31. ‘Operation Friendship Border 2022’, which was seen in the news recently, is associated with which bloc?
[A] G-20
[B] European Union
[C] SCO
[D] BIMSTEC
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [SCO]
Notes:
The 8th meeting of the heads of the border services of the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization was held in New Delhi under the chairmanship of India.
The members approved the plan for the preparation and conduct of the Joint Border Operation Friendship Border 2022. They also approved the work plan of the group of experts of the Border Services of the SCO member states for 2023.
32. As per recent MFIN report, which is the largest state in terms of the outstanding portfolio of microfinance loans?
[A] Maharashtra
[B] Tamil Nadu
[C] Andhra Pradesh
[D] Uttar Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Tamil Nadu]
Notes:
According to the quarterly report published by Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN), Tamil Nadu has displaced West Bengal to emerge as the largest State in terms of the outstanding portfolio of microfinance loans.
The gross loan portfolio (GLP) of Tamil Nadu as of March 31, 2022 stood at ₹36,806 crore while the overall microfinance industry has a total GLP of ₹2,85,441 crore as of March 31, 2022. Banks held the largest share of the portfolio in micro-credit followed by NBFC-MFIs.
33. Which Indian airport was named the ‘best regional airport in India and South Asia’ in Skytrax World Airport awards?
[A] Chennai International Airport
[B] Delhi International Airport
[C] Bengaluru International Airport
[D] Cochin International Airport
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Bengaluru International Airport]
Notes:
The Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru was named the best regional airport in India and South Asia title in the 2022 Skytrax World Airport awards.
The award is based on the feedback from the customers in a globally conducted survey about experience from check-in to arrivals, transfers, shopping, security, immigration and arrangements in the departures gates. The Bengaluru airport had also won the Best Airport and Aviation Innovation Award at Wings India Awards earlier.
34. Which Union Ministry has declared certain resources of ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and NPCI as ‘critical information infrastructure’?
[A] Ministry of Electronics and IT
[B] Ministry of Finance
[C] Ministry of Commerce and Industry
[D] Ministry of Home Affairs
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ministry of Electronics and IT]
Notes:
The Union Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) has declared IT resources of ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) as ‘critical information infrastructure’.
The Information Technology Act of 2000 defines ‘Critical Information Infrastructure’ as a “computer resource, the incapacitation or destruction of which shall have debilitating impact on national security, economy, public health or safety”. The government has the power to declare any data, database, IT network or communications infrastructure as CII.
35. In which year, Goods and Services Tax (GST) was introduced in India?
[A] 2014
[B] 2015
[C] 2017
[D] 2019
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [2017]
Notes:
Goods and Services Tax (GST) was introduced on July 1, 2017, to revamp the country’s entire indirect tax structure and modify tax administration and compliance.
The system has completed five years of implementation. There has been a significant increase in the tax base in India at about 1.36 crore active GST registrations as on 31 March 2022.The revenues of May 2022 touched the INR 1.41 lakh crore mark and GST collections crossed Rs 1 lakh crore for 11 months in a row.
36. Which organisation has developed the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Mark III, recently induced by the Indian Coast Guard?
[A] DRDO
[B] HAL
[C] BEL
[D] NSIL
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [HAL]
Notes:
The Indian Coast Guard’s Eastern Region inducted the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Mark III, the first aircraft of the newly created “840 Squadron”.
It was indigenously designed and developed Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Mark III by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). HAL has delivered 13 out of 16 such aircraft to the Indian Coast Guard till date.
37. Where was the Indian Coast Guard’s 840 Squadron created?
[A] Visakhapatnam
[B] Chennai
[C] Mumbai
[D] Kolkata
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Chennai]
Notes:
The Indian Coast Guard’s new air squadron named 840 Squadron was created in Chennai on June 20, 2022. The squadron was initially created with an indigenous ALH Mark-III aircraft. This is the first such aircraft to be stationed in the eastern region.
38. UNSC 1267 committee, that was recently in news, was set up in which year?
[A] 1999
[B] 2001
[C] 2020
[D] 2022
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [1999]
Notes:
The UNSC 1267 committee was set up in the year 1999. It was strengthened in 2001 following the 9/11 attack. Its members include both the permanent and non-permanent members of the UNSC. It is also known as Da’esh and Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee.
39. A floating city named Oceanix City is going to be set up in which country?
[A] Maldives
[B] Malaysia
[C] South Korea
[D] Singapore
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [South Korea]
Notes:
The UN announced world’s first-ever floating city named Oceanix City in April this year. It is going to be set up off the coast of South Korea’s second-largest city, Busan. The construction process is going to commence next year.
40. Russian enclave Kaliningrad, that was in news recently, is located in which sea?
[A] North Sea
[B] Labrador Sea
[C] Baltic Sea
[D] Beaufort Sea
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Baltic Sea]
Notes:
The Russian enclave Kaliningrad is located on the Baltic Sea. It is sandwiched between Lithuania and Poland. It was captured by the USSR from Nazi Germany in April 1945. It became part of the USSR territory as the result of the Potsdam Agreement. It was recently in news because of a row after Lithuania decided to ban goods part of EU sanctions from moving through its territory to reach Kaliningrad.