1. 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.
2. Who has been appointed as the new Cabinet Secretary for the Government of India?
[A] Alok Banerjee
[B] T.V. Somanathan
[C] S.C. Majumdar
[D] Rinku Dugga
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [T.V. Somanathan]
Notes:
TV Somanathan has been appointed as the 33rd Cabinet Secretary of India. He succeeded Rajiv Gauba, the longest-serving Cabinet Secretary since August 2019. Rajiv Gauba, a 1982 batch IAS officer, got three one-year extensions until August 2024. The government amended retirement rules to extend Gauba’s term. Before Gauba, Pradeep Kumar Sinha held the longest term as Cabinet Secretary for over four years. Somanathan, a 1987 batch Tamil Nadu cadre IAS officer, was previously Finance Secretary and Expenditure Secretary. He has a PhD in Economics, is a Chartered Accountant, and has held significant roles in Tamil Nadu and the World Bank.
3. Recently, which Japanese animator has been honored with the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award for 2024?
[A] Goro Fujita
[B] Hiroyuki Imaishi
[C] Hayao Miyazaki
[D] Koji Nanke
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Hayao Miyazaki]
Notes:
Japanese anime director Hayao Miyazaki recently won the Ramon Magsaysay Award, known as Asia’s Nobel Prize. This award is Asia’s top honor, recognizing transformative leadership and spirit. Winners receive a certificate and a medallion with Ramon Magsaysay’s profile. From 1958 to 2008, the award was given in six categories: Government Service, Public Service, Community Leadership, Journalism and Creative Arts, Peace and International Understanding, and Emergent Leadership. The award ceremony is held annually on August 31 in Manila, Philippines, marking the birth anniversary of President Ramon Magsaysay, after whom the award is named.
4. Recently, who was announced as the first Indian ambassador of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF)?
[A] Yuki Bhambri
[B] Ashok Amritraj
[C] Sharath Kamal
[D] Sumit Nagal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Sharath Kamal]
Notes:
Sharath Kamal has been named the first Indian ambassador of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Foundation.
The announcement was made during day 11 of the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) season five at Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium. Sharath was elected to the ITTF’s Athlete’s Commission in November 2022. He will promote table tennis for development, especially among children from underprivileged backgrounds. He holds the record for the most medals in Commonwealth Games history for table tennis, including 13 medals with three golds at the 2022 Birmingham Games.
5. eShram Portal, recently seen in the news, was launched by which ministry?
[A] Ministry of Home Affairs
[B] Ministry of Labour and Employment
[C] Ministry of Rural Development
[D] Ministry of Finance
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Labour and Employment]
Notes:
The Ministry of Labour & Employment launched the eShram portal on 26th August 2021. In just three years, over 30 crore unorganised workers registered on eShram, showing rapid adoption. The portal aims to be a “One-Stop-Solution” for unorganised workers, integrating with other platforms. This integration was highlighted in the 2024-25 Budget speech to improve access to social security schemes. eShram will help unorganised workers access schemes like PMJJBY, PMSBY, AB-PMJAY, and others. A two-way integration with the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) is also underway to enhance service accessibility.
6. Which organization recently launched “Vulture Count 2024” initiative?
[A] United Nations Environment Programme
[B] Global Footprint Network
[C] World Wide Fund for Nature-India
[D] Greenpeace
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [World Wide Fund for Nature-India]
Notes:
WWF-India launched the “Vulture Count 2024” project from September 7 to October 6, 2024. This initiative aligns with International Vulture Awareness Day. The project aims to count and assess the vulture population in India. It focuses particularly on critically endangered vulture species. The project also seeks to raise public awareness about the importance of vultures in ecosystems.
7. What is the primary objective of the ‘Colombo Security Conclave (CSC)’, recently seen in news?
[A] To promote economic trade among member states
[B] To promote regional security by addressing transnational threats
[C] To establish a common currency for member states
[D] To develop a regional space program
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [To promote regional security by addressing transnational threats]
Notes:
Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) member states signed a Charter and MoU to establish the CSC Secretariat in Colombo. CSC is a regional security group that includes India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Mauritius. Its main goal is to enhance regional security by addressing shared transnational threats. CSC started as the Trilateral for Maritime Security Cooperation in 2011, involving India, Maldives, and Sri Lanka. Tensions between India and the Maldives paused its activities after 2014. Revived and renamed in 2020, Mauritius and Bangladesh joined as members, with Seychelles as an observer. CSC meetings include National Security Advisors and their deputies.
8. Recently, where was the “India Bio-Energy & Tech Expo 2024” inaugurated?
[A] New Delhi
[B] Gandhinagar
[C] Bhopal
[D] Chennai
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [New Delhi]
Notes:
Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Hardeep Singh Puri inaugurated the India Bio-Energy & Tech Expo 2024 in New Delhi on 2 September 2024. The Expo is held from 2 to 4 September 2024. Awards were given to companies for their contributions to the bioenergy industry and enhancing bioenergy production and supply in India. The Indian Federation of Green Energy, in partnership with MMACTIV Sci-Tech Communications Ltd, organized the Expo. The Expo provides a platform for discussions on the future of bioenergy technologies. It aims to support India’s green energy initiatives by involving government, industry leaders, and experts.
9. Yogesh Kathuniya won which medal in the men’s discus throw event at the 2024 Paris Paralympics?
[A] Gold
[B] Silver
[C] Bronze
[D] None of the Above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Silver]
Notes:
Yogesh Kathuniya won the silver medal in the men’s discus F56 final at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. The event took place at Stade de France. Kathuniya, 27 years old, achieved his season-best throw of 42.22 meters. Brazil’s Claudiney Batista dos Santos won gold with a Paralympic Record of 46.86 meters. Greece’s Konstantinos Tzounis secured the bronze medal with a throw of 41.32 meters. Slovakia’s Dusan Laczko finished fourth with a throw of 41.20 meters. Serbia’s Nebojsa Duric qualified but did not participate in the final.
10. Which organization recently released “India Development Update: India’s Trade Opportunities in a Changing Global Context” report?
[A] World Bank
[B] International Monetary Fund
[C] United Nations Development Programme
[D] International Labour Organization
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [World Bank]
Notes:
The World Bank stated that India’s medium-term outlook remains positive despite challenging global conditions. India’s growth is expected to reach 7% in the financial year 2024-25 and stay strong in 2025-26 and 2026-27. The World Bank released a report ‘India Development Update: India’s Trade Opportunities in a Changing Global Context’ on 3 September 2024. With strong revenue growth and fiscal consolidation, the debt-to-GDP ratio is projected to decrease from 83.9% in 2023-24 to 82% by 2026-27. The current account deficit is expected to remain around 1 to 1.6% of GDP until 2026-27. The World Bank emphasized the importance of trade for growth but noted that increased protectionism and barriers could limit trade opportunities.