Corporation Bank P.O. Exam, 2010 : Solved Papers

Corporation Bank Probationary Officers Exam., 2010

(Held On 9-5-2010)

General Awareness on Socio-Economic Developments : Solved Paper

1. As a policy to boost the agricultural sector in the country, the Govt. of India has taken several special measures over the years. Which of the following cannot be considered a measure/ measures which will have a direct impact(s) on the agricultural sector ?

1. Setting up of a National Food Processing Bank.
2. Opening irrigation, sanitation and water projects for development under public private participation.
3. Efforts to bring down fiscal deficit to 5•5 per cent level of GDP.
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) Only 1 and 2
(E) All 1, 2 and 3
Ans : (C)

2. The Govt. of India is plannning to bring a Second Green Revolution. This will be launched specifically for which of the following parts of the country ?
(A) North East and Eastern Regions
(B) Central India
(C) Jammu & Kashmir
(D) Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh
(E) None of these
Ans : (A)

3. As we all know, the limit of exemption on personal income tax has been raised by Rs. 10,000. Whenever a relief in direct taxes is given, the underlying motive is always to make money available for which of the following purposes ?
1. Savings
2. Investment for High returns
3. Personal Consumption
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 1 and 3
(D) Only 2 and 3
(E) None of these
Ans : (C)


4. As we know, a special scheme ‘One Village One Project’ is in vogue in some parts of our country and has proved a good incentive to boost the rural economy and the agricultural sector. Now the Govt. has decided to develop 60,000 villages to produce which of the following single crops as a major crop ?
(A) Pulses or Oilseeds
(B) Wheat or Bajra
(C) Sugar or Jute
(D) Sunflower or Rose flower
(E) None of these
Ans : (A)

5. The Govt. of India has decided to bring down the fiscal deficit from 6•6 per cent to the level of 5•5 per cent of the GDP so that it can meet growth targets well in time. This target of 5•5 per cent is to be
achieved by the end of—
(A) January 2011
(B) March 2011
(C) December 2010
(D) January 2012
(E) None of these
Ans : (D)

6. Some economists and financial experts are of the opinion that the Finance Minister of India has done a good job by allocating a fairly good share of budget to ensure that the benefits of the growth also reach the poor and unorganized sectors of the society. What amount in terms of percentage has been allocated to various schemes of the social sector in the Union Budget 2010-11 ?
(A) 5%
(B) 7•5%
(C) 10%
(D) 12•5%
(E) None of these
Ans : (E)

7. Many people talk about the roll back of stimulus packages provided last year by the Govt. of India to help certain sectors. If these stimulus packages are rolled back, this would mean that—
1. those who have availed these benefits would be required to return them to the Govt. of India.
2. no such incentive would be available henceforth to these sectors.
3. all such benefits/incentives would be available to all the people across the country and will not be restricted to some selected few.
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) Only 1 and 3
(E) Only 2 and 3
Ans : (C)

8. In order to develop infrastructure in the country at a faster pace, the Govt. of India has fixed some targets. In order to achieve this target, at present, how many kilometers of highway is required to be constructed per day ?
(A) 5 km
(B) 10 km
(C) 15 km
(D) 20 km
(E) None of these
Ans : (D)

9. “South India will get K-G gas by 2012” was the news in a major financial newspaper. ‘K-G’ is the abbreviated name of which of the following ?
(A) Karnataka-Goa
(B) Kaveri-Ganga
(C) Krishna-Godavari
(D) Karnataka-Gulf
(E) None of these
Ans : (C)

10. Many a times, we read in newspapers that some big banks have revised their lending rates to make them dearer or cheaper. Though the decision to raise the lending rates is always in the hands of the banks normally they announce this decision of theirs—
1. immediately after the Union Budget is presented in the Lok Sabha every year.
2. when the RBI makes changes in its policy rates.
3. when the Monetary and Credit Policy of the RBI is reviewed periodically.
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) Only 2 and 3
(E) All 1, 2 and 3
Ans : (C)

11. How much amount in cash is the Govt. of India planning to infuse in public sector banks, to strengthen their capital base this year ?
(A) Rs. 10,000 crore
(B) Rs. 12,500 crore
(C) Rs. 14,000 crore
(D) Rs. 16,500 crore
(E) None of these
Ans : (E)

12. As we all know, the rate of MAT has been increased from the present 15% to 18% with effect from April 2010. What is the full form of MAT ?
(A) Maximum Alternate Tax
(B) Minimum Alternate Tax
(C) Minimum Affordable Tax
(D) Maximum Affordable Tax
(E) None of these
Ans : (B)

13. One of the headlines in a major financial newspaper recently was “Is Spain the next Greece or Italy or Portugal ?” What is the actual meaning of this headline because of which the author has been comparing Spain with the other three countries ?
(A) All these three countries have abandoned the membership of the European Union. Spain is also planning to do so
(B) All these three countries were the first to come out of recent global recession and that too within a short span of time. Spain is next in queue to declare itself free from the trouble
(C) These three nations are badly trapped in a situation where their economy is proceeding from bad to worse condition. Spain also appears to be in the same situation
(D) Greece, Itlay and Portugal have signed some special agreements with US and are availing stimulus packages to promote their exports to US on some specific terms. Spain is also willing to do the same
(E) None of these
Ans : (C)

