Leading research firm, Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) in November 2011 scaled down India’s GDP forecast to 7.8% for 2011-12 from the earlier forecast of 7.9%.
Downward revision in the forecast for the mining index from 4.4% to 3.2%, manufacturing sector from 7.5% to 6.9% and electricity from 9 to 8.7% led to a further decline in GDP forecast for this fiscal. the Reserve Bank had also reduced its forecast for real GDP growth sharply from 8 to 7.6%. The rating agency Crisil had revised its growth estimate from 7.7-8% to 7.6%.
The index of industrial production growth slowed down to 2-4% and the wholesale price index-based inflation growth remained riveted to 9.5% despite sustained efforts by the RBI to rein in inflation by raising interest rates.
The lack of availability of coal in 2011-12 pulled down the mining index and led to delay of thermal projects. As a result the electricity generation forecast was revised.
Analysis
The research firm warned that the economy is headed towards stagflation due to persistent fall in the IIP (Index of Industrial Production) and the high inflation.
The growth in sales of companies, which grew by a handsome 25% in the first half of 2011 was however robust.
Sales of manufacturing companies adjusted for inflation indicated that the IIP under-estimates growth in the manufacturing sector by about 33%. CMIE also noted thatr in the first half, the real sales of manufacturing companies grew by about 9%, indicating robust demand for industrial goods.
Though profit margins of the corporates later declined because of an increase in raw material cost and interest rates, it is still robust and way above the low margins seen in the years 1999 to 2002. The net profit margin of the listed non-finance companies fell to 6.4% in June 2011, but between March 1999 and December 2002 they never touched 6%.
Growth in corporate sales indicates that consumption demand continues to grow well. Kharif sowing this year was higher than last season.
Agricultural production was estimated to grow by 2.9% after a robust 6.6% growth in 2010. Estimation of growth in agricultural production indicated robust domestic consumption demand in in 2011-12.
Monday, November 28, 2011
CHOGM 2011
The 2011 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) was held at Perth, Australia. India was represented by Vice-President Hamid Ansari.
world population to reach from 6 to 7-billion mark
It has taken just 12 years for the world population to reach from 6 to 7-billion mark. World population did not reach 1 billion mark until 1804. It took 123 years to reach the 2-billion mark in 1927, 33 years to reach 3 billion in 1960, 14 years to reach 4 billion in 1974, 13 years to reach 5 billion in 1987 and 12 years to reach 6 billion in 1999. World population is projected to nearly stabilise at just above 10 billion after 2200. China (19%) and India (17%) together make up 36% of the world population.
India Human Development Report, 2011
On October 21, 2011, the Planning Commission released the second India Human Development Report (HDR) 2011, which records controversial claims and a few surprises on income, education, health, literacy and sanitation. The last India-specific report had come out in 2000.
The report claims that poverty, unemployment and child labour are declining, inter-State disparities are getting narrower and that the improved Human Development Index has been driven by strides made in education. It does concede, however, that the absolute number of the poor (27 per cent according to the report) stood at 302 million, compared to 320 million in 1973. Sixty per cent of the poor are still concentrated in Bihar, it holds.
Prepared by the Institute of Applied Manpower Research of the Commission, the report claims that between 2000 and 2007, the Human Development Index rose by 21 per cent, higher than 17 per cent recorded by China during the same period and the 18 per cent estimated by the Global Human Development Report, 2010.
The top five slots, states the report, were occupied by Kerala, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Goa and Punjab (same as in the last India HDR 2000). Haryana slipped two places from 7 to 9 while Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand improved a notch to finish 9th and 14th, respectively.
For the six lowest HDI states—Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Assam—HDI improvement has been considerably above the national average.
Education (mainly primary level enrolment of 96 pc) is the big gain for India. There has been an improvement of 28.5 per cent in Education Index between 1999 and 2008. Health Index rose by just 13 pc over the period of study.
Gujarat fares poorly on hunger index, ranked 13th out of 17. The eight poor States (Bihar, UP, MP, Orissa, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Uttrakhand, Chhattisgarh) which are home to 48 percent of all SCs, 52 pc of all STs and 44 pc of all Muslims, have posted HDI improvements across groups and States doing well are doing so across board.
Muslims posted the sharpest decline in total fertility rate among all social groups and the highest increase in contraception prevalence rate. Muslims fare better than SCs and STs on other human development indicators. A higher percentage of the minority group has access to toilets too.
The report claims that poverty, unemployment and child labour are declining, inter-State disparities are getting narrower and that the improved Human Development Index has been driven by strides made in education. It does concede, however, that the absolute number of the poor (27 per cent according to the report) stood at 302 million, compared to 320 million in 1973. Sixty per cent of the poor are still concentrated in Bihar, it holds.
Prepared by the Institute of Applied Manpower Research of the Commission, the report claims that between 2000 and 2007, the Human Development Index rose by 21 per cent, higher than 17 per cent recorded by China during the same period and the 18 per cent estimated by the Global Human Development Report, 2010.
The top five slots, states the report, were occupied by Kerala, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Goa and Punjab (same as in the last India HDR 2000). Haryana slipped two places from 7 to 9 while Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand improved a notch to finish 9th and 14th, respectively.
For the six lowest HDI states—Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Assam—HDI improvement has been considerably above the national average.
Education (mainly primary level enrolment of 96 pc) is the big gain for India. There has been an improvement of 28.5 per cent in Education Index between 1999 and 2008. Health Index rose by just 13 pc over the period of study.
Gujarat fares poorly on hunger index, ranked 13th out of 17. The eight poor States (Bihar, UP, MP, Orissa, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Uttrakhand, Chhattisgarh) which are home to 48 percent of all SCs, 52 pc of all STs and 44 pc of all Muslims, have posted HDI improvements across groups and States doing well are doing so across board.
Muslims posted the sharpest decline in total fertility rate among all social groups and the highest increase in contraception prevalence rate. Muslims fare better than SCs and STs on other human development indicators. A higher percentage of the minority group has access to toilets too.
National Manufacturing Policy cleared
On October 25, 2011, the UPA government cleared its ambitious national manufacturing policy (NMP) that seeks to create a massive 100 million additional jobs in the manufacturing sector by 2025, as well as create large sized industrial zones with easier compliance and labour laws.
The new policy seeks to boost the stagnating manufacturing sector to contribute at least 25 per cent of the national GDP by 2025.
The share of manufacturing in India’s GDP has stagnated at 15 to 16 per cent since 1980 while the share in comparable economies in Asia, like China, South Korea, Indonesia and Malaysia, is much higher at 25 to 34 per cent. Also, the manufacturing sector has a multiplier effect in creation of two to three additional jobs in the allied sectors.
The policy also seeks to empower rural youth by imparting necessary skill sets to make them employable. Sustainable development and technological value addition in manufacturing have received special focus.
The policy will be a partnership between the Central and State governments. The former will create the policy framework, provide incentives for infrastructure development on a public private partnership basis through appropriate financing instruments, while State governments will identify the suitable land and be equity holders in the national investment and manufacturing zones (NIMZs).
A defining feature of the policy has been the endeavour to improve the business regulatory environment by providing single window clearances. In order to protect the interests of labour in the eventuality of a closure of a unit, a suitable mechanism has been devised using innovative job loss policy and sinking fund to insure workers against such loss.
Green manufacturing has received a special attention. Also, small and medium enterprises will be given access to the patent pool, up to a maximum of Rs 20 lakh, for acquiring patented technologies.
The new policy seeks to boost the stagnating manufacturing sector to contribute at least 25 per cent of the national GDP by 2025.
The share of manufacturing in India’s GDP has stagnated at 15 to 16 per cent since 1980 while the share in comparable economies in Asia, like China, South Korea, Indonesia and Malaysia, is much higher at 25 to 34 per cent. Also, the manufacturing sector has a multiplier effect in creation of two to three additional jobs in the allied sectors.
The policy also seeks to empower rural youth by imparting necessary skill sets to make them employable. Sustainable development and technological value addition in manufacturing have received special focus.
The policy will be a partnership between the Central and State governments. The former will create the policy framework, provide incentives for infrastructure development on a public private partnership basis through appropriate financing instruments, while State governments will identify the suitable land and be equity holders in the national investment and manufacturing zones (NIMZs).
A defining feature of the policy has been the endeavour to improve the business regulatory environment by providing single window clearances. In order to protect the interests of labour in the eventuality of a closure of a unit, a suitable mechanism has been devised using innovative job loss policy and sinking fund to insure workers against such loss.
Green manufacturing has received a special attention. Also, small and medium enterprises will be given access to the patent pool, up to a maximum of Rs 20 lakh, for acquiring patented technologies.
Saving Bank Interest rate decontrol
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has freed interest rates on savings deposits. As per a rough estimate, about Rs 13 lakh crore of funds are parked in savings bank. The interest on these accounts had been fixed at 4% even as inflation was two-and-a-half times that level. Now savings rate deregulation gives people an opportunity to shift to banks that come up with better deals.
Although savings deposits can be withdrawn without notice and interest rates are calculated on daily basis, a part of these deposits are perpetual, partly because amounts withdrawn are replenished by monthly earnings and partly because banks mandate a minimum balance ranging between Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 in savings accounts.
Banks that are short of retail deposits, like Yes Bank and IDBI Bank, are in a better position to offer higher rates as their overall cost will not rise to that extent. Larger banks, such as SBI and HDFC Bank, may resist initially, preventing their overall cost of funds from rising. But if their customers respond to higher rates offered by rivals, they may be forced to follow suit. Given that the deregulation has come at a time when the interest rate cycle is close to its peak and banks are paying 8.5% for overnight money, it is likely that return on savings deposit will rise. But if there is a slowdown in the economy and demand for credit slips, banks may even lower deposit rates from current levels.
An increase in Saving Bank account rates will put pressure on bank margins. Even if rates go up by only one percentage point, the cost of funds will go up by 0.25% for a bank that has 25% of its resources coming from savings deposits.
Although savings deposits can be withdrawn without notice and interest rates are calculated on daily basis, a part of these deposits are perpetual, partly because amounts withdrawn are replenished by monthly earnings and partly because banks mandate a minimum balance ranging between Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 in savings accounts.
Banks that are short of retail deposits, like Yes Bank and IDBI Bank, are in a better position to offer higher rates as their overall cost will not rise to that extent. Larger banks, such as SBI and HDFC Bank, may resist initially, preventing their overall cost of funds from rising. But if their customers respond to higher rates offered by rivals, they may be forced to follow suit. Given that the deregulation has come at a time when the interest rate cycle is close to its peak and banks are paying 8.5% for overnight money, it is likely that return on savings deposit will rise. But if there is a slowdown in the economy and demand for credit slips, banks may even lower deposit rates from current levels.
An increase in Saving Bank account rates will put pressure on bank margins. Even if rates go up by only one percentage point, the cost of funds will go up by 0.25% for a bank that has 25% of its resources coming from savings deposits.
Monday, November 21, 2011
SOCIO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS MCQs
1. A major Financial Newspaper while writing about the present status of economy in India wrote “the outlook in the agricultural sector gives room for optimism”. What does it really mean ?
[Pick up most appropriate statement(s)]
1. Agricultural Sector which was not playing any significant role in Indian economy is now growing very fast and significantly.
2. Agricultural sector is not going to play any major role in economy as its progress is still very slow.
3. Govt. will not require to provide any boost up package to agricultural sector as it is likely to be satisfactory this year.
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) Either 1 or 3
(E) None of these
2. While addressing a conference of Bankers and top Industrialists, the Prime Minister made a statement that “Domestic Credit Flow for Productive Needs had to be maintained at a reasonable Cost”. What does it really mean ?
(Pick up the most appropriate statements).
1. Banks should further raise their deposit base and provide very low cost credit to Industry which is badly in need of the same.
2. Banks should neither reduce their lending rates further nor increase the rates on deposits as this may create a critical imbalance in the financial/money market of the country.
3. Banks should see that ample credit is provided to the industries at an affordable cost without diluting the credit norms.
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) Both 1 and 2 only
(E) None of these
3. Which of the following taxes is not levied by the Union Govt. ?
(A) Customs
(B) Corporate Tax
(C) Land Revenue
(D) Income Tax
(E) Surcharge on Income Tax
4. Service Tax was introduced in India for the first time in the year ……….
(A) 1990-91
(B) 1991-92
(C) 1994-95
(D) 1980-81
(E) 2000-01
5. The Govt. of India allowed the Income Tax Department to set up its centralized IT processing centre in ……….
(A) Bangalore
(B) Chennai
(C) Mumbai
(D) Kolkata
(E) Hyderabad
6. As per news reports MTNL launched it “3G Services” and became the first telecom operator to launch the same in India. What is the full form of ‘G’ in 3G ?
(A) Global
(B) Generation
(C) Growth
(D) Gravity
(E) None of these
7. We very frequently read about the activities of the Foreign Exchange Market in newspapers/magazines. Which of the following is/are the major functions of the same ?
1. Transfer of purchasing power from domestic to foreign market.
2. Providing credit for financing foreign trade.
3. Power to purchase gold from foreign countries as most of the nations still work on Gold Standards.
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) Both 1 and 2 only
(E) Both 2 and 3 only
8. Which of the following is/are the components of the Fiscal Deficit ?
1. Budgetary Deficit
2. Market Borrowings
3. Expenditure made from Pradhan Mantri Rahat Kosh
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) All 1, 2 and 3
(E) None of these
9. Which of the following is not a Welfare scheme launched by the Govt. of India ?
(A) Village Grain Bank Scheme
(B) Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana
(C) Annapurna Scheme
(D) Midday Meal Scheme
(E) Bharat Nirman Yojana
10. Which of the following are the instruments of Credit Control in the hands of the RBI ?
1. Lowering or raising the discount and interest rates.
2. Raising the minimum support price of the major agro products.
3. Lowering or raising the minimum cash reserves maintained by the commercial banks.
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) Both 1 and 3 only
(E) Both 2 and 3 only
11. Which of the following programmes was launched to further improve the facilities of irrigation in rural India ?
(A) National Social Assistance programme
(B) Construction of Kiosks for poor
(C) Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana
(D) Annapurna Scheme
(E) National Watershed Development Programme
12. Which of the following bodies is responsible for the distribution of revenues between the Centre and the States?
a) Planning Commission
b) Finance
c) Inter-State Council
d) National Development Council
13. How far does the Exclusive Economic Zone of a country extend from its coast?
a) 120 km
b) 220 km.
c) 320 km.
d) 420 km.
14. Which of the following agencies recently laid down guidelines for foreign companies who wish to raise money from the Indian Capital Markets?
(1) RBI
(2) IRDA
(3) Registrar of Companies
(4) SEBI
(5) None of these
15. More and more banks in India these days are setting up their ATMs and discourage people to visit their branches for transaction.
Which of the following is/are the limitation(s) of the ATMs which force people to go to branch for transactions?
(A) Lack of human interface
(B) Communication gap
(C) Limited cash dispensing ability
(1) Only (A) (2) Only (B)
(3) Only (C) (4) (A) and (B)
(5) (A), (B) and (C)
16. Which of the following is NOT one of the core areas identified under the Bharat Nirman Programme?
(1) Irrigation
(2) Rural electrification
(3) Drinking water supply
(4) Computer Education in schools
(5) None of these
17. The Basel II Accord for Banking Industry is based on three pillars. Which of the following is/are NOT included in the same?
(A) Minimum Capital Requirement
(B) Supervisory Review
(C) Market Discipline
(D) Credit Risk
(1) Only (A)
(2) Both (A) and (C)
(3) Only (D)
(4) (A), (B) and (C)
(5) None of these
18. ‘Sheqel’ is the currency of:
(1) Israel
(2) Kenya
(3) Iraq
(4) Iran
(5) None of these
19. Which of the following countries has largest stock of foreign exchange reserves in the world?
(1) USA
(2) China
(3) Japan
(4) India
(5) None of these
20. As per the reports published in the newspapers which of the following countries is first in production of Gold Jewellery?
