MAY 2023 PART-1

1. The 49th G7 summit will be held from 19 to 21 May 2023 in Hiroshima, Japan. The
Group of Seven advanced nations agreed to adopt “risk-based” regulation on
artificial intelligence, and to introduce an AI Act to enforce rules on emerging tools
such as Microsoft ChatGPT, Google Bard. Which of the following country is not a
part of G7 countries?
A. Canada
B. Italy
C. France
D. Germany
E. Russia
2. Which Bank, has introduced a Digital Distribution Platform (DDP) –‘Smart Saathi’,
This platform will use advanced technology solutions to connect Business
Correspondents (BCs) and Business Facilitators (BFs)to the bank. And it will enable
its agents to offer over 40 banking products and services, including loan products to
customers?
A. ICICI BANK
B. SBI
C. BOI
D. HDFC
E. BOB

NOTE: What is the difference between BC and BF?

BCs are permitted to carry out transactions on behalf of the bank as agents, the BF can refer
clients/customers, pursue the clients'/customers proposal and facilitate the bank to carry out
its transactions, but cannot transact on behalf of the bank.

3. International Labour Day 2023

A. Every year on May 1, people worldwide observe "International Labour

Day" or "International Workers' Day" to recognise and appreciate
labour and employees across all fields and professions for their work
and efforts. This day aims to educate workers about their rights and the
contributions they make.

B. The first Labour Day was celebrated on May 1, 1890.

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C. Labour Day initially originated in the United States in remembrance of

the 1886 countrywide strike for an eight-hour work day, which started
on that day and culminated in the Haymarket affair in Chicago. The
Haymarket affair refers to the tragic event where labour protests turned
violent after a bomb was thrown at the police, killing seven officials
and 4 others.

D. In India, the first Labour Day was observed in 1923 when the Labour
Kisan Party hosted the first official Labour Day on May 1 in Chennai,
Tamil Nadu.

E. May 1 is also celebrated as Maharashtra Day and Gujarat Day.

F. The theme for the “May Day” is "A safe and healthy working
environment as a fundamental principle and right at work." This
emphasises the importance of workplace safety and health as essential
principles and rights for workers.

4. Ding Liren made history by becoming the 17th FIDE World Champion in chess,
defeating Ian Nepomniachtchi (Russia) in the final game of the tiebreak. This is the
first time in history that a Chinese player has become a world champion in the open
category. China now holds the world championship title in both the open and the
women's category.

A. Astana, Kazakhstan
B. Tashkent, Uzbekistan
C. Moscow, Russia
D. Ankara, Turkey
E. None
Note: The International Chess Federation (FIDE HQ: Lussane, Switzerland ) is the
governing body of the sport of chess, and it regulates all international chess competitions.

5. Some 69 million jobs will be created and 83 million eliminated by 2027, resulting in a
net decrease of 2% of current employment, according to the Future of Jobs report-
2023. The fastest declining roles will be secretarial and clerical roles such as bank
tellers and cashiers which can be automated while demand for AI machine learning
 MAY 2023 PART-1

specialists and cybersecurity experts is expected to grow significantly, which

international organization published this report?

