Dear Readers, Daily Current Affairs Questions Quiz for SBI, IBPS, RBI, RRB, SSC Exam 2024 of 09th March 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.

 

`Start Quiz

 

1) After the company reported that it had received the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) final approval to operate as an online payment aggregator, shares of Infibeam Avenues Ltd. increased by more than _______% in trading.

(a) 7%

(b) 8%

(c) 9%

(d) 10%

(e) 11%

2) Which financial institution and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Mumbai to create a framework that encourages the use of local currencies, specifically for cross-border transactions?

(a) DBS Bank

(b) HSBC Bank

(c) Bank of China

(d) Bank Indonesia

(e) Bank of America

3) The standard for India's economic strength has been lifted by prominent international rating agency Moody's, which updated its GDP growth prediction for the fiscal year 2023–24 by what percentage?

(a) 7%

(b) 8%

(c) 9%

(d) 10%

(e) 11%

4) According to the recent data (Mar 2024), In which city will Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi present the inaugural National Creators Award?

(a) Surat

(b) Pune

(c) New Delhi

(d) Mumbai

(e) Kolkata

5) Which comprehensive digital platform was launched by Union Minister of Communications, Railways, Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, to support states and union territories (UTs) in achieving national development goals?

(a) NITI for Bharat

(b) NITI for Digital

(c) NITI for St/UT

(d) NITI for States

(e) NITI for Nation

6) By crossing 900 million tons (MT), India's coal production has achieved an unparalleled milestone that will allow it to get closer to the ambitious goal of 1 billion tons (BT) by which year?

(a) 2024

(b) 2025

(c) 2026

(d) 2027

(e) 2028

7) As security worries in Europe have increased in the wake of Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Sweden formally joined NATO as the ____ member of the transatlantic military alliance, ending decades of post-World War II neutrality and centuries of broader non-alignment with major countries.

(a) 28^th

(b) 30^th

(c) 32^nd

(d) 34^th

(e) 36^th

8) Panama became the ___ member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) upon its official ratification.

(a) 93^rd

(b) 95^th

(c) 97^th

(d) 99^th

(e) 100^th

9) In which city is Metro Rail Corporation Limited setting a major new precedent with the deployment of advanced technology-equipped driverless trains?

(a) Chennai

(b) Bengaluru

(c) Ahmedabad

(d) Delhi

(e) Kolkata

10) Cloud software major SAP announced whose appointment as SAP Indian Subcontinent's President and Managing Director?

(a) Shyam Shringla

(b) Manish Prasad

(c) Ashok Kumar

(d) Siddaramaiah

(e) Saran Goutham

11) In Acko, Who has taken over as the new CEO of its subsidiary company- ACKO General Insurance?

(a) Chandra Kanth

(b) Srinivasan

(c) Kailash Sri

(d)Animesh Das

(e) Varun Dua

12) With effect from April 24, 2024, who has announced his resignationas the Chief Financial Officer of LTI Mindtree?

(a) Vinit Teredesai

(b) Bala Chandar

(c)Vipul Chandra

(d) Varun Dhawan

(e) Sundar Shyam

13) The _____ONGC Para Games, which will be placed in Thyagaraj Stadium, New Delhi, on March 8–10, 2024, were officially opened by Minister Hardeep S. Puri.

(a) 1^st

(b) 3^rd

(c) 5^th

(d) 7^th

(e) 9^th

14) Credit and debit cards used for corporate accounts are subject to stricter regulations from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Credit card issuers with ______ active cards issued by them are exempt from the directions.

(a)5 lakh or less

(b) 10 lakh or less

(c) 15 lakh or less

(d) 20 lakh or less

(e) 25 lakh or less

15 In February 2024, the International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Technology (iCreate), ____________ signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) facilitated by the Ministry of Electronics & IT to boost AI startups in India.

(a) Meta

(b) Amazon

(c) Microsoft

(d) Whatsapp

(e) Flipkart

16) ________________ is a system that enables payment between two entities i.e. a payer and payee and constitutes clearing, settlement, or payment service.

(a) Payment and Settlement Systems

(b) Financial System

(c) Reinsurance

(d) Underwriting

(e) Guarantee

17) In February 2024, India signed an MOU with _____________ to cooperate in the field of Archives.

