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September CA 2023 > TOP 100 > Flashcards

TOP 100 Flashcards

1
Q
  1. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the Swachh Bharat Mission
    (Grameen) Phase II, as of September 2023?
    A) India has achieved the major milestone under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) Phase
    II with 75% villages achieving Open Defecation Free (ODF) Plus status under Phase II of the
    Mission.
    B) Total of 4.43 lakh villages have declared themselves ODF Plus, which is a significant step
    towards achieving the Swachh Bharat Mission – Grameen (SBM-G) phase II goals by 2024-25.
    C) 100% ODF Plus Model villages Among States/ UTs are Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Dadra
    Nagar Haveli & Daman Diu, Jammu & Kashmir and Sikkim.
    1) All A, B & C
    2) Only A & B
    3) Only B & C
    4) Only A & C
    5) Only A
A

Answer- 1) All A, B & C
Explanation:
India has achieved the major milestone under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) Phase II with
75% villages achieving Open Defecation Free (ODF) Plus status under Phase II of the Mission.
An ODF Plus Model village adds ODF status to its name and has arrangements for both Solid
Waste and Liquid Waste Management.
Total of 4.43 lakh villages have declared themselves ODF Plus, which is a significant step
towards achieving the Swachh Bharat Mission – Grameen (SBM-G) phase II goals by 2024-25.
The top performing States/UTs which have achieved 100% ODF Plus villages: Andaman &
Nicobar Islands, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh,
Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Ladakh, Puducherry, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and
Tripura.
100% ODF Plus Model villages Among States/ UTs – Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Dadra
Nagar Haveli & Daman Diu, Jammu & Kashmir and Sikkim.
Target has been fixed to make all villages ODF Plus by 2025.

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2
Q
  1. Who has been recently (in Sept ‘23) appointed as the Vice-President (Market Solutions) of
    the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for a period of 3 years?
    1) Jayanth Kumar
    2) Atish Mathur
    3) Bhargav Dasgupta
    4) Ajay Kumar
    5) Praveen Sharma
A

Answer- 3) Bhargav Dasgupta
Explanation:
On September 22, 2023, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) appointed Bhargav Dasgupta as Vice-
President (Market Solutions) for a period of 3 years.
i. Prior to this appointment, He was serving as the Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer
(CEO) of ICICI Lombard General Insurance Co. Ltd since 2009.
ii. He has resigned from the post of MD & CEO of ICICI Lombard. His tenure as MD & CEO was set to
end in April 2024.

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3
Q
  1. Which of the following points is “Incorrect” with respect to the recent inaugurations made by
    Prime Minister (PM) of India, Narendra Modi in September 2023?
    1) The Prime Minister inaugurated 16 Atal Awasiya Vidyalayas(Residential Schools), built at a cost of
    approximately Rs 1115 crores, across Uttar Pradesh.
    2) PM flagged Off Nine Vande Bharat Express Trains, connecting 11 states on September 24, 2023, via
    video conferencing to enhance connectivity and Passenger Experience.
    3) Kerala gets the first Orange Vande Bharat Express on Kasaragod -Thiruvananthapuram route via
    Alappuzha.
    4) PM laid the foundation stone of an international cricket stadium in Patna, Bihar.
    5) PM also inaugurates India’s 1st International Lawyers’ Conference 2023 at Vigyan Bhavan in New
    Delhi.
A

Answer- 4) PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of an international cricket stadium in
Patna, Bihar.
Explanation:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi made significant inaugurations during September 23 & 24 2023.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Inaugurated Kashi Sansad Sanskritik Mahotsav 2023 at
Rudraksh International Cooperation and Convention Centre in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
The Prime Minister inaugurated 16 Atal Awasiya Vidyalayas(Residential Schools), built at a
cost of approximately Rs 1115 crores, across Uttar Pradesh.
Shri Modi launched the portal for the registration of Kashi Sansad Khel Pratiyogita, promoting
sports and competitions in the region.
Prime Minister flagged Off Nine Vande Bharat Express Trains, connecting 11 states on
September 24, 2023, via Video Conferencing to enhance connectivity and Passenger
Experience.
Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar, West Bengal, Kerala,
Odisha, Jharkhand, and Gujarat.
Kerala gets the first Orange Vande Bharat Express on Kasaragod -Thiruvananthapuram route
via Alappuzha. The total count of Vande Bharat services will reach 68, featuring smaller 8-
coach versions with 25 improvements over their predecessors.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of an international cricket stadium
in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
The international cricket stadium in Varanasi will have a capacity of 30,000 spectators.
It is being developed in Ganjari, Rajatalab, Varanasi, at a cost of about Rs 450 crores (The Uttar
Pradesh government spent ₹121 crores to acquire the land for the stadium, while the Board of
Control for Cricket in India [BCCI] will spend ₹330 crores on its construction.).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates International Lawyers’ Conference 2023 at Vigyan
Bhavan in New Delhi. First time such an initiative has been undertaken in the country.

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4
Q
  1. Which state government has recently (in Sept’ 23) unveiled its 7th Tiger Reserve, namely the
    ‘Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve’?
    1) Uttar Pradesh
    2) West Bengal
    3) Maharashtra
    4) Odisha
    5) Madhya Pradesh
A

Answer- 5) Madhya Pradesh
Explanation:
The State Government of Madhya Pradesh (MP)
has unveiled its 7th Tiger Reserve namely
‘Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve’ which is
spread over an area of 2,339 square kilometres
across Sagar, Damoh and Narsinghpur districts of
MP. Parts of it fall under the Narmada and Yamuna
River basins.
The unveiling comes after the approval
from the National Tiger Conservation
Authority (NTCA).
The declaration of this Tiger Reserve is in accordance with the provisions of clause (ii) of sub-
section (iv) of section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (53 of 1972).
It will encompass areas within the Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary and Veerangana Durgavati
Wildlife Sanctuary.
Note- Other six Tiger Reserves in MP are Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Satpura, Pench, Panna and Sanjay-
Dubri.

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5
Q
  1. Which company recently (in Sept ‘23) delivered first-of-its-kind two Hydrogen Fuel Cell
    Electric Vehicle (FCEV) buses to Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL)?
    1) Mahindra & Mahindra Limited
    2) Hyundai Motor Company
    3) Tata Motors Limited
    4) Maruti Suzuki India
    5) Ashok Leyland Limited
A

Answer- 3) Tata Motors Limited
Explanation:
On September 25, 2023, Tata Motors Limited delivered first-of-its-kind two Hydrogen Fuel Cell
Electric Vehicle (FCEV) buses to Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL).
i. These were flagged off by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
(MoPNG); Minister of State (MoS) Rameswar Teli, MoPNG; Shrikant Madhav Vaidya, Chairman, IOCL;
among others.
ii. The Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. is a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprises.
In June 2021, Tata Motors won a tender from IOCL to supply 15 FCEV buses for testing
hydrogen-based Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel-cell technology in India.
These 12-meter buses, designed for easy boarding and seating 35 passengers, were developed
at Tata Motors’ R&D (Research & development) center in Pune, Maharashtra.

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6
Q
  1. As per the Economic Freedom of the World(EFW) 2023 Annual Report released by Fraser
    Institute in September 2023, ____________ (country) has surpassed Hong Kong to become the
    world’s freest economy, with a rating of 8.56, while India ranked _______ in the Index.
    1) New Zealand; 97
    2) Switzerland; 87
    3) Singapore; 82
    4) Switzerland; 97
    5) Singapore; 87
A

Answer- 5) Singapore; 87
Explanation:
According to the Economic Freedom of the World(EFW) 2023 Annual Report released by
Canadian think tank Fraser Institute, Singapore is the world’s freest economy with a rating of 8.56.
India Ranked 87 in the index.
Hong Kong and Switzerland stand as the second and the third freest economies with the rating
of 8.55 and 8.47 respectively.
Hong Kong retained the top position since the start of the EFW Index in 1970. For the first
time, Hong Kong has slipped from its number one position to second place.
The bottom five countries are – Yemen(161), Sudan(162), Syria(163), Zimbabwe(164) and
Venezuela(165).
In the 2023 EFW report, India has slipped one spot and stays at 87th rank with the ratings of
6.62. In EFW 2022 Annual Report, India obtained 6.64 ratings and stood at 86th rank.
New Delhi(Delhi) based independent Think-Tank ‘Centre for Civil Society’ is one among the Co-
publishers of the index.

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7
Q
  1. Name the personality who has recently (in Sept ‘23) became the third Indian scientist to
    receive the Norman E. Borlaug award in Field Research and Application.
    1) Shrinivas Kulkarni
    2) Renu Khanna
    3) Swati Nayak
    4) Gagandeep Kang
    5) Anil Kumar Gupta
A

Answer- 3) Swati Nayak
Explanation:
Indian Scientist Swati Nayak has been named the 2023 recipient of the Norman E. Borlaug Award
for ‘Field Research and Application’. She became the third Indian and first odia (Odisha)
scientist to receive this award in Field Research and Application. She is fondly called Bihana Didi (seed lady) in Odisha.
The award was announced in Climate Week New York City which was held from 17-24 September 2023.
Norman E. Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application, endowed by the Rockefeller Foundation
• The award is presented annually by the World Food Prize Foundation to an individual under the age of 40 who has made a significant contribution to improving global food security and nutrition.
Note: The other two Indians who received this award are Aditi Mukherji (2012) and Mahalingam
Govindaraj (2022).

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8
Q
  1. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the recent launches made by
    the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers (MoC&F) in September 2023?
    A) Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers (MoC&F)
    launched National Policy on Research and Development and Innovation in Pharma-MedTech
    Sector in India.
    B) The Department of Pharmaceuticals has introduced Scheme for Promotion of Research and
    Innovation in Pharma-MedTech (PRIP) Sector with a budget of Rs. 5,000 crores
    C) A scheme for the PRIP sector aims to shift the Indian pharmaceutical sector towards
    innovation-driven growth by enhancing research infrastructure.
    1) Only A
    2) Only A & B
    3) Only B & C
    4) Only A & C
    5) All A, B & C
A

Answer- 5) All A, B & C
Explanation:
On September 26, 2023, Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
(MoC&F) launched National Policy on Research and Development and Innovation in Pharma-
MedTech Sector in India; and Scheme for Promotion of Research and Innovation in Pharma-MedTech
(PRIP) Sector during an event in New Delhi, Delhi.
The National Policy on R&D and Innovation in the Pharma-MedTech Sector in India to promote
R&D in pharmaceuticals, including traditional medicines, phyto-pharmaceuticals, and medical
devices.
The Department of Pharmaceuticals has introduced the PRIP scheme with a budget of Rs. 5,000
crores, aiming to shift the Indian pharmaceutical sector towards innovation-driven growth by
enhancing research infrastructure. The scheme includes two components:
Component A: Establishing 7 Centers of Excellence (CoEs) at NIPERs (National Institute of
Pharmaceutical Education and Research) with a budget of Rs 700 crores to bolster research
infrastructure.
Component B: Promoting research in 6 priority areas like New Chemical Entities, Complex
generics, medical devices, stem cell therapy, orphan drugs, and Anti-microbial resistance with
a budget of Rs 4,250 crores.

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9
Q
  1. Which state’s Army, along with Indian Army has recently (in Sept ‘23) begun the 19th edition
    of the Exercise Yudh Abhyas 23?
    1) Sri Lanka
    2) France
    3) Bangladesh
    4) United States
    5) Indonesia
A

Answer- 4) United States
Explanation:
Exercise Yudh Abhyas 23, the 19th edition of the annual joint military training exercise between
Indian Army and the United States Army is being conducted in Fort Wainwright, Alaska, the United
States of America (USA).
This is a 14-day-long exercise which began on 25th September 2023 is set to culminate on 8th
October 2023.
The theme of Yudh Abhyas 23 is ‘Employment of an Integrated Battle Group in Mountain/
Extreme Climatic Conditions’ under Chapter VII of United Nations(UN)
Indian Army contingent comprising 350 personnel and 1-24 Infantry Battalion from the 1st
Brigade Combat Team of the US Army is participating in the exercise.
The lead battalion from the Indian side is affiliated to MARATHA Light Infantry Regiment.

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10
Q
  1. In September 2023, Poonawalla Fincorp Limited received approval from Reserve Bank of
    India(RBI) to issue co-branded credit cards with _____________ (Bank).
    1) YES Bank
    2) HDFC Bank
    3) RBL Bank
    4) Axis Bank
    5) IndusInd Bank
A

Answer- 5) IndusInd Bank
Explanation:
Poonawalla Fincorp Limited has received Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s approval to issue co-
branded credit cards with IndusInd Bank Limited.
i. Poonawalla Fincorp Limited(formerly known as Magma Fincorp) is a Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC) belonging to Cyrus Poonawalla group.
ii. The co-branded credit card is designed to offer benefits to the customers with a favourable credit
history. The credit card is set to be launched within 3 months.

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11
Q
  1. As of September 2023, Waheeda Rehman will be conferred with the ___________ Dada Saheb
    Phalke Award for the year 2021.
    1) 54th
    2) 50th
    3) 55th
    4) 53rd
    5) 56th
A

Answer- 4) 53rd
Explanation:
Veteran Indian actor and Padma Awardee Waheeda Rehman will be conferred with the Dada Saheb
Phalke Award for the year 2021 for her lifetime contribution to Indian cinema. She will become the 53rd recipient of this award.
She will also be the 8th female artist to receive the dadasaheb phalke award.
The award will be presented during the 69th National Film Awards ceremony.
The Government of India (GoI) awarded her the National Film Award (Best Actress) for the
movie “Reshma and Shera” (1971).
She was honoured with the Padma Shri (Art) in 1972, and Padma Bhushan (Art) in 2011.
Note- Dada Saheb Phalke Award, instituted in 1969, was introduced by the GoI to commemorate the
contribution of Dhundiraj Govind Phalke (Dadasaheb Phalke) to Indian cinema.

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12
Q
  1. In September 2023, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the re-
    appointment of M Rajeshwar Rao, Deputy Governor of __________ (Regulatory Body), for a period
    of 1 year.
    1) Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India
    2) Securities and Exchange Board of India
    3) Reserve Bank of India
    4) Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority
    5) National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development
A

Answer- 3) Reserve Bank of India
Explanation:
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the re-appointment of M
Rajeshwar Rao, Deputy Governor of Reserve Bank of India (RBI), for a period of 1 year with effect
from 9th October 2023.
Initially, he was appointed as the Deputy governor of RBI in October 2020 for a period of 3
years.
i. According to the RBI Act 1934, besides the governor, RBI needs 4 DGs, 2 from within the ranks, one
commercial banker, and another economist to head the monetary policy department.
ii. The current 4 DGs of RBI are Swaminathan J, T. Rabi Sankar, M. Rajeshwar Rao and Dr. M.D. Patra.

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13
Q
  1. Which of the following mutual fund companies has recently (in Sep ‘23) launched India’s first Nifty 500 ETF (Exchange Traded Fund)?
    1) Bandhan Mutual Fund
    2) Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund
    3) UTI Mutual Fund
    4) Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund
    5) SBI Mutual Fund
A

Answer- 4) Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund
Explanation:
Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund launched India’s first Nifty 500 ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) “Motilal Oswal Nifty 500 ETF”, an open-ended scheme replicating/tracking the Nifty 500 Total Return Index.
• This fund is an ideal choice for investors seeking long-term capital growth.
• Investors can join with just Rs 500 per plan/option and invest in multiples of Re 1, with no
upper investment limit.

