General Knowledge(GK) (or) General Awareness

Welcome to the General Knowledge Section of Free Time Learning. As we are aware General Knowledge (GK) is a very important area in all the competitive exams held in the country. Nowadays, a good knowledge of general awareness is very important in clearing any competitive and government recruitment examinations.

These General Knowledge Question are very important and usefull to UPSC, IAS/PCS, UPPSC, IBPS, SBI, RBI, SSC, CGL, Railway, APPSC, TSPSC, KPSC, TNPSC, TPSC, UPPSC, MPSC, RPSC, BPSC, MPPSC, UKPSC, MPSC, and other competitive exams.

A)
Piyush Goyal
B)
Raghuram Rajan
C)
Nirmala Sitharaman
D)
Manmohan Singh

Correct Answer :   Manmohan Singh


Former PM Dr Manmohan Singh (India) was conferred a Lifetime Achievement Honour by the India-UK Achievers Honours in London.

* He was awarded for his contribution to economic and political life.

* It was handed over to him in New Delhi by the National Indian Students and Alumni Union (NISAU) UK.

Living Legend Honour : Lord Karan Bilimoria and Opposition Labour Party MP Virendra Sharma

Outstanding Achievers : Parineeti Chopra, Raghav Chadha, Adar Poonawalla, and Aditi Chauhan..

Source : The Print

Published On : February 1, 2023
A)
Reliance Retail
B)
DMart
C)
Future Retail
D)
Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail

Correct Answer :   Reliance Retail Ventures Limited


Reliance Consumer Products Limited, the FMCG arm of Reliance Retail Ventures Limited, has announced a strategic partnership with the Sri Lanka’s Maliban Biscuit Manufactories.

Maliban, a heritage brand and a household name in Sri Lanka, is a pioneering biscuit manufacturer well-known for the last 70 years for its range of quality products.

The company has expanded its products to reach global markets and now exports to over 35 countries across 5 continents.

Speaking on the partnership, the Group Managing Director of "Maliban Kumudika Fernando" said that the complementary strengths of the two organisations will bring the unique and highly sought-after taste of Maliban to Indian consumers.

With this partnership, Reliance and Maliban will develop unique value propositions that RPCL will utilise to strengthen their portfolio in the biscuit segment...

Source : AIR

Published On : February 1, 2023
A)
17 January to 27 January 2023
B)
19 January to 29 January 2023
C)
21 January to 31 January 2023
D)
23 January to 2 February 2023

Correct Answer :   21 January to 31 January 2023


A joint training exercise “Exercise Trishakri Prahar” was conducted in North Bengal from 21 January to 31 January 2023, aiming at synergising the firepower assets of the Indian Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to orchestrate an integrated battle.

Aim : The aim of the exercise was to practice battle preparedness of the Security Forces using the latest weapons and equipment in a networked, integrated environment, involving all arms and services of the Army, the Indian Air Force and CAPFs.

As part of the exercise, swift mobilization and deployment practices were carried out in various locations across North Bengal. Efforts of all agencies including the Civil Administration, Civil Defence Organisations, Police and CAPFs were coordinated to ensure efficient move and quick mobilization.

Exercise Trishakri Prahar culminated on 31 January 2023 with an Integrated Fire Power Exercise in Teesta Field Firing Ranges.

About Exercise  :

* The exercise showcased the joint application of ground and aerial assets to include the latest generation Fighter Aircraft, helicopters, Tanks, Infantry Combat Vehicles, Medium & Field Artillery Guns, Infantry Mortars, and various New Generation Infantry weapons and equipment in a networked environment.

* The exercise also witnessed the participation of newly inducted weapons and equipment made in India as part of ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’.

* The firepower exercise was reviewed by Lt Gen RP Kalita, Army Commander, Eastern Command. Senior officers of BSF, ITBP, SSB, and civil administration dignitaries also witnessed the exercise. On termination of the firepower exercise, a display of the major weapons and equipment was also organised.

* The conduct of “Exercise TRISHAKTI PRAHAR” enabled rehearsal and coordination amongst various agencies for quick movement and employment of forces across North Bengal. The Integrated Fire Power Exercise showcased the Indian Armed Forces’ capability in the synergised application of Indian Air Force assets, Airborne Special Forces and the Security Forces in a networked environment....

Source : The Print

Published On : February 1, 2023
A)
SBI Mutual Fund
B)
Edelweiss Mutual Fund
C)
Kotak Mutual Fund
D)
L&T Mutual Fund

Correct Answer :   Edelweiss Mutual Fund


Edelweiss Asset Management has launched a new fund offer (NFO) for India's first open-ended passive short-duration index scheme.

Called Edelweiss CRISIL IBX 50:50 Gilt Plus SDL Short Duration Index Fund, the scheme will invest in a diversified portfolio of Indian Government Bonds (IGBs) and State Development Loans (SDLs).

* The NFO for Edelweiss CRISIL IBX 50:50 Gilt Plus SDL Short Duration Index Fund opened on January 27, 2023.

What’s on offer?

