1. Which Department under the ‘Ministry of Finance’ notifies changes in rates on small savings schemes?
[A] Department of Expenditure
[B] Department of Economic Affairs
[C] Department of Revenue
[D] Department of Financial Services
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Department of Economic Affairs]
Notes:
Department of Economic Affairs under the Ministry of Finance notifies changes in rates on small savings schemes.
Recently, the government hiked the interest rates on various small savings schemes including senior citizen savings scheme for the January to March quarter. The PPF will continue to earn 7.10%, while Sukanya Samriddhi account scheme will continue to earn 7.6% interest rate.
2. Which institution builds the K9-Vajra tracked self-propelled howitzers?
[A] DRDO
[B] HAL
[C] Larsen & Toubro
[D] BHEL
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Larsen & Toubro]
Notes:
The Defence Ministry has started the process for procurement of 100 more K9-Vajra tracked self-propelled howitzers which are built in India by Larsen & Toubro (L&T).
The howitzers are built using technology transferred from South Korean defence major Hanwha Defense. The K9-Vajra is a 155 mm, 52-calibre tracked self-propelled howitzer.
3. Which institution developed the Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) app?
[A] RBI
[B] NPCI
[C] SEBI
[D] NASSCOM
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [NPCI]
Notes:
Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) was launched on 30 December 2016 in India. The payment application was indigenously developed by National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI). ·
The app lets users make simple and quick transactions using Unified Payments Interface (UPI). In November 2022, National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) announced the launch of BHIM App open source license model. Recently, the sixth anniversary of BHIM app was celebrated.
4. Where is the ‘Institute of Mathematical Sciences’ located?
[A] Mumbai
[B] Mysuru
[C] Chennai
[D] Panaji
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Chennai]
Notes:
Department of Posts under Tamilnadu Circle released a Special Cover on 60 Years of The Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMSc).
The Institute of Mathematical Sciences is a premier research institute in Chennai, India founded by Alladi Ramakrishnan in 1962. Since its inception, members of the institute have engaged in research in fundamental and interdisciplinary sciences.
5. As per the Minimum Public Shareholding (MPS) norm, what is the minimum public float for all listed companies?
[A] 10 per cent
[B] 20 percent
[C] 25 percent
[D] 40 per cent
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [25 percent]
Notes:
As per the Minimum Public Shareholding (MPS) norm at least 25 per cent public float is mandated for all listed companies.
The government has recently exempted public sector entities from the Minimum Public Shareholding (MPS) norm. The exemption would apply on entities regardless of the government’s direct or indirect holding.
6. Twenty new frog species have been recently found in which country?
[A] India
[B] Madagascar
[C] China
[D] Bangladesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Madagascar]
Notes:
A team made up of international scientists have recently discovered 20 new frog species in Madagascar.
The team placed the frogs within the genus Mantidactylus and subgenus Brygoomantis. Before now, the group had just 14 members, but now has received 20 new members, and as per the researchers a lot of them sound like a creaking door or a gurgling stomach.
7. The recent Supreme Court ruling on Article 19 ambit extended free speech against which entity?
[A] State
[B] Private citizens
[C] Parliamentarians
[D] Non Resident Indians
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Private citizens]
Notes:
Supreme Court ruled that a citizen can seek enforcement of the fundamental rights to freedom of speech not just against the state.
With this the Supreme Court has extended the ground for seeking these rights against other private citizens. The court ruled that the right of free speech and expression guaranteed under the Article 19(1)(a) cannot be curbed by any additional grounds other than those already laid down in Article 19(2).
8. Sam Bankman-Fried, who was in the news recently, was the founder of which company?
[A] Tesla
[B] FTX
[C] TikTok
[D] CoinBase
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [FTX]
Notes:
The founder of cryptocurrency company FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried faces eight criminal counts, including wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy, among others
He recently pleaded not guilty Manhattan federal court, to charges of defrauding investors related to the collapse of the crypto exchange. He is accused of redirecting the deposits of FTX customers without their consent to his Alameda Research hedge fund.
9. Which company became the Mobile communications Network Partner of Manchester City in India?
[A] Bharti Airtel
[B] Jio Platforms
[C] BSNL
[D] Vi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Jio Platforms]
Notes:
Manchester City has announced a new regional partnership with Jio Platforms. With this, the country’s leading digital services brand becomes the Club’s Official Mobile Communications Network Partner in India.
The partnership was supported by RISE Worldwide, a Reliance initiative. As part of the new agreement, Man City’s OTT platform CITY+ will be integrated into the JioTV platform providing fans in India further access to exclusive club content.
10. Which footballer has been named as the ‘World’s Best Player’ for 2022 by IFFHS?
[A] Kylian Mbappe
[B] Neymar
[C] Lionel Messi
[D] Cristiano Ronaldo
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Lionel Messi]
Notes:
PSG superstar Lionel Messi has been crowned the ‘World’s Best Player’ for 2022 by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS).
In 51 official games for club and country, Messi scored 35 goals and laid on 30 assists. Messi was also named the winner of the IFFHS World’s Best International Goal Scorer 2022 Award. Argentina’s coach Lionel Scaloni was voted as the best coach.
