Introduction
The article ESIC and Banking PO Important Current Affairs - 2018 (July - Dec) section aims to help every aspirant for the preparation of different competitive exams to revise the day at ease. IBPS Clerk, ESIC SSO Mains, Canara Bank, IBPS SO and other upcoming Examinations and Current Affairs which is an important section of upcoming exams.
ESIC
Q1. RBI (RBI Governor: Shaktikanta Das from Odisha) made Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) code mandatory for all market transactions regulated by it. The LEI is of how many characters?
Answer :20-characters. It is a unique identity code assigned to entities who are parties to a financial transaction.
Explanation: RBI also increased the interest subsidy, called the Interest Equalisation Rate, to 5 per cent from 3 per cent on post and pre-shipment export credit for MSME sector to boost the exports in the MSME sector. In a separate guideline RBI announced the date of implementation of the Net Stable Funding Ration (NSFR) norms to be from April 1, 2020.
Q2. The World Gold Council (Headquarter: London) announced whom as the next Chief Executive Officer (CEO)?
Answer: David Tait
Q3. Indian Railways launched a software of what name that will enable the Railways to keep track of punctuality of trains as well as freight and passenger earnings from anywhere in the country?
Answer: e – Drishti
Explanation: Also, Indian Railways launched “Utkrisht” project to upgrade 140 rakes of Mail/Express trains in the first phase.
Q4. Who were honoured at the 7th ‘Asian of The Year’ awards acknowledging their selfless service and bravery in rescue operations during the devastating floods in Kerala?
Answer: Indian Navy Commander (Pilot) Vijay Varma and Captain (Pilot) P Rajkumar. The winners were announced at the Straits Times Global Outlook Forum 2019 held in Singapore.
Q5. As per Consultancy firm Bain & Company’s latest report states that, India has the fastest growing online retail market among top global economies. India had a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of?
Answer: 53% from 2013 to 2017
Q6. First ever India Indonesia Business forum (IIBF) was held at?
Answer: Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Explanation: India launched ‘Operation Samudra Maitri’ to help disaster hit Indonesia, also, INS Sumitra became the first-ever warship to enter port of Sabang in Indonesia
Q7. Who would replace Muhtar Kent as the next chairman of Coca -Cola company?
Answer: James Quincey
Q8. Vanessa Ponce de Leon of which country won the Miss World 2018 crown at the 68th edition of the prestigious Miss World grand event held in Sanya, China?
Answer: Mexico (Capital: Mexico City, Currency: Peso). India was represented by Anukreethy Vas (Miss India 2018).
Q9. India’s first underwater museum to be established in Union territory of Puducherry will be in which Navy’s vessel?
Answer: INS Cuddalore
Q10. Military Literature Festival 2018 jointly organized by Punjab, Haryana and Indian Army was held in?
Answer: Chandigarh
Q11. India has the highest number of ‘stunted’ children in the world and nearly a third of all stunted children worldwide are to be found in India according to the released Global Nutrition Report, 2018. The report is released by?
Answer: World Health Organisation (WHO) (Headquarter: Geneva). About 46.6 million children in India suffer from stunting due to poor nutrition intake in the long term and repeated infections.
Q12. Which state became the first state in the country to have four international airports with the inauguration of Kannur airport?
Answer: Kerala. The first commercial flight from this airport was of Air India to Abu Dhabi. The other three international airports are Trivandrum International Airport, Cochin International Airport and Calicut International Airport.
Q13. Which world finance body has launched World Bank assisted State of Maharashtra’s Agribusiness and Rural Transformation (SMART) Project to transform rural Maharashtra?
Answer: World Bank
Explanation: Also, According to World Bank’s Migration and Development Brief, India will retain its position as world’s top recipient of remittances in 2018, receiving a total remittance of $80 billion.
Q14. What are the key decisions of RBI’s recent (5th) Monetary Policy Review meeting?
Answer: RBI retained its earlier prediction of GDP i.e. GDP growth for the year 2018-19 would be 7.4%. Also, GDP of first quarter of the next financial year 2019-2020 is projected to be 7.5%.
- Repo Rate: 6.5 per cent.
- Reverse repo rate): 6.25%
- Marginal Standing Facility stands): 6.75%.
- Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) ): 19.5%
- Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR): 4%.
Q21. As per World malaria report by WHO, India has registered what percent reduction in cases from 2016 to 2017?
Answer: 24%
Q22. Union Government has approved building and development of Kartarpur Corridor from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district of Punjab to international border with Pakistan. Kartarpur is located on the banks of river?
Answer: Ravi
Q23. As per National Health Agency, after two months of launch of Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, which state has emerged as the top performer among the states under the scheme?
Answer: Gujarat
Q24. Top Indian boxer Mary Kom (from Manipur) won gold medal (her 6th medal in all) at World Women’s Boxing Championships. The championship was held at?
Answer: New Delhi
Explanation: Sonia Chahal (Silver), Simrajit Kaur (Bronze) and Lovlina Borgohain (Bronze), helped the India finish at the third position overall.
Also, BSNL has signed Indian Boxer Mary Kom as the brand ambassador of the company.
Q25. United Nations selected which two Indian cities to participate in its Global Sustainable Cities 2025?
Answer: Noida and Greater Noida
Explanation: Also, 46th edition of world’s largest IHGF-Delhi Fair was held at India Expo Centre & Mart in Greater Noida.
Q26. Which Indian organisation was chosen by United Nations Environment Program for 2018 Asia Environmental Enforcement Awards?
Answer: Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), India and its enforcement officer RS Sharath.
Q27. Which district of Uttar Pradesh, well known for its hand-woven carpets around the world, was granted the export ‘excellence tag’ by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT)?
Answer: Bhadohi
Q28. Dipa Karmakar won the bronze medal in the Vault event of the Artistic Gymnastics World Cup which was organised in?
Answer: Germany
Q29. Bihar government unveiled 70-feet tall statue of Lord Buddha at?
Answer: Rajgir, Nalanda district, the statue has been installed in the middle of lake Ghora Katora.
Q30. Which member of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has been appointed as the convenor of Task Force that is drafting New Direct Tax Legislation Law?
Answer: Akhilesh Ranjan
Q31. Which country won the seventh title of the Women’s Hockey Champions Trophy held in China with the victory over Australia?
Answer: Netherlands (Capital: Amsterdam, Currency: Euro)
Q32. Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched which scheme to boost Intellectual Property Right (IPR) culture in the Indian defence industry?
Answer: Mission Raksha Gyan Shakti
Q33. Which state has become the first state in the country to implement Emergency Response Support System (ERSS)?
Answer: Himachal Pradesh. Rajnath Singh launched ERSS number 112 for the state.
Explanation: The state also launched Sashakt Mahila Yojna which aims to empower rural women by providing them an interface for organization and socio-economic development.
Q34. Which state government has launched Bhuseva and Bhudaar web portal through which people can view land records online?
Answer: Andhra Pradesh
Q35. Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs launched which portal for quicker processing of loans under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihoods Mission?
Answer: PAiSA’ (Portal for Affordable Credit and Interest Subvention Access) portal
Q36. According to the ‘SBI Ecowrap’ report released by the State Bank of India, the GDP growth in the September quarter (2nd quarter) is expected to decelerate to what percent?
Answer: 7.5-7.6 per cent. Also, the report said that owing to rise in oil prices and moderate growth in exports, the current account deficit of the country will rise to 2.8% of the GDP in the current financial year.
Explanation: Also, Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD) (Headquarter: Paris) released its Economic Outlook 2018 and predicted GDP at market prices to decline marginally to 7.3% in 2019 and 7.4% in 2020.
Q37. According to the 2017-18 annual report of Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), Non- Banking Financial Company (NBFC) sanctioned Mudra loans of what amount under PMMY?
Answer: Rs 27,000 crores. In the same period PSBs lent Rs 92,492.68 crores. Among this, AU Small Finance Bank was the top lender among Small Finance Banks (SFBs) and the State Bank of India (SBI) was the top lender among state-run banks.
Q38. Which country’s president will be chief guest at India’s 70th Republic Day celebrations on 26 January 2019?
Answer: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa (Capital: Pretoria (executive) Bloemfontein (judicial) Cape Town (legislative), Currency: Rand)
Q39. Union Government has constituted six-member committee headed by whom to look at selling of small and marginal oil and gas fields of state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) and Oil India Ltd (OIL) to private and foreign companies to boost domestic output?
Answer: NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar
Q40. Recently what amount of loan was signed by Union Government and Asian Development Bank (ADB) for Odisha Skill Development Project and development of India’s first skill training center in Bhubaneshwar?
Answer: $85 million
Q41. Which small finance bank became the first small finance bank to introduce a new personal loan scheme for salaried individuals?
Answer: Ujjivan Small Finance Bank (Headquarters: Bengaluru). Personal loans starting from Rs 50,000 up to Rs 15 lakhs would be given to individuals who earn more than 15 thousand per month.
Q42. Recently SEBI set up 24-member panel, released the amended SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2018 with new rules for re-classification of a promoter as a public investor. Who was the head of this panel?
Answer: Uday Kotak. As per new rules an outgoing promoter cannot hold over 10 per cent stake in the firm.
Q43. Paytm (parent company One 97 Communications Limited) has recently partnered with which insurance company to offer online insurance premium payments on its platform?
Answer: Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) (Headquarters: Mumbai)
Q44. India has been given chairmanship of Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) from 1st January 2019. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) Plenary 2018, was held at?
Answer: Brussels, capital city of Belgium (Currency: Euro)
Q45. The 24th meeting of Conference of Parties (COP-24) to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) recently began at?
Answer: Katowice, Poland (Capital: Warsaw, Currency: Zloty)
Q46. 2018 G- 20 Summit (13th summit) was held at?
Answer: Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina (Currency: Peso). Also, PM Modi announced that India will host G20 Summit in 2022, when it celebrates its 75th year of Independence.
Next G – 20 summit (14th summit) will be held in Japan.
Q47. 26th Conference of Central and States Statistical Organizations was held at?
Answer: Dharamshala. Theme of this year’s Conference is “Quality Assurance in Official Statistics”.
Explanation: As per CSO, Gross domestic product (GDP) was at 7.1% in the second quarter of the fiscal year.
Q48. According to the report by the International Energy Agency titled ‘World Energy Outlook’, India would surpass US as the 2nd biggest emitter of carbon dioxide from the power sector in the world after China by which year?
Answer: 2030
Explanation: Also, according to research firm Canalys, India has overtaken US to become second largest smartphone market in the July-September 2018 quarter.
Q49. Recently, Nongkrem dance festival, was celebrated by the people of which state?
Answer: Meghalaya.
Explanation: Also, Nagaland recently celebrated Hornbill Festival.
Q50. Indian cueist Pankaj Advani recently won International Billiards and Snooker Federation billiards championship, held at?
Answer: Yangon, Myanmar
Q51. Who has been appointed as the chairman of Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) recently?
Answer: Jalaj Shrivastava
Q52. Who will replace Hasmukh Adhia as the next Revenue Secretary of India?
Answer: Ajay Bhushan Pandey
Q55. Indian army has picked Igla-S missile system as choice for its man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS) recently, Igla – S missile system is of which country?
Answer: Russia
Q56. Four-day regional meeting of World Customs Organisation (WCO) was held recently in?
Answer: Jaipur
Explanation: Also, the 80th session of Policy Commission of World Customs Organization (WCO) was held Mumbai.
Q57. What is India’s position in the Global Annual talent ranking released by renowned IMD Business School, Switzerland?
Answer: 53
Q58. Vice President Venkaiah Naidu recently inaugurated the Indian Armed Forces Memorial at Villers-Guislain town in which country?
Answer: France
Q59. Union Government announced setting up of Animation, Gaming and Visual effects Institute in which city?
Answer: Mumbai
Q60. Aabid Hamid from J&K, India recently has won gold medal in which sport?
Answer: Kick Boxing at World Kick Boxing Championship in Argentina.
Q61. Which is the focus country in the 49th International Film Festival of India being organised in Panaji, Goa?
Answer: Israel. Theme of the festival is “New India”. Jharkhand is the focus state.
Explanation: Best film (Golden Peacock) award was given to Donbass (Ukrainian movie) directed by Sergei Loznitsa. ICFT –UNESCO Gandhi Medal has been given to ‘Walking with the Wind’ film directed by Praveen Morchhale.
Q62. Who was presented “Sumitra Charat Ram Award for Lifetime Achievement” at New Delhi for his immense contribution to the enrichment and promotion of Indian Classical Music?
Answer: Sarod Master Ustad Amjad Ali Khan
Q63. India’s first specialized hospital for elephants by Wildlife SOS NGO was formally opened in?
Answer: Mathura, UP
Q64. Kuldip Singh Chandpuri passed away recently he was from which field?
Answer: Defence. He was the hero of the Longewala battle in 1971 (he was portrayed by Sunny Deol in movie Border).
Q65. Which Indian American has been named by Fortune in its 2018 Business Person of the year list?
Answer: Shantanu Narayen, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Adobe. However, Progressive CEO (US Insurance company) Tricia Griffith is the 2018 FORTUNE Businessperson of the Year.
Q66. Which bank has launched first interactive Credit Card in India with buttons called “Nexxt” Credit Card?
Answer: IndusInd Bank (Headquarters: Mumbai)
Q67. Which exchange launched a mobile app “goBID” and web-based platform for retail investors to buy government securities?
Answer: National Stock Exchange
Q68. Which of the following government organisation has launched its own e – commerce portal recently?
Answer: Department of Post
Q69. Union Government has launched Yuva Sahakar-Cooperative Enterprise Support and Innovation Scheme of National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC). The scheme will be funded by ‘Cooperative Start-up and Innovation Fund (CSIF)’. What is the outlay of this fund?
Answer: Rs. 1000 crores
Q70. PM Modi recently launched APIX (Application Programming Interface Exchange), a banking technology platform at Fintech Festival held at?
Answer: Singapore
Q71. Sunil Mehta committee announced for formation of an asset management company, for resolving large bad loans. What is the name of the company?
Answer: Sashakt India Asset Management
Q72. Union Government has inked $300 million Loan Agreement with which financial institution to support lending by India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL)?
Answer: Asian Development Bank (Headquarters: Philippines)
Explanation: Government of India also signed a $200 million loan with ADB to fund upgradation of 230 kilometres State Highways in Bihar.
Q73. As per the 10th annual ‘Innovation in Retail Banking’ report, digital assistants, social media and third-party channels are expected to be the primary channels for banking by?
Answer: 2022
Q74. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation of India’s first Sri Vishwakarma Skill Development University in which state?
Answer: Haryana (Palwal District)
Q75. 33rd edition of the ASEAN Summit was held at?
Answer: Singapore. The theme of the summit was “Resilient and Innovative”.
Q76. 1st Indo-Japan Business Council- KONNICHI WA PUNE Festival concluded in?