A. World bank

B. IMF

C. ADB

D. WEF

E. ILO

6. Recently RBI reviews General Credit Card (GCC) Facility

India RBI has introduced special credit cards known as Kisan Credit Card and
General Credit Card, which are issued to specific category of rural / semi-urban
people for their agriculture production needs and other small business needs.
Identify the correct statements about General Credit Card Scheme:
A. All Credit Card (e.g. Artisan Credit Card, LaghuUdyami Card, Swarojgar
Credit Card, and Weaver’s Card etc.) catering to the non-farm entrepreneurial
credit needs of individuals are covered by General Credit Card Scheme.
B. As the GCC is intended to cover all entrepreneurial credit, the consumption
credit extended to individuals is not be reported under GCC.
C. The objective is to increase flow of credit to individuals for entrepreneurial
activity in the non-farm sector provided through the General Credit Card.
D. All non-farm entrepreneurial credit extended to individuals, which is eligible
for classification under the priority sector guidelines.
E. There will be no ceiling on the loan amount as long as the loan is for the
purpose of non-farm entrepreneurial activity and is otherwise eligible
for classification as priority sector.
F. All are true.
7. Department of Public Enterprises granted the status of Navratna to the Rail Vikas
Nigam Limited (RVNL): Identify the correct statements
A. Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd. (RVNL HQ: New Delhi, CMD: Pradeep Gaur) became
the 13th Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) to get the Navratna status. It
was in 2014, when Engineers India Ltd. Was conferred with Navratna status.
B. For a CPSE to be eligible for Navratna status, the company must have
Miniratna l, schedule A status and have obtained ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) rating in three of the last five years.
C. The status will enable the company to have more autonomy in terms of
investment, setting up joint ventures, and other financial decisions. Navratna
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Companies have the freedom to invest an amount of up to ₹1,000

crores without requiring explicit government approval. They may even invest
15% of their net worth on a particular project or 30% of their net worth during
the whole year, but without exceeding the ₹1,000 crores limit.
D. At present in India number of Maharatna:12, Navaratna:13, Miniratna Cat-
1:61, Miniratna Cat-2:12
E. All are true.
8. Inaugural ASEAN-India Maritime exercise starts in Singapore: Identify the correct
statements

A. Two frontline warships of the Indian Navy INS Satpura and INS Delhi arrived
in Singapore to participate in the inaugural edition of the ASEAN-India
Maritime Exercise. The ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2023) will
provide an opportunity to the Indian Navy and ASEAN navies to work closely
with each other and conduct seamless operations in the maritime domain.
B. The members of this ASEAN federation are, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia,
Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia
C. ASEAN headquarter is in Jakarta (Indonesia).
D. Navy Chief Adm. R. Hari Kumar is in Singapore for the exercise as well as to
take part in the International Maritime Defence Exhibition (IMDEX-23) and
International Maritime Security Conference (IMSC) being hosted by
Singapore.
E. All are true.
9. National Manufacturing Innovation Survey:2021-22
a. A survey on the degree of innovation among manufacturing firms found that
Karnataka, overall, is the most “innovative” State, followed by Dadra and
Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu (DNH&DD), Telangana, and Tamil Nadu.
b. Lowest ranked states: North-eastern states> Bihar> Assam> Jharkhand
c. Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu had the highest share of innovative
firms at 46.18% ,39.10% and 31.90%, respectively, with Odisha, Bihar, and
 MAY 2023 PART-1

Jharkhand reporting the lowest share of such firms at 12.78%, 13.47% and
13.71%, respectively.

d. The findings are part of the National Manufacturing Innovation Survey

(NMIS) 2021-22, a joint study by the Department of Science and Technology
(DST) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization
(UNIDO).
e. The exercise is a follow-up of the DST’s first National Innovation Survey
held in 2011.
f. All are true.

10. World Bank Launches More Robust, Transparent Business Climate Rankings:
Identify the correct statements
A. In September 2021, the World Bank announced it was “discontinuing” its “Doing
Business” report.
B. It cited the outcome of an investigation that found the World Bank had changed
the rankings under pressure of funding. According to an investigation conducted
by Washington-based law firm WilmerHale, World Bank staff members changed
data on China to improve its ranking on the ease of doing business.
C. The “Business Ready” project aims to help countries attract investment and boost
jobs and productivity to accelerate development.It includes for the first time
worker rights, as defined by the International Labor Organization.
D. A pilot edition of the new replacement annual series called "Business Ready" will
be published in the spring of 2024.
E. All are true.
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11. World Bank board elects US nominee Ajay Banga as president, The World Bank has
been led by an American since it’sfounding(1944), while the International Monetary
Fund has been led by a European. Ajay Banga, who was born in India , has been a
U.S. citizen since 2007. he is former chief executive officer of Master Card. He will
take over the role from David Malpass on June 2,2023, ajayBanga was born in which
Indian state?
A. Bengaluru, Karnataka
B. Pune, Maharastra
C. Chennai, Tamilnadu
D. Mohali, Punjab
E. Hyderabad, Telangana

