CMAT General Awareness Syllabus

Which gas, essential for photosynthesis, do plants absorb, and which gas do they release?

Plants absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) and release oxygen (O2).

What does GDP stand for, and how does it differ from GNP?

GDP = Gross Domestic Product (value of goods/services produced within a country). GNP = Gross National Product = GDP plus net factor income from abroad.

Which body in India formulates monetary policy, and which tool is the 'repo rate'?

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The repo rate is the rate at which the RBI lends short-term funds to commercial banks.

What does 'fiscal deficit' mean?

Fiscal deficit is the excess of total government expenditure over its total revenue (excluding borrowings); it indicates the total borrowing requirement of the government.

What replaced the Planning Commission in India, and in which year?

NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) replaced the Planning Commission in 2015.

What is the difference between direct tax and indirect tax, with one example of each?

Direct tax is paid directly by the person on whom it is levied (e.g., income tax); indirect tax is levied on goods/services and passed to the consumer (e.g., GST).

What does GST stand for, and in which year was it implemented in India?

GST = Goods and Services Tax; implemented on 1 July 2017.

What is the difference between a public limited company and a private limited company in terms of minimum members?

A private limited company requires a minimum of 2 members (max 200); a public limited company requires a minimum of 7 members with no upper limit.

What does IPO stand for, and what does it signify for a company?

IPO = Initial Public Offering; it is the first sale of a company's shares to the public, listing it on a stock exchange.

Which regulatory body governs the securities market in India?

SEBI - the Securities and Exchange Board of India.

What is the full form of CSR as mandated under the Companies Act, 2013?

CSR = Corporate Social Responsibility; eligible companies must spend at least 2% of average net profits on CSR activities.

Where are the headquarters of the IMF and the World Bank located?

Both the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank are headquartered in Washington, D.C., USA.

What does WTO stand for, and what is its primary function?

WTO = World Trade Organization; it regulates and promotes international trade and resolves trade disputes between nations.

Which organization publishes the 'World Economic Outlook' report?

The International Monetary Fund (IMF).

What do the acronyms BRICS and ASEAN stand for in terms of grouping type?

BRICS is an economic grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (now expanded). ASEAN is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a regional political-economic bloc.

Which institution is known as the 'lender of last resort' at the international level, and where is the Asian Development Bank headquartered?

The IMF acts at the international level for member economies; the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is headquartered in Manila, Philippines.

What is the name of India's flagship financial inclusion scheme launched in 2014 to provide bank accounts to all?

Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY).

What does the 'Make in India' initiative aim to achieve?

Launched in 2014, it aims to encourage companies to manufacture in India and boost the country's manufacturing sector and investment.

What is the name of India's digital payments system that enables instant bank-to-bank transfers via mobile?

UPI - Unified Payments Interface, operated by NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India).

Which mission aims to make India open-defecation free and improve sanitation?

Swachh Bharat Mission (Clean India Mission), launched in 2014.

What does the scheme 'Ayushman Bharat' (PM-JAY) provide?

It provides health insurance coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalization to poor and vulnerable families.

What is the headquarters location of the United Nations, and who is its current chief executive officer's title?

The UN is headquartered in New York City; its chief administrative officer holds the title of Secretary-General.

Which five countries are the permanent members of the UN Security Council with veto power?

The USA, United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China.

What does NATO stand for, and what type of alliance is it?

NATO = North Atlantic Treaty Organization; it is a military/defence alliance of North American and European countries.

Which annual meeting of major economies is referred to as the 'G20', and what does the 'G' represent?

The G20 (Group of Twenty) is a forum of 19 countries plus the EU and African Union; the 'G' stands for 'Group' of major economies.

What is the Paris Agreement primarily concerned with?

It is an international treaty (2015) under the UNFCCC aimed at limiting global warming to well below 2 deg C, preferably 1.5 deg C, above pre-industrial levels.

Which is the highest civilian award in India, and which is the highest gallantry (military) award?

Highest civilian award: Bharat Ratna; highest wartime gallantry award: Param Vir Chakra.

Which prize is awarded in the fields of Peace, Literature, Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, and Economics annually?

The Nobel Prize.

Which award is considered the highest honour in Indian cinema, given for lifetime contribution?

The Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

In sports, how many players are on the field per team in cricket and in football (soccer)?

Cricket: 11 players per side; Football (soccer): 11 players per side.

With which sports are the terms 'love', 'deuce', and 'ace' associated, and which book gave us 'The Argumentative Indian' by which Nobel laureate?

The terms 'love', 'deuce', and 'ace' are associated with tennis. 'The Argumentative Indian' was written by economist and Nobel laureate Amartya Sen.