1. What is ‘Kudavolai System’, recently mentioned in the news?
[A] Caste system
[B] Electoral system
[C] Irrigation system
[D] Tax system
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Electoral system]
Notes:
Tamil Nadu’s Republic Day Parade 2024 featured the Kudavolai System, an ancient electoral method dating back to the 10th century Chola era. Documented in Uthiramerur inscriptions, it was employed to elect village administration representatives. The system involved dividing villages into wards, with residents choosing their representatives through a unique process: contestants’ names on palm leaf tickets (volai) placed in a pot (kuda), and a boy selecting tickets to declare elected leaders. Tamil Nadu’s tableau showcasing this historical system earned the third-best award.
2. Where was the 12th India-Oman ‘Joint Military Cooperation Committee’ meeting held?
[A] New Delhi
[B] Jaipur
[C] Mumbai
[D] Muscat
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Muscat]
Notes:
The 12th India-Oman Joint Military Cooperation Committee (JMCC) meeting was held in Muscat. The meeting was co-chaired by Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane and Secretary General Dr. Mohammed Bin Naseer Bin Ali Al Zaabi. During the meeting, India and Oman signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate in new areas of defense engagement, including the procurement of military equipment. The meeting also covered joint exercises, information sharing, oceanography, shipbuilding, and MRO.
3. Which one of the following city is venue of the India’s first beachside startup festival ‘Emerge 2024’?
[A] Udupi
[B] Mangaluru
[C] Bengaluru
[D] Shivamogga
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Mangaluru]
Notes:
Emerge-2024 is India’s first beachside startup festival, taking place February 16–18, 2024 at Tannirbhavi Beach in Mangaluru. The festival is expected to feature more than 100 startups, 50 investors, and around 1,000 participants.
4. What is the total estimated expenditure in the Budget for FY 2024-25?
[A] Rs 47.66 lakh crore
[B] Rs 33.56 lakh crore
[C] Rs 48.20 lakh crore
[D] Rs 45.15 lakh crore
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Rs 47.66 lakh crore]
Notes:
The 2024-25 government budget is projected at Rs 47, 65,768 crore (47.66 lakh crore), indicating a 6% rise from the revised 2023-24 estimate. Anticipated growth includes a 3.2% increase in revenue expenditure and a significant 16.9% surge in capital expenditure, reflecting fiscal priorities and economic strategies for the upcoming year.
5. What is Candida auris (C. auris), recently mentioned in the news?
[A] Fungus
[B] Bacteria
[C] Invasive plant
[D] Virus
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Fungus]
Notes:
Candida auris, a deadly multidrug-resistant fungus, poses a global health threat by causing invasive infections, particularly in individuals with weakened immune systems. Discovered in Japan in 2009, it has rapidly spread worldwide. Primarily contracted in healthcare settings, it can colonize the skin without symptoms or cause severe infections by entering the bloodstream. The fungus spreads through contact with contaminated surfaces or infected individuals, emphasizing its potential for rapid transmission in hospitals and nursing homes.
6. Recently, which space agency has identified a potential “super-Earth” that could harbor life?
[A] NASA
[B] ISRO
[C] ROCOSMAS
[D] ESA
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [NASA]
Notes:
NASA has identified a potential “super-Earth,” TOI-715 b, situated 137 light-years away. This distant planet orbits a small, reddish star within the conservative habitable zone, indicating the possibility of liquid water. TOI-715 b is 1.5 times wider than Earth, completes an orbit in just 19 days, and may have a companion Earth-sized planet. NASA’s findings suggest conditions for surface water, pending atmospheric factors. This groundbreaking discovery opens avenues for further investigation into extraterrestrial life.
7. Dusted Apollo, recently seen in the news, belongs to which one of the following species?
[A] Butterfly
[B] Frog
[C] Fish
[D] Spider
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Butterfly ]
Notes:
The rare Dusted Apollo butterfly (Parnassius stenosemus) was recently spotted and photographed for the first time in Himachal Pradesh, extending its known distribution from Ladakh to West Nepal. Resembling Ladakh Banded Apollo, it distinguishes with a complete discal band on the upper forewing. The sighting of the protected Regal Apollo (Parnassius charltonius) also occurred, highlighting the rich diversity of Apollo butterflies in the region. Urgent conservation is needed as Apollos face commercial poaching threats, emphasizing the importance of community awareness and establishing conservation measures like butterfly parks.
8. Where was the ‘India’s First Digital National Museum of Epigraphy’ inaugurated?
[A] Hyderabad
[B] Bengaluru
[C] Chennai
[D] Jaipur
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Hyderabad]
Notes:
Union Culture Minister G. Kishan Reddy inaugurated the foundation stone for India’s digital National Museum of Epigraphy at the Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad. Managed by the Archaeological Survey of India, the museum aims to digitize one lakh ancient inscriptions from various periods and languages, aligning with the Bharat Shared Repository of Inscriptions initiative. Reddy praised the development as a key stride in the Modi government’s “Vikas Bhi Virasat Bhi” commitment, underscoring the role of technology in providing universal access to cultural heritage and highlighting the museum’s transformative potential for scholars.
9. Who has been awarded the prestigious Maha Gaurav Award 2024?
[A] Nikhil Mukund Wagh
[B] Nagraj Manjule
[C] Alfiya Pathan
[D] Vijay Surase
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Nikhil Mukund Wagh]
Notes:
Nikhil Mukund Wagh, a public relations officer at Goa Shipyard Limited, was awarded the 2024 Maha Gaurav Award in February 2024. The award was presented by Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar on behalf of the Digital Media Editor Journalist Association Maharashtra.
10. Valparaiso region, recently seen in the news due to forest fires, is located in which country?
[A] Brazil
[B] Peru
[C] Chile
[D] Argentina
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Chile]
Notes:
At least 112 people have died in the Valparaíso region of Chile due to fast-moving wildfires. The fires are thought to be the deadliest ever recorded in Chile. The government is investigating whether some of the fires were deliberately started. The fires have also destroyed an estimated 3,000 to 6,000 homes. The fires are thought to be the result of a week of record-setting temperatures caused by El Niño. High heat has also caused droughts and generally increased wildfire risk.