Current Affairs MCQs [ 22 and 23 December 2017 ] PIB TheHindu IndianExpress & Other leading newspapers

Sumant Kumar, B.Tech NIT Allahabad sumant.magadh@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/SumantKM/

To which of the following factors does the Economic Survey attribute NPA problem in Indian banks? 1. Reckless borrowing

by private firms from banks 2. Low interest rates

by RBI 3. Delayed

environment clearances and land acquisition

With reference to the Non-Performing Assets, which of the following statement is/are correct? 1. A non-performing asset (NPA) is a loan or advance for which the principal or interest payment remained overdue for a period of 100 days. 2. Rise in NPA will lead to increasing price of loans and interest rates. Select the correct option using the code given below. 1. 1 only 2. 2 only 3. Both 1 and 2

Select the correct answer using codes below: a) 1 only b) 2 and 3 only c) 1 and 3 only d) 1, 2 and 3 only Solution: c)

4. Neither 1 nor 2 Ans B • A non performing asset (NPA) is a loan or advance

for which the principal or interest payment remained overdue for a period of 90 days.

• The price of loans, interest rates will shoot up badly

Which of the following can be the possible benefits of mergers of banks? 1. Lower interest rates for

borrowers 2. Capital conservation for

government 3. Reduction in cost of doing

business Select the correct answer using the code given below. (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Ans D

• The cost of funds for smaller banks is more than larger banks, that is the reason why their borrowing rates were more. As a result of the merger the borrowers can expect to get lower rates of interest.

• Government has already made most of the Rs 25,000 crore capital infusion that it had promised for this fiscal, under the Indradhanush scheme. Every single bank on the list has a gross NPA ratio of over 10%. In such a situation, a merger of banks will result in capital conservation, since the government will have fewer balance sheets to fund. The merger benefits include getting economies of scale and reduction in the cost of doing business.

The Parliamentary Privileges are available to: 1. Union Ministers 2. Nominated members of Rajya

Sabha and Lok Sabha 3. Comptroller and Auditor

General of India. Select the correct answer using the code given below. (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Ans A

• Parliamentary privileges are special rights, immunities and exemptions enjoyed by

• the two Houses of the Parliament,

• their committees and

• their members. • The Constitution extended these privileges

to Union ministers and the Attorney General of India.

• However, these privileges are not extended to the President who is also an integral part of the Parliament. They don not extend to the comptroller and Auditor General of India.

With reference to the “Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana”, which of the following statement is/are incorrect? 1. It is an initiative to make country’s youth employable and strengthen them economically by providing them a meaningful, industry relevant, skill based training. 2. The scheme is being run by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC)

o It is an initiative to make country’s youth employable and strengthen them economically by providing them a meaningful, industry relevant, skill based training.

o PMKVY is being run by the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE).

3. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) is the implementing agency for the scheme. Select the correct answer using the code given below. 1. 1 and 2 only 2. 1 and 3 only 3. 2 and 3 only 4. 1, 2 and 3

Ans C

o National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) is the implementing agency for the scheme.

Consider the following phenomena: 1. Tsunamis 2. Acid rains 3. Climate Change 4. Primary biotic

succession 5. Secondary biotic

succession Which of the above may be caused due to a Volcanic Eruption? (a) 1, 3 and 4 only (b) 2 and 5 only (c) 1, 2, 3 and 5 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Ans D

• Earthquakes caused before and after the volcanic eruptions generate tsunamis.

• Acid rains are accompanied by volcanic eruptions. • Volcanic eruptions change the radiation balance of the

earth and the atmosphere and thus help in causing climatic changes.

• Primary biotic succession refers to developmental sequence of vegetation in those bare areas where there were no vegetation and animals earlier. Such areas may be newly emerged sea floor, cooled and solidified basaltic surfaces due to recent lava flows, flood plains formed by recent alluvia, etc.

• Secondary biotic succession refers to developmental sequences of vegetation in those areas which had vegetation cover earlier but now have been rendered bare due to destruction of vegetation (either partly or completely) either by

i) natural processes (like lava flow, glaciation, prolonged drought, natural forest fires through lightening, etc.) or

ii) human interferences (like intentional burning of vegetation, massive land use changes, mass felling of trees, etc.)

Which of the following schemes are categorized as Small Savings Schemes? 1. Public Provident Fund 2. Post Office Monthly Income

Scheme 3. Post Office fixed Deposit

Scheme 4. Senior Citizen's Savings

Scheme 5. Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana 6. Kisan Vikas Patra

Select the correct answer using the code given below. (a) 1, 3, 4 and 5 only (b) 1, 2, 4 and 6 only (c) 2, 3, 5 and 6 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 Ans D

• All of the given are Small Saving Schemes.

• RBI and banks have been pressing for reduction in small savings rates and bring them in line with market rate for effective transmission of monetary policy.

• Recently, government decided to do away with the higher interest income earned through Kisan Vikas Patras (KVPs) and other small saving schemes below five years of maturity, hoping to help bring down bank lending rates. The returns on Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, the Senior Citizen Savings Scheme and the Monthly Income Scheme will continue to enjoy a higher return than government securities but would also face a quarterly reset.

