1. Every year on which date the ‘World Food Day’ is observed to mark the foundation of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations?

A. 13th October B. 14th October C. 15th October D. 16th October E. 17th October

2. On October 15, 2019, the Indian football team won the 3rd Edition of the SAFF U-15 Women’s Championships 2019 by defeating _________.

A. Afghanistan B. Sri Lanka C. Nepal D. Bangladesh E. Bhutan

3. The third the India Ministerial Dialogue was held at 3rd India Energy Forum by CERA Week between 13-15 On October 2019 in _______.

A. Mumbai B. Chennai C. New Delhi D. Kolkata E. Bengaluru

4. What is India’s rank in the ‘Global Hunger Index-2019’ released by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)?

A. 99th B. 100th C. 101st D. 102nd E. 103rd

5. Who among the following has been appointed as the new Controller General of Accounts (CGA), Ministry of Finance, Government of India?

A. J. P. S. Chawla B. Girraj Prasad Gupta C. Pramod Chandra Mody D. Pranab Kumar Das E. N K Singh

Answers and Explanations
1. Answer - Option D
Explanation -
• The ‘World Food Day’ is observed every year on 16th October globally to mark the foundation of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations.
• The theme of World Food Day 2019 is “Our Actions Are Our Future. Healthy Diets for A #ZeroHunger World".
• Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that works towards defeating hunger via international efforts.
2. Answer - Option D
Explanation -
• On October 15, 2019, the Indian football team won the 3rd Edition of the SAFF U-15 Women’s Championships 2019 by beating Bangladesh by 5-3 via a penalty shoot-out.
• The tournament was an international football competition for women’s under-15 national teams.
• It was organized by the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) and was held at Changlimithang Stadium in Thimpu, Bhutan from October 9- 15, 2019 in which 4 teams had participated.
3. Answer - Option C
Explanation -
• Recently, the India Ministerial Dialogue was held at 3rd India Energy Forum by CERA Week in New Delhi.
• The Indian, as well as regional energy companies, institutions, and governments, participated at the forum held under the patronage of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
• CERA Week by IHS Markit has become the world’s premier energy event.
• In 1983, Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA) was founded in Cambridge.
4. Answer - Option D
Explanation -
• India ranked 102 (last year- 103rd) position among 117 countries on the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2019 report released by the Washington-based International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
• India is ranked below many neighbouring countries, including China (25th spot), Nepal (73th), Myanmar (69th), Sri Lanka (66th), Bangladesh (88th) and Pakistan (94th).
• It is published annually by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) since 2006.
5. Answer - Option A
Explanation -
• The government of India has appointed Shri J. P. S. Chawla (Indian Civil Accounts Service Officer-1985 batch) as the new Controller General of Accounts (CGA), Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure.
• He will replace Girraj Prasad Gupta.
• Shri J. P. S. Chawla has been officiating as CGA with effect from 1st September 2019.
CGA works under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
• The Principal Advisor on Accounting matters to the Union Government
• The responsibility of establishing and maintaining a technically sound management accounting system rests with the CGA.

1. Who among the following has been appointed as the President of Tunisia?

A. Mohamed Abbou B. Selma Elloumi C. Kais Saied D. Nabil Karoui E. Youssef Chahed

2. Which of the following banks has announced to launch a new Fixed Deposit (FD) scheme ‘FD Health’ that will offer the dual benet of a fixed deposit along with free critical illness coverage with a sum assured of Rs 1 lakh?

A. HDFC Bank B. Yes Bank C. Axis Bank D. ICICI Bank E. Kotak Mahindra Bank

3. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its World Economic Outlook reduced the GDP growth rate of India for the financial year 2019-20 to ________ from 7.3% as announced on July 2019.

A. 6.5% B. 6.3% C. 6.1% D. 6.0% E. 5.7%

4. Who is/are the author (s) of the book 'Good Economics for Hard Times – Better Answers to our Biggest Problems'?

A. Raghuram Rajan B. Jagdish Bhagwati C. Manmohan Singh D. Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo E. Nirmala Sitharaman