14. Many times we read in newspapers that several companies are adopting the FCCBs route to raise capital. What is the full form of FCCBs ?
(A) Foreign Currency Convertible Bonds
(B) Foreign Convertible Credit Bonds
(C) Financial Consortium and Credit Bureau
(D) Future Credit and Currency Bureau
(E) None of these
Ans : (A)

15. The Govt. of India has asked all big companies and corporates to create a separate fund for their ‘Corporate Social Responsibility Activities’. What is/are the purpose(s) of this directive issued by the Govt. ?
1. To ensure that companies spend some money on social activities.
2. To bring transparency in matters of financial transactions and dealings by corporates.
3. To ensure that corporate entities do not get involved in non commercial activities in the name of social activities as they are required to spend money only on the welfare of the employees and their families.
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) All 1, 2 and 3
(E) None of these
Ans : (B)

16. Which of the following is an innovative mechanism adopted by banks to meet the targets fixed for lending to priority sector by the Banks ?
(A) Buying & Selling of Priority Sector Lending Certification
(B) Sale of Kisan Vikas Patra
(C) Inter Bank Participation Certificates
(D) Adoption of Core Banking Solution
(E) None of these
Ans : (C)

17. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently announced a hike in some policy rates and also indicated that there may be another change in near future. Which of the following is/are considered a policy rate(s) in the hands of the RBI ?
1. Repo Rate
2. SLR
3. Inflation
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) Only 1 and 2
(E) All 1, 2 and 3
Ans : (D)

18. Zain, which was in news recently, is a company based in which of the following nations ?
(A) Kuwait
(B) South Africa
(C) UAE
(D) China
(E) None of these
Ans : (A)

19. Who amongst the following was awarded the prestigious ‘Moortidevi Award’ recently for his literary works ? (Awardee is a Minister in the Union Cabinet)
(A) Veerappa Moily
(B) Pranab Mukherjee
(C) P. Chidambaram
(D) Kapil Sibal
(E) None of these
Ans : (A)

20. The Indian Ministry of Agriculture has decided that despite good stocks of wheat and rice, India will not export the excess stocks. Which of the following may be the reason(s) owing to which the Ministry has taken this decision ?
1. Indian wheat and rice are not in much demand in foreign countries. Hence, very few are takers for the same.
2. The National Food Security Bill has a provision to provide 25 kg of wheat or rice to the families living below poverty line. A huge stock of grains will be needed for the same in near future.
3. Since most countries are still to recover from the global recession, a formula is being worked out where imports and exports will be compensated simply by exchange of commodities available with the countries. India is planning to use its food grain stocks for the same.
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) All 1, 2 and 3
(E) None of these
Ans : (B)

21. As per the reports published in various newspapers, RBI has asked banks to make a plan to provide banking services to all villages having a population of 2000. This directive issued by the RBI will fall in which of the following categories ?
(A) Plan for Financial Inclusion
(B) Efforts to meet the targets of Priority Sector Lending
(C) Extension of Relief Packages to the Farmers
(D) Extensions of Internal and Branchless Banking
(E) None of these
Ans : (A)

22. Which of the following is not a bank or finance company ?
(A) Barclays
(B) BNP Paribas
(C) Lufthansa
(D) HSBC
(E) All are banks/finance companies
Ans : (C)

23. The Indian Railways is in the process of purchasing Bullet Train Technology from which of the following nations ?
(A) France
(B) China
(C) Japan
(D) Russia
(E) Spain
Ans : (C)

24. Some State Govts. have started a project ‘Save Snow Leopards’. Snow Leopards are found mainly in—
(A) Jammu & Kashmir
(B) Rajasthan
(C) Kerala
(D) Punjab
(E) Tamil Nadu
Ans : (A)

25. India recently signed an agreement for an ‘Action Plan to Advance Security Cooperation’ with which of the following nations ?
(A) China
(B) Bangladesh
(C) Pakistan
(D) Nepal
(E) Japan
Ans : (E)

26. Sanya Richards who was named as the IAAF World Athlete of 2009 represents which of the following countries ?
(A) Jamaica
(B) Kenya
(C) France
(D) Britain
(E) USA
Ans : (E)

27. Who amongst the following was adjudged the European Footballer of the year 2009 ?
(A) Roberto Baggio
(B) Edger Davids
(C) Xavi Hamandez
(D) Cristiano Ronaldo
(E) Lionel Messi
Ans : (E)

28. The latest nuclear power reactor of India recently attained criticality at Rawatbhata. Rawatbhata is a place in—
(A) Uttar Pradesh
(B) Madhya Pradesh
(C) Uttarakhand
(D) Orissa
(E) Rajasthan
Ans : (E)