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14
Q
  1. Which country has recently (in Sep ‘23) launched its first domestically built submarine
    named “Hai Kun”?
    1) South Korea
    2) Taiwan
    3) Myanmar
    4) North Korea
    5) Japan
A

Answer- 2) Taiwan
Explanation:
On 28th September 2023, President of Taiwan Tsai Ing-wen launched Taiwan’s 1st domestically
built submarine named “Hai Kun” during a ceremony at the submarine’s shipyard in its southern
Kaohsiung city, Taiwan.
Hai Kun means “mythical sea creature” in Chinese and it is dubbed as ‘Narwhal‘ in English.
i. Hai Kun is built with an outlay of Taiwan Dollar (T$) 49.36 billion (USD1.53 billion).
ii. It will use a combat system by Lockheed Martin Corp and carry US (United States)-made Mark 48
heavyweight torpedoes.
iii. The diesel-electric powered submarine will undergo several tests and will be delivered to the navy
by the end of 2024.

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15
Q
  1. Name the Ministry that has recently (in Sept ‘23) launched the CRIIIO 4 GOOD module in
    association with the International Cricket Council (ICC), Board of Control for Cricket in India
    (BCCI), and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)?
    1) Ministry of Education
    2) Ministry of Women and Child Development
    3) Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
    4) Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
    5) Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
A

Answer- 1) Ministry of Education
Explanation:
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Education launched a new online, life skills
learning module “CRIIIO 4 GOOD” to promote gender equity among girls and boys at the Narendra
Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
i. The programme was launched in association with International Cricket Council (ICC), Board of
Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
ii. CRIIIO4 GOOD is an innovative youth engagement that promotes gender equality and equal
opportunities for all. It will equip children with the essential life skills needed to develop in an ever-
changing world.

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16
Q
  1. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the Times Higher
    Education(THE) World University Ranking 2024 released in September 2023?
    A) The Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru (IISc Bengaluru) is Ranked No. 1 among Indian
    institutions, falling into the 201-250 band ranking for the first time since 2017.
    B) With 80 Indian institutes included in the rankings, India became the third most-represented
    country on the list.
    C) University of Oxford of the United Kingdom(UK) ranked 1st in THE World University
    Rankings 2024 for the eighth consecutive year.
    1) Only A
    2) Only A & B
    3) Only B & C
    4) Only A & C
    5) All A, B & C
A

Answer- 4) Only A & C
Explanation:
According to the ‘Times Higher Education (THE) World University Ranking 2024’, the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru (IISc Bengaluru) is Ranked No.1 among Indian institutions, falling into the 201-250 band ranking for the first time since 2017. IISc Bengaluru has moved up from the 251-300 band in 2023.
With 91 Indian institutes included in the “THE World University Rankings 2024”, India is the fourth most–represented country on the list. In 2023,75 institutes from India were featured in the list.
University of Oxford of the United Kingdom(UK) ranked 1st in THE World University Rankings 2024 for the eighth consecutive year, while Stanford University and Massachusetts
Institute of Technology(MIT) of the United States of America(USA) in second and third places respectively.
The 43 Indian universities ranked under 1,000 in THE World University Rankings 2024.
The 20 new Indian universities were featured in the 2024 ranking.
Note- .The 20th edition of ‘THE World University Rankings’ featured 1,904 universities across 108 countries and regions.

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17
Q
  1. How many new sites were recently (in Sept ‘23) added to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s World Heritage List, including India’s Santiniketan (West Bengal) and the Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas (Karnataka)?
    1) 30 2) 40 3) 62 4) 50 5) 42
A

Answer- 5) 42
Explanation:
The 45th session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,
concluding on September 25. This session witnessed the addition of 42 new sites to the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s World Heritage List, alongside
other significant decisions.
The committee was chaired by H.H. Princess Haifa Al Mogrin, Saudi Arabia’s Permanent
Delegate to UNESCO.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia(KSA) served as the host country for the 45th session of WHC.

i. India’s Santiniketan in West Bengal and the Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas in Karnataka
have been added to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
World Heritage list. Click here for complete information
ii. Of the 42 newly inscribed sites, 33 are cultural and 9 are natural. This brings the total number of
UNESCO World Heritage sites to 1199 (993 cultural, 227 natural, 39 mixed) across 168 countries. The
Committee also approved the extension of below 5 existing World Heritage sites

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18
Q
  1. Name the Bank that has recently (in Sep ‘23) collaborated with SahiBandhu to introduce
    Door-Step Gold Loan service.
    1) South Indian Bank
    2) Karnataka Bank
    3) HDFC Bank
    4) RBL Bank
    5) IndusInd Bank
A

Answer- 2) Karnataka Bank
Explanation:
Karnataka Bank Limited (KBL) introduced an innovative Door-Step Gold Loan service called “KBL-
Swarna Bandhu” for its customers in collaboration with SahiBandhu.
i. It enables complete digitalization of gold loan processes, allowing the bank to offer gold loan
services directly to customers at their doorstep. It also expands its Gold Loan Portfolio.
ii. SahiBandhu, a leading aggregator platform for gold loans supported by The Manipal Group.

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19
Q
  1. As per the Kantar BrandZ Top 75 Most Valuable Indian Brands Report conducted by Wire
    and Plastic Products (WPP) in September 2023, ____________ (company/Bank) retained its top
    position as India’s most valuable brand for the second consecutive year.
    1) Infosys Limited
    2) HDFC Bank
    3) Airtel Limited
    4) Tata Consultancy Services
    5) HCL Technologies Limited
A

Answer- 4) Tata Consultancy Services
Explanation:
In the Kantar BrandZ Top 75 Most Valuable Indian Brands Report conducted by Wire and Plastic
Products (WPP) and Kantar, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) retained its top position as India’s
most valuable brand for the second consecutive year with a brand value of USD 43 billion.
i. Housing Development Finance Corporation(HDFC) bank and Infosys occupy 2nd and 3rd position
with a brand value of USD 33,612 and USD 24,170 respectively.
India’s top 75 brands have a combined brand value of USD 379 billion, a decline of 4% from
•
2022.
•
· ·
•
The 2023 Indian brand ranking includes four newcomers and two re-entrants
PhonePe(21st rank) has become India’s leading digital payment application.
Other newcomers include fintech brand Cred, ShareChat(photo and video sharing app),
and Star(entertainment platform).
The automotive category produced the two fastest risers.

TVS gained 59% in value and leapt 24 places helped by a number of successful product
launches and a 10-year partnership with BMW that gives it leverage in markets such as Europe,
the US and Canada.
Mahindra, which grew its value by 48%, due to the shift in preference from hatchbacks to SUVs,
and the demand for electric vehicles.
Additionally, with 40% Year-on-Year change Sunfeast (54th most valuable brand) is third fast riser

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20
Q
  1. Which bank has recently (in Sept ‘23) appointed KN Madhusoodanan as the Part-Time
    Chairman?
    1) South Indian Bank
    2) RBL Bank
    3) HDFC Bank
    4) Dhanlaxmi Bank
    5) ICICI Bank
A

Answer- 4) Dhanlaxmi Bank
Explanation:
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the appointment of KN Madhusoodanan as the Part-Time
Chairman of Thrissur (Kerala)-based Dhanlaxmi Bank for a period of 3 years with effect from
September 26, 2023. He has been an Independent Director on the Board of the Bank with effect from 9
November 2022.
i. KN Madhusoodanan succeeded G Subramonia Iyer, Part-time Chairman and Independent Director of
the bank, who resigned in December 2021. Following his resignation, the bank had been without a
Chairman for 21 months.
ii. KN Madhusoodanan is the Managing Director of various private limited companies including Micro,
Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) companies. He ventured into civil construction in 1983.

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21
Q
  1. Padma Awardee __________________, who is popularly known as the Father of India’s Green
    Revolution, passed away in September 2023.
    1) Nirpakh Tutej
    2) Durgesh Patel
    3) Sam Pitroda
    4) Verghese Kurien
    5) MS Swaminathan
A

Answer- 5) MS Swaminathan
Explanation:
Indian agricultural scientist and Padma Awardee Mankombu Sambasivan Swaminathan (MS Swaminathan), who is popularly known as the Father of India’s Green Revolution, passed away at the age of 98 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu(TN). He was born on 7th August 1925 in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu.
He served as the Director General (DG) of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Secretary to the Government of India (GoI), Department of Agricultural Research and Education from 1972-79.
He has also served as the Member of the Parliament (MP) of India (Rajya Sabha – Nominated) from 2007 to 2013.

He founded M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), a research centre in Chennai in
1988 and served as its Chairman, Emeritus Chairman, and Chief Mentor.
i. Award: GoI honoured him with the Padma Shri (1967), Padma Bhushan (1972) and Padma
Vibhushan (1989) for Science and Engineering.
He was named the first World Food Prize Laureate for developing and spearheading the
introduction of high-yielding wheat and rice varieties into India during the 1960s. He received
the award in 1987.

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22
Q
  1. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the Prime Minister (PM)
    Narendra Modi’s Visit to Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh in September 2023?
    A) During the visit to Madhya Pradesh, the PM laid the foundation stone of projects worth more
    than Rs. 50,700 crores in Bina, which include Petrochemical Complex.
    B) The PM also laid the foundation stone of ten projects namely ‘Power and Renewable Energy
    Manufacturing Zone’ in Narmadapuram district, MP.
    C) During his visit to Raigarh, Chhattisgarh, he laid the foundation stone of ‘critical care blocks’
    in nine districts of Chattisgarh and also distributed one Lakh sickle cell counselling cards.
    1) All A, B & C
    2) Only A & B
    3) Only B & C
    4) Only A & C
    5) Only A
A

Answer- 1) All A, B & C
Explanation:
On September 14, 2023, the Prime Minister (PM) of India
Narendra Modi visited Bina in Madhya Pradesh (MP)
and Raigarh, Chhattisgarh the details of which are as
follows:
The PM laid the foundation stone of projects
worth more than Rs. 50,700 crore in Bina, MP.
The projects include Petrochemical Complex in
Bina, a Power and Renewable Energy Manufacturing Zone in Narmadapuram , IT (Information
Technology) parks in Indore, Mega Industrial Park in Ratlam; and 6 new industrial areas across
• •
MP.
•
• • •
The foundation stone is laid for the Petrochemical Complex at Bina Refinery by Bharat
Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL). The complex will be developed at a cost of ~Rs 49,000
crore .
The PM also laid the foundation stone of ten projects namely ‘Power and Renewable Energy
Manufacturing Zone’ in Narmadapuram district, MP.
Power and Renewable Energy Manufacturing Zone, which will be developed with an outlay of
more than Rs 460 crore, will boost economic growth and jobs.
During his visit to Raigarh, Chhattisgarh, he dedicated important rail sector projects, laid the
foundation stone of ‘critical care blocks’ in nine districts of Chattisgarh and also distributed
one Lakh sickle cell counselling cards.
He dedicated rail sector projects worth around Rs 6,350 crore in the public programme in
Raigarh which will provide impetus to socioeconomic development by facilitating movement of
passengers as well as freight traffic in the region.
Chhattisgarh East Rail Project Phase-I is a part of PM GatiShakti for multi-modal connectivity
which encompasses 124.8 km rail line from Kharsia to Dharamjaygarh with Gare-Pelma spur
and 3 feeder lines connecting Chhal, Baroud, Durgapur and other coal mines. Cost: Approx. Rs.
3,055 crore.

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23
Q
  1. In September 2023, the Geographical Indications Registry (GIR) granted Geographical
    Indication(GI) tags to ___________ (state)’s ‘Atreyapuram Pootharekulu’ under the Food Stuffs
    category.
    1) Kerala
    2) Tamil Nadu
    3) Andhra Pradesh
    4) Telangana
    5) Karnataka
A

Answer- 3) Andhra Pradesh
Explanation:
The Geographical Indications Registry (GIR) has granted Geographical Indication (GI) tags to Andhra
Pradesh’s ‘Atreyapuram Pootharekulu’, a sweet made of rice and jaggery.
GIR under the Department of Industry Promotion and Internal Trade (DIPIT), the Ministry of
Commerce and Industry (MoCI) had registered ‘Atreyapuram Pootharekulu’ sweet variety under the
‘FoodStuffs’ category.
Atreyapuram is a village in Konaseema district of Andhra Pradesh.
i. GI Certificate Handover Ceremony was held at the Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law
University(DSNLU), Visakhapatnam on the occasion of the national workshop on “Geographical
Indications and GI Certificate Handover Ceremony for Atreyapuram Pootharekulu”

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24
Q
  1. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the recent release by the
    Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in September 2023?
    A) RBI released the names of 15 Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) in the Upper Layer
    (UL)/NBFC-UL under Scale Based Regulation for NBFCs for the year 2023-24.
    B) The NBFC-UL (Upper Layer) includes NBFCs specifically identified by the RBI as warranting
    enhanced regulatory requirements based on a set of parameters and scoring methodology.
    C) TMF Business Services Limited, formerly Tata Motors Finance Limited, qualifies as an NBFC-
    UL (Non-Banking Financial Company – Upper Layer) based on scoring methodology.
    1) Only A
    2) Only A & B
    3) Only B & C
    4) Only A & C
    5) All A, B & C
A

Answer- 5) All A, B & C

Explanation:
On September 15, 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the names of 15 Non-Banking
Financial Companies (NBFCs) in the Upper Layer (UL)/NBFC-UL under Scale Based Regulation for
NBFCs for the year 2023-24. Click Here is the list of NBFC-UL for 2023-24.
i. In October 2021, RBI issued the Scale Based Regulation (SBR): A Revised Regulatory Framework for
NBFCs (the framework) which categorizes NBFCs in the following as per their asset size and scoring
methodology:
NBFC-BL (Base Layer): It primarily consists of non-deposit-taking NBFCs with assets below Rs
1,000 crore.NBFC-ML (Middle Layer): It comprises all deposit-taking NBFCs and non-deposit-
taking NBFCs with assets exceeding Rs 1,000 crore,
NBFC-UL (Upper Layer): The upper layer includes NBFCs specifically identified by the RBI as
warranting enhanced regulatory requirements based on a set of parameters and scoring
methodology.
The top 10 eligible NBFCs in terms of asset size will always reside in the upper layer,
regardless of other factors.
NBFC-TL (Top Layer): NBFC-UL will be moved to Top Layer if RBI recognizes a substantial
increase in the potential systemic risk. As of now, the Top Layer shall ideally remain empty.
TMF Business Services Limited, formerly Tata Motors Finance Limited, qualifies as an NBFC-
UL (Non-Banking Financial Company – Upper Layer) based on scoring methodology.
However, it is currently not listed as an NBFC-UL in the latest review due to ongoing business
reorganization.

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25
Q
  1. Name the bank that has recently (in Sept ‘23) launched ‘SAATHI (Sustainable Access and Aligning Technology for Holistic Inclusion)’ to provide basic banking services at all centres for
    a minimum of four hours per day in fixed outlets.
    1) Punjab National Bank
    2) Bank of Baroda
    3) Indian Bank
    4) State Bank of India
    5) Bank of India
A

Answer- 3) Indian Bank
Explanation:
Indian Bank has launched a new initiative called IB(Indian Bank) SAATHI (Sustainable Access and
Aligning Technology for Holistic Inclusion), to provide basic banking services at all centres for a
minimum of four hours per day in fixed outlets through the business correspondent (BC) channel.
i. The initiative was launched by Shanti Lal Jain who is the Managing Director(MD) and Chief
Executive Officer(CEO) of Indian Bank in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
ii. The program makes it easier for customers to access and use banking services, and it also offers
both basic and value-added services to customers.
iii. To implement the initiative, Indian Bank needs to have more than 5,000 newly appointed new BCs
(by March 2024) along with 15 Corporate Business Correspondents (CBCs).
Presently, they have only 10,750 BCs and 10 CBCs.

