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Aparchit December 1st Week English Best 350+ MCQs with Amazing Facts
By :- Aparchit Exam Warriors/Kumar Kaushal Sir
Q. SBI has received the nod from RBI to buy how many shares of Karur Vysya Bank?
A) 5.88% B) 9.99%
C) 6.37% D) 4.87%
Answer : B .
✓ SBI Mutual Fund got permission from the RBI to buy up to a 9.99% share in Karur Vysya Bank Ltd.
✓ The approval was given based on SBI Mutual Fund’s request to the Reserve Bank of India. The bank
mentioned in a filing that the approval will be canceled if SBI MF doesn’t acquire a significant share within
a year from the date of the letter.
✓ SBI Mutual Fund can’t own more than 9.99% of the bank’s shares altogether. If their ownership goes below
5%, they need approval from the RBI to increase it to 5% for more of the shares.
SBI IN NEWS 2023

➢ SBI Mutual Fund got permission from the RBI to buy up to a 9.99% share in Karur Vysya Bank Ltd.
➢ Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurates SBI branch in Sri Lanka.
➢ State Bank of India ropes in MS Dhoni as brand ambassador
➢ SBI has launched a ‘Mobile Handheld Device’ as part of its financial inclusion drive in a bid to improve
accessibility and convenience.
➢ The tenure of State Bank of India (SBI) Chairman Dinesh Khara has been extended till August 2024.
➢ State Bank of India has introduced a digital facility for Non-Resident Indians to effortlessly open Non-
Residential External and Non-Resident Ordinary accounts through its mobile app YONO.
➢ State Bank of India has launched its ‘Nation First Transit Card’, a RuPay prepaid instrument under
the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) that can be used nationwide.
➢ State Bank of India has launched a Customer Service Points (CSPs) functionality that allows
customers to enroll for social security schemes through Aadhaar Card.
➢ State Bank of India (SBI) has raised Rs 10,000 crore at a coupon rate of 7.54 percent through its third
infrastructure bond issuance.
➢ State Bank of India will set up a new trustee company as its wholly-owned subsidiary for managing
the Corporate Debt Market Development Fund (CDMDF).

➢ State Bank of India (SBI), Bengaluru Circle, recently launched 'Project Kuber' to meet the banking
needs of its customers.
➢ State Bank of India (SBI), the country’s biggest lender, has raised USD 750 million through bonds to
fund offshore business growth.
➢ State Bank of India (SBI) launched a coffee table book titled "The Banker to Every Indian" and the
book celebrates 75 years of Indian independence and 200 years of SBI's history.
➢ SBI to launch new current accounts and savings accounts in FY24 to attract deposits.
➢ The bank intends to launch two new variants of current accounts, one with a balance of ₹50,000 and
another with a balance of ₹50 lakh. It also plans to introduce a new savings account called “Parivar”
(family) account.
➢ State Bank of India (SBI) announced the completion of a $1 billion syndicated social loan facility.
➢ The facility of $1 billion was arranged through MLABs, MUFG bank and Taipei Fubon Commercial
Bank Co.
➢ State Bank of India (SBI) has partnered with the NGO That’s Eco Foundation to donate ₹48 lakh for
the plantation of 32,000 tree saplings at Garden City University in Bengaluru.
➢ State Bank of India (SBI) has raised Rs 3,717 crore through its third Basel III compliant Additional
Tier 1 bond issuance in the current financial year at coupon rate of 8.25 per cent..
➢ SBI reintroduces 400 days ‘Amrit Kalash’ retail term deposit scheme and provides an interest rate of
7.6% for senior citizens.
➢ State Bank of India (SBI) has launched its coffee table book named ‘The Banker to Every Indian’.
➢ Commercial Indo Bank LLC (CIBL) is a joint venture in Russia between SBI (60 per cent) and Canara
Bank (40 per cent).
➢ SBI announces completion of $1 billion Syndicated Social Loan Facility.
➢ Warehousing Development Regulatory Authority (WDRA) signed a memorandum (MoU) of
understanding with State Bank of India to help farmers in getting low interest rate loans.
➢ According to the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA)’s report titled “EASE Reforms Index for the first
quarter of FY23″ the State Bank of India(SBI) was adjudged as the Best Bank in adopting reforms
prescribed for Public Sector Banks(PSB).
➢ SBI on 5 December 2022 announced that its personal banking advances excluding high value home
loans have crossed the Rs 5 lakh-crore mark as on 30 November 2022.

➢ State Bank of India (SBI), India’s largest lender, approved raising Rs 10,000 crore through
infrastructure bonds during the financial year 2023 (FY23) including a greenshoe option of Rs 5,000
crore.
➢ STATE BANK OF INDIA (SBI )
➢ Founded : 1 July 1955
➢ Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra
➢ Chairman : Dinesh Kumar Khara
➢ Imperial Bank of India was previous name of SBI
➢ The presidency Banks of Bengal, Bombay and Madras with merged in 1921 to Imperial Bank of India.
➢ Tagline of State Bank of India
(1) Pure Banking Nothing Else
(2) With you all the way
(3) A bank of the common man
(4) The banker to every Indian
(5) The Nation banks on us.
➢ It is one of the largest and oldest banks in India.
Q. Which technology has been introduced by Indian Railways to prevent accidents caused by elephants
on railway tracks?
A) Hathi Kavach
B) Gajraj Suraksha
C) Gaj Suraksha
D) Gajraj Kavach
Answer : B .
✓ Indian Railways has introduced a state-of-the-art technology called 'Gajraj Suraksha' to prevent accidents
caused by elephants on railway tracks.
✓ It uses AI-based algorithms and a network of sensitive optical fiber cables to detect elephants coming close
to railway tracks. Its objective is to save elephants dying in train accidents.

✓ Indian Railways is planning to introduce this technology in West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Assam,
Kerala, parts of Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu.
Q. PM JANMAN scheme is related to which field?
A) Infrastructure B) Child Development
C) Education D) Tribal populations
Answer : D .
✓ Prime Mr Shri Narendra Modi the chairperson of union cabinet has approved pradhan mantri janjati
aadivasi nyaya maha abhiyan(PM JANMAN) with the approx outlay of Rs.24,104 crore.
✓ This Abhiyan was announced on Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas from Khunti.
✓ To enhance the socio economic conditions of the particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTG) as
announced in the budget session 2023-24 , the development mission of Pradhan Mantri PVTG will be
launched
✓ It will help in enhancing the basic facilities like sanitation, cleanliness,safe drinking water ,health and
nutrition, improving education , telecom and read connectivity, and sustainable livelihood opportunities
Q. The Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Fast Track Special Courts is going to extend till which year?
A) 2024 B) 2025
C) 2026 D) 2027
Answer : C .
✓ The Union Cabinet approved to keep the Fast Track Special Courts going from April 1, 2023, to March 31,
2026. This will cost Rs 1952.23 crore, with Rs 1207.24 crore from the central government and Rs 744.99
crore from the state government. The central government’s part will be covered by the Nirbhaya Fund
✓ There are some expected results of the FTSC scheme which are given below:
✓ Ending of sexual and gender based violence
✓ Reduce the case loads
✓ Rape and POCSO act’s pendency will be reduced
✓ Through better facilities and speedy trials victims of sexual crimes will get justice fast.
✓ The Central Government will encourage the states to set up these FTSC courts to get speedy disposal of the
case

TARGET YEAR IN NEWS 2023
➢ India is expected to overtake Japan and Germany to emerge as the third largest economy in the world
by 2027.
➢ Members of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) collectively have set an “aspirational
target” of 5% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) usage by 2030.
➢ India to push developed nations to become carbon-negative before 2050.
➢ This ‘Bharat Drone Shakti 2023’ event will help the country to achieve its commitment of becoming
a global drone hub by 2030.
➢ Vaccine manufacturer Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL) expects to commercially launch its
dengue fever vaccine by early 2026.
➢ Group Chief Economic Advisor at the State Bank of India (SBI), Soumya Kanti Ghoshon has
reiterated that India is likely to become the third-largest economy by 2027.
➢ The Ministry of Coal has set a target to gasify 100 million tonnes of coal by FY 2030.
➢ According to the report of Goldman Sachs Research, by the year 2075, India will become the second
largest economy in the world after China leaving behind not only Japan and Germany but also
America.
➢ UNEP suggests measures to reduce 80% of world's plastic pollution by 2040.
➢ India aims to become one trillion dollar tourism economy by 2047.
➢ The government announced a plan to add 250 GW of renewable energy capacity in the next five years
to achieve its target of 500 GW of clean energy by 2030.
➢ India has set targets for half of its installed electricity capacity to be from non-fossil fuel sources by
2030 and for the country to attain net-zero carbon emissions by 2070.
➢ 2023 foreign trade policy has the vision to take India’s goods and services exports to $2 trillion by
2030.
➢ India to get 9% of Electricity from Nuclear Sources by 2047.
➢ India sets target to become ‘Global Hub for Green Ship’ building by 2030
➢ Indian Railways to become Net Zero Carbon Emitter by 2030.
➢ India to produce 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030.
➢ India has set a target to replace the use of diesel by renewable energy in the agriculture sector by 2024.
➢ Indian Government has set a target to eliminate TB in India by 2025.

➢ India targets ₹25,000-cr worth defence exports by 2024.
➢ Reserve Bank of India’s 2023 monetary policy objective is to hold inflation within the mandated
tolerance band and guide it towards the medium-term target of 4% by 2024.
Q. Where is the COP-28 summit being organized?

A) Riyadh B) Nairobi
C) Sydney D) Dubai
Answer : D .
✓ Prime Minister Narendra Modi is participating in the COP-28 summit being held in Dubai.
✓ In this conference he will address the World Climate Action Summit.
✓ COP28 or the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference is being held from 30 November to 12
December 2023 at Expo City, Dubai
Q. In which state is the Hornbill Festival organized every year?
A) Nagaland B) Assam
C) Tripura D) Meghalaya
Answer : A .
✓ The Hornbill Festival 2023 or the 24th edition of the Hornbill Festival has started at Naga Heritage Village
Kisama.
✓ The participating countries for this year's edition are the United States of America, Germany and Colombia
along with the state of Assam.
✓ The Hornbill Festival is an annual festival celebrated from 1 to 10 December in the northeastern Indian state
of Nagaland.
FESTIVAL IN NEWS 2023

➢ 24th Hornbill Festival : Nagaland
➢ Dhillo festival : Goa
➢ India International Science Festival (IISF) 2023 : Faridabad, Haryana
➢ Arattu festival : Kerala
➢ Banni festival : Andhra Pradesh

➢ Zanskar Festival : Ladakh
➢ Indo-Latin America Cultural Festival : New Delhi
➢ Nuakhai festival : Odisha
➢ Nadi Utsav : Delhi
➢ Karnataka Cultural Festival : Sri Lanka .
➢ Unmesha’ – International Literature Festival and ‘Utkarsh’ – Festival of Folk and Tribal Performing
Arts : Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
➢ Festival of Libraries 2023 : New Delhi .
➢ Chachin Grazing Festival : Arunachal Pradesh
➢ Harela Festival : Uttarakhand
➢ Bonalu Festival : Telangana
➢ Kharchi Puja : Tripura
➢ Palkhi festival : Maharashtra
➢ Raja festival : Odisha
➢ Kheer Bhawani Mela : Jammu and Kashmir
➢ Great Prayer Festival : Ladakh
➢ Sinthan Snow Festival : Jammu and Kashmir
➢ Heritage Festival : Goa
➢ Thawe Festival : Bihar
➢ Bohag Bihu festival : Assam
➢ 49th Khajuraho Dance Festival : Madhya Pradesh
➢ Yaoshang festival : Manipur
➢ Purple Fest : Goa
➢ Orange Festival : Nagaland
➢ Kala Ghoda Arts Festival : Mumbai, Maharashtra
➢ Losar Festival : Ladakh
➢ 23rd Hornbill Festival : Nagaland
➢ Gaan Ngai festival : Manipur
➢ Cherchera Festival : Chhattisgarh
➢ 26th National Youth Festival 2023 : Hubbali, Karnataka

➢ International Yoga Festival 2023 : Rishikesh, Uttarakhand
➢ Tribal Dance Festival & Military Tattoo : New Delhi
➢ Mongeet Festival : Assam
➢ International Kite Festival 2023 : Ahmedabad, Gujarat
➢ Vigyanika Science Literature Festival : Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
➢ Baisakhi is a harvest festival : Punjab and Haryana
Q. Where was the India International Trade Fair organized?

A) New Delhi B) Mumbai
C) Lucknow D) Patna
Answer : A .
✓ India International Trade Fair (IITF-2023) was organized in New Delhi.

✓ Odisha Pavilion has won the Gold Medal for “Excellence in Display” in the State Pavilion category.
✓ It started on 14 November with the theme "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam".
Q. Where did Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurate the 10,000th Jan Aushadhi Kendra?
A) Ujjain B) Varanasi
C) Deoghar D) Patna
Answer : C .
✓ Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 10,000th Jan Aushadhi Center at AIIMS, Deoghar.
✓ Jan Aushadhi Kendra is playing an important role in public health services.
✓ There are about 182 Jan Aushadhi Centers in Assam alone.
✓ The scheme was launched in 2015 by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and
Fertilizers
Q. Which state won the title of Senior Men's National Hockey Championship?
A) Haryana B) Punjab
C) Uttar Pradesh D) Madhya Pradesh

Answer : B .

✓ Punjab's hockey team won the title of Senior Men's National Hockey Championship by defeating defending
champion Haryana.
✓ Senior Men's National Hockey Championship was organized in Chennai.
✓ Whereas Tamil Nadu team stood third in this tournament.
Q. Recently the cabinet has approved a central sector scheme to provide drones to which group?
A) Tribal Groups B) NGO

C) SHG D) Women self help groups
Answer : D .
✓ To grant drones to women self groups a central center scheme has been approved by the union government
with an outlay of Rs.1261 crore.
✓ This decision was taken by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi under the meeting of the union cabinet.The
plan wants to provide 15,000 chosen groups of women drones from 2023 to 2026.
✓ These drones will be used to rent out services to farmers for farming needs, according to an official statement.
Q. Anganwadi Protocol for Divyang Children is launched by which ministry?
A) Ministry of urban and Housing affairs
B) Ministry of women and child development
C) Ministry of social justice and empowerment
D) Ministry of ayush
Answer : B .
✓ Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani,Union Minister for Women and Child Development and Minority Affairs has
launched the Anganwadi Protocol for Divyang Children at a national outreach programme organized on
28th November, 2023 at Vigyan Bhawan.
✓ She mentioned that the Divyang protocol will help each district administration in supporting the special
education and nutrition needs.
✓ They will give Swavlamban Cards to empower divyang children and their families.
✓ The progress of the children will be monitored using the Poshan tracker, and this data will aid coordination
between ministries like MoHFW, DoSEL, DePwD

Q. Merriam Webster named which word as the word of 2023?
A) AI B) Authentic
C) Chatgpt D) OpenAi
Answer : B .
✓ The Word of the Year for 2023, according to Merriam-Webster, is “authentic.” This word is used a lot in
what we think, write, aim and judge.
✓ In 2023, more people looked up this word than usual. It happened because of discussions about AI,
celebrities, identity, and social media.
✓ “Authentic” means not false or fake, similar to being real or actual. It can also mean staying true to your
own personality and character. Even though being authentic is a good thing, it’s challenging to clearly define.
Q. Andry Rajoelina re-elected as the president of which country?

A) Australia B) Cambodia
C) Nigeria D) Madagascar
Answer : D .
✓ Madagascar’s current President, Andry Rajoelina, won the presidential election by getting over 50% of the
votes, according to initial results from the country’s Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI).
✓ Rajoelina received a total of 2,856,090 votes, which is 58.95% of the total votes, as reported by the Xinhua
news agency.
✓ The CENI announced that because he got more than 50% in the first round, the current president is the
winner of the presidential election.
Q. Which financial institute has recently approved a task force to examine the effect of digital personal
data protection act in the insurance sector?
A) SEBI B) SIDBI
C) NABARD D) IRDAI
Answer : D .
✓ The Insurance Regulatory Authority of India (Irdai) has set up a group to check how the Digital Personal
Data Protection Act, 2023, will affect the insurance industry. Randip Singh Japal will be the head of this
task force.

✓ The task force including leaders from major insurance companies, has one month to report on the impact of
the Act’s provisions.
✓ The DPDP Act of 2023, also known as the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, is a law enacted by the
Indian Parliament. Its purpose is to control how digital personal data is handled, recognizing people’s right
to keep their info. safe and the need to process data for legal reasons and many more legal issues
Q. When is the World AIDS Day observed?

A) December 02 B) December 01
C) November 29 D) November 30
Answer : B .
✓ World AIDS Day is observed across the globe on 1 December every year since 1988.
✓ Purpose: to raise awareness of the AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) pandemic caused by the
spread of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection
✓ The theme of World AIDS Day 2023 Let communities lead.
Q. What was the theme of the World AIDS Day 2022?

A) Communities Make the Difference
B) Global Solidarity Shared Responsibility
C) Know your Status
D) Let communities lead
Answer : D .
Q. The Border Security Force (BSF) is observing which anniversary of its Raising Day in 2023?
A) 75th B) 59th
C) 66th D) 51st
Answer : B .
✓ The Border Security Force (BSF) is observing its 59th Raising Day on 01 December 2023.
✓ BSF was formed on December 1, 1965 as a unified central agency after the Indo-Pak and India-China wars
for ensuring the security of the borders of India and for matters connected there with.

✓ It is one of the five Central Armed Police Forces of the Union of India and stands as the world’s largest
border guarding force.
✓ BSF has been termed as the First Line of Defence of Indian Territories.
✓ Border Security Force (BSF)
✓ Founded : 1965
✓ Headquarteres : New Delhi
✓ Motto : Duty Unto Death
✓ Director General : Nitin Agrawal
✓ Border Security Force (BSF) is India's border guarding organisation at its borders with Pakistan and
Bangladesh. It is one of the seven Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) of India, and was raised in the wake
of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 for ensuring the security of the borders of India and for related matters
Q. Welcome to Paradise book is written by which personality?

A) Ravina Tondon B) Twinkle Khanna
C) Chetan bhagat D) Sudha Mutry
Answer : B .
✓ Twinkle Khanna celebrated the release of her latest book, ‘Welcome To Paradise,’ in Mumbai on November
28, surrounded by Bollywood friends and family. In this book, the renowned artist explores heartfelt stories
of loneliness, heartbreak, and deception, skillfully mixing brightness, darkness, and clever humor.
✓ During the launch, Twinkle interacted with readers, autographing copies of her book.Akshay Kumar
expressing pride for his wife in a standout Instagram post where he declared himself “Proud, prouder,
proudest” while capturing the actor waiting in line for her autograph.
FAMOUS BOOKS AND AUTHORS IN NEWS 2023

➢ Welcome To Paradise : Twinkle Khanna
➢ Breaking the Mould : Raghuram Rajan
➢ Career and Family: Women's Century-Long Journey toward Equity : Claudia Goldin
➢ The Reverse Swing: Colonialism to Cooperation’ : Ashok Tandon.
➢ “The Book of Life: My Dance with Buddha for Success” : Vivek Agnihotri
➢ People's G20 : Apurva Chandra

➢ Prism: The Ancestral Abode of Rainbow : Vinod Mankara
➢ "Finance Ministers of India: From Independence to the Emergency (1947-1977)" : A.K. Bhattacharya
➢ Master Residential Real Estate : Ashwinder R Singh.
➢ The Golden Years: The Many Joys of Living a Good Long Life : Ruskin Bond
➢ Ringside Vijay Darda
➢ Guts Amidst Bloodbath: The Anshuman Gaekwad Narrative Aditya Bhushan
➢ "The Indian Metropolis: Deconstructing India’s Urban Spaces" :Feroze Varun Gandhi.
➢ Made in India: 75 Years of Business and Enterprise" : Amitabh Kant .
➢ Milk and Honey : Rupi Kaur .
➢ Collective Spirit, Concrete Action : Shashi Shekhar Vempati.
➢ "Reflections" : Narayanan Vaghul (former chairman of ICICI Bank )
➢ Jaidip Mukerjea : Autobiography titled “Crosscourt”.
➢ ‘Sachin@50’- Celebrating A Maestro : Boria Majumdar.
➢ “The Great Bank Robbery: NPAs, Scams and the Future of Regulation” : Pattabhi Ram &
Sabyasachee Dash.
➢ “Gandhi: Siyasat aur Sampradaiykta” : Piyush Babele.
➢ “Courting India: England, Mughal India and the Origins of Empire” : Nandini Das.
➢ “War & Women” : Dr MA Hasan.
➢ ‘Why can’t Elephants be Red?’ : Vani Tripathi Tikoo.
➢ Phoolange : Lekhnath Chhetri.
➢ Pyre : Perumal Murugan.
➢ Ghulam Nabi Azad’s Autobiography ‘Azaad’ .
➢ “A Matter of the Heart: Education in India” : Anurag Behar.
➢ Snakes in the Ganga: Breaking India 2.0 : Shri Rajiv Malhotra and Vijaya Viswanathan.
➢ “Bipin: The Man Behind the Uniform” : Rachna Biswat Rawat.
➢ Ambedkar a Life : Shashi Tharoor.
➢ "The World: A Family History of Humanity," : Simon Sebag Montefiore.
➢ “Revolutionaries In India's Freedom Struggle:” : Sanjeev Sanyal.
➢ “India's Knowledge Supremacy: The New Dawn” : Ashwin Fernandes.
➢ “The Light We Carry Overcoming In Uncertain

➢ Times” : Michelle Obama.
➢ Brave Hearts of Bharat, Vignettes from Indian
➢ History : Vikram Sampath.
➢ Freedom at Midnight, "City of Joy" : Dominique Lapierre.
➢ Forks in the Road My Days at RBI and Beyond : Chakravarthi Rangarajan.
➢ ‘The World: A Family History’ : Simon Sebag.
➢ Winning the Inner Battle : Shane Watson.
➢ Nuclearization of Asia : Rene Naba.
➢ From dependence to Self-Reliance : Bimal Jalan.
➢ The Philosophy of Modern Song : Bob Dylan
➢ India’s Struggle for Independence – Gandhian Era : P. Jyothimani.
➢ “As Good as My Word” : KM Chandrasekhar..
➢ ‘Victory City’ : Salman Rushdie
➢ “The Poverty of Political Economics” : Meghnad Desai
Q. Mahe, Malvan and Mangrol are the names of which products recently launched?
A) Anti Submarine Warships B) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
C) Submarines D) Intercontinental Missiles
Answer : A .
✓ Mahe, Malvan and Mangrol, the first three ships of Shallow Water Craft (CSL) project were launched
recently.
✓ The contract for building eight ASW SWC ships was signed between the Ministry of Defence and Cochin
Shipyard Limited in 2019. The Mahe class of ships will be equipped with indigenously developed, state-of-
the-art underwater sensors, and are envisaged to undertake anti-submarine operations in coastal waters as
well as Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO) and Mine Laying Operations
Q. Ministry of Defence signed contract with which organisation for Upgraded Super Rapid Gun Mount
and other equipment for around 3000 crores?
A) DRDO B) BHEL
C) L&T D) BEL

Answer : B .
✓ The Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) for
procurement of 16 Upgraded Super Rapid Gun Mount (SRGM) along with associated equipment/
accessories for Indian Navy under Buy (Indian) category at a total cost of ₹2956.89 Cr.
✓ The upgraded SRGM, which will be manufactured by BHEL is a medium caliber anti-missile/anti-aircraft
point defence weapon system which provides a sustained rate of fire and high accuracy.
BHEL IN NEWS 2023

➢ Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) for
procurement of 16 Upgraded Super Rapid Gun Mount (SRGM) along with associated equipment/
accessories for Indian Navy under Buy (Indian) category at a total cost of ₹2956.89 Cr.
➢ Koppu Sadashiv Murthy has been appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat
Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL).
➢ BHEL has appointed Bani Verma as Director (Industrial Systems and Products) of the company.
➢ Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) said that Tajinder Gupta has taken charge as Director
(Power).
➢ BHEL develops India’s first catalyst set to curb NOx emissions in power plants
➢ State-owned engineering firm Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) has successfully manufactured
the first set of indigenous SCR Catalysts for limiting NOx emissions from thermal power plants.
➢ Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has signed an MoU with Greenstat Hydrogen India Pvt.
Ltd. for “potential collaboration opportunities in Green Hydrogen and derivatives in the Hydrogen
Value Chain.
➢ Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has signed MoUs with Coal India Limited (CIL) and NLC
India Limited (NLCIL) for setting up Coal Gasification based plants.
➢ Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL):
➢ It is a major Central Public Sector Enterprise in India.
➢ It has the distinction of being the largest manufacturer of power generation equipment under
government ownership.
➢ BHEL works as a part of the Government of India and comes under the purview of the Ministry of
Heavy Industry.

➢ Establishment - 1956
➢ Headquarters - New Delhi
➢ CMD : Koppu Sadashiv Murthy
Q. Which state clinched the title of 13th Senior National men’s hockey championship?
A) Punjab B) Tamil Nadu

C) Rajasthan D) Kerala
Answer : A .
✓ Punjab defeated the defending champions Haryana in a penalty shootout to clinch the title in the Senior
Men’s National Hockey Championship in Chennai.
✓ Punjab skipper and India player Harmanpreet Singh scored for Punjab. Earlier, Tamil Nadu overwhelmed
Karnataka 5-3 in penalty shootout to take the bronze medal
Q. Which state collaborated with Meta to raise awareness among students and educators about online
safety and digital citizenship?
A) Odisha B) Karnataka
C) Kerala D) Jharkhand
Answer : B .
✓ Karnataka government on signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with tech firm Meta to launch two initiatives aimed
at raising awareness among students and educators about online safety and digital citizenship.
✓ The state government plans to train 1 lakh teachers and 10 lakh students in digital safety and AR/VR skills
by 2025 through this partnership with Meta.
KARNATAKA IN NEWS 2023

➢ Karnataka govt, Foxconn sign Letter of Intent with Rs 5000 cr investment.
➢ Siddaramaiah was sworn in as the 24th Chief Minister of Karnataka for his second term .
➢ The National Manufacturing Innovation Survey (NMIS) 2021-22 Karnataka, overall, is the most
“innovative” State, followed by Telangana, and Tamil Nadu.
➢ According to the India Justice Report (IJR) 2022, which assesses the performance of states in terms of
justice delivery, the state of Karnataka has achieved the top rank .

➢ World Bank has granted a loan of USD 363 million to the state of Karnataka in India, which will help
to provide clean drinking water.
➢ Karnataka ended their 54-year wait to win the Santosh Trophy national football championship,
beating Meghalaya .
➢ The Karnataka Government will build the country’s first Marina or a boat basin offering dockage, at
Byndoor in Udupi district to promote coastal tourism in Karnataka.
➢ Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying announced that the fourth phase of the Sagar
Parikrama program began in Karnataka.
➢ Karnataka bags National Award For Fasal Bima Yojana, implementing the Pradhan Mantri Fasal
Bima Yojana (PMFBY) scheme.
➢ Karnataka Bank awarded ‘Prathista Puraskar for achieving highest percentage in BHIM-UPI
transactions.
➢ Mysuru and Hampi are the two popular destinations in Karnataka to be promoted as a part of the new
Tourism policy ‘The Swadesh Darshan 2.0 Scheme, which focuses on revving up destination tourism.
➢ Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah has laid the foundation stone of the Central
Detective Training Institute (CDTI) at Devanahalli in Karnataka.
➢ About Karnataka State
➢ Formation - 1 November 1956
➢ Capital- Bengaluru
➢ Chief minister : Siddaramaiah
➢ Governor- Thawar Chand Gehlot
➢ Legislative Assembly seats- 224
➢ Lok Sabha seats- 28
➢ Jog Falls (Garsoppa) located in Karnataka is the highest waterfall in India which is on Sharavathi
River.
➢ Yakshagana is the main folk dance of Karnataka.
Q. Which automobile manufacturer has launched a registered vehicle scrapping facility (RVSF) in India?
A) Tata Motors B) Mahindra Group
C) Maruti Suzuki D) Hyundai Motors

Answer : A .
✓ Leading automobile manufacturer Tata Motors has launched a registered vehicle scrapping facility (RVSF)
in Punjab, which will be the company’s fourth such unit.
✓ Named ‘Re.Wi.Re – Recycle with Respect, the facility uses environmentally friendly processes and has the
capacity to disassemble 12,000 end-of-life vehicles safely and sustainably, each year. It is equipped to scrap
both passenger and commercial vehicles, regardless of their brand.
Q. What is the target year of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, set by the United Nations?
A) 2025 B) 2027
C) 2030 D) 2035
Answer : C .
✓ The UNAIDS agency said in its annual World AIDS Day Report that community-led responses are
unrecognised, under-resourced and in some places under attack.
✓ The UN first set out in 2015 the target of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
✓ There are 39 million people around the world living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Of them, 20.8
million are in eastern and southern Africa and 6.5 million are in Asia and the Pacific.
Q. Krishnaveni Sangeetha Neerajanam’ festival is associated with which state?

A) Tamil Nadu B) Andhra Pradesh
C) Kerala D) Karnataka
Answer : B .
✓ The Union Ministry of Tourism in association with Ministry of Culture, Sangeet Natak Academy and State
Government of Andhra Pradesh successfully organised the prequel event of Krishnaveni Sangeetha
Neerajanam.
✓ It is a first of its kind festival to celebrate the rich heritage of classical music and promote lesser-known tourist
attractions. The main event is to be organized in December 2023 in Vijayawada.
✓ The event will also feature spectacular display and sale of regional cuisine, local handicrafts and handlooms
Q. Hambantota port, which was seen in the news, is in which country?

A) Israel B) Ukraine
C) Sri Lanka D) Afghanistan

Answer : C .
✓ The Sri Lankan cabinet has given clearance to allow China’s energy major Sinopec to establish a new $4.5
billion petroleum refinery plant at the strategic Hambantota port in the island nation.
✓ The upcoming plant of Sinopec, which entered the Sri Lankan market in July this year, would be the largest
foreign direct investment with $4.5 billion for Sri Lanka.
Q. Jal Itihas Utsav is organized by which ministry?

A) Ministry of jal Shakti
B) Ministry of urban and Housing affairs

C) Ministry of women and child development
D) Ministry of finance
Answer : A .
✓ The Ministry of Jal Shakti will host ‘Jal Itihas Utsav’ on December 1st at Shamsi Talab, Jahaz Mahal in
Mehrauli, Delhi.
✓ The main aim is to make people more aware of protecting water heritage sites, instill a sense of ownership
and encourage tourism and restoration of these historical structures.
✓ The Jal Shakti Ministry said that Lt. Governor of Delhi Vinai Kumar Saxena and Union Minister for Jal
Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat are expected to be present at the event
Q. High level virtual interaction MAHASAGAR is launched by which?
A) Indian Navy B) Indian Army
C) CRPF D) Indian Coast Guard

Answer : A .
✓ Indian Navy reached an important achievement by hosting the first MAHASAGAR, Maritime Heads for
Active Security And Growth for All in the Region, a virtual meeting to enhance safety and development in
the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
✓ Leaders from navies and maritime agencies of important coastal regions participated, promoting a joint
maritime strategy to tackle shared challenges.

✓ On its one-year anniversary, the Indian Navy’s initiative MAHASAGAR, stands as a significant
achievement in encouraging virtual meetings among Maritime Heads for the security and growth of
everyone in the region.
Q. NLC India Limited, a government company under the Ministry of Coal, signed a MoU
(Memorandum of understanding)with Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation (TNSDC) and
Nettur Technical Training Foundation (NTTF) in which field?
A) Women empowerment B) Semiconductor

C) New technologies D) Youth employment
Answer : D .
✓ NLC India Limited, a government company under the Ministry of Coal, signed a MoU (Memorandum of
understanding)with Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation (TNSDC) and Nettur Technical Training
Foundation (NTTF) in Chennai.
✓ This collaboration aims to provide job-oriented skill development training to 540 young individuals from
families affected by NLC India Limited’s projects in Neyveli.
✓ The company plans to invest Rs 1.12 lakh per candidate in this free residential training program. It will help
them to acquire technical skills and secure job opportunities in leading companies
Q. V R Lalithambika who received a top French award called the Légion d’honneur was used to lead
which institute?
A) DRDO B) BHEL
C) ISRO D) HAL
Answer : C .
✓ V R Lalithambika, who used to lead the Human Spaceflight Program at ISRO, received a top French award
called the Légion d’honneur.
✓ She got this honor because of her important work in strengthening space collaboration between France and
India. The Ambassador of France to India, Thierry Mathou, gave her the award on behalf of the French
government.
✓ This award was established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, and it is the most important award given by
the French Republic to civilians. People receive it for outstanding service to France, no matter where they’re
from.

Q. Armed force medical college of which city received the President’s colour?
A) Delhi B) Mumbai
C) Chennai D) Pune
Answer : D .
✓ President Droupadi Murmu will give the highest honor, the President’s Colour, to the Armed Forces
Medical College (AFMC) in Pune .
✓ She’ll also virtually open the Armed Forces Centre for Computational Medicine ‘Prajna’.
✓ The President’s Colour is a significant recognition for any military unit, and this event is part of AFMC’s
celebration of its 75th year of outstanding service to the nation.
✓ AFMC is a top-notch institution in the Armed Forces Medical Services and one of the country’s leading
medical colleges
Q. Which country becomes the first country in South Asia to register same sex marriage?
A) Nepal B)Bangladesh
C) Sri Lanka D) Myanmar
Answer : A .
✓ Nepal has witnessed its initial same-sex marriage, as a trans-woman and a gay man legally tied the knot in
the Lamjung district.
✓ Nepal has officially documented its first same-sex marriage, and this comes five months after the Supreme
Court legalized it.
✓ According to PTI, a 35-year-old trans-woman named Maya Gurung and a 27-year-old gay man, Surendra
Pandey, got legally married in Dordi Rural Municipality in the Lamjung district of Western Nepal. This
was confirmed by Sanjib Gurung, the president of Blue Diamond Society.
Q. Raas Mahotsav or Raas Leela festival is celebrated in which state?

A) Rajasthan B) Assam
C) West Bengal D) Gujarat
Answer : B .
✓ The annual Raas Mahotsav or Raas Leela has started in Assam’s Majuli, the world’s largest inhabited river
island.

✓ Majuli is the core of Assamese Neo-Vaishnavism. The river island over the river Brahmaputra has dozens
of Vaishnavite monasteries, locally called Satras.
✓ Locals perform Bhaona, a traditional form of drama where artists play various mythological characters.
✓ Bhaona was started in the fifteenth or sixteenth century by a social-religious reformer and a figure of
importance in the cultural and religious history of Assam, Srimanta Sankardeva.
Q. ‘AstroSat’ is a space telescope launched by which country?

A) USA B) Russia
C) India D) China
Answer : C .
✓ India’s AstroSat space telescope has crossed a major milestone by detecting 600th Gamma-Ray Burst
(GRB).
✓ The Gamma Ray Bursts represent either the death of a massive or merger of neutron stars.
✓ AstroSat was launched in the year 2015 by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
✓ It was designed to last for five years.
However, it has exceeded its lifespan and is still functioning fine making important observations.
Q. Scheme for providing Drones to the Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) belongs to which category of
scheme?
A) Central Sector Scheme B) Core Scheme

C) Centrally Sponsored scheme D) State scheme
Answer : A .
✓ The Union Cabinet has approved Central Sector Scheme for providing Drones to the Women Self Help
Groups (SHGs), with an outlay of Rs. 1261 Crore for the period from 2024-25 to 2025-26.
✓ The scheme aims to provide drones to 15,000 selected Women SHGs during the period 2023-24 to 2025-
2026 for providing rental services to farmers for agriculture purpose. the scheme seeks to empower women
Self Help Groups (SHGs) and bringing new technologies through drone services in agriculture sector.
Q. Fast Track Special Court (FTSCs) Scheme was launched in which year?
A) 2013 B) 2017
C) 2019 D) 2020
Answer : C .

✓ The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of Fast Track Special Court (FTSCs) as, a Centrally
Sponsored Scheme (CSS) from 01.04.2023 to 31.03.2026 with financial implication of Rs. 1952.23 crore
(Rs. 1207.24 crore as Central Share and Rs. 744.99 crore as State share).
✓ The Central Share is to be funded from Nirbhaya Fund. The Fast Track Special Court (FTSCs) Scheme was
launched on 02.10.2019
Q. Which institution launched the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS)?

A) NITI Aayog B) ILO
C) NSSO D) DPIIT
Answer : C .
✓ National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) launched Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Quarterly Bulletin
for July – September 2023
✓ As per the report, the unemployment rate in urban areas of the country decreased from 7.2% in July-
September 2022 to 6.6% in July–September 2023.
Q. The National Pollution Control Day is marked every year on which day in India?
A) 30th November B) 1st December
C) 2nd December D) 29th November
Answer : C .
✓ In India, the National Pollution Control Day is observed every year on December 2 to commemorate the
life of people lost in the unfortunate incident of Bhopal Gas Tragedy that occurred in the year 1984 on the
night of 2–3 December.
✓ The year 2023 marks the 39th anniversary of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy.
✓ Through this day, awareness is created about the rising pollution of air, water, and soil, as well as shifts the
attention of people with regards to the pollution control acts.
✓ Bhopal disaster or Bhopal gas tragedy was a chemical accident on the night of 2–3 December 1984 at the
Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) pesticide plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
✓ Considered the world's worst industrial disaster, over 500,000 people in the small towns around the plant
were exposed to the highly toxic gas methyl isocyanate (MIC).
✓ Estimates vary on the death toll, with the official number of immediate deaths being 2,259

Q. Who is the chairman of the 11-member task force constituted by IRDAI to examine the implications
of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act 2023?
A) Rajesh Khullar B) Randip Singh Jagpal
C) Narendra Modi D) Shaktikanta Das
Answer : B .
✓ The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has constituted an 11-member
taskforce under the chairmanship of Randip Singh Jagpal, Executive Director (Non-Life) at IRDAI, to
examine the implications of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act 2023 on the sector.
✓ The task force is expected to submit the report within a period of 1 month from the issuance of the order.
✓ The Ministry of Law and Justice aimed to provide a comprehensive framework for the processing of digital
personal data in a manner that recognizes both the right of individuals to protect their personal data and the
need to process such data for lawful purposes and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
COMMITTEE IN NEWS 2023

➢ IRDAI has constituted an 11-member taskforce under the chairmanship of Randip Singh Jagpal,
Executive Director (Non-Life) at IRDAI, to examine the implications of the Digital Personal Data
Protection (DPDP) Act 2023 on the sector.
➢ Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has constituted a committee of
12 members to simplify insurance policy wording.The committee, which will be headed by L
Viswanathan.
➢ Government has constituted an eight member high level committee to examine One Nation, One
Election. Former President Ram Nath Kovind has been appointed as Chairman of the committee.
➢ Government of India has constituted an expert panel headed by former Law Secretary TK
Vishwanathan to propose reforms in the Arbitration and Conciliation Act and reduce the burden on
the courts.
➢ National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has established an 11-member Cheetah Project
Steering Committee under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Rajesh
Gopal, secretary general of Global Tiger Forum, has been appointed as its chairman.
➢ Government of India has constituted a Peace Committee in Manipur under the Chairpersonship of
Governor, Manipur Anusuiya Uikey.

➢ IRDAI has recently constituted a five-member expert committee comprising medical experts and
insurers to advise on matters related to mental health and insurance; Headed By : Pratima Murthy.
➢ Razorpay forms 4-member advisory board to strengthen corporate governance; Head-former RBI
deputy governor NS Vishwanathan.
➢ Ministry of Finance has set up of a four-member committee forms panel to suggest changes to National
Pension Scheme (NPS); Headed By- Finance Secretary T.V. Somanathan.
➢ Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has set up a 14-member committee to look into stalled real
estate projects; Headed By – Amitabh Kant.
➢ Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has constituted a nine-member task force
to make India a ‘product developer and manufacturing nation’.Chaired By - Bhuvnesh Kumar.
➢ International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) has formed an expert committee to create
a roadmap to encourage Indian startups/fintech domiciled abroad to relocate to the GIFT City in
Gujarat. Chaired By - G. Padmanabhan.
➢ A five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court has ruled that the appointment of the Chief
Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs) will now be made by a high-power
committee consisting of the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice
of India.
➢ The five-judge Constitution Bench was headed by Justice K M Joseph.
➢ Supreme Court has formed a six-member expert committee to examine Hindenburg Research firm’s
report on the Adani Group and probe the stock price crash in Adani stocks. Headed By - AM Sapre.
➢ Government of India (GoI) constituted a 16-member inter-ministerial committee to analyse the need
for a separate law for competition in the digital market and to draft a digital competition act within
three months.Headed By - Manoj Govil.
➢ The Shipping Ministry has formed a committee to draft revised Guidelines for operationalization of
Roll on-Roll off (Ro-Ro) and Roll on-Passenger (Ro-Pax) ferry service. Headed By- Sanjay K. Mehta.
Q. What is the financial value approved for the Loss and Damage Fund during COP 28?
A) $100 million B) $250 million
C) $375 million D) $475 million

Answer : D .
✓ United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP28 held in UAE

✓ In this event, UAE operationalised Loss and Damage Fund for developing nations, which was set up during
COP 27 at Sharm el Shaik, Egypt.
✓ This fund, which is given by the developing economies to the nations recovering from climate disasters such
as extreme weather events.
✓ It will also be used to deal with other climate-related emergencies such as sea-level rise, migration, and
displacement.
✓ The countries, which are pledged to give this fund as follows,
✓ ( Loss and Damage Fund – $ 475 million)
✓ European Union – $ 275 million
✓ UAE – $ 100 million
✓ Germany – $ 100 million
✓ UK – $ 75 million
✓ US – $ 17.5 million
✓ Japan – $ 10 million.
✓ About Loss and Damage Fund:
✓ It was first announced during COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
✓ It is a global financial package to ensure the rescue and rehabilitation of countries facing the cascading effects
of climate change.
✓ The term refers to the compensation that rich nations, whose industrial growth has resulted in global
warming and driven the planet into a climate crisis, must pay to poor nations, whose carbon footprint is low
but are facing the brunt of rising sea levels, floods, crippling droughts, and intense cyclones, among others.
✓ The changing climate has impacted lives, livelihoods, biodiversity, cultural traditions, and identities.
✓ Loss and damage is often categorised as either economic or non-economic.
✓ The World Bank will oversee the loss and damage fund in the beginning, with the source of funds being rich
nations such as the US, the UK, and the EU, as well as some developing countries
Q. Which organization is at the center of the cooperation between RBI and Bank of England?
A) International Monetary Fund (IMF) B) Financial Stability Board (FSB)
C) World Trade Organization (WTO) D) Clearing Corporation of India Ltd. (CCIL)
Answer : D .

✓ The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Bank of England (BoE) recently signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) for cooperation and exchange of information in relation to the Clearing Corporation
of India Limited (CCIL).
✓ About Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL):
✓ It was set up in April 2001 to provide guaranteed clearing and settlement functions for transactions in money,
G-Secs, foreign exchange, and derivative markets.
✓ CCIL also provides non-guaranteed settlement for Rupee interest rate derivatives and cross-currency
transactions through the CLS Bank.
✓ Promoters: State Bank of India, IDBI Bank Ltd, ICICI Bank Ltd, Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC),
Bank of Baroda and HDFC Bank Ltd.
✓ The company was incorporated with an authorised equity share capital of Rs. 50 crores.
✓ CCIL’s adherence to the stringent principles governing its operations as a Financial Market Infrastructure
(FMI) has resulted in its recognition as a Qualified Central Counterparty (QCCP) by the Reserve Bank of
India in 2014.
✓ It has also set up a Trade Repository to enable financial institutions to report their transactions in Over-the-
Counter (OTC) derivatives.
✓ Through its fully owned subsidiary, Clearcorp Dealing Systems Limited (CDSL), CCIL has introduced
various platforms for the electronic execution of deals in various market segments.
✓ Further, CDSL has developed, implemented, and manages the NDS-OM, the RBI-owned anonymous
electronic trading system for dealing in G-Secs and also for reporting OTC deals, as well as the NDS-CALL
platform, which facilitates electronic dealing in the Call, Notice & Term Money market.
✓ CCIL is also the trade repository for all OTC transactions in the Forex, Interest Rate and Credit derivative
transactions.
✓ What is CLS?
✓ Continuous Linked Settlement (CLS) is an initiative by a consortium of the world’s largest foreign exchange
clearing banks to eliminate the settlement risk in foreign exchange transactions.
✓ The CLS system is run by CLS Bank International, which is solely dedicated to settling foreign exchange
trades.
✓ The CLS Bank was established in 2002 and is owned by the world’s largest banks. It is based in New York,
with its main operations in London.

Q. With reference to ‘Kalbeliya dance’, consider the following statements
1. It is a folk dance from Madhya Pradesh performed by the tribe of the same name
2. This dance has been included in UNESCO’s representative list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage
of Humanity
Select the correct statement(s)

A) 1 only B) 2 only
C) Both 1 and 2 D) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer : B .
✓ Recently, during the Rajasthan International Folk Festival, artists performed the Kalbeliya dance.
✓ About Kalbeliya Dance:
✓ It is a folk dance from Rajasthan.
✓ It is well known by other names like 'Sapera Dance' or 'Snake Charmer Dance'.
✓ It is particularly performed by a Rajasthani tribe called 'Kalbelia'.
✓ This dance has become so well-known throughout the world that this dance and its songs have been included
in UNESCO's representative list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2010.
✓ In Kalbelia dance, males play various traditional instruments and females perform the dance.
✓ It is one of the most sensuous dances among all Rajasthani dances.
✓ In this dance form, the main performers are female dancers who dance and swirl, replicating the movements
of a serpent.
✓ The dancers wear brightly coloured skirts, blouses, and heavy jewellery.
✓ Instruments: The male musicians typically play the dhol (a drum), the pungi (a snake charmer’s pipe), and
the khanjari (a tambourine).
RAJASTHAN IN NEWS 2023

➢ Recently, during the Rajasthan International Folk Festival, artists performed the Kalbeliya dance.
➢ Rajasthan government has launched the ‘iStart Talent Connect Portal’ at Jaipur’s Techno Hub to boost
employment opportunities in the state.
➢ Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched multiple projects worth ₹5,000 crore in Rajasthan and
asserted that they will lead to further development of the state.

➢ Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has announced the formation of three new districts in the
state — Malpura, Sujangarh, and Kuchman City. Rajasthan will now have 53 districts.
➢ Rajasthan government has issued an order to conduct a caste survey in the state. It will become the
second state in India to carry out such a survey, after Bihar.
➢ Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) India Limited, a Navratna Central Public Sector Undertaking
(CPSE) under the Ministry of Coal, has emerged victorious in securing an 810 MW Solar PV project
capacity from Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Nigam Limited (RRVUNL).
➢ Prime Minister recently offered prayers at the Sanwariya Seth Temple in Chittorgarh, Rajasthan.
➢ NABARD has sanctioned Rs 1,974.07 crore to the Rajasthan government under the Rural
Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) for 2023-24.
➢ Noor Shekhawat became the first transgender person in Rajasthan to be issued a birth certificate with
the gender recorded as transgender.
➢ For the first time in India, the Rajasthan government introduced the Rajasthan Platform Based Gig
Workers Bill, 2023.
➢ Rajasthan Assembly passed a bill to provide minimum guaranteed income to all adult citizens as part
of a welfare package for the state.
➢ Rajasthan government is set to take stringent measures against recruitment exam paper leaks by
introducing a bill in the upcoming assembly session.
➢ Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari inaugurated and laid the
foundation stone of 11 National Highway projects worth Rs 5600 crore in Pratapgarh, Rajasthan.
➢ Rajasthan government has sanctioned Rs 13.48 crore to promote religious tourism at Nagaur,
Jaisalmer, and Alwar regions of the state.
➢ PM Modi Launches Projects Worth Rs 5,500 Crore In Rajasthan, Including 114 Km Long Six-Lane
Udaipur-Shamlaji Section Of NH-48.
➢ Lithium reserves have been discovered in Rajasthan’s Degana following the recent discovery in
Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi.
➢ Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Jal Jan Abhiyan virtually on Abu Road in the Sirohi
district of Rajasthan.

Q. Which film received the Special Jury or Silver Peacock Award at the 54th International Film Festival
of India?
A) Featherweight B) Kantara
C) Sarpatta Parambarai D) A Thursday
Answer : B .
✓ The Special Jury or Silver Peacock Award was given to the Kannada film ‘Kantara’, directed by Rishab
Shetty at the 54th International Film Festival of India.
✓ Abbas Amini directed ‘Endless Borders’ which bagged the Best Film or the Golden Peacock Award, while
the Best Director award went to Stephan Komandarev for the film ‘Blaga’s Lessons’.
Q. Which country reached an agreement with India and the Paris Club group of creditors on a debt
treatment plan?
A) Afghanistan B) Israel
C) Sri Lanka D) Syria
Answer : C .
✓ Sri Lanka has reached an agreement in principle with India and the Paris Club group of creditors including
Japan, on a debt treatment plan.
✓ It will help the crisis-hit island nation tap the next tranche of the International Monetary Fund’s nearly-$3
billion recovery package
SRI LANKA IN NEWS 2023

➢ Sri Lanka has reached an agreement in principle with India and the Paris Club group of creditors
including Japan, on a debt treatment plan.
➢ The 9th edition of the India-Sri Lanka joint military exercise "Exercise MITRA SHAKTI-2023" is
being organized in Pune
➢ India and Sri Lanka conclude 12th round of talks on Economic and Technology Cooperation
Agreement (ETCA) in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
➢ Sri Lanka has recently announced visa-free access for Indian passport holders.
➢ Ministry of Transport and Highways of Sri Lanka has signed a contract with India's IRCON
International Limited for the design, testing and commissioning of signaling systems with Sri Lanka
Railways.

➢ Sri Lanka hosted the Karnataka Cultural Festival on August 27, 2023.
➢ FIFA has lifted its ban on the Sri Lankan Football Federation with immediate effect.
➢ India gives Lanka Rs 450 mn in aid for unique digital identity project.
➢ World Bank approves $700 million for crisis-hit Sri Lanka.
➢ Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal flagged off India's first
international cruise vessel - MV Empress, from Chennai to Sri Lanka.
➢ Bharti Airtel has announced its plan to merge its Sri Lanka operations with Dialog Axiata, the largest
telecom provider in Sri Lanka.
➢ The 10th annual SLINEX-2023 bilateral maritime exercise between India and Sri Lanka has
commenced in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
➢ Sri Lanka assent to Adani Green’s $442 Million Wind Power Project.
➢ India will support Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring plan as the island nation looks to trim its huge public
expenditure to win approval for a crucial bailout from the International Monetary Fund.
➢ India has supplied 50 buses to Sri Lanka on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of independence.
➢ Indian High Commission signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Sabaragamuwa
University of Sri Lanka to establish a Hindi Chair.
➢ India & Sri Lanka inaugurate exhibition ‘Geoffrey Bawa’ in New Delhi.
➢ Reliance Retail Ventures Limited announced a strategic partnership with Sri Lanka-headquartered
Maliban Biscuit Manufactories Limited.
➢ SRI LANKA
➢ Capital : Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (legislative)
➢ Colombo (executive and judicial)
➢ Currency : Rupee
➢ President : Ranil Wickremesinghe
➢ Prime Minister : Dinesh Gunawardena
➢ Mitra Shakti Military Exercise : India and Sri Lanka
➢ Slinex Navel Exercise : India and Sri Lanka
➢ Parliament : parliamenthua (225 seats)
➢ National day : 4 February 1948

Q. Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary’ recently seen in news is situated in
A) Uttarakhand
B) Chhattisgarh
C) Delhi
D) Gujarat
Answer : C .
✓ The Delhi High Court recently indicated it may stay an event proposed by the forest department inside the
Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary.
✓ Asola-Bhati Wildlife Sanctuary covering 32.71 km2 area on the Southern Delhi Ridge of Aravalli hill range
on Delhi-Haryana border lies in Southern Delhi as well as northern parts of Faridabad and Gurugram
districts of Haryana state. It is also part of the Sariska-Delhi Wildlife Corridor, which runs from the Sariska
Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan to Delhi Ridge.
Q. A23a, sometimes seen in the news, is related to which of the following?

A) A short-course Tuberculosis Preventive Treatment (TPT) regimen, endorsed by the WHO
B) A large icebergs drifting away beyond Antarctic waters
C) A celestial object discovered using Himalayan Chandra Telescope.
D) A deepest point newly found in the Anarctic Ocean
Answer : B .
✓ The British Antarctic Survey recently found that one of the world’s largest icebergs is drifting beyond
Antarctic waters after being grounded for more than three decades
✓ A23a is one of the world’s largest icebergs is drifting beyond Antarctic waters, after being grounded for more
than 3 decades.
✓ The iceberg split from the Antarctic’s Filchner Ice Shelf in 1986 and it became stuck to the ocean floor and
had remained for many years in the Weddell Sea.
✓ The iceberg is about three times the size of New York City and more than twice the size of Greater London,
measuring around 4,000 square kilometres.
✓ The iceberg has been drifting for the past year and now appears to be picking up speed and moving past the
northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, helped by wind and ocean currents

Q. What was Marty Krofft’s contribution to the entertainment industry?
A) Bestselling Novels B) Hit Songs
C) Award-Winning Films D) Classic Children’s Series

Answer : D .
✓ Marty Krofft, co-producer of classic children’s series such as ‘HR Pufnstuf’ and ‘Land of the Lost,’ died in
California.
✓ Krofft and his brother (Harry Krofft) created series such as ‘The Bugaloos,’ ‘Lidsville’ ‘Sigmund and the Sea
Monsters,’ ‘Pryor’s Place,’ ‘Far Out Space Nuts,’ ‘The Lost Saucer,’ ‘The Krofft Supershow,’ ‘Wonderbug,’
‘Electra Woman and Dyna Girl,’ ‘Dr Shrinker,’ and ‘Bigfoot & Wildboy.’
✓ At the 2003 Saturn Awards, the Krofft brothers received the Lifetime Career Award for creating some of the
most memorable imaginative television episodes.
✓ The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences honoured them with the Lifetime Achievement Emmy
Award in 2018.
✓ Krofft most recently won the Julie Award at the 2023 Dragon Con in Atlanta
✓ Ranking
Q. What is the total value of transactions processed on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) platform?
A) Rs 17.16 lakh crore B) Rs 17.40 lakh crore

C) Rs 16.80 lakh crore D) Rs 18.00 lakh crore
Answer : B .
✓ Transactions worth Rs 17.40 lakh crore were processed on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) platform,
setting a new record from the previous high of Rs 17.16 lakh crore in October.
✓ The value of transactions was 1.4%higher on month and 46% on year, as per data by the National Payments
Corporation of India (NPCI).
✓ Volumes dip slightly to 1,124 crore from 1,141 crore in the previous month.
✓ In FY23, the UPI platform processed 8,376 crore transactions aggregating Rs 139 lakh crore, compared with
4,597 crore transactions worth Rs 84 lakh crore in FY22.
✓ UPI transactions are expected to breach 100 crore transactions per day by FY27, as per a report by PwC
India, which projects UPI to dominate the retail digital payments landscape, accounting for 90 per cent of
total transaction volumes over the next five years

Q. During which month and year did India’s foreign exchange reserves reach an all-time high of $645
billion?
A) November 2023 B) October 2021
C) December 2022 D) September 2020
Answer : B .
✓ India’s foreign exchange (forex) reserves increased $2.538 billion to $597.935 billion for the week ended
November 24.
✓ In the previous reporting week, the overall reserves had jumped $5.077 billion to $595.397 billion.
✓ Gold reserves were up $296 million to $46.338 billion during the week.
✓ The Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) were up $87 million to $18.218 billion.
✓ India’s reserve position with the IMF rose $14 million to $4.848 billion in the reporting week.
✓ In October 2021, the country’s foreign exchange kitty had reached an all-time high of $645 billion.
✓ Foreign Exchange Reserve:
✓ Foreign exchange reserves (also called forex reserves or FX reserves) are cash and other reserve assets such
as gold held by a central bank or other monetary authority that are primarily available to balance payments
of the country, influence the foreign exchange rate of its currency, and to maintain confidence in financial
markets.
✓ Foreign exchange reserves are also known as reserve assets and include foreign banknotes, foreign bank
deposits, foreign treasury bills, and short and long-term foreign government securities, as well as gold
reserves, special drawing rights (SDRs), and International Monetary Fund (IMF) reserve positions
Q. Which organizations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on vaccine
Research and Development (R&D) and infectious diseases?
A) Bharat Biotech and Oxford University
B) Bharat Biotech and Harvard University

C) Bharat Biotech and Sydney University
D) Bharat Biotech and MIT
Answer : C .
✓ Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL), the developer of India’s first indigenous Covid-19 vaccine
Covaxin, has inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the University of Sydney Infectious

Diseases Institute (Sydney ID) to collaborate on advancing vaccine research initiatives, strengthening
academic-industry partnerships and augmenting global efforts to combat infectious diseases.
✓ Bharat Biotech made vaccines that met over 60% of the world’s demand and supplied over 2.4 billion doses
of Covid-19 vaccines.
✓ Bharat Biotech has over 145 global patents, a portfolio of over 19 vaccines and four biotherapeutics.
✓ Bharat Biotech founder & executive chairman Dr Krishna Ella.
Q. Who has been appointed as the president of the Rural Marketing Association of India (RMAI) for the
term 2023-2025?
A) Puneet Vidyarthi B) Biswabaran Chakrabarti
C) Rajesh Agarwal D) Neha Sharma
Answer : A .
✓ Rural Marketing Association of India (RMAI), the premier body of rural marketers in India appointed
Puneet Vidyarthi as its president for 2023-2025, taking over from Biswabaran Chakrabarti.
✓ Since its inception in the year 2005, RMAI has been helping marketers plan and implement their rural
marketing activities across the country.
✓ With 12.2% of the world’s population, rural India represents the single largest potential market and accounts
for 53% of FMCGs and 59% of durables sales in India.
✓ RMAI has about 150 members including associations with Tata Steel, ITC, HDFC, Kotak Bank, Mahindra
& Mahindra, Pidilite and HeroMoto Corp.
Q. Who has recently been honored with the title of the Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters by the
French government?
A) Thierry Mathou B) Arshia Sattar
C) Indian ambassador to France D) A French literature scholar

Answer : B .
✓ Author-translator Arshia Sattar has been conferred with the honour of the Knight of the Order of Arts and
Letters (Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres) by the French government.
✓ Thierry Mathou, the ambassador of France to India, presented the award to the Bengaluru-based scholar of
Indian literature and mythology, Arshia Sattar at the Consulate General of France in Bengaluru.
✓ It is the recognition of her outstanding achievements in the field of literature as a translator and a writer.

✓ She translated Ramayana, the Mahabharata, and the tales from Kathasaritsagara.
✓ She has written several books for children, including The Mahabharata for Children, which was awarded
the Sahitya Akademi Prize for Children’s Literature in 2022.
✓ She was involved with a nine-piece podcast series ‘The River Has No Fear of Memories’. The podcast
commemorated the life and works of renowned playwright and actor Girish Karnad.
✓ Sattar co-founded the literary residency, Sangam House, in 2008, along with David William Gibson, to
create a supportive space for writers in regional languages.
Q. What type of organization is Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL)?

A) Maharatna CPSU B) Navaratna CPSU
C) Private multinational company D) Non-governmental organization (NGO)
Answer : A .
✓ Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL), a Maharatna CPSU under Ministry of Power, has been
conferred the prestigious SKOCH Gold Award 2023.
✓ The award was received by Power Grid’s Executive Director B. Anantha Sarma and Chief General Manager
(Corporate Planning) Abhinav Verma.
✓ The award was given for the Pugalur Thrissur 2000 MW Voltage Source Converter HVDC System.
✓ It is part of the Raigarh-Pugalur-Thrissur 6000 MW HVDC system and enables the transfer of 2000 MW to
Kerala through the HVDC station at Thrissur.
Q. What is the approved amount for the recovery and reconstruction plan for Joshimath?
A) Rs 500 crore B) Rs 1,000 crore
C) Rs 1,250 crore D) Rs 1,658 crore
Answer : D .
✓ A high-level committee headed by Union home minister Amit Shah, has approved the recovery and
reconstruction (R&R) plan of Rs 1,658 crore for Joshimath, which was affected by landslide and ground
subsidence.
✓ Joshimath is located in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand.
✓ Rs 1079.96 crore of central assistance will be provided from recovery and reconstruction the window of the
National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).

✓ The state government will provide Rs 126.41 crore from its State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) towards
relief assistance and will provide Rs 451.80 crore from its state budget, including land acquisition cost for
resettlement of Rs 91.82 crore.
Q. Which bank has announced a collaboration with NCDEX e-Markets Limited (NeML) to strengthen
e-procurement and e-auction systems?
A) HDFC Bank B) State Bank of India

C) Federal Bank D) ICICI Bank
Answer : C .
✓ Federal Bank has announced a collaboration with NCDEX e-Markets Limited (NeML) to strengthen the
integration of its e-procurement and e-auction systems.
✓ NeML, a wholly owned subsidiary of National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange Limited (NCDEX),
holds a commanding market share in transparent price discovery across more than 90 commodities.
✓ Farmers can list crop details on the NeML platform, and the government will subsequently purchase the
produce at the approved minimum support price (MSP).
✓ The integration of Federal Bank’s Host-to-Host solution with NeML’s e-procurement platform will ensure
a seamless and efficient payment processing system.
✓ This tie up will aid fair price discovery for commodities, beat cartelization.
Q. Who has been awarded the UN refugee agency’s prestigious Nansen Award for championing the right
to education?
A) Amina Ahmed B) Abdullahi Mire

C) Fatima Hassan D) Ahmed Ali
Answer : B .
✓ Somali refugee Abdullahi Mire named the winner of the UN refugee agency’s prestigious Nansen Award.
✓ Abdullahi Mire was hailed for championing the right to education by putting 1, 00,000 books in the hands
of children in Kenya’s crowded Dadaab refugee camps.
✓ Dadaab, a sprawling complex of three camps that were initially built in the 1990s to host some 90,000
refugees, but which today are home to around 3,70,000, according to UN figures.
✓ He not only completed his primary and secondary education in the camp but managed to go on to complete
a degree in journalism and public relations

Q. Lalithambika, who received Top French honours, is the former director of_:
A) DRDO B) ISRO
C) BARC D) CVC
Answer : A .
✓ French ambassador to India honoured Lalithambika, former director, Directorate of the Human Spaceflight
Programme of ISRO with Legion d’Honneur.
✓ Lalithambika has worked extensively on various ISRO rockets, especially PSLV.
✓ Lalithambika is the second ISRO scientist after former ISRO chairman A S Kiran Kumar to be awarded the
Legion d’Honneur of France for promoting Indo-French space cooperation.
Q. Which State government has launched 'Mission Daksh' To Aid 25 Lakh Academically Weak
Students?
A) Bihar B) Uttarakhand
C) Rajasthan D) Uttar Pradesh

Answer : A .
✓ Bihar government launched its ambitious scheme to minimise school dropout.

✓ The scheme, called Mission Daksh (Dynamic Approach for Knowledge and Skill) aims at offering special
Hindi, Mathematics and English classes to weak students of classes 3-8 across the state.
✓ A teacher will teach only five students, who cannot read and write Hindi and English fluently and are not
good at basic Mathematics.
✓ District-Wise Monitoring for ‘Mission Daksh’ :
✓ To ensure the effective implementation of ‘Mission Daksh,’ district-wise monitoring committees, led by
district magistrates, will oversee the program’s progress.
✓ The committees will play a pivotal role in daily supervision starting from December 1, 2023.
✓ ‘Mission Daksh’ focuses on addressing the individual needs of these students to enhance their academic
performance.
Q. When is the Navy Day observed in India?
A) 1 December B) 2 December
C) 3 December D) 4 December

Answer : D .
✓ In India, December 4 is observed as the National Navy Day every year, to celebrate the achievements and
role of the naval force to the country.
✓ The Theme of 2023 Navy Day is “Operational Efficiency, Readiness, and Mission Accomplishment in the
Maritime Domain”.
✓ Why is Indian Navy Day observed?
✓ The day is marked in recognition of the launch of Operation Trident during the Indo-Pakistan war in 1971.
✓ During Operation Trident, on December 4 in 1971, the Indian Navy sank four Pakistani vessels and also
killed over 500 Pakistani Navy personnel, meanwhile, the Indian side suffered no losses
✓ The Maratha Emperor, Chhatarpati Shivaji Bhosle of the 17th century is considered as “Father of the Indian
Navy”.
✓ The Indian Navy is the marine branch of the Indian Armed Forces and is led by the President of India as
Commander-in-Chief
✓ INDIAN NAVY
✓ Father of Indian Navy : Shivaji
✓ Motto(s) : Shaṁ No Varunaḥ (May the Lord of Water be auspicious unto us)
✓ First Chief : Admiral Sir William Edward Parry
✓ Headquarteres : New Delhi
✓ First Indian Chief of the Naval Staff : Katari
✓ 25th Chief of the Naval Staff : R Hari Kumar
Q. Who is known as the Father of the Indian Navy?

A) Kanhoji Angre
B) Chhatarpati Shivaji Bhosle
C) John Talbot Savignac Hall

D) Sardarilal Mathradas Nanda
Answer : B .
✓ The Maratha Emperor, Chhatarpati Shivaji Bhosle of the 17th century is considered as “Father of the Indian
Navy”.

Q. Where has the DeepTech Startup Promotion Campaign named Samriddhi Conclave been started?
A) IIT Delhi B) IIT Ropar
C) IIT Kharagpur D) IIT Mumbai

Answer : B .
✓ Banwarilal Purohit, Governor of Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh inaugurated the DeepTech
Startup Promotion Campaign to promote innovation in agriculture and water technology.
✓ This deeptech startup promotion named 'Samriddhi Conclave' has been started at IIT Ropar.
✓ It was organized by Technology and Innovation Center iHub AwaDH.
IIT IN NEWS 2023

➢ SAMRIDHI conclave, a deeptech startup acceleration drive launched at IIT Ropar.
➢ The First Australia India Education and Skill Council (AIESC) meeting was held at IIT Gandhinagar,
Gujarat.
➢ IIT Kanpur and Airbus to collaborate to boost aerospace talent base in India.
➢ IIT Kanpur has signed an MoU with private lender ICICI Bank to support the startup ecosystem in
the institute.
➢ IIT Guwahati have developed pharmaceutical and food products from tea factory waste.
➢ IIT Jodhpur scientists develop ‘CODE’ device for good air quality.
➢ IIT Madras-incubated space tech startup GalaxEye Space on 29 August 2023 launched their drone-
based synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system, Ahead of their planned satellite launch in 2024.
➢ IIT Bombay has received a donation of $18.6 million from an alumnus towards the establishment of
a Green Energy and Sustainability Research Hub.
➢ IIT Guwahati has signed MoU with the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) to build
capacity/skills in international affairs and foreign policy.
➢ IIT Guwahati researchers develop Al-based model for knee X-ray.
➢ Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani donated ₹315 crores to IIT Bombay.
➢ IIT-Madras generates hydrogen from seawater using solar energy.
➢ India, Israel to jointly develop Center of Water Technology at IIT Madras.
➢ IIT Madras researchers partner for development of materials and micro-device processing techniques.

➢ IIT Kanpur’s C3iHub, a cybersecurity Technology Innovation Hub, has launched a Cybersecurity
Skilling Programme .
➢ IIT Madras to set up its first international campus in Tanzania.
➢ Indian Institute of Technology Madras will be provided a grant of Rs 242 crore over a period of five
years to carry out research on Lab Grown Diamonds (LGD).
➢ Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay has been ranked 1st in India and 47th globally in
engineering and technology by the QS World University Rankings for 2023.
➢ IIT Indore, in partnership with NASA-Caltech and the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, has
designed an inexpensive camera setup.
➢ Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) Researchers have developed a three-dimensional
(3D) paper-based portable device that can detect adulteration in milk within 30 seconds.
➢ IIT Kanpur to Host Youth20 Consultation under G20 Presidency of India.
➢ IIT Bombay’s SHUNYA secures second place in ‘Solar Decathlon’ Build Challenge in US.
➢ Students of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Indore won an award of AED (Emirates Dirham)
1 million along with a gold medal at the World Government Summit in Dubai.
➢ IIT Indore Students Awarded with Global Best M-GOV Awards by Egyptian President.
➢ Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) at IIT Kanpur has entered into a Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) agreement with Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited.
➢ DRDO Industry Academia Centre of Excellence inaugurated at IIT Hyderabad.
➢ IIT Madras-incubated firm has developed an indigenous mobile operating system called BharOS.
➢ IIT Madras Centre of Excellence working with DRDO on Advanced Defence Technologies including
Combat Vehicle Technologies.
➢ IIT Madras researchers develop machine learning tool to detect tumour in brain, spinal cord.
➢ ISRO plans to develop astronaut training module with IIT Madras.
➢ IIT-Bombay and Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) join hands to develop touchless
biometric system.
➢ IIT delhi has been ranked among the top 50 engineering institutions in the QS World University
Rankings by Subject .
➢ An IIT Madras incubated firm has developed an indigenous mobile operating system 'Bharos’ that
can benefit India's 100 crore mobile phone users.

Q. The INTERPOL General Assembly started its 91st meeting in which country?
A) India B) Sri Lanka
C) UAE D) Austria
Answer : D .
✓ The INTERPOL General Assembly started its 91st meeting in Vienna a hundred years after the
organization began in the capital of Austria.
✓ Karl Nehammer, who is the Federal Chancellor of Austria, officially opened the conference.
✓ This year, over 1,000 police and law enforcement leaders from more than 160 countries have come together
to talk about making international police cooperation stronger.
✓ They aim to address the increasing transnational crime happening worldwide.
✓ The General Assembly is the governing body of INTERPOL, making decisions on what the organization
will do and how it will spend money in the next year.It will talk about stopping environmental crimes,
preventing child sexual abuse, and catching people involved in financial crimes, with detailed reports on
each.
✓ AUSTRIA
✓ Capital : Vienna
✓ Currency : Euro
✓ President : Alexander Van der Bellen
✓ International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL)
✓ Headquarters : Lyon, France
✓ President : Ahmed Nasser Al Raisi (UAE)
✓ Secretary General : Jurgen Stock ( Germany)
✓ Total Member : 195
✓ Main function of INTERPOL Red Notice - To seek the location and arrest of wanted persons wanted for
prosecution or to serve a sentence
Q. Where was the world's first portable hospital inaugurated?
A) Patna B) Varanasi
C) Jaipur D) Gurugram
Answer : D .

