1. Recently, who has been appointed as the 35th Foreign Secretary of India?
[A] Amitabh Kant
[B] Vikram Misri
[C] Ruchira Kamboj
[D] Ajay Bisaria
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Vikram Misri]
Notes:
Vikram Misri has been appointed as India’s new Foreign Secretary, succeeding Vinay Mohan Kwatra on July 15, 2024. Known for his expertise in China affairs, Misri served as India’s ambassador to China during the 2019-2021 period, including the Galwan Valley clashes.
2. Recently, which country has become the first country in the world to prepare a checklist of its entire fauna?
[A] Bhutan
[B] India
[C] Nepal
[D] Myanmar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [India]
Notes:
India has become the first country to prepare a comprehensive checklist of its entire fauna population, documenting 104,561 species. This milestone, announced by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav in Kolkata, coincided with the launch of the Fauna of India Checklist Portal by the Zoological Survey of India. This portal, vital for scientific research, encompasses 121 checklists of all known taxa. The event also featured the 2nd Animal Taxonomy Summit-2024.
3. Recently, which country has successfully developed and certified SEBEX 2, a new explosive that is 2.01 times more lethal than standard Trinitrotoluene (TNT)?
[A] India
[B] Bangladesh
[C] France
[D] Afghanistan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [India]
Notes:
India has certified SEBEX 2, an explosive 2.01 times more potent than TNT, developed for bombs and warheads. Approved by the Indian Navy, it’s touted as one of the world’s most powerful non-nuclear explosives. SEBEX 2 promises enhanced destructive capability without added weight, aiming to revolutionize military ordnance. Its development signals potential for significant exports in defense technology.
4. Recently, which state has set a record by generating one crore tokens through the Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) ID?
[A] Bihar
[B] Haryana
[C] Madhya Pradesh
[D] Uttar Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Uttar Pradesh]
Notes:
Uttar Pradesh set a record by generating one crore tokens through the Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) ID, with a total of 1,43,00,000 tokens. Andhra Pradesh follows with 60,33,104 tokens, and Karnataka with 42,57,944. The Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) guidelines, updated in 2022, set quality benchmarks for healthcare facilities. The Health Ministry’s dashboard helps monitor compliance with IPHS standards, ensuring consistent and accountable healthcare nationwide.
5. Recently, researchers of which country have discovered that zinc plays a crucial role in the nitrogen fixation process of legumes?
[A] India
[B] China
[C] Japan
[D] France
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [France]
Notes:
Researchers in France discovered zinc’s crucial role in legume crop health. Zinc, a silvery blue-grey metal, is the fourth most widely used globally after steel, aluminum, and copper. In India, Rajasthan holds the largest lead-zinc ore reserves. Australia leads in global zinc reserves, followed by China and Russia. Zinc is essential for galvanizing steel due to its corrosion resistance and is used in die-castings and zinc oxide production for paints and rubber.
6. Which ministry recently launched a portal ‘Noble Initiative for Rewarding Mains Aspirants of National Civil Services Examination (NIRMAN)’?
[A] Ministry of Coal and Mines
[B] Ministry of Education
[C] Ministry of Home Affairs
[D] Ministry of Defence
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ministry of Coal and Mines]
Notes:
The Union Minister for Coal and Mines launched the NIRMAN Portal, part of Mission Karmayogi. Announced by Coal India Limited (CIL), the portal aims to support UPSC Preliminary exam qualifiers from SC, ST, female, or third gender candidates with an annual family income under Rs 8 lakh. Eligible candidates, permanent residents of CIL’s 39 operational districts, will receive Rs 1 lakh.
7. Recently, IAF chief inaugurated Weapon Systems School (WSS) in which city?
[A] Jaipur
[B] Hyderabad
[C] Kolkata
[D] Bhopal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Hyderabad]
Notes:
The Chief of the Air Staff inaugurated the Weapon Systems School (WSS) at Air Force Station Begumpet, Hyderabad. The WSS aims to modernize the Indian Air Force (IAF) by providing effect-based, contemporary training to officers of the newly formed branch. Flight Cadets in the WS Branch will undertake their second semester of training at this institute, aligning with the IAF’s future-oriented goals.
8. Recently, which space agency has successfully launched the Advanced Land Observing Satellite-4 “DAICHI-4” (ALOS-4) to revolutionize disaster management?
[A] NASA
[B] ISRO
[C] JAXA
[D] CNSA
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [JAXA]
Notes:
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched the Advanced Land Observing Satellite-4 “DAICHI-4” (ALOS-4) on July 1, 2024, using the H3 Launch Vehicle from Tanegashima Space Center. ALOS-4 features a Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar-3 (PALSAR-3) and Space-based AIS Experiment (SPAISE3), enhancing its capability for high-resolution, all-weather observations. This satellite is pivotal for disaster management, offering extensive monitoring capabilities crucial for mitigating natural disasters and environmental monitoring.
9. Recently, where was the ‘Global Conclave on Plastic Recycling and Sustainability (GCPRS)’ inaugurated?
[A] Hyderabad
[B] Bengaluru
[C] New Delhi
[D] Chennai
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [New Delhi]
Notes:
The Global Conclave on Plastic Recycling and Sustainability (GCPRS) commenced at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi with Chief Guest Smt. Nivedita Shukla Verma inaugurating. Key attendees included AIPMA and CPMA leaders. Verma highlighted the need for collaborative efforts and government initiatives like the Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016. Smt. Mercy Epao emphasized MSME’s support. The conference aims to address plastic waste management, with India’s industry projected to reach $6.9 billion by 2033.
10. Recently, where was the first International Conference On Steel Slag Road held?
[A] Bhopal
[B] New Delhi
[C] Chennai
[D] Hyderabad
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [New Delhi]
Notes:
The 1st International Conference on Steel Slag Road was held in New Delhi by CSIR, where NITI Aayog released guidelines for using steel slag in road construction. This technology repurposes steel production waste, creating strong, durable, and eco-friendly roads. Processed steel slag offers high strength, hardness, abrasion resistance, and drainage capacity. It can partially meet India’s annual demand for 1.8 billion tonnes of natural aggregates. India’s first steel slag road was built in Surat.