Answer: Pune, Maharashtra
Explanation: Indian Owl Festival, India’s first owl fest, was held at Pingori village of Pune, Maharashtra. Also, World’s largest dome was recently opened in, Pune, Maharashtra
Q77. To commemorate 550th birth anniversary of first Sikh Guru and founder of Sikh religion Guru Nanak, a first-of-its-kind institute of Inter-Faith Studies will be set up at?
Answer: Punjab. A National Implementation Committee (NIC) under Chairmanship of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has been set up to commemorate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak in the country and abroad.
Q78. Shri Ramayana Express, a special tourist train to run on Ramayana circuit covering major spots related to Hindu epic was flagged off by Indian Railways recently from?
Answer: Safdarjung Railway Station, New Delhi. Journey will have two will have two travel components — one each in India and Sri Lanka.
Q79. Veteran Actor and Politician MH Ambareesh who was popularly known as “Rebel Star” passed away recently. He was from which state?
Answer: Karnataka
Q80. As per the 6th edition & 2019 version of India Skills Report, which state topped the list of states with the highest employability?
Answer: Andhra Pradesh
Q81. Which Indian PSU won the CII-Exim Bank Business Excellence Award, for being a role- model organization, at the Quality Summit held in Bengaluru?
Answer : BEL
Explanation: Also, Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank, Headquarter: Mumbai) announced extension of credit facility of USD 500 million to Tanzania (Capital: Dodoma, Currency: Shilling) for water supply projects in the country.
Q82. Which Indian actor was awarded the third Sayaji Ratna Award for his social contribution recently?
Answer: Amitabh Bacchhan
Q83. Which Indian shuttler has won Syed Modi India Grand Prix Gold badminton title 2018 held in Lucknow, UP in men’s singles category?
Answer: Sameer Verma
Q84. Kim Jong Yang has been elected as the new president of INTERPOL (Headquarter: Lyon, France). He is from?
Answer: South Korea (Capital: Seoul, Currency: Won)
Q85. Popular teenage singer Nahid Afrin has been appointed by UNICEF as the first ‘Youth Advocate’ of the north-eastern region to fight for child rights. She is from which state?
Answer: Assam
Q86. Who has been appointed as the next chairman of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)?
Answer: Arvind Saxena
Q87. The International Gita Festival 2018 will be organised at?
Answer: Kurukshetra, Haryana
Q88. Casio has launched world’s first Goods and Services Tax (GST) calculator in India for simplify the GST calculations for the tax payers. Casio is headquartered at?
Answer: Japan
Q89. Biennial World Congress on Mountain Medicine was recently organised in Kathmandu, Nepal. What was its theme?
Answer: Mountain Medicine in the Heart of the Himalayas
Q90. Annual ‘Jangalmahal’ festival was recently held in which state?
Answer: West Bengal
Q91. Which Pharma company recently launched India’s First chatbot named ‘ANYA’ to provide medically verified information for health-related queries?
Answer: Lupin
Q92. Which country won the 2018 Davis Cup Tennis Tournament?
Answer: Croatia (Capital: Zagreb, Currency: Kuna) defeated France.
Q93. International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) announced to host the 4-day 50th Union World Conference on Lung Health in which city?
Answer: Hyderabad
Q94. Who has been senior appointed as the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India?
Answer: Sunil Arora
Q95. Which state government approved renaming the Jolly Grant airport after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee?
Answer: Uttarakhand
Q96. Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved continuation of nine sub- schemes of umbrella scheme ACROSS. The scheme deals with?
Answer: Climate and Weather Forecasting
Q97. Seventh edition of the ‘International Tourism Mart’ was held in which state recently?
Answer: Agartala, Tripura
Q98. To give boost to Malabar tourism, which state’s Tourism Department launched ______ a Virtual Tour Guide’?
Answer: SMILE(‘Small and Medium Industries Leveraging Experiential’)
Q99. The Fire Burns Blue: A History of Women’s Cricket in India’, is a book on women’s cricket co-authored by Siddhanta Pathak and?
Answer: Karunya Keshav
Q100. According to a study named ‘Ease of Moving Index’ which Indian city has been adjudged best among all metro cities in public transport?
Answer: Kolkata. Patna and Bhubaneswar topped the list for growing and emerging cities.
Q101. According to the World Bank’s latest Ease of Doing Business 2019 report, what is India’s rank?
Answer: 77. New Zealand topped the rankings.
Q102. India recently signed a $75 billion currency swap agreement which country?
Answer: Japan
Q103. Recently which group got RBI licence to open Rs. 1000 crore NBFC?
Answer: Kirloskar group. The NBFC would be headed by Vimal Bhandari as CEO.
Q104. RBI allowed banks to provide PCE to bonds issued by the systemically important non- deposit taking non-banking financial companies (NBFC-ND-SIs). What does ‘PCE’ stand for?
Answer: Partial Credit Enhancement. This shall be done by maintaining the exposure limit of the bank within the aggregate PCE exposure limit of 20 percent.
Q105. Who was elected president of International Boxing Association (AIBA) recently?
Answer: Gafur Rahimov of Uzbekistan (Capital: Tashkent, Currency: Som)
Q106. First-of-its-kind ‘Little India Gate’ was inaugurated at Madras Village area in Medan city of which country?
Answer: Indonesia (Capital: Jakarta, Currency: Rupiah)
Q107. The film “Pather Panchali” which has been listed in BBC’s list of 100 best foreign language films was directed by?
Answer: Satyajit Ray
Q108. As per engineering firm Arcadis, which city has maintained its rank as number one Asian city in the Sustainability Index?
Answer: Singapore
Q109. “Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Council of Ministers Meeting” was held recently in which country?
Answer: South Africa
Explanation: The Theme of the IORA meeting was: “IORA: Uniting the Peoples of Africa, Asia, Australasia and the Middle East through enhanced cooperation for Peace, Stability and Sustainable Development”.
Q110. To combat Air Pollution first Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health was conducted at?
Answer: Geneva. Theme of the conference was: “Improving Air Quality, Combatting Climate Change-Saving Lives”.
Q111. Which city hosted the 23rd edition of the World Corporate Games recently?
Answer: Qatar (Capital: Doha, Currency: Riyal)
Q112. Which Indian nuclear submarine has become the first submarine to successfully complete first deterrence patrol?
Answer: INS Arihant
Q113. India has been ranked ________ in the world in terms of web-borne threats, according to a recent report by global cybersecurity company, Kaspersky Lab?
Answer: 12th
Q114. Which Western Pacific nation has become the first country to ban many kinds of sunscreen, in a move to protect its coral reefs?
Answer: Palau (Capital: Ngerulmud, Currency: USD)
Q115. Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp (HSBC) India and ING Bank Belgium have jointly executed a trade transaction using blockchain enabling cross border payment from a US-based company to which Indian company?
Answer: Reliance Industries
Q116. India recently signed an agreement to link which country’s Asia Health and Well-being Initiative (AHWIN) with India’s healthcare initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat?
Answer: Japan
Q117. Which Insurance company recently launched the ‘Cyber Security Awareness Week’ from October 21 to October 27, 2018?
Answer: HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company
Q118. Who has replaced Elon Musk as the new chairman of electric car maker Tesla?
Answer: Robyn Denholm (from Australia)
Q119. According to a report by “which? Travel”, which is the safest country to visit?
Answer: Iceland (Capital: Reykjavik, Currency: Krona). India has been ranked at 17th position in the list of 20 countries.
Q120. In order to encourage women voters to vote in the recent assembly elections Election Commission has set up ‘Sangwari’ polling booths in which state?
Answer: Chattisgarh
Q121. Which online platform has launched “PowerOf18” campaign aimed at encouraging youth to contribute in public debates and participate in civic engagement for the 2019 General Elections?
Answer: Twitter
Q122. Union government awarded the which state’s police for “good practices” under the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS), an e-governance project?
Answer: Assam
Q123. 34th National Junior Athletics Championships 2018 were recently held in which state?
Answer: Jharkhand
Q124. The government recently announced to release commemorative coin of what denomination on occasion of 75th anniversary of hoisting of Tricolour by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose at Cellular Jail, Port Blair on December 30, 1943?
Answer: Rs. 75
Q125. The 38th India International Trade Fair (IITF) was recently held at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, which state was the partner state of the fair?
Answer: Jharkhand. The theme of this edition of fair was “Rural Enterprises in India”. Afghanistan is partner country, while Nepal is focus country.
Q126. Indian Army inducted three important combat proven artillery gun system recently, M777 is one of those, it has been imported from which country?
Answer: M777 A2 ultra-light howitzers (ULH) (imported from US). The other two are K-9 Vajra (imported from South Korea) guns and ‘Composite Gun Towing Vehicle’ (manufactured by Ashok Leyland, India).
Q127. United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and which e-commerce giant have formed strategic partnership to support efforts to eliminate hunger globally by 2030?
Answer: Ali Baba
Q128. In a historic achievement PM Modi inaugurated India’s first Inland Multi-Modal Terminal Port on National Waterways-I at?
Answer: Ramnagar in Varanasi
Explanation: In a historic achievement PM Modi inaugurated India’s first Inland Multi-Modal Terminal Port on National Waterways-I (Haldia to Prayagraj) on river Ganga at Ramnagar in Varanasi and received first container cargo belonging to PepsiCo.
Also, Ramnagar Multi-Modal is one of the four terminals being constructed on National Waterways-I (NW1) on River Ganga. The other three terminals are Sahibganj, Haldia and Gazipur.
Also, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) launched a dedicated portal named FOCAL to connect cargo owners and shippers with real time data on availability of vessels.
Q129. Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd. (ISPRL) has constructed and commissioned underground rock caverns (storage Units) at three locations, Name them?
Answer: Mangalore (1.5 MMT), Vishakhapatnam (1.33 MMT), and Padur, Karnataka (2.5 MMT).
Explanation: The total 5.33 MMT capacity under phase-I of the programme is currently estimated to supply approximately 9.5 days of India’s crude requirement.
Q130. Aimed at cutting down fish imports which state government recently announced a Rs. 378 crores investment in Aqua Mission?
Answer: Meghalaya
Explanation: Also, world’s only autumn cherry blossom festival was recently held in Meghalaya.
Q131. Union Government has appointed whom as the next chairperson of Competition Commission of India (CCI)?
Answer: Ashok Kumar Gupta
Q132. Moody’s Investor Service in its report titled ‘Global Macro Outlook 2019-20' stated that Indian economy will slow down to what percent in 2019?
Answer: 7.3%
Q133. Writer-critic Dr Debabhuson Borah for his book on literary criticism titled 'Nirbochon' was given Munin Barkotoki Literary Award 2018. The award is given primarily for works in which language?
Answer: Assamese
Q134. Who was presented with France’s highest civilian honour Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur, in recognition of his contribution towards strengthening of Indo- French cultural ties?
Answer: Jawaharlal Sarin. Also, Azim Premji (Wipro Chairman) was awarded the same prize recently.
Q135. According to a recent research paper ‘Mobility & Congestion in Urban India,’ by National bureau of economic research (NBER) which Indian city has been ranked as the most congested Indian city?
Answer: Bengaluru. In a separate index ranking fastest Indian cities Ranipet (Tamil Nadu) has the fastest traffic.
Q136. Having facilities like: free wi-fi, CCTV surveillance, public information display system and on-board announcements, the “MO Bus” service was recently inaugurated in which state?
Answer: Odisha
Explanation: Odisha also recently launched a new programme for transparency and awareness on various government schemes, called- the Peoples Empowerment Enabling Transparency and Accountability or PEETHA.
Q137. Which world body has withdrawn ‘Ambassador of Conscience’ Award, from Myanmar Councillor Aung San Suu Kyi, for her inability to stop violence against the Rohingya Muslim minority?
Answer: Amnesty International (Headquarter: London, England)
Q138. The first Global Cooling Summit was recently inaugurated by Union Environment Minister, Harshvardhan at?
Answer: New Delhi
Explanation: The aim of the summit was to address climate threat that comes from growing demands of Air Conditioners.
Also, Global IT Challenge for Youth with Disabilities (GITC) 2018 was recently organised by in New Delhi by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) in association with World Bank.
Q139. Union Government has approved strategic disinvestment of its entire 73.44% share in Dredging Corporation of India (DCIL) to consortium of four ports. Name them?
Answer: Vishakhapatnam Port Trust (Andhra Pradesh), Paradeep Port Trust (Odisha), Jawahar Lal Nehru Port Trust (Maharashtra) and Kandla Port Trust (Gujarat).
Q140. “Notes of a Dream: The Authorized Biography of A.R. Rahman” has been written by?
Answer: Krishna Trilok
Q141. To improve the socio-economic conditions of the weavers residing in the phumdis at Loktak Lake and build tourism first ever “Water Handloom Hut” in the North East region was inaugurated at?
Answer: Loktak Lake in Imphal, Manipur
Explanation: Also, the annual Sangai Festival was celebrated recently in Manipur.
Q142. India and Singapore recently held its 25th joint naval exercise SIMBEX at?
Answer: Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal. INS Sahyadri took part from India’s side.
Q143. According to an annual report 2018 Pneumonia and Diarrhoea Progress Report released by International Vaccine Access Center (IVAC) (Headquarter: Baltimore, USA) nearly half a million pneumonia and diarrhoea deaths still occurred in two countries. Which are these countries?
Answer: India and Nigeria (Capital: Abuja Currency: Niara)
Q144. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu recently was on a seven-day visit to three South African nations. Name them?
Answer: Botswana (capital: Gaborone, currency: Pula), Zimbabwe (capital: Harare, currency: USD, Euro and Rand) and Malawi (capital: Lilongwe, currency: Kwacha)
Q145. Which country won the 2018 Fed Cup Trophy (International women’s tennis tournament) for the 6th time in eight years by defeating defending champions US?
Answer: Czech Republic (Capital: Prague, Currency: Koruna)
Q146. 6th Indian Social Work Congress was recently held in?
Answer: New Delhi, Also, during this event Late Dr. Martha Farrell was honoured with the “Lifetime Achievement Award”.
Also, International Symposium to Promote Innovation & Research in Energy Efficiency (INSPIRE 2018) launched in New Delhi.
Q147. Union minister of state for Ayush Shripad Yesso Naik (Lok Sabha Constituency: North Goa) laid the foundation stone for the All India Institute of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy?
Answer: Dhargal, North Goa
Explanation: Union minister of state for Ayush Shripad Yesso Naik also inaugurated fourth International Ayurveda Congress (IAvC) held in Leiden, Netherlands.
Q148. In a recent move of RBI which aimed at liberalising norms governing External Commercial Borrowings (ECBs) for infrastructure creation, RBI has reduced minimum average maturity required for the ECBs to how many years?
Answer: Three earlier it was five years, Additionally, it also has reduced average maturity requirement for mandatory hedging to five years from earlier ten years.
Explanation: Also, RBI has reduced the mandatory hedging provision to 70 per cent from 100 per cent to ease the External Commercial Borrowing (ECB) norms. The move will help Indian companies to borrow foreign currency-denominated ECBs for more liquidity.