(1) China
(2) India
(3) Turkey
(4) Italy
(5) None of these
21. Golden revolution refers to the development of—
(1) Oilseeds
(2) Pulses
(3) Horticulture
(4) Cereals
(5) Fodder
22. Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) recommends—
(1) Comfort Price
(2) State Advised Price
(3) Minimum Support Price
(4) Minimum Export Price
(5) Statutory Minimum Price
23. National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation is known as—
(1) NIAM
(2) NAFED
(3) MARKFED
(4) NACMF
(5) NACOM
24. Which insect is known as farmers' enemy No.1?
(1) Bollworm
(2) Desert locust
(3) Aphids
(4) Stem borer
(5) Fruit fly
25. Which of the following statements are true about the Foreign Trade Policy 2009-14?
A. The new Foreign Trade Policy, coming in the backdrop of a 30 per cent contraction in exports in the last 10 months, seeks to identify 26 new markets for trade that would be eligible for sops. These include 16 in Latin America and 10 in Asia and Oceania.
B. At present, India's $ 168-b exports are highly concentrated in Europe (36 per cent), the US (18 per cent and Japan (16 per cent), and these are the worst hit by the biggest financial crisis since the 1930s.
C The new policy has sought to give special focus to help the gems and jewellery sector, one of the worst hit, by allowing duty drawback on exports. The handloom and handicrafts sector would be helped under the Market Development Scheme, while the government also announced the continuation of the DEPB scheme till December 2010.
D. These export-oriented units would be encouraged to look for new markets and they could be given incentives and tax sops to create a new basket of exports. In the short-term, the relief measures Include providing dollar credit to exporters that will be overseen by a high-level committee, comprising
Finance Secretary, Commerce Secretary, and the Indian Banks Association, to insulate the small-and medium-scale exporters
l) OnlyA,B&C
2)OnlyB,C&D
3)OnlyC&D
4) Only A, C & D
5) All the above
26. Which of the following is decided by commercial banks? .
1) Bank rate
2)CRR
3) SLR
4)BPLR
5) None of these
27. The Reserve Bank of India, which made third-party ATM transactions free from April, 2010 said not more than Rs 10,000 can be withdrawn each time they are used and limited the number of such transactions to _ _ a month.
1)2
2)5
3)10
4)15
5) None of these .
28. Which of the following is not a Navaratna (PSU) company?
a) Air India
b) BHEL
c) GAIL
d) IOC
e) Power Finance Corporation Ltd.
29. What is the expansion of BEE?
a) Bureau of Energy Efficiency
b) Bureau of Efficient Engineers
c) Bureau of Employess Efficiency
d) Bureau of Employers’ Efficiency
e) None of these.
30. A per the news published in the major financial newspapers/journals/magazines, India’s exports and imports both have come down in the last few years. Which of the following is/are the probable reason(s) for the same?
A) As per the new policy of the WTO, India can import only those commodities, which are not grown/produced in the country in adequate quantity/volume to meet its total demand. Commodities, which India needs to import, are very few. Hence import has gone down.
B) Since all the countries are required to pay for their imports partly by exporting some goods in exchange to other countries, exports from India have gone down.
C) This slowdown in imports/exports is only because there is a global economic crisis. This is why India’s exports and imports both have come down.
a) Only A
b) Only C
c) Only B
d) All A, B & C
e) None of these
31. The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific in one of its recently published reports has said some positive things about India’s economic resilience. What are these points? (The report was published in various newspapers/journals).
A) India has played the role of a sheet anchor behind the economic stability of the South Asian region.
B) India is helping other economies or the region to fight the global financial crisis better than some other more open economies of Asia Pacific Region.
C) India is likely to become the second largest economy of the world in the next five years, as it has been the most favourite destination for Foreign Direct Investment for almost 90% of the countries of the World.
a) Only A
b) Only B
c) Both A & B
d) All A, B & C
e) None of these
32. Which of the following schemes was launched to give a boost and incentives to increase public investment to achieve 4% growth in the area of agriculture and allied sectors during the 11th plan period?
a) National Technological Mission
b) National Bamboo Mission
c) Rashtriya Krishi Bima Yojana
d) National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme
e) Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana
33. Which of the following statements is/are correct about the Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana?
A) The scheme was launched in 2001 by merging some of the schemes running that time.
B) In this scheme preference is given to Below Poverty Line families for the jobs.
C) The wages under the scheme are paid partly in cash and partly by giving foodgrains.
a) Only A
b) Only B
c) Only C
d) All A, B & C
e) None of these
34. Which of the following Acts help(s) Union Govt control its fiscal deficit?
a) Finance Act
b) Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act
c) Banking Companies Act
d) Both (1) and (2)
e) None of these
35. Which of the following housing schemes was/were launched by HUDCO to give special emphasis on the development of rural areas of the country?
A) Indira Awas Yojana
B) Adarsh Gram/Adarsh Basti Yojana
C) Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana
a) Only A
b) Only B
c) Only C
d) All A, B & C
e) None of these
36. Many a time we read in financial newspapers about Public Debt. Which of the following is / are the components of Public Debt?
A) Market loans
B) External loans
C) Outstanding against saving schemes/provident funds.
a) Only A
b) Only B
c) Both A & B
d) Only C
e) All A, B & C
37. As agriculture is the mainstay of the Indian Economy, what is the contribution of agriculture and allied sectors in the total Gross Domestic Product of India? About.
a) 10%
b) 15%
c) 22%
d) 36%
e) 48%
38. As we know, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act was implemented by Govt. of India. Now Govt has made certain changes in the Act so that it can boost up its policy of Financial Inclusion of the beneficiaries. Which of the following changes is/are done for this purpose?
A) NREGA functionaries are being trained to conduct social audits and public disclosure of the works undertaken by State Govts and Panchayats.
B) Workers who are engaged for various jobs under the scheme are paid their wages through post office and/or bank accounts.
C) Wages paid to the beneficiaries are revised and it is strengthening their livelihood resources.
a) Only A
b) Only B
c) Only C
d) All A, B & C
e) None of these
39. Which of the following is/are the major roles of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests?
A) Prevention and control of pollution B) Ensuring the welfare of animals
C) Afforestation and regeneration of degraded area
a) Only A
b) Only B
c) Only C
d) All A, B&C
e) None of these
40. Which of the following schemes is NOT a part of National Social Assistance programme?
A) National Old Age Pension Scheme B) National Family Benefit Scheme
C) Services for the Poor programme
a) Only A b) Only B
c) Both A & B
d) Both B & C
e) None of these
41. How many banks were nationalized in 1969?
(1) 16
(2) 14
(3) 15
(4) 20
(5) None of these.
42. The Reserve Bank of India was established in :
(1) 1820
(2) 1920
(3) 1935
(4) 1940
(5) None of these.
43. The first Indian Bank was :
(1) Traders Bank
(2) Imperial Bank
(3) Presidency Bank of Calcutta
(4) Indian Bank
(5) None of these.
44. The rupee coin was first minted in India in :
(1) 1542
(2) 1601
(3) 1809
(4) 1677
(5) None of these.
45. The Export-Import (EXIM) Bank was set up in :
(1) 1980
(2) 1982
(3) 1981
(4) 1989
(5) None of these.
46. Planning Commission is :
(1) Advisory body
(2) Executive body
(3) Government body
(4) Autonomous body
(5) None of these.
47. The Community Development Programme was launched in :
(1) 1950
(2) 1952
(3) 1956
(4) 1960
(5) None of these.
48. The highest body which approves the Five-Year Plan is the :
(1) Finance Ministry
(2) Lok Sabha
(3) Rajya Sabha
(4) National Development Council
(5) None of these.
49. Which of the following commodities earn maximum foreign exchange for India?
(1) Jute
(2) Iron and Steel
(3) Tea
(4) Sugar
(5) None of these
50. The one rupee note bears the signature of :
(1) Secretary, Ministry of Finance
(2) Governor, Reserve Bank of India
(3) Finance Minister
(4) Prime Minister
(5) None of these.
ANSWERS:
1. (C) 2. (C) 3. (C) 4. (C) 5. (A) 6. (B) 7. (D) 8. (A) 9. (E) 10. (C)
11. (E) 12. (B) 13. (D) 14. (1) 15. (3) 16. (4) 17. (4) 18. (1) 19. (2) 20. (2)
21. (3) 22. (3) 23. (2) 24. (3) 25. (5) 26. (4) 27. (2) 28. (A) 29. (C) 30. (B)
31. (A) 32. (E) 33. (D) 34. (B) 35. (A) 36. (C) 37. (B) 38. (D) 39. (D) 40. (E)
41. (2) 42. (3) 43. (3) 44. (1) 45. (2) 46. (1) 47. (2) 48. (4) 49. (3) 50. (1)
[Pick up most appropriate statement(s)]
1. Agricultural Sector which was not playing any significant role in Indian economy is now growing very fast and significantly.
2. Agricultural sector is not going to play any major role in economy as its progress is still very slow.
3. Govt. will not require to provide any boost up package to agricultural sector as it is likely to be satisfactory this year.
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) Either 1 or 3
(E) None of these
2. While addressing a conference of Bankers and top Industrialists, the Prime Minister made a statement that “Domestic Credit Flow for Productive Needs had to be maintained at a reasonable Cost”. What does it really mean ?
(Pick up the most appropriate statements).
1. Banks should further raise their deposit base and provide very low cost credit to Industry which is badly in need of the same.
2. Banks should neither reduce their lending rates further nor increase the rates on deposits as this may create a critical imbalance in the financial/money market of the country.
3. Banks should see that ample credit is provided to the industries at an affordable cost without diluting the credit norms.
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) Both 1 and 2 only
(E) None of these
3. Which of the following taxes is not levied by the Union Govt. ?
(A) Customs
(B) Corporate Tax
(C) Land Revenue
(D) Income Tax
(E) Surcharge on Income Tax
4. Service Tax was introduced in India for the first time in the year ……….
(A) 1990-91
(B) 1991-92
(C) 1994-95
(D) 1980-81
(E) 2000-01
5. The Govt. of India allowed the Income Tax Department to set up its centralized IT processing centre in ……….
(A) Bangalore
(B) Chennai
(C) Mumbai
(D) Kolkata
(E) Hyderabad
6. As per news reports MTNL launched it “3G Services” and became the first telecom operator to launch the same in India. What is the full form of ‘G’ in 3G ?
(A) Global
(B) Generation
(C) Growth
(D) Gravity
(E) None of these
7. We very frequently read about the activities of the Foreign Exchange Market in newspapers/magazines. Which of the following is/are the major functions of the same ?
1. Transfer of purchasing power from domestic to foreign market.
2. Providing credit for financing foreign trade.
3. Power to purchase gold from foreign countries as most of the nations still work on Gold Standards.
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) Both 1 and 2 only
(E) Both 2 and 3 only
8. Which of the following is/are the components of the Fiscal Deficit ?
1. Budgetary Deficit
2. Market Borrowings
3. Expenditure made from Pradhan Mantri Rahat Kosh
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) All 1, 2 and 3
(E) None of these
9. Which of the following is not a Welfare scheme launched by the Govt. of India ?
(A) Village Grain Bank Scheme
(B) Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana
(C) Annapurna Scheme
(D) Midday Meal Scheme
(E) Bharat Nirman Yojana
10. Which of the following are the instruments of Credit Control in the hands of the RBI ?
1. Lowering or raising the discount and interest rates.
2. Raising the minimum support price of the major agro products.
3. Lowering or raising the minimum cash reserves maintained by the commercial banks.
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) Both 1 and 3 only
(E) Both 2 and 3 only
11. Which of the following programmes was launched to further improve the facilities of irrigation in rural India ?
(A) National Social Assistance programme
(B) Construction of Kiosks for poor
(C) Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana
(D) Annapurna Scheme
(E) National Watershed Development Programme
12. Which of the following bodies is responsible for the distribution of revenues between the Centre and the States?
a) Planning Commission
b) Finance
c) Inter-State Council
d) National Development Council
13. How far does the Exclusive Economic Zone of a country extend from its coast?
a) 120 km
b) 220 km.
c) 320 km.
d) 420 km.
14. Which of the following agencies recently laid down guidelines for foreign companies who wish to raise money from the Indian Capital Markets?
(1) RBI
(2) IRDA
(3) Registrar of Companies
(4) SEBI
(5) None of these
15. More and more banks in India these days are setting up their ATMs and discourage people to visit their branches for transaction.
Which of the following is/are the limitation(s) of the ATMs which force people to go to branch for transactions?
(A) Lack of human interface
(B) Communication gap
(C) Limited cash dispensing ability
(1) Only (A) (2) Only (B)
(3) Only (C) (4) (A) and (B)
(5) (A), (B) and (C)
16. Which of the following is NOT one of the core areas identified under the Bharat Nirman Programme?
(1) Irrigation
(2) Rural electrification
(3) Drinking water supply
(4) Computer Education in schools
(5) None of these
17. The Basel II Accord for Banking Industry is based on three pillars. Which of the following is/are NOT included in the same?
(A) Minimum Capital Requirement
(B) Supervisory Review
(C) Market Discipline
(D) Credit Risk
(1) Only (A)
(2) Both (A) and (C)
(3) Only (D)
(4) (A), (B) and (C)
(5) None of these
18. ‘Sheqel’ is the currency of:
(1) Israel
(2) Kenya
(3) Iraq
(4) Iran
(5) None of these
19. Which of the following countries has largest stock of foreign exchange reserves in the world?
(1) USA
(2) China
(3) Japan
(4) India
(5) None of these
20. As per the reports published in the newspapers which of the following countries is first in production of Gold Jewellery?
(1) China
(2) India
(3) Turkey
(4) Italy
(5) None of these
21. Golden revolution refers to the development of—
(1) Oilseeds
(2) Pulses
(3) Horticulture
(4) Cereals
(5) Fodder
22. Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) recommends—
(1) Comfort Price
(2) State Advised Price
(3) Minimum Support Price
(4) Minimum Export Price
(5) Statutory Minimum Price
23. National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation is known as—
(1) NIAM
(2) NAFED
(3) MARKFED
(4) NACMF
(5) NACOM
24. Which insect is known as farmers' enemy No.1?
(1) Bollworm
(2) Desert locust
(3) Aphids
(4) Stem borer
(5) Fruit fly
25. Which of the following statements are true about the Foreign Trade Policy 2009-14?
A. The new Foreign Trade Policy, coming in the backdrop of a 30 per cent contraction in exports in the last 10 months, seeks to identify 26 new markets for trade that would be eligible for sops. These include 16 in Latin America and 10 in Asia and Oceania.
B. At present, India's $ 168-b exports are highly concentrated in Europe (36 per cent), the US (18 per cent and Japan (16 per cent), and these are the worst hit by the biggest financial crisis since the 1930s.
C The new policy has sought to give special focus to help the gems and jewellery sector, one of the worst hit, by allowing duty drawback on exports. The handloom and handicrafts sector would be helped under the Market Development Scheme, while the government also announced the continuation of the DEPB scheme till December 2010.
D. These export-oriented units would be encouraged to look for new markets and they could be given incentives and tax sops to create a new basket of exports. In the short-term, the relief measures Include providing dollar credit to exporters that will be overseen by a high-level committee, comprising
Finance Secretary, Commerce Secretary, and the Indian Banks Association, to insulate the small-and medium-scale exporters
l) OnlyA,B&C
2)OnlyB,C&D
3)OnlyC&D
4) Only A, C & D
5) All the above
26. Which of the following is decided by commercial banks? .
1) Bank rate
2)CRR
3) SLR
4)BPLR
5) None of these
27. The Reserve Bank of India, which made third-party ATM transactions free from April, 2010 said not more than Rs 10,000 can be withdrawn each time they are used and limited the number of such transactions to _ _ a month.
