11. What is the new deadline to restructure the accounts of MSMEs, as per the recent announcement of RBI?
[A] March 31, 2020
[B] March 31, 2021
[C] December 31, 2020
[D] March 31, 2022
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [December 31, 2020]
Notes:
In the recent Monetary policy committee statement released by the Reserve Bank of India, it extended the deadline for one-time restructuring of GST-registered MSME borrower account to December 31,2020. The restructuring was to be implemented before March 31, 2020, as per the RBI’s earlier guidelines. It also announced that scheduled commercial banks can deduct the credit disbursed as retail loans for automobiles, housing and MSME loans from their net demand and time liabilities (NDTL) for CRR maintenance.
12. The indigenous air to ground missile ‘Khagantak’, which was unveiled during the ongoing DefExpo 2020, is built by which firm/organisation?
[A] Defence Research and Development Organisation
[B] Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd
[C] JSR Dynamics
[D] Bharat Electronics Limited
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [JSR Dynamics]
Notes:
A private Indian firm has recently unveiled the indigenous air to ground missile ‘Khagantak’, during the ongoing DefExpo 2020. The firm has manufactured the air to ground missile with a strike range of 180 km.
The Managing Director of JSR Dynamics Air Marshal SB Deo announced the missile and said that when released from a height of 12 km, the missile is an air-launch weapon. It can be used as a guide weapon, which also has artificial intelligence (AI) to recognise the targets. Such indigenous missiles are expected to be a boost to the ‘Make in India’ initiative and reduce our dependence on foreign defence manufacturers.
13. Seer Goverdhanpur in Uttar Pradesh is the birth place of which Bhakti saint?
[A] Kabir
[B] Dadu
[C] Ravidas
[D] Ramanand
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Ravidas]
Notes:
Sant Ravidas was a 14th-century saint and founder of the Bhakti movement in North India. He was born at Seer Goverdhanpur near Banaras.
14. Pinelopi Koujianou Goldberg, who recently submitted her resignation, was associated with which global organisation?
[A] World Bank
[B] International Monetary Fund
[C] United Nations
[D] Asian Development Bank
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [World Bank]
Notes:
The Chief economist of World Bank, Pinelopi Koujianou Goldberg recently announced her resignation. The economist is expected to step down from her role on March 1 and return to teach at Yale University.
Pinelopi Koujianou assumed charge as the Chief economist at the end of April 2018. World Bank President David Malpass announced that Research Director Aart Kraay would take over as an interim Chief economist.
15. ‘We Think Digital’ is a digital literacy program of which global technological company?
[A] Google
[B] Facebook
[C] Apple
[D] Amazon
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Facebook]
Notes:
We Think Digital is a global digital literacy program of the technology major Facebook. The program was launched in 2019 with an aim to overcome gender imbalance on the internet space.
Recently, Facebook launched ‘We Think Digital’ program in Uttar Pradesh, in association with National Commission for Women (NCW) and Cyber Peace Foundation. The program aims to provide digital literacy to nearly 1,00,000 women across seven Indian states.
16. ‘Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi’, is a newly formed district of which state?
[A] Jharkand
[B] Haryana
[C] Chhattisgarh
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Chhattisgarh]
Notes:
Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi was recently inaugurated as the 28th district of the state of Chhattisgarh, by the state’s Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.
The new district, which has been carved out of Bilaspur, has three tehsils and three development blocks namely Gaurela, Pendra and Marwahi. The district has 166 Gram panchayats, 222 villages and two nagar panchayats.
17. Which state government recently approved Ground water Act, 2020, to improve groundwater level?
[A] Bihar
[B] Uttar Pradesh
[C] Jharkhand
[D] Rajasthan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Uttar Pradesh]
Notes:
The state cabinet of Uttar Pradesh chaired by its Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath recently approved the Ground water Act, 2020. The act aims at improving the falling groundwater level of the state.
Under the new act, one has to register with the state records before installing submersible pumps either off-line or on-line. It has also ensured provisions for rain water harvesting in all buildings. People who contaminate ground water would be granted penalty and punishment.
18. Which state recently signed MoUs with premier agricultural institutions, for development of agriculture in the state?
[A] Karnataka
[B] Andhra Pradesh
[C] Tamil Nadu
[D] Madhya Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Andhra Pradesh]
Notes:
The Department of Agriculture of Andhra Pradesh recently signed Memoranda of understanding with 11 premier agricultural institutions of the country, in the presence of its Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Under the agreement, the institutions will provide technical assistance for increasing the farmers income sustainably, by following organic and natural farming practices. The Chief Minister also announced that more than 11000 Rythu Bharosa Kendras would be set up across the state.
19. Which country recently ratified the North Atlantic Treaty, to make their country a member of NATO?
[A] Australia
[B] New Zealand
[C] Republic of Korea
[D] Republic of North Macedonia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Republic of North Macedonia]
Notes:
The Parliament of the Republic of North Macedonia recently ratified the North Atlantic Treaty, an agreement to make their country a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
The country was earlier called Macedonia and was opposed by its neighbour Greece, as the historic place is present in their border. Greece asked the country to rename itself and it agreed to
drop its objections to the country in joining the NATO and the EU.
20. Which country recently approved the sale of an Integrated Air Defence Weapon System to India?
[A] Russia
[B] Israel
[C] France
[D] United States
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [United States]
Notes:
The United States has recently approved the sale of an Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) to India. The Weapon system is to be sold for an estimated cost of $1.9 billion. India would deploy the IADWS to modernise its armed forces and enhance its air defence architecture.
The trade deal is proposed to be signed during the visit of the US President Donald Trump to India, in the month of February, 2020.