INSIGHTS CURRENT Affairs RTM - 2020
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The following Quiz is based on the Hindu, PIB and other news sources. It is a current events based quiz. Solving these questions will help retain both concepts and facts relevant to UPSC IAS civil services exam.
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New Initiative: Revision Through MCQs (RTM) – Revision of Current Affairs Made Interesting
As revision is the key to success in this exam, we are starting a new initiative where you will revise current affairs effectively through MCQs (RTM) that are solely based on Insights Daily Current Affairs.
These questions will be different than our regular current affairs quiz. These questions are framed to TEST how well you have read and revised Insights Current Affairs on daily basis.
We will post nearly 10 MCQs every day which are based on previous day’s Insights current affairs. Tonight we will be posting RTM questions on the Insights current affairs of October 3, 2019.
The added advantage of this initiative is it will help you solve at least 20 MCQs daily (5 Static + 5 CA Quiz + 10 RTM) – thereby helping you improve your retention as well as elimination and guessing skills.
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Question 1 of 10
1. Question
1 pointsWhich Article of the Constitution of India safeguards one’s right to marry the person of one’s choice?
Correct
Ans: (b)
Explanation:
- “The right to marry a person of one’s choice is integral to Article 21 (right to life and liberty) of the Constitution”, the Supreme Court had recently set aside a 2017 order of the Kerala High Court which annulled the marriage of Kerala Muslim convert girl Hadiya and Shefin Jahan.
- Context:
- The proposed law is called the Madhya Pradesh Dharmik Swatantrata (Freedom of Religion) Bill 2020.
- Madhya Pradesh Cabinet has given its nod to an ordinance on the Bill.
- What critics say?
- The law has come under sharp criticism from several legal scholars who had contended that the concept of ‘love jihad’ did not have any constitutional or legal basis.
- They have pointed to Article 21 of the constitution which guarantees individuals the right to marry a person of one’s choice.
- Also, under Article 25, freedom of conscience, the practice and conversion of religion of one’s choice including not following any religion, are also guaranteed.
- Supreme Court on Marriage and Conversion:
- The Apex Court of India in its several judgements has held that the state and the courts have no jurisdiction over an adult’s absolute right to choose a life partner.
- The Supreme Court of India, in both the Lily Thomas and Sarla Mudgal cases, has confirmed that religious conversions carried out without a bona fide belief and for the sole purpose of deriving some legal benefit do not hold water.
Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/30/mp-anti-conversion-bill/
Incorrect
Ans: (b)
Explanation:
- “The right to marry a person of one’s choice is integral to Article 21 (right to life and liberty) of the Constitution”, the Supreme Court had recently set aside a 2017 order of the Kerala High Court which annulled the marriage of Kerala Muslim convert girl Hadiya and Shefin Jahan.
- Context:
- The proposed law is called the Madhya Pradesh Dharmik Swatantrata (Freedom of Religion) Bill 2020.
- Madhya Pradesh Cabinet has given its nod to an ordinance on the Bill.
- What critics say?
- The law has come under sharp criticism from several legal scholars who had contended that the concept of ‘love jihad’ did not have any constitutional or legal basis.
- They have pointed to Article 21 of the constitution which guarantees individuals the right to marry a person of one’s choice.
- Also, under Article 25, freedom of conscience, the practice and conversion of religion of one’s choice including not following any religion, are also guaranteed.
- Supreme Court on Marriage and Conversion:
- The Apex Court of India in its several judgements has held that the state and the courts have no jurisdiction over an adult’s absolute right to choose a life partner.
- The Supreme Court of India, in both the Lily Thomas and Sarla Mudgal cases, has confirmed that religious conversions carried out without a bona fide belief and for the sole purpose of deriving some legal benefit do not hold water.
Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/30/mp-anti-conversion-bill/
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Question 2 of 10
2. Question
1 pointsConsider the following statements with reference to the GAVI Alliance (formerly the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation):
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- It is a global health partnership of public and private sector organizations dedicated to “immunisation for all”.
- The Nobel Peace Prize 2017 was awarded to GAVI Alliance for ‘providing sustained access to childhood vaccines around the globe’.
Which of the given above statements is/are correct?
Correct
Ans: (a)
Explanation: What is GAVI?
- Created in 2000, Gavi is an international organisation – a global Vaccine Alliance, bringing together public and private sectors with the shared goal of creating equal access to new and underused vaccines for children living in the world’s poorest countries.
- Members:
- Gavi brings together developing country and donor governments, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry in both industrialised and developing countries, research and technical agencies, civil society, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other private philanthropists.
