Search Previous Year Questions

The correct answer is Foreign Exchange Dealers Association.

In News

• PSL guidelines specify applicable banking entities excluding non-bank associations.

Key Points

• PSL mandatory for Scheduled Commercial Banks including public, private sector, Regional Rural Banks.
• Small Finance Banks maintain higher PSL targets reflecting their inclusive banking mandate.
• Local Area Banks and Primary Urban Cooperative Banks (except Salary Earners') covered under PSL.
• Foreign Exchange Dealers Association not a banking entity hence excluded from PSL requirements.
• Targets expressed as a percentage of Adjusted Net Bank Credit or Credit Equivalent Off-Balance Sheet Exposures.
• Shortfall banks contribute to Rural Infrastructure Development Fund or other penalty mechanisms.
• PSL ensures credit flow to underserved agriculture, MSME, education, housing, export sectors.

Additional Information

• Major categories: agriculture 18%, MSE 7.5%, weaker sections 12% of ANBC.
• RBI revises guidelines adding startups, health infrastructure as eligible PSL.
• Co-lending models enable banks-NBFCs joint PSL financing arrangements.
• Priority Sector Lending Certificates traded for surplus/shortfall management.
• RBI
• Established in - 1935
• HQ - Mumbai
• Governor - Sanjay Malhotra

The correct answer is Applied.

In News

• NITI Aayog-NCAER launched States Economic Forum portal on 1 April 2025.

Key Points

• NCAER expands to the National Council of Applied Economic Research, India's oldest economic think tank.
• 'A' stands for Applied emphasising practical economic research for policymaking.
• Portal provides states with interactive dashboards, benchmarking tools, reform recommendations.
• Supports cooperative-competitive federalism through comparable economic performance metrics.
• NCAER conducts surveys on agriculture, industry, households, macroeconomic indicators.
• Forum helps states identify growth opportunities, fiscal management improvements.
• NITI Aayog coordinates Centre-state economic policy interactions through platform.

Additional Information

• NCAER was established in 1956 as an independent non-profit research institution.
• HQ - New Delhi
• Headquarters located New Delhi conducting pan-India economic surveys.
• NITI Aayog succeeded the Planning Commission in 2015 as premier policy think tank.
• State-level economic forums promote evidence-based policymaking regionally.

The correct answer is Department of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare.

In News

• Department of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare launched the Krishi-DSS platform August 2024.

Key Points

• Department of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare leads Krishi-DSS integrating multi-source agricultural data.
• Platform delivers actionable advisories to farmers, extension workers, and state agriculture departments.
• Decision-support covers crop health monitoring, yield forecasts, and drought-excess rainfall risk alerts.
• Aligns Digital Agriculture Mission using AI/ML for precision farming recommendations.
• Reduces information asymmetry improving farm-level climate resilience significantly.
• Complements e-NAM, agri-weather advisories, soil health card digital ecosystem.
• Real-time satellite data enables near-instant crop condition assessment across districts.

Additional Information

• DA&FW responsible agricultural policy, schemes, farmer welfare implementation.
• Decision Support Systems employ models, analytics aiding complex agricultural decisions.
• Digital agriculture key strategy increasing productivity, sustainability.
• Remote sensing provides near-real-time crop condition monitoring capabilities.

The correct answer is Joint ventures and subsidiaries/affiliates.

In News

• NBFC/HFC fraud reporting for group joint ventures and subsidiaries.

Key Points

• NBFCs must report frauds in joint ventures, subsidiaries, and affiliates to the RBI via fraud monitoring returns within 14 days.
• HFCs report to the National Housing Bank in the prescribed format for incidents.
• Theft, burglary, dacoity, and robbery reported to RBI Fraud Monitoring Group within 7 days.
• Immediate reporting to law enforcement via nodal officer mandatory.
• Overseas branches report to host country authorities; parents report overseas group frauds to RBI.
• Applies if group entities lack financial sector regulation/supervision.
• Enhances group-wide fraud risk management framework.

Additional Information

• Fraud Reporting under RBI Scale-Based Regulations.
• Timeline - 14 days for classification
• Agency - RBI Fraud Monitoring Group
• Nodal officer coordinates police FIR and central reporting.
• Group entities include controlled subsidiaries and JVs.
• Penalties for delays include supervisory actions.
• Aims at early detection and mitigation across affiliates.

The correct answer is 7 days.

In News

• RBI mandates a minimum 7-day maturity for Certificates of Deposit issued by banks.

Key Points

• Bank-issued CDs maintain a minimum 7-day maturity, with a maximum up to one year duration.
• Issued at a discount to face value, redeemed at par providing implicit interest yield.
• Negotiable instruments transferable by endorsement-delivery enhancing liquidity.
• Scheduled commercial banks excluding RRBs, co-operative banks eligible issuers.
• Banks diversify funding beyond traditional deposits through CD issuance strategically.
• Institutional investors park surplus funds in CDs seeking short-term returns.
• RBI prescribes reporting, Cash Reserve Ratio requirements on CD liabilities.

Additional Information

• Money market includes T-Bills, Commercial Paper, and Certificates of Deposit.
• Financial institution CDs permit longer maximum maturities up to three years.
• Unsecured instruments carrying issuer credit risk profile.
• Interest rate movements influence secondary market CD trading yields.

The correct answer is SDG 7, SDG 9, SDG 13.

In News

• National Green Hydrogen Mission aligns with SDG 7, 9, 13 targeting clean energy transition by 2030.

