1. What is the main purpose of the RBI's recent $10 billion dollar-rupee swap auction?
Answer: D. The swap auction gives banks longer-term liquidity, works against the rupee's slide, and helps restrain inflation by managing excess money supply.
2. One of the following is not part of IRDAI's Bima Trinity. Which one?
Answer: B. The Trinity comprises Bima Sugam, a digital insurance platform, Bima Vistaar for rural cover, and Bima Vahak for women-led distribution; Bima Raksha is no part of it.
3. What is a chief worry over SEBI's proposal to scrap the 200-investor limit for angel funds?
Answer: E. Widening the QIB definition and dropping investor caps may create problems verifying investors, admit financially weak people, and raise compliance issues under the Companies Act, 2013.
4. Recent budget reports show which state with the smallest debt-to-GSDP ratio?
Answer: A. Gujarat's debt-to-GSDP ratio of 15% is the lowest, a sign of sound fiscal management, while Rajasthan and West Bengal carry much heavier debt.
5. Microsoft's new quantum chip 'Majorana 1' is meant to speed progress in which area?
Answer: C. Majorana 1 is expected to make fault-tolerant quantum computing possible, with effects on AI, cryptography and science, though researchers call for its claims to be validated further.
6. What mainly explains gold beating other asset classes in 2024?
Answer: B. Prices jumped on inflation fears, economic uncertainty and heavy gold buying by central banks, notably those of China and India.
7. Why does Tamil Nadu object to the three-language policy in NEP 2020?
Answer: D. The state has long resisted Hindi imposition and prefers a two-language system of Tamil and English over the three-language model of NEP 2020.
8. Although gross NPAs have fallen, which major challenge do Indian banks still face?
Answer: C. Low-cost CASA deposits are shrinking, which hurts profitability, and any RBI rate cuts could squeeze banks' net interest margins further.
9. What is India's motivation for developing submarines under Projects 75 and 76?
Answer: E. Diesel-electric and nuclear-powered submarines under these projects are meant to bolster naval defence against China's rising influence in the Indo-Pacific.
10. What is a leading criticism of India's AI-based TB detection programme?
Answer: A. Though tools like qXR and Genki exist, the government picked the unvalidated DeepCXR, which raises doubts about transparency and effectiveness in TB elimination.