✓ The world's first portable hospital indigenously built 'Arogya Maitri cube' was inaugurated in Gurugram,
Haryana.
✓ It can be installed at the emergency site within an hour. It can be used in any emergency area or disaster
affected area.
✓ It has the capacity to treat up to 200 patients.
Q. SEBI, the market regulator, has extended the deadline for linking the SEBI Complaint Redressal
(SCORES) platform with the online dispute resolution platform till when?
A) 31st December 2023 B) 1st April 2024
C) 1st January 2024 D) 31st September 2024
Answer : B .
✓ SEBI, the market regulator, has extended the deadline for linking the SEBI Complaint Redressal (SCORES)
platform with the online dispute resolution platform. Initially set for December 4, the new deadline is now
April 1, 2024.
✓ In a notice dated September 20, 2023, SEBI stated that market entities should request SCORES
authentication and Application Programming Interface (API) integration by December 4, the original
deadline, to comply with the circular.
✓ The deadline for applying for SCORES authentication has now been extended to April 1, 2024.
✓ SEBI is like the regulator of India’s stock markets. It’s similar to the SEC in the U.S. Their main job is to
make sure investors are safe and help the stock market grow. They also handle anything related to the
securities market.
Q. Which Indian city is going to get India’s largest circular railway?

A) Kolkata B) Delhi
C) Mumbai D) Bengaluru
Answer : D .
✓ A new circular railway expanding 287 kilometers around Bengaluru and connecting major nearby towns, is
set to become India’s largest network, as mentioned by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
✓ The goal of this project is to reduce traffic congestion and enhance connectivity in the region.

✓ The government has allocated Rs 7 crore for alignment study of this circular railway, aiming to improve
local train services alleviating congestion on existing rail networks, and complement the Bengaluru
Suburban Rail Project and Namma Metro initiatives.
BENGALURU IN NEWS 2023

➢ Bengaluru is the city with the highest number of women-led startups in India, followed by Mumbai
and Delhi.
➢ Bengaluru claims the top spot for green office spaces in India, according to the CBRE-CII report
'Indian Real Estate: Taking Giant Strides - 2023 Mid-Year Outlook.' Over the last three and a half
year.
➢ India’s 1st state-of-the-art 3D-Printed post office opens in Bengaluru.
➢ Bengaluru becomes the first Indian city to join the World Cities Culture Forum (WCCF).
➢ India is all set to host the 5th World Coffee Conference (WCC) for the first time from 25-28 September
2023 in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
➢ Sberbank’s branch in India has been granted permission by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to set up
an IT unit in Bengaluru.
➢ India’s first 3D-printed post office to come up in Bengaluru.
➢ The second Trade and Investment Working Group meeting under the G20 India Presidency began in
Bengaluru.
➢ Foxconn to invest nearly 1 billion USD in Bengaluru.
➢ Nitin Gadkari unveiled first methanol run buses in Bengaluru.
➢ India Energy Week 2023 (IEW 2023), being organised during India's G20 Presidency, will be held in
Bengaluru between February 6 and 8, 2023. .
➢ The Union Ministry of Defence has announced on 27 November 2022 that the biennial air show
AeroIndia-2023 will be held at the Air Force Station Yelahanka in Bengaluru's from 13-17 February,
2023. This would be the 14th edition of Aero India.
➢ The first G-20 Environment meeting under the G-20 India Presidency will be held at the Taj West
End in Bengaluru.
➢ Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar on 15 March inaugurated
a 5-day cultural program "AgriUnifest" in Bengaluru..

➢ The first meeting of the G-20 Energy Transition Working Group under the chairmanship of India will
be held in Bengaluru from 5 to 7 February
Q. Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar reconstituted the panel of Vice-Chairmen with how many
members?
A) 5 B) 6
C) 7 D) 8
Answer : D .
✓ Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar reconstituted the eight-member panel of Deputy Speakers with
the presence of 50 percent women MPs.
✓ The eight-member panel now has four women members, including Congress MP Phulo Devi Netam, and
Bharatiya Janata Party MPs Phangnon Konyak, Darshana Singh and Sonal Mansingh.
✓ In the absence of the Chairman or Deputy Chairman, the Deputy Chairman is eligible to preside over the
House
Q. India has been re-elected to the International Maritime Organization, where is its headquarters?
A) Sydney B) Dubai
C) London D) Mumbai
Answer : C .
✓ India has once again been elected to the International Maritime Organization with the highest number of
votes. This biennial term of India is for 2024-25.
✓ India comes in the category of 10 nations with 'most interest in international maritime trade'.
✓ The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that regulates
shipping, its headquarters is in London.
Q. Who has been appointed as the Director General of the Indian Council of Forestry Research
Education?
A) Ayushi Sinha B) Kanchan Devi
C) Raghav Singh D) Ajay Saxena

Answer : B .

✓ Kanchan Devi, a 1991-batch Indian Forest Service officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre, has been appointed
Director General of the Indian Council of Forestry Research Education (ICFRE).
✓ Kanchan Devi has become the first woman officer to hold this post. Indian Council of Forestry Research
Education is functioning under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Q. Who has been appointed as the new Director General of Police of Telangana State?
A) Alok Sinha B) Vijay Singh

C) Abhay Saxena D) Ravi Gupta
Answer : C .
✓ Telangana State Government has issued orders to post Anti-Corruption Bureau Director General Ravi
Gupta as Director General of Police and Chief of Police Force with full additional charge with immediate
effect.
✓ On the instructions of the Election Commission of India, the state government had suspended Anjani
Kumar.
Q. Union Minister of State for Culture, Arjun Ram Meghwal has inaugurated the Sahitya Akademi Book
Fair in which city?
A) New Delhi
B) Bengaluru
C) Bhopal
D) Lucknow
Answer : A .
✓ Union Minister of State for Culture, Arjun Ram Meghwal has inaugurated the Sahitya Akademi Book Fair
in New Delhi.
✓ The Sahitya Akademi Book Fair will continue till 9th of this month and feature a host of cultural programs
and rendezvous with prominent writers.
✓ The Minister said that books played an important role in nation-building and the constitution makers were
all voracious readers. He added that the decision to put equality before liberty as a fundamental right in the
constitution was due to a greater understanding of the society achieved from reading various constitutions
and important books

Q. Which Small Finance Bank has partnered with Water.org for helps people get access to safe water
and sanitation through affordable financing, such as small loans?
A) ESAF Small Finance Bank B) Equitas Small Finance Bank
C) ESAF Small Finance Bank D) Ujjivan Small Finance Bank
Answer : D .
✓ Ujjivan Small Finance Bank has partnered with Water.org, a global non-profit organisation that helps people
get access to safe water and sanitation through affordable financing, such as small loans.
✓ Under the partnership, Water.org will assist Ujjivan SFB in identifying areas that require financing for clean
water and hygienic sanitation.
✓ Water.org will provide technical assistance, market assessment, development of Information, Education and
Communication (IEC) material, monitoring and evaluation support.
✓ To support the cause, Ujjivan SFB will be offering loans to existing as well as new customers starting from
Rs 6,000 up to Rs 1,00,000 to enable them to construct and/or renovate water and sanitation facilities.
Q. Who was honoured by Sharon Stone at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah?
A) Akshay Kumar B) Ranveer Singh

C) Rajinikanth D) Allu Arjun
Answer : B .
✓ Ranveer Singh was honoured by Sharon Stone at the Red Sea International Film Festival. The festival was
held in Jeddah.
✓ Ranveer received the honour for his contributions towards cinema.
✓ Alongside him, actor Diane Kruger and actor-writer Abdullah Al-Sadhan will be honoured as well.
Q. The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is all set to launch its first XPoSat mission. What is
the full form of the XPoSat mission?
A) X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite B) X-Ray Polymer Satellite
C) X-Ray Polygraphy Satellite D) X-Ray Polarization Satellite
Answer : A .
✓ The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is all set to launch its first X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite
(XPoSat); the mission aims to explore the polarization of powerful X-ray sources.

✓ The primary payload Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays (POLIX) developed by Raman Research Institute in
Bengaluru (RRI).
✓ According to ISRO, while space-based X-Ray astronomy has been established in India, focusing
predominantly on imaging, time-domain studies, and spectroscopy, the upcoming XPoSat mission marks a
major value addition.
✓ This research, supplementing traditional time and frequency domain studies, introduces a novel dimension
to X-Ray astronomy, generating anticipation and excitement within the scientific community.
✓ The XPoSat spacecraft is designated for observation from Low Earth Orbit (non-sun synchronous orbit of
~650 km altitude, low inclination of approximately six degree), carrying two scientific payloads. With these
two payloads, the XPoSat mission is capable of simultaneous studies of temporal, spectral, and polarization
features of the bright X-Ray sources
✓ The mission objectives include measurement of X-Ray polarization in the energy band of 8-30 keV emanated
from X-Ray sources, long-term spectral and temporal studies of cosmic X-Ray sources in the energy band
of 0.8-15 keV.
Q. Which edition of Global Ayurveda Festival is going to be held in Thiruvananthapuram?
A) 4th B) 3rd
C) 2nd D) 5th
Answer : D .
✓ Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar will inaugurate the 5th Global Ayurveda Festival in
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. This event, taking place from December 1 to 5 ,2023, focuses on the theme
‘Emerging Challenges in Healthcare and a Resurgent Ayurveda’.
✓ GAF 2023, the biggest Ayurveda meeting ever, will bring together practitioners, researchers, policymakers,
and industry leaders from around the world to discuss the influence of Ayurveda in healthcare.
✓ Representatives from more than 70 countries will attend the event.They will highlight the increasing
acknowledgment of Ayurveda’s importance in dealing with worldwide health issues.
Q. The UN Peacekeeping Ministerial meeting is scheduled to be held in which country?

A) India B) Norway
C) Austria D) Ghana

Answer : D .
✓ Minister of state for Defense Ministry, Ajay Bhatt is going to visit Accra, Ghana on December 5-6, 2023,
for an official visit. He will be there for a United Nations Peacekeeping Ministerial Meeting.
✓ The UN Peacekeeping Ministerial meeting plans to talk about the problems UN peacekeepers are dealing
with.
✓ India consistently leads by sending the most troops and equipment to these missions.
✓ Further the Defense Minister will have one-on-one talks with other Ministers, discussing defense
collaboration to enhance partnerships.
✓ He will also connect with the Indian community in Accra during his visit
Q. The United Arab Emirates announced its commitment to contribute $30 billion to a new fund focused
on addressing climate issues. The name of this fund is?
A) Alterra fund B) Climate Action fund
C) ESG fund D) All in one fund
Answer : B .
✓ The United Arab Emirates announced its commitment to contribute $30 billion to a new fund focused on
addressing climate issues.
✓ This fund, called Alterra, has influential partners like BlackRock, Brookfield, and TPG joining in as initial
supporters.
✓ Alterra aims to attract $250 billion in investments by 2030. Its main focus is to enhance access to funding,
particularly for developing nations in Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania, collectively known as the
Global South.
Q. Sign language video KYC service is launched by which financial entity?

A) HDFC B) Paytm Payments Bank
C) Axis bank D) Amazon Pay
Answer : D .
✓ Amazon Pay, a fintech company, introduced a video-based service for Know Your Customer (KYC) using
sign language, specially designed for customers with unique needs.

✓ This service facilitates communication in sign language between the company’s employees and customers
facing hearing or speech challenges.
✓ The aim is to simplify the KYC process for those who rely on sign language and to make digital payments
more accessible
✓ Amazon Pay has trained over 120 employees for this video KYC service and created interactive modules,
aligning with their commitment to customer satisfaction and financial inclusion.
Q. Henry Kissinger , a diplomat, passed away at the age of 100. He belonged to which country?
A) Australia B) USA
C) Netherlands D) Mozambique
Answer : B .
✓ Henry Kissinger, a U.S. diplomat during the Cold War, passed away at the age of 100.
✓ He played an important role in improving relations with China, making arms control agreements with the
Soviet Union, and concluding the Vietnam War. However he faced criticism for his stance on human rights.
✓ Kissinger was very influential in the 1970s during the Cold War. He worked as a national security adviser
and secretary of state under President Richard Nixon.
✓ Even after Nixon resigned in 1974 due to the Watergate scandal, Kissinger continued as a key diplomat
under the next president, Gerald Ford.
✓ He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973
Q. When is the World Soil Day observed?

C) December 5 D) December 2
Answer : C .
✓ World Soil Day is celebrated every year on December 5 to raise awareness of the importance of soil quality
for human well-being, food security and ecosystems
✓ The theme of World Soil Day 2023 is “Soil and water: a source of life”
✓ The day was first considered by the International Union of Soil Sciences in 2002.
✓ The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) officially endorsed the day in June 2013 while the UN
General Assembly declared 5 December as the World Soil Day in December 2013.

Q. What is the theme of the World Soil Day 2023?
A) Keep soil alive, Protect soil biodiversity
B) Stop Soil Erosion, Save our Future

C) Be the Solution to Soil Pollution
D) Soil and water: a source of life

Answer : D .
Q. Who is the title sponsor of 'Patna Pirates' team of Pro Kabaddi League?
A) Dream 11 B) Steel Authority of India
C) Bihar Government D) Vivo

Answer : C .
✓ Bihar Government will be the title sponsor of "Patna Pirates" team of Pro Kabaddi League.
✓ Patna Pirates players will play wearing jerseys with 'Anandmay Bihar' written on them.
✓ Bihar is becoming a sponsor of any sport for the first time.
✓ Sandeep Kumar of Patna has been selected for the first time in the team of Patna Pirates from Bihar in Pro
Kabaddi League.
SPONSOR IN NEWS 2023

➢ Bihar government will sponsor 'Patna Pirates' team of Pro Kabaddi League.
➢ Paytm becomes official sponsor for 37th National Games .
➢ MotoGP Bharat has roped in IndianOil as the title sponsor for the event scheduled to take place at the
Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida.
➢ ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 to be sponsored by Mahindra on Disney Star.
➢ Amul has been named as the official sponsor of the Indian contingent for the 19th Asian Games 2022
to be held in Hangzhou, China.
➢ The 28th edition of BWF World Badminton Championships 2023, sponsored by TotalEnergies, was
held at Royal Arena, Copenhagen, Denmark.
➢ International Cricket Council (ICC) has a brand tie-up with Mastercard for the upcoming Men’s
Cricket World Cup 2023 to be held in India between 5 October and 19 November 2023.

➢ Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) signed a three-year sponsorship deal with fantasy sports
gaming platform Dream 11.
➢ BCCI ropes in Adidas as new kit sponsor of Indian cricket team.
➢ Mastercard has reportedly taken over from BharatPe as the global sponsor of the International Cricket
Council (ICC).
➢ Tata Group bags Title sponsorship rights for the Women’s Premier League to 2027.
➢ Adani Sportsline is principal sponsor of Indian Olympic Association Birmingham Commonwealth
Games 2022, the Hangzhou Asian Games 2022, and the Paris Olympic Games 2024.
➢ Kewal Kiran Clothing (KKCL) replaces MPL as Indian cricket team’s official sponsor.
➢ Adidas will sponsor the India cricket team kit as part of a Rs 350 billion deal.
➢ BCCI to become an official partner of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) for the 2023 season.
➢ Sony Sports signs Hyundai Ioniq 5, Samsonite as sponsors for Australian Open 2023.
➢ Odisha extends Indian Hockey team sponsorship till 2033.
➢ For the second year in a row, the State Bank of India (SBI) has extended its sponsorship for Khleo
India Youth Games (KIYG) in Madhya Pradesh and remained as KIYG's Principal sponsor for KIYG
2022 edition.
Q. The first survey ship (large) 'Sandhyak' was handed over to the Indian Navy, who built it?
A) Cochin Shipyard Limited B) Tebma Shipyard Limited
C) Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited D) Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers
Answer : D .
✓ Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) delivered INS Sandhayak to the Indian Navy on the
occasion of Navy Day
✓ About INS Sandhayak:
✓ It is the largest survey vessel ever built in India.
✓ It is fully designed and built by the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE),
✓ It is the first in the series of four Survey Vessels (Large), or SVLs, being built by GRSE.
✓ It is the reincarnation of another ship by that name. The previous warship, also a survey vessel, was
commissioned into the Navy in 1981 and decommissioned in 2021.
✓ The new INS Sandhayak and the remaining ships in the series are far more advanced than their predecessors.

✓ Features:
✓ It is a 110-metre-long ship propelled by two marine diesel engines combined with fixed-pitch propellers.
✓ It is fitted with bow and stern thrusters to help the ships manoeuvre at low speeds during surveys.
Q. Which company has acquired ICC cricket rights for Australia till 2027?
A) Amazon B) Jio
C) Tata Group D) Dream11
Answer : A .
✓ Amazon acquires ICC cricket rights for Australia till 2027

✓ E-commerce giant Amazon’s streaming service Prime Video has signed a four-year deal with the
International Cricket Council (ICC) to provide exclusive live broadcast rights in Australia for ICC cricket,
which will be available on Prime Video Australia.
✓ The partnership will see Prime Video Australia exclusively stream all men’s and women’s events, including
the Men’s and Women’s Cricket World Cups, T20 World Cups, Champions Trophy, U19s, and the World
Test Championship Final.
✓ The deal includes streaming rights in Australia for 448 live games from 2024 to 2027.
Q. Which of the following has won the National Award for Empowering Individuals with disabilities?
A) Amazon India B) Flipkart
C) Myntra D) Tata Neu
Answer : A .
✓ Amazon won National Award for empowering individual with disabilities

✓ Amazon India received the National Award for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities for fostering an
inclusive environment for individuals with disabilities awarded by Gol.
✓ The award underscores their commitment to diversity and inclusion, making significant strides in
empowering persons with disabilities.
✓ Amazon India’s focus on inclusivity includes diverse workplace representation
Q. Who has become the first Indian woman to bag the Qatar WISE Prize 2023?
A) Safeena Husain B) M Rezaul Karin
C) Lutfuzzaman Babar D) Salahuddin Ahmed
Answer : B .

✓ India’s Safeena Husain honoured with Qatar WISE Prize 2023
✓ Safeena Hussain, founder of ‘Educate Girls,’ has become the first Indian woman to bag the WISE Prize
worth 5 lakh USD for mobilizing 14 lakh out-of-school girls in Indian villages to get back to mainstream
education.
✓ The prize, awarded by the Qatar Foundation at the 11th Edition of the World Innovation Summit for
Education (WISE) Summit earlier this week in Doha, is one of the most prestigious awards in education.
✓ Safeena said, Sixteen years back, when ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ was unheard of, I had decided to set up
Educate Girls, an NGO to bring out-of-school girls back to mainstream education. Even in the 21st century,
there are villages in India where goats are considered assets but girls are considered liability.
✓ The WISE prize was established in 2009 by the Qatar Foundation
Q. Which of the following has bagged the “ISSA Vision Zero 2023” Award at the 23rd World Congress
on Safety and Health in Sydney, Australia?
A) BIS B) ESIC
C) FCI D) FSSAI
Answer : B .
✓ The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has bagged the “ISSA Vision Zero 2023” Award at the
23rd World Congress on Safety and Health at Work in Sydney, Australia
✓ “Vision Zero” is a transformational approach for the prevention of accidents at workplaces integrating the
three dimensions of safety, health, and well-being at all levels of work.
✓ ESIC had great success in outreach in the field of safety and health at workplaces by aligning the prevention
strategy besides post-accidental mechanism for medical care and cash benefits to the workers and their
dependents.
✓ The award also underlines the improvements that have been made in the service delivery of the ESI
Corporation as well as increase in its administrative and operational efficiency using IT-enabled initiatives
Q. Which insurance company has launched a special scheme, named Jeevan Utsav?
A) Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance B) Life Insurance Corporation Of India

C) Bajaj Allianz General Insurance D) Bharti AXA General Insurance
Answer : B .
✓ Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has launched a special scheme, named Jeevan Utsav.

✓ LIC’s Jeevan Utsav is a non-linked, non-participating, individual, savings, whole life insurance plan based
on the selected Premium Paying Term (Regular Income to Flexi Income), 10% of the Sum Assured is paid
back annually after the specified years.
✓ The fact that this plan offers life insurance coverage for the duration of the policyholder’s life is a plus point.
✓ This plan is available for age starting from 90 days to 65 years. It gives guaranteed lifelong income and
lifelong risk cover
LIC IN NEWS 2023

➢ Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has launched a special scheme, named Jeevan Utsav.
➢ Life Insurance Corporation of India has tied up with Saraswat Cooperative Bank Ltd in its effort to
increase the penetration of life insurance through the Bancassurance channel in Mumbai.
➢ SatPal Bhanu has been appointed as the Managing Director (MD) of Life Insurance Corporation of
India (LIC).
➢ Siddhartha Mohanty appointed as Chairman of LIC Until June 2024.
➢ LIC Raises Stake in Tech Mahindra to 8.88% Through Open Market Transactions.
➢ Ratnakar Patnaik appointed as new Chief Investment Officer of LIC.
➢ Tablesh Pandey and M. Jagannath have been appointed as the managing directors of the Life
Insurance Company (LIC).
➢ Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has launched LIC Jeevan Azad Plan.
➢ The minimum basic sum assured under LIC Jeevan Azad Plan is Rs 2 lakh and the maximum basic
sum assured is Rs 5 lakh. The policy can be taken for term of 15 to 20 years.
➢ LIC to divest 60.72% share in IDBI Bank.
➢ LIC presently has four managing directors
➢ Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC)
➢ Founded : 1956
➢ Headquarters : Mumbai
➢ Chairman : Siddhartha Mohanty
➢ It is India's largest life insurance company and also the country's largest investment company.
➢ Authorised Capital of LIC - Rs 25,000 Crore.
➢ At Rs 21,000 crore, LIC is India's largest IPO.

Q. Which word has been chosen by the Oxford University Press as its word of the year for 2023?
A) Peace B) Rizz
C) Artificial Intelligence D) Situationship

Answer : B .
✓ The word “Rizz” chosen as the Oxford Word of the Year 2023
✓ Often associated with celebrities and other famous figures, “rizz” has been chosen by the Oxford University
Press as its word of the year.
✓ It’s a term Gen Z has mainly embraced, and it beat out words such as “prompt,” “situationship” and
“Swiftie” that were considered by Oxford University Press, which publishes the Oxford English Dictionary.
✓ While Merriam-Webster’s word of the year was “authentic,” rizz was also under consideration. Collins
Dictionary selected “artificial intelligence” as their word of the year in November
✓ Under Oxford’s definition, it’s a noun that means style, charm, attractiveness or the ability to attract a
romantic or sexual partner. Oxford said rizz was a shortened form of the word charisma
✓ The word ‘rizz’ can also be used as a verb, often in the phrase ‘rizz up’, which means ‘to attract, seduce, or
chat up (a person)
Q. What is the rank of India in the World Digital Competitiveness Ranking 2023?
A) 45 B) 49
C) 65 D) 86
Answer : B .
✓ World Digital Competitiveness Ranking: India ranked 49th; topped by US

✓ The International Institute for Management Development (IMD) unveiled its 2023 World Digital
Competitiveness Ranking (WDCR) revealing India’s position at 49th among 64 economies.
✓ According to IMD’s study, India has made significant in terms of cybersecurity knowledge but lacks on
fronts like technology and future readiness.
✓ This ranking shed light on crucial elements contributing to a nation’s digital prowess, a quality gaining
paramount importance as technology continues to reshape societies globally.
✓ According to IMD, the United States has reclaimed the top spot in this year’s ranking, solidifying its position
as a “digital nation” that actively integrates digital technologies, including AI, across governmental,
corporate, and individual domains.

✓ The Netherlands secured the second position, advancing four places, while Singapore, leading in the
technology factor, secured the third spot.
✓ Denmark, the previous overall leader, slipped to fourth place due to declines in future readiness and
technology factors.
✓ Switzerland, excelling in the knowledge factor, maintained its top position, completing the top five.
Q. Union Minister R.K. Singh has inaugurated the National Conference on “Energy Transition in India
– Road Travelled and Opportunities Ahead” in which city?
A) Lucknow B) Bhuvneshwar
C) Gandhinagar D) Patna
Answer : C .
✓ Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy R.K. Singh has inaugurated a two-day National
Conference on “Energy Transition in India – Road Travelled and Opportunities Ahead” in Gandhinagar.
✓ Organized as a part of the upcoming Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024, the event is being attended by
more than 250 Indian and foreign representatives of power and renewable energy sector.
✓ The two-day conference was focused on scaling up renewable energy, generation and consumption by
considering challenges related to grid integration, financing tools and developing supporting infrastructure.
✓ The main objective of this conference is to move forward with an ambitious vision of promoting clean energy
and facilitating the energy transition.
✓ India is committed to reducing the emission intensity of its GDP by 45 percent by 2030 compare to 2005
level. 80 percent of the carbon emission burden lies with developed countries, which account only one-third
of the world’s population.
Q. Consider the following statements with respect to ‘Voice over 5G (Vo5G)’
1. It brings substantially higher bandwidth and latency compared to 4G LTE
2. It utilizes more advanced audio codecs that provide superior clarity and fidelity
3. This standard allows voice calls over 5G networks instead of the current standard that uses 4G
How many of the statement(s) given above are correct

A) Only one B) Only two
C) All three D) None

Answer : B .

✓ Reports indicate Reliance Jio, India’s largest mobile carrier, has been testing Voice over New Radio (VoNR)
behind the scenes.
✓ About Voice over 5G:
✓ It is also known as Voice over New Radio (VoNR).
✓ This standard allows voice calls over 5G networks instead of the current standard that uses 4G.
✓ In simple terms, Vo5G takes all the improvements of 5G – speed, capacity, responsiveness – and applies
them squarely to voice.
✓ It aims to have all that infrastructure and interoperability ready well in advance.
✓ To use Vo5G, you need three things: a phone that supports Vo5G, a carrier that offers Vo5G, and a 5G
signal in your area
✓ How is VoNR better than VoLTE?
✓ VoNR brings clear advances over VoLTE with 5G’s substantially higher bandwidth and lower latency
compared to 4G LTE.
✓ Enhanced call quality: It utilizes more advanced audio codecs that provide superior clarity and fidelity based
on 5G’s increased data capacity.
✓ Faster connection times: It promises faster call connection times, ensuring a seamless and prompt user
experience.
✓ Improved reliability: Vo5G aims to eliminate the notorious call drop issues, particularly during transitions
between 5G and 4G.
✓ Lower packet loss contributes to better reliability, minimising the occurrence of voice cutouts during calls.
✓ Statement 1 Incorrect
✓ Statement 2 Correct
✓ Statement 3 Correct
Q. Consider the following statements with respect to ‘Leadership Group for Industry Transition
(LeadIT) 2.0’
1. It is a collaborative effort involving countries and industry-leading companies focused on industry
transition and knowledge sharing
2. It was recently launched by India and United States of America recently


A) 1 only B) 2 only
Answer : A .
✓ Recently, India and Sweden launched Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT) 2.0 during the
COP28 World Climate Action Summit, hosted in Dubai.
✓ About Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT) 2.0:
✓ Since its inception in 2019, LeadIT has grown into a collaborative effort involving 18 countries and 20
industry-leading companies.
✓ The LeadIT initiative, initially centered around pivotal sectors such as iron, steel, cement, and aluminum,
focused on industry transition and knowledge sharing.
✓ LeadIT has played a pivotal role in accelerating the adoption of low-carbon technologies, aligning with
global environmental goals.
✓ Three core areas of LeadIT 2.0:
✓ Inclusive and Just Industry Transition: Ensuring that industry transitions are not only efficient but also
equitable, promoting fairness and inclusivity in the process.
✓ Low Carbon Technology Development and Transfer: Placing renewed emphasis on the development and
seamless transfer of low-carbon technologies, crucial for achieving sustainable practices across industries.
✓ Emerging Economy Technology Transfer: Facilitating the expedited transfer of innovative solutions to
emerging economies, assisting in their transition to more sustainable practices.
✓ It serves as a platform for public-private collaboration, fostering sector-specific and cross-sectoral learning,
especially concerning innovation opportunities and new technologies
Q. With reference to ‘International Maritime Organization’, consider the following statements

1. It is the global standard-setting authority for the safety, security and environmental performance
of international shipping
2. Funding for the organization comes from contributions by Member States and voluntary donations
3. The Assembly is the highest Governing Body of the IMO

How many of the statement(s) given above are correct


Answer : C .
✓ Recently, India was re-elected to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council with the highest
tally at elections held at its Assembly in London for the 2024-25 biennium.
✓ About International Maritime Organisation:
✓ It is a specialized agency of the United Nations which is responsible for measures to improve the safety and
security of international shipping and to prevent pollution from ships.
✓ It is the global standard-setting authority for the safety, security and environmental performance of
international shipping.
✓ Its main role is to create a regulatory framework for the shipping industry that is fair and effective, universally
adopted and universally implemented.
✓ Formation: It was established as the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO) in
1948, became a specialized agency of the United Nations in 1959 and was renamed International Maritime
Organization in 1982.
✓ Structure of the organisation:
✓ Assembly: It is the highest Governing Body of the IMO. It consists of all Member States, and it meets once
every two years in regular sessions. The Assembly is responsible for approving the work program, voting the
budget and electing the Council.
✓ Funding: Funding for the organization comes from contributions by Member States, as well as voluntary
donations and commercial activities.
✓ Members: It currently has 175 Member States.
✓ Headquarters: London.
Q. Recently, at COP-28, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced a new fund called
“ALTÉRRA” for climate investments and transforming emerging markets and developing
economies. In this context, if a small solar power company in India wants to expand its operations,
then in which one of the following ways could ALTÉRRA potentially support the company?
A) It will provide direct funding for the expansion of the project.
B) It will invest in a larger solar energy company that operates in India.
C) It will offer technical expertise and facilitate access to finance.
D) It will help in purchasing carbon credits generated by the solar power plant.
Answer : C .

✓ At COP-28, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced a new USD 30 billion fund called ALTÉRRA
for climate investments and transforming emerging markets and developing economies
✓ UAE President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai,
announced the creation of a $30 billion climate fund named ALTÉRRA.
✓ The fund aims to attract $250 billion in investment by the end of the decade, with $25 billion allocated to
climate strategies and $5 billion to incentivize investment in the Global South.
✓ The fund seeks to steer private markets towards climate investments, especially in emerging markets and
developing economies.
✓ The term “Alterra” typically refers to a Latin word that is often used in various contexts to signify alteration,
transformation, or variation.
✓ The fund’s investments will be guided by four key pillars:
✓ 1) Energy Transition
✓ 2) Industrial Decarbonization
✓ 3) Sustainable Living
✓ 4) Climate Technologies Top of Form
Q. With reference to the Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessment Report 2023, consider the
following statements:
1. As per the report, total annual ground water extraction for the entire country has increased.
2. The report provides that there has been an increase in stage of groundwater extraction level.
3. The report acknowledges the positive impact of initiatives like Atal Bhujal Yojana and Jal Shakti
Abhiyan in improving groundwater resource management.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A) 1 and 2 only B) 2 and 3 only
C) 1 and 3 only D) 1, 2 and 3

Answer : C .
✓ Union Minister of Jal Shakti has released the Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessment Report for the
entire country for the year 2023
✓ What is Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessment Report?

✓ 1. Aim– To determine the prevailing status of groundwater resources and the impact of ongoing groundwater
management practices.
✓ 2. Conducted jointly by Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and States/UTs.
✓ 3. Previously carried out in 1980, 1995, 2004, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2017, 2020 and 2022
✓ What are the Highlights of Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessment Report 2023?
✓ 1. Increase in ground water recharge: Total annual ground water recharge is 449.08 billion cubic meters
(BCM), marking an increase of 11.48 BCM compared to 2022.
✓ 2. Increase in annual ground water extraction: Total annual ground water extraction for the entire country
is 241.34 BCM.
✓ 3. Decrease in stage of groundwater extraction level: Currently stands at 59.23%.
✓ Note- Stage of groundwater extraction is a measure of annual ground water extraction for all uses (irrigation,
industrial and domestic uses) over annual extractable ground water resource
✓ 4. Out of total 6553 assessment units–
✓ – 736 units (11.23%) have been categorized as ‘Over-exploited’ (where the annual ground water extraction
is more than annual extractable ground water resource), witnessing a decline.
✓ – 4793 units categorized as ‘Safe’
✓ What are the initiatives taken by government to improve ground water resources?
✓ 1. Atal Bhujal Yojana (Atal Jal): Its a Rs. 6000 crore Central Sector Scheme, undertaken with World Bank
assistance, for ensuring sustainable management of ground water resources.
✓ 2. Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA): Launched in 2019, it aims to promote water conservation and water resource
management in 256 water stressed districts in the country through targeted interventions
Q. With reference to Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI), consider the following
statements:
1. The partnership is engaged in providing financial support and carrying out research and
development activities in the field of artificial intelligence.
2. India is one of the members of GPAI.

3. The GPAI's principles and guidelines are being used by governments and organizations around the
world to develop their own AI policies.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

Answer : B .
✓ India will take over the Chair of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence, GPAI from France on
November 21.
✓ About Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI):
✓ GPAI is an international initiative to support responsible and human-centric development and the use of
Artificial Intelligence.
✓ It aims to bridge the gap between theory and practice on AI by supporting cutting-edge research and applied
activities on AI-related priorities.
✓ Members: The GPAI is a congregation of 25 member countries, including the US, UK, European Union,
Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, South Korea, and Singapore.
✓ India joined the GPAI in 2020 as a founding member.
✓ Its Secretariat is hosted at the OECD.
✓ India occupying the chair also signifies how the world today perceives it as a Trusted Technology partner
and one that has always advocated for the ethical use of technology for transforming citizens’ lives.
✓ Artificial Intelligence: Artificial Intelligence is expected to add 967 billion US dollars to the Indian economy
by 2035.
✓ It is also expected to add 450 to 500 billion US dollars to India’s GDP by 2025 accounting for 10 per cent of
the country’s 5 trillion dollar GDP target.
Q. In which state did Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveil the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj?
A) Goa B) Rajasthan
C) Maharashtra D) Haryana
Answer : C .
✓ Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Rajkot Fort located
in Sindhudurg, Maharashtra.
✓ He also participated in the event organized on Navy Day 2023.
✓ To showcase the history of the Indian Navy, an exhibition was also organized on the occasion of Navy Day
where several models of contemporary ships of Shivaji Maharaj were made.

STATUE IN NEWS 2023
➢ Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Rajkot Fort
located in Sindhudurg, Maharashtra.
➢ External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar unveiled the bust of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore at the
International Friendship Park in Bac Ninh province, Vietnam.
➢ Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma unveiled a statue of medieval-era Ahom army commander, Lachit
Borphukan, and a Swahid Smarak at Bir Lachit Borphukan Park in Guwahati.
➢ Outside India, Dr. The largest statue of BR Ambedkar will be unveiled in the United States. The 19-
foot statue of Ambedkar has been named 'Statue of Equality' and will be inaugurated in Maryland,
USA.
➢ Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan unveiled the 108-foot-tall ‘Statue of Oneness’
of Adi Shankaracharya at Omkareshwar.
➢ President Droupadi Murmu has unveiled a 12 feet high statue of the father of the nation Mahatma
Gandhi and a ‘Gandhi Vatika’ at Gandhi Darshan near Rajghat in New Delhi.
➢ Union Home Minister Amit Shah on laid the foundation stone of 108 feet tall statue of Lord Shri
Ram in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh.
➢ Union Home Minister Amit Shah unveiled a 54 feet tall statue of Lord Hanuman at Sarangpur temple
in Botad district of Gujarat.
➢ Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah unveiled the statues of Lord
Basaveshwara ji and Nadaprabhu Kempegowda ji at the State Assembly premises in Bengaluru,
Karnataka.
➢ Samatha Kumbh is being held on the premises of the Statue of Equality at Muchintal, Telangana.
➢ Union Home Minister Amit Shah has unveiled a 120-feet-tall statue of a polo player riding a pony at
Marjing Polo Complex in Manipur’s Imphal East district.
➢ Tamil Nadu CM Stalin inaugurated statue of ‘Mahakavi Subramanian Bharathiyar’.
➢ Prime Minister Narendra Modi has unveiled a 108-feet tall bronze ‘Statue of Prosperity’
➢ of Sri Nadaprabhu Kempegowda in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
➢ 369-foot-tall Shiva statue called “Viswas Swaroopam” that has been built in Nathdwara, Rajasthan’s
Rajsamand district, will be dedicated.
➢ The Viswas Swaroopam statue was built by Tat Padam Sansthan.

Q. Who has become the first woman medical officer of the Indian Army to be deployed in Siachen?
A) Geetika Kaul B) Aarti Sinha

C) Ananya Thakur D) Ayushi Singh
Answer : A .
✓ Captain Geetika Kaul of Snow Leopard Brigade has created history by becoming the first woman medical
officer of the Indian Army to be deployed in Siachen, the world's highest battlefield.
✓ Earlier he had successfully completed induction training at the prestigious Siachen Battle School.
Q. Who has recently become the third woman Grandmaster of India?
A) Vantika Aggarwal B) Padmini Raut
C) Vaishali Rameshbabu D) Harika Dronavalli
Answer : C .
✓ Vaishali Rameshbabu has become the 84th Grandmaster of India, she achieved this feat by achieving 2500
rating points during the 2023 IV Allobregate Open.
✓ Vaishali has now become India's third woman Grandmaster after Koneru Humpy and Harika Dronavalli.
Vaishali and her younger brother R. Praggnanand's pair is the first sister-brother pair to become
Grandmasters
CHESS GRANDMASTER IN NEWS 2023

➢ Vaishali Rameshbabu has become the 84th Grandmaster of India.
➢ Raunak Sadhwani (Maharashtra) won FIDE World Junior Rapid Chess Championship.
➢ Divya Deshmukh (Maharashtra ) Emerges Winner Of 2023 Tata Steel Chess India Women’s Rapid
Tournament defeated Koneru Humpy.
➢ Magnus Carlsen (Norway) wins the Chess World Cup Final 2023.
➢ Aditya Samant becomes India’s 83rd Grandmaster.
➢ Indian Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa has won the title of V Geza Hetenyi Memorial Super GM
Chess Tournament 2023 .
➢ Magnus Carlsen (Norway) won the 2023 Superbet Rapid & Blitz Poland
➢ Telangana’s Vuppala Prraneeth became India’s 82nd Grandmaster.

➢ Ding Liren has become 17th world chess champion – the first from China – defeating Russia's Ian
Nepomniachtchi in a tie-breaker.
➢ Global Chess League (GCL) announced Dubai as the inaugural edition of the world's largest and first
franchise-based chess league.The league is a joint venture between FIDE and Tech Mahindra.
➢ Ding Liren became China's first world chess champion after defeating Russia's Ian Nepomniachtchi
in a tie-breaker.
➢ Sayantan Das from West Bengal has become India's 81st Chess Grandmaster.
➢ Vignesh NR became the 80th Grandmaster of the country.
➢ Dutch player Anish Giri, five times the runner-up in Wijk aan Zee, has won Tata Steel Masters 2023.
➢ Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh Wins Title At World Chess Armageddon Asia And Oceania Event.
➢ 16-year-old from Tamilnadu, M Pranesh became India's 79th chess grandmaster .
➢ Kolkata-based chess player, Koustav Chatterjee became India’s 78th Grandmaster.
Q. Consider the following with respect to ‘UN Commission for Social Development (CSocD)’
1. It is one of the principle organs of the United Nations.
2. Its primary purpose is to advance social development, formulate policies to address global social
issues.
3. Members are elected by ECOSOC based on equitable geographical distribution.

A) 1 and 2 only B) 2 and 3only
C) 1 and 3 only D) All the above
Answer : B .
✓ India's permanent representative Ruchira Kamboj to the UN recently chaired an insightful member-state
briefing in preparation for the 62nd UN Commission for Social Development.
✓ About the UN Commission for Social Development (CSocD):
✓ CSocD, formerly known as the Social Commission, is a functional commission of the Economic and Social
Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations.
✓ It has been in existence since the very inception of the United Nations, advising ECOSOC and governments
on a wide range of social policy issues and from the social perspective of development.

✓ Purpose:
✓ Its primary purpose is to advance social development and formulate policies and recommendations to
address global social issues.
✓ It focuses on topics such as poverty eradication, social inclusion, and the promotion of equitable and
sustainable development.
✓ Since the 1995 World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen, the CSocD has been the key UN
body in charge of the follow-up and implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of
Action.
✓ Membership:
✓ Originally 18, membership has been increased several times, most recently in 1996, and now stands at 46.
✓ Members are elected by ECOSOC based on equitable geographical distribution for four-year terms.
✓ Meetings:
✓ The CSocD meets every year at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, typically in February.
✓ During its meetings, member states, international organisations, and civil society representatives come
together to discuss and address various social development issues.
✓ Key Facts about the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC):
✓ It is one of the six principal organsof the UN, which was established by the UN Charter (1945).
✓ It is responsible for the direction and coordination of the economic, social, humanitarian, and cultural
activities carried out by the UN.
✓ Decisions are taken by a simple majority vote. The presidency of ECOSOC changes annually.
✓ Members:
✓ It has 54 members, which are elected for three-year terms by the General Assembly.
✓ Four of the five permanent members of the Security Council have been continuously re-elected.
✓ This is because they provide funding for most of ECOSOC’s budget, which is the largest of any UN
subsidiary body
✓ Ruchira Kamboj chairs briefing ahead of 62nd UN Commission for Social Development
Q. With reference to ‘The Global Green Credit Initiative’ consider the following statements
1. It focuses on incentivizing voluntary environmental actions with a primary focus on water
conservation and afforestation.
2. It was launched by India’s Prime Minister at COP28.

Select the CORRECT statement(s)
A) 1 only B) 2 only
Answer : C .
✓ India co-hosts with UAE the Global Green Credit Initiative at COP-28.
✓ Recently, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India has notified the
draft ‘Green Credit Programme (GCP)’ implementation rules for 2023.
✓ It was first announced in the 2023-24 Union Budget with a view to leverage a competitive market-based
approach and incentivize voluntary environmental actions of various stakeholders.
✓ What is the Green Credit Programme?
✓ About:
✓ The ‘Green Credit’ means a singular unit of an incentive provided for a specified activity, delivering a
positive impact on the environment.
✓ The Green Credit Programme as a mechanism that complements the domestic Carbon Market.
✓ While the domestic carbon market focuses solely on CO2 Emission reductions, the Green Credit System
aims to meet other environmental obligations as well, incentivizing sustainable actions by companies,
individuals, and local bodies.
✓ The green credits will be tradable and those earning it will be able to put these credits up for sale on a
proposed domestic market platform.
✓ Administration:
✓ The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) shall be the administrator of the
programme which will develop guidelines, processes and procedures for implementation of the programme.
✓ The Green Credit Programme will also encourage private sector industries and companies as well as other
entities to meet their existing obligations, stemming from other legal frameworks, by taking actions which
are able to converge with activities relevant for generating or buying green credits.
✓ Experts are concerned that the market-based mechanism of green credits may lead to Greenwashing.
✓ Prime Minister Narendra Modi together with President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of UAE,
co-hosted the High-level event on ‘Green Credits Programme’ at COP-28, on 1 December 2023 in Dubai.

Q. ‘R21/Matrix-M’ which was recently in news is related to
A) Blackhole B) Vaccine
C) Malware D) Exoplanet
Answer : B .
✓ The World Malaria Report highlights India’s success in reducing malaria cases and deaths, with a 30%
decline in cases and a 34% decline in mortality in 2022 compared to the previous year.
✓ The R21 vaccine is the second malaria vaccine recommended by the WHO, following the RTS,S/AS01
vaccine, which received a WHO recommendation in 2021. It is a new vaccine approved for the prevention
of malaria in children.
✓ It was developed by the University of Oxford and the Serum Institute of India with support from the
European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (‘EDCTP’), the Wellcome Trust, and the
European Investment Bank (‘EIB’).
Q. With reference to ‘Double Humped Camels’ consider the following statements
1. It has two humps on their backs where they store fat.

2. They are native to the harsh and arid regions of Africa
3. The IUCN status is Critically Endangered
How many statement(s) given above are correct
Answer : B .
✓ The Army recently deployed double humped camels for logistical support to the troops in eastern Ladakh.
✓ About the Double Humped Camels:
✓ Double Humped Camels or Bactrian camels, have two humps on their backs where they store fat.
✓ Scientific Name: Camelus bactrianus
✓ Distribution:
✓ They are native to the harsh and arid regions of Central Asia.
✓ They occupy habitats in Central Asia from Afghanistan to China, primarily up into the Mongolian steppes
and the Gobi desert.

✓ A small population of Bactrian camels exists in the Nubra Valley of Ladakh.
Q. ‘Buxa Tiger Reserve’ which was recently in news is located in

A) Chattisgarh
B) West Bengal
C) Assam
D) Odisha
Answer : B .
✓ The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken Suo-motu cognisance of a report on the mowing down of
three elephants by a goods train at Buxa Tiger Reserve.
✓ About Buxa Tiger Reserve (BTR):
✓ Location: It lies in the Alipurduar sub-division of the Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal.
✓ Its northern boundary runs along the international border with Bhutan.
✓ The Sinchula hill range lies all along the northern side of BTR, and the eastern boundary touches that of
Assam State.
✓ It got its name from Buxa Fort, which is located on the Sinchula Range at an altitude of 867 metres.
✓ The fragile "Terai Ecosystem" constitutes a part of this reserve.
✓ It serves as an international corridor for elephant migration between India and Bhutan.
✓ Two rivers, namely the River Raidak and the River Jayanti, flow through the forest of Buxa.
✓ Vegetation: The forests of the reserve can be broadly classified as the ‘Moist Tropical Forest’ of Champion
and Seth’s (1968) recent classification.
✓ Flora: Some of the important species are Sal, Champa, Gamar, Simul, and Chikrasi.
✓ Fauna: The main species include the Tiger, elephant, leopard cat, gaur, wild boar, sambar, hog deer, Chinese
pangolin, etc.
Q. With reference to ‘Purchasing Managers’ Index’ consider the following statements
1. It is an indicator of business activity both in the manufacturing and services sectors.

2. A PMI number greater than 50 indicates expansion in business activity a number less than 50 shows
contraction.
3. It is released by Ministry of Commerce


Answer : B .
✓ India’s manufacturing sector continued to perform better with S&P Global Purchasing Managers’ Index
(PMI) rising to 56 in November against 55.5 in October.
✓ About the Purchasing Managers’ Index:
✓ It is an indicator of business activity – both in the manufacturing and services sectors.
✓ It is a survey-based measure that asks the respondents about changes in their perception of some key business
variables from the month before.
✓ It is calculated separately for the manufacturing and services sectors and then a composite index is
constructed.
✓ The index helps in determining whether the market conditions, as seen by purchasing managers, is
expanding, contracting or staying the same.
✓ There are two types of PMI — Manufacturing PMI and Services PMI.
✓ How is the manufacturing PMI derived?
✓ It is derived by sending fact-based questions to a large number of companies in the concerned sector.
✓ The questions are related to 5 key variables. The variables with their weights in the index are — new orders
(30%), output (25%), employment (20%), suppliers’ delivery times (15%) and stock of items purchased
(10%).
✓ The surveys are conducted on a monthly basis.
✓ A PMI number greater than 50 indicates expansion in business activity.
✓ A number less than 50 shows contraction. The rate of expansion is also judged by the difference from the
mid-point (50) and also by previous month’s data.
✓ PMI data for India is released by S&P Global - a global major in financial information and analytics.
✓ Earlier PMI data in India was released by IHS Markit before its merger with S&P.
✓ The Manufacturing PMI measures the performance of India’s manufacturing sector and is derived after a
survey of approx. 500 manufacturing companies.

Q. Who inaugurated the museum in the basement of the Platinum Jubilee Memorial Building in the West
Bengal Assembly?
A) Narendra Modi B) C. V. Anand Bose
C) Mamata Banerjee D) Sourav Ganguly
Answer : C .
✓ West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurated a museum in the basement of the Platinum
Jubilee Memorial Building in the West Bengal Assembly.
✓ This museum depicts the history of the Legislative Assembly, the functioning of the Legislative Council in
pre-independence days and the transfer of power from the British.
✓ This museum is spread over 2000 square feet
Q. Where was the IBA Junior World Boxing Championship 2023 held?
A) Armenia B) Turkiye
C) China D) India
Answer : A .
✓ India won three gold, five silver and one bronze medal on the last day of the IBA Junior World Boxing
Championship 2023 in Yerevan, Armenia.
✓ Akansha won the gold medal in the 70 kg weight category, Pari won the gold medal in the 48 kg weight
category, while Nisha won the gold medal in the 52 kg weight category.
✓ India had the maximum number of 12 finalists, but only three of them became world champions.
Q. In which country will the Men's Volleyball Club World Championship 2023 be organized?
A) India B) Singapore
C) France D) UK
Answer : A .
✓ Men's Volleyball Club World Championship 2023 will be held at the Koramangala Indoor Stadium in
Bengaluru (India).
✓ This is the first time that this prestigious tournament will be organized in India.
✓ Top six teams are participating in this tournament.
✓ The Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) is the international governing body for all forms of
volleyball.

✓ Its headquarters is located in Lausanne, Switzerland
Q. Which Mahaparinirvan day of Bharat Ratna Dr. BR Ambedkar was celebrated?

A) 85th B) 68th
C) 87th D) 88th
Answer : B .
✓ The nation is paying tribute to Bharat Ratna Dr BR Ambedkar on his 68th Mahaparinirvan Day.
✓ President Draupadi Murmu paid floral tributes to Babasaheb Ambedkar in the Parliament complex in New
Delhi.
✓ He was born on April 14, 1891 in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh.
✓ He was the chairman of the drafting committee of the Constituent Assembly and is also known as the father
of the Indian Constitution.
✓ In the year 1947, Dr. Ambedkar became the Law Minister in the first cabinet of independent India.
✓ BR Ambedkar, the father of the Indian Constitution, was born on April 14, 1891
✓ Dr. Ambedkar attended all the three Round Table Conferences (1930-32) held in London.
✓ In 1936, Babasaheb Ambedkar founded the Independent Labour Party.
✓ In 1990, Dr. B.R.Ambedkar was bestowed with Bharat Ratna.
✓ Dr. Ambedkar is known as the Father (chief architect) of the Indian Constitution
Q. Who has taken charge as the Executive Director of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India?
A) Jitesh John B) Ajay Kapoor

C) Anand Kishore Mathur D) Arvind Sinha
Answer : A .
✓ Jitesh John, a 2001 batch Indian Economic Service officer, has taken charge as the Executive Director of
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI).
✓ In October this year, Sandeep Garg was made a full-time member of IBBI.
✓ IBBI is a major body enforcing the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).
✓ About Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI):
✓ It was established on 1st October 2016 under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016.

✓ It is responsible for the implementation of the IBC. The IBC amends and consolidates the laws relating to
insolvency resolution of individuals, partnership firms and corporate persons in a time-bound manner.
✓ Functions:
✓ The IBBI regulates professionals as well as processes.
✓ It has regulatory oversight over the insolvency professional agencies, insolvency professional entities,
insolvency professionals and information utilities
✓ It collects and maintains records relating to insolvency and bankruptcy cases and disseminate information
relating to such cases.
✓ Constitution: The Board consists of the following members who are appointed by the Central Government,
✓ A Chairperson.
✓ Three members from among the officers of the Central Government equivalent or not below the rank of a
Joint Secretary. Out of the three members, each will represent the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Corporate
Affairs and Ministry of Law, ex -officio.
✓ One member nominated by the RBI (Reserve Bank of India), ex-officio.
✓ Five other members nominated by the Central Government, out of which at least three should be whole-
time members.
✓ The term of office of the Chairperson and members (other than ex-officio members) is five years or until
they attain sixty-five years, whichever is earlier, and they are eligible for re-appointment.
Q. Which Indian-origin novelist was honored with Singapore's highest art honour?
A) Alka Singh B) Meera Chand

C) Asha Lata D) Preeti Desai
Answer : B .
✓ Singapore-based Indian-origin writer Meera Chand, 81, was honored with the Cultural Medallion, the
country's most prestigious art honour, for her artistic excellence and her contribution to enriching the
country's art and culture landscape.
✓ President Tharman Shanmugaratnam presented the award to Chand along with fellow novelist Suchen
Christine Lim and Malay dance legend Osman Abdul Hamid.

Q. Which Union Minister launched a nationwide public awareness campaign on Cardiopulmonary
Resuscitation (CPR)?
A) Anurag Thakur B) Piyush Goyal
C) Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya D) RK Sinha
Answer : C .
✓ Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya launched a nationwide public awareness campaign on
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) awareness program run by NBEMS.
This is the first CPR awareness program in the country, which has been conducted at the national level.
Q. When is the Armed Force Flag Day celebrated in India?

Answer : A .
✓ In India, the Armed Forces Flag Day (also known as the Flag Day of India) is observed annually on
December 7 since 1949 as an honour to the soldiers, sailors and airmen of India who fought on the borders
to keep the country safe.
✓ The three branches of the Armed Forces of India , namely, the Indian Army, the Indian Air Force and the
Indian Navy are remembered on this day.
✓ The ‘Armed forces Flag Day Fund’ (AFFDF) has been constituted by the Government of India for the
welfare and rehabilitation of the Ex-Servicemen (ESM) community.
Q. International Civil Aviation Day is observed on which day every year?

Answer : B .
✓ The International Civil Aviation Day is celebrated every year on December 7 to recognize the importance
of aviation to the social and economic development of the world.
✓ The Day was established in 1994 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of International Civil
Aviation Organization (ICAO) [Headquarter-Montreal, Canada].
✓ The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the day in 1996.

✓ The ICAO Council has selected the special collective 5 year theme for 2019-2023: “Advancing Innovation
for Global Aviation Development”.

Aparchit December 2nd Week English Best 350+ MCQs with Amazing Facts
Q. Garba dance was included in the list of UNESCO's 'Intangible Cultural Heritage', it belongs to which
state?
A) Assam B) Rajasthan
C) Gujarat D) Maharashtra
Answer : C .
✓ Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announced that UNESCO has included the traditional Garba dance
of Gujarat in its list of 'Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity'.
✓ Garba dance is the 15th intangible cultural heritage of India to be included in this list.
✓ Recently, ‘Garba of Gujarat' has been inscribed in the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage
(ICH) of Humanity by UNESCO.
✓ About Garba Dance:
✓ It is a ritualistic and devotional dance performed throughout the State of Gujarat.
✓ It is celebrated for nine days during the festival of Navratri.
✓ The festival is dedicated to the worship of the feminine energy or Shakti.
✓ The cultural, performative, and visual expressions of this feminine energy are expressed through the Garba
dance.
✓ The performative and visual celebration of Garba takes place within homes and temple courtyards, public
spaces in villages, urban squares, streets, and large open grounds. Garba thus becomes an all-encompassing
participatory community event.
✓ In addition to being a religious ritual, Garba fosters social equality by diluting socio-economic, gender, and
rigid sect structures.
✓ This dance form is the 15th cultural item from India to make it to the UNESCO list.
✓ What is Intangible Cultural Heritage?
✓ Cultural heritage does not end at monuments and collections of objects.
✓ But also includes traditions or living expressions inherited from our ancestors and passed on to our
descendants, such as oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festive events, knowledge and
practices concerning nature and the universe or the knowledge and skills to produce traditional crafts.
✓ UNESCO’s List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage

1. Koodiyattam, Sanskrit Theatre, Kerala (2008)
2. Ramlila, included in 2008
✓ A popular folk theatre in the region of Uttar Pradesh
3. Mudiyettu: a ritual theatre of Kerala (2010)
✓ A traditional ritual theatre and folk dance drama from Kerala.
4. The Tradition of Vedic Chanting (2008)
✓ The traditional way of reciting the Vedas is called Vedic chanting.
5. Ramman: religious festival and ritual theatre of the Garhwal Himalayas (2009).
✓ The Ramman is a religious festival manifested in the form of ritual theatre annually held at Saloor Dungra
village, in the Painkhanda Valley of Chamoli district of Uttarakhand.
6. Kalbelia: Folk songs and dances of Rajasthan (2010)
7. Chhau dance in 2010
✓ Chhau, a dance tradition, recreates scenes from epics such as the Mahabharata and Ramayana, as well as
local folklore and abstract concepts.
8. Buddhist chanting of Ladakh (2012)
9. Sankirtana, ritual singing, drumming and dancing of Manipur (2013)
10. Traditional brass and copper craft – Thatheras (2014)
✓ The craft of the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru constitutes the traditional technique of manufacturing brass and
copper utensils in Punjab.
11. Nowrouz , included in 2016.
✓ It indicated the begnining of the New Year for the Parsis and is also celebated as spring festival by the
Kashmir Community
12. Yoga, included in 2016
13. Kumbh Mela, included in 2017
✓ The Committee observed that ´KumbhMela´ is the largest peaceful congregation of pilgrims on earth. The
festival, held in Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik.
14. Durga Puja in Kolkata (2021)
15. Garba dance of Gujarat (2023)

UNESCO IN NEWS 2023
➢ ‘Garba of Gujarat' has been inscribed in the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH)
of Humanity by UNESCO.
➢ Garba dance is the 15th intangible cultural heritage of India to be included in this list.
➢ Kozhikode in Kerala has been designated as the UNESCO 'City of Literature' and Gwalior as the 'City
of Music' in the latest UNESCO list of Creative Cities Network.
➢ temples of the Hoysala Empire in Karnataka, India were officially added to the UNESCO list of World
Heritage Sites, marking India's 42nd addition to the prestigious heritage list.
➢ Three Hoysala-era temples in Karnataka [Chennakeshava (Belur), Hoysaleswara (Halebidu) and
Keshava Temple (Somanathapura, Mysuru)] recently made it to UNESCO’s World Heritage List,
under the collective entry of ‘Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas’.
➢ Santiniketan, located in West Bengal, India, has achieved the prestigious status of being recognized
as a UNESCO World Heritage Site .
➢ Santiniketan as the 41st World Heritage Property in India.
➢ UNESCO have stated in a new report that the Italian city of Venice should be added to a list of world
heritage sites in danger.
➢ The historic Byculla Railway Station, located in Mumbai received the prestigious UNESCO Asia
Pacific Cultural Heritage award.
➢ United States will rejoin UNESCO, the United Nations cultural organization, in July 2023.
➢ Jagdish Bakan wins UNESCO’s 2023 Michel Batisse Award .
➢ UNESCO World Heritage Centre has recommended Santiniketan, the cultural site in West Bengal,
India, for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
➢ According to a report published by UNESCO at the United Nations 2023 Water Conference in New
York, 26 percent of the world's population does not have access to safe drinking water.
➢ Former German chancellor Angela Merkel has been awarded the Felix Houphouet-Boigny UNESCO
Peace Prize in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast.
➢ Visva-Bharati University is expected to get the status of the world's first "Living Heritage University"
from UNESCO.
➢ UNESCO listed Ukraine’s Odesa a World Heritage Site in Danger.

➢ Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that the Centre has nominated the maidams
of Ahom Kingdom in Charaideo to seek a UNESCO World Heritage Site tag.
➢ The historic maidams of Ahom Kingdom in Charaideo were chosen out of 52 sites for the UNESCO
World Heritage Site tag.
➢ United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
➢ Formation : 16 November 1945
➢ Headquarters : Paris, France
➢ Director-General : Audrey Azoulay (France)
➢ Member countries : 193
Q. Who has been named 'Person of the Year' by Time Magazine?

A) Narendra Modi B) Georgia Meloni
C) Taylor Swift D) Joe Biden
Answer : C .
✓ Famous singer Taylor Swift has been named Time Magazine's Person of the Year for 2023.
✓ This underlines the breadth of his music and influences.
✓ Swift, 33, has performed worldwide on her "Eras Tour", performing music from throughout her career.
✓ Time magazine named Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky its "Person of the Year" for 2022.
✓ Taylor Alison Swift is an American singer-songwriter. Recognized for her songwriting, musical versatility,
artistic reinventions, and influence on the music industry, she is a prominent cultural figure of the 21st
century.
✓ Time included her on its annual list of the 100 most influential people in 2010, 2015, and 2019.
✓ She was one of the "Silence Breakers" that the magazine spotlighted as Person of the Year in 2017 for
speaking up about sexual assault.
TIME MAGAZINE'S IN NEWS 2023

➢ Famous American singer Taylor Swift has been named Time Magazine's Person of the Year for 2023.
➢ Argentina’s football icon, Lionel Messi, has been named Time magazine’s Athlete of the Year for
2023.
➢ Time Magazine has named OpenAI founder Sam Altman as 'CEO of the Year'.

➢ Infosys in TIME magazine’s ‘The World’s Best Companies of 2023’ list.
➢ Shah Rukh Khan and 'RRR' director SS Rajamouli are included in Time Magazine's annual 100 Most
Influential People of 2023, becoming the only two Indians on the list.
➢ Time Magazine Features Sheikh Hasina, World's Longest Serving Female Head Of Govt.
➢ TIME has featured Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who, at 76 years old, is the longest-
serving female head of government in Bangladesh's history, in its recent cover story.
➢ Shah Rukh Khan has achieved the top spot on 2023 TIME100 poll, the TIME magazine’s annual list
of the most influential people.
➢ Odisha’s Mayurbhanj and Ladakh among TIME magazine’s list of ‘World’s Greatest Places of 2023’.
Q. Who has been chosen as 'CEO of the Year' by Time Magazine?

A) Sundar Pichai B) Tim Cook
C) Sam Altman D) Satya Nadella
Answer : C .
✓ Time Magazine has named OpenAI founder Sam Altman as 'CEO of the Year'.
✓ Sam Altman is the co-founder of ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, which was launched in November 2022.
✓ Argentina's star football player Lionel Messi has been named 2023 'Athlete of the Year'.
Q. Who has become the first Indian to operate NASA's Mars Rover?
A) Preeti Narayan B) Soni Sarang
C) Akshata Krishnamurthy D) Surbhi Kumari
Answer : C .
✓ Akshata Krishnamurthy has become the first Indian to operate a Mars rover with the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration (NASA) in the United States.
✓ He has given this information through a social media post.
✓ Akshata is a PhD holder from MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and has joined NASA for a full-
time opportunity
Q. 'Marapi' volcano has recently erupted, in which country is it located?

A) Malaysia B) Kenya
C) Indonesia D) South Africa

Answer : C .
✓ Mount Marapi, located in West Sumatra, Indonesia, recently erupted, due to which many people lost their
lives and many climbers went missing.
✓ The explosion occurred on December 3, 2023.
✓ Indonesia is located on the "Ring of Fire", an unstable tectonic zone. Mount Marapi is approximately 2,891
meters (about 9,500 feet) high.
Q. 'Mera Gaon, Meri Dharohar' project is being run by which ministry?
A) Ministry of Culture B) Ministry of Rural Development

C) Ministry of Tourism D) Ministry of Home affairs
Answer : A .
✓ The Government of India has decided to map and document all the villages under the Mera Gaon, Meri
Dharohar (MGMD) programme.
✓ This National Mission is being run in coordination with Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts
(IGNCA) under the Ministry of Culture.
✓ A web portal on MGMD has also been launched on July 27, 2023.
✓ In a momentous celebration of India’s rich cultural heritage, the Union Home Minister is set to inaugurate
a distinctive program called ‘Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar.’ This initiative is a significant component of Azadi
ka Amrit Mahotsav and falls under the National Mission on Cultural Mapping, spearheaded by the Ministry
of Culture. With the aim of culturally mapping India’s diverse villages, this pan-India project promises to
connect people with the soul of the nation.
✓ A Pan-India Initiative
✓ The ‘Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar’ (MGMD) project is an ambitious and pan-India initiative of the Ministry
of Culture, operating under the National Mission on Cultural Mapping. Encompassing 6.5 lakh villages
across 29 states and 7 union territories, the project aims to create a comprehensive virtual platform that
showcases the cultural treasures of rural India.
✓ The Ministry of Culture, in collaboration with the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA),
has been diligently working on the ‘Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar’ project. The primary objective is to create
a comprehensive cultural map of India by preserving the traditions, art, music, dance, crafts, and customs

of rural communities. Through this initiative, each village’s unique identity and contributions to India’s
cultural mosaic will be documented and showcased on the virtual platform
Q. Consider the following with respect to ‘Climate Club’

1. It is an initiative aimed at cooperation between countries in decarbonizing the industrial sector.
2. It was launched in COP 28.

A) 1 only B) 2 only
Answer : C .
✓ COP28: Germany unveils Climate Club to tackle industrial emissions.

✓ Recently, the Climate Club was formally launched at the 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) to the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
✓ About the Climate Club:
✓ It is led by Germany and Chile, the Club has garnered support from 36 member countries including Kenya,
the European Union, Switzerland and others.
✓ It aims to make decarbonisation of industries successful for climate and businesses, through ambitious
policies, alignment of methodologies and standards and improving finance and assistance for emerging and
developed economies.
✓ The activities of the club are divided into three key pillars: -
✓ Pillar 1: Advancing ambitious and transparent climate change mitigation policies.
✓ Pillar 2: Transforming industries
✓ Pillar 3: Boosting international cooperation and partnership .
✓ Two co-chairs will be elected for two-year terms for the Club. Currently, Germany and Chile serve as the
co-chairs.
✓ A body of members will determine the scope and approve the work programme, budget and amendments.
✓ Furthermore, a steering group will be formed to support the body of members when the Club reaches 40
members.
✓ A secretariat will be formed to implement the work program.

✓ Currently, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and International Energy Agency
are the joint interim heads of secretariat
Q. With reference to ‘Cyber Surakshit Bharat Initiative’ consider the following statements
1. This initiative aims to raise cybercrime awareness and strengthen the capabilities of IT
professionals in government departments.
2. It is an initiative of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Select the INCORRECT statement(s)

A) 1 only B) 2 only

Answer : B .
✓ The National e-Governance Division (NeGD) recently organised the 40th Chief Information Security
Officers (CISOs) Deep-Dive training programme under the Cyber Surakshit Bharat Initiative.
✓ About the Cyber Surakshit Bharat Initiative:
✓ It is an initiative of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India.
✓ It was conceptualised with the mission to spread awareness about cybercrime and build the capacities of
Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) and frontline IT officials across all government departments.
✓ It is an initiative to fortify the cyber security system in India with regard to the Government’s vision of a
Digital India.
✓ It was launched in cooperation with the National e-Governance Division (NeGD) and various industry
partners in India.
✓ It can be entitled as the first public-private enterprise of its kind.
✓ The partners involved in the origination of this scheme include chief IT companies like Intel, Microsoft, etc.
✓ Operation:
✓ It will be operated on three principles: education, awareness, and enablement.
✓ It will comprise a program of awareness on the importance of cybersecurity.
✓ The scheme will also include a number of workshops on the best enablement and practices of the officials
with cybersecurity health tool kits for the management and mitigation of cyber threats.
✓ Deep-Dive training programme:

✓ It specifically aims at educating and enabling CISOs to understand cyber-attacks and get the necessary
exposure to the latest technologies for safeguarding e-infrastructure.
✓ The training focuses on providing a holistic view of legal provisions, enabling CISOs to formulate policies
for cybersecurity and build concrete cyber crisis management plans.
Q. ‘Gemini’ which was recently in news is related to
A) Blackhole
B) Artificial Intelligence technology
C) Virtual reality technology

D) Augmented reality technology
Answer : B .
✓ Recently, Google announced the launch of its latest, most powerful AI model, Gemini.
✓ About Gemini AI model:
✓ It is a new multimodal general AI model, which means it can understand, and work with different formats,
including text, code, audio, image, and video, at the same time
✓ It is now available to users across the world through Bard, some developer platforms and even the new
Google Pixel 8 Pro devices.
✓ It can understand, explain and generate high-quality code in the world’s most popular programming
languages, like Python, Java, C++ and Go.
✓ It comes in three sizes — the yet -to-be-launched Ultra, Pro and Nano.
✓ Gemini Ultra, the largest and most capable model, will be meant for highly complex tasks. It is available
now only to select customers, developers, partners and safety and responsibility experts for early
experimentation and feedback.
✓ Gemini Pro will be best at scaling across a wide range of tasks and is now available in Bard for regular users
across the world.
✓ Gemini Nano will manage on-device tasks and is already available on Pixel 8 Pro, powering new features
like Summarise in the Recorder app and Smart Reply via Gboard.

Q. With reference to ‘Lakadong turmeric’ consider the following statements
1. It is one of the world’s best varieties of turmeric, with a curcumin content of around 6.8 to 7.5 per
cent.
2. It is grown organically without the any use of fertilizers.
3. Geographical Indication (GI) tag has been awarded to Meghalaya

Answer : C .
✓ Recently, Meghalaya's Lakadong turmeric has been awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
✓ About Lakadong turmeric:
✓ It is considered to be one of the world's best varieties of turmeric, with a curcumin content of around 6.8 to
7.5 per cent.
✓ It is darker in colour and is grown organically without the use of fertilisers.
✓ It is found in Lakadong area of Jaintia Hills, has high curcumin content.
✓ Other GI products from Meghalaya: Garo Dakmanda (traditional dress), Larnai pottery and Garo Chubitchi
(alcoholic beverage) were also awarded the GI tag.
✓ What is Curcumin?
✓ It is a polyphenol which has been shown to target multiple signalling molecules while also demonstrating
activity at the cellular level.
✓ It has been shown to benefit inflammatory conditions, metabolic syndrome, pain, and to help in the
management of inflammatory and degenerative eye conditions.
✓ In addition, it has been shown to benefit the kidneys.
✓ Most of these benefits are due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
Q. Which aviation company operated Flight100 from London to New York, the first ever transatlantic
passenger flight fully powered by sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)?
A) British Airways B) Virgin Atlantic

C) Delta Air Lines D) United Airlines
Answer : B .

