1. ‘Operation Muskaan’, which was seen in the news, was implemented in which city?
[A] Indore
[B] Mumbai
[C] Ahmedabad
[D] Guwahati
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Mumbai]
Notes:
Over 5,000 minors rescued by Mumbai Police so far this year under ‘Operation Muskaan’, a Ministry of Home Affairs project.
It aims to find missing children, and rescue and rehabilitate them. More children were rescued by the Mumbai Police till August of this year than those rescued in the past five years combined.
2. Which state implements the ‘Ladli Behna Scheme’?
[A] Maharashtra
[B] Madhya Pradesh
[C] Goa
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Madhya Pradesh]
Notes:
Madhya Pradesh raised the financial aid given to women in the Ladli Behna Scheme from ₹1,000 to ₹1,250 per month.
About 1.25 crore women will be benefited from this decision. Women in the 23-60 age group get the assistance if they are not income tax payees and the annual income of their families is less than ₹2.5 lakh annually. The Chief Minister also announced 35 percent reservation for women in government jobs.
3. When is the National Sports Day celebrated in India?
[A] August 21
[B] August 23
[C] August 25
[D] August 29
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [August 29]
Notes:
Every year on August 29, India celebrates National Sports Day to commemorate the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand.
It is also called Rashtriya Khel Divas. The day is dedicated to the country’s sports heroes and champions for their contribution and dedication towards bringing pride to the nation. It aims to raise awareness about the values of sports.
4. Which Union Ministry extended the deadline for enabling Aadhaar-based payment for MGNREGA workers?
[A] Ministry of Rural Development
[B] Ministry of Finance
[C] Ministry of MSME
[D] Ministry of Electronics and IT
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ministry of Rural Development]
Notes:
As 42 per cent workers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme still not eligible for Aadhaar-based payment system (ABPS), the deadline for enabling Aadhaar-based payment for MGNREGA workers was extended till December 31
Earlier, the deadline was September 1 and this is the fifth extension by the Centre. This was announced by the Ministry of Rural Development.
5. The ancient city of Kalhu is located in which present-day country?
[A] Greece
[B] China
[C] Iraq
[D] USA
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Iraq]
Notes:
In a new study published in the journal Nature Scientific Reports, researchers have successfully extracted ancient DNA from a 2,900-year-old clay brick, uncovering a wealth of information about the plant life cultivated during that era.
The brick analyzed in this study was found in the palace of the Neo-Assyrian king Ashurnasirpal II, located in the ancient city of Kalhu, in modern day Iraq.
6. India signed a MoU with which country to boost cooperation in civil aviation?
[A] New Zealand
[B] France
[C] Germany
[D] Spain
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [New Zealand]
Notes:
The Government of India and the Government of New Zealand have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost cooperation in civil aviation.
This will cover the scheduling of new routes, code share services, traffic rights and capacity entitlement. An Air Services Agreement was signed between New Zealand and India in 2016. The New Zealand and India have reviewed the existing arrangements relating to air service between the two countries.
7. As per the ‘Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) Annual Update 2023’, poor air quality decreases the average Indian’s life expectancy by?
[A] 5.1 years
[B] 5.3 years
[C] 6.1 years
[D] 6.3 years
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [5.1 years]
Notes:
Air pollution is reducing the life span of people living in South Asia by 5.1 years, according to a new report. The region accounts for more than half of the total life years lost globally due to high pollution.
In India, on average, poor air quality takes 5.3 years off the life of a person, while cardiovascular diseases decrease the average Indian’s life expectancy by around 4.5 years.
8. What is the name of the blockchain-based project launched by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)?
[A] Falcon
[B] Grape
[C] Pay See
[D] Orange
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Falcon]
Notes:
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), announced the launch of Falcon blockchain-based project named ‘Falcon’.
It is an open-source project that aims to simplify the management and use of blockchains based on ‘Hyperledger Fabric’ and supported on Kubernetes clusters. Essentially, Falcon is expected to help developers innovate on blockchain-based payment solutions.
9. Renewable Energy Technology Action Platform (RETAP) is associated with India and which country?
[A] Sri Lanka
[B] USA
[C] Russia
[D] France
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [USA]
Notes:
The new U.S. – India Renewable Energy Technology Action Platform (RETAP) under the Strategic Clean Energy Partnership has been launched.
RETAP was announced meeting in Washington D. C., between His Excellency Joseph R. Biden, President of the United States of America and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, when the two leaders announced the expansion of collaboration on new and emerging technologies to accelerate the clean energy transition.
10. Kakrapar Atomic Power Project (KAPP) is located in which state/UT?
[A] Maharashtra
[B] Gujarat
[C] Karnataka
[D] Rajasthan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Gujarat]
Notes:
India’s first indigenously developed 700-megawatt electric (MWe) nuclear power reactor at the Kakrapar Atomic Power Project (KAPP) in Gujarat.
Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), is in the process of constructing two 700 MW pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs) at Kakrapar, which also hosts two 220 MW power plants.