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 Current Affairs Weekly Q&A PDF – December 2024 3rd Week
(17 - 23)

NATIONAL AFFAIRS

1. In December 2024, Uttar Pradesh (UP) became the first Indian state to fully adopt which
platform to achieve transparency and eliminate unethical practices in public procurement?
1) Digital India Platform
2) Smart Procurement Portal
3) Government e-Marketplace
4) National e-Government Platform
5) National Public Procurement System
Answer- 3) Government e-Marketplace
Explanation:
In December 2024, Uttar Pradesh (UP) became the first Indian state to fully adopt the Government
e-Marketplace (GeM) platform with an aim to achieve transparency and eliminate unethical practices
in public procurement.
• As per an official estimate, the state government is expected to save over Rs 2,000 crore
annually through GeM-based procurement of goods and services.
• The integration of the GeM platform in UP enforces strict adherence to guidelines aimed at
fostering transparency and efficiency in procurement processes.
• GeM is an online platform for public procurement in India that was launched on 9th August,
2016 by the the Ministry of Commerce and Industry(MoC&I) with the objective of creating an
inclusive, efficient, and transparent platform for the buyers and sellers to implement
procurement activities in a fair and competitive manner.
• The GeM portal has been developed by GeM SPV (Special purpose Vehicle).
• GeM SPV has been established as the National Public Procurement Portal as section 8
Company registered under the Companies Act, 2013 for providing procurement of goods and
services required by Central & State Government organizations. Click here to read more.

2. Which state has recently (in December ‘24) became the first state to approve the
Development and Promotion of Sports Act 2024 to promote the enhancement of sports
infrastructure and transparency in player selection?
1) Punjab
2) Kerala
3) Sikkim
4) Jharkhand
5) Gujarat
Answer- 1) Punjab
Explanation:
On December 9 2024, Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Singh Mann gave approval to enact the
‘Punjab State (Development and Promotion of Sports) Act 2024’, becoming the 1st state in India to
promote the enhancement of sports infrastructure and transparency in player selection.

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 • As per the National State Policy (NSP) 2024, the initiative aims to establish a legal framework
that adopts National and International best practices to drive the development of sports
within the state.
• The primary objectives of the Act include promoting the growth of sports, ensuring the fair
selection of players at district, state and national levels and also fostering transparency within
sports associations.
• The act mandates that accounts must be maintained by a Chartered Accountant, with an annual
statement of income and expenditure published by May 31.
• A five-member committee: To select the team & players for district or state representation,
consisting of the General Secretary, 2 Senior Coaches and 2 Eminent players.
• A Dispute Resolution Committee: Formed under the Deputy Commissioner or Administrative
Secretary will address player appeals within 7 days.
• The Department of Sports, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS), New Delhi (Delhi) is
framing the National Sports Policy (NSP) 2024 to promote sports excellence and development
in India.

3. In December 2024, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi visited Uttar Pradesh (UP) to review
the preparations of Mahakumbh Mela 2025 festival.
During his visit he launched ___________________ Artificial Intelligence(AI)-powered chatbot which
provides details on guidance and updates of the events to devotees of Mahakumbh Mela 2025.
1) Mela AI Kumbh Seva
2) Kumbh Sah‘AI’yak
3) Mahakumbh Mitra
4) Mela AI Connect
5) Kumbh Ola’s Krutrim
Answer- 2) Kumbh Sah‘AI’yak
Explanation:
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi visited Mahakumbhnagar and Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh (UP) on
13th December 2024 to review the preparations of Mahakumbh Mela 2025 festival.
• PM Modi inaugurated multiple development projects worth around Rs 5500 crore at
Prayagraj, UP including 10 new Road Over Bridges (RoBs) and flyovers, permanent Ghats, and
riverfront roads.
• PM Modi launched the ‘Kumbh Sah’AI’yak’ AI powered chatbot, part of the “Digital
Mahakumbh” initiative aimed to assist pilgrims and visitors at the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025.
• Available 24/7, it provides real time, multilingual support in 11 Indian Languages (Hindi,
English, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Malayalam, Urdu, Gujarati, Punjabi, Kannada and Bengali).
• It was developed by the Prayagraj Mela Authority and Uttar Pradesh Development Systems
Corporation Limited(UPDESCO).
• This free app offers navigation assistance, cultural insights and guidance on the history, rituals,
travel, accommodation and key attractions in Prayagraj.
• The Maha Kumbh Mela (the festival of the sacred pitcher) is anchored in Hindu mythology and
is the world’s largest public gathering and collective act of faith. Click here to read more.