1)2
2)5
3)10
4)15
5) None of these .
28. Which of the following is not a Navaratna (PSU) company?
a) Air India
b) BHEL
c) GAIL
d) IOC
e) Power Finance Corporation Ltd.
29. What is the expansion of BEE?
a) Bureau of Energy Efficiency
b) Bureau of Efficient Engineers
c) Bureau of Employess Efficiency
d) Bureau of Employers’ Efficiency
e) None of these.
30. A per the news published in the major financial newspapers/journals/magazines, India’s exports and imports both have come down in the last few years. Which of the following is/are the probable reason(s) for the same?
A) As per the new policy of the WTO, India can import only those commodities, which are not grown/produced in the country in adequate quantity/volume to meet its total demand. Commodities, which India needs to import, are very few. Hence import has gone down.
B) Since all the countries are required to pay for their imports partly by exporting some goods in exchange to other countries, exports from India have gone down.
C) This slowdown in imports/exports is only because there is a global economic crisis. This is why India’s exports and imports both have come down.
a) Only A
b) Only C
c) Only B
d) All A, B & C
e) None of these
31. The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific in one of its recently published reports has said some positive things about India’s economic resilience. What are these points? (The report was published in various newspapers/journals).
A) India has played the role of a sheet anchor behind the economic stability of the South Asian region.
B) India is helping other economies or the region to fight the global financial crisis better than some other more open economies of Asia Pacific Region.
C) India is likely to become the second largest economy of the world in the next five years, as it has been the most favourite destination for Foreign Direct Investment for almost 90% of the countries of the World.
a) Only A
b) Only B
c) Both A & B
d) All A, B & C
e) None of these
32. Which of the following schemes was launched to give a boost and incentives to increase public investment to achieve 4% growth in the area of agriculture and allied sectors during the 11th plan period?
a) National Technological Mission
b) National Bamboo Mission
c) Rashtriya Krishi Bima Yojana
d) National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme
e) Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana
33. Which of the following statements is/are correct about the Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana?
A) The scheme was launched in 2001 by merging some of the schemes running that time.
B) In this scheme preference is given to Below Poverty Line families for the jobs.
C) The wages under the scheme are paid partly in cash and partly by giving foodgrains.
a) Only A
b) Only B
c) Only C
d) All A, B & C
e) None of these
34. Which of the following Acts help(s) Union Govt control its fiscal deficit?
a) Finance Act
b) Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act
c) Banking Companies Act
d) Both (1) and (2)
e) None of these
35. Which of the following housing schemes was/were launched by HUDCO to give special emphasis on the development of rural areas of the country?
A) Indira Awas Yojana
B) Adarsh Gram/Adarsh Basti Yojana
C) Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana
a) Only A
b) Only B
c) Only C
d) All A, B & C
e) None of these
36. Many a time we read in financial newspapers about Public Debt. Which of the following is / are the components of Public Debt?
A) Market loans
B) External loans
C) Outstanding against saving schemes/provident funds.
a) Only A
b) Only B
c) Both A & B
d) Only C
e) All A, B & C
37. As agriculture is the mainstay of the Indian Economy, what is the contribution of agriculture and allied sectors in the total Gross Domestic Product of India? About.
a) 10%
b) 15%
c) 22%
d) 36%
e) 48%
38. As we know, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act was implemented by Govt. of India. Now Govt has made certain changes in the Act so that it can boost up its policy of Financial Inclusion of the beneficiaries. Which of the following changes is/are done for this purpose?
A) NREGA functionaries are being trained to conduct social audits and public disclosure of the works undertaken by State Govts and Panchayats.
B) Workers who are engaged for various jobs under the scheme are paid their wages through post office and/or bank accounts.
C) Wages paid to the beneficiaries are revised and it is strengthening their livelihood resources.
a) Only A
b) Only B
c) Only C
d) All A, B & C
e) None of these
39. Which of the following is/are the major roles of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests?
A) Prevention and control of pollution B) Ensuring the welfare of animals
C) Afforestation and regeneration of degraded area
a) Only A
b) Only B
c) Only C
d) All A, B&C
e) None of these
40. Which of the following schemes is NOT a part of National Social Assistance programme?
A) National Old Age Pension Scheme B) National Family Benefit Scheme
C) Services for the Poor programme
a) Only A b) Only B
c) Both A & B
d) Both B & C
e) None of these
41. How many banks were nationalized in 1969?
(1) 16
(2) 14
(3) 15
(4) 20
(5) None of these.
42. The Reserve Bank of India was established in :
(1) 1820
(2) 1920
(3) 1935
(4) 1940
(5) None of these.
43. The first Indian Bank was :
(1) Traders Bank
(2) Imperial Bank
(3) Presidency Bank of Calcutta
(4) Indian Bank
(5) None of these.
44. The rupee coin was first minted in India in :
(1) 1542
(2) 1601
(3) 1809
(4) 1677
(5) None of these.
45. The Export-Import (EXIM) Bank was set up in :
(1) 1980
(2) 1982
(3) 1981
(4) 1989
(5) None of these.
46. Planning Commission is :
(1) Advisory body
(2) Executive body
(3) Government body
(4) Autonomous body
(5) None of these.
47. The Community Development Programme was launched in :
(1) 1950
(2) 1952
(3) 1956
(4) 1960
(5) None of these.
48. The highest body which approves the Five-Year Plan is the :
(1) Finance Ministry
(2) Lok Sabha
(3) Rajya Sabha
(4) National Development Council
(5) None of these.
49. Which of the following commodities earn maximum foreign exchange for India?
(1) Jute
(2) Iron and Steel
(3) Tea
(4) Sugar
(5) None of these
50. The one rupee note bears the signature of :
(1) Secretary, Ministry of Finance
(2) Governor, Reserve Bank of India
(3) Finance Minister
(4) Prime Minister
(5) None of these.
ANSWERS:
1. (C) 2. (C) 3. (C) 4. (C) 5. (A) 6. (B) 7. (D) 8. (A) 9. (E) 10. (C)
11. (E) 12. (B) 13. (D) 14. (1) 15. (3) 16. (4) 17. (4) 18. (1) 19. (2) 20. (2)
21. (3) 22. (3) 23. (2) 24. (3) 25. (5) 26. (4) 27. (2) 28. (A) 29. (C) 30. (B)
31. (A) 32. (E) 33. (D) 34. (B) 35. (A) 36. (C) 37. (B) 38. (D) 39. (D) 40. (E)
41. (2) 42. (3) 43. (3) 44. (1) 45. (2) 46. (1) 47. (2) 48. (4) 49. (3) 50. (1)
Sunday, November 20, 2011
IBPS CLERKS EXAM GENERAL AWARENESS MCQs
1. Which Committee has been constituted to examine the appropriateness of the telecom policies and allocation of spectrum from 2001 to 2009?
(a) Justice Shivaraj V. Patil Committee
(b) Justice M M Punchhi Committee
(c) Justice Bhagwati Committee
(d) Justice Vahanvati Committee
2. Who’s temporary home, the property title of ‘Gyuto Monastery’ has been transferred in the Himachal Pradesh state government’s name?
(a) 17th Karmapa
(b) 16th Karmapa
(c) 18th Karmapa
(d) 15th Karmapa
3. The Egyptian military constituted a panel of legal experts, including a member of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, to suggest amendments to the Mubarak-era constitution, headed by Tareq al-Bishry, who is a -
(a) politician
(b) economist
(c) judge
(d) social activist
4. Who has invented and claimed that he has made a flying car with the help of India’’s first small car, Maruti, which was the star attraction at the Aero India 2011 air show in Bangalore?
a) A.K. Vishwanath
(b) K. Uday Kumar
(c) J. Ramesh
(d) T. Kuppuswami
5. With which country India proposed a $9 billion ‘revolving fund’ jointly to finance and start implementation of the crucial Delhi Mumbai Industrial corridor (DMIC) link to address the infrastructure concerns?
(a) South Korea
(b) Japan
(c) Russia
(d) South Africa
6. World Philatelic Exhibition Indipex-2011 was held recently in which of the following place?
(a) Bangkok
(b) London
(c) New Delhi
(d) New York
7. Which among the following is the world’s oldest postal organisation?
(a) India Post
(b) U.S. Postal Service
(c) Mexican postal sevice
(d) The Royal Mail from Britain
8. Which country vetoed a UNSC resolution that would have condemned illegal” Israeli settlements, despite all other states in the 15-member body, including India, voting for it?
(a) USA
(b) Great Britain
(c) China
(d) Russia
9. India signed a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement (CECA) with which of the following country, which gives its doctors,accountants , two-wheelers, cotton garments and basmati rice greater access to its market?
(a) USA
(b) Malaysia
(c) Austria
(d) Iran
10. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recently said that Malegam panel’s suggestion of capping lending rate at 24% for micro finance institutions (MFI) will be implemented from:
(a) May 1, 2011
(b) April 1,2011
(c) November 1, 2011
(d) April 1, 2012
11. Global Governance Report 2025, an assessment report,is prepared by-
(a) United States National Intelligence Council
(b) European Union Institute for security studies
(c) a and b both
(d) World Bank
12. In a bid to preserve and promote Tibetan culture, which university is planning to set up a centre for Tibetan studies at Dharamshala?
(a) Indira Gandhi National Open University
(b) Jawaharlal Nehru University
(c) Aligarh Muslim University
(d) None of the above
13. What is the name of the District Collector of Malkangiri district of Orissa, who was abducted and later released by cadres of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) recently?
(a) S.V. Naidu
(b) Sumit Sharma
(c) R.V. Krishna
(d) Navin Kumar
14. Who among the following has been selected for the Y. Nayudamma Memorial Award for 2010?
(a) V. Shanta
(b) Arvind Kejriwal
(c) Kiran Bedi
(d) Anna Hazare
15. Which is the largest brackish water lagoon in the country?
(a) Pulicat Lake
(b) Chilika Lake
(c) Sambhar Lake
(d) None of the above
ANSWERS:
1 a 2 a 3 c4 a 5 b 6 c 7 d 8 a 9 b 10 b 11 c 12 a 13 c 14 a 15 b
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
SBI, ICICI Bank lead peers in global branch network
State Bank of India and ICICI Bank appropriated to themselves the credit of running the most extensive global networks from among the country's public and private sector banks.
State Bank of India (SBI) owns the largest network of foreign offices (64) as at August-end, says the Report on Trend and Progress of Banking in India 2010-11.
Bank of Baroda followed with 60. Together, these two accounted for 51 per cent of total foreign offices of banks. SBI also undertook the largest expansion of foreign operations by opening five new offices abroad during the year under reference.
ICICI Bank (19) led the private sector banks in terms of largest foreign presence.
FOREIGN BANKS
The number of foreign banks operating here is 38 (34 a year ago). The number of branches too rose to 321 (315). Another 47 (45) banks had representative offices.
Standard Chartered had the largest network, followed by HSBC, Citibank and the Royal Bank of Scotland.
Permission was granted to National Australia Bank, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Rabobank International and Woori Bank to open one branch each.
Besides, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation was allowed to open a representative office.
Foreign operations of Indian banks expanded to a network of 244 offices as compared with 233 offices in the previous year.
Women use their debit cards less frequently, reveals RBI survey
This piece of information may give you some insight into how women deal with money. The Reserve Bank of India, in a survey, has found that they use their debit cards less frequently.
What one could deduce from this finding is that women prefer to use credit cards for shopping to avail themselves of the 45-day credit period. But when it comes to hard cash for daily needs, it is the hubby who swipes the debit card at an ATM.
“Women may be smarter when it comes to money matters. The 45-day free credit period that comes with shopping with a credit card is an irresistible attraction,” said Mr Sanjay Sharma, Managing Director IDBI Intech, a banking and financial service technology provider.
The number of debit and credit cards outstanding as at September-end 2011 was 25 crore and 1.76 crore respectively. Some of the other findings of the RBI's survey to assess customer satisfaction in the usage of ATMs across the country are: the use of cards for shopping was more among the youth; the use of debit cards for shopping was the highest in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.
Further, debit cards were mainly used for withdrawing cash or shopping purposes and the use of these cards for bills payment/ticket purchase was still low. The survey covered 600 ATMs distributed proportionately over metro, urban, semi-urban and rural regions, constituting one per cent of the total number of 60,000 ATMs in the country.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Economic Development and Environment
Economic development without environmental considerations can cause serious environmental damage, in turn impairing the quality of life of present and future generations. Such environmental degradation imposes a cost on the society and needs to be explicitly factored into economic planning, with necessary remedial measures incorporated. The challenge of sustainable development thus requires integration of the country's quest for economic development with its environmental concerns.
Environment management in India has, over the years, recognized these sustainable development concerns. The National Environment Policy 2006 has attempted to mainstream environmental concerns in all our developmental activities. It underlines that “while conservation of environmental resources is necessary to secure livelihoods and well being of all, the most secure basis for conservation is to ensure that people dependent on particular resources obtain better livelihoods from the fact of conservation, than from degradation of the resource”.
A few recent initiatives
The Ministry of Environment and Forests has notified the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules 2010 in order to ensure that there is no further degradation of wetlands. The rules specify activities that are harmful to wetlands, such as industrialization, construction, dumping of untreated waste and reclamation and prohibit these activities in the wetlands. Other activities, such as harvesting and dredging may be carried out in the wetlands but only with prior permission from the concerned authorities.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) Act, 2010 came into force on October 18, 2010. As per the provisions of the NGT Act 2010, the National Environment Appellate Authority (NEAA), established under the NEAA Act, 1997, stands dissolved and the cases pending before NEAA stand transferred to the NGT. The Act provides for the establishment of a NGT for the effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources, including enforcement of any legal right relating to environment and giving relief and compensation for damages to persons and property and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
Coastal ecosystems are a critical reservoir of our biodiversity and provide protection from natural disasters such as floods and tsunamis and are a source of livelihood to hundreds of millions of families. Hence, as a major national initiative in this direction, the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification has been published in the gazette of India on January 6, 2011.
The Government of India and World Bank have signed a loan agreement for the implementation of an Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project, which will be implemented at a total cost of Rs 1156 crore. The World Bank will contribute an amount of Rs 897 crore (77.7 per cent), the Government of India Rs 177 Crore (15.4 per cent), and the States Rs 80 Crore (6.9 per cent). This project is for a period of five years and it is estimated that it will benefit 3.56 crore people directly 6.30 crore indirectly.
Climate Change
Climate Change, as a global environmental problem has been receiving intense political attention at domestic and international levels. ‘Climate change’ means a change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity, that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods. Increasing levels of fossil fuel burning and land use changes have emitted, and are continuing to emit, greenhouse gases (mainly carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide) into the earth’s atmosphere. This increasing level of emissions of greenhouse gases has caused a rise in the amount of heat from the sun trapped in the earth’s atmosphere, heat that would normally be radiated back into space. This has led to the greenhouse effect, resulting in climate change.
Besides, Global Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions have risen sharply since 1945. As per a working paper published by the World Resources Institute, total GHGs were estimated at 44,153 MtCo2 equivalents (million metric tons) in 2005. This is the most recent year for which comprehensive emissions data are available for every major gas and sector. Total global emissions grew by 12.7 per cent between 2000 and 2005, an annual average of 2.4 per cent. CO2 is the predominant gas accounting for 77 per cent of world GHG emissions in 2005, followed by methane (15 per cent) and nitrous oxide (7 per cent). North America accounted for 18 per cent of world GHG emissions, China for 16 per cent, and the EU for 12 per cent in 2005. India's share stood at 4 per cent in 2005.
