GENERAL AWARENESS QUESTION AND ANSWERS FOR THE COMPETITIVE EXAMS LIKE IBPS / SBI / CAT / MAT etc.

1- Which PSU announced on 2 January 2012 that its board approved in a meeting held on 30 December 2011 the switching over to internationally-accepted Gross Caloric Value-based pricing mechanism?

(A). BHEL

(B). ISPAT

(C). CIL

(D). IOC

2- Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) entered the media and entertainment sector by making a major investment in one of India’s largest broadcast companies. Name the broadcast company.

(A). Network18 Group

(B). Adlabs Films

(C). Balaji Telefilms

(D). Bag Films

3- Credit Suisse upgraded which company to neutral from underperform, citing valuation comfort at current?

(A). Essar Energy

(B). Reliance Power

(C). Bajaj Auto

(D). Tata Steel

4- Which PSU lender called off its plans to set up a joint venture with Visa Inc and Elavon Inc to enter the merchant acquiring business over differences on sharing technology?

(A). Union Bank

(B). State Bank of India

(C). Syndicate Bank

(D). Corp Bank

5- This company acquired Star more than 500 films like blockbusters like Salman Khan's Dabangg, Ready, Golmaal 3, Tees Maar Khan, Thank You, No One Killed Jessica, Guzaarish, Kites and Raavan from a general entertainment channel owned by the Viacom 18 Group?

(A). Sony

(B). UTV movies

(C). Colors

(D). Sab TV

6- Union government raised the ad valorem duty (export duty) on iron ore exports to what per cent from 20 per cent?

(A). 30%

(B). 33%

(C). 41%

(D). 43%

7- As per the Commerce Ministry data released on 2 January 2012, India’s exports recorded their slowest pace of growth in two years in November 201(A). What was the percentage of growth recorded?

(A). 4.2%

(B). 3.8%

(C). 2.2%

(D). 0.94%

8- Union government on 3 January 2012 approved Reliance Industries' (RIL) investment plan for developing four satellite fields in the flagging KG-D6 block. What was the proposed sum to be invested for developing the satellites?

(A). $1.500 billion

(B). $1.692 billion

(C). $1.529 billion

(D). $1.375 billion

9- The capital market regulator SEBI on 3 January 2012 allowed auctioning of securities through stock exchanges and introduced a new method for institutional placement of stocks. Which of the following facts related to the above statement is/are not true?

1-. Under the institutional placement programme (IPP), shares can be sold only to qualified institutional buyers.

2-. There shall be at least 25 allottees in every IPP issuance. No single investor shall receive allotment for more than 25% of the offer size

3-. The IPP method can be used to increase public holding by 10% and could be offered to only qualified institutional buyers with 25% being reserved for mutual funds and insurance companies

4-. Under the IPP, companies will have to announce the ratio of buy-back, as is done in the case of rights issues and fix a record date for determination of entitlements as per shareholding on record date

(A). Only 1

(B). Only 3

(C). Only 2

(D). Only 4

10- What is the Finance Ministry’s decision on the rates applicable on small savings instruments schemes that would be announced on April 1 each year?

(A). rate would remain valid till the maturity of the scheme

(B). rate would change in the first quarter of that respective year

(C). rates would change depending on different maturity period

(D). rates would remain valid for six months post the maturity

11- Which of the following companies infused Rs 520 crore equity into BSES Delhi distribution companies as part of Rs 5,100 crore financial package being worked by IDBI

(A). NTPC

(B). RIL

(C). Adani Power Ltd

(D). Birla Group

12- Suzlon Energy signed a memorandum of understanding with this State Government as a part of the CII's Partnership Summit that concluded on 13 January 2012. As per the MoU, Suzlon Energy will develop wind power projects totalling 3,000 MW in Andhra Pradesh over the next four years, involving potential investment of up to Rs.18,000 crore. Name the state government with which the MoU was signed.

(A). Andhra Pradesh government

(B). Gujarat governemnt

(C). Orissa government

(D). Arunachal Pradesh government

13- Name the auto making company which launched three new variants of the Eon-D — Lite plus, Era plus and Magna plus in the Indian market in January 2012.

(A). Tata Motors

(B). Hyundai Motor India

(C). Volkswagen

(D). Maruti Suzuki

14- The Government of which of the following countries acquired 1.09 per cent stake, currently worth about Rs.2500 crore, in Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL), the company's latest shareholding data show?

(A). Malaysia

(B). Japan

(C). Phillipines

(D). Singapore

15- Which Photography Pioneer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on 19 January 2012 making it likely for the 132-year-old trailblazer to become the most storied casualty of a digital age?

(A). Eastman Kodak Company

(B). Fuji

(C). Nikon

(D). Canon

16- Which company retained its top position in Interbrand's list of the top 100 global brands in 2011?

(A). Apple

(B). Coca cola

(C). Microsoft

(D). Google

17- State-run Northern Coalfields (NCL) agreed to surrender land required to mine two blocks attached to the Sasan ultra mega power plant to which of the following companies giving the company the benefit of over Rs 6000 crore over the life of the venture?

(A). Reliance Power

(B). Adani Power

(C). Birla Power Solutions

(D). DLF Power

18- Which car took home the crown of Indian Car Of The Year 2012 in January 2012?

(A). Toyota Etios Liva

(B). Maruti Suzuki Swift

(C). Hyundai Verna

(D). Hyundai Eon

19- B. D. Park was appointed the President and CEO of this electronic major’s South West Asia Operations and Managing Director of its India operations. Which electronic major is in question here?

(A). Phillips

(B). Videocon

(C). Samsung

(D). LG

20- Maldives authorities allowed Male International Airport operator to collect airport development and insurance charges from passengers, nearly a month after a local court barred the Bangalore-based company from doing so. Name the operator.

(A). GMR Infrastructure

(B). International Air Transport Association (IATA)

(C). Fraport AG

(D). DIAL

21- Which French construction major entered the Indian market by buying out 100 per cent stake in NAPC, a Chennai-based construction company?

(A). Sinopec Engineering

(B). Uhde

(C). Vinci

(D). Snamprogetti

22- As per the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) data, industrial production bounced back with a growth of what per cent in November 2011, marking a five-month high in a reversal from the negative trend witnessed in October 2011?

(A). 5.9%

(B). 6.5%

(C). 7%

(D). 8.2%

23- India on 13 January 2012 extended for how many years an anti-dumping duty on import of four Chinese products like nylon filament yarn, Saccharin, cellophane transparent film etc?

(A). 3 years

(B). 5 years

(C). 10 years

(D). 12 years

24- Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 13 January 2012 issued guidelines on compensation of wholetime directors, chief executive officers and other risk takers in private and foreign banks. Which of the following facts regarding the above statement is/are not true.

1-. The central bank’s directions are aimed at preventing greed from destabilising the institution.

2-. The guiderlines include provisions to clawback pay if transactions fail years after origination

3-. The norms provided also include capping the variable component of the compensation at 48% of the fixed pay in a year

4-. As per the guidelines issued, banks are permitted to exclude the Employees Stock Option Plan from variable pay

(A). Only 2

(B). Only 4

(C). Only 3

(D). 2 & 4

25- Which of the following bodies unveiled rules for direct investment in stocks by foreign investors, including individuals to put curbs on opaque structures to prevent routing of funds by resident Indians?

(A). IRDA

(B). FICCI

(C). CCI

(D). SEBI

All the best for your exams :)