 7th January 2024
4) 9th January 2024
5) 6th January 2024
Answer-2) 10th January 2024
Explanation:
World Hindi Day or Vishwa Hindi Diwas 2024 was observed across the globe on 10th January 2024 to highlight and educate the importance of the Hindi language and honour the contributions of Hindi speakers across the globe.
i. The first-ever World Hindi Day was celebrated on 10 January 2006. Since then, World Hindi Day has been celebrated by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), which organises events and activities to promote the language.
Which state’s Fisheries and Animal Resources Development (ARD) Department has recently (in Jan ‘24) signed an MoU with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) to establish a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facility?
1) Gujarat
2) West Bengal
3) Madhya Pradesh
4) Maharashtra
5) Odisha
Answer:5) Odisha
Explanation:
The Fisheries and Animal Resources Development (ARD) Department of the Government of Odisha signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) for establishing a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facility.
i. The GMP facility is for the production of Anthrax and Enterotoxaemia (ENT) vaccines at the Satellite Unit of Odisha Biological Products Institute (OBPI) in Berhampur.
ii. The establishment of a GMP laboratory will adhere to the World Health Organisation (WHO) norms and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 of India for superior vaccine quality.
In January 2024, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) introduced substantial revisions to its Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) Regulations to address fatigue among pilots and crew and enhance overall flight safety.
DGCA has increased the mandatory weekly rest period for flight crew to 48 hours from the previous _________.
1) 26 hours
2) 36 hours
3) 24 hours
4) 40 hours
5) 38 hours
Answer-2) 36 hours
Explanation:
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has introduced substantial revisions to its Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) Regulations’ to address fatigue among pilots and crew and enhance overall flight safety. Click here to read more
The revised FDTL regulations are effective immediately, and compliance is mandatory by June 1, 2024.
i. DGCA has increased the mandatory weekly rest period for flight crew to 48 hours from the previous 36 hours.
Which company has recently (in Jan ‘24) signed an MoU with the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) to enhance the Indigenous Content (IC) in the ship?
1) Hindustan Shipyard Limited
2) Cochin Shipyard Limited
3) Steel Authority of India Limited
4) Goa Shipyard Limited
5) Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited
Answer-3) Steel Authority of India Limited
Explanation:
Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance the Indigenous Content (IC) in the ship of ICG in New Delhi, Delhi.
As per the MoU, SAIL will supply indigenous marine-grade steel to Indian shipyards, for ICG Ships.
Which of the following cities are nominated for the Wetland City Accreditation (WCA) scheme under the Ramsar Convention by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC)?
1) Indore, Madhya Pradesh
2) Udaipur, Rajasthan
3) Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
4) Both 1 & 2
5) All 1, 2 & 3
Answer-5) All 1, 2 & 3
Explanation:
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has nominated three Indian cities viz. Indore and Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh (MP) and Udaipur in Rajasthan for the Wetland City Accreditation (WCA) scheme under the Ramsar Convention.
These are the 1st three Indian cities to be nominated for WCA.
i. The WCA is a voluntary accreditation system established by the Ramsar Convention during the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP) 12, 2015
Which company has recently (in Jan ‘24) launched India’s 1st Growth Liquid Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) to offer a Growth Net Asset Value (NAV)?
1) Nippon India Mutual Fund
2) Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund
3) ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund
4) Zerodha Fund House
5) DSP Mutual Fund
Answer-4) Zerodha Fund House
Explanation:
Zerodha Fund House announced the launch of India’s 1st Growth Liquid Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) – Zerodha Nifty 1D Rate Liquid ETF, that offers a Growth Net Asset Value (NAV).
i. The new scheme follows Nifty 1D Rate Index, which measures the returns generated by market participants lending in the overnight market, as its benchmark and designed to prioritize liquidity while maintaining a relatively low-risk profile.
ii. The fund is expected to be listed on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) exchanges by the 24th January 2024.
The World Bank (WB) released its ‘January, 2024 Global Economic Prospects‘ (GEP) report projected the third consecutive year of slowdown for global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth with a decrease to ___________ in 2024.
1) 2.6%
2) 2.4%
3) 2.9%
4) 3.1%
5) 3.5%
Answer-2) 2.4%
Explanation:
On January 9, 2024, the World Bank (WB) released its ‘January, 2024 Global Economic Prospects‘ (GEP) report projecting a third consecutive year of slowdown for global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth with a decrease to 2.4% in 2024. It was 2.6% in 2023, 3% in 2022 and 6.2% in 2021.
i. The report forecasts 2025 global growth slightly higher at 2.7%, but this was marked down from a June forecast of 3% due to anticipated slowdowns among advanced economies.
ii. The WB has kept India’s GDP growth forecast unchanged at 6.3% for FY 2023-24 and 6.4% for FY 2024-25 driven by robust investment and services. It will edge up to 6.5% in FY26.
Who has recently (in Jan ‘24) became the first Indian to hold the position of Secretary General (SG) of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC)?
1) Garima Paul
2) Sunil Achaya
3) Indra Mani Pandey
4) Rajesh Sharma
5) Gaurav Kumar Thakur
Answer-3) Indra Mani Pandey
Explanation:
On 4th January 2024, Ambassador Indra Mani Pandey took charge as the 4th Secretary General (SG) of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).
i. With this, Pandey becomes the first Indian to hold the post. He will remain SG for a period of 3 years.
ii. He succeeds Tenzin Lekphell of Bhutan, who served as the 3rd SG of BIMSTEC from 6 November 2020 to 5 November 2023.