The issue of climate change is now placed firmly on national and international agendas, subject to scrutiny by public and media, and is even shaping the strategies of a number of businesses.
Internationally, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (the Convention) was set up in 1992 and entered into force in 1994. This was a crucial step in putting in place the institutions and processes for the world’s Governments to take coordinated and effective action.
The Convention laid the groundwork for concerted international action, which in 1997 led to the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol containing a legally binding quantitative time-bound target for developed countries. The Kyoto Protocol set a target for developed countries (individually or jointly) to reduce overall emissions by at least 5 per cent below 1990 levels in the first commitment period, 2008 to 2012. Recognizing that relying on domestic measures alone to meet the target could be onerous, the Kyoto Protocol offers considerable flexibility through three mechanisms: Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), Joint Implementation (JI), and Emissions Trading (ET). Through the CDM, industrial countries can finance mitigation projects in developing countries contributing to their sustainable development.
Credits received from such projects can be used to meet commitments under the Kyoto Protocol. Through JI, industrialized countries acquire emissions credit by financially supporting projects in other industrialized countries.
Currently, international actions for addressing climate change are being pursued under the Bali Action Plan and the mandate of the Kyoto Protocol. The 15th CoP held at Copenhagen in December 2009 made some advance in the form of the ‘Copenhagen Accord’, which reflects the political understanding reached by a select group of countries. However, this was only ‘noted’ and not adopted by the Parties to the Convention. The recent negotiations held at Cancun during November 29 - December 11, 2010, have resulted in a set of decisions that cover various areas of action, for example mitigation, adaptation, technology and finance as outlined in the Bali Action Plan, while agreeing to work towards an ambitious target of emissions reduction under the Kyoto Protocol.
India's Greenhouse Emissions
Although India ranks in the top five in terms of GHG emissions, the per capita emissions are much lower compared to those of the developed countries, even if the historical emissions are excluded. Its high level of emissions is due to large populace, geographical size and large economy. The most recent data available for India are the assessment carried out by the Indian Network for Climate Change Assessment (INCCA) in May 2010.
The key results of the assessment are that the total net GHG emissions from India in 2007 were 1727.71 million tons of CO2 equivalent (eq.), of which carbon dioxide emissions were 1221.76 million tons; methane 20.56 million tons; and nitrous oxide 0.24 million tons. In 1994, the total net GHG emissions for India were 1228.54 million tons of CO2 eq. This represents a compounded annual growth rate of 2.9 per cent during the period 1994 to 2007. GHG emissions from the energy, industry, agriculture, and waste sectors in 2007 constituted 58 per cent, 22 per cent, 17 per cent, and 3 per cent of the net CO2 eq. emissions respectively. India's per capita CO2 eq. emissions including land use, land use change, and forestry (LULUCF) were 1.5 tons per capita in 2007.
Impacts of Climate Change in India
Climate change has enormous implications for the natural resources and livelihoods of the people. It will have wide-ranging effects on the environmental and socio-economic and related sectors. Various studies indicate that the key sectors in India such as the agriculture, water, natural ecosystem, biodiversity, and health are vulnerable to climate change. This is happening precisely at a time when it is confronted with huge development imperatives. The Indian Network for Climate Change Assessment (INCCA) released a report in November 2010 on assessment of the impact of climate change on key sectors and regions of India in the 2030s. The assessment covers four key sectors of the Indian economy, namely agriculture, water, natural ecosystems and biodiversity, and health in four climate sensitive regions, namely the Himalayan region, the Western Ghats, the Coastal Area, and the North-east region.
The report warns of impacts such as sea-level rise, increase in cyclonic intensity, reduced crop yield in rain-fed crops, stress on livestock, reduction in milk productivity, increased flooding, and spread of malaria. This calls for urgency of action in reducing vulnerability to adverse impacts of climate change and enhancing adaptive capacity through sector-specific interventions and efforts.
India's Strategies
India’s total CO2 emissions are about 4 per cent of total global CO2 emissions and the energy intensity of India’s output has been falling with improvements in energy efficiency, autonomous technological changes, and economical use of energy. India’s climate modeling studies show that even with 8-9 per cent gross domestic product (GDP) growth every year for the next decade or two, its per capita emissions will be around 3-3.5 tonnes of CO2eq. by 2030, as compared to the present 1-1.2 tonnes. These are well below developed country averages by any estimation.
India’s determination in addressing climate change is evident from the fact that an indicative target of increasing energy efficiency by 20 per cent by 2016-17 is already included in the Eleventh Five Year Plan. This has now been supplemented with the domestic mitigation goal of reducing emissions intensity of the GDP by 20-25 per cent of the 2005 level by 2020 through proactive policies. The resources for the measures required to achieve this objective will need to be mobilized from various sources, including the national planning process. Studies in respect of a low carbon strategy for development aimed at ensuring inclusive growth are being conducted with the aim of including this as one of the key pillars in the Twelfth Five Year Plan.
Second, India is taking conscious steps to diversify the energy fuel mix such as setting up of 20,000 MW of solar power-generating capacity by 2022, doubling the present share of 3 per cent of nuclear power in the energy mix over the next decade, putting in place a major market-based programme to stimulate energy efficiency, imposing clean energy cess on coal for funding research and development (R&D) of clean energy technologies, even though coal will continue to play a key role in our future energy strategy, and aggressively expanding the use of natural gas in power production.
Third, India has been pursuing aggressive strategies for forestry and coastal management to increase the quality and quantity of forest cover and has launched a major new programme on coastal zone management to address the adaptation challenges facing over 300 million people in our country who live in vulnerable areas near our coast.
As part of its international obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) India periodically prepares the National Communication (NATCOM) that gives an inventory of the GHG emissions in India, assesses the vulnerability and impacts, and makes appropriate recommendations regarding social, economic and technological measures for addressing climate change.
India's strategy for enhancing its adaptive capacity to climate variability is reflected in many of its social and economic development programmes. For developing countries like India, adaptation ultimately boils down to assisting the vulnerable population during exigencies and empowering them to build their lives and cope with uncertainties in the long run. Several of India's social-sector schemes, with their emphases on livelihood security and welfare of the weaker sections, aim to do just that. India implements a series of Central sector and centrally sponsored schemes under different Ministries/Departments aimed at achieving social and economic development. Many of these schemes contain elements (objectives and targets) that are decidedly geared to adaptation. In other words, there is substantial adaptation orientation in many of the sectoral schemes currently under operation. An exercise has been carried out to measure the expenditure on adaptation-related programmes with critical adaptation components: (a) crop improvement and research, (b) poverty alleviation and livelihood preservation, (c) drought proofing and flood control, (d) risk financing, (e) forest conservation, (f) health, and (g) rural education and infrastructure. It has been found that India's expenditure on these adaptation-oriented schemes has increased from 1.45 per cent of GDP in the year 2000-01 to 2.84 per cent during 2009-10. This is a fairly impressive level of spending and is an obvious reflection of the multiplicity of economic and social welfare programmes under implementation in India.
India has announced a National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) in June, 2008 which incorporates its vision of sustainable development and the steps it must take to realize it.
Climate Change Financing
Climate change is a complex policy issue with major implications in terms of finances for addressing mitigation of GHG emissions, on the one hand, and coping with the adverse impacts of climate change on the community and population, ecosystem, economy and livelihood, on the other.
All actions to address climate change ultimately involve costs. Funding is vital in order for countries like India to design and implement adaptation and mitigation plans and projects.
Lack of funding is a large impediment to implementing adaptation plans. Article 4 of the Convention states that developed countries shall provide financial resources to assist developing country Parties in addressing climate change. The funds that are currently available under the Convention and the Kyoto Protocol are small compared to the magnitude of the need assessed by many studies. The UNFCCC has estimated a requirement of US$ 200-210 billion in additional investment in 2030 to return GHG emissions to current level. Further, additional investment needed worldwide for adaptation is estimated to be US$ 60-182 billion in 2030 by UNFCCC, inclusive of an expenditure of US$ 28-67 billion in developing countries. As various estimates point to the enormity of funds to address climate change, developing countries including India have been arguing that a global mechanism for generating and accounting for additional resources, mainly from public sources, is essential for meeting the long-term finance requirements for adaptation and mitigation. There should be a multilateral financial mechanism under the Convention that should be set up with resources provided by developed countries on the basis of assessed contributions.
One of the important outcomes of the Cancun Agreements from the finance point of view is the decisions on ‘fast start finance, long-term finance, and Green Climate Fund’. At Cancun, it was decided to set up a ‘Green Climate Fund’, to be designated as an operating entity of the Financial Mechanism of the Convention under Article 11. The Green Climate Fund is accountable to and functions under the guidance of the CoP. The Fund will support environment-related projects, programmes, policies, and other activities in developing countries.
While the outcomes in Cancun on Climate Fund, Technology Mechanism, and Adaptation Framework and Forestry (REDD+) are welcome, further work is needed on strengthening of weak mitigation pledges by developed countries, preventing unilateral trade actions in the name of climate change, and continuing a dialogue on intellectual property rights as part of technology development and transfer efforts. Moreover, a successful global effort for addressing climate change must be built on sound principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities. Equity in terms of equitable access to global atmospheric resources should define the pathway to attainment of a long-term goal in line with the broad findings of science.
Besides, the increasing importance of climate-related issues should not shake the foundations of our inclusive growth strategy. Careful planning and customized policies are needed to ensure that the green growth strategies do not result in a slow growth strategy.
Eight National Missions:
Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM): The government has launched the JNNSM in January 2010 with a target of 20,000 MW grid solar power (based on solar thermal power- generating systems and solar photovoltaic [SPV] technologies), 2000 MW of off-grid capacity by 2022. The Mission will be implemented in three phases. The first phase will last three years (up to March 2013), the second till March 2017, and the third till March 2022. The Government has also approved the implementation of the first phase of the Mission (up to March 2013) and the target to set up 1100 MW grid-connected solar plants including 100 MW of rooftop and small solar plants and 200 MW capacity-equivalent off-grid solar applications and a 7 million sq.m solar thermal collector area in the first phase of the Mission, till 2012-13.
Energy Conservation and Efficiency: The objective of the National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE) is to achieve growth with ecological sustainability by devising cost-effective strategies for end- use demand-side management. The Ministry of Power and Bureau of Energy Efficiency have been entrusted with the task of preparing the implementation plan for the NMEEE and up-scaling the efforts to create and sustain market for energy efficiency to unlock investment of around Rs 74,000 crore. The Mission is likely to achieve about 23 million tons oil-equivalent of fuel savings—in coal, gas, and petroleum product—by 2014-15, along with an expected avoided capacity addition of over 19,000 MW. The carbon dioxide emission reduction is estimated to be 98.55 million tons annually.
National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change (NMSKCC): The NMSKCC has been launched with the broad objectives of mapping of the knowledge and data resources relevant to climate change and positioning of a data-sharing policy framework for building strategic knowledge among the various arms of the Government, identification of knowledge gaps, networking of knowledge institutions after investing critical mass of physical, intellectual, and policy infrastructure resources, creation of new dedicated centres within the existing institutional framework, building of international cooperation on science and technology for climate change agenda through strategic alliances and assistance for the formulation of policies for a sustained developmental agenda.
National Mission for Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE): The broad objectives of the NMSHE include: understanding the complex processes affecting the Himalayan ecosystem and evolving suitable management and policy measures for sustaining and safeguarding it, creating and building capacities in different domains, networking of knowledge institutions engaged in research and development of a coherent data base on the Himalayan ecosystem, detecting and decoupling natural and anthropogenic-induced signals of global environmental changes in mountain ecosystems, studying traditional knowledge systems for community participation in adaptation, mitigation, and coping mechanisms inclusive of farming and traditional health care systems, and developing regional cooperation with neighbouring countries, to generate a strong data base through monitoring and analysis so as to eventually create a knowledge base for policy interventions.
National Water Mission: The objectives of the National Water Mission are 'conservation of water, minimizing wastage and ensuring its more equitable distribution both across and within States through integrated water resources management'. The goals of the Mission are a comprehensive water data base in the public domain, assessment of the impact of climate change on water resources, promotion of citizen and State actions for water conservation, augmentation and preservation, focused attention to overexploited areas, increasing water use efficiency by 20 per cent, and promotion of basin-level integrated water resources management.
Green India Mission: The Mission aims at responding to climate change through a combination of adaptation and mitigation measures. These measures include enhancing carbon sinks in sustainably managed forests and other ecosystems, adaption of vulnerable species/ecosystems to the changing climate, and adaptation of forest-dependent communities. The objectives of the Mission are increased forest/tree cover on 5 million ha of forest/non-forest lands and improved quality of forest cover on another 5 million ha (a total of 10 million ha), improved ecosystem services including biodiversity, hydrological services, carbon sequestration as a result of treatment of 10 million ha), increased forest-based livelihood income for about 3 million households living in and around the forest, and enhanced annual CO2 sequestration by 55 million tonnes in the year 2020.
National Mission on Sustainable Habitat (NMSH): The NMSH seeks to promote sustainability of habitats through improvements in energy efficiency in building and urban planning, improved management of solid and liquid waste including recycling and power generation, modal shift towards public transport, and conservation. It also seeks to improve ability of habitats to adapt to climate change by improving resilience of infrastructure, community- based disaster management, and measures for improving advance warning systems for extreme weather events.
National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture: The National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) seeks to address issues regarding 'sustainable agriculture' in the context of risks associated with climate change by devising appropriate adaptation and mitigation strategies for ensuring food security, enhancing livelihood opportunities, and contributing to economic stability at national level. Under this Mission, the adaptation and mitigation measures would be mainstreamed in research and development activities, absorption of improved technology and best practices, creation of physical and financial infrastructure and institutional framework, facilitating access to information and promoting capacity building. While promotion of dry-land agriculture would receive prime importance by way of developing suitable drought- and pest-resistant crop varieties and ensuring adequacy of institutional support, the Mission would also expand its coverage to rain-fed areas for integrating farming systems with livestock and fisheries so that agriculture continues to grow in a sustainable manner.
Environment management in India has, over the years, recognized these sustainable development concerns. The National Environment Policy 2006 has attempted to mainstream environmental concerns in all our developmental activities. It underlines that “while conservation of environmental resources is necessary to secure livelihoods and well being of all, the most secure basis for conservation is to ensure that people dependent on particular resources obtain better livelihoods from the fact of conservation, than from degradation of the resource”.
A few recent initiatives
The Ministry of Environment and Forests has notified the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules 2010 in order to ensure that there is no further degradation of wetlands. The rules specify activities that are harmful to wetlands, such as industrialization, construction, dumping of untreated waste and reclamation and prohibit these activities in the wetlands. Other activities, such as harvesting and dredging may be carried out in the wetlands but only with prior permission from the concerned authorities.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) Act, 2010 came into force on October 18, 2010. As per the provisions of the NGT Act 2010, the National Environment Appellate Authority (NEAA), established under the NEAA Act, 1997, stands dissolved and the cases pending before NEAA stand transferred to the NGT. The Act provides for the establishment of a NGT for the effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources, including enforcement of any legal right relating to environment and giving relief and compensation for damages to persons and property and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
Coastal ecosystems are a critical reservoir of our biodiversity and provide protection from natural disasters such as floods and tsunamis and are a source of livelihood to hundreds of millions of families. Hence, as a major national initiative in this direction, the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification has been published in the gazette of India on January 6, 2011.
The Government of India and World Bank have signed a loan agreement for the implementation of an Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project, which will be implemented at a total cost of Rs 1156 crore. The World Bank will contribute an amount of Rs 897 crore (77.7 per cent), the Government of India Rs 177 Crore (15.4 per cent), and the States Rs 80 Crore (6.9 per cent). This project is for a period of five years and it is estimated that it will benefit 3.56 crore people directly 6.30 crore indirectly.
