1) As per the news published in the various news paper that china
had to face its first "Trade Deficit" in six years.This means that
china
1) did not earn as much from its exports as it had to pay for its imports.
2) earn much more than its expectations on its exports and paid very less or imports.
3) has decided to stop imports and exports for the time being as it is producing just enough for its consumption.
4) has failed to keep its commitment to supply goods as promised to
various countries.The result is it may have to devalue its
currency(yuan) as it lost its credit in the market
Ans 1
2) Iron ore is found in which of the following states in India?
1) Punjab
2) Rajasthan
3) Odisha
4) Jammu & kashmir
5) Uttar Pradesh
Ans 3
3) Who among the following is NOT a famous lawn Tennis player?
1) cara Black
2) Mike Bryan
3) Denis Ndiso
4) Sereme Williams
5) Leander Paes
Ans 3
4) The Union Budget 2012-13 presented to the LokSabha in March
2012 proposedto set up a Rs 5000 Crore India opportunities venture funds
wuth which of the following bodies to enhance availability of equity to
Micro, small and Medium enterprises?
1) NABARD
2) SIDBI
3) FICCI
4) ASSOCHAM
5) None of these
Ans 2
5) The Union Budget 2012-13 said thatto enable greater aaccess to
finance by small and medium enterprises(SME), two SME exchanges were
recently launched in
1) Chennai
2) Pune
3) Mumbai
4) Hyderabad
5) None of these
Ans 3
6) According to the Reserve bank of India annual policy statement
2012-13, the bank rate stands adjusted to what percent with immediate
effect?
1) 8.5 percent
2) 9.0 percent
3) 9.5 percent
4) 8.0 percent
5) None of these
Ans 2
7) The Economic survey 2011-12 notes that capital to
risk-weighted assets ratio(CRAR) of all bank groups both under Basel I
and II remained well above the stipulated regulatory norm of --- in
2010-11
1) 3 percent
2) 6 percent
3) 9 percent
4) 12 percent
5) None of these
Ans 3
8) As per the Economic survey 2011-12, the major contributory
factors to headline inflation during the current financial year include
1) Higher primary articles prices driven by vegetables, egg,meat and fish due to changing dietary pattern of consumers.
2) Increasing global commodity prices especilly metl and chemical prices.
3) Persistently high international crude petroleum prices in the last two years.
4) All of the above
5) None of these
Ans 4
9) The Railway Budget 2012-13 mentioned that railways has taken
up the ionic infrastructure project of construction of dedicated freight
corridors from Ludhiana?
1) Bhatinda
2) kapurthala
3) Dankuni
4) Wagah
5) None of these
Ans 3
10) Which among the following won the french Presidential elections on March 6,2012?
1) Nicolas sarkozy
2) Valery Giscard
3) Francois Hollande
4) Amadou toumani
5) None of these
Ans 3
11) Which of the following newspapers won the Pulitzer in National reporting category on April 16,2012?
1) The Huffington post
2) The Patriot News
3) New York times
4) The Philadelphia Inqeuier
5) None of these
Ans 1
12) Which among the following Indians were elected to the Pretigious fellowship of the royal society,Britian in April 2012?
1) Krishnaswamy Vijay Raghavan
2) Prof. Tejinder Singh
3) Varinder Singh Aggarwal
4) Shankar Balasubramanian
5) All of the above
Ans 5
13) Which among the following has authored the book titled "Bitter Wormword" that was in news in April 2012?
1) Charles Allen
2) Easterine Kire
3) Pico lyer
4) Alain de Botton
5) None of these
Ans 2
14) Which among the following won the Asian Snooker Championship in doha on April 29,2012?
1) Pankaj Advani
2) Hossein Vafaei
3) Thawat Sujaritthurakarn
4) Aditya Mehta
5) None of these
Ans 4
15) Which among the following was crowned as the Pantaloons Femina Miss India World 2012 on March 30,2012?
1) Prachi Mishra
2) Vanya Mishra
3) Rochelle Mario Rao
4) Hasleen kaur
5) None of these
Ans 2
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
GENERAL AWARENESS PRACTICE MCQs
1) Which of the following cups/trophies is NOT given for excellence in the game of badminton?
a) Uber Cup
b) Thomas Cup
c) Syed Modi memorial trophy
d) Aros junior Cup
e) Merdeka Cup
Ans e
2) Which of the following bills recently approved in the union cabinet
will help in better health services in the country?
a) Right to Better Health Services bill
b) National Health Care Bill
c) Clinical establishment(Registration and Regulation) Bill
d) Essential services Bill
e) None of these
Ans c
3) Which of the following schemes launched by the Govt. of India is a scheme to improve the performance of the agricultural sector?
a) National Horticulture Mission
b) Pulse Polio Adhiyan
c) old age pension Scheme
d) Bharat Nirman Yojana
e) None of these
Ans a
4) "LBW" is a term related to the game of
a) Badminton
b) cricket
c) Hockey
d) Football
e) None of these
Ans b
5) "saraswati samman" is an award given for excellence in the field of
a) Sports
b) Social service
c) Literature
d) Science and Technology
e) None of these
Ans c
6) "Heavy water" is used in which of the following fields?
a) Thermal Power
b) Cement
c) Iron and steel
d) Nuclear Power
e) None of these
Ans d
7) Which of the following is a Horticulture Crop?
a) Paddy
b) Wheat
c) Mango
d) Bajara
e) None of these
Ans c
8) Dr. Amartya Sen is a famous
a) Physicist
b) Chemical Engineer
c) Psychologist
d) Economist
e) None of these
Ans d
9) which of the following nations is considered the originator of the concept of Micro Finanace?
a) India
b) Bangladesh
c) South Africa
d) USA
e) None of these
Ans b
10) India's first transgenic crop was
a) Potato
b) Brinjal
c) Sugarcane
d) Bt. cotton
e) None of these
Ans d
11) Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award is given for excellence in the field of
a) Literature
b) Music
c) Sports
d) Science and Technology
e) None of these
Ans d
12) Govt. normally announce the Minimum Support Price(MSP) of
a) Wheat
b) Paddy
c) Sugarcane
d) Jute
e) All of the above
Ans e
13) At present Dr. D.Subba Rao is the
a) Governor of orissa
b) Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission
c) Chairman of the FICCI
d) India's representative in IMF
e) Governor of RBI
Ans e
14) What is the full form of "ULIP"
a) Universal Life and Investment Plan
b) Unit Loan and Insurance Plan
c) Universal Loan and Investment Plan
d) Uniformly loaded Investment Plan
e) Unit Linked Insurance Plan
Ans e
15) very often we read in newspapers about 4G or 4th Generation Technology.This is a set of standards used by which of the following?
a) To Combat Climate Changes
b) Production of Nuclear energy
c) Film Production
d) Mobile Telecommunications
e) All of the above
Ans d
16) Which of the following companies is NOT in the field of Insurance business?
a) ICICI Prudential
b) Bajaj Alliance
c) Tata AIG
d) AEGON Religare
e) Royal orchid
Ans e
17) Many times we read that a corporate entity is in the process of raisingits capital base.Why is a company required to raise money to strengthen its capital base?
A) To finance its expansion plans
B) To finance its diversification plans
C) To Repay its loans and borrowings
1) only A
2) only B
3) only C
4) only A and B
5) All A,B and C
Ans 5
18) Many times we read in newspaper that a company is planning to bring public issue.what does it mean
a) Shares of the company will be issued only through public sector organisations like banks/central financial institutions etc.
b) Shares of the company will be issued to general public only through primary market.
c) This means some stakeholders/Promoters are willing to leave the company.Hence they wish to sell their stock to the general public
a) only A
b) only B
c) only C
d) All A,B and C
e) None of these
Ans b
19) Which of the following is NOT a function of a bank?
a) Providing Project Finance
b) Selling Mutual Funds
c) Deciding policy rates like CRR,Repo Rate/SLR etc.
d) Settlement of Payments on behalf of the customers
e) All of these are functions of bank.
