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.

1 .

Who has become the third cricketer in history to score 10000 runs and pick up 50 wickets in Test cricket?

Steve Smith

Virat Kohli

Kane Williamson

Joe Root

Correct Answer : Joe Root

Former England skipper "Joe Root" became only the third cricketer in history to score 10000 runs and pick up 50 wickets in Test cricket.

* He achieved the feat during the ongoing second Test against Pakistan in Multan.

* Root reached the milestone when he dismissed Faheem Ashraf in the 70th over of Pakistan's second innings at the Multan Cricket Stadium.

* It was a tossed-up delivery from the off-spinner and Faheem tried to push at it. The ball turned very little to take the batter's edge and presented a simple catch to Zak Crawley at slips.

* Root joins South African legend Jacques Kallis and former Australian skipper Steve Waugh in scoring 10000 runs and claiming 50 wickets in the longest format.

* Root currently has 10629 Test runs and 50 wickets under his belt. Waugh has 10927 runs and 92 wickets, while Kallis tops the chart with 13289 runs and 292 wickets..

Source : Sportskeeda

Published On : December 13, 2022

2 .

Which company has acquire Jaypee Group's cement assets for Rs 5,666 crore?

ACC Limited

Ramco Cements

Dalmia Cement

UltraTech Cement

Correct Answer : Dalmia Cement

The Jaypee Group on Monday(12th Dec 2022) said that a binding agreement had been signed to sell the group’s cement business to Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Ltd at an enterprise value of Rs 5,666 crore.

* The binding agreement has been signed by Jaiprakash Associates and Jaiprakash Power Ventures.

* The divestment includes cement plants with an aggregate capacity of 9.4 million tonne, clinker assets with a capacity of 6.7 million tonne, and 280 MW capacity thermal power plant, the Jaypee Group companies said.

* Proceeds from the divestment of the cement assets to Dalmia Bharat will be primarily used to repay Jaiprakash Associates’ debt.

* The cement and clinker capacities currently being sold to the Dalmia Group are situated in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh..

Source : Economictimes

Published On : December 13, 2022

3 .

Indian Army's Airawat Division conducted Ex Sanchar Bodh in extensive obstacle ridden terrain of which state?

Uttar Pradesh

Tamil Nadu

Punjab

Arunachal Pradesh

Correct Answer : Punjab

Indian Army's Airawat Division conducted Ex Sanchaar Bodh in extensive obstacle ridden terrain of Punjab.

Key Points :

* Tactical communication capabilities were validated in the exercise.

* The determination to win at any cost in the face of adversity was confirmed in practice.

About Indian Army's Airawat Division :

* The Indian 1 Armoured Division, under II Corps, is headquartered at Patiala.

* The 1 Armoured Division, nicknamed the "Black Elephant" or "Airawat" Division, is considered to be the pride of the Indian Army.

* Elephants have been regarded as precious and majestic since the "puranic" era.

* The supremacy of Elephant is also well illustrated in the Hindu Mythology.

* The 1 Armoured Division played a major role in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.

* At that time the Division consisted of 2 Royal Lancers, 4 Hodson's Horse, 7 Light Cavalry, 16 'Black Elephant' Cavalry, 17 Cavalry (Poona Horse), 18 Cavalry and 62 Cavalry.

Published On : December 13, 2022

4 .

Which bank Shortlists 7 Global Consultancy Firms to Use AI, ML to Improve Regulatory Supervision?

World Bank

Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

New Development Bank (NDB)

Asian Development Bank (ADB)

Correct Answer : Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

In its bid to extensively use advanced analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyse database and improve regulatory supervision over banks and NBFCs, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is mulling over to hire external experts.

The central bank has shortlisted 7 global consultancy firms, including Pricewaterhouse Coopers, McKinsey and Boston Consulting Group (India), to use Artificial Intelligence(AI) and Machine Learning(ML) for supervisory functions.

For generating supervisory inputs, RBI, in September 2022, invited expressions of interest (EoI) for engaging consultants for use of advanced analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning. RBI has shortlisted seven applicants for participating in the request for proposal process (RFP) for the selection of consultant(s).