Climate Change
Climate Change, as a global environmental problem has been receiving intense political attention at domestic and international levels. ‘Climate change’ means a change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity, that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods. Increasing levels of fossil fuel burning and land use changes have emitted, and are continuing to emit, greenhouse gases (mainly carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide) into the earth’s atmosphere. This increasing level of emissions of greenhouse gases has caused a rise in the amount of heat from the sun trapped in the earth’s atmosphere, heat that would normally be radiated back into space. This has led to the greenhouse effect, resulting in climate change.
Besides, Global Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions have risen sharply since 1945. As per a working paper published by the World Resources Institute, total GHGs were estimated at 44,153 MtCo2 equivalents (million metric tons) in 2005. This is the most recent year for which comprehensive emissions data are available for every major gas and sector. Total global emissions grew by 12.7 per cent between 2000 and 2005, an annual average of 2.4 per cent. CO2 is the predominant gas accounting for 77 per cent of world GHG emissions in 2005, followed by methane (15 per cent) and nitrous oxide (7 per cent). North America accounted for 18 per cent of world GHG emissions, China for 16 per cent, and the EU for 12 per cent in 2005. India's share stood at 4 per cent in 2005.
The issue of climate change is now placed firmly on national and international agendas, subject to scrutiny by public and media, and is even shaping the strategies of a number of businesses.
Internationally, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (the Convention) was set up in 1992 and entered into force in 1994. This was a crucial step in putting in place the institutions and processes for the world’s Governments to take coordinated and effective action.
The Convention laid the groundwork for concerted international action, which in 1997 led to the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol containing a legally binding quantitative time-bound target for developed countries. The Kyoto Protocol set a target for developed countries (individually or jointly) to reduce overall emissions by at least 5 per cent below 1990 levels in the first commitment period, 2008 to 2012. Recognizing that relying on domestic measures alone to meet the target could be onerous, the Kyoto Protocol offers considerable flexibility through three mechanisms: Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), Joint Implementation (JI), and Emissions Trading (ET). Through the CDM, industrial countries can finance mitigation projects in developing countries contributing to their sustainable development.
Credits received from such projects can be used to meet commitments under the Kyoto Protocol. Through JI, industrialized countries acquire emissions credit by financially supporting projects in other industrialized countries.
Currently, international actions for addressing climate change are being pursued under the Bali Action Plan and the mandate of the Kyoto Protocol. The 15th CoP held at Copenhagen in December 2009 made some advance in the form of the ‘Copenhagen Accord’, which reflects the political understanding reached by a select group of countries. However, this was only ‘noted’ and not adopted by the Parties to the Convention. The recent negotiations held at Cancun during November 29 - December 11, 2010, have resulted in a set of decisions that cover various areas of action, for example mitigation, adaptation, technology and finance as outlined in the Bali Action Plan, while agreeing to work towards an ambitious target of emissions reduction under the Kyoto Protocol.
India's Greenhouse Emissions
Although India ranks in the top five in terms of GHG emissions, the per capita emissions are much lower compared to those of the developed countries, even if the historical emissions are excluded. Its high level of emissions is due to large populace, geographical size and large economy. The most recent data available for India are the assessment carried out by the Indian Network for Climate Change Assessment (INCCA) in May 2010.
The key results of the assessment are that the total net GHG emissions from India in 2007 were 1727.71 million tons of CO2 equivalent (eq.), of which carbon dioxide emissions were 1221.76 million tons; methane 20.56 million tons; and nitrous oxide 0.24 million tons. In 1994, the total net GHG emissions for India were 1228.54 million tons of CO2 eq. This represents a compounded annual growth rate of 2.9 per cent during the period 1994 to 2007. GHG emissions from the energy, industry, agriculture, and waste sectors in 2007 constituted 58 per cent, 22 per cent, 17 per cent, and 3 per cent of the net CO2 eq. emissions respectively. India's per capita CO2 eq. emissions including land use, land use change, and forestry (LULUCF) were 1.5 tons per capita in 2007.
Impacts of Climate Change in India
Climate change has enormous implications for the natural resources and livelihoods of the people. It will have wide-ranging effects on the environmental and socio-economic and related sectors. Various studies indicate that the key sectors in India such as the agriculture, water, natural ecosystem, biodiversity, and health are vulnerable to climate change. This is happening precisely at a time when it is confronted with huge development imperatives. The Indian Network for Climate Change Assessment (INCCA) released a report in November 2010 on assessment of the impact of climate change on key sectors and regions of India in the 2030s. The assessment covers four key sectors of the Indian economy, namely agriculture, water, natural ecosystems and biodiversity, and health in four climate sensitive regions, namely the Himalayan region, the Western Ghats, the Coastal Area, and the North-east region.
The report warns of impacts such as sea-level rise, increase in cyclonic intensity, reduced crop yield in rain-fed crops, stress on livestock, reduction in milk productivity, increased flooding, and spread of malaria. This calls for urgency of action in reducing vulnerability to adverse impacts of climate change and enhancing adaptive capacity through sector-specific interventions and efforts.
India's Strategies
India’s total CO2 emissions are about 4 per cent of total global CO2 emissions and the energy intensity of India’s output has been falling with improvements in energy efficiency, autonomous technological changes, and economical use of energy. India’s climate modeling studies show that even with 8-9 per cent gross domestic product (GDP) growth every year for the next decade or two, its per capita emissions will be around 3-3.5 tonnes of CO2eq. by 2030, as compared to the present 1-1.2 tonnes. These are well below developed country averages by any estimation.
India’s determination in addressing climate change is evident from the fact that an indicative target of increasing energy efficiency by 20 per cent by 2016-17 is already included in the Eleventh Five Year Plan. This has now been supplemented with the domestic mitigation goal of reducing emissions intensity of the GDP by 20-25 per cent of the 2005 level by 2020 through proactive policies. The resources for the measures required to achieve this objective will need to be mobilized from various sources, including the national planning process. Studies in respect of a low carbon strategy for development aimed at ensuring inclusive growth are being conducted with the aim of including this as one of the key pillars in the Twelfth Five Year Plan.
Second, India is taking conscious steps to diversify the energy fuel mix such as setting up of 20,000 MW of solar power-generating capacity by 2022, doubling the present share of 3 per cent of nuclear power in the energy mix over the next decade, putting in place a major market-based programme to stimulate energy efficiency, imposing clean energy cess on coal for funding research and development (R&D) of clean energy technologies, even though coal will continue to play a key role in our future energy strategy, and aggressively expanding the use of natural gas in power production.
Third, India has been pursuing aggressive strategies for forestry and coastal management to increase the quality and quantity of forest cover and has launched a major new programme on coastal zone management to address the adaptation challenges facing over 300 million people in our country who live in vulnerable areas near our coast.
As part of its international obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) India periodically prepares the National Communication (NATCOM) that gives an inventory of the GHG emissions in India, assesses the vulnerability and impacts, and makes appropriate recommendations regarding social, economic and technological measures for addressing climate change.
India's strategy for enhancing its adaptive capacity to climate variability is reflected in many of its social and economic development programmes. For developing countries like India, adaptation ultimately boils down to assisting the vulnerable population during exigencies and empowering them to build their lives and cope with uncertainties in the long run. Several of India's social-sector schemes, with their emphases on livelihood security and welfare of the weaker sections, aim to do just that. India implements a series of Central sector and centrally sponsored schemes under different Ministries/Departments aimed at achieving social and economic development. Many of these schemes contain elements (objectives and targets) that are decidedly geared to adaptation. In other words, there is substantial adaptation orientation in many of the sectoral schemes currently under operation. An exercise has been carried out to measure the expenditure on adaptation-related programmes with critical adaptation components: (a) crop improvement and research, (b) poverty alleviation and livelihood preservation, (c) drought proofing and flood control, (d) risk financing, (e) forest conservation, (f) health, and (g) rural education and infrastructure. It has been found that India's expenditure on these adaptation-oriented schemes has increased from 1.45 per cent of GDP in the year 2000-01 to 2.84 per cent during 2009-10. This is a fairly impressive level of spending and is an obvious reflection of the multiplicity of economic and social welfare programmes under implementation in India.
India has announced a National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) in June, 2008 which incorporates its vision of sustainable development and the steps it must take to realize it.
Climate Change Financing
Climate change is a complex policy issue with major implications in terms of finances for addressing mitigation of GHG emissions, on the one hand, and coping with the adverse impacts of climate change on the community and population, ecosystem, economy and livelihood, on the other.
All actions to address climate change ultimately involve costs. Funding is vital in order for countries like India to design and implement adaptation and mitigation plans and projects.
Lack of funding is a large impediment to implementing adaptation plans. Article 4 of the Convention states that developed countries shall provide financial resources to assist developing country Parties in addressing climate change. The funds that are currently available under the Convention and the Kyoto Protocol are small compared to the magnitude of the need assessed by many studies. The UNFCCC has estimated a requirement of US$ 200-210 billion in additional investment in 2030 to return GHG emissions to current level. Further, additional investment needed worldwide for adaptation is estimated to be US$ 60-182 billion in 2030 by UNFCCC, inclusive of an expenditure of US$ 28-67 billion in developing countries. As various estimates point to the enormity of funds to address climate change, developing countries including India have been arguing that a global mechanism for generating and accounting for additional resources, mainly from public sources, is essential for meeting the long-term finance requirements for adaptation and mitigation. There should be a multilateral financial mechanism under the Convention that should be set up with resources provided by developed countries on the basis of assessed contributions.
One of the important outcomes of the Cancun Agreements from the finance point of view is the decisions on ‘fast start finance, long-term finance, and Green Climate Fund’. At Cancun, it was decided to set up a ‘Green Climate Fund’, to be designated as an operating entity of the Financial Mechanism of the Convention under Article 11. The Green Climate Fund is accountable to and functions under the guidance of the CoP. The Fund will support environment-related projects, programmes, policies, and other activities in developing countries.
While the outcomes in Cancun on Climate Fund, Technology Mechanism, and Adaptation Framework and Forestry (REDD+) are welcome, further work is needed on strengthening of weak mitigation pledges by developed countries, preventing unilateral trade actions in the name of climate change, and continuing a dialogue on intellectual property rights as part of technology development and transfer efforts. Moreover, a successful global effort for addressing climate change must be built on sound principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities. Equity in terms of equitable access to global atmospheric resources should define the pathway to attainment of a long-term goal in line with the broad findings of science.
Besides, the increasing importance of climate-related issues should not shake the foundations of our inclusive growth strategy. Careful planning and customized policies are needed to ensure that the green growth strategies do not result in a slow growth strategy.
Eight National Missions:
Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM): The government has launched the JNNSM in January 2010 with a target of 20,000 MW grid solar power (based on solar thermal power- generating systems and solar photovoltaic [SPV] technologies), 2000 MW of off-grid capacity by 2022. The Mission will be implemented in three phases. The first phase will last three years (up to March 2013), the second till March 2017, and the third till March 2022. The Government has also approved the implementation of the first phase of the Mission (up to March 2013) and the target to set up 1100 MW grid-connected solar plants including 100 MW of rooftop and small solar plants and 200 MW capacity-equivalent off-grid solar applications and a 7 million sq.m solar thermal collector area in the first phase of the Mission, till 2012-13.
Energy Conservation and Efficiency: The objective of the National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE) is to achieve growth with ecological sustainability by devising cost-effective strategies for end- use demand-side management. The Ministry of Power and Bureau of Energy Efficiency have been entrusted with the task of preparing the implementation plan for the NMEEE and up-scaling the efforts to create and sustain market for energy efficiency to unlock investment of around Rs 74,000 crore. The Mission is likely to achieve about 23 million tons oil-equivalent of fuel savings—in coal, gas, and petroleum product—by 2014-15, along with an expected avoided capacity addition of over 19,000 MW. The carbon dioxide emission reduction is estimated to be 98.55 million tons annually.
National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change (NMSKCC): The NMSKCC has been launched with the broad objectives of mapping of the knowledge and data resources relevant to climate change and positioning of a data-sharing policy framework for building strategic knowledge among the various arms of the Government, identification of knowledge gaps, networking of knowledge institutions after investing critical mass of physical, intellectual, and policy infrastructure resources, creation of new dedicated centres within the existing institutional framework, building of international cooperation on science and technology for climate change agenda through strategic alliances and assistance for the formulation of policies for a sustained developmental agenda.
National Mission for Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE): The broad objectives of the NMSHE include: understanding the complex processes affecting the Himalayan ecosystem and evolving suitable management and policy measures for sustaining and safeguarding it, creating and building capacities in different domains, networking of knowledge institutions engaged in research and development of a coherent data base on the Himalayan ecosystem, detecting and decoupling natural and anthropogenic-induced signals of global environmental changes in mountain ecosystems, studying traditional knowledge systems for community participation in adaptation, mitigation, and coping mechanisms inclusive of farming and traditional health care systems, and developing regional cooperation with neighbouring countries, to generate a strong data base through monitoring and analysis so as to eventually create a knowledge base for policy interventions.
National Water Mission: The objectives of the National Water Mission are 'conservation of water, minimizing wastage and ensuring its more equitable distribution both across and within States through integrated water resources management'. The goals of the Mission are a comprehensive water data base in the public domain, assessment of the impact of climate change on water resources, promotion of citizen and State actions for water conservation, augmentation and preservation, focused attention to overexploited areas, increasing water use efficiency by 20 per cent, and promotion of basin-level integrated water resources management.
Green India Mission: The Mission aims at responding to climate change through a combination of adaptation and mitigation measures. These measures include enhancing carbon sinks in sustainably managed forests and other ecosystems, adaption of vulnerable species/ecosystems to the changing climate, and adaptation of forest-dependent communities. The objectives of the Mission are increased forest/tree cover on 5 million ha of forest/non-forest lands and improved quality of forest cover on another 5 million ha (a total of 10 million ha), improved ecosystem services including biodiversity, hydrological services, carbon sequestration as a result of treatment of 10 million ha), increased forest-based livelihood income for about 3 million households living in and around the forest, and enhanced annual CO2 sequestration by 55 million tonnes in the year 2020.
National Mission on Sustainable Habitat (NMSH): The NMSH seeks to promote sustainability of habitats through improvements in energy efficiency in building and urban planning, improved management of solid and liquid waste including recycling and power generation, modal shift towards public transport, and conservation. It also seeks to improve ability of habitats to adapt to climate change by improving resilience of infrastructure, community- based disaster management, and measures for improving advance warning systems for extreme weather events.
National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture: The National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) seeks to address issues regarding 'sustainable agriculture' in the context of risks associated with climate change by devising appropriate adaptation and mitigation strategies for ensuring food security, enhancing livelihood opportunities, and contributing to economic stability at national level. Under this Mission, the adaptation and mitigation measures would be mainstreamed in research and development activities, absorption of improved technology and best practices, creation of physical and financial infrastructure and institutional framework, facilitating access to information and promoting capacity building. While promotion of dry-land agriculture would receive prime importance by way of developing suitable drought- and pest-resistant crop varieties and ensuring adequacy of institutional support, the Mission would also expand its coverage to rain-fed areas for integrating farming systems with livestock and fisheries so that agriculture continues to grow in a sustainable manner.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Solar developers want ‘visibility' of future projects
Land acquisition and clarity on project pipeline are the biggest challenges that developers of solar power projects face today, even as finding financiers and skilled manpower still remain issues.
These difficulties were highlighted in a panel discussion at Solarcon India 2011, an international conference of the solar power industry, here on Thursday.
Clarity on how many solar projects would be put up for bidding each year in the coming few years is something that the developers find important. “Visibility for (even) 2012 is just not there,” said Mr Pasupathy Gopalan of SunEdison, a US-based company that has a clutch of projects in Gujarat and Rajasthan. “We have recruited over 200 people,” he said, wondering what the company would do with them after the on-hand projects are completed.