✓ Virgin Atlantic operated Flight100 from London to New York, the first ever transatlantic passenger flight
fully powered by sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
✓ The Boeing 787, with Rolls-Royce engines, aims to demonstrate SAF’s viability as a safe, low-carbon
substitute for conventional jet fuel.
✓ As the aviation industry faces pressure to reduce emissions and climate impact, SAF has potential as a
compatible drop-in replacement requiring no new infrastructure.
✓ Flight100 represents an important first step in testing and scaling up commercial use of 100% SAF on long
flights.
✓ Its completion will help make the case for ramping up SAF production and adoption across more routes.
✓ The flight proves such ambition is technologically possible with today’s planes and engines while we
continue striving to make SAF affordable and available at scale
Q. What name has been given to the moon of asteroid named Dinkinesh discovered recently by NASA’s
Lucy spacecraft?
A) Amani B) Mwanga
C) Kesho D) Selam
Answer : D .
✓ NASA’s Lucy spacecraft recently discovered that an asteroid named Dinkinesh, which it flew past last
month, has a tiny “contact binary” moon – two space rocks gently rested against each other.
✓ The International Astronomical Union approved the name “Selam” for this moon, meaning “peace” in
Ethiopia’s language.
✓ The names Dinkinesh and Selam refer to two famous hominid fossils discovered in Ethiopia.
✓ Dinkinesh is the Ethiopian name for the 3.18 million-year-old Lucy fossil that the Lucy mission is named
after.
✓ Selam was a 3-year-old girl’s fossil found in 2000 in Dikika, belonging to the same species as Lucy and
dating over 100,000 years earlier than her
Q. “Panchamrit” pledge is related to __:

A) Poverty Eradication B) Infrastructure Development
C) Combating Climate Change D) Regional Defence & Security
Answer : C .

✓ India aims to reach 500GW non-fossil energy capacity by 2030 under “Panchamrit” pledge made at COP26
to combat climate change.
✓ Half of India’s energy requirement will come from renewables while reducing carbon emission intensity of
GDP by 45% over 2005 levels.
✓ The targets underscore India’s commitment to fight climate crisis through clean energy even as a developing
economy.
✓ At COP28, India outlined plans to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030 in collaboration with nations
like the UAE.
✓ PM Modi presented the Panchamrit (five nectar elements), five time-bound climate pledges to: (1) Reach
500 gigawatts (GW) of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030 (2) Meet 50% of India’s energy requirement from
renewable energy (RE) sources by 2030 (3) Reduce the carbon intensity of the economy by 45% below 2005
levels by 2030 (4) Reduce total projected carbon emissions by 1 billion tonnes by 2030 (5) Achieve the target
of net-zero emissions by 2070.
Q. Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project (SLHEP), which is the biggest hydroelectric project
undertaken in India so far. is in which state?
A) Meghalaya B) Sikkim
C) Uttarakhand D) Arunachal Pradesh
Answer : D .
✓ India is aiming to expand its clean energy capabilities by proposing 13 new hydroelectric projects in
Arunachal Pradesh, which would contribute 13,000 megawatts to the national grid.
✓ The state government signed MoUs with central public sector undertakings to construct these ventures,
which require an investment of Rs 1.4 lakh crore and would quadruple the region’s per capita income.
✓ This supports India’s goal to better utilize its hydropower potential, currently at only 35% of capacity.
✓ The 2,000 megawatt Subansiri dam, the largest hydroelectric project underway in India, will also boost
Arunachal Pradesh through its environmentally friendly run-of-river model that maintains downstream river
flow
Q. Hydropower makes up around what fraction of India’s energy mix?

A) 5% B) 11%
C) 17% D) 21%

Answer : B .
✓ Hydropower currently makes up around 11% of India’s energy mix, as per government data.
✓ However, experts estimate the country has a total hydroelectric potential of 145 gigawatts (GW), of which
only 29% has been utilized so far.
✓ Unlike coal power, hydropower offers flexible generation as the units can rapidly adjust output to match
demand fluctuations.
✓ This ability makes it well-suited to balance the intermittency of renewables like solar and wind.
Q. Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism or CBAM is a policy of __?

A) World Bank
B) European Union
C) United Nations Environment Programme

D) United States Government
Answer : B .
✓ The EU has introduced a new policy called the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism or CBAM to account
for carbon emissions from imported goods.
✓ This applies to imports of products like iron, steel and aluminum which require a lot of energy to make and
therefore result in high emissions.
✓ Under the CBAM, companies importing these goods into the EU will have to buy carbon certificates
corresponding to the polluting emissions.
✓ This is to ensure imported products face similar carbon costs that European producers pay already under
EU emissions rules.
✓ The aim is to prevent European manufacturers being undercut by cheaper imports not subject to carbon
pricing.
✓ It also incentives foreign exporters to transition toward cleaner production.
✓ However, organizations like the World Bank and UN warn that these extra charges could negatively impact
developing countries that export to EU, especially industries unable to quickly cut emissions.
So while CBAM protects EU competitiveness, it may burden trading partners and needs to be designed
sensitively.

Q. SWIS and STEPS instruments are related to which mission of ISRO?
A) Aditya L1 B) Chandrayaan
C) Gaganyaan D) Mars Orbiter Mission

Answer : A .
✓ India’s Aditya L1 satellite has begun unravelling solar wind enigmas as two cutting-edge particle
spectrometers commenced data gathering in recent months.
✓ The SWIS and STEPS instruments on the Aditya Solar Wind Particle Experiment payload have detected
protons, Helium ions and energy histograms exhibiting solar wind behavior fluctuations near Sun-Earth
Lagrange Point L1.
✓ SWIS’ 360-degree coverage and directional monitoring capacities will significantly further comprehension
of solar wind properties, variability and links to space weather influencing Earth.
✓ Researchers eagerly anticipate more revelations to address enduring questions about the complex solar wind
and corona heating as Aditya L1 nears L1 orbital point for uninterrupted solar observation.
Q. Who has taken oath as the new Chief Minister of Telangana?

A) N. Uttam Kumar Reddy B) K.Chandrashekhar Rao
C) Anumula Revanth Reddy D) DK Shivakumar
Answer : C .
✓ Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee President Anumula Revanth Reddy has taken oath as the Chief
Minister of the state.
✓ Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan administered him the oath of office and secrecy.
✓ After the formation of Telangana state, he is the second Chief Minister of the state. K.Chandrashekhar Rao
was the first Chief Minister of the state
TELANGANA IN NEWS 2023

➢ Union Cabinet approved the establishment of a tribal university in Telangana, named The Sarakka
Central Tribal University. This university, with a budget of Rs 889 crore, will be located in Mulugu
district.
➢ US-based multinational technology company "Corning" has announced plans to set up a $113m
Gorilla Glass manufacturing facility in the Indian state of Telangana.

➢ Telangana has launched India’s first Agricultural Data Exchange (ADeX) and Agriculture Data
Management Framework (ADMF).
➢ Telangana achieves 100% coverage of PMJDY.
➢ Telangana govt launches first of its kind State Robotics Framework.
➢ Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao laid the foundation for the Hare Krishna Heritage
Tower in Hyderabad. The 400 feet tall structure will be constructed on six acres of land in Narsingi at
a cost of Rs 200 crore.
➢ The two-day 'Food Conclave-2023' will be organized on April 28 and 29 in Hyderabad, Telangana.
➢ Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao recently unveiled a 125-feet tall bronze statue of BR
Ambedkar in Hyderabad.
➢ World Economic Forum (WEF) has chosen Hyderabad to set up its Center for the Fourth Industrial
Revolution focused on healthcare and life sciences.
➢ Hyderabad to become India’s first city with 100% sewerage facilities by May 2023.
➢ IAS 'Shanti Kumari' becomes first woman Chief Secretary of Telangana.
➢ National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with
the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
➢ The G20 Second Digital Economy Working Group meeting began on April 17 in Hyderabad.
➢ Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the occasion of Pongal on 15 January, virtually flagged off the
Vande Bharata Express train connecting Secunderabad with Vishakhapatnam.
➢ Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)
➢ Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) is a nation-wide financial inclusion program of
Government of India.
➢ It was announced by the Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi on 15 August 2014.
➢ Slogan Mera Khatha, Bhagya Vidhatha (“My account brings me good fortune”)
➢ Age of Eligible Beneficiaries 18-65 Years
➢ Overdraft facility up to Rs.10000 after satisfactory operation of the account for 6 months
➢ Account holder will get RuPay Debit card with inbuilt accident insurance cover of Rs 2 lakh.
➢ Life insurance cover of Rs 30,000

Q. ‘Global Drought Snapshot’ report which was recently in news is published by
A) UN Convention to Combat Desertification
B) The Convention on Biological Diversity

C) The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
D) The United Nations Environment Programme

Answer : B .
✓ According to the report, ‘Global Drought Snapshot,’ launched by the UN Convention to Combat
Desertification (UNCCD) at the outset of COP28 climate talks in the UAE, mentioned that drought causes
more economic loss and affects more sectors of societies.
✓ Key points of the report:
✓ Agriculture and forests
✓ 70% cereal crops were damaged by drought in the Mediterranean, 2016–2018.
✓ 33% loss of grazing land in South Africa due to drought
✓ Five consecutive rainfall season failures in the Horn of Africa, caused the region’s worst drought in 40 years,
contributing to reduced agricultural productivity, food insecurity and high food prices.
✓ Africa’s drought-related economic losses in the past 50 years at $70 billion.
✓ Water conditions
✓ 75% reduction of cargo capacity of some vessels on the Rhine due to low river levels in 2022, leading to
severe delays in shipping arrivals and departures
✓ 5 million people in southern China affected by record-low water levels in the Yangtze River due to drought
and prolonged heat
✓ Social dimensions
✓ 85% of people affected by droughts live in low-or middle-income countries.
✓ 2 million people in the Central American Dry Corridor needing food aid after five years of drought,
heatwaves and unpredictable rainfall.
✓ Key facts about the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
✓ It is one of three Conventions originated at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. (The other two address
climate change (UNFCCC) and biodiversity (UN CBD).
✓ It is the only legally binding framework set up to address desertification and the effects of drought.
✓ There are 197 Parties to the Convention, including 196 country Parties and the European Union.

Q. Which institution releases ‘Composite Water Management Index’ in India?
A) Jal Shakti Ministry B) NITI Aayog
C) WAPCOS D) DPIIT
Answer : B .
✓ NITI Aayog has been publishing the Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) since 2018.
✓ So far two editions CWMI (June 2018) and CWMI 2.0 (August 2019) have been published.
✓ Subsequent edition of CWMI was prepared in August 2022 with delay due to the nationwide Covid-19
situation.
✓ NITI Aayog will come up with a combined report from the third to sixth edition of the Composite Water
Management Index
NITI AAYOG IN NEWS 2023

➢ India is estimated to be a $30 trillion developed economy by 2047, preliminary results from the
Centre's vision document - The Vision India@2047,which is being prepared by Niti Aayog.
➢ NITI Aayog convened a two-day G20 conference on the Green and Sustainable Growth Agenda for
the Global Economy in New Delhi.
➢ The NITI Aayog has published the second edition of the Multidimensional Poverty Index titled
‘National Multidimensional Poverty Index: A progress of Review 2023’.
➢ About 135.5 million (13.5 crore) persons have exited poverty between 2015-16 and 2019-21.
➢ Nearly 3.43 crore people escaped poverty in Uttar Pradesh, registering the largest decline among the
36 States and Union Territories.
➢ NITI Aayog released the Techno-Commercial Readiness and Market Maturity Matrix (TCRM
Matrix) framework for promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in India .
➢ NITI Aayog has recently released the Export Preparedness Index 2022.
➢ This time Tamil Nadu has achieved the top rank by leaving behind Maharashtra and Gujarat.
➢ Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) launched the Electric Vehicle Operations and
Lending for Vibrant Ecosystem (EVOLVE) mission.
➢ The mission has been launched in collaboration with NITI Aayog, World Bank, Korean-World Bank
and Korean Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF).
➢ NITI Aayog, United Nations join hands to accelerate sustainable development in India.

➢ PM Modi chairs the 8th meeting of the NITI Aayog Governing Council held at the New Convention
Center at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
➢ The meeting is focused on the theme of "Growth India @ 2047: Role of Team India".
➢ BVR Subrahmanyam was appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of Niti Aayog.
➢ The government has monetised assets worth ₹26,000 crore during FY23 against the target of ₹1.6 lakh
crore for the current fiscal : NITI Aayog.
➢ NITI Aayog, the Indian government’s policy think-tank, recently released a report titled “Promoting
Millets in Diets: Best Practices across States/UTs of India.” .
➢ Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), an initiative by NITI Aayog, has launched three new resources aimed
at fostering innovation and creativity among India’s youth.
➢ NITI Aayog ( National Institution for Transforming India)
➢ Founded : 1st January 2015
➢ Preceding : Planning Commission ( 15th March 1950)
➢ Headquarters : New Delhi
➢ Chairperson : Narendra Modi
➢ Vice Chairperson : Suman K Bery
➢ CEO : BVR Subrahmanyam
➢ NITI Aayog comes under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Q. Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) has been extended till which year recently?
A) 2025 B) 2028
C) 2030 D) 2032
Answer : B .
✓ The government has approved a five-year extension of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana
(PMGKAY), its flagship free foodgrain scheme for the poor, beyond December 2023.
✓ Launched in 2020 to provide relief during the COVID-19 crisis, the PMGKAY supplies 5 kgs of free ration
monthly to over 800 million beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act.
✓ The scheme will now continue till 2028 at an estimated expenditure of Rs 1.18 lakh crore annually.

Q. Which ministry has launched the Geographic Information System (GIS) application “Gram
Manchitra”?
A) Ministry of Cooperation
B) Ministry of Panchayati Raj
C) Ministry of Corporate Affairs
D) Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
Answer : B .
✓ Recently, the Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj informed the Lok Sabha about the Gram
Manchitra application.
✓ About the Gram Manchitra application:
✓ In order to encourage the Spatial Planning by the Gram Panchayat, Ministry of Panchayati Raj had
launched the Geographic Information System (GIS) application “Gram Manchitra.”
✓ This application facilitates and supports Gram Panchayats to perform planning at Gram Panchayat level
using geo-spatial technology.
✓ It provides a single/ unified Geo-Spatial platform to better visualise the various developmental works to be
taken up across the different sectors and provide a decision support system for the Gram Panchayat
Development Plan (GPDP).
✓ Further, Ministry has launched mActionSoft, a mobile based solution to help in capturing photos with Geo-
Tags (i.e. GPS Coordinates) for the works which have assets as an output.
✓ Geo-tagging of the assets is done in all three stages viz. (i) before the start of the work, (ii) during the work
and (iii) on completion of work.
✓ This would provide a repository of information on all works and assets related to natural resource
management, water harvesting, drought proofing, sanitation, agriculture, check dams and irrigation
channels etc.
✓ Assets geo-tagged using the m-ActionSoft application is available on Gram Manchitra, enhancing the
visualisation of various developmental works in the Gram Panchayats.
✓ The assets created under the finance commission funds are geotagged with the photographs of assets by the
Panchayats.
✓ It will help Gram Panchayat officials develop realistic and achievable development plans

Q. The world’s largest and most advanced nuclear fusion reactor ‘JT-60SA’ inaugurated in which
country?
A) China B) India
C) Japan D) United States
Answer : C .
✓ World’s biggest experimental nuclear fusion reactor JT-60SA inaugurated in Japan.

✓ JT-60SA is a joint initiative between the European Union and Japan
✓ The experimental nuclear fusion reactor is quite a new technology. However, some say that it is the answer
to humanity’s future energy needs by establishing nuclear fusion as a clean energy source.
✓ Notably, fusion differs from fission, the technique currently used in nuclear power plants. The process
includes fusing two atomic nuclei instead of splitting one.
✓ The JT-60SA reactor is a six-storey-high machine, which is kept in a hangar in Naka north of Tokyo. It
comprises a doughnut-shaped “tokamak” vessel set to contain swirling plasma heated up to 200 million
degrees Celsius.
Q. Who has been appointed as Vice Chief of Naval Staff?

A) Dinesh Tripathi B) Neera Tanden
C) Kiran Ahuja D) Vinay Reddy
Answer : A .
✓ The Government of India has appointed Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi as the new Vice Chief of Naval
Staff.
✓ Currently, at the helm of the Indian Navy’s Western Command headquartered in Mumbai, Vice Admiral
Tripathi is set to assume his new responsibilities on January 4, 2024.
✓ The present Vice Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral SJ Singh, will be stepping into the role of the new Western
Naval Commander.
✓ Vice Admiral Tripathi has served in various prestigious roles, including Chief of Personnel at the Integrated
Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Navy).
✓ Chiefs of Indian Services
✓ Chief of Defense Staff: Lt. Gen. Anil Chauhan (Retd.).
✓ Army: General Manoj Pandey

✓ Navy: Admiral Radhakrishnan Hari Kumar.
✓ Air Force: Air Marshal VR Chowdhary.
✓ Air Marshal Amanpreet Singh has been appointed as the new Vice Chief of the Air Staff.
✓ Lt. Gen. M.V. Suchindra Kumar took over as Vice Chief of the Army Staff.
✓ Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi took over as the new Vice Chief of Naval Staff.
✓ Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit has been appointed as the new Deputy Chief of Air Staff.
✓ CDS is a four-star General
Q. Who has been appointed as a member of the Board of Directors of the International Development
Finance Corporation (IDFC board) by US president Joe Biden?
A) Deven Parekh B) Ashish Jha

C) Sonia Aggarwal D) Chiraag Bains
Answer : A .
✓ President Joe Biden has nominated prominent Indian-American global venture capitalist Deven Parekh as
a member of the Board of Directors of the International Development Finance Corporation, a development
finance institution and agency of the US government.
✓ Parekh is the managing director at software investment firm Insight Partners. His nomination will be for a
period of three years.
✓ By statute, the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) Board of Directors includes four
members recommended to the President from Senate and House leadership.
✓ In 2020, Parekh was nominated to the Board of Directors of the DFC by then-President Donald Trump.
✓ Parekh also served on the Overseas Private Investment Corporation board from 2016 to 2018 and was a
member of the United States Export-Import Bank advisory board from 2010 to 2012
Q. Who is the author of the novel titled ‘Zeba: An Accidental Superhero’?

A) Katrina Kaif B) Huma Qureshi
C) Deepika Padukone D) Alia Bhatt

Answer : B .
✓ Popular Bollywood actor Huma Qureshi has now turned author with her debut novel titled ‘Zeba: An
Accidental Superhero’.

✓ Set in a fantasy land with its own geo- and socio-political spin, she launched her book at the 12th edition of
the Bangalore Literature Festival (BLF).
✓ The book is a fantasy fiction novel set very specifically between 1992 and 2019. It talks about a make-believe
kingdom and an evil king and how this girl, Zeba, who has these superpowers, manages to defeat him.”
Q. ‘Global Cooling Watch 2023’ report is released by which one of the following
institutions/organizations?
A) United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
B) United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

C) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
D) World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
Answer : B .
✓ United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) releases Global Cooling Watch 2023 report.
✓ The report demonstrates the potential and the pathways to achieve near zero emissions from cooling.
✓ Cooling acts as a double burden on climate change by raising the demand for power at one end and inducing
Global warming due to the release of refrigerant gases in cooling equipment.
✓ Emissions from cooling are predicted to account for more than 10 per cent of global emissions in 2050
✓ 82% of global cooling-related GHG emissions came from G20 countries, in 2022 Under the current
approach to cooling, the installed capacity of cooling equipment globally will triple between now and 2050
✓ A phase-down of climate-warming hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants at a faster rate than is required
under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol.
✓ Global Cooling Pledge issued with the COP28 provides a real opportunity to act.
Q. Who inaugurated the Uttarakhand Global Investors Summit?
A) Narendra Modi B) Pushkar Singh Dhami

C) Amit Shah D) Rajnath Singh
Answer : A .
✓ Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the two-day Uttarakhand Global Investors Summit at the Forest
Research Institute, FRI, in Dehradun.
✓ The main objective of this summit is to establish Uttarakhand as a new center of investment.

✓ On this occasion, the PM also launched the House of Himalaya brand of women self-help groups of the
state.
UTTARAKHAND IN NEWS 2023

➢ Uttarakhand is on the brink of making history as it prepares to become the first state in India to
implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC).
➢ The 5th edition of the Dehradun Literature Festival (DDLF) was announced during a press
conference.
➢ Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the ‘Rozgar Prayag Portal’.
➢ Uttarakhand government has signed a memorandum of understanding worth ₹2,000 crore with global
ropeway construction firm Poma Group in London.
➢ Uttarakhand govt approved state’s first service sector policy.
➢ Harela Festival 2023 begins in Uttarakhand.
➢ Uttarakhand has become India’s first state to launch the Resham Keet Bima scheme for sericulturists.
➢ Uttarakhand tableau which showcased the state’s wildlife and religious sites at the 74th Republic Day
parade has won the top prize.
➢ India’s First Green Solar Panel Factory to Build by Luminous in Uttarakhand.
➢ Uttarakhand awarded for adventure tourism & all round development of tourism.
➢ Uttarakhand Chief Minister launches Lakhpati Didi Yojana.
➢ The Uttarakhand High Court will be shifted from Nainital to Haldwani.
➢ Uttarakhand Plans Genetic Enhancement of Its Indigenous Badri Cow.
➢ Uttarakhand Government appoints Prasoon Joshi as its Brand Ambassador.
➢ Uttarakhand Gaurav Samman: NSA Ajit Doval and late CDS Gen Rawat to receive award.
➢ Uttarakhand CM Launched SBI Foundation and HESCO’s Project for Chamoli.
➢ Uttarakhand Foundation Day is observed on November 9 every year.
➢ Uttarakhand Governor Approved 30% Women’s Reservation Bill.
➢ PM Modi has inaugurated connectivity projects worth 3,400 crores in Mana village of Chamoli district
of Uttarakhand.
➢ Uttarakhand recently received the first prize in two categories - the best adventure tourism destination
and all-round development of tourism - from the Union tourism ministry.
➢ India's first commercial space observatory will be set up in the Garhwal division of Uttarakhand.

➢ Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has launched the “Mukhyamantri Udyaman
Khiladi Unnayan Yojana” on the occasion of National Sports Day.
➢ Uttarakhand education department launched an e-governance portal “Samarth”.
Q. Whose statue was recently unveiled in 'Jaipur Wax Museum'?

A) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar B) Lata Mangeshkar
C) Narendra Modi D) Sachin Tendulkar

Answer : A .
✓ The chief architect of the Indian Constitution, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's statue was unveiled at the Jaipur Wax
Museum, Nahargarh Fort.
✓ The height of this wax statue is 5 feet 11 inches and weight is 38 kilograms.
✓ This museum was established in 2016 with the cooperation of the Department of Archeology and Museums
of the Government of Rajasthan.
Q. Which Union Minister has been given additional charge of the Agriculture Ministry by President
Draupadi Murmu?
A) Renuka Singh Saruta B) Arjun Munda
C) Rajiv Chandrashekhar D) Shobha Karandlaje
Answer : B .
✓ After the assembly elections, President Draupadi Murmu has accepted the resignations of Union ministers
Narendra Singh Tomar, Prahlad Singh Patel and Renuka Singh Saruta.
✓ Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda has been given additional charge of Agriculture Ministry.
✓ Whereas Union Minister Rajiv Chandrashekhar has been given additional charge of Jal Shakti Ministry as
Minister of State.
Q. Who has taken oath as the new Chief Minister of Mizoram?
A) Vanlalruata B) Lalduhoma
C) Zoramthanga D) Kambhampati Hari Babu
Answer : B .
✓ Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) leader Lalduhoma took oath as the Chief Minister of Mizoram.

✓ Party leader Vanlalruata also took oath as a cabinet minister at the Raj Bhavan.
✓ Mizo National Front leader and outgoing Chief Minister Zoramthanga was also present on the occasion.
Lalduhoma has taken oath as the sixth Chief Minister of the state
Q. Which country has framed ‘One Province, One Policy’ plan to handle financial risk?
A) India B) China
C) USA D) UK
Answer : B .
✓ China’s regulator wants provinces to come up with their own plans to handle financial risks, according to a
report.
✓ ‘One Province, One Policy’ comes after officials previously committed to establishing a mechanism to tackle
local debt issues.
✓ China has struggled for traction this year as a bounce-back from restrictive Covid Zero policies proved to be
softer than expected and a property crisis dragged on
Q. National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) functions under which Union Ministry?
A) Ministry of Home Affairs
B) Ministry of Women and Child Development
C) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
D) Ministry of Justice
Answer : A .
✓ A total of 4,45,256 cases of crime against women were registered across India in 2022, up from 4,28,278 in
2021 and 3,71,503 in 2020.
✓ The rate of crime against women per lakh population stood at 66.4 while the charge sheeting in such cases
was logged at 75.8, showed the data in the annual crime report of the National Crime Records Bureau
(NCRB).
✓ NCRB functions under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
✓ The majority of crimes against women under the Indian Penal Code were of cruelty by husband or his
relatives (31.4 per cent) followed by kidnapping and abduction of women (19.2 per cent).

✓ Delhi registered the highest rate of crime against women in the country at 144.4, while the country’s average
rate was 66.4.
Uttar Pradesh (65,743) registered the maximum FIRs in cases of crime against women in 2022
Q. The names of tropical cyclones in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea are chosen from:_?
A) Suggestion of various countries B) Suggestion of UNESCO

C) Suggestion of UNEP D) Suggestion of UNFCCC
Answer : A .
✓ On December 5, Cyclone Michaung made landfall over Nellore in Andhra Pradesh as a super-cyclonic
storm.
✓ A day earlier, the weather system had produced 150-200 mm of rain in north Tamil Nadu.
✓ In 2000, a panel of the World Meteorological Organisation with members of the UN Economic and Social
Commission prepared the list of names of tropical cyclones in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, to be
given from the September 2004 season.
✓ The name of each cyclone is picked from this list and cycles through each country’s suggestion. After
Michaung (by Myanmar), the next five cyclones will be called ‘Remal’ (Oman), ‘Asna’ (Pakistan), ‘Dana’
(Qatar), ‘Fengal’ (Saudi Arabia), and ‘Shakhti’ (Sri Lanka).
Q. Which country recently decided to deploy Shadow R1 drones as surveillance aircrafts over Israel and
Gaza?
A) US B) UK
C) France D) Russia
Answer : B .
✓ The UK will deploy surveillance aircraft over Israel and Gaza to locate over 130 people still held hostage by
Hamas since its October attack on Israel.
✓ At least 5 missing British nationals are feared captive amid rescued hostages.
✓ The unarmed Shadow R1 drones conduct intelligence gathering for UK forces.
✓ While the offensive has resumed after a temporary Gaza truce, the reconnaissance flights starting soon will
solely focus on hostage recovery without any combat role.
✓ The visuals and data obtained on captives’ whereabouts will be shared with Israeli authorities coordinating
rescue operations.

✓ The UK move follows similar US aerial scanning assistance to pinpoint Hamas hostage locations through
unarmed drones
Q. Firozabad Municipal Corporation in Uttar Pradesh has approved the proposal to rename Firozabad
as _.
A) Shahjahanpur Nagar B) Aligarh Nagar

C) Bareilly Nagar D) Chandra Nagar
Answer : D .
✓ Firozabad Municipal Corporation in Uttar Pradesh has approved the proposal to rename Firozabad as
Chandra Nagar.
✓ Firozabad is famous for the construction of bangles. It is located 40 kilometres from Agra and 250 km from
the capital city on the east side. Uttar Pradesh’s capital Lucknow is about 250 km east from here. Two towns
come under Tundla and Shikohabad under the Firozabad district.
✓ Earlier the Indian Railways in October announced the renaming of three railway stations -Pratapgarh, Antu
and Bishnathganj — in the Pratapgarh district of Uttar Pradesh.
✓ Railways informed that the Pratapgarh station was renamed as ‘Maa Belha Devi DhamPratapgarh
Junction’, Antu as Maa Chandika Devi Dham Antu, and Bishnathganj as ‘Shanidev Dham Bishnathganj’.
✓ Varanasi’s Manduadih Rail Station has also been renamed as Banaras.
✓ Uttar Pradesh government also renamed the Jhansi railway station as Veeranagana Laxmi Bai railway
station.
✓ Previously, the state government had renamed Mughalsarai and Allahabad railway stations as Pandit Deen
Dayal Upadhyay Junction and Prayagraj Junction stations respectively.
Q. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report, which city declared safest in India
for 3rd consecutive year?
A) Delhi B) Bengaluru
C) Kolkata D) Hyderabad
Answer : C .
✓ Kolkata emerged as the safest city in India for the third consecutive year, recording the least number of
cognisable offences per lakh population among metropolises, according to the report published by the
National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).

✓ The eastern metropolis, which reported 86.5 cases of cognisable offences per lakh people in 2022, was
followed by Pune (280.7) and Hyderabad (299.2).
✓ Cognisable crimes are those for which cases are registered under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC)
and SLL (Special and Local Laws).
✓ According to the NCRB report, Kolkata had registered 103.4 cases of cognisable crimes per lakh people in
2021, which dropped to 86.5 this year. In 2020, the count was 129.5.
✓ In 2021, Pune and Hyderabad had reported 256.8 and 259.9 cognisable offences per lakh population,
respectively.
✓ The rankings were issued after comparison among 19 cities with over 20 lakh population.
✓ Kolkata, however, recorded an increase in crimes against women as the number of cases rose from 1,783 in
2021 to 1,890 in 2022.
Q. India has extended a $250 million Line of Credit for modernisation of agriculture for which country?
A) Ethiopia B) Kenya
C) Egypt D) Tanzania
Answer : B .
✓ India has extended a $250 million Line of Credit for modernization of agriculture in Kenya.
✓ Under this initiative, both sides will carry out joint military exercises and will collaborate on counter-terror
projects.
✓ Government of India has undertaken to encourage Indian companies to invest in the Kenyan agri sector
inclusive of “equipment and technology”.
✓ Both sides noted that enhancing bilateral agricultural cooperation would increase bilateral trade and
contribute to food security in Kenya,” the Joint Statement declared.
✓ The two sides also agreed to cooperate in cyber security, anti-money laundering, small arms and light
weapons, drugs and human trafficking.
Q. RBI has proposed enhancing the limit of UPI transactions undertaken for medical or healthcare and
educational services from ₹1 lakh to ___ per transaction.
A) 2 lakh B) 3 lakh
C) 4 lakh D) 5 lakh
Answer : D .

✓ Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed enhancing the limit of UPI transactions undertaken for medical
or healthcare and educational services from ₹1 lakh to ₹5 lakh per transaction.
✓ The limit for various categories of UPI transactions has been reviewed from time to time. It is now proposed
to enhance the UPI transaction limit for payment to hospitals and educational institutions.
✓ This will enable the users who are comfortable with making payments through UPI to continue using the
platform for high-value payments as well. The transaction limit would no longer be a bottleneck which
refrains the user from using UPI, especially when it comes to payments which are urgent in nature.
✓ Currently, the transaction limit for UPI is capped at ₹1 lakh, except in a few categories like capital markets
(AMC, broking, mutual funds, etc.), collections (credit card payments, loan re-payments, EMI), Insurance,
etc. where the transaction limit is ₹2 lakh
✓ In December 2021, the transaction limit for UPI payments for Retail Direct Scheme and IPO subscriptions
was increased to ₹5 lakh
RBI INCREASE LIMIT IN NEWS 2023

➢ Reserve Bank of India (RBI) took a significant step by announcing an increase in the UPI payment
limits from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.
➢ RBI has conducted a review of bulk deposit limits for financial institutions, specifically focusing on
Regional Rural Banks (RRBs). As a result, the bulk deposit limit for RRBs has been significantly
increased from Rs 15 lakh to Rs 1 crore.
➢ RBI Raises Offline Payment Transaction Upper Limit to ₹500 from ₹200.
➢ RBI has raised the Additional Factor of Authentication (AFA) limit from Rs 5,000 to Rs 15,000 per
transaction for e-mandates on cards, Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPIs) and Unified Payments
Interface (UPI) for recurring transactions.
➢ RBI has decided to increase the existing limit for gold loans under a scheme called “bullet repayment”
from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 4 lakh for urban cooperative banks.
➢ Reserve Bank of India has increased the limit of fund transfer under the Indo-Nepal Remittance
Facility Scheme from Rs 50,000 per transaction to Rs 2 lakh per transaction.
➢ Union Cabinet approved the enhancement in the limit of the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee
Scheme (ECLGS) by Rs 50,000 crore to Rs 5 lakh crore.

➢ Reserve Bank of India has increased the maximum amount outstanding in respect of full-KYC PPIs
(KYC-compliant PPIs) from Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 2 lakh.
Q. The first edition of the India Art, Architecture and Design Biennale (IAADB) was recently held at
which location of historical importance:
A) Red Fort, Delhi. B) Taj Mahal, Uttar Pradesh.
C) Qutub Minar Complex, Delhi. D) Statue of Unity, Gujarat

Answer : A .
✓ The Prime Minister recently inaugurated the first Indian Art, Architecture & Design Biennale (IAADB)
2023 being held at Red Fort, Delhi.
✓ It is India’s first Global Cultural Initiative to showcase Indian art, architecture and designs.
Q. International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled the logo for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 in
Men’s and Women’s cricket. Which country will host the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024?
A) South Africa B) West Indies
C) United States D) Bangladesh
Answer : D .
✓ International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled the logo for the upcoming T20 World Cup in Men’s and
Women’s cricket next year.
✓ While the men’s event is set to take place from June 4 to June 30, 2024 in the West Indies and USA.
✓ While, Women’s T20 World Cup will happen in Bangladesh.
✓ The new logo, according to ICC, captures the inherent drama the shortest forma brings with it. It also
showcases the relentless energy in T20 cricket even as the new brand identity incorporates textures and
patterns inspired by host country.
✓ 1. 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup – Bangladesh
✓ 2. 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup – India
✓ 3. 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup – England
✓ 4. 2027 ICC Women’s T20 Champions Trophy – Sri Lanka
✓ The 2027 ICC women’s T20 Champions Trophy will be the inaugural edition of the tournament
✓ ICC announces host nations of next 10 men’s tournaments
✓ 2022 ICC Men's T20 World Cup - Australia

✓ 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup - USA & West Indies
✓ 2025 ICC Men’s Champions Trophy - Pakistan
✓ 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup - India & Sri Lanka
✓ 2027 ICC Men’s 50 over World Cup - South Africa, Zimbabwe & Namibia
✓ 2028 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup - Australia & New Zealand
✓ 2029 ICC Men’s Champions Trophy - India
✓ 2030 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup - England, Ireland & Scotland
✓ 2031 ICC Men’s 50 over World Cup - India & Bangladesh
✓ International Cricket Council (ICC)
✓ Formation : 15 June 1909
✓ Headquarters : Dubai, UAE
✓ Chairman : Greg Barclay (New Zealand)
✓ New CEO : Geoff Allardice (Australia)
✓ Membership : 108 members
✓ Deputy Chairman : Imran Khwaja (Singapore).
✓ It is the global governing body for cricket.
✓ It presides over the ICC Code of Conduct, playing conditions, decision review system and other ICC
regulations.
Q. Ibu Volcano has been seen in the news recently. In which country is it located?
A) Japan B) United States

C) Indonesia D) Philippines
Answer : C .
✓ The Ibu volcano in Indonesia’s North Maluku province erupted recently, prompting authorities to warn
locals and tourists to stay away from the area.
✓ About the Ibu Volcano:
✓ It is a stratovolcano located in the province of Maluku, East Indonesia.
✓ It is one of the most isolated and least accessible volcanoes in Indonesia.
✓ It stands as high as 1,377 metres above sea level.

VOLCANO IN NEWS 2023
➢ The Ibu volcano in Indonesia’s North Maluku province erupted recently.
➢ Recently, Indonesia’s Mount Marapi in West Sumatra province erupted, spewing white-and-gray ash
plumes for more than 3,000 metres (about 9,800 feet) into the air.
➢ It is a volcanic mountain peak located near the centre of the island of Java, Indonesia.
➢ Kilauea volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island erupted recently, according to an advisory from the U.S.
Geological Survey (USGS).
➢ Peru recently announced a state of emergency in the Moquegua region due to the ongoing activity of
the Ubinas volcano.
➢ Recently, around 13,000 people have been evacuated from the northeast Philippines as the country's
most famous volcano, Mayon, continued to ooze lava.
➢ Recently, Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau volcano has erupted, spewing ash as high as 3 kilometres into
the air.
➢ This volcano island is located in Indonesia’s Sunda Strait between the main Java and Sumatra islands.
➢ Recently, People living on the upper slopes of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano in Colombia
Q. NPCI Bharat BillPay (NBBL) has successfully integrated with which card issuers company into the
credit card category of Bharat BillPay?
A) RuPay B) SBI Card
C) Visa D) Mastercard
Answer : B .
✓ SBI Card joins Bharat BillPay in the credit card category

✓ NPCI Bharat BillPay (NBBL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India
(NPCI), has successfully integrated SBI Card, one of India’s leading credit card issuers, into the credit card
category of Bharat BillPay.
✓ This integration marks a significant advancement, streamlining the credit card bill payment process for
millions of customers.
✓ Noteworthy credit card issuers already present in this category include Kotak Mahindra Bank, BoB
Financial, Federal Bank, AU Small Finance Bank, IndusInd Bank, and Canara Bank.

✓ SBI Card has an extensive customer base, totaling around 1.68 crores. Through the utilization of Bharat
BillPay, SBI Card customers gain the advantage of seamlessly handling their credit card bill payments across
various Bharat BillPay-supported payment channels
Q. Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) is ___ largest insurer in the world, according to a ranking
based on life and accident & health reserves of companies in 2022 by S&P Global Market Intelligence.
A) fourth B) Second
C) Third D) Sixth
Answer : A .
✓ Insurance behemoth Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) is the fourth largest insurer in the world,
according to a ranking based on life and accident & health reserves of companies in 2022 by S&P Global
Market Intelligence.
✓ The state-owned insurer is ranked after Allianz SE, China Life Insurance Company, and Nippon Life
Insurance Company.
✓ According to the report, LIC’s reserves stood at $503.7 billion. Germany’s Allianz SE ($750.20 billion),
China Life Insurance Company ($616.90 billion), and Nippon Life Insurance Company ($536.80 billion)
are the top three insurance companies in the world.
✓ The S&P list of the top 50 global life insurance companies was dominated by European firms, taking 21
spots. On an individual country basis, the US has the highest number of life insurers on the list, with eight
companies headquartered in the region, followed by the UK with seven companies.
Q. Tiriyani Block, which secured top position in the first delta rankings of Aspirational Blocks
Programme (ABP), is from which state?
A) Telangana B) Tamil Nadu
C) Odisha D) Jharkhand
Answer : A .
✓ Tiriyani Block of Kumuram Bheem Asifabad district, Telangana secured the top position in the first delta
rankings of Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP) announced by NITI Aayog.
✓ The second position was bagged by Kaushambi block of Kaushambi District, Uttar Pradesh.
✓ The rankings were announced in a virtual event at NITI Aayog.

✓ The ranking of the blocks has been calculated on the basis of performance of blocks and progress achieved
in the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in the month of June, 2023.
✓ What is Aspirational District Programme?
✓ About:
✓ It was launched in 2018 which aims to transform districts that have shown relatively lesser progress in key
social areas.
✓ Aspirational Districts are those districts in India, that are affected by poor socio-economic indicators.
✓ It covers 112 districts across the country.
✓ At Government of India level, programme is anchored by NITI Aayog. In addition, individual Ministries
have assumed responsibility to drive progress of districts.
✓ It focuses on the strength of each district, identifying low-hanging fruits for immediate improvement and
measuring progress by ranking districts on a monthly basis.
✓ The Government is committed to raising the living standards of its citizens and ensuring inclusive growth
for all – “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas aur Sabka Vishwas”.
✓ The ADP is essentially aimed at localizing Sustainable Development Goals, leading to the progress of the
nation.
✓ Parameters for Ranking:
✓ The ranking is based on the incremental progress made across 49 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) under
5 broad socio-economic themes -
1. Health & Nutrition (30%)
2. Education (30%)
3. Agriculture & Water Resources (20%)
4. Financial Inclusion & Skill Development (10%)
5. Infrastructure (10%)
✓ Various Programmes:
✓ Various programmes such as – Saksham Bitiyan Abhiyan, Anemia Mukt Bharat and Surakshit Hum
Surakshit Tum, are some of the flagship initiatives that have been taken up by NITI Aayog in this regard
Q. The Central government has approved the first urban flood mitigation project for which state?
A) Tamil Nadu B) Odisha

C) West Bengal D) Andhra Pradesh

Answer : A .
✓ The Central government has approved the first urban flood mitigation project of Rs 561.29 crore for
‘Integrated Urban Flood Management’ activities for the Chennai Basin project, as per Union Home Minister
Amit Shah.
✓ This is the first in a series of urban flood mitigation efforts and will help develop a broader framework for
urban flood management.
TAMIL NADU IN NEWS 2023

➢ ‘Guidance’, the nodal agency for investment promotion of Tamil Nadu, has received the United
Nations Promotion Award 2023.
➢ Project Nilgiri Tahr’ launched in Tamil Nadu.
➢ The second spaceport of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), will come up in about two years
at Kulasekarapattinam in Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu.
➢ The U.K. and Tamil Nadu collaborate on a smart technology project for sustainable water, waste, and
resource management.
➢ Recently, Udangudi ‘Panangkarupatti’ (palm jaggery/ gur) from Tamil Nadu has received a
Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
➢ Tamil Nadu government has unveiled its new tourism policy to develop the State into the most
attractive experiential destination in Asia.
➢ Tamil Nadu's Salem Sago gets GI tag.
➢ Bhaderwah Rajmash and Sulai honey of Doda and Ramban districts of Jammu and Kashmir, have
been granted Geographical Indication (GI) tags.
➢ The Matti banana variety, native to Kanniyakumari district Tamil Nadu was recently granted the
➢ Taiwanese firm Foxconn Technology Group, a key supplier to Apple Inc., signed a letter of Intent
with the Tamil Nadu government to invest ₹1,600 crore to establish a manufacturing facility in
Kancheepuram district.
➢ Centre has approved the establishment of a new spaceport in Kulasekarapattinam, Tamil Nadu for
carrying out the launches of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicles (SSLV) developed by the ISRO.
➢ Tamil Nadu's Authoor betel leaves get Geographical Indication (GI) certificate.

➢ Tamil Nadu bagged the Best Performing State award 2023 in cadaver organ donation .
➢ Tamil Nadu Youth Welfare and Sports Development Minister "Udhayanidhi Stalin" has unveiled the
trophy and the ‘Bomman’ mascot for the prestigious Asian Champions Trophy 2023 hockey
tournament to be held in Chennai.
➢ Muthamizh Selvi, first Tamil Nadu woman to scale Mt Everest.
➢ Tamil Nadu government declared Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary as the 18th wildlife sanctuary
in the state..
➢ Tamil Nadu becomes first state to launch its own Climate Change Mission.
➢ Tamil Nadu govt to launch five-year Tamil Nadu Millet Mission.
➢ In a first of its kind initiative in India, the Government of Tamil Nadu announced the 'Nilgiri Tahr
Project'.
Q. Global cyber security company Kaspersky and which IIT have signed an agreement to jointly work
on cybersecurity-related research and educational initiatives at the institute?
A) IIT Madras
B) IIT Bombay
C) IIT Kanpur
D) IIT Delhi
Answer : D .
✓ Global cyber security company Kaspersky and the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) have
signed an agreement to jointly work on cybersecurity-related research and educational initiatives at the
institute.
✓ Under the agreement, Kaspersky and IIT Delhi will exchange knowledge and expertise, develop educational
materials, organise and promote events to raise cybersecurity awareness, and sponsor merit (academic)
awards or prizes to encourage IIT Delhi students to pursue careers in ICT and Cybersecurity.
✓ This partnership will enhance the IIT Delhi graduates’ desirability on the job market by adding IIT Delhi’s
educational and scientific activities of new training courses and programs that provide the graduates with
relevant competencies that are in demand

Q. The Defense Ministry has collaborated with which of the following to offer scholarships for ex-
servicemen?
A) IIT Madras B) Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad
C) Indian School of Business D) London Business School
Answer : C .
✓ Defense Ministry has collaborated with the prestigious Indian School of Business (ISB).
✓ The initiative focuses on providing scholarships to military personnel transitioning to civilian life after
retirement.
✓ The Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare has forged a partnership with ISB to facilitate educational
opportunities for veterans. The collaboration intends to equip armed forces personnel with the latest and in-
depth management skills, leveraging the substantial skillset they already possess.
✓ As part of this collaboration, ISB will extend a 50 percent tuition fee waiver across its postgraduate and
advanced management programmes, amounting to a total of Rs 2.3 crore annually.
Q. Indian Oil Corp. Ltd and which company have agreed to jointly promote Surya Nutan, IndianOil’s
innovative indoor solar cooking system?
A) Dominion Energy
B) TAAL Enterprises
C) Jubilant Ingrevia
D) EKI Energy
Answer : D .
✓ EKI Energy Services, a carbon credits developer and supplier, and Indian Oil Corp. Ltd (IndianOil) have
agreed to jointly promote Surya Nutan, IndianOil’s innovative indoor solar cooking system.
✓ Toward that objective, it has developed “Surya Nutan,” a stationary, rechargeable, and always kitchen-
connected indoor cooking solution based on IndianOil’s patented technology.
✓ Under the terms of their agreement, IndianOil will share the technology of “Surya Nutan” with EKI to
enhance its production and distribution, supported by carbon finance.
✓ EKI will oversee the end-to-end management of ‘Surya Nutan’ encompassing manufacturing, marketing,
installation, and the provision of after-sales services. This will be achieved by leveraging carbon finance,
corporate social responsibility, or any other similar means

Q. Which bank has collaborated with Accenture to design and develop a scalable and secure enterprise
data lake platform to boost its operational efficiency?
A) Union Bank of India B) Karur Vyasya Bank
C) Indian Overseas Bank D) Bank of Baroda
Answer : A .
✓ Union Bank of India has collaborated with Accenture to design and develop a scalable and secure enterprise
data lake platform to boost its operational efficiency.
✓ This will also enhance its ability to offer customer-centric banking services and manage risk.
✓ Accenture will work with the Bank to build new AI and machine learning models that can help generate
actionable insights for improved business forecasting, facilitate personalized offers for customers and enable
intelligence for fraud detection, prevention, and mitigation.
✓ Union Bank of India
✓ Founded : 1919
✓ Founder : Seth Sitaram Poddar
✓ Headquarters : Mumbai
✓ MD : A Manimekhalai
✓ Tagline ; Good People to Bank with
✓ Union Bank of India will be merged with Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank.
Q. Mohammed Al Ramsi has been appointed Chairman of the World Radiocommunication Conference
2023 (WRC 23). He is from which country?
A) Saudi Arabia B) UAE
C) Iran D) Egypt
Answer : B .
✓ United Arab Emirates’ Mohammed Al Ramsi has been appointed Chairman of the World
Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC 23).
✓ The event is being held in Dubai, UAE, from November 20th to December 15th, 2023.
✓ WRC is organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) every four years to revise the
global use of radio-frequency spectrum, geostationary-satellite, and non-geostationary-satellite orbits.

Q. Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Anil Chauhan has inaugurated the Hindustan Aeronautics
Limited Avionics Expo 2023 in which city?
A) Chennai B) Delhi
C) Hyderabad D) Bengaluru
Answer : B .
✓ Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Anil Chauhan has inaugurated the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
Avionics Expo 2023 in New Delhi.
✓ Chauhan said the aviation sector needs to keep up with a rapidly changing world and new technological
innovations.
✓ CDS Chauhan also stressed on the need for Aatma-Nirbharta in the aviation sector to reduce import
dependency, boost the economy, and better handle geo-political and economic instabilities.
Q. India-born Media Executive ____ named as UK's Preferred Candidate for BBC New Chairman.
A) Samir Shah B) Rahul Joshi

C) Praveen Singh D) Sivakumar Sundaram
Answer : A .
✓ Britain's government chose a new BBC chairman after the previous incumbent was forced to quit earlier this
year over a loan to then-prime minister Boris Johnson.
✓ The Conservative government named veteran TV executive Samir Shah as its choice to replace Richard
Sharp, who stood down in April, as head of the publicly funded broadcaster.
Q. Which Country withdraws from China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)?
A) France B) Japan
C) Italy D) Switzerland
Answer : C .
✓ Italy has withdrawn from China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), more than 4 years after becoming the only
Group of Seven (G7) nation to sign up.
✓ After months of uncertainty regarding Italy’s involvement in the ambitious project, Rome conveyed its
decision in a recent letter to Beijing, news agencies Reuters and AFP reported.

✓ The Belt and Road plan proposes massive investments in infrastructure such as roads, bridges and ports to
recreate the ancient Silk Road trade routes linking Europe and Asia.
✓ Critics have cast the scheme as a vehicle for Beijing to expand its geopolitical influence, including by
saddling poorer countries with unsustainable debts
Q. Which Country has introduced a 96-hour stopover visa for Indians traveling to the West or the Middle
East?
A) Egypt B) Türkiye
C) Saudi Arabia D) Lebanon

Answer : C .
✓ Saudi Arabia has introduced a 96-hour stopover visa for Indians traveling to the West or the Middle East.
✓ This initiative, part of the Saudi Vision 2030 to streamline Umrah visits, was announced by Saudi Minister
of Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq bin Fawzan.
Q. Which institution built the Bharat Bill Payments (BBPS)?

A) RBI B) NPCI
C) NASSCOM D) SEBI
Answer : B .
✓ Bharat Bill Payments (BBPS), the platform built by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to
digitise the country’s large utility bill payments market, is increasingly being used for loan repayments and
clearing credit card dues.
✓ The way utility bills get generated for consumers every month, EMI (equated monthly instalment) gets
generated every month on a specific date for borrowers.
✓ The customer can use any mode of payment to clear the EMI due, and this is where the BBPS platform is
fast emerging as a popular tool.
Q. When is the Human Rights Day observed?

Answer : D .
✓ Human Rights Day is celebrated on 10 December annually across the world.

✓ 2023 Theme: 'Freedom, Equality and Justice for All.'
✓ This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
✓ It was on this day in 1948 that United Nations General Assembly adopted and proclaimed the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
✓ UDHR is a milestone document proclaiming the first ever global enunciation of human rights which
everyone is inherently entitled to as a human being regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language,
political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
Q. Which day is celebrated as the International Mountain Day?

Answer : B .
✓ The International Mountain Day is observed on December 11 every year.

✓ 2023 Theme: Restoring Mountain Ecosystems
✓ Purpose: to create awareness about the importance of mountains to life, to highlight the opportunities and
constraints in mountain development and to build alliances that will bring positive change to mountain
peoples and environments around the world.
✓ It was established by the UN General Assembly in 2003 to encourage sustainable development of
mountains.
✓ United Nations had declared 2002 as the UN International Year of Mountains.
Q. Who has been elected as the new Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh?
A) Mohan Yadav B) Jyotiraditya Scindia
C) Digvijay Singh D) Shivraj Singh Chauhan
Answer : A .
✓ Mohan Yadav has been elected as the new Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh.
✓ In the outgoing government, Higher Education Minister Shri Yadav was elected from Ujjain South seat.
✓ Mohan Yadav became MLA for the first time in 2013. After this he was re-elected in the 2018 Madhya
Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections.
✓ He will replace Shivraj Singh Chouhan as the new Chief Minister.

✓ MADHYA PRADESH
✓ Capital : Bhopal
✓ Formation : 1 November 1956
✓ Area Rank : 2nd
✓ Population rank : 5th
✓ Literacy Rate (%) : 69.32%
✓ Sex Ratio 931 (F)/1000(M)
✓ Legislative Assembly : 231
✓ Lower House : 29 Seats
✓ Upper House : 11 Seats
✓ Number of Districts : 52
✓ Temple : SanchiStupa at Raisen, Khajuraho Temple at Khajuraho
✓ Lake : Bhoj Wetland, Lower Lake, Moti lake, Sarangpani lake, Shahpura lake, Tawa Reservoir, Upper
Lake
✓ River : Betwa River, Chambal River, Dhasan River, Ken River, Mahi, Narmada, Parbati River, Son River,
Tapi, Tons, Wainganga, Wardha
✓ Dam : Gandhi Sagar Dam(Chambal River), Tawa Reservoir(Tawa Reservoir), Indira Sagar Dam(Narmada
River)
✓ Stadium : Holkar Cricket Stadium
✓ Folk Dance : Tertali, Jawara, Matki Dance, Phulpati Dance, Grida Dance, Maanch
✓ National park : Bandhavgarh National Park , Kanha Tiger Reserve, Madhav National Park,Mandla Plant
Fossils National Park,Panna National Park,Pench National Park,Sanjay National Park,Satpura National
Park,Van Vihar National Park
✓ Nuclear Power Plant : Chutka Nuclear Power Plant
MADHYA PRADESH IN NEWS 2023

➢ Mohan Yadav has been elected as the new Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh.
➢ The city of Kozhikode in Kerala was added in UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network (UCCN).
➢ Gwalior from Madhya Pradesh was also among the 55 new cities to join the network.

➢ Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve becomes the 7th tiger reserve of Madhya Pradesh and 55th in
India.
➢ Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has organized the ‘India Smart Cities Conclave 2023’ in
Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
➢ The famous Kadaknath chicken meat from Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh has now got a
➢ The 'Sanchi' city of Madhya Pradesh has been established as the country's first solar city.
➢ International Aerospace Conference jointly organized by MoCA and CII in Gwalior, Madhya
Pradesh.
➢ President of India, Droupadi Murmu has inaugurated ‘Unmesha’ – International Literature Festival
and ‘Utkarsh’ – Festival of Folk and Tribal Performing Arts at Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
➢ India's first online gaming academy launched in Madhya Pradesh.
➢ Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the National Sickle Cell Anemia Elimination Mission in
Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh.
➢ Tiger State Madhya Pradesh is poised to get its 7th tiger reserve with the state government going
forward with the notification of Nauradehi and Durgavati Wildlife Sanctuaries.
➢ Madhya Pradesh received the first prize in the best State category, while the best district award went
to Ganjam District in Odisha.
➢ Narmada Hydroelectric Development Corporation Ltd (NHDC Ltd.) will construct a 525 MW
pumped storage project near the Indira Sagar Dam in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh.
➢ Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the 'Mukhya Mantri Ladli Bahna
Yojana'.
➢ Madhya Pradesh cabinet approves 'Mukhya Mantri Sikho Kamao Yojana' for unemployed youth.
➢ Gond paintings from Madhya Pradesh have bagged the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, a
recognition that protects and acknowledges the work of tribal artists.
➢ Madhya Pradesh government launched Chief Minister's Residential Land Rights Scheme.
➢ Madhya Pradesh government announced that Islam Nagar village located in Bhopal district has been
renamed as Jagdishpur.
➢ Madhya Pradesh Government on 5 March launched Ladli Bahna scheme under which each woman
will be given one thousand rupees per month..

➢ Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced on March 4 to make Tehsil
Mauganj of Rewa district the 53rd district of the state.
Q. What is the rank of India in the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2023 by Germanwatch?
A) 4th
B) 5th
C) 6th
D) 7th
Answer : D .
✓ In a significant stride towards sustainable practices, India has ascended to the 7th position in this year's
Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI).
✓ About Climate Change Performance Index:
✓ It is an instrument to enable transparency in national and international climate politics.
✓ It is published by Germanwatch, the New Climate Institute and the Climate Action Network annually.
✓ It was first time published in 2005.
✓ The CCPI uses a standardized framework to compare the climate performance of 63 countries and the EU,
which together account for over 90% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
✓ The climate protection performance is assessed in four categories: GHG Emissions, Renewable Energy,
Energy Use and Climate Policy.
✓ Key highlights
✓ Denmark retained the top spot with a score of 75.59 per cent. Estonia and the Philippines occupied the
second and third ranks respectively, with 72.07 and 70.70.
✓ Saudi Arabia was at the bottom — 67th — in the performance list, while the host country United Arab
Emirates occupied the 65th position.
✓ India receives a high ranking in the GHG Emissions and Energy Use categories, but a medium in Climate
Policy and Renewable Energy, as in the previous year.
✓ India is trying to meet its National Determined Contribution (NDC), with clear long-term policies in place
that focus on promoting renewable energy and providing financial support for domestic manufacturing of
renewable energy components.

✓ India has relatively high taxes on petrol and diesel, which are intended to act as carbon taxes.
Q. Who has been elected as the new Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh?
A) Vishnu Deo Sai
B) Raman Singh
C) Shatrughan Sinha
D) Balaknath
Answer : A .
✓ Former Chhattisgarh BJP president Vishnu Deo Sai will be the new Chief Minister of the state.
✓ Vishnudev Sai will be the first tribal Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh.
✓ Vishnudev was the state president of BJP between 2020 and 2022.
✓ He was the Union Minister of State for Steel in the first term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
✓ He was also a Lok Sabha member from Raipur constituency of Chhattisgarh
✓ CHHATTISGARH
✓ Capital : Raipur
✓ Formation : 1 November 2000
✓ Literacy Rate : 70.28%
✓ Sex Ratio : 991(F)/ 1000(M)
✓ Legislative Assembly : 91 seats
✓ Lower House : 11 seats
✓ Upper House : 5 seats
✓ Number of Districts : 27
✓ River : Mahanadi, Godavari, Indravati, Hasdeo, Son River
✓ Dam : HasdeoBango Dam (Hasdeo River)
✓ Folk Dance : RautNacha, Panthi Dance
✓ National park : Indravati National Prak, Kanger valley, Guru Ghasi das (sanjay) National park
Q. Consider the following statements about Green Voyage 2050 Project

1. It is a partnership project between the Government of Norway and International Maritime
Organization (IMO).
2. The Initial IMO GHG Strategy sets out clear ambition to reduce the total annual GHG emissions
by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008.

Choose the correct statements:
A) 1 only
B) 2 only
C) Both 1 and 2
D) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer : C .
✓ Recently, India has been selected as the pioneer lead country for the International Maritime Organization
(IMO) Green Voyage2050 Project.
✓ About Green Voyage2050 Project:
✓ The overall goal of the Project is to support effective implementation of the Initial IMO GHG Strategy.
✓ It provides support to developing countries in their efforts to reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions from ships.
✓ The Initial IMO Strategy sets out a clear vision and levels of ambition, one of which is to reduce the total
annual GHG emissions by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008.
✓ It is envisaged that the project will strengthen MARPOL Annex VI compliance, facilitate sharing of
operational best practices, catalyse the uptake of energy efficient technologies and explore opportunities for
low- and zero-carbon fuels.
✓ Components of the project
✓ Component 1 – Developing global tools to support implementation of the Initial IMO GHG Strategy
✓ Component 2 – Capacity building, policy and NAP development
✓ Component 3 – Strategic partnership development
✓ Component 4 – Technology cooperation, innovation and pilot demonstrations
✓ Partnering Countries:
✓ The countries participating in the GreenVoyage2050 Project are: Azerbaijan, Belize, China, Cook Islands,
Ecuador, Georgia, India, Kenya, Malaysia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka.
✓ These countries are participating as either a New Pilot Country (NPC) or a Pioneer Pilot Country (PPC).
✓ The GreenVoyage2050 Project, currently in its first phase, is funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Climate
and Environment for an initial period up to December 2023 (NOK 64.5 million).

Q. Consider the following statements about Adopt a Heritage 2.0 Program
1. It is an initiative of the Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and the
Archaeological Survey of India.
2. The project aims to encourage government and private entities to become ‘Monument Mitras’ and
take up the responsibility of developing and upgrading basic amenities at the heritage site.
3. The corporate sector is not allowed to use corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds for the
upkeep of the site.
C) All three D) None of the above
Answer : B .
✓ Statement 1&2 correct

✓ Statement 3 incorrect
✓ Recently, the deadline for Submission of Applications for “Adopt a Heritage 2.0” Program has been decided
as December 31, 2023.
✓ About the Adopt a Heritage 2.0 Program:
✓ It is a revamped version of the earlier scheme launched in 2017 and clearly defines the amenities sought for
different monuments as per the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act (or
AMASR Act), 1958.
✓ The programme seeks collaboration with the private/public sector companies / trusts / societies / NGOs
etc. through their CSR funding who intend to provide, develop, and maintain ‘amenities’ at centrally
protected monuments and sites.
✓ What is Adopt a Heritage Scheme?
✓ It is an initiative of the Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and the
Archaeological Survey of India.
✓ It was launched in September 2017 on the World Tourism Day.
✓ Under it, the government invites entities, including public sector companies, private sector firms, as well as
individuals, to develop selected monuments and heritage and tourist sites across India.
✓ The project aims to encourage these entities to become ‘Monument Mitras’ and take up the responsibility of
developing and upgrading the basic and advanced tourist amenities at these sites.

✓ The corporate sector is expected to use corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds for the upkeep of the site.
✓ The Monument Mitras, in turn, will get limited visibility on the site premises and on the Incredible India
website.
Q. PM Vishwakarma Scheme launched by the Centre, has received over ___ applications in two and a
half months, data from the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
A) 51.15 lakh B) 41.15 lakh

C) 31.15 lakh D) 21.15 lakh
Answer : D .
✓ 21.15 lakh applications received under PM Vishwakarma Scheme, says Skill Ministry.
✓ The PM Vishwakarma Scheme, launched by the Centre, has received over 21 lakh applications in two and
a half months, data from the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) show.
✓ About PM Vishwakarma Scheme:
✓ This is a central sector scheme launched by the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, which
offers services like market linkage support, skill training, and incentives for digital transactions to artisans
and craftspeople engaged in specified trades.
✓ Time period: Five years (FY 2023-24 to FY 2027-28).
✓ Aim:
✓ To strengthen and nurture the Guru-Shishya parampara, or family-based practice of traditional skills by
artisans and craftspeople working with their hands and tools.
✓ The scheme also aims at improving the quality as well as the reach of the products and services of artisans
and craftspeople and to ensure that the Vishwakarmas are integrated with the domestic and global value
chains.
✓ Eligibility & coverage:
✓ It is available for rural and urban artisans and craftsmen across India.
✓ It covers 18 traditional crafts such as Boat Maker; Armourer; Blacksmith; Hammer and Tool Kit Maker;
etc.
✓ Five lakh families will be covered in the first year and 30 lakh families over five years.
✓ Benefits:
✓ Under this scheme, the artisans and craftspeople will be provided recognition through a PM Vishwakarma
certificate and ID card.

✓ They will receive collateral-free credit support of up to ₹1 lakh (first tranche) and ₹2 lakh (second tranche)
with a concessional interest rate of 5%.
✓ The scheme will further provide craftsmen with methods of skill upgradation involving basic and advanced
training, a toolkit incentive of ₹15,000 and incentives for digital transactions, and marketing support.
✓ Under the scheme, there will be two types of skilling programmes -- Basic and Advanced and a stipend of
Rs 500 per day will also be provided to beneficiaries while undergoing skills training.
Q. Consider the following statements about River Cities Alliance

1. It is a first-of-its-kind Alliance in the world symbolising the successful partnership the Ministry of
Jal Shakti and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
2. The Secretariat of the Alliance is set up at the Department of Water Resources and River
Development.
3. It focuses on three broad themes- Networking, Capacity Building and Technical Support.
Answer : B .
✓ Statement 1&3 correct

✓ Statement 2 incorrect
✓ Recently, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) on behalf of River Cities Alliance (RCA), has
signed a Memorandum of Common Purpose (MoCP) with the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative
(MRCTI), representing 124 cities/towns situated along the banks of the Mississippi River, USA.
✓ About River Cities Alliance:
✓ It was launched in 2021.
✓ It is a first-of-its-kind Alliance in the world, symbolising the successful partnership of the two Ministries i.e.,
the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
✓ Objective: To provide the member cities with a platform to discuss and exchange information on aspects
that are vital for sustainable management of urban rivers, sharing best practices and supporting innovation.
✓ The Alliance is open to all river cities of India. Any river city can join the Alliance at any time.

✓ The alliance has been launched initially with 30 cities namely Dehradun, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Srinagar,
Varanasi, Kanpur, Prayagraj, Farrukhabad, Mirzapur, Mathura, Bijnor, Ayodhya, Patna, Bhagalpur,
Begusarai, Munger, Sahibganj, Rajmahal, Howrah, Jangipur, Hugli-Chinsurah, Berhampore, Maheshtala,
Aurangabad, Chennai, Bhubaneshwar, Hyderabad, Pune, Udaipur and Vijayawada.
✓ It focuses on three broad themes- Networking, Capacity Building and Technical Support.
✓ The Secretariat of the Alliance is set up at the National Institute for Urban Affairs (NIUA).
✓ India’s River Cities Alliance Goes Global as NMCG forges alliance with MRCTI, USA at the ongoing
COP28 in Dubai
Q. Who has launched the 'Developed India 2047: Voice of Youth' initiative?
A) Narendra Modi B) Amit Shah
C) Rajnath Singh D) Anurag Thakur

Answer : A .
✓ PM Narendra Modi has launched the initiative 'Viksit Bharat 2047: Voice of Youth'.
✓ On this occasion, PM Modi said that this is the right time for India and the youth should use this Amrit
Kaal for a developed India.
✓ The aim of this initiative is to integrate the youth of the country to build a developed India
Q. Where is the World Investment Conference of 'World Association of Investment Promotion

Agencies' being organized?
A) Dhaka
B) Mumbai
C) New Delhi
D) Chennai
Answer : C .
✓ The 27th World Investment Conference of 'World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies'
(WAIPA) is being organized in New Delhi.
✓ It is being organized at India International Convention and Expo Center – Yashobhoomi. This is the largest
ever world investment conference under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade.
✓ WAIPA's World Investment Conference is being organized in India for the first time

Q. Which city has topped the recently released global pollution ranking?
A) Mumbai B) Jaipur
C) Lahore D) Dhaka
Answer : C .
✓ According to the report of IQAir, Lahore city of Pakistan is at the top in the Global Pollution Ranking with
poor air quality.
✓ Hazardous Air Quality Index (AQI) of 400 has been observed in Lahore.
Q. Consider following statements regarding ‘Green Rising Initiative’
1. The initiative is launched by United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) at the COP28.
2. This initiative focuses on engaging youth for impactful environmental actions at the grassroots
level, aligning with the global effort to address the severe impacts of climate change.
3. Through the YuWaah campaign in India, the focus is on engaging youth to drive impactful
environmental actions at the grassroots level.
How many of the above-mentioned statements are correct?

Answer : B .
✓ Recently, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)’s Generation Unlimited in collaboration with
India's Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change unveiled the "Green Rising" initiative at
COP28 in Dubai. Hence statement 1 is not correct.
✓ About Green Rising Initiative:
✓ This initiative focuses on engaging youth for impactful environmental actions at the grassroots level, aligning
with the global effort to address the severe impacts of climate change. Hence statement 2 is correct.
✓ The global "Green Rising" initiative and the "Green Rising India Alliance" marks a collaborative effort
involving UNICEF, Generation Unlimited, and a diverse network of public, private, and youth partners.
✓ The main goal is to mobilize millions of young people worldwide, encouraging their active participation in
green initiatives addressing and adapting to the severe impacts of climate change on their communities

✓ Through the YuWaah campaign in India, the focus is on engaging youth to drive impactful environmental
actions at the grassroots level. Hence statement 3 is correct.
Q. Often seen in news, the Consumer Confidence Survey, is released by:
A) NITI AAYOG
B) Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

C) Ministry of Finance
D) Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution

Answer : B .
✓ The Consumer Confidence Survey is being released by Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
✓ It is conducted in 13 Indian cities.
✓ It is a Bi-monthly exercise, done to indicate the comparison between current economic scenarios in the
country with the last survey.
Q. Who has been elected as the new Chief Minister of Rajasthan?

A) Rajnath Singh B) Vasundhara Raje
C) Balak Nath D) Bhajan Lal Sharma
Answer : D .
✓ The name of Bhajan Lal Sharma has been announced as the new Chief Minister of Rajasthan.
✓ He was also the state general secretary of Bharatiya Janata Party four times.
✓ 56-year-old Sharma has become MLA for the first time from Sanganer Assembly of Jaipur.
✓ He defeated Pushpendra Bhardwaj of Congress
NEWLY CHIEF MINISTER IN NEWS 2023

➢ Bhajan Lal Sharma newly elected Chief Minister of Rajasthan (BJP)
➢ Mohan Yadav is the newly elected Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh (BJP)
➢ Mohan Yadav, an MLA from Ujjain South.
➢ Lalduhoma sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Mizoram [Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) ].
➢ Vishnu Deo Sai is New Chhattisgarh Chief Minister (BJP).
➢ Anumula Revanth Reddy has taken oath as the Chief Minister of Telangana.

RAJASTHAN IN NEWS 2023
➢ Recently, during the Rajasthan International Folk Festival, artists performed the Kalbeliya dance.
➢ Rajasthan government has launched the ‘iStart Talent Connect Portal’ at Jaipur’s Techno Hub to boost
employment opportunities in the state.
➢ Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched multiple projects worth ₹5,000 crore in Rajasthan and
asserted that they will lead to further development of the state.
➢ Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has announced the formation of three new districts in the
state — Malpura, Sujangarh, and Kuchman City. Rajasthan will now have 53 districts.
➢ Rajasthan government has issued an order to conduct a caste survey in the state. It will become the
second state in India to carry out such a survey, after Bihar.
➢ Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) India Limited, a Navratna Central Public Sector Undertaking
(CPSE) under the Ministry of Coal, has emerged victorious in securing an 810 MW Solar PV project
capacity from Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Nigam Limited (RRVUNL).
➢ Prime Minister recently offered prayers at the Sanwariya Seth Temple in Chittorgarh, Rajasthan.
➢ NABARD has sanctioned Rs 1,974.07 crore to the Rajasthan government under the Rural
Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) for 2023-24.
➢ Noor Shekhawat became the first transgender person in Rajasthan to be issued a birth certificate with
the gender recorded as transgender.
➢ For the first time in India, the Rajasthan government introduced the Rajasthan Platform Based Gig
Workers Bill, 2023.
➢ Rajasthan Assembly passed a bill to provide minimum guaranteed income to all adult citizens as part
of a welfare package for the state.
➢ Rajasthan government is set to take stringent measures against recruitment exam paper leaks by
introducing a bill in the upcoming assembly session.
➢ Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari inaugurated and laid the
foundation stone of 11 National Highway projects worth Rs 5600 crore in Pratapgarh, Rajasthan.
➢ Rajasthan government has sanctioned Rs 13.48 crore to promote religious tourism at Nagaur,
Jaisalmer, and Alwar regions of the state.
➢ PM Modi Launches Projects Worth Rs 5,500 Crore In Rajasthan, Including 114 Km Long Six-Lane
Udaipur-Shamlaji Section Of NH-48.

