1. Which bank acquired the Indian consumer banking businesses of Citibank?
[A] HDFC Bank
[B] Axis Bank
[C] ICICI Bank
[D] Yes Bank
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Axis Bank]
Notes:Indian private sector lender Axis Bank has acquired the Indian consumer banking businesses of US bank Citigroup.
The sale includes businesses of credit cards, retail banking, wealth management and consumer loans for Rs 12,325 crore, as part of plans to exit its retail operations in 13 markets. The sale excludes Citi’s institutional client businesses in India.
2. As per the data from the Reserve Bank of India, which bank recorded the highest value of frauds in April-December 2021?
[A] State Bank of India
[B] Punjab National Bank
[C] Bank of India
[D] Bank of Maharashtra
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Punjab National Bank]
Notes:
According to data from the Reserve Bank of India, a total of 27 scheduled commercial banks and financial institutions have reported 96 cases of fraud, involving a total amount of Rs 34,097 crore during April-December 2021.
While Punjab National Bank recorded the highest value of frauds worth Rs 4,820 crore, Bank of India recorded the highest number of frauds at 13.
3. Which Union Ministry is associated with the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA)?
[A] Ministry of Defence
[B] Ministry of Home Affairs
[C] Ministry of External Affairs
[D] Ministry of Finance
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Home Affairs]
Notes:
Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the Centre decided to reduce the disturbed areas under the AFSPA in Nagaland, Assam, and Manipur after decades.
Centre had constituted a high-level committee to examine the possibility of lifting AFSPA in Nagaland – after the killing of 14 civilians in an army operation in December 2021. It has extended the ambit of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in three districts of Arunachal Pradesh.
4. What is the interest rate of the ‘Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana’ scheme as of March 2022?
[A] 7.1 %
[B] 7.6 %
[C] 8.1 %
[D] 8.6 %
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [7.6 %]
Notes:
The government has decided to maintain the status quo on interest rates of small savings instruments for the April-June quarter.
The interest rate of the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is 7.6 per cent while the Public Provident Fund (PPF) fetches 7.1 per cent. Interest rates on small saving schemes are reset on a quarterly basis, tracking the movement in benchmark government bonds.
5. Which Indian state has announced ‘Doorstep delivery of ration’ in the state?
[A] Uttar Pradesh
[B] Punjab
[C] Assam
[D] Madhya Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Punjab]
Notes:
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced that his government has decided to start doorstep delivery of ration in the state.
While it is an optional scheme, the government officials will call Punjab’s residents and ask them for their preferred time slot. Earlier, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had tried to implement the same scheme in Delhi.
6. India has opened up its central government procurement market to which country, recently?
[A] Japan
[B] Singapore
[C] UAE
[D] The Netherlands
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [UAE]
Notes:
India has opened up its central government procurement market to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), under the recently-signed free trade agreement (FTA).
This step will give national treatment status to UAE companies, on a par with Indian companies, while bidding for central government tenders.
7. ‘Guidance’ is the investment promotion agency of which Indian state?
[A] New Delhi
[B] Tamil Nadu
[C] Karnataka
[D] West Bengal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Tamil Nadu]
Notes:
‘Guidance’, the investment promotion agency, for winning the ‘Best Investment Promotion Agency Award’ in Asia Oceania Region at the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) 2022.
It was an initiative of the Ministry of Economy of the United Arab Emirates. Guidance, the single-window facilitation wing of the Industries Department of Tamil Nadu, has played a significant role in presenting business opportunities in Tamil Nadu since 1992.
8. What is the contribution of India to the UN Women Core budget in 2022?
[A] USD 10,000
[B] USD 50,000
[C] USD 100,000
[D] USD 500,000
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [USD 500,000]
Notes:
India has contributed USD 500,000 to the UN Women, the United Nations agency for gender equality and women empowerment for their core budget.
India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations T.S.Tirumurti announced that India reaffirmed its partnership of women-led development and gender parity. UN Women Executive Director, Sima Bahous thanked India for its contribution.
9. Which is the first Indian city to get processed Steel Slag Road?
[A] Varanasi
[B] Surat
[C] Patna
[D] Gandhi Nagar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Surat]
Notes:
Gujarat’s Surat has become the first city in the country to get a processed steel slag (industrial waste) road.
It has been built as part of a joint-venture project by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), Union Ministry of Steel, NITI Aayog, and Arcelor-Mitttal-Nippon Steel. The slag is generated from a steel furnace in the form of molten flux material as an impurity.
10. When is the ‘International Day for Mine Awareness’ observed annually?
[A] April 2
[B] April 4
[C] April 6
[D] April 8
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [April 4]
Notes:
The ‘International Day for Mine Awareness’ is observed annually on April 4, across the world. The mine action community, headed by the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) launches activities to create awareness on Mines.
This year, the theme of International Mine Awareness Day stands for “Safe Ground, Safe Steps, Safe Home”.