Odisha, NALCO - Current Affairs Questions and Answers

1)   Tapping PSU funds for short term disinvestment, government has asked which state run aluminium maker to buyback 25% of the shares for an estimated INR 3250 crore?

a. NALCO
b. BALCO
c. HINDALCO
d. None of the above
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: NALCO

Explanation:
Looking to tap PSU funds to create makeup for shortfall in disinvestment proceeds, government has asked state run aluminium maker NALCO to purchase 25% of the shares to gain estimated INR 3250 crore. NALCO board may consider the proposal and sources indicate government could raise above INR 3250 crore through sale of 25% of shares in NALCO.


2)   Which IPS officer took over as the new DGP of Odisha Police on November 8, 2015?

a. A. B. Singh
b. K. B. Singh
c. Sanjiv Marik
d. Prakash Mishra
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: K. B. Singh

Explanation:
Veteran IPS officer K. B. Singh took over as the new DGP of Odisha on November 8, 2015. He is a UP born 1985 batch Odisha cadre officer. He replaced Sanjiv Marik who was removed from his post prior to two months before his retirement. Marik had taken charge from 1977 batch IPS officer Prakash Mishra.


3)   The CM of which state on 3rd October 2015 launched the Citizen Portal, which enables the citizens to lodge their complaints online to the state police through internet?

a. MP
b. UP
c. TN
d. Odisha
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Odisha

Explanation:
Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik allowed citizens to gain access to information, request for police services and obtain a copy of FIR through the Citizen Portal. The portal can now be used to obtain character certificates, take out processions, rallies, protests and strikes and seek permission to hold events and performances. Portal can also be used for tenant verification and employee verification as well as complaint tracking.


4)   Aluminium major NALCO will invest INR 65,000 crore to launch projects and develop the power and mining sector. What record profit has this PSU attained in August 2015?

a. 50% increase in profit
b. 100% increase in profit
c. 105% increase in profit
d. 106% increase in profit
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: 106% increase in profit

Explanation:
Boosted by 106% increase in profit in 2014-2015, NALCO is set to make an investment of INR 65,000 crore to launch key projects and develop the power and mining sector. The company recorded a profit of Rs.1322 crore in 2014-2015 fiscal against Rs.642 crore during the 2013-2014. In the present fiscal, NALCO targets to raise its total metal sales to 3.80 lakh tonnes from 3.26 lakh tonnes during 2014-2015. Numerous projects will be carried out through these funds, including a green-field aluminium smelter abroad. The current CMD of NALCO is T. K. Chand. NALCO is proposing to set up smelter plants with investment of INR 20,000 crore and is exploring Oman, Iran and Indonesia for this purpose. Though power is cheap in Oman and Iran, abundant coal is available at low cost in Indonesia. Port facilities would also be a major factor, according to Chand.


5)   Which state government will implement ‘Onion Mission’ in order to rein in the exorbitant price of onion in the state?

a. West Bengal
b. Uttar Pradesh
c. Bihar
d. Odisha
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Odisha

Explanation:
The government will set up 300 cold storage centres across Odisha in which about 25 lakh tonne of onion can be stored that will help in containing the price rise of onion.


6)   Name the state that launched ‘Niramaya’ a free drug distribution scheme to cover whole state on 1st May 2015?

a. Uttar Pradesh
b. Assam
c. Manipur
d. Odisha
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Odisha

Explanation:
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on 1st May’15 launched free medicine scheme 'Niramaya' at Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar. The state government has made a budgetary allocation of Rs.200 crore for distribution of free medicine.


7)   Name the subsidized meal scheme meant for the urban poor launched in the Odisha state on 1st Apr’15?

a. Ann Poorak Yojana
b. Annapurna
c. Aahar
d. Anna Haq
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Aahar

Explanation:
Under the scheme, rice and dal curry would be served as lunch to the poor at a meager rate of Rs 5 per meal.


8)   Utkala Divas celebrated on 1st April in Odisha is also known as ______.

a. Odisha Diwas
b. Rajya Diwas
c. Agro Day
d. Freedom Day
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Odisha Diwas

Explanation:
Utkal Divas (also known as Odisha Day, Utkal Diwas, Utkala Dibasa) is celebrated on 1st April in Odisha in the memory of the formation of the state as a separate province on 1 April 1936.