Dear Readers, Daily Current Affairs Questions Quiz for SBI, IBPS, RBI, RRB, SSC Exam 2024 of 04th & 05th August 2024. Daily GK quiz online for bank & competitive exam. Here we have given the Daily Current Affairs Quiz based on the previous days Daily Current Affairs updates. Candidates preparing for IBPS, SBI, RBI, RRB, SSC Exam 2024 & other competitive exams can make use of these Current Affairs Quiz.

 

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1) To maintain uniformity in the handling of this reserve for prudential purposes, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) amended its guidelines on BDDR for cooperative banks. What is the meaning of the second "D" in BDDR?

(a) Debt

(b) Doubtful

(c) Demand

(d) Digital

(e) Deposit

2) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued monetary fines on ____________ urban cooperative banks for failing to follow different regulatory guidelines.

(a) 4

(b) 5

(c) 6

(d) 7

(e) 8

3) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted a cross-border payment aggregator (PA-CB) license to three companies: BillDesk, Amazon Pay, and Adyen. Which firm situated in Bengaluru was the first to get a PA-CB license?

(a) Paytm

(b) PayU

(c) Phonepe

(d) Razorpay

(e) Cashfree

4) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued an order to change the cap on loans against shares and debentures for Urban Co-operative Banks. The prior ceiling was established at what percentage of held funds?

(a) 10%

(b) 20%

(c) 30%

(d) 15%

(e) 25%

5) The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) Report on Currency and Financing (RCF) discusses informal financing. What percentage of rural families' outstanding loans are received from informal lenders?

(a) 21%

(b) 31%

(c) 51%

(d) 41%

(e) 11%

6) The Mahila Samman Savings Certificate Scheme (MSSCS), which promotes savings among Indian women, is not expected to be extended beyond March 2025. What percent fixed interest rate does the MSSCS offer?

(a) 7.1%

(b) 7.2%

(c) 7.5%

(d) 7.4%

(e) 7.3%

7) In how many crores in royalties did Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) pay the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for co-developing the COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin?

(a) Rs.172 crore

(b) Rs.152 crore

(c) Rs.162 crore

(d) Rs.182 crore

(e) Rs.192 crore

8) Which Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Subordinate Officers' Conclave edition was opened at the ICG Headquarters in New Delhi by Director General Rakesh Pal?

(a) 4th

(b) 5th

(c) 6th

(d) 7th

(e) 8th

9) Under the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Union Cabinet has authorized eight 936-kilometer-long access-controlled national highway projects. What is the total amount of money spent on these projects?

(a) Rs 50,655 crore

(b) Rs 50,555 crore

(c) Rs 50,455 crore

(d) Rs 50,755 crore

(e) Rs 50,355 crore

10) In honor of the tenth National Handloom Day, the "VIRAASAT" exhibition opened in New Delhi on August 3, 2024. When was the National Handloom Day observed?

(a) August 5

(b) August 4

(c) August 7

(d) August 6

(e) August 8

11) What was the amount of sovereign green bonds issued by India in 2023–2024 to fund clean energy initiatives?

(a) Rs 20,000 crore

(b) Rs 10,000 crore

(c) Rs 30,000 crore

(d) Rs 15000 crore

(e) Rs 25,000 crore

12) Which state is home to the 350 MW Kayamkulam Combined Cycle Power Plant (CCPP) of NTPC, where BHEL has secured the first-ever order for a gas turbine demonstration of methanol firing?

(a) Karnataka

(b) Kerala

(c) Madhya Pradesh

(d) Gujarat

(e) Odisha

13) The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has Dr. Grinson George as its new director. Where is the CMFRI headquarters located?

(a) Karnataka

(b) Kerala

(c) Madhya Pradesh

(d) Gujarat

(e) Maharashtra

14) The corporate governance framework of e-commerce platform _____________ has been strengthened with the appointment of four independent directors to the board.

(a) Amazon

(b) Meesho

(c) Flipkart

(d) Alibaba

(e) Nykaa

15) Which Small Finance Bank (SFB) has authorized the two-year reappointment of Inderjit Camotra as its Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)?

(a) Jana SFB

(b) Unity SFB

(c) AU SFB

(d) Utkarsh SFB

(e) Ujjiwan SFB

16) What percentage of PNB Housing Finance was sold by Carlyle Group through open market transactions for ₹2,578 crore?