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26
Q
  1. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the recent
    dedicated/launches made by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi in September 2023?
    A) Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi dedicated the Phase -1 of the India International
    Convention and Expo Centre (IICC), also known as Yashobhoomi on the occasion of Vishwakarma Jayanti.
    B) He also launched PM Vishwakarma Scheme covering 18 focus areas of artisans and
    craftsmen along with its logo, tagline ‘‘Samman Samarthya Samridhi” and portal.
    C) He released a customized stamp sheet, a tool kit e-booklet and video on the occasion.
    1) Only A
    2) Only A & B
    3) Only B & C
    4) Only A & C
    5) All A, B & C
A

Answer- 5) All A, B & C
Explanation:
On September 17, 2023, i.e. on the occasion of Vishwakarma Jayanti, the Prime Minister (PM) of
India Narendra Modi dedicated the Phase -1 of the India International Convention and Expo Centre
(IICC), also known as Yashobhoomi to the nation located in Dwarka Sector 25, New Delhi, Delhi.
i. IICC is India’s largest convention and exhibition centre with a total indoor area of 300,000m2.
ii. He also launched PM Vishwakarma Scheme covering 18 focus areas of artisans and craftsmen
along with its logo, tagline ‘‘Samman Samarthya Samridhi” and portal
(https://pmvishwakarma.gov.in/).
iii. He released a customized stamp sheet, a tool kit e-booklet and video on the occasion.
iv. The launch/release was made from the IICC, New Delhi.

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27
Q
  1. Which of the following Indian heritage sites has been recently (in Sept ‘23) inscribed on
    the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage
    list under the Cultural heritage category?
    1) Santiniketan in West Bengal
    2) Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas in Karnataka
    3) Deer Stone Monuments in Maharashtra
    4) Both 1 & 2
    5) Both 2 & 3
A

Answer- 4) Both 1 & 2
Explanation:
Santiniketan in West Bengal (WB) and Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas in Karnataka were
inscribed on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World
Heritage list.
Santiniketan is the 41st and Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas is the 42nd World Heritage
site in India.
Both were listed under the Cultural heritage category.
This was announced during the 45th extended session of the World Heritage Committee of
UNESCO being held in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 10 to 25 September 2023.
Note: At present, India has a total of 42 UNESCO World Heritage sites, which includes 7 natural
heritage sites, 1 mixed heritage site and 34 Cultural Heritage sites.

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28
Q
  1. Which of the following points is “Incorrect” with respect to the 16th Edition of Asia Cup
    2023 finals held in Colombo, Sri Lanka in September 2023?
    1) India have lifted the Asia Cup for a record-extending eighth time after defeating Sri Lanka in the
    Finals of Asia Cup 2023.
    2) Indian Men’s cricket team captain Rohit Sharma lifted the Asia Cup trophy for the third time in his
    career to join Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni in an elite list.
    3) Virat Kohli hits a ton against Pakistan in Asia Cup to become the fastest batsman to score 13,000
    One Day International (ODI) runs.
    4) Rohit Sharma becomes the sixth Indian to enter the 10,000 ODI runs club after Virat Kohli, Sachin
    Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, MS Dhoni and Rahul Dravid.
    5) Shubman Gill becomes the first batter to score 1,000 ODI runs in 2023.
A

Answer- 2) Indian Men’s cricket team captain Rohit Sharma lifted the Asia Cup trophy for the
third time in his career to join Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni in an elite list.
Explanation:
India have lifted the Asia Cup for a record-extending eighth time after defeating the defending
champions Sri Lanka in the Finals of Asia Cup 2023, at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The 16th Edition of Asia Cup 2023 was Co-hosted by Sri Lanka as well as Pakistan for the 1st
time from 30 August to 17 September 2023.
With eight titles (seven ODI and one T20I), India became the most successful team in the
history of the tournament. Where Sri Lanka is the second most successful team with six titles
and Pakistan have won two.
Indian Men’s cricket team captain Rohit Sharma lifted the Asia Cup trophy for the second
time in his career to join Mohammad Azharuddin and MS Dhoni in an elite list.
Azharuddin and Dhoni were the only two captains to have won the Asia Cup twice
before Rohit. Azhar won the titles in 1991 and 1995 while Dhoni won in 2010 and
• •
•
•
2016.
• •
• •
Rohit had first won the Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2018, which was
played in the Twenty20 International (T20I) format.
Virat Kohli hits a ton against Pakistan in Asia Cup to become the fastest batsman to score
13,000 One Day International (ODI) runs.
Rohit Sharma becomes the sixth Indian to enter the 10,000 ODI runs club after Virat Kohli,
Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, MS Dhoni and Rahul Dravid.
hubman Gill becomes the first batter to score 1,000 ODI runs in 2023

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29
Q
  1. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the recent launches made by
    the Union Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman and Union Minister of Agriculture &
    Farmers Welfare (MoAFW) Narendra Singh Tomar in September 2023?
    A) Union Ministers inaugurated Kisan Rin Portal (KRP), which aims to give farmers subsidized
    loans under the KCC scheme, and also assist them in availing subsidized agriculture credit
    through MISS.
    B) During the event, Door-To-Door Kisan Credit Card (KCC) campaign (Ghar-Ghar KCC Abhiyaan) was launched to connect around 1.5 crore beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Kisan
    Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) who are not yet connected to KCC scheme.
    C) WINDS Manual also launched to enhance the impact of the Weather Network Data Systems (WINDS) initiative.
    1) All A, B & C
    2) Only A & B
    3) Only B & C
    4) Only A & C
    5) Only A
A

Answer- 1) All A, B & C
Explanation:
On September 19, 2023, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Ministry of Finance; and Union
Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoAFW), inaugurated
Kisan Rin Portal (KRP), Weather Information Network Data Systems (WINDS) Manual, and Door-To-
Door Kisan Credit Card (KCC) campaign (Ghar-Ghar KCC Abhiyaan) during an event at Pusa
Complex, New Delhi, Delhi.
These initiatives are focused on Agri-credit (KCC & MISS) and Crop Insurance
(PMFBY/RWBCIS).
MISS stands for Modified Interest Subvention Scheme, PMFBY for Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima
Yojana, and RWBCIS for Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme.
Kisan Rin Portal (KRP) aims to give farmers subsidized loans under the KCC scheme, and also
assist them in availing subsidized agriculture credit through MISS.
During the event, Ghar Ghar KCC Abhiyaan was also launched which will initiate from October
1, 2023 till December 31, 2023 which aims to connect around 1.5 crore beneficiaries of
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) who are not yet connected to KCC scheme.
WINDS Manual is launched to enhance the impact of the Weather Network Data Systems
(WINDS) initiative which was launched in July 2023 to utilize advanced weather data analytics
to make informed weather decisions on agriculture.

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30
Q
  1. In September 2023, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved re-appointment of Sashidhar
    Jagdishan as Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of __________ (Bank) for a
    period of 3 years.
    1) State Bank of India
    2) YES Bank
    3) Axis Bank
    4) ICICI Bank
    5) HDFC Bank
A

Answer- 5) HDFC Bank
Explanation:
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved re-appointment of Sashidhar Jagdishan as Managing
Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of HDFC Bank Limited for a period of 3 years with
effect from 27th October 2023 to 26th October 2026.
i. He has been MD and CEO of the Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) Bank since
October 2020, after he took charge from Aditya Puri(the bank’s longest serving CEO (26 years- since
September 1994).
ii. Sashidhar Jagdishan joined HDFC Bank in 1996 as a Manager in the Finance function and became
Business Head of finance in 1999. He was appointed as Chief Financial Officer in 2008.

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31
Q
  1. In September 2023, the Indian Army inducted Six hundred indigenously manufactured self-
    neutralising anti-tank mines, “Vibhav”, to provide mobility kill against all enemy armoured
    vehicles.
    Vibhav is being manufactured by the ___________ (company) for the Indian Army.
    1) Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd
    2) Kalyani Group
    3) Tata Motors Limited
    4) Maruti Suzuki India
    5) Ashok Leyland Ltd
A

Answer- 2) Kalyani Group
Explanation:
The Indian Army has inducted Six hundred indigenously manufactured self-neutralising anti-tank
mines, known as “Vibhav”, to provide mobility kill against all enemy armoured vehicles.
i. The introduction of Vibhav into the Indian Army’s armoury enhanced their defences against enemy
armoured vehicles and strengthened their overall operational capabilities.
ii. Vibhav, the point-attack anti-tank munition, was developed in collaboration with the Defence
Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in India. These mines have safety and actuation
mechanisms to ensure operator safety.
iii. Vibhav is being manufactured by the Kalyani Group for the Indian Army.

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32
Q
  1. In September 2023, Union Minister of Skill Development and
    Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan launched ‘Skills on Wheels’ initiative in collaboration
    with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and __________ (Bank).
    1) Axis Bank
    2) State Bank of India
    3) IndusInd Bank
    4) ICICI Bank
    5) HDFC Bank
A

Answer- 3) IndusInd Bank
Explanation:
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE)
launched ‘Skills on Wheels’ initiative in collaboration with the National Skill Development
Corporation (NSDC) and IndusInd Bank. MSDE minister and Shri Om Birla,Speaker, Lok Sabha have
jointly launched the initiative during the inauguration of the program ceremony.
To equip rural youth, especially women, with key digital skills and make them job and future-
•
ready
•
This initiative will empower 60,000 youth over a period of 5 years with relevant skills training
to improve the livelihood of rural households.

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33
Q
  1. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the Reserve Bank of India
    (RBI)’s Flow of Financial Assets and Liabilities of Household data released in September 2023?
    A) Net financial savings of households fell to a nearly seven-decade low of 6.1% of GDP in FY23,
    down from 7.2% in FY22.
    B) National Financial Switch (NFS) usage decreased from 11.5% in FY21 to 5.1% in FY23.
    C) Household financial liabilities saw a substantial increase, rising to 5.8% of GDP in FY23, up
    from 3.8% in FY22.
    1) Only A
    2) Only A & B
    3) Only B & C
    4) Only A & C
    5) All A, B & C
A

Answer- 3) Only B & C
Explanation:
Net financial savings of households fell to a nearly five-decade low of 5.1% of GDP in FY23, down
from 7.2% in FY22. This marked a notable decrease from the previous fiscal year, where it stood at
7.2% (FY22), as per Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data.
National Financial Switch (NFS) usage decreased from 11.5% in FY21 to 5.1% in FY23, as per
data from RBI’s Flow of Financial Assets and Liabilities of Household released in September
•
2023.
•
Household financial liabilities saw a substantial increase, rising to 5.8% of GDP in FY23, up
from 3.8% in FY22. This indicates that households have increasingly relied on borrowing to
meet their consumption needs.

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34
Q
  1. In September 2023, Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully tested the indigenously developed
    ‘Type V Heavy Drop System’, multi-stage parachute from a cargo aircraft.
    Which company has manufactured the parachute?
    1) Agnikul Cosmos Private Limited
    2) Bellatrix Aerospace Private Limited
    3) Skyroot Aerospace Private Limited
    4) Dhruva Space Private Limited
    5) Airbornics Defence and Space Private Limited
A

Answer- 5) Airbornics Defence and Space Private Limited
Explanation:
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has successfully tested the indigenously developed ‘Type V Heavy Drop
System’ from a cargo aircraft which is capable of paradropping arms, ammunition, and other
equipment to inaccessible places/battlefields.
The design of this system has been developed by Aerial Delivery Research and Development
Establishment (ADRDE), Agra, Uttar Pradesh (UP).
Type V Heavy Drop System, is a parachute, developed under the ‘Make In India’ initiative.
i. About Type V Heavy Drop System:
The parachute is manufactured by Airbornics Defence and Space Private Limited.
It is a multi-stage parachute system comprising eight Main canopies, three extractor
parachutes and one drogue parachute.
The parachute weighs up to 20 tons & has a platform which is made up of a special Aluminium-
based metal.

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35
Q
  1. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the new set of National
    Awards introduced by the Government of India (GoI) in September 2023?
    A) The Government of India (GoI) has introduced Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (RVP), a new set
    of National Awards in the field of Science, Technology, and Innovation.
    B) The RVP will comprise 3 Vigyan Ratna awards, as well as 25 Vigyan Shri, 25 Vigyan Yuva-
    Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, and 3 Vigyan Team awards.
    C) Vigyan Ratna (VR) award is set to recognize lifetime achievements & contributions made in
    any field of science and technology.
    1) All A, B & C
    2) Only A & B
    3) Only B & C
    4) Only A & C
    5) Only A
A

Answer- 1) All A, B & C
Explanation:
The Government of India (GoI) has introduced Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (RVP), a new set of
National Awards in the field of Science, Technology, and Innovation.
i. RVP is set to become one of the highest recognitions in the field of science, technology, and
innovation in India, and it will replace nearly 300 awards given by various science departments with
56 centrally administered awards. The RVP will be given in 13 domains.
ii. The RVP will comprise 3 Vigyan Ratna awards, as well as 25 Vigyan Shri, 25 Vigyan Yuva-Shanti
Swarup Bhatnagar, and 3 Vigyan Team awards.
Vigyan Ratna (VR) award is set to recognize lifetime achievements & contributions made in
any field of science and technology.
Vigyan Shri (VS) award is set to recognize distinguished contributions in any field of science
and technology.
Vigyan Yuva-Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (VY-SSB) award is intended to recognise and encourage
young scientists under the age of 45 who have made outstanding contributions to any field of
science and technology.
Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar(SSB) awards have been given by the Council of Scientific and
Industrial Research(CSIR) since 1958 across seven domains.
Vigyan Team (VT) award is to be awarded to a team of three or more
scientists/researchers/innovators who have made an exceptional contribution in any field of
science and technology while working in a team.

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36
Q
  1. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the recent Competition
    Commission of India (CCI) approval in September 2023?
    A) CCI has approved the proposed acquisition of certain shareholding in TVS Credit Services
    Limited by PI Opportunities Fund-I Scheme-II along with certain Individuals.
    B) The proposed combination relates to acquisition of approximately 24.16% of the total
    equity shareholding in Quality Care India Limited (QCIL) by Centella Mauritius Holdings
    Limited.
    C) The Proposed Combination envisages acquisition of ~72.49% of the total equity
    shareholding of Quality Care India Limited , on a fully diluted basis, by BCP Asia II Topco IV Pte.
    Ltd from Touch Healthcare Private Limited.
    1) Only A
    2) Only A & B
    3) Only B & C
    4) Only A & C
    5) All A, B & C
A

Answer- 5) All A, B & C
Explanation:
On September 20, 2023, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the following
proposals:
i. Acquisition of additional unit holding in Highways Infrastructure Trust by 2452991 Ontario
Limited and acquisition of equity stake in Highway Concessions One Private Limited by 2743298
Ontario Limited
ii. Recently, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the proposed acquisition of
certain shareholding in TVS Credit Services Limited by PI Opportunities Fund-I Scheme-II along
with certain Individuals.
The proposed combination relates to the acquisition of 10.98% stake (on a fully diluted basis)
of Target by the Acquirers.
PIOF-II shall be acquiring about 10.79% of shareholding in the Target, whereas the Individual
Acquirers shall collectively be acquiring 0.19% shareholding in Target.
iii. The proposed combination relates to acquisition of approximately 24.16% of the total equity
shareholding in Quality Care India Limited (QCIL) by Centella Mauritius Holdings Limited.
iv. The Proposed Combination envisages acquisition of ~72.49% of the total equity shareholding of
Quality Care India Limited (Target), on a fully diluted basis, by BCP Asia II Topco IV Pte. Ltd (BCP
Asia II/Acquirer) from Touch Healthcare Private Limited.