Ans b
20)Which of the following is a form of "Small Savings Bank" popular among the poor or children?
a) Core Banking
b) Credit Banking
c) Debit Card
d) Merchant Banking
e) Piggy Banking
Ans e
a) Uber Cup
b) Thomas Cup
c) Syed Modi memorial trophy
d) Aros junior Cup
e) Merdeka Cup
Ans e
2) Which of the following bills recently approved in the union cabinet
will help in better health services in the country?
a) Right to Better Health Services bill
b) National Health Care Bill
c) Clinical establishment(Registration and Regulation) Bill
d) Essential services Bill
e) None of these
Ans c
3) Which of the following schemes launched by the Govt. of India is a scheme to improve the performance of the agricultural sector?
a) National Horticulture Mission
b) Pulse Polio Adhiyan
c) old age pension Scheme
d) Bharat Nirman Yojana
e) None of these
Ans a
4) "LBW" is a term related to the game of
a) Badminton
b) cricket
c) Hockey
d) Football
e) None of these
Ans b
5) "saraswati samman" is an award given for excellence in the field of
a) Sports
b) Social service
c) Literature
d) Science and Technology
e) None of these
Ans c
6) "Heavy water" is used in which of the following fields?
a) Thermal Power
b) Cement
c) Iron and steel
d) Nuclear Power
e) None of these
Ans d
7) Which of the following is a Horticulture Crop?
a) Paddy
b) Wheat
c) Mango
d) Bajara
e) None of these
Ans c
8) Dr. Amartya Sen is a famous
a) Physicist
b) Chemical Engineer
c) Psychologist
d) Economist
e) None of these
Ans d
9) which of the following nations is considered the originator of the concept of Micro Finanace?
a) India
b) Bangladesh
c) South Africa
d) USA
e) None of these
Ans b
10) India's first transgenic crop was
a) Potato
b) Brinjal
c) Sugarcane
d) Bt. cotton
e) None of these
Ans d
11) Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award is given for excellence in the field of
a) Literature
b) Music
c) Sports
d) Science and Technology
e) None of these
Ans d
12) Govt. normally announce the Minimum Support Price(MSP) of
a) Wheat
b) Paddy
c) Sugarcane
d) Jute
e) All of the above
Ans e
13) At present Dr. D.Subba Rao is the
a) Governor of orissa
b) Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission
c) Chairman of the FICCI
d) India's representative in IMF
e) Governor of RBI
Ans e
14) What is the full form of "ULIP"
a) Universal Life and Investment Plan
b) Unit Loan and Insurance Plan
c) Universal Loan and Investment Plan
d) Uniformly loaded Investment Plan
e) Unit Linked Insurance Plan
Ans e
15) very often we read in newspapers about 4G or 4th Generation Technology.This is a set of standards used by which of the following?
a) To Combat Climate Changes
b) Production of Nuclear energy
c) Film Production
d) Mobile Telecommunications
e) All of the above
Ans d
16) Which of the following companies is NOT in the field of Insurance business?
a) ICICI Prudential
b) Bajaj Alliance
c) Tata AIG
d) AEGON Religare
e) Royal orchid
Ans e
17) Many times we read that a corporate entity is in the process of raisingits capital base.Why is a company required to raise money to strengthen its capital base?
A) To finance its expansion plans
B) To finance its diversification plans
C) To Repay its loans and borrowings
1) only A
2) only B
3) only C
4) only A and B
5) All A,B and C
Ans 5
18) Many times we read in newspaper that a company is planning to bring public issue.what does it mean
a) Shares of the company will be issued only through public sector organisations like banks/central financial institutions etc.
b) Shares of the company will be issued to general public only through primary market.
c) This means some stakeholders/Promoters are willing to leave the company.Hence they wish to sell their stock to the general public
a) only A
b) only B
c) only C
d) All A,B and C
e) None of these
Ans b
19) Which of the following is NOT a function of a bank?
a) Providing Project Finance
b) Selling Mutual Funds
c) Deciding policy rates like CRR,Repo Rate/SLR etc.
d) Settlement of Payments on behalf of the customers
e) All of these are functions of bank.
Ans b
20)Which of the following is a form of "Small Savings Bank" popular among the poor or children?
a) Core Banking
b) Credit Banking
c) Debit Card
d) Merchant Banking
e) Piggy Banking
Ans e
GENERAL AWARENESS MCQs
1) India and which country on March 1,2012,decided to open a new
chapter in bilateral cooperation by agreeing to undertake joint
operations against pirates and sharing technological know how on seabed
research?
1) China
2) Japan
3) Russia
4) New Zealand
Ans 1
2) A meeting at the prime minister office on Feb 29,2012, decided
to increase the total expenditure on health to what percent of the GDP
from the current 1.4 percent by the end of the coming 12th plan period?
1) 2.0 Percent
2) 2.5 Percent
3) 3.0 Percent
4) 4.0 Percent
Ans 2
3) India and which country recently announced to have resolved their longstanding issues of payments for export shipment?
1) Iran
2) Syria
3) Lebanon
4) Pakistan
Ans 1
4) The indigenously development advanced light-weight torpedo and
the Akash missile system was on March 3,2012,handed over to the Navy
and the Indian Air force respectively at a function in
1) Visakhapatnam
2) Hyderabad
3) Pune
4) Kolkata
Ans 2
5) The golden Jubilee celebrations of Afro-Asian Rural
development organization were held in New Delhi in March 2012.The AARDO
president hails from
1) India
2) Egypt
3) Morocco
4) South Africa
Ans 2
6) The National Association of Street vendors of India( NASVI )
and Nidan,an organization that supports unorganized workers,were on
March 29,2012 honored with the skoll Award for social entrepreneurship
by the skoll foundation in
1) Toronto
2) oxford
3) Paris
4) Frankfurt
Ans 2
7) Union minister for Rural development, Drinking Water and
sanitation Jairam Ramesh in March 2012 announced a national award for
sanitation and water in the name of Maharashtrian saint sant
1) Romesh Hatangadi
2) Gadge Baba
3) Suresh Bhagwan
4) Shiv sagar Baba
Ans 2
8) Who among the following, on march 11,2012,said he will be
"Very Sad" if India boycotts the London Olympics following the row over
sponsorship of the event by Dow Chemicals, linked to the Bhopal gas
tragedy?
1) Barack Obama
2) David Cameron
3) Manmohan singh
4) Hillary Clinton
Ans 2
9) The high level safety review committee recently submitted its
report to the Ministry of railways with a Number of recommendations,who
is the chairman of this committee ?
1) C.Rangarajan
2) Lalu Yadav
3) Anil Kakodkar
4) Harish Rawat
Ans 3
10) In an important development on March 12,2012, the supreme
court issued notices to nsix ministers and eight Indian Administrative
services officers from
1) Andhar Pradesh
2) Karnataka
3) Kerala
4) Tamil Nadu
Ans 1
11) Which of the following was pointed by the union Finanace
minister Pranab Mukherjee in March 2012 as one of the major challenges
facing public sector banks(PSB) in emerging as potential global tenders?
1) Human Capital deficit
2) Human Capital deficit
3) Innovation deficit
4) Technology deficit
Ans 1
12) The Centre told the Supreme Court in March 2012 that it was
Probing into the allegations that the former Chief Justice of India and
his relatives amassed assets disproportionate to their Known sources of
income.Who is the chief Justice in reference here?
1) K.G.Balakrishna
2) S.H.Kapadia
3) Altamas Kabir
4) Dalveer Bhandari
Ans 1
13) The Functioning of both houses of Parliament was disrupted on
March 13,2012,When members demanded that India support the resolution
to be moved by------ against sri lanka at the U.N Human Rights Council.
1) U.S.A
2) France
3) Norway
4) All of the above
Ans 4
14) Noted critic Namvar Singh in March 2012 presented the Jnanpith Award to eminent hindi author Amar Kant at a Special ceremony in
1) New Delhi
2) Lucknow
3) Allahabad
4) Patna
Ans 3
15) Increasing the fare for the first time in eight years, the
railway budget for 2012-13, presented before the parliament on March
14,2012,envisages how many new trains?
1) 90
2) 113
3) 145
4) 166
Ans 2
16) Okram Ibobi Singh was sworn as chief minister for the third Consecutive term of which state in March 2012?
