General Awareness Quiz for Bank Mains Exams 2024-18th March

Q1. The LEADS 2023 report, which is the 5th edition of the annual LEADS exercise, offers valuable insights into the improvement of logistics performance at the State/UT level in India. The report identifies key pillars that are critical for assessing and enhancing logistics performance. What are these key pillars as highlighted in the LEADS 2023 report?
(a) Logistics Infrastructure, Logistics Services, and Operating and Regulatory Environment
(b) Logistics Infrastructure, Business Environment, and Technology Adoption
(c) Economic Development, Trade Policies, and Market Size
(d) Transportation Efficiency, Supply Chain Management, and Digital Integration
(e) Trade Facilitation, Industrial Growth, and Sustainability Practices

Q2. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has been internationally recognized for its achievements in space exploration, particularly its lunar missions. In 2023, ISRO received a prestigious award for its contributions. Which award did ISRO win for its exemplary work in lunar exploration, especially for its successful Chandrayaan-3 mission?
(a) The Galileo Global Space Science Award
(b) The Copernicus Award for Astronomical Excellence
(c) The Neil Armstrong Moon Exploration Honor
(d) The Carl Sagan Space Exploration Award
(e) The Leif Erikson Lunar Prize

Q3. Bandhan Bank Limited has recently been authorized to collect revenue through an electronic system by the Government of Assam, facilitating tax and non-tax payments for its citizens. What is the full form of GRAS, the system through which these collections will be made?
(a) Government Receipt Accounting System
(b) General Revenue Allocation Service
(c) Government Revenue and Assessment System
(d) General Receipts and Accounting Service
(e) Government Revenue Accounting System

Q4. The European Investment Bank (EIB) has its headquarters located in a specific European city. Which city hosts the headquarters of the EIB?
(a) Brussels, Belgium
(b) Frankfurt, Germany
(c) Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
(d) Paris, France
(e) Vienna, Austria

Q5. In which year was the Right to Information (RTI) Act passed in India?
(a) 2005
(b) 2002
(c) 2000
(d) 1995
(e) 2010

Q6. The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, located in the state of Uttar Pradesh, has been a focal point for advancing technology in the region. In line with this, how much funding has the state government recently announced to support technology-related opportunities, which will also benefit institutions like IIT Roorkee?
(a) Rs 20 crore
(b) Rs 30 crore
(c) Rs 25 crore
(d) Rs 35 crore
(e) Rs 40 crore

Q7. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has established an 11-member task force to study the impact of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act of 2023 on the insurance sector. Who is the Chairperson of this task force?
(a) Anup Kumar Sinha, Director of General Insurance
(b) Meena Hemchandra, Director of Health Insurance
(c) Vikram Limaye, Director of Life Insurance
(d) Randip Singh Jagpal, Executive Director (Non-Life) at IRDAI
(e) Suresh Mathur, Executive Director (Life) at IRDAI

Q8. Which among the following is not correctly matched with the motif depicted on the reverse side of the respective Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series currency notes?
(a) ₹2000 – Mangalyaan
(b) ₹500 – Red Fort
(c) ₹200 – Sanchi Stupa
(d) ₹100 – Rani Ki Vav
(e) ₹50 – Sun Temple, Konark

Q9. According to the Climate Change Performance Index 2024, which of the following statements is true?
(a) All countries assessed acted in line with the 1.5-degree limit.
(b) Denmark ranks at the 2nd from the top of the index.
(c) Estonia ranked at 5th place in the index.
(d) China, the largest emitter, remains in 56th place, while the US has even dropped five places since last year (now 57th).
(e) India ranked 9th place.

