Which Bank has signed a $40 million financing package with GreenCell Express Private Limited (GEPL) to develop 255 electric battery-powered buses (e-buses)?

Banking - General Knowledge Questions

State Bank of India

World Bank

Asian Development Bank

Reserve Bank of India

Correct Answer : Asian Development Bank

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed(7th Nov 2022) a $40 million financing package with GreenCell Express Private Limited (GEPL) to develop 255 electric battery-powered buses (e-buses) to serve 5 million people a year on 56 intercity routes in India and enhance the safety of passengers, especially women, through improved security features including panic buttons connected to command controls for immediate response.

The financial package comprises $20.5 million loan (in equivalent Indian rupee) from ADB’s ordinary capital resources, ADB’s administration of a $14 million loan from the Clean Technology Fund (CTF), grants worth $325,000 from the CTF and $5.2 million from Goldman Sach’s and Bloomberg’s the Climate Innovation and Development Fund (CIDF).

ADB also assisted in mobilizing an additional parallel loan of $20.5 million from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

A defining feature of this project is the CIDF grant which will partially finance the decarbonization of 100 of the 255 e-buses by deploying solar power-plus-battery energy storage systems, resulting in the reduction of about 6,355 tons of carbon dioxide a year. Overall, the project will reduce emissions by 14,780 tons a year.

“Decarbonization of public transport in India is essential for the country to reach its net-zero climate commitments, and it’s important to ensure safety and security of women passengers to make travel more inclusive,” said ADB Private Sector Operations Department Director General Suzanne Gaboury.

“By providing safe transport for women, these intercity buses will enhance their ability to participate in economic and livelihood opportunities,”

India’s public transport needs are expected to grow rapidly as the country urbanizes. In 2020, road transport accounted for 87% of all passenger trips, 18% of total energy consumption, and 11.7% of greenhouse gas emissions..

Source : ADB

Published On : November 8, 2022

Recent Updates in Banking - General Knowledge Questions

Q .

Which Payments Bank Launches NCMC-enabled Debit and Prepaid Cards?

Fino Payments Bank

Jio Payments Bank

Airtel Payments Bank

PhonePe Payments Bank

Correct Answer : Airtel Payments Bank

Airtel Payments Bank has introduced NCMC-aligned debit and prepaid cards in collaboration with NPCI, powered by RuPay. These cards are designed to support India’s One Nation, One Card initiative. Savings account holders can avail NCMC-enabled debit cards, while wallet users can opt for prepaid cards. Crafted from eco-friendly e-PVC material, these cards offer versatility in payment options, including offline transit transactions, online shopping, and enhanced security with EMV Chip protection.

Key Benefits of NCMC Enabled Card :

* All-in-One Travel Solution : Seamlessly use the card for offline transit transactions like metros, buses, tolls, and parking.

* Versatile Usage : From offline shopping to e-commerce purchases, ticket bookings, and fuel payments, the card covers various transaction needs.

* Flexible Payment Options : Enjoy multiple fare options, including pay-per-ride and purchase passes.

* Enhanced Security : Ensure better security with the highly secured EMV Chip-protection feature.

SBI NCMC Card Integration with Bharat BillPay Platform :

* State Bank of India (SBI) has integrated NCMC cards on its Bharat BillPay platform in collaboration with NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd. Commuters can now recharge their NCMC cards online, with amounts up to Rs 10,000, using prepaid, debit, or credit cards.

* This integration extends convenience to travelers, with the service already live for various metro networks and more platforms set to follow suit. Noopur Chaturvedi, CEO of NPCI Bharat BillPay, highlights the move as a step towards easing digital payments, backed by the reliability and safety of the Bharat BillPay platform.

Published On : April 20, 2024

Category : Banking

Q .

Which Bank has implemented service charges for Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AePS) transactions, effective June 15, 2022?

India Post Payments Bank

Paytm Payments Bank

Punjab National Bank

Indian Overseas Bank

Correct Answer : India Post Payments Bank

India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) has implemented service charges for Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AePS) transactions, effective from June 15, 2022. AePS is a bank-led model allowing online financial transactions at Point of Sale (PoS) terminals through Aadhaar authentication, enabling various banking services.

IPPB AePS Service Charges :

* The first three AePS issuer transactions per month, including cash withdrawal, cash deposit, and mini statement, will be free.
* Transactions exceeding the free limit will incur charges: ?20 plus GST per transaction for cash withdrawals and deposits, and ?5 plus GST per transaction for mini statements.

Services Provided by AePS :

Banking Services :

* Cash Deposit

* Cash Withdrawal

* Balance Enquiry

* Mini Statement

* Aadhaar to Aadhaar Fund Transfer

* Authentication

* BHIM Aadhaar Pay

Other Services :

* eKYC

* Best Finger Detection

* Demographic Authentication

* Tokenization

* Aadhaar Seeding Status

IPPB NEFT/RTGS Transactions :

* IPPB has signed a sub-membership agreement with the Department of Post to facilitate NEFT/RTGS transactions for their customers.
* A dedicated IFS code, “IPOS0000DOP,” has been created exclusively for transactions in DoP Customer accounts.
* For inward transactions to IPPB accounts, the IFS code “IPOS0000001” should be used, while for Post Office Savings Account (POSA) accounts in DoP, “IPOS0000DOP” is to be used.
* Customers are advised to ensure accurate beneficiary account numbers to facilitate proper credit, as IPPB account numbers and POSA account numbers may share similar structures in some branches.

Published On : April 16, 2024

Category : Banking

Q .

Which bank became the first private bank to open a branch in Lakshadweep?

Axis Bank

HDFC Bank

ICICI Bank

State Bank of India

Correct Answer : HDFC Bank

HDFC Bank's initiative to open a branch in Lakshadweep, specifically at Kavaratti Island, marks a milestone as it becomes the first private sector bank to establish a presence in the Union Territory.

This move underscores HDFC Bank's commitment to expanding its reach and offering banking services, including personalized digital solutions, to the residents and businesses of Lakshadweep.

Published On : April 11, 2024

Category : Banking