(a) 12.5%

(b) 12.6%

(c) 12.7%

(d) 12.8%

(e) 12.9%

17) What percentage of Viterra Limited's share capital has Bunge Global SA purchased with approval from the Competition Commission of India (CCI)?

(a) 25%

(b) 50%

(c) 75%

(d) 60%

(e) 100%

18) What is the anticipated cost of India's procurement of 31 MQ-9B UAVs, 15 Sea Guardians for the Indian Navy and 16 Sky Guardians, eight for each of the Indian Army and Air Force, in light of the Defence Acquisition Council Sanctions modification to the MQ-9B UAV contract with the United States?

(a) $3.99 billion

(b) $3.59 billion

(c) $3.69 billion

(d) $3.79 billion

(e) $3.89 billion

19) SNTPC Ltd is looking into the construction of Bharat Small Reactors and is scheduled to create the Mahi Banswara nuclear power station with a capacity of __________ GW in partnership with NPCIL.

(a) 2.5GW

(b) 2.6GW

(c) 2.7GW

(d) 2.8GW

(e) 2.9GW

20) Which industry has partnered strategically with well-known cybersecurity company Cylusto bolster the cybersecurity framework?

(a) Railway

(b) Agriculture

(c) Textile

(d) Airways

(e) Automobile

Answers :

1) Answer: A

Short Explanation:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued revised instructions on Bad and Doubtful Debt Reserve (BDDR) for cooperative banks to ensure uniformity in the treatment of this reserve for prudential purposes.

The treatment of BDDR for regulatory capital and the calculation of net NPAs varies across banks and often deviates from regulatory norms.

Detailed Explanation:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued revised instructions on Bad and Doubtful Debt Reserve (BDDR) for cooperative banks to ensure uniformity in the treatment of this reserve for prudential purposes.

The treatment of BDDR for regulatory capital and the calculation of net NPAs varies across banks and often deviates from regulatory norms.

One-Time Measure:To facilitate rectification and a smoother transition to an AS-compliant approach, the RBI has prescribed specific steps for these banks.

Appropriation for NPA:By March 31, 2025, banks should appropriate BDDR2024 directly ('below the line') from the P&L account or general reserves to provision for NPAs. These provisions will be permitted to be netted off from gross NPAs to arrive at net NPAs.

2) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed monetary penalties on 5 urban cooperative banks for failing to comply with various regulatory directions.

The penalties were enforced under RBI's powers conferred by Section 47A(1)(c) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, alongside Sections 46(4)(i) and 56.

Detailed Explanation:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed monetary penalties on 5 urban cooperative banks for failing to comply with various regulatory directions.

The penalties were enforced under RBI's powers conferred by Section 47A(1)(c) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, alongside Sections 46(4)(i) and 56.

Urban Co-operative Bank Limited., Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh: ₹5 lakh penalty for non-compliance with investment norms.

Nagnath Urban Co-operative Bank Limited, Hingoli, Maharashtra: ₹1 lakh penalty for failing to transfer eligible amounts to the Depositor Education and Awareness Fund as per Section 26A.

Shrikrishna Co-operative Bank Limited, Umrer, Maharashtra: ₹2.08 lakh penalty for non-compliance with loan and advance regulations related to directors and their relatives.

Alibag Co-operative Urban Bank Limited, Alibag, Maharashtra: ₹2 lakh penalty for mismanagement of advances, including sanctioning gold loans beyond regulatory limits.

The Hindustan Co-operative Bank Limited, Mumbai, Maharashtra: ₹4 lakh penalty for violations including exposure norms and KYC requirements.

3) Answer: E

Short Explanation:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued a cross-border payment aggregator (PA-CB) licence to three companies: BillDesk, Amazon Pay, and Adyen.

On July 22, 2024, Bengaluru-based Cashfreewas the first to receive the PA-CB licence.

Payment Aggregator Licence Holders: All five PA-CB licence holders are also payment aggregator licence holders, enabling them to provide domestic merchant payment services.

Company Profiles :BillDesk is one of the largest bill processing entities in the country.

Detailed Explanation:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued a cross-border payment aggregator (PA-CB) licence to three companies: BillDesk, Amazon Pay, and Adyen.

On July 22, 2024, Bengaluru-based Cashfreewas the first to receive the PA-CB licence.

Payment Aggregator Licence Holders: All five PA-CB licence holders are also payment aggregator licence holders, enabling them to provide domestic merchant payment services.

Company Profiles :BillDesk is one of the largest bill processing entities in the country.