➢ Lithium reserves have been discovered in Rajasthan’s Degana following the recent discovery in
Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi.
➢ Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Jal Jan Abhiyan virtually on Abu Road in the Sirohi
district of Rajasthan.
Q. Who will be honored with the Padmapani Lifetime Achievement Award?
A) Amitabh Bachchan B) Javed Akhtar

C) Asha Bhosle D) Rajinikanth
Answer : B .
✓ Veteran lyricist and writer Javed Akhtar will be honored with the Padmapani Lifetime Achievement Award
at the Ajanta-Ellora Film Festival.
✓ He is being given this award for his contribution to the Indian film industry.
✓ He is the co-writer of classic Hindi cinema films like "Zanjeer", "Deewar", "Sholay", "Don", "Kala Patthar"
and "Mr. India".
✓ Ajanta-Ellora Film Festival was earlier known as Aurangabad International Film Festival
Q. In which state is the annual 'Shar Amartala Torgya' festival celebrated every year?
A) Assam B) Arunachal Pradesh
C) Meghalaya D) Manipur
Answer : B .
✓ 'Shar Amartala Torgya' Festival is an annual festival celebrated in the state of Arunachal Pradesh.
✓ Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu participated in the festival organized in West Kameng
district.
✓ Amartala (Balemu) of the state is a place of utmost religious importance

➢ 'Shar Amartala Torgya' Festival : Arunachal Pradesh


Q. Where is the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence summit being organized?

A) New Delhi B) Mumbai
C) Chennai D) Kolkata
Answer : A .
✓ Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI)
summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
✓ GPAI is a multidisciplinary initiative aimed at promoting cutting-edge research on AI-related priorities.
✓ The world's top Artificial Intelligence gamechangers including Intel, Reliance Jio, Google, Meta, Paytm
and Microsoft are participating in it.
Q. Who has been elected as the Prime Minister of Poland?

A) Beata Szydło
B) Donald Tusk
C) Andrzej Duda
D) Mariusz Błaszczak
Answer : B .
✓ The Parliament of Poland has elected Donald Tusk as Prime Minister.

✓ Tusk came to power after the coalition's victory in the elections held two months ago.
✓ 248 parliamentary votes were cast in support of Tusk in the 460-seat lower house of parliament.
✓ Poland is a Central European country, its capital is Warsaw

NEWLY PRIME MINISTER IN NEWS 2022 – 23
➢ Donald Tusk : Poland
➢ Luke Frieden : Luxembourg
➢ Christopher Luxon : 42nd PM of New Zealand
➢ Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani : Qatar
➢ Li Qiang : China
➢ Manuela Roka Botey as first female PM : Equatorial Guinea
➢ Anwar Ibrahim : Malaysia
➢ Benjamin Netanyahu : Israel
➢ Rishi Sunak : 57th PM of United Kingdom (UK)
➢ Ulf Kristersson : Sweden
➢ Mohammed bin Salman : Saudi Arabia
➢ Ana Brnabic : Serbia
➢ James Marape : Papua New Guinea
➢ Dinesh Gunawardena : Sri Lanka
➢ Sheikh Mohammed Sabah Al Salem : Kuwait
➢ Hamza Abdi Barre : Somalia
➢ Anthony Albanese : Australia
➢ Emmanuel Macron : France
➢ Robert Golob : Slovenia
➢ Patrick Achi : Ivory Coast
➢ Shehbaz Sharif : Pakistan
➢ Viktor Orban : Hungary
➢ Robert Abela : Malta
➢ Antonio Costa : Portugal
➢ Mia Mottley : Barbados
➢ Alikhan Smailov : Kazakhstan
➢ Petr Fiala : Czech Republic
➢ Jonas Gahr Store : Norway
➢ Fumio Kishida : Japan

Q. Joint military exercise "VINBAX-2023" is being organized between India and which country?
A) France B) Vietnam
C) Malaysia D) Mongolia
Answer : B .
✓ Indian Armed Forces contingent has reached Hanoi for the joint military exercise 'VINBAX-2023'.
✓ The fourth edition of WinBEX is being organized in Hanoi, Vietnam.
✓ Winbax exercise is conducted between India and Vietnam.
✓ This time this exercise is being organized from 11 to 21 December 2023.
✓ The practice 'Winbax' was started in the year 2018.
Q. Which country has won the 12th edition of Admiral’s Cup 2023 held at Indian Naval Academy,
Ezhimala?
A) Italy B) Japan
C) Malaysia D) USA
Answer : A .
✓ The 12th edition of ‘Admiral’s Cup’ Sailing Regatta concluded with a glittering closing ceremony at
Ettikulam Beach at Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala.
✓ Team Italy represented by Midshipman Avallone Antonio & Midshipman Creati Carlo Leonardo won the
Admiral’s Cup 23.
✓ Team India represented by Midshipman PPK Reddy and Cadet GY Reddy was the Runners-Up and Team
United Kingdom & Germany represented by Officer Cadet Lucy Bell and Midshipman Aaron Middleton
from United Kingdom and Cadet Beckman Carl & Cadet Hinz Anton from Germany shared the third
position.
ITALY IN NEWS 2023

➢ Veteran actor Kabir Bedi awarded Italy’s civilian honour ‘Order of Merit’.
➢ Italy has officially withdrawn from China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) marking a
significant departure from its previous stance as the only G7 nation to participate.
➢ Italy defeat Australia to win Davis Cup for first time since 1976.
➢ India and Italy have cemented their defense cooperation with the signing of a significant agreement.

➢ India and Italy sign Mobility and Migration Partnership Agreement to facilitate movement of workers,
students.
➢ Former Italian President Giorgio Napolitano has died at the age of 98.
➢ After ChatGPT, Italy plans to ban English language.
➢ “V.C Yeshwant Ghadge Sundial Memorial” unveiled at Montone, Perugia in Italy as a tribute to
Indian troops who fought in in the Italian Campaign during the Second World War.
➢ ITALY
➢ Capital : Rome
➢ Currency : Euro
➢ President : Sergio Mattarella
➢ Prime Minister : Giorgia Meloni
Q. Consider the following statements about YUVAi Initiative

1. It is a joint initiative of Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Ministry of Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship.
2. It aims to train 500 tribal youths yearly with AI skills and empower them to become human-centric
designers and users of AI.
A) 1 only B) 2 only
Answer : D .
✓ Recently, the Ministry of Electronics and IT has said that the program- 'YUVAi- Youth for Unnati and Vikas
with AI’ will be featured at the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Summit.
✓ About YUVAi Initiative:
✓ It is a collaborative initiative of National e-Governance Division (NeGD), Ministry of Electronics &
Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India and Intel India.
✓ This programme, designed to equip the youth with essential Artificial Intelligence skills, has garnered
attention for its innovative approach and commitment to enabling a future-ready workforce.

✓ It is aimed to foster a deeper understanding of AI, to enable school students from class 8 to 12 across the
nation with AI skills and empower them to become human-centric designers and users of AI.
Q. Who has been named as the International Anti Corruption Champion?

A) Nikhil Dey B) Preeti Desai
C) Indira Nooyi D) Vikram Sinha

Answer : A .
✓ Nikhil Dey has been named as International Anti-Corruption Champion by USA.

✓ The United States Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs gave this honor to Indian
social activist Nikhil Dey.
✓ Nikhil is also the co-founder of 'Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan' in India.
Q. PM Narendra Modi has sanctioned an ambitious urban flood mitigation project for which city, with
a budget allocation of Rs 561.29 crore under the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF)?
A) Chennai B) Mumbai
C) Hyderabad D) Bengaluru
Answer : A .
✓ Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sanctioned an ambitious urban flood mitigation project for Chennai,
with a budget allocation of Rs. 561.29 crore under the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF).
✓ This announcement arrives as Chennai grapples with the devastating aftermath of Cyclone Michaung.
Torrential rains have left the city submerged in water, highlighting the critical need for improved flood
prevention measures.
✓ The ‘Integrated Urban Flood Management Activities for Chennai Basin Project’ represents a proactive
measure to address the challenges posed by urban flooding
Q. Who has addressed the 2nd Edition of the flagship Financial Technology event – Infinity Forum 2.0?
A) Draupadi Murmu B) Narendra Modi
C) Jagdeep Dhankhar D) Nirmala Sitharaman
Answer : B .
✓ Prime Minister Narendra Modi has addressed the 2nd Edition of the flagship Financial Technology event –
Infinity Forum 2.0.

✓ The event is hosted by the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) and Gujarat
International Finance Tec-City, GIFT City, under the aegis of the Union Government.
✓ Organized as a pre-cursor event to Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024, the 2nd edition of the Infinity
Forum 2.0, was held in hybrid mode, with an invite-only in-person event scheduled in GIFT City and for
virtual participation from participants across the globe.
Q. Who has inaugurated the new office premises of Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Mumbai
Bench?
A) Droupadi Murmu B) DY Chandrachud
C) Jagdeep Dhankhar D) Narendra Modi

Answer : B .
✓ The new office premises of Central Administrative Tribunal, Mumbai Bench at Nishtha Bhawan, New
Marine Lines, near Churchgate Station, Mumbai-400020; has been inaugurated by Chief Justice of India Dr
DY Chandrachud.
✓ He commended the Central Government’s support in establishing judicial infrastructure.
✓ He has further elaborated the creation of the Tribunals by 42nd amendment with the objective of combating
the delays and backlog faced by the Courts.
Q. Which country will host the 37th session of the Asia Pacific Regional Conference (APRC) of the
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in February 2024?
A) Maldives B) Sri Lanka
C) Vietnam D) Thailand
Answer : B .
✓ Sri Lanka will host the 37th session of the Asia Pacific Regional Conference (APRC) of the Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in February 2024
✓ The conference will enable ministers of agriculture and high officials from 46 member countries across the
Asia Pacific region to discuss challenges and priorities related to food and agriculture, promoting regional
coherence.
✓ According to the FAO, by hosting the event, Sri Lanka demonstrates the country’s dedication to the growth
of sustainable agriculture, not just at home but across the region, and showcases its commitment to being
partner in sustainable agricultural development.

Q. Author Tshering Tashi has been conferred with the Sahitya Akademi’s ‘Premchand Fellowship’. He
is from which country?
A) Nepal B) Singapore
C) Vietnam D) Bhutan
Answer : D .
✓ Noted Bhutanese author Tshering Tashi was conferred with the Sahitya Akademi’s ‘Premchand
Fellowship’.
✓ Based in Bhutan’s capital Thimphu, Mr. Tashi is a writer known for his works in the field of creative non-
fiction.
✓ He has written numerous books on Bhutan and has made his country accessible, engaging, and interesting
for the youth. He is also the co-director of the Bhutan Echoes Literary Festival.
✓ BHUTAN
✓ Capital : Thimphu
✓ Currency : Ngultrum
Q. Naeem Sayyed, a well-known actor known for his comic roles, passed away at the age of 67. He was
also known as ___ by fans?
A) Junior Sayyed B) Junior Majnu
C) Junior Mahmood D) Junior Chacha
Answer : C .
✓ Naeem Sayyed, a well-known actor known for his comic roles, passed away at the age of 67.
✓ He also known as Junior Mahmood by fans, had a prolific career that included many critically acclaimed
films.
✓ For the unversed, Junior Mehmood was a part of Nakuul Mehta and Disha Parmar starrer Pyaar Ka Dard
Hai Meetha Meetha Pyara Pyara.
✓ Junior Mehmood was a well-known actor who appeared in films such as Caravan, Mera Naam Joker, and
Haathi Mere Saathi
Q. Which state impalements ‘Maha Lakshmi scheme’, aimed at providing free travel to women in buses?
A) Tamil Nadu B) Telangana

C) Kerala D) Odisha

Answer : B .
✓ Telangana government has issued guidelines for the implementation of Maha Lakshmi scheme, aimed at
providing free travel to women in TSRTC buses.
✓ The Maha Lakshmi scheme aims to provide free travel for girls, women of all age groups, and transgender
persons in state-run Palle Velugu and express buses operated by the Telangana State Road Transport
Corporation (TSRTC) within the borders of Telangana State.
Q. Who has become the first woman medical officer to be posted at the 'operational post' of Siachen
Glacier?
A) Fatima Wasim B) Shiva Chauhan
C) Geetika Kaur D) Avani Chaturvedi
Answer : A .
✓ Captain Fatima Wasim has become the first woman medical officer to be posted at the operational post of
Siachen Glacier.
✓ Fatima has been trained in Siachen Battle School.
✓ Fatima Wasim has been posted at a post at an altitude of 15200 feet.
✓ Recently, Captain Geetika Kaul of Snow Leopard Brigade had become the first woman medical officer to
be deployed in Siachen.
FIRST'S FEMALE IN NEWS 2023

➢ Captain Fatima Wasim has become the first woman medical officer to be posted at the operational
post of Siachen Glacier.
➢ Captain Geetika Kaul of Snow Leopard Brigade had become the first woman medical officer to be
deployed in Siachen.
➢ Sue Redfern became the first woman to stand as an umpire in a men’s first-class cricket match in
England and Wales.
➢ Jaya Varma Sinha has been appointed as the new Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer (CEO),
Railway Board (Ministry of Railways) w.e.f Sept 01, 2023. She has replaced AK Lahoti.
➢ She is the first woman to be appointed to this Apex post of Indian Railways.
➢ Geetika Srivastava is first woman to head Indian mission in Pakistan.
➢ Phangnon Konyak became the first woman to chair the Rajya Sabha from Nagaland.

➢ Tenzing Yangki has become the first female IPS officer of Arunachal Pradesh.
➢ Lisa Franchetti becomes 1st woman to be top Navy officer in US history.
➢ Nusrat Chowdhary will become the first Muslim woman federal judge in US history.
➢ Celeste Saulo of Argentina has been appointed as the first female Secretary-General of the World
Meteorological Organization (WMO).
➢ Shalini Singh from Lucknow has become the first woman NCC cadet in India to complete a
mountaineering course in the Himalayan region of Uttarakhand.
➢ Parminder Chopra becomes first woman Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Power Finance
Corporation.
➢ Amy Pope of the United States has been selected as the first female Director-General of the United
Nations Migration Agency.
➢ Lieutenant Shivangi Singh is the first woman Rafale pilot to take part in Orion Exercise 2023.
➢ Wing Commander Deepika Mishra has become the first woman Air Force officer to receive the
Gallantry Medal.
➢ New Zealand-born Kim Cotton has become the first female umpire to officiate in a Men’s T20
International (T20I) cricket match involving two ICC full-member nations.
➢ Sheenu Jhawar becomes first woman president of TiE Rajasthan.
➢ American Space Agency, NASA has selected the first woman astronaut, Christina Koch for its
Artemis II mission.
➢ Surekha Yadav, Asia’s 1st woman loco pilot who now operates Vande Bharat, From Solapur to
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminal (CSMT) in Maharashtra.
➢ Shalija Dhami becomes first woman officer to command a fighter unit in Indian Air Force (IAF).
➢ Colonel Geeta Rana became the first woman officer to command a field workshop.
➢ Captain Shiva Chauhan becomes the first women officer to be operationally deployed in the highest
battleground in Kumar Post on the Siachen glacier.
➢ The first woman officer to be posted on foreign assignment in the Border Roads Organization (BRO)
- Captain Surabhi Jakhmola.
➢ Rae Bareli's hockey stadium is named after hockey star Rani Rampal, first woman player from India
to achieve this feat.
➢ Hekani Jakhalu became the first female MLA of Nagaland Assembly.

➢ Equatorial Guinea appoints Manuela Roka Botey as first female PM.
➢ Indian-origin Manpreet Monica Singh sworn in as 1st female Sikh judge of USA.
➢ Santhi Kumari Appointed as First Woman Chief Secretary of Telangana.
➢ Saudi Arabia's Rayna Barnawi first female astronaut is set to go into space this year .
➢ Dina Boluarte became Peru’s first female president.
➢ FIFA has announced that Stephanie Frappart of France will be the first woman to referee a men’s’
World Cup match.
➢ PT Usha Become First Women President of Indian Olympic Association.
Q. Which Country is world's biggest opium producer according to Southeast Asia Opium Survey 2023?
A) Bhutan B) Indonesia
C) Bangladesh D) Myanmar
Answer : D .
✓ United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released its Southeast Asia Opium Survey 2023.
✓ The report states that Myanmar is the world's biggest opium producer.
✓ It added, from 2022 to 2023, Myanmar saw an 18 per cent increase to one lakh 16 thousand acres in the
amount of land used to grow the illicit crop and a 16 per cent rise in production.
✓ The growth can be attributed to multiple factors such as improved plot density, the use of irrigation and
fertilisers.
✓ Earlier Afghanistan held the infamous title but since the ascent of Taliban to power in 2021, cultivation of
opium poppies has seen a decrease of 95 per cent.
✓ The report notes that opium farming in Southeast Asia is closely linked to poverty, lack of government
services, challenging macroeconomic environments, instability and insecurity.
Q. Indian consumer technology (consumertech) industry is set to rise as the total addressable market will
reach $300 billion by which year?
A) 2030 B) 2027
C) 2035 D) 2028
Answer : B .
✓ Indian Consumer Tech To Touch $300 Bn By 2027.

✓ The Indian ConsumerTech industry is set to rise as the total addressable market will reach ~USD 300 Bn,
by 2027, growing at a CAGR of ~25%.
✓ Chiratae Ventures, in collaboration with 1Lattice and powered by Google, has unveiled “Cracking the Code:
Unveiling India’s Consumer Landscape,” the first instalment of a three-part Annual Report series.

➢ Indian Consumer Tech To Touch $300 Bn By 2027.
by 2027.
America.
2030.

Q. Reserve Bank of India has increased the limit for automatic payments through UPI to ____per
transaction from the existing Rs 15,000 for certain categories .
A) Rs 1 lakh B) Rs 5 lakh
C) Rs 2 lakh D) Rs 3 lakh
Answer : A .
✓ Automatic payment limit through UPI raised to Rs 1 lakh.

✓ Reserve Bank of India increased the limit for automatic payments through UPI to Rs 1 lakh per transaction
from the existing Rs 15,000 for certain categories, including subscription to mutual funds.
✓ As of now, relaxation in Additional Factor of Authentication (AFA) is permitted while processing e-
mandates/standing instructions on cards, prepaid payment instruments and UPI (Unified Payments
Interface), for subsequent recurring transactions with values up to Rs 15,000.
✓ UPI has emerged a preferred mode of payment for a large section of the population with over 11.23 billion
transactions recorded in November.
Q. Defense Ministry to buy 70,000 more assault rifles from Sig Sauer for ₹800 crore. Sig Sauer belongs
to which country?
A) Israel B) France
C) Russia D) United States
Answer : D .

✓ The Ministry of Defence has cleared a proposal to purchase 70,000 more semi-automatic assault rifles from
US-based Sig Sauer for Indian Army which is already using them from 2019 onwards.
✓ The repeat order for acquisition of Sig Sauer is valued at ₹800 crore.
✓ India has already purchased over 72,400 7.62 x 51mm calibre Sig Sauer assault rifles, of which Army got
66,400, Air Force 4000 and Navy 2000, offering an alternative to indigenously made INSAS and
Kalishnikov rifles.
✓ The armed forces have recently acquired Russian AK-103 in significant numbers besides its expected
deliveries of the AK-203 which are being manufactured at a Amethi faced after the two countries inked a
joint venture
Q. Aditya Birla Group’s Hindalco Industries will invest Rs 800 crore to set up a battery aluminium foil
plant in which state?
A) Telangana B) Madhya Pradesh
C) Odisha D) Assam
Answer : C .
✓ Hindalco Industries plans Rs 800 crore unit in Odisha to tap EV ecosystem.

✓ Aditya Birla Group’s Hindalco Industries will invest Rs 800 crore to set up a battery aluminium foil plant
in Odisha as it evaluates opportunities in the electric mobility value chain.
✓ The 25,000-tonne plant will be commissioned by July 2025.
✓ “The company is investing Rs 800 crore to build a new plant near Sambalpur in Odisha that will initially
produce 25,000 tonnes of the resilient product which forms the backbone of Lithium-ion and Sodium-ion
cells,”.
✓ Hindalco expects national demand for battery-grade aluminium foil will touch 40,000 tonnes by 2030.
ODISHA IN NEWS 2023

➢ Aditya Birla Group’s Hindalco Industries will invest Rs 800 crore to set up a battery aluminium foil
plant in Odisha.
➢ President Draupadi Murmu has launched the National Education Campaign titled "New Education
for New India" in Odisha.
➢ Odisha Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, has granted approval for the ‘Location
Accessible Multi-modal Initiative (LAccMI)’ scheme.

➢ Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri Jyotiraditya M Scindia inaugurated Utkela Airport owned by the
Government of Odisha.
➢ Recently, Koraput Kalajeera Rice,’ an aromatic rice of odisha has got Geographical Indications status.
➢ Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has distributed land right certificates to the 65,000 poor
families living in the slums of five metropolitan cities including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur,
Sambalpur, and Rourkela.
➢ Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has launched the ‘Mo Jungle Jami Yojana’ for indigenous
people of the state to ensure individual and community rights over forest land for eligible beneficiaries.
➢ India’s biggest natural arch formed 184 million years ago discovered in Odisha by Geological Survey
of India (GSI).
➢ Odisha becomes the first state to notify a committee for conservation of seeds preserved by tribal
farmers.
➢ Odisha government launched the 'Mo Ghara' (My Home) housing scheme.
➢ PM Modi launches railway projects worth over 8,000 crore rupees in Odisha.
➢ Odisha government has expanded the jurisdiction of Special Development Councils (SDCs) from nine
to 23 districts to improve the lives of 84 lakh tribal people.
➢ Odisha has its 88th foundation day on 1st April 2023.
➢ World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved USD 100 million loan under Odisha State
Capability and Resilient Growth Program.
➢ Odisha won the UN-Habitat's World Habitat Awards 2023 for Jaga Mission, a 5T initiative of the
state.
➢ Aska police station of Odisha's Ganjam district became the country's number one police station.
➢ Gangapur police station in Odisha's Ganjam district has been awarded the second best police station
award.
➢ Gold Deposits Found at Different Location in Three Districts of Odisha , including Deogarh,
Keonjhar, and Mayurbhanj.
➢ Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced that the Odisha government aims to make Odisha slum-
free by the end of 2023

Q. Who has recently been selected for Vyas Samman, 2023?
A) Yashpal B) Pushpa Bharti
C) Nirad Chandra Choudhary D) Aarti Goswami

Answer : B .
✓ Noted Hindi writer Pushpa Bharti's 2016 memoir, 'Yaadein, Yaadein aur Yaadein', has been selected for the
33rd Vyas Samman, 2023.
✓ This information has been given by KK Birla Foundation in an official statement.
✓ Vyas Samman is a literary award which was first given in 1991.
✓ The Vyas Samman is a literary award in India, first awarded in 1991.
✓ It is awarded annually by the K.K. Birla Foundation and includes a cash payout of Rs 4,00,000 (as of 2019).
✓ To be eligible for the award, the literary work must be in the Hindi language and have been published in the
past 10 years.
Q. Which actor has recently been honored with Italy's prestigious civilian honour?
A) Amitabh Bachchan B) Kabir Bedi
C) R Madhavan D) Manoj Bajpayee
Answer : B .
✓ Actor Kabir Bedi has been honored with the prestigious civilian honor 'Order of Merit of the Italian Republic'
given by Italy.
✓ This award is known as 'Merito Della Repubblica Italiana'.
✓ This is one of the highest honors of Italy.
✓ It was established on 3 March 1951
Q. SBI Mutual Fund has bought 1.5% stake in which bank for Rs 190 crore?
A) Karur Vysya Bank B) HDFC Bank
C) ICICI Bank D) Yes Bank
Answer : A .
✓ SBI Mutual Fund buys 1.5% stake Karur Vysya Bank for Rs 190 crore.
✓ SBI Mutual Fund acquired shares of scheduled commercial bank Karur Vysya Bank for Rs 190 crore
through open market transactions. According to the bulk deal data available with the BSE and NSE, SBI

Mutual Fund (MF) purchased a total of 1,20,00,000 shares, amounting to a 1.5 per cent stake in Karur Vysya
Bank
Q. Which cryptocurrency platforms, has unveiled PeepalCo, a new umbrella brand?

A) Ethereum B) Solana
C) Tether D) CoinSwitch
Answer : D .
✓ CoinSwitch, one of India's top cryptocurrency investment platforms, has unveiled PeepalCo, a new umbrella
brand that will house all its business divisions as part of its wealth tech expansion.
✓ Ashish Singhal, Co-Founder and Group CEO, PeepalCo group.
Q. Which country's NGO has been honored with the 'International Gender Equality Award' 2023?
A) Syria B) Israel
C) Afghanistan D) Brazil
Answer : C .
✓ Finland has honored an Afghan NGO with the 'International Gender Equality Award' 2023.
✓ This NGO works to promote and protect women's rights in Afghanistan.
✓ Prime Minister of Finland Petteri Orpo also presented 300,000 euros along with the award.
Q. Who has become the fastest batsman to score 2,000 runs in T20I in terms of ball?
A) Suryakumar Yadav B) Glenn Maxwell
C) Virat Kohli D) David Miller
Answer : A .
✓ Indian T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav created a new record on the South African tour, becoming the fastest
batsman to score 2000 runs in T20 International with the ball.
✓ Also, Surya jointly achieved this milestone with star batsman Virat Kohli in 56 innings
Q. How many million US dollars will IMF provide to Sri Lanka to improve its economy?
A) 100 million B) 248 million
C) 337 million D) 510 million
Answer : C .

✓ Sri Lanka will get 337 million US dollars assistance from IMF to stabilize the economy.
✓ The IMF Executive Board has completed the first review under the 48-month Extended Fund Facility with
Sri Lanka.
✓ China holds 52 percent of Sri Lanka's total debt.
✓ The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is a major financial agency of the United Nations.
Q. UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited will collaborate with which Indian ministry to launch the “Green
Rising” initiative at the COP28 Summit?
A) Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
B) Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
C) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
D) Ministry of Environment and Forests
Answer : D .
✓ UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited, in collaboration with India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest, and
Climate Change will unveil the “Green Rising” initiative at COP28 in Dubai.
✓ The global “Green Rising” initiative and the “Green Rising India Alliance” marks a collaborative effort
involving UNICEF, Generation Unlimited, and a diverse network of public, private, and youth partners.
✓ The main goal is to mobilize millions of young people worldwide, encouraging their active participation in
green initiatives addressing and adapting to the severe impacts of climate change on their communities.
✓ The “Green Rising” initiative focuses on engaging youth for impactful environmental actions at the
grassroots level, aligning with the global effort to address the severe impacts of climate change.
✓ The global “Green Rising” initiative and the “Green Rising India Alliance” marks a collaborative effort
involving UNICEF, Generation Unlimited and a diverse network of public, private, and youth partner.
Q. Which company has joined hands with Laghu Udyog Bharati to empower India’s micro-enterprises
with knowledge about government schemes, and digital credit?
A) U GRO Capital B) Canara Bank

C) Tata Capital D) Dhani Capital
Answer : A .

✓ A leading DataTech NBFC focused on MSME lending, U GRO Capital has joined hands with Laghu
Udyog Bharati (an organization dedicated to supporting and promoting micro-enterprises) to empower
India’s micro-enterprises with knowledge about government schemes, and digital credit.
✓ This Strategic Partnership Aims to Educate Small Businesses on Government Schemes and Promote Digital
Credit across the Country.
✓ India’s MSMEs have long been the backbone of the country’s economy, contributing significantly to
employment generation, industrial production, and overall economic growth
Q. IDFC FIRST Bank has launched a youth-centric “FIRST SWYP” credit card in partnership with
which company?
A) RuPay B) Mastercard
C) American Express D) Visa
Answer : B .
✓ IDFC FIRST Bank has introduced a youth-centric “FIRST SWYP” credit card in partnership with
Mastercard.
✓ This card can be used as a no-interest charge card and has curated features — flexible bill repayments
through EMIs, a benefit-laden referral program, and exclusive and relevant merchant partnerships.
✓ The card will address demands of new-age customers, blending benefits across their favorite categories of
spends and lifestyle-related offers and innovative propositions, it added.
✓ The new card is the Bank’s second youth-focused credit card. It had earlier launched “FIRST Millennia
Credit Cards”
Q. Who has become the new President of the industry association FICCI (Federation of Indian
Chambers of Commerce & Industry) for 2023-24?
A) Anish Shah B) Sandip Somany

C) Sanjiv Mehta D) Rashesh Shah
Answer : A .
✓ Group CEO of Mahindra Group and Managing Director of M&M, Anish Shah has become the new
President of the industry association FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry).
✓ Shah succeeded Subhrakant Panda as FICCI President at the apex chamber’s just-finished 96th Annual
Convention in the capital.

✓ Harsha Vardhan Agarwal, Emami Limited’s Vice Chairman and Managing Director, has been promoted to
Senior Vice President at FICCI.
✓ Before joining Mahindra Group, Shah was President and CEO of GE Capital India from 2009 to 2014,
where he oversaw the company’s restructuring, including the rescue of its SBI Card joint venture.
✓ Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)
✓ It is a business lobby group of top business houses in India which was founded by Ghanshyam Das Birla.
✓ It was set up in 1927
✓ It articulates the views and concerns of industry and tries to influence the government to make policy which
is in favour of the industry and business.
✓ Headquarters: New Delhi
✓ President: Anish Shah
Q. Who has been elected as the speaker of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly?
A) Shivraj Singh Chauhan B) Narendra Singh Tomar
C) Rajendra Shukla D) Jagdish Devda
Answer : B .
✓ The newly elected BJP MLAs in Madhya Pradesh have elected Dr Mohan Yadav as the new chief minister
of the state. Earlier this month, the BJP scored a landslide victory in Madhya Pradesh by winning 166 seats.
✓ Outgoing finance minister and two-time MLA Jagdish Devda from Mandsaur and outgoing public relations
minister MLA Rajendra Shukla from Rewa have been elected as deputy chief ministers.
✓ Mohan Yadav is a member of Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly from the Ujjain Dakshin constituency
in Ujjain district
✓ He first became an MLA in 2013 from the same seat. He won the assembly elections from the same seat in
2018 and 2023.
✓ Mohan Yadav is also a cabinet minister in Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s government.
✓ Mohan Yadav has won the 2023 elections by more than 13000 votes.
✓ Mohan Yadav has several educational degrees including BSC, LLB, MA, MBA, and PhD.
✓ Ex-union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar has been elected as the speaker of the Madhya Pradesh
Assembly

Q. Kashvi Gautam has become the most expensive uncapped player of all time in the Women’s Premier
League (WPL) Auction 2024. Kashvi Gautam has been acquired by which team for Rs 2 crore?
A) Mumbai Indians B) UP Warrior
C) Delhi Capitals D) Gujarat Giants
Answer : D .
✓ India’s young player Kashvee Gautam has bagged a huge profit in the star auction ahead of the 2024 season
of Women’s Premier League (WPL 2024).
✓ Kashvi became the most valuable uncapped player of all time in the Women’s Premier League. The young
star, who had a base price of Rs 10 lakh, was acquired by Gujarat Giants for Rs 2 crore.
✓ The Chandigarh star was snapped up by Gujarat after a fierce bidding war with UP Warriors. Within
minutes Gautham owns Vrinda Dinesh’s record of fetching Rs 1.3 crore in this auction itself.
Q. Name the Indian women’s doubles pair of have secured their second Super 100 title with a straight-
game win over Chinese Taipei’s Sung Shuo Yun and Yu Chien Hui at the Guwahati Masters 2023?
A) Ashmita Chaliha and Tanisha Crasto

B) Gayatri Gopichand and Ashwini Ponnappa
C) Tanya Hemanth and Tanisha Crast
D) Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa
Answer : D .
✓ Indian women’s doubles pair of Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa have secured their second Super
100 title with a straight-game win over Chinese Taipei’s Sung Shuo Yun and Yu Chien Hui at the Guwahati
Masters 2023.
✓ The second-seeded Indian combination, which finished runners-up at the Syed Modi International Super
300 tournament in Lucknow, beat the world no. 81 combination 21-13 21-19 in a 40-minute final.
✓ This was the third title for the Indian pair, which had clinched the Abu Dhabi Masters Super 100 and Nates
International Challenge this year.
✓ The BWF (Badminton World Federation) World Tour is divided into six levels, namely World Tour Finals,
four Super 1000, six Super 750, seven Super 500, and 11 Super 300. One more category of the tournament,
the BWF Tour Super 100 level, also offers ranking points

Q. Which of the following has signed an agreement with DC Multi Modal Park Limited, an SPV of
DeltaBulk Shipping India Pvt Ltd, for the development of Multi Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) at
Nagpur?
A) DRDO B) NHAI
C) HAL D) BRO
Answer : B .
✓ NHAI collaborates with SPV to develop Rs 673 cr logistics park at Nagpur.

✓ The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has signed an agreement with DC Multi Modal Park
(Nagpur) Limited, an SPV of DeltaBulk Shipping India Pvt Ltd, for the development of Multi Modal
Logistics Park (MMLP) at Nagpur. The MMLP will be developed in an area of 150 acres under the public-
private partnership (PPP) model at an estimated cost of Rs 673 crore. This project is poised to be the first
MMLP in Maharashtra under the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, making it a significant milestone
in the country's development.
Q. National Energy Conservation Day is observed every year on which day?

Answer : A .
✓ The National Energy Conservation Day is celebrated every year on 14 December by Bureau of Energy
Efficiency (BEE), under Ministry of Power.
✓ Purpose: to raise awareness among the general public about the importance of energy conversation and
energy efficiency, as well as holistic development for overall effort towards climate change mitigation.
✓ The Energy Conservation Act in India was executed by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) in the year
2001.
✓ BEE is a constitutional body that comes under Government of India and helps in the development of policies
and strategies in order to reduce the energy use.
Q. How Many Airports in the country (India) have been covered under ‘Krishi Udan Scheme’?
A) 179 B) 134
C) 91 D) 58

Answer : D .
✓ The Government has said that 58 Airports in the country have been covered under the Krishi Udan Scheme.
✓ The Scheme was launched in 2020 on international and national routes to assist farmers in transporting
agricultural products to help improve their value realization.
✓ Krishi Udan Scheme 2.0 was also announced in 2021 focusing on transporting perishable food products
from the hilly areas, North Eastern States, and tribal areas..
AIRPORT IN NEWS 2023

➢ 58 Airports in the country have been covered under Krishi Udan Scheme.
➢ Deoghar Airport in Jharkhand is the first airport in the country to land a commercial aircraft in low
visibility.
➢ Larsen and Toubro (L&T) Construction have secured a large order to construct the greenfield
Bhogapuram International Airport project in Andhra Pradesh.
➢ The largest airport in the world is the king Fahd International Airport, located in Dammam, Saudi
Arabia which covers an area of about 300 sq.
➢ Guwahati's Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport became the first airport in the northeast
to get ‘Digi Yatra’ facility.
➢ Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate Gujarat's first greenfield airport at Hirasar near Rajkot.
➢ Government of India has given 'in-principle' approval for setting up 21 new greenfield airports.
➢ Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) has launched a new app called BLR Pulse to provide
hassle-free experience to the commuters at Kempegowda International Airport.
➢ Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport has launched a new facility called 'DigiYatra' which
enables passengers to avail of its services without downloading a mobile application.
➢ Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport is the first in India to offer a free reading lounge to the
passengers, with a huge collection of litreature.
➢ Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi ranked 9th busiest airports globally in 2022 , as per
Airports Council International (ACI). United States-based Atlanta airport has retained its position as
the world’s busiest airport.

➢ According to the Airport Council International (ACI), Delhi International Airport has been ranked
among the cleanest airports in Asia-Pacific.
➢ Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 27 February 2023 launched the newly built Shivamogga
airport along with various development projects worth over Rs 3,600 crore in Shivamogga, Karnataka.
➢ Bangalore’s Kempegoda International Airport and Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport
both ranked second and seventh in Cirium’s list of the world’s best-performing airports for 2022.
➢ Mopa International Airport Goa named after former CM Manohar Parrikar.
➢ Jaipur International Airport Limited has received the Aerodrome licence from the Directorate General
of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
➢ Union Cabinet has given its approval for the naming of the new Greenfield Airport at Hollongi,
Itanagar, the State Capital of Arunachal Pradesh as “Donyi Polo Airport, Itanagar”.
Q. Which bank has launched an exclusive savings bank product for women (Nari Shakti Savings
Account) with an independent source of income?
A) Bank of Maharashtra B) Canara Bank

C) Bank of India D) Punjab National Bank
Answer : C .
✓ Bank of India (BoI) has launched an exclusive savings bank product for women (Nari Shakti Savings
Account) with an independent source of income.
✓ The savings account has features such as personal accident insurance cover of up to ₹1 crore, discounted
health insurance and wellness products, and rebates on locker facilities for gold and diamond SB A/C
holders, among others.
✓ Additionally, the account offers a concessional rate of interest on retail loans and waiver of processing
charges on these loans, free issuance of credit cards and a higher usage limit of up to ₹5 lakh on POS.
✓ The Nari Shakti savings account is conceptualized as a financial savings tool to support working women (18
years and above), with an independent source of income, enabling them to become self-reliant and enjoy a
higher degree of financial freedom.
✓ For each New Nari Shakti account opened, the bank said it will make a contribution of ₹10 towards the
CSR fund, which will be utilised for the socio-economic development of underprivileged women and the
girl child.

BOI IN NEWS 2023
➢ Bank of India (BoI) has launched an exclusive savings bank product for women (Nari Shakti Savings
Account) with an independent source of income.
➢ Bank of India has inaugurated its IFSC Banking Unit (IBU) at GIFT SEZ area in Gandhinagar
➢ Rajneesh Karnatak has been appointed as the MD & CEO of the Bank of India (BOI) with effect from
April 29, 2023.
➢ He replaces Atanu Kumar Das.
➢ Bank of India has launched a ‘Centralized Pool Buy-Out and Co-Lending Cell’ to boost priority sector
lending in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
➢ Bank of India, one of the largest public sector banks (PSBs) in the country, has become the first bank
to officially roll out Mahila Samman Savings Certificate (MSSC) scheme..
➢ Bank of India (BOI)
➢ Founded : 7 September 1906
➢ Founder : Ramnarain Ruia
➢ MD & CEO : Rajneesh Karnatak
➢ Tagline : Relationship beyond Banking.
Q. Consider the following statements about ‘AMRIT’ (Arsenic and Metal Removal by Indian
Technology)
1. The technology was developed by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and IIT-Bombay.
2. The technology uses nano-scale iron oxy-hydroxide, which selectively removes arsenic when water
is passed through it.
Choose the incorrect statements:
A) 1 only B) 2 only
Answer : A .
✓ IIT-Madras has developed a technology called ‘AMRIT’ (Arsenic and Metal Removal by Indian
Technology) for the removal of Arsenic and Metal ions from water.
✓ About Amrit Technology:

✓ It is developed for the removal of Arsenic and Metal ions from water.
✓ The technology uses nano-scale iron oxy-hydroxide, which selectively removes arsenic when water is passed
through it.
✓ This water purifier has been developed for both domestic as well as community levels.
✓ Also, the technology has been recommended by the erstwhile ‘Standing Committee’ of the Department of
Drinking Water and Sanitation for the examination of the best technologies concerning water and sanitation.
✓ Key points about Arsenic:
✓ It is a natural component of the earth’s crust and is widely distributed throughout the environment in the
air, water and land.
✓ It is highly toxic in its inorganic form.
✓ World Health Organisation’s provisional guideline value for arsenic in drinking water - 0.01 mg/l (10 μg/l).
✓ Permissible limit of arsenic in India in absence of an alternative source - 0.05 mg/l (50 μg/l)
Q. For which cricketer has 'Arjun Award' been recommended by BCCI?
A) Shubman GillS B) Suryakumar Yadav

C) Shreyas Iyer D) Mohammed Shami
Answer : D .
✓ BCCI has nominated Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami for the Arjuna Award.
✓ BCCI has recommended Shami's name to the Sports Ministry.
✓ Shami performed brilliantly in the ODI World Cup 2023 and became the bowler taking the highest wicket.
✓ After Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, Arjun Award is India's second highest award in the field of
sports.
✓ Arjuna Award, officially known as Arjuna Awards for Outstanding Performance in Sports and Games
✓ First awarded : 1961
✓ Reward(s) : 15 Lakh
Q. In which country was a statue dedicated to 'Thiruvalluvar' unveiled recently?

A) Germany B) France
C) USA D) Brazil
Answer : B .

✓ A statue dedicated to Thiruvalluvar, a cultural icon revered among Tamilians, was unveiled in the French
city of Cergy.
✓ This initiative is being considered an important cultural achievement.
✓ Thiruvalluvar was a famous Indian poet and philosopher, the author of 'Thirukkusanga' (Thirukkural). He
is commonly known as 'Valluvar
STATUE IN NEWS 2023

➢ A statue dedicated to Thiruvalluvar, a cultural icon revered among Tamilians, was unveiled in the
French city of Cergy.
➢ Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Rajkot Fort
located in Sindhudurg, Maharashtra.
➢ External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar unveiled the bust of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore at the
International Friendship Park in Bac Ninh province, Vietnam.
➢ Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma unveiled a statue of medieval-era Ahom army commander, Lachit
Borphukan, and a Swahid Smarak at Bir Lachit Borphukan Park in Guwahati.
➢ Outside India, Dr. The largest statue of BR Ambedkar will be unveiled in the United States. The 19-
foot statue of Ambedkar has been named 'Statue of Equality' and will be inaugurated in Maryland,
USA.
➢ Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan unveiled the 108-foot-tall ‘Statue of Oneness’
of Adi Shankaracharya at Omkareshwar.
➢ President Droupadi Murmu has unveiled a 12 feet high statue of the father of the nation Mahatma
Gandhi and a ‘Gandhi Vatika’ at Gandhi Darshan near Rajghat in New Delhi.
➢ Union Home Minister Amit Shah on laid the foundation stone of 108 feet tall statue of Lord Shri
Ram in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh.
➢ Union Home Minister Amit Shah unveiled a 54 feet tall statue of Lord Hanuman at Sarangpur temple
in Botad district of Gujarat.
➢ Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah unveiled the statues of Lord
Basaveshwara ji and Nadaprabhu Kempegowda ji at the State Assembly premises in Bengaluru,
Karnataka.
➢ Samatha Kumbh is being held on the premises of the Statue of Equality at Muchintal, Telangana.

➢ Union Home Minister Amit Shah has unveiled a 120-feet-tall statue of a polo player riding a pony at
Marjing Polo Complex in Manipur’s Imphal East district.
➢ Tamil Nadu CM Stalin inaugurated statue of ‘Mahakavi Subramanian Bharathiyar’.
➢ Prime Minister Narendra Modi has unveiled a 108-feet tall bronze ‘Statue of Prosperity’
➢ of Sri Nadaprabhu Kempegowda in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
➢ 369-foot-tall Shiva statue called “Viswas Swaroopam” that has been built in Nathdwara, Rajasthan’s
Rajsamand district, will be dedicated.
➢ The Viswas Swaroopam statue was built by Tat Padam Sansthan.
Q. Consider the following statements about Indian Forest & Wood Certification Scheme
1. The scheme offers voluntary third-party certification to promote sustainable forest management
and agroforestry in the country.
2. Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal will be responsible for overall management of the
scheme.
A) 1 only B) 2 only
Answer : C .
✓ Recently, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has launched the Indian Forest &
Wood Certification Scheme.
✓ About the Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme:
✓ This national forest certification scheme offers voluntary third-party certification designed to promote
sustainable forest management and agroforestry in the country.
✓ The scheme includes forest management certification, tree outside forest management certification, and
chain of custody certification.
✓ The Forest Management certification is based on the Indian Forest Management Standard, consisting of 8
criteria, 69 indicators and 254 verifiers, which is an integral part of the National Working Plan Code 2023,
launched earlier this year.
✓ Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal will act as the scheme operating agency and will be
responsible for overall management of the scheme

Q. Consider the following statement about Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI)
1. GPAI is a 29 member multi-stakeholder initiative launched in 2020.
2. India is a founding member of GPAI and the lead chair of GPAI in 2024.
3. GPAI aims to bridge the gap between theory and practice on AI by supporting cutting-edge research
and applied activities.
A) Only one
B) Only two
C) All three
D) None of the above
Answer : C .
✓ Prime Minister has inaugurated the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Summit at Bharat
Mandapam.
✓ India is hosting the Annual Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Summit from December
12 – 14, 2023.
✓ About the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence:
✓ It is a multi-stakeholder initiative which aims to bridge the gap between theory and practice on AI by
supporting cutting-edge research and applied activities on AI-related priorities.
✓ It was launched in June 2020.
✓ Membership in GPAI is open to all countries, including emerging and developing countries.
✓ Member countries: At present it has 28 member countries including the European Union.
✓ India is one of the founding members of GPAI.
✓ Secretariat: Its secretariat is hosted at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
(OECD), Paris.
✓ The working groups will initially focus on four themes:
✓ Responsible AI
✓ Data Governance
✓ the Future of Work
✓ Innovation and Commercialization

Q. Consider the following statements about Atal Pension Yojana (APY)
1. The scheme is implemented by Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority.
2. The minimum age of joining APY is 18 years and maximum is 40 years.

3. It provides a minimum guaranteed pension ranging from Rs 1000 to Rs 5000 on attaining 60 years
of age.
Answer : C .
✓ The total enrolment under the Atal Pension Yojana (APY) has crossed 6 crore, with over 79 lakh enrolments
in the current Financial Year, 2023-24.
✓ APY is a guaranteed pension scheme for Indians that focuses primarily on those working in the unorganised
sector.
✓ Atal Pension Yojana:
✓ About:
✓ The scheme was launched in May, 2015, with the objective of creating a universal social security system for
all Indians, especially the poor, the under-privileged and the workers in the unorganised sector.
✓ The scheme has been implemented comprehensively across the country covering all states and Union
Territories with male to female subscription ratio of 57:43.
✓ However, only 5% of the eligible population has been covered under APY till date.
✓ Administered By:
✓ PFRDA through NPS.
✓ Eligibility:
✓ Any citizen of India can join the APY scheme. The age of the subscriber should be between 18-40 years.
✓ The contribution levels would vary and would be low if a subscriber joins early and increases if she joins
late.
✓ Benefits:
✓ It provides a minimum guaranteed pension ranging from Rs 1000 to Rs 5000 on attaining 60 years of age.
✓ The amount of pension is guaranteed for lifetime to the spouse on death of the subscriber.

Q. Who is the only Indian cricketer in the list of Google's top 10 trending athletes in the year 2023?
A) Virat Kohli B) Rohit Sharma
C) Shubhman Gill D) Mohammed Shami

Answer : C .
✓ The list of Google's top trending athletes of the year 2023 has been released. If we talk about cricketers, New
Zealand cricket player of Indian origin Rachin Ravindra is on top.
✓ Whereas India's young opening batsman Shubman Gill is the only Indian cricketer to make it to the top 10.
✓ Gill, popularly known as 'Prince of Cricket', played his first ODI World Cup tournament in 2023.
Q. Which TMC MP was suspended from Rajya Sabha for the remaining period of the winter session of
Parliament?
A) Nusrat Jahan Roohi B) Derek O'Brien
C) Abhishek Banerjee D) Prasun Banerjee
Answer : B .
✓ TMC MP Derek O'Brien has been suspended from the Rajya Sabha for the remaining period of the winter
session of Parliament for his unruly behaviour.
✓ Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar suspended O'Brien for disobeying the instructions to sit in the
House.
✓ In the Rajya Sabha, House leader Piyush Goyal had presented a proposal to suspend him from the House.
Q. Which player has been appointed by Kolkata Knight Riders as their captain for the next season?
A) Nitish Rana
B) Shreyas Iyer
C) Kuldeep Yadav
D) Andre Russell
Answer : B .
✓ Kolkata Knight Riders have appointed experienced Indian batsman Shreyas Iyer as their captain for the
upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL).
✓ Nitish Rana has been made the vice-captain.
✓ However, he was injured before the 2023 season, after which Nitish Rana was made the captain

Q. Which British Indian composer has been included in the 2024 Booker Prize judging panel?
A) Amitabh Ghosh B) Kiran Desai
C) Salman Rushdie D) Nitin Sawhney

Answer : D .
✓ British-Indian composer Nitin Sawhney has been announced as a member of the 2024 Booker Prize judging
panel.
✓ He is best known for the screen adaptation of Salman Rushdie's 1981 Booker Prize-winning Midnight's
Children.
✓ The International Booker Prize is an international literary award held in the United Kingdom
Q. Rays Power Infra has inked an initial pact with which state government to build a 500 MW solar park
in the state?
A) Himachal Pradesh B) Telangana
C) Uttarakhand D) Tamil Nadu

Answer : C .
✓ Rays Power Infra has inked an initial pact with the Uttarakhand government to build a 500 MW solar park
in the state.
✓ The collaboration underscores the company’s dedication to advancing sustainable energy initiatives and
aligning with the Uttarakhand government’s vision for an environmentally responsible future.
✓ This strategic partnership epitomizes our commitment to advancing solar energy solutions in India. The 500
MW solar park will not only fulfill a significant portion of the state’s power demands but will also act as a
catalyst for economic growth and environmental preservation.
Q. Which country has unveiled two new nuclear-powered submarines “Krasnoyarsk and Emperor
Alexander”?
A) Israel B) Iran
C) Russia D) Japan
Answer : C .
✓ President of Russia, Vladimir Putin has unveiled two new nuclear-powered submarines “Krasnoyarsk and
Emperor Alexander”.

✓ The Emperor Alexander III is the seventh Borei-class atomic-powered submarine to enter the service. Each
of them is armed with 16 nuclear-tipped Bulava intercontinental ballistic missiles.
✓ The Krasnoyarsk is a nuclear-powered submarine of the new Yasen type. It is armed with cruise missiles
and torpedoes, and is designed to hunt for enemy submarines and is also capable of attacking ground targets
Q. Intellect Design Arena Ltd has signed a ₹80 crore, five-year deal with which bank to deploy Intellect’s
eMACH.ai powered Cash Management System?
A) Canara Bank B) Indian Bank
C) Punjab National Bank D) UCO Bank

Answer : B .
✓ Intellect Design Arena Ltd, the Chennai-based FinTech company for financial and insurance clients, has
signed a ₹80 crore, five-year deal with Indian Bank to deploy Intellect’s eMACH.ai powered Cash
Management System.
✓ Indian Bank, with a network of 4,900 ATMs and 5,798 domestic branches, serves over 100 million customers
with 41,000 employees and $140 billion worth of assets.
✓ As part of the project ‘INDLEAP’, the Indian Bank has taken on the objective of digital transformation by
leveraging technology wherever possible with transaction banking and supply chain management being the
key growth engines
Q. Consider the following statements about Article 356

1. The proclamation of President’s Rule should be approved in both Houses of Parliament within one
month of its issue.
2. After initial six months, President’s Rule can be extended for a period of three years with
parliamentary approval, every one year.
3. A proclamation of revocation of President’s Rule does not require approval by Parliament.


Answer : A .
✓ The Supreme Court recently held that the declaration of State emergency under Article 356 and the
subsequent actions of the President should have a “reasonable nexus”.

✓ About Article 356:
✓ Article 356 of the Constitution of India is based on Section 93 of the Government of India Act, 1935.
✓ According to Article 356, President's Rule can be imposed on any state of India on the grounds of the failure
of the constitutional machinery.
✓ This is of two types:
✓ If the President receives a report from the state's Governor or is otherwise convinced or satisfied that the
state's situation is such that the state government cannot carry on the governance according to the provisions
of the Constitution.
✓ Article 365: As per this Article, President's Rule can be imposed if any state fails to comply with all directions
given by the Union on matters it is empowered to.
✓ In simple words, the President's Rule is when the state government is suspended and the central government
directly administers the state through the office of the Governor (centrally appointed).
✓ Parliamentary approval is necessary for the imposition of the President's Rule in any state.
✓ The proclamation of President's Rule should be approved in both Houses of Parliament within two months
of its issue. The approval is by a simple majority.
✓ The President's Rule is initially for a period of six months. Later, it can be extended for a period of three
years with parliamentary approval, every six months.
✓ The 44th Amendment to the Constitution (1978) brought in some constraints on the imposition of the
President's Rule beyond a period of one year. It says that President's Rule cannot be extended beyond one
year unless:
✓ There is a national emergency in India.
✓ The Election Commission of India certifies that it is necessary to continue the President's Rule in the state
because of difficulties in conducting assembly elections in the state.
✓ What happens after the President's Rule is imposed?
✓ The governor carries on with the administration of the state on behalf of the President. He or she takes the
help of the state's Chief Secretary and other advisors/administrators whom he or she can appoint.
✓ The President has the power to declare that the state legislature's powers would be exercised by the
Parliament.
✓ The state legislative assembly would be either suspended or dissolved by the President.

✓ When the Parliament is not in session, the President can promulgate ordinances with respect to the state's
administration.
✓ Revocation of the President's Rule:
✓ President's Rule can be revoked any time after such a proclamation has been made by a subsequent
proclamation by the President.
✓ A proclamation of revocation does not require approval by Parliament.
Q. Consider the following statements about Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA)

1. It aims to enhance the world’s adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience and reducing
vulnerability to climate change.
2. It was proposed by the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) in 2013 and established in 2015 under
Paris agreement.
3. Glasgow–Sharm el-Sheikh work program (GlaSS) is an initiative under GGA.


Answer : C .
✓ What is COP Climate Summit?

✓ In 1992, at the Rio Earth Summit, 154 countries signed a multilateral treaty called the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
✓ It aimed to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations “at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic
(human-induced) interference with the climate system.”
✓ Today, there are 198 ‘parties’ or signatories of the Convention.
✓ The first ever COP took place in Berlin, Germany in 1995. The first edition of COP entailed a discussion on
how to implement the UNFCCC.
✓ At the meeting, an agreement was reached “to meet annually to discuss action on climate change and
emissions reductions”.
✓ COP-8 was held in New Delhi, India. It is the only COP held in India till date.
✓ Between 30 Nov to 12 Dec 2023, the Government of the United Arab Emirates is hosting the 28th
Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP-28).

✓ As the search for a mutually agreeable position on fossil fuel elimination continued at the COP28 Summit
in Dubai, negotiators at the climate meeting took a small first step on initiating greater action on adaptation.
✓ Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA):
✓ The draft text is titled as ‘Global Goal on Adaptation’.
✓ GGA is an attempt to identify a common global goal on adaptation, just like keeping temperatures below
the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold is a global goal on mitigation.
✓ If the GGA framework is adopted, more than 195 countries will have to do their risk and vulnerability
assessment of climate hazards, and formulate their specific national adaptation plans by 2025.
✓ They will also have to establish multi-hazard early warning systems and climate information services for
risk reduction by 2027.
Q. Indian Goods Worth 3.7 Billion Dollars Are Entering Which Country To Get Boost by Free Trade
Agreement?
A) Oman B) Türkiye
C) Brunei D) Morocco
Answer : A .
✓ A proposed comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) between India and Oman is on a fast-track mode,
with a team of officials from the department of commerce in Muscat for negotiations.
✓ The development assumes significance since India and the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
— Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) —has not been able
to begin negotiations for more than a year.
✓ This is due to differences pertaining to the terms of reference, especially with Saudi Arabia. If the trade
works out, Oman will be the second GCC member after the UAE to ink an FTA with India. That apart, the
proposed agreement is also expected to further strengthen India’s economic ties with West Asia.
✓ India and the UAE had signed a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) in February 2022
Q. Which day is observed as the International Tea Day by the tea producing countries like India?
Answer : A .

✓ The International Tea Dayis observed annually on December 15 since 2005 in tea producing countries like
India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Vietnam, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, Tanzania and
Uganda.
✓ Purpose: draw global attention of governments and citizens to the impact of the global tea trade on workers
and growers, and has been linked to requests for price supports and fair trade.
✓ India is the second largest producer of tea in the World after China.
✓ It must be noted that the United Nations recognised International Tea Day is observed on 21 May.

Aparchit December 3rd Week English Best 350+ MCQs with Amazing Facts
Q. Who won the title of Miss India USA 2023?

A) Ayushi Kapoor B) Rijul Maini
C) Kirti Kamra D) Saloni Rammohan

Answer : B .
✓ Rijul Maini, a medical student from Michigan (US), won the title of Miss India USA 2023 in the annual
competition held in New Jersey.
✓ Sneha Nambiar of Massachusetts was declared Mrs. India USA.
✓ Saloni Rammohan of Pennsylvania was given the title of Miss Teen India USA.
✓ This year marks the 41st anniversary of the competition which is the longest running Indian competition
outside India
MISS WORLD / UNIVERSE IN NEWS 2023

➢ Rijul Maini won the title of Miss India USA 2023 in the annual competition held in New Jersey.
➢ Sheynnis Palacios from Nicaragua crowned Miss Universe 2023 during the 72nd Miss Universe
pageant in San Salvador.
➢ Praveena Aanjna crowned as Miss International India 2023.
➢ Priyan Sen, who hails from Rajasthan, won the Miss Earth India 2023 title during the Miss Divine
Beauty 2023 National Finals held in New Delhi.
➢ Rikkie Kollé is the first transgender woman to win Miss Universe Netherlands.
➢ Rajasthan’s Nandini Gupta crowned 2023 Femina Miss India.
➢ America's R'Bonnie Gabriel won the Miss Universe 2022 title at the 71st Miss Universe pageant.
➢ South Korea’s Mina Sue Choi Crowned Miss Earth 2022.
➢ Divita Rai from Karnataka won the prestigious title of Miss Diva Universe 2022.
➢ Indian-American Aarya Walvekar crowned Miss India USA 2022.
➢ Pallavi Singh wins the Mrs Universe Divine Crown in South Korea.
➢ Khushi Patel from UK is crowned Miss India Worldwide 2022.
➢ Karolina Bielawska from Poland has won the title of Miss World 2021.
➢ List of Miss World winners from India

1. Reita Faria : 1966
2. Aishwarya Rai : 1994
3. Diana Hayden : 1997
4. Yukta Mookhey : 1999
5. Priyanka Chopra : 2000
6. Manushi Chhillar : 2017.
➢ List of Miss Universe winners from India
1. Sushmita Sen : 1994
2. Lara Dutta : 2000
3. Harnaaz Sandhu : 2021.
➢ Reita Faria is the first Indian to win the Miss World in 1966.
➢ Sushmita Sen first Indian to win the Miss Universe title in 1994.
➢ Nicole Faria became the first Indian to win the ‘Miss Earth’ in 2010
Q. Fast Attack Craft 'INS Tarmugli' was commissioned at which Naval Dockyard?
A) Visakhapatnam Dockyard B) Cochin Shipyard Limited
C) Hindustan Shipyard D) Goa Shipyard Limited

Answer : A .
✓ Fast Attack Craft INS Tarmugli was commissioned by the Indian Navy in a program organized at Naval
Dockyard, Visakhapatnam.
✓ INS Tarmugli is a fast attack ship.
✓ Vice Admiral Sandeep Naithani, Chief of Material was the chief guest of the commissioning ceremony.
✓ It is named after an island in the Andaman group.
Q. Which bank has signed 'Line of Credit' with German Development Bank for solar project?
A) State Bank of India B) Bandhan Bank
C) Punjab National Bank D) ICICI Bank
Answer : A .
✓ State Bank of India (SBI) has signed a Line of Credit (LOC) of Euro 70 million (about Rs 630 crore) with
German development bank KfW to promote solar projects in the country.

✓ The objective of the LOC is to promote solar photovoltaics (PV) projects in India.
SBI IN NEWS 2023

➢ State Bank of India (SBI) has signed a Line of Credit (LOC) of Euro 70 million (about Rs 630 crore)
with German development bank KfW to promote solar projects in the country.
➢ SBI Mutual Fund got permission from the RBI to buy up to a 9.99% share in Karur Vysya Bank Ltd.
➢ SBI has launched a ‘Mobile Handheld Device’ as part of its financial inclusion drive in a bid to improve
accessibility and convenience.
➢ The tenure of State Bank of India (SBI) Chairman Dinesh Khara has been extended till August 2024.
➢ State Bank of India has introduced a digital facility for Non-Resident Indians to effortlessly open Non-
Residential External and Non-Resident Ordinary accounts through its mobile app YONO.
➢ State Bank of India (SBI) has raised Rs 10,000 crore at a coupon rate of 7.54 percent through its third
infrastructure bond issuance.
➢ State Bank of India (SBI), the country’s biggest lender, has raised USD 750 million through bonds to
fund offshore business growth.

➢ The bank intends to launch two new variants of current accounts, one with a balance of ₹50,000 and
another with a balance of ₹50 lakh. It also plans to introduce a new savings account called “Parivar”
(family) account.
➢ The facility of $1 billion was arranged through MLABs, MUFG bank and Taipei Fubon Commercial
Bank Co.
➢ State Bank of India (SBI) has partnered with the NGO That’s Eco Foundation to donate ₹48 lakh for
the plantation of 32,000 tree saplings at Garden City University in Bengaluru.
➢ SBI reintroduces 400 days ‘Amrit Kalash’ retail term deposit scheme and provides an interest rate of
7.6% for senior citizens.
➢ Commercial Indo Bank LLC (CIBL) is a joint venture in Russia between SBI (60 per cent) and Canara
Bank (40 per cent).
➢ According to the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA)’s report titled “EASE Reforms Index for the first
quarter of FY23″ the State Bank of India(SBI) was adjudged as the Best Bank in adopting reforms
prescribed for Public Sector Banks(PSB).
crore.

➢ The presidency Banks of Bengal, Bombay and Madras with merged in 1921 to Imperial Bank of India.
Q. BCCI has recently decided to retire the jersey of which former cricketer?
A) Saurabh Ganguly B) Rahul Dravid
C) Yuvraj Singh D) MS Dhoni
Answer : D .
✓ The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to retire the iconic number 7 jersey worn by
former captain MS Dhoni.
✓ BCCI has taken this decision to honor Dhoni's achievements.
✓ Earlier, BCCI had retired the jersey number 10 of the great Sachin Tendulkar.
✓ Now Dhoni's name has also been added to this special club.
Q. Who has been named as the United World Wrestling Rising Star of the Year 2023?
A) Sakshi Malik B) Nisha Dahiya
C) Geetika Jakhar D) Antim Panghal
Answer : D .
✓ Two-time U-20 world champion and senior world bronze medalist Antim Panghal (53kg) has been named
as the United World Wrestling (UWW) Rising Star of the Year 2023 in the women's category.
✓ Antim Panghal won a silver medal in his Senior Asian Championship debut.
✓ In view of his excellent performance, United World Wrestling has honored him with the Rising Star of the
Year 2023.

Q. With whom has the Defense Ministry signed an agreement for the purchase of electronic fuses?
A) Bharat Heavy Electronics Limited B) Bharat Electronics Limited
C) Tata Power D) Larsen & Toubro (L&T)

Answer : B .
✓ The Defense Ministry signed a deal worth over Rs 5,300 crore with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for
the procurement of electronic fuses for the Indian Army for a period of 10 years.
✓ This electronic fuse is used in heavy caliber guns.
✓ Bharat Electronics Limited is an Indian government-owned aerospace and defense electronics company
Q. What is Adani Green Energy Ltd current ranking in the global solar PV developer sector according
to the Mercom Capital Gropup’s Annual Global Report?
A) 3rd B) 2nd
C) 5th D) 1st
Answer : B .
✓ Adani Green Energy Ltd. with its total solar capacity of 18.1 GW ranked second after France-based Total
Energies, which holds a total capacity of 41.3 GW.
✓ Mercom Capital Group is a clean energy communications and research firm. It made the report based on
data compiled from July 2022 to June 2023.
✓ This achievement aligns with their ambitious target of achieving 45 GW of renewable energy capacity by
the year 2030.
✓ This recognition underscores our continued and unwavering commitment as one of the fastest growing
renewable energy players in the world and on target to achieving our ambitious goal of 45 GW renewable
energy capacity by 2030
✓ The rankings by Mercom Capital, a premier clean energy communication and consulting firm, highlight
Adani Group’s significant contributions to the solar energy landscape.
Q. The Art of Living has signed an MoU with which state government to the devastating water crises?
A) Uttar Pradesh B) Maharashtra
C) Rajasthan D) Madhya Pradesh

Answer : B .

✓ The Art of Living Social Projects takes immense pride in unveiling a strategic partnership to usher in
transformative measures ensuring water positivity for the state of Maharashtra.
✓ An MoU was signed in Mumbai between The Art of Living Social Projects and the Department of Soil and
Water Conservation, Government of Maharashtra.
✓ The Art of Living has already taken up the initiative to make India water-positive and made immense
progress in rejuvenating 70+ rivers, their tributaries, and streams
✓ 90,000+ groundwater recharge structures have been built across 8 states including Karnataka, Maharashtra,
Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh
✓ The Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyaan 2.0 is a collaborative initiative to pioneer groundbreaking practices across 85
tehsils in 30 districts. At its core, the mission seeks to revolutionize Maharashtra into a water-positive state
by implementing comprehensive measures such as desilting streams and building various water conservation
structures to increase groundwater levels
MAHARASHTRA IN NEWS 2023

➢ Art of Living Social Projects takes immense pride in unveiling a strategic partnership to usher in
transformative measures ensuring water positivity for the state of Maharashtra.
➢ ADB has approved a USD 500 million loan to enhance the quality and affordability of tertiary health
care and medical education in Maharashtra.
➢ Project on Climate Resilient Agriculture (POCRA), also named Nanaji Deshmukh Krushi Sanjivani
Prakalp, is being implemented by Maharashtra government.
➢ To promote exports in the state, Maharashtra Government has approved the first Export Promotion
Policy of the state. This policy will be implemented till 2027-28 and will bring about Rs 25 thousand
crore in the state.
➢ Maharashtra state cabinet has approved the ‘Lek Ladki Yojana’ (Dear Daughter Scheme) for families
with annual income up to Rs one lakh.
➢ Maharashtra clinched the title of champions in the 5th National Wheelchair Rugby Championship
2023 by securing a convincing victory over Karnataka.
➢ Maharashtra Government recently proposed to develop Gilbert Hill into a tourist spot on the lines of
Burj Khalifa in Dubai.
➢ Maharashtra signs MoU with Germany’s professional association football.

➢ Maharashtra government has launched the Bhagwan Birsa Munda Road Scheme which aims to
enhance road connectivity in tribal areas of the 17 districts of the state.
➢ Maharashtra Industries Minister Uday Samant will present the first 'Udyog Ratna' award to veteran
industrialist and Tata Sons Chairman Emeritus Ratan Tata.
➢ Maharashtra topped the list with the highest number of missing women in 2021, with a reported count
of 56,498.
➢ Maharashtra’s Economy will become a trillion dollar by 2028, said N Chandrashekhar, president of
the State Economy Development Council.
➢ Maharashtra Prisons Department has launched a “video call” facility for foreign nationals lodged in
different jails across the state.
➢ NCP leader Ajit Pawar has been sworn in as the new Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
➢ Maharashtra Government launched Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Yojana.
➢ Maharashtra becomes the first state in the country to approve Good Governance Regulations.
➢ Uttar Pradesh surpasses Maharashtra in sugar production this season.
➢ A new initiative called ‘beggar-free city’ started in Nagpur, Maharashtra.
➢ Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister, is scheduled to present the ‘Maharashtra Bhushan’ Award to
Dattatreya Narayan Dharmadhikari, also known as Appasaheb Dharmadhikari, on April 16 for his
notable work as a social worker and reformer.
➢ Maharashtra Government has introduced a 4% quota for employees with disabilities in promotions.
➢ Bank of Maharashtra inaugurated its first dedicated Branch for Start-ups in Pune.
➢ Ramesh Bais Appointed as the New Governor of Maharashtra.
➢ Maharashtra became the first state in the country to pass the Lokayukta Bill.
➢ Recently a rare low altitude basalt plateau has been discovered in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra..
➢ Nilesh Sambre conferred with 'Maratha Udyog Ratna 2023' by Maharashtra State.
➢ Talon Grikspoor of the Netherlands won the singles title at the Maharashtra Open tennis tournament
in Pune.
Q. Which country has launched world’s deepest and largest underground laboratory on Earth?
A) China B) Israel
C) Japan D) United States

Answer : A .
✓ The world’s deepest and largest underground laboratory became operational in China.
✓ The 2,400-metre-deep physics laboratory is located in southwest China’s Sichuan Province.
✓ The Deep Underground and Ultra-low Radiation Background Facility for Frontier Physics Experiments
(DURF) is located beneath Jinping Mountain in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture.
✓ The DURF has a total room capacity of 330,000 cubic metres.
✓ The lab provides a major boost to the global search for dark matter, which is a hypothetical form of matter
that appears not to interact with light or the electromagnetic field.
✓ The underground laboratory has been launched after three years of extensive upgrades and expansion as it
is the second phase of China Jinping Underground Laboratory.
✓ The facility started construction in December 2020 and was jointly built by Tsinghua University and Yalong
River Hydropower Development Company, Ltd.
Q. Which finance company has been rebranded as Grihum Housing Finance?

A) LIC Housing Finance B) Poonawalla Housing Finance
C) Muthoot Finance D) Shriram Transport Finance Corporation Ltd

Answer : B .
✓ Poonawalla Housing Finance has been rebranded as Grihum Housing Finance with global private equity
firm TPG now holding 99.02 percent stake in the housing finance company.
✓ Before being promoted by Poonawalla Fincorp, the housing financier was a part of the Magma Group.
✓ US-based alternative asset management firm TPG has committed total capital of ₹1,000 crore of which it
infused ₹538 crore in Q2 FY24 under the first tranche
Q. Who has been appointed as the brand ambassador of Tripura state to promote tourism in the state?
A) Mahendra Singh Dhoni B) Amitabh bachchan
C) Pankaj Tripathi D) Sourav Ganguly
Answer : D .
✓ BJP-led government in Tripura has inducted former cricketer Sourav Ganguly as a brand ambassador for
the promotion of tourism in the state.
✓ The former Indian cricket skipper Ganguly and Tripura tourism minister Susanta Choudhury signed an
agreement at the historic Ujjayanta Palace of the erstwhile Manikya Dynasty, at Agartala.