1) Arunachal Pradesh
2) Nagaland
3) Manipur
4) Tripura
Ans 3
17) Governor Shivraj V.Patil in March 2012 administered the oath
of office and secrecy to Parkash Singh Badal,Who took over as the chief
minister of Punjab for a record- time
1) Fifth
2) Third
3) Fourth
4) Seventh
Ans 1
18) The finance ministry, on March 15,201, gave it's nod for the
labour and employment ministry to fix the rate of interest payable to
EEPF sub-subscribers at which percentage for2011-12?
1) 8.25%
2) 8.75%
3) 9.25%
4) 9.50%
Ans 1
19) The Cabinet of which state in march 2012 decided to give a
grant of rS. 30,000 to high school pass Muslims girls for perusing their
education and marriage?
1) Uttar Pradesh
2) West Bengal
3) Andhra pradesh
4) Delhi
Ans 1
20) Which of the following Chief ministers of India figures on
the cover of the Time magazine in March 2012 which prasied him in an
article for the development of the State?
1) Mamta Banarjee
2) Nitish Kumar
3) Ashok Gehlot
4) Narendra Modi.
Ans 4
GENERAL AWARENESS PRACTICE MCQs
1) The Fifth Edition of the World Future Energy Summit was held in
a) Abu Dhabi
b) New Delhi
c) Tehran
d) Dhaka
Ans a
2) Planning Commission of India on January 18,2012 approved Rudrasagar development scheme.The Scheme is related to
a) Tripura
b) Assam
c) Manipur
d) Sikkim
Ans a
3) The Board
of approval (BoA) under the Commerce ministry on January 24,2012
approved the proposal of this company to set up a special economics
zone( SEZ) at Indore in Madhya Pradesh, Identify the Company ?
a) Reliance Industry
b) Tata Consultancy services( TCS)
c) Hero Motors
d) Infoysys
Ans b
4) Scientists identified a new gene in maize Plants called ?
a) Meg 1
b) Meg 2
c) Meg 3
4) Meg 4
Ans a
5) Researches discovered new earthworm species in Port Blair. What is the name of the new Species ?
a) Moniligaster ivaniosi
b) Annelida
c) Nematoda
d) Onychophora
Ans a
6) Scientists recently developed a new wireless device to detect the Presence of termites. Consider the following statement-
1) when the new device detects the presence of termites,it sends an SMS or email to a pest Control firm.
2) The Device is made of tiny sensor, even smaller than a fingernail
Choose the Right option
a) Both 1 and 2 Correct
b) Only 1 is Correct
c) Only 2 is Correct
d) Neither 1 not 2 is Correct
Ans a
7) According
to the draft Sports Policy of this State Govt released on Jan 11,2012, a
Special life-time achievement award in memory of G.V.Raja, the
Founder-President of the State Sports Council is to be instituted.Which
State is being referred to ?
a) karnataka
b) kerala
c) Tamil Nadu
d) Andhra Pradesh
Ans b
8) Which team
defeated Uttarakhand in the Men's category to win the National title
for the fourth time, in the 60th Senior national Volleyball Championship
at Raipur on Jan 11, 2012 ?
a) Kerala
b) Andhra Pradesh
c) West Bengal
d) Tamil Nadu
Ans a
9) Which team
extended their hegemony by defeating Kerala 25-12, 25-14, 25-16 in a
one sided final in the women category at the 60th Senior National
Volley-ball Championship ?
a) Punjab
b) Services
c) Railways
d) Delhi
Ans c
10) This
Footballer was awarded the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Oran January 9, 2012 in
Zurich. He Won the award for the third Consecutive year for the world's
outstanding footballer.Identify the Footballer ?
a) Cristiano Ronaldo
b) Xavi
c) Sergio Ramos
d) Lionel Messi
Ans d
11)
State-run Northern Coalfields(NCL) agreed to surrender land required to
mine two blocks attached to the Sasan ultra mega power plant to which of
the following Companies giving the Company the benefit over Rs 6000
crore over the life of the Venture ?
1) Reliance Power
2) Adani Power
3) Birla Power Solutions
4) DLF Power
Ans a
12) Which car took home the Crown of Indian car of the Year 2012 in Jan 2012
1) Toyota Etios liva
2) Maruti Suzuki Swift
3) Hyundai Verna
4) Hyundai Eon
Ans b
13)
As per the Wholesale Price Index, Published by the govt on Jan
16,2012.Reduced food Prices Caused the inflation to dip to a year low at
what percent in December 2011 ?
Ans c
24) Maldives on Jan 4,2012 lifted ban on Spas in the upmarket tourist destination .Consider the following statement:
a) 7.47%
b) 7.65%
c) 6.33%
d) 5.41%
Ans c
14) Maldives
Authorities allowed male international airport development and insurance
charges from passengers,nearly a month after a local court barred the
Bangalore-based company from doing so.Name the operator?
a) GMR Infrastructure
b) International Air Transport
c) Fraport AG
d) DIAL
Ans a
15) Which French Construction major entered the Indian market by buying out 100 percent stake in NAPC, a Chennai-based construction Company?
Ans a
15) Which French Construction major entered the Indian market by buying out 100 percent stake in NAPC, a Chennai-based construction Company?
a) Sinopec Engineering
b) Uhde
c) Vinci
d) Snamprogetti
Ans c
16) India Signed MOU (Memorandum of Understanding ) on Tourism with ASEAN on January12,2012.The agreement took place in-
Ans c
16) India Signed MOU (Memorandum of Understanding ) on Tourism with ASEAN on January12,2012.The agreement took place in-
a) Manado
b) Jakarta
c) Malaysia
d) Manila
Ans a
17) Pravasi Bhartiya Divas-2012 was held in Jaipur.Jaipur is the Capital of which one of the following states?
Ans a
17) Pravasi Bhartiya Divas-2012 was held in Jaipur.Jaipur is the Capital of which one of the following states?
a) Rajasthan
b) Bihar
c) UP
d) Madhya Pradesh
Ans a
Ans a
18) India and Japan on Jan 12,2012 agreed to enhance their cooperation in the ................. Sector.
a) Infrastructure
b) Tourism
c) Road and Transport
d) Coal and Mining
Ans a
19) He was Conferred the first S.K Singh Award for excellence in the Indian Foreign services in Jan 6,2012. Identify the diplomat
Ans a
19) He was Conferred the first S.K Singh Award for excellence in the Indian Foreign services in Jan 6,2012. Identify the diplomat
a) Ranjan Mathai
b) Shivshankar Menon
c) D.Bala venkatesh Verma
d) K.Raghunath
Ans c
20) Name the auto making company which launched three new variants of the Eon-D-Lite Plus,Era Plus and Magna Plus in the Indian market on jan 2012 ?
Ans c
20) Name the auto making company which launched three new variants of the Eon-D-Lite Plus,Era Plus and Magna Plus in the Indian market on jan 2012 ?
a) Tata Motors
b) Hyundai Motors India
c) Volkswagen
d) Maruti Suzuki
Ans b
21) Who was presented the Mahatma Gandhi International Awards for Peace and Reconciliation on Jan 4,2012 the fourth day of the tenth day Kalachakra initiations ?
Ans b
21) Who was presented the Mahatma Gandhi International Awards for Peace and Reconciliation on Jan 4,2012 the fourth day of the tenth day Kalachakra initiations ?
a) Tibetan Spiritual leader, Dalai Lama
b) South African leader Nelson Mandela
c) Tanzania's Julius Nyerere
d) Burmese Pro-democracy leader Aung san suu kyi
Ans a
22) European Union agreed in Principle to ban import of Iranian Crude oil.Consider the following statement:
Ans a
22) European Union agreed in Principle to ban import of Iranian Crude oil.Consider the following statement:
1) The European Union(EU) is one of Iran's biggest markets for oil.
2) The EU is a Political and economical union of 27 member states
Choose the Right option
a) Both 1 and 2 are correct
b) Only 1 is Correct
c) Only 2 is Correct
d) Neither 1 nor 2 is correct
Ans a
23) The Israel-Palestine talks, in the first week of Jan 2012 were held in Amman.Amman is the Capital of
Ans a
23) The Israel-Palestine talks, in the first week of Jan 2012 were held in Amman.Amman is the Capital of
a) Jordan
b) Syria
c) Iraq
d) Iran
Ans a
Ans a
24) Maldives on Jan 4,2012 lifted ban on Spas in the upmarket tourist destination .Consider the following statement:
1) The Tourism industry is an important foreign exchange earner in the Maldives.
