1. Recently, where was the 6th Meeting of India-Japan Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism held?
[A] New Delhi
[B] Hyderabad
[C] Chennai
[D] Bengaluru
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [New Delhi]
Notes:
The 6th Meeting of the India-Japan Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism took place in New Delhi on 29 May 2024. Key discussions involved regional terrorist threats, state-sponsored terrorism, and the misuse of technology by terrorists. Both nations emphasized enhancing cooperation through information exchange, capacity building, and multilateral cooperation. The next meeting will be in Tokyo at a mutually convenient date.
2. Tadoba- Andhari Tiger Reserve, recently seen in the news, is located in which state?
[A] Maharashtra
[B] Gujarat
[C] Odisha
[D] Andhra Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Maharashtra]
Notes:
A 32-year-old woman was killed by a tiger in the buffer zone of Maharashtra’s Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR). TATR, the largest and oldest tiger reserve in Maharashtra, covers 625.4 sq. km and includes Tadoba National Park and Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary. It features Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous vegetation and notable wildlife like tigers, leopards, and sloth bears. The reserve has corridor linkages with other tiger reserves and houses diverse flora and fauna.
3. Dinesh Karthik, who recently announced his retirement, belongs to which sports?
[A] Cricket
[B] Football
[C] Basketball
[D] Hockey
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Cricket]
Notes:
Dinesh Karthik, the veteran wicketkeeper-batter, announced his retirement from all forms of cricket after an emotional farewell from Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL. His international career spanned 180 games across all formats, amassing 3463 runs with one Test hundred and 17 half-centuries. As a wicketkeeper, he recorded 172 dismissals.
4. Recently, which organization has launched the ‘Bank Clinic’ initiative to assist bank customers with grievance redressal?
[A] All India Bank Employees’ Association (AIBEA)
[B] State Bank of India (SBI)
[C] Ministry of Finance
[D] None of the Above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [All India Bank Employees’ Association (AIBEA)]
Notes:
The All India Bank Employees’ Association (AIBEA) has launched “Bank Clinic” to aid bank customers with grievance redressal. This advisory platform guides customers on remedies per RBI guidelines, serving as an additional channel alongside the Banking Ombudsman process. It aims to support customers amid rapid technological expansion and evolving RBI guidelines on retail banking.
5. Which glacier is the source of Sunkoshi River, recently in news?
[A] Langtang Glacier
[B] Zhangzangbo Glacier
[C] Laigou Galicer
[D] Pindar Glacier
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Zhangzangbo Glacier]
Notes:
A recent river cleanup campaign, part of the PLEASE (Plastic Free Rivers and Seas of South Asia) program, removed 24,575 kg of waste from the Sunkoshi River and its banks. The Sunkoshi, also called the ‘river of gold,’ is in Nepal, forming part of the Koshi River system. Originating from the Zhangzangbo Glacier in Tibet, it joins the Ganga in Bihar, India, before emptying into the Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh. It’s renowned for challenging rapids and popular for rafting in Nepal.
6. What are stromatolites, recently seen in news?
[A] Layered sedimentary formations
[B] Black hole
[C] Galaxy
[D] Glacial deposits
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Layered sedimentary formations]
Notes:
An international study announced the discovery of living shallow-marine stromatolites on Sheybarah Island, Red Sea, Saudi Arabia. Stromatolites, sedimentary formations, are primarily created by photosynthetic microorganisms like cyanobacteria. Their surface layer hosts active microbes, while the underlying build-up resembles lithified remnants of past microbial communities. Stromatolites played a vital role in the Great Oxygenation Event, altering Earth’s atmosphere. The world’s largest living stromatolite system is found in Hamelin Pool.
7. In a gesture of humanitarian aid, India has recently sent a shipment of approximately 90 tonnes of medical supplies to which country?
[A] Cuba
[B] Vietnam
[C] Singapore
[D] Mauritius
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Cuba]
Notes:
India dispatched around 90 tonnes of medical supplies to Cuba, including nine different Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), essential for producing antibiotics. The shipment departed from Mundra port on June 2. These medicines are crucial for treating chronic communicable diseases in Cuba, showcasing India’s role as the “Pharmacy of the World.” The aid underscores the enduring friendship between India and Cuba, reflecting India’s commitment to humanitarian assistance.
8. Which organization recently released the report titled ‘State and Trends of Carbon Pricing 2024’?
[A] UNEP
[B] UNDP
[C] World Bank
[D] IMF
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [World Bank]
Notes:
The World Bank’s “State and Trends of Carbon Pricing 2024” report highlights that CP revenues surpassed USD 100 billion in 2023, with 75 global CP instruments covering 24% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Brazil, India, and Türkiye have made significant strides in CP implementation, while China and India lead in carbon credit issuances. Carbon pricing attaches costs to greenhouse gas emissions, primarily through CO2 pricing mechanisms.
9. Recently, which department has launched a comprehensive survey to identify and address the challenges faced by MSMEs in adapting to new technologies?
[A] Department of Telecommunications
[B] Department of Consumer Affairs
[C] Department of Commerce
[D] Department of Economic Affairs
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Department of Telecommunications]
Notes:
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) launched a 60-day survey to identify challenges faced by MSMEs in adopting new technologies. Covering five sectors in both North and South India, the survey will explore AI, IoT, cloud computing, and 5G/6G integration needs across ten industries. The findings will inform policies to help MSMEs remain competitive in increasingly digitized global markets.
10. Which countries are involved in the “Air of the Anthropocene” project, recently in news?
[A] India, Ethiopia, and the USA
[B] India, Ethiopia, and the UK
[C] China, Ethiopia, and the UK
[D] India, China, and the UK
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [India, Ethiopia, and the UK]
Notes:
The “Air of the Anthropocene” project visualizes air pollution in India, Ethiopia, and the UK using light painting, highlighting severe health risks and sparking global discussions on air quality. This initiative combines art and science to produce photographic evidence of air pollution. Particulate matter (PM), a key pollutant, is linked to severe health issues and causes approximately 7 million premature deaths annually, with 99% of the global population affected.