GK & Current Affairs: August 18, 19, 2015
1. Which Union ministry of India recently launched India Aspiration Fund (IAF) and SMILE scheme to aid small enterprises? [A]Ministry of Agriculture [B]Ministry of Finance [C]Ministry of Communications and Information Technology [D]Ministry of Human Resource Development
Ministry of Finance To provide soft loan for establishment of a Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), the Union Finance Minister Mr. Arun Jaitley has launched two funds by Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI). The Union Government will invest Rs 2,000-crore in India Aspiration Fund (IAF) and Rs. 10,000 in SIDBI Make In India Loan For Enterprises (SMILE) scheme.
2. In order to fast track approval of investments, which state government of India launched “State Level Facilitation Cell (SLFC)” recently? [A]Kerala [B]Jharkhand [C]Odisha [D]Gujarat
Odisha The Odisha government launched “State level Facilitation Cell (SLFC)” in order to clear investment proposals in 15-30 days. The SLFC has categorised companies in two categories viz. green and non-green. It will provide clearances to green category projects viz. agri-based industries, food-processing, cottage industries etc. within 15 days. All other industrial projects placed under the non-green category would receive approvals within 30 days.
3. India has imposed anti-dumping duty on flax fabric imports from which of the following countries recently? [A]China and Taiwan [B]South Korea and Hong Kong [C]China and Hong Kong [D]South Korea and Taiwan
China and Hong Kong The Government of India (GoI) has imposed anti-dumping duty on ‘flax’ (or linen) fabric imports from China and Hong Kong for a period of 5 years. This duty would be applicable only on those flax fabrics with flax content of over 50 %. The Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance has imposed anti-dumping duty of $ 0.75 per metre on ‘flax’ fabric imported from China and $ 0.65 per meter fabric imported from Hong Kong.
4. To conduct joint research in Defence, DRDO has inked a pact with which IIT? [A]IIT-Kharagpur [B]IIT- Bombay [C]IIT-Kanpur [D]IIT-Kharagpur
IIT-Kharagpur The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has inked a pact with IIT-Kharagpur to undertake collaborative research to meet the futuristic defence technological needs of the country. The purpose of this Memorandum of Collaboration (MoC) is to facilitate the ongoing research programmes of the DRDO and to initiate a collaborative research and academic programme in select areas of relevance to national defence.
5. Which of the following banks recently launched “Smart Vault” digital locker facility? [A]SBI [B]HDFC [C]ICICI [D]PNB
ICICI The ICICI Bank launched the ‘Smart Vault’, a fully automated state-of-the-art locker available 24×7, including weekends and post banking hours. The ‘Smart Vault’ uses robotic technology to access the lockers from the safe vault and enables customers to conveniently access their lockers at any time of their preference, in the comfort of a secure lounge where the locker automatically comes up to the customer. Customers can access the lockers in total privacy without any intervention of the branch staff.
6. Which of the following airports has become world’s first solar-run airport? [A] Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport [B]Indira Gandhi International Airport [C]Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport [D]Cochin International Airport
Cochin International Airport The Cochin International Airport became the world’s first fully solar-powered airport. It is situated in the city of Kochi, Kerala. The airport’s solar power plant, which is comprised of more than 46,000 solar panels arrayed across 45 acres of land, will produce 48,000 units of energy per day.
7. Paravoor Bharathan, who passed away recently, belonged to which cinema industry? [A]Telugu [B]Tamil [C]Bengali [D]Malayalam
Malayalam The Malayalam actor Mr. Paravoor Bharathan (86) passed away due to prolonged illness at Kochi, Kerala. Some of the remarkable films that he did were In Harihara Nagar, Aniathipravu, Meleparambil Aanveedu, Mazhavil Kavadi, etc.
8. How many entities has been granted by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to set up Payments Banks, recently? [A]14 [B]13 [C]12 [D]11
11 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) granted in-principle approval to 11 entities viz. Reliance Industries, Aditya Birla Nuvo, Vodafone, Airtel, Department of Posts (DoP), Cholamandalam Distribution Services, Tech Mahindra, National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL), FinoPayTech, Sun Pharma’s Dilip Shantilal Shanghvi and PayTM’ to set up Payments Banks. The key features of Payments banks are as follows: a) the bank licence will allow companies to collect deposits (initially up to Rs. 1 lakh per individual). b) offer Internet banking, facilitate money transfers and sell insurance and mutual funds. c) can issue ATM/debit cards, but not credit cards. d) can also distribute non-risk sharing simple financial products viz. mutual funds and insurance products. e) will not be allowed to undertake lending services and Non Resident Indians (NRIs) will not be allowed to open accounts.
9. The Kerala government inked pact with which conglomerate towards proposed Vizhinjam International Seaport project? [A]Adani Group [B]Reliance Group [C]Tata Group [D]Birla Group
Adani Group The Kerala government inked pact with Adani groups for the construction of proposed Vizhinjam International Seaport project for Rs. 7,525 crore.
10. Who became the India’s first woman to play in English league football? [A]Manpreet Kaur [B]Suprava Samal [C]Aditi Chauhan [D]Tuli Goon
Aditi Chauhan The Indian international goalkeeper, Ms. Aditi Chauhan has become the India’s first woman to play in West Ham United Ladies Football Club. The club is an English women’s football club affiliated with West Ham United FC.
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atul
September 1, 2015 at 4:25 pmsir this scheme is excellent