Amazon Pay offers mobile wallet payments, Unified Payments Interface-based transactions and all forms of bill payments.

Netherlands-headquartered listed payment company Adyen globally processed close to 300 billion euros worth of transactions in the first three months of 2024, recording a net revenue of 438 million euros.

Regulatory Requirements:Net-Worth: Non-banks providing PA-CB services as on the date of this circular, shall have a minimum net-worth of ₹15 crore at the time of submitting application to the RBI for authorization and a minimum net-worth of ₹25 crore by March 31, 2026.

4) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued a directive altering the ceiling on loans against shares and debentures for Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs).

Previous Regulation: The previous ceiling was set at 20% of owned funds.

New Regulation: The new regulation links the ceiling to the Tier I capital of UCBs as of March 31 of the preceding financial year.

This change will be effective from January 1, 2025.

Detailed Explanation:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued a directive altering the ceiling on loans against shares and debentures for Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs).

Previous Regulation: The previous ceiling was set at 20% of owned funds.

New Regulation: The new regulation links the ceiling to the Tier I capital of UCBs as of March 31 of the preceding financial year.

This change will be effective from January 1, 2025.

Purpose of Change: The updated ceiling aims to enhance financial stability by correlating the loan limits with the bank’s Tier I capital.

Guidelines Reference: The new regulation aligns with the guidelines outlined in the Master Circular on Prudential Norms for UCBs.

Unchanged Provisions: All other provisions from the previous circulars remain unchanged.

5) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

As per the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) Report on Currency and Finance (RCF), Informal finance is still thriving in rural India, despite the penetration of the formal financial sector.

Among the total outstanding loans of rural households, 31% is sourced from informal lenders.

The penetration of informal loans is particularly high among the lowest economic strata of households.

Kisan Credit Cards (KCCs):As of end-March 2023, the number of operative KCCs stood at 7.4 crore.

Detailed Explanation:

As per the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) Report on Currency and Finance (RCF), Informal finance is still thriving in rural India, despite the penetration of the formal financial sector.

Among the total outstanding loans of rural households, 31% is sourced from informal lenders.

The penetration of informal loans is particularly high among the lowest economic strata of households.

Kisan Credit Cards (KCCs):As of end-March 2023, the number of operative KCCs stood at 7.4 crore.

KCC penetration is less than 20% among marginal farmers having less than one hectare of land.

Reasons for low penetration include unavailability of online land and revenue records and lack of awareness about the scheme.

Digitalization of agricultural finance through digital KCC products under the PTPFC (Public Tech Platform for Frictionless Credit) is expected to deepen financial inclusion and facilitate hassle-free disbursement of loans.

6) Answer: C

Short Explanation:

The Mahila Samman Savings Certificate Scheme (MSSCS), launched to promote savings among Indian women, is unlikely to be extended beyond its March 2025 deadline.

Scheme Details:

Interest Rate:The MSSCS offers a fixed interest rate of 7.5%.

Withdrawal Option: The scheme includes a partial withdrawal option, adding flexibility for the account holders.

Launched on: Launched as a part of Budget 2023

Detailed Explanation:

The Mahila Samman Savings Certificate Scheme (MSSCS), launched to promote savings among Indian women, is unlikely to be extended beyond its March 2025 deadline.

Scheme Details:

Interest Rate:The MSSCS offers a fixed interest rate of 7.5%.

Withdrawal Option: The scheme includes a partial withdrawal option, adding flexibility for the account holders.

Launched on: Launched as a part of Budget 2023

Performance:

Accounts Opened: In the first nine months of FY24, over 2.25 million accounts were opened.

Deposits: The scheme attracted deposits exceeding Rs 14,500 crore during this period.

7) Answer: A

Short Explanation:

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) received ₹172 crore in royalty from Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) for the joint development of Covaxin, a COVID-19 vaccine.

Patent Rectification: Initially, ICMR was not listed as a co-owner and co-inventor in the patent filing for Covaxin. After government objection, BBIL rectified this error.

Co-Ownership: Now, ICMR, the National Institute of Virology (NIV), and three scientists are co-owners and co-inventors of Covaxin.

Detailed Explanation:

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) received ₹172 crore in royalty from Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) for the joint development of Covaxin, a COVID-19 vaccine.

Patent Rectification: Initially, ICMR was not listed as a co-owner and co-inventor in the patent filing for Covaxin. After government objection, BBIL rectified this error.