✓ As part of the agreement, Ganguly would shoot videos at the Ujjayanta Palace and at Chabimura in Gomati
district, the two major tourist attractions.
✓ The ancient Tripura Sundari temple, the Ujjayanta Palace, Neermahal Water Palace and Unakoti
archaeological site are some of the major tourist spots in Tripura. The state is also trying to promote the
colourful tribal culture in parts of the state for tourism.
✓ This comes days after Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee appointed Ganguly as the state’s brand ambassador.
Tripura and Bengal share cultural and linguistic similarities as Bengali is a dominant language in both states.
Q. Which country has awarded the International Gender Equality Prize for 2023 to an NGO in
Afghanistan that works to promote and protect the rights of women in Afghanistan?
A) Finland B) Norway
C) Sweden D) Switzerland
Answer : A .
✓ Finland awarded the International Gender Equality Prize for 2023 to an NGO in Afghanistan that works to
promote and protect the rights of women in Afghanistan.
✓ The organization Afghan Women’s Skills Development Center does important humanitarian work to
promote the safety of Afghan women.
✓ Ever since the Taliban came into power, Afghanistan is an example of a country where women’s human
rights are systematically suppressed and girls have been denied access to secondary education and women
to higher education.
✓ Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo attended the cremony and presented the EUR 300,000 Prize to the
organization’s representative, Mahbouba Seraj, in Tampere.
✓ Finland was one of the first countries in the world to extend the right to vote and stand for elections to all
women and men in 1906. Finland was also the first country to elect women to Parliament; 19 women were
elected to the 200-seat Parliament in 1907.
Q. Who has been honoured with the Diwali Power of One Award 2023?
A) Yoo Soon-taek B) Ban Ki-moo
C) Warren Buffett D) Bill Gates
Answer : B .
✓ Former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon honoured with Diwali ‘Power of One’ Awards 2023

✓ The former UN chief Ban Ki-moo was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2023 Diwali
Stamp — The Power of One Award ceremony organized by the Diwali Foundation USA.
✓ The other awardees for the year 2023 are former permanent representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina to
the UN Ambassador Mirsada Colakovic, former permanent representative of South Korea to the UN
Ambassador Kim Sook and 72nd UN General Assembly president and EU Special Representative for the
Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue Miroslav Lajcak.
✓ Ban commended the work and “forward-thinking vision” of the Diwali Foundation USA “for advancing
vital light in a world of increasing darkness”.
✓ Ban was the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations, serving two terms as the world’s top diplomat
from January 2007 to December 2016
✓ Diwali Foundation USA was established in 2017 to promote a peaceful and consensus-based process to
achieve societal “good, as befits the high hopes and ideals of humanity enshrined in the United Nations
Charter.
✓ The Foundation established ‘The Power of One’ awards to celebrate and highlight the important work done
in a peaceful manner, especially at the United Nations
Q. Which has organized the 15th edition of the ‘Capacity Building Senior Officers’ Meeting’ (CBSOM-
2023) in Gandhinagar?
A) Indian Army
B) Indian Air Force
C) Indian Coast Guard
D) Indian Navy
Answer : C .
✓ The Indian Coast Guard has organized the 15th edition of the ‘Capacity Building Senior Officers’ Meeting’
(CBSOM-2023) at GIFT City in Gandhinagar to understand the situation of maritime piracy and armed
robbery against ships in Asia.
✓ The meeting was held as per the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed
Robbery against Ships in Asia.
✓ It brought together 19 international delegates from 15 countries, including key national stakeholders from
India.

Q. Which country has launched the world’s first Methane powered rocket “Zhuque 2”?
A) Japan B) China
C) Israel D) Russia
Answer : B .
✓ China launched the world’s first Methane powered rocket “Zhuque 2”

✓ A Chinese company LandSpace Technology became the first in the world to launch satellites with rockets
fuelled by methane and liquid oxygen.
✓ The Zhuque 2 Y-3 blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China.
✓ The rocket was 49.5 metres in length, had a diameter of 3.35m, and had a lift-off mass of 220 tonnes,
excluding the payloads.
✓ Zhuque-2 Y-3 carried two 50kg test satellites developed by Chinese startup Spacety, one of which has
adopted technologies from a company named Hongqing.
Q. Almora Fault, recently in seen is located in which of the following country?

A) Indonesia
B) Nepal
C) Bangladesh
D) Japan
Answer : B .
✓ Union Earth Sciences Minister reported an increased number of earthquakes in 2023, attributing it to the
activation of the Almora Fault in Western Nepal.
✓ It is a geological fault located in Western Nepal and extends to the Uttarakhand region in India. It lies on
the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) in the Himalayan fault zone.
✓ There are two thrusts in Kumaon, Uttarakhand: One is the South Almora Thrust and the other is the North
Almora Thrust.
✓ MBT (Main Boundary Thrust): It is a significant fault in the Himalayas, marking the boundary between the
Lesser Himalayas and the Sub-Himalayas.

Q. Consider the following statements about 5G RAN Technology
1. 5G RAN is the latest architecture in wireless communication and uses 5G radio frequencies to
provide wireless connectivity to devices.
2. It was developed indigenously by a multi-institutional team of researchers that includes IIT Madras
and IIT Kanpur.

A) 1 only B) 2 only

Answer : C .
✓ The 5G RAN technology developed by two IITs and the R&D arm of MeiTY was recently handed over to
an Indian tech company for advancement and commercial applications.
✓ 5G RAN is the latest architecture in wireless communication and uses 5G radio frequencies to provide
wireless connectivity to devices.
✓ A radio access network (RAN) is a major component of a wireless telecommunications system that connects
individual devices to other parts of a network through a radio link.
✓ RAN links user equipment, such as a cellphone, computer or any remotely controlled machine, over a fiber
or wireless backhaul connection.
✓ India – In India it is developed indigenously by a multi-institutional team of researchers.
✓ The institutes that are involved in the development includes IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur and the Society for
Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering and Research (SAMEER).
✓ SAMEER is an autonomous R&D institution under the Ministry of Electronics and Information
Technology (MeiTY).
✓ Now the technology has been licensed to Tejas network, a Tata company which will play a vital role in
leveraging it for further advancements and commercial applications
Q. Consider the following statements about ENACT Partnership
1. It was launched at the Conference of Parties (COP27), by India and Egypt.

2. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) hosts its secretariat.
3. It aims to enhance the protection from and resilience to climate impacts of at least 1 billion
vulnerable people.


Answer : B .
✓ Statement 1 Incorrect
✓ Statement 2&3 Correct
✓ Recently, six new countries and a United Nations agency joined the ENACT Partnership.
✓ Enhancing Nature-based Solutions for an Accelerated Climate Transformation (ENACT) was launched by
Germany and Egypt along with the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
✓ It was launched at the Conference of Parties (COP27), which took place at Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt in 2022.
✓ It aims to : Enhance the protection from and resilience to climate impacts of at least 1 billion vulnerable
people.
✓ Secure up to 2.4 billion hectares of healthy natural and sustainable ecosystems, and significantly.
✓ Other member countries: Canada, European Union, France, Japan, Malawi, Norway, Republic of Korea,
Slovenia, Belgium, Pakistan, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United States
Q. Nations at COP28 Reach Landmark 'UAE Consensus' for Net Zero by__.
A) 2025 B) 2030
C) 2040 D) 2050
Answer : D .
✓ In Dubai, nations reached for a landmark agreement, the 'UAE Consensus' that calls for a transition away
from fossil fuels to achieve net zero by 2050.
✓ The 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) has come to a historic close, marking a turning point in global
efforts to combat climate change.
✓ 198 participating Parties, outlined an ambitious climate agenda aimed at keeping the goal of limiting global
warming to 1.5°C within reach.
Key achievements under the Action Agenda include the launch of ALTÉRRA, a $30 billion catalytic private
finance vehicle by the UAE, aiming to mobilize $250 billion for global climate action. Additionally, COP28
saw the endorsement of the 'COP28 UAE Declaration on Agriculture, Food, & Climate' by 158 countries,
embedding sustainable agriculture and food systems in climate change responses

Q. State-owned RITES Ltd has signed a pact with CFM Mozambique for the supply of how many diesel
locomotives and incidental services at a total cost of USD 37,680,080?
A) 12 B) 10
C) 14 D) 18
Answer : B .
✓ RITES signed pact with CFM Mozambique for 10 diesel locomotive supply
✓ State-owned RITES Ltd has signed a pact with CFM Mozambique for the supply of diesel locomotives and
incidental services at a total cost of USD 37,680,080 (Rs 314.1 crore).
✓ The pact has been signed for the supply of ten diesel locomotives.
✓ Caminhos de Ferro de Mozambique is a state-owned company of Mozambique.
✓ The pact is aimed to foster the India-Mozambique bilateral relationship.
Q. Punjab government has launched the “Bhagwant Mann Sarkar Tuhade Dwar” scheme to deliver
citizen-centric services at people’s doorstep. Under the scheme, people will get how many services?
A) 28 B) 43
C) 36 D) 18
Answer : B .
✓ AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann launched the
“Bhagwant Mann Sarkar Tuhade Dwar” scheme.
✓ The scheme is aimed to deliver citizen-centric services at people’s doorstep.
✓ Under the scheme, people will get 43 services, including the issuance of certificates of birth, marriage, death,
income, residence, caste, rural area, border area, backward area, pension, payment of electricity bills, and
land demarcation.
✓ To avail of these services, people will have to dial helpline number 1076.
Q. Chinese doctor Gao Yaojie passed away recently. She was known for?
A) Exposed the Dengu Fever B) Exposed the Breast Cancer
C) Exposed the AIDS epidemic D) Exposed the Covid Pandemic
Answer : C .

✓ Chinese doctor Gao Yaojie, known for having exposed the AIDS epidemic in the rural part of the country,
died at the age of 95.
✓ Yaojie was a gynecologist by training and was one of the first doctors who spearheaded the campaign against
the AIDS epidemic in China.
✓ Yaojie had exposed how businesses selling blood caused the spread of HIV in rural China.
✓ According to a report by BBC, selling blood was a common practice in rural China, especially in the Henan
province in the 1980s and 1990s. Poor farming communities engaged in selling blood to earn a living.
However, the practice was not properly monitored and at times, blood was also collected from HIV+
patients
Q. Which Government to Set Up PM College of Excellence in all Districts of The State?

A) Karnataka B) Madhya Pradesh
C) Maharashtra D) Uttar Pradesh
Answer : B .
✓ Madhya Pradesh government will set up PM College of Excellence in all districts of the state.
✓ The decision to this effect was taken at the first Cabinet meeting chaired by new Chief Minister Mohan
Yadav in Bhopal
Q. OYO founder launches 5 healthcare centers for underprivileged in Which State?
A) Odisha B) Maharashtra
C) Assam D) Jharkhand
Answer : A .
✓ OYO’s founder Ritesh Agarwal has announced the establishment of five healthcare centers for the
underprivileged in his home state of Odisha over the next one year.
✓ The centers will be operated by the health-tech startup ‘Last Mile Care’, which already runs 11 health centers
across India.
✓ “The strategic placement of these centers aims to cover regions with limited access to healthcare facilities,
thereby bridging the gap between healthcare services and marginalised populations,” said OYO in a press
release.

Q. When is the Vijay Diwas or Victory Day observed in India?
Answer : A .
✓ In India, Vijay Diwas (also called Victory Day) is celebrated every year on December 16.
✓ The country is celebrating the 52nd Vijay Diwas in 2023.
✓ Vijay Diwas is observed to commemorate the service, valour, and sacrifices of the gallant men of the Indian
Armed Forces’ victory over Pakistan in 1971 war.
✓ On 16 December 1971, the Indian Armed Forces won the 13-day long decisive war against the Pakistan
Army and state for the liberation of Bangladesh from Pakistan
Q. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is planning to send Indian astronauts to the moon
for the first time by which year?
A) 2030 B) 2035
C) 2040 D) 2047
Answer : C .
✓ The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is planning to send Indian astronauts to the moon for the
first time by 2040.
✓ Four test pilots from the Indian Air Force have been selected as astronaut designates for the mission.
✓ ISRO aims to take the next step in space exploration with the Gaganyaan programme, planning to launch
a crew of 2 to 3 Indian astronauts into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) for up to three days before safely returning
them to a predefined site in Indian waters.
✓ Currently, the astronaut designates are undergoing mission-specific training at the Astronaut Training
Facility (ATF) in Bengaluru.
✓ The inaugural manned space mission Gaganyaan involves developing critical technologies, including a
human-rated (capable of safely transporting humans) launch vehicle (HLVM3), an Orbital Module
comprising a Crew Module (CM) and Service Module (SM), and life support systems.
✓ Two identical un-crewed missions (G1 and G2) besides Integrated Air Drop Test, Pad Abort Test, and Test
Vehicle flights will precede the Gaganyan mission.

✓ The first development flight of Test Vehicle (TV-D1) was launched on October 21, 2023, and it successfully
demonstrated in-flight abort of the Crew Escape System, followed by Crew Module separation and its safe
recovery from the Bay of Bengal by the Indian Navy.
ISRO IN NEWS 2023

➢ Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is planning to send Indian astronauts to the moon for the
first time by 2040.
➢ ISRO’s Next Moon Mission in Collaboration with Japan Gathers Steam. This mission, called
LUPEX, or Lunar Polar Exploration, is slated for 2024-25.
➢ ISRO has announced a new online training programme for post-graduate and final-year
undergraduate students of physical sciences and technology. The programme is called Space Science
and Technology Awareness Training (START) .
➢ ISRO will launch Singapore's TeLEOS-2 satellite using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)
from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota.
➢ ISRO has successfully conducted the Reusable Launch Vehicle Autonomous Landing Mission (RLV
LEX) at the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR), Chitradurga, Karnataka.
➢ ISRO has successfully launched India’s largest Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM3) rocket/OneWeb
India-2 Mission with 36 satellites onboard from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra
Pradesh.
➢ ISRO successfully launched a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle -C52(PSLV-C52) on 14 February 2022
from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
➢ The PSLV-C52 rocket carried three satellites EOS-04 ,INSPIR Esat-1and INS-2TD).
➢ Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch OneWeb India-2 mission from Satish
Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
➢ Under a commercial agreement with NewSpace India Ltd, will launch 72 satellites of UK-based
Network Access Associates Ltd and place them in low Earth orbit.
➢ Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) recently successfully carried out a controlled descent of
its 12-year-old low earth orbit satellite Megha Tropiques-1 (MT-1) into the Pacific Ocean.

➢ Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has recently released images of Earth captured by the
EOS-06 satellite.
➢ Earth Observation satellite (EOS-6) is the third-generation satellite in the Oceansat series.
➢ Indian Space Research Organization has launched its smallest rocket SSLV-D2 into space from Satish
Dhawan Space Center (Sriharikota).
➢ ISRO's SSLV-D2 flew into space carrying three satellites with it.
➢ These include ISRO's satellite EOS-07, Chennai-based space startup Spacekidz's satellite Azad SAT-
2 and American company Antaris's satellite JANUS -1.
➢ All these three satellites will be placed in circular orbit 450 km apart.
➢ An Earth-observation satellite jointly developed by National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA) and ISRO will be sent to India in late February 2023 for a possible launch in September.
➢ India's first ever private Vikram-S (Suborbital) rocket was launched on 18 November from the Satish
Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
➢ Vikram-S, designed by Skyroot Aerospace.
➢ ISRO has successfully launched its heaviest rocket LVM3-M2, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre
in Sriharikota spaceport, Andhra Pradesh on 23 October 2022. The mission, which was named LVM3-
M2/OneWeb India-1, carried 36 broadband communication satellites of OneWeb Company.
➢ ISRO will launch 36 satellites of OneWeb, the UK's global communications network, on October 23,
2022.
➢ The name of the rocket is LVM3, it was earlier called GSLV Mk III.
➢ ISRO ‘Shukrayaan I’ mission to planet Venus reportedly shifted to 2031.
➢ ISRO is doing to boost the use of ‘NAVigation with the Indian Constellation’ (NavIC), India’s version
of GPS.
➢ ISRO has unveiled spectacular images of the Earth taken by its Earth Observation Satellite (EOS-06),
also known as Oceansat-3.
➢ Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
➢ Founded : 15 August 1969
➢ HQ : Bengalore, Karnataka
➢ Founder / 1st Chairman : Vikram Sarabhai
➢ 10th Chairman : S Somanath

➢ Aryabhata India's first satellites Launched on 19 April 1975.
➢ GSAT-1 India's first commercial satellite.
➢ SLV-3 was India's first experimental satellite launch vehicle.
➢ Ariane Passenger PayLoad Experiment, (APPLE) first communication satellite in India 19 June
1981.
➢ Udupi Ramachandra Rao : satellite Man of India
Q. Who has been awarded the Indira Gandhi Peace Prize 2023 for his efforts in bringing together youth
and people of Israel and the Arab world for a non-violent solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict?
A) Ali Abu Awwad and Daniel Barenboim
B) Elena Bashkirova and Daniel Barenboim

C) Elena Bashkirova and Ali Abu Awwad
D) Martha Argerich and Michael Barenboim
Answer : A .
✓ The Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament, and Development for 2023 has been jointly awarded to
Daniel Barenboim and Ali Abu Awwad for their efforts in bringing together the youth and peoples of Israel
and the Arab World for a non-violent resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict.
✓ The International Jury of the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace was chaired by former CJI T.S. Thakur.
✓ Mr. Barenboim and Mr. Awwad have fostered meaningful, mutual social, and cultural understanding, and
peaceful public cooperation via the tools of music, dialogue and people’s participation
Q. India has signed an agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for a $200 million loan from
the latter to improve the quality, efficiency, and reliability of power supply in which state?
A) Rajasthan B) Uttarakhand
C) Assam D) Odisha
Answer : B .
✓ The Centre has signed an agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for a $200 million loan from
the latter to improve the quality, efficiency, and reliability of power supply in the State of Uttarakhand.
✓ The ADB funding for the project will strengthen power system infrastructure and help Uttarakhand in
achieving its goal of providing 24×7 power to its residents.

✓ The project will modernize Dehradun city’s power network infrastructure by introducing an advanced and
climate-resilient underground cable system comprising 537 km subterranean cables, 354 ring main units,
and 99 compact substations.
ADB IN NEWS 2023

➢ India, ADB sign $200 million loan agreement for Uttarakhand power system project.
➢ Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a substantial $170 million loan to catalyze the
modernization of water supply services in Kochi, a rapidly growing city in the southern Indian state
of Kerala.
➢ India & ADB sign $400 million loan to support urban reform agenda.
➢ ADB to Support Improvement of Urban Infrastructure and Services in Peri-urban Areas of
Ahmedabad, India.
➢ ADB Capital Management Reforms Bring $100 Billion Benefits Over Next Decade to Asia-Pacific.
➢ Asian Development Bank (ADB) has announced the allocation of US $ 400 million for welfare work
with a special focus on women and girls in Afghanistan.
➢ The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Fourth Partner Energy Private Limited (Fourth Partner)
signed a long-term loan of up to 1.2 billion Indian rupees (about $14.7 million) .
➢ ADB Approves USD 40.5 Million Loan to Enhance Childhood Development and Maternal Mental
Health in Meghalaya.
➢ Government of India and Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $200 million loan as additional
financing for the ongoing Rajasthan.
➢ ADB approves $295mn loan to improve Transport Connectivity in Bihar.
➢ ADB gives 130 million dollars to increase horticulture in Himachal Pradesh.
➢ Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India signed a $141.12 million loan
agreement for the development of an industrial corridor in Andhra Pradesh.
➢ Alok Kumar has been appointed as a member of the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) High-level
Advisory Group on Digital Technology for Development.
➢ Pakistan is the largest recipient of ADB loans in Asia, Pakistan received loans of USD 5.58 billion.
➢ Asian Development Bank (ADB) has announced its plans to invest in non-convertible debentures
valued at Rs 150 crore in Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd (TPDDL).

➢ ADB approves $130 million loan to promote horticulture in Himachal Pradesh.
➢ Indian government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed loan agreements aggregating to
$1.22 billion.
➢ ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (ADB)
➢ Founded : 19 December 1966
➢ HQ : Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines
➢ President : Masatsugu Asakawa (Japan)
➢ Vice President : Ashok Lavasa (Indian?
➢ Director of ADB for India : Takeo Konishi
➢ Executive Director : Sameer Kumar
➢ Member Counrtries : 68 (Nuie).
➢ ADB has grown to encompass 68 members; of which 49 are from within Asia and the Pacific and 19
outside.
➢ Japan is the largest contributor in the subscribed capital of the country.
➢ Asian Development Outlook, reports published by ADB.
➢ It is a regional multilateral financial institution focused on countries in the Asia and Pacific region.
➢ It currently has 68 members – of which 49 are from the Asia and Pacific region and 19 from outside.
Q. The young entrepreneurs Kaivalya Vohra (21) and Aadit Palicha (22) have claimed the top spots in
the Hurun India Top 100 Under 30 List 2023. Vohra & Palicha are the founder of which of the
following company?
A) Swiggy B) Zepto
C) Zomato D) Blinkit
Answer : B .
✓ The young entrepreneurs Kaivalya Vohra (21) and Aadit Palicha (22), founders of the Quick Commerce app
Zepto, have claimed the top spots in the Hurun India Top 100 Under 30 List 2023.
✓ The list showcases 100 entrepreneurs aged 30 and below who have demonstrated exceptional prowess in
their respective fields.
✓ Zepto, the brainchild of Vohra and Palicha, stands out for its commitment to delivering a diverse array of
products within minutes.

✓ The app caters to a wide spectrum of consumer needs, ranging from online groceries and fresh produce to
personal care items and electronics.
✓ Earlier this year, the company secured $200 million in funding which propelled Zepto’s valuation to $1.4
billion, marking it as the first Indian unicorn of 2023.
✓ Following closely in the rankings is 24-year-old Neelakantha Bhanu Prakash, the visionary founder of
Bhanzu—a research initiative that has positively impacted over 2 million students across India.
✓ Beyond his entrepreneurial endeavors, Neelakantha has earned global acclaim as the world’s fastest human
calculator. His remarkable feat includes clinching India’s first gold at the Mental Calculation World
Championship.
✓ The fourth and fifth positions on the list were secured by Rahul Rawat (24) of Space Technology Digantara
and Anirudh Singla (24) of Content Marketing Pepper, further exemplifying the diverse talents emerging
from India’s youth.
Q. Who among the following celebrities have NOT been included in the top 10 of Britain’s ‘World’s
Top 50 Asian Celebrities’ list?
A) Priyanka Chopra B) Shah Rukh Khan
C) Katrina Kaif D) Shreya Ghoshal
Answer : C .
✓ Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, referred to as the King Khan of the Indian film industry, has topped
a UK list of the ‘Top 50 Asian Celebrities in the World’.
✓ The 58-year-old actor, who had double box-office success this year with action thrillers “Pathaan” and
“Jawan”, is currently preparing for the Christmas release of comedy-drama “Dunki”.
✓ Popular actor Alia Bhatt came in second for her impact in Bollywood and Hollywood and also for being a
strong role model for working mothers.
✓ Third-placed Priyanka Chopra Jonas, the most famous Indian on the planet, has been recognised for her
ground-breaking work on the international stage, including with big-budget series “Citadel”, Hollywood
film “Love Again”, humanitarian work and lighting up the red carpet globally.
✓ Fourth-placed Diljit Dosanjh confirmed his place as the biggest Punjabi star, with stunning work as an actor
and singe.
✓ Fifth-placed Charli XCX from the UK was the biggest singing star internationally of a South Asian heritage.

✓ She is followed by Ranbir Kapoor (sixth) for delivering the year’s most impactful movie performance with
the blockbuster hit “Animal”.
✓ Singer Shreya Ghoshal comes in at number seven with another award-winning year, which included
magnificent songs in multiple languages, global arena shows and her turn as a judge on the popular singing
reality series “Indian Idol” (season 14).
✓ Eighth placed Vijay is the biggest South Indian cinema star of 2023 with two hits (“Leo” and “Varisu”) and
for being an inspiration to countless fans with his humility.
✓ The highest-placed Pakistani on the list is actor Wahaj Ali (ninth), who delivered strong performances all
year round, including in the record-breaking serial “Tere Bin”.
✓ Canadian actor Iman Vellani is at number 10 for headlining Hollywood blockbuster “The Marvels” with a
path-breaking role.
✓ The oldest star on the list is 81-year-old Amitabh Bachchan (35th) and the youngest is 20-year-old television
star Sumbul Touqeer (44th).
Q. Which bank has signed a 70-million-euro (about Rs 630 crore) Line of Credit (LoC) with German
Development Bank KfW for promoting solar projects in the country?
A) Punjab National Bank B) State Bank of India

C) Indian Overseas Bank D) Bank of India
Answer : B .
✓ State Bank of India (SBI) has signed a 70-million-euro (about Rs 630 crore) Line of Credit (LoC) with
German Development Bank KfW for promoting solar projects in the country.
✓ The Line of Credit (LoC) is specifically tailored to bolster Solar Photovoltaics (PV) projects in India, aligning
with the nation’s commitment to clean and renewable energy sources.
✓ This collaboration between SBI and KfW reflects a shared vision of promoting sustainable practices and
reducing the carbon footprint through solar initiatives
Q. Which state government will set up PM College of Excellence in all districts of the state?
A) Haryana B) Gujarat
C) Rajasthan D) Madhya Pradesh
Answer : D .
✓ Madhya Pradesh government will set up PM College of Excellence in all districts of the state.

✓ The decision to this effect was taken at the first Cabinet meeting chaired by new Chief Minister Mohan
Yadav in Bhopal.
✓ In Madhya Pradesh, the government will upgrade one college in every district out of total 570 government
colleges as “PM College of Excellence”. More than Rs 460 crore will be spent on the development of these
colleges.
✓ Apart from this, degree and mark sheets of students in all government and private universities will be
uploaded in DigiLocker
MADHYA PRADESH IN NEWS 2023

➢ Madhya Pradesh government will set up PM College of Excellence in all districts of the state.
➢ Mohan Yadav has been elected as the new Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh.
➢ The city of Kozhikode in Kerala was added in UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network (UCCN).
➢ Gwalior from Madhya Pradesh was also among the 55 new cities to join the network.
➢ Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve becomes the 7th tiger reserve of Madhya Pradesh and 55th in
India.
➢ Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has organized the ‘India Smart Cities Conclave 2023’ in
Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
➢ The famous Kadaknath chicken meat from Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh has now got a
➢ The 'Sanchi' city of Madhya Pradesh has been established as the country's first solar city.
➢ International Aerospace Conference jointly organized by MoCA and CII in Gwalior, Madhya
Pradesh.
➢ President of India, Droupadi Murmu has inaugurated ‘Unmesha’ – International Literature Festival
and ‘Utkarsh’ – Festival of Folk and Tribal Performing Arts at Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
➢ Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the National Sickle Cell Anemia Elimination Mission in
Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh.
➢ Tiger State Madhya Pradesh is poised to get its 7th tiger reserve with the state government going
forward with the notification of Nauradehi and Durgavati Wildlife Sanctuaries.

➢ Madhya Pradesh received the first prize in the best State category, while the best district award went
to Ganjam District in Odisha.
➢ Narmada Hydroelectric Development Corporation Ltd (NHDC Ltd.) will construct a 525 MW
pumped storage project near the Indira Sagar Dam in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh.
➢ Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the 'Mukhya Mantri Ladli Bahna
Yojana'.
➢ Madhya Pradesh cabinet approves 'Mukhya Mantri Sikho Kamao Yojana' for unemployed youth.
➢ Gond paintings from Madhya Pradesh have bagged the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, a
recognition that protects and acknowledges the work of tribal artists.
➢ Madhya Pradesh government launched Chief Minister's Residential Land Rights Scheme.
➢ Madhya Pradesh Government on 5 March launched Ladli Bahna scheme under which each woman
will be given one thousand rupees per month..
➢ Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced on March 4 to make Tehsil
Mauganj of Rewa district the 53rd district of the state.
➢ About Madhya Pradesh
➢ Capital – Bhopal
➢ Chief Minister – Dr Mohan Yadav (replace Shivraj Singh Chauhan)
➢ Deputy CM – Jagdish Devda & Rajendra Shukla
➢ Speaker of Madhya Pradesh Assembly – Narendra Singh Tomar
➢ Governor – Mangubhai C. Patel
➢ Lok Shaba Seats – 29
➢ Rajya Sabha Seats – 11
➢ Legislative Assembly Seats – 230
Q. Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has collaborated with which bank to establish a financing
programme customized to the requirements of the compressed biogas project initiated by RIL?
A) DBS Bank B) MUFG Bank
C) Standard Chartered D) HSBC India

Answer : A .
✓ Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and DBS Bank India have collaborated to establish a financing
programme customized to the requirements of the compressed biogas project initiated by RIL.
✓ The financing will enable the ecosystem development for vendor partners to aggregate agri-residue as inputs
for the Reliance compressed biogas production plants across India.
✓ The company targets to establish 100 compressed biogas (CBG) plants in the next five years, consuming 5.5
million tonnes of agro-residue and organic waste. The move would help in mitigating nearly 2 million tonnes
of carbon emissions and producing 2.5 million tonnes of organic manure annually.
✓ Reliance Industries Limited is setting up world-class biogas facilities at multiple locations in Uttar Pradesh
by using surplus agro residue and organic waste. These facilities will be linked to a network of biogas
dispensing stations operated by Reliance Jio BP.
✓ Reliance has set up a flagship CBG production facility in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, which is expected to
cut down CO2 emissions by 40,000 tonnes annually.
Q. IDFC First Bank, LIC Cards, and which company have partnered to launch an exclusive co-branded
credit card to meet the dynamic financial needs of the country?
A) RuPay B) Visa
C) American Express D) Mastercard
Answer : D .
✓ IDFC First Bank, LIC Cards, and Mastercard have partnered to launch an exclusive co-branded credit card
to meet the dynamic financial needs of the country.
✓ Available in two variants — LIC Classic and LIC Select — the credit cards will let more than 27 crore
policyholders across the country save in the form of reward points on every LIC insurance premium
payment.
✓ It will also come with other benefits, including up to Rs 50,000 cover for lost card liability and a personal
accident insurance cover of up to Rs 5 lakh.
✓ The new partnership will create synergy by collaborating Brand LIC which signifies ‘Trust’ and IDFC First
Bank which represents new age “Customer Centricity”

Q. Who has been elected to the Governing Council of the International Institute for the Unification of
Private Law (UNIDROIT)?
A) Amir Subhani B) Sri Devendra Kumar Dard
C) Anita Singh D) Uma Sekhar
Answer : D .
✓ India’s Uma Sekhar elected to Governing Council of UNIDROIT

✓ In a historic moment for India, Ms. Uma Sekhar has secured a remarkable victory by garnering 45 out of 59
votes in the initial round of elections for the Governing Council of the International Institute for the
Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) held in Rome, Italy.
✓ This win not only signifies Ms. Sekhar’s individual achievement but also elevates India to a prominent
position on the Governing Council for the term spanning 2024-28.
✓ UNIDROIT, the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law, functions as an independent
intergovernmental organization headquartered in Rome, Italy
Q. Who among the following Indian tennis players have made it into the International Tennis Hall of
Fame?
A) Sania Mirza & Leander Paes
B) Vijay Amritraj & Sania Mirza
C) Leander Paes & Vijay Amritraj
D) Rohan Bopanna & Vijay Amritraj
Answer : C .
✓ Olympic medallist and multiple Grand Slam champion Leander Paes, along with two-time Davis Cup
finalist Vijay Amritraj, has made it into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
✓ Leander makes it in the player category and Vijay in the contributor category for his multi-faceted role in
the game.
✓ They are the first two Indians to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
✓ Leander has won eight Grand Slam doubles titles and 10 mixed doubles titles. He is only one of three men
in tennis history to complete a career Grand Slam in both doubles and mixed doubles.
✓ Since 2006, Vijay Amritraj Foundation has provided education and basic needs for women and children in
the Indian community.

Q. Bipin Chandra has been honoured with the “Champions of Change Award by the Interactive Forum
on Indian Economy (IFIE). He is the CEO of which company?
A) Wipro B) Esyasoft Technologies
C) Infosys Technologies D) Wavesoft Technologies
Answer : B .
✓ Esyasoft Technologies’ visionary Founder and CEO, Bipin Chandra, was honoured with the “Champions
of Change Award (Karnataka)” by the Interactive Forum on Indian Economy (IFIE).
✓ Esyasoft Technologies is a non-profit organization recognized by Govt of India, for its outstanding
leadership and transformative impact.
✓ Chandra received a Gold Medal and a Citation from the Governor of Karnataka, Shri Thawad Chand
Gehlot as part of the felicitation.
Q. Which bank has been recognized as the top performer of the 2023 Climate Assessment for Financial
Institutions (CAFI) Awards in Climate Reporting by International Finance Corporation (IFC)?
A) Yes Bank B) HDFC Bank

C) Federal Bank D) ICICI Bank
Answer : C .
✓ Federal Bank as the top performer of the 2023 Climate Assessment for Financial Institutions (CAFI) Awards
✓ International Finance Corporation (IFC), a World Bank Group has recognized Federal Bank as the top
performer of the 2023 Climate Assessment for Financial Institutions (CAFI) Awards for Climate Reporting.
✓ Out of the 258 financial institutions globally participating in climate reporting through the CAFI tool,
Federal Bank emerged as a standout performer.
✓ Federal Bank secured two positions on the global stage i.e. Highest Climate Loan Amount Reported and
Most GHG Mitigated category.
Q. Which foundation has been honored with Telangana Business Awards for the Best Girl Child
Empowerment Program Initiative of the Year?
A) Tata Foundation B) KK Birla Foundation
C) Reliance Foundation D) BBG Foundation

Answer : C .
✓ BBG Foundation becomes winner of Telangana Business Awards

✓ In recognition of its outstanding commitment to empowering girls through education, BBG Foundation has
been honored with the prestigious title of Best Girl Child Empowerment Program Initiative of the Year.
✓ The award was presented by Telangana Business Awards (TBA), a distinguished platform dedicated to
recognizing excellence in various sectors.
✓ Telangana Business Awards serves as a beacon for enhancing productivity and quality in companies,
entrepreneurs, and service providers, acknowledging their remarkable achievements and performance in
their respective fields.
✓ BBG Bangaaru Thalli, a non-profit organization founded in 2019 by Mallikarjuna Reddy and a team of
dedicated experts, is dedicated to revolutionizing girls’ education in rural and educationally disadvantaged
areas of India.
✓ BBG Bangaaru Thalli stands out for its unwavering dedication to the cause, channeling both life and
business profits toward the single-minded purpose of empowering 2,000,000 girls by the year 2040.
Q. Which foundation has launched “Close the Gender Gap (CGG)” Initiative to Lead a Shift in Gender
Equality and Promote Inclusive Workplace Policies?
A) United For Humanity B) Udaiti Foundation
C) WISH Foundation D) Reliance Foundation

Answer : B .
✓ The Udaiti Foundation launches “Close the Gender Gap (CGG)” Initiative to Lead a Shift in Gender
Equality and Promote Inclusive Workplace Policies.
✓ Objective – To drive transformative changes in gender representation and policies within the formal sector.
✓ The CGG platform marks a historic milestone by compiling longitudinal company-wise data from 2000
companies based on market capitalization, offering an unparalleled perspective on gender representation
and policies.
✓ The platform sheds light on gender dynamics within private sector organizations. Larger organizations have
more women, but they hit the glass ceiling. Smaller firms however have more women in leadership.
✓ When it comes to women’s leadership on boards, there is much ground to cover, 43% report one mandatory
female Board member, plunging to a mere 11% with more than two female BoDs

Q. Tata Power EV Charging Solutions Ltd (TPEVCSL) has signed an MoU with which company to
install over 500 electric vehicle (EV) charging points across the country?
A) Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)
B) Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL)
C) Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL)

D) Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL)
Answer : C .
✓ Tata Power EV Charging Solutions Ltd (TPEVCSL) has signed an MoU with Indian Oil Corporation
Limited (IOCL) to install over 500 electric vehicle (EV) charging points across the country.
✓ Tata Power will set up the stations at IOCL’s retail outlets.
✓ This strategic collaboration focuses on building a reliable and expansive intercity charging network, which
will help alleviate range anxiety for EV owners travelling between cities.
✓ The customers will be able to use “Tata Power EZ Charge” and “IndianOil e-Charge” apps to locate and
book the chargers.
✓ IOCL envisages to provide 10,000 EV charging stations by 2024, transforming retail network to complete
energy solutions outlets. With more than 6,000 EV charging stations at present, the company plans to keep
expanding its reach.
✓ Tata Power currently has a charging infra across over 420 cities in India, including over 62,000 home
chargers, 4,900 public and semi-public charging points, and 430 bus charging stations.
Q. According to the report released by Bain & Company in collaboration with Flipkart, India’s e-retail
market estimated to reach over $160 bn by which year?
A) 2028 B) 2030
C) 2035 D) 2040
Answer : A .
✓ E-retail in India is expected to scale beyond $160 billion in value by 2028.

✓ The market has experienced strong growth post-pandemic, with an estimated value of $57–$60 billion in
2023, according to the findings from the fourth (2023) edition of ‘How India Shops Online’, a report released
by Bain & Company in collaboration with Flipkart.

✓ This represents an annual addition of $8–$12 billion since 2020. The e-retail market is poised to grow in the
coming years, with online spending currently only 5–6 per cent of total retail spending in India vs 23–24 per
cent in the US and over 35 per cent in China, indicating massive headroom for growth.
✓ In India, around 240 million shoppers are expected to participate in e-retail in 2023, with significant
headroom to grow given more than 60 per cent of internet users are not shopping online vs. only around 20
per cent in the US and China.
Q. Which of the following has signed an agreement to develop a multi-modal logistics park (MMLP) in
Nagpur at a cost of Rs 673 crore?
A) L&T B) BRO
C) NHAI D) IRCTC
Answer : C .
✓ State-owned NHAI has signed an agreement to develop a multi-modal logistics park (MMLP) in Nagpur at
✓ This project is poised to be the first MMLP in Maharashtra under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.
✓ NHAI has signed an agreement with M/s DC Multi-Modal Park (Nagpur) Limited, an SPV of M/S
DeltaBulk Shipping India Pvt Ltd, for the development of Multi Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) in Nagpur.
✓ The MMLP will be developed in an area of 150 acres under the Public Private Partnership model at an
estimated cost of Rs 673 crore.
✓ The MMLP will provide facilities, such as warehouses, cold storages, intermodal transfers, handling
facilities for container terminals, and bulk/break-bulk cargo terminals, along with value-added services
Q. India is aiming to get 50,000 electric buses on its streets by 2027 with help from a joint finance
mechanism with which country?
A) China B) United States

C) Japan D) United Kingdom
Answer : B .
✓ India is aiming to get 50,000 electric buses on its streets by 2027 with help from a joint finance mechanism
with the US.
✓ The $390 million fund will act as a guarantee for manufacturers seeking loans to expand production. India
currently only has 12,000 e-buses in operation.

✓ The payment security mechanism, established with $150 million from the US government and philanthropic
groups, and $240 million from the Indian government, is the bedrock of risk management for building out
the financial system for electric mobility at scale in India.
Q. Germany’s state-owned investment and development bank, KfW has signed an agreement to provide
€500 million (around ₹4,500 crore) in financial assistance for the expansion of which city metro?
A) Ahmedabad Metro B) Mumbai Metro

C) Delhi Metro D) Bengaluru Metro
Answer : D .
✓ KfW, Germany’s state-owned investment and development bank, is set to sign an agreement to provide
€500 million (around ₹4,500 crore) in financial assistance for the expansion of the Bengaluru Metro.
✓ The funding, which includes loan and grants, will help the metro’s expansion plans as well as provide
technical expertise to the metro project.
✓ KfW, which is looking to expand its funding for green energy and sustainable mobility projects in India, is
also financing metro projects in Mumbai and Nagpur among other cities.
✓ The funding would be used to construct new lines for the Bengaluru Metro, also called Namma Metro.
✓ KfW, which has been active in India since 1958, has also provided funds to other metro projects in the
country. In 2016, it provided a €500 million loan to the Indian government for the construction of a “modern
and sustainable metro system” in Nagpur.
✓ KfW also provided funding for the expansion of the Mumbai metro in 2020 through the provision of a €545
million loan.
✓ The credit package is made up of one development loan of €345 million and one promotional loan of €200
million. In addition, a financing agreement of €2.2 million was signed for accompanying technical support.
Q. Who has been appointed as part-time member of Pension Fund Regulatory and Development
Authority (PFRDA) board?
A) Parama Sen B) Pankaj Sharma
C) Rahul Singh D) Dilip Sharma
Answer : A .
✓ The Centre has appointed Parama Sen, Additional Secretary, Department of Expenditure in the Finance
Ministry, as a part-time member in Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).

Q. Who has been appointed as CEO Indifi Technologies?
A) Sangram Singh B) Suman Kumar
C) Nishith Verma D) Amir Subhani

Answer : A .
✓ Sangram Singh appoints as CEO Indifi Technologies

✓ Indifi Technologies, which focuses on lending to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), hired Axis
Bank executive Sangram Singh as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
✓ Singh, who in the past has been also the chief executive of Axis Bank subsidiary and digital payments app
Freecharge, will be responsible to scale up Indifi’s core platform, and will overlook key functions including
product, distribution, lending partnerships, treasury, risk and technology
✓ About Indifi Technologies
✓ Founded in 2015, Gurgaon-based Indifi provides debt financing to small businesses through term loans and
credit lines. Its annual disbursals are around Rs 2,500 crore.
✓ At present, a little over 80% of its overall revenues comes from its term loan product, with another 15% from
credit lines.
✓ The platform has an active loan book of Rs 2,000 crore, with almost half of it being funded from its in-house
non banking finance company (NBFC).
✓ Till date, Indifi has disbursed over 96,000 loans across 400 cities, amounting to a total disbursal value of
over Rs 5,100 crore.
Q. Who has been appointed as CEO and MD of Stellantis India?

A) Sunil Kumar Gupta B) Aditya Jairaj
C) P K Mishra D) Gopal Rai
Answer : B .
✓ Aditya Jairaj has been appointed as CEO and MD of Stellantis India, with effect from January 1, 2024.
✓ Aditya, currently deputy managing director, Stellantis India and head – Jeep India, will succeed Roland
Bouchara, who will be assigned to another function in Europe after six and a half years of leading Stellantis
in India.
✓ Since he was appointed the CEO and MD in 2021, Roland has successfully led Stellantis India’s expansion,
playing an instrumental role in establishing a robust foundation for Citroën and Jeep.

Q. Who was honored with the Karmaveer Chakra Medal and Rex Karmaveer Global Fellowship by
ICONGO in collaboration with the United Nations?
A) Dr. Ravi Kant Sharma B) Dr. Hemachandran Ravikumar
C) Dr. S. Eswara Reddy D) Dr. Ashvini Kumar Dwivedi
Answer : B .
✓ Dr. Hemachandran Ravikumar was honored with the Karmaveer Chakra Medal and Rex Karmaveer
Global Fellowship by ICONGO in collaboration with the United Nations in New Delhi
✓ These awards recognized Dr. Hemachandran Ravikumar’s exceptional contributions to Research &
Development in Physical & Bio-Science and Microbiological Studies.
✓ The Rex Karamveer Chakra Medal, considered one of the most prestigious civilian honors, is reserved for
individuals who have exhibited outstanding contributions globally towards the well-being of humanity.
Q. In which city did PM Modi inaugurate the world's largest meditation center?
A) Patna B) Varanasi
C) Lucknow D) Ahmedabad
Answer : B .
✓ Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of several beneficial projects in
his parliamentary constituency Varanasi. In this series, PM Modi also inaugurated the world's largest
meditation center Swarved Mahamandir.
✓ It is a 7-storey meditation center which is the largest in the world.
✓ The newly constructed Swaraveda Mahamandir is spread over 3 lakh square feet.
✓ In this centre, 20 thousand people can participate in yoga sessions simultaneously.
UTTAR PRADESH IN NEWS 2023

➢ Uttar Pradesh government has linked big institutions like the CSIR and DRDO with the Bulk Drug
Park and made them its knowledge partners.
➢ Ayodhya, the temple city on the banks of the Saryu River in Uttar Pradesh, marked a spectacular
Deepotsav on Saturday, setting a new Guinness World Record with the lighting of 22.23 lakh earthen
lamps across 51 ghats.

➢ President Draupadi Murmu inaugurated the first Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show at India
Expo Center and Mart in Greater Noida.
➢ Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA) has signed an MoU
with the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) for the solarisation of residential units
at Ayodhya and for bio-energy and renewable project financing.
➢ Ashok Leyland has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the government of Uttar
Pradesh to set up an integrated commercial vehicle bus plant focused on green mobility in Uttar
Pradesh.
➢ Uttar Pradesh government has decided to organize a campaign under Road Safety Fortnight from July
17 to 31.
➢ Uttar Pradesh Police Department has launched ‘Operation Conviction’ to combat criminals and
mafias in the state.
➢ Uttar Pradesh government has decided to cancel all Traffic Chalan for private and commercial vehicle
owners pending from 2017 to 2021.
➢ UP holds 2nd position in GI tagged products.
➢ After getting GI tag for three more One District One Product (ODOP) crafts, Uttar Pradesh has now
come second in the country in terms of maximum number of items with Geographical Indication tag.
➢ The ODOP crafts which have got GI tag include Mainpuri Tarkashi, Mahoba Gaura Stone Craft and
Sambhal Horn Craft.
➢ Tamil Nadu leads with 55 GI-tags, followed by UP and Karnataka with 48 and 46 GI products,
respectively.
➢ The state government has given green signal to the project of setting Uttar Pradesh a state's first
Pharma Park in Lalitpur district of Bundelkhand.
➢ Uttar Pradesh introduces “School Health Program” digital health cards for children.
➢ The online rural education initiative ‘Pahal’ was officially launched by Chief Secretary Durga Shankar
Mishra at Government UP Sainik Inter College in Sarojini Nagar.
➢ Uttar Pradesh on track to be first Indian state with 100% EVs in govt depts.
➢ Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the India’s first urban transport
ropeway on March 24, 2023, in Varanasi.

➢ Uttar Pradesh government has launched the portal for the creation of ‘Family ID – One Family One
Identity’.
➢ Uttarakhand won the first prize for its tableau, followed by Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh in the
second and third positions respectively.
➢ Uttar Pradesh came in third with its tableau commemorating Ayodhya's Deepotsav.
➢ Uttar Pradesh Government Launched ‘Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan’ Campaign.
➢ Uttar Pradesh tops charts for mobile gaming destination in India.
➢ Taj Mahotsav Starts In Agra of Uttar Pradesh.
➢ UP first all-woman PAC battalions formed by Uttar Pradesh Govt.
➢ Uttar Pradesh tops in India, 8462 lakes developed under Mission Amrit Sarovar.
➢ Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurates north India’s first data centre at Greater Noida.
➢ Uttar Pradesh bags top honours at PMAY-U Awards 2021.
➢ Agriculture Minister of India, Narendra Singh Tomar, has introduced a new platform called
‘DigiClaim’ on the national crop insurance portal.
➢ Kannuj will be developed into a tourist destination as per the decision taken by the Government of
Uttar Pradesh.
➢ Centre has approved the setting up of the Terai Elephant Reserve (TER) at Dudhwa-Pilibhit in Uttar
Pradesh. The Terai Elephant Reserve is the 3rd Elephant Reserve in India.
➢ Uttar Pradesh cabinet has gave a green signal for the development of the first tiger reserve in the
Bundelkhand region
Q. Consider the following statements about Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme
(MPLAD)
1. It is a Central Sector Scheme.
2. Funds under MPLAD Scheme are Lapsable.
3. It is implemented by Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

Answer : C .
✓ The Member of Legislative Assembly Local Area Development Scheme (MLALAD) scheme similar to
MPLAD funds for Delhi legislators rose from Rs 4 crore to Rs 7 crore.
✓ It is a Central Sector Scheme.
✓ Objective:
✓ To enable MPs to recommend works of developmental nature with emphasis on the creation of durable
community assets based on the locally felt needs to be taken up in their Constituencies.
✓ Each year, MPs receive Rs. 5 crore in two instalments of Rs. 2.5 crore each.
✓ Funds under MPLAD Scheme are non-lapsable.
✓ It was announced in December 1993 and initially came under the control of the Ministry of Rural
Development.
✓ Later, in October 1994, it was transferred to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
Q. Consider the following statements about International Institute for the Unification of Private Law
1. It is an independent intergovernmental Organisation.
2. It has three-tiered structure, made up of a Secretariat, a Governing Council and a General
Assembly.
3. Its purpose is to study needs and methods for modernising private and in particular commercial
law as between States and groups of States.
Answer : C .
✓ Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP)

✓ The first round of crash testing of the cars under the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat
NCAP) has been successfully completed recently.
✓ About Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP):
✓ It is an indigenous star-rating system for crash testing cars,under which vehicles will be assigned between
one to five stars, indicating their safety in a collision.
✓ Bharat NCAP is an ambitious joint project between the Government of India (GoI) and Global NCAP, the
regulatory body behind the safety crash test ratings.

✓ Objective: To help consumers make an informed decision before purchasing a car, thereby spurring demand
for safer cars.
✓ Under the Bharat NCAP, cars voluntarily nominated by automobile manufacturers will be crash tested as
per protocols laid down in the Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) 197.
✓ Applicability:
✓ The programme is applicable to passenger vehicles with not more than eight seats in addition to the driver’s
seat, with a gross vehicle weight not exceeding 3,500 kg.
✓ Only the base model of a particular variant will be tested.
✓ Besides internal combustion engine (ICE) models, CNG cars as well as battery-powered electric vehicles are
eligible to undergo the safety test.
✓ The test program is based on the AIS-197 standards. The selected test units will be sent to the nearest testing
centre in coordination with the Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT).
✓ The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has rolled out an indigenous star-rating system for crash
testing cars.
✓ Under the new system, vehicles will be assigned between one to five stars indicating their safety in a collision.
✓ Called the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP), the rating system will be voluntary and will
come into effect from October 1, 2023.
✓ Need of Bharat NCAP
✓ India sees nearly 1.5 lakh road fatalities in a year, accounting for 10% of deaths due to road crashes globally
with only 1% of the world’s vehicles.
✓ According to a World Bank study, road crashes are estimated to cost the Indian economy between 5 to 7%
of GDP a year.
Q. Which Indian recently successfully climbed Antarctica's highest peak 'Mount Vinson'?
A) Arunima Sinha B) Luv Raj Singh Dharamshaktu
C) Sheikh Hasan Khan D) Anshu Jamsenpa
Answer : C .
✓ Kerala government employee Sheikh Hasan Khan has conquered Antarctica's highest peak 'Mount Vinson'.

✓ This is the fifth highest peak conquered by him. Mount Vinson is 4,892 meters (16,050 ft) above sea level.
Apart from Mount Vinson, Khan has conquered four other high peaks, Mount Everest in Asia, Mount
Denali in North America, Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa and Mount Elbrus in Europe.
Q. Which Countries Electronic Origin Data Exchange System (EODES) Launched for Swift Clearance
of Imported Goods?
A) India-Japan B) India-France
C) India-Korea D) India-Italy
Answer : C .
✓ Mr. Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, Chairman of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC),
inaugurated the India-Korea Electronic Origin Data Exchange System (EODES) on December 6, 2023, in
New Delhi.
✓ The ceremony was attended by Mr. KO Kwang Hyo, Commissioner of Korea Customs Service (KCS), and
his delegation.
✓ Objective : EODES aims to streamline the implementation of the India-Korea Comprehensive Economic
Partnership Agreement (CEPA) through the electronic exchange of origin information between the customs
administrations of both nations, specifically for goods traded under CEPA.
SIGNS MoU IN NEWS 2023

➢ India and Italy sign Mobility and Migration Partnership Agreement to facilitate movement of workers.
➢ India-Japan pact on semiconductor supply chain gets Cabinet green light.
➢ India, Italy sign defence agreement.
➢ India and Tanzania elevate ties to Strategic Partnership; Agree on 5 year roadmap for defence
cooperation.
➢ India, Tanzania to sign 15 agreements with eye on USD 10 billion trade.
➢ India And Saudi Arabia Tie Up For Green Hydrogen.
➢ India And Saudi Arabia Sign Agreement On Cooperation In Energy Sector.
➢ India, New Zealand Sign MoU To Enhance Cooperation In Civil Aviation.
➢ India and Trinidad and Tobago have entered a partnership by signing an MoU to share INDIA
STACK.
➢ India, Moldova agree to sign MoU for cooperation in agriculture

➢ India, UAE sign MoU on linking of India’s Unified Payments Interface with Instant Payment
Platform of UAE.
➢ India, Panama sign MoU on electoral cooperation.
➢ India and Singapore extend MoU on cooperation for 5 years.
➢ Israel signed an agreement with India to enhance technological advancements and sustainable
practices cooperation in the fields of water and agriculture.
➢ India and US To Establish Monitoring Group to Boost High-Tech Trade and Tech Partnership.
➢ India and Australia Sign Agreements on Migration and Green Hydrogen Task Force.
➢ India, Israel sign MoU for industrial research and development cooperation.
➢ NET Zero’ Innovation Virtual Centre to be jointly created by India-UK.
➢ India, UK sign agreement to collaborate on science and innovation.
➢ Nepal and India to Sign Agreement for Cross-Border Digital Payments.
➢ India and Romania sign first Defence Cooperation Agreement to strengthen bilateral relations.
➢ India, US to sign memorandum of understanding on semiconductors.
➢ Australia, India agree on strengthening economic, defence ties.
Q. Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, recently seen in news is located in which of the following state?
A) Himachal Pradesh B) Uttarakhand
C) Sikkim D) Jammu & Kashmir
Answer : B .
✓ Uttarakhand's Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary Records First-Ever Tiger Sighting.

✓ A tiger was recently spotted for the first time at Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary.
✓ About the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary:
✓ Location: It is located in the district of Almora in the Kumaon region of the state of Uttarakhand.
✓ It was once the summer capital of the Chand dynasty, which ruled Kumaon from the 11th to the 18th
centuries AD.
✓ The sanctuary is named after Bindeshwar Mahadev Temple, an ancient Hindu rock temple dedicated to
Lord Shiva, situated on the highest point of the sanctuary.
✓ It covers a total area of around 45.59 sq. km and is situated at an elevation of 2500 m.

✓ It offers breathtaking panoramic views of snow-capped Himalayan peaks like Chaukhamba, Nanda Devi,
Nanda Kot, Panchachuli, and Kedarnath.
UTTARAKHAND IN NEWS 2023

➢ Uttarakhand is on the brink of making history as it prepares to become the first state in India to
implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC).
➢ The 5th edition of the Dehradun Literature Festival (DDLF) was announced during a press
conference.
➢ Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the ‘Rozgar Prayag Portal’.
➢ Uttarakhand government has signed a memorandum of understanding worth ₹2,000 crore with global
ropeway construction firm Poma Group in London.
➢ Uttarakhand govt approved state’s first service sector policy.
➢ Harela Festival 2023 begins in Uttarakhand.
➢ Uttarakhand has become India’s first state to launch the Resham Keet Bima scheme for sericulturists.
➢ Uttarakhand tableau which showcased the state’s wildlife and religious sites at the 74th Republic Day
parade has won the top prize.
➢ India’s First Green Solar Panel Factory to Build by Luminous in Uttarakhand.
➢ Uttarakhand awarded for adventure tourism & all round development of tourism.
➢ Uttarakhand Chief Minister launches Lakhpati Didi Yojana.
➢ The Uttarakhand High Court will be shifted from Nainital to Haldwani.
➢ Uttarakhand Plans Genetic Enhancement of Its Indigenous Badri Cow.
➢ Uttarakhand Government appoints Prasoon Joshi as its Brand Ambassador.
➢ Uttarakhand Gaurav Samman: NSA Ajit Doval and late CDS Gen Rawat to receive award.
➢ Uttarakhand CM Launched SBI Foundation and HESCO’s Project for Chamoli.
➢ Uttarakhand Foundation Day is observed on November 9 every year.
➢ Uttarakhand Governor Approved 30% Women’s Reservation Bill.
➢ PM Modi has inaugurated connectivity projects worth 3,400 crores in Mana village of Chamoli district
of Uttarakhand.
➢ Uttarakhand recently received the first prize in two categories - the best adventure tourism destination
and all-round development of tourism - from the Union tourism ministry.

➢ India's first commercial space observatory will be set up in the Garhwal division of Uttarakhand.
➢ Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has launched the “Mukhyamantri Udyaman
Khiladi Unnayan Yojana” on the occasion of National Sports Day.
➢ Uttarakhand education department launched an e-governance portal “Samarth”.
Q. Consider the following about Tax Inspectors without Borders (TIWB)

1. TIWB is a joint initiative of the United Nations Development Programme and Organisation for
Economic Cooperation and Development.
2. They train the local countries’ personnel in fields of Criminal tax investigations and tax capacity
and audits.
A) 1 only B) 2 only
Answer : C .
✓ Recently, India has been chosen as the Partner Administration for the Tax Inspectors Without Borders
(TIWB) programme and will provide Tax Experts for this
✓ About Tax Inspectors without Borders programme:
✓ It is a joint initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Organisation for
Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
✓ It was launched in 2015.
✓ It aims to strengthen developing countries' auditing capacity and multinationals' compliance worldwide.
✓ Duration: This programme is expected to be of 12-18 months duration.
✓ In this, India in collaboration with the TIWB Secretariat and support of the UNDP Country Office,
Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean aims to aid Saint Lucia in strengthening its tax administration by
transferring technical knowledge and skills to its tax administration, and through sharing of best practices.
✓ Saint Lucia’s Tax Inspectors without Borders (TIWB) programme launched in partnership with India
Q. Consider the following statements about Electron Rocket

1. It is the only reusable orbital-class small rocket.
2. It uses Rutherford engine which is the world’s first 3D-printed, electric-pump-fed rocket engine.

A) 1 only B) 2 only

Answer : C .
✓ Recently Rocket Lab, a private firm successfully launched its first Electron rocket.
✓ Electron rocket is designed to deliver small satellites to precise and unique orbits, whether flying as dedicated
or rideshare.
✓ It uses Rutherford engine which is the world’s first 3D-printed, electric-pump-fed rocket engine.
✓ Capturing and reflying Electron’s first stage enables higher launch frequency without expanding production
and lowers launch costs.
Q. Recently, after the demise of the ruler of which country, the Government of India had announced one
day state mourning?
A) Qatar B) Egypt
C) Bahrain D) Kuwait
Answer : D .
✓ After the demise of Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Indian Government
had announced one-day state mourning.
✓ Amir died on Saturday at the age of 86. The Union Home Ministry had sent a message regarding this to all
the states.
✓ Kuwait is a Gulf country, its capital is 'Kuwait City'.
Q. Who has been appointed by the Israeli government as the new Ambassador to India?
A) Ron Malka B) Nor Gillon
C) Reuven Azar D) Ridwaan Jadwat

Answer : C .
✓ The Israeli government recently approved the appointment of Reuven Azar as the new Ambassador to India.
✓ The Israeli Foreign Ministry also said in a statement that Reuven will also serve as non-resident ambassador
to Sri Lanka and Bhutan.
✓ Azar currently serves as Israel's Ambassador to Romania.

✓ He will replace Naor Gillon, who has been serving as Israel's Ambassador to India since 2021
Q. Who has been appointed as the new captain by IPL team Mumbai Indians?
A) Suryakumar Yadav B) Jasprit Bumrah

C) Ishan Kishan D) Hardik Pandya
Answer : D .
✓ Mumbai franchise of IPL has appointed all-rounder Hardik Pandya as its new captain.
✓ Experienced opener Rohit Sharma, who was removed from the captaincy, was the captain of Mumbai since
2013. In between, he had won five IPL trophies for Mumbai Indians.
✓ It is noteworthy that recently Mumbai had made a trade deal with Gujarat team for Hardik Pandya
Q. Which Country is Safest Country in the World 2023?
A) Austria B) Switzerland
C) Denmark D) Iceland
Answer : D .
✓ As per the Global Peace Index 2023, Iceland holds the title of safest country in the world with the Global
Peace Index of 1.12 in the year 2023, followed by Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand and Austria.
✓ For an impressive 14th consecutive year, Iceland secures its title as the world’s safest country according to
the Global Peace Index.
✓ With a population of 340,000, Iceland’s safety stems from its high living standards, social harmony and a
small, trusting community.
✓ Notably, the absence of a military, unarmed police and progressive laws promoting equality contribute to
Iceland’s unrivaled reputation for security
Q. Which Country has Successfully Flight Tests Indigenous High-Speed Flying-Wing UAV?
A) USA B) India
C) China D) Russia
Answer : B .
✓ Defence Ministry a successful flight trial of an indigenous high-speed flying-wing unmanned aerial vehicle
(UAV) was carried out in Karnataka’s Chitradurga that propelled India into an elite club of nations to have
the technology to produce such a platform.

✓ The autonomous flying wing technology demonstrator has been developed by the Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO)
✓ The ministry said this was possible using onboard sensor data fusion with indigenous satellite-based
augmentation using GPS-aided GEO Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) receivers to improve the accuracy
and integrity of GPS navigation
Q. Who becomes the most-expensive player in IPL history?

A) Pat Cummins B) Mitchell Starc
C) Rovman Powell D) Sherfane Rutherford

Answer : B .
✓ Australia’s Mitchell Starc became the most expensive player ever to be sold at the IPL Auction when the
Kolkata Knight Riders acquired the pacer’s services for 24.75 crore.
✓ World Cup-winning captain Pat Cummins fetched the second-best bid, going to Sunrisers Hyderabad for
20.50 crore.

Q. Which team bought Pat Cummins, who became the second most expensive player in IPL history?
A) Sunrisers Hyderabad B) Delhi Capitals
C) Mumbai Indians D) Chennai Super Kings

Answer : A .
✓ Australian captain Pat Cummins created history in the IPL auction. Cummins has become the second most
expensive selling player in IPL history.
✓ Sunrisers Hyderabad bought the Australian captain with a base price of Rs 2 crore for Rs 20.5 crore.
✓ Whereas Mitchell Starc was bought by KKR for Rs 24.75 crore (about 2,982,000 US dollars), which is the
most expensive player till date
Q. Indian Navy has signed an agreement with which IIT for joint research and development?
A) IIT Kanpur B) IIT Delhi
C) IIT Mumbai D) IIT Madras
Answer : A .
✓ Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the
Indian Navy at Naval Headquarters.
✓ Its objective is to promote technology development, innovative solutions and joint research and
development.
IIT IN NEWS 2023

➢ IIT Kanpur, Indian Navy join forces to drive innovation through research partnership.
Gujarat.
the institute.


biometric system.
Q. Which state won the most medals in the first Khelo India Para Games?
A) Uttar Pradesh B) Haryana

C) Punjab D) Maharashtra
Answer : B .
✓ In the Khelo India Para Games (KIPG) organized for the first time, Haryana state topped the medal table
by securing the maximum number of medals.
✓ Haryana won a total of 105 medals including 40 gold, 39 silver and 26 bronze.
✓ Khelo India Para Games was started on 10 December in New Delhi.
✓ Uttar Pradesh stood second with 62 medals, including 25 gold, 23 silver and 14 bronze, while Tamil Nadu
stood third with 20 gold, eight silver and 14 bronze.
✓ 'Ujjwala'- a sparrow, was unveiled as the official mascot of Khelo India – Para Games 2023.
✓ Khelo India Para games 2023.
1) The Khelo India Para Games (KIPG) aims to empower para athletes in the country.
2) This is the first edition of KIPG.
3) It is part of the Khelo India Initiative, which also includes Khelo India Youth Games, Khelo India
University Games, and Khelo India Winter Games.

✓ Organised by : Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Sports Authority of India, National Sports Federation
(NSF), Paralympic Committee of India (PCI,) Cerebral Palsy Sports Federation of India (CPSFI) and
organizing committee.
✓ Venue : Delhi
✓ Mascot : Ujjwala – a sparrow
✓ Total sports disciplines : Seven (para athletics, para shooting, para archery, para football, para badminton,
para table tennis and para weight lifting)
Q. Who has been recently awarded the prestigious Royal Society of Chemistry’s Nyholm Prize for
Education?
A) Savita Ladage B) Sanjiva Prasad
C) Rajeswari Sridhar D) Pushpak Bhattacharyya
Answer : A .
✓ Recently, Professor Savita Ladage from Mumbai received the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Nyholm Prize
for Education in recognition of her contributions to chemistry education.
✓ About Nyholm prize
✓ It is awarded to inspirational, innovative and dedicated individuals or teams making a substantial and
sustained impact within education.
✓ It celebrates individuals working in primary, secondary, further education, and higher education,
encompassing teachers, technicians, and more.

✓ It recognises a major national or international research or innovation contribution to the field of chemical
science education.
✓ This prize was established to commemorate the life and work of Sir Ronald Nyholm, president of the Royal
Society of Chemistry from 1968 to 1970.
✓ It is awarded annually.
✓ The prize alternates between being open to nominees both in the UK and Ireland and internationally, and
open only to nominations from the UK and Ireland.
✓ For 2023, the prize was open to nominees based anywhere in the world.
✓ The winner(s) receives £5000, a medal and a certificate.
✓ The winner(s) will complete a series of lectures or workshops in the UK.
✓ The winner(s) will be chosen by the Education Prize Committee
Q. iVIS boosts _ operations with its e-surveillance security models.

A) Axis Bank B) IDBI Bank
C) ICICI Bank D) HDFC Bank
Answer : C .
✓ iVIS a subsidiary of Magellanic Cloud, has announced its empanelment with ICICI Bank for the delivery of
e-surveillance services across branches.
✓ This strategic collaboration enables iVIS to offer AI/ML and IoT technology-enabled e-surveillance services,
which will include real-time video monitoring and recording, facial recognition, incident detection,
reporting, and data analytics.
✓ iVIS will strengthen the branch-level security operations of ICICI Bank, such as ATMs and cash counter
operations, with real-time threat mitigation, remote security management, and automated response systems.
iVis is skilled in its e-surveillance segment, with a centre in its Hyderabad office that oversees 20,000 ATMs
and banking sites across the country.
ICICI BANK IN NEWS 2023

➢ iVIS, a subsidiary of Magellanic Cloud, has announced its empanelment with ICICI Bank for the
delivery of e-surveillance services across branches.
➢ ICICI Bank receives RBI’s nod to make Securities a wholly-owned subsidiary.
➢ ICICI Bank Introduces ‘iFinance,’ A One-Stop Solution for Multi-Bank Account Access.

the institute.
➢ Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has taken strict measures against two prominent banking institutions,
Kotak Mahindra Bank penalty of Rs 3.95 crore and ICICI Bank penalty of Rs 12.19 crore, by imposing
significant penalties.
➢ RBI approves reappointment of Sandeep Bakshi as ICICI Bank MD & CEO for three more years till
October 2026.
➢ ICICI Bank gets RBI nod to make I-Process Services as wholly-owned subsidiary.
➢ ICICI Bank offers Ecosystem Banking for Indian Startups.
➢ ICICI Bank and BNP Paribas have signed an initial pact to cater to the banking requirements of
European corporates operating in India and Indian companies in the European Union.
➢ Zomato Partners with ICICI Bank to Launch Zomato UPI, Streamlining Payments for Users
➢ Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India (ICICI) BANK
➢ Founded : 1994
➢ HQ : Mumbai, Maharashtra
➢ MD & CEO : Sandeep Bakhshi
➢ Tagline : Hum Hai Na Khayal Apka.
Q. Which Company has received approval from IFSC Gift City to establish an aircraft leasing venture?
A) Vistara B) IndiGo
C) Akasa Air D) Alliance Air
Answer : B .
✓ IndiGo, India's largest airline, has received approval to establish an aircraft leasing venture in IFSC Gift
City.
✓ The parent company, Interglobe Aviation, plans to invest around ₹11,500 crore in the segment over the next
five years.
✓ The funds will come from promoter investments.
✓ The new venture, named Interglobe Aviation Financial Services IFSC Private Limited, will focus on
operating leasing, financial leasing, and other related services for aircraft.

✓ The end customers for their services will be the DTA entity of their Group company. The estimated value
for the export of services over five years is projected at ₹11,563 crore.
✓ The proposed premises for the leasing company will span 15 square meters. IndiGo has an order book of
980 aircraft and had previously announced its intention to establish a presence in IFSC Gift City in
September 2023.
Q. The EKAMRA project, which was in news, is in which state?

A) West Bengal B) Madhya Pradesh
C) Odisha D) Karnataka
Answer : C .
✓ Odisha’s Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik, prioritized temple redevelopment across the state to preserve its
cultural identity.
✓ The flagship project, the Puri heritage corridor, aims to enhance the overall experience for devotees visiting
the 12th century Jagannath Temple in Puri. Additionally, various places of worship, both small and large,
are undergoing renovation with a budget of over Rs 4,000 crore.
✓ The government has completed the renovation of the 500-year-old Tara Tarini shrine in Ganjam district and
launched the Lingaraj Ekamra Kshetra Amenities and Monuments Revival Action (EKAMRA) project in
Bhubaneswar.
Q. Kas Plateau, that was recently making news, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in which country?
A) India B) Russia
C) China D) UAE
Answer : A .
✓ Kas Plateau is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Maharashtra. Renowned for its vibrant Kas Flower
festival, the plateau features a rich tapestry of flora and fauna.
✓ Often referred to as Maharashtra’s Valley of Flowers, Kaas Plateau is a place that turns into a floral
wonderland during the monsoon season. It falls under the Sahyadri Sub Cluster of the Western Ghats, and
it became a part of a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 2012.

