1. Recently, which armed force has launched ‘Project Naman’ to support veterans and their families?
[A] Indian Air Force
[B] Indian Army
[C] Indian Navy
[D] National Security Guard
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Indian Army]
Notes:
The Indian Army launched Project NAMAN to support Defence Pensioners, Veterans, and their families. The project is based on the SPARSH digital pension system, simplifying pension processes for Defence personnel. Reception and facilitation centers were set up through an MoU between the Indian Army, CSC e-Governance India Limited, and HDFC Bank. These centers offer SPARSH-enabled pension services and other citizen services at one location. In the first phase, 14 centers were established in key cities like New Delhi, Jalandhar, and Bangalore. Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs), often veterans, manage these centers with HDFC Bank’s financial support.
2. Nazca Ridge, recently seen in the news, is a submarine ridge located in which ocean?
[A] Indian Ocean
[B] Arctic Ocean
[C] Pacific Ocean
[D] Atlantic Ocean
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Pacific Ocean]
Notes:
Oceanographers found a new seamount on the Nazca Ridge, 900 miles off Chile’s coast. Nazca Ridge is a submarine ridge in the southeastern Pacific Ocean near South America. It is around 1,100 kilometers long and varies in width. The ridge starts at the Nazca Plate off Peru and extends southwest towards Easter Island, Chile. It was created by volcanic activity from a hotspot in the Earth’s mantle. The ridge consists of unusually thick basaltic ocean crust.
It is tectonically active, subducting beneath the South American Plate at the Peru-Chile Trench.
3. What is ‘Parkinson’s disease’, recently mentioned in news?
[A] Neurodegenerative disease
[B] Cardiovascular disease
[C] Plant disease
[D] Respiratory disease
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Neurodegenerative disease]
Notes:
Researchers explored mitochondrial dynamics to treat Parkinson’s disease, a neurodegenerative disorder caused by brain cell death. Environmental toxins and toxic proteins, like those in Manganese-induced Parkinsonism, cause mitochondrial fragmentation and dysfunction. The study found that inhibiting Dynamin-related protein (Drp1) activity could restore mitochondrial function, offering a potential treatment. Drp1 is a protein that aids in mitochondrial division for better mobility and quality control. However, excessive Drp1 activity leads to too much division, resulting in fragmented and impaired mitochondria.
4. Grom-E1 missile, recently seen in the news, is developed by which country?
[A] China
[B] France
[C] Russia
[D] Japan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Russia]
Notes:
Russian troops recently used a Grom-E1 hybrid missile to hit Kharkiv, Ukraine. The Grom-E1 is a modernized weapon based on the Soviet-era Kh-38 missile. It was developed by Russia and first introduced in 2018. The Grom-E1 combines features of both a missile and an aerial bomb. It has a maximum range of 120 km, with a high-explosive warhead and a contact detonator. A variant with a thermobaric design can detonate at high altitudes. The effectiveness depends on the altitude and speed of the launching aircraft. It can be launched from Russian aircraft like the MiG-35, Su-34, Su-35, and Su-57.
5. Deepti Jeevanji won which medal in the women’s 400m T20 event at the 2024 Paris Paralympics?
[A] Gold
[B] Silver
[C] Bronze
[D] None of the Above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Bronze]
Notes:
India’s Deepthi Jeevanji won a bronze medal in the women’s 400m T20 race at the Paris Paralympics 2024. She completed the race in 55.82 seconds. Jeevanji secured third place, finishing behind Yuliia Shuliar from Ukraine, who clocked 55.16 seconds. The second-place finisher was Aysel Onder from Turkey, who holds the world record and finished in 55.23 seconds. This achievement highlights Jeevanji’s significant performance on an international stage.
6. Which state assembly recently introduced a new legislative practice by launching “Zero Hour”?
[A] Manipur
[B] Himachal Pradesh
[C] Odisha
[D] West Bengal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Himachal Pradesh]
Notes:
Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly introduced Zero Hour for the first time in its proceedings. Zero Hour, an Indian parliamentary invention from the Sixties, is gradually being adopted by state assemblies. It is a convention, not a rule, and is not mentioned in the rules of Parliament or State Assemblies. Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker, Kuldeep Singh Pathania, announced its introduction at the start of the monsoon session on 3 September 2024. Zero Hour begins at 12:30 PM, after the Question Hour, and lasts for 30 minutes. During Zero Hour, members can raise urgent matters of public importance, with each member getting about a minute to speak.
7. Recently, which ministry launched the new ‘Notary Portal’ in New Delhi?
[A] Ministry of Law and Justice
[B] Ministry of Home Affairs
[C] Ministry of Defence
[D] Ministry of Power
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ministry of Law and Justice]
Notes:
Ministry of Law and Justice launched the new Notary Portal in New Delhi, enhancing digital services in line with Digital India. The portal offers a paperless, faceless, and efficient system, benefiting both notaries and the public. It provides online services, including applications for appointment as notaries, issuance and renewal of Certificates of Practice, change of practice area, and submission of annual returns. Notaries can now submit applications online, monitor their progress, and download digitally signed Certificates of Practice via Digilocker, eliminating the need for physical submissions.
8. ‘Na Anka famine’, recently seen in news, was associated with which state?
[A] Haryana
[B] Jharkhand
[C] Bihar
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Odisha]
Notes:
The Union Education Minister proposed renaming Ravenshaw University due to its association with the Na Anka Famine during Thomas Edward Ravenshaw’s tenure. The Na Anka Famine, also known as the Great Odisha Famine, devastated Odisha in 1866, two years before Ravenshaw University was founded in 1868. The famine was so severe that about one-third of Odisha’s population died. It occurred during the 9th Regnal year of King Divya Singha Deva of Orissa. Thomas Edward Ravenshaw, a British bureaucrat and colonial commissioner of Odisha, witnessed the famine’s devastating impact firsthand.
9. Who became the first Indian archer to win gold medal at the 2024 Paris Paralympics?
[A] Harvinder Singh
[B] Manish Narwal
[C] Nishad Kumar
[D] Sumit Antil
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Harvinder Singh]
Notes:
Harvinder Singh won a historic gold medal in men’s individual recurve archery at the Paris Paralympics 2024. This win marked India’s 22nd medal in the event. He defeated Poland’s Lukasz Ciszek in the final. His achievement adds to India’s successes in other Paralympic sports like shot put and club throw. This highlights India’s increasing presence and accomplishments in Paralympic sports.
10. Who has created history by becoming the first Indian to win a medal in Judo at the 2024 Paris Paralympics?
[A] Sakina Khatun
[B] Sachin Sinha
[C] Kapil Parmar
[D] Paramjeet Kumar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Kapil Parmar]
Notes:
Kapil Parmar won a bronze medal at the Paris Paralympics 2024 in the Para Judo Men’s J1-660 Kilogrammes event. He defeated Elielton de Oliveira from Brazil 10-0 via an Ippon, marking India’s first Paralympic medal in Judo. Parmar had previously won a silver medal in the 2022 Asian Games. He also won against Venezuela’s Marco Dennis Blanco 10-0 in the quarterfinals. Despite receiving yellow cards for minor infractions, Parmar excelled in the event. Parmar, from Shivor village in Madhya Pradesh, survived a severe childhood accident involving an electric shock and spent six months in a coma.