1. Who has been appointed as the new Chairperson of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) recently?
[A] Suman Sharma
[B] Preeti Sudan
[C] Pradeep Kumar Joshi
[D] Rajiv Nayan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Preeti Sudan]
Notes:
On 31 July 2024, President Droupadi Murmu appointed Preeti Sudan, a 1983 batch IAS officer and former Union Health Secretary, as the new Chairperson of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), succeeding Dr. Manoj Soni. Sudan, the second woman to hold this position, has played key roles in government programs like Ayushman Bharat and Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao. The UPSC, established in 1950, is an independent constitutional body.
2. Hoollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, recently seen in the news, is located in which state?
[A] Maharashtra
[B] Gujarat
[C] Assam
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Assam]
Notes:
The Union Environment Ministry’s approval for oil and gas drilling in Hoollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary may endanger the Hoolock gibbon further. This evergreen forest sanctuary, located in Assam’s Jorhat district, was established in 1997. It’s the only sanctuary in India named after a gibbon, containing the densest gibbon populations in Assam. The Bhogdoi River forms a waterlogged region with semi-hydrophytic plants along its border.
3. Which ministry recently introduced ‘Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak 2024’ in Lok Sabha?
[A] Ministry of Home Affairs
[B] Ministry of Civil Aviation
[C] Ministry of Defence
[D] Ministry of Power
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Civil Aviation]
Notes:
The Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak 2024 was introduced in the Lok Sabha by the Union Civil Aviation Minister. This bill aims to empower the government to set rules for investigating air accidents and incidents, and regulating aircraft design, manufacture, maintenance, use, and safety. The Aircraft Act of 1934 has been amended many times, creating confusion. This bill seeks to streamline and clarify these regulations.
4. Recently, archaeologists have unearthed a terracotta pipeline at which Sangam Era site in Tamil Nadu?
[A] Musiri
[B] Keeladi
[C] Kodumanal
[D] Tondi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Keeladi]
Notes:
Archaeologists have discovered a terracotta pipeline during the 10th phase of excavation at Keeladi, a Sangam Era site in Tamil Nadu. This find highlights advanced water management practices from over 2,600 years ago. Keeladi, located near Madurai, has revealed over 20,000 artifacts, suggesting the Sangam Era began around 600 BCE, earlier than previously thought. Additional discoveries include rice husks from 3,200 years ago and evidence of early iron technology.
5. Recently, which organization launched a report titled ‘The Case for Investment in Nutritious Foods Value Chains’?
[A] Oxfam International
[B] Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)
[C] Red Cross
[D] Oxfam International
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)]
Notes:
GAIN’s report, “The Case for Investment in Nutritious Foods Value Chains,” urges nutrition investments in the agri-food sector to reduce gender inequalities, boost productivity, and enhance business resilience. GAIN, a Swiss NGO launched at the UN in 2002, addresses malnutrition by supporting public-private partnerships to increase access to essential nutrients in diets.
6. Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, recently seen in news, is located in which state?
[A] Nagaland
[B] Manipur
[C] Assam
[D] Arunachal Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Assam]
Notes:
A mahout from Darrang district was tragically killed by a wild elephant at Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary. Located in Assam’s Morigaon district, Pobitora is home to the highest density of Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros, with around 102 rhinos in 38.8 sq. km. The sanctuary, declared in 1987, features alluvial lowlands, marshland, and wet savannah, bordered by the Brahmaputra River to the north and Garanga Beel to the south.
7. What is ‘Methylocucumis oryzae’, recently seen in news?
[A] Virus
[B] Protozoa
[C] Fungus
[D] Bacteria
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Bacteria]
Notes:
Researchers have isolated India’s first indigenous methanotroph, Methylocucumis oryzae, from rice fields and wetlands in Western India. This cucumber-shaped bacterium, abundant in wetlands and rice fields, is important for methane consumption. It is larger than most bacteria and grows only below 37ºC. Methylocucumis promotes rice plant growth by inducing early flowering and increasing grain yield, though its slow growth limits large-scale applications.
8. Ladki Bahin Yojana, recently seen in the news, is associated with which state?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Maharashtra
[C] Kerala
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Maharashtra]
Notes:
The Bombay High Court dismissed a PIL challenging the Ladki Bahin Yojana, a Maharashtra government scheme providing Rs 1,500 monthly to eligible women aged 21-65. Eligibility requires a family income below Rs 2.5 lakh and no income tax payers in the family. The petitioner argued taxes should fund infrastructure, not such schemes. The court ruled paying taxes is compulsory and their use cannot be dictated by individuals.
9. Recently, which state government has constituted a task force to clear encroachments in forests and western ghats?
[A] Goa
[B] Kerala
[C] Karnataka
[D] Maharashtra
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Karnataka]
Notes:
Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre announced the formation of a task force to remove illegal resorts and encroachments from the Western Ghats, covering 10 districts. Led by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, this team will start clearing operations immediately. The Minister has also directed the removal of encroachments from 2015 onward and requested a report on the actions taken within a month.
10. What is ‘Carry Trade’, recently seen in news?
[A] Investing in countries with high interest rates
[B] Borrowing in a country with low interest rates and investing in a country with higher returns
[C] Trading stocks based on interest rate predictions
[D] Selling bonds to buy currencies
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Borrowing in a country with low interest rates and investing in a country with higher returns]
Notes:
The yen carry trade became notable after the Bank of Japan raised interest rates and cut bond purchases, causing the yen to strengthen. Investors reacted by unwinding their positions to prevent losses, which led to a selloff in US tech stocks and affected global markets, including Asia. A carry trade involves borrowing in a country with low interest rates and investing in assets in a country with higher returns.