2) Maldives in 2011 received more than 850000 tourist
Choose the Right Option
a) Both 1 and 2 are correct
b) Only 1 is Correct
c) Only 2 is Correct
d) Neither 1 nor 2 is correct
Ans a
Ans a
25)
As per the Wholesale Price Index, Published by the govt on Jan
16,2012.Reduced food Prices Caused the inflation to dip to a year low at
what percent in December 2011 ?
Ans c
36) Maldives on Jan 4,2012 lifted ban on Spas in the upmarket tourist destination .Consider the following statement:
a) 7.47%
b) 7.65%
c) 6.33%
d) 5.41%
Ans c
26) Maldives
Authorities allowed male international airport development and insurance
charges from passengers,nearly a month after a local court barred the
Bangalore-based company from doing so.Name the operator?
a) GMR Infrastructure
b) International Air Transport
c) Fraport AG
d) DIAL
Ans a
27) Which French Construction major entered the Indian market by buying out 100 percent stake in NAPC, a Chennai-based construction Company?
Ans a
27) Which French Construction major entered the Indian market by buying out 100 percent stake in NAPC, a Chennai-based construction Company?
a) Sinopec Engineering
b) Uhde
c) Vinci
d) Snamprogetti
Ans c
28) India Signed MOU (Memorandum of Understanding ) on Tourism with ASEAN on January12,2012.The agreement took place in-
Ans c
28) India Signed MOU (Memorandum of Understanding ) on Tourism with ASEAN on January12,2012.The agreement took place in-
a) Manado
b) Jakarta
c) Malaysia
d) Manila
Ans a
29) Pravasi Bhartiya Divas-2012 was held in Jaipur.Jaipur is the Capital of which one of the following states?
Ans a
29) Pravasi Bhartiya Divas-2012 was held in Jaipur.Jaipur is the Capital of which one of the following states?
a) Rajasthan
b) Bihar
c) UP
d) Madhya Pradesh
Ans a
Ans a
30) India and Japan on Jan 12,2012 agreed to enhance their cooperation in the ................. Sector.
a) Infrastructure
b) Tourism
c) Road and Transport
d) Coal and Mining
Ans a
31) He was Conferred the first S.K Singh Award for excellence in the Indian Foreign services in Jan 6,2012. Identify the diplomat
Ans a
31) He was Conferred the first S.K Singh Award for excellence in the Indian Foreign services in Jan 6,2012. Identify the diplomat
a) Ranjan Mathai
b) Shivshankar Menon
c) D.Bala venkatesh Verma
d) K.Raghunath
Ans c
32) Name the auto making company which launched three new variants of the Eon-D-Lite Plus,Era Plus and Magna Plus in the Indian market on jan 2012 ?
Ans c
32) Name the auto making company which launched three new variants of the Eon-D-Lite Plus,Era Plus and Magna Plus in the Indian market on jan 2012 ?
a) Tata Motors
b) Hyundai Motors India
c) Volkswagen
d) Maruti Suzuki
Ans b
33) Who was presented the Mahatma Gandhi International Awards for Peace and Reconciliation on Jan 4,2012 the fourth day of the tenth day Kalachakra initiations ?
Ans b
33) Who was presented the Mahatma Gandhi International Awards for Peace and Reconciliation on Jan 4,2012 the fourth day of the tenth day Kalachakra initiations ?
a) Tibetan Spiritual leader, Dalai Lama
b) South African leader Nelson Mandela
c) Tanzania's Julius Nyerere
d) Burmese Pro-democracy leader Aung san suu kyi
Ans a
34) European Union agreed in Principle to ban import of Iranian Crude oil.Consider the following statement:
Ans a
34) European Union agreed in Principle to ban import of Iranian Crude oil.Consider the following statement:
1) The European Union(EU) is one of Iran's biggest markets for oil.
2) The EU is a Political and economical union of 27 member states
Choose the Right option
a) Both 1 and 2 are correct
b) Only 1 is Correct
c) Only 2 is Correct
d) Neither 1 nor 2 is correct
Ans a
35) The Israel-Palestine talks, in the first week of Jan 2012 were held in Amman.Amman is the Capital of
Ans a
35) The Israel-Palestine talks, in the first week of Jan 2012 were held in Amman.Amman is the Capital of
a) Jordan
b) Syria
c) Iraq
d) Iran
Ans a
Ans a
36) Maldives on Jan 4,2012 lifted ban on Spas in the upmarket tourist destination .Consider the following statement:
1) The Tourism industry is an important foreign exchange earner in the Maldives.
2) Maldives in 2011 received more than 850000 tourist
Choose the Right Option
a) Both 1 and 2 are correct
b) Only 1 is Correct
c) Only 2 is Correct
d) Neither 1 nor 2 is correct
Ans a
Ans a
37) As per the advanced estimates of CSO for the year 2011-2012, the GDP growth rate has been estimated as-
a) 7.6%
b) 6.9%
c) 6.4%
d) 6.1%
Ans b
38) The Primary growth in advance estimates for 2011-12 was 2.5% which was ............. in 2010-11-
a) 5.4%
b) 6.4%
c) 7.0%
d) 7.3%
d) 7.3%
Ans c
39) 'Sensitive Sector' as defined by RBI includes-
a) Capital market
b) Real Estate
c) Commodities
d) All of the above
Ans d
40) PMEAC has revised its GDP growth estimates for 2011-12 to 7.1% and projected GDP growth for 2012-13 at-
a) 7.0% - 7.4%
b) 7.5% - 8.0%
c) 8.1% - 8.3%
d) 8.5 %
Ans b
41) The newly Launched CPI-based inflation for Jan 2012 on Point to Point basis is 7.65%. This inflation has the base year-
a) 2004
b) 2006
c) 2008
d) 2010
Ans d
42) The new Chairman of FICCI( Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry ) Who took charge in Jan 2012 is-
a) Harsh Mariwala
b) R.V.Kanoria
c) Naina lal Kidwai
d) Siddharath Birla
Ans b
43) Which of the following Sector show the negative growth in the advanced estimates of CSO for the year 2011-12
a) Mining and Quarrying
b) Agriculture and Fisheries
c) Manufacturing
d) Electricity, Gas and water Supply
Ans a
44) Which organization is meant to ensure exports from India
a) EXIM Bank
b) ECGC
c) Ministry of Commerce
d) None of the above
Ans b
45) Which of the following is considered lending for Promotion of Exports?
a) Packing Credit
b) Overdraft
c) Cash Credit Account
d) Bill Discounting
Ans a
46) Which of the following major Part in India Celebrated its golden Jubilee in Jan 2012 ?
a) Kolkata / Haldia Port
b) Paradeep Port
c) Vishakhapatnam Port
d) Kandla Port
Ans b
47) As per India state of Forest Report 2011, the state having the Max forest area is-
a) Arunachal Pradesh
b) Rajasthan
c) Madhya Pradesh
d) Uttar Pradesh
Ans c
48) India State of Forest report 2011 Puts Forest area in the country at-
a) Below 25%
b) Between 25% and 27%
c) Between 27% to 30%
d) Above 30%
Ans a
49) At the end of December 2011, the Teledensity in the Country Stood at-
a) 72.38%
b) 76.86%
c) 79.03%
d) 80.76%
Ans b
50) As per the
Changed import duty Structure on gold and silver, the import duty on
gold and silver will be charged at ................ Resp of the value of
the imported metal.
a) 1.5% to 5%
b) 2.0% to 6%
c) 1.5% to 6%
d) 2.5% to 6%
Ans c
51) As per the Status of the end December 2011, Which of the following Company holds the Max share in Telephone Services ?
a) Vodafone
b) Bharti Airtel
c) Reliance
d) BSNL
Ans b
52) Which type of Bank account can be opened by a Non Resident Indian(NRI) in India ?