(a) Japan

(b) Nigeria

(c) Egypt

(d) Oman

(e) Australia

18) Consider the following statement regarding Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan. Which of the following statements is correct?

(a) The government launched PMSMA in 2016

(b) It was launched to provide fixed-day, free-of-cost, assured, comprehensive and quality antenatal care on the ninth day of every month to all pregnant women in their second and third trimesters.

(c) It has been launched by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India.

(d) As per a notice issued by the family planning department under the National Health Mission (NHM, the number of high-risk pregnancy categories has been increased from 10 to 24.

(e) All of the above are correct

19) Which of the following has approved a USD 23 million loan to enhance access to quality fintech education, research, and innovation at the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT) in India?

(a) Asian Development Bank

(b) World Bank

(c) National Development Bank

(d) International Monetary Fund

(e) European Union

20) Recently as per the report, Mobile World Congress 2024 (MWC) will be hosted by GSMA in Barcelona, Spain.The theme of this year(2024)’s Mobile World Congress is __________.

Building Trust

Future First

Gateway to the Future

Changing Climate

Climate Action

Answers :

1) Answer: C

Infibeam Avenues Ltd shares surged more than 9% in trade after the company announced that it received the final authorization for operating as an Online Payment Aggregator from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Infibeam Avenues received this final authorization from the RBI for operating as a payment aggregator (PA) for its payment gateway brand, CCAvenue, on March 4.

The in-principle approval for this authorization was granted in October 2022.

The company informed that the Reserve Bank of India had introduced the payment aggregator framework in March 2020, as per which, it is mandatory for payment gateways to secure an aggregator license to acquire merchants as well as deliver cutting-edge digital payment acceptance solutions.

Currently, a total of over 10 million merchants are available on Infibeam’s CCAvenue platform, with the company crossing the onboarding of half a million merchants in the first half of the financial year 2024 itself, with the growth attributed to the growing relationship with banking partners and merchants.

About Infibeam Avenues:

Infibeam Avenues Limited is an Indian payment infrastructure and software-as-a-service fintech company that provides digital payment services, eCommerce platforms, digital lending, data cloud storage and omnichannel enterprise software to businesses across industries in India and globally.

Headquarters: Gandhinagar

Founder: Vishal Mehta

Founded: 2007

2) Answer: D

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Bank Indonesia (BI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Mumbai for establishing a framework to promote the use of local currencies viz. the Indian Rupee (INR) and the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) for cross-border transactions.

The MoU was signed by the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India Mr. Shaktikanta Das and the Governor of Bank Indonesia Perry Warjiyo.

This collaboration marks a key milestone in strengthening bilateral cooperation between RBI and BI.

Key Highlights:

In a press release issued, the RBI stated the MoU on establishing a framework for cooperation in the area of cross-border transactions in local currencies between India and Indonesia, aims to promote the use of INR and IDR

The RBI stated the MoU covers all current account transactions, permissible capital account transactions and any other economic and financial transactions as agreed upon by both countries.

It added that this framework would enable exporters and importers to invoice and pay in their respective domestic currencies, which in turn would enable the development of an INR-IDR foreign exchange market.

The use of local currencies would optimize costs and settlement time for transactions.

About Bank Indonesia:

Bank Indonesia is the central bank of the Republic of Indonesia. It replaced in 1953 the Bank of Java, which had been created in 1828 to serve the financial needs of the Dutch East Indies.

Subsidiaries: Museum Bank Indonesia, Indonesische Overzeese Bank

Founder: People’s Consultative Assembly

Headquarters: Central Jakarta, Indonesia

Founded: 1 July 1953

Currency: Indonesian rupiah

Governor: Perry Warjiyo

About RBI:

Established: 1 April 1935

Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Governor: Shaktikanta Das

3) Answer: B

Solution:

Leading global rating agency, Moody’s, has raised the bar for India’s economic prowess, revising its GDP growth forecast for the fiscal year 2023-24 to an impressive 8 percent.

This projection is underpinned by India’s strong government expenditure, robust domestic consumption, and its potential to capitalize on global trade shifts, particularly in the wake of companies diversifying away from

The upgraded forecast solidifies India’s position as the fastest-growing economy among major G20 nations.