Q149. SEBI recently gave nod for launching its State Shelter Fund for attracting investments in the affordable housing segment in which state?
Answer: Tamil Nadu
Q150. Which Indian golfer became the first Indian to win Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the year award recently?
Answer: Shubhankar Sharma. He also became the youngest and the fifth Indian to win Asian Tour Order of Merit in golf.
QQ151. 14th edition of Jashne Bachpan, a theatre festival was recently held at?
Answer: New Delhi. Also, “Hausla 2018” national festival of children of the Ministry of Women and Child Development was held recently in New Delhi.
Explanation: Also, the first India-ASEAN InnoTech Summit was held in New Delhi. It was organized by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI).
Also, the India Water Impact Summit-2018 was held in New Delhi.
Q152. Which state government recently launched ‘Gau Samriddhi Plus scheme’ or ‘Cow Samriddhi Plus Scheme’?
Answer: Kerala
Q153. Which word was recently announced as the world of the year by Oxford Dictionary?
Answer: Toxic
Explanation: “Single – Use” is the word of the year as per Collins. Also, UK’s Cambridge Dictionary has confirmed “nomophobia” the inaugural People’s Word of the Year (2018).
Q154. T. S. Kanaka recently passed away, she was the Asia’s first _____?
Answer: Neurosurgeon
Q155. Who was appointed as full-time Director of the Enforcement Directorate (ED)?
Answer: Sanjay Kumar Mishra
Q156. Which sportsperson was appointed as first ever youth ambassador of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) India?
Answer: Hima Das
Q157. On October 31, 2018, on the 143rd birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s first Home Minister, a 182-metre high Statue of Unity was unveiled by-
Answer: PM Modi
Explanation: The statue was built at a cost of Rs. 2989 crores and is located in Gujarat, 3.2 kms downstream of Narmada Dam. The statue was designed by Padma-Bhushan winning sculptor Ram V Sutar and was built by Larsen and Toubro.
It stands 177 feet higher than the current world’s tallest, China’s Spring Temple Buddha and is twice taller than Statue of Liberty, US.
Also, Textiles Minister Smriti Zubin Irani unveiled the Fabric of Unity on the occasion in Gurugram in Haryana.
Q158. Karnataka Social Welfare Department launched which scheme to boost employment opportunities for SC/ST youth through entrepreneurship?
Answer: Samruddhi scheme
Explanation: Karnataka government recently also launched Unnati scheme, which will invest up to Rs 20 crore to create infrastructure for start-ups and entrepreneurs from a marginalised or SC/ST background.
Q159. 19th Meeting of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) was held under the Chairmanship of -
Answer: Union Finance Minister, Shri Arun Jaitley
Q160. Which sports body will be awarded the FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry) India Sports Awards 2018 for the category of Best National Sports Federation (NSF)?
Answer: Athletics Federation of India
Q161. Which team beat Delhi to lift its 3rd Vijay Hazare Trophy title at M Chinnaswamy stadium, in Bengaluru, Karnataka?
Answer: Mumbai
Explanation: Also, India Blue team defeated India Red to lift the 2017-18 Duleep Trophy.
Q162 15th edition of World Wrestling Championship recently concluded in Budapest, Hungary. What was India’s performance?
Answer: India was at the 17th place with 2 medals – 1 silver and 1 bronze. Bajrang Punia bagged the silver medal. Pooja Dhanda won Bronze medal.
Q163 Which female tennis player has become the first recipient of the Chris Evert Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) World No.1 Trophy?
Answer: Simona Halep of Romania (Capital: Bucharest, Currency: Leu)
Q164 An international standard Stadium for differently-abled was announced by the Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Thaawarchand Gehlot. The stadium would be located at?
Answer: Shillong, Meghalaya (CM: Conrad Sangama, Governor: Tathagata Roy)
Explanation: Also, the first edition of North East Olympic Games 2018 was held at Main Stadium Khuman Lampak Sports Complex, in Imphal, Manipur.
Q165 As per the Asian Economic Integration Report 2018 by Asian Development Bank which country hosted the highest number of outward international migrants (17 million) in 2017?
Answer: India. It was followed by China and Bangladesh.
Q166 The second International conference on Primary Health Care (PHC) was inaugurated at?
Answer: Astana, Kazakhstan (currency: Tenge). J P Nadda, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare addressed the conference, on the theme “The Future of Primary Health Care”.
Q167 India’s Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) signed a pact with which country’s aerospace industries’ worth USD 777 million?
Answer: Israel (Capital: Jerusalem, Currency: Shekel)
Q168 To combat extreme impacts of climate change on people living in the coastal states of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha, Green Climate Fund (GCF) has approved what amount for supporting climate resilience?
Answer: USD 43.4 million
Q169 India released its first engineless semi-high-speed train called?
Answer: Train 18 (Built by Integrated Coach Factory, Chennai). It breached the 180 kmph speed limit in the Kota-Sawai Madhopur section.
Q170 Union HRD Ministry has constituted an Expert Group headed by whom to formulate a draft policy to reduce weight of schoolbag?
Answer: Professor Ranjana Arora of NCERT
Q171 India’s investment promotion body, called ______ has won United Nations (UN) Award for excellence in promoting investments in sustainable development.
Answer: “Invest India”
Q172 Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) is going to issue masala bonds of what amount to mobilise funds for various development works?
Answer: Rs. 5,000 crores
Q173 International Conference on Status and Protection of Coral Reefs (STAPCOR – 2018) was held at?
Answer: Bangaram Island, Lakshadweep. The theme of the conference was “Reef for Life”.
Q174 Instituted by the Indian Council of Food and Agriculture (ICFA), the first World Agriculture Prize was given to?
Answer: Prof. M.S. Swaminathan
Q175 Recently by opening over 16 lakh postal savings accounts under the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana which state has created a national record?
Answer: Tamil Nadu
Explanation: Under the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, the government has cut the minimum annual deposit requirement for accounts to Rs 250 from Rs 1,000 earlier.
Q176 Rajkumar Singhajit Singh, a Manipuri dancer, Chhayanaut, a cultural organization of Bangladesh and Ram Vanji Sutar a renowned sculptor was awarded which award for Cultural Harmony for the year 2014, 2015 and 2016 respectively?
Answer: Tagore Award
Q177 The Central Vigilance Commission observed the Vigilance Awareness Week from ____ to ________to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel.
Answer: 29th October to 3rd November, 2018. The theme of Vigilance Awareness Week-2018 is Eradicate Corruption-Build a New India.
Q178 US-based which Indian writer has won 2018 Shakti Bhatt First Book Prize for her debut book “Ants Among Elephants: An Untouchable Family and the Making of Modern India?
Answer: Sujatha Gidla
Q179 10th Nuclear Energy Conclave was inaugurated by Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, in New Delhi. What was the theme of the conclave?
Answer: “Nuclear Power: Towards A Clean and Base Load Energy”
Q180 Which is the only Indian firm to be featured among the top 25 companies in the Forbes’ global 2000 best employers list?
Answer: Larsen & Toubro. It has ranked at 22 position.
Q181. Who was awarded 19th Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award for Excellence in Public Administration by the Vice President in New Delhi?
Answer: Fali S. Nariman an eminent jurist
Q182. 5th National Summit on Good and Replicable Practices and Innovations in Public Health Care Systems in India was held at?
Answer: Kaziranga in Assam.
Q183. Name the joint military exercise between United Arab Emirates (UAE) and United States (US) which was held near Dubai?
Answer: Iron Magic 19
Q184. Uzbekistan’s (Capital: Tashkent, Currency: Som) ambassador to India Farhod Arziev inaugurated a 4-day international dance festival titled “Udbhav Utsav” at?
Answer: Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.
Q185. Who inaugurated 3-day SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) Discourse 2 conference in Panaji, Goa?
Answer: Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu
Q186. According to the 7th edition of the ‘Word Cooperative Monitor’ report 2018, which of India’s fertilizer major has been ranked as the biggest cooperative in the world?
Answer: IFFCO
Q187 Name the girl from Haryana who won the Miss Deaf Asia 2018 title at an international pageant held in Prague?
Answer: Nishtha Dudeja
Q188. According to survey The Teen Age Girls (TAG)’s report, conducted by Project Nanhi Kali, which state topped the TAG index in the state category?
Answer: Kerala
Explanation: Mumbai topped it in the city category
Q189. According to Brand Finance’s annual Nation Brands 2018 report what was India’s rank in the 10 most valuable nation brands in the world for the year 2018?
Answer: 9
Q190. European Parliament awarded the prestigious Sakharov human rights prize to jailed Ukrainian filmmaker-
Answer: Oleg Sentsov
Q191. Life Insurer PNB MetLife launched AI powered customer service app called?
Answer: Khushi.
Q192. Organised by Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), India and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) (Headquarter: Austria, Vienna) 27th Fusion Energy Conference (FEC 2018) was held in?
Answer: Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
Q193. What is the name of India’s first ever passenger cruise ship which was launched between Mumbai and Goa?
Answer: “Angriya”. The cruise ship Angriya has been named after first Maratha Navy Admiral Kanhoji Angre and the great Angria bank coral reef near Vijaydurg, Maharashtra.
Q194. Currently at seventh position in Global Aviation market India will be _______ biggest aviation market after China and US by 2024 according to International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) (Headquarter: Havana, Cuba) 20- year air passenger forecast report?
Answer: 3rd
Q195. The Indian Mobile Congress’ second edition (IMC-2018) was held recently at?
Answer: New Delhi. The theme was “New Digital Horizons. Connect. Create. Innovate”.
Q196. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched which portal and app to enhance collaboration towards the service of the weaker sections of society, through technology?
Answer: “Main Nahin Hum”
Q197. Which country has announced to acquire U.S. software company Red Hat Inc for $34 billion?
Answer: IBM
Q198. Asma Jahangir (Pakistan), Rebeca Gyumi (Tanzania) (Capital: Dodoma, Currency: Shilling), Wapichana (Brazil) Capital: Brasilia, Currency: Real) and Front-Line Defender, a human rights organisation of Ireland was recently awarded which award?
Answer: UN Human Rights Award for 2018.
Q199. Name the 23-year old Indian scientist, who won the World Health Summit start-up award, 2018?
Answer: Roopam Sharma. He was awarded for his invention, Manovue – the world’s first intelligent personal assisting system for the visually impaired. The event was held in Berlin.
Q200. According to a Lloyd’s report, “A world at risk- Closing the insurance gap,” India has the _________ largest insurance gap in the world of USD 27 billion (in absolute terms) after China.
Answer: Second
Q201. Which country recently launched the world’s first sovereign blue bond worth US$15 million to finance sustainable marine and fisheries projects?
Answer: Seychelles (Capital: Victoria, Currency: Rupee)
Q202. According to a new Standard Chartered study- ‘The Emerging Affluent Study 2018– Climbing the Prosperity Ladder’, which country is Asia’s most investment savvy economy?
Answer: India
Q203. State Bank of India (SBI) has entered into an agreement with which payments solution provider for establishing a card acceptance and digital payment platform?
Answer: Hitachi Payment Services
Explanation: State Bank of India has made Asian Games gold medallist Swapna Barman (Heptathlete) as brand ambassador for its digital app YONO (You only need one).
Q204. How was India’s performance in the 2018 Asian Para Games held in Jakarta, Indonesia?
Answer: India finished the 2018 Asian Para Games held in Jakarta, Indonesia with a total of 72 medals (15 gold, 24 silver and 33 bronze) medals. India secured ninth position. Mariyappan Thangavelu (High Jumper) was the flag bearer in the opening ceremony.
Q205. Name the Dutch photographer who has won Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2018. He got the award for his photo titled “The Golden Couple”?
Answer: Marsel van Oosten
Q206. Name the Stephen Hawking’s last book which was launched recently after his death.
Answer: “Brief Answers to the Big Questions”
Explanation: Also, according to the QS Asia University Rankings 2019, National University of Singapore is the best educational University of Asia, IIT Bombay is the best rank Indian Institute with the All Asia rank of 33.
Also, as per Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings for 2019 Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru has secured number one position among Indian universities.
Q207. Which Indian educational Institute was ranked the best Indian Institute in the recent QS India University Rankings 2019?
Answer: IIT Bombay
Explanation: Also, according to the QS Asia University Rankings 2019, National University of Singapore is the best educational University of Asia, IIT Bombay is the best rank Indian Institute with the All Asia rank of 33.
Also, as per Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings for 2019 Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru has secured number one position among Indian universities.
Q208. India’s first agri and food business online learning platform was launched at the SR Innovation Exchange (SRiX) Campus at?
Answer: Warangal in Telangana.
Q209. India announced a railway station named, the Keylong station, to be built inside a tunnel at a height of 3,000 metres in which state?
Answer: Himachal Pradesh. It will be built along the Bilaspur-Manali-Leh line close to the China -India border.
Explanation: Also, in Lippa-Asra wildlife sanctuary in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, snow leopard was spotted recently.
Q210. Natwar Thakkar died in Guwahati, Assam. He was a-
Answer: Gandhian and Socialist
Q211. M N Paloor died recently, He was a-
Answer: Malayalam poet. Also, Chemmanam Chacko died in recently, he was a Malayalam poet and Sahitya Akademi awardee.
Q212. What has been declared as the official mascot for the Odisha Men’s Hockey World Cup, to be held in Odisha (Kalinga Stadium)?
Answer: Turtle ‘Olly’
Explanation: Indian men’s hockey team captain Manpreet Singh inked pact with Adidas. Also, former Indian Hockey player Sandeep Michael passed away recently.
Q213. Name India’s first judo medallist at the Olympic level who won a silver medal at Youth Olympics Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina?
Answer: Thangjam Tababi Devi (from Manipur)
Q214. Who won an alternative award -The New Academy Prize formed in protest to the Nobel Literature Prize?
Answer: Maryse Conde (from France) ]
Q215. Who was selected as India’s first ‘Miss Trans Queen’?
Answer: Veena Sendre (from Chhattisgarh)
Q216. According to the RTI rating by Access Info Europe and the Centre for Law and Democracy, India ranked at what position out of 123 countries?
Answer: Sixth
Q217. As per World Bank’s Human Capital Index (HCI), India stands at what position out of 157 countries?
Answer: 115
Explanation: According to the HCI, a child born in India today will be only 44 per cent as productive. Girls fared slightly better at 0.45 than boys, who scored 0.43. The HCI seek to measure the amount of human capital that a child born today can expect on attaining the age of 18. Singapore topped the rating.
Q218. Which University was named as World’s Most Innovative University by Reuters news agency rankings?
Answer: Stanford University
Q219. India’s first India-Israel Innovation Centre (IIIC), an entrepreneurial technology hub, was recently launched in?
Answer: Bengaluru
Q220. RBI (RBI Governor: Shaktikanta Das from Odisha) in consultation with SEBI and the Union government proposed a VRR for FPIs to invest in debt markets. What is the full form of VRR?
