1. Which Union Ministry launched the ‘Prajjwala Challenge’?
[A] Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
[B] Ministry of Rural Development
[C] Ministry of Home Affairs
[D] Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Rural Development]
Notes:
Ministry of Rural Development’s Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) has launched the Prajjwala Challenge.
Under the challenge, ideas are invited from individuals, Enterprises, Start ups, Private Sector, Civil Society and others to transform the rural economy.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Which institution developed the Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) app?
[A] RBI
[B] NPCI
[C] SEBI
[D] NASSCOM
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [NPCI]
Notes:
Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) was launched on 30 December 2016 in India. The payment application was indigenously developed by National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI). ·
The app lets users make simple and quick transactions using Unified Payments Interface (UPI). In November 2022, National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) announced the launch of BHIM App open source license model. Recently, the sixth anniversary of BHIM app was celebrated.
5. India recently signed a ‘Comprehensive Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement’ in which country?
[A] Sri Lanka
[B] Austria
[C] UAE
[D] Bangladesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Austria]
Notes:
India signed a ‘Comprehensive Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement’ (MMPA) with Austria for migration and mobility of Indian students and professionals.
External Affairs Minister S Jai Shankar is the first visit of an Indian foreign minister to Austria in 27 years. India had earlier signed mobility agreements with the UK, France, Germany and Finland.
6. What is the total volume of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions in December 2022?
[A] 282 lakh
[B] 282 crore
[C] 782 lakh
[D] 782 crore
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [782 crore]
Notes:
In December, 782 crore transactions in volume terms were done on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) platform, as per the Department of Financial Services.
UPI payments have touched record high of ₹12.82 lakh crore in December. The platform was launched in 2016. In November, as many as 730 crore transactions worth ₹11.90 lakh crore took place via UPI.
7. ‘Starlink’ is a satellite internet constellation designed and manufactured by which company?
[A] Amazon
[B] SpaceX
[C] Blue Origin
[D] Apple
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [SpaceX]
Notes:
Starlink is a satellite internet constellation designed and manufactured by SpaceX to provide high-speed internet to people living in remote locations. SpaceX launched the first batch of a new generation of 54 Starlink satellites into orbit aboard the Falcon 9 rocket.
The The touchdown of the Falcon 9 first stage marked a successful end to SpaceX’s 60th launch of SpaceX in 2022, nearly doubling the record of 31 launches made in 2021.
8. In which year, the decision of Demonetisation was announced in India?
[A] 2014
[B] 2016
[C] 2017
[D] 2018
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [2016]
Notes:
A Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court has upheld by a 4-1 majority the Centre’s 2016 decision to withdraw from circulation currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denominations.
The majority, comprising Justices S Abdul Nazeer, B R Gavai, A S Bopanna, V Ramasubramanian, held that the Centre’s notification was valid and satisfied the test of proportionality. Justice BV Nagarathna in her dissenting view held that though demonetisation was well-intentioned and well thought of, it has to be declared unlawful on legal grounds.
9. Which country has banned most foreigners from buying homes, to tackle housing crunch faced by locals?
[A] USA
[B] China
[C] Canada
[D] Germany
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Canada]
Notes:
Canada has banned most foreigners from buying Homes, to make more homes available to locals facing a housing crunch.
The ban prohibits people who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents from buying residential properties, and imposes a C$10,000 fine on those who breach it.
10. Vaidehi Chaudhari, who won her maiden singles title recently, plays which sports?
[A] Table Tennis
[B] Tennis
[C] Badminton
[D] Squash
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Tennis]
Notes:
22-year-old Vaidehi Chaudhari has clinched the USD 15,000 ITF women’s tournament singles in Gwalior after beating top seed Ksenia Laskutova.
It was Vaidehi’s maiden singles title in the professional circuit. She had won her maiden doubles title earlier with Laskutova as her partner. Vaidehi is also the reigning National Tennis champion.