Moody’s Upgrades Growth Forecast

Moody’s outlook for India’s economy manifests in the revised GDP growth forecast of 8 percent for the fiscal year ending March 2024.

The agency emphasizes that government capital expenditure and strong domestic consumption will be vital in propelling India’s economic growth.

Furthermore, India is set to capitalize on increased global trade and investment opportunities as businesses shift away from

Economic strength and December quarter surge

According to a report by Mint, India’s economic resilience is highlighted by the unexpected growth surge of 8.4 percent in the December quarter, defying concerns of a slowdown.

The National Statistical Office’s revised GDP estimates indicate higher growth for the first two quarters of the fiscal year.

Encouragingly, key indicators in the manufacturing and services sectors, as indicated by the HSBC Flash India Composite Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), position India as one of the fastest-growing major economies.

Inflation trends and monetary policy

Moody’s anticipates a downward trend in India’s inflation rate, projecting a decline to 5.5 percent in the fiscal year 2023-24 from the previous fiscal year’s peak of 6.7 percent.

This expectation of disinflation is considered a crucial factor supporting monetary easing.

Despite the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) maintaining a steady repo rate at 6.5 percent, Moody notes that the solid growth dynamics, coupled with inflation above the 4.0 percent target, suggest a cautious approach towards policy easing.

Banking sector outlook

Beyond GDP growth, Moody’s comprehensive report delves into the banking sector’s outlook.

The agency foresees a continued reduction in non-performing assets (NPAs) as the operating environment improves.

The NPA ratio has already witnessed a decline to 3.2 percent, indicating the banking sector’s resilience.

Moody’s expects banks to maintain strong capitalization, with the ability to raise capital easily if needed.

The report also touches upon the profitability of banks, projecting healthy levels while acknowledging a marginal decline in Net Interest Margin due to deposit repricing.

About Moody’s Ratings:

Moody’s Ratings, previously known as Moody’s Investors Service, often referred to as Moody’s, is the bond credit rating business of Moody’s Corporation, representing the company’s traditional line of business and its historical name.

Parent organization: Moody’s Corporation

Headquarters: New York, United States

Founder: John Moody

Founded: 1909

4) Answer: C

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will present the first-ever National Creators Award at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

Prime Minister will also address the gathering on the occasion.

The National Creators Award is an effort to recognize excellence and impact across domains, including storytelling, social change advocacy, environmental sustainability, education, and gaming, among others.

The award is envisioned as a launchpad for using creativity to drive positive change.

The National Creator Award has witnessed exemplary public engagement.

In the first round, more than 1.5 lakh nominations across 20 different categories were received.

The award will be provided across twenty categories including the Best Storyteller Award; The Disruptor of the Year; Celebrity Creator of the Year; Green Champion Award; Best Creator For Social Change; Most Impactful Agri Creator; Cultural Ambassador of The Year; International Creator award; Best Travel Creator Award; Swachhta Ambassador Award; The New India Champion Award; Tech Creator Award; Heritage Fashion Icon Award; Most Creative Creator (Male & Female); Best Creator in Food Category; Best Creator in Education Category; Best Creator in Gaming Category; Best Micro Creator; Best Nano Creator; Best Health and Fitness Creator.

5) Answer: D

Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of Communications, Railways, and Electronics & Information Technology,launched the ‘NITI for States’ platform, a comprehensive digital initiative designed to empower states and union territories (UTs) in their pursuit of national development goals.

Shri Vaishnaw, also inaugurated the ‘NITI For States – Viksit Bharat Strategy Room’ at NITI Aayog in the presence of Prof. Ramesh Chand, Dr V. K. Saraswat, & Dr. Arvind Virmani, Members of NITI Aayog and Shri B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, CEO, NITI Aayog.

Senior officials from ministries and departments of the Government of India, senior officials from State Governments, ABP fellows, development partners and media were present at the event.

Additionally, Shri Vaishnaw inaugurated the ‘NITI for States’ Exhibition at Rang Bhawan, Akashvani, New Delhi.

This Exhibition, which was a result of the collaboration of various government organizations, took visitors through some of its salient features such as mobile integration for easy accessibility, an Expert Helpdesk, built-in AI and Multilingual Support by Bhashini.

PM Gatishakti BISAG-N team, with the support of DPIIT, was also integrated to provide the geospatial tool for Area-Based Planning.

