1. Recently, the government of India has relaxed the norms for withdrawal of General Provident Fund (GPF). As per the new norms, the employees can withdraw the funds for select purposes after completing how many years in service?
[A] 5 years
[B] 8 years
[C] 10 years
[D] 12 years
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [ 10 years ]
Notes:
The government has recently relaxed the norms for withdrawal of General Provident Fund (GPF) to enable the central government employees receive payments within 15 days. Employees can also withdraw the fund for select purposes after completing 10 years of service, as against 15 years of service earlier. This reform will help around 50 Lakh central government employees.
2. Which of the following banks has recently started Mission FINFIT?
[A] Andhra Bank
[B] Punjab National Bank
[C] Lakshmi Vilas Bank
[D] Kotak Mahindra Bank
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [ Lakshmi Vilas Bank ]
Notes:
Private sector Lakshmi Vilas Bank has tied up with Fisdom, a fin-tech startup to launch a financial planning platform called Mission FINFIT for personal wealth management services based on Robo advisory.
3. We often read about third world in newspapers. Which among the following best describes third world ?
[A] The Oil Rich Countries located in Middle east
[B] The underdeveloped countries and developing countries
[C] The Africa and Asia as a whole and parts of South America
[D] The Africa and Asia as a whole and parts of North America
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [The underdeveloped countries and developing countries]
Notes:
The term “Third World” arose during the Cold War to define countries that remained non-aligned with either NATO or the Warsaw Pact. The Third world countries are mostly the underdeveloped and developing countries.
4. Many a times we read about Hot Money in newspapers. Which among the following options rightly describes hot money?
[A] Hot money is useful and generally durable and is good for the country in all weathers
[B] Hot money is dangerous and volatile and leaves the country in bad weather conditions
[C] Hot money is good and adds to the development of the country & it comes from exports of services
[D] Hot money is bad & useless as its arises from unusual activities like casinos, gambling, horse races, speculations etc.
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Hot money is dangerous and volatile and leaves the country in bad weather conditions]
5. Which acclaimed Bengali author has passed away, whose story ‘Abhimanyu’ was made into a Hindi movie ‘Ek doctor ki maut’?
[A] Vijayendra Ghatge
[B] Ramapada Chowdhury
[C] Sushant Sanyal
[D] Subhash Mukhopadhyay
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ramapada Chowdhury]
Notes:
Acclaimed Bengali writer Ramapada Chowdhury (95), whose story ‘Abhimanyu’ was made into a Hindi movie ‘Ek doctor ki maut’, has passed away in Kolkata, West Bengal on July 29, 2018. ‘Abhimanyu’ was based on the life and work of Dr Subhas Mukhopadhyay who created India’s first and the world’s second test-tube baby in 1978. Director Tapan Sinha turned the story into a award winning Hindi film ‘Ek doctor ki maut’ in 1990. Mrinal Sen’s Hindi film ‘Ek din achanak’ (1989) was also based on Chowdhury’s story ‘Beej’. Chowdhury had penned famous literary works such as ‘Pratham Prahar’ (1954), ‘Banpalashir padabali’ (1960), ‘Ekhoni’ (1969), ‘Kharij’, ‘Bari badle jay’ (1988), ‘Abhimanyu’ (1982). His last book ‘Harano Khata’ was published in 2015. He was conferred the Sahitya Academy award for ‘Bari badle jay’ in 1988 and was also the recipient of Rabindra Puraskar, Ananda Puraskar and Rabindranath Tagore Memorial International Prize.
6. 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.
7. Kachuga dhonkoga, which was making news for being on the verge of extinction due to its consumption for subsistence, is a _?
[A] Turtle
[B] Frog
[C] Primate
[D] Antelope
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ Turtle ]
Notes:
Kachuga dhonkoga is a turtle species which was in news for being on the verge of extinction because of consumption for subsistence by local populations in its distribution.
8. World’s First “Smart Train” based on Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit (ART) has been launched recently in which country?
[A] Japan
[B] Germany
[C] China
[D] Britain
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [China]
Notes:
World’s First “Smart Train” based on Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit (ART) has been launched in China. The train is currently only operating on a small 3.1-kilometre-long stretch with just four stations and will soon go into regular service from next year. The rail system is capable of carrying 300 passengers in its three carriages and has a top speed of 70 kilometres per hour.
9. “Ayushman Bharat” programme that was recently announced in Budget 2018 is related to which of the following?
[A] Healthcare
[B] Education
[C] Skill Development
[D] Financial Inclusion
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Healthcare]
Notes:
“Ayushman Bharat” was recently announced in Budget 2018. This programme has been described by the government as the world’s largest government-funded healthcare programme. It is an umbrella scheme which includes two sub schemes viz. National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS) and Health and Wellness Centre for preventive care. Under the National Health Protection Scheme, government aims to provide healthcare protection for over 10 crore “poor and vulnerable” families, or an estimated 50 crore individual beneficiaries — with coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year. Under the Health and Wellness Centre initiative, government aims to establish 1.5 lakh centres for preventive care services.
10. Government has recently proposed imposing 70 per cent safeguard duty on import of solar panels. Which of the following acts empowers the government to impose such safeguard duty?
[A] Customs Tariff Act, 1975
[B] Special Economic Zones Act, 2005
[C] Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017
[D] Finance Act, 2017
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Customs Tariff Act, 1975]
Notes:
Section 8B of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 empowers the Central Government to impose Safeguard Duly on goods which enter in increased quantities and cause or threaten to cause serious injury to domestic industry producing like or directly competitive goods.
