11. The Reserve Bank of India has recently revised the ‘Supervisory Action Framework’ of which category of banks?
[A] Public Sector Banks
[B] Private Sector Banks
[C] Foreign Banks
[D] Urban Cooperative Banks
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Urban Cooperative Banks]
Notes:
India’s Central bank, the Reserve Bank of India recently released various stipulations for the Urban Cooperative Banks (UCB). A UCB shall be placed in the Supervisory Action Framework upon certain conditions announced by the RBI, which include Net NPA exceeding 6% and CRAR ratio falling below 9%. Depending on the financial stress, the lending powers of the UCBs may also be cut short.
The Reserve Bank has made this announcement at the backdrop of the Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative Bank scam. The new norms would provide faster resolution to the bad assets of UCBs.
12. Which country recently hosted an art exhibition to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi?
[A] Nepal
[B] Bangladesh
[C] Sri Lanka
[D] Myanmar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bangladesh]
Notes:
To commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, a ten-day art exhibition was recently inaugurated in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh. The exhibition was named as ‘Gandhi @ 150 Art Exhibition’
The Indian High Commission in Bangladesh organised the exhibition in association with the national cultural centre of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. The art products of the Bangladesh artists created during the art camp and photographs of Gandhi were exhibited in the event.
13. Recently, the Government of India has issued revised guidelines for mutual legal assistance in criminal matters with other nations. At present (January, 2020) India has Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties with how many countries?
[A] 32
[B] 40
[C] 42
[D] 48
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [ 42 ]
Notes:
India has Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties with 42 countries and is signatory to various International Conventions for cooperation in criminal matters. The Home Ministry is the designated central authority for this. The recently revised guidelines have incorporated various legal and technological developments in recent years and aim to make documentation more compliant with international requirements. The revised guidelines provide step-by-step guidance to the investigation agencies for drafting and processing letters rogatory or mutual legal assistance requests and service of summons, notices and other judicial documents. The guidelines have taken into account the concerns raised by various courts for prompt and timely responses in service of documents to person residing abroad. These revised guidelines have provision for service of documents to authorities of foreign country preferably within ten days of receipt of request in respect of offences committed against women and children.
14. Which country has recently proposed a “Global Electricity Grid”?
[A] China
[B] India
[C] United States
[D] Australia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [ India ]
Notes:
Proposed “Global Electricity Grid” was an idea mooted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The grid plans to leverage solar power generated in one geography to feed the electricity demands of other nations. India is reportedly in talks with World Bank as its technical partner to implement the plan.
15. Which city is host to the annual World Economic Forum?
[A] Geneva
[B] Davos
[C] New York
[D] Paris
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [ Davos ]
Notes:
The World Economic Forum, held annually at Davos, is a meeting in which world leaders discuss economic matters. This year’s summit will take place on January 21- 24.
16. Manmad and Bhusawal railway stations, where AI based Facial Recognition technology was recently installed, belong to which state?
[A] Madhya Pradesh
[B] Maharashtra
[C] Karnataka
[D] Gujarat
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Maharashtra]
Notes:
The Indian Railways has installed Artificial Intelligence based Facial Recognition Technology in Manmad and Bhusawal stations of Maharashtra and Bengaluru station of Karnataka. The PSU under the Railway Ministry, RailTel carries out the project to provide Video Surveillance System with facial recognition and video analytics.
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) will subsequently link the output of this facial recognition system with their existing criminal database, so that identification of criminals at the Railway station would be made easier.
17. Who has been recently chosen for “Muppavarapu Venkaiah Naidu National Award for Excellence”?
[A] K Sivan
[B] MS Swaminathan
[C] Azim H Premji
[D] Dutee Chand
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [MS Swaminathan]
Notes:
The Father of Green Revolution Dr M S Swaminathan is chosen as the recipient of ‘Muppavarapu Venkaiah Naidu National Award for Excellence’. This award is instituted by the Muppavarapu Foundation based at Hyderabad. Eminent Agricultural Scientist and plant geneticist, M.S. Swaminathan is awarded for his contributions towards the field of agriculture.
This award was presented during the 10th Anniversary Celebrations of Muppavarapu Foundation in Hyderabad by the Vice President of India, Venkiah Naidu.
18. What is India’s GDP growth rate for the FY20, as estimated by the World Bank?
[A] 6%
[B] 5.8%
[C] 5.6%
[D] 5.4%
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [5.8%]
Notes:
The World Bank has recently released its ‘January 2020 Global Economic Prospects report’. The GDP growth of India for FY20 is estimated to be 5%. The GDP growth for the year 2021-22 is also lowered to 5.8% in the report.
The credit instability of the weak Non-Banking Finance Companies (NBFCs) is cited to be the reason for the downgrade. Recently the Reserve Bank of India and the Central Statistical Office of the country also lowered the growth rate to 5% for this fiscal year.
19. The freedom of speech and freedom to carry on a business through internet is covered under which article of Indian constitution?
[A] Article 17
[B] Article 18
[C] Article 19
[D] Article 20
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Article 19]
Notes:
The article 19 (1) (a) confers the right to freedom of speech and expression while the sub clause (g) of the article provides the right to practise any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade or business.
Recently the Supreme Court of India declared that freedom of speech and expression and freedom to carry on a business through Internet also enjoys constitutional protection under the Article 19(1)(a) and 19(1)(g). This landmark judgement came at the backdrop of the five-month restriction on Internet imposed in the Jammu and Kashmir UT.
20. Which Indian entrepreneur cum investor recently acquired the DHFL General Insurance company?
[A] Vijay Shekar Sharma
[B] Ritesh Agarwal
[C] Sachin Bansal
[D] Bhavish Agarwal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Sachin Bansal]
Notes:
The famous Indian entrepreneur and co-founder of Flipkart, Sachin Bansal recently acquired the DHFL General Insurance company. He bought the company from the Wadhawan Group of companies for ₹100 crore.
The acquisition is done through the investment firm named ‘Navi technologies’, which was founded by Sachin Bansal along with his IIT batchmate, after quitting Flipkart. The microfinance arm of Navi Technologies, Chaitanya India Fin Credit Pvt. Ltd (CIFCPL), has recently applied for a universal banking licence from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