6) Answer: A

The coal production in India has reached an unprecedented milestone, crossing 900 million tons (MT), setting the stage to approach the ambitious 1 billion ton (BT) target by March 31, 2024.

Notably, during the current fiscal year i.e. 2023-24, India has achieved a remarkable feat by surpassing last year’s coal production of 893.19 MT, twenty-seven days in advance.

Additionally, there is ample coal stock of around 85 MT available with coal companies, while domestic coal-based thermal power plants maintain coal stocks of 43.28 MT as of March 5, 2024, ensuring uninterrupted power supply across the country.

The sufficient coal stock and record-breaking coal production facilitate meeting the escalating electricity demand, especially during peak consumption periods, thereby fostering stability in the energy sector and supporting economic growth.

India’s achievement of surpassing 900 MT in coal production not only bolsters India’s energy security but also reduces dependence on coal imports, thereby saving forex substantially.

In alignment with the Prime Minister’s vision of “Atma Nirbhar Bharat”, relentless efforts and strategic initiatives are undertaken by the Ministry of Coal to propel its journey toward sustainable development and self-reliance in the energy domain.

7) Answer: C

Sweden formally joined NATO as the 32nd member of the transatlantic military alliance, ending decades of post-World War II neutrality and centuries of broader non-alignment with major powers as security concerns in Europe have spiked following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

President Joe Biden congratulated Sweden on its admission and stated it was a sign that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intervention in Ukraine had united, rather than divided, the alliance.

Sweden, along with Finland, which joined NATO last year, both abandoned the long-standing military neutrality that was a hallmark of the Nordic states’ Cold War foreign policy after Russia invaded Ukraine in early

Fears of Russian military threat:

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, sparked Sweden and its neighbour Finland – which shares a 1,340km (832-mile) border with Russia – to apply to join NATO.

Sweden’s lack of military preparedness was revealed in 2013 when Russian bomber planes flew across the Gulf of Finland close to the Swedish island of Gotland in what was believed to be simulated nuclear attacks.

Stockholm needed the support of NATO jets to ward the Russian planes away from its airspace.

The next year there were reports that a Russian submarine was operating in Stockholm

Sweden’s shift away from a neutral stance:

While Stockholm has been drawing ever closer to NATO over the last two decades, membership marks a clear break with the past, when for more than 200 years, Sweden avoided military alliances and adopted a neutral stance in times of war.

After World War II, it built an international reputation as a champion of human rights, and when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, successive governments pared back military spending.

As recently as 2021, its defence minister had rejected NATO membership, only for the then-Social Democrat government to apply, alongside neighbour Finland, just a few months later.

While Finland joined last year, Sweden was kept waiting as Turkey and Hungary delayed ratifying Sweden’s accession.

Turkey approved Sweden’s application in

Hungary delayed its move until Kristersson visited Budapest on February 23, during which the two countries agreed on a fighter jet deal.

Sweden adds cutting-edge submarines and a sizeable fleet of domestically produced Gripen fighter jets to NATO forces and would be a crucial link between the Atlantic and Baltic.

Russia has threatened to take unspecified “political and military-technical counter-measures” in response to Sweden’s move.

About NATO:

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance of 32 member states – 30 European and two North American.

Formation: 4 April 1949

Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium

Membership: 32 states

Secretary General: Jens Stoltenberg

Chair of the NATO Military Committee: Rob Bauer

About Sweden:

Capital: Stockholm

Official language: Swedish

Continent: Europe

Prime Minister: Ulf Hjalmar Kristersson

8) Answer: C

Panama has officially ratified the International Solar Alliance (ISA), marking its entry as the 97th member nation. The information was divulged by Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs.

Panama’s commitment to sustainable energy was underscored as Ambassador Yasiel Burillo presented the Instrument of Ratification to Joint Secretary (Economic Diplomacy) Abhishekifs during a meeting in New Delhi.

This formal act solidifies Panama’s pledge to collaborate within the framework of the ISA, joining other nations in the pursuit of harnessing solar energy for a greener future.

Joint Secretary (ED & MER), MEA Abhishek Singh expressed gratitude for Panama’s commitment, highlighting the importance of international collaboration in advancing renewable energy solutions.

Moreover, on March 5, Malta became the 119th country to join the International Solar Alliance, the Ministry of External Affairs stated.