Answer: Voluntary Retention Route
Explanation: Under this, a foreign portfolio investor will be required to invest a minimum of 67% of the committed portfolio size (CPS) within the one-month period. After this FPIs will be eligible to invest in any government security, including treasury bills, corporate debt instruments, including commercial papers. They can also take part in repo for liquidity but given their amount doesn’t exceed 10% of their investment under VRR.
Q221. RBI recently released the direction for the ETPs. What is the full form of ETP?
Answer: Electronic Trading Platforms
Explanation: Stock exchanges are not included in the ETPs. Any entity wanting to operate as an ETP, has to obtain the permission of the RBI and must also possess and maintain a minimum net-worth of Rs 5 crore at all times. ETP directions come into force with effect from October 05, 2018.
Q222. Country’s first 58- acre Second Generation (2G) Ethanol Bio-Refinery plant has been set up at?
Answer: Bargarh district of Odisha.
Q223. PM Modi has unveiled a 64-foot-tall statue of peasant leader Sir Chotu Ram at-
Answer: Sampla in Rohtak.
Q224. Number of Asiatic lions in Gir sanctuary recently died due to which deadly virus?
Answer: Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) and protozoa infections
Q225. Who was appointed as Chairman of the Working Committee and Director on the Board of the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE) (Headquarter: London)?
Answer : Vikram Limaye
Q226. Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) (Headquarter: Lucknow) launched a six-day national level entrepreneurship awareness campaign named?
Answer: Udyam Abhilasha.
Q227. National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) to change the board and management control of Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS) appointed 6 members panel. The panel is headed by?
Answer : Uday Kotak
Explanation: Vineet Nayyar has been appointed as the Vice-chairman and Managing Director (MD) of the Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS).
Q228. Ekalabya committee selected which Odia hockey player for the prestigious Ekalabya Puraskar, 2018?
Answer: Lilima Minz
Explanation: Also, two other sportswomen were felicitated with the award. They are: weight lifter Jhili Dalabehera and Badminton player Rutuparna Panda.
Q229. NSE Indices launched how many dynamic asset allocation indices designed to combine equity and debt?
Answer: Two
Explanation: These indices are: Nifty 50 & short duration debt –Dynamic P/E index and Nifty 50 & short duration debt – Dynamic P/B index. The indices compare the current price- earnings ratio (P/E) or price-book ratio (P/B) with historical P/E or P/B ratio of Nifty 50 in the previous seven years. In these indices, the maximum allocation to equity is 80 per cent and minimum allocation is 65 per cent.
Q230. International Finance Corporation (IFC) the finance arm of World Bank approved investment of what amount in India Resurgence Fund (IRF)?
Answer : $ 100 million. India Resurgence Fund (IRF) is a joint venture of Parimal Enterprise Limited and Bain Capital.
Explanation: IFC also invested $100 million in Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Ltd. (M&M) to give financial assistance to small and medium enterprises.
Q231. Norwegian Nobel Committee has selected which two persons jointly to award 2018 Nobel Peace Prize?
Answer : Dr. Denis Mukwege (Congo (Capital: Kinshasha, Currency: Franc and Zaire)), Nadia Murad (Iraq (Capital: Baghdad, Currency: Dinar) They were given award for their efforts to end use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict.
Q232. Chennai based Geographical Indication Registry and Intellectual Property India has granted Geographical Tag to Alphonso mango of?
Answer : Maharashtra
Explanation: Shahi Litchi from Bihar has received Geographical Indication (GI) as well. MP’s Kadaknath chicken also gets GI tag. “Invaluable Treasures of Incredible India” is the tagline of GI Tag.
Q233. RBI increased lenders’ single borrower exposure limit for Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) which do not finance infrastructure, from 10% to what percent of capital funds?
Answer : 15%
Q234. Surpassing Accenture, which IT company has become the world’s largest pure-play information technology (IT) and consulting firm servicing mega banks and insurers?
Answer: TCS
Q235. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, of which location has developed an innovative technology for “Drinking Water Disinfection System” with the trade name “OneerTM”?
Answer : Lucknow
Explanation: Also, fourth India International Science Festival 2018 (IISF 2018) was held in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. The theme of this edition of the Science. Festival is “Science for Transformation”.
Also, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated three-day long Krishi Kumbh 2018 in Lucknow, to enable technology driven solution to farmers and double their income.
Q236. Name the MD & CEO of ICICI Prudential Asset Management who was elected as the chairperson of Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI)?
Answer : Nimesh Shah
Q237. Which Indian minister was awarded the 4th annual Carnot Prize 2018 by University of Pennsylvania, United States?
Answer: Minister of Railways & Coal and former Minister of Power, Coal, New & Renewable Energy and Mines Piyush Goyal (MP (Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra)
Q238. Who has been awarded the International Olympic Committee’s Sport and Active Society Commission’s Grant Award for his contribution to sports for development?
Answer: Suheil F. Tondon
Q239. Renowned composer, lyricist, writer Mohammed Zahur Khayyam Hashmi, will be conferred with which award for Lifetime Achievement?
Answer : Hridaynath award
Q240. The world’s longest sea bridge is Zhuhai-Macao Bridge between China and?
Answer : Hong Kong
Explanation: India’s longest river bridge of length 19.3 Km will be built across the Brahmaputra, connecting Dhubri in Assamto Phulbari in Meghalaya, by 2026-27. Currently Dhola–Sadiya Bridge, also referred to as the Bhupen Hazarika Setu in Assam is India’s longest Bridge.
Q241. Who won the 2018 Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year (Asia) Award for his photograph ‘Pipe Owls’, at the Natural History Museum, London?
Answer: Arshdeep Singh
Q242. Union Government has appointed whom as the Director General of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Secretary of the Department of Scientific and Research (DSIR)?
Answer: Shekhar Mande
Q243. Who was elected as treasurer of World Steel Association (WSA) for one-year period. WSA is headquartered at Brussels, Belgium?
Answer: Sajjan Jindal
Q244. IRCTC has launched Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered chatbot of what name to help its users answer various queries?
Answer: Ask Disha ((Digital Interaction to Seek Help Anytime)
Q245. The first joint military exercise named “Dharma Guardian” between India and which country will be held at the Army’s Counter-Insurgency Warfare School at Vairengte (Mizoram)?
Answer: Japan
Explanation: The 3rd edition of Japan-India Maritime Exercise (JIMEX) commenced at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Also, India and the U.S. announced participation in the bilateral ‘Cope India’ air exercise to a trilateral format in West Bengal this month. Also, India and United States also recently, completed the final manoeuvres of their three-day tactical exercise called ‘Vajra Kaya ‘which is part of their joint military drill ‘Vajra Prahar 2018’ in Jaipur.
Q246. Which Hindustani classical music instrumentalist will be awarded annual Ustad Chand Khan Lifetime Achievement Award?
Answer: Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt
Q247. Anna Burns from Ireland won the Man Booker Prize 2018 for which of her novel?
Answer: Milkman
Q248. Name the Writer, journalist and critic who bagged the prestigious ‘Vimala V Pai Vishwa’ Konkani best book award for the year 2018?
Answer: Writer, journalist and critic, H M Pernal bagged the prestigious ‘Vimala V Pai Vishwa’ Konkani best book award for the year 2018. He was conferred this award for ‘Beeg Ani Beegath’, a collection of short stories in Konkani.
Q249. India was ranked at what position out of 140 countries in World Economic Forum (WEF)’s Index on Most Competitive Economy for 2018?
Answer: 58
Q250. Paul G. Allen, passed away in United States recently, he was a co- founder of?
Answer: Microsoft
Q251. Who was India’s flag bearer in the recently concluded Summer Youth Olympic Games held in Buenos Aires, Argentina?
Answer: Manu Bhaker
Explanation: Jeremy Lalrinnunga (Weightlifting) was India's flag bearer at the closing ceremony. Russia topped the medals tally. India obtained 14th position (as per IOA) with 13 Medals: 3 gold, 9 silver and 1 bronze.
Q252. Canelo Álvarez has signed the richest contract in the history of sports, which is a 5- year deal worth $365 million (over Rs 2,680 crore) with streaming service DAZN. He is from which country?
Answer: Mexico
Q253. According to the 2018 Global Hunger Index (GHI) India was ranked at what position?
Answer: 103
Q254. Governments of which country and the UK, with support from the World Bank launched a new Global Risk Financing Facility (GRiF) to support vulnerable countries to climate and disaster shocks?
Answer: Germany
Q255. According to 2018 Henley Index, which country surpassed Singapore to have the most powerful passport?
Answer: Japan. India was ranked at 81st spot.
Explanation: As per Global Passport Index Singapore tops the index; The Indian passport was ranked 66th in the world.
Also, as per Arton Capital launched the passport index named, Global Passport Power Rank 2018, in which United Arab Emirates (UAE) topped the charts among 197 nations. India ranks at 68th.
Q256. UNCTAD in its ‘Trade and Development 2017’ report predicted India’s GDP to grow to what percent in 2018?
Answer: 7%
Q257. International Olympic Committee (IOC) has made which African nation the host of the 2022 Youth Olympic Games, making it the first African host of any Olympics?
Answer: Dakar, Senegal (Currency: CFA Franc)
Q258. Which Indian state outclassed 51 other nominations to be awarded UN Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) (Headquarter: Rome, Italy) Future Policy Gold Award (Gold Prize)?
Answer: Sikkim
Q259. The Union Cabinet has approved Who has been appointed as the new Solicitor General of India?
Answer: Tushar Mehta. KK Venugopal is the Attorney General of India.
Q260. Which Insurance body was awarded ISSA (International Social Security Association) ISSA Good Practice Award for administrative solution for coverage extension and for promoting registration of employers and employees?
Answer: Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC)
Q261. According to United Nations report titled ‘Economic Losses, Poverty and Disasters 1998-2017’, India has suffered economic loss of what amount due to climate-related disasters in last 20 years?
Answer: $79.5 billion
Q262. American economists William Nordhaus and Paul Romer were jointly awarded 2018 Nobel Prize in Economics Sciences for integrating ___________ and technology.
Answer: Climate Change
Q263. Which Indian cricketer’s technology start-up Spektacom Technologies launched the “Power Bat” which is powered by Microsoft’s Azure Cloud platform?
Answer: Anil Kumble
Q264. National Housing Bank (Headquarters: New Delhi) announced increase of the Refinance limit to what amount?
Answer: Rs. 30,000 crores
Q265. 32nd world conference of World Union of Wholesale Markets, WUWM was held at?
Answer: Gurugram
Q266. India signed a deal of what amount to buy S-400 missile deal with Russia?
Answer: $5.43 billion
Explanation: India will buy five S-400 missiles cum air defence systems. A total of eight agreements were signed between India and Russia.
Q267. Who has written the new book “The Paradoxical Prime Minister”?
Answer: Shashi Tharoor. He described the book in 29-letter word floccinaucinihilipilification”.
Q268. India was ranked at what position in Oxfam world inequality index?
Answer: India was ranked 147th out of 157 countries
Q269. Which state government has launched ‘Nirman Kusuma’ programme for providing financial assistance to the children of construction workers for their technical education?
Answer: Odisha
Explanation: Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik launched ‘Soura Jalanidhi’ scheme to increase the use of solar power in farming.
Q270. International Conference on Women’s Health, Wellness and Empowerment was recently held in?
Answer: Kanpur
Q271. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently conferred Swachh Survekshan Grameen Awards 2018 to top ranked states and districts. Which state was rewarded for maximum citizens’ participation?
Answer: Uttar Pradesh
Explanation: Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently conferred Swachh Survekshan Grameen Awards 2018 to top ranked states and districts. Haryana was ranked as best state, Satara District of Maharashtra was ranked as best district. Uttar Pradesh was rewarded for maximum citizens’ participation. Also, Maharishi Dayanand University in Haryana got the award for the cleanest University.
Also, Union Territory of Puducherry has bagged top position in National Clean School Award after seven schools from Puducherry were awarded for cleanliness.
Q272. India was ranked at what position in Cigarette Package Health Warnings: International Status Report 2018 released by Canadian Cancer Society?
Answer: India was ranked 5th among 206 countries. In India, 85% of both sides of cigarette packets depict pictorial warning.
Q273. According to recently released report “Future of Work in India” report, companies in India experiencing highest growth prefer hiring men. The report is released by?
Answer: World Economic Forum
Explanation: The World Economic Forum (WEF) has also announced its first centre for Fourth Industrial Revolution in India, the centre will be based in Maharashtra. It is the fourth such center by WEF, the other three are in San Francisco (US), Tokyo (Japan) and Beijing (China) are already functioning. Also, A task force called: Closing the Skills Gap Task Force in India, was constituted by the Union ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship in collaboration with WEF for addressing the skill gap in India.
Q274. The 2018 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was jointly awarded to two immunologists James P. Allison (US) and Tasuku Honjo (Japan) for their discovery of Immune checkpoint therapy for the treatment of which disease?
Answer: Cancer
Q275. India was ranked at what position in 2018 Government e-Payments Adoption Ranking (GEAR)?
Answer: India was ranked 28th among 73 countries. Norway topped the list.
Q276. Boost is the new product to which payment platform to offer instant loan within 90 seconds?
Answer: Mobikwik
Q277. Who was appointed the first chairperson of National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA)?
Answer: Rangachari Sridharan
Q278. The sixth edition of IBSAMAR, a joint multi–national maritime exercise between Indian, Brazilian and South African Navies was held in?
Answer: South Africa
Explanation: Also, the maiden joint exercise of Coast Guards of India and Vietnam- “Sahyog HOP TAC -2018” was held in the Bay of Bengal recently
Q279. International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank and World Trade Organization have collectively launched which report through which of these organisations have sought liberalisation of global service sector?
Answer: Reinvigorating Trade and Inclusive Growth
Q280. Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas has launched SATAT scheme. What does second “A” stand for in the abbreviation?
Answer: Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT). The initiative was launched with PSU Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs i.e. IOC, BPCL and HPCL).
Q281. President Ram Nath Kovind has given assent to Good Samaritan and Medical Professional (Protection and Regulation during Emergency Situations) Bill, 2016 of which state?
Answer: Karnataka
Q282. Mohd Mushtaque Ahmad was elected the new President of?
Answer: Hockey India
Q283. President Ramnath Kovind has appointed which judge as Executive Chairman of National Legal Services Authority of India (NALSA)?
Answer: Madan B Lokur
Q284. Arthur Ashkin (USA), Gerard Mourou (France) and Donna Strickland (Canada) have been awarded Nobel Prize in Physics. They were selected for ground breaking inventions in the field of?
Answer: Laser Physics
Q285. Who recently won the Russian Grand Prix?
Answer: Lewis Hamilton (England). He has also won the Abu Dhabi, Brazilian, Italian, Hungary, Azerbaijan and Singapore Grand Prix recently. Lewis Hamilton won his 5th drivers’ world overall championship.
