Current affairs for CSEET

1. What was the theme for the 3rd Global RE-INVEST Renewable Energy Investors Meet & Expo organised by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) virtually from November 26-28, 2020?

1) Innovations in Pandemic

2) Science & Technology

3) Innovations for Sustainable Energy Transition

4) Global Stability, Shared Security, and Innovative Growth

5) Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN

Answer – 3) Innovations for Sustainable Energy Transition

Explanation: The 3rd Global RE-INVEST Renewable Energy Investors Meet & Expo organised by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) took place virtually from November 26-28, 2020. The Theme of RE-INVEST 2020 is ‘Innovations for Sustainable Energy Transition’. The event was virtually inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Partner Countries – Australia, Denmark, France, Germany, Maldives, the United Kingdom, European Union and United States agencies.

Partner States – Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.

The meet was organized by MNRE in association with Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

2. Government of India has allocated Rs 900 crore to Department of Biotechnology (DBT) for research and development of COVID-19 vaccines under ______________.

1) Mission Samudra Setu

2) Mission COVID Suraksha

3) National Health Mission

4) Mission Innovation

5) ATAL Mission

Answer – 2) Mission COVID Suraksha

Explanation: Government of India has allocated Rs.900 crore to Department of Biotechnology (DBT) for research and development of COVID-19 vaccines under Mission COVID Suraksha. This is the third stimulus package, already a stimulus of Rs.900 crore for a period of 12 months has been allocated for phase 1 trials.

3. External Affairs Minister (EAM) of India Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar undertook a visit to which Country/Countries from November 24-29, 2020?

1) Bahrain

2) United Arab Emirates (UAE)

3) Republic of Seychelles

4) Only 2 & 3

5) All 1, 2 & 3

Answer – 5) All 1, 2 & 3

Explanation: External Affairs Minister (EAM) of India Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar undertook a visit to Bahrain, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Republic of Seychelles from November 24-29, 2020. During the visit, he held meetings with Foreign Affairs Ministers & the top leadership of these countries.

4. Which Country has the most FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) equity inflows in India during April- September 2020 according to DPIIT (Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade)?

1) USA (United States of America)

2) Singapore

3) Mauritius

4) Japan

5) France

Answer – 2) Singapore

Explanation:

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade( DPIIT)’s in its Foreign Direct Investment(FDI) data, has listed out the top investing countries FDI(Foreign Direct Investment) equity inflows in India during April-September 2020. Singapore has invested Rs 62,084 crore(USD 8.30 billion) into India, which makes it the biggest source of FDI into India. The USA (United States of America) becomes the second biggest source of FDI into India by investing Rs 53,266 crore(USD 7.12 billion) . USA overtakes Mauritius which was in the 2nd rank during the 1st half of the current financial year.

5. Which Country has topped the list of sending the greatest number of educated migrants to OECD Countries?

1) China

2) Canada

3) Russia

4) United States

5) India

Answer – 5) India

Explanation: According to the data released by OECD “Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development” in the Most Common birth countries of Highly Educated Migrants residing in OECD Nations, India came at the top with around 3.2 Million Highly Educated Migrants living in the OECD Nations as of 2015-16 data. For India, the share of individuals in Migrants who have High Education Status is 65% i.e high educations means having received vocational or academic training. China with 2.25 Million (48.6 % Highly Educated Migrants) came next to India in the list followed by Philippines – 1.89 Million Migrants (shared of Highly Educated

Migrants 53.3 %).

6. Which Company signed share purchase agreement to acquire 74% stake in Parbati Koldam Transmission Company Ltd (PKTCL) from Reliance Infrastructure Ltd Enterprise Value?

1) Sterlite Power Transmission Limited

2) L&T Power Transmission & Distribution

3) Maha Transco – Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Co. Ltd.

4) Adani Transmission

5) India Grid Trust (IndiGrid)

Answer – 5) India Grid Trust (IndiGrid)

Explanation: India Grid Trust (IndiGrid) signed sharepurchase agreement to acquire 74% stake in Parbati Koldam Transmission Company Ltd (PKTCL) from Reliance Infrastructure Ltd Enterprise Value. The enterprise value to acquire 100% is Rs 900 crore, including the cash reserves and normalised tariff receivables. The value is subject to adjustments on account of movement in cash, deviation in outstanding debt, tariff receivables, assets and liabilities outstanding.