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37
Q
  1. In which of the following Bank, HDFC Asset Management Company Limited has recently (in
    Sept ‘23) received approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to acquire additional
    holdings of up to 9.5% of the paid-up share capital or voting rights?
    1) Kotak Mahindra Bank
    2) Karur Vysya Bank
    3) DCB Bank Limited
    4) Both 1 & 2
    5) Both 2 & 3
A

Answer- 5) Both 2 & 3
Explanation:
HDFC Asset Management Company Limited(HDFC AMC) received approval from the Reserve Bank of
India (RBI) to acquire additional holdings of up to 9.5% of the paid-up share capital or voting rights
of Karur Vysya Bank Limited(KVB) and DCB Bank Limited.
The approval has been granted with reference to the application made by HDFC AMC to RBI.
The holding of HDFC AMC in both the banks should not exceed (individually) 9.5 % of the paid-
up share capital or voting rights of the Bank at all times.
i. RBI instructed HDFC AMC not to reduce the shareholding below 5% without prior approval from RBI.
If the aggregate holding falls below 5%, prior approval of RBI will be required to increase it to
5% or more of the paid-up share capital or voting rights of the Bank.
ii. The RBI has given HDFC AMC one year time to buy the shares of DCB Bank.
•
If HDFC AMC does not buy the shares within one year, the RBI’s approval will be cancelled.

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38
Q
  1. Name the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chatbot for the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi
    (PM-KISAN) scheme that was recently (in Sept ‘23) launched by Kailash Choudhary, Minister of
    State (MoS) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
    1) Kisan e-Lisa
    2) Kisan e-Sana
    3) Kisan e-Mitra
    4) Kisan e-Zara
    5) Kisan e-Veera
A

Answer- 3) Kisan e-Mitra
Explanation:
Kailash Choudhary, Minister of State (MoS) for the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
(MoA&FW), launched “Kisan e-Mitra”, an AI (Artificial Intelligence) Chatbot for the Pradhan Mantri
Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme in New Delhi, Delhi.
i. The chatbot will enhance the efficiency and accessibility of the PM-KISAN scheme, providing farmers
with rapid, clear, and easily accessible responses to their inquiries.
ii. The MoA&FW successfully integrated the AI chatbots into government schemes. This is the first AI
Chatbot integrated with a major Union government flagship scheme.
iii. The introduction of the AI chatbot in the PM-KISAN grievance management system is aimed at
empowering farmers with a user-friendly and accessible platform.

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39
Q
  1. Which country’ s Navy, along with the Indian Navy (IN) has recently (in Sept ‘ 23) begun the
    30th edition of the SIMBEX 2023?
    1) Singapore
    2) Seychelles
    3) Bangladesh
    4) Indonesia
    5) Sri Lanka
A

Answer- 1) Singapore
Explanation:
The Indian Navy (IN) and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) are conducting the 30th edition of
the Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX 2023), a joint naval combat exercise, from
21st to 28th September 2023 in the southern parts of the South China Sea off the coast of Singapore.
SIMBEX 2023 is conducted in two phases including the land phase and the sea phase.
Land Phase: It was held from 21st to 24th September 2023 at RSS Singapura – Changi Naval
Base, Singapore.
Sea Phase: It is held from 25th to 28th September 2023 in the southern reaches of the South
China Sea in international waters.
i. Indian Navy’s Rajput-class destroyer INS Ranvijay, Kamorta-class corvette INS Kavaratti,
Sindhughosh class diesel-electric submarine INS Sindhukesari and a P-8I maritime patrol aircraft are
taking part in this exercise.

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40
Q
  1. Which bank has recently (in Sept ‘23) launched ‘NEO for Business’, a distinctive one-stop
    Transaction Banking platform for Indian Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)?
    1) ICICI Bank
    2) Axis Bank
    3) HDFC Bank
    4) YES Bank
    5) IndusInd Bank
A

Answer- 2) Axis Bank
Explanation:
On September 21, 2023, Axis Bank launched ‘NEO for Business’, a distinctive one-stop Transaction
Banking platform for Indian Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
i. This is a first-of-its-kind comprehensive digital proposition that supports real, current, and
emerging Transaction Banking needs of MSMEs.
ii. It has contemporary UX (User Experience)/UI (User Interface) along with bank-grade security
features.
iii. “NEO for Business” is the latest launch as part of “NEO by Axis Bank” branding. NEO by Axis Bank
is the digital banking proposition for its corporate banking customers/clients.

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41
Q
  1. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the Rajbhasha Kirti Puraskar
    2022-23 in September 2023?
    A) Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) has been recognized as the best
    performing (1st) department in the category of Ministries/Departments with less than 300
    employees for the 2nd consecutive year.
    B) The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) awarded for outstanding
    implementation of official language policy in the “Ministry/Department category” with more
    than 300 personnel for the year 2022-23.
    C) Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited has been conferred with the ‘Rajbhasha Kirti
    Puraskar’ (3rd Position) in the category of Public Sector Undertakings in region ‘A’ for the year
    2022-23.
    1) Only A
    2) Only A & B
    3) Only B & C
    4) Only A & C
    5) All A, B & C
A

Answer- 2) Only A & B
Explanation:
The Rajbhasha Kirti Puraskar 2022-23 ,the most prestigious award offered by the Indian government
for “achievements in implementing the official language” was presented at the Hindi Diwas Samaroh
2023.
• •
This prestigious award ceremony was part of the 3rd All-India Official Language Conference
(Akhil Bharatiya Rajbhasha Sammelan) that took place at Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports
Complex in Balewadi, Pune, Maharashtra, from September 14-15.
Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare(DoPPW) gets the Prestigious First Raj
Bhasha Kirti Puraskar, 2022-23. This marks the 2nd consecutive year where DoPPW has been recognized as the best performing department in the category of Ministries/Departments
with less than 300 employees.
Power Finance Corporation (PFC) received the prestigious ‘Rajbhasha Kirti Puraskar’ in the
‘A’ category for the year 2022-23. PFC secured the third position in the category of Public
Sector Undertakings.
Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) awarded for Outstanding implementation of
Official Language Policy in the “Ministry/Department category” with more than 300
personnel for the year 2022-23.

42
Q
  1. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the step taken by the Rajya
    Sabha in September 2023?
    A) The Vice President of India, ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha Jagdeep Dhankhar has
    reconstituted the panel of vice-chairpersons with the eight member panel with 50 percent(4
    members) of women parliamentarians
    B) The four new women Vice-Chairpersons are Kanta Kardam(Uttar Pradesh), Sumitra
    Balmik(Madhya Pradesh), Mamata Mohanta (Odisha) and Geeta alias Chandraprabha(Uttar
    Pradesh).
    C) The Vice President of India, ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha Jagdeep Dhankhar has
    constituted 13 women Parliamentarians to the panel of vice-chairpersons.
    1) All A, B & C
    2) Only A & B
    3) Only B & C
    4) Only A & C
    5) Only A
A

Answer- 1) All A, B & C
Explanation:
The Vice President of India, ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha Jagdeep Dhankhar has
reconstituted the panel of vice-chairpersons with the eight member panel with 50 percent(4
members) of women parliamentarians with effect from 13th September 2023.
For the first time in the history of Rajya Sabha (the Upper House of the Indian Parliament) has
given equal representation to women members in the panel.
The four new women Vice-Chairpersons were announced by Jagdeep Dhankhar in the Upper
House, on the first day of the Special Session of the Parliament which was held from 18th-22nd
September, 2023.
i. The four new women Vice-Chairpersons are: Kanta Kardam (Uttar Pradesh), Sumitra Balmik
(Madhya Pradesh), Mamata Mohanta (Odisha) and Geeta alias Chandraprabha (Uttar Pradesh).
ii. The male members of the panel are Akhilesh Prasad Singh(Bihar), Narain Dass Gupta(Delhi),V.
Vijayasai Reddy(Andhra Pradesh) & Santanu Sen(West Bengal).
iii. The Vice President of India, ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha Jagdeep Dhankhar has
constituted 13 women Parliamentarians to the panel of vice-chairpersons.The panel was
reconstituted for a day to discuss the Women’s reservation Bill or Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam
2023.
•
• •
The Women’s Reservation Bill 2023, officially titled as The Constitution (128th Amendment)
Bill, 2023 and commonly referred to as Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, has been introduced in
the Indian Parliament.

This legislation is to allocate 33 percent of the seats in the directly elected Lok Sabha and state
legislative assemblies to women.

43
Q
  1. Name the company that has recently (in Sept ‘23) signed an MoU with the Indian Railways’
    Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) Vadodara to enhance India’s aviation sector.
    1) Lockheed Martin
    2) Boeing
    3) Airbus
    4) BAE Systems
    5) Dassault Aviation
A

Answer- 3) Airbus
Explanation:
On September 7, 2023, Indian Railways’ Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) Vadodara (Gujarat) and
Airbus, an European multinational aerospace corporation, signed an Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) for collaboration to enhance India’s aviation sector.
Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya is a Central University under Ministry of Railways in Vadodara,
Gujarat. This is India’s first University in the Transportation and Logistics sectors.
The MoU entails a partnership between two entities to establish a C295 aircraft facility in
Vadodara.
It will support the creation of sector-specific training programs for students and professionals,
collaborative research, industry exposure for faculty, student internships, placements, and
scholarships.

44
Q
  1. As per the 8th edition of the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Countries Rankings 2023
    released in September 2023, India secured __________ rank, while _________ (country) topped as the
    world’s best country for the 2nd consecutive time.
    1) 29th; Sweden
    2) 30th; Switzerland
    3) 29th; Canada
    4) 30th; Sweden
    5) 40th; Switzerland
A

Answer- 2) 30th; Switzerland
Explanation:
According to the 8th edition of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Countries Rankings 2023, India
improved its ranking by one spot to claim 30th rank in 2023 with an overall score of 40.8. India was
ranked 31 out of 85 in 2022.
The list is topped by Switzerland, among 87 countries, for the second consecutive time and
sixth time overall.
Switzerland secured a place in the top 25 for all 10 subrankings.
Switzerland is followed by Canada at 2nd rank, and Sweden at 3rd rank.
The rankings are developed in collaboration with global marketing communications company
WPP and its proprietary BAV brand analytics tool, and by the Wharton School of the University
of Pennsylvania, United States (US).
The ranking evaluated 87 countries, more than 17,000 respondents on 73 attributes.

45
Q
  1. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the Global Fintech Fest (GFF)
    held in Mumbai, Maharashtra in September 2023?
    A) Global Fintech Fest (GFF) was jointly organized by the National Payments Corporation of
    India (NPCI), the Payments Council of India (PCI), and the Fintech Convergence Council (FCC).
    B) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das recently announced five new
    innovative payment solutions developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)
    at the Global Fintech Fest 2023.
    C) Tom Greenwood, Founder & CEO of Online PSB Loans Limited won the Global Fintech
    Awards 2023 under the Fintech Personality of the Year – Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC)
    Category.
    1) Only A
    2) Only A & B
    3) Only B & C
    4) Only A & C
    5) All A, B & C
A

Answer- 2) Only A & B
Explanation:
Global Fintech Fest (GFF) is the largest fintech 3-day conference held from September 5 to 7, 2023 at
the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. It was jointly organized by the National
Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the Payments Council of India (PCI), and the Fintech
Convergence Council (FCC).
Theme: Global collaboration for a responsible financial ecosystem -Inclusive | Resilient |
Sustainable. The 5th edition of GFF will take place on October 8-10, 2024.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s address at the Global Fintech Fest 2023 in Mumbai
covered several important aspects of India’s financial ecosystem and its challenges.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das recently announced five new
innovative payment solutions developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)
at the Global Fintech Fest 2023.
Adeeb Ahamed, Managing Director, Lulu Financial Holdings won the Global Fintech Awards
2023 under the Fintech Personality of the Year – Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC)
Category.
The Unique Identity Authority of India (UIDAI) made a significant impact at the Global Fintech
Festival (GFF) 2023 in Mumbai, organized an industry meet-up under the theme “Reimagine
Aadhaar #together.”
The State Bank of India (SBI), the largest lender in the country, has unveiled the ‘Nation First
Transit Card,’ also known as the RuPay National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) Prepaid Card,
at the Global Fintech Fest 2023.

46
Q
  1. Name the bank that has recently (in Sept ‘23) became the first Public Sector Bank (PSB) to
    offer Metal Debit Card cards, serving High-Net-Worth Individuals (HNI) and women customers.
    1) Union Bank of India
    2) Bank of Baroda
    3) Bank of India
    4) Punjab National Bank
    5) Indian Bank
A

Answer- 1) Union Bank of India
Explanation:
Union Bank of India (UBI) has introduced two new Debit Card variants, the HNI Emperio RuPay
Metal Debit Card and the RuPay Empower Her Debit Card, in association with the National
Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
With this, UBI became the first Public Sector Bank (PSB) to offer Metal Debit Card cards,
serving High-Net-Worth Individuals (HNI) and women customers.
These cards are issued on the RuPay network.
The cards were unveiled at the Global Fintech Fest(GFF) 2023 in Mumbai, Maharashtra by
UBI’s MD & CEO (Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer), A. Manimekhalai, and NPCI’s
COO (Chief Operating Officer), Praveena Rai.

47
Q
  1. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the ‘Swachh Vayu
    Survekshan-2023′ Award presented by the Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, Ministry of
    Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) in August 2023?
    A) Indore (Madhya Pradesh) secured the first rank followed by Agra (Uttar Pradesh) and
    Thane (Maharashtra) in the second and third place respectively in category 1.
    B) Amravati of Maharashtra bagged the top rank followed by Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh) and
    Guntur (Andhra Pradesh) in the second and third place respectively
    C) Parwanoo of Himachal Pradesh bagged the top rank followed by Kala Amb(Himachal
    Pradesh) and Angul(Odisha) in the second and third place respectively.
    1) Only A
    2) Only A & B
    3) Only B & C
    4) Only A & C
    5) All A, B & C
A

Answer- 5) All A, B & C
Explanation:
Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC)
has given awards to the ‘Swachh Vayu Survekshan-2023′ winners on the occasion of the
“International Day of Clear Air for Blue Sky” on 7th September 2023, at Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh .
‘Swachh Vayu Survekshan- 2023’ was conducted by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
under the initiative of the MoEFCC.
The 2nd edition of Swachh Vayu Survekshan took place in 2023.
i. ‘National Clean Air City’ Awards:
Category 1: Indore (Madhya Pradesh) secured the first rank followed by Agra (Uttar
Pradesh) and Thane (Maharashtra) in the second and third place respectively. Those cities
with a population above 10 lakh fall under category 1.
Category 2: Amravati of Maharashtra bagged the top rank followed by Moradabad (Uttar
Pradesh) and Guntur (Andhra Pradesh) in the second and third place respectively .
Category 3: Parwanoo of Himachal Pradesh bagged the top rank followed by Kala
Amb(Himachal Pradesh) and Angul(Odisha) in the second and third place respectively. The
award comes with a cash price, trophy and Certificate with the title “National Clean Air City”.

48
Q
  1. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to MoUs signed by PM of India Narendra Modi and PM of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina in September 2023?
    A) The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and Bangladesh Bank signed an MoU on Cooperation in Digital Payment mechanisms.
    B) MoU on renewal of the Cultural Exchange Program (CEP) between India and Bangladesh for 2023-2025.
    C) Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council (BARC) signed an MoU to boost cooperation in agricultural research and education.
    1) Only A
    2) Only A & B 3) Only B & C
    4) Only A & C
    5) All A, B & C
A

Answer- 5) All A, B & C
Explanation:
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and Sheikh Hasina, PM of People’s Republic of Bangladesh exchanged 3 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to strengthen bilateral cooperation between India and Bangladesh.
i. PM Modi held a bilateral meeting with Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, who was visiting India as a guest to participate in the G-20 Leaders Summit held from 9th to 10th September 2023 in New Delhi, Delhi.
ii. The 3 MoUs were,
• MoU on Cooperation in Digital Payment mechanisms between National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and Bangladesh Bank.
• MoU on renewal of the Cultural Exchange Program (CEP) between India and Bangladesh for 2023-2025.
• MoU between Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council (BARC) to boost cooperation in agricultural research and education.

