Q1: Women 20(W20) is an official G20 engagement group inception meeting held in which state?
a) Maharashtra
b) Gujrat
c) Goa
d) Madhya Pradesh
Show solution
Solution: option a.)
The two-day W20 (Women 20) inception meeting as part of India’s presidency of the G20 forum will take place in Sambhajinagar in Maharashtra from Monday, officials said.
Nearly 150 women dignitaries from member and guest countries and special invitees will participate in the meet, they said.
The W20 is an official engagement group under G20 and was established during the Turkish presidency in 2015.
Its primary objective is to ensure gender considerations are mainstreamed into discussions of G20 and get translated into the G20 Leaders’ Declaration as policies and commitments that foster gender equality and women’s economic empowerment.
Q2: Which team won the 13th Hockey India senior women’s National at Kakinada?
a) West Bengal
b) Goa
c) Madhya Pradesh
d) Himachal Pradesh
Show solution
Solution: option c.)
Hockey Madhya Pradesh has been crowned champions of the 13th Hockey India Senior Women National Championship 2023 in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, after defeating Hockey Maharashtra 5-1 in the Final. Meanwhile, Hockey Jharkhand took third place after defeating Hockey Haryana in the third-place match.
Hockey Madhya Pradesh relied on penalty corners to overcome Hockey Maharashtra in today’s Final with Diksha Tiwari (2’, 4’) converting two early in the game. With just enough time left, Lalrindiki (25′) scored to give Hockey Maharashtra some hope, but Manmeet Kaur (38′), Preeti Dubey (42′), and Aishwarya Chavan (42′) scored for Hockey Madhya Pradesh to clinch the title.
Q3: Which Indian mutual fund is set to launch India’s international debt fund?
a) HDFC
b) IDFC
c) ICICI Prudential
d) HDB
Show solution
Solution: option b.)
IDFC Mutual Fund (MF)—a fund house known for its debt funds—is all set to launch the IDFC US Treasury Bond 0-1 Year FOF (fund of funds), the industry’s first international debt fund. This opens the doors for Indian retail investors to gain access to the ultra-safe and currently high-yield US treasury securities, and also hedge their exposure to the dollar conveniently. It allows investors to diversify beyond India, and into US treasuries which are seen as safe-haven assets in times of economic uncertainty.
IDFC CEO: Vikram Limaye
Q4: Which Bank raises $750 Million in Dollar Bond sales?
a) ICICI Bank
b) SBI
c) PNB
d) HDFC
Show solution
Solution: option d.)
The country’s largest private sector lender HDFC Bank on Thursday announced that it has raised USD 750 million through a dollar bond sale.
The bank said it will be paying a coupon of 5.686 per cent for the three-year bonds, according to an exchange filing.
The paper, rated Baa3 by Moody’s Rating Services and Bbb by S&P, will be listed on the India International Exchange, it said.
The USD-denominated senior unsecured instruments will be redeemed on maturity in March 2026.
The HDFC Bank scrip had closed 0.69 per cent down at Rs 1,603.35 a piece on the BSE on Thursday, as against a 0.23 per cent correction on the benchmark.
Q5: World NGO Day observed every year on ____?
a) 27 Feb
b) 25 Feb
c) 29 Feb
d) 28 Feb
Show solution
Solution: option a.)
Every year on February 27th, World NGO Day is observed. It is a day set aside to acknowledge, honour, and celebrate the essential contributions and significant effects that these independent organizations have on society.
What is an NGO?
The abbreviation “N.G.O.” stands for non-governmental organization. Any nonprofit organization that operates independently of the government is considered a non-governmental organization. In 1945, the newly written United Nations Charter’s Article 71 used the phrase for the first time.
World NGO Day 2023: Date & Theme
The date for NGOs around the world is February 27, 2023. World NGO Day will be observed this year with the theme of “role and influence of NGOs in advancing human rights, addressing social and environmental challenges, and achieving sustainable development goals.”
Q6: Who won the FIFA best men’s player award in 2022?
a) Kylian MBappe
b) Lionel Messi
c) C .Ronaldo
d) Karim Benzema
Show solution
Solution: option b.)
World Cup champion Lionel Messi edged Kylian Mbappé again, this time to take FIFA’s best men’s player award on Monday.
The best women’s player was Spain’s Alexia Putellas for a second straight year.
After steering Argentina to World Cup glory in an epic final against Mbappé’s France last year in Qatar, Messi won the best player vote against Mbappé and Karim Benzema and secured the FIFA prize for the seventh time in 14 years.
He won the World Cup on his record-equaling fifth attempt.
Meanwhile, U.S. women’s national team star Alex Morgan finished second to Spain’s Alexia Putellas for the women’s 2022 award.
Q7:. Minister of State for Statistics and Program Implementation Rao Inderjit Singh (Independent Charge) released the Revised Guidelines on Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS)-2023. New guidelines will come into effect from __________.
a) 1st April 2023
b) 1st July 2023
c) 1 December 2023
d) 31st March 2024
Show solution
Solution: option a.)
▪ The Minister also launched the new Web Portal, for implementation of the Revised Fund Flow Procedure under MPLADS.
▪ The new MPLADs guidelines and the web portal will come into effect from 1-4-2023.
▪ The objective of the MPLAD Scheme is to enable the Hon’ble Members of Parliament (MPs) to recommend works of developmental nature with emphasis on the creation of durable community assets based on locally felt needs.
Q8: The Appointments Committee of the Union Cabinet approved the extension of the Secretary of the Department of Defence – Aramane Giridhar. He will remain in his post until ____________?
a) October 31, 2024
b) March 31, 2024
c) January 31, 2024
d) October 31, 2023
Show solution
Solution: option a.)