Co-Ownership: Now, ICMR, the National Institute of Virology (NIV), and three scientists are co-owners and co-inventors of Covaxin.

India supplied Covaxin to seven countries under the Vaccine Maitri initiative.

Phase 1: ICMR and NIV isolated the virus and studied the related challenges.

Phase 2: Bharat Biotech developed the vaccine, investing around ₹60 crore.

Phase 3 Clinical Trials: ICMR spent approximately ₹35 crore, including ₹20 crore to fund 25 sites and recruit 25,800 participants.

8) Answer: D

Short Explanation:

The 7th Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Subordinate Officers’ Conclave was inaugurated, by Director General Rakesh Pal at the ICG HQ in New Delhi.

The Conclave is scheduled for August 01-02, 2024.

The Conclave is themed 'Towards an Inclusive Approach'.

Detailed Explanation:

The 7th Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Subordinate Officers’ Conclave was inaugurated, by Director General Rakesh Pal at the ICG HQ in New Delhi.

The Conclave is scheduled for August 01-02, 2024.

The Conclave is themed 'Towards an Inclusive Approach'.

Director General Rakesh Pal highlighted the alignment of the Conclave with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of fostering innovative ideas for inclusive growth, embodying ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, and Sabka Prayas.’

Future Inductions: Discussions on future inductions in the ICG based on Aatmanirbhar Bharat principles.

HR Policies: Refinement of HR policies for inclusive career growth under the ‘Karmyogi’ initiative.

Operational Capabilities: Enhancement of operational capabilities through advanced technology integration.

9) Answer: A

Short Explanation:

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved eight access-controlled national highway projects totalling 936 km in length.

The total cost for these projects is Rs 50,655 crore.

The government aims to minimize land acquisition needs, aligning projects with existing infrastructure where possible.

Detailed Explanation:

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved eight access-controlled national highway projects totalling 936 km in length.

The total cost for these projects is Rs 50,655 crore.

The government aims to minimize land acquisition needs, aligning projects with existing infrastructure where possible.

The projects are expected to generate approximately 4.42 crore man-days of direct and indirect employment.

Agra-Gwalior Highway: 6-lane highway.

Kharagpur - Moregram: 4-lane highway.

Tharad - Deesa - Mehsana - Ahmedabad: 6-lane highway.

Pathalgaon to Gumla of Raipur-Ranchi: 4-lane section.

Kanpur Ring Road: 6-lane.

Northern Guwahati Bypass and Guwahati Bypass: 4-lane and improvement works.

Nashik Phata - Khed Corridor: 8-lane elevated.

Ayodhya Ring Road: 68 km, 4-lane, costing Rs 3,935 crore, aimed at reducing congestion and improving connectivity for pilgrims and tourists.

10) Answer: C

Short Explanation:

The “VIRAASAT” exhibition, dedicated to celebrating the 10th National Handloom Day, began on August 3, 2024, at Handloom Haat, Janpath.

Organized by the National Handloom Development Corporation Ltd (NHDC) under the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.

The exhibition will run until August 16, 2024.

National Handloom Day: Established on August 7, 2015, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to honor the handloom weaving community and highlight the sector's socio-economic contributions.

Detailed Explanation:

The “VIRAASAT” exhibition, dedicated to celebrating the 10th National Handloom Day, began on August 3, 2024, at Handloom Haat, Janpath.

Organized by the National Handloom Development Corporation Ltd (NHDC) under the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.

The exhibition will run until August 16, 2024.

To celebrate the 10th National Handloom Day, commemorated annually on August 7.

To showcase and promote India's rich handloom and handicraft traditions.

To provide a market platform for handloom weavers and artisans.

Historical Context: The Swadeshi Movement of August 7, 1905, promoted indigenous industries and handloom weaving.

National Handloom Day: Established on August 7, 2015, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to honor the handloom weaving community and highlight the sector's socio-economic contributions.

The government aims to protect handloom heritage, empower weavers financially, and enhance the sector's sustainable development.

The handloom sector employs approximately 35 lakh people, making it a crucial industry after agriculture.

11) Answer: A

Short Explanation:

In 2023-24, India issued ₹20,000 crore in sovereign green bonds to support clean energy projects.

For 2024-25, the government plans to raise ₹20,000-25,000 crore, with a first-half goal of ₹12,000 crore and a second-half potential of up to ₹15,000 crore.

