FRAMED FROM LIVE MINT & WIKEPEDIA
Q.1 With reference to the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan, consider the following statements :
1. This scheme is applicable only to the women during their pregnancy period
2. Tests will take place at the government hospitals only
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
A) Only 1
B) Only 2
C) Both are correct
D) Both are incorrect
Ans. D
The scheme is applicable only to the women in their pregnancy period of 3 to 6 months. Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan or Yojana is a new initiative of the Narendra Modi Government launched on June 9, 2016. The scheme has been launched with the objective of boosting the health care facilities for the pregnant women, especially the poor. Under the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan, the pregnant ladies will be given free health check-up and required treatment for free on 9th of every month. The scheme will be applicable for pregnant women to avail in all Government hospitals across the country The scheme is applicable only for the pregnant women All kinds of medical checkups under this scheme will be completely free Tests will took place at the medical centers, government and private hospitals and private clinics across the country
FRAMED FROM ECONOMIC SURVEY 2016-17
Q.2 With reference to the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), consider the following statements :
1.It is a proposed trade agreement between the India and the United States, with the aim of promoting trade and multilateral economic growth
2. The reports on the TTIP proposals can be accessed only by authorised persons
3. Creation of million of new jobs is one of the pillar of TTIP
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
A) Only 3
B) 2 & 3
C) Only 1 & 2
D) All are correct
Ans. B
The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is a proposed trade agreement between the European Union and the United States, with the aim of promoting trade and multilateral economic growth. The American government considers the TTIP a companion agreement to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).The agreement is under ongoing negotiations and its main three broad areas are: market access; specific regulateon; and broader rules and principles and modes of co-operation. TTIP aims to “liberalise one-third of global trade” and could create millions of new jobs
FRAMED FROM ECONOMIC SURVEY 2016-17
Q.3 With reference to the Unified payment interface consider the following statements :
1. It is a payment system regulated by the National Payments Corporation of India
2. It facilitates the fund transfer between two bank accounts on the mobile platform instantly
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
A) Only 1
B) Only 2
C) Both are correct
D) Both are incorrect
Ans. B
Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is a payment system launched by National Payments Corporation of India and regulated by Reserve Bank of India which facilitates the fund transfer between two bank accounts on the mobile platform instantly. UPI (Unified Payments Interface) is an advanced version of Immediate Payment Service(IMPS) platform designed for transferring funds using: Transfer through Virtual Payment Address (Unique ID provided by bank) or Account Number + IFSC or Mobile Number + MMID or Aadhaar Number or Collect / Pull money basis Virtual ID. An MPIN is given to the banking customer once they register for UPI which is required to be entered while confirming a money transfer.
FRAMED FROM THE HINDU & WIKEPEDIA
Q.4 Recently Kigali agreement has amended 1987 montreal protocol. With reference to this agreement consider the following statements ;
1. As per this agreement HFCs is the only gas responsible for global warming apart from other gases
2. 500 million us dollar is the amount of additional funding from developed countries
3. Kigali agreement will be binding on countries from 2019
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
A) Only 3
B) 1 & 2
C) Only 1
D) 2 & 3
Ans. A
Amended Montreal Protocol which was initially conceived only to plug gases that were destroying the ozone layer now includes HFCs responsible for global warming. The exact amount of additional funding from developed countries will be agreed at the next Meeting of the Parties in Montreal in 2017. The Paris agreement which will come into force by 2020 is not legally binding on countries to cut their emissions. The Kigali Amendment is considered absolutely vital for reaching the Paris Agreement target of keeping global temperature rise to below 2-degree Celsius compared to pre-industrial times.
FRAMED FROM THE HINDU
Q.5 Recently India has signed Dollar credit line agreement with which of the following country ?
A) China
B) Nepal
C) Pakistan
D) Iran
Ans. B
FRAMED FROM ECONOMIC SURVEY 2016-17
Q.6 Which among the following commodities are covered under the Baltic Dry index ?
