Daily Current Affairs Quiz March 20, 2025
Daily Current Affairs Quiz
Consider the following statements regarding the Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Programme:
It is financed solely by the Government of India without any external assistance
It aims to provide farmers with high-quality virus-free planting materials
It is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare through the National Horticulture Board
The programme has established 15 Clean Plant Centers across India
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
a) 1, 2 and 3 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 2, 3 and 4 only
d) 1, 2, 3 and 4With reference to the Account Aggregator (AA) framework recently in news, which of the following statements is/are correct?
It allows financial data sharing without the consent of the individual
Financial Information Users (FIUs) are the organizations that provide financial services
It aims to revolutionize lending and investing by increasing access to financial records
The system aggregates all financial data on a single platform
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
a) 3 only
b) 1 and 4 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 3 and 4 onlyThe SANKALP scheme, recently in news, is associated with:
a) Promoting rural entrepreneurship and startup ecosystem
b) Strengthening institutional mechanisms for skill development
c) Modernization of police forces and security infrastructure
d) Improving primary healthcare facilities in aspirational districtsWhich of the following is the primary objective of the STRIVE project?
a) Enhancing agricultural productivity through climate-smart technologies
b) Improving the relevance and efficiency of skills training through ITIs
c) Upgrading infrastructure in smart cities through digital innovation
d) Promoting renewable energy adoption in industrial clustersWith reference to India’s Tax-to-GDP ratio, consider the following statements:
India’s Tax-to-GDP ratio is consistently higher than the OECD average
GST implementation has significantly boosted the direct tax collections
The 15th Finance Commission recommended measures to increase the ratio to 20% by 2025
Personal income tax contributes more to tax revenue than corporate tax
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 3 only
c) 4 only
d) None of the aboveThe Kadar tribal community, sometimes seen in news, is primarily found in:
a) Western Ghats of Kerala and Tamil Nadu
b) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
c) North-Eastern states of India
d) Bastar region of ChhattisgarhThe SAMARTH Udyog Bharat 4.0 initiative is related to:
a) Promoting women entrepreneurship in rural India
b) Facilitating Industry 4.0 implementation in manufacturing
c) Creating sustainable infrastructure in urban areas
d) Implementing blockchain technology for land recordsWith reference to Sovereign Green Bonds (SGBs), which of the following statements is/are correct?
They are debt securities issued by the Government to raise funds for environmentally sustainable projects
India issued its first Sovereign Green Bonds in January 2023
The proceeds can be used to finance any government project irrespective of environmental impact
They typically offer higher interest rates compared to regular government bonds
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
a) 1 only
b) 1 and 2 only
c) 1, 2 and 4 only
d) 1, 2, 3 and 4The ‘Common Framework’ recently seen in news in context of G20 is related to:
a) Global minimum corporate tax regime
b) Debt treatment for low-income countries
c) Universal health coverage protocols
d) Climate change adaptation measuresThe term ‘Blue Washing’ refers to:
a) Process of water purification using blue algae
b) Companies falsely claiming adherence to United Nations Global Compact principles
c) Marine conservation efforts in coastal regions
d) Strategy to clean ocean plastics using specialized technology
Answer Key and Explanations
1. (b) 2 and 3 only
The Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Programme is designed to provide high-quality, virus-free planting materials to improve horticulture crop yields. It is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare through the National Horticulture Board (NHB) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. However, it is not solely financed by the Government of India; it involves a $98 million loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The programme has established 9 world-class Clean Plant Centers, not 15 as stated in option 4.
2. (a) 3 only
The Account Aggregator (AA) framework aims to revolutionize lending and investing by granting individuals greater access to and control over their financial records. However, contrary to statement 1, data cannot be shared without the consent of the individual. Financial Information Providers (FIPs) are the organizations that provide financial services, while Financial Information Users (FIUs) are the organizations that use this information. The system does not aggregate financial data on a single platform; rather, it acts as a consent manager that enables secure data sharing between financial institutions.
3. (b) Strengthening institutional mechanisms for skill development
SANKALP (Skills Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion) was launched on January 19, 2018, with an implementation period till March 2023. It is a World Bank loan assisted scheme aimed at strengthening institutional mechanisms for skill development and increasing access to quality and market-relevant training for youth across the country.
4. (b) Improving the relevance and efficiency of skills training through ITIs
The STRIVE (Skills Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement) project is a World Bank assisted Government of India project with the objective of improving the relevance and efficiency of skills training provided through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and apprenticeships. It aims at institutional reforms and improving the quality and market relevance of skill development training programs in long-term vocational education and training.
5. (d) None of the above
India’s Tax-to-GDP ratio has historically been lower than the OECD average, not higher. GST implementation primarily affects indirect tax collections, not direct taxes. The 15th Finance Commission has made recommendations to improve the tax-to-GDP ratio, but not specifically targeting 20% by 2025. Corporate tax has generally contributed more to tax revenue than personal income tax in India.
6. (a) Western Ghats of Kerala and Tamil Nadu
The Kadar tribe is a particularly vulnerable tribal group primarily inhabiting the Western Ghats, specifically in the Anamalai hills spanning across Kerala and Tamil Nadu. They are known for their traditional forest-dwelling lifestyle and intimate knowledge of forest ecosystems.
7. (b) Facilitating Industry 4.0 implementation in manufacturing
SAMARTH Udyog Bharat 4.0 is an initiative of the Department of Heavy Industry, Government of India, aimed at facilitating the implementation of Industry 4.0 (Fourth Industrial Revolution) technologies in the Indian manufacturing sector. It focuses on technologies like AI, IoT, robotics, and additive manufacturing to enhance competitiveness of Indian industries.
8. (b) 1 and 2 only
Sovereign Green Bonds (SGBs) are debt securities issued by governments to finance projects with positive environmental impacts. India issued its first Sovereign Green Bonds in January 2023. The proceeds from SGBs must be used exclusively for environmentally sustainable projects, not for any government project. They typically do not offer higher interest rates compared to regular government bonds; in fact, they often have a “greenium” (green premium) resulting in slightly lower yields than conventional bonds.
9. (b) Debt treatment for low-income countries
The G20 Common Framework refers to the “Common Framework for Debt Treatments beyond the Debt Service Suspension Initiative” launched in November 2020. It is designed to address debt vulnerabilities in low-income countries and provides a structured approach for debt restructuring beyond temporary debt service suspension.
10. (b) Companies falsely claiming adherence to United Nations Global Compact principles
“Blue Washing” refers to the practice of companies falsely claiming adherence to the United Nations Global Compact principles or using UN partnerships to improve their reputation without making meaningful commitments to sustainable practices. It’s similar to “greenwashing” but specifically relates to the misuse of UN affiliations, particularly the blue UN logo.