Explanation: Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen (Finland (Capital: Helsinki, Currency: Euro) claimed his first victory of F1 race US Grand Prix in Texas, Max Verstappen won the Mexican Grand Prix and Austrian Grand Prix and Sebastian Vettel (Germany) won the Belgian Grand Prix.
Q286. National Dolphin Research Centre (NDRC) will be set up on the banks of the Ganga river in?
Answer: Patna
Q287. US scientists Frances Arnold and George Smith and British researcher Gregory Winter have been conferred Nobel for?
Answer: Chemistry. They were selected for harnessing power of evolution to develop enzymes and antibodies that have led to new pharmaceuticals and biofuels.
Q288. India-born economist Gita Gopinath was appointed Chief Economist of International Monetary Fund (IMF). She is the second Indian to hold the post of IMF chief economist after?
Answer: Raghuram Rajan
Explanation: Also, Goldman Sachs appointed Prachi Mishra as the managing director and chief India economist.
Q289. Ministry of AYUSH has set up an AYUSH Information Cell at the premises of the Indian Embassy in which country?
Answer: Romania (Currency: Leu, Capital: Leu)
Q290. Pandit Tulsidas Borkar died recently, he was a?
Answer: Renowned harmonium player.
Explanation: Also, Annapurna Devi passed away recently she was a classical musician.
Q291. BSE, PTC India Ltd have tied up with which bank to form India’s third electricity exchange?
Answer: ICICI. India has two operating power exchanges—Power Exchange of India (PXIL) and India Energy Exchange (IEX).
Q292. Seven-member group of ministers headed by whom was formed by the Goods and Services Tax Council to review on ‘Modalities for Revenue Mobilisation in case of Natural Calamities and Disasters’?
Answer: Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar (Bihar: CM: Nitish Kumar, Governor: Lal ji Tandon)
Q293. India’s first corn festival was recently held at?
Answer: Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh.
Explanation: Also, a National Institute of Mental Health Rehabilitation (NIMHR) will be constructed in Sehore, MP.
Q294. As per Association of Mutual Funds of India’s (AMFI) (Headquarter: Mumbai) statistics, which state topped the chart for state with the maximum penetration and Assets Under Management (AUM)?
Answer: Maharashtra. Also, as per August, average assets under management (AUM) of mutual funds rose to an all-time high of Rs 25.2 lakh crore across the country
Q295. Under whose chairmanship the government has formed committee on Corporate Social Responsibility 2018?
Answer: Injeti Srinivas, Secretary of Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA).
Explanation: Government has also constituted a Competition Law Review Committee to review the Competition Act. The committee will be headed by Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Injeti Srinivas. Also, to deal with cross border insolvency issues Insolvency Law Committee (ILC) headed by Injeti Srinivas recommended UNCITRAL Model Law of Cross Border Insolvency, 1997.
Injeti Srinivas is also the head of ten Member Committee, formed by Ministry of Corporate affairs to review Companies Act 2013.
Q296. Which two cities have been declared as the best heritage city in the Indian Tourism awards recently?
Answer: Ahmedabad (Gujarat) and Mandu (MP)
Explanation: Qutub Minar best monument for differently-abled. Also, India will be the host country for official World Tourism Day celebrations for the UNWTO (World Tourism Organization) in 2019. In 2018 host country is Hungary (Capital: Budapest, Currency: Forint).
Q297. Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved what amount loan to establish the first multi- skills park in Madhya Pradesh to boost employment in the state?
Answer: $150 million
Explanation: Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved financing of up to $500 million for a multi-tranche financing facility (MFF) infrastructure project in at least 10 cities of Tamil Nadu.
Q298. Ministry of Personnel announced that the government set up an eight-member Lokpal Search Committee under the Chairmanship of?
Answer: Former Supreme Court Judge, Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai.
Q299. According to a study named Economic Freedom in the World by Centre for Civil Society (CCS) along with Canada’s Fraser Institute, India stands at what position out of 162 countries in economic freedom?
Answer: 96.
Explanation: The index measures 5 areas of economic freedom. They are: Size of Government, Legal System and Property Rights, Sound Money, Freedom to Trade Internationally and Regulation.
Q300. In the Best FIFA Football Awards 2018 ceremony, held in London, who were adjudged best footballers in the men’s and women’s category respectively?
Answer: Luka Modric of Croatia (capital: Zagreb, currency: Kuna) and Marta (female category) of Brazil.
Explanation: Luka has also been awarded with prestigious, Ballon d’Or award. Norway’s (Capital: Oslo, Currency: Krone) Ada Hegerberg wins Women’s Ballon d’Or in women category.
Q301. Jasdev Singh passed away recently, he was primarily a?
Answer: Cricket commentator
Explanation: As per the report, India’s trade in goods with South Asia could be at $62 billion and that with Pakistan could be at $37 billion without trade barriers. The present trade amounts to $19 billion with South Asia and $2 billion with Pakistan.
Q302. ‘A Glass Half Full: The Promise of Regional Trade in South Asia’, is a report by?
Answer: World Bank (Headquarter: Washington DC)
Q303. Name the mobile app launched by finance Ministry to provide guidance to the common people in locating a Financial Service Touch Point at a given location in the country?
Answer: Jan Dhan Darshan
Q304. BSNL has inked a pact with which bank to roll out 5G and internet of things technology in India?
Answer: Japan’s Softbank and NTT Communications
Q305. PM Modi approved the National Digital Communications Policy-2018 (NDCP-2018). The aims of the policy like, “Broadband for all” would be achieved by?
Answer: 2022
Q306. PM Modi inaugurated Sikkim’s (CM: Pawan Kumar Chamling, Governor: Ganga Prasad) first airport and nation’s 100th operational airport, its name is?
Answer: Pakyong Airport
Q307. Who is the new chairman of the Steel Authority of India (SAIL) (Headquarters: New Delhi)?
Answer: Anil Kumar Chaudhary
Q308. Which state becomes the first State in North East India to introduce Smart e-Public Distribution System (e-PDS)?
Answer: Arunachal Pradesh
Q309. Prime Minister Narendra Modi rolled out the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana- Ayushman Bharat in?
Answer: Ranchi, Jharkhand
Q310. Reserve Bank of India enhanced the “Facility to Avail Liquidity for Liquidity Coverage Ratio (FALLCR)” from the existing 11 per cent to?
Answer: 13%
Explanation: Reserve Bank of India enhanced the “Facility to Avail Liquidity for Liquidity Coverage Ratio (FALLCR)” from the existing 11 per cent to 13 per cent of their deposits. To overcome any possible liquidity constraints by the banks. This will enable the banks to forge out up to 15 per cent of holdings under the statutory liquidity reserves (SLR) during liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) requirements as compared to 13 per cent now.
Q311. Which Union Minister launched “Punch Tantra Diwali collection” and announced World Boxing Champion Mary Kom as Brand Ambassador of the ministry?
Answer: Jual Oram, Union Minister of Tribal Affairs (Lok Sabha constituency: Sundargarh, Odisha).
Q312. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the recipient of UN’s highest environmental honour: Champions of the Earth Award. He received the award for?
Answer: International Solar Alliance (Headquarter: Gurugram)
Explanation: Modi along with 5 other individuals/ organisations are recipients of UN’s highest environmental honour: Champions of the Earth Award. He along with French President Emmanuel Macron have been conferred this award in the Policy Leadership
category. hey have been awarded for their joint effort to: Promote environmental policies through the International Solar Alliance and Eliminate all single-use plastic in India by 2022.
PM Modi has also been honoured with Seoul Peace Prize 2018.
Q313. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres declared 2019-2028 as the “___________Decade of Peace” at the UN headquarters in New York?
Answer: Nelson Mandela
Q314. Biswanath Dutt died recently, he was the former president of which sports body in India?
Answer: BCCI
Explanation: Also, Gopal Bose former Bengal Opener passed away recently. Also, cricketers Ajit Wadekar and Mulubha Jadeja passed away recently.
Q315. Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Arun Jaitley launched a web portal for easy fund availability for MSME sector. The facility will provide loan of upto what amount in the record time of just 59 minutes?
Answer: Rs. 1 crore
Explanation: Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Shri Arun Jaitley launched a web portal for a transformative initiative in MSME credit space. This is a first one of a kind MSME credit space which will ensure seamless loan approval up to Rs. 1 crore within 59 minutes from SIDBI and 5 Public Sector Banks (SBI, Bank of Baroda, PNB, Vijaya and Indian Bank)
Q316. PM recently launched commencement of work for India’s first Coal-gasification based fertilizer plant in?
Answer: Odisha
Explanation: PM recently inaugurated Garjanbahal coal mines and marked the commencement of coal production. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched commencement of work for India’s first Coal-gasification based fertilizer plant with pet coke blending will come up in Talcher, Odisha.
Q317. According to a new report by TransUnion CIBIL, which state has the highest retail balance comprising of 20 per cent in the country?
Answer: Maharashtra
Explanation: According to a new report by TransUnion Cibil, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka make up for nearly 40 per cent of all retail loans in the country. Maharashtra had the highest retail balance of Rs 5.50 lakh crore, comprising of 20 per cent in the country.
Q318. Film Federation of India (FFI) announced that, Assamese movie “Village Rockstars” has been selected to represent India in the Best Foreign Language category at the 91st Academy Awards 2019. Who is the director of the movie?
Answer: Reema Das
Q319. Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences and Environment, Forest and Climate change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan inaugurated air pollution control device WAYU. What does “A” stand for in WAYU?
Answer: WAYU (Wind Augmentation PurifYing Unit)
Q320. Who is the only sportsperson to feature in the Forbes India’s first ‘tycoons of tomorrow’ list of 22 young achievers?
Answer: PV Sindhu
Q321. Minister of Railways and Coal, Shri Piyush Goyal launched the first of its kind “Rail Heritage Digitisation Project” of Indian Railways in collaboration with?
Answer: Google Arts & Culture
Q322. Reserve Bank recently shortlisted five IT firms for implementation of a CIMS for data collection. What does CIMS stand for?
Answer: Centralised Information and Management System (CIMS)
Explanation: Reserve Bank shortlisted five IT firms for implementation of a centralised information and management system (CIMS) for data collection. The 5 IT firms are: Infosys, TCS, Capgemini, IBM, Larsen & Turbo Infotech. The CIMS would consist of: Seamless data collection, System driven data validation and data review, Data safekeeping and storage, providing data dissemination platform Overhauling the Data Warehouse (DW) of RBI.
Q323. Andhra Pradesh recently topped the “Ease of Living Index” rankings. These ranking have been released under which mission?
Answer: Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)
Q324. Ibrahim Mohamed Solih was elected the new President of?
Answer: Maldives
Q325. India has partnered with which country to form an alliance to jointly fight tuberculosis to achieve a TB-free India by 2025?
Answer: US
Q326. Which Blind chess player will become the first Indian female to be part of the International Braille Chess Association (IBCA) team?
Answer: Vaishali Narendra (From Maharashtra)
Q327. Who was appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the People’s Republic of China?
Answer: Vikram Misri
Explanation: Also, Pankaj Sharma has been appointed as India’s permanent representative to United Nations Conference on Disarmament in Geneva
Q328. According to a study by Seattle-based Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation published in The Lancet, India ranks at what position in the world for its investments in education and healthcare among 195 countries?
Answer: 158
Q329. Naropa festival, also known as the ‘Kumbh Mela of the Himalayas’ concluded recently. The festival was held in?
Answer: Ladakh
Q330. National Stock Exchange (NSE) signed a pact on a dual listing route for masala bonds as well as foreign currency bonds of Indian issuers with which exchange recently?
Answer: London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG).
Explanation: Also, National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) got regulatory approval from SEBI to launch copper large futures contract.
Q331. Randhir Singh died recently, he was a former?
Answer: Air Chief Marshall. Also, JG Nadkarni died recently, he was a former Chief of Naval Staff.
Q332. World Cultural Culinary Heritage Committee, under the aegis of the World Association of Chefs' Societies (World Chefs), held its first edition at?
Answer: Amritsar
Q333. What are the new interest rates on Small saving schemes such as Public Provident Fund (PPF), National Savings Certificates?
Answer: PPF and NSC will earn interest at 8 per cent while Senior Citizens Savings Scheme, which has a tenure of five years, will fetch 8.7 per cent.
Explanation: Sukanya Samriddhi: 8.5%, Senior Citizens Savings Scheme: 8.7%, Kisan Vikas Patra: 7.7% (will now mature or double in 112 months)
Q334. Insurance regulatory and Development Authority (IRDAI) raised the minimum insurance cover for owner-driver to ________ for a premium of Rs.750 per annum.
Answer: Rs. 15 Lakhs
Q335. Which financial organisation has approved a 5-year Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for India?
Answer: World Bank
Q336. Which country’s post and India Post have released commemorative stamps on renowned Physicist and Innovator Nikola Tesla and Swami Vivekananda?
Answer: Serbia
Explanation: Vice President Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu was on a official visit to Serbia (Capital: Belgrade, Currency: Dinar), Malta (Capital: Valletta, Currency: Euro) and Romania (Capital: Bucharest, Currency: Romanian leu).
Q337. Odisha government renamed the newly-built Jharsuguda airport after which noted freedom fighter?
Answer: Veer Surendra Sai.
Q338. BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange) and NSE (National Stock Exchange) received SEBI approval to launch commodity derivatives segment from?
Answer: 1st October 2018. Initially, entered commodity derivatives segment with non- agriculture commodities like metals. Later it will include agriculture commodities.
Explanation: BSE became the first stock exchange in the country to launch the commodity derivative contracts in gold and silver.
Q339. First ever dog park in India was recently inaugurated in which city?
Answer: Hyderabad
Q340. Where was 7th United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) (Headquarters: Madrid, Spain) Global Summit on Urban Tourism recently held?
Answer: Seoul, South Korea (Capital: Seoul, Currency: Won). Theme: ‘A 2030 Vision for Urban Tourism’.
Q341. Name the portal launched by Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to facilitate individuals and private companies in seeking security clearance for setting up businesses?
Answer: e-Sahaj
Q342. Which organisation rolled out “Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojna” for providing unemployment allowance to workers rendered jobless due to changing employment pattern?
Answer: Employee’s State Insurance (ESI) Corporation (Headquarters: New Delhi).
Q343. Who has been recently appointed Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy and Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission?
Answer: Kamlesh Nilkanth Vyas
Q344. Who has been recently appointed to the post of the Secretary Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)?
Answer: Anindo Majumdar
Q345. Where was recently a technology Incubation Centre of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) inaugurated?
Answer: Agartala, Tripura (CM: Biplab Kumar Deb, Governor: Kaptan Singh Solanki)
Q346. “Narendra Modi: A Charismatic & Visionary Statesman”, is a book on PM Modi. Who has written the book?
Answer: Adish C Aggarwal and Sarah J Marchington. The foreword of this book has been written by Amit Shah.