1. Coal
2. Grain
3. Iron Ore
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
A) Only 3
B) 2 & 3
C) Only 1 & 2
D) All are correct
Ans. D
The Baltic Dry Index (BDI) is an economic indicator issued daily by the London-based Baltic Exchange. Not restricted to Baltic Sea countries, the index provides “an assessment” of the price of moving the major raw materials by sea. Taking in 23 shipping routes measured on a timecharter basis, the index covers Handysize, Supramax, Panamax, and Capesize dry bulk carriers carrying a range of commodities including coal, iron ore and grain. Most directly, the index measures the demand for shipping capacity versus the supply of dry bulk carriers. The demand for shipping varies with the amount of cargo that is being traded or moved in various markets (supply and demand). – Another index, the HARPEX, focuses on containers freight. It provides an insight on the transport of a much wider base of commercial goods than commodities alone. HARPEX is regarded as a Current-Activity Indicator, because it measures and charts the changes in freight rates for ‘container ships.’ Container ships typically carry a wide variety of finished goods from a multitude of sellers. These are factory output goods headed for retail markets, at the other end of the supply chain
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Q.7 With reference to the Cocoas bonds, sometimes seen in the news, consider the following statements :
1. These are the hybrid bonds that combine debt and equity elements
2. These are considered as the most secured bonds issued by banks
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
A) Only 1
B) Only 2
C) Both are correct
D) Both are incorrect
Ans. A
These are known as Additional Tier-1 bonds.
They are the riskiest debt issued by banks and do not have any set maturity date.
A contingent convertible bond (CoCo), also known as an enhanced capital note (ECN) is a fixed-income instrument that is convertible into equity if a pre-specified trigger event occurs.The concept of CoCo has been particularly discussed in the context of crisis management in the banking industry. It has been also emerging as an alternative way for keeping solvency in the insurance industry.
A contingent convertible bond is defined with two elements: the trigger and the conversion rate. While the trigger is the pre-specified event causing the conversion process, the conversion rate is the actual rate at which debt is swapped for equity.The trigger, which can be bank specific, systemic, or dual, has to be defined in a way ensuring automatic and inviolable conversion.A possibility of a dynamic sequence exists—conversion occurs at different pre-specified thresholds of the trigger event.Since the trigger can be subject to accounting or market manipulation, a commonly used measure has been the market’s measure of bank’s solvency.The design of the trigger and the conversion rate are critical in the instrument’s effectiveness.
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Q.8 With reference to the Ponzi schemes that has been recently in news, consider the following statements :
1. It is an investment fraud that falls under the purview of SEBI
2. Union government & co-operative banks are the enforcement agencies of these schemes
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
A) Only 1
B) Only 2
C) Both are correct
D) Both are incorrect
Ans. D
It is an investment fraud that do not falls under the purview of SEBI
State government is the enforcement agencies of these schemes
It is a fraudulent investment operation where the operator, an individual or organization, pays returns to its investors from new capital paid to the operators by new investors, rather than from profit earned through legitimate sources. Operators of Ponzi schemes usually entice new investors by offering higher returns than other investments, in the form of short-term returns that are either abnormally high or unusually consistent.
Ponzi schemes occasionally begin as legitimate businesses, until the business fails to achieve the returns expected. The business becomes a Ponzi scheme if it then continues under fraudulent terms. Whatever the initial situation, the perpetuation of the high returns requires an ever-increasing flow of money from new investors to sustain the scheme
Ponzi schemes sometimes commence operations as legitimate investment vehicles, such as hedge funds. For example, a hedge fund can degenerate into a Ponzi scheme if it unexpectedly loses money (or simply fails to legitimately earn the returns promised and/or thought to be expected) and if the promoters, instead of admitting their failure to meet expectations, fabricate false returns and (if necessary) produce fraudulent audit reports.
A pyramid scheme is a form of fraud similar in some ways to a Ponzi scheme, relying as it does on a mistaken belief in a nonexistent financial reality, including the hope of an extremely high rate of return.
FRAMED FROM WIKEPEDIA
Q.9 Which among the following countries comprises CLMV countries ?
