1. Which of the following recently launched Small Finance Bank in India has its tagline “A Bank of Smiles”?
[A] Ujjivan Small Finance Bank
[B] Suryoday Small Finance Bank
[C] Janalakshmi Small Finance Bank
[D] Utkarsh Small Finance Bank
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [ Suryoday Small Finance Bank ]
Notes:
Suryoday Small Finance Bank with its tagline “A Bank of Smiles”, has recently launched its first branch in Belapur, Navi Mumbai.
2. Recently, Stock market regulator SEBI has imposed trade restrictions on 331 firms which are suspected of being “shell companies”. Which of the following is NOT an activity generally carried out using shell companies?
[A] Trade and normal business
[B] Financial manoevour for some unstated objectives
[C] Illegal financial activities
[D] Violation of intellectual rights and properties
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ Trade and normal business ]
Notes:
Shell companies are created for unstated / hidden objectives of financial manoeuvres and not for normal trade.
3. Which national park is home to pygmy hog which is endemic to this region of India?
[A] Orang National Park
[B] Kudermukh national park
[C] Dibru-Saikhowa National Park
[D] Namdapha National Park
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ Orang National Park ]
Notes:
Orang National Park is located on the north bank of the Brahmaputra River in the Darrang and Sonitpur district of Assam. It is also known as the mini Kaziranga National Park since the two parks have a similar landscape made up of marshes, streams and grasslands.
4. In September 2016, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) completely banned all commercial trade for which of the following?
[A] Pangolin
[B] African elephant ivory
[C] Leatherback turtle
[D] Dugong
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Pangolin]
Notes:
The pangolin is world’s most trafficked animal. They are believed to possess magic or charms. They are hunted for their magical properties. Their scales when mixed with bark from certain trees; the scales are thought to neutralize witchcraft and evil spirits. In recently held global wildlife summit, a total trade ban in all species of pangolin was imposed by CITES. More than a million wild pangolins have been killed in the last decade, to feed the huge and rising appetite in China and Vietnam for its meat and its scales, a supposed medicine. The 182 nations of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) unanimously agreed a total ban on international trade on all species at the summit in Johannesburg.
5. The logic behind the e-Way bill is to track the tax evasion on movement of goods worth _?
[A] Rs 50,000 and above
[B] Rs 1 Lakh and above
[C] Rs 5 Lakhs and above
[D] Rs 10 Lakhs and above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Rs 50,000 and above]
Notes:
The logic behind the e-Way bill is to track the tax evasion on movement of goods within the state and interstate worth Rs 50000 and above. The government has planned for all-India rollout of e-Way bill by February, 2017.
6. Recently, Indian scientists have started their research on “dark matter” in an underground laboratory. This laboratory is located at which of the following places?
[A] Bharat Gold Mine in the southern Karnataka
[B] Neyveli mines in Tamil Nadu
[C] Jaduguda mines in Jharkhand
[D] Sundergarh mines in Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Jaduguda mines in Jharkhand]
Notes:
The Indian scientists have finally started their research on “Dark Matter” in the special underground lab set up at Jaduguda mines in Jharkhand. The lab’s primary aim will be to join the hunt for dark matter, the mysterious stuff whose gravity holds galaxies together. The laboratory is located deep underground almost half-a-kilometre below the earth’s surface. To search for dark matter, scientists need to dive deep underground, so their experiments are shielded from intruders like cosmic rays and other radiations. The rock overhead is expected to absorb these unwelcome rays that interfere with the experiments. The Jaduguda mines are located nearly 260 km from Kolkata and 150 km from state capital Ranchi. It was set up at a cost of a mere Rs. 20 lakh. This is India’s second foray in underground lab experiments. Before this, in 1992, a similar facility was started in Karnataka’s Kolar gold field but was shut down after the mine got flooded due to disuse.
7. The term Specific Relief Act, sometimes seen in news, is associated to:
[A] Disaster Risk Management
[B] Compensation for delay in Infrastructure Projects
[C] Unearthing Undisclosed Money
[D] Compensation for the surviving family members of Indian military personnel killed in war
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Compensation for delay in Infrastructure Projects]
Notes:
Specific Relief is a 1963 law that legalese for performing a contract when monetary compensation for failing to complete contractual obligations is not enough. It was in news when government decided to amend the act on the recommendation of a committee. As per new recommendations, even if contractual obligations cannot be met, the court could ask the parties to fulfil terms of the contract. Monetary compensation will be an alternative when contracts cannot be fulfilled.
8. Recently, our scientists have discovered a new species of Pika, a mammal belonging to the rabbit and hare family. In which part of India has it been discovered?
[A] Tropical rainforest of Western Ghats
[B] Eastern Ghats
[C] Eastern Himalayas
[D] Western Himalayas
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Eastern Himalayas]
Notes:
Eastern Himalaya has been declared a biodiversity hotspot by Conservation International. Our Scientists have recently claimed to have discovered a new species of Pika, a mammal belonging to the rabbit and hare family in the Eastern Himalayas in Sikkim. Pikas are members of the rabbit family and live in the mountains or in temperate regions. The common name "pika" is used for any member of the Ochotonidae family. Pikas do not hibernate unlike other mammalian species inhabiting such cold climates.
9. The recently launched ARIES Telescope, Asia's biggest telescope, is located in which state of India?
[A] Jammu & Kashmir
[B] Uttarakhand
[C] Himachal Pradesh
[D] Sikkim
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Uttarakhand]
Notes:
ARIES telescope has been launched in a joint collaboration between Indian, Russian, and Belgian scientists and is located at Devasthal, Nainital at a height of 2,500 metres. The ARIES optical telescope's mirror is 3.6 meters in diameter and will be used in the study and exploration of planets, starts, magnetic field and astronomical debris.
10. It is an Indian Ionospheric research satellite which is being operated by IIT Bombay. Its primary mission is to count electrons in the Earth’s ionosphere. The satellite was launched successfully into space in September 2016. The name of the satellite is _?
[A] Jugnu
[B] Pratham
[C] Rukmini
[D] RISAT-1
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Pratham]
Notes:
Pratham is an Indian Ionospheric research satellite built by the students of IIT Bombay. It is a part of Student Satellite Initiative. Its primary mission is to count electrons in the Earth’s ionosphere. Its weight is10 kg and is a cube with 30cm sides. Pratham was successfully launched on 26 September 2016 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh.