1. What is the transaction limit for small value digital payments in offline mode, as of September 2023?
[A] Rs 1000
[B] Rs 500
[C] Rs 200
[D] Rs 100
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Rs 500]
Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced to enhance transaction limits for small value digital payments in offline mode to ₹500 from the earlier cap of ₹200.
These can be made using any channel or instruments such as cards, wallets, mobile devices in face-to-face mode only. Although the upper limit of an offline payment transaction shall be ₹500, the total limit on a payment instrument will be ₹2,000 at any point in time.
2. Which state implements the ‘Ladli Behna Scheme’?
[A] Maharashtra
[B] Madhya Pradesh
[C] Goa
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Madhya Pradesh]
Notes:
Madhya Pradesh raised the financial aid given to women in the Ladli Behna Scheme from ₹1,000 to ₹1,250 per month.
About 1.25 crore women will be benefited from this decision. Women in the 23-60 age group get the assistance if they are not income tax payees and the annual income of their families is less than ₹2.5 lakh annually. The Chief Minister also announced 35 percent reservation for women in government jobs.
3. Simone Biles, who was seen in the news, is a popular gymnast of which country?
[A] Russia
[B] China
[C] Ukraine
[D] USA
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [USA]
Notes:
Simone Biles wins a record eighth all-around title at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships, a full decade after her first national title.
She won her first world title at the 2013 championships and she has won 25 medals at world championships, including 18 golds — higher than any men’s or women’s gymnasts in history.
4. Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) directed which state to release Cauvery water?
[A] Kerala
[B] Tamil Nadu
[C] Karnataka
[D] Andhra Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Karnataka]
Notes:
Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) has recommended Karnataka to release 5,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu for the next 15 days.
While Tamil Nadu sought 24,000 cusecs to be given, Karnataka had indicated it would be able to supply 3,000 cusecs.
5. Which European country has announced a ban on wearing the abaya robes in schools?
[A] Germany
[B] France
[C] Spain
[D] Portugal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [France]
Notes:
The French government announced its decision to ban children from wearing the abaya, the loose-fitting, full- length robes worn by some Muslim women, in state-run schools.
France has enforced a ban on religious symbols in state schools since 2004, to uphold its strict brand of secularism, known as laicite.
6. Which state implements the ‘Mukhyamantri Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojana’?
[A] Rajasthan
[B] Karnataka
[C] Assam
[D] West Bengal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Rajasthan]
Notes:
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has approved an increase in minimum wages for labourers by Rs 26 per day. This increase would be effective from January 1, 2023.
He also announced that registered insured employees and their dependent families under the Employees State Insurance (ESI) Scheme of Rajasthan will also get the benefit of Mukhyamantri Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojana under the ESI category.
7. Who was the founder of Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMSc)?
[A] P C Mahalanobis
[B] Alladi Ramakrishnan
[C] Ramanujan
[D] C V Raman
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Alladi Ramakrishnan]
Notes:
The birth centenary of the eminent physicist Alladi Ramakrishnan is being celebrated in December 2023.
He founded MATSCIENCE, The Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMSc), in Chennai, and served as its Director until his retirement in 1983 at the age of sixty. The Institute will pay homage to its Founder-Director, by conducting The Alladi Ramakrishnan Centenary Conference at its campus in Taramani, Chennai.
8. What was India’s goods and services tax collection in August 2023?
[A] Rs 1.34 lakh crore
[B] Rs 1.59 lakh crore
[C] Rs 1.65 lakh crore
[D] Rs 1.72 lakh crore
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Rs 1.59 lakh crore]
Notes:
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenues for August 2023 have shown a growth of 11 per cent year-on-year as it stands at Rs 1.59 lakh crore.
The increase is due to increased compliance and reduced evasion. In August 2022, the collection from GST was Rs 1,43,612 crore. Out of the Rs 1.59 lakh crore GST collected, CGST accounted for Rs 28,328 crore, SGST for Rs 35,794 crore, IGST for Rs 83,251 crore, and cess for Rs 11,695 crore.
9. Which Indian chess player replaced Viswanathan Anand as the country’s top-ranked player?
[A] R Praggnananda
[B] D Gukesh
[C] Nihal Sarin
[D] Arjun Erigaisi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [D Gukesh]
Notes:
17-year-old D Gukesh took over as the country’s top-ranked player from Viswanathan Anand in FIDE’s monthly rankings list.
It has been 37 years since anyone other than Anand holding the top position. The five-time World champion is currently ranked ninth, a spot below Gukesh on the world list, is semi-retired from active chess.
10. Which institution launched ‘Face Authentication system’ at the Global Fintech Festival?
[A] NPCI
[B] NITI Aayog
[C] NASSCOM
[D] UIDAI
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [UIDAI]
Notes:
At the Global Fintech Festival in Mumbai, Unique Identity Authority of India (UIDAI) introduced its enhanced Face Authentication system, developed in-house with AI and ML capabilities, focusing on reimagining Aadhaar authentication.
UIDAI’s Volunteer Guideline 2022 encourages collaboration with industry and fintech partners to accelerate technology adoption and enhance solutions for residents.