Q10. Droupadi Murmu, President of India, was on an official visit to Odisha and Andhra Pradesh (AP) from November 20 to 22, 2023. What initiative did President Droupadi Murmu launch in Odisha during her visit?
(a) “Digital India for Tribal Communities”
(b) “Health for All”
(c) “New Education for New India”
(d) “Green India Mission”
(e) “Skill India for Youth”

Solutions

S1. Ans. (a)
Sol. These pillars are: Logistics Infrastructure, Logistics Services, and Operating and Regulatory Environment.
Details:

• The 5th edition of the LEADS annual exercise – LEADS 2023 report, provides insights into improvement of logistics performance at State/UT level.
• It highlights an enhanced overall stakeholder perception and impact of various reforms, across States and UTs.
• This report, signalling a positive shift in States’ performance across the key pillars – Logistics Infrastructure, Logistics Services and Operating and Regulatory Environment, empowers the State/UT Governments by providing region specific insights for informed decision making and comprehensive growth.
• This report is based on a pan-India primary survey, conducted between May and July 2023, covering over 7,300 responses across 36 States/UTs.

S2. Ans. (e)
Sol. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has been awarded the 2023 Leif Erikson Lunar Prize, a significant international recognition for its contribution to lunar exploration.
This prestigious award, bestowed by the Husavik Museum, is a testament to ISRO’s dedication and success in exploring the moon, particularly through the Chandrayaan-3 mission.

S3. Ans. (a)
Sol. GRAS stands for Government Receipt Accounting System.
Details:

• Bandhan Bank has announced that it has secured mandate to collect revenue on e-GRAS portal from Assam government.
• This will enable people of Assam to make their tax payments as well as non-tax payments through the Government Receipt Accounting System Portal (GRAS).
• This will make transactions easier, paperless and accessible for people of Assam.

S4. Ans. (c)
Sol. The headquarters of the European Investment Bank (EIB) is located in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg.
This central location in Europe enables the EIB to effectively coordinate its activities across the European Union, facilitating its role in financing various development projects within the member states.

S5. Ans. (a)
Sol. The Right to Information Act was passed in 2005 in India.
This act empowers citizens to seek information from public authorities, thereby promoting transparency and accountability in the functioning of the government.

S6. Ans. (b)
Sol. The state government has announced to shell out as much as Rs 30 crore in establishing a research centre at IIT Roorkee in Saharanpur.
Details:

• To bolster technology-related opportunities and support prestigious institutions like the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee in Uttar Pradesh, the state government has announced a significant investment.
• The government has committed Rs 30 crore to this initiative, which is expected to enhance the technological landscape in the region.

S7. Ans. (d)
Sol. The chairperson of the 11-member task force formed by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) to evaluate the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act of 2023’s implications on the insurance sector is Randip Singh Jagpal.
Details:

• He is the Executive Director (Non-Life) at IRDAI and a Member of the Stakeholders’ Committee.
• This task force’s role is crucial in understanding and guiding the insurance sector’s adaptation to the DPDP Act, which aims to regulate the processing of digital personal data.

S8. Ans. (e)
Sol. The new ₹50 denomination banknotes in the Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series have motif of ‘Hampi with Chariot’ on the reverse, depicting the country’s cultural heritage.
The base colour of the note is fluorescent blue.

S9. Ans. (c)
Sol. Only option C is correct.
Details:

• As in previous years, not a single assessed country has acted in line with the 1.5-degree limit.
• Nevertheless, there are big differences in ambition: Denmark is at the top of the index again (4th), followed by the climbers Estonia and the Philippines (5th and 6th).
• Unfortunately, not everyone follows this good example: China, the largest emitter, remains in 51st place, while the US has even dropped five places since last year (now 57th).
• The host of COP28, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iran, and Saudi Arabia form the bottom trio (ranked 65th to 67th).

S10. Ans. (c)
Sol. President Droupadi Murmu launched an educational campaign titled “New Education for New India” in Odisha.

Details:

• This initiative reflects a significant step towards reforming and modernizing the education system in India, aligning it with contemporary needs and global standards.
• The campaign is expected to contribute to the holistic development of the education sector, focusing on inclusivity, modern methodologies, and preparing students for future challenges.