Malnutrition means less productive individuals, who are

The Sustainable Development Goal-2, which aims to “end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition

more prone to disease and thus often unable to earn more and improve their livelihoods. Which one among the following UN Sustainable Development Goals include achieving “improved nutrition”? a) SDG 1 (No Poverty) b) SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) c) SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) d) SDG 5 (Gender Equality) Solution: b.

and promote sustainable agriculture”, is a priority area for India. • To ensure food and nutrition security, there is a

growing need for a multi-sectoral approach.

• The policies and programmes of various ministries should be converged for better results. This will not only transform India’s agricultural practices, but also spread awareness about nutritious food among key target groups, including tribals, women and children.

Austria opens out to the a) Tyrrhenian Sea b) Balearic Sea c) Sea of Azov d) It is a land-locked country Solution: d.

‘Prompt Corrective Action’ is related to a) Handling of unruly and disruptive air passengers b) Financial health of banks c) The Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation (PRAGATI) platform d) The Aadhaar Act, 2016 Solution: b.

Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) norms allow the regulator to place certain restrictions such as halting branch expansion and stopping dividend payment. • It can even cap a bank’s lending limit to one entity or

sector.

• Other corrective action that can be imposed on banks include special audit, restructuring operations and activation of recovery plan.

• Banks’ promoters can be asked to bring in new management, too.

• The RBI can also supersede the bank’s board, under PCA.

• Capital, asset quality and profitability continue to be the key areas for monitoring in the revised PCA framework.

• There are a few indicators for these key areas.

• Breaching of any risk threshold (as defined for each of the indicators) would result in invocation of PCA.

Regional conferences on “good governance and replication of best practices” are organised under the aegis of a) The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions b) NITI Aayog

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is increasingly seen as a counterweight to the a) Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development b) Organisation of American States c) North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

c) The Ministry of Home Affairs d) The Prime Minister’s Office Solution: a.

d) Gulf Cooperation Council Solution: c. Comparisons have been drawn, time and again, between SCO and NATO.

With reference to Kisan Credit Card Scheme, consider the following statements: 1. The card provided under

the scheme is an ATM enabled debit card.

2. It aims to provide interest free short term loans to farmers.

3. It is operational throughout the country except for the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Ans A

• Kisan Credit Cards are offered to farmers in India in order to enable them to access affordable credit for farmers.

• There is no component of interest free loans under it.

• The scope of the KCC has been broad-based to include term credit and consumption needs.

• The KCC Scheme has since been simplified and converted into ATM enabled debit card with, inter alia, facilities of one-time documentation.

• It is operational throughout the country.

• It is implemented by Commercial Banks, Cooperative Banks and Regional Rural Banks.

With reference to Kisan Credit Card, consider the following statements:

With reference to Methanol, consider the following statements:

1. The credit limit provided to the farmers do not consider credit history of the farmers.

2. In case of a bad crop season it does not offer relaxation in payment of credit taken.

Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct? 1. 1 only 2. 2 only 3. Both 1 and 2 4. Neither 1 nor 2

Ans D It simplifies the multi-layered credit evaluation process of urban centric credit schemes. The credit limit is based on the land holding, income and credit history of the farmer. Offers flexible repayment schedule after the harvest season and enables rescheduling of payments in case of a bad crop season.

1. It is produced naturally. 2. It is not only fit for external use

but also for consumption. Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct? 1. 1 only 2. 2 only 3. Both and 2 4. Neither 1 nor 2

Ans A • Methanol is produced naturally in the

anaerobic metabolism of many varieties of bacteria and is commonly present in small amounts in the environment.

• Unlike ethanol, methanol is highly toxic and unfit for consumption.

Kisan Credit Card Scheme Aim : to provide adequate+timely support from the banking system to the farmers for their short-term credit needs for purchase of agri inputs etc. Benefits to the farmers : • Minimum paper work and simplification of documentation for drawal of funds from the

bank.

• No need to apply for a loan for every crop

• Assured availability of credit at any time as per the need of the farmer.

• Helps buy on cash-avail discount from dealers

• Credit facility for 3 years – no need for seasonal appraisal

• Maximum credit limit based on agriculture income

• Any number of withdrawals subject to credit limit

• Repayment only after harvest

• Rate of interest , Security, margin and documentation norms as applicable to agricultural advance

• Flexibility of drawls from a branch other than the issuing branch at the discretion of the bank.

With reference to micro finance, consider the following statements: 1. It finances business which doesn’t have access to

traditional sources of capital. 2. Even though it is smaller than traditional banks but it

has a higher interest rates. Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct? 1. 1 only 2. 2 only 3. Both and 2 4. Neither 1 nor 2

Ans C Microfinance, also known as microcredit, is a financial service that offers loans, savings and insurance to entrepreneurs and small business owners who don’t have access to traditional sources of capital, like banks or investors. • The goal of microfinancing is to provide individuals

with money to invest in themselves or their business. • Microfinance is smaller than traditional bank loans, but

they have much higher interest rates.

