1. Which of the following is main objective of Aadhaar Pay?
[A] To enable peer-to-peer money transaction
[B] To enable merchants to receive digital payments using Aadhaar
[C] To integrate UPI with Aadhaar
[D] To link Jan-Dhan Accounts with Aadhaar number
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [ To enable merchants to receive digital payments using Aadhaar ]
Notes:
Aadhaar Pay is proposed to be launched in April, 2017 and is meant for merchants to receive digital payments from customers over the counter through Aadhaar authentication.
2. What is the equity of Reserve bank of India in National Housing Bank ?
[A] 49%
[B] 50%
[C] 75%
[D] 0%
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [0%]
Notes:
Before April 2019, National Housing Bank (NHB) was a wholly-owned subsidiary of RBI. RBI sold its 100% equity to government in 2019 and now its owner is Government of India. This was done to end the cross-holding in the regulatory institutions as per the Narasimham-II committee report’s recommendations.
3. The term “Catalonia crisis” that was frequently making news is associated with which of the following countries?
[A] Australia
[B] Chile
[C] Spain
[D] South Africa
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Spain]
Notes:
Catalonia’s separatist government has declared independence from Spain – but at the same time the national government in Madrid imposed direct rule on the region. Catalonia is one of Spain’s wealthiest and most productive regions. The region enjoyed broad autonomy once but that was suppressed under decades of Gen Francisco Franco’s dictatorship from 1939-75. When Franco died, Catalan nationalism was revived and eventually the north-eastern region was granted autonomy again, under the 1978 constitution. Recently, on 27 October 2017, after years of mutual hostility, independence supporters have proclaimed Catalonia a republic in response of which Spain has responded by imposing direct rule on the autonomous region.
4. The Nobel Prize in Physics 2016 was awarded to David J. Thouless, F. Duncan Haldane and J. Michael Kosterlitz for the:
[A] discovery of neutrino oscillations
[B] theoretical discoveries of topological phase transitions and topological phases of matter
[C] invention of efficient blue light-emitting diodes which has enabled bright and energy
[D] theory of how particles acquire mass
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [theoretical discoveries of topological phase transitions and topological phases of matter]
Notes:
The Nobel Prize in Physics 2016 was awarded to David J. Thouless, F. Duncan Haldane and J. Michael Kosterlitz for the theoretical discoveries of topological phase transitions and topological phases of matter.
5. In Budget 2018, government announced the construction of tunnel under the Sela Pass. The Sela Pass is located in which state?
[A] Jammu & Kashmir
[B] Uttarakhand
[C] Sikkim
[D] Arunachal Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Arunachal Pradesh]
Notes:
The Sela Pass is a high-altitude mountain pass located on the border between the Tawang and West Kameng Districts of Arunachal Pradesh. It is highly prone to landslides or snow cover during winters. To facilitate easy mobilisation of army and vehicles on this route, government announced the construction of tunnel under the Sela Pass.
6. As per the recent report by the first ever sub-national logistics performance index called LEADS (Logistics Ease Across Different States), which of the following states ranked first in the Index?
[A] Gujarat
[B] Andhra Pradesh
[C] Maharashtra
[D] Tamil Nadu
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Gujarat]
Notes:
As per the recently Index by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Gujarat topped the Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS) index, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh took the second and third positions, respectively. LEADS (Logistics Ease Across Different States) is a first-ever sub-national logistics performance index. The LEADS index is based on various parameters such as rail and roads network, warehouses, efficiency of regulatory processes, logistics services, unscheduled stoppages etc. The recent report on LEADS has been prepared by consultancy firm Deloitte.
7. The term “Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure”, sometimes seen in news, is related to:
[A] North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
[B] Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
[C] South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
[D] Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)]
Notes:
The Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) is a permanent organ of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) which serves to promote cooperation of member states against the three evils of terrorism, separatism and extremism.
8. Recently, our researchers have discovered a new termite species Glyptotermes Chiraharitae. In which part of India has it been discovered?
[A] Western Himalayas
[B] Eastern Himalayas
[C] Eastern Ghats
[D] Western Ghats
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Western Ghats]
Notes:
Recently, our researchers have discovered a new termite species Glyptotermes chiraharitae from the Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary at Kakkayam in Kerala. The newly discovered species has been named 'chiraharitae', after it was found in the tropical ever-green forest of Western Ghats. Termites are eusocial insects, which are generally of three types- drywood, dampwood and subterranean ones. The new species Glyptotermes chiraharitae is dampwood termites which infest parts of woods with high moisture content.
9. This new solar power project is touted as the largest in the world. It is spread over 13,000 acres and five villages. It is located in the drought-prone Pavagada region of Tumkur district of Karnataka. Recently, the state government inaugurated the first phase of this 2,000 megawatts (MW) solar park. The name of the solar park is _?
[A] Gagan Shakti
[B] Shakti Sthal
[C] Kamuthi Jyoti
[D] Chhanvey Urja
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Shakti Sthal]
Notes:
The Karnataka government recently inaugurated the first phase of the 2,000 megawatts (MW) solar park located in the drought-prone Pavagada region of Tumkur district, in Karnataka. The first phase will generate 600MW, while the balance 1,400MW will be made operational very soon. This solar power project is touted as the largest in the world. The development of this solar park was initiated with the creation of the Karnataka Solar Power Development Corp. Ltd (KSPDCL) in March 2015 as a joint venture between Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd (KREDL) and Solar Energy Corp. of India (SECI).
10. Global Economics Prospect (GEP) report is released by:
[A] World Bank
[B] World Economic Forum
[C] Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
[D] United Nations Development Programme
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [World Bank]
Notes:
Global Economic Prospects (GEP) report is released by the World Bank. The 2018 Global Economics Prospect (GEP) released has projected India’s growth rate to 7.3% in 2018 and 7.5 for the next two years i.e. in 2019 and 2020. According to report, India, despite initial setbacks from demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax (GST), is estimated to have grown at 6.7% in 2017, higher than 6.5% estimated by Government.