- Main activities:
- GAVI’s strategy supports its mission to save children’s lives and protect people’s health by increasing access to immunisation in poor countries.
- It contributes to achieving the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals by focusing on performance, outcomes and results.
- Its partners provide funding for vaccines and intellectual resources for care advancement.
- They contribute, also, to strengthening the capacity of the health system to deliver immunisation and other health services in a sustainable manner.
Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/30/global-alliance-for-vaccines-and-immunisation-gavi/
Incorrect
Ans: (a)
Explanation: What is GAVI?
- Created in 2000, Gavi is an international organisation – a global Vaccine Alliance, bringing together public and private sectors with the shared goal of creating equal access to new and underused vaccines for children living in the world’s poorest countries.
- Members:
- Gavi brings together developing country and donor governments, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry in both industrialised and developing countries, research and technical agencies, civil society, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other private philanthropists.
- Main activities:
- GAVI’s strategy supports its mission to save children’s lives and protect people’s health by increasing access to immunisation in poor countries.
- It contributes to achieving the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals by focusing on performance, outcomes and results.
- Its partners provide funding for vaccines and intellectual resources for care advancement.
- They contribute, also, to strengthening the capacity of the health system to deliver immunisation and other health services in a sustainable manner.
Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/30/global-alliance-for-vaccines-and-immunisation-gavi/
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Question 3 of 10
3. Question
1 pointsConsider the following statements:
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- The Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Review Committee Report has recommended a debt to GDP ratio of 60% for the general (combined) government by 2023, comprising 40% for the Central Government and 20% for the State Government.
- The Central Government has domestic liabilities of 21% of GDP as compared to that of 49% of GDP of the State Government.
- As per the Constitution of India, it is mandatory for a State to take the Central Government’s consent for raising any loan if the former owes any outstanding liabilities to the letter.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Correct
Ans: (c)
Explanation:
- S1: FRBM review panel had recommended the criterion of debt as a parameter for fiscal responsibility the central share being 40% and state 20%. Also, in terms of domestic liabilities the figures are actually reverse i:e central government 49% and state 21%.
- S3: Art. 293. (3.) A State may not without the consent of the Government of India raise any loan if there is still outstanding any part of a loan which has been made to the State by the Government of India or by its predecessor Government, or in respect of which a guarantee has been given by the Government of India or by its predecessor Government.
- Context:
- Borrowing 43% more in first 9 months, states fall deeper into debt trap.
- According to an analysis by rating agency ICRA, States had borrowed ₹3,87,400 crore in the first nine months of FY20.
- Borrowing by States:
- Borrowing by the Government of India and Borrowing by States are defined under Article 292 and 293 of Constitution of India
Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/30/states-borrow-43-more-get-deeper-in-debt/
Incorrect
Ans: (c)
Explanation:
- S1: FRBM review panel had recommended the criterion of debt as a parameter for fiscal responsibility the central share being 40% and state 20%. Also, in terms of domestic liabilities the figures are actually reverse i:e central government 49% and state 21%.
- S3: Art. 293. (3.) A State may not without the consent of the Government of India raise any loan if there is still outstanding any part of a loan which has been made to the State by the Government of India or by its predecessor Government, or in respect of which a guarantee has been given by the Government of India or by its predecessor Government.
- Context:
- Borrowing 43% more in first 9 months, states fall deeper into debt trap.
- According to an analysis by rating agency ICRA, States had borrowed ₹3,87,400 crore in the first nine months of FY20.
- Borrowing by States:
- Borrowing by the Government of India and Borrowing by States are defined under Article 292 and 293 of Constitution of India
Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/30/states-borrow-43-more-get-deeper-in-debt/
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Question 4 of 10
4. Question
1 pointsWith reference to the Indian Economy, consider the following statements:
-
- ’Commercial Paper’ is a short term unsecured promissory note.
- ‘Certificate of Deposit’ is a long-term instrument issued by the Reserve Bank of India to a corporation.
- ‘Call Money’ is a short term finance used for interbank transactions.
- ‘Zero-Coupon Bonds’ are the interest bearing short term bonds issued by the Scheduled Commercial Banks to corporations.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Correct
Ans: (c)
Explanation:
- RBI does not issue CDs to corporations, so S2 is wrong.
- S4 is incorrect too. Zero Coupon Bonds are G-secs that are issued at a discount and redeemed at par. No interest payment is made on such bonds at periodic intervals before maturity.