▪ He will remain in his post until October 31, 2024, or till further order whichever is earlier. ▪ This extension is beyond his age of superannuation
. ▪ He was due to retire in June 2023, after completing 60 years of superannuation. ▪ He is a 1988-batch IAS officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre.
➢ Secretary of Department of School Education – Sanjay Kumar
➢ Road and Transport Secretary- Alka Upadhyay
➢ Corporate Affairs Secretary- Manoj Govil
➢ Revenue Secretary – Sanjay Malhotra
➢ Finance Secretary- TV Somnath
➢ Economic Affairs Secretary — Ajay Seth
➢ Secretary of the Department of Financial Services- Vivek Joshi
➢ National Security Advisors – Ajit Doval
➢ Cabinet Secretary- Rajiv Gauba
➢ Principal Secretary to PM – Pramod Kumar Mishra
➢ Home Secretary- Ajay Kumar Bhalaa
Q9: Which country’s government signed an agreement with the International Solar Alliance (ISA) to increase the use of solar energy in the country?
a) UAE
b) Bangladesh
c) Qatar
d) Russia
Show solution
Solution: option b.)
▪ The agreement was signed between the ISA Director General Ajay Mathur and the Bangladesh Power Division Secretary Md. Habibur Rahman.
▪ The agreement is to be implemented by December 2026.
▪ The government aims to generate 40% of its total energy through renewable sources by 2041 and to produce 4000 MW of solar power by 2030
. ▪ India has welcomed Congo into the International Solar Alliance.
Q10: Which state government signed an agreement with the UN Women to boost women-friendly activities in the State’s tourism sector?
a) Kerala
b) Rajasthan
c) Tamil Nadu
d) Madhya Pradesh
Show solution
Solution: option a.)
▪ The MoU was signed by Kerala Tourism Director P B Nooh and UN Women India representative Susan Ferguson.
▪ Both parties agreed to work towards promoting gender-inclusive tourism sites in the State.
▪ It would be implemented by the Responsible Tourism Mission
. ▪ It will be done by creating modules and capacity-building of relevant stakeholders.
Q11: ‘National Protein Day’ is celebrated every year on which date in the country?
a) 28 February
b) 27 February
c) 26 February
d) 25 February
Show solution
Solution: option b.)
▪ Right to Protein, a national-level public health initiative, organized the first-ever Protein Day in India on February 27, 2020
. ▪ The main purpose of organizing this day is to spread awareness regarding the nutritional benefits of protein.
Q12: RBL Bank signs an agreement with which Bank for trade finance?
a) SBI
b) EXIM
c) HDFC
d) ICICI
Show solution
Solution: option b.)
▪ RBL Bank, the private lender said that it has reached an agreement with the Export-Import Bank of India (India Exim Bank) under the Trade Assistance Programme (TAP) to facilitate cross-border commercial operations
▪ Export-Import Bank of India (India Exim Bank trade’s) assistance programme for cross-border transactions intends to facilitate India’s exports globally by providing credit enhancement to trade instruments
▪ India Exim Bank will open new trade channels with the participating foreign banks and institutions in emerging countries through the programme
▪ RBL Bank CEO: R Subramaniakumar ▪ Exim Bank CEO: Ms Harsha Bangari
Q13: Who was appointed as the brand ambassador of Pepsi co?
a) Aamir Khan
b) Salman Khan
c) Shah Rukh Khan
d) Ranveer Singh
Show solution
Solution: option d.)
▪ Beverage maker PepsiCo has appointed actor Ranveer Singh as its brand ambassador and also unveiled a new campaign targeting younger consumers.
▪ He joined Pepsi’s growing league of celebrity endorsers.
▪ The brand roped in actor Salman Khan in 2019.
▪ Most recently, it also announced KGF actor, Yash as the brand’s new face.
Q14: PM which country is on a 2-day visit to India from 1 to 2 march 2023?
a) Germany
b) Spain
c) Italy
d) Brazil
Show solution
Solution: option c.)
▪ Italy PM, Giorgia Meloni will be on a two-day visit to India on 2nd March 2023 with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and a high-powered business delegation
. ▪ The Italian Prime Minister will be the Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker at the 8th Raisin Dialogue, 2023.
▪ Indian PM Narendra Modi and his Italian counterpart will hold discussions on bilateral, regional, and global issues.
Q15: ‘Grand start-up Conclave’ on Animal Husbandry and Diary held recently in which city?
a) Hyderabad
b) Mumbai
c) New Delhi
d) Shimla
Show solution
Solution: option a.)
▪ A ‘Grand Startup Conclave‘ was organized by the Central Animal Husbandry and Dairy Department on 28 February 2023 for current and emerging startups in livestock, dairy and animal husbandry areas in Hyderabad.
▪ It was inaugurated by Union Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairy Minister Purushottam Rupala.
▪ the conference aims to promote startups in livestock, dairy and animal husbandry areas in collaboration with the National Dairy Development Board, the Government of Telangana and the Industry Organization Indian Industry (CII).
Q16: Which state got to get the country’s first marina?
a) Maharashtra
b) New Delhi
c) Goa
d) Karnataka
Show solution
Solution: option d.)
▪ Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai has confirmed, that state will get India’s first Marina which will be constructed at Byndoor in the Udupi district.
▪ To promote coastal tourism in the state.
▪ The state government has received permission from the Government of India for the relaxation of Coastal Regulation Zone rules.
▪ The government also proposed to build a corridor of ancient temples like Madhukeshwara (Banavasi) and Dattatreya (Ganagapura) and promote Yatra tourism.