1. Which country is set to gift nearly 2 lakh doses of COVID-19 vaccines to the UN Peace keepers?
[A] China
[B] Russia
[C] India
[D] UK
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [India]
Notes:
India has announced 200,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines as a gift to the UN peacekeepers. It will be sent on March 27 and will be distributed to the peacekeeping missions.
With this, it will be possible to administer the double doses of COVID-19 vaccines to all 85,782 UN peacekeepers serving in 12 peacekeeping operations across the world.
2. Which state has recommended a judicial inquiry against central agencies including the Enforcement Directorate?
[A] Punjab
[B] Kerala
[C] Chhattisgarh
[D] Telangana
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Kerala]
Notes:
The Left front government in Kerala has decided to recommend a judicial inquiry against the central agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate.
Earlier, the Crime Branch registered an FIR against some ED officials for derailing the probe in the gold smuggling and dollar cases. The state has decided to appoint Justice (Retd) KV Mohan to head the commission.
3. When is “International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members” observed every year?
[A] March 1
[B] March 10
[C] March 15
[D] March 25
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [March 25]
Notes:
Every year on the March 25th, “International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members” is observed by the United Nations.
It is marked every year on the anniversary of abduction of a former journalist – Alec Collett. He was working for the UN – Relief and Works Agency in Palestine when he was abducted by armed gunman in 1985.
4. Who was Kamalesh Chandra Chakrabarty, whose name is in news recently?
[A] Former CMD of SBI
[B] Former Deputy Governor of RBI
[C] Former Chief Vigilance Commissioner
[D] Former Chief Justice of Supreme Court
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Former Deputy Governor of RBI]
Notes:
Reserve Bank of India’s former Deputy Governor Kamalesh Chandra Chakrabarty passed away recently after suffering a heart attack. He was 68 years old.
He also served as the Chairman and Managing Director of Punjab National Bank (2007-2009) and Indian Bank (2005-2007).
5. Which country has launched the ‘Tribal TB initiative’?
[A] Nepal
[B] India
[C] Sri Lanka
[D] Bangladesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [India]
Notes:
The Union health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has recently launched the “Tribal TB Initiative”. This is a part of the TB Mukt Bharat. He inaugurated the initiative via videoconference from his office.
This is a part of the Union Government to eliminate Tuberculosis from India by the year 2025, much ahead of the global target of eliminating TB by 2030.
6. In which year, the Government e-Market (GeM) portal was launched?
[A] 2014
[B] 2016
[C] 2018
[D] 2020
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [2016]
Notes:
The Government e-Market (GeM) portal was launched on August 9, 2016, for online purchases of goods and services by all the central government ministries and departments.
Recently, the public procurement of goods and services has crossed Rs 1 lakh crore from the GeM since the platform was launched. The main reason is the sharp increase in buying activities by various ministries.
7. China has recently signed a 25-year strategic cooperation pact with which country?
[A] India
[B] USA
[C] Iran
[D] Jamaica
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Iran]
Notes:
The Government of China has entered into a 25-year “strategic cooperation pact” with the Government of Iran. The pact which was under work for more than 5 years has been materialised recently
China has always backed Iran even during fractious moments with USA. China is one of the largest trade partners of Iran.
8. P. K. Mishra, Anil Ghanwat and Ashok Gulati are the members of the Supreme Court-appointed committee to study which issue?
[A] Disinvestment
[B] Agricultural Laws
[C] Occupational Health
[D] Anti-conversion Laws
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Agricultural Laws]
Notes:
The Supreme Court appointed a four-member committee to study the three new controversial agricultural laws in January 2021. It had temporarily suspended the implementation of the three farm laws until further notice.
The members include P. K. Mishra, Anil Ghanwat, Ashok Gulati and Bhupinder Singh Mann. The panel has submitted its report to the Supreme Court recently.
9. What is the new inflation target band fixed for the next five years (2021-26)?
[A] 2.0 to 6.0 per cent
[B] 1.5 to 5.5 per cent
[C] 2.5 to 6.5 per cent
[D] 3.0 to 7.0 per cent
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [2.0 to 6.0 per cent]
Notes:
The Economic Affairs Secretary announced that the inflation target for the period April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2026 under the Reserve Bank of India Act 1934 has been kept at 4 per cent with a margin of 2 per cent on either side.
This is the same target mandated to the RBI by the Government in the previous five years (2016-21). RBI was to maintain annual inflation at 4 per cent until March 31, 2021 with an upper tolerance of 6 per cent and a lower tolerance of 2 per cent.’
10. The Finance Ministry has announced rules to scrap which four-decade body formed under Income Tax/ Wealth Tax Acts?
[A] Banking Ombudsman
[B] Settlement Commission
[C] Financial Intelligence Unit
[D] Financial Stability Board
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Settlement Commission]
Notes:
The Union Finance ministry has notified rules for winding up of the Settlement Commission, handling income tax and wealth tax disputes.
The Settlement Commission (IT/WT) was constituted in 1976 under Income-tax Act, 1961 and the Wealth Tax Act, 1957. The new dispute resolution system will be available to assessees with taxable income up to ₹50 lakh where disputed income is up to ₹10 lakh.