- Context:
- The government has used financial innovation to recapitalise Punjab & Sind Bank by issuing the lender Rs 5,500-crore worth of non-interest bearing bonds valued at par.
- These are special types of zero coupon bonds issued by the government after proper due diligence and these are issued at par.
- What are these special type of zero coupon bonds?
- These are “non-interest bearing, non-transferable special GOI securities”.
- They have a maturity of 10-15 years and issued specifically to Punjab & Sind Bank.
- These recapitalisation bonds are special types of bonds issued by the Central government specifically to a particular institution.
- It is not tradable, it is not transferable.
- It is held at the held-to-maturity (HTM) category of the bank as per the RBI guidelines. Since it is held to maturity, it is accounted at the face value (and) no mark-to-market will be there.
- How do they differ from traditional bonds?
- Though zero coupon, these bonds are different from traditional zero coupon bonds on one account — as they are being issued at par, there is no interest; in previous cases, since they were issued at discount, they technically were interest bearing.
Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/30/what-are-zero-coupon-bonds/
Incorrect
Ans: (c)
Explanation:
- RBI does not issue CDs to corporations, so S2 is wrong.
- S4 is incorrect too. Zero Coupon Bonds are G-secs that are issued at a discount and redeemed at par. No interest payment is made on such bonds at periodic intervals before maturity.
- Context:
- The government has used financial innovation to recapitalise Punjab & Sind Bank by issuing the lender Rs 5,500-crore worth of non-interest bearing bonds valued at par.
- These are special types of zero coupon bonds issued by the government after proper due diligence and these are issued at par.
- What are these special type of zero coupon bonds?
- These are “non-interest bearing, non-transferable special GOI securities”.
- They have a maturity of 10-15 years and issued specifically to Punjab & Sind Bank.
- These recapitalisation bonds are special types of bonds issued by the Central government specifically to a particular institution.
- It is not tradable, it is not transferable.
- It is held at the held-to-maturity (HTM) category of the bank as per the RBI guidelines. Since it is held to maturity, it is accounted at the face value (and) no mark-to-market will be there.
- How do they differ from traditional bonds?
- Though zero coupon, these bonds are different from traditional zero coupon bonds on one account — as they are being issued at par, there is no interest; in previous cases, since they were issued at discount, they technically were interest bearing.
Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/30/what-are-zero-coupon-bonds/
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Question 5 of 10
5. Question
1 pointsConsider the following statements:
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- National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) will be implemented by the Department of Science & Technology (DST) with a total outlay of Rs. 6000 Crore for a period of five years.
- The first supercomputer designed and built under National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) by C-DAC at Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi is named as “Param Shivay”.
- The GOI in its budget 2020 has announced a National Mission on Quantum Technologies & Applications (NM-QTA) with a total budget outlay of Rs 8000 Crore for a period of five years.
Which of the given above statements is/are correct?
Correct
Ans: (c)
Explanation:
- Source: To harness the potential of this new wave of technology and make India a leading player in CPS, the Union Cabinet approved the launch of National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) to be implemented by the Department of Science & Technology (DST) with a total outlay of 3660 Crore for a period of five years.
- Source: The first supercomputer designed and built under National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) by C-DAC at Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi is named “Param Shivay”. It uses more than one lakh twenty thousand compute cores (CPU + GPU cores) to offer a peak computing power of 833 TeraFlops.
- The government in its budget 2020 has announced a National Mission on Quantum Technologies & Applications (NM-QTA) with a total budget outlay of Rs 8000 Crore for a period of five years to be implemented by the Department of Science & Technology (DST).
- Quantum technologies are rapidly developing globally with a huge disruptive potential. The next generation transformative technologies that will receive a push under this mission include quantum computers and computing, quantum communication, quantum key distribution, encryption, crypt analysis, quantum devices, quantum sensing, quantum materials, quantum clock and so on. The areas of focus for the Mission will be in fundamental science, translation, technology development, human and infrastructural resource generation, innovation and start-ups to address issues concerning national priorities.
- Their applications which will receive boost include those in aero-space engineering, numerical weather prediction, simulations, securing the communications & financial transactions, cyber security, advanced manufacturing, health, agriculture, education and other important sectors with focus on creation of high skilled jobs, human resources development, start-ups & entrepreneurship leading to technology lead economic growth.
- Context:
- ‘TiHAN-IIT Hyderabad’ inaugurated recently.
- It is India’s first Test bed for Autonomous Navigation Systems (Terrestrial and Aerial).