49
Q
  1. The Geographical Indications Registry has recently (in Sep ‘23) granted Geographical Indication(GI) tags to Koraput Kalajeera Rice.
    The Koraput Kalajeera rice belongs to ___________ (state).
    1) West Bengal
    2) Andhra Pradesh
    3) Kerala
    4) Odisha
    5) Tamil Nadu
A

Answer- 4) Odisha
Explanation:
Chennai(Tamil Nadu) based Geographical Indications Registry has granted Geographical Indication(GI) tags to Odisha’s ‘Koraput Kalajeera Rice’, which is also known as the ‘Prince of Rice’. i. Kalajeera rice has been exclusively cultivated by the tribes and farmers of Koraput district in Odisha over generations.
• Koraput Kalajeera Rice(Class 30 – Rice) was categorised as ‘Agriculture’ under Goods.

ii. Geographical Indication Registry functions under the the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry(MoCI).

50
Q
  1. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Jakarta to attend the 20th ASEAN-India Summit & 18th East Asia Summit, in September 2023?
    A)The 20th ASEAN-India Summit was held in Jakarta, Indonesia and it was co-chaired by Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia, and PM Narendra Modi on the theme ‘ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth‘.
    B)The 18th East Asia Summit (EAS) adopted the EAS Leaders’ Statement on Maintaining and Promoting the Region as an Epicentrum of Growth.
    C) During the meeting, India announced the establishment of an Indian Embassy in Dili, Timor- Leste.
    1) Only A
    2) Only A & B
    3) Only B & C
    4) Only A & C
    5) All A, B & C
A

Answer- 5) All A, B & C Explanation:
Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modi paid an official visit to Jakarta, Indonesia from 6th to 7th September 2023 at the invitation of Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia.
• The 20th ASEAN-India Summit was held in Jakarta, Indonesia and it was co-chaired by Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia, and PM Narendra Modi on the theme ‘ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth‘.
• The Indian Side announced to establish an Indian Embassy in The Indian Side announced to establish an Indian Embassy in Dili, Timor-Leste.
• Two Joint Statements, one on Maritime Cooperation, and the other on Food Security were adopted during the meeting.
• PM Narendra Modi unveils a 12-point plan to strengthen ASEAN-India cooperation.
• In 2022–2023, bilateral trade between India and ASEAN reached USD 131.5 billion,
accounting for 11.3% of India’s overall trade.
• The 18th East Asia Summit (EAS) adopted the EAS Leaders’ Statement on Maintaining and
Promoting the Region as an Epicentrum of Growth and exchanged views on a wide range of
regional and international issues.
• EAS is the Indo-Pacific’s premier forum for strategic dialogue and it was established in 2005. It
has 18 members now.

51
Q
  1. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the US Open 2023 held in New York, United States of America (USA)?
    A) Novak Djokovic of Serbia won his 4th US Open title and 24th Grand Slam title by defeating Daniil Medvedev of Russia.
    B)Aryna Sabalenka won her first Grand Slam title at the US Open 2023 by beating Coco Gauff in the Women’s Singles final.
    C)Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury won the men’s doubles title at the US Open by beating Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden in the final.
    1) Only A
    2) Only A & B
    3) Only B & C
    4) Only A & C
    5) All A, B & C
A

Answer- 4) Only A & C Explanation:
Novak Djokovic won his 24th Grand Slam title at the US Open 2023 by defeating Daniil Medvedev in the men’s singles final at the Arthur Ashe Stadium(Hard Court), New York City, New York, United
States of America(USA).
· The 143rd edition of the US Open was held from 28th August to 10th September 2023(Main-draw).
i.Coco Gauff (Women’s Tennis Association WTA- Ranking 3) won her first Grand Slam title at the US Open 2023 by beating Aryna Sabalenka(WTA Ranking 1) in the Women’s Singles final.
ii.Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury won the men’s doubles title at the US Open by beating Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden in the final.
iii.Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe won the women’s doubles title at the US Open by defeating 2020 US Open champions Vera Zvonareva and Laura Siegemund in the finals.
iv. Harri Heliovaara and Anna Dalinina won the mixed doubles title at the US Open 2023 by defeating Jessica Pegula and Austin Krajicek in the finals.

52
Q
  1. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the launches made by the
    Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DePWD) under the Ministry of
    Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE) in September 2023?
    A) The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DePWD) under the Ministry
    of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE) launched 5 Pioneering Initiatives to Foster
    Inclusivity and Empower Persons with Disabilities(PwDs).
    B) An Online Case Monitoring Portal developed by the Common Services Centres (CSC) e-
    Governance Service India Limited was launched to simplify and expedite the grievance
    resolution process for PwDs.
    C) PM-DAKSH Portal introduced by DEPwD is a comprehensive digital platform designed to
    empower PwDs in their pursuit of skill training and employment opportunities.
    1) All A, B & C
    2) Only A & B
    3) Only B & C
    4) Only A & C
    5) Only A
A

Answer- 4) Only A & C
Explanation:
The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DePWD) under the Ministry of Social
Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE) launched 5 Pioneering Initiatives to Foster Inclusivity and Empower
Persons with Disabilities(PwDs).
i. An Online Case Monitoring Portal developed by the Office of the Chief Commissioner for Persons
with Disabilities (CCPD) was launched to simplify and expedite the grievance resolution process for
PwDs.
ii. The initiatives were launched by Pratima Bhoumi, Minister of State (MoS), MoSJE at the Dr.
Ambedkar International Centre (DAIC) in New Delhi, Delhi.
iii. The other 4 initiatives were:
DEPwD has partnered with Council of Architecture(COA) to introduce universal accessibility
courses within Bachelor of Architecture programs.
DEPwD released the anonymous data through the UDID portal for research purposes. This will
provide insights at various levels, facilitating a deeper understanding and informing targeted
interventions.
PM-DAKSH Portal introduced by DEPwD is a comprehensive digital platform designed to
empower PwDs in their pursuit of skill training and employment opportunities
The booklet, Pathways to Access: Courts on Disability Rights, by DEPwD is a compilation of
notable judgments from India’s Supreme Court and High Courts concerning disability rights.

53
Q
  1. In September 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the re-appointment of
    Sandeep Bakhshi as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the
    ____________ (Bank) for three years.
    1) HDFC Bank
    2) YES Bank
    3) ICICI Bank
    4) Axis Bank
    5) IndusInd Bank
A

Answer- 3) ICICI Bank
Explanation:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the re-appointment of Sandeep Bakhshi as the
Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the ICICI Bank Limited for three years
with effect from 4th October, 2023 to 3rd October 2026.
i. This is his second extension of tenure; the first extension happened in 2021 for two years which is
about to expire on 3rd October 2023.
ii. He has been serving as the MD & CEO of ICICI Bank since 2018 succeeding Chanda Kochchar.

54
Q
  1. Which of the following points is “Incorrect” with respect to the 18th G20 (Group of 20) Leaders’ Summit, under India’s presidency, held in New Delhi, Delhi in September 2023?
    1) During the 18th G20 Summit, Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi announced that the African Union has been included as a member of the G20, making it the 21st member.
    2) PM Narendra Modi made a significant announcement about the unanimous adoption of the New Delhi declaration during the 18th G20 summit.
    3) PM Narendra Modi launched the Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA), a collective effort aimed at reducing the world’s dependency on petrol and diesel fuels in which a total of 19 countries and 12 international organisations have joined so far.
    4) PM Narendra Modi and the President of the USA, H.E. Mr. Joe Biden co-chaired a special event on Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) and India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).
    5) PM Narendra Modi handed over the G20 Presidency to Giorgia Meloni, the President of Italy, which will assume the presidency of the grouping from December 1, 2023.
A

Answer- 5) PM Narendra Modi handed over the G20 Presidency to Giorgia Meloni, the President of Italy, which will assume the presidency of the grouping from December 1, 2023. Explanation:
The two-day 18th G20 (Group of 20) Leaders’ Summit, under India’s presidency, happened in Bharat Mandapam International Exhibition and Convention Centre, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from September 9th to 10th, 2023. This is the first ever G20 Summit being hosted by India.
• The meeting was held under the theme of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “One Earth – One Family – One Future”. It is inspired from the Maha Upanishad, an old Sanskrit scripture.
• During the 18th G20 Summit, Indian PM Narendra Modi announced that the African Union has been included as a member of the G20, making it the 21st member.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a significant announcement about the unanimous adoption of the New Delhi declaration during the 18th G20 summit.
• On September 9, 2023, at the G20 Summit held in New Delhi, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched the Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA), a collective effort aimed at reducing the world’s dependency on petrol and diesel fuels. A total of 19 countries and 12 international organizations have so far agreed to join.
• On the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the President of USA, H.E. Mr. Joe Biden co-chaired a special event on Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) and India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).
• The two days G20 Leaders’ Summit 2023 was concluded on 10th September,2023. Prime Minister Narendra Modi handed over the G20 Presidency to Lula da Silva, the President of Brazil, which will assume the presidency of the grouping from December 1,2023 this year.
• On the margins of G20 Leader’s summit, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak forged new strategic partnership with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi on September 9,2023.

55
Q
  1. Name the organisation that has recently (in Sept ‘23) signed an MoU with National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) to boost Data-Driven Innovations in Agriculture. 1) International Fund for Agricultural Development
    2) Food and Agriculture Organization
    3) United Nations Development Programme
    4) International Monetary Fund
    5) United Nations Human Settlement Programme
A

Answer- 3) United Nations Development Programme
Explanation:
On September 12, 2023, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) signed a 5-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on technical cooperation for the joint development of data-driven innovations in agriculture and food systems to support smallholder farmers.
i. Aim: To promote sustainable agriculture, reducing vulnerability by sharing best practices and optimizing investments
ii. Under this MoU, NABARD and UNDP will share open-source data for product development, technology transfer, collective climate action, and agrarian policy support to enhance the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.

56
Q
  1. Name the Payment company that has recently (in Sept ‘23) collaborated with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to launch “AutoPay on QR(Quick Response)”, a feature enabling customer onboarding through a 2-step process.
    1) Cashfree Payments India Private Limited
    2) Razorpay Software Private Limited 3) BharatPe Limited
    4) Infibeam Avenues Limited
    5) Paytm Private Limited
A

Answer- 1) Cashfree Payments India Private Limited
Explanation:
Cashfree Payments India Private Limited in collaboration with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) launched “AutoPay on QR(Quick Response)”, a feature enabling customer onboarding through a 2-step process.
i. The 2 step process involves scanning the QR code and approving an e-mandate through Unified Payments Interface (UPI) apps.
ii. Cashfree Payments works with banks to build the core payments and banking infrastructure that powers the company’s products.
iii. It is also integrated with major platforms such as Shopify, Wix, PayPal, Amazon Pay, Paytm, and Google Pay.

57
Q
  1. Which of the following points is “Incorrect” with respect to the Cabinet Approval in
    September 2023?
    1) The Union Cabinet approved the extension of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) 2.0 for
    release of 84 lakh LPG connections over 5 years from Financial Year 2023-24 to 2027-28.
    2) The Union Cabinet has approved the eCourts Project Phase III as a Central Sector Scheme spanning
    4 years (starting from 2023 onwards) with financial outlay of Rs.7210 crore.
    3) The Union Cabinet approved the MoU which was signed by the Ministry of Electronics &
    Information Technology(Meity) of India and the Ministry of High-Tech Industry of the Republic of
    Armenia in June 2023.
    4) The Union Cabinet also approved another MoU which was signed between the Meity of Government
    of India and the Ministry of Information, Communications Technologies, Utilities and Energy of
    Antigua & Barbuda in June 2023.
    5) The Union Cabinet has passed a resolution to commemorate the success of the 18th G20 Summit,
    hosted for the first time by India in New Delhi from September 9th to 10th, 2023.
A

Answer- 1) The Union Cabinet approved the extension of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana
(PMUY) 2.0 for release of 84 lakh LPG connections over 5 years from Financial Year 2023-24 to
2027-28.
Explanation:
The Union cabinet chaired by Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi has approved the following
proposals on 13th September 2023.
The Union Cabinet has passed a resolution to commemorate the success of the 18th G20
Summit, hosted for the first time by India in New Delhi from September 9th to 10th, 2023.
The Union Cabinet approved the extension of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) 2.0 for
release of 75 lakh LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) connections over 3 years from Financial
Year 2023-24 to 2025-26.
The Union Cabinet has approved the eCourts Project Phase III as a Central Sector Scheme
spanning 4 years (starting from 2023 onwards) with financial outlay of Rs.7210 crore.
Approval of MoUs between India and 3 other Countries: The Union Cabinet approved the
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which was signed by the Ministry of Electronics &
Information Technology(Meity) of India and the Ministry of High-Tech Industry of the Republic
of Armenia in June 2023.
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister approves the signing of
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 12th of June 2023 between the Ministry of
Electronics and Information Technology of the Republic of India and the Ministry of
Information and Communications of the Republic of Sierra Leone.
The Union Cabinet also approved another MoU which was signed between the Meity of
Government of India and the Ministry of Information, Communications Technologies, Utilities
and Energy of Antigua & Barbuda in June 2023.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs(CCEA) approved the Foreign Direct Investment
(FDI) proposal for foreign investment in M/s Suven Pharmaceuticals Limited,a public limited
Indian pharmaceutical company listed on the National Stock Exchange(NSE) Limited and the
Bombay Stock Exchange Limited(BSE) of India.

58
Q
  1. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the guidelines released by the
    Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in September 2023?
    A) RBI issued guidelines on Responsible Lending Conduct which directs Regulated Entities
    (REs) to release all original movable or immovable property documents, & remove charges
    registered with any registry within 30 days of full repayment or settlement of personal loans
    by borrowers.
    B) These Directions are applicable to all cases where release of original movable / immovable
    property documents falls due on or after December 1, 2023.
    C) RBI also revised its guidelines on categorizing the investments by banks, to align them with
    global standards by issuing RBI (Classification, Valuation and Operation of Investment
    Portfolio of Commercial Banks) Directions, 2023 which will be effective from April 1, 2024.
    1) Only A
    2) Only A & B
    3) Only B & C
    4) Only A & C
    5) All A, B & C
A

Answer- 5) All A, B & C
Explanation:
On September 13, 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued guidelines on Responsible Lending
Conduct which directs Regulated Entities (REs) to release all original movable or immovable property
documents, and remove charges registered with any registry within 30 days of full repayment or
settlement of personal loans by borrowers.
Official notification of ‘Responsible Lending Conduct – Release of Movable / Immovable
Property Documents on Repayment/ Settlement of Personal Loans‘.
These Directions are applicable to all cases where release of original movable / immovable
property documents falls due on or after December 1, 2023.
If REs delay property document release or fail to file charge satisfaction forms after 30 days
post-loan settlement, they must explain the reasons to the borrower.
If the delay is REs’ fault, they must compensate the borrower at Rs 5,000 for each day of delay.
i. RBI also revised its guidelines on categorizing the investments by banks, to align them with global
standards by issuing RBI (Classification, Valuation and Operation of Investment Portfolio of
Commercial Banks) Directions, 2023 which will be effective from April 1, 2024.
The change in the norms follows the revisions proposed in the Discussion Paper (DP) on
January 14, 2022 regarding the current norms for the classification, valuation, and operation of
investment portfolios of commercial banks.
With the implementation of revised Directions, RBI (Classification, Valuation and Operation of
Investment Portfolio of Commercial Banks) Directions, 2021 dated August 25, 2021 will be
repealed.

59
Q
  1. Name the Indian personality who has been recently (in Sept ‘23) honoured with Chevalier
    dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) by the
    Government of France.
    1) Sabyasachi Mukherjee
    2) Ritu Kumar
    3) Manish Malhotra
    4) Tarun Tahiliani
    5) Rahul Mishra
A

Answer- 5) Rahul Mishra
Explanation:
The Government of France has awarded the “Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres” (Knight of
the Order of Arts and Letters) to the Indian Fashion Designer Rahul Mishra. The award recognises
his achievements in the field of arts as a designer, and his commitment to promote Indian crafts and
know-how internationally.
i. The award also honours his contribution to the cultural relationship and cooperation between
France and India.
ii. On 12th September 2023, Emmanuel Lenain, Ambassador of France to India, presented the insignia
of the award to Rahul Mishra at a special ceremony at the Residence of France, New Delhi, Delhi.