Detailed Explanation:

In 2023-24, India issued ₹20,000 crore in sovereign green bonds to support clean energy projects.

For 2024-25, the government plans to raise ₹20,000-25,000 crore, with a first-half goal of ₹12,000 crore and a second-half potential of up to ₹15,000 crore.

Issuance Details for 2023-24:

Amount Issued: ₹20,000 crore in sovereign green bonds.

Budget Mention: Not included in the budget.

Purpose: Financing clean energy and sustainability projects.

Plans for 2024-25:

Target Amount: ₹20,000-25,000 crore through green bonds.

First Half (Apr-Sep): Notified plans to raise ₹12,000 crore.

Second Half (Oct-Mar): Potential to raise up to ₹15,000 crore.

India’s Energy Goals:

Current Renewable Capacity: 180.79 GW.

2030 Target: 500 GW of non-fossil fuel energy capacity.

Annual Additions: Plan to add 50 GW of green energy capacity per year.

Net-Zero Emissions Target: By 2070.

12) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has received the first ever order for the demonstration of methanol firing in a Gas Turbine at the 350 MWKayamkulam Combined Cycle Power Plant (CCPP) of NTPC installed at Alappuzha district in Kerala.

Detailed Explanation:

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has received the first ever order for the demonstration of methanol firing in a Gas Turbine at the 350 MWKayamkulam Combined Cycle Power Plant (CCPP) of NTPC installed at Alappuzha district in Kerala.

The Kayamkulam CCPP includes two gas turbines of 115 MW each and one steam turbine of 120 MW, totaling 350 MW.

The plant was set up by BHEL on a turnkey basis in 1998-99.

Scope of Work: Includes technology support, supply of equipment and associated auxiliaries, and the erection and commissioning of the methanol firing system.

Project Phases:

Phase 1: A 12-month demonstration at 30-40% load of the gas turbine.

Phase 2: Upon successful completion of Phase 1, a second phase demonstration at 100% load is planned.

Current Status: BHEL has secured the order for Phase 1 of the project.

13) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

Grinson George, former head of the Marine Biodiversity and Environment Management Division at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has assumed charge as Director of the CMFRI.

About CMFRI :

Established : 1947

Headquarters : Kochi, Kerala

Detailed Explanation:

Grinson George, former head of the Marine Biodiversity and Environment Management Division at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has assumed charge as Director of the CMFRI.

He has also held the position of Senior Programme Specialist at the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in Dhaka.

About CMFRI :

Established : 1947

Headquarters : Kochi, Kerala

The CMFRI was established under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and later, in 1967, it joined the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) family and emerged as a leading tropical marine fisheries research institute in the world.

14) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

E-commerce platform Meeshohas appointed four independent directors to its board to enhance its corporate governance structure.

Existing Board Members:Co-founders: Vidit Aatrey and Sanjeev Barnwal.

Detailed Explanation:

E-commerce platform Meeshohas appointed four independent directors to its board to enhance its corporate governance structure.

Kalpana Morparia: Former chairman of South and South East Asia at JPMorgan, with over 45 years of experience in India’s financial sector. She serves on the boards of several global companies.

Hari S Bhartia: Founder and co-chairman of Jubilant Bhartia Group, leading a group with four listed companies and a combined market cap of around $7.65 billion.

Surojit Chatterjee: Founder and CEO of AI firm Ema, with previous senior positions at Coinbase and Google.

Rohit Bhagat: Non-executive chairman on the board of PhonePe, with leadership roles at BlackRock and Barclays Global Investors.

Existing Board Members:Co-founders: Vidit Aatrey and Sanjeev Barnwal.

15) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the re-appointment of Inderjit Camotra as Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Unity Small Finance Bank (SFB) for two years.

The licence to set up the SFB was issued in October 2021.

Detailed Explanation:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the re-appointment of Inderjit Camotra as Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Unity Small Finance Bank (SFB) for two years.

Prior to being appointed as head of Unity SFB, Camotra was Executive Director with Centrum Financial Services Limited/CFSL (Promoter Entity of Unity Bank).

The licence to set up the SFB was issued in October 2021.

The bank commenced operations in November 2021.

Ownership Structure:BharatPe holds a 49% stake in Unity SFB.

CFSL holds a 51% stake in Unity SFB.

16) Answer: D

Short Explanation:

Carlyle Group divested a 12.8% stake in PNB Housing Finance for ₹2,578 crore through open market transactions.