Q. The terms “JN.1” and “Pirola”, that were recently making news, are related to which of the
following?
A) Artificial Intelligence Developments
B) Climate Change Initiatives
C) Covid-19
D) Malaria
Answer : C .
✓ Indian authorities have confirmed the presence of JN.1, a new sub-variant of the Covid-19 virus, in a patient
from Kerala. Designated as a genotype of the Omicron variant, the JN.1 sub-variant is closely related to the
BA.2.86 strain, also called Pirola. JN.1 was initially identified in January 2023 based on genomic
surveillance data from the USA and China.
✓ Health officials have emphasized the need for continued vigil and strict surveillance in light of the new
variant from a variant-prone virus. Its emergence highlights how the SARS-CoV-2 virus continues to evolve
into new sub-variants through constant mutations.
Q. Who has inaugurated the world's largest corporate office hub, Surat Diamond Bourse?
A) Rajnath Singh B) Draupadi Murmu
C) Narendra Modi D) Bhupendra Patel
Answer : C .
✓ Prime minister is set to inaugurate the world's largest corporate office hub, Surat Diamond Bourse.
✓ About Surat Diamond Bourse:
✓ It is located in Khajod village, near Surat.
✓ It is the world's largest corporate office hub, taking over the erstwhile top position of
✓ It will also be a global centre for trading both rough and polished diamonds as well as jewellery.
✓ Diamond buyers from all corners of the world will get a global platform to trade at the Surat Diamond
Bourse.
✓ Features:
✓ It is built on 35.54 acres of land at a cost of Rs 3,400 crore.
✓ It is the world's largest interconnected building, as it houses over 4,500 interconnected offices.

✓ The megastructure features 15 floors in addition to nine ground towers with office space ranging from 300
sq ft to 1 lakh sq ft.
✓ There is a central spine connecting the nine rectangular towers.
✓ The bourse will comprise a state-of-the-art 'Customs Clearance House' for Import-Export, a jewellery mall
for retail jewellery business, and a facility for International Banking and Safe Vaults.
✓ It is the country's largest customs clearance house.
✓ The building has the capacity to house 4,200 traders from 175 countries who will come to Surat to buy
polished diamonds.
✓ The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) has awarded the building a platinum rating
Q. With whom has the Government of India signed a loan agreement for the Delhi-Meerut Regional
Rapid Transit System Corridor?
A) New Development Bank B) World Bank
C) Asian Development Bank D) German bank KfW
Answer : C .
✓ The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank have signed a loan of 37 billion Japanese Yen
for the Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System Corridor.
✓ Under this, the 82 km long Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor is being
developed.
Q. Union Cabinet has approved the proposal to declare which airport as an international airport?
A) Dibrugarh Airport
B) Hisar Airport
C) Surat Airport
D) Tirupati Airport
Answer : C .
✓ The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal to declare Surat Airport an international airport.
✓ Surat Airport will not only become a gateway for international travellers but will also facilitate seamless
export-import operations for the thriving diamond and textile industries.
✓ The airport’s international status is paramount for enhancing economic growth, attracting foreign
investment, and providing impetus for regional development.

✓ The Surat airport may be named after former prime minister the late Morarji Desai, who hailed from Valsad
and had been elected from the Surat Lok Sabha constituency from 1957 to 1980.

➢ Union Cabinet has approved the proposal to declare Surat Airport an international airport.
visibility.
Q. The Parliament has passed the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2023 bill to establish a central
tribal university in which state named after tribal goddesses Sammakka and Sarakka?
A) Tamil Nadu
B) Telangana
C) Rajasthan
D) Karnataka
Answer : B .
✓ The Parliament passed the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2023 bill to establish a central tribal
university in Telangana.
✓ The university will be built at a cost of ₹900 crore. The university is expected to be set up in Mulugu and is
named after tribal goddesses Sammakka and Sarakka.

✓ As per the state and objects of the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2023, the Sammakka Sarakka
Central Tribal University aims to fulfil regional aspirations by enhancing access and quality of higher
education in Telangana.
✓ The new university is expected to promote higher education and research along with tribal art, culture,
customs, and technological advancements for the tribal population of India.
TELANGANA IN NEWS 2023

➢ Parliament passed the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2023 bill to establish a central tribal
university in Telangana.
➢ Union Cabinet approved the establishment of a tribal university in Telangana, named The Sarakka
Central Tribal University. This university, with a budget of Rs 889 crore, will be located in Mulugu
district.
➢ US-based multinational technology company "Corning" has announced plans to set up a $113m
Gorilla Glass manufacturing facility in the Indian state of Telangana.
Management Framework (ADMF).
➢ Telangana achieves 100% coverage of PMJDY.
➢ Telangana govt launches first of its kind State Robotics Framework.
➢ Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao laid the foundation for the Hare Krishna Heritage
Tower in Hyderabad. The 400 feet tall structure will be constructed on six acres of land in Narsingi at
➢ Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao recently unveiled a 125-feet tall bronze statue of BR
Ambedkar in Hyderabad.
➢ IAS 'Shanti Kumari' becomes first woman Chief Secretary of Telangana.
➢ National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with
the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

➢ Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the occasion of Pongal on 15 January, virtually flagged off the
Vande Bharata Express train connecting Secunderabad with Vishakhapatnam.
➢ Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)
➢ Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) is a nation-wide financial inclusion program of
Government of India.
➢ It was announced by the Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi on 15 August 2014.
➢ Slogan Mera Khatha, Bhagya Vidhatha (“My account brings me good fortune”)
➢ Age of Eligible Beneficiaries 18-65 Years
➢ Overdraft facility up to Rs.10000 after satisfactory operation of the account for 6 months
➢ Account holder will get RuPay Debit card with inbuilt accident insurance cover of Rs 2 lakh.
➢ Life insurance cover of Rs 30,000
Q. Which country will impose green tax on air passengers from 2025?
A) Norway B) Switzerland
C) Denmark D) Sweden
Answer : C .
✓ Denmark has agreed to impose a tax on air passengers to help finance the airline industry’s transition to
greener practices, which will be gradually phased in from 2025.
✓ The government in November proposed imposing an average tax of 100 Danish crowns ($14.35) on air
travel to help finance the industry’s green transition, which aims to enable all domestic flights to use 100%
sustainable fuels by 2030.
✓ Under the agreement, the tax by 2030 will reach around 50 Danish crowns ($7.35) per passenger for intra-
European flights, 310 crowns for medium-distance flights, and 410 for long-distance.
Q. Which insurance company has launched the ‘Alpha Wealth’ plan with comprehensive features to
ensure financial security for the insured and their family?
A) Royal Sundaram General Insurance B) Canara HSBC Life Insurance
C) Bharti AXA General Insurance D) Bajaj Allianz General Insurance
Answer : B .

✓ Canara HSBC Life Insurance has launched ‘Alpha Wealth’ plan with comprehensive features to ensure
financial security for the insured and their family.
✓ It also encourages long-term savings with loyalty additions and wealth boosters. The product offers an array
of options by investing in a wide variety of funds – debt/equity/liquid available in the market.
✓ The insurance plan is flexible in terms of providing to choose from three plan options based on the life stages:
‘Alpha Invest Plus,’ ‘Alpha Premium Plus,’ or ‘Alpha Life Plus.’
Q. Which bank has been authorized by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for the disbursement of pensions
through e-PPOs on behalf of the Ministry of Railways?
A) Bandhan Bank B) HDFC Bank
C) IndusInd Bank D) ICICI Bank
Answer : A .
✓ Bandhan Bank has been authorized by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for the disbursement of pensions
through e-PPOs on behalf of the Ministry of Railways.
✓ This authorization enables Bandhan Bank to disburse pensions to all employees of the Ministry of Railways
who have retired from their service.
✓ This mandate also provides the Bank access to around 50,000 average Indian Railways retirees every year
across all offices including 17 zonal railways and 8 production units of Indian Railways.
✓ Bandhan Bank
✓ Founded : 2001
✓ Founder : Chandra Shekhar Ghosh
✓ Headquarters : Kolkata
✓ CEO : Chandra Shekhar Ghosh
✓ Chairperson : Anup Kumar Sinha
Q. ICICI Prudential Life Insurance (ICICI PruLife) has partnered with which Small Finance Bank for
the distribution of life insurance products?
A) Equitas Small Finance Bank B) Shivalik Small Finance Bank

C) Ujjivan Small Finance Bank D) AU Small Finance Bank
Answer : C .

✓ ICICI Prudential Life Insurance (ICICI PruLife) and Ujjivan Small Finance Bank (Ujjivan SFB) have
entered into a bancassurance partnership for the distribution of life insurance products.
✓ Objective – To increase access to insurance solutions for the aspiring middle-class, enabling them to secure
their financial.
✓ Ujjivan Small Finance Bank
✓ Founded : 1 February 2017
✓ Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka
✓ MD & CEO: Ittira Davis
✓ Tagline: “We believe in your belief”
Q. Who has been honored with the Visionary Leader Icon Award 2023 by Advocates Association For
Social Responsibility And Awareness (AASRAA)?
A) Niranjan Pujari B) Ranendra Pratap Swain
C) Srinivas Naik Dharavath D) Jagannath Saraka
Answer : C .
✓ Real Vision Homes Pvt Ltd Chairman, Dr. Srinivas Naik Dharavath has been honored with the Visionary
Leader Icon Award 2023 by Advocates Association For Social Responsibility And Awareness (AASRAA)at
the 5th National Conventions in Delhi.
✓ Real Vision Homes Pvt Ltd, a leading name in the real estate sector, takes immense pride in Founder
Chairman Dr. Srinivas Naik Dharavath’s well-deserved recognition as a visionary leader.
✓ The award is a testament to his unwavering dedication, remarkable achievements, and commitment to
excellence in both business and social endeavors.
✓ The 5th National Summit of AASRAA served as the perfect platform to acknowledge and honor Dr.
Srinivas Naik Dharavath’s significant contributions
Q. When is the International Human Solidarity Day observed?

C) December 19 D) December 18
Answer : B .
✓ Every year International Human Solidarity Day is observed on December 20 to celebrate the unity in
diversity and raise awareness about the importance of solidarity.

✓ The day was proclaimed by the United Nations’ (UN) General Assembly on December 22, 2005.
✓ According to the United Nations Millennium Declaration, solidarity is among the fundamental values that
are essential to international relations.
✓ Solidarity is defined as an awareness of shared interests and objectives that create a psychological sense of
unity and ties in a society that bind people together as one.
Q. Goa Liberation Day is observed on 19 December every year. In 2023, which edition of the day was
observed?
A) 63rd B) 55th
C) 71st D) 50th
Answer : A .
✓ The Goa Liberation Day (गोवा मक्ु ति दिवस) is observed on December 19 in India. 2023 marks the 63rd Goa
Liberation Day.
✓ The Day is celebrated to commemorate the great valour of the Indian armed forces in freeing Goa from
around 450 years of Portuguese rule.
✓ Goa was liberated on December 19, 1961.
✓ The 36-hour military operation, conducted from December 18, 1961, was code-named ‘Operation Vijay’
meaning ‘Operation Victory,’ and involved attacks by the Indian Navy, Indian Air Force and Indian Army.
Q. Which bank has recently raised Rs 7,425 crore through infrastructure bond issue?
A) State Bank of India
B) HDFC Bank
C) Punjab National Bank
D) Federal Bank
Answer : B .
✓ HDFC Bank has recently raised Rs 7,425 crore through infrastructure bond issue.
✓ The bank has raised these funds for financing infrastructure and affordable housing projects.
✓ 7,42,500 bonds of face value Rs 1,00,000 were issued to raise Rs 7,425 crore.

HDFC BANK IN NEWS 2023
➢ HDFC Bank has recently raised Rs 7,425 crore through infrastructure bond issue.
➢ Reserve Bank of India has approved the reappointment of Sashidhar Jagdishan as HDFC Bank MD
& CEO for a period of three years.
➢ HDFC Bank Launches India's First Co-Branded Hotel Credit Card named 'Marriott Bonvoy HDFC
Bank Credit Card' in partnership with Marriott International.
➢ HDFC Bank's Sashidhar Jagdishan is highest paid bank CEO in FY23 with Rs 10.55 crore pay.
➢ HDFC Bank overtakes SBI in CRISIL’s corporate banking ranking for 2023.
➢ Food delivery platform Swiggy has joined hands with HDFC Bank to launch a co-branded credit card.
➢ HDFC Bank, India’s largest private lender, has achieved a significant milestone by entering the $100
billion market-capitalization club as world’s 7th largest lender.
➢ HDFC emerges as fourth largest bank in the world after merger.
➢ According to Bloomberg, with a valuation of $172 billion, the merger will place HDFC in the fourth
position in equity market capitalisation behind JP Morgan Chase & Co., Industrial and Commercial
Bank of China Ltd. and Bank of America Corp.
➢ Deepak Parekh has announced his decision to step down as HDFC chairperson after serving as the
chairman for 46 years.
➢ HDFC Bank introduced a new credit card named ‘Millennia Credit card’ which offers cashback over
e-commerce platforms and multiple benefits.
➢ SEBI has granted approval for a change in control of HDFC Asset Management Company (HDFC
AMC) due to the amalgamation of HDFC Ltd and HDFC Bank Ltd.
➢ As part of the amalgamation, existing shareholders of HDFC Ltd will hold a 41% stake in HDFC
Bank.
➢ HDFC Bank has launched a retail banking initiative called ‘Vishesh‘ aimed at customers in semi-urban
and rural areas.
➢ HDFC Bank partners Manipal Global to build up a talent pipeline.
➢ SEBI has granted approval for a change in control of HDFC Asset Management Company (HDFC
AMC) due to the amalgamation of HDFC Ltd and HDFC Bank Ltd.
➢ HDFC Bank has signed a “Master Inter Bank Credit Agreement” with Export-Import Bank of Korea
for a USD 300 million line of credit.

➢ HDFC Bank recommends re-appointment of Sashidhar Jagdishan MD, CEO for 3 yrs.
➢ HDFC Bank’s Sashidhar Jagdishan is ‘BS Banker of the Year 2022’.
➢ HDFC Bank, IRCTC launch India’s most rewarding co-branded travel credit card.
➢ HDFC Bank, Lulu Exchange ink deal to enhance cross-border payments between India-Gulf region.
➢ HDFC Bank collaborates with Microsoft as part of its digital transformation.
➢ Reserve Bank of India said SBI, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank remain domestic systemically important
banks (D-SIBs). .
➢ India’s first Electronic Bank Guarantee issued by HDFC Bank.
➢ HDFC BANK
➢ Founded : 1994
➢ Founder : Hasmukhbhai Parekh
➢ HQ : Mumbai, Maharashtra
➢ MD & CEO : Sashidhar Jagdishan
➢ Tagline : We understand your world
Q. How many people will be honored with the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2023?
A) 2 B) 3
C) 4 D) 5
Answer : A .
✓ The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has announced the National Sports Awards 2023.
✓ These awards will be presented by the President of India at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 09, 2024.
✓ This time Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award will be given to badminton players Chirag
Chandrashekhar Shetty and Rankireddy Satwik Sai Raj.
✓ This time 26 players will be honored with the Arjuna Award.
✓ Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award
✓ Formerly known as the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in Sports and Games.
✓ The highest sporting honour of India.
✓ It is awarded annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
✓ The award comprises a medallion, a certificate, and a cash prize of ₹25 lakh (as of 2020).

✓ Established in 1992.
✓ Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna: It is the highest sporting honour of India. It was instituted in 1991–92. The
recipient(s) is/are honoured for their outstanding performance in the field of sports over a period of four
years at international level.
✓ Dronacharya Awards: It was instituted in 1985 to honour eminent Coaches for producing medal winners
at prestigious International sports events.
✓ Arjuna awards: It was instituted in 1961. To be eligible for the Award, a sportsperson should have had not
only good performance over the previous four years at the International level but also should have shown
qualities of leadership, sportsmanship and a sense of discipline.
✓ Dhyan Chand Award: It was instituted in 2002. It is an award for life-time achievements in sports.
✓ Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award: It is the highest national recognition for outstanding
achievements in the field of adventure on land, sea and air.
✓ Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy: It was instituted in 1956-57 to honour the top overall
performing university in the Inter-University Tournaments.
✓ Rashtriya Khel Protsahana Purushkar: It was instituted from 2009 to recognize the corporate entities (both
in private and public sector) and individuals who have played a visible role in the area of sports promotion
and development
Q. Who is the President of Egypt who has won the presidential election for the third time?
A) Sherif Ismail B) Abdel Fatah al-Sisi
C) Ibrahim Mahlab D) Mohammad Morsi
Answer : B .
✓ In the recently concluded presidential elections in Egypt, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has won for the third
time.
✓ Al-Sisi won the election with 89.6 percent of the vote.
✓ His next term will start in April and will last for six years.
NEWLY PRESIDENT IN NEWS 2023

➢ Abdel Fatah al-Sisi : Egypt
➢ Daniel Noboa : Ecuador
➢ Mohammed Muizzu : Maldives

➢ Bharatvanshi Tharman Shanmugaratnam : Singapore
➢ Emmerson Mnangagwa : Zimbabwe
➢ Edgars Rinkevics : Latvian
➢ Tayyip Erdogan : Turkey
➢ Bola Tinubu : Nigeria
➢ Mohammed Shahabuddin Chuppu : Bangladesh
➢ Ram Chandra Paudel : Nepal
➢ Xi Jinping : China (third term)
➢ Vo Van Thuong : Vietnam
Q. Who launched the National Geology Data Repository Portal?

A) Anurag Thakur B) Smriti Irani
C) RK Sinha D) Prahlad Joshi
Answer : D .
✓ Ministry of Mines Pralhad Joshi is to launch the National Geoscience Data Repository (NGDR) Portal on
19th December 2023 in a ceremony in New Delhi.
✓ About the National Geoscience Data Repository Portal:
✓ It is a comprehensive online platform for accessing, sharing, and analysing geospatial information across
India.
✓ The NGDR initiative was spearheaded by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and Bhaskaracharya
Institute of Space Applications and Geoinformatics (BISAG-N).
✓ It represents a significant leap forward in democratising critical geoscience data, empowering stakeholders
across industries and academia with unprecedented access to invaluable resources.
✓ About Geological Survey of India
✓ The Geological Survey of India (GSI) was set up in 1851 primarily to find coal deposits for the Railways.
✓ Over the years, GSI has not only grown into a repository of geo-science information required in various
fields in the country but has also attained the status of a geo-scientific organisation of international repute.
✓ Its main functions relate to creating and updating of national geoscientific information and mineral resource
assessment.

✓ GSI is an attached office of the Ministry of Mines.
✓ Headquarters: Kolkata
✓ It has six regional offices located in Lucknow, Jaipur, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Shillong and Kolkata and state
unit offices in almost all states of the country.
Q. India has witnessed an increase in fatalities as per Global Status on Road Safety 2023, this report is
released by which agency?
A) World Bank B) World Health Organization
C) United Nations Population Fund D) UNICEF
Answer : B .
✓ Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) has released a report titled-The Global Status Report on
Road Safety 2023, revealing critical findings and insights regarding road traffic fatalities and safety across
the globe. Road traffic deaths worldwide decreased by 5% between 2010 and 2021, totaling 1.19 million
fatalities annually. 108 UN member nations reported a drop in road traffic deaths during this period. India
witnessed a 15% increase in fatalities, rising from 1.34 lakh in 2010 to 1.54 lakh in 2021.
Q. The term “SWAMIH Investment Fund” that was recently making news, is related to which sector?
A) Automobile
B) Education
C) Real Estate
D) Pharmaceutical
Answer : C .
✓ The Special Window for Affordable and Mid-Income Housing (SWAMIH) Investment Fund I is a social
impact fund that aims to complete stalled and stressed residential projects. It was announced by the Finance
Minister in 2019.
✓ Recently, real estate developers body NAREDCO recommended in its pre-budget submissions that the
government allocate Rs 50,000 crore more to the SWAMIH fund.
✓ This fund aims to complete stalled housing projects and has benefited over 2 lakh homebuyers while
unlocking projects worth Rs 94,000 crore after getting Rs 15,530 crore so far.
✓ NAREDCO contends another tranche could further revive the real estate industry and consumer sentiments.

Q. Which state launched “Mukhyamantri Pashuseva Yojana”, a 24×7 animal ambulance scheme to
provide timely and accessible veterinary care for livestock?
A) Rajasthan B) Madhya Pradesh
C) Goa D) Maharashtra
Answer : C .
✓ The government of Goa recently launched the Mukhyamantri Pashuseva Yojana, a 24×7 animal ambulance
scheme to provide timely and accessible veterinary care for livestock across the state.
✓ Under this scheme, a toll-free helpline number and mobile clinics have been set up while the fleet of animal
ambulances will be expanded as per need. It aims to boost animal welfare and productivity by delivering
critical services at doorsteps even beyond regular hospital hours.
✓ With extensive cattle-rearing in Goa, this scheme intends to prevent distress during medical emergencies.
GOA IN NEWS 2023

➢ Goa Government has launched the Swayampurna e-bazaar online platform to give market to different
kinds of products made by self-help groups and women.
➢ Paytm is the official sponsor for the 37th National Games in Goa.
➢ Goa CM Pramod Sawant launches Griha Adhar scheme to empower Goan homemakers.
➢ Goa has become the first Indian state to offer free in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment.
➢ GI tags for Goan mangoes and bebinca, crafts from Rajasthan and U.P.
➢ The products are ‘Jalesar Dhatu Shilp’ (a metal craft), ‘Goa Mankurad Mango’, ‘Goan Bebinca’,
‘Udaipur Koftgari Metal Craft’, ‘Bikaner Kashidakari Craft’, ‘Jodhpur Bandhej Craft’, and ‘Bikaner
Usta Kala Craft’.
➢ ‘India’s First Village Atlas’ Is Of Mayem In Goa.
➢ The tourism department of the Goa government is set to hold the ‘Heritage Festival 2023’ from April
28 to 30 at Saligao village in North Goa.
➢ Bharti Institute of Public Policy, a renowned think tank under the Indian School of Business (ISB),
and the Government of Goa have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish
a knowledge partnership.

➢ The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, Shri Girish Chandra Murmu, holds the
position of Chair of the Supreme Audit Institutions-20 (SAI20) Engagement Group during India’s
G20 Presidency. The SAI20 Summit is scheduled to take place in Goa from 12th to 14th June 2023.
➢ Union Cabinet has approved the naming of Greenfield International Airport at Goa’s Mopa as
Manohar International Airport after former Defence Minister and Goa Chief Minister Manohar
Parrikar.
➢ Purple, First Inclusion Festival of India starts in Goa.
➢ Goa Manohar International Airport wins best sustainable greenfield airport award.
➢ Government of Goa has launched the Vision for All School Eye Health program.
➢ The first Prime Minister GatiShakti regional workshop for the Western and Central Zone was held in
Goa.
➢ India’s second longest cable-stayed eight-lane Zuari Bridge opens in Goa.
➢ 23rd Commonwealth Law Conference begins in Goa.
➢ Goa Statehood Day 2023 observed on 30th May.
➢ This year Goa celebrates its 36th anniversary of statehood.
Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Akash Weapon System:

1. It is a Long-Range Air-to-Air Missile Defence System.
2. It is developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A) 1 only B) 2 only

Answer : B .
✓ India has effectively showcased the capabilities of its indigenous Akash surface-to-air (SAM) weapon system
as part of its plans to export these systems.
✓ In the recent Exercise Astrashakti 2023, a single unit of the Akash weapon system successfully engaged and
obliterated four unmanned targets simultaneously.
✓ This demonstration established India as the first country to exhibit the ability to engage four targets at such
distances simultaneously using command guidance from a single firing unit.

✓ About Akash Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) Defence System:
✓ It is a Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (SRSAM) Defence System to protect vulnerable areas and points
from air attacks.
✓ It was indigenously designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation
(DRDO).
✓ It has built-in Electronic Counter-Counter Measures (ECCM) features.
✓ It can engage aerial targets up to a range of approximately 25km.
✓ Altitude of Operation: 100 m up to 20 km
✓ Weight: 710 kg
✓ Guidance System: Command Guidance
Q. Who has declared 2024 as International Year of camelids?

A) United Nations B) UNESCO
C) World Health Organization D) World Trade Organization
Answer : A .
✓ The United Nations recently declared 2024 the International Year of Camelids.
✓ About Camelids:
✓ A Camelid refers to any of the even-toed ungulates of the family Camelidae. E.g. camels, llamas, alpacas,
guanacos, and vicuñas.
✓ They are known for their remarkable adaptations to arid and high-altitude environments.
✓ These ungulates can be classified into two major groups: the Old World and the New World.
✓ The Old World Camelids, found in northern Africa and central Asia are the true camels, such as the
dromedary camels (one-humped camel) and the Bactrian camels (two-humped camel), characterized by
✓ The South American Camelids (New World Camelids) include the modern llamas, alpacas, guanacos, and
vicuñas. Wild populations of South American Camelids, such as vicuñas, inhabit the high-altitude regions
of the Andes Mountains.
Q. Mount Vinson, recently seen in news, is located in:

A) Europe B) Arctic
C) Africa D) Antarctica

Answer : D .
✓ Recently, Kerala government employee Shaikh Hassan Khan has climbed Mount Vinson, the highest peak
in Antarctica.
✓ It is the highest mountain in Antarctica.
✓ Mount Vinson rises 4,892 meters (16,050 feet) above sea level.
✓ It is part of the Sentinel Range of the Ellsworth Mountains, near the Ronne Ice Shelf.
Q. Which states has topped the “Logistics Ease Across Different State (LEADS) 2023” report in the
Achievers category of Landlocked Group?
A) Rajasthan B) Haryana
C) Uttar Pradesh D) Punjab
Answer : B .
✓ Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, and Textiles,
Piyush Goyal has released the “Logistics Ease Across Different State (LEADS) 2023” report in New Delhi.
✓ The 5th edition of the LEADS annual exercise – LEADS 2023 report, provides insights into improvement
of logistics performance at State/UT level.
✓ This report, signalling a positive shift in States’ performance across the key pillars – Logistics Infrastructure,
Logistics Services and Operating and Regulatory Environment, empowers the State/UT Governments by
providing region-specific insights for informed decision-making and comprehensive growth.
✓ This report is based on a pan-India primary survey, conducted between May and July 2023, covering over
7,300 responses across 36 States/UTs
✓ Performance highlights from LEADS 2023
✓ Coastal Group
✓ Achievers- Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
✓ Fast Movers- Kerala, Maharashtra
✓ Aspirers- Goa, Odisha, West Bengal
✓ Landlocked Group
✓ Achievers- Haryana, Punjab, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh
✓ Fast Movers- Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand
✓ Aspirers- Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand
✓ North-East Group

✓ Achievers- Assam, Sikkim, Tripura
✓ Fast Movers- Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland
✓ Aspirers- Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram
✓ Union Territories
✓ Achievers- Chandigarh, Delhi
✓ Fast Movers- Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep, Puducherry
✓ Aspirers- Daman & Diu/ Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh
Q. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated which edition of the Kashi Tamil Sangamam at
Namo Ghat in Varanasi?
A) 2nd B) 3rd
C) 4th D) 5th
Answer : A .
✓ Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the second edition of the Kashi Tamil Sangamam at Namo
Ghat in Varanasi.
✓ He also flagged off the Kashi Tamil Sangamam Express between Varanasi and Kanyakumari.
✓ The second edition of the Kashi Tamil Sangamam (KTS) will be held between December 17 to 30, 2023 and
is part of the government’s ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Yuva Sangam programme.’
✓ The overarching objective of this people-to-people connect programme is to revive the living bonds between
Kashi and Tamil Nadu – two important centres of learning and culture in ancient India.
✓ The Kashi Tamil Sangamam is expected to witness the participation of 1,400 dignitaries from Tamil Nadu
and Puducherry.
✓ The first edition of Kashi Tamil Sangamam was held from November 16 to December 16, 2022.
Q. Which IIT has partnered with Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd to launch of Kotak School of Sustainability?
A) IIT Madras B) IIT Kanpur

C) IIT Bombay D) IIT Delhi
Answer : B .
✓ The Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IIT-K) has partnered with Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd to launch
of Kotak School of Sustainability.

✓ The collaboration aims to provide leadership solutions for sustainability and prepare future generations to
champion the cause of sustainable development.
✓ The Kotak School of Sustainability is touted as India’s first full integrated institution dedicated to
sustainability education. Funded by Kotak Mahindra Bank through its Corporate Social Responsibility
(CSR) program, the school is poised to play a crucial role in shaping the future of sustainability initiatives
in the country.
✓ The total project cost is around Rs 200 crore. Kotak will be contributing Rs 70 crore in the first phase.
✓ The Kotak School of Sustainability marks our commitment to contribute to growing India’s skilled
workforce towards achieving the goal of long-term sustainable development, including its net-zero target by
2070.
Q. Which Bank has introduced ‘Indus Solitaire Program,’ a community banking initiative meticulously
crafted for the diamond industry?
A) Kotak Mahindra Bank B) Indian Overseas Bank
C) IndusInd Bank D) Canara Bank
Answer : C .
✓ IndusInd Bank has introduced its ‘Indus Solitaire Program,’ a community banking initiative meticulously
crafted for the diamond industry.
✓ This curated banking program will be offered through the bank’s flagship branches in prime locations across
various cities with a concentration in Mumbai and Surat.
✓ It will also provide a range of exclusive benefits along with distinct features and enriched offerings to
customers in the diamond industry.
Q. “Children of Nobody” Film has won the Best Film award under the International Competition in
Innovation Moving Images at the 29th Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF). “Children of
Nobody” is the film of which country?
A) Israel B) France
C) Germany D) United States

Answer : A .
✓ Israeli film ‘Children of Nobody’ directed by Erez Tadmor, has won the Best Film award under International
Competition in Innovation Moving Images at the 29th Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF).

✓ The prize distribution and closing ceremony were held at Rabindra Sadan. 219 films from 39 countries were
screened at 23 locations across Kolkata.
✓ The Best Director award was bagged by Carlos Daniel Malave. Anjan Dutta’s ‘Chalchitro Ekhon’ bagged
the Special Jury Award.
✓ Director duo Sharmistha Maity and Rajdeep Paul’s ‘Mon Potongo’ was awarded best film under Bengali
Panorama category.
✓ For the best film ‘Royal Bengal Tiger Trophy’ 51 lakh rupees were given as an award.
✓ Apart from these Hiralal Memorial Trophy, Netpack Award were also given. The best short film and
documentary were also awarded with Royal Bengal Tiger Trophy.
Q. Who has won his maiden Senior National 15-Red snooker title, beating Paras Gupta of Uttar Pradesh
6-2 in the final?
A) Sourav Kothari B) Chitra Magimairaj
C) Pankaj Advani D) Hussain Khan
Answer : A .
✓ Sourav Kothari of Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) won his maiden Senior National 15-Red
snooker title, beating Paras Gupta of Uttar Pradesh 6-2 in the final.
✓ Kothari beat Md Hussain Khan (RSPB) 5-0 in the semifinals and prevailed over Gupta 58-46, 72-34, 0-64,
59-25, 61-54, 21-57, 64-8, 64-25 in the final.
✓ He had defeated his PSPB colleague Advani in the round of 32.
✓ Kothari is a former national billiards champion, and last month finished runner-up to Advani in the IBSF
world billiards final in Doha.
Q. Which country has won the Under-19 Asia Cup 2023 after defeating the UAE in Dubai?
A) Bangladesh B) India
C) Bhutan D) Pakistan
Answer : A .
✓ Bangladesh won the Under-19 Asia Cup 2023 after defeating the UAE by 195 runs in Dubai.
✓ Wicketkeeper-batter Ashiqur Rahman Shibli continued his splendid run with a second century in five
matches.

✓ Opening the batting, Ashiqur smashed 12 fours and one six in his knock of 129 (149 balls) as Bangladesh
posted 282/8 after hosts UAE opted to field.
✓ In reply, UAE surrendered meekly to fold up for 87 in 24.5 overs as Bangladesh clinched the eight-nation
tournament with five wins from as many games.
Q. Which state has won Vijay Hazare Trophy 2023 at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in
Rajkot?
A) Madhya Pradesh B) Rajasthan
C) Haryana D) Maharashtra
Answer : C .
✓ Haryana beats Rajasthan to win Vijay Hazare Trophy 2023

✓ Haryana has emerged victorious in the 2023 Vijay Hazare Trophy at the Saurashtra Cricket Association
Stadium in Rajkot, securing their first-ever title with a 30-run triumph over Rajasthan.
✓ Haryana, posting a total of 287/8 in 50 overs, faced a formidable challenge from Rajasthan.
✓ Haryana’s skipper, Ashok Menaria, showcased excellent leadership skills both with the bat and in managing
his resources.
✓ Opting to bat first, Ankit Kumar (88 off 91 balls) and Menaria (70 off 96 balls) set the stage with a crucial
partnership of 124 runs for the third wicket.
Q. Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, who was recently on state visit to India, is Sultan and Prime Minister of
which country?
A) Qatar B) Oman
C) Yemen D) Iran
Answer : B .
✓ Sultan Haitham bin Tarik was on state visit to India from December 16, 2023.
✓ Trade between India and Oman has a history of several millenniums and archaeological excavations in
Oman have unearthed evidence to show Indo-Oman trade during the Classical Age dated to circa third
century BCE.
✓ Later, Oman had links with the Indians through Gujarat, and with Tamilakam along the Malabar Coast.
✓ The Sultans of Oman and Zanzibar heavily banked on Kutchi moneylenders such as Jairam Shivji.
✓ A large number of Kutchi Bhatias migrated from Kutch to Muscat and from Muscat to Zanzibar.

Q. India has started its first winter scientific expedition in which area?
A) Arctic region B) Pacific region
C) Antarctica region D) Atlantic region

Answer : A .
✓ Union Minister Kiren Rijiju flagged off India's first winter scientific expedition to the Arctic region.
✓ Raman Research Institute will participate in the first winter Indian expedition to the Arctic region.
✓ Since 2008, India operates a research station called 'Himadri' in the Arctic which operates mostly during
summer (April to October).
Q. Who was recently awarded Bhutan's prestigious National Order of Merit Gold Medal?
A) S Jaishankar B) Mamata Banerjee
C) Jaya Bachchan D) Poonam Khetrapal Singh
Answer : D .
✓ Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director of WHO South-East Asia, has been awarded Bhutan's
prestigious National Order of Merit Gold Medal for distinguished services. Poonam is a retired IAS officer
of Punjab cadre.
✓ Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck honored him at the 116th National Day celebrations of
Bhutan
Q. Consider the following statements regarding the recently published World Bank Migration and
Development Brief:
1. India is the largest remittance recipient country in 2023.

2. United States is the largest source of remittances in 2023.

A) 1 only B) 2 only

Answer : C .
✓ The World Bank’s latest Migration and Development Brief highlights India’s significant position as the top
remittance recipient, drawing attention to the evolving dynamics in the remittance landscape
✓ About World Bank Migration and Development Brief:

✓ It is prepared by the Migration and Remittances Unit, Development Economics (DEC), the premier research
and data arm of the World Bank.
✓ The brief is produced twice a year.
✓ The brief aims to provide an update on key developments in the area of migration and remittance flows and
related policies over the past six months.
✓ It also provides medium-term projections of remittance flows to developing countries.
✓ It also presents recent developments on the Global Compact on Migration (GCM).
✓ A special topic is included in each brief.
✓ Key highlights of the recent report:
✓ The top five remittance recipient countries in 2023 are India ($125 billion), Mexico ($67 billion), China ($50
billion), the Philippines ($40 billion), and Egypt ($24 billion).
✓ The United States continued to be the largest source of remittances.
✓ Remittances to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) grew by an estimated 3.8 per cent in 2023,
reaching a total of USD669 billion.
✓ Resilient labour markets in advanced economies and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries played a
pivotal role in supporting migrants’ ability to send money home.
✓ The Middle East and North Africa saw a decline in remittance flows for the second consecutive year, mainly
driven by a sharp drop in flows to Egypt.
✓ Remittance flows to Europe and Central Asia also decreased by 1.4 percent after a significant gain in 2022.
✓ The report suggests a potential risk of a decline in real income for migrants in 2024 due to global inflation
and low growth prospects.
✓ A special section of the report emphasizes the potential of leveraging remittances for development finance,
particularly through diaspora bonds. The report says diaspora bonds can be structured to tap into diaspora
savings held in foreign destinations, providing a stable source of funds.
WORLD BANK IN NEWS 2023

➢ Commodity Markets Outlook Report is published by the World Bank in April and October, every
year.
➢ World Bank and Japan, have launched the Resilient and Inclusive Supply-chain Enhancement (RISE)
initiative in Morocco.

➢ World Bank has approved $1.5 billion in financing to accelerate India’s development of low-carbon
energy.
➢ World Bank has approved a substantial funding package of 700 million dollars for Sri Lanka.
➢ World Bank has approved $391 million in financing to improve access to high-quality healthcare
services and to economic opportunities for people in Assam and Tripura.
➢ World Bank approves $150-million loan for Resilient Kerala programme.
➢ World Bank has granted its approval for a USD 255.5 million loan aimed at enhancing the quality of
technical education in government-run institutions across India.
➢ World Bank (WB) launched its first dedicated road safety project in South Asia with a USD 358
million financing agreement signed in Dhaka with the government of Bangladesh.
➢ Indian origin Ajay Banga confirmed as the 14th President of World Bank.
➢ Ministry of Education and the World Bank held a unique workshop on School-to-Work Transition
under the STARS Program.
➢ The Cabinet approved the Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States (STARS) Project
in October 2020.
➢ World Bank has approved a loan of US $ 363 million for the supply of clean drinking water from taps
to 2 million rural households in Karnataka.
➢ According to the World Bank’s (WB) annual report ‘State and Trends of Carbon Pricing 2023’ released
on May 23, 2023, revenues collected from carbon taxes and Emissions Trading Systems (ETS) globally
have reached a record high, about US$95 billion in 2022.
➢ World Bank’s Executive Board of Directors has approved USD 108 million loan for Assam, to help
the state improve disaster preparedness and enhance flood forecasting.
➢ India and the World Bank have signed aloan agreement for the construction of the Green National
Highway Corridors Project (GNHCP) in four States.
➢ These four states are-Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.
➢ World Bank has signed two complementary loans with India worth USD 500 million each to support
and enhance the country’s healthcare infrastructure.

➢ India will be the first country in the world to receive $100 billion from remittances during 2022, the
World Bank.
➢ WORLD BANK
➢ Founded : 1944
➢ Headquarters : Washington Dc
➢ 14th President : Ajay Banga
➢ MD&CFO : Anshula Kant
➢ Chief Economist : Carman Reinhart
➢ Executive Director : Rajesh Khullar
➢ Member Countries :189
➢ World Bank Group : 5 (IBRD, IDA, IFC, MIGA and ICSID).
➢ All of these efforts support the Bank Group’s twin goals of ending extreme poverty by 2030 and
boosting shared prosperity of the poorest 40% of the population in all countries.
➢ World Bank was created at the 1944 Bretton Woods Conference, along with the International
Monetary Fund (IMF).
➢ India is a member of IBRD, IFC, IDA and MIGA. The country is not a member of the ICSID
Q. Consider the following statements regarding the TEMPO satellite:
1. It monitors major air pollutants across North America.
2. It is located in the geostationary orbit.
A) 1 only B) 2 only
Answer : C .
✓ NASA's new satellite TEMPO measure air pollution hourly has shown significant progress and now the
space agency officials are already thinking about ways to extend its life.
✓ Tropospheric Emissions Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO) monitors major air pollutants across North
America.
✓ Its monitoring range extends from Canada’s oil sands to the Yucatán Peninsula and across the Atlantic to
the Pacific Ocean.

✓ It is part of a virtual constellation with South Korea's Geostationary Environment Monitoring Spectrometer
(GEMS) and the European Space Agency’s upcoming satellite, aiming for comprehensive air pollution
monitoring over the Northern Hemisphere.
✓ It will make important scientific observations, including that of ozone, nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide and
formaldehyde levels.
Q. Multinational professional services company Accenture has launched a generative AI studio in which
city?
A) Mumbai B) Hyderabad
C) Kolkata D) Bengaluru
Answer : D .
✓ Multinational professional services company Accenture has launched a generative AI studio in India’s tech
capital Bengaluru.
✓ The studio will develop a full stack of genAI capabilities for enterprises to leverage to optimize their business
processes.
✓ Accenture’s data and AI team and clients will co-create solutions with a modern data and AI foundation,
LLM (large language model) architecture, ecosystems partnerships, talent, and responsible AI frameworks.
✓ The studio in Bengaluru offers robust generative AI capabilities combined with a wide range of world-class
technology services, and in-depth industry knowledge that is the hallmark of Accenture’s Advanced
Technology Centers in India.
BENGALURU IN NEWS 2023

➢ Multinational professional services company Accenture has launched a generative AI studio in India’s
tech capital Bengaluru.
➢ Bengaluru is the city with the highest number of women-led startups in India, followed by Mumbai
and Delhi.
➢ Bengaluru claims the top spot for green office spaces in India, according to the CBRE-CII report
'Indian Real Estate: Taking Giant Strides - 2023 Mid-Year Outlook.' Over the last three and a half
year.
➢ India’s 1st state-of-the-art 3D-Printed post office opens in Bengaluru.
➢ Bengaluru becomes the first Indian city to join the World Cities Culture Forum (WCCF).

➢ India is all set to host the 5th World Coffee Conference (WCC) for the first time from 25-28 September
2023 in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
➢ Sberbank’s branch in India has been granted permission by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to set up
an IT unit in Bengaluru.
➢ India’s first 3D-printed post office to come up in Bengaluru.
➢ The second Trade and Investment Working Group meeting under the G20 India Presidency began in
Bengaluru.
➢ Foxconn to invest nearly 1 billion USD in Bengaluru.
➢ Nitin Gadkari unveiled first methanol run buses in Bengaluru.
➢ India Energy Week 2023 (IEW 2023), being organised during India's G20 Presidency, will be held in
Bengaluru between February 6 and 8, 2023. .
➢ The Union Ministry of Defence has announced on 27 November 2022 that the biennial air show
AeroIndia-2023 will be held at the Air Force Station Yelahanka in Bengaluru's from 13-17 February,
2023. This would be the 14th edition of Aero India.
➢ The first G-20 Environment meeting under the G-20 India Presidency will be held at the Taj West
End in Bengaluru.
➢ Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar on 15 March inaugurated
a 5-day cultural program "AgriUnifest" in Bengaluru..
➢ The first meeting of the G-20 Energy Transition Working Group under the chairmanship of India will
be held in Bengaluru from 5 to 7 February
Q. Consider the following statements regarding SAMAR System, recently seen in the news:
1. It is a short-range air-defence system.
2. It has been developed by the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO).
A) 1 only B) 2 only
Answer : A .
✓ The Indian Air Force (IAF) has successfully test fired the 'SAMAR' air defence missile system recently.

✓ About SAMAR Air Defence Missile System:
✓ Surface to Air Missile for Assured Retaliation (SAMAR) is a short-range air-defence system.
✓ It has been developed by a unit under the IAF’s Maintenance Command.
✓ The system is credited with a maximum range of 10–12 km and is used against low-flying aerial targets.
✓ It can engage aerial threats with missiles operating at a speed range of 2 to 2.5 Mach.
✓ The SAMAR-1 system uses the IAF's existing inventory of shelf-life-expired Russian Vympel R-73E
infrared‐guided air-to-air missiles (AAMs) for the surface-to-air role.
✓ The system features a twin-turret launch platform capable of launching two missiles in single and salvo
modes, depending on the threat scenario.
✓ Each missile launcher had an electro-optic system visible.
✓ It is expected to supplement the IAF’s Akash and SPYDER systems, replacing the ageing improved Pechora
and OSA-AK systems
Q. Kuno Forest Festival has been celebrated in which state?

A) Uttar Pradesh B) Odisha
C) Madhya Pradesh D) Maharashtra
Answer : C .
✓ A five-day Kuno Van Mahotsav was celebrated in Ranipura village on the outskirts of Sheopur district of
Madhya Pradesh.
✓ The event aims to highlight the diverse flora and fauna, and the jungle of Kuno, while also advocating for
cheetah conservation. It included local art, craft, folk music, dance forms, and adventure sports.
✓ The main attraction of the forest festival was adventure games, jungle safari, hot air ballooning, parasailing,
paragliding, cave excursion, folk music, village tour, etc.
✓ Madhya Pradesh offers a diverse culture and rich wildlife, which also includes cheetah sightings during
jungle safari in Kuno. Tourists can also experience the taste of local food/cuisines.

➢ Kuno Forest Festival : Madhya Pradesh
➢ 'Shar Amartala Torgya' Festival : Arunachal Pradesh


Q. Swarved Mahamandir, recently seen in the news, is located in:

A) Puri B) Haridwar
C) Madurai D) Varanasi
Answer : D .
✓ Prime Minister Monday recently inaugurated the world's largest meditation centre, Swarved Mahamandir,
in Varanasi.
✓ About Swarved Mahamandir:
✓ It is the world's largest meditation centre, where 20,000 people can sit together and meditate.
✓ Location: It is located in Varanasi city, Uttar Pradesh.
✓ It covers an expansive area of 3,00,000 square feet.
✓ It aims to illuminate humankind with its spiritual aura and engulf the world in a state of peaceful alertness.
✓ The temple is named after the Swarved, a spiritual literature written by Sadguru Shri Sadafal Deoji Mahara,
the creator of Vihangam Yoga and an eternal yogi.
✓ The temple propagates Swarveda teachings, with a focus on Brahm Vidya, a body of knowledge that enables
spiritual seekers to sustain a state of perfect Zen, a state of unyielding constancy in peace and happiness.
Q. Which of the following has unveiled a groundbreaking initiative with the introduction of the ERS
mobile application?
A) RBI B) NPCI
C) NHAI D) DRDO

Answer : C .
✓ The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has unveiled a groundbreaking initiative with the
introduction of the ERS (Emergency Response Support System) mobile application.
✓ This technological advancement aims to revolutionize emergency management on national highways across
the country.
✓ The ERS app is poised to play a pivotal role in ensuring swift and effective responses to road accidents and
other emergencies, thereby enhancing overall safety and security on Indian highways.
✓ The ERS app’s primary objective is to provide a rapid and seamless response mechanism during critical
situations, such as accidents or medical emergencies, by connecting road users directly to the NHAI’s
command and control center.
Q. What is the percentage increase in unclaimed deposits in Indian banks from the previous year to
March 2023?
A) 18% B) 28%
C) 35% D) 25%
Answer : B .
✓ The rate of unclaimed deposits in Indian banks has risen by 28% annual increase in unclaimed deposits with
the banks to Rs 42,272 crore as on March 2023.
✓ At the end of March 2023, the amount of unclaimed deposits in Indian banks was recorded at Rs 42,272
crore, while the previous year, there was Rs32,934 crore.
✓ As much as Rs 36,185 crore unclaimed deposits were with public sector banks while Rs 6,087 crore were
with private sector banks at the end of March 2023.
✓ Banks send unclaimed deposits of account holders lying in their accounts for 10 or more years to RBI’s
Depositor Education and Awareness (DEA) Fund.
✓ A centalised web portal, Unclaimed Deposits Gateway to Access Information (UDGAM), to search
unclaimed deposits across multiple banks, has been set up by RBI.
✓ Further, RBI has launched campaign ‘100 Days 100 Pays’ for banks to trace and settle the top 100 unclaimed
deposits of every bank in each district within a 100-day timeframe, commencing from June 1, 2023 to
September 8, 2023.
✓ At the end of campaign, major 31 banks (which comprised of more than 90 percent of unclaimed deposit
balances with the DEA Fund), have refunded Rs 1,432.68 crore in the campaign.

Q. The Government of India has launched the Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme 2023-24 with digital
discount. What is the issue price of this bond?
A) ₹6,249 per gram B) ₹5,149 per gram
C) ₹4,119 per gram D) ₹6,149 per gram
Answer : D .
✓ The Government of India has launched the Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme 2023-24 (Series III).
✓ Stemming from the inaugural scheme in November 2015 under the Gold Monetization Scheme, this
initiative aims to reduce the demand for physical gold.
✓ Open for subscription from December 18 to December 22, the scheme introduces a digital discount for online
applications, enhancing the accessibility and attractiveness of secure gold investments to a diverse investor
base.
✓ Investors opting for online applications and utilizing digital payment modes will benefit from a ₹50 discount
per gram, reducing the issue price to ₹6,149 per gram during the subscription period.
✓ Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs) are available for purchase by resident individuals, Hindu Undivided Families
(HUFs), trusts, universities, and charitable institutions. Denominated in multiples of grams, the minimum
investment is set at one gram of gold, ensuring accessibility for a broad spectrum of investors.
✓ Featuring an eight-year tenor, investors have the flexibility of premature redemption after the fifth year. The
redemption price will be determined based on the simple average of the closing price of 999 purity gold,
providing a predictable exit strategy for investors.
✓ Individuals and HUFs are limited to a maximum subscription of 4 kg per fiscal year, while trusts and similar
entities have a higher limit of 20 kg. In cases of joint holdings, the 4 kg limit applies to the first applicant.
✓ Investors can make payments through cash (up to ₹20,000), demand draft, cheque, or electronic banking.
The fixed interest rate of 2.50 percent per annum, payable semi-annually, ensures a stable return for
investors.
Q. Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance has partnered with which bank to offer insurance solutions to the
bank’s customers?
A) ICICI Bank B) IDFC First Bank
C) South Indian Bank D) Kotak Mahindra Bank
Answer : B .

✓ Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance and IDFC First Bank have entered into a bancassurance partnership to offer
insurance solutions to the bank’s customers.
✓ Under this collaboration, the insurer will leverage the extensive distribution network of IDFC First Bank.
✓ Aditya Birla Sun Life will offer products and services, including those that focus on retirement planning,
ensuring a steady source of second income and tax-free returns tailored to their life stages.
✓ This collaboration will go a long way in enhancing accessibility, as well as making financial protection and
planning easily available to a wider segment of customers served by IDFC FIRST Bank’s extensive
distribution network.
Q. U GRO Capital has raised how much rupees from the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank
FMO through rupee-denominated non-convertible debentures (NCDs)?
A) 150 crore B) 200 crore
C) 250 crore D) 350 crore
Answer : C .
✓ DataTech NBFC, U GRO Capital has raised ₹250 crore from the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank
FMO through rupee-denominated non-convertible debentures (NCDs).
✓ The association will help strengthen the fund’s commitment towards greater financial inclusion in India.
✓ The MSME-lending-focused NBFC has provided credit to more than 80,000 small businesses. Prior to this,
it had raised ₹240 crore from Denmark’s Investment Fund for Developing Countries (IFU) in May 2023.
✓ This transaction is proof of U GRO Capital’s ability to forge partnerships with and attract funding from
reputed global DFIs (development finance institutions).
✓ Of the NBFC’s total borrowings, around 20 percent are from development financial institutions and impact
funds such as Responsibility, Calvert Impact Capital, Enabling Capital, SIDBI, and others.
Q. Which of the following digital payment startups recently secured final approval from the Reserve
Bank of India (RBI) to operate as payment aggregators?
A) Razorpay and Cashfree B) Cashfree and Paytm

C) Razorpay and JusPay D) PayU and Razorpay
Answer : A .
✓ Digital payment companies Razorpay and Cashfree Payments have received final approval from the Reserve
Bank of India (RBI) to operate as payment aggregators, enabling the fintechs to onboard new merchants
after a nearly one-year-old regulatory ban.

✓ The company has received the Payment Aggregator (PA) license from the RBI. It will now onboard new
merchants on its payment gateway.
✓ In December last year, the RBI had asked Razorpay and Cashfree to stop onboarding new merchants.
✓ Razorpay has received the final authorization from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as a Payment
Aggregator under the Payment Settlements Act, 2007.
✓ Other players such as PayU, Paytm, JusPay, among others, are yet to receive a nod from the regulator to
onboard new merchants
Q. Which country will host the first 32-team FIFA Club World Cup in 2025?
A) UAE B) Qatar
C) Saudi Arabia D) United States
Answer : D .
✓ FIFA announced on Sunday that its revamped Club World Cup, to be held for the first time in 2025, will
feature 32 teams and will be played from mid-June to mid-July.
✓ The United States will host the 2025 edition of the expanded event, which will be held every four years
thereafter.
✓ The tournament will have eight groups of four with the top two teams from each group going through to the
knockout stages — the same format as the World Cup.
✓ The current version of the FIFA Club World Cup — an annual competition with seven teams — will be
discontinued after the tournament now being hosted by Saudi Arabia.
Q. Who has won the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award in the FIH Annual awards?
A) Vandana Katariya B) Deep Grace Ekka
C) Savita D) Gurjit Kaur
Answer : C .
✓ Indian men’s hockey team midfielder Hardik Singh and women’s side captain Savita have won the FIH
Player of the Year and Goalkeeper of the Year (women) awards respectively.
✓ The awards were declared following a vote by an expert panel, National Associations — represented by their
respective national teams’ captains and coaches, fans, and media.

✓ This is Hardik’s second big award this year as he was also conferred the Hockey India Balbir Singh Sr Award
for Player of the Year 2022.
✓ As for Savita, this is her third consecutive FIH Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award, having won the
recognition in 2021 and 2022.
✓ Xan de Waard of the Netherlands has been elected as the 2023 FIH Player of the Year in the women’s
category.
✓ Dutch goalkeeper Pirmin Blaak won the FIH Goalkeeper of the Year awards among men, while the awards
for FIH Rising Stars went to Teresa Lima (Spain) and Gaspard Xavier (France).
✓ China women’s head coach Alyson Annan and Germany men’s head coach André Henning won the FIH
Coaches of the Year awards, while Ayanna McClean (Trinidad-and-Tobago) and Ben Göntgen (Germany)
were awarded with the FIH Umpires of the Year recognitions.
Q. Which naval establishment has received the ‘Vir Chakra’ on behalf of Late Vice Admiral Benoy Roy
Chowdhury?
A) INS Talwar B) INS Karma
C) INS Sahyadri D) INS Shivaji

Answer : D .
✓ INS Shivaji, Indian Navy’s premier marine engineering training institute, has received the Vir Chakra medal
awarded to Late Vice Admiral Benoy Roy Chowdhury, the only technical officer of the Indian Navy to be
awarded the honour.
✓ Vice Admiral Dinesh Prabhakar, Distinguished Chair Marine Engineering at INS Shivaji, received the Vir
Chakra on behalf of the Indian Navy from Pradipta Bose and Gargi Bose, the family members of Vice
Admiral Chowdhury
✓ The Vir Chakra is an Indian wartime military bravery award presented for acts of gallantry on the battlefield,
on land or in air or at sea.
Q. Swarved Mahamandir, recently seen in the news, is located in:
A) Puri B) Haridwar
C) Madurai D) Varanasi
Answer : D .

✓ Prime Minister Monday recently inaugurated the world's largest meditation centre, Swarved Mahamandir,
in Varanasi.
✓ About Swarved Mahamandir:
✓ It is the world's largest meditation centre, where 20,000 people can sit together and meditate.
✓ Location: It is located in Varanasi city, Uttar Pradesh.
✓ It covers an expansive area of 3,00,000 square feet.
✓ It aims to illuminate humankind with its spiritual aura and engulf the world in a state of peaceful alertness.
✓ The temple is named after the Swarved, a spiritual literature written by Sadguru Shri Sadafal Deoji Mahara,
the creator of Vihangam Yoga and an eternal yogi.
✓ The temple propagates Swarveda teachings, with a focus on Brahm Vidya, a body of knowledge that enables
spiritual seekers to sustain a state of perfect Zen, a state of unyielding constancy in peace and happiness.
Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI):
1. It is a not-for-profit industry body and the country's only organization representing the digital
services industry.
2. Only Indian companies and startups are represented by the IAMAI.

A) 1 only B) 2 only
Answer : A .
✓ The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), the representative body of nearly 600 internet firms
and start-ups, recently welcomed the introduction of the Telecom Bill in Lok Sabha
✓ About Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI):
✓ Established in 2004, the IAMAI is a not-for-profit industry body registered under the Societies Registration
Act, 1860.
✓ It is the country's only organization representing the digital services industry, with over 500 Indian and
multinational corporations as its members, which include established companies in diverse sectors of the
digital ecosystem as well as start-ups.
✓ Mandate: To expand and enhance the online and mobile value-added services sectors.

✓ It is dedicated to presenting the unified voice of the businesses it represents to the government, investors,
consumers, and other stakeholders.
✓ The association addresses the issues, concerns, and challenges of the Internet and Mobile economy and
takes a leading role in its development.
✓ IAMAI represents varied sectors such as digital advertising, digital entertainment, traveltech, online gaming,
digital payments, fintech, digital commerce, edtech, healthtech, agritech, big data, ML, AI & IoT, AR/VR,
logistics-tech, and so on.
✓ IAMAI has been advocating free and fair competition, progressive laws for the sector, and supporting
equitable access, the best quality of services to consumers, and a safe and secure internet for users.
Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Yogmaya Temple:

1. It is located in the state of Madhya Pradesh.
2. It was patronised by the Mughal Emperor Akbar II.
A) 1 only B) 2 only
Answer : B .
✓ Yogmaya Temple is historically important monument believed to be standing at the site of an ancient temple
that is said to have come up during the period of the Mahabharata.
✓ It is also known as the Jogmaya Temple, is an ancient Hindu shrine situated in the heart of Mehrauli (Delhi),
a few hundred meters away from the famous Qutub Minar.
✓ It was built by a noble in the court of Mughal Emperor Akbar II by the name of Lala Sidhu Mal between
1806 and 1837.
✓ The area was known as Yoginipura in ancient Jain texts and Prithviraj Chauhan himself was said to have
patronised a Yogini temple here shortly before his city’s destruction.
✓ It was a focal point of Akbar II’s rule.
✓ The temple has a replica of the Goddess Yogmaya, also called the “Pure Goddess,
✓ The most famous festival celebrated only in this temple is the ‘Phoolwalon ki Sair.’

Q. ‘INS Kochi’, that was in the news recently, is a:
A) torpedo launch and recovery vessel
B) diesel-electric submarine
C) guided-missile destroyer
D) nuclear-powered aircraft carrier

Answer : C .
✓ The Indian destroyer INS Kochi recently evacuated one of the 18 sailors on board the hijacked commercial
vessel MV Ruen off the coast of Somalia
✓ About INS Kochi:
✓ It is the second ship of the Kolkata-class stealth guided-missile destroyers built under the code name Project
15A for the Indian Navy.
✓ It was constructed by Mazagaon Dock Limited (MDL) in Mumbai.
✓ It was commissioned into Indian Navy service on September 30, 2015.
✓ Features:
✓ It measures 164 meters in length and approximately 17 meters in width, with a full load displacement of
7500 tonnes.
✓ The ship has a Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) propulsion system, comprising four powerful reversible
gas turbines.
✓ It is equipped with the advanced supersonic and long-range BrahMos Surface-to-surface Missile.
✓ The entire anti-submarine weapon and sensor suite fitted onboard, consisting of Indigenous Rocket
Launchers (IRL), Indigenous Twin-tube Torpedo Launchers (ITTL), and a bow-mounted New Generation
HUMSA Sonar, are fine examples of India’s indigenous efforts in the field of underwater warfare.
✓ A state-of-the-art Combat Management System (CMS-15A) has been integrated with the onboard weapons
and sensors.
✓ The ship is equipped to operate two Sea King or Chetak helicopters.
Q. Consider the following statements regarding Mullaperiyar Dam:

1. It is a masonry gravity dam situated on the Periyar River in Kerala.
2. It is operated and maintained by the Government of Tamil Nadu.

A) 1 only B) 2 only
Answer : C .
✓ Tamil Nadu cancelled the decision to open the spillway shutters of Mullaperiyar dam recently after a lull in
rainfall and a reduced inflow of water to the dam.
✓ About Mullaperiyar Dam:
✓ It is a masonry gravity dam situated on the Periyar River in Thekkady, Idukki district, in Kerala.
✓ It is located 881 m above sea level, on the Cardamom Hills of the Western Ghats.
✓ The dam is built at the confluence of the Mullayar and Periyar rivers.
✓ Its construction began in 1887 and was completed in 1895. The construction was carried out by the British
Corps of Royal Engineers under the leadership of Pennycuick.
✓ The dam's purpose was to divert the waters of the west-flowing River Periyar eastward to the arid rain
shadow regions of the Theni, Madurai, Sivaganga, and Ramanathapuram districts of Tamil Nadu.
✓ The Periyar National Park is located around the dam's reservoir.
✓ Although the dam is located in Kerala, it is operated and maintained by the neighbouring state of Tamil
Nadu. It was according to a 999-year lease agreement made during the British rule that the operational rights
were handed over to Tamil Nadu.
Q. Andriamamelo Cave, which was recently discovered with prehistoric rock art drawings , is located
in:
A) Italy B) Mexico
C) Egypt D) Madagascar
Answer : D .
✓ Recently, unique, prehistoric rock art drawings have been discovered in the Andriamamelo Cave in western
Madagascar.
✓ About Andriamamelo Cave:
✓ It is situated in the western Madagascar.
✓ It is located in karstified limestone of the Paysage Harmonieux Protege de Beanka.
This is part of an extensive karst region that includes the Parc National de Bemaraha to the south, a
UNESCO World Heritage site, and the little-studied Antsingimavo karst area to the north.

Q. National Mathematics Day is held annually on which day?
Answer : B .
✓ India observes the National Mathematics Day every year on 22 December since 2012 to commemorate the
birth anniversary of Mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan.
✓ 2023 marks the 136th birth anniversary of Ramanujan.
✓ The day was announced on 26 February 2012 by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to mark the
125th anniversary of the birth of the Indian mathematical genius Srinivasa Ramanujan (22 Dec 1887- 26
Apr 1920).
✓ 2012 was also observed as National Mathematics Year.

Aparchit December 4th Week English Best 350+ MCQs with Amazing Facts
Q. Which bank will invest ₹49.99 crore in Ahmedabad-based Canpac Trends Private Limited?
A) Punjab National Bank B) State Bank of India
C) Kotak Mahindra Bank D) Indian Overseas Bank

Answer : B .
✓ State Bank of India has executed transaction documents to purchase 3,70,644 shares (6.35 percent) of
Ahmedabad-based Canpac Trends Private Limited at ₹1,349 per share, aggregating ₹49.99 crore.
✓ The investment in Canpac Trends, which is in the paper packaging industry, is being made with the objective
of capital appreciation.
✓ The indicative period for completion of the acquisition is three months from the date of the transaction
documents execution.
✓ In the year ended March 2023, the company, which was incorporated in 2004, reported total income and
net profit of Rs 389.72 crore and Rs 9.82 crore, respectively
SBI IN NEWS 2023

➢ State Bank of India has executed transaction documents to purchase 3,70,644 shares (6.35 percent)
of Ahmedabad-based Canpac Trends Private Limited at ₹1,349 per share, aggregating ₹49.99
crore.
➢ State Bank of India (SBI) has signed a Line of Credit (LOC) of Euro 70 million (about Rs 630 crore)
with German development bank KfW to promote solar projects in the country.
➢ SBI Mutual Fund got permission from the RBI to buy up to a 9.99% share in Karur Vysya Bank
Ltd.
➢ SBI has launched a ‘Mobile Handheld Device’ as part of its financial inclusion drive in a bid to
improve accessibility and convenience.
➢ The tenure of State Bank of India (SBI) Chairman Dinesh Khara has been extended till August
2024.

➢ State Bank of India has introduced a digital facility for Non-Resident Indians to effortlessly open
Non-Residential External and Non-Resident Ordinary accounts through its mobile app YONO.
➢ State Bank of India (SBI) has raised Rs 10,000 crore at a coupon rate of 7.54 percent through its
third infrastructure bond issuance.
➢ State Bank of India (SBI), the country’s biggest lender, has raised USD 750 million through bonds
to fund offshore business growth.
➢ The bank intends to launch two new variants of current accounts, one with a balance of ₹50,000
and another with a balance of ₹50 lakh. It also plans to introduce a new savings account called
“Parivar” (family) account.
➢ The facility of $1 billion was arranged through MLABs, MUFG bank and Taipei Fubon
Commercial Bank Co.
➢ State Bank of India (SBI) has partnered with the NGO That’s Eco Foundation to donate ₹48 lakh
for the plantation of 32,000 tree saplings at Garden City University in Bengaluru.
➢ SBI reintroduces 400 days ‘Amrit Kalash’ retail term deposit scheme and provides an interest rate
of 7.6% for senior citizens.

➢ Commercial Indo Bank LLC (CIBL) is a joint venture in Russia between SBI (60 per cent) and
Canara Bank (40 per cent).
➢ According to the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA)’s report titled “EASE Reforms Index for the
first quarter of FY23″ the State Bank of India(SBI) was adjudged as the Best Bank in adopting
reforms prescribed for Public Sector Banks(PSB).
crore.
➢ The presidency Banks of Bengal, Bombay and Madras with merged in 1921 to Imperial Bank of
India.
Q. In which state will Khelo India Youth Games be organized?

A) Rajasthan B) Uttar Pradesh
C) Haryana D) Tamil Nadu
Answer : D .
✓ Union Youth Programme, Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur launched the official logo, jersey, mascot
and theme song of Khelo India Youth Games in Chennai.
✓ The sixth edition of Khelo India Youth Games is scheduled from 19 to 31 January in the coming year.
✓ The upcoming edition will be held in four cities of Tamil Nadu – Chennai, Trichy, Madurai and Coimbatore.
✓ The last five editions of the Youth Games were held in Delhi, Pune, Guwahati, Panchkula and Bhopal.
TAMIL NADU IN NEWS 2023

➢ The Khelo India Youth Games 2024 will be held in the state of Tamil Nadu.
➢ ‘Guidance’, the nodal agency for investment promotion of Tamil Nadu, has received the United
Nations Promotion Award 2023.
➢ Project Nilgiri Tahr’ launched in Tamil Nadu.
➢ The second spaceport of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), will come up in about two
years at Kulasekarapattinam in Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu.
➢ The U.K. and Tamil Nadu collaborate on a smart technology project for sustainable water, waste,
and resource management.
➢ Recently, Udangudi ‘Panangkarupatti’ (palm jaggery/ gur) from Tamil Nadu has received a
➢ Tamil Nadu government has unveiled its new tourism policy to develop the State into the most
attractive experiential destination in Asia.
➢ Tamil Nadu's Salem Sago gets GI tag.
➢ Bhaderwah Rajmash and Sulai honey of Doda and Ramban districts of Jammu and Kashmir, have
been granted Geographical Indication (GI) tags.
➢ The Matti banana variety, native to Kanniyakumari district Tamil Nadu was recently granted the
➢ Taiwanese firm Foxconn Technology Group, a key supplier to Apple Inc., signed a letter of Intent
with the Tamil Nadu government to invest ₹1,600 crore to establish a manufacturing facility in
Kancheepuram district.

➢ Tamil Nadu's Authoor betel leaves get Geographical Indication (GI) certificate.
➢ Tamil Nadu bagged the Best Performing State award 2023 in cadaver organ donation .
➢ Tamil Nadu Youth Welfare and Sports Development Minister "Udhayanidhi Stalin" has unveiled
the trophy and the ‘Bomman’ mascot for the prestigious Asian Champions Trophy 2023 hockey
tournament to be held in Chennai.
➢ Muthamizh Selvi, first Tamil Nadu woman to scale Mt Everest.
➢ Tamil Nadu government declared Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary as the 18th wildlife
sanctuary in the state..
➢ Tamil Nadu becomes first state to launch its own Climate Change Mission.
➢ Tamil Nadu govt to launch five-year Tamil Nadu Millet Mission.
➢ In a first of its kind initiative in India, the Government of Tamil Nadu announced the 'Nilgiri Tahr
Project' .
Q. With whom did the Ministry of Rural Development sign an agreement to increase the reach of
products of 'Self Help Groups'?
A) Jio Mart B) Amazon
C) Big Basket D) Flipkart
Answer : A .
✓ The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with
Reliance Retail's JioMart to help expand the reach of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural
Livelihood Mission (DAY) products to self-help groups (SHGs).
✓ Have signed. Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana is a flagship poverty alleviation program of the Government of
India and the world's largest initiative to improve the livelihoods of the rural poor.
Q. Who was recently awarded the FIH Player of the Year Award?
A) Hardik Singh B) Ayana McLean
C) Balbir Singh D) Amanpreet Singh
Answer : A .

✓ The International Hockey Federation (FIH) announced that India's Hardik Singh and Savita won the 2023
FIH Player of the Year and FIH Goalkeeper of the Year awards.
✓ This is Savita's third consecutive FIH Women's Goalkeeper of the Year award after winning in 2021 and
2022.
✓ Dutch goalkeeper Pirmin Black also won the FIH Goalkeeper of the Year award.
✓ The FIH Rising Stars award was won by Teresa Lima (ESP) and Gaspard Xavier (FRA).
Q. Which city has ranked first in the country for food adulteration cases, according to the National
Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)?
A) Hyderabad B) Bengaluru
C) Mumbai D) Chennai
Answer : A .
✓ Hyderabad has ranked first in the country for food adulteration cases, according to the data released by the
National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
✓ Telangana stands second, closely followed by Andhra Pradesh.
✓ In 2022, a total of 291 cases of food adulteration were reported across 19 major cities in India.
✓ Surprisingly, out of these cases, a staggering 246 were reported solely in Hyderabad, signalling a concerning
trend in food safety within the city.
HYDERABAD IN NEWS 2023

➢ Hyderabad is set to host the Formula E race for a second edition in February 2024.
➢ India's first solar roof cycling track was inaugurated in Hyderabad city.
Management Framework (ADMF) in Hyderabad.
➢ Hyderabad will host India's first International Athletic Union's Ageas.
➢ Lloyds Banking Group, one of the UK’s largest financial services organisations, said on 21st June
2023 that it is setting up a technology centre in Hyderabad.
➢ Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY) under the Union Ministry of AYUSH
organized a mega 'Yoga Festival' at NCC Parade Ground, Hyderabad.

➢ Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao recently unveiled a 125-feet tall bronze statue of
BR Ambedkar in Hyderabad.
➢ ‘Grand start-up Conclave’ on Animal Husbandry and Diary in Hyderabad.
➢ The seasoned Jean Eric Vergne of DS Penske automobiles won an action-packed Formula E Prix
in Hyderabad.
➢ Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar officially inaugurated
the Integrated Biological Control Laboratory located in Hyderabad.
➢ two-day inception meeting of the Startup-20, the new engagement group of G-20 initiated by
India, has begun in Hyderabad.
➢ Hyderabad host Street Circuit Car Racing before the India’s first Formula E grand Prix to be held in
February 2023.
Q. According to a study by Motilal Oswal Financial Services, which company was the biggest wealth
creator during the five years from 2018 to 2023?
A) Infosys Technologies
B) Tata Group
C) Adani Group
D) Reliance Industries Limited
Answer : D .
✓ Reliance Industries Ltd was the biggest wealth creator during the five-year period from 2018 to 2023 while
Adani Enterprises Ltd was the top all-around wealth creator, according to a study by Motilal Oswal
Financial Services.
✓ The study, based on the stock market performance of companies, said for the fifth time in succession,
Reliance emerged as the largest wealth creator, adding ₹9,63,800 crore wealth over 2018-23.