1. Cambodia
2. Laos
3. Malaysia
4.Vietnam
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
A) 1,2,4
B) Only 1 & 3
C) 1,2,3
D) All are correct
Ans. A
Cambodia,Laos,Myanmar ,Vietnam are the CLMV Countries. “India’s trade with the CLMV countries is over 11,000 million USD and there is immense potential.” The tri-lateral highway, connectivity in the North East, port connectivity improvement and the Act East policy are moves in that direction. The External Affairs study proves that there’s a huge potential of about 100billion USD dollars of additional export. The trade investment between India and the ASEAN countries is crucial since the CLMV countries cover 32% of the ASEAN region and has a huge market for Indian products and with a 165 million strong population. This will attract considerable amount of FDI from India. It has an open investment regime and does not discriminate between foreign and local investors. It is investing heavily into its transport infrastructure.” The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is a regional organisation comprising ten Southeast Asian states which promotes intergovernmental cooperation and facilitates economic integration amongst its members. Since its formation on August 8, 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, the organisation’s membership has expanded to include Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar (Burma), and Vietnam. Its principal aims include accelerating economic growth, social progress, and sociocultural evolution among its members, alongside the protection of regional stability and the provision of a mechanism for member countries to resolve differences peacefully ASEAN PLUS THREE : The leaders of each country felt the need to further integrate the nations in the region. Beginning in 1997, the bloc started creating organisations with the intention of achieving this goal. “ASEAN Plus Three” was the first of these and was created to improve existing ties with the People’s Republic of China, Japan, and South Korea. This was followed by the even larger East Asia Summit (EAS), which included ASEAN Plus Three countries as well as India, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and Russia. ASEAN PLUS SIX : Asean became Asean Plus Six with additional countries: Australia, New Zealand and India. And nowadays, there are a new free trade area and it is called as Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), based on 16 countries of ASEAN plus six. RCEP allows the member to protect local sectors and gives more times to comply the aim for developed country members
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Q.10 Which among the following are the member countries of SAARC ?
1.Bangladesh
2.India
3.Maldives
4.Afghanistan
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
A) 1,3,4
B) Only 1 & 3
C) 1,2,3
D) All are correct
Ans. D
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is the regional intergovernmental organization and geopolitical union of nations in South Asia. Its member states include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, the Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. SAARC comprises 3% of the world’s area, 21% of the world’s population and 3.8% (US$ 2.9 trillion) of the global economy, as of 2015. SAARC was founded in Dhaka on 8th December,1985. Its secretariat is based in Kathmandu, Nepal. The organization promotes development of economic and regional integration.It launched the South Asian Free Trade Area in 2006. SAARC maintains permanent diplomatic relations at the United Nations as an observer and has developed links with multilateral entities, including the European Union. SAARC has six Apex Bodies , they are- • SAARC Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI), • South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARCLAW), • South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA), • South Asia Foundation (SAF), • South Asia Initiative to End Violence Against Children (SAIEVAC), • Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature (FOSWAL) Hemant Batra is the current Secretary General of SAARC. SAARC also has about 17 recognised bodies The Twelfth Summit approved the SAARC Award to support individuals and organisations within the region. The main aims of the SAARC Award are: • To encourage individuals and organisations based in South Asia to undertake programmes and activities that complement the efforts of SAARC • To encourage individuals and organisations in South Asia contributing to bettering the conditions of women and children • To honour outstanding contributions and achievements of individuals and organisations within the region in the fields of peace, development, poverty alleviation, environment protection and regional cooperation • To honour any other contributions and achievement not covered above of individuals and organisations in the region. The SAARC Award consists of a gold medal, a letter of citation, and cash prize of US $25,000 (₹15 lakhs). Since the institution of the SAARC Award in 2004, it has been awarded only once and the Award was posthumously conferred upon the late President Ziaur Rahman of Bangladesh Member countries : Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan Observer countries: Australia, China, European Union, Japan, Iran, Mauritius, Myanmar, South Korea, and United States.