60
Q
  1. In September 2023, Indian men’s football team won the South Asian Football Federation
    (SAFF) U-16 Championship 2023 title by defeating ___________ (country) in the finals held in
    Thimphu, Bhutan.
    1) Bhutan
    2) Nepal
    3) Maldives
    4) Bangladesh
    5) Pakistan
A

Answer- 4) Bangladesh
Explanation:
Indian Under 16 (U-16) men’s football team won the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) U-16
Championship 2023 title defeating Bangladesh (2-0) in the finals. The 2023 SAFF U16
Championship was held from 2nd to 10th September 2023 in Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu,
Bhutan.
2023 SAFF U16 Championship is the 8th edition of the SAFF U-15/U-16/U-17 Championship,
the annual international football competition contested by the national teams of SAFF
members(India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Pakistan).
This marks the 5th title of India in the SAFF U-15/U-16/U-17 Championship.
With this India became the most successful team of the tournament with 5 titles (U15 title in
2017 & 2019; U16 title in 2013 and 2023 and U-17 title in 2022).

61
Q
  1. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the visit of Droupadi Murmu,
    President of India to Gujarat in September 2023?
    A) During her visit to Gujarat, President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the ‘National e-Vidhan
    Application’ (NeVA) which aims to make the functioning of the State Assembly paperless by
    transforming them into ‘Digital House’.
    B) President Droupadi Murmu virtually launched the Ayushman Bhav campaign as well as the
    Ayushman Bhava portal from the Raj Bhavan in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
    C) President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the First Global Symposium on Farmers’ Rights
    (GSFR) in an event held at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Convention
    Centre, National Agricultural Science Centre in New Delhi, Delhi.
    1) Only A
    2) Only A & B
    3) Only B & C
    4) Only A & C
    5) All A, B & C
A

Answer- 5) All A, B & C
Explanation:
Droupadi Murmu, President of India, was on a two-day visit to Gujarat from September 12 to 13, 2023.
During her visit,
i. President Droupadi Murmu on her 2-days visit to Gujarat, inaugurated the ‘National e-Vidhan
Application’ (NeVA) which aims to make the functioning of the State Assembly paperless by
transforming them into ‘Digital House’.
ii. On 13th September 2023, President Droupadi Murmu virtually launched the Ayushman Bhav
campaign as well as the Ayushman Bhava portal from the Raj Bhavan in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
The launch of the Ayushman Bhav campaign and the portal marked a significant step towards
achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and ensuring healthcare for all.
iii. On 12th September 2023, President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the First Global Symposium on
Farmers’ Rights (GSFR) in an event held at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
Convention Centre, National Agricultural Science Centre in New Delhi, Delhi.

62
Q
  1. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the Visit of Saudi Arabia’s
    Prime Minister (PM) His Royal Highness (HRH) Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz
    Al-Saud to India in September 2023?
    A) Prime Minister (PM) Saudi Arabia and the PM of India Narendra Modi co-chaired the first
    meeting of the India – Saudi Strategic Partnership Council (SPC).
    B) The Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and the Saudi Ministry of Energy
    have signed a MoU to strengthen their energy partnership, supporting India’s transition to
    sustainable energy and global climate change mitigation efforts.
    C) An MoU was inked between Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and Small and Medium Enterprises
    (SME) Bank of Saudi Arabia for cooperation in the technical field and the establishment of the
    SME Bank.
    1) Only A
    2) Only A & B
    3) Only B & C
    4) Only A & C
    5) All A, B & C
A

Answer- 2) Only A & B
Explanation:
From September 9-11, 2023, the His Royal Highness (HRH) Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin
Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister (PM) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, paid a State
visit to India on the invitation of Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modi. This marks the Prince’s
2nd State visit to India, His Royal Highness earlier visited India on a State Visit in February 2019.
i. The Crown Prince and the PM of India co-chaired the first meeting of the India – Saudi Strategic
Partnership Council (SPC) which was set up with the signing of an Agreement by both leaders during
the PM Narendra Modi state visit to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in October 2019.
This SPC made India the fourth country with which Saudi Arabia formed such a partnership,
after the United Kingdom (UK), France, and China.
ii. The Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and the Saudi Ministry of Energy
have signed a MoU to strengthen their energy partnership, supporting India’s transition to sustainable
energy and global climate change mitigation efforts.
iii. A MoU was inked between Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), and Small and
Medium Enterprises (SME) Bank of Saudi Arabia for cooperation in the technical field and the
establishment of the SME Bank

63
Q
  1. Which company has recently (in Sept ‘23) collaborated with National Payment Corporation
    of India (NPCI) to launch India’s 1st contactless payment wearable ON-THE-GO(OTG) ring
    named 7 Ring?
    1) Financepeer Private Limited
    2) Juspay Technologies Private Limited
    3) Fiserv Private Limited
    4) Perfios Software Solutions
    5) LivQuik Technology(India) Private Limited
A

Answer- 5) LivQuik Technology(India) Private Limited
Explanation:
National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) has launched a RuPay ON-THE-GO(OTG)ring named 7
Ring, the first contactless payment wearable ring which was made in India.
i. The ring was unveiled in Global Fintech Fest, 2023 (GFF 2023) which was held during 5th to 7th
September 2023 in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
ii. 7 Ring is designed, assembled, manufactured and patented in India. The ring was made in
collaboration with 7 (Sevenring Innovations Private Limited) and LivQuik Technology(India)
Private Limited.
iii. 7 Ring is a sleek, wearable ring that is made from a very strong and scratch-resistant material
called zirconia ceramic(ZrO2) which is also used in aerospace applications

64
Q
  1. Which of the following products has recently (in August ‘23) received the Geographical
    Indication (GI) tags status from Geographical Indications Registry?
    1) Bhaderwah Rajmash of Jammu & Kashmir(J&K)
    2) Ramban Sulai Honey of Jammu & Kashmir(J&K)
    3) Chokuwa Rice (Magic Rice) of Sikkim
    4) Both 1 & 2
    5) Both 2 & 3
A

Answer- 4) Both 1 & 2
Explanation:
Chennai(Tamil Nadu) based Geographical Indications Registry has granted Geographical
Indication(GI) tags to Bhaderwah Rajmash(Red kidney beans) and Ramban Sulai Honey of Jammu &
Kashmir(J&K) and Chokuwa rice(Magic Rice) of Assam.
The Geographical Indication Registry functions under the Department of Promotion of Industry
and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry(MoCI).

65
Q
  1. Name the ministry that has recently (in August ‘23) signed an MoU with the National Safai
    Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC) to enhance the socio-economic
    upliftment of Safai Karamcharis, manual scavengers, waste pickers, and their families.
    1) Ministry of Rural Development
    2) Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
    3) Ministry of Home Affairs
    4) Ministry of Panchayati Raj
    5) Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
A

Answer- 2) Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
Explanation:
The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) with the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC) to
enhance the socio-economic upliftment of Safai Karamcharis, manual scavengers, waste pickers, and
their families.
The MoU signed for the fiscal years (FY) 2023-24 and 2024-25 will focus on empowering the
marginalized communities across India.
i. The collaborative effort aims to expand activities that promote safety, education, skill development,
entrepreneurship, and long-term employment prospects, enabling the overall growth of sanitation
employees.
ii. This collaboration aims to share expertise and resources in order to effectively implement
programmes that empower marginalised communities.
iii. The MoU emphasises the objective to accelerate inclusive growth by allocating and utilising money
for targeted welfare programmes more effectively.

66
Q
  1. Which company has recently (in August ‘23) launched World’s First fully automated fund, a
    Portfolio Management Service (PMS) powered by an AI-based research system?
    1) Charles Schwab corporation
    2) CapitalVia
    3) Fidelity
    4) Vanguard
    5) Savart
A

Answer- 5) Savart
Explanation:
Savart, one of India’s leading investment advisory firms, launched a Portfolio Management Service
(PMS) ‘The Ad Astra Fund’, World’s First fully automated fund in Hyderabad, Telengana.It uses
Artificial Intelligence(AI) research system Advanced Process Automation & Research Technology
(APART) to make investment decisions.
i. The fund enhanced possibilities of attaining more returns on investments.
ii. The fund received investment of about Rs 31 crores on Day1 and plans to achieve an Assets under
management(AUM) of Rs 350 crores by the end of FY24.

67
Q
  1. Name the open-source Hyperledger Fabric Deployment Helper that was recently (in August
    ‘23) launched by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to streamline the
    deployment and management of Hyperledger Fabric based blockchain networks on
    Kubernetes clusters.
    1) Falcon
    2) Iroha
    3) Tron
    4) Corda
    5) Sawtooth
A

Answer- 1) Falcon
Explanation:
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) launches ‘Falcon’, an open-source Hyperledger
Fabric Deployment Helper, to streamline the deployment and management of Hyperledger Fabric
based blockchain networks on Kubernetes clusters.
The primary goal of introducing ‘Falcon’ is to simplify the complex process of establishing,
configuring, and managing various components of the Hyperledger Fabric network within a
Kubernetes environment.
These components include Fabric nodes, peers, orderers, and channels.
About the Falcon:
i. Falcon is an open-source project created under General Public License (GPL) licence (GPL-3.0).
ii. Falcon is expected to help blockchain developers to use the distributed ledger technology to
facilitate efficient, reliable, and automated deployment of network as well as Web3 solutions.

Note: NPCI has launched blockchain technology based “Vajra Platform” to make payments fast and
secure in 2020.

68
Q
  1. Which company has recently (in August ‘23) signed an MoU with India Post to simplify
    cross-border logistics for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) exporters?
    1) Meesho
    2) Flipkart
    3) Amazon
    4) IndiaMART
    5) JioMart
A

Answer- 3) Amazon
Explanation:
Amazon, an American multinational technology company focusing on e-commerce, has signed a
memorandum of understanding (MoU) with India Post to simplify cross-border logistics for Micro,
Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) exporters.
The MoU was signed during the (Fourth) Amazon Smbhav Summit 2023 held on 31st August
2023 in New Delhi, Delhi.
i. During the event, Amazon introduced “Amazon सह-AI (Amazon Sah-AI)”, a generative Artificial
Intelligence (AI) -based personal digital assistant.
ii. The fourth edition of Amazon Smbhav Summit took place in 2023, focused on innovation, financial
inclusion and sustainability for small businesses and consumers.
iii. During the event, Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and
Technology, unveiled the postal stamp to commemorate the 10-year partnership between India Post
and Amazon.

69
Q
  1. Indian Army contingent comprising 137 personnel has departed to ____________ (country)
    participate in “Exercise BRIGHT STAR- 23“, a multinational tri-services joint military exercise
    scheduled to be conducted from 31 August to 14 September 2023.
    1) Indonesia
    2) Bangladesh
    3) Sri Lanka
    4) Egypt
    5) Japan
A

Answer- 4) Egypt
Explanation:
Indian Army contingent comprising 137 personnel has departed to Egypt to participate in
“Exercise BRIGHT STAR- 23“, a multinational tri-services joint military exercise scheduled to be
conducted from 31 August to 14 September 2023 at Mohammed Naguib Military Base in Hammam,
Egypt.
Exercise BRIGHT STAR- 23 will be led by US CENTCOM (United States of America Central
Command), and the Egyptian Army.
This exercise will provide a unique opportunity for the Indian Army to share best practices and
experiences with other armies aimed at enhancing defense cooperation.
In the 2023 edition, 34 countries will participate in Exercise BRIGHT STAR-23 including the
USA, Saudi Arabia, Greece, and Qatar. It will be the largest-ever joint military exercise in the
West Asia and North Africa region.
For the 1st time, Indian Armed Forces are participating in Exercise BRIGHT STAR with a total
strength of 549 personnel.
The Indian Army is being represented by a contingent from 23 JAT Battalion.

70
Q
  1. Which of the following points is ‘Not’ a winner of the 65th edition of the Ramon Magsaysay
    Award(2023) announced in August 2023?
    1) Ravi Kannan: “Hero for Holistic Healthcare” from India
    2) Miriam Coronel–Ferrer: “Women in Peace-Building Pioneer” from the Philippines
    3) Eugenio Lemos: “Food Sovereignty Visionary” from Timor-Leste
    4) Korvi Rakshand: “Education-for-All Champion” from Bangladesh
    5) Su Nan-cheng: “Health Care Available to the Poor” from Thailand
A

Answer- 5) Su Nan-cheng: “Health Care Available to the Poor” from Thailand
Explanation:
Philippines based Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF) announced the 65th edition of the
Ramon Magsaysay Award(2023). The 2023 Ramon Magsaysay Award is set to be held in Manila,
Philippines on 11th November 2023.
Ravi Kannan: “Hero for Holistic Healthcare” from India.
Miriam Coronel–Ferrer: “Women in Peace-Building Pioneer” from the Philippines.
Eugenio Lemos: “Food Sovereignty Visionary” from Timor-Leste.
Korvi Rakshand: “Education-for-All Champion” from Bangladesh.
Note: The Ramon Magsaysay Award is regarded as the ‘Nobel Prize of Asia’.India has received a total
of 59 awards, while the Philippines has received 65 awards, making it the highest among all countries.

71
Q
  1. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the National Award for e-
    Governance 2022-23 (NAeG 2023) presented during the 26th National Conference on e-
    Governance (NCeG) held in August 2023?
    A) The National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS) team of the National
    Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) won the Gold Award under the Excellence in Government
    Process Reengineering for Digital Transformation, Category-1.
    B) The Odisha government received a Gold Award in the Government Process Reengineering
    for Digital Transformation Category 1 for the Shram Vehicles Facilitation System.
    C) SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages Abadi and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village
    Areas) Scheme of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj received the Gold Award in the Application of
    Emerging Technologies for Providing Citizen Centric Services, Category 2.
    1) Only A
    2) Only A & B
    3) Only B & C
    4) Only A & C
    5) All A, B & C
A

Answer- 4) Only A & C
Explanation:
The 26th National Conference on e-Governance (NCeG), was organised on the 25th and 26th of
August 2023 at Brilliant Convention Centre, Indore, Madhya Pradesh(MP), to deliberate on
providing better facilities to the citizens.
During the conference, the National Award for e-Governance 2022-23 (NAeG 2023) were
presented for exemplary implementation of e-Governance initiatives.
The 26th NCeG was organised on the theme ‘Viksit Bharat, Empowering Citizens’.
The National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS) team of the National Crime
Records Bureau (NCRB) won the Gold Award under the Excellence in Government Process
Reengineering for Digital Transformation (Category-1) of the NAeG 2022-23 from the DARPG,
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
The West Bengal government also received a Gold Award in the Government Process
Reengineering for Digital Transformation Category 1 of the NAeG 2022-23 from the Ministry
of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions for the Suvidha Vehicles Facilitation System.
SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages Abadi and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village
Areas) Scheme of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj received the Gold Award in the Application of
Emerging Technologies for Providing Citizen Centric Services, Category 2 of the NAeG 2022-23.

72
Q
  1. In August 2023, General Brice Oligui Nguema was appointed as the Transitional President
    of ____________ (country).
    1) Ethiopia
    2) Gabon
    3) Nigeria
    4) Tanzania
    5) Kenya
A

Answer- 2) Gabon
Explanation:
On August 30, 2023, General Brice Oligui Nguema, Chief of the Gabonese Republican Guard, was
unanimously appointed as the Transitional President of Gabon and Chairman of the Committee for
the Transition and Restoration of Institutions.
i. He will be sworn in as Transitional President before the Constitutional Court on Monday September
4, 2023.
ii. The African Union(AU)’s Peace and Security Council has decided to “immediately suspend” Gabon
following the military coup.

