11. WAPCOS, an engineering consultancy and construction services firm under which Union Ministry?
[A] Ministry of Rural Development
[B] Ministry of Jal Shakti
[C] Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
[D] Ministry of MSME
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Jal Shakti]
Notes:
WAPCOS is an engineering consultancy and construction services firm under the Jal Shakti Ministry. In September 2022, it filed draft papers with market regulator SEBI for launching an IPO by selling 3.25 crore shares held by the Government.
Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) announced recently that the Government is targeting to launch the initial public offering (IPO) of IREDA, and WAPCOS, in the next fiscal.
12. Which institution regulates the limits of shares or voting rights in a banking company?
[A] SEBI
[B] RBI
[C] Ministry of Finance
[D] NITI Aayog
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [RBI]
Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India issued Master Direction – Reserve Bank of India (Acquisition and Holding of Shares or Voting Rights in Banking Companies) Directions.
As per the directions, permission to acquire shares or voting rights in a banking company for non-promoter will be limited to 10 % in case of individuals, non-financial institutions, and financial institutions connected with large industrial houses. The limit is 15 % in case of financial institutions, PSUs and government. RBI recently allowed DSP Investment Managers to hike its stake in DCB Bank to 9.99 per cent.
13. Scientists from which institution sequenced the draft genome of four native Indian cow breeds?
[A] IIT Madras
[B] IISc Bengaluru
[C] IISER Bhopal
[D] NIV Pune
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [IISER Bhopal]
Notes:
Scientists from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhopal, have sequenced the draft genome of four native Indian cow breeds.
For the first time, the genetic makeup of four native Indian cow breeds — Kasaragod Dwarf, Kasaragod Kapila, Vechur, and Ongole has been unravelled.
14. Which city is the host of the First G20 Sustainable Financial Working Group meeting?
[A] Mysuru
[B] Guwahati
[C] Shimla
[D] Puducherry
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Guwahati]
Notes:
First G20 Sustainable Financial Working Group meeting was recently inaugurated in Guwahati, Assam.
Guest delegates visited several places of importance like Kaziranga National Park, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, Gorbhanga Reserve Forest, Brahmaputra’s River Island and Brahmaputra Heritage Centre.
15. Reliance Consumer Products announces strategic partnership with Maliban Biscuit Manufactories based in which country?
[A] China
[B] Sri Lanka
[C] UK
[D] UAE
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Sri Lanka]
Notes:
Reliance Consumer Products announces strategic partnership with Sri Lanka’s Maliban Biscuit Manufactories.
Reliance Consumer Products Limited is the FMCG arm of Reliance Retail Ventures Limited. Maliban is Sri Lanka’s pioneering biscuit manufacturer well-known for the last 70 years for its range of products.
16. ‘Ekushey Boi Mela’ is the largest book fair organised in which country?
[A] Nepal
[B] Bangladesh
[C] Myanmar
[D] Thailand
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bangladesh]
Notes:
The biggest book fair of Bangladesh ‘Ekushey Boi Mela’ was inaugurated in Dhaka by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The theme of this year’s book fair is ‘Poro Boi, Goro Desh: Bangbandhur Bangladesh’- Read books, build the country, a country of Bangabandhu’s dream. The Prime Minister also distributed the Bangla Academy Award 2022 in recognition of the literary works in Bangla.
17. India agreed for trilateral cooperation initiative, in fields including energy, defence, economy, with which courtiers?
[A] France and UAE
[B] UAE and USA
[C] UAE and Israel
[D] Japan and Singapore
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [France and UAE]
Notes:
India, France, UAE agreed to establish a formal trilateral cooperation, in fields including energy, defence, economy
The three countries said that they will explore the possibility of working with the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) to pursue actionable projects on clean energy, environment and biodiversity.
18. Which African country recently joined the India-led International Solar Alliance?
[A] Nigeria
[B] Congo
[C] Morocco
[D] Senegal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Congo]
Notes:
Congo has recently joined the India-led International Solar Alliance. The Ambassador of Republic of Congo signed the International Solar Alliance Framework Agreement.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a country in Central Africa bordered by the South Atlantic Ocean. DRC is the second-largest country in Africa by area.
19. Which is the first Indian retailer to introduce Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)?
[A] Reliance Retail
[B] Titan
[C] Big Bazaar
[D] Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Reliance Retail]
Notes:
Reliance Retail has become the first Indian retailer to introduce Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), also known as digital rupee.
The company has piloted the use of Digital Rupee in one store in Mumbai, and is planning to make this facility available in all its stores in Mumbai within the next three to four months, in accordance with Reserve Bank of India (RBI) norms.
20. Which country is India’s top destination for goods exports during April-Dec 2022?
[A] Sri Lanka
[B] USA
[C] UAE
[D] Singapore
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [USA]
Notes:
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said that the US has emerged as India’s top destination for merchandise exports during April-December this fiscal at USD 59.7 billion.
The US was followed by UAE (USD 23.31 billion); Netherlands (USD 14.1 billion); China (USD 11 billion); Singapore and Bangladesh (about USD 9 billion each).