11. Which state/UT recently notified directions to charge groundwater extraction by industries and other establishments?
[A] New Delhi
[B] Punjab
[C] Bihar
[D] West Bengal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Punjab]
Notes:
The state government of Punjab notify a policy to meter and charge groundwater extraction by industries and other establishments.
Anyone with an existing bore-well or digging afresh will have to take permission from Punjab Water Regulation and Development Authority (PWRDA). There will be exemptions including farmers using water for agriculture purposes, places of worship, drinking and domestic Water Supply Scheme of Government, among others.
12. As per the proposed ‘National Data Governance Policy’, India Data Management Office (IDMO) will be formed under which Ministry?
[A] Electronics and IT Ministry
[B] Home Affairs Ministry
[C] Science and Technology Ministry
[D] External Affairs Ministry
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Electronics and IT Ministry]
Notes:
The Union Budget 2023 announced that the ‘National Data Governance Policy’ will be brought out to aid innovation and research by start-ups and academia.
It seeks for the formation of an India Data Management Office (IDMO) under the IT ministry. The new policy reform is that the anonymized datasets will be offered as part of the India datasets programmes to the Artificial intelligence ecosystem.
13. Who are the beneficiaries of the PM-VIKAS scheme announced in the Union Budget 2023?
[A] Teachers
[B] MSMEs
[C] Artisans
[D] Students
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Artisans]
Notes:
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a new initiative for empowering the Vishwakarma community.
The PM VIKAS (Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman) yojana will provide support by providing skills training to artisans and craftsmen people engaged in traditional and skilled professions. The special package will help integrate them with MSME value chain.
14. Which institution releases the ‘Digital Payments Index’?
[A] NITI Aayog
[B] Ministry of Finance
[C] RBI
[D] NPCI
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [RBI]
Notes:
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) releases the Digital Payments Index (RBI-DPI) twice a year, to measure the adoption of online transactions, digital payments across India.
As per the recent data, the digital payments registered a growth of 24.13% in a year through September 2022. RBI-DPI stood at 377.46 in September 2022 against 349.30 in March 2022 and 304.06 in September 2021.
15. Manuela Roka Botey has been appointed as the first female Prime Minister of which country?
[A] Finland
[B] Equatorial Guinea
[C] Norway
[D] Sweden
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Equatorial Guinea]
Notes:
Equatorial Guinea has appointed Manuela Roka Botey as prime minister. She became the first woman in the country to hold the position. President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has ruled the country since 1979, made the announcement.
Ms Rotey was previously the education minister and joined the government in 2020. She replaces former premier Francisco Pascual Obama Asue.
16. The government has agreed to convert Interest on dues of which company into Equity?
[A] Air India
[B] Vi
[C] Oppo
[D] Thomas Reuters
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Vi]
Notes:
The government has agreed to convert Vodafone Idea’s accrued interest worth over Rs 16,000 crore on deferred adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues into equity at Rs 10 a share.
Earlier In October 2022, market regulator SEBI approved the conversion of Vodafone Idea dues into equity.
17. BIND Scheme, which was seen in the news, is associated with which Ministry?
[A] Ministry of Defence
[B] Ministry of MSME
[C] Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
[D] Ministry of Power
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Ministry of Information and Broadcasting]
Notes:
Of the Rs 1,100 crore estimated for the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Rs 600 crore has been set aside for the recently announced Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND) Scheme.
The scheme has a total outlay of over Rs 2,500 crore. The scheme aims to boost public sector broadcasting in the country and focuses on infrastructure development of Prasar Bharati, including All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan (DD).
18. Which country has removed the British monarchy from its bank notes?
[A] The Netherlands
[B] Poland
[C] Sweden
[D] Australia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Australia]
Notes:
Australia’s central bank said that its new USD 5 bill would feature an Indigenous design rather than an image of King Charles III.
The King is still expected to appear on coins that currently bear the image of the late Queen Elizabeth II. The bank will consult with Indigenous groups in designing the USD 5 note.
19. National Research Foundation is an autonomous agency that comes under the aegis of which Union Ministry?
[A] Ministry of Science and Technology
[B] Ministry of Electronics and IT
[C] Ministry of Home Affairs
[D] Ministry of Education
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ministry of Science and Technology]
Notes:
National Research Foundation is an autonomous agency that comes under the aegis of Ministry of Science and Technology (DST).
The Union Budget 2023-24 has earmarked Rs.2,000 crore as an outlay for the National Research Foundation to boost research and innovation within India.
20. As per a recent report, direct link was found between deforestation of Amazon rainforest and the temperature changes in which country?
[A] India
[B] Japan
[C] Tibet
[D] Indonesia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Tibet]
Notes:
A new report ‘Teleconnections Among Tipping Elements in the Earth System’ Report, has found a direct link between deforestation of the Amazon rainforest and the temperature changes in Tibet.
Tibet is situated more than 15,000 km from the rainforest. It revealed the strong link between climate tipping elements. A tipping point is a threshold beyond which major, irreversible changes occur in a specific region.