1. What is the primary habitat of ‘Black-crowned Night Heron’, recently seen in the news?
[A] Wetlands
[B] Tropical rainforests
[C] Deserts
[D] Snow Mountains
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Wetlands]
Notes:
A ringed juvenile black-crowned night heron, found dead at a local pond in Imphal, was banded in China’s Beijing. The black-crowned night heron, Nycticorax nycticorax, is a medium-sized heron with a stocky build, weighing 727-1014 grams and measuring 58-66 cm in length. Recognizable by its black crown, gray body, and red eyes, it’s a migratory species inhabiting wetlands. Opportunistic feeders, they mainly consume fish. The species is classified as “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List.
2. What is ‘Volt Typhoon’, recently mentioned in the news?
[A] A new artificial intelligence tool
[B] A new environment initiative
[C] A cyber hacking group
[D] A cryptocurrency
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [A cyber hacking group]
Notes:
The US government recently shut down China-backed hacking group “Volt Typhoon,” active since at least 2021. Specializing in espionage and targeting critical infrastructure, Volt Typhoon utilized stealth, living-off-the-land techniques, and preinstalled utilities. The group compromised small office/home office devices, maintaining persistence with stolen credentials. Known for routing traffic through hacked network equipment, such as home routers, Volt Typhoon made detection challenging.
3. Recently, the Government of India has declared which airport as an ‘International Airport’?
[A] Surat Airport
[B] Shimla Airport
[C] Gorakhpur Airport
[D] Jorhat Airport
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Surat Airport]
Notes:
Surat Airport in Gujarat has achieved ‘International Airport’ status, per the Indian government’s recent announcement. The move, aimed at facilitating global travel and boosting import-export activities for the diamond and textile industries, is set to unlock economic potential. The elevation to international status is anticipated to drive economic growth, attract foreign investment, and bolster diplomatic ties. Surat’s enhanced role in passenger and cargo operations is seen as a key driver for regional development and prosperity.
4. Which Indian state was the theme state of World’s Largest International Crafts Fair, Surajkund Mela 2024?
[A] Gujarat
[B] Rajasthan
[C] Madhya Pradesh
[D] Maharashtra
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Gujarat]
Notes:
The 37th Surajkund International Crafts Mela 2024 will feature Gujarat as the theme state. The fair will take place from February 2–18, 2024 in Surajkund, Faridabad. The fair complex, including decorations and stalls, will reflect the rich heritage of Gujarati culture. The event will also feature artists and cultural groups from 20 Indian states and multiple countries. The Surajkund Mela is organized annually by the Haryana Tourism Department. The town of Surajkund is known for its picturesque surroundings and is easily accessible from Delhi and other major cities in the region.
5. What is ‘eROSITA’, recently mentioned in the news?
[A] Drone
[B] X-ray telescope
[C] Artificial Intelligence tool
[D] Submarine
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [X-ray telescope]
Notes:
The German eROSITA consortium has released data from the first all-sky survey conducted by the eROSITA X-ray telescope on the Russian-German SRG observatory. eROSITA stands for extended ROentgen Survey with an Imaging Telescope Array and is the main instrument on the Russian spacecraft Spektrum-Roentgen-Gamma (SRG). Launched in July 2019, it maps the entire celestial sphere every six months, with eight surveys planned until December 2023. The survey aims to provide insights into various astrophysical phenomena, including supermassive black hole evolution and X-ray-emitting solar system bodies.
6. Mesolithic era rock paintings have recently been discovered in which state?
[A] Telangana
[B] Madhya Pradesh
[C] Gujarat
[D] Uttar Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Telangana]
Notes:
Recently, Mesolithic rock paintings were unearthed at Sitamma Loddi, Gattusingaram, in Telangana’s Peddapalli district. Discovered on a hillock in a dense forest, the paintings adorned a 1,000-foot-long, 50-foot-high sandstone rock shelter. The Mesolithic, or Middle Stone Age, bridged the gap between the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods, spanning approximately 12,000-10,000 years ago. Notable for the transition from large chipped stone tools to microliths, small tools affixed to bone or wood handles for making implements like saws and sickles, it marked a pivotal era in human cultural development.
7. What is Fentanyl, recently mentioned in the news?
[A] A type of drug
[B] Invasive plant
[C] Artificial intelligence tool
[D] Asteroid
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [A type of drug]
Notes:
A recent discussion between the United States and China have focused on joint efforts to combat the influx of fentanyl into the U.S. Fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid (a type of drug), has wreaked havoc in America and is linked to ingredients produced in China. The drug, 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine, is FDA (Food and Drug Administration) -approved for severe pain but is also illegally manufactured and sold recreationally, often mixed with other drugs, posing a high risk of addiction and fatality in large doses or when combined.
8. What are Tidal Disruption Events (TDEs), recently seen in the news?
[A] Events related to ocean tides
[B] Astronomical phenomena involving a star and a black hole
[C] Weather disturbances on exoplanets
[D] Supernova explosions
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Astronomical phenomena involving a star and a black hole]
Notes:
An international team of astronomers recently observed AT 2023clx, the nearest Tidal Disruption Event (TDE) to Earth. TDEs happen when a star comes too close to a supermassive black hole, torn apart by tidal forces. The resulting debris falls onto the black hole, emitting radiation that indicates a TDE’s occurrence. This international team’s multi-wavelength observations enhance our understanding of these celestial events.
9. Which Union Ministry implemented the ‘Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 scheme’, recently seen in the news?
[A] Ministry of Rural Development
[B] Ministry of Women and Child Development
[C] Ministry of Agriculture
[D] Ministry of Home Affairs
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Women and Child Development]
Notes:
The budget allocation for Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 in 2023-24 is ₹25,449 crore, which is a 6%, increase from the revised estimates of ₹23,913 crore for 2022-23. In 2024, the budget estimate is ₹20,554 crore, which is 1.4% higher than the revised allocation of ₹20,263 crore for 2023. Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 is a part of the Mission Poshan 2.0, which was launched in February 2021 by Finance Minister. The Ministry of Women and Child Development is responsible for implementing this scheme.
10. What is the theme of ‘World Wetland Day’ 2024?
[A] Wetlands and Human Wellbeing
[B] Wetlands for a Sustainable Urban Future
[C] Wetlands and Climate Change
[D] Wetlands and Water
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Wetlands and Human Wellbeing]
Notes:
The theme for World Wetlands Day 2024 is “Wetlands and Human Wellbeing”. The theme highlights how wetlands and human life are interconnected, and how people gain sustenance, inspiration, and resilience from wetlands. World Wetlands Day is celebrated on February 2nd each year. It’s an international day that promotes the sustainable management and conservation of wetlands.