Recently exercise hamesha vijayee was conducted by india, consider the following statement 1. It’s a bilateral exercise with sri

lanka 2. It was conducted in Rajasthan

desert 3. It is an integrated land and air

exercise Select the correct answer using the code given below: 1. 1 only 2. 2 only 3. 1 and 2 4. 2 and 3

Ans D • Hamesha vijayee exercise is india

military exercise conducted by its southern command.

• Hamesha vijayee exercise was conducted in rajasthan desert.

• Hamesha vijayee is an integrated land and air exercise.

Who among the following is not the member of regional comprehensive economic partnership (RCEP)? 1. India 2. Brunei 3. Maldives 4. Mayanmar

Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) • is a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between the ten

member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) and the six states with which ASEAN has existing free trade agreements (Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand).

How many indian states share border with china? 1. 4 states 2. 3 states 3. 5 states 4. 6 states

5 indian states share border with china Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh

Which of the following is/are objective(s) of Ganga Gram project, recently in the news? 1. Promotion of organic farming 2. Solid and liquid waste management 3. Renovation of ponds and water

resources 4. Promotion of the cultivation of

medicinal plants 5. Conservation of water by renovating

ponds and other water resources Select the correct answer using the codes given below, 1. 2 and 5 only 2. 1, 2 and 4 only

• Ganga Gram project is an integrated approach for holistic development of villages situated on the banks of River Ganga with active participation of the villagers.

• The objectives of Ganga Gram Project include solid and liquid waste management, renovation of ponds and water resources, water conservation projects, organic farming, horticulture, and promotion of medicinal plants.

3. 2, 3 and 5 only 4. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Ans D

With reference to the United Nations General Assembly, consider the following statements: 1. It is composed of the

representatives of all member states of the United Nations.

2. It has the power to take action in cases of breach of peace or act of aggression when the Security Council fails to act.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct? 1. 1 only 2. 2 only 3. Both 1 and 2 4. Neither 1 nor 2

Ans C

o The United Nations General Assembly

• the main deliberative organ of the UN

• is composed of the representatives of all member states (currently there are 193 members).

• UNGA is the only principal organ of UN system in which all member nations have equal representation.

• Its composition, functions, powers, voting, and procedures are set out in Chapter IV of the United Nations Charter.

o The General Assembly may take action in cases of a threat to the peace, breach of peace or act of aggression, when the Security Council has failed to act owing to the negative vote of a permanent member.

o In such instances, according to its “Uniting for peace” resolution of 3 November 1950, the Assembly may consider the matter immediately and recommend to its Members collective measures to maintain or restore international peace and security.

With reference to Biopesticides, which of the following is/are correct? 1. It can found in the form of animals, plants, bacteria,

and minerals. 2. It does not affect only the target pest but proliferate

in the environment very quickly. Select the correct answer using the code given below. 1. 1 only 2. 2 only 3. Both 1 and 2 4. Neither 1 nor 2

Ans A • Biopesticides are certain types of pesticides derived from

such natural materials as animals, plants, bacteria, and certain minerals.

• Biochemical pesticides are naturally occurring substances that control pests by non-toxic mechanisms.

• Biopesticides generally affect only the target pest and closely related organisms, in contrast to broad spectrum, conventional pesticides that may affect organisms as different as birds, insects and mammals or the environment.

Recently, our scientists have discovered a new scorpion species named Schaller’s wood scorpion. In which of Indian states has it been discovered? 1. Tripura 2. Maharashtra 3. Chhattisgarh 4. Odisha

Scientists have discovered new scorpion species named Schaller’s wood scorpion (Liocheles schalleri) from at Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary, Tripura. • It has been named in honour of

celebrated wildlife biologist George Schaller who has studied wildlife across the world, including the snow leopards of the Himalayas and central India’s tigers.

With reference to Swachh Iconic Places (SIP), consider the following statements: 1. It aims to clean up places across India

which has special significance. 2. It is administered in association with the

Ministry of Tourism. Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct? 1. 1 only

With reference to Smart Cities Mission, consider the following statements: 1. It is primarily an urban renewal program for

existing cities 2. All Indian states and Union territories has

participated in the mission except West Bengal. Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct? 1. 1 only

2. 2 only 3. Both and 2 4. Neither 1 nor 2 Ans C • A multi-stakeholder initiative focusing on

cleaning up 100 places across India that are “iconic” due to their heritage, religious and/or cultural significance.

• This initiative is in partnership with Ministries of Urban Development, Tourism and Culture with MDWS being the nodal ministry.

2. 2 only 3. Both and 2 4. Neither 1 nor 2 Ans C • Smart Cities Mission is an urban renewal and

retrofitting program by the Government of India with a mission to develop 100 cities all over the country making them citizen friendly and sustainable.

• It is a five-year program, where all of the Indian states and Union territories are participating except West Bengal.