About ISA:

ISA was conceived as a joint effort by India and France.

Currently, 116 countries are signatories to the ISA Framework Agreement.

The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is an action-oriented, member-driven, collaborative platform for increased deployment of solar energy technologies as a means for bringing energy access, ensuring energy security, and driving energy transition in its member countries

Notably, the sixth assembly of the International Solar Alliance was hosted at ‘Bharat Mandapam,‘ Pragati Maidan in the national capital on October 31.

ISA Director General Ajay Mathur stated that the investment in solar is expected to be 380 billion dollars this year, as last year witnessed an investment of 310 billion.

He also stated that the ISA is supporting the growth of 9.5 GW of solar energy in projects across the world.

About Panama:

Capital: Panama City

Currencies: Panamanian Balboa, United States Dollar

Official language: Spanish

President: Laurentino Cortizo

9) Answer: B

The Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) is embarking on a significant milestone with the introduction of driverless trains equipped with cutting-edge technology.

As the first of its kind in Bengaluru, these trains represent a leap forward in urban transportation infrastructure.

About CBTC-Enabled Driverless Metro Train

Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC): The driverless metro trains are equipped with CBTC technology, enabling seamless communication between trains and control systems.

Unattended Train Operations (UTO): The trains boast full automation, including tasks such as door operations and train movement, under Enhanced Supervision Capability from the Operations Control Centre (OCC).

Enhanced Safety Measures: In addition to automation, the trains feature advanced safety protocols to ensure passenger well-being and operational efficiency.

Manufacturing and Design

Manufacturers: The train coaches are manufactured by CRRC Nanjing Puzhen Co Ltd, in collaboration with Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd., as part of the Make In India Initiative.

Technological Integration: These trains mark the first integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technology for track monitoring and safety enhancement.

Customization for Bengaluru’s Needs: The design and manufacturing process have been tailored to address the specific requirements and challenges of Bengaluru’s urban environment.

Special Features

AI-Powered Track Monitoring: AI algorithms analyze sensor data to detect anomalies and ensure track safety.

Advanced Surveillance Systems: Front and rear-view cameras enable real-time monitoring of passenger activities and enhance security measures.

Emergency Egress Device (EED): Equipped with a user-friendly emergency system to ensure passenger safety during unforeseen circumstances.

Enhanced Passenger Comfort: The trains are designed with features aimed at enhancing passenger comfort and convenience during travel.

Safety Parameters

Testing Protocol: The prototype trains to undergo a series of static and dynamic tests, including signaling, collision detection, and obstacle avoidance.

Statutory Approvals: Trials conducted by regulatory bodies such as the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) and the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) ensure compliance with safety standards.

Stringent Quality Assurance: The safety testing process includes comprehensive checks and balances to verify the reliability and performance of the trains under various operating conditions.

Operational Considerations

Transition Period: Initially, the trains will operate with a human train operator for a transitional period of at least six months.

Gradual Rollout: Revenue operations will commence with a limited number of trains, gradually transitioning to full-scale driverless operations.

Training and Skill Development: The transition to driverless operations will involve training programs and skill development initiatives for metro staff to ensure a smooth transition and operational efficiency.

About Karnataka:

Capital: Bengaluru (Executive Branch)

Chief minister: Siddaramaiah

Governor: Thawar Chand Gehlot

10) Answer: B

Cloud software major SAP announced the appointment of Manish Prasad as President and Managing Director for SAP Indian Subcontinent.

In his new role, Manish takes over responsibilities from Kulmeet Bawa, who has moved on to assume a global role for the SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP). Manish brings over 26 years of leadership experience.

He rejoined the software company in 2021 as the Head of Industries. Previously, he worked with the company for two years as Head of Consulting and Services – Sales for India, until he stepped down in 2019 to join Wipro for a third stint as the India Business Head.

Previous roles of Manish:

In his previous roles, Manish served Accenture as the MD and Application Services Lead for North America, Wipro as the Vice President of Energy, Natural Resources, and Utilities, Dell as the Global Account Manager, and Wipro Technologies as the Director overseeing APAC, Australia, and Middle East operations.

He also worked with IBM and Tata Steel at the beginning of his career.