* The scheme will invest 50 percent of its funds in IGBs and the rest in SDLs. The G-Sec portion will be constructed by selecting the most liquid government bonds with a minimum outstanding of Rs 10,000 crore falling in duration buckets from one year to five years.

* The SDL portion will be constructed by first selecting the most liquid state issuers falling in each of the eligible duration buckets and then by selecting the most liquid ISIN (security) from each of these buckets with a minimum outstanding of Rs 500 crore.

* The benchmark of the scheme, the CRISIL IBX 50:50 Gilt Plus SDL Short Duration Index, has exposure to SDLs of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Karnataka.

* The modified duration of the fund would be 2.63 years and yield-to-maturity (YTM) of 7.34 percent and a net YTM of around 7.19 percent...

Source : Money Control

Published On : February 1, 2023
A)
Usman Khawaja
B)
David Warner
C)
Steve Smith
D)
Mitchell Starc

Correct Answer :   Usman Khawaja


Australia's opening batter, Usman Khawaja has claimed the inaugural Shane Warne Award as the men’s Test player of the year in 2023.

He has been Australia’s top run-scorer in the five-day format since rejoining the Test team, with 1020 runs at 78.46 during the voting period.

Other winners :

* Belinda Clark Award (Women's): Beth Mooney
* Allan Border Medal (Men's): Steve Smith
* Men's ODI Player of the Year: David Warner
* Women’s ODI Player of the Year: Beth Mooney..

Source : Fox Sports

Published On : February 1, 2023
A)
Philip Arestis
B)
John Grahl
C)
Meghnad Desai
D)
J. S. L. McCombie

Correct Answer :   Meghnad Desai


India-born naturalised British economist "Meghnad Desai" has authored a new book titled “The Poverty Of Political Economy: How Economics Abandoned the Poor” which highlights how the discipline of economics, since the time it evolved from the late 18th century, systematically kept the interests of the poor at the periphery.

* The book is published by HarperCollins Publishers India.

* The book examines the philosophical traditions that have shaped economics across the world in this engrossing new book.

* Through this book, Meghnad Desai studies the contributions of economics to domestic and international politics from Adam Smith to John Maynard Keynes, and from the Great Depression to the collapse of the Lehmann Brothers.
 
About the book : In this compelling new book, Meghnad Desai takes a critical, introspective look at the bodies of thought that have driven economics across the world.

* From Adam Smith to John Maynard Keynes, and from the Great Depression to the collapse of the Lehmann Brothers, Desai studies the contributions of economics to domestic and international politics.

* The Poverty of Political Economy asks necessary and startling questions: Where have we fallen short? How have changes in the international order affected the making of economies? In the face of Covid-19, how do we reinvent the way that economic policies are formed?

* This is a remarkable thesis by one of the foremost political economists of our time. Desai argues his point persuasively, with great erudition, insisting that in the twenty-first century, humanity must return to economics.

Published On : January 31, 2023
A)
K.L Rahul
B)
Murali Vijay
C)
Shikhar Dhawan
D)
Dinesh Karthik

Correct Answer :   Murali Vijay


Murali Vijay (38), the India opener, announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on January 30, 2023.

* Vijay played in the first two Tests of India's 2018-19 tour of Australia, with the second Test in Perth being his farewell outing for the side.

* He had played 61 Tests, 17 ODIs, and 9 T20Is for India since making his debut in November 2008 in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

* He scored 3,982 runs for India in the longest format that including 12 centuries and 15 fifties.

* In the one-day, he had 339 runs that included a half-century...

Source : Times of India

Published On : January 31, 2023
A)
5,000
B)
6,000
C)
7,000
D)
8,000

Correct Answer :   6,000


Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister "Shivraj Singh Chouhan" on Monday (30th Jan 2023) evening inaugurated the fifth edition of the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) at a glittering function here, kick-starting a sporting extravaganza that will see participation from nearly 6,000 athletes from across the country in 27 disciplines.

The CM declared the Games open at the Tatya Tope stadium in the state capital Bhopal.

“The Khelo India Youth Games will be historic in Madhya Pradesh,” Chouhan said on the occasion.

Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs "Anurag Singh Thakur" and Madhya Pradesh Sports Minister "Yashodhara Raje Scindia", among others, were present on the occasion..

Source : Indian Express

Published On : January 31, 2023
A)
Anish Giri
B)
Fabiano Caruana
C)
Ding Liren
D)
Alireza Firouzja

Correct Answer :   Anish Giri


Anish Giri has finally won the ever alluring Tata Steel Masters. What an amazing way he has won the 85th Tata Steel Chess Masters 2023. Firstly, it is a jubilee edition, secondly he defeated both World no.1 and 2, a week apart. Finally, he remained undefeated and played fighting chess throughout the event.

There was never a doubt whether Giri can win a super tournament. He was very close to winning the 83rd edition, but he didn't, due to tie-breaks which makes him absolutely dislike the Playoffs after such a grueling 13-round event. The question was always about when. That has been answered on 29th January 2023. This might just be Giri's year as he cemented his legacy by winning the strongest 'Wimbledon of Chess' as his first proper super tournament victory.