73
Q
  1. Who has been recently (in August ‘23) appointed as the 1st Woman Chairperson & Chief
    Executive Officer (CEO) of Railway Board?
    1) Jaya Varma Sinha
    2) Madhabi Puri Buch
    3) Rekha Sharma
    4) Mamta Kumari
    5) Meenakshi Negi
A

Answer- 1) Jaya Varma Sinha

Explanation:
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Jaya Varma
Sinha as the Chairperson & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Railway Board. She becomes the 1st
woman to hold the post since the establishment of the Railway Board in 1905.
i. She succeeded Anil Kumar Lahoti whose tenure as chairman and CEO ended on 31st August 2023.
ii. Jaya Varma Sinha will hold the post till 31st August 2024. Previously was set to retire on 1st
October 2023, but she will be re-employed until her tenure is over.
iii. Prior to this appointment, she was serving as the Member (Operations and Business
Development), Railway Board.

74
Q
  1. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the ‘Mera Bill Mera Adhikar’
    scheme launched in September 2023?
    A) The Central Board Of Indirect Taxes & Customs(CBIC) under the Department of Revenue,
    Ministry of Finance, launched an invoice incentive scheme called ‘Mera Bill Mera Adhikar‘.
    B) The scheme was launched in the 3 States: Assam, Gujarat and Haryana and in 3 UT:
    Puducherry, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli.
    C) This initiative offers cash rewards, ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 1 crore, through monthly
    and quarterly lucky-draws.
    1) Only A
    2) Only A & B
    3) Only B & C
    4) Only A & C
    5) All A, B & C
A

Answer- 5) All A, B & C
Explanation:
The Central Board Of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of
Finance, launched an invoice incentive scheme called ‘Mera Bill Mera Adhikar‘.
The scheme aims to incentivise citizens and consumers to ask for Goods and Service Tax (GST)
invoices from the seller when making business-to-consumer (B2C) purchases of goods or
services.
The scheme was launched in the 3 States (Assam, Gujarat and Haryana) and in 3 Union
Territories(UT) (Puducherry, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli).
i. Aim: The scheme aims to enhance GST processes and revenue collection.
This initiative offers cash rewards, ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 1 crore, through monthly
and quarterly lucky-draws.
This indirectly contributes to curbing tax evasion, fostering accountability, and supporting the
formal economy’s growth.
Criteria: Invoices with a minimum purchase value of Rs 200 are eligible for the lucky draw, and
individuals can upload a maximum of 25 invoices in a month.

75
Q
  1. In September 2023, Moody‘s in its Global Macro Outlook raised India‘s growth forecast to
    ________ from 5.5% for 2023.
    1) 6.9%
    2) 6.7%
    3) 5.9%
    4) 6.2%
    5) 5.8%
A

Answer- 2) 6.7%
Explanation:
Global rating agency Moody‘s in its Global Macro Outlook has raised India‘s growth forecast to 6.7%
from 5.5% for 2023 calendar year amid strong economic growth in Q1FY24.
i. The strong growth of the services sector and a surge in capital expenditures contributed to India’s
impressive 7.8% GDP growth in the April to June,first quarter of the fiscal year 2023-24 (Q1FY24),
which was lower than RBI’s projection of 8 % for the same period of Q1FY24.
ii. Moody’s recent growth forecast for India, predicting a 6.7% economic growth rate in 2023, stands
slightly higher than the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) projection of 6.5% for the fiscal year 2023-
24(FY24).

76
Q
  1. Who has been recently (in Sept ‘23) honoured with the World Innovation Award at the first
    BRICS innovation forum held at Moscow, Russia?
    1) Ghazal Alagh
    2) Manish Misra
    3) Alok Barua
    4) Avishkar Srivastava
    5) Shanta Thoutam
A

Answer- 5) Shanta Thoutam
Explanation:
Telangana’s 1st woman Chief Innovation Officer (CIO) Shanta Thoutam was honoured with the
World Innovation Award at the first BRICS innovation forum held at Moscow, Russia. The cloud city
concept was the core topic of the forum.
The award is given for her contribution to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)-4 through
a systematic effort to implement innovative solutions.
i. The Award was established by the World Organisation for Development, an international Non-
Governmental Organization (NGO) with special consultative status with the United Nations Economic
and Social Council (ECOSOC).
ii. The award is given to honour leaders from the developing countries who have made personal
contributions for the achievement of sustainable development goals(SDG).

77
Q
  1. Which country has recently (in sept ‘23) elected Tharman Shanmugaratnam as the 9th
    President?
    1) Malaysia
    2) Singapore
    3) Thailand
    4) Indonesia
    5) Philippines
A

Answer- 2) Singapore
Explanation:
Indian-origin Singapore-born economist Tharman Shanmugaratnam (66 years) has been elected as
the 9th President of Singapore after securing 70.4% (1,746,427 votes) of more than 2.48 million
valid votes cast.
i. He will succeed incumbent Halimah Yacob, Singapore’s first female President elected without a
contest in 2017 whose term will conclude on September 13, 2023.
ii. Tharman Shanmugaratnam defeated Ng Kok Song, a former Government of Singapore Investment
Corporation (GIC) Chief Investment Officer (CIO), who had 15.72% of votes (390,041), and Tan Kin
Lian, NTUC Income Chief Executive Officer (CEO), who bagged 13.88% votes (344,292).

78
Q
  1. In September 2023, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the Phase I
    merger of Vistara owned Tata SIA Airlines Limited (TSAL) into ______________.
    1) IndiGo
    2) SpiceJet
    3) Go First
    4) Air India
    5) Akasa Air
A

Answer- 4) Air India
Explanation:
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the Phase I merger of Vistara owned Tata SIA
Airlines Limited (TSAL) into Air India Limited (AIL), with AIL emerging as the surviving entity
(Merged Entity). AIL requested for the merger in April 2023.
Singapore Airlines Limited (SIA) will hold 25.1% shareholding in Air India with an investment
of Rs 2,059 crore in the entity.
TSAL is a joint venture between TSPL and SIA, with TSPL and SIA holding 51% and 49% of the
total shareholding, respectively.
i. The entity will have 49% of the total flights on the New Delhi (Delhi)-Mumbai (Maharashtra) route
and 52% of the total flight on New Delhi (Delhi) -Bengaluru(Karnataka) route.

79
Q
  1. In August 2023, the 7th Nilgiri class stealth frigate of Project 17A, Indian Navy Ship (INS)
    ____________ was launched at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited(MDL) in Mumbai,
    Maharashtra.
    1) INS Mahendragiri
    2) INS Taragiri
    3) INS Himgiri
    4) INS Udaygiri
    5) INS Dunagiri
A

Answer- 1) INS Mahendragiri
Explanation:
Nilgiri class stealth frigate Indian Navy Ship (INS) Mahendragiri was launched at the Mazagon Dock
Shipbuilders Limited(MDL), Mumbai, Maharashtra.
INS Mahendragiri is the seventh and last stealth frigate of Project 17A of the Indian Navy(IN).
This is also the 4th frigate constructed by MDl.
The ship was launched by Dr. Sudesh Dhankhar, wife of Vice President of India, Jagdeep
Dhankhar.
INS Mahendragiri is named after a mountain peak in Eastern Ghats located in Odisha.
It has a length of 149 metre, a width of 17.8 metre, launch weight of 3450 tons and capable of
reaching a top speed of 28 knots.

80
Q
  1. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the Aditya-L1(Lagrange Point
    1) launched in September 2023?
    A) The Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) launched Aditya-L1(Lagrange Point 1),
    India’s 1st observatory-class space-based solar mission, launched by PSLV-C57 (Polar Satellite
    Launch Vehicle) rocket from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh(AP).
    B) The PSLV-C57/Aditya-L1 Mission’s objective is to study the Sun, the nearest star and the
    largest object in the solar system, over the next 5 years.
    C) The spacecraft is planned to be stationed in the halo orbit around the Lagrangian point 1
    (L1) of the Sun-Earth system, which is about 1.5 million kilometres (km) from the Earth.
    1) Only A
    2) Only A & B
    3) Only B & C
    4) Only A & C
    5) All A, B & C
A

Answer- 5) All A, B & C
Explanation:
On 2nd September 2023, the Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) launched Aditya-
L1(Lagrange Point 1), India’s 1st observatory-class space-based solar mission, launched by PSLV-C57
(Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) rocket from the Second Launch Pad (SLP), Satish Dhawan Space
Centre – SDSC (formerly Sriharikota Range – SHAR) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh(AP).
PSLV-C57 is the 59th flight of PSLV and the 25th mission using the PSLV-XL configuration.
The PSLV-C57/Aditya-L1 Mission’s objective is to study the Sun, the nearest star and the
largest object in the solar system, over the next 5 years.
The spacecraft is planned to be stationed in the halo orbit around the Lagrangian point 1
(L1) of the Sun-Earth system, which is about 1.5 million kilometres (km) from the Earth.
Aditya-L1 will undergo a Trans-Lagrangian1 insertion maneuver and begin its 110 day
trajectory to L1.
Mission Director: Nigar Shaji, an ISRO woman scientist from Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu is the
Mission Director of the Aditya-L1 mission.
The spacecraft carries seven payloads to observe the photosphere, chromosphere, and the
outermost layers of the Sun (the corona) using electromagnetic and particle detectors.
VELC, developed at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics(IIA), Bengaluru, Karnataka, will study
the solar corona and dynamics of Coronal Mass Ejections.
SUIT, developed at Inter-University Centre for Astronomy & Astrophysics(IUCAA), Pune,
Maharashtra, will image the Solar Photosphere and Chromosphere in near UV and also
measure the solar irradiance variations in near UV.

81
Q
  1. In September 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) released the outcome document
    of the WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit 2023 in the form of the “ ___________ (state/UT)
    Declaration”.
    1) Uttar Pradesh
    2) Gujarat
    3) Delhi
    4) Maharashtra
    5) Karnataka
A

Answer- 2) Gujarat
Explanation:
The World Health Organization (WHO) released the outcome document of the WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit 2023 in the form of the “Gujarat Declaration”.
This reaffirms the global commitments towards indigenous knowledge, biodiversity andtraditional, complementary and integrative medicine.
WHO’s Traditional Medicine Global Summit “Towards Health and Well-being for All” co-hosted by the Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy (AYUSH), Government of India (GoI) and WHO was held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India, on 17-18 August 2023.

82
Q
  1. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the launch made by Union
    Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship & Education Dharmendra Pradhan in
    September 2023?
    A) Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan released “Annual Capacity Building Plan (ACBP)”,
    “Know your Ministry Induction Module” of Ministry of Skill Development and
    Entrepreneurship(MSDE) and “Training Module for Directors” of Department of Higher
    Education (DoHE), Ministry of Education(MoE).
    B) These initiatives were launched by the MSDE, DoHE, National Council of Educational
    Research and Training (NCERT) and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
    C) All these initiatives are launched under Mission Karmayogi, aimed to enable the
    government officials with competence to become future ready and for efficient public service
    delivery.
    1) Only A
    2) Only A & B
    3) Only B & C
    4) Only A & C
    5) All A, B & C
A

Answer- 4) Only A & C
Explanation:
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship(MSDE)
and Ministry of Education(MoE), released “Annual Capacity Building Plan (ACBP)”, “Know your
Ministry Induction Module” of MSDE and “Training Module for Directors” of Department of Higher
Education (DoHE), MoE.
These initiatives were launched by the MSDE, DoHE, Department of School Education &
Literacy (DoSEL) and Capacity Building Commission (CBC).
All these initiatives are launched under Mission Karmayogi.
These aims to enable the government officials with competence to become future ready and
for efficient public service delivery.

83
Q
  1. Which company has recently (in Sept ‘23) received the Certificate of Registration from the
    Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to start the business of Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC)?
    1) Hinduja Leyland Finance Limited
    2) Clix Finance India Private Limited
    3) Thakur Fininvest Private Limited
    4) PTC India Financial Services Limited
    5) Bajaj Auto Consumer Finance Limited
A

Answer- 5) Bajaj Auto Consumer Finance Limited
Explanation:
Bajaj Auto Consumer Finance Limited (BACFL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bajaj Auto Limited,
has received the Certificate of Registration from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to start the business
of Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC).
i. The certification of registration was issued on 31st August 2023 under Section 45-IA of the Reserve
Bank of India Act, 1934 to commence/carry on the business of the NBFC without accepting public
deposits.

84
Q
  1. Which of the following personalities has recently (in Sept ‘23) rated as A+ in the Global
    Finance Central Banker Report Cards 2023 by Global Finance magazine?
    1) Pierre Wunsch (Chile)
    2) Mark Carney (England)
    3) Margarita Delgado (Spain)
    4) Dimitar Radev (México)
    5) Shaktikanta Das (India)
A

Answer- 5) Shaktikanta Das (India)
Explanation:
United States of America (US)-based Global Finance magazine has rated Shaktikanta Das, Governor of
the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), as A+ in the Global Finance Central Banker Report Cards 2023.
i. Along with Shaktikanta Das, Thomas J Jordan Chairperson of the Swiss National Bank, Switzerland
and Nguyen Thi Hong, Governor of State Bank of Vietnam, Vietnam were rated A+.
ii. The Central Banker Report Cards, published annually by Global Finance since 1994, grade the
central bank governors of 101 key countries, territories and districts, including the European Union,
the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, the Bank of Central African States, and the Central Bank of West
African States.

85
Q
  1. In September 2023, Dipak Gupta took over as the Interim Managing Director (MD) and
    Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of __________________ (Bank).
    1) Bandhan Bank
    2) IndusInd Bank
    3) RBL Bank
    4) Karur Vysya Bank
    5) Kotak Mahindra Bank
A

Answer- 5) Kotak Mahindra Bank
Explanation:
Dipak Gupta, Joint Managing Director (MD) of the Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited took over as the
Interim MD and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the bank till 31st December 2023. He will hold the
position till the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) proposes its successor.
i. The appointment of Dipak Gupate follows the early resignation of Uday Kotak from the position of
MD & CEO with effect from 1st September 2023. His tenure as MD & CEO expires on 31st Devember
2023.
ii. Uday Kotak will continue as a part of Kotak Mahindra Bank as a non-Executive director.

86
Q
  1. Name the Football Club that has recently (in Sept ‘23) defeated East Bengal Football Club to
    win the 132nd edition of Durand Cup 2023 trophy.
    1) Mumbai City
    2) Mohun Bagan Super Giant
    3) Chennaiyin
    4) Rajasthan United
    5) Kerala Blasters
A

Answer- 2) Mohun Bagan Super Giant
Explanation:
Mohun Bagan Super Giant defeated East Bengal Football Club 1-0 to win the Durand Cup 2023
(132nd edition) trophy held in Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan(Salt Lake Stadium), Kolkata,
West Bengal.
i. Mohun Bagan became the first team to win the 17 titles in the Durand cup surpassing East Bengal
with 16 titles.
ii. The Durand Cup2023 was held from 3rd August to 3rd September 2023, was organised by the
Durand Football Tournament Society (DFTS)- a part of Indian Armed forces, in association with All
India Football Federation (AIFF).
iii. The Durand Cup is the oldest football competition in India & Asia, and also the third oldest in the
world.

87
Q
  1. In September 2023, the Indian Men’s Hockey Team won the 1st Edition of Men’s Hockey5s
    Asia Cup Salalah 2023 by defeating ______________ (country) in the final held in Salalah, Oman.
    1) Bangladesh
    2) Oman
    3) Malaysia
    4) Japan
    5) Pakistan
A

Answer- 5) Pakistan
Explanation:
On September 2, 2023, the Indian Men’s Hockey Team won the inaugural Men’s Hockey5s Asia
Cup Salalah 2023 by defeating Pakistan with 4-4 (2-0) by a penalty shootout in the final in Sultan
Qaboos Youth Complex for Culture and Entertainment – Pitch 1(Stadium), Salalah, Oman.
With this win, India qualified for the FIH Men’s Hockey5s World Cup Oman 2024.
The championship held from 29 Aug – 2 Sep 2023 was for the Senior Men category, and
served as a qualifying tournament for the FIH Men’s Hockey5s World Cup Oman 2024.
Indian Men’s hockey team was given the Gold medal with a trophy and Pakistan got Silver
medal and Oman won Bronze.