- Special Features of this Facility include Test Tracks, Emulation of Real-World Scenarios, State of the Art Simulation Technologies, Road Infrastructure, V2X Communication, Drone Runways and Landing Area and many more.
Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/30/tihan-iit-hyderabad/
Incorrect
Ans: (c)
Explanation:
- Source: To harness the potential of this new wave of technology and make India a leading player in CPS, the Union Cabinet approved the launch of National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) to be implemented by the Department of Science & Technology (DST) with a total outlay of 3660 Crore for a period of five years.
- Source: The first supercomputer designed and built under National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) by C-DAC at Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi is named “Param Shivay”. It uses more than one lakh twenty thousand compute cores (CPU + GPU cores) to offer a peak computing power of 833 TeraFlops.
- The government in its budget 2020 has announced a National Mission on Quantum Technologies & Applications (NM-QTA) with a total budget outlay of Rs 8000 Crore for a period of five years to be implemented by the Department of Science & Technology (DST).
- Quantum technologies are rapidly developing globally with a huge disruptive potential. The next generation transformative technologies that will receive a push under this mission include quantum computers and computing, quantum communication, quantum key distribution, encryption, crypt analysis, quantum devices, quantum sensing, quantum materials, quantum clock and so on. The areas of focus for the Mission will be in fundamental science, translation, technology development, human and infrastructural resource generation, innovation and start-ups to address issues concerning national priorities.
- Their applications which will receive boost include those in aero-space engineering, numerical weather prediction, simulations, securing the communications & financial transactions, cyber security, advanced manufacturing, health, agriculture, education and other important sectors with focus on creation of high skilled jobs, human resources development, start-ups & entrepreneurship leading to technology lead economic growth.
- Context:
- ‘TiHAN-IIT Hyderabad’ inaugurated recently.
- It is India’s first Test bed for Autonomous Navigation Systems (Terrestrial and Aerial).
- Special Features of this Facility include Test Tracks, Emulation of Real-World Scenarios, State of the Art Simulation Technologies, Road Infrastructure, V2X Communication, Drone Runways and Landing Area and many more.
Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/30/tihan-iit-hyderabad/
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Question 6 of 10
6. Question
1 pointsThe ‘Gaza Strip’ is located between Israel and:
Correct
Ans: (c)
Explanation:
- The Gaza Strip is a small Palestinian territory, about twice the size of the District of Columbia, located along the Mediterranean coast between Egypt and Israel
Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/30/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-30-december-2020/
Incorrect
Ans: (c)
Explanation:
- The Gaza Strip is a small Palestinian territory, about twice the size of the District of Columbia, located along the Mediterranean coast between Egypt and Israel
Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/30/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-30-december-2020/
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Question 7 of 10
7. Question
1 pointsMalayali is a tribal group from the:
Correct
Ans: (a)
Explanation: Giant Rock Bee Honey:
- Giant Rock Bee Honey added to Tribes India Collection.
- It is a unique variant of honey, sourced from Malayali Tribes of Tamil Nadu.
- Malayali is a tribal group from the Eastern Ghats in North Tamil Nadu.
- With a population of around 3,58,000, they are the largest Scheduled Tribe in that region.
Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/30/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-30-december-2020/
Incorrect
Ans: (a)
Explanation: Giant Rock Bee Honey:
- Giant Rock Bee Honey added to Tribes India Collection.
- It is a unique variant of honey, sourced from Malayali Tribes of Tamil Nadu.
- Malayali is a tribal group from the Eastern Ghats in North Tamil Nadu.
- With a population of around 3,58,000, they are the largest Scheduled Tribe in that region.
Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/30/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-30-december-2020/
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Question 8 of 10
8. Question
1 pointsConsider the following statements regarding the Indian National Centre for Oceanic Information Services (INCOIS):
-
- It is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
- Tsunami Early Warning System (TEWS) is the first advisory service started by INCOIS.
Which of the given above statements is/are correct?
Correct
Ans: (a)
Explanation:
- S1: INCOIS was established as an autonomous body in 1999 under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and is a unit of the Earth System Science Organization (ESSO).
- S2: Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) is the first advisory service started by INCOIS. This service was started because there was a need to identify the potential fishing zones to help the fishermen to get better catch while they were at the sea. This service was started by the Ministry of Earth Sciences with the help of the Department of Space and several institutions under the Ministry of Agriculture.