29. Who amongst the following has recently received the Highest Civilian Honour of France ?
(A) Kareena Kappor
(B) A. R. Rahman
(C) Javed Akhtar
(D) Lata Mangeshkar
(E) None of these
Ans : (D)

30. Who amongst the following represented India at the 15th United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009 held in Copenhagen ?
(A) Smt. Sonia Gandhi
(B) Smt. Pratibha Patil
(C) Dr. Manmohan Singh
(D) Smt. Meira Kumar
(E) None of these
Ans : (C)

31. Three Indian sportsmen, C. Raju Srither, I.R. Sanam and Ratan Singh recently went to Indonesia and won Gold Medals in one of the events. All three are associated with which of the following sports ?
(A) Weightlifting
(B) Rifle Shooting
(C) Swimming
(D) Golf
(E) Archery
Ans : (E)

32. A two-day meeting of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was organized recently in—
(A) Thimpu
(B) Islamabad
(C) Kabul
(D) Dhaka
(E) New Delhi
Ans : (A)

33. By nominating its Ambassador to which of the following countries after a gap of five years has the USA established its diplomatic relation with it ?
(A) Syria
(B) Iran
(C) Iraq
(D) China
(E) None of these
Ans : (A)

34. Which of the following organizations/ agencies is providing a US $ 850 million loan to India for the development of its infrastructure and Khadi industry ?
(A) World Bank
(B) European Union Finance Corporation
(C) Asian Development Bank
(D) Govt. of South Africa
(E) None of these
Ans : (C)

35. Goodluck Jonathan whose name was in news recently is from which of the following countries ?
(A) Kenya
(B) Uganda
(C) Nigeria
(D) Sudan
(E) None of these
Ans : (C)

36. The census in India is done after a gap of every—
(A) 5 years
(B) 10 years
(C) 12 years
(D) 15 years
(E) None of these
Ans : (B)

37. Pankaj Advani won which of the following titles in the year 2009 ?
(A) Asian Games Gold Medal
(B) Asian Billiards Championship
(C) WSA Challenge Tour
(D) World Professional Billiards Championship
(E) None of these
Ans : (D)

38. Which of the following awards is given for Excellence in the field of sports ?
(A) Kalinga Award
(B) Golden Pen Award
(C) Arjuna Award
(D) Bharat Ratna
(E) None of these
Ans : (C)

39. Which of the following states started ‘April Mandis’ project in all districts of the state to ensure the supply of vegetables and fruits at fair prices ?
(A) Gujarat
(B) Uttar Pradesh
(C) Haryana
(D) Delhi
(E) None of these
Ans : (C)

40. Which of the following terms is not used in Economics ?
(A) Balanace of Trade
(B) Centrifugal force
(C) Break even
(D) Fiscal Deficit
(E) Capital Account
Ans : (B)

41. The Indira Gandhi Peace Prize 2009 was given to the President of—
(A) Fiji
(B) Bhutan
(C) Nepal
(D) Bangladesh
(E) None of these
Ans : (D)

42. The Govt. of India recently launched the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission. This mission is one of the key missions on India’s National Action Plan on—
(A) Second Green Revolution
(B) Climate Change
(C) Recharging of Water bodies
(D) Electricity to all
(E) None of these
Ans : (B)

43. Voting in local bodies elections is compulsory in which one of the following states ?
(A) Delhi
(B) Maharashtra
(C) Kerala
(D) Gujarat
(E) None of these
Ans : (D)

44. India’s exports of which of the following to USA has been growing at a fast pace despite the global slowdown and recession ?
(A) Handicrafts and Carpets
(B) Textiles and Clothing
(C) Horticultural products
(D) Foodgrains
(E) Services
Ans : (E)

45. Russia recently agreed to resume import of natural gas from which of the following countries after a gap of about a month following a dispute over prices of the same ?
(A) Iran
(B) Turkmenistan
(C) China
(D) Kazakhstan
(E) N. Korea
Ans : (B)

46. India recently signed an agreement for cooperation in the field of nuclear power for civil purposes. This agreement is free from any restrictions on India. India signed this agreement with—
(A) France
(B) Germany
(C) USA
(D) Canada
(E) Russia
Ans : (E)

47. ‘Between the Assassinations’ is a book written by—
(A) Chetan Bhagat
(B) Kiran Desai
(C) Shobha De
(D) Vikram Seth
(E) Arvind Adiga
Ans : (E)

48. Which of the following prizes/ awards is not given for Excellence in the field of Literature ?
(A) Dronacharya Award
(B) Aga Khan Prize for Fiction
(C) Commonwealth Award
(D) Nobel Prize
(E) Man Booker Prize
Ans : (A)

49. Which of the following terms is not used in the game of Hockey ?
(A) Centre
(B) Downswing
(C) Drop pass
(D) Goal line
(E) Blue line
Ans : (B)

50. ‘Invisible’ is a novel written by—
(A) Vikram Seth
(B) Chetan Bhagat
(C) Anita Desai
(D) Meghnad Desai
(E) Paul Auster
Ans : (E)