1. What is the estimated amount that the government will borrow for the first half of financial year 2023-24?
[A] Rs 5.55 lakh crore
[B] Rs 8.88 lakh crore
[C] Rs 11.11 lakh crore
[D] Rs 13.33 lakh crore
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Rs 8.88 lakh crore]
Notes:
The Centre plans to raise ₹ 8.88 lakh crore through market borrowing in the April-September period of 2023-24 to fund the revenue gap to push economic growth.
The Finance Ministry announced this after consultation with the Reserve Bank of India.
2. Which institution decided to ban the practice of individuals having permanent seats on boards of listed companies?
[A] RBI
[B] SEBI
[C] Niti Aayog
[D] NSE
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [SEBI]
Notes:
To ensure more transparency and timely disclosure of material events by listed entities, SEBI decided to amend norms whereby a quantitative threshold will be introduced for determining the materiality of events.
The regulator has decided to do away with the practice of individuals having permanent seats on boards of listed companies.
3. What is the percentage fee levied for normal UPI payments, as per NPCI?
[A] 0 %
[B] 0.20 %
[C] 0.40 %
[D] 1.00 %
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [0 %]
Notes:
As of 2023, there is no fees levied on regular bank-to-bank UPI transactions, as per the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
NPCI, which owns and runs the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), said that it has implemented fees on UPI transactions on only Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI) merchant transactions.
4. Which country has recently agreed to join Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) as a dialogue partner?
[A] New Zealand
[B] Saudi Arabia
[C] UAE
[D] Egypt
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Saudi Arabia]
Notes:
Saudi Arabia agrees to join Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) as a dialogue partner. Saudi Arabia builds a long-term partnership with China despite U.S. security concerns.
The country has approved a memorandum on granting the kingdom the status of a dialogue partner in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
5. Which country is the host of ‘International Conference on Human-Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence’?
[A] India
[B] UK
[C] USA
[D] France
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [UK]
Notes:
The International Conference on Human-Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence is being held this year at Oxford, the United Kingdom.
It is being organized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the UN Development Programme and others.
6. ‘Sagar-Setu’ app is associated with which Union Ministry?
[A] Ports, Shipping and Waterways Ministry
[B] Jal Shakti Ministry
[C] Road Transport and Highways Ministry
[D] Commerce and Industry Ministry
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ports, Shipping and Waterways Ministry]
Notes:
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal launched the App Version of National Logistics Portal (Marine) ‘Sagar-Setu’.
It will provide real-time information on activities that are generally not within reach of the importer, exporter, and customs broker.
7. Central Bureau of Investigation is set up under which Union Ministry?
[A] Ministry of External Affairs
[B] Ministry of Home Affairs
[C] Ministry of Defence
[D] Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Home Affairs]
Notes:
Central Bureau of Investigation is a premier investigative agency set up under the Ministry of Home Affairs on April 1, 1963.
Its Diamond Jubilee Celebrations was recently inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi on April 3 this year.
8. Which state/UT developed ‘Solar Rooftop Online Portal’?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Assam
[C] Goa
[D] Rajasthan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Goa]
Notes:
Goa Solar Rooftop Online Portal was developed by Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) in collaboration with the Electricity Department and the Department of New & Renewable Energy.
It was appreciated recently by Prime Minister Modi as a good step towards harnessing solar energy and furthering sustainable development.
9. What is the name of the mineral concentrations on the bottom of the sea, which is a source for cobalt, copper, nickel and manganese?
[A] Polymetallic Nodules
[B] Universal Concentrations
[C] Undersea Nodules
[D] Seabed Metals
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Polymetallic Nodules]
Notes:
International Seabed Authority has decided to start taking permit applications in July from companies that want to mine the ocean’s floor.
The undersea mining will be conducted to extract key battery materials — cobalt, copper, nickel, and manganese — from potato-sized rocks called ‘polymetallic nodules’ found at depths of 4 kilometers to 6 kilometers.
10. Which country’s plant mycologist is the first person in the world to contract a plant fungal disease?
[A] India
[B] China
[C] Japan
[D] USA
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [India]
Notes:
‘Chondrostereum purpureum’ is a plant fungus that causes silver leaf disease in plants. A plant mycologist from India has become the first person in the world to contract a plant fungal disease.
It attacks most species of the rose family Rosaceae, particularly the genus Prunus. Among the millions of fungi present, only a few hundreds of fungi infect humans and animals.