Agreeing with co-panelist, Mr Alan Rosling of Kiran Energy, Mr Gopalan said project visibility was crucial to attract investors.
Mr Gopalan said while the Government had done a “fantastic job of managing subsidies”, ensuring that the outgo from the exchequer was kept at the minimum, he would urge the policy makers to think in terms of the next 3-5 years.
Land acquisition was flagged as a major issue that requires policy intervention. SunEdison has nine projects underway in India. “Each of the nine projects has enormous land issues,” Mr Gopalan said.
It is a sore point with the developers that while there is a deadline for completion of the projects, with stiff penalties for failure, there are issues, such as land and linkage to the grid, over which they have no control.
Mr Srini Nagabhairava of AES Solar recalled that he had raised these points at Solarcon India 2009, and pointed out that over the two years the challenges haven't changed.
While agreeing that land was a big issue, Mr Vish Palekar of Mahindra Solar, struck a different chord saying the issue could be tackled by “social and local inclusiveness”.
Beside securing funding and finding and keeping talent, some developers noted that the credibility of the engineering, procurement and construction contractor was crucial in convincing bankers to fund projects.
At the question-and-answer session, a participant suggested a renewable energy finance obligation to be put on banks to enable funding to solar projects even if they exceed sector limits.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Banks should lead the war on poverty
At BANCON (annual bankers' conference) 2011 in Chennai, financial institutions explored avenues for greater participation in agriculture and rural development. There are a few areas in need of additional attention and investment.
Green Revolution technologies are scale-neutral but not resource-neutral. Inputs are needed for output; therefore market-purchased inputs become important in providing soil and plant healthcare for higher yields. Social scientists point out that small and marginal farmers will be excluded from the benefits of the Green Revolution since they would not have the financial resource to buy inputs. The Government of India initiated a Small and Marginal Farmers Programme specially to provide credit and other inputs. After bank nationalisation, provision of credit to small and marginal farmers got priority. Without this, the wheat revolution would not have covered all farmers. The smaller the farm, the greater is the need for marketable surplus, so that the family will have cash income to meet their needs.
The emerging phase in agriculture will be based on integrating the principles of ecology and equity in technology development and dissemination. This is the path to an ever-green revolution leading to sustained increase in productivity without associated environmental harm. In recent years, the government has stepped up credit for agriculture. However, the burden of indebtedness is still high in rural India, and the rural masses are exploited in the credit market. Much of the credit intended for farmers goes through indirect channels, and not directly to them.
Problems in the supply of credit to rural families include inadequate supply of formal credit on the whole, imperfect and fragmented rural credit markets, and unequal distribution of credit, particularly with respect to region, class, caste and gender. In spite of the dominant role played by women in both farming, they are denied credit as they lack land titles. Only a small percentage of Kisan Credit Cards goes to them. Consequently, the major source of credit to rural households, particularly income-poor working households, continues to be the informal sector. Many of the farmer suicides, particularly in the drought-prone areas, are attributed to lack of access to formal credit at reasonable interest rates.
If farmers have to take their lives, then there is something wrong in our economic and social structure. Unfortunately, this issue is being dealt with in statistical terms and not from the point of view of the real state of farming.
Financial inclusion
Apart from the initiatives taken by banks, some of which are commendable, the most important instrument to reach the unreached in terms of access to credit is microcredit. A number of non-banking finance companies have entered the rural microcredit market. Many microcredit agencies have been charging interest rates not very dissimilar to those charged by moneylenders. Borrowing then becomes more to meet pressing consumption needs, rather than for farming or small-scale enterprises. There are examples of micro-enterprises organised by women's Self-Help Groups with the help of microcredit. Production-oriented SHGs become sustainable if they have backward linkages with technology and credit and forward linkages with the market. The rationale for microcredit is to strengthen the livelihood security of the economically underprivileged sections, and its impact should be measured in terms of reduction achieved in poverty and hunger. Formal financial institutions should provide funds to non-banking finance companies only on the basis of a well-defined code of conduct that will help promote a win-win situation for the lending institution and the SHGs operating market-driven micro-enterprises.
The pervasive nature of malnutrition in India is evident from national and international surveys. International price volatility is high, both due to a continuous rise in petroleum prices, and unfavourable weather conditions. For the poor, including small and marginal farmers, food inflation increases their vulnerability to hunger. India's food inflation is now over 12 per cent. The Reserve Bank of India has raised interest rates 13 times in 19 months. They are up from 4.75 per cent in March 2010 to 8.5 per cent in October 2011. The inflation rate has been steady since March 2010, despite RBI interventions. A fresh approach is needed, going beyond merely altering interest rates to contain inflation. In measures to contain food inflation, a disaggregated approach is needed. Look at a few commodities:
• Vegetables: Prices have gone up by 63.95 per cent in the last six months. The National Horticulture Mission with an outlay of about Rs. 20,000 crore, meant to increase production of vegetables and fruits, puts emphasis on commercial vegetables, including for export, rather than on malnutrition. For every nutritional malady there is a horticultural remedy. The nutrition and food inflation containment dimensions in the Horticulture Mission should be mainstreamed. Mapping the hot-spots with reference to the gap between demand and supply and planning the production and distribution strategy will help check inflation.
• Pulses: Budget 2011 provided funds to establish 60,000 Pulses Villages. If the programme is implemented holistically, price rise can be halted. Banks can help establish Pulses Seed Villages to provide seeds, as Indian Overseas Bank did over 10 years ago in Tamil Nadu.
• Potato and onion: In a report on managing the prices of perishable commodities submitted to Indira Gandhi in 1982, a detailed strategy for the management of output and prices in the case of crops such as onion and potato was dealt with. The approach suggested was similar to what was done in the case of milk by Dr. V. Kurien and the National Diary Development Board, where the emphasis was on post-harvest infrastructure and management. Unfortunately, the National Horticulture Board has not been able to play a similar role. It is time we developed a mechanism that can ensure remunerative prices.
• Milk: Nearly 80 per cent of the price of milk is accounted for by the cost of feed and fodder. We are exporting concentrates like the soyabean meal while we have nearly one billion farm animals to feed. Often, common grazing grounds are diverted for other uses. Seeds of good fodder varieties are not available. In areas where there are large numbers of dairy cattle, SHGs can organise fodder and feed banks with support from banks.
• Rice, wheat and nutri-cereals: Prices of these staples have remained relatively stable largely because of procurement and public distribution policies. This has a lesson for other crops: food inflation can be contained if a disaggregated commodity-centred approach based on a clear understanding of the causes for price rise is adopted.
Over 60 per cent of India's population is engaged in agriculture. Our greatest challenge is the technological upgradation of small-farm operations to improve small-farm productivity, profitability and sustainability. There is a growing gap between scientific know-how and field-level do-how. Indian Overseas Bank is helping to organise Farm Schools in the fields of outstanding farm women and men to bring those from other areas to stay for a few days with the farmer-achievers, helping multiply successes. Members of the banking family could take up such activities under their corporate social responsibility programme.
There is a need for greater credit and insurance literacy among farm families. Financial institutions interested in increasing their lending for food security could locate a staff member in Krishi Vigyan Kendras. I initiated the KVK pathway of knowledge and skill empowerment in 1974 with the first one located at Puducherry. Now there are over 500 KVKs operated by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, agricultural universities and non-government institutions that can provide locations for financial institutions to launch a credit and insurance literacy movement.
If agriculture goes wrong, nothing else will have a chance to go right in India. With a National Food Security Bill on the anvil, we must redouble our efforts to increase farm production on an environmentally sustainable basis. The banking community played an important part in enabling the Green Revolution. It should now play such a role in ushering in the era of freedom from hunger.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
IBPS GENERAL AWARENESS QUESTIONS
1. The Central Government in June 2011 declared the Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh a tiger reserve. It is
(A) 32nd tiger reserve
(B) 34th tiger reserve
(C) 40th tiger reserve
(D) 42nd tiger reserve
Ans : (D)
2. The premier rating agency, "Standard & Poor's", downgraded the US credit ratings from AAA in August 2011, which had been enjoyed by the US since
(A) 1910
(B) 1917
(C) 1927
(D) 1942
Ans : (B)
3. As per figures presented by National Rural Health Mission in August 2011, to meet the UN Infant Mortality Rate targets for 2012, India will need another
(A) 4 years
(B) 8 years
(C) 12 years
(D) 15 years
Ans : (C)
4. The Government of India gave in principle approval to strengthening of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) demarcating China-India border. The LAC is
(A) 2,000-km long
(B) 2,057-km long
(C) 3,057-km long
(D) 4,057-km long
Ans : (D)
5. "India: A Portrait" has been written by
(A) Khuswant Singh
(B) Kuldip Nayar
(C) Patrick French
(D) J.M. Keynes
Ans : (C)
6. In which one of the following is a great dark plain called "Maria" found ?
(A) Earth
(B) Mars
(C) Jupiter
(D) Moon
Ans : (D)
7. Which among the following elements (metals) pollutes the air of a city having large number of automobiles ?
(A) Cadmium
(B) Lead
(C) Chromium
(D) Nickel
Ans : (B)
8. The international airport in Tamil Nadu is
(A) Palam
(B) Dum Dum
(C) Santa Cruz
(D) Meenambakkam
Ans : (D)
9. The 'Cannes Award' is given for excellence in which of the following fields ?
(A) Literature
(B) Films
(C) Journalism
(D) Economics
Ans : (B)
10. The term 'Tee' is connected with
(A) Polo
(B) Golf
(C) Bridge
(D) Billiards
Ans : (B)
11. Norman Ernest Borlaug, who is regarded as the father of the Green Revolution in India, is from which country ?
(A) USA
(B) Mexico
(C) Australia
(D) New Zealand
Ans : (A)
12. Which one of the following cities is nearest to the equator ?
(A) Colombo
(B) Jakarta
(C) Manila
(D) Singapore
Ans : (D)
13. Who among the following rejected the title of Knighthood and refused to accept a position in the Council of the Secretary of State for India ?
(A) Moti Lal Nehru
(B) M.G. Ranade
(C) G. K Gokhale
(D) B. G. Tilak
Ans : (C)
14. During the time of which Mughal Emperor did the English East India Company establish its first factory in India ?
(A) Akbar
(B) Jahangir
(C) Shahjahan
(D) Aurangzeb
Ans : (B)
15. Which one of the following suggested the reconstitution of the Viceroy's Executive Council in which all the portfolios including that of War Members were to be held by the Indian leaders ?
(A) Simon Commission
(B) Simla Conference
(C) Cripps Proposal
(D) Cabinet Mission
Ans : (C)
16. Which one of the following is a spacecraft ?
(A) Apophis
(B) Cassini
(C) Spitzer
(D) TecSar
Ans : (B)
17. Which one of the following is also called Stranger Gas ?
(A) Argon
(B) Neon
(C) Xenon
(D) Nitrous oxide
Ans : (C)
18. In the context of the Indian defence, what is 'Dhruv' ?
(A) Aircraft-carrying warship
(B) Missile-carrying submarine
(C) Advanced light helicopter
(D) Intercontinental ballistic missile
Ans : (C)
19. Elizabeth Hawley is well-known for her writings relating to which one of the following ?
(A) Historical monuments in India
(B) Regional dances in India
(C) Himalayan expeditions
(D) Wildlife in India
Ans : (C)
20. The name of the first cloned sheep was
(A) Jolly
(B) Dolly.
(C) Roly
(D) Molly
Ans : (B)
21. Which of the following is not a Public Sector Unit/Undertaking/Agency ?
(A) ECGC
(B) SEBI
(C) SIDBI
(D) Axis Bank
Ans : (D)
22. Which of the following awards is given for excellence in the field of sports ?
(A) Kalidas Samman
(B) Dhyanchand Award
(C) Shram Vir Award
(D) Shanu Swarup Bhatnagar Award
Ans : (B)
23. Heavy Water is normally used by which of the following industries ?
(A) Nuclear Power generation pi
(B) Pharma Industry
(C) Paper Industry
(D) Sugar plants
Ans : (A)
24. Which one of the following sites of the Indus Valley Civilisation had an ancient dockyard ?
(A) Kalibangan
(B) Lothal
(C) Rangpur
(D) Harappa
Ans : (B)
25. Who amongst the following is author of the book 'Namesake' ?
(A) Vikram Seth
(B) Jhumpa Lahiri
(C) Kiran Desai
(D) Shobha De
Ans : (B)
(A) 32nd tiger reserve
(B) 34th tiger reserve
(C) 40th tiger reserve
(D) 42nd tiger reserve
Ans : (D)
2. The premier rating agency, "Standard & Poor's", downgraded the US credit ratings from AAA in August 2011, which had been enjoyed by the US since
(A) 1910
(B) 1917
(C) 1927
(D) 1942
Ans : (B)
3. As per figures presented by National Rural Health Mission in August 2011, to meet the UN Infant Mortality Rate targets for 2012, India will need another
(A) 4 years
(B) 8 years
(C) 12 years
(D) 15 years
Ans : (C)
4. The Government of India gave in principle approval to strengthening of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) demarcating China-India border. The LAC is
(A) 2,000-km long
(B) 2,057-km long
(C) 3,057-km long
(D) 4,057-km long
Ans : (D)
5. "India: A Portrait" has been written by
(A) Khuswant Singh
(B) Kuldip Nayar
(C) Patrick French
(D) J.M. Keynes
Ans : (C)
6. In which one of the following is a great dark plain called "Maria" found ?
(A) Earth
(B) Mars
(C) Jupiter
(D) Moon
Ans : (D)
7. Which among the following elements (metals) pollutes the air of a city having large number of automobiles ?
(A) Cadmium
(B) Lead
(C) Chromium
(D) Nickel
Ans : (B)
8. The international airport in Tamil Nadu is
(A) Palam
(B) Dum Dum
(C) Santa Cruz
(D) Meenambakkam
Ans : (D)
9. The 'Cannes Award' is given for excellence in which of the following fields ?
(A) Literature
(B) Films
(C) Journalism
(D) Economics
Ans : (B)
10. The term 'Tee' is connected with
(A) Polo
(B) Golf
(C) Bridge
(D) Billiards
Ans : (B)
11. Norman Ernest Borlaug, who is regarded as the father of the Green Revolution in India, is from which country ?
(A) USA
(B) Mexico
(C) Australia
(D) New Zealand
Ans : (A)
12. Which one of the following cities is nearest to the equator ?
(A) Colombo
(B) Jakarta
(C) Manila
(D) Singapore
Ans : (D)
13. Who among the following rejected the title of Knighthood and refused to accept a position in the Council of the Secretary of State for India ?
(A) Moti Lal Nehru
(B) M.G. Ranade
(C) G. K Gokhale
(D) B. G. Tilak
Ans : (C)
14. During the time of which Mughal Emperor did the English East India Company establish its first factory in India ?
(A) Akbar
(B) Jahangir
(C) Shahjahan
(D) Aurangzeb
Ans : (B)
15. Which one of the following suggested the reconstitution of the Viceroy's Executive Council in which all the portfolios including that of War Members were to be held by the Indian leaders ?
(A) Simon Commission
(B) Simla Conference
(C) Cripps Proposal
(D) Cabinet Mission
Ans : (C)
16. Which one of the following is a spacecraft ?
(A) Apophis
(B) Cassini
(C) Spitzer
(D) TecSar
Ans : (B)
17. Which one of the following is also called Stranger Gas ?
(A) Argon
(B) Neon
(C) Xenon
(D) Nitrous oxide
Ans : (C)
18. In the context of the Indian defence, what is 'Dhruv' ?
(A) Aircraft-carrying warship
(B) Missile-carrying submarine
(C) Advanced light helicopter
(D) Intercontinental ballistic missile
Ans : (C)
19. Elizabeth Hawley is well-known for her writings relating to which one of the following ?
(A) Historical monuments in India
(B) Regional dances in India
(C) Himalayan expeditions
(D) Wildlife in India
Ans : (C)
20. The name of the first cloned sheep was
(A) Jolly
(B) Dolly.