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4. Which of the following points is/are ‘correct’ with respect to the President Droupadi
Murmu’s assent to the Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak (BVV) 2024 in December 2024?
A) The President of India, Droupadi Murmu granted assent to the Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak
(BVV) 2024, which replaced the colonial-era (90-year-old) Aircraft Act of 1934.
B) In 2020, the Aircraft Act was amended to grant statutory recognition to 3 critical bodies:
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and
Aircraft Accidents Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
C) The Bill outlines significant penalties for violations such as illegal carriage of prohibited
goods and failure to comply with aviation rules. Penalties include imprisonment up to 3 years,
a fine of up to 1 crore rupees or both.
1) Only A & B
2) Only A & C
3) Only B & C
4) Only C
5) All A, B & C
Answer- 1) Only A & B
Explanation:
In December 2024, the President of India, Droupadi Murmu granted assent to the Bharatiya
Vayuyan Vidheyak (BVV) 2024, which replaced the colonial-era (90-year-old) Aircraft Act of 1934.
• The notification was issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice (MoL&J) following the bill’s
passage in both Houses of Parliament, Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the Lok Sabha
(House of the People).
• The primary aim is to enhance safety, streamline regulatory processes and improve aviation
security and infrastructure management in India.
• In India, the civil aviation sector is primarily governed by two key laws: The Aircraft Act,
1934 and The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA) Act, 2008.
• In 2020, the Aircraft Act was amended to grant statutory recognition to 3 critical bodies:
1. Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for regulatory functions and safety
oversight.
2. Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) for security purposes.
3. Aircraft Accidents Investigation Bureau (AAIB) for accident investigations.
• The Bill outlines significant penalties for violations such as illegal carriage of prohibited goods
and failure to comply with aviation rules.
• Penalties include imprisonment up to 2 years, a fine of up to 1 crore rupees or both.
• The Act empowers the central government to appoint an officer for adjudication of
penalties.This officer must be of the rank of the Deputy Secretary to Government of India or
above. Click here to read more.

5. Which of the following points is/are ‘correct’ with respect to the launch of ‘Taxonomy of
Green Steel for India' in New Delhi, Delhi in December 2024?
A) Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, Ministry of Steel (MoS) and Ministry of Heavy Industries
& Public Enterprises (MoHI&PE) unveiled the ‘Taxonomy of Green Steel for India’ in New Delhi,
Delhi. India becomes the 1st country in the world to launch a taxonomy for green steel.
B) This launch reaffirmed India’s commitment to decarbonize the steel sector which is also in
alignment with net-zero emission intensity target by 2040.

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C) The newly released taxonomy has classified green steel into 3 main star-rating categories
based on the greenness of the steel: 5-star green-rated steel, 4-star green-rated steel and 3-star
green-rated steel.
1) Only A & B
2) Only A & C
3) Only B & C
4) Only C
5) All A, B & C
Answer- 2) Only A & C
Explanation:
In December 2024, Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, Ministry of Steel (MoS) and Ministry of
Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises (MoHI&PE) unveiled the ‘Taxonomy of Green Steel for India
during an event held at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi, Delhi. With this, India becomes the 1st country
in the world to launch a taxonomy for green steel.
• This launch reaffirmed India’s commitment to decarbonize the steel sector which is also in
alignment with net-zero emission intensity target by 2070.
• The MoS has also organised stakeholder consultations on the draft of National Mission on
Green Steel (NMGS) and the Green Steel Public Procurement Policy (GSPPP) during the event.
• As per the new framework, green steel will be defined in terms of its emission intensity. It has
set a limit of 2.2 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emission per tonne of finished steel
(tCO2e/tfs).
• The newly released taxonomy has classified green steel into 3 main star-rating categories
based on the greenness of the steel:
1. 5-star green-rated steel: steel with emission intensity less than 1.6 tCO2e/tfs.
2. 4-star green-rated steel: steel with emission intensity in the range between 1.6 and
2.0 tCO2e/tfs.
3. 3-star green-rated steel: steel with emission intensity in the range between 2.0 and
2.2 tCO2e/tfs.
• Steel with emission intensity exceeding the threshold of 2.2 tCO2e/tfs will be ineligible for
green rating.
• The upper limit for defining the star rating of green steel will be reviewed after every 3 years,
to ensure that it remains in line with technological advancements and industry requirements.
Click here to read more.

