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 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.
13. Which Union Ministry implements the ‘Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana’ scheme?
[A] Ministry of Education
[B] Ministry of Skill Development
[C] Ministry of Home Affairs
[D] Ministry of Minority Affairs
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Skill Development]
Notes:
Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) implemented by National Skill Development Corporation.
The Union Budget 2023 aims to give a push to job creation through proposals such as Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 4.0 and setting up of 30 Skill India international centres to encourage expansion in businesses and industry.
14. What is the fixed interest rate of the ‘Mahila Samman Bachat Patra’ announced recently?
[A] 6.5%
[B] 7.0%
[C] 7.5%
[D] 8.0%
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [7.5%]
Notes:
In the Union Budget 2023, Finance Minister announced Mahila Samman Bachat Patra, a one-time new small savings scheme, for a two-year period up to March 2025.
This initiative will avail a deposit facility for a woman up to Rs 2 lakh for two-year period at a fixed interest rate of 7.5% with partial withdrawal option. Maximum deposit limit of Senior Citizens’ Saving Scheme was increased from ₹15 lakh to ₹30 lakh.
15. 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.
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. Which cricketer scored 126 runs and set a new record for the highest individual score by an Indian in T20I cricket?
[A] Virat Kohli
[B] Shubman Gill
[C] Suryakumar Yadav
[D] Rohit Sharma
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Shubman Gill]
Notes:
Shubman Gill scored 126 runs from 63 balls in the third T20I against New Zealand. With this innings, Gill has set a new record for the highest individual score by an Indian in T20I cricket history.
Shubman smashed 12 fours and seven sixes and remained not out till the end of the innings. Virat Kohli scored a massive innings of 122 runs against Afghanistan during the Asia Cup 2022.
18. As per the recent guidelines of 2023, what is the minimum download speed of Broadband in India?
[A] 512 kbps
[B] 1 mbps
[C] 2 mbps
[D] 5 mbps
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [2 mbps]
Notes:
According to a recent gazette notification, the government has revised the definition of broadband connectivity, specifying a higher minimum download speed of 2 megabits per second.
Earlier, the definition notified by the Telecom Department in 2013 had benchmarked it to 512 kbps (kilobits per second) as minimum download speed. As of November 30, 2022, India had about 825.4 million broadband subscribers, of which 793.5 million were wireless broadband users.
19. 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.
20. Ministry of Textiles is implementing ‘Enhancing Circularity and Sustainability’ project in collaboration with which institution?
[A] UNICEF
[B] UNEP
[C] World Bank
[D] UNESCO
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [UNEP]
Notes:
Ministry of Textiles is implementing ‘Enhancing Circularity and Sustainability’ project in collaboration with United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP).
The main objective of the project is to minimize the negative environmental impacts of Indian Textile by promoting sustainable practices and mainstreaming knowledge on circular production based practices in the Textiles and Apparel sectors. Government also approved 20 strategic research projects in the areas of Specialty fibres and geo textiles.