1. What aspect of agriculture is focused upon by Krishi Karman Award?
[A] Supply
[B] Sales
[C] Production
[D] Water Management
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Production]
Notes:
The Prime Minister is to visit Karnataka on January 2nd and 3rd. He will confer Krishi Karman Award to 21 states that have recorded good agriculture production in various categories during the previous crop seasons.
2. What is India’s projected growth rate as per first advance estimates of gross domestic product (GDP) growth for 2019-20?
[A] 5%
[B] 5.5%
[C] 6%
[D] 6.5%
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ 5% ]
Notes:
In first week of January, 2020 the government has released the first advance estimates of gross domestic product (GDP) growth for 2019-20. The economy will grow at 5% this year, a massive downgrade from the 7% projected by the Economic Survey last year and much lower than the 6.8% growth in the previous year.
3. The ‘World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2020’ (WESO) report was recently released by which international organisation?
[A] United Nations
[B] The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
[C] International Labour Organization
[D] World Trade Organisation
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [International Labour Organization]
Notes:
Geneva-based International Labour Organization recently released its flagship report titled ‘World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2020’ (WESO).
As per the report, unemployment is estimated to increase by nearly 2.5 million in 2020. In addition to the 188 million unemployed people around the world, 165 million people don’t have enough paid work and 120 million have either given up job-search or lack access to the labour market. The report assessed that more than 470 million people are affected worldwide.
4. Which Indian Private sector bank has recently launched its wealth management platform called ‘Pioneer Banking’?
[A] ICICI Bank
[B] HDFC Bank
[C] Axis Bank
[D] IndusInd Bank
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [IndusInd Bank]
Notes:
Leading Private Sector bank IndusInd bank has launched its wealth management platform called ‘Pioneer Banking’, which serves the banking needs of its high net-worth customers.
The new service of wealth management recently introduced is expected to be merged with the other set of personal and commercial banking products offered by the bank to its customers. The new service mainly focuses the high net-worth individual (HNI) customers and provides various benefits including Free doorstep banking up to Rs 4 lakh per day and Services of dedicated wealth managers and investment specialists.
5. Which Indian Public sector bank recently signed an MoU with Care Ratings to assess credit quality of its small and medium enterprises (SME) customers?
[A] State Bank of India
[B] Bank of Baroda
[C] Union Bank of India
[D] Bank of India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bank of Baroda]
Notes:
Indian Public sector bank, Bank of Baroda recently signed an MoU with Indian credit rating agency, Care Ratings. The pact aims to assess credit quality of the small and medium enterprises (SME) customers of the bank.
The rating agency is expected to evaluate the credit quality of the existing and potential SME customers of the bank. The creditworthiness of enterprises is provided on an eight-point scale by the ratings agency. This agreement will strengthen the process of loan-evaluation and help the SMEs in obtaining finance faster.
6. Which automobile firm is set to acquire the automotive business of Ford India?
[A] Mahindra & Mahindra
[B] Tata Motors
[C] Hyundai
[D] Kia Motors
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Mahindra & Mahindra]
Notes:
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has recently approved the formation of Joint Venture (JV) between Mahindra & Mahindra and Ford Motor and the transfer of automotive business of Ford India to the JV.
The new venture to be formed would acquire the automotive business of Ford India Pvt Ltd (FIPL), which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ford Motor company. The automotive business includes manufacturing plants of Ford India in Chennai and Sanand (Gujarat).
7. Ka-Ching is a co-branded credit card, launched by IndiGo airline in collaboration with which bank?
[A] State Bank of India
[B] ICICI Bank
[C] HDFC Bank
[D] Axis Bank
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [HDFC Bank]
Notes:
India’s leading airline IndiGo recently launched its first co-branded credit card named ‘Ka-Ching’ in collaboration with HDFC Bank and MasterCard.
The card is available in basic and premium version. The card vouches several benefits such as lounge access, priority check-in at airports, discounted convenience fee and fuel charge waivers.
8. The Reserve Bank of India is conducting one-year and three-year tenor LTRO to help banks to reduce their lending rates. What does LTRO stand for?
[A] Long Term Reverse operation
[B] Liquidity Term Repo operation
[C] Liquidity Term Reverse operation
[D]
Long-term Repo operation
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [
Long-term Repo operation]
Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India is conducting one-year and three-year tenor LTRO to help banks to reduce their lending rates. In the latest bi-monthly policy review, it announced term repurchase agreements (repos) of one-year and three-year tenors for Rs 1 trillion at the policy repo rate.
RBI has conducted three LTRO- Long-term repo operation on February 17, February 24 and March 1. The fourth operation is scheduled on March 9. In the third LTRO of three-year tenor, RBI has received 66 bids amounting to Rs 1.71 trillion.
9. India’s services sector growth hits seven-year high in February as per the recent PMI. What does PMI stand for?
[A] Public Money Index
[B] Purchasing Money Index
[C] Purchasing Managers’ Index
[D] Private Managers’ Index
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Purchasing Managers’ Index]
Notes:
Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) is released by the data analytics firm IHS Markit. As per the survey, services sector of the country rose for the fifth consecutive month to 57.5 in February after 55.5 in January.
A figure more than 50 signifies expansion, while below-50 figure identifies contraction. The service sector dipped to a 19-month low in September 2019.
10. Which is the first Indian airline to partner with a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) for setting up warehousing facility?
[A] IndiGo
[B] SpiceJet
[C] Vistara
[D] Jet Airways
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [SpiceJet]
Notes:
Gurgaon-based India’s air carrier SpiceJet recently announced its partnership with GMR Hyderabad Aviation SEZ Limited (GHASL) for setting up a warehousing, distribution and trading facility. GAHSL is a fully-owned subsidiary of GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (GHIAL).
The facility is to be set up in the airport operator’s aerospace and industrial park. This pact is expected to improve the operations of cargo industry in the country.
