1. Which Indian Naval Ship recently participated in a Maritime Partner Exercise (MPE) with Spanish ship Atalaya?
[A] INS Arihant
[B] INS Mumbai
[C] INS Tabar
[D] INS Kaveri
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [INS Tabar]
Notes:
INS Tabar conducted a Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX) with the Spanish Navy’s Ship Atalaya in the Mediterranean Sea.
The exercise signifies India’s naval outreach and marks a milestone in maritime cooperation between India and Spain. The MPX included advanced exercises like Station Keeping, Replenishment at Sea Approaches, Flying Exercise, Steam Past, and PHOTOEX. Both navies showed high professionalism and commitment, reinforcing strong bilateral naval ties and enhancing cooperation in the maritime domain.
2. Which day is observed as ‘International Whale Shark Day’ every year?
[A] 30 August
[B] 31 August
[C] 1 September
[D] 2 September
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [30 August]
Notes:
International Whale Shark Day is celebrated annually on August 30. The whale shark is the largest fish in the world and a filter-feeding shark species. They are found in temperate and tropical oceans globally, except the Mediterranean Sea.
Whale sharks have a dark gray top with light spots and stripes, providing camouflage, and a mouth at the front of the head. They are filter feeders, processing over 6,000 liters of water per hour through their gills. Their diet includes plankton, small fish, and mollusks like sardines, anchovies, and squid. The IUCN classifies whale sharks as endangered.
3. Recently, where was the international conference on ‘Exploring the Life and Living Legacy of Guru Padmasambhava’ held?
[A] Indore, Madhya Pradesh
[B] Ayodhya, UP
[C] Nalanda, Bihar
[D] Kutch, Gujarat
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Nalanda, Bihar]
Notes:
The International Buddhist Confederation and Nava Nalanda Mahavihara hosted a two-day conference in Nalanda, Bihar, on Guru Padmasambhava’s life and legacy. Guru Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, lived in the 8th century in India and is a highly respected figure in Buddhism. He is recognized as a founding father of Tibetan Buddhism and arrived in Tibet in 749 A.D. He spread Buddha’s teachings across the Himalayan regions including India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Tibet. A Tantrist and Yogācāra sect member, he taught at Nalanda and is associated with a blend of Yogic, Tantric practices, and cultural elements such as art, music, and folklore.
4. 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.
5. Recently, which ministry of India has recommended imposing an anti-dumping duty on aluminium foil imported from China?
[A] Ministry of Power
[B] Ministry of Home Affairs
[C] Ministry of External Affairs
[D] Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Ministry of Commerce and Industry]
Notes:
The Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry recommended an anti-dumping duty on aluminium foil imported from China. Anti-dumping duty is a tariff imposed on foreign imports priced below fair market value. Dumping occurs when a product is exported at a price lower than in its domestic market. The duty matches the price difference between the import price and market value in the exporting or other similar markets. It aims to protect local businesses from unfair competition by foreign imports. The World Trade Organization (WTO) allows anti-dumping measures to ensure fair competition. Legal action requires evidence of genuine harm to domestic industries.
6. 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.
7. Vishanu Yuddh Abhyas, recently seen in the news, was conducted under which mission?
[A] National Mission on Sustainable Habitat
[B] National Water Mission
[C] National One Health Mission
[D] Atal Innovation Mission
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [National One Health Mission]
Notes:
“Vishanu Yuddh Abhyas” is a mock drill conducted under the National One Health Mission (NOHM) to prepare for pandemic situations. NOHM focuses on the “One Health” approach, integrating disease control across human health, animal husbandry, and wildlife sectors. The exercise aimed to assess the readiness and response of the National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT). A simulated scenario of a zoonotic disease outbreak was created to mimic a real-world situation. The drill involved multiple national and state agencies, including ICMR, AIIMS Jodhpur BSL-3 Lab, and state administrations.
8. Bedouin community, recently seen in the news, belongs to which country?
[A] Iran
[B] Iraq
[C] Israel
[D] Qatar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Israel]
Notes:
The rescue of Qaid Farhan Alkadi, a Bedouin hostage from Gaza, has highlighted the Bedouin community in Israel. The Bedouins are part of Israel’s Arab minority, making up about 20% of the population. Though they hold Israeli citizenship, Bedouins face unique socio-economic challenges. Traditionally nomadic, modern pressures and state policies have affected their way of life, leading to marginalization. The Bedouin community primarily resides in the Negev Desert, which has harsh living conditions and is a center of land and resource conflicts.
9. Recently, where was the India’s first conservation and breeding centre for the Asian King Vultures inaugurated?
[A] Mussoorie, Himachal Pradesh
[B] Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh
[C] Indore, Madhya Pradesh
[D] Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh]
Notes:
India’s first conservation and breeding centre for the Asian King Vultures was inaugurated in Gorakhpur’s Campierganj Range by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Centre aims to boost the population of this critically endangered species, listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s red list since 2007. The ₹2.80 crore facility includes various aviaries, a veterinary section, and administrative buildings. Six vultures have been introduced to the centre, with a plan to release 40 pairs over the next 8 to 10 years.
10. Madeira River, recently seen in the news, forms the border between which two South American countries?
[A] Ecuador and Colombia
[B] Bolivia and Brazil
[C] Chile and Peru
[D] Argentina and Uruguay
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bolivia and Brazil]
Notes:
Residents near the Madeira River in the Amazon face severe challenges due to historically low water levels amid a severe drought. The Madeira River is a major tributary of the Amazon River, formed by the Mamoré and Beni rivers in Bolivia, flowing northward. It forms a 100 km border between Bolivia and Brazil and is part of the 1.3 million square kilometer Madeira Basin. The basin spans Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru, with 50% in Bolivia, 40% in Brazil, and 10% in Peru. The river plays a vital role in the Amazon Basin’s hydrology, supporting diverse ecosystems.