Key Points

• Mission supports SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) developing 5 MMT annual green hydrogen capacity with 125 GW renewable addition.
• Contributes to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, Infrastructure) mobilising Rs 8 lakh crore investments creating 6 lakh green jobs.
• Advances SDG 13 (Climate Action) abating 50 MMT annual GHG emissions reducing fossil fuel imports by Rs 1 lakh crore.
• Targets energy independence by 2047, Net Zero by 2070 through hydrogen as a long-duration renewable storage solution.
• Facilitates decarbonisation across industry, transport, power replacing fossil fuels systematically.
• Ministry of New Renewable Energy leads mission establishing India as green hydrogen export hub globally.
• Creates ecosystem for electrolysers, storage, distribution infrastructure supporting derivative production.

Additional Information

• Green hydrogen produced via electrolysis using renewable electricity exclusively.
• SDG 7 focuses universal access clean affordable modern energy services.
• SDG 9 promotes resilient infrastructure sustainable industrialisation innovation.
• SDG 13 urges immediate action combat climate change impacts.

The correct answer is USD 11.5 billion.

In News

• India's CAD widened to USD 11.5 billion (1.1% GDP) in Q3 FY25 from USD 10.4 billion in the previous year.

Key Points

• CAD rose USD 11.5 billion Q3 FY25 representing 1.1% GDP versus 1.1% previous year driven by merchandise trade deficit expansion.
• Service exports growth partially offset the widening merchandise trade gap maintaining CAD stability in percentage terms.
• Private transfer receipts and remittances reached USD 35.1 billion up from USD 30.6 billion supporting the current account.
• Primary income account outgo investment income payments increased USD 16.7 billion from USD 13.1 billion.
• Financial account showed FDI net outflow USD 2.8 billion contrasting previous inflow USD 4 billion.
• Non-resident deposits recorded USD 3.1 billion inflows lower than USD 3.9 billion year-ago period.
• External commercial borrowings saw USD 4.3 billion net inflows reversing previous outflows significantly.

Additional Information

• CAD measures difference between exports and imports, goods services key external sector indicator.
• BoP depletion USD 37.7 billion September-December 2024 versus accretion previous period.
• Remittances constitute major support current account amid trade imbalances.
• RBI monitors external vulnerabilities through forex reserves management actively.

The correct answer is 14.

In News

• Bhagavad Gita, Natyashastra inscriptions elevated India's total to 14 UNESCO Memory World Register entries.

Key Points

• Bhagavad Gita 700 verses 18 chapters Sanskrit Devanagari script guiding a meaningful purposeful life inscribed in a register.
• Natyashastra Bharat Muni preserved Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute recognised dramatic performing arts essence.
• India's 14 entries include the Rig Veda, Gilgit Manuscript, the Abhinavagupta manuscripts, Maitreyayvarakarana Pala period.
• Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 Paris proclaimed UNGA also features new register entries.
• Shantinatha manuscript 1396 CE Jain Tirthankara life ten illustrated scenes Gujarat Jain painting style.
• Abhinavagupta 248 manuscripts 41 texts 10^th-century Kashmir philosopher polymath spanning philosophy and aesthetics.
• UNESCO Memory World Register preserves documentary heritage world significance universally.

Additional Information

• Memory World Programme protects the endangered valuable archival heritage globally.
• Bhagavad Gita Mahabharata part philosophical spiritual guidance cornerstone of Hinduism.
• Natyashastra comprehensive treatise Indian performing arts theatre dramaturgy.
• Inscriptions highlight India rich manuscript tradition cultural intellectual heritage.
• UNESCO
• Established in - 1945
• HQ - Paris, France

The correct answer is 1154.30 LMT.

In News

• Second Advance Estimates highlight record Rabi wheat production of 1154.30 LMT 2024-25 season.

Key Points

• Wheat production is projected to reach a record 1154.30 LMT increase of 21.38 LMT over 1132.92 LMT in the previous year 2023-24.
• Rabi foodgrains excluding summer crops estimated at 1645.27 LMT supporting food security objectives.
• Estimates prepared using remote sensing, the Weekly Crop Weather Watch Group, and state reports validation.
• Crop Cutting Experiments yield assessment stakeholder consultations industry government representatives.
• Rabi rice excluding summer estimated 157.58 LMT complementing Kharif record 1206.79 LMT.
• Pulses gram chana 115.35 LMT lentil 18.17 LMT tur 35.11 LMT diversifying production.
• Oilseeds Rabi excluding summer 140.31 LMT rapeseed mustard 128.73 LMT edible oil security.

Additional Information

• Rabi season October-March winter crops wheat predominant foodgrain.
• Advance estimates guide procurement planning and buffer stock management.
• Remote sensing monitors crop health acreage real-time accurately.
• Crop Cutting Experiments scientific yield estimation methodology standard.

The correct answer is Paytm.

In News

• Paytm and DPIIT signed an MoU to support fintech startups with mentorship and infrastructure.

Key Points

• Paytm-DPIIT partnership provides fintech hardware startups with mentorship, innovation guidance, and scaling support.
• It offers regulatory compliance workshops and facilitates industry-government collaboration to navigate complexities.
• The collaboration leverages Paytm's extensive merchant network for infrastructure, market access, and solution testing.
• The initiative strengthens India's startup ecosystem and positions the country as a global innovation hub.
• It focuses on developing payment and financial technology solutions through comprehensive ecosystem support.
• DPIIT Joint Secretary highlighted Paytm's fintech expertise and infrastructure for entrepreneurs.
• The partnership addresses scaling challenges and contributes to India's innovation leadership emergence.

Additional Information

• DPIIT serves as the nodal agency for the Startup India initiative fostering entrepreneurship nationally.
• Fintech hardware includes payment terminals, POS devices, and financial infrastructure solutions.
• Merchant network testing validates solutions in real-world transaction environments effectively.
• Regulatory sandboxes enable compliant innovation testing in controlled settings.
• Paytm 
• Founded in - 2010
• HQ - Noida