✓ It was followed by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) (₹6,77,400 crore wealth addition), ICICI Bank
(₹4,15,500 crore), Infosys (₹3,61,800 crore) and Bharti Airtel (₹2,80,800 crore).
✓ A low-profile company, Lloyds Metals, has emerged the fastest wealth creator with 2018-23 price CAGR of
79 percent. Adani Enterprises Ltd, the flagship incubator firm of the Adani Group, is a close second with a
CAGR of 78 percent
Q. Who has inaugurated the Atal Health Fair in memory of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee
at the PNT Ground in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh?
A) Droupadi Murmu B) Jagdeep Dhankhar
C) Narendra Modi D) S Jaishankar
Answer : B .
✓ Vice-President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar has inaugurated the two-day-long Atal Health Fair in memory
of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the PNT Ground in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
✓ Atal Bihari Vajpayee led Lucknow and the country for a long time.
✓ Dhankhar advised youth to prioritize health for performance and success, emphasizing a nation-first
approach.
✓ The fair is hosting medical camps, conducted by 48 govt and private hospitals
Q. The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions have grown from 92 crore in FY 2017-18 to 8,375
crore in FY 2022-23 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of __ in terms of volume.
A) 107 percent B) 127 percent
C) 137 percent D) 147 percent
Answer : D .
✓ The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions have grown from 92 crore in FY 2017-18 to 8,375 crore
in FY 2022-23 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 147 percent in terms of volume.
✓ The UPI transactions have achieved 8,572 crore transactions during the current financial year till December
11.
✓ The value of UPI transactions has grown from Rs 1 lakh crore in FY 2017-18 to Rs 139 lakh crore in FY
2022-23 at a CAGR of 168 percent.
✓ UPI has been the major driving force in the overall growth of digital payment transactions in the country,
accounting for 62 percent of digital payment transactions in FY 2022-23. The Year-on-Year growth in the

value of banknotes in circulation has decreased from 9.9 percent in FY 2021-22 to 7.8 percent in FY 2022-
23.
✓ UPI facilitates transactions by linking savings or current accounts through users’ debit cards
Q. Which insurance company has been awarded the National Energy Conservation Awards (NECA)
2023 by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency?
A) Reliance General Insurance B) Bharti AXA General Insurance
C) Reliance Nippon Life Insurance D) Bharti AXA General Insurance

Answer : C .
✓ Reliance Nippon Life Insurance, India’s leading private life insurer, has been recognized by the Bureau of
Energy Efficiency (Government of India, Ministry of Power) at the National Energy Conservation Awards
(NECA) 2023.
✓ This prestigious award comes in recognition of the company’s efforts towards institutionalizing climate-
friendly operations and driving sustainable business growth.
✓ This recognition highlights the company’s investment in environmentally conscious technologies that aid in
optimizing resource utilization and energy efficiency.
✓ The company’s scale of operations allows it to harness these advantages for benefits at large scale and pass
on operating efficiencies to customers through its new line of products.
Q. Who won the MRF Formula 2000 title in the MRF MMSC FMSCI Indian National Car Racing
Championship 2023 at the Madras International Circuit?
A) Sandeep Kumar B) Gurunath Meiyappan
C) Chetan Surnineni D) Deepak Ravikumar
Answer : A .
✓ Sandeep Kumar won the MRF Formula 2000 title in the MRF MMSC FMSCI Indian National Car Racing
Championship 2023 at the Madras International Circuit.
✓ While Chetan Surnineni won the MRF Formula 1600 title
✓ Also picking up the National titles in their respective categories were Gurunath Meiyappan (Race Concepts,
Indian Touring Cars), Deepak Ravikumar (Performance Racing, Indian Junior Touring Cars) and T.S.
Diljith (DTS Racing, Super Stock and Formula LGB 1300).

Q. In which water area has the Indian Navy recently deployed indigenous guided missiles?
A) Gulf of Mannar B) Gulf of Bahrain
C) Gulf of Oman D) Gulf of Aden

Answer : D .
✓ The Indian Navy has deployed indigenous guided missile destroyers in the Gulf of Aden region in view of
the recent piracy incident.
✓ The move is aimed at preventing piracy attempts in the Gulf of Aden region. The Gulf of Aden is located in
the Arabian Sea, between Yemen and Somalia (Horn of Africa).
✓ It forms a natural maritime link between the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea.
Q. Which Union Minister inaugurated the two-day tribal-centric program 'Adi Lecture'?
A) Nirmala Sitharaman B) Anurag Thakur
C) Arjun Munda D) Smriti Irani
Answer : C .
✓ Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda inaugurated a two-day tribal-centric program – Aadi Lecture –
in New Delhi.
✓ The program has been organized by the National Tribal Research Institute (NTRI).
✓ The objective of which is to provide a deeper understanding of the complexities of tribal traditions and
culture and to explore the challenges of their survival
Q. Which country’s Armed Forces have recently been honored with the coveted ‘Golden Owl’ award
for their outstanding performance?
A) China
B) Sri Lanka
C) Singapore
D) India
Answer : D .
✓ Indian Armed Forces have been honored with the coveted ‘Golden Owl’ award for their outstanding
performance.

✓ In a remarkable display of excellence, three officers from the Indian Armed Forces, undergoing the
prestigious Command and Staff Course at Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) in Sri
Lanka, have been honored with the coveted ‘Golden Owl’ award for their outstanding performance.
✓ The award, presented by Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, recognizes their exceptional
achievements in analytical skills, strategic thinking, and their potential for future leadership.
Q. Which Indian conglomerate has recently purchased majority share in IANS India newswire service?
A) Adani Group
B) Tata Group
C) Reliance Group
D) Wipro Group
Answer : A .
✓ Indian conglomerate announced that its media subsidiary AMG Media Networks has purchased a 50.5
percent share in IANS India for Rs 5.1 lakh.
✓ The acquisition provides Adani with controlling interest over the Indian newswire service.
✓ It marks another strategic investment in the media sector for a group whose portfolio includes broadcasting,
print media, digital news apps, and more.
✓ According to regulatory filings, AMG Media Networks executed the transaction to strengthen Adani’s
position as an integrated media organization spanning traditional news and digital platforms.
✓ IANS India will operate under the umbrella of the Group’s burgeoning media operations.
Q. National Farmer’s Day is observed in India on which day?

A) December 23
B) December 22
C) December 21
D) December 20
Answer : A .
✓ National Farmer’s Day (Kisan Diwas) is observed every year on December 23 in India to remember the role
of Indian farmers in the economy.
✓ The day was first celebrated in 2001.

✓ The day is observed to mark the birth anniversary of former Prime Minster Chaudhary Charan Singh.
✓ He brought farmer-friendly policies and worked towards the welfare of the farmers.
✓ Chaudhary Charan Singh was the fifth Prime Minister of India and served the country as Prime Minister
from 28 July 1979 to 14 January 1980
Q. Which airport has been awarded the 'World Special Prize for an Interior 2023' by UNESCO's Prix
Versailles?
A) Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru
B) Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi
C) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad
D) Cochin International Airport, Kochi
Answer : A .
✓ The Terminal-2 (T2) of the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) has secured recognition as one of the
‘World’s Most Beautiful Airports’ and has been awarded the ‘World Special Prize for an Interior 2023’ by
the UNESCO’s Prix Versailles.
✓ It is the only Indian airport to receive this recognition.
✓ The Prix Versailles, established in 2015, focuses on “intelligent sustainability” as a cultural driver,
acknowledging innovation, creativity, reflection of local heritage, ecological efficiency, and values of social
interaction.
✓ Encompassing 2,55,661 square metres, the terminal is built upon four foundational pillars: technological
leadership, a terminal in a garden, environmental and ecological stewardship, and a celebration of
Karnataka’s rich heritage and culture.
✓ Phase 1 of T2, inaugurated on November 11, 2022, is designed to accommodate 25 million passengers per
annum.
UNESCO IN NEWS 2023

➢ Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) has secured recognition as one of the ‘World’s Most
Beautiful Airports’ and has been awarded the ‘World Special Prize for an Interior 2023’ by the
UNESCO’s Prix Versailles.

➢ ‘Garba of Gujarat' has been inscribed in the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage
(ICH) of Humanity by UNESCO.
➢ Garba dance is the 15th intangible cultural heritage of India to be included in this list.
➢ Kozhikode in Kerala has been designated as the UNESCO 'City of Literature' and Gwalior as the
'City of Music' in the latest UNESCO list of Creative Cities Network.
➢ temples of the Hoysala Empire in Karnataka, India were officially added to the UNESCO list of
World Heritage Sites, marking India's 42nd addition to the prestigious heritage list.
➢ Three Hoysala-era temples in Karnataka [Chennakeshava (Belur), Hoysaleswara (Halebidu) and
Keshava Temple (Somanathapura, Mysuru)] recently made it to UNESCO’s World Heritage List,
under the collective entry of ‘Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas’.
➢ Santiniketan, located in West Bengal, India, has achieved the prestigious status of being
recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site .
➢ Santiniketan as the 41st World Heritage Property in India.
➢ UNESCO have stated in a new report that the Italian city of Venice should be added to a list of
world heritage sites in danger.
➢ The historic Byculla Railway Station, located in Mumbai received the prestigious UNESCO Asia
Pacific Cultural Heritage award.
➢ United States will rejoin UNESCO, the United Nations cultural organization, in July 2023.
➢ Jagdish Bakan wins UNESCO’s 2023 Michel Batisse Award .
➢ UNESCO World Heritage Centre has recommended Santiniketan, the cultural site in West Bengal,
India, for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
➢ According to a report published by UNESCO at the United Nations 2023 Water Conference in
New York, 26 percent of the world's population does not have access to safe drinking water.
➢ Former German chancellor Angela Merkel has been awarded the Felix Houphouet-Boigny
UNESCO Peace Prize in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast.
➢ Visva-Bharati University is expected to get the status of the world's first "Living Heritage
University" from UNESCO.
➢ UNESCO listed Ukraine’s Odesa a World Heritage Site in Danger.

➢ Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that the Centre has nominated the
maidams of Ahom Kingdom in Charaideo to seek a UNESCO World Heritage Site tag.
➢ The historic maidams of Ahom Kingdom in Charaideo were chosen out of 52 sites for the
UNESCO World Heritage Site tag.
➢ United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
➢ Formation : 16 November 1945
➢ Headquarters : Paris, France
➢ Director-General : Audrey Azoulay (France)
➢ Member countries : 193
Q. By which year does the government of India aim to increase the nuclear power capacity from 7480
MW to 22480 MW?
A) 2030 B) 2040
C) 2032 D) 2035
Answer : C .
✓ The Government has initiated steps to increase the nuclear power capacity from 7480 MW to 22480 MW
by 2031-32.
✓ The annual electricity generation from nuclear power plants has increased from 35334 Million Units
(including infirm) in 2013-14 to 46982 Million Units (including infirm) in 2022-23.
✓ The installed nuclear power capacity in 2013-14 has also increased from 4780 MW to 7480 MW at present.
✓ At present 23 nuclear power reactors are installed. The total electricity generated from nuclear power plants
during the last ten years (2013-14 to 2022-23) was about 411 BUs averting release of about 353 Million Tons
of CO2 equivalent to the environment.
✓ Nuclear Power is a clean and environment friendly base load source of electricity generation, which is
available 24X7. It has huge potential and can provide the country long-term energy security in a sustainable
manner. Expansion of nuclear power capacity will help in the country’s energy transition to meet the goal
of a net zero economy by 2070.
Q. Pradip Kumar Das has been bestowed with the esteemed “CMD of the Year” award under the Mini-
Ratna category at the 13th PSE Excellence Awards. He is the CMD of which of the following
organization?

A) SIDBI B) SEBI
C) PFRDA D) IREDA
Answer : D .
✓ Chairman & Managing Director of Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA),
Pradip Kumar Das has been bestowed with the esteemed “CMD of the Year” award under the Mini-Ratna
category at the 13th PSE Excellence Awards, hosted by the Indian Chamber of Commerce in New Delhi.
✓ This prestigious recognition marks the second consecutive financial year in which Shri Pradip Kumar Das
has received this accolade, acknowledging his exceptional leadership that has boosted the company’s
growth, pioneering energy transition initiatives, and outstanding contributions for IREDA and Renewable
Energy sector development.
✓ IREDA also bagged runner-up accolades, emphasizing its commitment to operational, governance, socio-
environmental excellence, and inclusivity.
IREDA IN NEWS 2023

➢ IREDA CMD Pradip Kumar Das bagged ‘CMD of the Year’ award
➢ Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) launched a Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) portal to improve transparency in CSR initiatives.
➢ Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted an ‘Infrastructure Finance Company (IFC)’ status to
Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA).
➢ IREDA signs MoUs with Union Bank of India and Bank of Baroda to co-finance Renewable
Energy projects.
➢ IREDA and Bank of Maharashtra partner to promote renewable energy adoption in India.
➢ Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA), a Mini Ratna (Category – I) has signed
an a MoU with Government, Revenue Target for 2023-24 set at ₹ 4,350.
➢ Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) has set up a state-of-the-art Business
Centre at NBCC Office Complex, East Kidwai Nagar, New Delhi.
➢ Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA)
➢ It was incorporated as a Public Limited Company in the year 1987 as a 'Non-Banking Financial
Institution'.

➢ It is a Miniratna (Category 1) type company functioning under the administrative control of
'Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India.
➢ Its function is to encourage projects related to new and renewable energy sources and to provide
them financial assistance for their development.
➢ It has been notified as a 'Public Financial Institution' under section 4'A' of the 'Companies Act,
1956'.
➢ Chairman and Managing Director - Pradip Kumar Das
Q. Tibetan Spiritual leader Dalai Lama has inaugurated the three-day International Sangha Forum 2023
in which city?
A) Bodh Gaya B) Gaya
C) Rajgir D) Gautam Budh Nagar
Answer : A .
✓ Tibetan Spiritual leader Dalai Lama has inaugurated the three-day International Sangha Forum 2023 in
Bodh Gaya, Bihar, Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment.
✓ Organized jointly by the Office of the Dalai Lama and the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), the
forum will be held at the International Convention Centre in Bodha Gaya, Bihar.
✓ The event will see discussions among monks, nuns, and Bhikkhu scholars, that delve into the profound
teachings of Buddhism.
✓ The event will also witness the coming together of practitioners of the Pali traditions of the Southeast and
South Asian countries of India, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and
Indonesia, as well as those of the Sanskrit tradition from Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, Vietnam, China, Taiwan,
Japan, Korea, Russia, Mongolia and other parts of the world.
✓ The ISF aims to foster dialogue on the intricate aspects of Vinaya rules and explore the evolving role of
Buddhism in the 21st century.
Q. Who has unveiled the ‘Paat-Mitro’ app for farmers?

A) Food Corporation of India B) Cotton Corporation of India
C) Jute Corporation of India D) Food and Agriculture Organization
Answer : C .

✓ Jute Corporation of India has unveiled the ‘Paat-Mitro’ app aimed at aiding jute cultivation and income
generation.
✓ It is Launched by Rachna Shah, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, the application offers vital knowledge on
jute farming.
✓ It will also feature information on jute gradation parametres, farmer-centric schemes like ‘Jute-ICARE’,
weather forecasts and procurement policies.
✓ ‘Paat-Mitro’ marks a significant step forward in supporting jute farmers and revitalizing the industry. With
greater access to information, technical advancements, and market opportunities, Indian jute farmers can
unlock a brighter future for themselves and contribute to the sustainable development of the sector
✓ The Jute Corporation of India Limited (JCI) is central public sector undertaking under the ownership of
Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.
Q. Which among the following has received the 11th edition of the FICCI Water Award 2023 under the
“Industrial Water Use Efficiency” category?
A) NTPC Kanti
B) Torrent Power
C) ReNew Power
D) JSW Energy
Answer : A .
✓ NTPC Kanti has received the 11th edition of the FICCI Water Award 2023 under the “Industrial Water
Use Efficiency” category.
✓ The prestigious accolade was presented during the inaugural event of the 9th Edition of India Industry Water
Conclave held at FICCI Federation House in New Delhi.
✓ The award acknowledges NTPC Kanti’s notable water conservation efforts and efficient use of water
resources in its operations.
✓ The company has also launched awareness campaigns to promote responsible water usage among
employees and the local community
✓ The FICCI Water Awards, presented annually, play a pivotal role in acknowledging organizations across
various sectors for their exemplary efforts in water conservation and management. By promoting best
practices, these awards contribute to the broader goal of encouraging sustainable water management
practices throughout India

NTPC IN NEWS 2023
➢ NTPC Kanti has received the 11th edition of the FICCI Water Award 2023 under the “Industrial
Water Use Efficiency” category.
➢ NTPC shines as the only Indian PSU to feature in Forbes “World’s Best Employers 2023” List.
➢ The central government has received about Rs 1,487 crore from NTPC as a dividend tranche.
➢ NTPC has been honoured with the prestigious Economic Times (ET) HR World Future Skills Awards
2023.
➢ NTPC climbs up 52 positions to 433rd rank in Forbes’ “The Global 2000” List.
➢ NTPC Kanti launches Girl Child Empowerment Mission (GeM)-2023.
➢ NTPC Group’s total installed capacity reaches 72,304 MW with first overseas capacity addition in
Bangladesh.
➢ Country's largest power generation company NTPC Limited has been conferred with 'ATD Best
Awards 2023' by Association for Talent Development (ATD), USA.
➢ NTPC and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) sign agreement for joint
development of nuclear power plants.
➢ India’s largest power company NTPC Ltd has commissioned India’s first green hydrogen blending
project at Kawas, Gujarat.
➢ NTPC hosts an international seminar on ‘Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage’ (CCUS) at First
Energy Transitions Working Group meeting in Bengaluru.
➢ NTPC Limited announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Energy Vault
Holdings (“Energy Vault).
➢ NTPC Renewable Energy Limited (NTPC REL) signs MoU with Government of Tripura for
cooperation in renewable energy development.
➢ NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd has signed an MoU with the Indian Army for setting up Green
Hydrogen Projects in its establishments on Build, Own and Operate (BOO) model.
➢ About NTPC
➢ The NTPC which was earlier known as National Thermal Power Corporation of India is owned by
the Government of India. It was set up in 1975.
➢ The Vindhyachal Thermal Power Station in the Singrauli district of Madhya Pradesh, with an installed
capacity of 4,760MW, is currently the biggest thermal power plant in India.

➢ Headquarters: New Delhi
➢ Chairman and Managing Director: Gurdeep Singh
Q. Which state government has launched the Social Awareness and Action to Neutralise Pneumonia
Successfully (SAANS) Campaign to Counteract Pneumonia?
A) Madhya Pradesh B) Manipur
C) Meghalaya D) Maharashtra
Answer : B .
✓ Manipur Initiates “SAANS” Campaign to Counteract Pneumonia

✓ In Manipur, the State Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Sapam Ranjan Singh has launched the Social
Awareness and Action to Neutralise Pneumonia Successfully (SAANS) Campaign 2023-24 at Imphal.
✓ The Minister also inaugurated the State Newborn Resource Centre at Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical
Sciences (JNIMS) in Imphal.
✓ In connection to the launching of SAANS Campaign 2023-24, the Minister said that Pneumonia is a
common, preventable, treatable disease if precautionary steps are taken up at the right time. Since the disease
is preventable, the Health Department is emphasizing spreading awareness to the people.
Q. India has invited France President Emmanuel Macron as chief guest for the January 26 Republic Day
celebrations. This is the _ a French leader will be the Chief guest at Republic Day celebrations in the
national capital.
A) 7th time B) 5th time
B) 6th time D) 4th time

Answer : C .
✓ French President Invited to India’s Republic Day 2024

✓ India has invited France President Emmanuel Macron as chief guest for the January 26 Republic Day
celebrations.
✓ Notably, this is the 6th time a French leader will be the Chief guest at Republic Day celebrations in the
national capital.

✓ Prior to Macron, former French Prime Minister Jacques Chirac was the Chief guest on India’s Republic
Day celebrations in 1976 and 1998, and former Presidents Valery Giscard d’Estaing, Nicolas Sarkozy, and
Francois Hollande in the years 1980, 2008, and 2016 respectively.
✓ Earlier in July, PM Modi had visited France to attend the Bastille Day Parade. PM Modi participated in the
Bastille Day celebrations as the Guest of Honour on the invitation of President Macron.
✓ PM Modi had visited France to mark the 25th anniversary of the strategic partnership between the two
countries.
✓ To mark the 25th anniversary of the India-France Strategic Partnership, a 241-member tri-service Indian
armed forces contingent led by a military band also participated in the Parade.” The Indian Army contingent
was led by the Punjab Regiment, followed by a complement from the Rajputana Rifles Regiment.
✓ Later in September, French President Macron had visited India in September to attend the G20 Summit
held under India’s Presidency.
✓ Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor awarded to Prime Minister Modi.
✓ Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded the highest French award 'Grand Cross of the Legion of
Honour' by the President of the Republic of France, Emmanuel Macron on 13 July 2023
✓ FRANCE
✓ Capital : Paris
✓ Currency : Euro
✓ President : Emmanuel Macron
✓ Prime Minister : Élisabeth Borne
Q. Which bank has launched the Electronic Bank Guarantee (e-BG), signalling a significant step forward
in trade finance digital transformation?
A) Bandhan Bank B) IndusInd Bank

C) RBL Bank D) Indian Overseas Bank
Answer : C .
✓ RBL Bank has launched the Electronic Bank Guarantee (e-BG), signalling a significant step forward in trade
finance digital transformation.
✓ The e-BG product builds on the framework enabled by NeSL, incorporating their expertise in e-Stamping
and e-Sign.

✓ This integration eliminates the traditional physical signing and stamping processes, seamlessly transitioning
into a secure and efficient digital format.
✓ NeSL’s e-BG substantially transforms the trade finance space and marks a milestone in the digitization of
banking services. e-BG envisages online and paperless procurement of stamp duty and thus the e-BG can be
issued digitally in a couple of minutes and is made available to beneficiaries instantly in a secure, digital,
and paperless form.
✓ RBL BANK
✓ Founded : 1943
✓ Headquarters : Mumbai
✓ MD & CEO : R Subramaniakumar
✓ Tagline : Apno ka Bank
Q. Sandeep Batra has been reappointed as Executive Director (ED) of which bank?
A) Yes Bank B) Axis Bank
C) HDFC Bank D) ICICI Bank
Answer : D .
✓ Private sector lender ICICI Bank has received approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to re-appoint
Sandeep Batra as the executive director (ED).
✓ RBI vide its letter approved the re-appointment of Sandeep Batra as Executive Director of the bank with
effect from December 23, 2023 to December 22, 2025.
✓ The board of directors recorded that the current tenure of Batra as ED of the Bank as per RBI approval,
which was for three years, ends on December 22, 2023. It unanimously approved the reappointment of Batra
for a further period of two years with effect from December 23, 2023, to December 22, 2025.
Q. Who has been appointed as the Director (Works) of National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited
(NHSRCL)?
A) Ajit Gupte B) Pramod Sharma
C) Prakash Chand D) Shambhu S. Kumaran

Answer : B .
✓ The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Pramod Sharma for
the post of Director (Works) of National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL).

✓ NHSRCL is an implementation agency for high-speed rail projects in India.
✓ Appointed on a deputation basis, his term extends until he reaches 60 years or further orders.
✓ NHSRCL was incorporated in 2016 to manage the High-Speed Rail Corridor in India. It is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Indian Railways, Ministry of Railways. The objective of this body is the development and
implementation of high-speed rail projects in India.
Q. Who has become the new president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI)?
A) Sanjay Singh B) Manoj Kumar Bharti

C) Arindam Bagchi D) Reenat Sandhu
Answer : A .
✓ Sanjay Singh has become the new president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).
✓ He beat Anita Sheoran in the 50-vote electoral college 42-7 to claim the post.
✓ Associated with the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) for the past 12 years as part of the governing
council, Singh, who hails from Varanasi, was promoted to the post of joint secretary in 2019.
Q. Who has been named Health Ambassador for Salaam Bombay Foundation?
A) Neena Malhotra B) Vani Sarraju Rao
C) Amrita Raichand D) Akhilesh Mishra
Answer : C .
✓ Amrita Raichand partners with Salaam Bombay Foundation, becoming a Health Ambassador for their
Preventive Health Education Programme.
✓ This incredible partnership is set to make a real difference in the lives of at-risk adolescents from the urban
slums of Mumbai, promoting the importance of healthy living and simple nourishing recipes where it is
needed most.
✓ The initiative focuses on advancing nutrition knowledge in underserved communities, mainly among
Mumbai's urban slum adolescents.
Q. Who has assumed the charge of the Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) of Coal India arm
Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL)?
A) Meera Shankar B) Nirupama Rao

C) Arun Kumar Singh D) Uday A Kaole

Answer : D .
✓ Uday A Kaole has assumed the charge of the Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) of Coal India arm
Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL).
Q. Which company has been conferred with the prestigious National Energy Conservation Award 2023?
A) Orient Electric B) Crompton

C) Bajaj Electricals D) Havells
Answer : B .
✓ President awarded Crompton-Most Energy Efficient Appliance of the Year

✓ Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals Ltd. (CGCEL), one of India’s leading consumer electrical
companies, has been conferred with the prestigious National Energy Conservation Award 2023.
✓ The honor was conferred by the Hon’ble President of India, Droupadi Murmu and the Ministry of Power
through its body viz. Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) on the occasion of National Energy Conservation
Day.
✓ The company secured this achievement in the category of the Most Energy Efficient Appliance of the Year
2023 for its storage water heater.
Q. Who has received the 'Impact Fielder of the ODI Series' medal following India's 2-1 series win
against South Africa?
A) Suryakumar Yadav
B) Sai Sudharsan
C) Rohit Sharma
D) KL Rahul
Answer : B .
✓ India’s debutant Sai Sudharsan was awarded the ‘Impact Fielder of the Series’ medal by India’s fielding
coach Ajay Ratra after the KL Rahul-led side clinched the 3-match ODI series against South Africa 2-1
✓ India defeated South Africa by 87 runs in the series decider as KL Rahul became only the second Indian
captain after Virat Kohli to win an ODI series on South African soil.
✓ Sudharsan was commended for a brilliant catch during the third ODI match, contributing to India’s 78-run
victory

Q. Which organization has set up a task force to study the recommendations made by the Independent
Experts Group for strengthening multilateral development banks (MDBs)?
A) World Bank B) Asian Development Bank
C) New Development Bank D) International Monetary Fund
Answer : A .
✓ World Bank has set up a task force to study the recommendations made by the Independent Experts Group,
formed under India’s G20 Presidency, for strengthening multilateral development banks (MDBs).
✓ The World Bank, which other MDBs looked up to, must take the lead in carrying forward the reform
roadmap for MDBs so as to make these global institutions bigger, better, and bolder.
✓ Both Ajay Banga and Nirmala Sitharaman discussed outcomes of the G20India Presidency, evolution of
the World Bank and its engagement with India in various sectors, besides issues of mutual interest.
✓ World Bank has identified eight unique global challenges to focus on in the next few years as they affect
many countries and require attention and Sitharaman expressed India’s support for it.
✓ Sitharaman stressed that the Country Climate and Development Report exercise of the World should take
into account the country’s priorities and circumstances
Q. Which bank and HDFC Life have entered into a corporate agency agreement to offer life insurance
products to their respective customers?
A) Karnataka Bank B) Karur Vyasya Bank

C) Dhanalakshmi Bank D) South Indian Bank
Answer : B .
✓ Private sector Karur Vysya Bank and HDFC Life have entered into a corporate agency agreement to offer
life insurance products to their respective customers.
✓ This corporate agency arrangement would enable customers of Karur Vysya Bank to avail HDFC Life’s
wide range of life insurance products which include solutions for protection, savings and investment,
retirement, and critical illness.
✓ Our corporate tie-up with HDFC Life will provide one more option to our customers while charting their
insurance plans. Since HDFC Life offers claim intimation process online, our customers can avail the
services without stepping out of their homes.

✓ Karur Vysya Bank is a Scheduled Commercial Bank, headquartered in Karur in Tamil Nadu, India. It was
founded in 1916 by M. A. Venkatarama Chettiar and Athi Krishna Chettiar.
✓ Chairperson : Dr Meena Hemchandra
✓ MD & CEO : Mr. Ramesh Babu
Q. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), India’s economy is projected to grow at how
much percent FY24 and FY25?
A) 6.2% B) 6.3%
C) 6.4% D) 6.5%
Answer : B .
✓ India’s economy is projected to grow at 6.3 percent in the current fiscal year and the next, according to the
International Monetary Fund (IMF).
✓ The country’s digital public infrastructure and a strong government infrastructure program will continue to
sustain growth.
✓ India has potential for even higher growth, with greater contributions from labour and human capital, if
comprehensive reforms are implemented,” the IMF said.
✓ The IMF’s growth projection for the current financial year, ending March 31, 2024, is lower than the 7
percent forecast by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
✓ Volatile food prices pushed up retail inflation to 5.55 percent in November from 4.87 percent the previous
month. While this was within the RBI’s tolerance band of 2 percent-6 percent, it remains above the target of
4 percent
✓ International Monetary Fund (IMF)
✓ Founded : 1945
✓ Headquarters: Washington, D.C.
✓ Managing Director : Kristalina Georgieva (Bulgaria)
✓ First Deputy MD : Gita Gopinath
✓ Chief Economist : Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas (France)
✓ Executive Director for India at IMF : Krishnamurthy Subramaniam
✓ Member countries : 190 (Andorra)
✓ IMF Released Report
✓ Global Financial Stability Report

✓ World Economic Outlook.
✓ The value of Special Drawing Right (SDR) is determined by the basket of 5 currencies.
✓ The currencies are, US Dollar, Japanese Yen, British Pound, Chinese Yuan and Euro.
✓ Special Drawing Right is known as the Paper Gold. The value of the SDR is based on a basket of key
international currencies reviewed by IMF every five years. SDR was introduced in the 1969 by the IMF to
solve the problem of International liquidity
Q. The Defence Ministry has signed a ₹1,614.89 crore contract with which company for the procurement
of six next-generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG)?
A) Hindustan Shipyard B) Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders
C) Cochin Shipyard Limited D) Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers
Answer : B .
✓ The Defence Ministry has signed a ₹1614.89 crore contract with Mazagon Dockyard Shipbuilders Limited
(MDL) Mumbai for the procurement of six next-generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) for the Indian
Coast Guard (ICG).
✓ Out of the six vessels being procured, four would replace the existing ageing OPVs and the other two would
augment the ICG fleet.
✓ These multirole state-of-the-art vessels will be indigenously designed, developed, and manufactured by
MDL, and will be delivered in a total period of 66 months (5.5 years).
Q. Natasha Chethan won the sub-junior girls’ snooker title to record a double in the 90th National
Billiards & Snooker Championships at the Nehru Indoor Stadium. She is from which state?
A) Karnataka B) Rajasthan
C) Haryana D) Uttar Pradesh

Answer : A .
✓ Karnataka’s Natasha Chethan won the sub-junior girls’ snooker title to record a double in the ongoing 90th
National Billiards & Snooker Championships at the Nehru Indoor Stadium.
✓ The Bengaluru teenager rallied to beat Gujarat’s Aanya Patel 3-1 (35-57, 57-43, 55-42, 41-29) in the snooker
final after defeating her for the sub-junior girls’ billiards crown last week
✓ It was the second defeat of the day in a final for Aanya, who lost to Tamil Nadu’s L Shruthi in the junior
girls’ billiards title category.

Q. Who has been awarded Bhutan’s National Order of Merit Gold Medal for her distinguished services
to the country?
A) Rudrendra Tandon B) Gaurav Ahluwalia
C) Poonam Khetrapal Singh D) Pratibha Parkar
Answer : C .
✓ WHO Regional Director (South-East Asia) Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh has been awarded Bhutan’s
National Order of Merit Gold Medal for her distinguished services to the country.
✓ The King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk honoured Singh, an Indian national, at Bhutan’s
116th National Day celebration.
✓ Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, the first woman regional director of the WHO South-East Asia region, played
a pivotal role in supporting transformative healthcare leadership in Bhutan from 2014 to 2024.
✓ Her tenure witnessed remarkable strides, including Bhutan, becoming one of the first countries to eliminate
measles and rubella ahead of schedule.
✓ She made significant contributions to help Bhutan excel in COVID-19 vaccination
Q. Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has been awarded the Leif Erikson Lunar Prize for which
mission?
A) Mangalyaan- 2 B) Gaganyaan
C) Chandrayaan-3 D) Aditya L1
Answer : C .
✓ Chandrayaan-3 Moon Mission Earns Leif Erikson Lunar Prize

✓ For its’s indomitable spirit in advancing lunar exploration & contributing to understanding celestial
mysteries and in celebration the first soft landing of Chandrayaan 3, Indian Space Research Organisation
(ISRO) has been awarded Leif Erikson Lunar Prize.
✓ This is the first time that ISRO has received this award.
✓ It is for the first soft landing of a spacecraft near the Lunar South Pole and ISRO’s indomitable spirit in
advancing lunar exploration.
✓ It is for the first soft landing of a spacecraft near the Lunar South Pole and ISRO’s indomitable spirit in
advancing lunar exploration.

✓ On behalf of ISRO, this was received by the Indian Ambassador to Iceland Ambassador B Shyam from the
Exploration Museum in Husavik (Iceland).
Q. Former chair of the National Commission for Women and Padma Bhushan awardee Dr. V Mohini
Giri passed away recently. In which year did she receive Padma Bhusan?
A) 2008 B) 2010
C) 2007 D) 2009
Answer : C .
✓ Former chair of the National Commission for Women and Padma Bhushan awardee Dr. V Mohini Giri
passed away.
✓ She started the War Widows Association in 1972, after the Indo-Pak war of 1971. An institution builder,
her life was dedicated to women’s rights, human rights and particularly the rights of widows.
✓ Dr. Giri was awarded the Padma Bhushan for her work in 2007.
✓ A documentary —Still We Rise: The Passion and Compassion of Mohini Giri’— directed by filmmaker
Meera Dewan, commemorating 50 years of Guild for Service and the contribution of Dr. Giri, was screened
in February.
Q. National Consumer Day is observed every year on which day?

A) 21 December
B) 22 December
C) 23 December
D) 24 December
Answer : D .
✓ National Consumer Day: December 24.

✓ It was on this day that the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 was enacted.
✓ The Act aims to provide consumers with effective safeguards against different types of exploitation, such as
defective goods, deficiency in services and unfair trade practices.
✓ The World Consumer Rights Day is celebrated on the 15th March every year.
✓ World Consumer Rights Day 2023 topic this year is “Empowering Consumers Through Clean Energy
Transitions.”

Q. When is the Good Governance Day observed in India?
Answer : A .
✓ In India, Good Governance Day (Sushasan Divas) is observed annually on December 25 to commemorate
the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee (25 December 1924 – 16 August 2018).
✓ Good Governance Day was established in 2014 by the newly elected administration of Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, to foster awareness among the Indian people of accountability in government.
Q. The Good Governance Day is observed to marks the birth anniversary of which leader?
A) APJ Abdul Kalam
B) Rajiv Gandhi
C) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
D) Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Answer : D .
Q. Which entity has proposed a phase-wise transition to instant settlement of trades in the equity cash
market?
A) SIDBI B) SEBI
C) RBI D) NABARD
Answer : A .
✓ The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has proposed a phase-wise transition to instant
settlement of trades in the equity cash market.
✓ An optional T+0 settlement cycle for trades till 1:30 pm may be introduced in the first phase, with settlement
of funds and securities to be completed on the same day by 4:30 p.m.
✓ To begin with, a T+0 settlement will be made available in the top 500 listed equity shares in three tranches,
from the lowest to the highest market capitalization.
✓ In the second phase, an optional immediate trade-by-trade settlement will be carried out for trades till 3.30
p.m.

✓ An API-based interface will be built between depositories and clearing corporations to facilitate real-time
intimation of early pay-in. To begin with, all securities under Phase 1 will be available under Phase 2.
✓ The move will enable faster pay-outs of securities and funds to investors, improve overall market efficiency,
and enhance the overall risk management of clearing corporations (CCs).
✓ The Indian banking system is efficient to provide real-time transfers of funds, and the depository system has
visibility of client-level holdings and hence the ability to enable instant debit and credit of securities.
✓ The average Indian has rapidly embraced UPI and instant payment platforms. This flexibility can be
extended to equity dealing as well.
SEBI IN NEWS 2023

➢ The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has proposed a phase-wise transition to instant
➢ An optional T+0 settlement cycle for trades till 1:30 pm may be introduced in the first phase, with
settlement of funds and securities to be completed on the same day by 4:30 p.m.
➢ SEBI has introduced a regulatory framework for online investment platforms that facilitate
investments in commission-free mutual fund (MF) schemes.
➢ SEBI sets up intermediary advisory panel to be led by S Ravindran.
➢ SEBI Introduced Risk disclosure Framework for Trading by Individual Traders in Equity F&O
Segment.
➢ SEBI introduced the Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) system for issuers of non-convertible securities,
securitized debt instruments and security receipts.
➢ NDTV appoints former SEBI Chairman UK Sinha and business leader Dipali Goenka as Independent
Directors.
➢ Sebi introduces Application Supported by Blocked Amount (ASBA) -like facility for secondary market
trading in India.
➢ NSE gets the final SEBI approval to launch Social Stock Exchange.
➢ Markets regulator SEBI has launched an information database on municipal bonds.
➢ SEBI allowed Alternative Investment Funds(AIFs) to participate in the Credit Default
Swaps(CDS) market as protection buyers and sellers in a bid to facilitate the deepening of the domestic
corporate bond segment.

➢ Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI):
➢ It is the regulatory body for securities and commodity markets in India established in 1988.
➢ Its main objectives are to protect the interests of investors in securities and promote the development
of the securities market in India by regulating intermediaries, ensuring transparency and accountability
of listed companies, and promoting investor education.
➢ It is owned by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, but functions as an autonomous body
with its own governing board.
➢ It has the power to issue guidelines, rules and regulations, investigate and punish fraudulent business
practices.
➢ It is the regulator of the Capital market and Commodities market in India.
➢ The first SEBI chairman was Dr S A Dave (1988-90)
➢ Madhabi Puri Buch is the current and 10th Chairperson of the SEBI.
Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) scheme:
1. It is 100% completely funded by the Government of India.
2. It envisages the development of 4,000 MWh of BESS projects by 2030-31.

A) 1 only B) 2 only
Answer : B .
✓ Recently, the Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy has informed that the Government
has approved the scheme for Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for development of Battery Energy Storage
Systems (BESS) with capacity of 4,000 megawatts hours (MWh).
✓ This scheme envisages the development of 4,000 MWh of BESS projects by 2030-31.
✓ Funding:
✓ Financial support of up to 40% of the capital cost as budgetary support in the form of Viability Gap Funding
(VGF) is provided by the union government.

✓ The VGF shall be disbursed in five tranches linked with the various stages of implementation of BESS
projects.
✓ By offering VGF support, the scheme targets achieving a Levelized Cost of Storage (LCoS) ranging from
Rs. 5.50-6.60 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), making stored renewable energy a viable option for managing peak
power demand across the country.
✓ For passing on the scheme to consumers of the Discoms, at least 85% of the power from VGF-funded BESS
projects shall be first offered to Discoms before making it available for others.
✓ The selection of BESS developers for VGF grants will be carried out through a transparent, competitive
bidding process, promoting a level playing field for both public and private sector entities.
✓ This scheme is designed to harness the potential of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power;
the scheme aims to provide clean, reliable, and affordable electricity to the citizens
Q. Consider the following statements regarding the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural
Heritage Conservation:
1. It is awarded for the achievement of the public-private initiatives in conserving places of heritage
value.
2. India’s Rambagh Gate in Amritsar received the Award of Excellence in 2023.
A) 1 only B) 2 only
Answer : C .
✓ Recently, three heritage projects from Punjab and Haryana have secured prestigious spots among the
UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation 2023.
✓ UNESCO seeks to encourage private sector involvement and public-private collaboration in conserving the
region’s cultural heritage for the benefit of current and future generations.
✓ Since 2000, UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation have been recognizing the
achievement of the private sector and public-private initiatives in successfully conserving or restoring
structures, places and properties of heritage value in the region.
✓ Among the recognised sites, five are from China, six from India, and one from Nepal.
✓ Award winning sites from India are as follows

✓ The Rambagh Gate in Amritsar received the “Award of Excellence,” the highest recognition among all
categories.
✓ Pipal Haveli, a heritage rural homestay from Punjab was honoured for its sustainable development.
✓ The Karnikara Mandapam at Kunnamangalam Bhagawati Temple in Kerala earned the Award of
Distinction.
✓ Epiphany in Haryana, David Sassoon Library and Reading Room in
✓ Mumbai and Bikaner House in New Delhi received the Award of Merit.
Q. Which bank has approved $300 million loan to Tamil Nadu to help 21 Urban Local Bodies?
A) World Bank B) New Development Bank
C) Asian Development Bank D) International Monetary Fund
Answer : A .
✓ World Bank provides $300 million loan to Tamil Nadu to help 21 Urban Local Bodies
✓ The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a new program to support Tamil Nadu and
provide around 2 million people with more and better access to water and sewerage services in cities.
✓ The $300 million Tamil Nadu Climate Resilient Urban Development Program will help 21 Urban Local
Bodies (ULBs) update their delivery systems and provide quality and efficient water supply and sewerage
services to consumers.
✓ The $300 million loan from the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) will use the
blended financing instrument of Program-for-Results (PforR) with Investment Project Financing (IPF) to
link disbursement of funds directly to the achievement of results while providing technical assistance.
✓ The Program loan has a maturity of 32 years with a grace period of 7 years.
WORLD BANK IN NEWS 2023

➢ World Bank provides $300 million loan to Tamil Nadu to help 21 Urban Local Bodies.
➢ World Bank has set up a task force to study the recommendations made by the Independent Experts
Group, formed under India’s G20 Presidency, for strengthening multilateral development banks
(MDBs).
➢ Commodity Markets Outlook Report is published by the World Bank in April and October, every
year.

➢ World Bank and Japan, have launched the Resilient and Inclusive Supply-chain Enhancement (RISE)
initiative in Morocco.
➢ World Bank has approved $1.5 billion in financing to accelerate India’s development of low-carbon
energy.
➢ World Bank has approved a substantial funding package of 700 million dollars for Sri Lanka.
➢ World Bank has approved $391 million in financing to improve access to high-quality healthcare
services and to economic opportunities for people in Assam and Tripura.
➢ World Bank has granted its approval for a USD 255.5 million loan aimed at enhancing the quality of
technical education in government-run institutions across India.
➢ World Bank (WB) launched its first dedicated road safety project in South Asia with a USD 358
million financing agreement signed in Dhaka with the government of Bangladesh.
➢ Indian origin Ajay Banga confirmed as the 14th President of World Bank.
➢ Ministry of Education and the World Bank held a unique workshop on School-to-Work Transition
under the STARS Program.
➢ The Cabinet approved the Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States (STARS) Project
in October 2020.
➢ World Bank has approved a loan of US $ 363 million for the supply of clean drinking water from taps
to 2 million rural households in Karnataka.
➢ According to the World Bank’s (WB) annual report ‘State and Trends of Carbon Pricing 2023’ released
on May 23, 2023, revenues collected from carbon taxes and Emissions Trading Systems (ETS) globally
have reached a record high, about US$95 billion in 2022.
➢ World Bank’s Executive Board of Directors has approved USD 108 million loan for Assam, to help
the state improve disaster preparedness and enhance flood forecasting.
➢ India and the World Bank have signed aloan agreement for the construction of the Green National
Highway Corridors Project (GNHCP) in four States.
➢ These four states are-Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.

➢ World Bank has signed two complementary loans with India worth USD 500 million each to support
and enhance the country’s healthcare infrastructure.
➢ India will be the first country in the world to receive $100 billion from remittances during 2022, the
World Bank.
➢ WORLD BANK
➢ Founded : 1944
➢ Headquarters : Washington Dc
➢ 14th President : Ajay Banga
➢ MD&CFO : Anshula Kant
➢ Chief Economist : Carman Reinhart
➢ Executive Director : Rajesh Khullar
➢ Member Countries :189
➢ World Bank Group : 5 (IBRD, IDA, IFC, MIGA and ICSID).
➢ All of these efforts support the Bank Group’s twin goals of ending extreme poverty by 2030 and
boosting shared prosperity of the poorest 40% of the population in all countries.
➢ World Bank was created at the 1944 Bretton Woods Conference, along with the International
Monetary Fund (IMF).
➢ India is a member of IBRD, IFC, IDA and MIGA. The country is not a member of the ICSID
Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Project PRAYAS:

1. It is an initiative of the International Organisation for Migration.
2. It aims to facilitate safe and regular migration for Indian migrant workers and students.
A) 1 only B) 2 only
Answer : C .
✓ Recently, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) launched Project PRAYAS to help Indian
workers and students migrate in a secure, orderly, and regular manner.
✓ Promoting Regular Assisted Migration for Youth and Skilled Professionals (PRAYAS) was launched in
partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

✓ It is one of the first attempts to consolidate all the state-level initiatives for safe, orderly, and well-managed
international migration.
✓ Goal: To facilitate safe, orderly, and regular migration for aspiring Indian migrant workers and students
through policy recommendations in collaboration with the MEA and state governments, thus strengthening
international migration governance.
✓ It aims to undertake a study,capturing the key migration trends, the needs and aspirations of migrants, and
the major international migration and mobility initiatives taken by the union, as well as the state
governments sharing the analysis with the ministry.
✓ Key facts about the International Organisation for Migration (IOM)
✓ Established in 1951, IOM is a United Nations (UN) agency dedicated to promoting humane and orderly
migration.
✓ The IOM defines the term migrant as: “a person who moves away from his or her place of usual residence,
whether within a country or across an international border, temporarily or permanently, and for a variety of
reasons.”
✓ Member countries: It currently has 172 member states and 8 states holding observer status. India is a member
of this organization.
✓ Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
Q. Project PRAYAS, recently seen in news is a joint initiative of?

A) World Bank and United Nations Development Programme
B) United Nations Development Programme and Ministry of External Affairs
C) United Nations Environment Programme and Ministry of Jal Shakti
D) International Organisation for Migration and Ministry of External Affairs
Answer : D .
Q. What is ‘BRAHMA-2D’, that was in the news recently?
A) A new supercomputer developed by C-DAC

B) A satellite designed to monitor climate change
C) An energy-efficient transportation system

D) A mathematical model for braided river analysis

Answer : D .
✓ Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT Guwahati) recently developed an
indigenous river model, BRAHMA-2D.
✓ About BRAHMA-2D:
✓ BRAHMA-2D (Braided River Aid: Hydro-Morphological Analyzer) is a mathematical model to gauge the
flow of large braided rivers like the Brahmaputra.
✓ It is a quasi-3D river flow model which helps to understand how fast the water moves at different depths
inside a river and its circulation around a structure like a spur installed to prevent river bank erosion.
✓ It can help engineers in the design of sustainable hydraulic structures like spurs, reverent, and other river
bank protection measures in order to check river bank erosion.
✓ It was developed by the researchers at IIT Guwahati in collaboration with the Brahmaputra Board under
the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti.
✓ It was successfully validated on the Brahmaputra River near Majuli Island, the second largest freshwater
River Island in the world, in Assam, which is prone to river bank erosion.
✓ It integrates a two-dimensional model of water movement with a theory about entropy, a measure of
disorder or randomness
IIT IN NEWS 2023

➢ IIT Guwahati recently developed an indigenous river model, BRAHMA-2D.
➢ IIT Kanpur, Indian Navy join forces to drive innovation through research partnership.
Gujarat.
the institute.


biometric system.
Q. Which state has won the National Energy Conservation Award 2023?
A) West Bengal B) Karnataka
C) Tamil Nadu D) Maharashtra
Answer : B .
✓ Karnataka bagged first place in the State Designated Agency (SDA Group-1) category at the National
Energy Conservation Awards – 2023 (NECA 2022) held in Delhi.
✓ The Bureau of Energy Efficiency organized the awards as part of the National Energy Conservation Day.
✓ Karnataka has scored highest and placed as a top-performing State categorized as Front runner across India
for three consecutive years,- SEEI 2020 and SEEI 2021-2022 and 2023.
✓ President of India, Droupadi Murmu handed over the award to KP Rudrappaiah, Managing Director,
Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited, as an appreciation for the state’s achievement in
energy conservation.
✓ KREDL was chosen for the award based on the energy efficiency projects implemented in the state
Q. Poet Sukrita Paul Kumar has won the 6th edition of the Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize for which
book?
A) Country Drive B) Salt & Pepper
C) Vanishing Words D) Narrating Partition

Answer : B .

✓ The sixth edition of the Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize was awarded to poet-critic Sukrita Paul Kumar
for her book, ‘Salt & Pepper: Selected Poems’.
✓ This prestigious award recognizes outstanding literary work from around the globe, promoting world peace,
literature, art, education, and human rights.
✓ An amount of USD 5,000, a Tagore statue, and a certificate for contribution to literature was given to Kumar
at the award ceremony.
✓ Founded in 2018 by US-based publisher Peter Bundalo, the award is a platform for world peace, literature,
art, education and human rights.
✓ It also recognizes works towards human rights and world peace with the Social Achievement Prize.
✓ The Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize for Social Achievement was awarded to Nobel laureate Abhijit
Banerjee for his contributions to societal welfare.
✓ Last year, the prize was given to journalist-author Raj Kamal Jha for his novel ‘The City and The Sea’
Q. Who has won the SASTRA-Ramanujan Award for 2022?

A) Melody Chan B) Yunqing Tang
C) Ruixiang Zhang D) Arul Shankar

Answer : B .
✓ SASTR Yunqing Tang and Ruixiang Zhang won SASTRA Ramanujan Awards for 2022 and 2023
respectively
✓ The SASTRA-Ramanujan Awards for 2022 and 2023 were presented, respectively, to Yunqing Tang and
Ruixiang Zhang, both mathematicians at the University of California in Berkeley, at the SASTRA campus
in Kumbakonam.
✓ Presenting the awards, T. Ramaswami, former Secretary, the Department of Science and Technology, paid
glowing tributes to the genius of legendary Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan, and highlighted the
relevance of his contributions to the contemporary world.
✓ The award, instituted by SASTRA in 2005, with a cash prize of USD 10,000 and a citation, is presented
annually to individuals aged 32 and below, who have made outstanding contributions in the field of
mathematics. The awards are presented on the birthday of Ramanujan.
✓ The award is among the top awards for mathematics in the world

Q. Which country’s navy has added two domestically produced sophisticated cruise missiles “Talaeieh”
and “Nasir” to its arsenal?
A) UAE B) Iran
C) Saudi Arabia D) Syria
Answer : B .
✓ Iran’s navy adds sophisticated cruise missiles ‘Talaeieh and Nasir’ to its armoury
✓ Iran’s navy has added domestically produced sophisticated cruise missiles to its arsenal.
✓ Both Talaeieh and Nasir cruise missiles have arrived at a naval base near the Indian Ocean in the southern
Iranian port of Konarak, some 1,400 kilometers (850 miles) southeast of the capital, Tehran.
✓ The Talaeieh has a range of more than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) and called it “fully smart”. The cruise
missile is capable of changing targets during travel.
✓ The Nasi has a range of 100 kilometers (62 miles) and can be installed on warships
✓ Iran
✓ Capital : Tehran
✓ Currency : Rial
✓ President : Ebrahim Raisi
Q. How does INSACOG primarily contributes to our understanding of the SARS-CoV-2 virus?
A) By organizing public health awareness campaigns

B) By establishing quarantine facilities
C) By expanding whole genome sequencing of the virus

D) By conducting clinical trials for COVID-19 treatments
Answer : C .
✓ Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases in India and the detection of a subvariant JN.1, the India SARS-CoV-2
Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) chief said that no additional dose of vaccine is needed against the
subvariant at present.
✓ About India SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG):
✓ It is jointly initiated by the Union Health Ministry of Health and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT)
with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Indian Council of Medical Research
(ICMR).

✓ It is a consortium of 54 laboratories to monitor the genomic variations in the SARS-CoV-2 by a sentinel
sequencing effort, which is facilitated by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Delhi, involving
the Central Surveillance Unit (CSU) under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP).
✓ Why was INSACOG established?
✓ The SARS-CoV-2 virus, commonly known as the COVID-19 virus, posed unprecedented public health
challenges globally.
✓ Against this backdrop, INSACOG was established to expand the whole genome sequencing of the SARS-
CoV-2 virus across the nation, aiding our understanding of how the virus spreads and evolves, and providing
information to aid public health response.
✓ INSACOG has the following specific objectives:
✓ To ascertain the status of Variants of Interest (VoI) and Variants of Concern (VoC) in the country.
Q. With reference to the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), consider the
1. It is a statutory regulatory body set up to promote old-age income security in the country.
2. It comes under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance.

3. It regulates the National Pension System (NPS).
How many of the above statements are correct?


Answer : C .
✓ Pension fund regulator PFRDA recently allowed National Pension System (NPS) subscribers to deposit
their contributions directly under the D-Remit process through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) QR
code.
✓ About Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA):
✓ It is a statutory regulatory body set up under the PFRDA Act enacted in 2014.
✓ Objective: To promote old age income security by establishing, developing, and regulating pension funds
and to protect the interests of subscribers to schemes of pension funds and related matters.
✓ It comes under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance.
✓ PFRDA is headquartered in New Delhi, with regional offices located around the country.

✓ Composition: It consists of a Chairperson and not more than six members, of whom at least three shall be
whole-time members, to be appointed by the Central Government.
✓ Functions:
✓ Regulate National Pension System (NPS) and other pension schemes to which the PFRDA Act applies;
✓ Registering and regulating intermediaries: NPS Trust, Points of Presence, Central Record-keeping Agency,
Trustee Bank, Pension Funds, Custodian for time-bound service to subscribers.
✓ Key Facts about National Pension System (NPS):
✓ NPS is a social security initiative by the Central Government.
✓ This pension programme is open to employees from the public, private, and even unorganised sectors, except
those from the armed forces.
✓ The scheme encourages people to invest in a pension account at regular intervals during the course of their
employment. After retirement, the subscribers can take out a certain percentage of the corpus. As an NPS
account holder, people will receive the remaining amount as a monthly pension after your retirement.
✓ NPS is mandatorily applicable to Central Government employees; including Central Autonomous Bodies
(except Armed Forces) recruited on or after 01.01.2004.
✓ It is based on unique Permanent Retirement Account Number (PRAN) allotted to every subscriber.
✓ The scheme is portable across jobs and locations, with tax benefits under Section 80C and Section 80CCD.
Q. Consider the following statements regarding the watsonx.ai:

1. It is an Artificial Intelligence tool built by the Indian Space Research Organisation.
2. It helps in monitoring the Earth from space to measure environmental changes.
A) 1 only
B) 2 only
C) Both 1 and 2
D) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer : B .
✓ At the recent COP28, NASA and IBM announced that an Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool called watsonx.ai
would be available on the open-source AI platform Hugging Space.
✓ It is an Artificial Intelligence tool jointly built by IBM and NASA.

✓ It will help users monitor the Earth from space, measuring environmental changes that have already
happened while also making predictions about the future.
✓ The model is also designed to be extremely simple to use. A user would merely need to select a location and
a date, and the model will highlight changes in floodwater, reforestation efforts and other relevant factors.
✓ How watsonx.ai works?
✓ It is built on a foundation model — it’s trained on a broad set of uncategorised data allowing the model to
apply information about one situation to another.
✓ In the case of watsonx.ai, NASA provides the datasets (in terms of satellite images instead of words,) and
IBM created the foundation model to interpret them.
Q. Which of the following countries will leave the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries
(OPEC) group with effect from January 1, 2024?
A) Iran B) Angola
C) Venezuela D) Iraq
Answer : B .
✓ Angola is leaving the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) with effect from 1 January
2024, after exits from Ecuador in 2020 and Qatar in 2019.
✓ Angola, which joined OPEC in 2007, produces about 1.1 million barrels per day, compared with 28 million
bpd for the whole group.
✓ OPEC was founded in 1960 by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Venezuela, Iran and Iraq. Angola joined the group
in 2007.
✓ Since 2017, OPEC has worked with Russia and other non-members as part of the OPEC+ group to manage
the market, in whose agreements Angola participated.
✓ Angola’s departure from OPEC will leave it with 12 members and crude oil production of about 27 million
bpd, some 27% of the 102 million bpd world oil market.
✓ OTHER COUNTRIES THAT LEFT OPEC
✓ Angola would join other nations with relatively small oil output that have left in recent years.
✓ Qatar in 2019 quit OPEC to focus on gas, which some analysts interpreted as a swipe at Saudi Arabia, the
oil exporting group’s de facto leader.
✓ Ecuador left in 2020 and Indonesia suspended its membership in 2016
✓ COUNTRIES THAT HAVE JOINED OPEC

✓ Some small producers have also joined OPEC in recent years. Equatorial Guinea became a full member in
2017 and Gabon re-joined in 2016. Congo became a full member in 2018
✓ About Angola
✓ Capital- Luanda
✓ Currency- Angolan kwanza
✓ President- João Lourenço
✓ What is the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries(OPEC):
✓ It is a permanent intergovernmental organization of oil-exporting countries.
✓ Mission:
✓ To coordinate and unify the petroleum policies of its Member Countries.
✓ Ensure the stabilization of oil prices in the international oil markets, with a view to eliminating harmful and
unnecessary fluctuations.
✓ Formation: It was established in 1960 by the five founding members Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and
Venezuela.
✓ Currently, it has 13 members, including Algeria, Angola, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Libya,
Nigeria, and the United Arab Emirates
✓ Headquarters: Vienna, Austria.
Q. Who won the title of Chennai Grand Masters 2023?

A) Dommaraju Gukesh
B) Vidit Gujarati
C) Arjun Erigaceae
D) R. Praggnananda
Answer : A .
✓ Dommaraju Gukesh won the title of Chennai Grand Masters 2023.

✓ Arjun Erigaisi secured second place in this tournament.
✓ Both Arjun and Gukesh scored 4.5 out of 7 in the competition.
✓ Gukesh won this tournament on tie-break.
✓ Before this, R. Praggnanandhaa had qualified for the Candidates by finishing second in the FIDE World
Cup 2023 held in Baku, Azerbaijan this year.

CHESS GRANDMASTER IN NEWS 2023
➢ Vaishali Rameshbabu has become the 84th Grandmaster of India.
➢ Raunak Sadhwani (Maharashtra) won FIDE World Junior Rapid Chess Championship.
➢ India's Karthikeyan Murali became the third Indian chess player to defeat World No 1 Magnus
Carlsen in classical chess after he prevailed over the Norwegian at the Qatar Masters tournament.
➢ Divya Deshmukh (Maharashtra ) Emerges Winner Of 2023 Tata Steel Chess India Women’s Rapid
Tournament defeated Koneru Humpy.
➢ Magnus Carlsen (Norway) wins the Chess World Cup Final 2023.
➢ Aditya Samant becomes India’s 83rd Grandmaster.
➢ Indian Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa has won the title of V Geza Hetenyi Memorial Super GM
Chess Tournament 2023 .
➢ Magnus Carlsen (Norway) won the 2023 Superbet Rapid & Blitz Poland
➢ Telangana’s Vuppala Prraneeth became India’s 82nd Grandmaster.
➢ D Gukesh became the first Indian teenager to beat Magnus Carlsen in a rated 11th Norway Chess
2023 Blitz.
➢ Ding Liren has become 17th world chess champion – the first from China – defeating Russia's Ian
Nepomniachtchi in a tie-breaker.
➢ Global Chess League (GCL) announced Dubai as the inaugural edition of the world's largest and first
franchise-based chess league.The league is a joint venture between FIDE and Tech Mahindra.
➢ Ding Liren became China's first world chess champion after defeating Russia's Ian Nepomniachtchi
in a tie-breaker.
➢ Sayantan Das from West Bengal has become India's 81st Chess Grandmaster.
➢ Vignesh NR became the 80th Grandmaster of the country.
➢ Dutch player Anish Giri, five times the runner-up in Wijk aan Zee, has won Tata Steel Masters 2023.
➢ Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh Wins Title At World Chess Armageddon Asia And Oceania Event.
➢ 16-year-old from Tamilnadu, M Pranesh became India's 79th chess grandmaster .
➢ Kolkata-based chess player, Koustav Chatterjee became India’s 78th Grandmaster.

Q. Consider the following statements regarding the MedTech Mitra portal:
1. It aims to assist medical technology innovators in clinical evaluation and uptake of new products.
2. It is coordinated by the Indian Council of Medical Research and the Central Drugs Standard
Control Organisation.

A) 1 only B) 2 only
Answer : C .
✓ Recently, the union Minister of Health and Family Welfare launched MedTech Mitra portal.
✓ It is an online portal that aims to assist medtech innovators in clinical evaluation, regulatory facilitation,
and uptake of new products.
✓ The portal will be coordinated collaboratively by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the
Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), under the guidance of NITI Aayog’s Atal
Innovation Mission.
✓ The MedTech Mitra platform, along with the recent medical devices policy and the production-linked
incentive scheme, will together provide a boost to the medical devices sector and encourage domestic
manufacturing of these devices,
✓ Significance
✓ The new initiatives would facilitate indigenous development of affordable, quality MedTech devices and
diagnostics, leading to a considerable reduction in the import dependence of this sector.
✓ It will ensure ease of innovation and doing R&D for emerging start-ups.
✓ It would provide end-to-end guidance to startups, making their journey from idea to product smooth. The
platform will also help them bridge gaps and help in animal as well as clinical trials
Q. Who has Techno Smartphone recently appointed as its brand ambassador?
A) Alia Bhatt B) Deepika Padukone
C) Ranbir Kapoor D) Virat Kohli
Answer : B .
✓ Premium global smartphone brand TECNO has appointed Indian superstar Deepika Padukone as its brand
ambassador.

✓ This step has been taken keeping in mind the needs of consumers and to provide innovation.
✓ Techno Mobile is a Chinese mobile phone manufacturer based in Shenzhen, China. It was established in
2006.
LATEST BRAND AMBASSADOR IN NEWS 2023

➢ Deepika Padukone : TECNO
➢ R Madhavan : Acko
➢ Sourav Ganguly : brand ambassador of Tripura state to promote tourism
➢ Sourav Ganguly : Brand Ambassador of Bengal
➢ Pankaj Tripathi : ‘UPI Safety Ambassador
➢ Mahendra Singh Dhoni : State Bank of India (SBI)
➢ Katrina Kaif : Luxury Swiss watch brand ‘Rado’
➢ Chetan bhagat : Henry Harvin Education
➢ Mohammed Shami : Puma
➢ Sachin Tendulkar : ICC as the global ambassador of ODI World Cup 2023
➢ Mahendra Singh Dhoni : JioMart
➢ Katrina Kaif : Uniqlo
➢ Hrithik Roshan : lubricants brand Mobilil
➢ Anushka Sharma : W
➢ Mahendra Singh Dhoni : Swaraj Tractors
➢ Iga Świątek : Infosys
➢ Rafael Nadal : Infosys
➢ Rahul Dravid : Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL)
➢ Shah Rukh Khan : ICC World Cup 2023
➢ Shraddha Kapoor: Asics India Private Limited
➢ Rashmika Mandanna : Printer company Epson India
➢ Smriti Mandhana : Wrangler
➢ Hrithik Roshan : Zebronics TV
➢ Sachin Tendulkar : Smile Ambassador
➢ Sania Mirza : Sony Sports Network

➢ Sourav Ganguly : Brand ambassador of Tripura Tourism
➢ Virat Kohli : Duroflex
➢ Alia Bhatt : Gucci, the luxury fashion brand from Italy
➢ Ayushman Khurana : Wakefit
➢ Rishabh Pant : Star Sports
➢ Rohit Sharma : JioCinema
➢ Virat Kohli : HSBC India
➢ Ranveer Singh : Star Sports Network
➢ Shreya Ghodawat : India's ambassador for She Changes Climate
➢ MC Mary Kom, Farhan Akhtar : Brand ambassadors of IBA Women's World Championships 2023
➢ Sachin Tendulkar : World’s first ‘Hand Ambassador’ for Savlon India
➢ Ranveer Singh : Pepsi
➢ Ayushmann Khurrana : UNICEF India child rights
➢ Yastika Bhatia and Renuka Singh Thakur : Hyundai Motor India Ltd
➢ Vir Das : Plant-based meat brand UnCrave
➢ Harmanpreet Kaur : Puma
➢ Nikhat Zareen : National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC)
➢ Saurav Ganguly : Bandhan Bank 'Jahaan Bandhan, Wahaan Trust' campaign
➢ Anushka Sharma : Puma
➢ Deepika Padukone : Pottery Barn
➢ Virat Kohli : Smart watch Noise
➢ Prasoon Joshi : Uttarakhand State
➢ Lionel Messi : Byjus
Q. What is ‘AS-24 KILLJOY’, that was in the news recently?

A) A type of advanced radar system
B) A nuclear-powered submarine
C) A computer virus
D) A hypersonic ballistic missile

Answer : D .
✓ In a continuing aerial strike on Ukraine, Russia recently employed its AS-24 KILLJOY hypersonic missile,
which the country has projected as an “invincible weapon”.
✓ About AS-24 Killjoy:
✓ It is the western reporting name of the Kh-47M2 (Kinzhal), a nuclear-capable, Russian air-launched
hypersonic ballistic missile.
✓ It was one of six “next generation” weapons unveiled by Russian President Vladimir Putin during a speech
in March 2018.
✓ It was one of six “next generation” weapons unveiled by Russian President Vladimir Putin during a speech
in March 2018.
✓ Features:
✓ It can reach speeds of up to Mach 10 (12,350 km/hr).
✓ It can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads with a payload of up to 480 kg and a thermonuclear
option with a 10-50 kt warhead.
✓ It has a reported range of 1,500-2,000 km.
Q. Which ministry has launched the ‘Bhoomi Rashi Portal’?

A) Ministry of Agriculture
B) Ministry of Rural Development
C) Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways
D) Ministry of Finance
Answer : C .
✓ The Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways recently said 1467 projects of the National Highways
Authority of India (NHAI) have been brought under the Bhoomi Rashi Portal.
✓ About Bhoomi Rashi Portal
✓ It is an e-Governance initiative of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
✓ The portal intends to expedite the process of land acquisition for National Highways.
✓ It acts as a single-point platform for the online processing of land acquisition notifications to accelerate
highway infrastructure development projects in India.
✓ This portal would enhance the efficiency of the land acquisition process, ensure transparency and
accountability, and result in the e-transfer of benefits directly to the accounts of the beneficiaries

✓ Preparation of interface for adding project basic details, including land acquisition sanction details.
✓ Preparation of interface for Land Acquisition locations i.e. villages
✓ Preparation of Interface for Competent Authority for Land Acquisition (CALA) details. CALA is a revenue
functionary of the State Government appointed for each NH Project.
✓ The portal has been integrated with the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) of the Ministry of
Finance for depositing compensation in the accounts of affected/ interested persons on a real-time basis
Q. Who won the women's singles title at the National Badminton Championships 2023?
A) Asha Sinha B) Aditi Parekh

C) Anmol Kharb D) Tanvi Sharma
Answer : C .
✓ Anmol Kharb won the women's singles title in the National Badminton Championship 2023 held in
Guwahati.
✓ Unseeded Chirag Sen won the men's singles title by defeating fourth seed Tharun M. Priya Devi
Konzengbam and Shruti Mishra won the women's doubles title.
Q. Chandra river flows through which one of the following States in India?
A) Assam B) West Bengal
C) Himachal Pradesh D) Tamil Nadu
Answer : C .
✓ Himachal Pradesh Police recently cracked down on an SUV owner for allegedly driving his vehicle across
the Chandra River in Lahaul and Spiti district.
✓ About Chandra River:
✓ It is one of the two rivers (other being the Bhaga River) that merge to form the Chenab River in the Lahaul
region of Himachal Pradesh.
✓ Course:
✓ Origin: It rises in the snows lying at the base of the main Himalayan range in the Lahaul and Spiti districts,
Himachal Pradesh.
✓ It flows for a considerable distance along the base of this range in a southeasterly direction before turning
completely and taking a southwesterly course in the Spiti Valley.
✓ It flows on to merge with the Bhaga River downstream of Keylong.

✓ The beautiful Chandra Tal Lake has formed at its source.
HIMACHAL PRADESH IN NEWS 2023

➢ Himachal Pradesh Police recently cracked down on an SUV owner for allegedly driving his vehicle
across the Chandra River in Lahaul and Spiti district.
➢ Indian Army’s inaugural Vertical Wind Tunnel (VWT) has been inaugurated at the Special Forces
Training School (SFTS) located in Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh.
➢ Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Launches Scheme For Specially-Abled Children, ‘SABAL’.
➢ Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu launched 'Sashakt Mahila Loan Yojana',
a collateral-free loan scheme for women.
➢ Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has inaugurated “The Tribune Real Estate
Expo, 2023, Shimla”.
➢ Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu informed that Hindustan Petroleum
Corporation Limited (HPCL) will set up an ethanol plant at Jeetpur Baheri in Una district at a cost of
Rs 500 crore.
➢ European Commission (EC) has awarded protected geographical indication (PGI) status to Kangra
tea, a unique variety of tea grown in the Kangra district of India’s Himachal Pradesh.
➢ Himachal Pradesh (HP) has become the first Indian state to develop a DNA database for unidentified
bodies.
➢ Himachal Pradesh launched Sanjeevani Project to uplift the livelihood of small dairy farmers and
livestock owners.
➢ Himachal Pradesh targets to be first ‘green energy state’ by 2025.
➢ Himachal Cabinet approves monthly incentive of Rs 1,500 for women of Spiti Valley.
➢ Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced to set up of Rs 101 crore CM’s
Sukhashraya Sahayata Kosh for the destitute in the state.
➢ Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu laid the foundation stone of ‘Himachal Niketan‘
which will provide accommodation facilities to the students and residents of Himachal Pradesh
visiting New Delhi.
➢ Himachal Pradesh celebrates its 53rd Statehood Day with joy and enthusiasm across the state on 25th
January 2023

➢ About Himachal Pradesh
➢ Formation - 1 November 1956
➢ Capital - Shimla and Dharamshala (Winter)
➢ District - 12
➢ Governor- Shiv Pratap Shukla
➢ Chief Minister - Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu
➢ Rajya Sabha - 3 seats
➢ Lok Sabha - 4 seats
➢ Symbol of Himachal Pradesh
➢ Bird - Western Tragopan
➢ Fish - Golden Mahseer
➢ Flowers - Pink Rhododendron
➢ Mammal - Snow Leopard
➢ Tree -Deodar Cedar
Q. Consider the following statements regarding the OSIRIS-APEX mission:

1. It aims to study the physical changes to asteroid Apophis.
2. It will be launched by the European Space Agency.
A) 1 only B) 2 only
Answer : A .
✓ In an unprecedented extension of its celestial duties, the spacecraft that delivered asteroid samples from
Bennu, OSIRIS-REx has embarked on a new mission, and NASA has renamed it as OSIRIS-APEX.
✓ It is a mission to study the physical changes to asteroid Apophis that will result from its rare close encounter
with Earth in April 2029.
✓ That year, Apophis’ orbit will bring it within 20,000 miles (32,000 kilometers) of Earth’s surface — closer
to Earth than our highest-altitude satellites.