11) Answer: D

Insurtech unicorn Acko has elevated its chief underwriting officer, Animesh Das, to the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of its subsidiary entity–ACKO General Insurance—as Sanjeev Srinivasan takes the board role.

Varun Dua will continue as the CEO of Acko Technologies, the parent company of Acko General Insurance.

Srinivasan, the former MD and CEO at Bharti Axa General Insurance, joined the General Atlantic-backed venture in 2021 as the managing director and CEO of the subsidiary unit.

During his tenure, the company successfully launched its health, life and travel insurance portfolios, with Gross Written Premium (GWP) doubling in the last two years.

Meanwhile, Das, whose appointment is subject to the board’s approval, has been a part of Acko’s core members team for the past six years.

Founded in 2016 by Varun Dua, Acko started in the direct-to-consumer (D2C) auto insurance space.

In March 2023, the firm entered the retail health insurance segment and acquired Parentlane to expand into the health business.

It holds tie-ups with PhonePe and MyGate to directly offer comprehensive insurance products to consumers on their platform besides partnerships with over 50 platforms, includingOyo, redBus, Zomato, HDB Financial Services and Urban Company, to offer embedded insurance.

About Acko General Insurance:

Acko General Insurance is a private-sector general insurance company in India. Founded in November 2016, the company received its license from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India in September 2017.

Founder: Varun Dua

Founded: 3 November 2016

Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka

12) Answer: A

LTI Mindtree’s Chief Financial Officer, Vinit Teredesai, has announced his resignation from the company effective April 24, 2024.

The company made this announcement on March 7, citing Teredesai’s desire to explore professional opportunities outside the L&T Group as the reason for his resignation.

The Board of Directors has appointed Vipul Chandra as the new CFO, effective April 25, 2024.

Chandra is currently the Head of Treasury at Larsen & Toubro, the parent company.

Teredesai is a finance professional with 29 years of experience in the technology and manufacturing sectors.

Meanwhile, Chandra has been associated with L&T for more than 10 years and previously served as the Managing Director and Head of Corporate Sales & Structuring at Citi Bank.

13) Answer: C

The Minister Hardeep S Puri inaugurated the 5th ONGC Para Games being held in Thyagaraj Stadium, New Delhi from 8-10 March 2024.

Shri Pankaj Jain, Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoPNG) and senior officials from Oil & Gas PSUs attended the event.

Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Housing & Urban Affairs, The ONGC Para Games is a testament to the spirit of the participating athletes.

Shri Puri lauded India’s performance at Paralympic events across the world.

The country has already made a mark in the Tokyo Paralympics 2020 with a total of 19 Medals (5 Gold, 8 Silver & 6 Bronze medals).

In the recently held Asian Para Games 2023 at Hangzhou, India won 111 Medals (29 Gold, 31 Silver & 51 Bronze medals)

The 5th ONGC Para Games, featuring a total of 371 athletes, will witness active participation from 249 ONGCians across a range of sporting disciplines. Athletes from various oil and gas public enterprises, including ONGC, IOCL, BPCL, HPCL, EIL, OIL, and GAIL, will compete across disciplines such as athletics, badminton, table tennis, and wheelchair racing.

14) Answer: B

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has tightened norms for credit and debit cards used for business accounts.

The banking regulator has told business card issuers to put in place an effective mechanism to monitor the end use of funds.

The central bank stated that card issuers shall not share card data (including transaction data) of the cardholders with the outsourcing partners unless the sharing of such data is essential to discharge the functions assigned to the latter.

“In case of sharing of any data, as stated above, explicit consent from the cardholder shall be obtained. It shall also be ensured that the storage and the ownership of card data remains with the card issuer,” the RBI stated.

The amendments, which have come into effect, were “necessary and expedient in the public interest”, the banking regulator stated.

Key Highlights:

The RBI says that card issuers should inform customers of the implications of paying only ‘the minimum amount due’.

“A legend/warning to the effect that “Making only the minimum payment every month would result in the repayment stretching over months/years with consequential compounded interest payment on your outstanding balance” shall be prominently displayed in all the billing statements to caution the cardholders about the pitfalls in paying only the minimum amount due.

This comes a day after the central bank issued directions to banks for giving options to customers to choose from multiple card networks. The directions will come into effect beginning September 6, 2024.