* Magnus Carlsen beat Arjun Erigaisi on demand to catch Nodirbek in a tie for 2nd place, while Wesley So finished 4th.

* Anish Giri (NED, 2764) has never lost a tournament game against Richard Rapport (ROU, 2740). He has defeated the creative genius thrice and the remaining encounters ended in draws. Obviously, this statistic gave Giri the extra boost he needed to push for a win in the final round.

Published On : January 31, 2023
A)
5.2%
B)
5.7%
C)
6.1%
D)
6.5%

Correct Answer :   6.5%


The Indian economy is seen growing 6.0-6.8 per cent with a baseline real GDP growth of 6.5 per cent in the next financial year 2023-24 on the back of a rebound in private consumption, higher capital expenditure, near-universal vaccination coverage enabling spending on contact-based services, and strengthening of the balance sheets of the corporates, says the Economic Survey for 2022-23 tabled in Parliament on Tuesday (31 January 2023).

Key Points :

* The government stated in its Economic Survey 2022-23 report that their baseline scenario for growth for 2023–2024 was 6.5%, with nominal growth—which takes inflation into account—predicted at 11%.

* Since the COVID-19 pandemic, India’s economy has recovered, but the crisis in Russia and Ukraine has increased inflationary pressures and forced central banks, including India’s, to change their ultra-loose monetary policy.

* The Economic Survey 2022-23 report found that even though inflation remained over the central bank’s target in 2022–2023, the rate of price increases was neither too high nor too low to discourage private consumption or hamper investment.

* India’s economy will expand by 6.5 percent in 2023–2024 compared to 7 percent this fiscal year and 8.7 percent in 2021–2022

* India will continue to be the world’s fastest-growing major economy, according to the Economic Survey 2022-23.

* To be 11 percent in nominal terms in the upcoming fiscal year

* Private consumption, more capital expenditures, a stronger corporate balance sheet, increased financing to small enterprises, and the return of migrant workers to cities all contributed to growth.

* India is the world’s third-largest economy by purchasing power parity and the fifth-largest by exchange rate.

* The economy has almost “recouped” what it lost, “renewed,” and “renergised,” what had stalled during the pandemic and since the conflict in Europe.

* Real GDP growth will be between 6 and 6.8% next fiscal year, depending on regional and international political and economic developments, according to the Economic Survey 2022-23.

* India recovered from the epidemic quite quickly, and growth will be underpinned by strong domestic demand and an increase in capital investment in the upcoming fiscal year.

* The RBI expects inflation to be 6.8 percent this fiscal year, which is higher than the upper goal limit but not high enough to discourage private consumption or too low to reduce incentives for investing.

* Long-term inflation may make borrowing costs “higher for longer” and lengthen the tightening cycle.

* With the possibility of additional interest rate increases by the US Fed, the challenge to the rupee’s depreciation continues.

* Given the elevated global commodity prices and the continued strength of the economic growth momentum, the CAD may continue to widen.

* The rupee may see devaluation pressure if CAD widens much more, according to the Economic Survey 2022-23.

* An overall manageable external environment

* India has enough foreign exchange reserves to cover CAD and participate in the FX market to control currency volatility.

* elevated potential risks to the outlook for the world economy as a result of continuing inflation in advanced economies and indications of additional rate hikes by central banks

* In comparison to a number of developed countries, inflation did not “climb too much above” the acceptable limit.

* The second part of this year saw a loss of export stimulus due to slowing global GDP and declining worldwide trade.

* On the strength of low inflation and moderate lending costs, bank credit growth is anticipated to be robust in FY24.

* Over 30.5 percent of credit growth went to small firms between January and November of 2022.

* After the release of pent-up demand and a drop in inventory, housing prices have firmed up.

* In the current fiscal year’s April to November, Central Government Capex increased by 63.4 percent.

* Unaffected by the FPI pullout, the stock market saw positive reruns in calendar year 2022.

* India fared better than other economies in overcoming an unprecedented mix of difficulties.

* GST paid by small firms has increased and currently exceeds pre-pandemic levels after declining in FY21, demonstrating the success of focused government assistance, according to the Economic Survey 2022-23.

* Plans like PM KISAN and PM Garib Kalyan Yojana made a big difference in reducing poverty.

* Drive economic growth through credit distribution, the capital investment cycle, the expansion of public digital platforms, and programmes like PLI, the National Logistics Policy, and PM Gati Shakti.

* In the current fiscal year, private consumption and capital formation-led economic growth have contributed to job creation; urban employment rates have fallen while Employee Provident Fund registrations have risen..

* India’s economic resilience has enabled it to meet the task of reducing external imbalances brought on by the crisis between Russia and Ukraine while maintaining development momentum.

* The increase in growth rates in 2021–22 and the first half of the current fiscal year caused production processes to change from “mild acceleration” to “cruise mode,” although export growth has since decreased.

Published On : January 31, 2023