5. Which of the following countries has readmitted as the members of the International Cricket Council (ICC)?

A. Zimbabwe B. Afghanistan C. Nepal D. Both A and C E. Kenya

Answers and Explanations
1. Answer - Option C
Explanation -
• A former professor of constitutional law, Kais Saied (61-years) has been elected new President of Tunisia after a landslide victory in the 2019 presidential election.
• He will succeed Mohamed Ennaceur who is currently the interim President of Tunisia since July 2019 following the death of President Beji Caid Essebsi.
• Mr. Saied will assume the office on 30th October 2019 as the 6th President of Tunisia.
• Tunisia is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa, bordered by Algeria to the west and southwest, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east.
• Capital: Tunis
• Currency: Tunisian dinar (TND)
2. Answer - Option D
Explanation -
• ICICI Bank has announced to launch a new Fixed Deposit (FD) scheme ‘FD Health’ that will offer the dual benefit of an FD along with free critical illness coverage with a sum assured of Rs 1 lakh.
• The customers will be offered the insurance cover free of cost for the first year and thereafter, they can renew it.
• This first-of-its-kind offering in the industry provides the customer with a complimentary critical illness cover of Rs. 1 lakh from ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company on opening an FD of Rs. 2 lakhs to Rs. 3 lakhs for the tenure of at least two years.
3. Answer - Option C
Explanation -
• As per the World Economic Outlook released, the IMF (International Monetary Fund) cut its forecast for GDP growth for the financial year 2019-20 to 6.1% (in July 2019 – 7.3% growth).
• IMF revises GDP growth rate prediction for 2019 at 6.1% and for 2020 at 7.0%
• GDP Prediction of India in 2019: 6.1%
• GDP Prediction of India in 2020: 7.0%
4. Answer - Option D
Explanation -
Nobel 2019 Laureates Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo have penned a book together titled 'Good Economics for Hard Times – Better Answers to our Biggest Problems'.
• The book talks about the pressing issues of our times and tries to find solutions to these questions.
• The book is published by Juggernaut and set to release on November 2019.
5. Answer - Option D
Explanation -
• The International Cricket Council has readmitted Zimbabwe (suspended from July 2019) and Nepal (from 2016) as ICC members in a meeting held in Dubai.
• Zimbabwe Cricket had been suspended from membership of the International Cricket Council (ICC) with immediate effect in July this year.
• In 2016, Nepal had been banned for “governmental interference”.
• Now, Zimbabwe will be able to take up their place in the ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup in January and the ICC Super League later in 2020.

1. Name the payment technology company which tied up with Indian Cricketer M.S. Dhoni to launch a nationwide initiative ‘Team Cashless India‘ to accelerate the acceptance and adoption of digital payments in India?

A. A VISA B. Mastercard C. Rupay D. Paypal E. PayU

2. Who is the brand ambassador of payment technology major Mastercard which has launched campaign- ‘Team Cashless India’ to bring more merchants and customers on board with an aim to boost digital payments in India?

A. Sachin Tendulkar B. Virat Kohli C. Mahendra Singh Dhoni D. Rohit Sharma E. Shikhar Dhawan

3. Who becomes the youngest cricketer in the world to score a double century in One Day Cricket?

A. Yashasvi Jaiswal B. Manjot Kalra C. Riyan Parag D. Prithvi Shaw E. Pawan Shah

4. Joint Air Force Exercise ‘Shinyuu Maitri’ is between Indian Air Force and Airforce of which country which is held between 17-23 October 2019 in Panagarh, West Bengal?

A. USA B. Japan C. France D. Sri Lanka E. China

5. Which of the following state governments has launched 'YSR Rytu Bharosa - PM KISAN' scheme under which farmers will get nancial assistance of Rs 13,500 per annum in three installments?

A. Telangana B. Karnataka C. Tamil Nadu D. Andhra Pradesh E. Odisha

Answers and Explanations
1. Answer - Option B
Explanation -
* Mastercard has tied up with Indian Cricketer M.S. Dhoni (brand ambassador of Mastercard) to launch a nationwide initiative to accelerate the acceptance and adoption of digital payments in India.
* The initiative dubbed as ‘Team Cashless India‘.
* The objective of this initiative to bring consumers and merchants to the “forefront of the digital payments dialogue”.
2. Answer - Option C
Explanation -
* Mastercard has tied up with Indian Cricketer M.S. Dhoni (brand ambassador of Mastercard) to launch a nationwide initiative to accelerate the acceptance and adoption of digital payments in India.
* The initiative dubbed as ‘Team Cashless India‘.
* The objective of this initiative to bring consumers and merchants to the “forefront of the digital payments dialogue”.
3. Answer - Option A
Explanation -
* Mumbai teenager Yashasvi Jaiswal (17 years- 192 days) has become the youngest cricketer in the world to score a double century in One Day Cricket.
* Playing in his debut Vijay Hazare season, Yashasvi Jaiswal (left-handed batsman) scored 203 runs (in 154 balls-12 sixes and 17 fours) against Jharkhand at Alur, Karnataka.
* Yashasvi Jaiswal became the seventh Indian batsman to score a double century in List A cricket and fourth to achieve it in the domestic circuit.
* Riding on Jaiswal's quickfire double hundred, Mumbai posted 358 for 3 in 50 overs and bowled out the opposition for 319.
4. Answer - Option B
Explanation -
* The Indian Air Force and Japanese Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) has carried out the annual joint military exercise ‘Shinyuu Maitri’ at Air Force Station, Arjan Singh, Panagarh, West Bengal (17 to 23rd October)
* C-130 J aircraft of the Special Operations Squadron of IAF and C-130 H of Tactical Airlift Squadron of JASDF is participating in the exercise.
* The focus of the exercise, to undertake Joint Mobility and Tactical interoperability among the two forces.
5. Answer - Option D
Explanation -
* Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy has launched 'YSR Rytu Bharosa - PM KISAN' in Nellore.
* Under the scheme, farmers will get financial assistance of Rs 13,500 per annum in three installments.
* The State Government contributing Rs 7,500 and the Centre Rs 6,000.
* Andhra Pradesh Government allocated budget of Rs 5,500 crore for the scheme and the number of beneficiaries is initially put at roughly Rs 40 lakh.