The Singapore government and the Monetary Authority of Singapore acquired stakes in PNB Housing Finance.

Detailed Explanation:

Carlyle Group divested a 12.8% stake in PNB Housing Finance for ₹2,578 crore through open market transactions.

The Singapore government and the Monetary Authority of Singapore acquired stakes in PNB Housing Finance.

Carlyle's stake in PNB Housing Finance was reduced from 32.68% to 19.88%.

Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund, DSP BlackRock Mutual Fund, HSBC Mutual Fund, and ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company acquired a total of 1.46 crore shares, equivalent to a 5.62% stake in PNB Housing Finance.

17) Answer: E

Short Explanation:

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the acquisition of 100% share capital of Viterra Limited by Bunge Global SA.

Detailed Explanation:

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the acquisition of 100% share capital of Viterra Limited by Bunge Global SA.

Proposed Combination: Bunge Global SA (Acquirer) is set to acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding share capital of Viterra Limited (Target).

Global Activities:Bunge: Mainly active in the sale of oilseed meals, vegetable oils, grains, milled products, and unprocessed oilseeds.

Viterra: Focuses on the purchase and sale of unprocessed commodity crops, particularly grains.

Viterra has limited origination activities in India for commodities such as channa, wheat, maize, lentils, and cotton.

18) Answer: A

Short Explanation:

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed and approved amendments to the deal for 31 MQ-9B High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) from General Atomics of the US.

India is looking to procure 31 MQ-9B UAVs, 15 Sea Guardians for the Indian Navy and 16 Sky Guardians – eight each for the Indian Army and Air Force, estimated to cost $3.99 billion.

Detailed Explanation:

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed and approved amendments to the deal for 31 MQ-9B High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) from General Atomics of the US.

The DAC also gave approval to a proposal regarding the scheduled refit of aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya later this year.

The amendments approved are within the scope of the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) that was granted for the MQ-9B deal.

India is looking to procure 31 MQ-9B UAVs, 15 Sea Guardians for the Indian Navy and 16 Sky Guardians – eight each for the Indian Army and Air Force, estimated to cost $3.99 billion.

As part of the deal, General Atomics is scheduled to establish a Global Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in India which would count towards offset obligations.

The DAC also accorded AoN, the first step of the procurement process, for the procurement of Advanced Land Navigation System (ALNS) for Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs) of the Army and 22 Interceptor Boats for the Coast Guard.

19) Answer: D

Short Explanation:

NTPC Ltd, in collaboration with NPCIL, is set to develop the Mahi Banswara nuclear power plant with a capacity of 2.8 GW and is also exploring the development of Bharat Small Reactors. .

Detailed Explanation:

NTPC Ltd, in collaboration with NPCIL, is set to develop the Mahi Banswara nuclear power plant with a capacity of 2.8 GW and is also exploring the development of Bharat Small Reactors. .

Chutka Nuclear Plant:

Capacity: 1.4 GW.

Development: Originally part of the joint venture, now to be undertaken independently by NPCIL.

Bharat Small Reactors:

Initiative: NTPC plans to explore setting up Bharat Small Reactors as announced in the Budget.

Green Energy Capacity Addition:

Target: NTPC aims to add 60 GW of green energy capacity by 2032.

Nuclear Energy Goal: India aims to add 19.7 GW of nuclear capacity by 2032 as per the National Electricity Plan.

20) Answer: A

Short Explanation:

RailTel, a leading public sector entity in telecommunications and ICT solutions, has entered a strategic partnership with Cylus, a prominent cybersecurity firm specializing in the rail sector.

This collaboration aims to bolster the cybersecurity framework of Indian Railways' extensive infrastructure.

Detailed Explanation:

RailTel, a leading public sector entity in telecommunications and ICT solutions, has entered a strategic partnership with Cylus, a prominent cybersecurity firm specializing in the rail sector.

This collaboration aims to bolster the cybersecurity framework of Indian Railways' extensive infrastructure.

Cybersecurity Enhancement: The primary goal is to enhance the security of railway signalling systems, including trackside, onboard, and SCADA systems, through the integration of CylusOne, Cylus' proprietary cybersecurity solution.

Introduction of Cylus' advanced cyber defense technologies to the Indian market.

Focus on enhancing cybersecurity in the railway and public transport sectors.

Cylus will provide specialized services for the seamless integration of CylusOne into RailTel’s systems.

Enhancement of cybersecurity measures in railway signaling, telecom, and other ICT systems.