a) Current Account
b) Fixed Deposit Account
c) Savings Account
d) Locker Account
Ans b
53) Trust Card has been launched by an Organization to make Consumer's Payment more Easier.The Organisation is-
a) Delhi Metro
b) ICERT
c) BSNL
d) Bharti Airtel
Ans c
54) The sixth Economics Census of Commercial Units was / will be done in the year-
a) 2011
b) 2012
c) 2013
d) 2014
Ans b
55) As per the HUNGAMA report the percentage of underweight( malnourished) children younger than five years in India is-
a) 65%
b) 54%
c) 42%
d) 31%
Ans c
56) As per the second advance foodgrains estimates for 2011-12, foodgrains Production during 2011-12 is estimates at-
a) 246.46 MT
b) 250.42 MT
c) 254.68 MT
d) 262.32 MT
Ans b
57) As per Final estimates, Wheat and Rice Production in 2010-2011 stood at-
a) 86.87 MT and 95.98 MT respectively
b) 95.98 MT and 86.87 MT respectively
c) 88.31 MT and 102.75 MT respectively
d) 86.87 MT and 102.75 MT respectively
Ans a
58) The Fourth Rail Coach manufacturing Factory ( The first in India to be Built on PPP Model ) is being made in-
a) Andhra Pradesh
b) Kerala
c) Karnataka
d) Tamil Nadu
Ans b
59) In Which of the following currencies, India has decided to make payment to buy Crude oil from Iran ?
a) US dollar
b) Indian Rupee
c) Pound sterling
d) Euro
Ans b
60) As Per the advance estimates of CSO, the estimates growth rate in tertiary( Service) sector for 2011-12 is-
a) 8.6%
b) 9.0%
c) 9.4%
d) 9.8%
Ans c
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
GENERAL AWARENESS PRACTICE MCQs
1. Name the Nobel Peace Prize winner who was named the winner of one of the world’s leading religion prizes, Templeton Prize for 2012 by the John Templeton Foundation on 29th March, 2012.
(1) Dalai Lama
(2) Tawakkul Karman
(3) Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
(4) Baba Ramdev
(5) Anna Hazare
2. Who was elected the New President of Senegal?
(1) Abdoulaye Wade
(2) Macky Sall
(3) Erich Sherry(4) Abdou Diouf
(5) Naseer Abdullah
3. Following RBI’s decision to hike bank rate, the food ministry increased the interest rate on loans provided to sugar factories from the Sugar Development Fund (SDF)to what percent from the earlier 4% from Feb 2012?
(1) 7%
(2) 7.5%
(3) 8%(4) 8.8%
(5) 9%
4. Which of the following fall under the qualitative methods of credit control adopted by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)?
(1) Selective Credit Control
(2) Credit Authorization Scheme
(3) Moral Suasion
(4) All of the above
(5) None of the above5. As per the recent data released by the Government of India, approximately what fraction of India’s oil and petroleum consumption is consumed by fertilizer and power sectors?
(1) 30%
(2) 40%
(3) 50%
(4) 60%
(5) 70%
6. Name the youngest ever and the only Arab woman to win a Nobel Prize for ‘non-violent’ struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights.
(1) Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
(2) Leyhmah Gbowee
(3) Tawakkol Karman
(4) Liu Xiabao(5) Martti Ahtisaari
7. India recently carried out the maiden test flight of its second indigenous Airborne Early Warning Control System aircraft developed by DRDO in-
(1) Odisha
(2) France
(3) Andhra Pradesh
(4) Brazil
(5) Russia8. Human Resource Development Ministry constituted a 10-member committee headed by Madhya Pradesh School Education Minister to prepare an ambitious plan to roll out community colleges in the country. Name of the minister is-
(1) Jhina Hikaka
(2) Heena Sidhu
(3) Archana Chitnis
(4) Shivraj Singh Chauhan(5) Ram Gopal Yadav
9. The Banking Laws Committee was headed by-
(1) R.K. Talwar
(2) Dr. P.V. Rajamannar
(3) FKF Nariman(4) Dr. Prakash Tandan
(5) None of the above
10. Fourteen major Indian Banks having deposits of more than Rs 50 crores were nationalized on-
(1) 15th August, 1947
(2) 26th Jan, 1950
(3) 19th July, 1969
(4) 14th February, 1970
(5) None of these
11. Which of the following is the first commercial bank who had launch a mutual fund?
(1) State Bank of India
(2) Canara Bank
(3) Indian Bank
(4) Bank of India
(5) Indian Overseas Bank
12. ATM cards are issued to a person who maintains which of the following accounts with the bank?
(1) Saving bank accounts
(2) Current accounts
(3) Term deposits
(4) Loan or Cash credit accounts
(5) Either (1) or (2)
13. SEBI was established in the year.
(1) 1993
(2) 1992
(3) 1988
(4) 1990(5) 1994
14. The merchant banking activity in India is governed by-
(1) SEBI
(2) RBI
(3) IRDA
(4) All of these
(5) None of these
15. The regulator of mutual fund in India is-
(1) FIMMDA
(2) AMFI
(3) RBI
(4) SEBI
(5) None of these16. Bankassurance is-
(1) an insurance scheme to insure bank deposits
(2) an insurance scheme to insure bank advances
(3) a composite financial service offering both bank and insurance products.
(4) a bank deposit scheme exclusively for employees of insurance companies(5) None of these
17. Which of the following is/are ‘Term Deposits’?
(1) Fixed Deposits
(2) Re-investment Deposits
(3) Recurring Deposits
(4) None of the above
(5) All of the above
18. NABARD was set up as an apex Development Bank with a mandate for facilitating credit flow for promotion and development of-
(1) Agriculture
(2) Small Scale Industries
(3) Cottage and Village Industries
(4) Handicrafts and other rural crafts
(5) All of these
19. Which of the following is not a negotiable instrument?
(1) Promissory note
(2) Bill of exchange
(3) Cheque
(4) Bank Draft
(5) Share certificate20. Co-operative Banks are regulated by-
(1) NABARD
(2) RBI
(3) SBI
(4) Central Govt.
(5) None of these21. What amount has been allotted for capitalization of Public sector banks in the Union Budget 2012-13?
(1) Rs 1380 crore
(2) Rs 1490 crore
(3) Rs 1500 crore
(4) Rs 1588 crore
(5) None of these22. Under which category will you classify Regional Rural Banks?
(1) Scheduled Commercial Banks
(2) Co-operative Banks
(3) Private Sector Banks
(4) Development Banks
(5) None of these
23. What is the current Cash Reserve Ratio?
(1) 3.75
(2) 4.75
(3) 5.5(4) 6
(5) None of these
24. Who decides on the quantity of coins to be minted?
(1) The Govt. of India
(2) RBI
(3) Either (1) or (2)
(4) Both (1) & (2)
(5) None of these
25. The commercial banking system in India consists of –
(1) nationalized banks and private sector banks
(2) scheduled and non-scheduled banks
(3) regional rural banks, co-operative banks and land development banks(4) All of these
(5) None of these
26. What does EBT stands for-
(1) Electronic Belated Transfer
(2) Electronic Bearer Transaction
(3) Electronic Benefit Transfer
(4) Electronic Basic Transaction(5) None of these
27. Money market instruments-
(1) are usually sold in large denominations
(2) have low default risk
(3) mature in one year or less
(4) are characterized by all of the above
(5) are characterized by (1) and (2)28. Capital market is a market which deals in-
(1) short-term funds
(2) long-term funds
(3) gilt-edge funds(4) All of these
(5) None of these
29. When the rate of inflation increases-
(1) purchasing power of money increases
(2) purchasing power of money decreases
(3) vale of money increases(4) purchasing power of money remains unaffected
(5) amount of money in circulation decreases
30. A centralized databases with online connectivity to branches internet as well as ATM-network which has been adopted by almost all major banks of our country is known as-‘
(1) Investment banking
(2) Core banking
(3) Mobile banking(4) Banking Ombudsman
(5) Network banking
31. Upper limit prescribed for NEFT transaction is –
(1) Rs 1 lakh
(2) Rs 2 Lacs
(3) Rs 5 Lacks
(4) Rs 50 Lacks
(5) No upper limit is prescribed
32. Interest on savings bank account is now calculated by banks on-
(1) minimum balance during the month
(2) minimum balance from 7th to last day on the month
(3) Minimum balance from 10th to last day of the month
(4) maximum balance during the month
(5) daily product basis
33. Who is the Chairman of the committee constituted by RBI to study issues and concerns in the Micro Finance Institutions (MFI) sector?
(1) K C Chakraborty
(2) C Rangarajan
(3) M Damodaran
(4) Y H Malegam
(5) None of these34. Name the diesel locomotive engine built by Diesel Locomotive Works, Varanasi recently?
(1) Cheetah
(2) Bheem
(3) Shera(4) Kavita
(5) None of these
35. Who has been appointed as the New CMD of OBC?
(1) M G Sanghvi
(2) D Sarkar
(3) S L Bansal
(4) M V Nayar
(5) None of these
36. Who is the current Minister of Commerce and Trade?
(1) Jayanti Natrajan
(2) Mukul Wasnik
(3) Anand Sharma
(4) Pawan Bansal
(5) None of these
37. The finance secretary of India is-
(1) R K Singh
(2) R S Gujral
(3) Ajeet Seth(4) Ranjan Mathai
(5) Sunil Mitra
38. The Nuclear Summit-2012 held recently in-
(1) S Korea
(2) Brazil
(3) Australia
(4) Japan
(5) None of these
39. EFT (Electronic Fund Transfer) ensures-
(1) Speed
(2) reliability
(3) security
(4) accuracy
(5) All of these
40. Army has announced the year 2012 as – Year of the ____.
(1) Co-operatives
(2) Veterans
(3) Green Energy(4) Mathematics
(5) None of these
World Wildlife Fund released its Report on Global Environment
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in its report Living Planet Report 2012
released on 15 May 2012 noted that Biodiversity has decreased by an
average of 28 percent globally since 1970 and the world would have to be
50 percent bigger to have enough land and forests to provide for
current levels of consumption and carbon emissions.
The report further added that unless the world addresses the problem, by 2030 even two planet Earths would not be enough to sustain human activity. The WWF also urged the global community to take the issue of environmental degradation seriously.
A summit on the global environment is to be held in the Brazilian city Rio De Janerio from 20 to 22 June 2012. The summit is expected to draw more than 50000 participants from different nations. Politicians in the summit will be under tremendous pressure from environmentalists to agree goals for sustainable development, in the spirit of the Rio Earth Summit that spawned the Kyoto Protocol 20 years ago.
The report further added that unless the world addresses the problem, by 2030 even two planet Earths would not be enough to sustain human activity. The WWF also urged the global community to take the issue of environmental degradation seriously.
A summit on the global environment is to be held in the Brazilian city Rio De Janerio from 20 to 22 June 2012. The summit is expected to draw more than 50000 participants from different nations. Politicians in the summit will be under tremendous pressure from environmentalists to agree goals for sustainable development, in the spirit of the Rio Earth Summit that spawned the Kyoto Protocol 20 years ago.
Sports Science Centres
Sports Authority of India(SAI) has established
various sports Science Centres in the country for the purpose of
training of sportspersons. This was stated by Shri Ajay Maken, Minister
of State (I/C) for Youth Affairs & Sports, in the Lok Sabha,
in a written reply to a question by Shri Bhisma Shanker alias Kushal
Tiwari. SAI has set up four Sports Science Centres, details of which
are as under:-
i) SAI Netaji Subhash Eastern Centre at Kolkata, West Bengal.
ii) SAI Netaji Subhash Southern Centre at Bangalore, Karnataka.
iii) SAI Netaji Subhash National Institute of Sports, Patiala, Punjab.
iv) Lakshmibai National college of Physical Education at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
The facilities available at these centres are being provided to SAI trainees and National Campers.
The Minister further stated that Government also proposes to set up a National Institute of Sports Science and Sports Medicine at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi to integrate the study, research and practice of sports science and sports medicine to achieve excellence in sports.
i) SAI Netaji Subhash Eastern Centre at Kolkata, West Bengal.
ii) SAI Netaji Subhash Southern Centre at Bangalore, Karnataka.
iii) SAI Netaji Subhash National Institute of Sports, Patiala, Punjab.
iv) Lakshmibai National college of Physical Education at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
The facilities available at these centres are being provided to SAI trainees and National Campers.
The Minister further stated that Government also proposes to set up a National Institute of Sports Science and Sports Medicine at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi to integrate the study, research and practice of sports science and sports medicine to achieve excellence in sports.
Call for Indian version of World Migratory Bird Day
Rejecting the celebration of World Migratory Bird Day at a time when no
migrant birds could be spotted in India, a section of ornithologists is
pitching for an exclusive Indian version of the occasion.
The theme of the 2012 celebrations, organised between May 12 and 13, was “migratory birds and people — together through time.”
The day is celebrated during the second week of May with “public events
such as bird festivals, education programmes, and bird-watching
excursions to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day and to help raise
awareness around a specific theme,” say the organisers of the day.
United Nations Environment Programme's (UNEP) two international treaties
— Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals
and the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement — are the
organisers.
The migratory season in India begins in September and extends up to
April and nearly 600 species of birds can be spotted at various
locations in the country. Most of these come from the north of Himalayas
from countries namely Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Magnolia,
and the Siberian region. The major wintering grounds are Chilka Lake,
Bharatpur, East Calcutta Wetlands, Harike Lake, Kolleru Lake, Loktak
Lake, Point Calimere, and Sambhar Lake. Some of the important long
distance-migrants that reach the country during the eight-month-long
season are White Stork, Bar headed Goose, Northern Pintail, and Eurasian
Wigeon, experts say.
Waste Management
Pursuant to the recommendations of the Committee on
Solid Waste Management for Class-I cities constituted by the Hon’ble
Supreme Court of India in July 1998, the Government of India, Ministry
of Urban Development had constituted a Technology Advisory Group (TAG)
on Solid Waste Management in August 1999 and later reconstituted the
Committee in January 2002. The objective of constituting the Committee
was to collect information on various proven technologies for processing
and disposal of waste, developing IEC material for creating awareness
among the masses, promotion of capacity building, human resources
development in Urban Local Bodies for efficient management of municipal
solid waste. The Committee finalized its Report and submitted to the
Ministry in May, 2005.
The report covers the details of the various technologies available within and outside the country for the treatment of municipal solid waste and deriving compost, Refuse Dried Fuel (RDF), power, etc., from the waste, their merits, demerits, their limitations etc. It also narrates the extent of application of these technologies in India so far. The TAG report also covers the financial aspects giving details of sectoral lending by financial institutions, the extent of private sector participation attempted, the legal issues related to private sector participation in India and makes recommendations of fiscal incentives for solid waste management infrastructure financing by the State and Central Government.
The TAG report also spells out the strategies proposed to be adopted for building community awareness through information, education and communication technique for ensuring public participation and for human resources development through internal capacity building of the officers and supervisory staff dealing with solid waste management at various levels through training at various levels.
Since all the recommendations have to be implemented by State Govts. / ULBs, the Ministry had already circulated the TAG report to all the State Governments for adoption.
The report covers the details of the various technologies available within and outside the country for the treatment of municipal solid waste and deriving compost, Refuse Dried Fuel (RDF), power, etc., from the waste, their merits, demerits, their limitations etc. It also narrates the extent of application of these technologies in India so far. The TAG report also covers the financial aspects giving details of sectoral lending by financial institutions, the extent of private sector participation attempted, the legal issues related to private sector participation in India and makes recommendations of fiscal incentives for solid waste management infrastructure financing by the State and Central Government.
The TAG report also spells out the strategies proposed to be adopted for building community awareness through information, education and communication technique for ensuring public participation and for human resources development through internal capacity building of the officers and supervisory staff dealing with solid waste management at various levels through training at various levels.
Since all the recommendations have to be implemented by State Govts. / ULBs, the Ministry had already circulated the TAG report to all the State Governments for adoption.
India as Top Importer of Weapons
Authoritative information regarding import of weapons
by China is not available. However, as per report published in March
2012 by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI),
India has become the largest importer of arms during 2007-11 and
accounted for 10% of the global arms imports as compared to China`s
share of5%.
Procurement of arms and equipment for the Armed Forces is a continuous process based on threat perception, operational challenges and available resources. The process is based on a 15 year Long Term Integrated Perspective Plan (LTIPP), five year Services Capital Acquisition Plan (SCAP) and Annual Acquisition Plan (AAP). Shortage of any weapons, is adequately addressed through indigenous production and import.