(C) Roly
(D) Molly
Ans : (B)
21. Which of the following is not a Public Sector Unit/Undertaking/Agency ?
(A) ECGC
(B) SEBI
(C) SIDBI
(D) Axis Bank
Ans : (D)
22. Which of the following awards is given for excellence in the field of sports ?
(A) Kalidas Samman
(B) Dhyanchand Award
(C) Shram Vir Award
(D) Shanu Swarup Bhatnagar Award
Ans : (B)
23. Heavy Water is normally used by which of the following industries ?
(A) Nuclear Power generation pi
(B) Pharma Industry
(C) Paper Industry
(D) Sugar plants
Ans : (A)
24. Which one of the following sites of the Indus Valley Civilisation had an ancient dockyard ?
(A) Kalibangan
(B) Lothal
(C) Rangpur
(D) Harappa
Ans : (B)
25. Who amongst the following is author of the book 'Namesake' ?
(A) Vikram Seth
(B) Jhumpa Lahiri
(C) Kiran Desai
(D) Shobha De
Ans : (B)
Friday, November 4, 2011
UBI P.O. General Awareness Exam Paper
1Q. Very often we see in the advertisements published by Financing Institutes/Agencies stating that their products are given high or average Ratings. These Rating Agencies classify bonds/investments in how many categories ?
1. Low Risk
2. Average Risk
3. High Risk
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) All 1, 2 and 3
(E) None of these
Answer : (D)
2Q. As per the reports published in various newspapers/journals etc. the economic map of the world is being redesigned. What is/are the new emerging trends of this new economic map of the world ?
1. With India and Asia at the forefront the centre of economic gravity has shifted to East.
2. Emerging markets, with India among the leaders, are growing faster than old established markets.
3. Central banks of the countries have recognized that case-by-case liquidity solutions are not the answers and a market wide and globally synchronized approach is needed to solve the present crisis.
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) All 1, 2 and 3
(E) None of these
Answer : (A)
3Q. As per the decision taken by the Govt. of India, the exporters of which of the following products to USA and European countries will get an incentive of 2% on their exports ?
1. Leather goods
2. Garments
3. Software
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) Both 1 and 2 only
(E) All 1, 2 and 3
Answer : (D)
4Q. Which of the following is/are the key features of Indian Economy which were highlighted during the presentation of the Interim Budget 2009-10 ?
1. Despite global financial crisis the GDP growth rate in current financial year has been 7•1 per cent.
2. Indian economy was adjudged as second fastest growing economy in the world
3. A provision of Rs. 100 crores is made in the annual plan 2009-10 for setting up Unique Identification Authority of India.
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) All 1, 2 and 3
(E) None of these
Answer : (D)
5Q. Many a times we read a term in financial news papers ‘SEPA’. What is the full form of the term ?
(A) Single Exchange Processing Agency
(B) Single Euro Payments Area
(C) Single Electronic Processing Agency
(D) Super Electronic Purchase Agency
(E) None of these
Answer : (B)
6Q. As per the newly launched ‘Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme’ a monthly pension will be given to the widows. What will be the amount of the pension ?
(A) Rs. 200
(B) Rs. 400
(C) Rs. 600
(D) Rs. 800
(E) None of these
Answer : (A)
7Q. As per the decision taken by the Govt. of India all the Public Sector Banks (PSBs) will be recapitalised over the next two years so that they can maintain a Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) of ……….
(A) 9%
(B) 12%
(C) 11%
(D) 22%
(E) None of these
Answer: (B)
8. As per the Industrial Development Report 2009 India’s rank in Industrial Development was 54 on the Development Index. Which of the following organizations/agencies compiles Industrial Development Index of the world ?
(A) International Labour Organisation
(B) United Nations’ Industrial Development Organisation
(C) World Bank
(D) World Trade Organisation
(E) The Economic and Social Council of UNO
Answer : (B)
9Q. As per the news published in major news papers/magazines the International Finance Corporation has offered a loan for providing clean drinking water to 30 lakhs people in rural India. What is the amount of the loan ?
(A) 5 million US $
(B) 10 million US $
(C) 15 million US $
(D) 20 million US $
(E) None of these
Answer : (C)
10Q. The merger of which of the following two Indian companies took place in recent past which is termed as “Largest ever merger in India’s Corporate History” ?
(A) Nuclear Power Corporation and National Thermal Power Corporation
(B) State Bank of India and its seven associate banks
(C) Hind Aluminium Company and Century Mills
(D) Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland
(E) Reliance Industries and Reliance Petroleum Ltd.
Answer : (E)
11Q. As per the agreements signed by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCL) and National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) a joint Venture will be launched for setting up various Nuclear Power Plants in India. If this is materialized all these establishments will be required to function necessarily under the framework of which of the following existing acts ?
1. Industrial Disputes Act
2. Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act
3. Atomic Energy Act
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) All 1, 2 and 3
(E) None of these
Answer : (C)
12Q. As we all know more and more countries/organizations are now going for Non-Cash Transactions and accordingly Banks have launched many new products in the market for the same. Which of the following products is a non-cash transaction product ?
(A) Only ATM Card
(B) Only Credit Card
(C) Only Prepaid Card
(D) Only Debit Card
(E) All are non-cash transaction products
Answer : (E)
13Q. The Prime Minister of India while addressing a meeting of top industrialists of India in March 2009 advised the RBI to further cut interest rates. Which of the following is/are the reasons owing to which the Prime Minister who himself is an economist gave this advise to RBI ?
1. All major economies of the world are passing through a crisis situation. Prime Minister wants RBI to take preventive measures to save Indian economy.
2. In India ample liquidity is available in the market but there are no takers.
3. Inflation is at a comparatively low level at present in the country
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Both 2 and 3 only
(D) Only 3
(E) None of these
Answer : (A)
14Q. As per the reports published in the newspapers India has signed an agreement to supply its Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) to ……….
(A) Mauritius
(B) Bangladesh
(C) Nepal
(D) Zimbabwe
(E) Vietnam
Answer : (A)
15Q. Which of the following is/are TRUE about the present situation of Sugar Market in India which has undergone a dramatic change in last 12 months ?
1. From being a major exporter of sugar, India is desperately looking for imports today to meet its domestic needs.
2. Domestic prices have spurted by 60-70 per cent with no sign of respite.
3. The present situation is largely due to sharp contraction in cane acreage in the country.
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) All 1, 2 and 3
(E) None of these
Answer : (D)
16. As per the recent reports, the per capita Income of the country has gone up during 2008-09. What is the per capita income at present ?
About ……….
(A) Rs. 15,000
(B) Rs. 33,000
(C) Rs. 40,000
(D) Rs. 23,000
(E) Rs. 53,000
Answer : (C)
17Q. A major Financial Newspaper while writing about the present status of economy in India wrote “the outlook in the agricultural sector gives room for optimism”. What does it really mean ?
[Pick up most appropriate statement(s)]
1. Agricultural Sector which was not playing any significant role in Indian economy is now growing very fast and significantly.
2. Agricultural sector is not going to play any major role in economy as its progress is still very slow.
3. Govt. will not require to provide any boost up package to agricultural sector as it is likely to be satisfactory this year.
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) Either 1 or 3
(E) None of these
Answer : (C)
18Q. While addressing a conference of Bankers and top Industrialists, the Prime Minister made a statement that “Domestic Credit Flow for Productive Needs had to be maintained at a reasonable Cost”. What does it really mean ?
(Pick up the most appropriate statements).
1. Banks should further raise their deposit base and provide very low cost credit to Industry which is badly in need of the same.
2. Banks should neither reduce their lending rates further nor increase the rates on deposits as this may create a critical imbalance in the financial/money market of the country.
3. Banks should see that ample credit is provided to the industries at an affordable cost without diluting the credit norms.
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) Both 1 and 2 only
(E) None of these
Answer : (C)
19. A major financial newspaper recently published a report wherein it is said that “the Govt. was aware of the problems in certain sectors, particularly where Export Dependence was High.’ Keeping general trend of India’s present economic situation in mind how would you interpret the above statement ?
[Pick up the most appropriate statement(s)].
1. The industry which produces mainly for export purposes is not doing well at present and needs Govt. support.
2. The industry which imports raw material and exports processed goods is in very bad shape these days. Govt. wishes to help them so that they can come out of it.
3. Indian exports were never in comfortable situations and this year they are in their worst situation. Govt. knows it but cannot help.
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) Both 1 and 3 only
(E) None of these
Answer : (A)
20Q. Who amongst the following is an Economist of international fame and was in news recently ?
(A) John Key
(B) Paul Krugman
(C) Nicolas Sarkozy
(D) Mohamed Elbaradei
(E) Mohamed Nasheed
Answer : (B)
21Q. Which of the following taxes is not levied by the Union Govt. ?
(A) Customs
(B) Corporate Tax
(C) Land Revenue
(D) Income Tax
(E) Surcharge on Income Tax
Answer : (C)
22Q. Service Tax was introduced in India for the first time in the year ……….
(A) 1990-91
(B) 1991-92
(C) 1994-95
(D) 1980-81
(E) 2000-01
Answer : (C)
23Q. Which of the following countries launched world’s first satellite for monitoring Greenhouse Gases ?
(A) USA
(B) Britain
(C) Japan
(D) China
(E) India
Answer : (C)
24Q. Which of the following countries launched its indigenous Satellite ‘Omid’ in February 2009 ?
(A) Spain
(B) Australia
(C) Turkey
(D) China
(E) Iran
Answer : (E)
25Q. The Govt. of India allowed the Income Tax Department to set up its centralized IT processing centre in ……….
(A) Bangalore
(B) Chennai
(C) Mumbai
(D) Kolkata
(E) Hyderabad
Answer : (A)
26Q. As per news reports MTNL recently launched it “3G Services” and became the first telecom operator to launch the same in India. What is the full form of ‘G’ in 3G ?
(A) Global
(B) Generation
(C) Growth
(D) Gravity
(E) None of these
Answer : (B)
27Q. India recently signed an agreement with which of the following countries so that it can import Uranium from it ?
(A) China
(B) Tunisia
(C) Brazil
(D) Taiwan
(E) None of these
Answer : (E)
28Q. The annual meeting of the world Economic Forum was organized in January–February 2009 in ……
(A) Davos
(B) Brasilia
(C) Washington DC
(D) London
(E) Tokyo
Answer : (A)
29Q. What is the minimum support price announced by the Govt. of India for Rabi crops of wheat ?
(A) Rs. 900 quintal
(B) Rs. 950 quintal
(C) Rs. 1,000 quintal
(D) Rs. 1,080 quintal
(E) Rs. 1,200 quintal
Answer : (D)
30Q. Which of the following is/are the highlights of the ‘project Snow Leopard’ launched in recent past ?
1. It is launched to safeguard and conserve India’s unique natural heritage and high altitude wild life.
2. The project is launched to make another hitech permanent Lab on South pole.
3. It is nothing but a project to protect snow leopards found in Himalayan region which is facing the fear of extinction.
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) Both 1 and 3 only
(E) None of these
Answer : (A)
31Q. Which of the following has now became the Third Largest Economy of the World ?
(A) Brazil
(B) India
(C) China
(D) Japan
(E) Russia
Answer : (C)
32Q. Ms. Johanna Sigurdardottir has taken over as the first women Prime Minister of ……
(A) Brazil
(B) Iceland
(C) Peru
(D) New Zealand
(E) Tunisia
Answer : (B)
33. Govt. of India has decided to set up two more All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) like institutes in near future. These new institutions would be established in ……….
(A) West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh
(B) Haryana & Punjab
(C) Punjab & Tamil Nadu
(D) Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh
(E) Gujarat and Maharashtra
Answer : (A)
34Q. Duleep Trophy is associated with the game of ……….
(A) Hockey
(B) Badminton
(C) Football
(D) Lawn Tennis
(E) Cricket
Answer : (E)
35Q. Who amongst the following is the winner of Saraswati Samman 2008 ?
(A) Gulzar
(B) Nida Fazli
(C) Srilal Shukla
(D) Govind Mishra
(E) Lakhmi Nandan Bora
Answer : (E)
36. Who amongst the following is the New Prime Minister of Israel after the general election held there in recent past ?
(A) Lieberman
(B) Tzipi Livini
(C) Shimon Peres
(D) Benjamin Netanyahu
(E) None of these
Answer : (D)
37Q. Who amongst the following is the highest Wicket taker in the history of cricket ?(Both ODI and Test Cricket)
(A) Wasim Akram
(B) Anil Kumble
(C) Stephan Fleming
(D) Shane Warne
(E) Muttiah Muralidharan
Answer : (E)
38Q. Which of the following commissions set up by the President of India decides the distribution of tax incomes between the Central and State Govts. ?
(A) Central Law Commission
(B) Pay Commission for Govt. Employees
(C) Administrative Reforms Commission
(D) Planning Commission
(E) Finance Commission
Answer : (E)
39Q. Who amongst the following became the first Indian to win ‘Golden Globe Award 2009’ ?
(A) Shivkumar Sharma
(B) Anu Malik
(C) Zakir Hussain
(D) A. R. Rahman
(E) None of these
Answer : (D)
40Q. Sania Mirza won the Mixed Doubles of which of the following tennis matches alongwith Mahesh Bhupati ?
(A) US Open 2009
(B) Australian Open 2009
(C) South Africa Tennis Open 2009
(D) ATP Challenger Tennis Championship 2009
(E) None of these
Answer : (B)
41Q. We very frequently read about the activities of the Foreign Exchange Market in newspapers/magazines. Which of the following is/are the major functions of the same ?
1. Transfer of purchasing power from domestic to foreign market.
2. Providing credit for financing foreign trade.
3. Power to purchase gold from foreign countries as most of the nations still work on Gold Standards.
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) Both 1 and 2 only
(E) Both 2 and 3 only
Answer : (D)
42Q. Who amongst the following players won the National Shooting Championship held in January 2009 ?
(A) Abhinav Bindra
(B) Omkar Singh
(C) Gurpreet Singh
(D) Anjali Bhagwat
(E) None of these
Answer : (E)
43Q. Who amontst the following is the author of the book “Termites in the Trading system” ?
(A) M. S. Swaminathan
(B) Jagdish Bhagwati
(C) Jaswant Singh
(D) M. Chelapati Rao
(E) None of these
Answer : (B)
44Q. The Govt. of India recently introduced Money Laundering Bill 2009. Under the bill which of the following agencies is empowered to search the premises after the offence is committed and a case is filed ?
(A) Income Tax Department
(B) Vigilance Department of the Reserve Bank of India
(C) Enforcement Directorate
(D) Central Bureau of Investigation
(E) None of these
Answer : (C)
45Q. Which of the following is/are the components of the Fiscal Deficit ?
1. Budgetary Deficit
2. Market Borrowings
3. Expenditure made from Pradhan Mantri Rahat Kosh
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) All 1, 2 and 3
(E) None of these
Answer : (A)
46. Which of the following is the Trophy/Cups associated with the game of Hockey ?
(A) Derby
(B) Agha Khan Cup
(C) Merdeka
(D) Vizzy Trophy
(E) Rovers Cup
Answer : (B)
47Q. Which of the following is not a Welfare scheme launched by the Govt. of India ?
(A) Village Grain Bank Scheme
(B) Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana
(C) Annapurna Scheme
(D) Midday Meal Scheme
(E) Bharat Nirman Yojana
Answer : (E)
48Q. Which of the following are the instruments of Credit Control in the hands of the RBI ?
