1. 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.
2. Which country’s military force has unveiled the artificial intelligence robot ‘Valkyrie’ for aerial combat?
[A] USA
[B] UK
[C] Germany
[D] UAE
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [USA]
Notes:
The Valkyrie, a next-generation drone, is a prototype, has been introduced by the United States military force.
It will serve as a supplement to the fleet of traditional fighter jets. The robot is powered into flight by a rocket engine and it can fly a distance equal to the width of China. It has a stealthy design and is capable of carrying missiles that can hit enemy targets far beyond its visual range.
3. An Se Young, who won the badminton world championships, is from which country?
[A] China
[B] Japan
[C] South Korea
[D] Singapore
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [South Korea]
Notes:
An Se-young defeated Carolina Marin to become the Republic of Korea’s first women’s singles world champion.
The world number one played in her 11th final from 12 tournaments this year. Kunlavut Vitidsarn made history by becoming Thailand’s first men’s singles world champion after a final against Naraoka Kodai. He is now the sixth man to win both junior and senior world singles titles.
4. Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) directed which state to release Cauvery water?
[A] Kerala
[B] Tamil Nadu
[C] Karnataka
[D] Andhra Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Karnataka]
Notes:
Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) has recommended Karnataka to release 5,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu for the next 15 days.
While Tamil Nadu sought 24,000 cusecs to be given, Karnataka had indicated it would be able to supply 3,000 cusecs.
5. What is the new brand identity of Tata for its electric vehicle business?
[A] TATA.ev
[B] NEXON.ev
[C] TEV
[D] TATA Electro
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [TATA.ev]
Notes:
Tata Passenger Electric Mobility, a subsidiary of Tata Motors, has announced the introduction of its new brand identity, TATA.ev, for the EV business.
Tata has also revealed a logo for its .ev brand. The .ev brand will be used by Tata Motors’ Passenger Electric Mobility division and it will not cover Tata Motors’ electric commercial vehicles, as of now.
6. Which was the first major sports event to offer equal prize money to men and women?
[A] BWF world championship
[B] US Open
[C] Australia Open
[D] NBA world championship
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [US Open]
Notes:
The 50th anniversary of the U.S. Open becoming the first sporting event to offer equal prize money to men and women was recently held.
The ceremony was attended by former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama, former tennis player Billie Jean King, amateur player Gabby Bell, singer Sara Bareilles, and president of the United States Tennis Association Brian Hainline.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. NITI Aayog signed a MoU with which institution on fast tracking SDGs?
[A] UNDP
[B] UNEP
[C] World Bank
[D] WEF
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [UNDP]
Notes:
NITI Aayog and UNDP India have signed, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalise a framework of cooperation on a range of areas, including SDG localisation, data-driven monitoring, Aspirational Districts and Blocks, among others.
The MoU was signed for a period of five years. NITI Aayog is the nodal Institution for coordinating the adoption and monitoring of SDGs at the national and sub-national levels. UNDP plays the integrator role in coordinating efforts to fast-track progress on the SDGs within the UN system.
10. Which Union Ministry launched the ‘Mera Bill-Mera Adhikar Scheme’?
[A] Ministry of Finance
[B] Ministry of Corporate Affairs
[C] Ministry of MSME
[D] Ministry of Home Affairs
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ministry of Finance]
Notes:
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched the Mera Bill-Mera Adhikar Scheme from Gurugram on September 1.
The scheme will be launched in the states of Assam, Gujarat, and Haryana; and the UTs of Puducherry, Daman & Diu, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli. Two bumper prizes of ₹1 crore each will be given away every quarter to the winners of Mera Bill Mera Adhikaar’.