✓ The mission aims to observe the physical changes induced by Earth's gravitational pull during Apophis'
flyby.
✓ Key facts about Apophis
✓ It was discovered on June 19, 2004.
✓ It is a stony "S-type" asteroid made of silicate (or rocky) material and a mixture of metallic nickel and iron
✓ It is a remnant from the early formation of our solar system about 4.6 billion years ago.
✓ It originated in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Mission Karmayogi:

1. It is launched for capacity building of civil servants of the Union Government.
2. NITI Aayog acts as the nodal agency for this programme.

A) 1 only B) 2 only
Answer : A .
✓ Recently, on the occasion of Good Governance Day the Union Minister of Personnel, Public Grievances &
Pensions launched the Extended Version of Mission Karmayogi, at a function in New Delhi.
✓ Mission Karmayogi - National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB) aims to prepare
Civil Servants for the future by making them more creative, constructive & innovative through transparency
and technology.
✓ This unique programme will help to lay the foundation for civil servants in the country.
✓ There will be more focus on 'on-site learning' in complementing "off-site learning".
✓ On 2nd September 2020, Government approved the National Programme for Civil Services Capacity
Building (NPCSCB) with six key pillars including Policy Framework, Institutional Framework,
Competency Framework, Digital Learning Framework (iGOT-Karmayogi), the electronic Human
Resource Management System (e-HRMS) and the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.
✓ The Programme will cover all civil servants (including contractual employees) across different ministries,
departments, organizations and agencies of the Union Government.
✓ Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

Q. How many dollars has the World Bank recently provided assistance to Ukraine?
A) 1.11 billion B) 1.34 billion
C) 1.50 billion D) 2.00 billion

Answer : B .
✓ The World Bank has recently provided assistance of $ 1.34 billion to Ukraine under public expenditure.
✓ The financing includes a $1.086 billion loan from the World Bank, $190 million from Norway, $50 million
from the United States, and $20 million from Switzerland
Q. In which state was the intra-district helicopter service inaugurated recently?
A) Bihar B) Uttar Pradesh
C) Haryana D) Assam
Answer : B .
✓ Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the state's first intra-district helicopter service
from Bateshwar in Agra to Govardhan in Mathura.
✓ The Chief Minister was in Bateshwar to celebrate the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari
Vajpayee.
✓ Chief Minister Yogi laid the foundation stone and inaugurated various projects costing Rs 10451.43 lakh.
Q. A special postal cover will be released on late Justice Madhava Reddy, who was the former Governor
of which state?
A) Himachal Pradesh
B) Maharashtra
C) Kerala
D) Bihar
Answer : B .
✓ Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar will release a special postal cover on December 27 to mark the 100th birth
anniversary of late Justice Konda Madhav Reddy, Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh and Mumbai High
Courts and former Governor of Maharashtra.
✓ The event, organized by Justice Konda Madhava Reddy Foundation, was presided over by Governor D.
Tamilisai Sundararajan will do it.

Q. What is Pantoea tagorei, that was recently making news?
A) Fish B) Bacteria
C) Turtle D) Primate
Answer : B .
✓ Recently, a team of researchers from Kolkata's Visva-Bharati has identified a new species of bacteria which
has been named Pantoea Tagorei in homage to Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore.
✓ About Pantoea Tagorei:
✓ It was discovered from soil samples collected in the Jharia coal mines.
✓ Characteristics
✓ It has unique properties beneficial for plant growth.
✓ It not only solubilizes potassium but also replenishes nitrogen and solubilizes
✓ The team has conducted experiments by introducing this bacterium to farmers, who have expressed
satisfaction with the positive results.
✓ Significance: This bacteria marks a significant stride toward fostering environmentally friendly agricultural
methods.
✓ Key facts about Rabindranath Tagore:
✓ He was a world-renowned poet, litterateur, philosopherand Asia’s first Nobel laureate.
✓ He was born in Kolkata on May 7, 1861.
✓ He was popularly known as Bard of Bengal,and
✓ He introduced new prose and verse forms and the use of colloquial language into Bengali literature, thereby
freeing it from traditional models based on classical Sanskrit.
✓ He was highly influential in introducing Indian culture to the West and vice versa.
✓ Awards: In 1913he became the first non-European to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature
✓ He was awarded a knighthood in 1915, but he repudiated it in 1919 as a protest against the Amritsar
(Jallianwala Bagh) Massacre.
✓ Visva Bharati University, which was known as Shantiniketan founded by Rabindranath Tagore.
✓ Rabindranath Tagore wrote India's national anthem, Jana Gana Mana.
✓ Tagore’s most notable work of poetry is Gitanjali: Song Offerings, for which he received the Nobel Prize in
Literature in 1913.

Q. Which state is the main state partner of the International Gita Seminar and Gita Mahotsav?
A) Haryana B) Uttar Pradesh
C) Assam D) Madhya Pradesh

Answer : A .
✓ Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurated the International Gita Seminar and Geeta Mahotsav at
Brahma Sarovar in Kurukshetra, Haryana.
✓ The theme of this year is – “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam: Srimad Bhagavad Gita and Universal Unity.”
✓ The International Geeta Mahotsav programs are scheduled from December 7 to December 24, with the
main event taking place from December 17 to December 24.
✓ Assam plays a pivotal role as the main state partner for this program.
✓ The event is organized collaboratively by the Kurukshetra Development Board, Haryana Tourism, District
Administration, North Zone Cultural Centre, Patiala, and the Information and Public Relations Department
of Haryana
Q. Which University has won the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy 2023?
A) Gautam Buddha University B) Guru Nanak Dev University
C) Delhi University D) Jawahar Lal Nehru University
Answer : B .
✓ Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) in Amritsar won the 2023 Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA)
Trophy for the 25th time.
✓ The trophy is awarded annually by the President of India to the university with the best overall performance
in sports at national, international, and inter-university competitions.
Q. Church of Epiphany, that has recently secured prestigious UNESCO Asia-Pacific Award for Cultural
Heritage Conservation, is located in which state?
A) Maharashtra B) Haryana
C) Goa D) Kerala
Answer : B .

✓ Three heritage projects from Punjab and Haryana, namely the Rambagh Gate & Ramparts in Amritsar,
Pipal Haveli in Gurdaspur, and Church of Epiphany in Gurugram, have secured prestigious spots among
the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation.
✓ While the Rambagh Gate in Amritsar received the Award of Excellence, the Church of Epiphany in
Gurugram, Haryana, earned the Award of Merit.
✓ Additionally, three projects received the Award of Distinction, including the Fanling Golf Course in Hong
Kong SAR, China; Dongguan Garden Residences in Yangzhou, China; and Karnikara Mandapam at
Kunnamangalam Bhagawati Temple in Kerala, India.
Q. As per the India Skills Report 2024, which state is the most preferred state to work?
A) Karnataka B) Telangana
C) Kerala D) Gujarat
Answer : C .
✓ Wheebox, in collaboration with several entities including the All India Council for Technical Education,
Confederation of Indian Industry, and Association of Indian Universities, has unveiled the India Skills
Report.
✓ As indicated by the India Skills Report 2024, employability in India has shown improvement, with 51.25%
of evaluated young individuals deemed employable possessing the necessary skills.
✓ Kerala has emerged as the top choice among states for employment, securing the second position in overall
employability within the 18-21 age group, reaffirming its position as a robust talent pool in India.
Q. What is the name of the carbon tax that UK plans to implement from 2027 on imports of materials
like steel and aluminum?
A) Carbon Border Tax (CBT)
B) Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)
C) Global Emissions Import Levy (GEIL)
D) Cross-Border Carbon Surcharge (CBCS)
Answer : A .
✓ The carbon tax that the UK plans to levy from 2027 on imports of carbon-intensive materials is the Carbon
Border Tax. It will apply to items like iron, steel, aluminum, ceramics and cement.

✓ The tax rate will depend on the carbon emissions associated with making the imported goods overseas and
the gap with UK carbon prices.
✓ India opposes such green border levies as non-tariff barriers.
✓ The UK is following the EU which has already rolled out its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
Q. International Gender Equality Prize is given by which country?
A) Sweden
B) Finland
C) Norway
D) Estonia
Answer : B .
✓ The International Gender Equality Prize in 2023 was awarded to the Afghan Women Skills Development
Center.
✓ Prime Minister Petteri Orpo of Finland presented the €300,000 award to Mahbouba Seraj, the Center’s
Executive Director, in Tampere.
✓ The Center is recognized for its crucial work in defending women’s rights and promoting gender equality in
Afghanistan, particularly under challenging conditions following the Taliban’s rise to power.
✓ International Gender Equality Prize is a government prize administered by the Ministry of Social Affairs
and Health, Finland.
✓ Tampere has been a partner of the Prize and the host city for the award ceremony since 2017.
Q. Whose forthcoming memoir is titled ‘Four Stars of Destiny’?

A) Admiral Karambir Singh B) Air Chief Marshal R K S Bhadauria
C) General M M Naravane D) Lieutenant General Rajendra Singh
Answer : C .
✓ It is former Army Chief General M M Naravane’s forthcoming memoir “Four Stars of Destiny” that
mentions the armed forces were taken by surprise when the Agnipath military recruitment scheme was
introduced.
✓ Gen Naravane writes he had proposed a Tour of Duty model for limited jawan intake but what came up as
Agnipath applied to all new recruits in Army, Navy and Air Force, that too for only 4 years.

Q. Which city is being developed as India's first 'AI City'?
A) Lucknow B) Jaipur
C) Chennai D) Kolkata
Answer : A .
✓ Lucknow city, known as the 'City of Nawabs', will be developed as India's first 'AI City'.
✓ Noida has already emerged as an IT hub, on the same lines now Tier 2 cities like Lucknow are also being
developed as IT hubs.
✓ According to a report by Grand View Research, the size of the global AI market was estimated at $ 137
billion in the year 2022.
✓ UP Electronics Corporation Limited has issued Expression of Interest (EOI) for the development of AI City.
INDIA'S FIRST IN NEWS 2023

➢ Lucknow city, known as the 'City of Nawabs', will be developed as India's first 'AI City'.
➢ Uttar Pradesh government has announced the launch of India's first 'Telecom Center of Excellence.
➢ India's first solar roof cycling track was inaugurated in Hyderabad city.
➢ Uttarakhand launches India's first polythene waste bank for sustainable waste management.
Management Framework (ADMF) in Hyderabad.
➢ India's first-ever sports university to be set up in Manipur.
➢ India Launches Its 1st Indigenous e-Tractor Developed By the CMERI.
➢ Dr Jitendra Singh, had launched the CSIR Prima ET11, the first indigenous e-Tractor developed by
the Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI), Durgapur, a public engineering
R&D institution in Durgapur, West Bengal, and a constituent laboratory of the Indian Council of
Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
➢ Kerala Launches India's First AI School, Pioneering Future-Focused Education.
➢ Sanchi, a world heritage site located in the Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh, is all set to become
India's first solar city.
➢ Hitachi Payment Services launched India's first UPI-ATM.
➢ India’s first Vedic-themed park unveiled in Noida.

➢ Google celebrates India's street food 'pani puri' with an interactive game Doodle, allowing users to
help a street vendor fulfill pani puri orders.
➢ OPPO India sets up first PPP-model Atal Tinkering Lab in Kerala.
➢ Kerala gets India’s first Construction Innovation Hub.
➢ Uttar Pradesh government announced that the Buddh international circuit in Greater Noida will host
India's first MotoGP racing event.
➢ India's First ‘Sahiwal’ Breed Calf Given Birth Through ‘Cow Surrogacy’ At TTD's Goshala In
Tirupati.
➢ Recently, the PM has inaugurated India’s first facility to produce rare earth permanent magnets in
Visakhapatnam.
➢ Kerala to set up India's first fisheries Atal Incubation Centre.
➢ India’s first International Multi Modal Logistics park in Jogighopa, Assam.
➢ India’s First Undersea Tunnel in Mumbai Set to Open by November 2023.
➢ India's first private hill station Lavasa was sold to Darwin Platform Infrastructure for Rs 1.8 thousand
crore after the approval of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).
➢ According to the Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation, India's first underwater metro service, the East-
West Metro Corridor project is expected to be completed by December 2023.
➢ Tech startup firm IG Drones has developed India's first 5G-enabled drone capable of vertical take-off
and landing. This drone has been named Skyhawk.
➢ Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari unveiled the country's first drone-
air traffic management system "Sky UTM".
➢ India’s First Centre of Excellence in Online Gaming to be set up in Shillong, Meghalaya.
➢ Luminous Power Technologies announced its plan to build the country's first green energy-based
solar panel manufacturing factory in Uttarakhand.
➢ India’s First AC Double Decker Electric Bus Introduced in Mumbai.
➢ NCERT Launched India’s First National Assessment Regulator “PARAKH”.
➢ PARAKH stands for The Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic
Development.

Q. Bharat Electronics Limited has recently signed a contract worth Rs 445 crore with which state
government?
A) Bihar B) Assam
C) Uttar Pradesh D) Himachal Pradesh
Answer : C .
✓ Navratna Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has recently signed a contract worth Rs 445 crore with the Uttar
Pradesh government for the next generation UP 'Dial 112' project.
✓ The company will provide comprehensive and state-of-the-art hardware, AI based software tools and cyber
security tools for the 'Dial 112' project.
Q. Which stealth guided-missile destroyer was recently inducted into the Indian Navy?
A) INS Imphal B) INS Chakra
C) INS Dhwaj D) INS Kavaratti
Answer : A .
✓ INS Imphal, India’s first warship named after a northeastern state, commissioned
✓ INS Imphal (Pennant D68), the third of four warships of Project 15B that together form the Visakhapatnam
class stealth-guided missile destroyers, is set to be commissioned into the Indian Navy in Mumbai.
✓ The move aimed at boosting its maritime capability amid China’s increasing forays into the Indian Ocean
region.
✓ Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was the Chief Guest at the event.
✓ It is the first warship to have been named after a city from the Northeastern region, the approval for which
was accorded by the President in April 2019.
✓ The naming of the ship after the capital city of Manipur underlines the importance of the Northeastern
region for national security and prosperity.
✓ A guided missile destroyer with a displacement of 7,400 tonnes and overall length of 164 meters, Imphal is
a potent and versatile platform equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors, including surface-to-air
missiles, anti-ship missiles and torpedoes.
✓ Powered by Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) propulsion, the ship is capable of achieving speeds in excess
of 30 knots (56 km/hour).

✓ The ship boasts of a high indigenous content of approximately 75 per cent that includes BrahMos surface-
to-surface missiles, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, anti-submarine indigenous rocket launchers and
76mm super rapid gun mount.
✓ What is Project 15B?
✓ Between 2014 and 2016, the Indian Navy commissioned three guided missile destroyers of Kolkata class
under a project codenamed ‘15A’.
✓ The Kolkata class included INS Kolkata, INS Kochi and INS Chennai. These ships were a step ahead of
their precursor Delhi class of ships, which included INS Delhi, INS Mysore and INS Mumbai, built under
Project 15 and commissioned between 1997 and 2001.
✓ Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDSL), one of India’s key Defence Public Sector Undertakings
(PSUs), has built all these ships. A ship class signifies a group of ships built with similar tonnage, usage,
capabilities and weaponry.
Q. Till December 2023, Digi Yatra, facial recognition tech, has been implemented at how many Indian
airports?
A) 13 B) 15
C) 20 D) 27
Answer : A .
✓ Digi Yatra, facial recognition tech, implemented at 13 Indian airports

✓ To save time of passengers during security check at airports, Government is continuously making efforts by
increasing security equipment, security manpower and using advance technologies.
✓ Digi Yatra, which provides for seamless and hassle-free experience for passengers at airports through
biometric-based travel using Facial Recognition Technology has also been implemented at 13 airports and
other airports will be covered in phased manner.
Q. National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) will invest up to Rs 675 crore on Bhogapuram
greenfield international airport. Bhogapuram airport is located in which state?
A) Uttar Pradesh B) Andhra Pradesh
C) Himachal Pradesh D) Rajasthan
Answer : B .

✓ National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) is planning to invest up to Rs 675 crore on the
upcoming greenfield international airport at Bhogapuram in Andhra Pradesh, which is being developed by
the GMR group.
✓ This marks NIIF’s second airport investment, after the GMR Goa International Airport Ltd, which operates
Manohar International Airport in Goa.
✓ GMR Airports Ltd (GAL) — a subsidiary of GMR Airports Infrastructure Ltd (GAIL) — and NIIF have
entered into binding agreements for the NIIF to invest up to Rs 6.75 billion (Rs 675 crore) in GMR
Visakhapatnam International Airport Ltd (GVIAL).
✓ GVIAL — a special purpose vehicle to develop and operate the Bhogapuram International Airport — was
in 2020 awarded the concession to develop and operate the Bhogapuram International Airport (BIA) to the
north of Visakhapatnam under a 40-year design-build-finance-operate-and-transfer model.

➢ National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) is planning to invest up to Rs 675 crore on the
upcoming greenfield international airport at Bhogapuram in Andhra Pradesh.
➢ Digi Yatra, facial recognition tech, implemented at 13 Indian airports.
➢ Union Cabinet has approved the proposal to declare Surat Airport an international airport.
➢ Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) has secured recognition as one of the ‘World’s Most
Beautiful Airports’ and has been awarded the ‘World Special Prize for an Interior 2023’ by the
UNESCO’s Prix Versailles.
visibility.

Q. Who will preside over the 3rd National Conference of Chief Secretaries?
A) Narendra Modi B) Amit Shah

C) Rajnath Singh D) S Jaishankar
Answer : A .
✓ Prime Minister Narendra Modi will preside over the third National Conference of Chief Secretaries in Delhi
on 28 and 29 December 2023.
✓ The first conference of Chief Secretaries was held in Dharamshala in June 2022 and the second in Delhi in
January 2023.
✓ The main focus of this three-day national conference will be 'Ease of Living'.
Q. With reference to Card-on-File Tokenization, consider the following statements:

1. It is a replacement of actual credit and debit card details with an alternate token.
2. Token may be issued either by the card network or the issuer or both.
3. The cardholder can tokenise the card at any time.


Answer : C .
✓ In order to make digital payments more secure, safe and sound the he Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has now
enabled card-on-file tokenisation (CoFT) through card issuing banks and institutions.
✓ Tokenisation refers to replacement of actual credit and debit card details with an alternate code called the
“token”.
✓ It is a combination of card, token requestor and device.
✓ The card detail when stored with a merchant is known as card-on-file (CoF).

✓ This token is a randomly generated string of characters that has no intrinsic value and is meaningless outside
of the context of a specific transaction.
✓ The token is used as a surrogate for the actual card details, making it more secure to store and transmit.
✓ Requirements for enabling CoFT through card issuers:
✓ Generation of CoFT tokens for a card can be enabled through mobile banking and internet banking
channels.
✓ The token can be generated only on explicit customer consent and with AFA (additional factor
authentication) validation.
✓ The cardholder may tokenise the card at any time of their convenience, either on receipt of the new card or
at a later stage.
✓ The cardholder can select the merchants with whom he/she wishes to maintain tokens.
✓ The card token so issued may be either by the card network or the issuer or both
Q. Which category of workers is the Telangana government will provide Rs 5 lakh for accident
insurance?
A) Andhra Pradesh B) Telangana
C) Tamil Nadu D) Karnataka

Answer : B .
✓ Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has announced, government will provide Rs 5 lakh for accident
insurance to gig workers such as those involved in food delivery, and driving cabs and autorickshaws.
✓ The government would also provide Rs 10 lakh health cover under the ‘Rajiv Arogyasri’ scheme.
✓ The state government will provide social security to workers in the unorganized sectors and will make a
policy decision in this direction.
✓ Reddy promised that the state government would study the existing policy for gig workers in Rajasthan and
introduce an effective law in the next state budget session
Q. India will acquire five Lithium Blocks in which country?
A) Argentina B) Ethiopia
C) Norway D) Sweden
Answer : A .

✓ The Indian government is planning to enter into exploration and development agreements with the
Argentina government for five lithium blocks that have been identified by Khanij Bidesh India (KABIL) in
Catamarca province.
✓ The Centre will be investing around Rs 200 crore over the next five years for the purpose of exploring and
developing these mines.
✓ This marks India’s second attempt at signing a foreign partnership for sourcing critical minerals after
previously signing a memorandum of understanding with Australia’s Critical Minerals Facilitation Office
(CMFO) in 2022.
✓ The 2022 agreement allowed India to explore five blocks, two for lithium and three for cobalt.
✓ Argentina boasts 21 percent of the world’s 98 million tonne lithium reserves, which makes it the second-
largest lithium reserve after Bolivia, according to the United States Geological Survey’s (USGS) Lithium
Statistics and Information 2023 report.
✓ These reserves are present in salt flats located in Salta, Catamarca and Jujuy provinces, which together form
part of the Lithium Triangle.
Q. Which country will implement a new carbon import levy on some products from 2027 to help protect
businesses against cheaper imports from countries with less strict climate policies?
A) United States B) United Kingdom
C) Japan D) Russia
Answer : B .
✓ United Kingdom will implement a new carbon import levy on some products from 2027 to help to protect
businesses against cheaper imports from countries with less strict climate policies.
✓ The planned carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) will apply to carbon-intensive products in the
iron, steel, aluminium, fertiliser, hydrogen, ceramics, glass and cement sectors.
✓ The charge applied will depend on the amount of carbon emitted in the production of the imported good
and any gap between the carbon price applied in the country of origin and the carbon price faced by UK
producers.
✓ Britain, which has a target of reaching net zero emissions by 2050, launched an emissions trading system
(ETS) in 2021 to charge power plants, factories and airlines for each tonne of carbon dioxide they emit as
part of efforts to meet that goal.

Q. Education loans registered a record year-on-year growth of how much percent at ₹1,10,715 crore in
the current financial year till October compared with ₹96,853 crore in the year-ago period?
A) 30.6% B) 40.6%
C) 20.6% D) 26.6%
Answer : C .
✓ Education loans registered a record year-on-year growth of 20.6 percent at ₹1,10,715 crore in the current
financial year till October compared with ₹96,853 crore in the year-ago period.
✓ According to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data, the spurt in education loans was the highest in the last five
years.
✓ The growth registered in the comparable period was 12.3 percent FY23 and (-) 3.1 percent in FY22.
✓ For the last one year, foreign education loans with an average ticket size of ₹40 lakh-60 lakh accounted for
nearly 65 percent of loans disbursed.
✓ Loans for education in the US are on the higher side. The US Embassy and its consulates in India issued a
record 1.40 lakh student visas between October 2022 and September 2023 this year
Q. Which state police will launch a new initiative, “Mission Investigation@75 days” to complete the
investigation of cases within 75 days of FIR registration starting from January 1, 2024?
A) Bihar
B) Jharkhand
C) Chhattisgarh
D) Uttar Pradesh
Answer : A .
✓ Bihar Police will launch a new initiative, “Mission Investigation@75 days”, making it mandatory for
investigators to complete the investigation of cases within 75 days of FIR registration starting from January
1 next year.
✓ The Bihar government is preparing to take several measures from January 1, 2024 to make the state police
more people-friendly and accountable. Our main focus is to improve the quality of investigation.
✓ The performance of all police stations and district police will also be reviewed on a monthly basis from
January 1.

Q. Which bank has launched the ‘eSvarna’ credit card that is India’s first Corporate Credit Card on the
RuPay network?
A) Federal Bank B) Indian Overseas Bank
C) IndusInd Bank D) Punjab National Bank
Answer : B .
✓ IndusInd Bank has launched the ‘IndusInd Bank eSvarna’, India’s first Corporate Credit Card on RuPay
network.
✓ This launch positions IndusInd Bank as the first in the country to integrate UPI functionality with a
Corporate Credit Card.
✓ The card facilitates transactions at merchant outlets and allows users the flexibility to make UPI payments
by linking the card with UPI-enabled apps.
✓ The IndusInd Bank eSvarna credit card on the RuPay network comes with perks and rewards.
✓ IndusInd Bank
✓ Founded : 1994
✓ Founder : S.P. Hinduja
✓ Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra,
✓ MD & CEO : Sumant Kathpalia
✓ Tagline : We Make You Feel Richer
Q. Which company has filed preliminary papers with capital markets regulator SEBI to raise funds
through an initial public offering (IPO), that is the first issue by an automaker in the country in more
than 20 years?
A) Dunzo B) Uber
C) Ola D) Rapido
Answer : C .
✓ Electric two-wheeler company Ola Electric has filed preliminary papers with capital markets regulator SEBI
to raise funds through an initial public offering (IPO)– the first issue by an automaker in the country in more
than 20 years.
✓ The proposed IPO is a fresh issue of equity shares up to Rs 5,500 crore and an offer for sale (OFS) of 9.52
crore equity shares by promoters and investors, according to the draft red herring prospectus (DRHP).

✓ Proceeds from the fresh issue will be used for capital expenditure to be incurred by the subsidiary, OCT for
the Ola Gigafactory project, payment of debt by subsidiary OET, investment into research and product
development, expenditure for organic growth initiatives, and general corporate purposes.
Q. Which bank has approved $100 Mn for Skill Development in Sikkim?

C) Asian Development Bank D) International Monetary Fund
Answer : A .
✓ World Bank Approves $100 Mn For Skill Development In Sikkim

✓ The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a new project to support the state of Sikkim’s
efforts to train, upskill, and provide jobs for 300,500 women and youth in high-growth and priority sectors.
✓ Sikkim has been one of the fastest-growing states in India. While over 40 percent of youth are currently
engaged in agriculture, the state has a growing manufacturing and services industry.
✓ The $100 million Sikkim: Integrated Service Provision and Innovation for Reviving Economies (INSPIRES)
Operation will establish an Employment and Entrepreneurship Promotion Facility, which will promote
partnerships with private-sector firms, central agencies, and business associations.
Q. Beverage major Coca-Cola has extended its partnership with the International Cricket Council (ICC)
till ___.
A) 2031 B) 2028
C) 2029 D) 2030
Answer : A .
✓ Coca-Cola extends partnership with ICC till 2031

✓ Beverage major Coca-Cola has extended its partnership with the International Cricket Council (ICC) for
eight years, encompassing ICC World events across all three formats, up until the end of 2031.
✓ This eight-year partnership as a Global Partner of the ICC confirmed the collaboration as one of the longest-
ever associations formed by the ICC with a single brand, spanning a total timeline of 13 years (2019-2031).
✓ The partnership will see the Coca-Cola Company’s brands becoming exclusive non-alcoholic beverage
partners. The agreement includes all men’s and women’s events at the pinnacle of the sport including the
ICC Cricket World Cups, ICC T20 World Cups, and ICC Champions Trophies through to the end of 2031

Q. Which bank has signed a $165 million Line of Credit (LoC) from the World Bank to support grid-
connected rooftop solar photovoltaic projects in residential and institutional sectors?
A) Punjab National Bank B) Kotak Mahindra Bank
C) State Bank of India D) Indian Overseas Bank
Answer : C .
✓ The country’s biggest lender, State Bank of India (SBI) has signed a $165 million Line of Credit (LoC) from
the World Bank in Delhi to support grid-connected rooftop solar photovoltaic projects in residential and
institutional sectors.
✓ In September, SBI said that it plans to make home loans with rooftop solar installations mandatory for
residential projects funded from the bank’s long-term climate action funds drawn down from multilateral
agencies.
✓ The lender has outstanding forex loans of $2.3 billion from multilateral agencies, including the World Bank,
the Asian Development Bank, and KfW of Germany.
✓ SBI is raising its exposure to green initiatives, including funding green buildings, battery recycling, and solar
rooftop plans, among others.
✓ SBI also signed Rs 1,800 crore in LoC with the European Investment Bank (EIB) to support climate action
projects in the country.
✓ On December 14, SBI signed Rs 630 crore in LoC with German Development Bank KfW to promote solar
projects in India.
Q. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has approved a loan of how much crore rupees to
support Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) initiatives in India?
A) Rs 932 crore B) Rs 876 crore
C) Rs 647 crore D) Rs 789 crore

Answer : A .
✓ Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has finalized a loan of approximately ₹932 Crore to support
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) initiatives in India.
✓ This loan will fund projects overseen by NITI Aayog. These projects are set to impact 112 aspirational
districts and 500 aspirational blocks nationwide.

✓ The initiatives will concentrate on promoting policy actions, implementing effective practices, and
enhancing the Japan-India partnership through the exchange of human resources.
✓ Based on consultations with NITI Aayog, policy actions in five fields, such as health and nutrition,
education, agriculture and water resources, financial inclusion and skill development, and basic
infrastructure are prioritized and identified as policy matrix pillars are set in those fields.
✓ In January 2019, JICA had signed an initial loan agreement with India for about ₹950 crore, marking the
first phase of the “Program for Japan-India Cooperative Actions towards Sustainable Development Goals
in India.
✓ As part of the second phase, running from April 2021 to March 2026, JICA will monitor and evaluate the
quantitative and qualitative outcomes of these policy actions across three tranches.
Q. NABARD and which organization have launched an initiative to facilitate climate action in India’s
agriculture, natural resources, and rural development sector with tech support from Bill and Melinda
Gates Foundation?
C) African Development Bank D) Asian Development Bank

Answer : D .
✓ National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and Asian Development Bank (ADB)
have launched an initiative to facilitate climate action in India’s agriculture, natural resources, and rural
development sector.
✓ Under this initiative, a Technical Support Unit has been set up in Nabard with the partnership of Bill and
Melinda Gates Foundation to enable the agri lender to address the challenges posed by climate change,
particularly in the areas of agriculture and rural livelihood sectors in India.
✓ NABARD is committed to not just support rural financial institutions in India to identify and abate climate
risks but also channel global pools of climate capital into India’s ANR sector.
Q. Which Insurance Company has introduced a new insurance product known as T.U.L.I.P – Term with
Unit Linked Insurance Plan?
A) Universal Sompo General Insurance B) Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance

C) Bajaj Allianz General Insurance D) Bharti AXA General Insurance
Answer : B .

✓ Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance Company has introduced a new insurance product known as T.U.L.I.P –
Term with Unit Linked Insurance Plan.
✓ This is a unit-linked term insurance plan designed to provide life coverage up to 100 times the annual
premium, allowing customers to potentially earn returns similar to a unit-linked insurance plan (ULIP).
✓ In addition to life coverage, it offers extra protection against critical illnesses and accidental death
✓ TULIP offers our customers comprehensive protection like a term plan and also the opportunity to grow
their wealth like a ULIP. It is aimed at taking care of our customer’s core financial needs.
Q. Japanese conglomerate SoftBank sold shares worth __ in omnichannel retailer FirstCry.

A) $310 million B) $420 million
C) $250 million D) $505 million
Answer : A .
✓ Japanese conglomerate SoftBank has sold shares worth $310 million in omnichannel retailer FirstCry, which
is likely to file a draft paper for IPO this week.
✓ SoftBank recently sold shares worth Rs 630 crore in FirstCry. It was picked up by a few high-net-worth
individuals.
✓ With this sale, SoftBank has realized $310 million from two rounds of stake sale in FirstCry.
✓ SoftBank had invested $400 million in FirstCry at an enterprise valuation of $900 million and SoftBank is
still left with shares valued in the range of $800-900 million which it will sell later.
Q. Who has been appointed as the interim MD and CEO of Merger-bound North East Small Finance
Bank?
A) Pratibha Parkar B) Gaurav Ahluwalia
C) Satish Kumar Kalra D) Rudrendra Tandon

Answer : C .
✓ Merger-bound North East Small Finance Bank has appointed Satish Kumar Kalra as interim MD and CEO,
following the approval of the bank’s board and the Reserve Bank of India.
✓ Kalra was earlier MD, CEO (in-charge), and Executive Director at Andhra Bank, which was later merged
with Union Bank of India.
✓ RBI had granted its no-objection certificate (NOC) for the proposed merger of the small finance bank with
Fintech Slice in October 2023.

Q. Who has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE)?
A) Ajaneesh Kumar B) Devyani Khobragade
C) Vijay Singh Chauhan D) Pramod Agrawal

Answer : D .
✓ The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has approved the appointment of Pramod Agrawal as
the new Chairman of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).
✓ Agrawal’s tenure will start on January 17, 2024, as per a regulatory filing by the stock exchange.
✓ He will replace SS Mundra.
✓ Agrawal, a former IAS officer, previously held the position of Chairman at Coal India till June 2023.
✓ About the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE):
✓ It is the oldest and largest stock exchange in India.
✓ It was established in 1875 as the Native Share and Stock Brokers' Association.
✓ In 1957, the Indian Government gave recognition to the BSE under the Securities Contracts Regulations
Act.
✓ It is located on Dalal Street, Mumbai, and lists over 6000 companies.
✓ BSE boasts a variety of trading options in equity, fiat, debt instruments, derivatives, and mutual funds.
✓ In addition, it offers multiple trading services like clearing, settlement, risk management, and investor
awareness.
✓ BSE market complies with the regulatory guidelines imposed by SEBI to ensure investors’ safety and capital
market efficiency.
✓ What is Sensex?
✓ Sensex is the benchmark index of the BSE.
✓ It was launched on January 1, 1986, as a basket of 30 stocks representing the country's largest, financially-
sound companies listed on the BSE.
✓ The term ‘Sensex’ is a blend of words ‘Sensitive’ and ‘Index’ and was coined by stock market expert Deepak
Mohini.
✓ The Sensex reflects the movements in the Indian stock market. It is considered the benchmark index of the
Indian stock market.

Q. SEBI has once again extended the deadline for mutual fund and demat account holders to add the
name of the beneficiary/beneficiaries or opt out of it till_.
A) July 30, 2024 B) August 30, 2024
C) June 30, 2024 D) April 30, 2024
Answer : C .
✓ Capital markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has once again extended the
deadline for mutual fund and demat account holders to add the name of the beneficiary/beneficiaries or opt
out of it till June 30, 2024. Earlier, the deadline for the same was December 31, 2023
✓ Earlier, Sebi had pushed the deadline from September 30 to December 31 so that MF holders could complete
the nomination process.
SEBI IN NEWS 2023

➢ SEBI has once again extended the deadline for mutual fund and demat account holders to add the
name of the beneficiary/beneficiaries or opt out of it till June 30, 2024.
➢ The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has proposed a phase-wise transition to instant
➢ An optional T+0 settlement cycle for trades till 1:30 pm may be introduced in the first phase, with
settlement of funds and securities to be completed on the same day by 4:30 p.m.
➢ SEBI has introduced a regulatory framework for online investment platforms that facilitate
investments in commission-free mutual fund (MF) schemes.
➢ SEBI sets up intermediary advisory panel to be led by S Ravindran.
➢ SEBI Introduced Risk disclosure Framework for Trading by Individual Traders in Equity F&O
Segment.
➢ SEBI introduced the Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) system for issuers of non-convertible securities,
securitized debt instruments and security receipts.
➢ NDTV appoints former SEBI Chairman UK Sinha and business leader Dipali Goenka as Independent
Directors.
➢ Sebi introduces Application Supported by Blocked Amount (ASBA) -like facility for secondary market
trading in India.
➢ NSE gets the final SEBI approval to launch Social Stock Exchange.

➢ Markets regulator SEBI has launched an information database on municipal bonds.
➢ SEBI allowed Alternative Investment Funds(AIFs) to participate in the Credit Default
Swaps(CDS) market as protection buyers and sellers in a bid to facilitate the deepening of the domestic
corporate bond segment.
➢ Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI):
➢ It is the regulatory body for securities and commodity markets in India established in 1988.
➢ Its main objectives are to protect the interests of investors in securities and promote the development
of the securities market in India by regulating intermediaries, ensuring transparency and accountability
of listed companies, and promoting investor education.
➢ It is owned by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, but functions as an autonomous body
with its own governing board.
➢ It has the power to issue guidelines, rules and regulations, investigate and punish fraudulent business
practices.
➢ It is the regulator of the Capital market and Commodities market in India.
➢ The first SEBI chairman was Dr S A Dave (1988-90)
➢ Madhabi Puri Buch is the current and 10th Chairperson of the SEBI.
Q. Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) spacecraft is launched by

A) Russian Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS)
B) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

C) Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
D) Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

Answer : D .
✓ Recently, Japan’s Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) spacecraft entered into orbit around the
moon after a months-long journey.
✓ It is a spacecraft built and launched by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) on September 7,
2023, from the Tanegashima spaceport.
✓ It weighed only 590 kg.

✓ It was launched together with XRISM, a next-generation X-ray space telescope, onboard an H-2A rocket.
✓ It entered into an elliptical orbit around the moon over three minutes or so.
✓ Its apogee (farthest point) in this orbit is 4,000 km and perigee (closest point) is 600 km above the lunar
surface.
✓ What will SLIM do on the moon?
✓ Just before it lands, SLIM will deploy two small rovers called Lunar Excursion Vehicle (LEV) 1 and 2. LEV-
1, LEV-2, and SLIM will together study the lunar surface near the landing point, collect temperature and
radiation readings, and attempt to study the moon’s mantle.
Q. Jal Jeevan Mission: 72% rural households to have tap water supply, target to achieve 100% by which
year?
A) 2024 B) 2025
C) 2026 D) 2028
Answer : A .
✓ Jal Jeevan Mission achieves 72% rural tap water coverage, eyes 100% in 2024
✓ In 2024, the Jal Shakti ministry faces the crucial target of achieving the 100 per cent coverage of tap water
connection to every rural household -- a commitment made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019
✓ However, challenges persist in states like Jharkhand, Rajasthan, and West Bengal, where tap water
connection coverage in rural households remains below 50 per cent, the data says
✓ The Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen Phase-II, launched in February 2020, aims at declaring all villages
ODF Plus by the end of 2024.
✓ According to Parliament data, out of 5.91 lakh villages in the country, 3.18 lakh aspire to achieve ODF Plus
status, and 1.23 lakh villages have already achieved the model ODF Plus status
✓ About Jal Jeevan Mission
✓ It is a flagship programme of the Government of India which was announced from the ramparts of Red Fort
by the Prime Minister on August 15, 2019.
✓ The objective of the mission is to supply potable tap water in adequate quantity, prescribed quality and on
a regular and long-term basis to every rural household of the country by 2024.
✓ It is implemented by the Government of India in partnership with the States/Union Territories.
✓ This mission comes under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
✓ Funding Pattern :

✓ The fund sharing pattern between the Center and the states under the mission is 90:10 for Himalayan and
North-Eastern states and 50:50 for other states.
✓ In the case of Union Territories, 100% contribution is made by the Centre

➢ Indian Consumer Tech To Touch $300 Bn By 2027.
by 2027.
America.
2030.

Q. With reference to the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), consider the following
statements:
1. Its main objective is to facilitate external trade and payments.
2. It empowers the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to make rules and regulations regarding FEMA.
3. Its provisions apply only to resident Indian citizens.


Answer : B .
✓ The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently released a draft 'Licensing Framework for Authorised Persons
(APs)' under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999.
✓ About Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA):
✓ FEMA came in 1999 as a successor to the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, or FERA, of 1973, with
changing economic conditions in a post-liberalisation India.
✓ The main objective of FEMA is to facilitate external trade and payments and promote the orderly
development and maintenance of the foreign exchange market in India.
✓ FEMA deals with provisions relating to procedures, formalities, dealings, etc. of foreign exchange
transactions in India.
✓ The act also empowers the RBI to make rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of the act.
✓ Violations of the provisions of FEMA can result in penalties and fines.

✓ FEMA's head office is known as the Enforcement Directorate and is situated in Delhi.
✓ Applicability:
✓ It is applicable to the whole of India and equally applicable to the agencies and offices located outside India
(which are owned or managed by an Indian Citizen).
✓ FEMA is applicable to the following entities and transactions.
✓ Foreign exchange.
✓ Foreign security.
✓ Exportation of any commodity and/or service from India to a country outside India.
✓ Importation of any commodity and/or service from outside India.
✓ Securities as defined under the Public Debt Act 1994.
✓ Purchase, sale, and exchange of any kind (i.e. Transfer).
✓ Banking, financial, and insurance services.
✓ Any overseas company owned by an NRI (Non-Resident Indian) and the owner is 60% or more.
✓ Any citizen of India, residing in the country or outside (NRI).
Q. Consider the following:

1. Payment of court fees
2. Providing the service of lawyers
3. Obtaining and supply of certified copies of orders
4. Preparation of appeal
How many of the above are free legal services provided by the National Legal Service Authority
(NALSA)?
C) Only three D) All four
Answer : D .
✓ The President recently nominated Justice Sanjiv Khanna, the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court, as
the Executive Chairperson of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA).
✓ About National Legal Service Authority (NALSA):
✓ NALSA has been constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, to provide free legal services
to the weaker sections of society and to organize Lok Adalats for amicable settlement of disputes.
✓ The prime objective of NALSA is the speedy disposal of cases and reducing the burden on the judiciary.

✓ The Chief Justice of India is the patron-in-chief of NALSA, while the second senior most judge of the
Supreme Court of India is the Executive Chairman.
✓ It is housed at the Supreme Court of India, New Delhi.
✓ In every State, a State Legal Services Authority and in every High Court, a High Court Legal Services
Committee has been constituted.
✓ The free legal services include:
✓ Payment of court fees, process fees, and all other charges payable or incurred in connection with any legal
proceedings;
✓ Providing the service of lawyers in legal proceedings;
✓ Obtaining and supply of certified copies of orders and other documents in legal proceedings.
✓ Preparation of appeal, paper book, including printing and translation of documents in legal proceedings.
✓ Persons eligible for free legal services includes:
✓ Women and children
✓ Members of SC/ST
✓ Industrial workmen
✓ Victims of mass disasters, violence, flood, drought, earthquake, and industrial disaster.
✓ Disabled persons.
✓ Persons in custody
✓ Persons whose annual income does not exceed Rs. 1 lakh (in the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee
the limit is Rs. 5,00,000).
✓ Victims of trafficking in human beings or beggars.
✓ Constitutional Provisions:
✓ Article 39A provides for free legal aid to the poor and weaker sections of society and ensures justice for all.
✓ Articles 14 and 22(1) of the Constitution also make it obligatory for the State to ensure equality before the
law and a legal system that promotes justice on the basis of equal opportunity for all.
Q. With reference to Tansen, consider the following statements:
1. He is known for popularising and improving the plucked rabab.

2. He introduced the Miyan ki Malhar raga.
3. He was given the title ‘Mian’ by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.


Answer : B .
✓ Around 1,300 musicians played Vande Mataram on tabla to enter the Guinness World Record for the
“largest table ensemble” during the ongoing 99th International Tansen Samaroh in Gwalior.
✓ Tansen Samaroh is a tribute to Indian musical legend, Shri Ramtanu Misra, famously known as Tansen.
✓ It is held every year in December in Gwalior to celebrate Tansen.
✓ Artist and music lovers from all over the world gather here to pay tribute to the Great Indian Musical
Maestro Tansen.
✓ Key facts about Mian Tansen
✓ He was a prominent Indian classical music composer, musician and vocalist, known for a large number of
compositions, and also an instrumentalist who popularised and improved the plucked rabab (of Central
Asian origin).
✓ He was among the Navaratnas (nine jewels) at the court of the Mughal Emperor Jalal ud-din Akbar.
✓ Akbar gave him the title Mian, an honorific, meaning learned man.
✓ Tansen as a historical personality is difficult to extract from the extensive legend that surrounds him.
✓ He is given credit for introducing some famous raagas viz., Miyan ki Malhar, Miyan ki Todi and Darbari.
✓ Hence only statements 1 and 2 are correct.
Q. Which of the following learning programme was launched recently by Government of India for
government servants in line with good governance day?
A) VIKAS B) SAMARTH
C) YASASVI D) SAMRUDDHI
Answer : A .
✓ December 25 is celebrated as the ‘Good Governance Day’ to mark former PM Vajpayee’s birth anniversary
since 2014. It is meant to foster awareness among citizens about government accountability and
administration, and inculcate “good governance” as a habit for civil servants.
✓ Vikas – Variable and Immersive Karmayogi Advanced Support.
✓ It is a blended programme with iGOT (integrated government online training) Karmayogi platform.

✓ Aim – For capacity building of Middle management civil servants in Central Secretariat.
✓ Program duration – It consists of 33 hours complemented by 30 hours of offline training at ISTM.
✓ Focus – On development of functional, behavioural and technological competencies required in Central
Government
Q. Consider the following statements about Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), 2023
1. It is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime co-operation among Indian Ocean littoral
states.
2. India was the chair of the IONS at the inaugural edition.

A) 1 only
B) 2 only
C) Both 1 and 2
D) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer : C .
✓ Recently, the 8th edition of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Conclave of Chiefs (CoC) was
conducted by the Royal Thai Navy at Bangkok, Thailand.
✓ Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime co-
operation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region.
✓ The Flag designed by India was selected as the IONS Flag at the Symposium.
✓ India also took over as the co-Chair (CoC) of IONS Working Groups on Maritime Security and
Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief (HADR) for the forthcoming cycle
✓ India was the chair of the IONS at the inaugural edition in 2008.
✓ India is also scheduled to take over as the Chair of IONS (2025-27) during 9th CoC planned to be conducted
in India in end 2025.
✓ Republic of Korea Navy was the latest ‘Observer’ to the Symposium.
✓ At present it has 34 countries (25 members and 9 observers).

Q. What is the official name of the free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the ASEAN countries?
A) ASEAN-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (AICEPA)
B) ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement (AITFA)

C) ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITGA)
D) India-ASEAN Economic Cooperation Pact (IAECP)

Answer : C .
✓ India and the ten-member ASEAN will begin negotiations to “modernise” their decade-and-a-half-old free
trade agreement (FTA).
✓ The first round of negotiations for reviewing the FTA, officially known as the ASEAN India Trade in Goods
Agreement (AITGA).
✓ But no new areas, such as environment, labour, MSMEs or gender, will be added to the AITGA.
✓ India’s trade deficit with the region, which was $7.5 billion per annum when the pact was implemented, has
since ballooned to $43.57 billion.
✓ In 2022-23, India’s exports to the region were valued at $44 billion, while its imports were at $ 87.57 billion.
✓ The ten-member ASEAN, which includes Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand,
Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia, accounted for 11.3 per cent of India’s global trade in
2022-23
✓ Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN):
✓ Founded: 8 August 1967
✓ HQ: Jakarta, Indonesia
✓ Members: 10 countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos,
Myanmar and Cambodia)
✓ Secretary General: Kao Kim Hourn
Q. How long has the Centre extended the duty exemption on imported lentils?
A) Till March 31, 2022 B) Till March 31, 2023

C) Till March 31, 2024 D) Till March 31, 2025
Answer : D .

✓ The Centre has extended the import duty exemption on masur dal (lentils) by another year till March 31,
2025.
✓ Import of lentils are being allowed duty-free to help contain inflation.
✓ In the normal course, imports attract 30 per cent Customs duty.
✓ The extension of duty exemption by a year will benefit the importers and will boost the supplies.
✓ Including the expected imports during November, the total imports of lentils during April-November stood
at 11.48 lakh tonnes, according to iGrain India compared with 8.58 lakh tonnes in the financial year 2022-
23.
✓ India imports lentils mainly from major producing countries such as Canada and Australia. Recently, the
government has removed the retaliatory customs tariff on imports of lentils from the United States.
✓ Production of lentils during 2022-23 stood at over 15.8 lakh tonnes, higher than previous year’s 12.69 lakh
tonnes.
Q. According to the CoinSwitch report, which Indian city maintained its lead in crypto adoption in terms
of value invested?
A) Mumbai B) Delhi
C) Bangalore D) Ghaziabad
Answer : B .
✓ A report by crypto trading platform CoinSwitch showed Delhi maintained its lead in India’s crypto
adoption, followed by Bangalore and Mumbai.
✓ The parameter for this was in terms of value invested.
✓ According to the report, more than 20 per cent of India’s total crypto investments are concentrated in the
three major metropolitan areas: Delhi (9 per cent), Bangalore (8 per cent) and Mumbai (5 per cent).
Ghaziabad claimed the 10th position in the list of the top invested cities, replacing Patna.
✓ Bitcoin, which the company claims to be the most prominent crypto, ended with more than 150 per cent
year-on-year (compared with last year).
✓ Ethereum and several meme coins also ended the year in green.
✓ After touching a low of less than $1 trillion in June 2022, the total crypto market capitalisation grew to over
$1.5 trillion by December 2023.
✓ About 75 per cent of the invested users are below the age of 35.

✓ The top invested cryptos were Dogecoin (DOGE), Bitcoin (BTC), and Ethereum (ETH), contributing to 26
per cent of the total value.
✓ Solana (SOL) was the best-performing crypto in India’s portfolio, with 633 per cent growth year-to-date.
Delhi and Hyderabad saw the highest participation of women investors with 9 per cent of India’s crypto
investors being women.
Q. What has the Indian Railway Conference Association renamed the railway station 'Ayodhya
Junction'?
A) Ayodhya Dham B) Ramnagari
C) Ayodhyapuri D) Shri Ram Junction

Answer : A .
✓ The Indian Railway Conference Association has issued a statement announcing the change of name of the
railway station located in Uttar Pradesh from "Ayodhya Junction" to "Ayodhya Dham".
✓ This railway station will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 30 December.
✓ The previously allotted station code 'AY' has been retained.
✓ The station, with a total cost of ₹430 crore, is designed to accommodate up to 100,000 passengers. Its
architecture blends modern solutions with the aesthetics of traditional Indian temple architecture.
RECENTLY RENAMED IN NEWS 2023

➢ Ayodhya Junction renamed as Ayodhya Dham Junction before historic Ram Mandir Consecration.
➢ The old parliament building will be called "Samvidhan Sadan (Constitution House),".
➢ Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir formally renamed Udhampur railway station after local hero
martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan.
➢ Nehru Memorial Museum and Library Society renamed as Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library
Society, New Delhi.
➢ Central government renamed the Mughal Gardens in New Delhi's Rashtrapati Bhavan as 'Amrit
Udyan'.
➢ Ahmednagar renamed Ahilyadevi Holkar Nagar, Maharashtra.
➢ Coastal Road in Mumbai renamed after Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, Maharashtra.

➢ Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kaam Karyakram (PMKKK) renamed as Promotion of Prime Minister's
Heritage (PM Vikas) Scheme.
➢ IDFC Asset Management Company Limited (AMC) to be renamed as Bandhan Mutual Fund as SEBI
approves change in ownership.
➢ Maharashtra's Bandra-Versova sea route in Mumbai will be renamed as 'Veer Savarkar Bandra-
Versova Sagari Setu'.
➢ Churchgate Railway Station in Mumbai will now be known as First Indian RBI Governor CD
Deshmukh.
➢ Union Government Approved Renaming of Aurangabad & Osmanabad in Maharashtra.
➢ Philips Domestic Appliances has announced the change of its company name to Versuni.
➢ Madhya Pradesh government announced that Islam Nagar village, situated in the Bhopal district, has
been renamed as Jagdishpur.
➢ On Parakram Diwas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi participate in a ceremony to name 21 largest
unnamed islands of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
➢ Edelweiss General Insurance rebranded itself as Zuno General Insurance.
Q. Who has been appointed by Bisleri as its first global brand ambassador for its new campaign Bisleri
#DrinkItUp?
A) Deepika Padukone B) Katrina Kaif
C) Alia Bhatt D) Aishwarya Rai
Answer : A .
✓ Bisleri, India’s leading mineral water brand has roped in Global Indian Icon Deepika Padukone as its first-
ever global brand ambassador in the new campaign Bisleri #DrinkItUp.
✓ The campaign is a fresh and never seen before take on hydration infusing excitement and fun. The ad film
showcases Padukone grooving to a snappy and modern take on the iconic song ‘Jhoom Jhoom Jhoom Baba’
while relishing the pure refreshment of the original beverage, ‘water’.
✓ The campaign will be promoted across multiple platforms, including TV, digital, and OTT platforms.
✓ The Bisleri #DrinkItUp campaign has been shot by Nirvana Films and directed by ace director Prakash
Verma while Bisleri’s association with Deepika Padukone was managed by Wavemaker and GroupM ESP

Q. Muthoot FinCorp has raised ₹200 crore from which bank via the private placement of non-convertible
debentures (NCDs)?
A) Kotak Mahindra Bank B) State Bank of India
C) Punjab National Bank D) Indian Overseas Bank
Answer : B .
✓ Muthoot FinCorp, the flagship company of the 136-year-old Muthoot Pappachan Group (Muthoot Blue),
has raised ₹200 crore from State Bank of India, via the private placement of non-convertible debentures
(NCDs).
✓ The debt securities have a five-year maturity and half-yearly frequency for interest payment. They are rated
‘AA’ by Crisil with a ‘stable’ outlook.
✓ Proceeds of this will be utilised for onward lending, business operations and further expansion and growth
plan.
✓ The NBFC has over 3,600 branches across India and offers gold loans, Vyapar Mitra business loans, two-
wheeler loans, used car loans, home Loans, loan against property, domestic and international money
transfer, foreign exchange, Insurance, and wealth management services.
✓ Muthoot Pappachan Group, also known as Muthoot Blue, is an Indian financial services conglomerate
founded in 1887 by Ninan Mathai Muthoot. Headquartered in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
✓ CEO of Muthoot FinCorp : Shaji Varghese
Q. Who has been appointed by Sony Sports Network as its brand ambassador for football?
A) Akshay Kumar B) Kartik Aaryan

C) Ajay Devgn D) Hrithik Roshan
Answer : B .
✓ Sony Sports Network has roped in Bollywood actor and youth icon Kartik Aaryan, who is known to be an
avid football follower, as their brand ambassador for football.
✓ Kartik will be seen promoting the footballing action on the Sony Sports Network, which will be home to the
UEFA EURO 2024, the UEFA Champions League, the Bundesliga and more for the year ahead.
Q. The Union Cabinet has approved the 'Migration and Movement' agreement with which country?
A) USA B) Japan
C) Italy D) Malaysia

Answer : C .
✓ The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the 'Migration and
Movement' Agreement between the Government of India and the Government of Italy.
✓ This agreement will increase interaction between people and will make it easier to resolve issues related to
irregular migration.
✓ This agreement was signed by both the countries on November 2, 2023
SIGNS MoU IN NEWS 2023

➢ Cabinet approves the Migration and Mobility Agreement between India and Italy
➢ India and Italy sign Mobility and Migration Partnership Agreement to facilitate movement of workers.
➢ India-Japan pact on semiconductor supply chain gets Cabinet green light.
➢ India, Italy sign defence agreement.
➢ India and Tanzania elevate ties to Strategic Partnership; Agree on 5 year roadmap for defence
cooperation.
➢ India, Tanzania to sign 15 agreements with eye on USD 10 billion trade.
➢ India And Saudi Arabia Tie Up For Green Hydrogen.
➢ India And Saudi Arabia Sign Agreement On Cooperation In Energy Sector.
➢ India, New Zealand Sign MoU To Enhance Cooperation In Civil Aviation.
➢ India and Trinidad and Tobago have entered a partnership by signing an MoU to share INDIA
STACK.
➢ India, Moldova agree to sign MoU for cooperation in agriculture
➢ India, UAE sign MoU on linking of India’s Unified Payments Interface with Instant Payment
Platform of UAE.
➢ India, Panama sign MoU on electoral cooperation.
➢ India and Singapore extend MoU on cooperation for 5 years.
➢ Israel signed an agreement with India to enhance technological advancements and sustainable
practices cooperation in the fields of water and agriculture.
➢ India and US To Establish Monitoring Group to Boost High-Tech Trade and Tech Partnership.
➢ India and Australia Sign Agreements on Migration and Green Hydrogen Task Force.
➢ India, Israel sign MoU for industrial research and development cooperation.

➢ NET Zero’ Innovation Virtual Centre to be jointly created by India-UK.
➢ India, UK sign agreement to collaborate on science and innovation.
➢ Nepal and India to Sign Agreement for Cross-Border Digital Payments.
➢ India and Romania sign first Defence Cooperation Agreement to strengthen bilateral relations.
➢ India, US to sign memorandum of understanding on semiconductors.
➢ Australia, India agree on strengthening economic, defence ties.
Q. Who has been appointed as the new chairman of Kotak Mahindra Bank?
A) Rana Kapoor B) Vineet Sinha
C) CS Rajan D) S Chandra
Answer : A .
✓ The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the appointment of CS Rajan as part-time Chairman of
Kotak Mahindra Bank.
✓ Rajan is currently serving as an independent director of the bank.
✓ His appointment is effective from January 1, 2024 and will last for a period of two years.
✓ CS Rajan is playing the role of independent director on the board of the bank from October 22, 2022.
KOTAK MAHINDRA BANK IN NEWS 2023

➢ Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the appointment of CS Rajan as part-time Chairman of
Kotak Mahindra Bank.
➢ Kotak Mahindra Bank has partnered with National E-Governance Services Limited (NeSL) to issue
its first electronic Bank Guarantee (e-BG) on the latter’s platform.
➢ Ashok Vaswani is next Kotak Mahindra Bank CEO.
➢ Kotak Mahindra Bank has received the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) approval to acquire 100% stake
in micro-lender Sonata Finance.
➢ Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a penalty or ₹12.19 crore on ICICI Bank and ₹3.95 crore on
Kotak Mahindra Bank for non-compliance of certain regulatory norms.
➢ Kotak Mahindra Bank
➢ Founded 1985

➢ Founders : Uday Kotak
➢ MD & CEO : Ashok Vaswani
➢ Tagline : Let's Make Money Simple Ab Kona Kona Kotak.
➢ Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited is an Indian banking and financial services company headquartered in
Mumbai.
➢ It is India's third largest private sector bank by market capitalisation after HDFC Bank and ICICI
Bank.
➢ As of 31 March 2023, the bank has a national footprint of 1,780 branches and 2,963 ATMs.
➢ Kotak Mahindra Finance was then renamed Kotak Mahindra Bank. At the time, Uday Kotak had a
56% stake in the company while Anand Mahindra held a 5% stake.
Q. Who has recently been appointed as Chief Risk Officer by LIC?

A) Abhay Maken B) S Sundar Krishnan
C) Pratap Chandra Paikarai D) Rekha Swaminathan
Answer : B .
✓ Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has appointed S Sundar Krishnan as Chief Risk Officer (CRO),
replacing Pratap Chandra Paikarai.
✓ Sundar Krishnan DSP has experience in services at Merrill Lynch, Credit Lyonnais Bank and Bank
International Indonesia.
✓ LIC is a central public sector life insurance company headquartered in Mumbai.
LIC IN NEWS 2023

➢ Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has appointed S Sundar Krishnan as Chief Risk Officer
(CRO), replacing Pratap Chandra Paikarai
➢ Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has launched a special scheme, named Jeevan Utsav.
➢ Life Insurance Corporation of India has tied up with Saraswat Cooperative Bank Ltd in its effort to
increase the penetration of life insurance through the Bancassurance channel in Mumbai.

➢ SatPal Bhanu has been appointed as the Managing Director (MD) of Life Insurance Corporation of
India (LIC).
➢ Siddhartha Mohanty appointed as Chairman of LIC Until June 2024.
➢ LIC Raises Stake in Tech Mahindra to 8.88% Through Open Market Transactions.
➢ Ratnakar Patnaik appointed as new Chief Investment Officer of LIC.
➢ Tablesh Pandey and M. Jagannath have been appointed as the managing directors of the Life
Insurance Company (LIC).
➢ Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has launched LIC Jeevan Azad Plan.
➢ The minimum basic sum assured under LIC Jeevan Azad Plan is Rs 2 lakh and the maximum basic
sum assured is Rs 5 lakh. The policy can be taken for term of 15 to 20 years.
➢ LIC to divest 60.72% share in IDBI Bank.
➢ LIC presently has four managing directors
➢ Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC)
➢ Founded : 1956
➢ Chairman : Siddhartha Mohanty
➢ It is India's largest life insurance company and also the country's largest investment company.
➢ Authorised Capital of LIC - Rs 25,000 Crore.
➢ At Rs 21,000 crore, LIC is India's largest IPO.
Q. In which country did the Union Cabinet recently approve the opening of the Consulate General of
India?
A) France B) Argentina
C) Russia D) New Zealand

Answer : D .
✓ The Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the proposal to open the Consulate
General of India in Auckland, New Zealand.
✓ The opening of the Consulate General of India in Auckland will further strengthen the relations between
India and New Zealand.
✓ This Consulate is likely to be opened and fully operational within a time frame of 12 months

Q. In which state will Karbi Youth Festival 2024 be organized?
A) Meghalaya B) Gujarat
C) Maharashtra D) Assam
Answer : D .
✓ President Draupadi Murmu will attend the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of Karbi Youth Festival 2024 to be
held at Taralangso, Diphu in Karbi Anglong district of Assam on January 17.
✓ The Golden Jubilee Celebration of Karbi Youth Festival 2024 will be organized on January 12-19, 2024.
✓ Karbi Youth Festival is organized annually and thousands of Karbi youth from Assam and other parts of
the country participate in it.
Q. What is ‘Patriot PAC-3’, that was in the news recently?

A) A nuclear-powered aircraft carrier
B) A surface-to-air-defense system
C) A stealth destroyer
D) An earth observation satellite

Answer : B .
✓ Russia recently issued a stern warning to Japan, expressing concerns over its decision to export Patriot PAC-
3 anti-aircraft missiles to the United States.
✓ About Patriot PAC-3 Missile:
✓ The Phased Array Tracking to Intercept of Target (PATRIOT) Advanced Capability-Three (PAC-3)
program is a surface-to-air-defense guided missile system with all-weather capabilities.
✓ It has been built by Raytheon Technologies Corp and is considered one of the most advanced air defense
systems in the U.S. arsenal.
✓ It entered service with the US Army in 2001 and the US Air Force in 2003.
✓ It has a range of about 40 km and can reach targets at an altitude of up to 20 km.
Q. Kolyma River flows through which one of the following countries?
A) China B) Bangladesh
C) Russia D) Hungary
Answer : C .

✓ A Soviet-era Antonov-24 aircraft carrying 30 passengers landed safely on the frozen river Kolyma recently
because of a pilot error.
✓ About Kolyma River:
✓ Location: It is a river in northeastern Siberia, far eastern Russia, rising in the Kolyma Mountains.
✓ It is 2,129 km long and drains an area of 647,000 square km.
✓ Course:
✓ In its upper course, it flows through narrow gorges with many rapids.
✓ The Kolyma River cuts through the majestic Verkhoyansk Range, one of the longest mountain ranges in
Siberia.
Q. With reference to the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), consider the following statements:
1. It was built in collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Canadian
Space Agency.
2. It orbits around the L2 Lagrange point in space.
3. It does not work in the infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Answer : B .
✓ After its first full calendar year of operation, astronomers are using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)
to look for life on thousands of newly discovered planets.
✓ About James Webb Space Telescope (JWST):
✓ JWST was built in collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Canadian
Space Agency.
✓ It was launched in December 2021.
✓ It is the largest and most powerful space telescope to date.
✓ It orbits around a point in space called the L2 Lagrange point (a gravitationally stable location in space). It
is approximately 1.5 million km beyond Earth’s orbit and is one of the five points in the orbital plane of the
Earth-Sun system.

✓ Its instruments are designed to work primarily in the infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum, with
some capability in the visible range.
✓ It is comprised of the Optical Telescope Element (OTE), the Integrated Science Instrument Module (ISIM),
the sunshield, and the spacecraft bus.
Q. With reference to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), consider the
1. It provides project financing only to public sectors.
2. It supports financing in countries that are committed to and apply democratic principles.
3. India is not a shareholder of the EBRD.
Answer : A .
✓ The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) recently approved a 4 billion euro capital
increase that will enable the bank to double its Ukraine investments.
✓ About European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD):
✓ It is an international financial institution with the mandate to promote transition towards a sustainable,
open-market economy and to foster innovation.
✓ The EBRD was created in April 1991to help Eastern European and ex-Soviet countries transition into
democracies by developing free-market economies after the fall of communism.
✓ Headquarters: London
✓ It provides project financing mainly for private enterprises, usually together with other commercial lending
partners, in countries that are committed to, and apply, democratic principles.
✓ The EBRD is owned by 72 countries, the European Union and the European Investment Bank.
✓ India became the EBRD's 69th shareholder when it joined the Bank in July 2018.
Q. Sohagibarwa Wildlife Sanctuary, recently seen in news, is located in:
A) Manipur B) Gujarat
C) Maharashtra D) Uttar Pradesh

Answer : D .
✓ Recently, the Chief minister of Uttar Pradesh directed officials to conduct archaeological excavation in the
Sohagibarwa Wildlife Sanctuary.
✓ It is located in the Maharajganj district of Uttar Pradesh.
✓ It was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in June 1987.
Q. Telecommunications Consultants India Ltd (TCIL) has paid a dividend of how much rupees to the
government for Financial Year 2022-23?
A) 14.20 crore B) 20.20 crore

C) 22.20 crore D) 15.20 crore
Answer : A .
✓ Telecommunications Consultants India Ltd (TCIL) has paid a dividend of Rs 14.20 crore to the government
for Financial Year 2022-23.
✓ Since its inception, the TCIL has been a consistently profit-making Company. It has so far paid dividend of
Rs 294.19 crore to the Government till FY 2022-23.
✓ The dividend is on Government’s initial investment in equity of Rs 0.3 Crore. Rs16 crore was further infused
during 2015-16. The group and standalone net worth of the company are Rs 1,712.00 crore and Rs 618.56
crore respectively as on 31st March 2023.
✓ In FY 2022-23, the TCIL achieved a revenue growth of 25 per cent over previous year with total Standalone
revenue and profit after tax of Rs 2,001.7 crore and Rs 35.50 crore respectively.
✓ Established in August, 1978, TCIL is a Mini Ratna Category – I Status Company under the Department of
Telecommunications of the Ministry of Communications. Government of India holds 100 per cent of its
share capital.
Q. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become first world leader to have ___ YouTube subscribers.
A) 20 million B) 30 million
C) 40 million D) 50 million
Answer : A .
✓ Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s YouTube channel has achieved a significant milestone by surpassing 20
million subscriptions, making it the most subscribed channel among top global leaders.

✓ The second-ranking leader is former Brazilian President Jair Bolsanora, whose subscriber count stands at a
modest 6.4 million, merely a fraction of Modi’s.
✓ The third most-subscribed channel among world leaders is the Ukraine President is far behind at 1.1 million.
Whereas fourth on the list, United States President Joe Biden has a subscriber count of only 794,000 on his
YouTube channel.
✓ Moreover, when it comes to views, Modi’s channel continues to dominate, recording an impressive 2.24
billion views in December 2023. This figure is an astonishing 43 times higher than that of Zelenskyy, who
holds the second-highest number of views globally.
✓ PM Modi’s YouTube channel crossed 10 million subscribers in February 2022
Q. India and Russia have signed pacts on construction of future power units of Kudankulam nuclear
plant. Kudankulam nuclear plant is located in which state?
A) Kerala B) Tamil Nadu
C) Karnataka D) Andhra Pradesh
Answer : B .
✓ India and Russia have signed some “very important” agreements related to the construction of the future
power-generating units of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant.
✓ The Kudankulam nuclear power plant, India’s largest, is being built in Tamil Nadu with the technical
assistance of Russia.
✓ The construction began in March 2002. Since February 2016, the first power unit of the Kudankulam NPP
has been steadily operating at its design capacity of 1,000 MW.
✓ The plant is expected to start operating at full capacity in 2027.
Q. Which state ‘s road transport has launched logistics business under the brand name “Namma Cargo’
to carry parcels in the state?
A) Rajasthan B) Madhya Pradesh

C) Haryana D) Karnataka
Answer : D .
✓ Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has entered into logistics business under the brand
name “Namma Cargo’ to carry parcels in KSRTC route buses.

✓ The deployment of 20 cargo trucks to kickstart the ‘Namma Cargo’ services in various districts across the
state.
✓ The Namma Cargo trucks have GPS for goods transportation.
✓ Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding
with KMS Coach Builders Private Limited for lending its cargo trucks services on a rental basis for two
months.
✓ To Namma Cargo services inducted 100 trucks in a month while the number of cargo trucks will go upto
500 in a year. To begin with, Basaveshwara bus station at Peenya in Bengaluru city will be used as a depot
for operation and maintenance of cargo trucks
Q. Who has been conferred an honorary doctorate by Japan’s Koyasan University?

A) Ajit Doval B) Devendra Fadnavis
C) Amit Shah D) S Jaishankar
Answer : B .
✓ Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis was conferred an honorary doctorate by Japan’s
Koyasan University.
✓ The university conferred the doctorate on Fadnavis to recognise his efforts in creating basic civic
infrastructure, implementing schemes such as the Jalyukta Shivar Yojana, and his contribution to the
industrial development of the state.
✓ In 2015, while he was the chief minister of Maharashtra, Fadnavis inaugurated a statue of Dr Babasaheb
Ambedkar at the Buddhist study centre of the university in Japan.
Q. Who was the founder of 'Desia Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam' (DMDK) who passed away recently?
A) Bonda Mani B) Vijayakanth
C) G Marimuthu D) Samuthirakani
Answer : B .
✓ Actor-turned-politician and founder of Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) Vijayakanth passed
away in Chennai. He was 71 years old. His wife V Premalatha was elected party chief during the DMDK
meeting on 14 December. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also condoled his demise and called him a legend
of the Tamil film industry.

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