Explanation: “Making of a Legend” written by Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak is another book on PM Modi.
Q347. Anna Rajam Malhotra, passed away recently. She was?
Answer: India’s first woman IAS officer post-Independence.
Q348. Which insurance company signed up as a global Olympic sponsor for a 4- Olympic Games period of 10 years between 2021 and 2028?
Answer: German insurer Allianz (Germany Capital: Berlin, Currency: Euro)
Q349. Who recently took charge as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of National Insurance Company Limited (NIC) (Headquarters: Kolkata)?
Answer: Tajinder Mukherjee
Q350. Which two actors have been signed as ambassadors of Skill India Campaign to promote the Skill India Mission?
Answer: Varun Dhawan and Anushka Sharma
Explanation: Also, Alia Bhatt has been announced as the ‘face of Nokia phones’/ brand ambassador in India by HMD Global, which designs and sells phones under the Nokia brand. Also, Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari launched road safety awareness program with a series of three videos with brand ambassador Akshay Kumar
Q351. Name the two mountaineers who recently created history by climbing Asia’s highest volcanic peak “Mount Damavand” in Iran?
Answer: Satyarup Siddhanta and Mousumi Khatua
Q352. Ganpatrao Andalka passed away recently. He was a
Answer: Asian Games champion wrestler
Q353. Who was recently awarded the ‘Mexican order of the Aztec Eagle’ by Ms. Melba Pría, ambassador of Mexico to India on the eve of 128th National Day of Mexico?
Answer: Dr. Raghupati Singhania.
Explanation: Indian academician Shyama Prasad Ganguly recently was also awarded with the same prize.
Q354. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently approved which payment platform India to operate its own non-banking financial company (NBFC)?
Answer: PayU
Q355. Where did Cyclone-30 the biggest cyclotron in India for medical application became operational recently?
Answer: Kolkata
Q356. The governments of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir signed an agreement for renewing work on Rs. 2793 crore on which dam project?
Answer: Shahpurkandi dam project.
Q357. ISRO (Headquarter: Bengaluru) recently launched two satellites named NovaSAR and S1-4 of which country?
Answer: United Kingdom (UK)
Explanation: Also, naval exercise Konkan 18 between India and United Kingdom is being organised off Goa coast.
Q358. Moutaz Mousa Abdallah recently has become the Prime Minister of which country?
Answer: Sudan (Capital: Khartoum. Currency: Sudanese pound)
Q359. The government has announced to make the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) an open- ended scheme. The over-draft limit for account holders has now been doubled to?
Answer: Rs 10,000. Also, the upper age limit for overdraft facility has been hiked to 65 from the earlier 60 years and the free accident insurance cover for new accounts after August 28 has been doubled to Rs 2 lakh.
Explanation: Also, 20 lakh people have joined the modified Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna (PMJDY), taking the total number of account holders in the flagship financial inclusion programme to 32.61 crore as on September 5, according to finance ministry data.
Q360. Who represented India in the 2-day G-20 Trade and Investment Ministerial Meeting, held in Mar del Plata in Argentina?
Answer: Suresh Prabhu (Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation). He is the MP (Rajya Sabha) from Andhra Pradesh.
Explanation: The theme for the G-20 Trade and Investment Ministerial Meeting was: “Building Consensus for Fair and Sustainable Development”.
Q361. Who is the author of the book “Kashi: Secret of the Black Temple”-his third and last book on Harappa trilogy?
Answer: Vineet Bajpai. The first two books are: “Harappa: Curse of the Blood River” and “Pralay: The Great Deluge”.
Q362. Vice President Venkaiah Naidu presented “Rajbhasha Kirti” award to which bank on the occasion of Hindi Divas (September 14) for remarkably implementing the Official Language Policy during 2017-18?
Answer: Punjab National Bank (Headquarter: New Delhi)
Q363. What is India’s rank in the Credit Suisse Family 1000 in 2018’ study in terms of number of family-owned companies?
Answer: Third. India has a total of 111 companies and $839 billion total market capitalization. India follows China (159 companies) and the US (121 companies).
Q364. Which state has recently flagged off the ‘Swachh Dhara’ programme?
Answer: Andhra Pradesh (CM: N. Chandrababu Naidu, Governor: ESL Narasimhan)
Q365. Which state government rolled out scheme, “Swayangsiddha”, in its different districts to combat human trafficking?
Answer: West Bengal (CM: Mamta Banerjee, Governor: Keshari Nath Tripathi)
Explanation: Also, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on the occasion of World Food Day, launched ‘Khadya Sathi’ scheme.
Q366. According to a recent report “HIV Estimations 2017” released by Health and Family Welfare Ministry, which state has the highest number of people living with HIV in India?
Answer: Maharashtra (CM: Devendra Fadnavis, Governor: C Vidyasagar Rao)
Q367. Name India’s first underwater robotic drone which was launched and handed over to the Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) of DRDO?
Answer: EyerovTUNA
Q368. What was India’s rank out of 189 countries in the latest human development rankings released by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)?
Answer: India climbed one spot to 130. India’s HDI value for 2017 is 0.640
Q369. Which state has been ranked the best among states in the country for the construction of maximum number of roads under the PMGSY during 2017-2018?
Answer: Uttarakhand (CM: Trivendra Singh Rawat, Governor: Baby Rani Maurya) was awarded the best state by Union Rural Development Minister Narendra Singh Tomar (Lok Sabha Constituency: Gwalior)
Q370. The Archaeological Survey of India (Headquarter: New Delhi) has recently discovered 254 copper coins in the premises of Khirki Mosque. Where is this mosque located?
Answer: New Delhi
Explanation: Also, first national police museum will come up at New Delhi.
Q371. As per recent data released by Goods and Services Tax Network, which state has generated the highest number of e-way bills since its inception in April 2018?
Answer: Maharashtra (3.13 crores)
Q372. Who will be honoured with Meera Puruskar by Rajasthan Sahitya Academy for his contribution to Hindi literature?
Answer: Jaipur-based poet and writer Sawai Singh Shekhawat
Q373. Which Indian born women has been chosen for a prestigious award for her work to help detect potentially life-threatening health issues using smartphones?
Answer: Rajalakshmi Nandakumar
Q374. Who has been elected as the new President of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM)?
Answer: Rajan Wadhera
Q375. Goura Chandra Mohapatra passed away recently he was a?
Answer: Freedom Fighter
Q376 PM Modi inaugurated MOVE: India’s ever first Global Mobility Summit organized by NITI Aayog in New Delhi. The summit focused on how many themes?
Answer: Five namely Electrification, alternative fuels, reinventing public transport, goods transport and logistics through data analytics.
Explanation: Focus would be given on ‘Clean Kilometres’ and he declared the 7Cs of future mobility. They are: Common, Connected, Convenient, Congestion-free, Charged, Clean, Cutting-edge
Q377 Who is the head of the 7-member trustee group of the trust “Bharat Ke Veer” which was launched by Union Minister recently?
Answer: Rajiv Gauba
Q378 Who has been appointed by the government to head panel to select the next Chief Economic Adviser in the finance ministry?
Answer: Bimal Jalan
Q379 Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved 100% electrification broad gauge routes of Indian Railways (IR) by-
Answer: 2021-22
Q380 Where has Union Ministry of Tourism KJ Alphons (Rajya Sabha MP from Rajasthan) inaugurated India’s first tribal circuit project?
Answer: Chhattisgarh
Explanation: Also, a 3-day ‘first ever’ India Tourism Mart (ITM 2018) was inaugurated by Union Minister for Railways and Coal, Shri Piyush Goyal in New Delhi.
Q381. Recently Union Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare launched Dairy Processing & Infrastructure Development Fund (DIDF) scheme with an outlay of?
Answer: Rs. 10881 crores. Union Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Minister (Lok Sabha constituency: Purvi Champaran, Bihar)
Q382. Which Odia poet would be awarded 39th ‘Sarala Puraskar’ for his poetry collection ‘Misra Dhrupad’?
Answer: Satrughna Pandav
Q383. Where has National Rail and Transportation Institute (NRTI), the first of its kind university on the transport sector in India, has started functioning?
Answer: Vadodara
Q384. Sadarmatt Anicut and Pedda Cheruvu irrigation tanks are the first from India to secure a place in the register of World Heritage Irrigation Structures (WHIS) maintained by International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID). These tanks are from which state?
Answer: Telangana
Explanation: The state government recently also laid foundation stone for Gattu irrigation project.
Q385. Union Cabinet has approved MoU signed between Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank- headquarter- Mumbai) and member banks under BRICS Interbank Cooperation Mechanism for?
Answer: Research on Distributed Ledger and Block chain Technology
Q386. Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (headquarters- Hyderabad) announced the guidelines for which method to enable testing of new innovative insurance products?
Answer: Sandbox method. It was announced on 11th Global Insurance Summit, organised by ASSOCHAM in Mumbai.
Q387. Who was recently conferred ‘Honoris Causa’ by the University of Engineering & Management (UEM) in Kolkata?
Answer: Bibek Debroy, Chairman, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister.
Q388. Who was renominated as Chairman of Ethics Committee of Lok Sabha by the speaker Sumitra Mahajan (Lok Sabha Constituency: Indore, MP) recently?
Answer: Lal Krishna Advani (Lok Sabha Constituency: Gandhinagar, Gujarat)
Q389. Who is the author of the book named “The Rule Breakers”?
Answer: Preeti Shenoy
Q390 Marbat festival in which burning of effigies that represent evil forces called ‘Marbats’ of Kali (black) and Pivli (Yellow) are carried out is celebrated in?
Answer: Nagpur, Maharashtra
Q391 Where has Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) recommissioned India’s oldest nuclear research reactor named ‘Apsara’?
Answer: Trombay (Mahrashtra). The new version has been named as ‘Apsara-upgraded’ (Apsara-U).
Q392. Where has Samsung has opened world’s largest mobile experience centre which offers virtual reality (VR), artificial intelligence and Internet of Things?
Answer: Opera House, Bengaluru
Q393. Which Union Ministry and Telecommunications Consultants India Ltd (TCIL) have signed agreement to implement-Vidya Bharati and e-Aarogya Bharati (e-VBAB) Network Project in Africa?
Answer: Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)
Q394. Recently who was named Chairman of 11-member selection committee to pick this year’s Dronacharya and Dhyanchand awardees?
Answer: Justice Mukul Mudgal
Q395. NITI Aayog, Intel, and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) are collaborating to set up Model International Center for Transformative Artificial Intelligence (ICTAI) at?
Answer: Bengaluru
Q396. Which Indian bank recently announced that it had raised $400 million (Rs. 2,900 crore) via syndicated loan facility, from its IFSC Banking Unit (IBU) in Gujarat International Finance Tec (GIFT) City?
Answer: YES Bank
Explanation: YES bank has also received SEBI approval to start mutual fund business named Yes Asset Management (India) Limited (YAMIL).
Q397. Life Insurance Corporation (Headquarters: Mumbai) recently signed an agreement with whom to provide group insurance coverage to all eligible demat account holders?
Answer: Central Depository Services (India)
Q398. With whom India Post Payments Bank has tied up with for providing banking solutions to unorganized sector especially rural households, small and medium enterprises and women?
Answer: Financial Software and Systems (FSS)
Explanation: IPPB has also signed a 5-year corporate agency agreement with PNB and Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Co. Ltd. to offer life insurance products to its consumers. Also, Prime Minister launched the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) with capital of Rs 14.35 billion (Rs. 1435 crores) at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi. IPPB branches have opened across 650 districts and 3,250 access points.
Q399. Name the first field training military exercise of the Bay of Bengal initiative for multi- sectoral technical and economic cooperation (BIMSTEC-Secretariat: Dhaka, Bangladesh) which was recently held?
Answer: MILEX-19 in Pune, Maharashtra. Nepal and Thailand are not the part of this exercise.
Explanation: (BIMSTEC) summit 2018 was held in Nepal. The theme of the summit was ‘Towards a Peaceful Prosperous, and Sustainable Bay of Bengal Region’.
Q400. Which Indian telecom company inked partnership with Unlimit, for Internet of Things (IoT) solutions?
Answer: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL)
Q401. Which organisation has been awarded the 2018 Balzan Prize for Humanity, Peace and Fraternity among Peoples?
Answer: Terre des Hommes, an international children rights charity
Q402. Where did Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully carried out first ever mid-air refuelling of indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas MK-1?
Answer: Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. The fuel was transferred from IAF’s Russian-origin Ilyushin-78 (IL-78) tanker.
Q403. Which Indian IT company has signed a 3-year partnership with the Australian Open as its official digital innovation partner?
Answer: Infosys
Q404. Vijay Shankar Vyas died recently in Jaipur, Rajasthan, he was a?
Answer: Padma Bhushan awardee and agricultural economist
Q405. Where was Nomadic Elephant 2018 joint exercise by India and Mongolia organised?
Answer: Ulaanbaatar (capital of Mongolia, Currency: Togrog)
Q406. Name the India’s oldest female athlete who has won a gold medal at the World Masters Athletics Championships in Malaga, Spain?
Answer: Man Kaur
Q407. Who was recently appointed as the chairman of Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI)?
Answer: D Shivakumar
Q408. To commemorate 125 years of Swami Vivekananda’s historic Chicago speech on September 11, 1893, World Hindu Congress (WHC-2018) was recently held in?
Answer: Chicago, United States. Theme of WHC-2018 was “Sumantrite Suvikrante” — think collectively, achieve valiantly”. It was attended by the Vice President Shri Venkaiah Naidu.
Q409. Which Indian reinsurance company, has secured 10th position among the top 40 global reinsurers, as per a recent ranking published by Standard and Poor’s?
Answer: General Insurance Corporation (GIC Re) (Headquarter: Mumbai)
Q410. Which Indian film personalities were honoured at the first Women in Film and Television (WIFT) India Awards in Washington, US?
Answer: Aishwarya Rai was presented the inaugural Meryl Streep Award for Excellence. Director Zoya Akhtar was handed the Wyler Award for Excellence in Direction. Actress Janhvi Kapoor was presented the WIFT Emerald Award.
Q411. Union Cabinet approved new umbrella scheme ‘Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan, PM-AASHA. What is the total outlay for the scheme?
Answer: Total outlay is Rs. 45,550 crores, including additional government guarantee of Rs.16,550 crores
Q412. Who inaugurated the World Summit on Accreditation (WOSA-2018) was recently in New Delhi?
Answer: Union HRD Minister Prakash Javdekar (MP from Maharashtra (Rajya Sabha). Theme of the summit: “Challenges and Opportunities in Outcome Based Accreditation”.
Q413. Who has been conferred the UN Interagency Task Force (UNIATF) Award for his contribution towards prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and associated Sustainable Development Goals?
Answer: Manoj Jhalani
Q414. Which Indian airport is set to become first airport in Asia to introduce face recognition- based passage system?