7. Where is the headquarters of OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) located?

1) Washington D.C, US

2) Paris, France

3) New York City, US

4) Rome, Italy

5) Geneva, Switzerland

Answer - 2) Paris, France

Explanation: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development is an intergovernmental economic organisation with 37 member countries, founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and world trade.

8. Where is the headquarters of United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) located?

1) Washington D.C, US

2) Montreal, Canada

3) New York City, US

4) Rome, Italy

5) Geneva, Switzerland

Answer - 5) Geneva, Switzerland

Explanation: UNCTAD is a permanent intergovernmental body established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1964. Headquarters are located in Geneva, Switzerland, and they have offices in New York and Addis Ababa. UNCTAD is part of the UN Secretariat. Secretary-General– Mukhisa Kituyi of Kenya (7th Secretary-General).

9. Which Bank signed a MoU with SIDBI to enable MSME borrowers to use the web module i.e. Asset Restructuring Module for MSMEs-Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (ARM-MSMEs) launched by SIDBI in partnership with India SME Asset Reconstruction Company (ISARC)?

1) State Bank of India

2) Punjab National Bank

3) Bank of Baroda

4) Bank of India

5) India Bank

Answer – 5) India Bank

Explanation: Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) in partnership with India SME Asset Reconstruction Company (ISARC) has launched Asset Restructuring Module for MSMEs-Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (ARM-MSMEs) in other words Do-It-Yourself (DIY) web module. This web portal helps MSMSEs to get benefit of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s one-time debt restructuring. The portal is offered as part of SIDBI’s developmental initiatives. Indian Bank has signed a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with SIDBI to enable MSME borrowers to use the web module.

10. Who has been appointed as interim chairperson of National Dairy Development Board (NDDB)?

1) Dilip Rath

2) T Nanda Kumar

3) Varsha Joshi

4) Renu Devi

5) Kamala Harris

Answer – 3) Varsha Joshi

Explanation: The Government of India appointed Varsha Joshi, the Joint Secretary (CDD), Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, as the new interim Chairperson of National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). Varsha Joshi succeeds Dilip Rath on the completion of his tenure as the chairman of NDDB on 30th November 2020.

11. Which Organization appointed Sandeep Kataria as the CEO (1st Indian to be appointed as theglobal CEO) of the organization?

1) Red Chief

2) Parle Agro

3) Bata

4) Patanjali

5) Liberty

Answer – 3) Bata

Explanation:Sandeep Kataria, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bata India has been elevated as the CEO of Bata Organization. He becomes the 1st Indian to be appointed as the global CEO of Bata. He succeeds Alexis Nasard.

12. Which Petroleum Company launched India’s first 100 Octane Petrol also known as XP 100?

1) Indian Oil Corporation

2) Bharat Petroleum

3) Hindustan Petroleum

4) Gas Authority of India Ltd

5) Oil and Natural gas Corporation

Answer – 1) Indian Oil Corporation

Explanation:Ministry of Petroleum and Natural gas(MOP&NG) Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched the India’s first 100 Octane Petrol also known as XP 100 manufactured by Indian Oil Corporation(IOC). XP 100, the premium grade petrol is manufactured at IOC’s Mathura refinery in Uttar Pradesh, and will be rolled out in two Phases at selected Petrol stations.

13. YES Bank relaunched ‘YES Premia’ with a premium banking program. Who is the MD & CEO of YES Bank?

1) Prashant Kumar

2) Shashidhar Jagadeesan

3) Aditya Puri

4) Amitabh Chaudhary

5) Sandeep Bakhshi

Answer – 1) Prashant Kumar

Explanation: YES Bank relaunched ‘YES Premia’ with a premium banking program. It offers personalized solutions focusing on particular needs of key consumer segments, i.e., from small business owners to salaried professionals and senior citizens. Yes Bank during the ‘Truly Yours’ Week, from December 1 – 7, 2020 will celebrate the launch of the program, across India with several customercentric programs and partnered activations through dealer, OEM(Original Equipment Manufacturer) and bancassurance partners. YES Bank Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer(CEO)– Prashant Kumar

14. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has completed private placement of what per cent of its equity shares worth Rs 81.64 crores?

