51. How much has the fossil fuel capacity in India increased during FY24?
[A] 1.65%
[B] 2.44%
[C] 3.50%
[D] 3.80%
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [2.44%]
Notes:
In FY24, the country’s fossil fuel-based power capacity increased by 2.44% to 243.22 GW from March 2023’s 237.27 GW. Non-fossil fuel capacity increased by 10.79%, reaching 190.57 GW in 2023-24 compared to 172.01 GW in 2022-23. This includes solar, wind, and hydropower. Nuclear power capacity grew to 8.18 GW from 6.78 GW, marking a 20.64% yearly increase.
52. What is the projected percentage of milk production reduction in India by 2085, as per the Lancet report?
[A] 25%
[B] 30%
[C] 35%
[D] 40%
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [25%]
Notes:
Rising temperatures in India could slash milk production by 25% by 2085, warns a Lancet report. India, the top global milk producer and consumer, faces severe livelihood and nutrition risks. The northern plains contribute 30% of India’s milk, supported by 89 million smallholder farmers. Heat stress, measured by the Temperature Humidity Index (THI), reduces milk yield. Unabated, this could cost 3.4 lakh tons of milk and 15,000 crores by 2030 in the northern plains alone.
53. What is ‘Drip Pricing’, recently seen in news?
[A] A technique used in agriculture
[B] A pricing strategy in consumer affairs
[C] A method of transportation planning
[D] A concept in educational theory
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [A pricing strategy in consumer affairs]
Notes:
The Department of Consumer Affairs warned about ‘drip pricing’, a strategy where only part of an item’s price is advertised, with total costs revealed later. Common in hospitality and travel, it can surprise consumers with hidden charges, complicating comparison shopping. This practice undermines transparency and penalizes sellers who disclose full prices upfront. The impact extends to misleading ‘headline prices’, affecting consumer trust and market fairness.
54. According to the provisional estimate of the National Statistical Organisation (NSO), what was the growth rate of Indian economy in 2023-24?
[A] 7.6%
[B] 8.2%
[C] 6.6%
[D] 5.1%
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [8.2%]
Notes:
According to the National Statistical Organisation (NSO), India’s GDP grew by 8.2% in FY 2023-24, surpassing the Reserve Bank of India’s estimate of 7.6%. This marks the ninth time since 1960-61 that GDP growth exceeded 8%. The high growth rate was driven by a strong performance in Q4 (January-March 2024), with a 7.8% increase compared to the same period in 2023.
55. According to recent government data, India got highest FDI from which country in 2023-24?
[A] Mauritius
[B] Singapore
[C] Vietnam
[D] China
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Singapore]
Notes:
In 2023-24, India received the highest foreign direct investment (FDI) from Singapore, amounting to $11.77 billion despite a 31.55% decline, according to government data. Overall, FDI into India contracted by about 3.5% due to global economic uncertainties. However, Singapore remained the top source of FDI for India during this period.
56. Recently, which organization has launched the ‘Bank Clinic’ initiative to assist bank customers with grievance redressal?
[A] All India Bank Employees’ Association (AIBEA)
[B] State Bank of India (SBI)
[C] Ministry of Finance
[D] None of the Above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [All India Bank Employees’ Association (AIBEA)]
Notes:
The All India Bank Employees’ Association (AIBEA) has launched “Bank Clinic” to aid bank customers with grievance redressal. This advisory platform guides customers on remedies per RBI guidelines, serving as an additional channel alongside the Banking Ombudsman process. It aims to support customers amid rapid technological expansion and evolving RBI guidelines on retail banking.
57. Recently, how much gold did RBI allocate from the U.K. to domestic vaults in FY24?
[A] 50 metric tonnes
[B] 100 metric tonnes
[C] 150 metric tonnes
[D] 200 metric tonnes
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [100 metric tonnes]
Notes:
In FY24, RBI relocated 100 metric tonnes of gold from the U.K. to Indian vaults in Mumbai and Nagpur. India’s gold reserves surged to 822 metric tonnes, with nearly 50% now stored domestically. RBI’s banknotes are secured by assets like gold, Government Securities, and Foreign Currency Assets, as per the RBI Act, 1934. The recent geopolitical tensions emphasized risks of storing gold abroad, exemplified by Western nations’ freezing of Russian assets.
58. Recently, which two organizations have jointly developed a “Unified India Organic” logo to replace the India Organic and Jaivik Bharat logos?
[A] FSSAI and ICAR
[B] FSSAI and APEDA
[C] FSSAI and FDA
[D] FSSAI and WHO
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [FSSAI and APEDA]
Notes:
FSSAI and APEDA collaborated to create the Unified India Organic logo, replacing India Organic and Jaivik Bharat logos. India Organic denotes NPOP compliance, while Jaivik Bharat was for FSSAI-certified organics. The new logo aims for uniformity in organic product regulations. It distinguishes organic from non-organic, signifying adherence to National Standards for Organic Production, enhancing consumer trust and market clarity in India’s organic sector.
59. Which ministry has recently developed an eSankhyiki portal?
[A] Ministry of Science and Technology
[B] Ministry of Finance
[C] Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
[D] Ministry of Defence
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation ]
Notes:
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) launched the eSankhyiki portal to provide real-time data for planners, policy-makers, and researchers. It aims to streamline data management and sharing, offering access to key datasets like National Accounts Statistics and Consumer Price Index. The portal’s Data Catalogue Module houses over 2291 datasets with detailed metadata and visualizations, enhancing data accessibility and re-usability for informed decision-making and public use.
60. Bharat Bill Payment System, recently mentioned in the news, is a payment channel system conceptualized by which institution?
[A] RBI
[B] NABARD
[C] SBI
[D] SEBI
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [RBI]
Notes:
The RBI has mandated that all credit card bill payments via third-party apps must be routed through the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS). Managed by NPCI, BBPS offers a centralized platform for bill payments. This affects users of major banks and apps like CRED, PhonePe, Amazon Pay, and Paytm. The move aims to regulate peer-to-peer transactions and ensure centralized monitoring.
