1. What is the target for agricultural and processed food products from India for 2022-23?
[A] USD 3.56 billion
[B] USD 13.56 billion
[C] USD 23.56 billion
[D] USD 43.56 billion
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [USD 23.56 billion]
Notes:
India’s agricultural and processed food products exports rose by 16 per cent in the first eight months (April-November) of the current financial year 2022-23 on an annual basis.
For the year 2022-23, an export target of $23.56 billion has been fixed for the agricultural and processed food products basket. At present, the agricultural exports attained 74 per cent of its annual export target.
2. Which Department under the ‘Ministry of Finance’ notifies changes in rates on small savings schemes?
[A] Department of Expenditure
[B] Department of Economic Affairs
[C] Department of Revenue
[D] Department of Financial Services
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Department of Economic Affairs]
Notes:
Department of Economic Affairs under the Ministry of Finance notifies changes in rates on small savings schemes.
Recently, the government hiked the interest rates on various small savings schemes including senior citizen savings scheme for the January to March quarter. The PPF will continue to earn 7.10%, while Sukanya Samriddhi account scheme will continue to earn 7.6% interest rate.
3. New Jalpaiguri, which was in the news related to Vande Bharat Express, is located in which state?
[A] Assam
[B] West Bengal
[C] Andhra Pradesh
[D] Gujarat
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [West Bengal]
Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually flagged off the Vande Bharat express connecting Howrah and New Jalpaiguri. It is a railway station in Siliguri, West Bengal and is considered as the gateway to the northeast.
The Vande Bharat Express covers a distance of 564 km in 7.45 hours, will save three hours of travel time. The Vande Bharat express will be preferred by tea industry executives and tourists travelling to the Himalayas in North Bengal and Sikkim.
4. What is the name of the fund to be launched by the Government of India for catalysing deep tech start-ups?
[A] Digital India Innovation Fund
[B] Start Up Integration Fund
[C] Deeptech Innovation Fund
[D] Bharat Innovation Fund
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Digital India Innovation Fund]
Notes:
The Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Rajeev Chandrasekhar announced Government of India is going to launch a Digital India Innovation Fund.
The Fund aims to catalyse Deep-tech Startups. He announced this during his address in the event of ‘New India for Young India: Techade of Opportunities’ program at the Catholic Bishop House Campus in Kerala.
5. Which company is acquiring Ford India’s manufacturing plant?
[A] Eicher Motors
[B] Tata Motors
[C] Mahindra and Mahindra Motors
[D] Hyundai Motors
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Tata Motors]
Notes:
Tata Motors said the acquisition of Ford India’s manufacturing plant at Sanand through its subsidiary will be completed by January 2023.
Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Limited (TPEML) announced that would acquire Ford India’s Sanand plant in Gujarat for around ₹725 crore. The acquisition included the entire land and buildings, vehicle manufacturing plant along with machinery and equipment and transfer of all eligible employees of FIPL’s vehicle manufacturing operations at Sanand.
6. What is the total investment made by the Department of Science & Technology in the Science and Technology system in 2022-23?
[A] Rs 2002 crore
[B] Rs 4002 crore
[C] Rs 6002 crore
[D] Rs 8002 crore
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Rs 6002 crore]
Notes:
The total investment made by the Department of Science & Technology in Science and Technology system in 2022-23 is Rs 6002 crore.
In the last 8 years, the investment has doubled from about Rs 2900 crore in 2014-15 to Rs 6002 crore in 2022-23. The Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD) has increased more than three times in the last 10 years, as per the year-end review report of the Ministry.
7. Which Union Ministry is associated with ‘New industrial policy’?
[A] Ministry of MSME
[B] Ministry of Commerce and Industry
[C] Ministry of Finance
[D] Ministry of Corporate Affairs
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Commerce and Industry]
Notes:
Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is working on a new industrial policy.
The draft ‘Statement on Industrial Policy 2022-Make in India for the world’ has been circulated to different ministries for their views and comments. It proposes to increase financing sources for industry and a scheme for promoting Made in India brand.
8. XBB.1.5 Covid variant has caused a huge rise in new cases in which country?
[A] South Africa
[B] Italy
[C] USA
[D] Indonesia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [USA]
Notes:
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that XBB.1.5 has more than doubled its share of the Covid-19 figures each week.
In the Northeast region of the country, XBB.1.5 is causing 75% of new cases. The XBB.1.5 strain is a relative of the Omicron XBB variant, which is a recombinant of the Omicron BA.2.10.1 and BA.2.75 subvariants.
9. Anil Kumar Lahoti has taken over the charge of new Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of which institution?
[A] UIDAI
[B] Railway Board
[C] PMFBY
[D] Tribes India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Railway Board]
Notes:
Anil Kumar Lahoti has taken over the charge of new Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Railway Board, Ministry of Railways.
Prior to this, Anil Kumar Lahoti worked as Member (Infrastructure) of the Railway Board. He was behind the planning and construction of Anand Vihar Terminal in Delhi and the Ajmeri Gate side station building. He was also associated with planning for redevelopment of New Delhi station as a World Class station.
10. Which country is set to launch ‘Electronic Supreme Court Reports (e-SCR) project’?
[A] Sri Lanka
[B] Pakistan
[C] India
[D] Bangladesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [India]
Notes:
The Supreme Court of India is set to launch a project, to provide free access to official law reports of its verdicts to law students, lawyers and the general public.
The Electronic Supreme Court Reports (e-SCR) project will be unveiled on the direction of Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud. The project will be rolled out on the Supreme Court’s website and will be made available on the mobile application of Supreme Court of India and Judgment portal of National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG).