Q1. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has signed a Currency Swap Agreement with which country’s monetary authority?
[A] China[B] Russia
[C] Maldives
[D] Sri Lanka
C – Explanation:
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has signed a Currency Swap Agreement with the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) under the SAARC Currency Swap Framework.
This agreement will enable the MMA to make withdrawals in multiple tranches up to a maximum of USD 200 million from the RBI.
Q2. Dina Boluarte was recently selected as the first female President of which country?
[A] France[B] Peru
[C] Brazil
[D] Australia
B – Explanation:
- Dina Boluarte was appointed as Peru’s first female president amid a political crisis when her predecessor and former boss Pedro Castillo was ousted in an impeachment trial.
Peru’s leftist president Pedro Castillo was ousted by lawmakers and detained by police after he tried to illegally shut down Congress.
Q3.Which Union Ministry is set to launch India’s first-ever surety bonds insurance product to boost infrastructure?
[A] Ministry of Road Transport and Highways[B] Ministry of Finance
[C] Ministry of Communication
[D] Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
A – Explanation:
- The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) will launch India’s first-ever surety bonds insurance product to boost liquidity in the infrastructure sector, as per Union minister Nitin Gadkari.
The surety bonds will help in boosting the liquidity in the infrastructure sector by providing relief to the contractors’ working capital stuck in bank guarantees.
Q4. Which institution has approved USD 780 million loan to expand Chennai metro rail network?
[A] World Bank[B] ADB
[C] IMF
[D] AIIB
B – Explanation:
- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved financing of USD 780 million to build new lines for Chennai’s metro rail and improve the network’s connectivity with bus and feeder services.
The project will construct 10.1 km of an elevated section, nine metro stations, 10 km of the underground section among others. The stations will be disaster- and climate-resilient and responsive to the needs of the elderly, women, children, and the differently abled.
Q5. Which state/UT is the host of 9th World Ayurveda Congress and Arogya Expo 2022?
[A] Gujarat[B] Goa
[C] Telangana
[D] Bihar
B – Explanation:
- The 9th World Ayurveda Congress (WAC) and Arogya Expo 2022was inaugurated today at Panaji, Goa. It aims to showcase the efficacy of AYUSH systems of medicine at Global level.
The third edition of the ‘Ayushman’ comic book series was also released on this occasion. A MoU was signed between All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) and Rosenberg’s European Academy of Ayurveda, Germany for advanced studies in traditional Indian medicine systems.
Q6. ‘Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has been appointed as the new Prime Minister of which country?
[A] Bangladesh[B] Nepal
[C] Maldives
[D] Mauritius
B – Explanation:
- Nepal President Bidya Devi Bhandari appointed CPN-Maoist Centre chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ as the new Prime Minister of Nepal.
Prachanda has been appointed as the Prime Minister of Nepal as per the Article 76 Clause 2 of the Constitution. There has been an understanding between Prachanda and Oli to lead the government on rotation basis.
Q7. Emperor penguins, which were seen in the news, are native to which region/ country?
[A] Antarctica[B] Australia
[C] Greenland
[D] Iceland
A – Explanation:
- As per a new research, two-thirds of Antarctica’s native species, including emperor penguins, are under threat of extinction or major population declines by 2100.
This is due to current trajectories of global heating. The study was conducted by scientists, conservationists and policymakers from 12 countries. It has identified emperor penguins as the Antarctic species at greatest risk of extinction, followed by other seabirds and dry soil nematodes.
Q8. Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur inaugurated Sports Science Centre in which city?
[A] Pune[B] Amravati
[C] Udupi
[D] Varanasi
C – Explanation:
- Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Singh Thakur inaugurated the Sports Science Centre in Udupi.
This Sports Science Centre will bring together sports scientists and athletes. The Government has spent 2700 crore rupees to enhance sporting infrastructure as well as 3,136 crore rupees for Khelo India Games, for a period of five years.
Q9. India has agreed to start negotiations for a free trade agreement with which neighbouring country?
[A] China[B] Sri Lanka
[C] Bangladesh
[D] Nepal
C – Explanation:
- India and Bangladesh agreed to start negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) at an early date. The decision was taken in a meeting between Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and his Bangladeshi counterpart Tipu Munshi.
A joint feasibility study on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), has been carried out after the two countries agreed to explore the possibility of negotiating a trade pact. The bilateral trade between India and Bangladesh increased to USD 18.2 billion in 2021-22.
Q10.Which institution has set up ‘Central Excise and Service Tax Settlement Commission’?
[A] SEBI[B] CBIC
[C] CBDT
[D] Enforcement Directorate
B – Explanation:
- The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has constituted Customs, Central Excise and Service Tax Settlement Commission.
It aims to resolve and settle the show-cause notices issued under the Customs Act, Central Excise Act and Service Tax regime. This move would ensure speedy disposal of cases under the old indirect tax regime.