1. Which state has recently launched the scheme called ‘Amma vodi’, to provide a financial assistance to mothers of school-going children?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Andhra Pradesh
[C] Karnataka
[D] Kerala
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Andhra Pradesh]
Notes:
The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Y S R Jagan Mohan Reddy recently launched a welfare scheme called ‘Amma vodi’. Under the scheme, financial assistance of Rs.15000 to mothers/ guardians of school going children to educate them.
The Chief Minister released Rs.6318 Crores for the scheme, which is to benefit 82 lakh children of the state. Recently the state government announced that English will be the medium of instruction of government schools for class 1 to class 6.
2. The report titled ‘National Strategy for Financial Inclusion’ was recently released by which organisation?
[A] Reserve Bank of India
[B] Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India
[C] National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development
[D] Securities and Exchange Board of India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Reserve Bank of India]
Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently released a report titled ‘National Strategy for Financial Inclusion’.
The report suggested that along with formal banking outlets, payment banks, small finance banks, cooperative banks and non-banking units like fair price shops should also practice digital banking. The Regulator directed the banks to increase the outlets in all villages and hilly areas by March 2020. The report also suggested to make the Public Credit Registry (PCR) fully functional by 2022.
3. According to the recent “Global Risks Report” of the World Economic Forum, which is the biggest long-term risk?
[A] Economic Crisis
[B] Political Polarisation
[C] Climate threats
[D] Data theft
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Climate threats]
Notes:
The World Economic Forum (WEF) recently released the 15th edition of its report titled “Global Risks Report”. For the first time in the history, Climate threats accounted for all of the top long-term risks (by likelihood) in the report. Other long-term risks include technological risks such as Cyber attacks and data theft, Political risks like Global governance failure and Societal risks like water crisis.
‘Economic confrontations’ and ‘Domestic political polarization’ were reported to be the top short-term risks.
4. Which country is the largest recipient of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in 2019, according to the latest UNCTAD report?
[A] India
[B] China
[C] United States
[D] Singapore
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [United States]
Notes:
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) recently released its ‘Global Investment Trend Monitor report’ and listed the countries on the basis of receipts of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
As per the report, the United States was the largest recipient of FDI in 2019 with inflow of investments amounting to $251 billion. The second largest recipient was China at $140 billion in 2019. India was also among the top 10 FDI recipients in 2019, which attracted investments worth $49 billion. This is 16% higher than the previous year FDI inflow of the country. The report also stated that majority of India’s FDI inflow went to its service sector.
5. What is the rank of India in the 2019 Democracy Index, released by the Economist Intelligence Unit?
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [51]
Notes:
In the recently released 2019 Democracy Index’s global ranking, India slipped 10 ranks to be placed in 51, this year. The global index is released by the Economist Intelligence Unit. The overall score of India also came down to 6.90 from the earlier score of 7.23. India ranks eighth in the Asia and Australasia region.
The report assesses the state of democracy worldwide in 165 independent states and two territories to prepare the index. According to the report, there are only 22 full democracies, while it places India under “flawed democracies”, which includes countries that hold free and fair elections but have significant weaknesses in democratic aspects.
6. Which state’s Tourism department has received the special mention honour as “Emerging Global Destination” in UN World Tourism Organisation Global Destination Award 2019?
[A] Uttarakhand
[B] Manipur
[C] Assam
[D] Kerala
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Kerala ]
Notes:
The Barrier Free Tourism Project implemented by Kerala Tourism in Trissur District has received the special mention honour as “Emerging Global Destination” in UN World Tourism Organisation Global Destination Award 2019.
In March 2019, the Kerala Tourism has launched the barrier free project to make 120 destinations in Kerala disabled friendly. 80 such projects have been implemented and 8 of them are in the district of Trissur. Kerala is the first state to work as per the guidelines issued by UN WTO, on making the destinations disabled friendly.
7. According to the recent Economic Survey 2019-20, which state has the cheapest Vegetarian Thali (food plate)?
[A] Kerala
[B] Jharkhand
[C] Bihar
[D] Tripura
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Jharkhand]
Notes:
The Economic Survey 2019-20 was recently presented by the Chief Economic Adviser Krishnamurthy Subramaniam on January 31, 2020. The term called ‘Thalinomics’ was used, which means the affordability of buying a Thali (Food Plate).
It states that, Jharkhand has the cheapest Vegetarian Thali (meals plate), less than Rs.50. The survey also revealed that the affordability for a vegetarian plate has improved by 29% in the last 13 years while the cost has increased in the year 2019. The affordability of the meals has saved nearly Rs.10000 on an average per year to an average household.
8. Which Indian state has recently launched a scheme to deliver pension at the doorsteps of beneficiaries?
[A] Kerala
[B] Odisha
[C] Telangana
[D] Andhra Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Andhra Pradesh]
Notes:
The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had proposed the door-delivery of pension in the state under YSR Pension Kanuka scheme. The process was recently commenced in the state.
The pension has also been increased to ₹2,250 from the earlier ₹1,000 and the eligibility criteria has been revised to provide pension benefit to all the deserved people. The volunteers, with the smartphones containing biometric information of the pensioners will visit the beneficiaries and process the pension payment.
9. Which Union Ministry releases the Public Enterprises Survey, on the performances of Central Public Sector Enterprises?
[A] Ministry of Finance
[B] Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
[C] Ministry of Corporate Affairs
[D] Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises]
Notes:
The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) under the Union Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, releases the annual Public Sector Enterprises Survey, on the performance of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs).
Recently, the Public Enterprises Survey -2018-19 was tabled in both the Houses of Parliament, which stated that BSNL, Air India and MTNL are the top loss-making PSUs for the third consecutive year. The top three profit-making PSUs include Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Indian Oil Corporation and NTPC.
10. ‘Delivering Road Safety in India’ is a report released by which organisation/ ministry?
[A] World Bank
[B] National Highways Authority of India
[C] NITI Aayog
[D] Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [World Bank]
Notes:
World Bank has released a report titled “Delivering Road Safety in India” during the ongoing ‘Third Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety’ in the capital of Sweden, Stockholm.
As per the report, India has to invest an estimated amount of additional $109 billion in road safety in the next decade. With the investment, economic benefits equivalent to 3.7 per cent of the GDP can be witnessed annually.