1. Lowering or raising the discount and interest rates.
2. Raising the minimum support price of the major agro products.
3. Lowering or raising the minimum cash reserves maintained by the commercial banks.
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) Both 1 and 3 only
(E) Both 2 and 3 only
Answer : (C)
49Q. Who amongst the following is the author of the Book “Dreams from My Father : A Story of Race and Inheritance” ?
(A) Barack Obama
(B) John Evans Aatta Mills
(C) Nelson Mandela
(D) Danny Boyle
(E) None of these
Answer : (A)
50Q. Which of the following programmes was launched to further improve the facilities of irrigation in rural India ?
(A) National Social Assistance programme
(B) Construction of Kiosks for poors
(C) Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana
(D) Annapurna Scheme
(E) National Watershed Development Programme
Answer : (E)
1. Low Risk
2. Average Risk
3. High Risk
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) All 1, 2 and 3
(E) None of these
Answer : (D)
2Q. As per the reports published in various newspapers/journals etc. the economic map of the world is being redesigned. What is/are the new emerging trends of this new economic map of the world ?
1. With India and Asia at the forefront the centre of economic gravity has shifted to East.
2. Emerging markets, with India among the leaders, are growing faster than old established markets.
3. Central banks of the countries have recognized that case-by-case liquidity solutions are not the answers and a market wide and globally synchronized approach is needed to solve the present crisis.
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) All 1, 2 and 3
(E) None of these
Answer : (A)
3Q. As per the decision taken by the Govt. of India, the exporters of which of the following products to USA and European countries will get an incentive of 2% on their exports ?
1. Leather goods
2. Garments
3. Software
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) Both 1 and 2 only
(E) All 1, 2 and 3
Answer : (D)
4Q. Which of the following is/are the key features of Indian Economy which were highlighted during the presentation of the Interim Budget 2009-10 ?
1. Despite global financial crisis the GDP growth rate in current financial year has been 7•1 per cent.
2. Indian economy was adjudged as second fastest growing economy in the world
3. A provision of Rs. 100 crores is made in the annual plan 2009-10 for setting up Unique Identification Authority of India.
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) All 1, 2 and 3
(E) None of these
Answer : (D)
5Q. Many a times we read a term in financial news papers ‘SEPA’. What is the full form of the term ?
(A) Single Exchange Processing Agency
(B) Single Euro Payments Area
(C) Single Electronic Processing Agency
(D) Super Electronic Purchase Agency
(E) None of these
Answer : (B)
6Q. As per the newly launched ‘Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme’ a monthly pension will be given to the widows. What will be the amount of the pension ?
(A) Rs. 200
(B) Rs. 400
(C) Rs. 600
(D) Rs. 800
(E) None of these
Answer : (A)
7Q. As per the decision taken by the Govt. of India all the Public Sector Banks (PSBs) will be recapitalised over the next two years so that they can maintain a Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) of ……….
(A) 9%
(B) 12%
(C) 11%
(D) 22%
(E) None of these
Answer: (B)
8. As per the Industrial Development Report 2009 India’s rank in Industrial Development was 54 on the Development Index. Which of the following organizations/agencies compiles Industrial Development Index of the world ?
(A) International Labour Organisation
(B) United Nations’ Industrial Development Organisation
(C) World Bank
(D) World Trade Organisation
(E) The Economic and Social Council of UNO
Answer : (B)
9Q. As per the news published in major news papers/magazines the International Finance Corporation has offered a loan for providing clean drinking water to 30 lakhs people in rural India. What is the amount of the loan ?
(A) 5 million US $
(B) 10 million US $
(C) 15 million US $
(D) 20 million US $
(E) None of these
Answer : (C)
10Q. The merger of which of the following two Indian companies took place in recent past which is termed as “Largest ever merger in India’s Corporate History” ?
(A) Nuclear Power Corporation and National Thermal Power Corporation
(B) State Bank of India and its seven associate banks
(C) Hind Aluminium Company and Century Mills
(D) Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland
(E) Reliance Industries and Reliance Petroleum Ltd.
Answer : (E)
11Q. As per the agreements signed by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCL) and National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) a joint Venture will be launched for setting up various Nuclear Power Plants in India. If this is materialized all these establishments will be required to function necessarily under the framework of which of the following existing acts ?
1. Industrial Disputes Act
2. Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act
3. Atomic Energy Act
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) All 1, 2 and 3
(E) None of these
Answer : (C)
12Q. As we all know more and more countries/organizations are now going for Non-Cash Transactions and accordingly Banks have launched many new products in the market for the same. Which of the following products is a non-cash transaction product ?
(A) Only ATM Card
(B) Only Credit Card
(C) Only Prepaid Card
(D) Only Debit Card
(E) All are non-cash transaction products
Answer : (E)
13Q. The Prime Minister of India while addressing a meeting of top industrialists of India in March 2009 advised the RBI to further cut interest rates. Which of the following is/are the reasons owing to which the Prime Minister who himself is an economist gave this advise to RBI ?
1. All major economies of the world are passing through a crisis situation. Prime Minister wants RBI to take preventive measures to save Indian economy.
2. In India ample liquidity is available in the market but there are no takers.
3. Inflation is at a comparatively low level at present in the country
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Both 2 and 3 only
(D) Only 3
(E) None of these
Answer : (A)
14Q. As per the reports published in the newspapers India has signed an agreement to supply its Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) to ……….
(A) Mauritius
(B) Bangladesh
(C) Nepal
(D) Zimbabwe
(E) Vietnam
Answer : (A)
15Q. Which of the following is/are TRUE about the present situation of Sugar Market in India which has undergone a dramatic change in last 12 months ?
1. From being a major exporter of sugar, India is desperately looking for imports today to meet its domestic needs.
2. Domestic prices have spurted by 60-70 per cent with no sign of respite.
3. The present situation is largely due to sharp contraction in cane acreage in the country.
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) All 1, 2 and 3
(E) None of these
Answer : (D)
16. As per the recent reports, the per capita Income of the country has gone up during 2008-09. What is the per capita income at present ?
About ……….
(A) Rs. 15,000
(B) Rs. 33,000
(C) Rs. 40,000
(D) Rs. 23,000
(E) Rs. 53,000
Answer : (C)
17Q. A major Financial Newspaper while writing about the present status of economy in India wrote “the outlook in the agricultural sector gives room for optimism”. What does it really mean ?
[Pick up most appropriate statement(s)]
1. Agricultural Sector which was not playing any significant role in Indian economy is now growing very fast and significantly.
2. Agricultural sector is not going to play any major role in economy as its progress is still very slow.
3. Govt. will not require to provide any boost up package to agricultural sector as it is likely to be satisfactory this year.
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) Either 1 or 3
(E) None of these
Answer : (C)
18Q. While addressing a conference of Bankers and top Industrialists, the Prime Minister made a statement that “Domestic Credit Flow for Productive Needs had to be maintained at a reasonable Cost”. What does it really mean ?
(Pick up the most appropriate statements).
1. Banks should further raise their deposit base and provide very low cost credit to Industry which is badly in need of the same.
2. Banks should neither reduce their lending rates further nor increase the rates on deposits as this may create a critical imbalance in the financial/money market of the country.
3. Banks should see that ample credit is provided to the industries at an affordable cost without diluting the credit norms.
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) Both 1 and 2 only
(E) None of these
Answer : (C)
19. A major financial newspaper recently published a report wherein it is said that “the Govt. was aware of the problems in certain sectors, particularly where Export Dependence was High.’ Keeping general trend of India’s present economic situation in mind how would you interpret the above statement ?
[Pick up the most appropriate statement(s)].
1. The industry which produces mainly for export purposes is not doing well at present and needs Govt. support.
2. The industry which imports raw material and exports processed goods is in very bad shape these days. Govt. wishes to help them so that they can come out of it.
3. Indian exports were never in comfortable situations and this year they are in their worst situation. Govt. knows it but cannot help.
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) Both 1 and 3 only
(E) None of these
Answer : (A)
20Q. Who amongst the following is an Economist of international fame and was in news recently ?
(A) John Key
(B) Paul Krugman
(C) Nicolas Sarkozy
(D) Mohamed Elbaradei
(E) Mohamed Nasheed
Answer : (B)
21Q. Which of the following taxes is not levied by the Union Govt. ?
(A) Customs
(B) Corporate Tax
(C) Land Revenue
(D) Income Tax
(E) Surcharge on Income Tax
Answer : (C)
22Q. Service Tax was introduced in India for the first time in the year ……….
(A) 1990-91
(B) 1991-92
(C) 1994-95
(D) 1980-81
(E) 2000-01
Answer : (C)
23Q. Which of the following countries launched world’s first satellite for monitoring Greenhouse Gases ?
(A) USA
(B) Britain
(C) Japan
(D) China
(E) India
Answer : (C)
24Q. Which of the following countries launched its indigenous Satellite ‘Omid’ in February 2009 ?
(A) Spain
(B) Australia
(C) Turkey
(D) China
(E) Iran
Answer : (E)
25Q. The Govt. of India allowed the Income Tax Department to set up its centralized IT processing centre in ……….
(A) Bangalore
(B) Chennai
(C) Mumbai
(D) Kolkata
(E) Hyderabad
Answer : (A)
26Q. As per news reports MTNL recently launched it “3G Services” and became the first telecom operator to launch the same in India. What is the full form of ‘G’ in 3G ?
(A) Global
(B) Generation
(C) Growth
(D) Gravity
(E) None of these
Answer : (B)
27Q. India recently signed an agreement with which of the following countries so that it can import Uranium from it ?
(A) China
(B) Tunisia
(C) Brazil
(D) Taiwan
(E) None of these
Answer : (E)
28Q. The annual meeting of the world Economic Forum was organized in January–February 2009 in ……
(A) Davos
(B) Brasilia
(C) Washington DC
(D) London
(E) Tokyo
Answer : (A)
29Q. What is the minimum support price announced by the Govt. of India for Rabi crops of wheat ?
(A) Rs. 900 quintal
(B) Rs. 950 quintal
(C) Rs. 1,000 quintal
(D) Rs. 1,080 quintal
(E) Rs. 1,200 quintal
Answer : (D)
30Q. Which of the following is/are the highlights of the ‘project Snow Leopard’ launched in recent past ?
1. It is launched to safeguard and conserve India’s unique natural heritage and high altitude wild life.
2. The project is launched to make another hitech permanent Lab on South pole.
3. It is nothing but a project to protect snow leopards found in Himalayan region which is facing the fear of extinction.
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) Both 1 and 3 only
(E) None of these
Answer : (A)
31Q. Which of the following has now became the Third Largest Economy of the World ?
(A) Brazil
(B) India
(C) China
(D) Japan
(E) Russia
Answer : (C)
32Q. Ms. Johanna Sigurdardottir has taken over as the first women Prime Minister of ……
(A) Brazil
(B) Iceland
(C) Peru
(D) New Zealand
(E) Tunisia
Answer : (B)
33. Govt. of India has decided to set up two more All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) like institutes in near future. These new institutions would be established in ……….
(A) West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh
(B) Haryana & Punjab
(C) Punjab & Tamil Nadu
(D) Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh
(E) Gujarat and Maharashtra
Answer : (A)
34Q. Duleep Trophy is associated with the game of ……….
(A) Hockey
(B) Badminton
(C) Football
(D) Lawn Tennis
(E) Cricket
Answer : (E)
35Q. Who amongst the following is the winner of Saraswati Samman 2008 ?
(A) Gulzar
(B) Nida Fazli
(C) Srilal Shukla
(D) Govind Mishra
(E) Lakhmi Nandan Bora
Answer : (E)
36. Who amongst the following is the New Prime Minister of Israel after the general election held there in recent past ?
(A) Lieberman
(B) Tzipi Livini
(C) Shimon Peres
(D) Benjamin Netanyahu
(E) None of these
Answer : (D)
37Q. Who amongst the following is the highest Wicket taker in the history of cricket ?(Both ODI and Test Cricket)
(A) Wasim Akram
(B) Anil Kumble
(C) Stephan Fleming
(D) Shane Warne
(E) Muttiah Muralidharan
Answer : (E)
38Q. Which of the following commissions set up by the President of India decides the distribution of tax incomes between the Central and State Govts. ?
(A) Central Law Commission
(B) Pay Commission for Govt. Employees
(C) Administrative Reforms Commission
(D) Planning Commission
(E) Finance Commission
Answer : (E)
39Q. Who amongst the following became the first Indian to win ‘Golden Globe Award 2009’ ?
(A) Shivkumar Sharma
(B) Anu Malik
(C) Zakir Hussain
(D) A. R. Rahman
(E) None of these
Answer : (D)
40Q. Sania Mirza won the Mixed Doubles of which of the following tennis matches alongwith Mahesh Bhupati ?
(A) US Open 2009
(B) Australian Open 2009
(C) South Africa Tennis Open 2009
(D) ATP Challenger Tennis Championship 2009
(E) None of these
Answer : (B)
41Q. We very frequently read about the activities of the Foreign Exchange Market in newspapers/magazines. Which of the following is/are the major functions of the same ?
1. Transfer of purchasing power from domestic to foreign market.
2. Providing credit for financing foreign trade.
3. Power to purchase gold from foreign countries as most of the nations still work on Gold Standards.
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) Both 1 and 2 only
(E) Both 2 and 3 only
Answer : (D)
42Q. Who amongst the following players won the National Shooting Championship held in January 2009 ?
(A) Abhinav Bindra
(B) Omkar Singh
(C) Gurpreet Singh
(D) Anjali Bhagwat
(E) None of these
Answer : (E)
43Q. Who amontst the following is the author of the book “Termites in the Trading system” ?
(A) M. S. Swaminathan
(B) Jagdish Bhagwati
(C) Jaswant Singh
(D) M. Chelapati Rao
(E) None of these
Answer : (B)
44Q. The Govt. of India recently introduced Money Laundering Bill 2009. Under the bill which of the following agencies is empowered to search the premises after the offence is committed and a case is filed ?
(A) Income Tax Department
(B) Vigilance Department of the Reserve Bank of India
(C) Enforcement Directorate
(D) Central Bureau of Investigation
(E) None of these
Answer : (C)
45Q. Which of the following is/are the components of the Fiscal Deficit ?
1. Budgetary Deficit
2. Market Borrowings
3. Expenditure made from Pradhan Mantri Rahat Kosh
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) All 1, 2 and 3
(E) None of these
Answer : (A)
46. Which of the following is the Trophy/Cups associated with the game of Hockey ?
(A) Derby
(B) Agha Khan Cup
(C) Merdeka
(D) Vizzy Trophy
(E) Rovers Cup
Answer : (B)
47Q. Which of the following is not a Welfare scheme launched by the Govt. of India ?
(A) Village Grain Bank Scheme
(B) Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana
(C) Annapurna Scheme
(D) Midday Meal Scheme
(E) Bharat Nirman Yojana
Answer : (E)
48Q. Which of the following are the instruments of Credit Control in the hands of the RBI ?
1. Lowering or raising the discount and interest rates.
2. Raising the minimum support price of the major agro products.
3. Lowering or raising the minimum cash reserves maintained by the commercial banks.
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) Both 1 and 3 only
(E) Both 2 and 3 only
Answer : (C)
49Q. Who amongst the following is the author of the Book “Dreams from My Father : A Story of Race and Inheritance” ?
(A) Barack Obama
(B) John Evans Aatta Mills
(C) Nelson Mandela
(D) Danny Boyle
(E) None of these
Answer : (A)
50Q. Which of the following programmes was launched to further improve the facilities of irrigation in rural India ?
(A) National Social Assistance programme
(B) Construction of Kiosks for poors
(C) Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana
(D) Annapurna Scheme
(E) National Watershed Development Programme
Answer : (E)
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