Who Are these 7 Companies : The seven firms shortlisted by RBI are: Accenture Solutions Private Limited, Boston Consulting Group (India) Pvt Ltd, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP, Ernst and Young LLP, KPMG Assurance and Consulting Services LLP, McKinsey and Company, and Pricewaterhouse Coopers Pvt Ltd.

Need of This: Its Objective : The central bank is already using AI and ML in supervisory processes. However, it aims to ensure that the benefits of advanced analytics can accrue to the central bank’s Department of Supervision. The Department of Supervision has been developing and using linear and a few machine-learnt models for supervisory examinations.

With the objective of assessing financial soundness, solvency, asset quality, governance framework, liquidity, and operational viability to protect depositors’ interests and financial stability, RBI undertakes supervision over banks, urban cooperative banks, NBFCs, payment banks, small finance banks, local area banks, credit information companies and select all Indian financial institutions..

Source : Businessworld

Published On : December 13, 2022

5 .

Who has won the ICC Player of the Month Award for November 2022?

Ben Stokes & Shafali Verma

David Warner & Nahida Khan

Jos Buttler & Sidra Ameen

Suryakumar Yadav & Harshitha Samarawickrama

Correct Answer : Jos Buttler & Sidra Ameen

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday (12 December 2022) unveiled the ICC Player of the Month award winners for the month of November 2022 in both men’s and women’s category.

England's 2022 T20 World Cup-winning captain Jos Buttler was crowned the ICC Men's Player of the Month for November 2022 for the first time while Pakistan Women’s star opener Sidra Ameen was named the ICC Women's Player of the Month.

Buttler, who is one of the destructive batters in white-ball cricket in the world, beat Adil Rashid and Shaheen Shah Afridi to win the ICC Player of the Month award for his brilliant performance in the crunch semi-final match against India and leading England to their first T20 World Cup title since 2010.

England opener smashed 73 from 47 balls against New Zealand, and then 80 from 49 balls, as well stitched unbeaten 170-run partnership with Alex Hales during England’s victory in the semi-final against India before making a valuable 26 in the final against Pakistan to guide the side to T20 World Cup title..

Source : Circleofcricket

Published On : December 13, 2022

6 .

RBI signs Currency Swap Agreement with which country?

Maldives

Japan

Sri Lanka

Bangladesh

Correct Answer : Maldives

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 is to provide swap support as a backstop line of funding for short term foreign exchange liquidity requirements. This agreement will enable the MMA to make drawals in multiple tranches up to a maximum of USD 200 million from the RBI..

Source : RBi

Published On : December 13, 2022

7 .

Which player won the women’s air pistol gold in the 65th National Shooting Championship, 2022?

Esha Singh

Divya TS

Manu Bhaker

Rhythm Sangwan

Correct Answer : Divya TS

Divya TS beat Sanskriti Bana 16-14 to clinch the women’s air pistol gold in the 65th National shooting championship that concluded at the Madhya Pradesh Academy in Bhopal on Monday(12th Dec 2022).

It was a dominant performance by the 27-year-old Divya as she topped the second stage with 254.2, ahead of a string of top shooters like Rhythm Sangwan, Esha Singh and Manu Bhaker.

10m air pistol :

Women : 1. Divya TS 16 (254.2) 578; 2. Sanskriti Bana 14 (251.6) 577; 3. Rhythm Sangwan 250.0 (575); 4. Esha Singh 249.3 (576).

Juniors : 1. Manu Bhaker 17 (252.4) 583; 2. Esha Singh 13 (251.9) 576; 3. Rhythm Sangwan 248.0 (575); 4. Suruchi 247.3 (573).

Youth : 1. Rhythm Sangwan 16 (253.3) 575; 2. Sanskriti Bana 12 (249.2) 577; 3. Suruchi 248.3 (573); 4. Sainyam 248.3 (572).

Sub-youth : 1. Agam Ranjit Kaur Grewal 570; 2. Kanak 568; 3. Urva Chaudhary 568; 4. Drishti Sangwan 568.

