1. Which Indian payments bank recently crossed a mile-stone of two crore customers?
[A]
Airtel Payments Bank.
[B] India Post Payments Bank.
[C] Fino Payments Bank.
[D] Paytm Payments Bank.
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [India Post Payments Bank.]
Notes:
India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) has recently achieved the milestone of two crore customers. IPPB was launched by the Indian Prime Minister on September 1, 2018, with the main objective of financial inclusion.
In September 2019, the payments bank launched the Aadhaar-enabled payment system (AePS) services. And then, it has become the single largest platform in the country to provide interoperable banking services to the customers of any bank.
2. Which organisation recently offered an indigenous multi-role chopper to the Indian armed forces?
[A] Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
[B] Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL)
[C] Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)
[D] Larsen and Toubro (L&T)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL)]
Notes:
Bengaluru-based Indian state-owned aerospace and defence company, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) recently offered an indigenous multirole chopper to the Indian armed forces.
This new chopper is to replace its medium lift choppers such as MI-17s, Kamovs and Seakings. The company also announced that its Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) are ready for operational induction in the services.
3. ‘1000 Springs Initiative’, recently launched by the Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda, aims to increase the access to which component?
[A] Water
[B] Roadways
[C] Education
[D] Skill-development
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Water]
Notes:
Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda recently launched the ‘1000 Springs Initiative’ at a programme in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
The initiative aims at improving access to safe and adequate water for the tribal communities. It aims to generate livelihood opportunities for the tribal people and provisions for piped water supply for drinking, irrigation and sanitation initiatives. He also launched a Programme for Capacity Building of Scheduled Tribe Representatives in Local Self Governments.
4. Dr S Shettar, who passed away recently, was associated with which profession?
[A] Scientist
[B] Historian
[C] Archaeologist
[D] Ornithologist
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Historian]
Notes:
Veteran historian Dr S Shettar recently passed away in Bengaluru, at the age of 85. He taught history in many universities for more than twenty-five years.
Shettar completed his Ph.D from Cambridge University in England. He had held several important positions including Director of the Institute of Indian Art History at Karnatak University, Dharwad, and Chairman of Indian Council of Historical Research, New Delhi.
5. India is to partner with which country in the implementation of the ‘Purvodaya’ scheme?
[A] France
[B] Germany
[C] Japan
[D] Italy
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Japan]
Notes:
Purvodaya is a scheme to develop the steel sector in eastern India by creating an integrated steel hub in the eastern region.
Recently Union Minister of Steel Dharmendra Pradhan attended the workshop on “Enabling Procedures for Increase of Steel Usage for the Growth of Economy” at Bhubaneswar in partnership with Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Government of Japan. He announced that Japan is the Partner country to make Odisha an important centre of Purvodaya scheme.
6. As of 2020, which Indian Finance Minister has presented the maximum number of Union Budgets?
[A] Pranab Mukherjee
[B] P Chidambaram
[C] Morarji Desai
[D] Yashwant Sinha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Morarji Desai]
Notes:
Former Indian Prime Minister Morarji Desai, who was also the Finance Minister of India, has presented 10 Union budgets, which is the highest as of 2020. P Chidambaram and Pranab Mukherjee have presented 9 and 8 budgets respectively.
Recently, the 124th birth anniversary of Morarji Desai was observed on February 29, 2020. Several national leaders paid tribute to the former Prime Minister.
7. Ajay Tyagi is the Chairman of which regulatory body of India?
[A] NABARD
[B] SIDBI
[C] SEBI
[D] NHB
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [SEBI]
Notes:
Recently, the government has approved a six-month extension to the present Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Ajay Tyagi.
The Chairman’s term was ending on February 29, which has now been extended to six months from the date or until further orders. Ajay Tyagi replaced the previous Chairman of the Markets Regulator- U K Sinha in 2017.
8. Matt Levatich, who was in news recently, was the Chief Executive Officer of which motor-cycle manufacturing company?
[A] Ducati
[B] Harley Davidson
[C] Triumph
[D] Royal Enfield
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Harley Davidson]
Notes:
The Chief Executive Officer of the American motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson Inc, Matt Levatich recently stepped down from his post, as he could not arrest the chronic crash in the sales.
Levatich is to be replaced on an interim basis by Jochen Zeitz, who is a board member and known for reviving the Puma sneaker brand. Levatich joined Harley Davidson in 1994 and has been the CEO from 2015.
9. What is the name of the recently launched scheme that aims to provide nutritional support to pregnant women and adolescent girls?
[A] Pradhan Mantri Suposhit Yojana
[B] Suposhit Maa Abhiyan
[C] Suposhit Janani Yojana
[D] Suposhit Beti Abhiyan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Suposhit Maa Abhiyan]
Notes:
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla recently launched “Suposhit Maa Abhiyan”, that aims to provide nutritional support to pregnant women and adolescent girls.
The scheme was launched in Kota, Rajasthan which is also the Speaker’s parliamentary constituency. Union Minister of Women and Child Development Smriti Irani also attended the launch programme.
10. When is the ‘Zero Discrimination Day’ observed annually across the world?
[A] February 28
[B] March 1
[C] March 3
[D] March 5
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [March 1]
Notes:
The ‘Zero Discrimination Day’ is observed annually across the world on March 1, by UNAIDS. UNAIDS is the leading global forum which aims to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
On this day, the UNAIDS is calling to end the discrimination against women and girls and for equal rights, opportunities and treatment. This year, the focus is on ‘Zero Discrimination against Women and Girls’.