88
Q
  1. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the step taken by the Reserve
    Bank of India (RBI) in September 2023?
    A) RBI circular titled ‘Operation of Pre-Sanctioned Credit Lines at Banks through UPI’
    announced the inclusion of pre-sanctioned credit lines as funding accounts in Unified
    Payments Interface (UPI).
    B) The circular applies to Scheduled Commercial Banks, excluding Payment Banks, Small
    Finance Banks, and Regional Rural Banks.
    C) Banks can establish terms and conditions for the use of these credit lines, including credit
    limits, credit periods, interest rates, in accordance with their board-approved policies.
    1) Only A
    2) Only A & B
    3) Only B & C
    4) Only A & C
    5) All A, B & C
A

Answer- 5) All A, B & C
Explanation:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) circular titled ‘Operation of Pre-Sanctioned Credit Lines at Banks
through UPI’ announced the inclusion of pre-sanctioned credit lines as funding accounts in Unified
Payments Interface (UPI).
This decision broadens the scope of UPI by incorporating credit lines as a funding account.
A credit line in UPI refers to a pre-approved amount of credit that a bank offers to its
customers. This credit line allows customers to make transactions or payments even if they
don’t have sufficient funds in their bank account at that moment.
i. The circular applies to Scheduled Commercial Banks, excluding Payment Banks, Small Finance
Banks, and Regional Rural Banks.
ii. This directive is issued under Section 10(2) read with Section 18 of the Payment and Settlement
Systems Act, 2007 (Act 51 of 2007).
iii. Banks can establish terms and conditions for the use of these credit lines, including credit limits,
credit periods, interest rates, in accordance with their board-approved policies.

89
Q
  1. Who has been recently (in August ‘23) appointed as the Chairperson of National
    Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM)?
    1) R Chandrasekhar
    2) Rajesh Nambiar
    3) Rekha M Menon
    4) Rishad Premji
    5) Keshav Murugesh
A

Answer- 2) Rajesh Nambiar
Explanation:
The National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) has appointed Rajesh
Nambiar, Chairman and Managing Director(CMD) of Cognizant India, as its Chairperson.
He will replace Anant Maheshwari (former president of Microsoft India) who was appointed
as Chairman of NASSCOM (2023-2024) in April 2023.
In April 2023, Rajesh Nambiar was appointed as the Vice-Chairperson of NASSCOM for the
period 2023-24.
He will be supporting the NASSCOM Executive Council for 2023-2025 along with NASSCOM
President Debjani Ghosh.
The Executive council aims to make the software industry a USD 500 billion worth by 2030.

90
Q
  1. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the National Teachers’ Day
    2023?
    A) National Teachers’ Day 2023 was observed across India on 5th September 2023 to
    commemorate the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, who
    served as the 1st Vice President & 2nd President of Independent India.
    B) On the occasion of the National Teachers Day 2023, President of India, Droupadi Murmu,
    conferred the National Award to Teachers’ 2023, to 75 selected Teachers across India.
    C) The 75 honorees comprised 50 school teachers, 13 educators from higher education, and 12
    teachers from the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Home Affairs.
    1) Only A
    2) Only A & B
    3) Only B & C
    4) Only A & C
    5) All A, B & C
A

Answer- 2) Only A & B
Explanation:
National Teachers’ Day 2023 was observed across India on 5th September 2023 to commemorate
the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, a renowned educationist, who
served as the 1st Vice President and 2nd President of Independent India.
The day was first observed on 5th September 1962, the 77th birthday of Dr. S Radhakrishnan.
Since then, September 5 has been celebrated as National Teachers Day across India.
i. On the occasion of the National Teachers Day 2023 (5th September 2023), President of India,
Droupadi Murmu, conferred the National Award to Teachers’ 2023, to 75 selected Teachers across
India at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi.
ii. The 75 honorees comprised 50 school teachers, 13 educators from higher education, and 12
teachers from the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
Each award carries a certificate of merit, a cash award of Rs. 50,000, and a silver medal.

91
Q
  1. Which of the following banks has/have recently (in Sept ‘23) signed MoUs with Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) to co-finance renewable energy
    projects?
    1) Union Bank of India
    2) Bank of Baroda
    3) Indian Bank
    4) Both 1 & 2
    5) Both 2 & 3
A

Answer- 4) Both 1 & 2
Explanation:
On 5th September 2023, The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) signed
Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Union Bank of India (UBI) and Bank of Baroda (BoB).
i. These agreements will enable IREDA to work with UBI and BoB in loan syndication and co-lending
for a variety of renewable energy projects involving both established and cutting-edge renewable
energy technology.
ii. IREDA is a Mini Ratna (Category- I) Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSE) under the
administrative control of the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE)

92
Q
  1. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the launches made by the
    Ministry of Education in September 2023?
    A) Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Education (MoE) launched the Malaviya
    Mission – Teachers Training Programme in New Delhi, Delhi.
    B) The Portal is set up by the University Grants Commission (UGC) for teachers interested in
    capacity-building programs.
    C) The MoE also inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Microsoft Corporation to
    help children learn Artificial Intelligence (AI) by developing creative expression in classrooms.
    1) Only A
    2) Only A & B
    3) Only B & C
    4) Only A & C
    5) All A, B & C
A

Answer- 2) Only A & B
Explanation:
On September 5, 2023, i.e. on the occasion of National Teachers’ Day 2023, Union Minister
Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Education (MoE) launched the Malaviya Mission – Teachers
Training Programme by the University Grants Commission (UGC) at Kaushal Bhawan, New Delhi,
Delhi.
•
• •
• •
He also inaugurated the Portal of the Programme (https://mmc.ugc.ac.in/) and released its
information brochure.
The Portal is set up by UGC for teachers interested in capacity-building programs.
Malaviya Mission – Teachers Training Programme aims to improve the quality of teachers’
training, build leadership skills in teachers and help realise the goals of National Education
Policy (NEP) 2020.
111 Human Resource Development Centres (HRDCs) in Higher Education Institutions (HEI)
have been identified Under Malaviya Mission(MM). These HRDCs will be renamed as Madan
Mohan Malaviya Teachers’ Training Centers.
The MoE also inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Adobe, an American
multinational computer software company, to help children learn Artificial Intelligence (AI)
by developing creative expression in classrooms using the application Adobe Express.

93
Q
  1. Which of the following ministries/ organisations have recently (in Sept ‘23) unveiled the
    G20 (Group of Twenty) Tourism and SDG (Sustainable Development Goal) Dashboard?
    1) Ministry of Tourism
    2) United Nations World Tourism Organization
    3) Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
    4) Both 1 & 2
    5) Both 2 & 3
A

Answer- 4) Both 1 & 2
Explanation:
On September 5, 2023, the Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with the United Nations World
Tourism Organization (UNWTO), unveiled the G20 (Group of Twenty) Tourism and SDG
(Sustainable Development Goal) Dashboard.
The dashboard was launched by the Union Minister Gangapuram Kishan Reddy, Ministry of
Tourism in a virtual ceremony.
G20 Tourism and SDGs Dashboard is an outcome of the G20 Tourism Working Group.
The dashboard is developed under the leadership of India’s G20 Presidency and with the
expert knowledge partnership of UNWTO.

94
Q
  1. In which city India’s 1st Solar City was inaugurated in September 2023?
    1) Chandrapur, Maharashtra
    2) Tuni, Andhra Pradesh
    3) Churu, Rajasthan
    4) Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh
    5) Bankura, West Bengal
A

Answer- 4) Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh
Explanation:
Madhya Pradesh(MP) Chief Minister(CM) Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated the city of Sanchi in
Raisen district in MP as India’s first Solar City.
This is in line with Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi’s vision of developing a solar city in
every state by 2070.
The 3 MW and 5 MW solar plants in Nagauri and Gulgaon of Sanchi respectively cater to the
city’s electrical and agricultural needs.
In addition to this, an 8 MW grid-connected solar plant is under construction within Sanchi
•
•
•
city.
• •
Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (MPUVNL) acted as the nodal agency of the solar
city project.
MPUVNL campaigned for ‘Urja Saksharta Abhiyan’ to educate the people of Sanchi about
energy saving.

95
Q
  1. Name the company that has recently (in Sept ‘23) partnered with Bharat Electronics
    Limited (BEL) to launch ‘Indrajaal’, India’s 1st Artificial Intelligence (AI) Enabled Counter
    Drone.
    1) Wipro PARI Robotics
    2) DiFACTO Robotics
    3) Kuka Robotics
    4) Grene Robotics
    5) echasoft Robotics
A

Answer- 4) Grene Robotics
Explanation:
Hyderabad’s(Telangana) Grene Robotics in partnership with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)
launched ‘Indrajaal’ which is India’s first and the only counter-drone system that uses Artificial
Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning(ML) to counter drone threats.
i. The drone was unveiled in the presence of Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh who is the Governor of
Uttarakhand.
ii. Indrajaal drone works on AI-driven platform GreneOS & it is the world’s only autonomous wide
area, counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) that can defend against all classifications and all
levels of autonomous drones.

96
Q
  1. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the cabinet approval in
    September 2023?
    A) Cabinet approved a scheme for Viability Gap Funding (VGF) of Rs.3,760 crore for
    Development of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).
    B) The Cabinet approved an additional amount of Rs. 1164.53 crore for the Industrial
    Development Scheme (IDS), 2017, for Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
    C) The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has approved a proposal from Puducherry to
    implement a 10% quota for students studying in government schools in medical admissions.
    1) Only A
    2) Only A & B
    3) Only B & C
    4) Only A & C
    5) All A, B & C
A

Answer- 4) Only A & C
Explanation:
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has approved the following
proposals on 6th September, 2023:
The Union Cabinet has approved a scheme for Viability Gap Funding (VGF) aimed at
developing Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). The scheme is part of the government’s
efforts to enhance renewable energy integration and reduce peak power demand costs. It was
first introduced in the Union Budget 2023. Total project outlay: Rs.9,400 crore.
Government contribution: 40% of the total project cost, amounting to Rs.3,760 crore,
provided as VGF. Remaining 60% of project costs to be invested by participating companies.
The Cabinet approved an additional amount of Rs. 1164.53 crore for the Industrial
Development Scheme (IDS), 2017, for Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The Ministry of
Commerce and Industry, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, proposed
the allocation of additional funds under the Central Sector Scheme for Industrial Development
Scheme 2017 for Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has approved a proposal from Puducherry to
implement a 10% quota for students studying in government schools in medical admissions in
Puducherry. The Centralised Admission Committee (CENTAC) is responsible for finalizing the
list of students for admission to various higher education courses.
Eligibility: For NEET-qualified students who have studied from Class I-XII in government-run
schools in Puducherry.

97
Q
  1. In which city, India’s first 500 Kilo-volt-amperes (kVA) Underground Power Transformer
    Station was inaugurated in September 2023?
    1) Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh
    2) Jodhpur, Rajasthan
    3) Chennai, Tamil Nadu
    4) Bengaluru, Karnataka
    5) Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh
A

Answer- 4) Bengaluru, Karnataka
Explanation:
On 5th September 2023, K J George, Minister of Energy, Government of Karnataka, inaugurated India’s
first 500 Kilo-volt-amperes (kVA) Underground Power Transformer Station on 15th Avenue in
Malleswaram, Bengaluru (Karnataka).
i. This facility was developed in collaboration with Bengaluru Electricity Supply Company Limited
(BESCOM) and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) at a cost of Rs 1.9 crore.
ii. Electricity related works are done by BESCOM and civil works by BBMP.

98
Q
  1. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the 5th Annual General
    Meeting (AGM) of REC Limited held in August 2023?
    A) REC Limited is committed to increase its green project loan portfolio to Rs 5 lakh crore by
    2025, representing more than a 10-fold increase.
    B) REC Limited raised USD 1.15 billion in two tranches from a consortium of six banks as
    Mandated Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners (MLABs) under its Market Borrowing Programme
    of Rs. 1.20 lakh crore for 2023-24.
    C) REC Limited secured a Foreign Currency Term Loan of USD 100 million from EXIM Bank of
    India.
    1) Only A
    2) Only A & B
    3) Only B & C
    4) Only A & C
    5) All A, B & C
A

Answer- 3) Only B & C
Explanation:
On September 6, 2023, the 5th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of REC Limited (formerly Rural
Electrification Corporation Limited) was held via Video Conferencing. The Meeting was chaired by its
Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) Vivek Kumar Dewangan.
i. Highlights from AGM:
REC Limited is committed to increase its green project loan portfolio to Rs 3 lakh crore by
2030, representing more than a 10-fold increase.
The Ministry of Power has granted REC the authority to provide loans to non-power
infrastructure and logistics sectors, contributing to India’s development.
REC Limited raised USD 1.15 billion in August 2023 in two tranches from a consortium of six
banks as Mandated Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners (MLABs) under its Market Borrowing
Programme of Rs. 1.20 lakh crore for 2023-24.
REC Limited secured a Foreign Currency Term Loan of USD 100 million from EXIM (Export
Import) Bank of India. This is the first term loan being extended by Exim Bank to REC.

99
Q
  1. Which company has recently (in Sept ‘23) launched ‘SimplySAVE Merchant Card’, a Credit
    Card for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)?
    1) HDFC Cards
    2) SBI Cards
    3) American Express
    4) Visa Inc
    5) Mastercard
A

Answer- 2) SBI Cards
Explanation:
SBI Cards & Payment Services Limited (SBI Card), India’s largest pure-play credit card company,
launched ‘SimplySAVE Merchant SBI Card’, a Credit Card for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises
(MSMEs). The card has been designed to offer interest-free short-term credit options for MSME
merchants and other exclusive benefits.
i. SimplySAVE Merchant SBI Card was unveiled by Mr. Dinesh Khara, Chairman, State Bank of India
(SBI) at Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
ii. This card will address the need for easy and timely access to formal credit by providing interest-
free short-term credit to MSMEs.
iii. This card is available on the RuPay network and can also be linked to the Unified Payments
Interface (UPI) for payments through various UPI-enabled third-party apps.

100
Q
  1. Which space agency, along with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Limited (MHI) has recently
    (in Sept ‘23) launched the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 47 (H-IIA F47) carrying X-ray astronomical
    satellite X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM) and Lunar lander Smart Lander for
    Investigating Moon (SLIM)?
    1) Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
    2) Indian Space Research Organisation
    3) Space Exploration Technologies Corporation
    4) Canadian Space Agency
    5) Roscosmos
A

Answer- 1) Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
Explanation:
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) along with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Limited (MHI)
launched the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 47 (H-IIA F47) which carried X-ray astronomical satellite X-
Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM) and Lunar lander Smart Lander for Investigating
Moon (SLIM).
The rocket was launched from Tanegashima Space Center, Japan.
With this, Japan is yet to become the fifth country to soft land on the moon; The fourth Country
was India with its launch of Chandrayaan 3 mission in August 2023.
i. X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM) satellite, a joint project of JAXA, National
Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA) and the European Space Agency(ESA).
The satellite aims to observe plasma winds flowing through the universe which helps
in understanding the evolution Explof stars and galaxies.
XRISM is said to resolve mysteries regarding the formation of the universe.
ii. SLIM is the small spacecraft(2.4 metres) with two objectives such
Demonstration of high-precision landing technology ( by using pin-point landing technique and
obstacle detection technique).
Realisation of a lightweight lunar and planetary probe system to allow more frequent lunar
and planetary exploration missions.

September CA 2023 (13 decks)

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