Flashback 2024: Toughest MCQs from This Year’s Government Exams

As we move forward in 2024, staying updated with current events, national schemes, economic milestones, and major scientific achievements is critical for success in competitive government exams like UPSC, SSC, Banking, Railway, Defence and State PCS. This Flashback 2024 Quiz presents the toughest and most relevant MCQs designed to test your knowledge and help you prepare for the real exam scenario.

Q1. India has achieved a significant milestone as Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows surpassed $1 trillion between April 2000 and September 2024. Which country was the highest source of FDI during this period? (Exam: RBI Grade B)
(a) Mauritius
(b) Singapore
(c) USA
(d) Netherlands
(e) UAE

S1. Ans. (a)
Sol. About 25% of India’s FDI inflows came via Mauritius, making it the highest source of FDI.

Q2. Which of the following State/s is/are common to Bru-Reang Agreement, NLFT (SD) Agreement, and Tripartite Agreement with TIPRA? (Exam: UPSC CDS)
(a) Tripura
(b) Assam and Tripura
(c) Tripura and Mizoram
(d) Manipur and Mizoram

S2. Ans. (a)
Sol. All the agreements—Bru-Reang Agreement, NLFT (SD) Agreement, and the Tripartite Agreement with TIPRA—are associated with Tripura:

1. Bru-Reang Agreement: Facilitated permanent resettlement of the Bru-Reang refugees who were displaced from Mizoram to Tripura.
2. NLFT (SD) Agreement: The National Liberation Front of Tripura (Sabir Debbarma faction) signed a peace deal to end militancy.
3. Tripartite Agreement with TIPRA: Addressed the demands of indigenous communities in Tripura, enhancing autonomy and development.

Information Booster: Tripura has a significant tribal population facing challenges like refugee resettlement, insurgency, and autonomy demands.

Q3. Which one of the following statements is correct about NISHTHA, a Government of India initiative? (Exam: SSC CGL)
(a) It is a training module recently introduced in LBSNAA for civil servants.
(b) It is a teacher-training programme.
(c) It is a training programme for the new recruits in Delhi Police to inculcate integrity of service among them.
(d) It is a workshop for newly elected Members of Parliament organized routinely by the Lok Sabha Secretariat.

S3. Ans. (b)
Sol. NISHTHA stands for National Initiative for School Heads’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement. It is the world’s largest teacher training programme, aimed at improving teaching quality and learning outcomes in schools.

Information Booster:

• NISHTHA is part of the Samagra Shiksha scheme under the Ministry of Education.
• It covers areas like foundational literacy, ICT in education, and socio-emotional learning for teachers of elementary schools.

Q4. Under Priority Sector Lending (PSL) guidelines, what is the total target for bank lending to MSMEs as a percentage of Adjusted Net Bank Credit (ANBC) or Credit Equivalent of Off-Balance Sheet Exposures (CEOBE)? (Exam: SIDBI)
(a) 10%
(b) 15%
(c) 7.5%
(d) 5%
(e) 12.5%

S4. Ans. (c)
Sol. Banks are required to allocate 7.5% of their ANBC or CEOBE to MSMEs under PSL guidelines.

Q5. Which act provides the legal foundation for the MSME SAMADHAAN portal’s functionalities? (Exam: SIDBI)
(a) The Companies Act, 2013
(b) The Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED) Act, 2006
(c) The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016
(d) The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996
(e) The Competition Act, 2002

S5. Ans. (b)
Sol. The MSME SAMADHAAN portal operates under the provisions of the MSMED Act, 2006, which mandates timely payments to MSMEs.

Q6. In October 2024, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) entered into a Currency Swap Agreement with which country under the SAARC Currency Swap Framework 2024-27? (Exam: RBI Grade B)
(a) Sri Lanka
(b) Bhutan
(c) Nepal
(d) Maldives
(e) Bangladesh

S6. Ans. (d)
Sol. RBI entered into a Currency Swap Agreement with the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) under the SAARC Currency Swap Framework 2024-27.

Q7. Under which Act does the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issue directions to banks for ensuring the supply of fresh currency notes? (Exam: RBI Grade B)
(a) Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934
(b) Companies Act, 2013
(c) Banking Regulation Act, 1949
(d) Indian Contract Act, 1872
(e) Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007

S7. Ans. (c)
Sol. RBI issues directions to banks under Section 21 and 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 for ensuring the supply of fresh currency notes.

Q8. Which of the following is one of the objectives of the ZED (Zero Defect, Zero Effect) Scheme? (Exam: RBI Grade B)
(a) Enable MSMEs for manufacturing of quality products
(b) Support ‘Make in India’ campaign
(c) Drive manufacturing with adoption of Zero-Defect production processes and without impacting the environment
(d) Promote adaptation of Quality tools/systems and Energy Efficient manufacturing
(e) All of the above

S8. Ans. (e)
Sol. All options are objectives of the ZED Scheme, which aims to ensure the production of high-quality products using clean technology.

Q9. Under the Trade Related Entrepreneurship Development Assistance Scheme (TREAD), what percentage of the loan or credit sanctioned is provided as a grant by the Government of India to NGOs for capacity-building activities aimed at economic empowerment of women? (Exam: IBPS RRB Clerk Mains)
(a) 10%
(b) 20%
(c) 30%
(d) 40%
(e) 50%

S9. Ans. (c)
Sol. Under the TREAD Scheme, the Government of India provides a 30% grant of the loan or credit sanctioned to NGOs for capacity-building activities.

Q10. The Tattvabodhini Sabha, a significant group aimed at promoting the study and discussion of religious and philosophical ideas, was founded in 1839 by whom? (Exam: IBPS RRB Clerk Mains)
(a) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
(b) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
(c) Swami Vivekananda
(d) Debendranath Tagore
(e) Keshab Chandra Sen

S10. Ans. (d)
Sol. The Tattvabodhini Sabha was founded by Debendranath Tagore in 1839 to promote the study of Hindu scriptures and rational discussions.