GK Express of 14/03/2025

 HISTORY COACH

1. The grandson of Ashoka, who accepted Jainism was __?

Emperor Samprati was the grandson of Emperor Ashoka, who reigned from 224–274 BCE. And accepted Jainism.

2. Which Veda is sometimes called the "Veda of magical formulas?"

The Atharvaveda has less connection with sacrifice and deals with normal procedures for everyday life. Atharvaveda is also known as “Veda of magical formulas”. 

3. Which Indian ruler is known as "Andhra Bhoja"?

The ruler of Tuluva dynasty, Sri Krishnadevaraya was the famous ruler from South India who is known to be the best among people for his humanity, kind hearted and his judgment. He was the greatest ruler of Vijayanagar Empire. He earned the title of “Andhra Bhoj and Kannada Rajya Rama Ramana”. 

4. The play ‘Neel Darpan’ is associated with which revolts?

Neel Darpan was a Bengali play written by Dinabandhu Mitra in 1858–1859. The play was essential to Nilbidraha, or Indigo revolt of February–March 1859 in Bengal, when farmers refused to sow indigo in their fields as a protest against exploitative farming under the British Raj.

5. Which was the first Newspaper in India?

Hicky's Bengal Gazette was the first newspaper in India which was published in 1780

BANKING AND FINANCE COACH

6. Which Act empowers the banks to take possession of assets and sell them to recover dues from borrowers in default without the intervention of the courts?

SARFAESI Act, which as introduced in 2002, provides a legal framework to banks for securing and recovering NPA's.

The SARFAESI Act stands for Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002.

Why was it introduced?

Before this act, banks and financial institutions faced a lot of difficulty in recovering loans from borrowers who failed to repay (known as Non-Performing Assets (NPAs)).

Courts took a long time to resolve such cases.

Purpose of SARFAESI Act:

To empower banks and financial institutions to recover loans without court intervention.

It allows them to seize and sell the assets (like property, land, or vehicles) of the borrower if they fail to repay the loan.

7. What do you mean by Small Finance Bank?

A Small Finance Bank (SFB) is a type of niche bank established in India to provide financial services to the underserved and unbanked sections of society, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas.

Examples of Small Finance Banks in India include AU Small Finance Bank, Equitas Small Finance Bank, and Ujjivan Small Finance Bank.

8. What is the minimum paid-up capital required to set up a Small Finance Bank in India?

200 crore

9. What is the full form of LAF in banking terms?

Liquidity Adjustment Facility

The Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF) is a tool used by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to control liquidity (money supply) in the economy and manage short-term interest rates.

How it works:

Under LAF, the RBI provides two types of facilities to banks:

1. Repo Rate: Banks borrow money from RBI by pledging government securities.

2. Reverse Repo Rate: Banks deposit their excess money with the RBI and earn interest.

10. Which type of account is known as a "Non-Performing Asset (NPA)" in banking?

An account where interest or principal remains unpaid for 90 days.

A Non-Performing Asset (NPA) is a loan or advance given by a bank that does not generate any income for the bank. It becomes an NPA when the borrower fails to make interest payments or repay the principal amount for 90 days or more.

In simple words, if a borrower stops paying the loan for 3 months, it is called an NPA.

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY COACH

11. Which layer of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer? 

Stratosphere 

12. Which of the following gases is responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer?

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons) are chemicals used in refrigerators, air conditioners, and spray cans.

13. What is the full form of IPCC?

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

Established in: 1988

By: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

Objective: To provide scientific information on climate change to help policymakers make informed decisions.

14. Which ecosystem is known as the "Lungs of the Earth"?

Amazon Rainforest

15. Which of the following is a bio-indicator of air pollution?

Lichens

Lichens are sensitive to sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and other air pollutants. They absorb nutrients from the air, so when air pollution levels increase, lichens are among the first organisms to be affected. Their presence or absence in an area indicates the quality of air, making them natural bio-indicators of air pollution.