1. Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) is a joint venture of Education Ministry and which bank?
[A] State Bank of India
[B] HDFC Bank
[C] Canara Bank
[D] ICICI Bank
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Canara Bank]
Notes:
Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) is a joint venture of Education Ministry, Government of India and Canara Bank for financing creation of capital assets in premier institutions.
A Parliamentary panel has recently directed the Education Ministry to fast track the process of disbursing sanctioned loans by the HEFA.
2. 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.
3. World Health Organisation (WHO) certified which countries as Malaria-free recently?
[A] India and Sri Lanka
[B] Azerbaijan and Tajikistan
[C] Pakistan and Afghanistan
[D] Nepal and Bangladesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Azerbaijan and Tajikistan]
Notes:
Recently, the World Health Organisation certified Azerbaijan and Tajikistan as Malaria-Free Countries.
They succeeded in eliminating the Anopheles mosquito-borne disease in their territories. In Tajikistan and Azerbaijan, the last cases of regional spread of Plasmodium vivax malaria were discovered in 2012 and 2014.
4. Which is the first American state to pass a resolution condemning Hinduphobia?
[A] Seattle
[B] Georgia
[C] New York
[D] California
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Georgia]
Notes:
The US state of Georgia recently became the first American state to pass a resolution condemning Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu bigotry.
It seeks to build upon a 2022 report by Rutgers University that found there has been a noticeable surge in anti-Hindu disinformation.
5. When is the ‘World Autism Awareness Day’ observed every yer?
[A] April 1
[B] April 2
[C] April 5
[D] April 8
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [April 2]
Notes:
World Autism Awareness Day is observed on April 2 every year. The theme for 2023 is “Transformation: Toward a Neuro-Inclusive World for All”.
This year’s celebration focuses on the contribution of autistic people in the home, work, arts and policy-making.
6. ISRO conducted the ‘Reusable Launch Vehicle Autonomous Landing Mission’ along with which institutions?
[A] DRDO and IAF
[B] DRDO and BEL
[C] DRDO and HAL
[D] DRDO and BARC
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [DRDO and IAF]
Notes:
Reusable Launch Vehicle Autonomous Landing Mission (RLV LEX) was conducted recently by ISRO in collaboration with the DRDO and IAF.
It involved Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter lifting off a winged body to an altitude of 4.5 km and freeing it to execute an independent landing on a runway.
7. 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.
8. ‘Vaikom Satyagraha’ was held in which Indian state in 1924?
[A] West Bengal
[B] Maharashtra
[C] Kerala
[D] Andhra Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Kerala]
Notes:
The ‘Vaikom Satyagraha’ began on March 30, 1924 in the temple town of Vaikom, Kerala in the princely state of Travancore, marking the beginning of “temple entry movements” across the country.
Kerala and Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers recently inaugurated the centenary celebrations of anti-caste struggle Vaikom Satyagraha.
9. What is the GST collection recorded in the month of March?
[A] Rs 1.5 lakh crore
[B] Rs 1.6 lakh crore
[C] Rs 1.8 lakh crore
[D] Rs 2 lakh crore
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Rs 1.6 lakh crore]
Notes:
India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue collection for the month of March 2023 is stood at 1.6 lakh crore rupees.
This is 13 percent higher than the GST revenues in the same month of last year. It is for the fourth time, in the current financial year that the gross GST collection has crossed 1.5 lakh crore rupees, since the implementation of GST.
10. Which country has recently voted to ban rental e-scooters?
[A] USA
[B] India
[C] France
[D] Finland
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [France]
Notes:
In a non-binding referendum held in France, 89.03% of the votes cast were opposed to the freestanding scooters, which are booked on a short-term basis through apps.
The rental e-scooters, which were introduced in 2018 to promote green alternative for cars. The city will completely ban these devices by September 1 this year.