Procurement of arms and equipment for the Armed Forces is a continuous process based on threat perception, operational challenges and available resources. The process is based on a 15 year Long Term Integrated Perspective Plan (LTIPP), five year Services Capital Acquisition Plan (SCAP) and Annual Acquisition Plan (AAP). Shortage of any weapons, is adequately addressed through indigenous production and import.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Competition Commission of India constituteded Eminent Persons Advisory Group
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) formed an Eminent Persons
Advisory Group (EPAG) on 7 May 2012. The group is constituted to
provide CCI inputs and advice on issues impacting markets and
competition, among others.
The group comprise Infosys founder N.R. Narayana Murthy, former Comptroller and Auditor General V.N. Kaul, former Deputy Governor of Reserve Bank of India Rakesh Mohan, Biocon Chairman and MD Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, former Director, of IIM-Ahmedabad Bakul Dholakia, former Chairman of CERC S.L Rao, former Vice-Chancellor of NLSIU, Bangalore N.L Mitra.
The group will hold its maiden meeting on July 2012. The Group will have interaction/meetings with the Commission two to three times a year.
The group comprise Infosys founder N.R. Narayana Murthy, former Comptroller and Auditor General V.N. Kaul, former Deputy Governor of Reserve Bank of India Rakesh Mohan, Biocon Chairman and MD Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, former Director, of IIM-Ahmedabad Bakul Dholakia, former Chairman of CERC S.L Rao, former Vice-Chancellor of NLSIU, Bangalore N.L Mitra.
The group will hold its maiden meeting on July 2012. The Group will have interaction/meetings with the Commission two to three times a year.
Unemployment Survey by NSSO
The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for
Statistics and Programme Implementation Shri Srikant Kumar Jena has said
that Employment and Unemployment Surveys are generally conducted once
in five years.
In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today he said, the last survey on the subject was conducted in NSS 66th round during July 2009-June 2010. Another survey on the subject is being conducted in NSS 68th round (July 2011-June2012). As per NSS 66th round the total number of unemployed in the age group of 18 to 25 years in the country according to usual status is estimated as 5.19 million.
Rural and urban area-wise figures of unemployed in the above age-group are 3.10 and 2.09 million respectively.
In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today he said, the last survey on the subject was conducted in NSS 66th round during July 2009-June 2010. Another survey on the subject is being conducted in NSS 68th round (July 2011-June2012). As per NSS 66th round the total number of unemployed in the age group of 18 to 25 years in the country according to usual status is estimated as 5.19 million.
Rural and urban area-wise figures of unemployed in the above age-group are 3.10 and 2.09 million respectively.
Agriculture Development Bank
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development
(NABARD) was established on 12 July 1982 by an Act of the Parliament for
providing and regulating credit and other facilities for the promotion
and development of agriculture, small scale industries, cottage and
village industries, handicrafts and other rural crafts and other allied
economic activities in rural areas with a view to promoting integrated
rural development and securing prosperity of rural areas, and for
matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
NABARD provides refinance assistance under Sec.21 (i) of NABARD Act, 1981 for Short Term Seasonal Agricultural Operations (STSAO) purposes for a period not exceeding 8 months to Cooperatives, Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) and any other financial institutions approved by Reserve Bank of India. Further, in terms of Govt. of India’s instruction the Short Term refinance to Cooperative Banks, RRBs is being provided by NABARD at concessional rate of interest in order to enable them to provide crop loans upto Rs. 3 lakh for a period of one year to farmers at 7% p.a.
NABARD provides refinance assistance under Sec.21 (i) of NABARD Act, 1981 for Short Term Seasonal Agricultural Operations (STSAO) purposes for a period not exceeding 8 months to Cooperatives, Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) and any other financial institutions approved by Reserve Bank of India. Further, in terms of Govt. of India’s instruction the Short Term refinance to Cooperative Banks, RRBs is being provided by NABARD at concessional rate of interest in order to enable them to provide crop loans upto Rs. 3 lakh for a period of one year to farmers at 7% p.a.
Education of Women/Girls
The government has initiated a number of schemes to
promote education among girls in the country. Under the Sarva Shiksha
Abhiyan (SSA), the States are encouraged to recruit 50% women teachers.
Each district is provided with an ‘innovation fund’ which can inter
alia be utilized for need based interventions such as free textbooks and
uniforms up to class VIII, separate toilets for girls to ensure better
attendance and retention of girls.
3439 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) are operational and benefit 3,35 lakh SC, ST, OBC, BPL and minority girls at upper primary level. 1925 hostels have been sanctioned for running of girls’ hostels for students of secondary and higher secondary schools. Under the scheme for Construction of Women’s Hostels in Polytechnics, financial assistance have been provided to 487 polytechnics amounting to Rs. 219.45 upto 31/03/2012.
3439 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) are operational and benefit 3,35 lakh SC, ST, OBC, BPL and minority girls at upper primary level. 1925 hostels have been sanctioned for running of girls’ hostels for students of secondary and higher secondary schools. Under the scheme for Construction of Women’s Hostels in Polytechnics, financial assistance have been provided to 487 polytechnics amounting to Rs. 219.45 upto 31/03/2012.
National Policy on Microfinance
Planning Commission had constituted a High Level
Committee on financial sector reforms under the Chairmanship of Shri
Raghuram G. Rajan, Professor, Graduate School of Business, University of
Chicago in August, 2007. The Committee submitted the report in
September, 2008.
The Committee observed that, “despite its success, the future growth of microfinance is constrained by a number of factors. An important issue is the ability of MFIs to raise financing. Given the large estimated demand for microcredit, MFIs need multiple sources of financing, apart from the traditional loan financing from banks. Other constraints include an unclear regulatory environment and the lack of well-developed management information systems and an adequate supply of trained management talent to facilitate sustainable scaling up.”
To provide a formal statutory framework for the promotion, development, regulation and orderly growth of the micro finance sector and thereby to facilitate universal access to integrated financial services for the unbanked population, the Department of Financial Services is formulating Micro Finance Institutions (Development and Regulation) Bill 2012.
The Committee observed that, “despite its success, the future growth of microfinance is constrained by a number of factors. An important issue is the ability of MFIs to raise financing. Given the large estimated demand for microcredit, MFIs need multiple sources of financing, apart from the traditional loan financing from banks. Other constraints include an unclear regulatory environment and the lack of well-developed management information systems and an adequate supply of trained management talent to facilitate sustainable scaling up.”
To provide a formal statutory framework for the promotion, development, regulation and orderly growth of the micro finance sector and thereby to facilitate universal access to integrated financial services for the unbanked population, the Department of Financial Services is formulating Micro Finance Institutions (Development and Regulation) Bill 2012.
NRHM- Key Achievements
Some of the key achievements under National Rural Health Mission are:
1. Accelerated improvements in key reproductive health indicators e.g. Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR), Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), Total Fertility Rate (TFR) and Institutional Delivery Rate.
2. Upgradation and operationalization of 8250 Primary Health Centers (PHCs) as 24X7 facilities
3. Operationalization of 2312 FRUs which includes Community Health Centers (CHCs), Sub District Hospitals and District Hospitals for providing OPD and 24*7 indoor facilities especially for comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care.
4. 374 Special Newborn Care Units, 1638 Newborn Stabilization Units, and 11432 Newborn Care Corners have been established at different levels of health facilities.
5. Augmentation of the availability of skilled manpower by means of different skill- based trainings such as Skilled Birth Attendance for Auxiliary Nurse Midwives/Staff Nurses/Lady Health Visitors; training of MBBS Doctors in Life Saving Anaesthetic Skills and Emergency Obstetric Care including Caesarean Section.
6. Over 1.4 lakh Human Resources have been engaged across the country on contractual basis under National Rural Health Mission which includes- ANMs, Staff Nurses, Paramedics, AYUSH Doctors, Doctors, Specialists and AYUSH Paramedics.
7. Engagement of 8.61 lakhs Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) to generate demand and facilitate accessing of health care services by the community.
As per the Health Management Information System (HMIS) under the National Rural Health Mission, total institutional deliveries at public and private accredited health facilities increased from 1.62 Crores in the year 2009-10 to 1.68 Crores in the year 2010-11.
The key strategies adopted by the Government of India to strengthen NRHM are:
• Creation of strong institutional mechanisms at National and State level through Mission Steering group, State/District Health Mission.