- Tsunami Early Warning System (TEWS): In the aftermath of Sumatra earthquake in 2004 and the killer tsunami it set off, the Government of India wanted to set up an early warning centre for tsunami and other storm surges in the Indian Ocean region. Accordingly, on 15 October 2007, a centre housing the Indian Tsunami Early Warning System (TEWS) was established in INCOIS by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, the nodal ministry, with the collaboration of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Department of Space (DOS), and Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). By 2012, the centre has started to give a round-the-clock alert and advisory services to all Indian Ocean Rim Countries (IOR).
- Digital Ocean:
- Launched recently.
- It is the first of its kind digital platform for Ocean Data Management.
- Developed by Indian National Centre for Oceanic Information Services (INCOIS) of MoES.
- It includes a set of applications developed to organize and present heterogeneous oceanographic data by adopting rapid advancements in geospatial technology.
- It facilitates data visualization, data analysis to assess the evolution of oceanographic features, data fusion.
Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/30/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-30-december-2020/
Incorrect
Ans: (a)
Explanation:
- S1: INCOIS was established as an autonomous body in 1999 under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and is a unit of the Earth System Science Organization (ESSO).
- S2: Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) is the first advisory service started by INCOIS. This service was started because there was a need to identify the potential fishing zones to help the fishermen to get better catch while they were at the sea. This service was started by the Ministry of Earth Sciences with the help of the Department of Space and several institutions under the Ministry of Agriculture.
- Tsunami Early Warning System (TEWS): In the aftermath of Sumatra earthquake in 2004 and the killer tsunami it set off, the Government of India wanted to set up an early warning centre for tsunami and other storm surges in the Indian Ocean region. Accordingly, on 15 October 2007, a centre housing the Indian Tsunami Early Warning System (TEWS) was established in INCOIS by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, the nodal ministry, with the collaboration of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Department of Space (DOS), and Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). By 2012, the centre has started to give a round-the-clock alert and advisory services to all Indian Ocean Rim Countries (IOR).
- Digital Ocean:
- Launched recently.
- It is the first of its kind digital platform for Ocean Data Management.
- Developed by Indian National Centre for Oceanic Information Services (INCOIS) of MoES.
- It includes a set of applications developed to organize and present heterogeneous oceanographic data by adopting rapid advancements in geospatial technology.
- It facilitates data visualization, data analysis to assess the evolution of oceanographic features, data fusion.
Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/30/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-30-december-2020/
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Question 9 of 10
9. Question
1 pointsWhich of the following best describes the term “Merchant Discount Rate” sometimes seen in news?
Correct
Ans: (c)
Explanation:
- MDR is a fee charged from a merchant by a bank for accepting payments from customers through credit and debit cards in their establishments. MDR compensates the card issuing bank, the lender which puts the PoS terminal and payment gateways such as MasterCard or Visa for their services.
- MDR charges are usually shared in pre-agreed proportion between the bank and a merchant and is expressed in percentage of transaction amount.
Refer: UPSC CSE 2018
Incorrect
Ans: (c)
Explanation:
- MDR is a fee charged from a merchant by a bank for accepting payments from customers through credit and debit cards in their establishments. MDR compensates the card issuing bank, the lender which puts the PoS terminal and payment gateways such as MasterCard or Visa for their services.
- MDR charges are usually shared in pre-agreed proportion between the bank and a merchant and is expressed in percentage of transaction amount.
Refer: UPSC CSE 2018
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Question 10 of 10
10. Question
1 pointsWhich one of the following links all the ATMs in India?
Correct
Ans: (c)
Explanation:
- National Financial Switch (NFS) is the largest network of shared automated teller machines (ATMs) in India. It was designed, developed and deployed by the Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT) in 2004, with the goal of inter-connecting the ATMs in the country and facilitating convenience banking.
- National Financial Switch (NFS) ATM network having 3.7 members and connecting about 50,000 ATMs was taken over by NPCI from Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT) on December 14, 2009.
- National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is the apex authority for maintaining a nationwide link of all the ATMs in India. NPCI exercises this role through its wing IDRBT (Institute for Development of Research in Banking Technology).
Refer: UPSC CSE 2018
Incorrect
Ans: (c)
Explanation:
- National Financial Switch (NFS) is the largest network of shared automated teller machines (ATMs) in India. It was designed, developed and deployed by the Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT) in 2004, with the goal of inter-connecting the ATMs in the country and facilitating convenience banking.
- National Financial Switch (NFS) ATM network having 3.7 members and connecting about 50,000 ATMs was taken over by NPCI from Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT) on December 14, 2009.
- National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is the apex authority for maintaining a nationwide link of all the ATMs in India. NPCI exercises this role through its wing IDRBT (Institute for Development of Research in Banking Technology).
Refer: UPSC CSE 2018