6. In November 2024, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) announced
snakebite cases as a ___________________ in India.
1) Infectious Disease
2) Deficiency Disease
3) Notifiable Disease
4) Hereditary Disease
5) Physiological Disease
Answer- 3) Notifiable Disease

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Explanation:
In November 2024, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) announced snakebite cases
as a “Notifiable Disease” in India. It mandates all the government and public health facilities to report
such cases and deaths.
• This aligns with the National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite
Envenoming (NAPSE), launched by the MoHFW in March 2024. The plan aims to reduce
snakebite fatalities by 50% by 2030.
• A notifiable disease is any disease that must be reported to public health authorities by
law. This reporting helps public health officials monitor the disease, track outbreaks, and
provide timely actions to prevent and control them.
• Some of the notifiable diseases in India are Leprosy, Tuberculosis (TB), Acquired Immuno
Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Cholera, Hepatitis, etc.
• Snakebites are life-threatening conditions that can lead to severe outcomes, including death,
long-term health complications, and permanent disability in some cases.
• In India, around 50,000 deaths occur annually from an estimated 3-4 million snake bites,
accounting for about 50% of global snakebite fatalities. And only about 10% of snakebite
cases are recorded.
• High-risk Snake bites states are Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh,
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. These states account for more than
70% of snakebite deaths in India.

7. The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) organised the 1st India Maritime
Heritage Conclave (IMHC 2024) from December 11 to December 12, 2024 in New Delhi, Delhi.
Where is the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) being developed with an investment
of Rs 4,000 crore over the next 5 years by the Government of India (GoI)?
1) Mumbai in Maharashtra
2) Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh
3) Kolkata in West Bengal
4) Lothal in Gujarat
5) Kochi in Kerala
Answer: 4) Lothal in Gujarat
Explanation:
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) organised the 1st India Maritime Heritage
Conclave (IMHC 2024) from December 11 to December 12, 2024 at Yashobhoomi, Dwarka in New
Delhi, Delhi. The conclave was inaugurated by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.
• Theme of IMHC 2024: "Towards Understanding India's Position in Global Maritime
History".
The Government of India (GoI) plans to invest Rs 4,000 crore in next 5 years, for the development of
National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal in Gujarat. The government aims to promote
the city Lothal, home to the world's 1st man-made dock, as an international tourist destination.
i.The redevelopment of the NMHC, Lothal will include key components like: a maritime separate area
for preservation of ancient and modern technologies, a hub for research on maritime archaeology,
among others.
ii.For the development of NMHC project, the GoI has collaborated with experts from 12 countries,
including the United Kingdom(UK), Italy, Greece, Japan, South Korea, Sri Lanka, among others.

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iii.MoPSW has designated the Indian Ports Association (IPA) as the nodal agency to monitor the
overall implementation of the NMHC, with the Indian Port Rail Corporation Limited (IPRCL) as the
executing agency. Click here to read more

8. Which organization recently (in December ‘24) announced the extension of the Import
Management System (IMS) for seven Information Technology (IT) hardware products by one
year, until December 31, 2025?
1) Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC)
2) Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank)
3) Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO)
4) National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC)
5) Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT)
Answer: 5) Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT)
Explanation:
In December 2024, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) operating under the Ministry of
Commerce and Industry (MoC&I) announced the extension of the Import Management System (IMS)
for seven Information Technology (IT) hardware products by one year, until December 31, 2025. The
system was previously set to expire on December 31, 2024.
i.These include laptops, tablets, all-in-one Personal Computers (PCs), ultra-small form factor
computers, and servers, categorized under Harmonized System of Nomenclature (HSN) code 8471.
ii.Importers must obtain a fresh Import Authorization through the DGFT portal, with
applications open from December 13, 2024, to December 15, 2025, and approvals valid until
December 31, 2025, allowing for multiple applications and amendments during this period.
iii.This decision addresses the supply-demand gap in the IT hardware market and provides
clarity for major companies like HP, Dell, Apple, and Lenovo.

9.Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) recently
(in December ‘24) launched which electric city bus developed by Hinduja Group, marking a
significant leap in India’s electric vehicle (EV) sector?
1) BYD K9 Electric Bus
2) Olectra Greentech Electric Bus
3) Tata Ultra Electric Bus
4) SWITCH EiV12
5) Mahindra Electric City Bus
Answer: 4) SWITCH EiV12
Explanation:
In December 2024, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH),
launched the ‘SWITCH EiV12’, India’s first low-floor electric city bus, marking a significant leap in
the country’s electric vehicle (EV) sector.
i.Developed by SWITCH Mobility Limited, part of the Hinduja Group and a subsidiary of Chennai
(Tamil Nadu, TN)-based Ashok Leyland under the Hinduja Group, headquartered in Mumbai,
Maharashtra.
ii.The SWITCH EiV12 features a floor-mounted battery (up to 400 kilowatt-hour (kWh)) for better
stability and comfort. Its modular design supports both drive configurations and flexible door
placements.

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It can accommodate up to 39 passengers and also includes a wheelchair ramp, Closed Circuit
Television(CCTV) cameras, and real-time vehicle monitoring
iii.The SWITCH E1 has in-wheel motors, a flat gangway, and a triple-door layout for easy access. It can
accommodate up to 93 passengers, offering a spacious and comfortable ride.
iv.Both buses are fully designed, developed, and manufactured in India.
Note: India’s electric city bus market is expected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR)
of 21% by 2030.