12. The 21st edition of the World Press Freedom Index, compiled annually by Reporters
Without Borders (RSF), World Press Freedom Index is to compare the level of press
freedom enjoyed by media: Identify the correct statements
A. India’s ranking in the 2023 World Press Freedom Index has slipped to 161 out
of 180 countries; Pakistan has fared better when it comes to media freedom as
it was placed at 150, an improvement from last year’s 157th rank. Sri Lanka
also made significant improvement on the index, ranking 135th this year as
against 146th in 2022.
B. the situation is “very serious” in 31 countries, “difficult” in 42, “problematic”
in 55, and “good” or “satisfactory” in 52 countries. In other words, the
 MAY 2023 PART-1

environment for journalism is “bad” in seven out of ten countries, and

satisfactory in only three out of ten.
C. Norway, Ireland and Denmark occupied the top three positions in press
freedom, The last three places are occupied solely by Asian countries Vietnam
(178), China (179) and North Korea (180) constituted the bottom three.
D. Russia (164th), Russia’s war crimes in Ukraine (79th) helped give this country
one of the Index’s worst scores for security.
E. All are true.

13. 3 jailed Iranian women journalists win UN press freedom prizes: Identify the correct
Statements
A. The winners are NiloufarHamedi who broke the news that 22-year-old
MahsaAmini died last September while being held by the morality police for
wearing her headscarf too loosely, and ElahehMohammadi who wrote about
her funeral. The third winner is NargesMohammadi, who has worked for
many years as a journalist and is one of Iran’s most prominent activists.
B. The UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization World Press
Freedom Prize is named for Guillermo Cano, a Colombian journalism who
was assassinated in front of the offices of his newspaper El Espectador in
Bogota on Dec. 17, 1986. Unesco has awarded the prize to coincide with
World Press Freedom Day on May 3 since 1997.
C. This year’s Special 30th anniversary celebration of World Press Freedom Day,
World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993,
following the recommendation of UNESCO's General Conference. Since then, 3
May, is celebrated worldwide as World Press Freedom Day.
D. This year’s theme for the Day will be “Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of
expression as a driver for all other human rights” (working title), signifying
the enabling element of freedom of expression to enjoy and protect all other
human rights.
E. UNESCO HQ: Paris, France.
F. All are true
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14. Which sector performance lifted overall output in India’s private sector to the highest
level since July 2010, with aggregate sales also rising at the fastest pace in almost 13
years, as per the seasonally adjusted S&P Global India Services PMI Business
Activity Index?
A. Agriculture Sector
B. Manufacturing Sector
C. Service Sector
D. Core Industry
E. Forestry
15. Currency & Finance 2022-23 Report: Identify the Correct statements

A. The cumulative total expenditure for adapting to climate change in India is

estimated to reach ₹85.6 lakh crore (at 2011-12 prices) by 2030, the Reserve Bank
of India’s (RBI) Department of Economic and Policy Research (DEPR)
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B. India’s green financing requirement is estimated to be at least 2.5% of GDP

annually till 2030.
C. India’s goal of achieving the net zero target by 2070 would require an accelerated
reduction in the energy intensity of GDP by about 5% annually and a significant
improvement in its energy-mix in favour of renewables to about 80% by 2070-71.
D. The DEPR report themed ‘Towards a Greener Cleaner India’.

Note: What is meant by energy intensity?

 Energy intensity is defined as the amount of energy used to produce a given level of
output or activity.
 Using less energy to produce a product or provide a service results in reduced energy
intensity.
 High energy intensities indicate a high price or cost of converting energy into GDP.
 Low energy intensity indicates a lower price or cost of converting energy into GDP.