Answer: Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru. To implement this system the airport has signed an agreement with a Portugal based firm Vision Box.
Q415. Union Finance Ministry has doubled pecuniary limit to ______ lakhs for filing loan recovery application in Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRT).
Answer: Rs. 20 lakhs
Q416. To reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions related to urban transport, India has signed implementation agreement with which country on Mobilise Your City (MYC) to support three pilot cities – Nagpur, Kochi and Ahmedabad?
Answer: France. Both the countries have also collaborated for ISRO’s first human space mission “Gaganyaan” to be launched in 2022.
Q417. Festival of Harvest Nuakhai was celebrated on September 14 recently in which state?
Answer: Odisha (CM: Naveen Patnaik, Governor: Ganeshi Lal)
Q418. President Kovind visited Czech Republic (Capital: Prague, Currency: Koruna) on final leg of his state visit to three European nations. Which are other two countries?
Answer: Cyprus (Capital: Nicosia, Currency: Euro) and Bulgaria (Capital: Sofia, Currency: Lev).
Q419. Name the annual combat exercise between India and the US which is being held at Chaubatia in Uttarakhand?
Answer: “Yudh Abhyas”
Q420. Novak Djokovic from Serbia (Capital: Belgrade, Currency: Dinar) won 2018 US Open title of tennis in men’s singles category by defeating whom?
Answer: Argentina’s (Capital: Buenos Aires, Currency: Peso) Juan Martín del Potro. Novak has also won Wimbledon.
Explanation: Japan’s Naomi Osaka won in the women’s category by defeating Serena Williams of US.
Q421. Who was honoured at the 36th International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) Congress in Athens, Greece?
Answer: Ramendra Kumar
Q422. Singapore-based global investment firm Temasek has signed agreement to invest up to what amount in National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF’s) Master Fund?
Answer: Rs 2,750 crore ($400 million)
Explanation: Also, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) (Headquarter: Beijing, China) has approved $200 million investment in the National Infrastructure and Investment Fund (NIIF).
Q423. Who was appointed as Sports Ambassador of Assam?
Answer: Hima Das was appointed as Sports Ambassador of Assam.
Q424. The enrolment age for Atal Pension Yojana has been relaxed further to ____ years, taking into consideration rise in average age-expectancy?
Answer: 65 years
Q425. Which Indian cricketer was appointed the head coach of Zimbabwe national cricket team by the Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC)?
Answer: Lalchand Rajput.
Explanation: Ramesh Powar was the head coach of the women’s national cricket team which participated in the WT20 held in West Indies.
Q426. Statue, ‘Lingodhbhavamurti’, a 12th century granite sculpture depicting an iconic representation of Lord Shiva, which dates back to the Chola dynasty and the second phyllite sculpture depicts the bodhisattva of wisdom, ‘Manjusri’ are the two antique statues that have been repatriated to India by which country?
Answer: United States
Q427. Which bank has retained its top spot for the 5th consecutive year, in the `WPP and Kantar Millward Brown’s BrandZ 75 Most Valuable Indian Brands’ ranking?
Answer: HDFC Bank. The bank also featured at 60th rank in the BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands ranking.
Q428. Which Payments Bank has partnered with Empays to enable users to withdraw cash from ATMs, without the need for a physical debit card?
Answer: Airtel Payment Bank. Also, Airtel Payment’s Bank has tied up with Bharti AXA to team Airtel up to offer Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana.
Q429. Thaawarchand Gehlot, Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment attended the 3rd ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) Conference on ‘Global Ageing and Human Rights of Older Persons’ held in-
Answer: Seoul, South Korea.
Q430. Indian navy ships and aircraft arrived in Sri Lanka to take part in the 8th edition of joint exercise named?
Answer: SLINEX-2018
Q431. Vice President recently released a book ‘Constitutionalizing India: An Ideational Project’ authored by?
Answer: Shri Bidyut Chakrabarty.
Explanation: The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu also released the book ‘Bebak Baat’, authored by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Statistics & Programme Implementation, Shri Vijay Goel.
Q432. Facebook has announced it will invest more than S$1.4 billion to construct its first data centre in Asia in?
Answer: Singapore
Q433. Which country was the partner and focus country in the 87th Izmir International tradeshow which was held in Turkey (Capital: Ankara, Currency: Lira)?
Answer: India was the Partner as well the focus country
Q434. According to the biennial Nuclear Security Index released by US-based Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), what was India’s ranks in the ‘Theft Ranking’ for countries with weapons usable nuclear materials?
Answer: 19th
Q435. US-India Business Council (USIBC), an American business advocacy group held its two- day India Ideas Summit at?
Answer: Mumbai
Q436. Reserve Bank of India directed all scheduled commercial banks with more than how many branches to appoint an internal ombudsman for a maximum tenure of five years?
Answer: 10 branches. RRBs are not included in this directive. This direction of RBI is under ‘Internal Ombudsman Scheme, 2018’ which gives ombudsman statutory powers under section 35 A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
Q437. Which state government has launched a first of its kind initiative called “Mil-Banche” in all government schools across the state?
Answer: Madhya Pradesh
Explanation: The state government also announced Mukhyamantri Jan Kalyan (Sambal) Yojana 2018 to provide subsidized power for labourer and poor families.
Q438. Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Shri J P Nadda inaugurated the ‘71st Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia,’ at?
Answer: New Delhi
Explanation: Also, Confederation of Indian industry (CII) organised its Annual Flagship, 15th India Health Summit-2018 in New Delhi. The theme of the summit this year is ‘Indian Healthcare – A Changing Paradigm’.
Also, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) partnered with WhatsApp to train small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs on using the messaging platform.
Q439. Minister of Railways launched a new mobile app named _____of ‘Indian Railways e- procurement system’ (IREPS), at the seminar on “Leveraging IT for Mobility” in New Delhi?
Answer: “AAPOORTI”
Q440. India, Kazakhstan joint army exercise KAZIND will be conducted between Indian and Kazakhstan Army in?
Answer: Otar region, Kazakhstan (Capital: Astana, Currency: Tenge)
Q441. Major Indian ocean-wide tsunami mock exercise known as _______ will be organized by Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO.
Answer: IOWave18. India along with 23 other nations will be participating.
Q442 Written by Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, book “Moving On, Moving Forward – A Year in Office” was released by?
Answer: Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Q443 Suresh Prabhu attended 6th East Asia Summit- Economic Ministers’ Meeting (EAS-EMM) and 15th India-ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting (AEM) was held in?
Answer: Singapore. The sixth Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Trade Ministers’ Meeting was also held in Singapore. Suresh Prabhu was the head of a government panel which decided on negotiations from Indian side in RCEP.
Explanation: Next ASEAN-India Business Summit will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in November 2018. The theme of the meeting would be: “Towards Building Strategic”.
Q444 NATO’s (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) Trident Juncture 2018 military exercise was recently held at?
Answer: Norway (Capital: Oslo, Currency: Krone) North Sea, Baltic Sea
Explanation: Russia will conduct Vostok-2018 (East-2018) military exercise in central and eastern Russian military districts in the month of September.
Q445 Tarun Sagar died following a long-term illness, he was a?
Answer: Jain monk
Q446 India recently participated in the 1st International Kho-Kho Championship which was held in?
Answer: England.
Q447 Justice Ranjan Gogoi will be the which Chief Justice of India?
Answer: 46th Chief Justice of India.
Explanation: Ranjan Gogoi also released a book authored by father-son duo Vinay Thakur and Amogh Thakur named “ Architecture of Justice: A pictorial walk-through of the supreme court and High courts of India” in New Delhi
Q448 Who has recently become the first Indian poet to be invited to record his poems at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C?
Answer: Mr. Abhay K
Q449 Which person from Mumbai has been named for 2018 Dr B.C. Roy National Award as an Eminent Medical Person of the Year?
Answer: Dr B.K. Misra from Mumbai has been named for 2018 Dr B.C. Roy National Award as an Eminent Medical Person of the Year.
Q450 How many medals did India win in the Eighteenth Asian Games concluded in Jakarta, Indonesia?
Answer: India stood at eighth position with 69 Medals (Gold: 15, Silver: 24, Bronze: 30).
Q451. Which country defeated Spain to lift its first FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup?
Answer: Japan. The event was played at Vannes, France.
Q452 According to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data, which country was top source of foreign direct investment (FDI) into India in 2017-18 followed by Singapore?
Answer: Mauritius (Capital: Port Louis Currency: Rupee). Also, United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the top source of inward remittances, and Kerala has received the maximum funds sent from abroad.
Q453 Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has asked banks to set Bank Aadhaar Kendras in one out of every how many branches?
Answer: 10 branches.
Q454 Recently a financial assistance of what amount for Shimla water supply and sewerage project was approved by the World Bank?
Answer: Rs. 929.89 crores
Q455 Where was International Women Entrepreneurs Summit 2018 held?
Answer: Kathmandu, Nepal. Theme: “Equality begins with Economic Empowerment”.
Explanation: Kathmandu also hosted International Conference on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) recently held.
Kathmandu also hosted Asia Pacific Summit-2018.Theme: Addressing the Critical Challenges of Our Time: Interdependence, Mutual Prosperity, and Universal Values.
Q456 Organised by Airports Authority of India (AAI) and (International Air Transport Association) IATA, International Aviation Summit was held in?
Answer: New Delhi
Q457 The Vice President of India, released the Book 'Colonial Syndrome: The Videshi Mind Set in Modern India', written by?
Answer: Prof. Rama Krishna Rao
Q458 Which movie has become the first Bollywood film ever to release in Saudi Arabia (Capital: Riyadh, Currency: Riyal)?
Answer: Akshay Kumar- starrer “Gold"
Q459 Google has rebranded its payment app Google Tez to what to improve its growth in India to add more features?
Answer: Google Pay
Explanation: Also, Google has unveiled “Project Navlekha” to make online content relevant for more Indian users especially in local languages. Search engine giant Google has launched Dataset Search, a new search engine for scientific community that will help them make sense of millions of datasheets present online.
Q460 Who has received Bharatiya Manavata Vikas Puraskar given by Daily India Media?
Answer: Shabana Azmi, Nandita Das.
Q461. ‘One District One Product’ scheme which has been earlier launched in UP was recently launched by Giriraj Singh in which state at a function of the SC-ST State Conclave cum Exhibition under National SC-ST Hub?
Answer: Odisha
Explanation: Odisha also recently launched "Gopabandhu Sambadika Swasthya Bima Yojana" for working journalists. A total of two crore saplings will be planted on the banks of the Mahanadi, Tel and Ib rivers under the Green Mahanadi Mission.
Q462 Which bank’s subsidiary launched commodity broking services with MCX and became the first bank subsidiary to enter the commodity broking business?
Answer: Axis Bank’s Axis Securities
Explanation: Axis bank has also become the first bank in the country to introduce Iris Scan Authentication feature for Aadhaar -based transactions through its micro ATM tablets.
Q463 Indian Naval Ship Sahyadri has reached Port of Darwin, Australia to participate in multilateral regional maritime exercise _________ conducted by Australia?
Answer: KAKADU 2018
Q464 Who was elected as new chairman of Indian Banks Association (IBA)?
Answer: Sunil Mehta
Explanation: Also, Indian Banks’ Association has appointed Egon Zehnder International as the ‘Knowledge Partner’ to the Banks Board Bureau (BBB).
Q465 Germany has announced to provide soft loan of what amount to India to strengthen sewage water treatment infrastructure in Uttarakhand in an effort to clean River Ganga under Clean Ganga Mission?
Answer: Euro 120 million (Rs. 990 crores approximately)
Explanation: German development agency GIZ also has prepared ‘Ganga Box’ aimed to target schools-going children and inform them about the river. Similarly, “Ganga Book” on the lines of Danube book has also been prepared.
Q466 The first South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Agri Cooperative Business Forum was held in?
Answer: Kathmandu, Nepal. Theme: ‘Organizing and Strengthening Family Farmers’ Cooperatives to attain the Sustainable-Development-Goals-1 and 2 in South Asia’.
Q467 India has inked loan agreement of what amount with Asian Development Bank (ADB) to finance Karnataka State Highways Improvement III Project (KSHIP-III) for improvement of over 400 km of state highways in Karnataka?
Answer: $346 million
Q468 Global Finance magazine named which bank as the world’s best bank for digital innovation while still maintaining stable operations for its customers?
Answer: DBS Bank (Headquarter: Singapore)
Q469 Who was recently appointed as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the State Bank of India?
Answer: Prashant Kumar
Explanation: Also, in another appointment Anshula Kant and Arijit Basu were appointed as Managing Director of the Bank. Also, SBI recently launched Kisan Mela outreach program for 10 lakh farmers in 14000 rural and semi urban branches to help in imparting financial literacy to the farmers.
Q470. According to a report of Department of Financial Services, which Indian bank has been rated as number one state-owned bank in terms of digital transactions It was ranked sixth among all banks in digital performance?
Answer: Punjab National Bank
Q471. Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved package of $245 million to implement project for providing safe, sustainable drinking water services in West Bengal?
Answer: $245 million
Q472. Who will head the new 21-member advisory panel called Prime Minister’s Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) on science, technology and innovation?
Answer: K Vijay Raghavan.
Q473. Government has approved umbrella scheme “Ocean Services, Technology, Observations, Resources Modelling and Science (O-SMART). How much amount has been allocated for this scheme by the Government?
Answer: Rs.1623 crore.
Q474. Who was appointed assistant secretary general of United Nations and will head New York office of UN Environment Programme (UNEP)?
Answer: Satya S. Tripathi
Q475. Central Government along with Government of Rajasthan has Development Policy Loan (DPL) agreement with World Bank (IBRD) for Electricity Distribution Sector Reforms in Rajasthan?
Answer: $250 million
Q476. Which Indian bank has agreed to a multi-year partnership with Manchester United?
Answer: ICICI Bank (MD and CEO: Sandeep Bakshi)
Q477. Who is the author of “Atal Ji Ne Kaha” a book on former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee which was released by PM Modi?
Answer: Doordarshan producer, senior journalist Brijendra Rehi.
Q478. Asia Society, a global cultural organization announced whose name for the Game Changer of the Year title of the 2018?
Answer: PepsiCo’s CEO Indra Nooyi
Q479. Asia Society, a global cultural organization announced whose name for the Game Changer of the Year title of the 2018?
Answer: PepsiCo’s CEO Indra Nooyi
Q480. The fourth edition of Asian electoral stakeholder’s forum (AESF-IV) was held at?
Answer: Colombo, Sri Lanka. Theme: ‘Advancing Election Transparency and Integrity: Promoting and Defending Democracy Together’
Q481. Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) constituted a 7- member working group headed by whom for norms regarding insurance surveyors?
Answer: Yegna Priya Bharat
Q482. India’s first flight using biofuel (from Jetropha seeds) was recently conducted from -
Answer: Dehradun to Delhi. The first ever biofuel test flight was conducted by SpiceJet in its Bombardier Q400 turboprop aircraft.