The directions do not apply to card issuers who issue credit cards on their authorized card networks.

The directions do not apply to credit card issuers with the number of active cards issued by them being 10 lakh or less in number.

“The authorized card networks tie up with banks / non-banks for issuance of credit cards. The choice of network for a card issued to a customer is decided by the card issuer (bank / non-bank) and is linked to the arrangements that the card issuers have with card networks in terms of their bilateral agreements,” the RBI had stated.

The decision has been taken after the banking regulator observed that some arrangements “existing between card networks and card issuers are not conducive to the availability of choice for customers.”

The directions apply to authorized card networks such as American Express Banking Corp, Diners Club International Ltd, MasterCard Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, National Payments Corporation of India-Rupay, and Visa Worldwide Pte Limited.

15) Answer: C

• International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Technology (iCreate), Microsoft signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) facilitated by the Ministry of Electronics & IT to boost AI startups in India.
• The MoU signing for the partnership between Microsoft and iCreate to launch the IMPEL AI program will catalyze AI startups in India.
• The program will screen 1100 AI innovators across India to become AI's Most Valuable Players (MVPs) and focus on priority themes of Healthcare, Financial Inclusion, Sustainability, Education, Agriculture, and Smart Cities.
• In the second stage, the program will select and scale 100 startups across India to build with Azure OpenAI, and the top 25 will receive go-to-market support from Microsoft’s Global Network to develop advanced, globally competitive products.

16) Answer: A

Payment and Settlement Systems constitute a major aspect of a country’s financial and economic structure. A payment system is a system that enables payment between two entities i.e. a payer and payee and constitutes a clearing, settlement, or payment service.

17) Answer: D

• A delegation of the National Archives of India (NAI), New Delhi led by Shri. Arun Singal, Director General of Archives and comprising Dr. Sanjay Garg, Deputy Director, and Ms. Sadaf Fatima, Archivist visited the National Records and Archives Authority (NRAA) of Oman on 21-22 February 2024. The purpose of the visit was to explore the areas of bilateral cooperation in the archival field.
• India handed over a list of 70 select documents about Oman that are available in the National Archives of India (NAI).
• These documents cover a period from 1793 to 1953 and deal with a wide range of subjects.

18) Answer: E

• The health ministry has expanded its list of categories of high-risk pregnancies to ensure that more women have institutional deliveries and reduce deaths during or after childbirth.
• As per a notice issued by the family planning department under the National Health Mission (NHM) and sent to all state mission directors on 14 February, the number of high-risk pregnancy categories has been increased from 10 to 24.
• As per the health ministry, states where the highest of pregnant women in their second or third trimester received antenatal care under the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) in January are Uttar Pradesh (153,766), Andhra Pradesh (29,085), Bihar (24,446), West Bengal (16,202) and Karnataka (16,122).
• So far, 47.34 million women have been covered under the program.
• The government launched PMSMA in 2016 to provide fixed-day, free-of-cost, assured, comprehensive and quality antenatal care on the ninth day of every month to all pregnant women in their second and third trimesters. In January 2022, the ministry launched the extended PMSMA (e-PMSMA) to further strengthen high-risk pregnancy tracking.
• The Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan has been launched by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India.
• It envisages improving the quality and coverage of Antenatal Care (ANC) including diagnostics and counseling services as part of the Reproductive Maternal Neonatal Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A) Strategy.

19) Answer: A

• Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 23 million loan to enhance access to quality fintech education, research, and innovation at the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT) in India.
• GIFT is a state-owned enterprise established to promote and cultivate fintech ecosystems and financial services in India.
• It is the country's first international financial services centre and has become a fast-growing area for helping and developing local startups.
• ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.

20) Answer: B

• Mobile World Congress 2024 (MWC) will be hosted by GSMA in Barcelona, Spain.
• Every year, this event is hosted to bring people from different companies that deal in mobile and wireless technologies into one place.
• Various companies will showcase their latest products and innovations at the event.
• The theme of this year’s Mobile World Congress is "Future First". Most discussions will be around this topic.
• The event is also divided into six sub-themes: Humanising AI, 5G and Beyond, Connecting Everything, Manufacturing DX, Game Changers, and Our Digital DNA.
• OnePlus is likely to announce its first OnePlus Watch 2 at the Mobile World Congress.