25m centre fire pistol :

Men : 1. Vijay Kumar 583; 2. Anish Bhanwala 582; 3. Gurpreet Singh 582.

Source : Sportstar

Published On : December 13, 2022

8 .

Which country launched(11th Dec 2022) the first-ever Arab-Built lunar spacecraft?

UAE

Qatar

Bahrain

Saudi Arabia

Correct Answer : UAE

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket 11th Dec 2022 carried into space the first ever Arab-built lunar spacecraft. It was launched from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

The Rashid Rover was built by Dubai’s Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and is being delivered by the HAKUTO-R lander, engineered by Japanese lunar exploration company ispace.

The mission is due to arrive at Moon around April 2023. According to Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) in Dubai on Sunday(11th Dec 2022), the Rashid rover will provide 'novel and highly valued data, images, and insights,' as well as 'collect scientific data on matters relating to the origin of the solar system, our planet and life.'.

Source : AIR

Published On : December 12, 2022

9 .

Which country space startup, ispace has launched the world's first commercial moon lander, HAKUTO-R on 11th December 2022?

China

Russia

South Korea

Japan

Correct Answer : Japan

A Japanese space startup has launched its own private lander to the Moon aboard a SpaceX rocket, marking a significant step towards what would be a historic first, both for the nation and a private company.

* The Tokyo-based ispace Inc’s HAKUTO-R mission took off without incident from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Sunday(11th Dec 2022) after two postponements caused by inspections of its SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

* The company designed its craft to use minimal fuel to save money and leave more room for cargo.

* It is taking a slow, low-energy path to the Moon, flying 1.6 million km (one million miles) from Earth before looping back and making a planned landing by the end of April.

* By contrast, NASA’s Orion crew capsule with test dummies took five days to reach the Moon last month. The lunar flyby mission is anticipated to end on Sunday with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

Aiming for the Atlas Crater :

* The ispace craft aims to put a small NASA satellite into lunar orbit to search for water deposits before touching down in the Atlas Crater, which lies in the northeastern section of the Moon’s near side and measures more than 87km (54 miles) across and just over 2km (1.2 miles) deep.

* The M1 lander will deploy two robotic rovers, a two-wheeled, orange-sized device from Japan’s JAXA space agency and a four-wheeled unit made by the United Arab Emirates, known as the Explorer Rashid, after the Dubai royal family patriarch.

* It will also be carrying an experimental solid-state battery made by NGK Spark Plug Co, a Japanese-based spark plug company.

* The national space agencies of the United States, Russia and China have achieved soft landings on Earth’s nearest neighbour in the past half century, but Japan has not nor have any private companies..

Source : Aljazeera

Published On : December 12, 2022

10 .

Which company acquisition of two digital first brands 'OZiva' and 'Wellbeing Nutrition'?

Tata

Godrej

Britannia Industries

Hindustan Unilever

Correct Answer : Hindustan Unilever

The acquisition by Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) of the Oziva and Wellbeing Nutrition brands is unlikely to turn the needle for India’s biggest packaged consumer goods maker, either in terms of size or scale of the business, just yet, analysts say.

The acquisitions, nevertheless, will strengthen HUL’s intent of broadening its presence in the health and wellness segment and the company will likely use its vast distribution network and the expertise of parent Unilever to expand the newly acquired premium brands.

With the two purchases, HUL is taking control of companies that were selling their products only digitally. HUL is widely expected to strengthen its offline presence through its own formidable distribution clout.

Besides, with the acquisition of digital-only brands, HUL also gets to target consumers in the higher-income category as well as the younger population.

Millennials, particularly Gen-Z, which are driving the market towards health supplements and wellness, would be priceless acquisitions via these companies for HUL.

Analysts believe that alongside online sales, HUL would also scale up the newly acquired brands in the medium- to long-term through market development, coupled with its Research and Development (R&D) strengths.

Unilever already has a health, wellness, and nutrition portfolio worth a billion euros and as HUL embarks on the expansion and deepening of this product category in India, the product portfolio of the parent company could also slowly find its way to the country..

Source : Moneycontrol

Published On : December 12, 2022