Q483. Where did External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj (Lok Sabha constituency: Vidisha, MP) inaugurate the third edition of Indian Ocean Conference?
Answer: Hanoi, capital city of Vietnam (Currency: Dong)
Q484. 9th edition of Mountain Echoes Literary Festival 2018 was held in-
Answer: Thimphu, Bhutan (Currency: Ngultrum)
Q485. President gave whom the Outstanding Parliamentarian award for 2017?
Answer: Bhartruhari Mahtab
Q486. Which Indian women cricketer has announced her retirement from Twenty-20 Internationals (T20Is)?
Answer: Jhulan Goswami
Explanation: Also, Mithali Raj became the first Indian women cricketer to score 2000 runs in Twenty20 International.
Q487. ASSOCHAM appointed whom as its new Secretary General?
Answer: Uday Kumar Varma
Q488. Which telecom company has launched “WINGS” a VOIP based service?
Answer: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL)
Q489. Recently which company became the first Indian company to cross Rs 8 lakh crore market capitalization?
Answer: Reliance Industries Ltd. Also, Reliance Jio has topped the fortune’s 4th annual ‘Change the World’ List 2018.
Q490. Which company has unveiled a dedicated portal ‘2Gud‘ for refurbished goods, including mobile phones, laptops and tablets?
Answer: Flipkart
Q491. Name India’s first captive-born Humboldt Penguin which also recently died barely a week after it was born at Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan and Zoo (Byculla), Mumbai.
Answer: Freedom Baby
Q492. Which state launched India’s largest Business Incubator “Bhamashah Techno Hub”?
Answer: Rajasthan
Q493. Second ‘Mt Everest Friendship Exercise’ was recently concluded between which of the two countries?
Answer: Nepal and China
Explanation: The Druzhba 2018 (Friendship 2018) joint bilateral military exercise between Pakistan and Russian special forces was recently held in Pakistan.
Q494. International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) (Headquarters: Paris (France)) which is a global monument conservation body recently launched Kerala Heritage Rescue Initiative to assess damage to rich cultural and built heritage sites in flood-devastated Kerala is headquartered at?
Answer: Headquarters: Paris (France). Also, Kerala government chose KPMG as the company to help in re- establishing Kerala after the floods.
Q495. Ujjivan Small Finance Bank announced the launch of its overdraft facility for micro and small enterprises (MSE) with a turnover of-
Answer: Rs 50 lakhs or more
Q496. According to Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) data maximum percentage (35%) of cyber-attacks on Indian websites is from which country?
Answer: China
Explanation: Also, 5th World Internet Conference (WIC), also known as the Wuzhen Summit, was held in Wuzhen, China.
Q497. “International Buddhist Conclave (IBC), 2018” was inaugurated by President Ram Nath Kovind recently at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. What was this year’s theme?
Answer: Theme of this conclave is: “Buddha Path – The Living Heritage” and this year partner
country for IBC 2018 was Japan.
Q498. The World Bank launched world’s first public blockchain bond named created,
allocated, transferred and managed by using blockchain technology.
Answer: Bond-i. There is also a beach with the same name in Australia.
Q499. Former President Pranab Mukherjee launched which mobile application that allows voters to rate and review their political representatives?
Answer: National Electoral Transformation (NETA) mobile application
Q500. The Receivables Exchange of India (RXIL) said which PSU has become the first public sector enterprise to make a transaction on the "TReDS platform?
Answer: Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) "TReDS (Trade Receivables electronic Discount System) is an online electronic institutional mechanism for facilitating the financing of trade receivables of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) through multiple financiers. Also, R Madhavan recently took over as Chairman and Managing Director of defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
Q501 RBI has approved merger of SBM with SBM Bank (India). SBM is headquartered at?
Answer: Mauritius (Capital: Port Louis, Currency: Rupee)
Q502 Who has been awarded the WHO World No Tobacco Day 2018 Award for his remarkable contribution towards tobacco control?
Answer: K. Arora
Q503 Which city was ranked as world’s most liveable city among 140 major cities in 2018
Global Liveability Index released by Economist Intelligence Unit?
Answer: Austrian capital Vienna. Also, New Delhi had figured at 112th and Mumbai 117th position in list.
Q504 As per report by Nomura, India’s current account deficit (CAD) is expected to widen to
what per cent of the GDP in FY19 from 1.9 per cent of GDP, in 2017-18 fiscal?
Answer: 2.8 per cent
Explanation: RBI recently said that India’s current account deficit (CAD) widened to 2.9% of the GDP in the July-September quarter of the current fiscal.
Q505 Union government observed which month as ‘month of nutrition’?
Answer: September. Theme: ‘har ghar Poshan tyohar’. Also, CM of Rajasthan launched ‘Annapurna Milk Scheme’ on the occasion.
Q506 Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has directed all insurance companies to create provision to cover which illness in policies?
Answer: Mental illness
Q507 Central government has constituted a panel headed by whom to coordinate the discharge of floodwaters from Kerala-TN inter-State projects like Mullaperiyar?
Answer: Central Water Commission (CWC) chairman Narendra Kumar
Q508. Who has been elected the Chair of the International Nitrogen Initiative (INI), a global policy making initiative?
Answer: N Raghuram
Q509. Who has topped the India’s wealthiest women list for 2018, prepared by Kotak Wealth- Hurun Report?
Answer: Smitha Crishna of Godrej
Q510. Who has been sworn in as the new President of Paraguay (Capital: Asuncion, Currency: Guarani)?
Answer: Mario Abdo Benítez
Explanation: Also, Jair Bolsonaro was elected as the next President of Brazil (Capital: Brasilia, Currency: Real)
Q511. Which payment platform was awarded as an outstanding merchant UPI player at the NPCI excellence awards 2018 announced its partnership with IRCTC app ‘IRCTC Rail Connect’, to facilitate convenient, fast and secure payments?
Answer: PhonePe
Explanation: PhonePe has also partnered with cab aggregator OLA, that will allow riders to book rides.
Q512. 24th World Congress of Philosophy (WCP) was held in-
Answer: Beijing, China. Theme for this event was: “Learning to Be Human”.
Q513. The Union Government has formed a group headed by whom to look into red-labelling of packaged products containing fat, sugar and salt by FSSAI?
Answer: B Sesikeran, former director of National Institute of Nutrition (NIN)
Explanation: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)to improve public health and combat lifestyle disease has launched movement called “The Eat Right Movement”.
Q514. Where would be the centralised secretariat established by the five northern state - Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Union Territories: Delhi and Chandigarh to tackle drug menace?
Answer: Panchkula, Haryana
Q515. 11th World Hindi Conference (WHC) was organized by the Ministry of External Affairs, India in collaboration with the Government of -
Answer: Mauritius. Theme of the Conference was “Hindi Vishwa Aur Bharatiya Sanskriti” (Hindi World and Indian Culture).
Explanation: Also, External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj inaugurated 'Panini Language Laboratory' at Mahatma Gandhi Institute (MGI) in Mauritius (Capital: Port Louis, Currency: Rupee)
Q516. Ministry of Railways launched and QR code-based posters to spread awareness about Indian Railways Heritage?
Answer: “Digital Screens”
Explanation: Indian Railways also launched “Mission Satyanishtha” on Ethics in Public Governance with an aim to bring transparency and ethics in the work culture and among all railway employees.
Q517. Shane Warne and VVS Laxman will come up with their autobiographies namely-
Answer: “No spin” and “281 and Beyond” respectively.
Explanation: Abhirup Bhattacharya has written a book “Winning Like Sourav: Think & Succeed Like Ganguly”.
Q518. Sarvatra Technologies has launched which co-operative bank as 450th co-operative bank on National Financial Switch (NFS)?
Answer: ‘Sevalia Urban Co-operative Bank’ in Gujarat
Q519. Telengana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao launched two major schemes name them?
Answer: Rythu Bima: insurance to farmers and Kanti Velugu: free eye screening for all citizens. Under Rythu Bima every farmer would be provided with life insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh.
Q520. Former Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra launched 3 mobile applications made under E-committee of the Supreme Court headed by Justice M B Lokur, for the benefit of litigants and lawyers. Name the apps?
Answer: The three apps are: e-courts services: e-filing along with user manual. E-pay: making digital payments. NSTEP (National Service and Tracking of Electronic Processes): service of judicial notices.
Q521. Minister of Railways, Coal, Finance & Corporate Affairs, Shri Piyush Goyal has released a report on Station Cleanliness conducted by Quality Council of India (QCI). In the A1 category which station is the cleanest station in India?
Answer: Jodhpur is the cleanest station in India. Marwar in Rajasthan topped the list in A category.
Q522. Which language has become the first Indian tribal language to get a Wikipedia edition in its own script?
Answer: Santhali
Q523. Government has appointed whom as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)?
Answer: Ashish Kumar Bhutani
Q524. Ease of Living Index, released by Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs ranks which city as the best city to live in?
Answer: Pune. The survey rated 111 cities in India. Ease of Living Index framework comprises four pillars namely-Institutional, Social, Economic and Physical.
Q525. Name the former President of Chile (Capital: Santiago, Currency: Peso) who was appointed as next United Nations High Commissioner for Human Right?
Answer: Michelle Bachelet
Explanation: Antonio Vitorino has been elected as new Director General of UN migration agency.
Q526. Global Innovation Index 2018 was launched in India, it is the 11th edition of GII. What was its theme?
Answer: The theme for GII 2018 is: “Energizing the World with Innovation”. India has been ranked 57th in the index. The Index is developed by Cornell University, Insead and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO headquartered at Geneva).
Q527. World Biofuel day is celebrated on August 10, 2018. Which state recently became the first state to implement biofuel policy of the Government of India?
Answer: Rajasthan (Governor: Kalyan Singh)
Explanation: Also, PM Modi, launched PARIVESH (Pro-Active and Responsive facilitation by Interactive, Virtuous and Environmental Single-window Hub) on the occasion of World Biofuel Day.
Q528. The government has appointed which two people to the Central Board of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently?
Answer: Swadeshi Jagaran Manch co-convenor Swaminathan Gurumurthy and businessman Satish Kashinath Marathe
Q529. HSBC has launched a new digital platform named to simplify capital raising process through capital markets by providing real-time access to information such as investors' feedback, profiles, client orders and deal pricing.
Answer: My Deal
Q530. Who was adjudged the most influential woman in history, through a poll conducted by BBC History Magazine?
Answer: Nobel Prize-winning scientist Marie Curie
Q531. Chandrayaan-2 lander would be named after Vikram Sarabhai, the father of Indian space programme.
Answer: Vikram
Explanation: Also, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) has decided to transfer its lithium ion (Li ion) cell technology to successful Indian industries and start-ups on non-exclusive basis in automobiles for Rs. 1 crore.
Q532. Hindi Academy Delhi has given its highest Shalaka Samman for 2017-18 to?
Answer: Bollywood lyricist and poet Javed Akhtar.
Q533. President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, inaugurated the ‘Festival of Democracy’ in?
Answer: Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala (CM: Pinyari Vijayan, Governor: P. Sadhasivam)
Explanation: President also recently inaugurated 2nd International Ambedkar Conclave in New Delhi as part of the commemoration of Constitution Day.
Q534. Name the person from Saudi Arabia (Capital: Riyadh, Currency: Riyal) who has been crowned champion of the FIFA e-World Cup?
Answer: Mosaad Aldossary
Q535. Fintech start-up Nearby Technologies in partnership with which bank has gone live with Bharat Bill Payments, the telecom bill payments ecosystem managed by National Payments Corp of India?
Answer: Yes Bank (Headquarter: Mumbai)
Explanation: Also, YES bank launched a deposit scheme, which could fetch up to 8 per cent for a tenure of little over 18 months, through this the bank is eyeing Rs 1,000 crores and the scheme is named 'Green Future: Deposit'.
Q536. Which state CM launched Mukhyamantri Kanya Utthan Yojana for empowerment of women?
Answer: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish. The scheme will provide Rs 54,100 from the birth of a girl child till she graduates.
Q537. Which Biosphere Reserve has become the 11th Biosphere Reserve from India that has been included in the UNESCO designated World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR)?
Answer: The Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve in Sikkim.
Explanation: World Heritage Committee of UNESCO declared the Victorian and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai as the World Heritage Property.
Q538. Which IIT recently launched world’s first remotely operable LEAP microscope?
Answer: Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M). IIT Madras has also recently developed India’s first microprocessor Shakti. Also, IIT – M recently launched India’s first indigenous Microprocessor “Shakti”.
Q539. Education Department of which state recently launched ‘I am not afraid of English’ initiative from Class 1 in the state’s primary schools?
Answer: Haryana (CM: Manohar Lal Khattar, Governor: Satyadev Narayan Arya)
Explanation: Haryana government in addition to ‘I am not afraid of English’ initiative has also announced “Chhatra Parivahan Suraksha scheme” for girl students to provide them free transportation to their educational institutions.
Q540. Which state emerged as the best state in Ease of Doing Report of DIPP and World Bank?
Answer: Andhra Pradesh
Explanation: DIPP, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in collaboration with the World Bank conducted an annual reform exercise for all States and UTs under the Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP) considering Ease of Doing Business. Andhra Pradesh has emerged as the top state in the report.
Q541. Who won the special one-off Golden Man Booker Prize to mark the 50th anniversary of the literary award?
Answer: Michael Ondaatje for his book ‘The English Patient’
Q542. 17th World Sanskrit Conference was inaugurated and attended by Human Resource Development Minister Shri Prakash Javdekar at?
Answer: Vancouver, Canada
Q543. Who has been appointed the chairperson of National Green Tribunal?
Answer: Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel
Q544. Which state recently launched “Happiness Curriculum” for students of nursery to Class
8 in government schools?
Answer: New Delhi (Arvind Kejriwal launched it in the presence of Dalai Lama).
Explanation: Kejriwal also, announced the ‘Mukhyanmantri Kisan Aaye Badhotri Solar Yojna’ which aims to increase to increase the income of farmers by three to five times in the national capital.
Q545. 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBS-2019) will be hosted by which city?
Answer: Varanasi
Q546. As per latest Grant Thornton’s International Business Report (IBR). What is the India’s
rank on the Global Optimism Index (GOI) in the first quarter of 2018?
Answer: Sixth
Q547. Which airport has been selected for the Champion of Earth Prize-2018?
Answer: Cochin International Airport. It is the first Indian airport to completely operation on solar. Also, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has recognized this airport as the world’s first fully solar energy-powered airport.
Q548. Where did PM recently laid the foundation stone of India’s first Mobile Open Exchange
Zone (MOX)?
Answer: World Trade Centre, Noida
Q549. European Central Bank (ECB) launched a new pan-European smartphone payment system called?
Answer: TARGET Instant Payment Settlement (TIPS)
Q550. Which country recently became the first country to abolish all fares on public transport by 2019?
Answer: Luxembourg (Capital: Luxembourg City, Currency: Euro)