1) 10.63%

2) 24.63%

3) 14.63%

4) 4.63%

5) 34.63%

Answer – 4) 4.63%

Explanation: The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has completed private placement of 4.63% of its equity shares worth Rs 81.64 crores. This placement has enabled small finance and payment banks, as well as fintechs to be its shareholders up to 0.44%. With this placement, now the total shareholder entities for NPCI stand at 67.

15. Paytm has partnered with which Small Finance Bank, to offer collateral-free instant digital loans to MSMEs (Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises) on December 2, 2020?

1) AU Small Finance Bank (SFB)

2) Ujjivan Small Finance Bank (SFB)

3) Equitas Small Finance Bank (SFB)

4) Suryoday Small Finance Bank (SFB)

5) Utkarsh Small Finance Bank (SFB)

Answer – 4) Suryoday Small Finance Bank (SFB)

Explanation: On December 2, 2020 Paytm partnered with Suryoday Small Finance Bank (SFB) Ltd to offer collateral-free instant digital loans to MSMEs(Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises). This will empower the MSMEs. This is the 1st the first lending partnership for Paytm with a small finance bank to help merchants to avail loans seamlessly. Paytm and Suryoday SFB aims to disburse loans to more than 1 lakh small businesses in the next 12 to 18 months, through this partnership.

16. NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development) has signed a MoU with SBI (State Bank of India) On December 2, 2020 to take up joint intervention projects in which State?

1) Uttarakhand

2) Telangana

3) Maharashtra

4) Gujarat

5) Karnataka

Answer – 5) Karnataka

Explanation: On December 2, 2020 NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development), Karnataka Regional Office Bengaluru, Karnataka has signed MoU(Memorandum of Understanding) with SBI(State Bank of India), LHO, Bengaluru. The two institutions are to take up joint intervention projects in the State. NABARD through this MoU, aims to provide grant support, concessional refinance and undertake capacity building of the stakeholders of various livelihood interventions that is promoted by NABARD.

17. What was the theme for the 6th BRICS Youth Summit 2020 opening ceremony held in Ulyanovsk, Russia?

1) BRICS :Radical Economic Transformation

2) BRICS: Challenges of the Time for young People

3) BRICS :Socio emotional skill- importance of soft skill

4) Youth as bridge for Intra-BRICS Exchanges

5) BRICS & Pandemic

Answer – 2) BRICS: Challenges of the Time for young People

Explanation: On 29th November, 6th BRICS Youth Summit 2020 opening ceremony and a meeting of BRICS Ministers was held in Ulyanovsk, Russia. Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Kiren Rijiju virtually addressed the 6th BRICS Youth Summit 2020 on behalf of India, which was held from 29 November to 2 December, 2020. Theme for 6th BRICS Youth Summit 2020- “BRICS: Challenges of the Time for young People”.

18. Which Indian Company has topped the 2020 Fortune 500 Ranking List of Indian companies?

1) Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL)

2) Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL)

3) Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)

4) State Bank of India (SBI)

5) Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)

Answer – 1) Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL)

Explanation: Fortune India announced the 2020 Fortune 500 Ranking List of Indian companies. The list is topped by Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) with revenue of Rs 615,854.00 crore, accounting for 7% of cumulative revenues and 11% profit of the companies featured. RIL retains the top rank for the 2nd time. Table of Top 3 Companies in 2020 Fortune 500 List of Indian Companies is given below Rank Organisation Name Revenue in Rs(crore)

1 Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL) 615,854.00

2 Indian Oil Corporation Ltd.(IOCL) 493,932.99

3 Oil & Natural Gas Corporation 405,243.31

State Bank of India-SBI is ranked in 4th spot with revenue of Rs 368,010.65 crore, followed by Bharat Petroleum Corporation (Rs 288,974.97 crore revenue) and Tata Motors(Rs 261,875.55 crore revenue). 7th spot is secured by Rajesh Exports with Rs 195,607.23 crore revenue, followed by Tata Consultancy Services(Rs 161,541.00 crore revenue) and ICICI Bank (Rs 149,786.10 crore revenue). Larsen & Toubro- L&T with Rs 147,820.13 crore revenue, secures the 10th rank.