16. Which Indian city is going to have largest bio-gas plant in Asia in terms of treatment
capacity and the basic idea behind setting up this plant is to recycle the city’s waste
for an useful purpose, The BMC will set up this plant jointly with Mahanagar Gas
Limited (MGL), which is a Public Sector Undertaking of the Gas Authority of India
Limited (GAIL)?
A. Bangalore
B. Mumbai
C. Delhi
D. Chennai
E. Hyderbad
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17. A report released by UK-based Business & Human Rights Resource Centre puts India
as among the 2nd most dangerous places in the world for human rights and labor
activists with protests against corporate abuses often met with state-backed violence.
As per the report, which country topped the list with recorded 63 attacks against
activists in 2022, followed by India with 54 attacks?
A. Mexico
B. Cambodia
C. Philippines
D. Pakistan
E. Brazil
18. India’s third largest private sector Bank and India Shelter Finance Corporation Ltd
(IndiaShelter), a Gurgaon based Housing Finance Company, announced a strategic
partnership under the co-lending model. With this partnership, both lenders will be
offering Secured MSME loans to middle and low-income segment borrowers based in
the semi-urban regions, Name the bank?
A. ICICI
B. AXIS
C. KOTAK
D. FEDERAL BANK
E. HDFC

19. PRET & the Big Catch-Up Initiatives: Identify the Incorrect statement

A. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, two initiatives – PRET (The

Preparedness and Resilience for Emerging Threats) and the Big Catch-up –
have been launched to better prepare for future outbreaks of similar scale and
devastation, as well as to boost vaccination rates among children.
B. The World Bank has launched the PRET initiative to be better prepared for
future outbreaks of a similar scale and devastation as the COVID-19
pandemic.

C. The Big Catch-Up Initiative was launched by the WHO, UNICEF, Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation along with Immunization Agenda 2030 and many
other global and national health partners, a targeted global effort to boost
vaccination.

D. The big catch-up initiative aims to protect populations from vaccine-

preventable outbreaks like -measles, diphtheria, polio and yellow fever -
save children’s lives and strengthen national health systems.
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E. None

20. Following the success of the three previous competitions in the areas
of regulatory compliance (regtech) and supervision (suptech), green and sustainable
finance, and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), the 2023 TechSprint will focus
on cross-border payments, The RBI and the BIS today jointly launched the fourth
edition of the G20 TechSprint Initiative, a global technology competition to promote
innovative solutions aimed at improving cross-border payments, under India's G20
presidency, Where is the HQ of BIS?( BIS Established in 1930, and is owned
by 63 central banks, representing countries from around the world that together
account for about 95% of world GDP)

A. Geneva, Switzerland
B. New York, USA
C. Basel, Switzerland
D. Washington D.C
E. Zurich, Switzerland.

21. Which bank launched its retail banking programme ‘Vishesh’ for customers in semi-
urban and rural geographies wherein it plans to onboard around 1 lakh new customers,
As a part of this, the bank plans to add more branches and launch customized, tailor-
made products and financial solutions for this market segment?

A. AXIS
B. HDFC
C. ICICI
D. KOTAK
E. SBI

22. Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal, is
set to receive the first Indian cargo ship at Sittwe Port, marking the start of regular
transit of cargo ships between Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata, India and
Sittwe Port in Rakhine state, Sittwe Port located in which country?

A. Malaysia
B. Myanmar
C. Bangladesh
D. Russia
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E. Australia

23. The trailer of 'Love in 90s', the first film made in Tagin language, was launched by
Union Law and Justice Minister Kiren Rijiju, Directed by Tapen Natam, The most
important festival of the Tagins is the Si-Doni Festival, in which the Earth (Si) and the
Sun (Doni) are worshiped, Tagin or Ghasi Miri tribe is one of the prominent tribe of
which Indian State?

A. Manipur
B. Arunachal Pradesh
C. Sikkim
D. Mizoram
E. Meghalaya

24. Under Skill India Mission, which Ministry is organising the Pradhan Mantri National
Apprenticeship Mela (PMNAM) across the country, Several local businesses and
organizations have been invited to be a part of this Apprenticeship Fair to provide
relevant apprenticeship training opportunities to local youth. The candidates who
are Class 5 to Class 12 pass outs or have skill training certificates or are ITI certificate
holders or Diploma holders or graduates can apply in this apprenticeship mela?

A. Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE)

B. Ministry of Cooperation
C. Ministry of Labour & Employment
D. Ministry of electronics and IT
E. None