• Strengthening Programme Management units for effective public health management through State, District and Block Programme management units.
• Enhanced fund allocation to NRHM for additional funding to States.
• Preparation of inter-sectoral District Health Plans.
• Integrating vertical Health and Family Welfare programmes at National, State, District and Block levels.
• Supporting States through united funds for the functioning of Village Health Sanitation & Nutrition Committees and thereby focusing on creation of Village Health Plans.
• Promoting access to healthcare at household level through ASHA.
• Supporting the States to train and enhance capacity of Panchayati Raj Institutions.
• Strengthening facilities from PHCs and above through grants to RogiKalyanSamitis (RKS).
• Promotion of Public Private Partnership through NRHM to improve service delivery.
1. Accelerated improvements in key reproductive health indicators e.g. Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR), Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), Total Fertility Rate (TFR) and Institutional Delivery Rate.
2. Upgradation and operationalization of 8250 Primary Health Centers (PHCs) as 24X7 facilities
3. Operationalization of 2312 FRUs which includes Community Health Centers (CHCs), Sub District Hospitals and District Hospitals for providing OPD and 24*7 indoor facilities especially for comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care.
4. 374 Special Newborn Care Units, 1638 Newborn Stabilization Units, and 11432 Newborn Care Corners have been established at different levels of health facilities.
5. Augmentation of the availability of skilled manpower by means of different skill- based trainings such as Skilled Birth Attendance for Auxiliary Nurse Midwives/Staff Nurses/Lady Health Visitors; training of MBBS Doctors in Life Saving Anaesthetic Skills and Emergency Obstetric Care including Caesarean Section.
6. Over 1.4 lakh Human Resources have been engaged across the country on contractual basis under National Rural Health Mission which includes- ANMs, Staff Nurses, Paramedics, AYUSH Doctors, Doctors, Specialists and AYUSH Paramedics.
7. Engagement of 8.61 lakhs Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) to generate demand and facilitate accessing of health care services by the community.
As per the Health Management Information System (HMIS) under the National Rural Health Mission, total institutional deliveries at public and private accredited health facilities increased from 1.62 Crores in the year 2009-10 to 1.68 Crores in the year 2010-11.
The key strategies adopted by the Government of India to strengthen NRHM are:
• Creation of strong institutional mechanisms at National and State level through Mission Steering group, State/District Health Mission.
• Strengthening Programme Management units for effective public health management through State, District and Block Programme management units.
• Enhanced fund allocation to NRHM for additional funding to States.
• Preparation of inter-sectoral District Health Plans.
• Integrating vertical Health and Family Welfare programmes at National, State, District and Block levels.
• Supporting States through united funds for the functioning of Village Health Sanitation & Nutrition Committees and thereby focusing on creation of Village Health Plans.
• Promoting access to healthcare at household level through ASHA.
• Supporting the States to train and enhance capacity of Panchayati Raj Institutions.
• Strengthening facilities from PHCs and above through grants to RogiKalyanSamitis (RKS).
• Promotion of Public Private Partnership through NRHM to improve service delivery.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Country poised to achieve total sanitation coverage by 2017
Total Sanitation Campaign, TSC, now underway in 607 rural districts covering all the States and Union Territories is expected to be completed by the year 2017. The information was given by the Rural Development Minister Shri Jairam Ramesh in a statement in the Lok Sabha today. He said, the Government has increased the allocation under TSC from 1500 crore rupees in the year 2011-12, the last year of the 11th Five Year Plan to 3,500 crore rupees as Budget Estimate during the year 2012-13, the first year of the 12th Plan. The states have also been advised for engagement of Swachchhata Doots to accelerate sanitation coverage. The Minister also informed that the Information, Education and Communication (IEC) and Human Resource Development, HRD, the key components to generate and meet demand for sanitation are being strengthened. Out of total project objectives of 12.57 crore Individual Household Latrines, 8.73 crore have been completed and about 88 lakh latrines have been reported to be completed during the year 2011-12. Similarly, school toilet units, Anganwadi toilets and community sanitary complexes are also on way to meet the targets.
Establishment of Nyaya Panchayats
Ministry of Panchayati Raj had prepared a Draft Nyaya Panchayat (NP) Bill to provide for the establishment of Nyaya Panchayats at the level of each Village Panchayat or a cluster of Village Panchayats in consultation with Ministry of Law & Justice. The objective of the proposed Nyaya Panchayat Bill is to provide a sound institutionalized, alternative forum at the grassroots level with community involvement for dispute resolution through mediation, conciliation and compromise. After taking into consideration the comments received from the concerned Central Ministries/ Departments, the Draft Nyaya Panchayat Bill was sent to Ministry of Law & Justice. The Bill could not be finalized due to various objections raised by Ministry of Law and Justice which included, inter alia, the issues of its Constitutional validity and overlapping provisions of Gram Nyalaya Act 2008 already enacted by that Ministry. The Ministry of Law & Justice provided a copy of the revised Draft NP Bill 2010 in November 2010 for views/comments of the Ministry. Our detailed comments have been forwarded to Ministry of Law & Justice on 22nd June 2011.
Report placed India on Fifth Position in the List of Countries affected from Cyber Crime
India, according to a report published by the Security and Defence Agenda (SDA) and McAfee on 6 May 2012, ranked fifth in the list of countries affected of cyber crime. The report, ‘Cyber Security: The Vexed Question of Global Rules’, rated the Internet privacy in the country as low. Brussels-based SDA spoke to leading global security experts to ensure that findings would offer useful recommendations and actions.
At the Cyber Security Summit which concluded in Bangalore on 4 May 2012, officials from the National Security Committee claimed that the government is firstly looking at capacity building that will lead to the draft of the national cyber security policy which is currently under discussion.
The report mentioned that India knows the repercussions of cyber crime which directly affects the reputation of the country as a safe investment or business place. The report also expressed concern over lack of a single operator to effectively control Internet, telecom and power sectors.
At the Cyber Security Summit which concluded in Bangalore on 4 May 2012, officials from the National Security Committee claimed that the government is firstly looking at capacity building that will lead to the draft of the national cyber security policy which is currently under discussion.
The report mentioned that India knows the repercussions of cyber crime which directly affects the reputation of the country as a safe investment or business place. The report also expressed concern over lack of a single operator to effectively control Internet, telecom and power sectors.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Population Living in Slums
The Minister for Housing and Urban
Poverty Alleviation (HUPA) Kumari Selja
has said that Housing and Slum development being State subjects,
it is for the States to provide housing and basic facilities like drinking
water, electricity and sanitation etc depending upon their priorities and
availability of financial resources etc. However, Government launched
Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) in December 2005 to
assist States/ Union
Territories for
undertaking programmes for provision of housing and basic services to urban
poor/slum dwellers under Basic Services to the Urban Poor (BSUP) in 65 select
cities including Mumbai and Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme
(IHSDP) - in other cities/towns. The duration of JNNURM was 7 years beginning
from 2005-06. The Government has approved the extension of JNNURM by 2 years upto the end of financial year 2013-14 for completion of
projects sanctioned upto March, 2012 and
implementation of 3 pro-poor reforms. State-wise estimated population who live
in slums in the country as per “Committee on Slum Statistics/Census”
constituted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation is
annexed.
In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today Kumari Selja said, a total of
1615 projects, 529 under BSUP and 1086 under IHSDP, have been approved so far
for construction of 1602387 houses, 10,31,856 under BSUP and 570531 under
IHSDP, and other related civic amenities like water supply, sewerage, community
toilets, street lighting etc across the country.
She said, a
new scheme ‘Rajiv Awas Yojana’ (RAY) has been launched in June 2011. The Scheme
provides financial assistance to States that are willing to assign property
rights to slum dwellers for provision of decent shelter and basic civic and
social services for slum redevelopment, and for creation of affordable housing
stock.
Slums being a State subject, it is upto the Government of Maharashtra to take steps to address the issues of slums, including Dharavi, availing allocation under JNNURM and RAY and mobilising State and Local Body funds, the Minister added.
Slums being a State subject, it is upto the Government of Maharashtra to take steps to address the issues of slums, including Dharavi, availing allocation under JNNURM and RAY and mobilising State and Local Body funds, the Minister added.
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