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 Indian organisation has won the 2017 Asia Pacific Quality Network (APQN) Award?
[A] Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)
[B] National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC)
[C] Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
[D] Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC)]
Notes:
The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) of India has won prestigious International Award of Asia Pacific Quality Network (APQN) titled “APQN Quality Award 2017 for International Co-operation in Quality Assurance” in Moscow, Russia on May 26, 2017. The NAAC is an organisation that assesses and accredits institutions of higher education in India. It’s headquarters is located in Bangalore, Karnataka.
3. What is the equity of Reserve bank of India in National Housing Bank ?
[A] 49%
[B] 50%
[C] 75%
[D] 0%
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [0%]
Notes:
Before April 2019, National Housing Bank (NHB) was a wholly-owned subsidiary of RBI. RBI sold its 100% equity to government in 2019 and now its owner is Government of India. This was done to end the cross-holding in the regulatory institutions as per the Narasimham-II committee report’s recommendations.
4. Which of the following Indian cities has been chosen for the Zero TB Initiative?
[A] Jaipur
[B] Bhopal
[C] Pune
[D] Chennai
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [ Chennai]
Notes:
Under the Global Plan to End TB 2016-2020, the Stop TB Partnership, the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School, Advance Access & Delivery (AA&D), and Interactive Research and Development (IRD) have come together to launch the Zero TB Initiative to support cities, districts, and islands that are committed to achieving a rapid reduction in the number TB patients.
5. Identify the national park with the help of given information:
- The park has been inscribed to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list in 2016
- The Lepcha tribal community are among the indigenous peoples of this park
- The vegetation of the park includes temperate broadleaf and mixed forests consisting of oaks, fir, birch, maple, willow etc.
Select the correct answer from options given below:
[A] Khangchendzonga National Park
[B] The Great Himalayan National Park
[C] Dibru-Saikhowa National Park
[D] Namdapha National Park
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Khangchendzonga National Park]
Notes:
Khangchendzonga National Park (KNP) in Sikkim has been named a world heritage site by the World Heritage Committee (WHC) of UNESCO. This is a National Park and a Biosphere reserve located in Sikkim, India. It was inscribed to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list on July 17, 2016, becoming the first "Mixed Heritage" site of India.
6. The term “Budapest Convention” that was recently in news, is associated to which of the following?
[A] Counter-Terrorism
[B] Cyber Crime
[C] Refugees
[D] Exploration and Use of Outer Space
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Cyber Crime]
Notes:
The Convention on Cybercrime is also known as the Budapest Convention. It is the first international treaty seeking to address Internet and computer crime by harmonizing national laws, improving investigative techniques, and increasing cooperation among nations. It is supplemented by a Protocol on Xenophobia and Racism committed through computer systems. The Convention was adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe at its 109th session in 2001 and came into effect in 2004.
7. Identify the tribe with the help of given information:
- It is a primitive tribal group (PTG) as recognised by the Government of India
- They are predominantly found in Odisha
- The tribe was recently denied habitat rights in the core area of Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR)
- They are known for using siali leaves and fibres for construction of small huts
Select the correct answer from options given below:
[A] Pauri Bhuinya
[B] Hill Kharia
[C] Mankidia
[D] Lodha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Mankidia]
Notes:
The Mankidia tribe has been recognised as one of the 13 particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs) in the State. They are known for collection of Siali fibre, from which they build small huts and offer worship to their deities. This tribal group was in news for filing a claim for habitat rights in the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR). However, their claim was recently denied since the Forest Department thought that the indigenous people might face life threat from wildlife or even come in way of their free movement due to grant of habitat rights in the Tiger Reserve.
8. The India International Exchange (INX) is country’s first international stock exchange, opened in 2017. It is located in which state?
[A] Maharashtra
[B] Gujarat
[C] Telangana
[D] Tamil Nadu
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Gujarat]
Notes:
The India International Exchange (INX) is country’s first international stock exchange, opened in 2017. It is located at the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC), GIFT City in Gujarat. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bombay Stock Exchange.
9. Which of the following has been declared the cleanest railway station in the A1 category, as per 2018 cleanliness survey for Indian Railways?
[A] Jaipur
[B] Tirupati
[C] Jodhpur
[D] Warangal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Jodhpur ]
Notes:
The 2018 cleanliness survey for Indian Railways has been conducted by the Quality Council of India (QCI) i.e. announced by Railway Minister Piyush Goyal in New Delhi on August 13. Among the A-1 category stations, Jodhpur has been declared the cleanest railway station in the A1 category, followed by Jaipur and Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh). In A category stations, Marwar (Rajasthan) has been placed at first position, followed by Phulera (Rajasthan) and Warangal (Telangana). The North Western Railway (NWR), which is headquartered at Jaipur , topped the list in the cleanest zone category, followed by South Central Railway (SCR) and East Coast Railway (ECR). This is the 3rd report of Third Party Audit-cum-Survey of ranking of cleanliness, which covers 407 stations which includes 75 stations in A1 and 332 stations in A category stations. It is an attempt of Indian Railways to increase cleanliness levels and improve hygiene standards by identifying the laggards.
10. Who is 2018 World Boxing Association’s Middleweight Champion female?
[A] Alicia Napolean
[B] Claressa Shields
[C] Hanna Gabriel
[D] Liliana Palmera
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Claressa Shields ]
Notes:
Claressa Shields is a professional American boxer. She has the IBF and WBA Middleweight titles. Who is the 2018 International Boxing Federation’s Heavyweight Champion male?
