11. Which Metro rail service in India has become the second largest operational metro rail network in the country?
[A] Delhi Metro
[B] Kochi Metro
[C] Hyderabad Metro
[D] Chennai Metro
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Hyderabad Metro]
Notes:
The Chief Minister of Telangana recently flagged off the stretch of Hyderabad Metro between Hyderabad and its sister city Secunderabad. With this, Hyderabad Metro has become the second largest operational metro rail network in the country, only after the Delhi Metro Rail.
Hyderabad Metro is also the biggest metro project in the world in Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode, with a total project cost of ₹20,000 crore, constructed by Larsen & Toubro.
12. Which Union Ministry has recently launched the web portal for ‘Star rating of Coal mines’?
[A] Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
[B] Ministry of Coal
[C] Ministry of Mines
[D] Ministry of Earth Sciences
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Coal]
Notes:
Ministry of Coal (MoC) has recently launched a web portal for star rating of coal mines. Under the portal, all operational coal mines across the country will be enabled for self-rating. The mines will be subsequently validated by Coal Controller’s Organization (CCO), the subordinate office of Ministry of Coal.
The mechanism on the portal would award star rating to the mines with certain evaluation parameters under 7 modules.
13. Electronic Dealer Financing Scheme (e-DFS) is a flagship product of which Indian public sector bank?
[A] State Bank of India
[B] Bank of Baroda
[C] Punjab National Bank
[D] Union Bank of India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [State Bank of India]
Notes:
State Bank of India (SBI) recently partnered with the mobile phone manufacturer Realme, to offer credit facilities. The partnership is made under the bank’s electronic lending product- Electronic Dealer Financing Scheme (e-DFS).
Under this MoU, the dealers and distributors of Realme would get access to credit facilities at low interest rates and minimum collateral. The inventory transactions could also be reported real-time, using the product.
14. What does ‘GSP’ stand for, in the context of India- US trade?
[A] Globalised System of Preferences
[B] Generalized System of Preferences
[C] Globalised System of Partners
[D] Generalized System of Partners
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Generalized System of Preferences]
Notes:
The United States Trade Representative’s (USTR’s) office has recently classified India as a developed economy and it is ineligible for GSP benefits from the US.
The Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) scheme offers a lower tariff to the exporters of a select group of developing countries. India is the largest beneficiary nation under the GSP, which enjoyed a tariff-free access to the US, till last June.
15. ‘PehleSafety’ is an Internet safety campaign of which major technological company?
[A] Facebook
[B] Microsoft
[C] Google
[D] Apple
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Google]
Notes:
Google India recently announced a new public outreach campaign on Internet safety named PehleSafety.
The tech-firm launched a campaign to inform its users about online security and safety measures while accessing the internet. It has also launched powerful tools like the Security Check-up and Password Check-up, to enhance the security of user data.
16. Nandu R Kulkarni, who recently passed away, was a famous personality in which field?
[A] Politics
[B] Business
[C] Journalism
[D] Arts
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Journalism]
Notes:
Veteran Indian journalist Nandu R Kulkarni recently passed away at Mumbai. A resident of Mumbai, the 70-year-old journalist was the Mumbai bureau chief of the Daily newspaper, ‘The Statesman’.
He started his career with ‘The Indian Express’ in 1976 and worked with the group for nearly 16 years. Nandu then joined ‘The Statesman’ in 1992 as the bureau chief. He covered a wide range of fields including politics and business and was known for his reports on economic offences.
17. The National Productivity Council functions under the aegis of which Union Ministry?
[A] Ministry of Human Resource Development
[B] Ministry of Commerce and Industry
[C] Ministry of Science and Technology
[D] Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Commerce and Industry]
Notes:
National Productivity Council (NPC) is an institution for propagating productivity movement in India, which functions under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The formation of National Productivity Council is being celebrated annually as Productivity Day (12th February) and following seven days as Productivity Week (12th – 18th February). The organisation conducts various events throughout the week for promoting productivity.
18. UN Security Council has recently adopted a resolution for a ‘lasting ceasefire’, in which country?
[A] Libya
[B] Venezuela
[C] Iraq
[D] Sudan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Libya ]
Notes:
The United Nations Security Council has recently adopted a resolution for a ‘lasting ceasefire’ in the North African oil-rich country Libya.
The resolution which was drafted by Britain was approved by 14 countries with only Russia refraining from voting. The resolution is aimed at supporting for a lasting ceasefire in Libya without any pre-condition. The country has been in chaos since 2011, after its leader Moamer Kadhafi was killed.
19. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who made his first visit to India, is the President of which European country?
[A] France
[B] Germany
[C] Portugal
[D] Italy
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Portugal]
Notes:
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the President of Portugal recently arrived in New Delhi on a four-day visit. He has been the President of the European country since 2016. He made his first visit to India along with some important delegates of the country.
During his visit, India and Portugal signed as many as 14 agreements for mutual cooperation in several fields including Defence, Transport, Intellectual property rights and Yoga.
20. Which Indian state/UT was host to the BIMSTEC ‘Conference on Combating Drug Trafficking’?
[A] New Delhi
[B] Jammu and Kashmir
[C] Andaman and Nicobar Islands
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [New Delhi]
Notes:
The two-day BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) ‘Conference on Combating Drug Trafficking’ was recently inaugurated in New Delhi.
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) organised the conference, which was inaugurated by the Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Several delegations from the Partner Nations arrived in India to attend the conference.