10. Bhupendra Patel, the Chief Minister (CM) of Gujarat, has recently (in December 2024)
launched the ‘Prakrutik Krushi Portal (Natural Agriculture Portal)’ to promote __________?
1) Greenhouse farming
2) Hydroponic farming
3) Conventional farming
4) Precision farming
5) Organic farming
Answer: 5) Organic farming
Explanation:
In December 2024, Bhupendra Patel, the Chief Minister
(CM) of Gujarat, launched the ‘Prakrutik Krushi Portal
(Natural Agriculture Portal)’ to promote organic farming.
This initiative was introduced to mark the occasion of
“Seva, Sushasan Ane Samarpan Na 2 Varsh” (Two Years of Exceptional Service and Dedication) his
role as the CM of Gujarat.
i.The portal aims to further Gujarat’s commitment to sustainable agricultural practices and support
the transition towards organic farming across the state.
ii.He directly engaged with representatives of Farmers Producers Organizations (FPOs) and
distributed financial assistance cheques to FPOs across the state.
iii.During the event, Bachubhai Khabad, Minister of State (MoS) for Agriculture praised the farmer-
focused policies implemented by the state government under the leadership of CM Patel, highlighting
their significant impact in boosting farmers’ income.
iv.Gujarat is home to approximately 422 FPOs, 97 of which are specifically focused on natural farming.

11. Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modi recently (in December ‘24) inaugurated and
laid the foundation stone for 24 projects worth over ________ during his participation in the “Ek
Varsh-Parinaam Utkarsh”at Jaipur, Rajasthan.
1) Rs 36,300 crores
2) Rs 46,300 crores
3) Rs 56,300 crores
4) Rs 66,300 crores
5) Rs 76,300 crores
Answer- 2) Rs 46,300 crores
Explanation:
On December 17 2024, PM Narendra Modi participated in the “Ek Varsh-Parinaam Utkarsh”
programme commemorating the completion of one year of the Rajasthan government in Jaipur,
Rajasthan.

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i.During his visit, he inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for 24 projects related to Energy, Road,
Railways and Water worth over Rs 46,300 crores at Jaipur, Rajasthan.
ii.PM Modi inaugurated 9 projects worth over Rs 11,000 crore including 7 central government led
projects and 2 state government projects.
iii.He also laid the foundation stone for15 projects worth more than 35,300 crore including 9 central
government projects and 6 state government projects.
iv.During the event, PM Modi laid the foundation stone for the Modified Parvati-Kalisindh-Chambal
Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (MPKC-ERCP).
v.The MPKC-ERCP project has been designated as a ‘national project’ by the Government of India
(GoI).
• The total cost of the project will be shared between the GoI and the state governments of MP
and Rajasthan in the ratio of 90:10, respectively.
vi..The project will provide water for both irrigation and drinking purposes to 21 districts of
Rajasthan and will boost the development of both Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh (MP).
vii.The project will interlink major rivers like Chambal, Parvati, Kalisindh, Kuno, Banas, Banganga,
Ruparail, Gambhiri, and Mej. Click here to read more

12.Which of the following points is/are ‘Correct’ with respect to the Union Cabinet chaired by
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi recently (in December ‘24) approved two important
constitutional amendment bills regarding One Nation, One Election (ONOE).
A) The 1st bill named the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024 will enable the terms of
the Lok Sabha and state assemblies to be synchronized.
B) The Second bill named The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024 aims to align
elections in the Union Territories (UTs) of Puducherry, Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir (J&K)
with Lok Sabha elections.
C) In September 2023, the Government of India (GoI) constituted the High-Level Committee on
Simultaneous Elections under the chairmanship of former President of India Pranab
Mukherjee.
1) Only A and B
2) Only A and C
3) Only B
4) All A, B and C
5) Only B and C
Answer- 1) Only A and B
Explanation:
In December 2024, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi approved two
important constitution amendment bills regarding One Nation, One Election (ONOE), which aimed
to conduct simultaneous Lok Sabha elections with state legislative assemblies and local bodies across
the country in a phased manner.
i.The 1st bill named the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024 will enable the terms of the
Lok Sabha and state assemblies to be synchronized.
ii.The Second bill named The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024 aims to align
elections in the Union Territories (UTs) of Puducherry, Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) with Lok
Sabha elections.

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iii.In September 2023, the Government of India (GoI) constituted the High-Level Committee on
Simultaneous Elections under the chairmanship of former President of India Ram Nath Kovind.
iv.It has recommended creating a unified Electoral Roll and Single EPIC for all 3-tiers of government.
v.It has suggested of introducing amendments to Article 82A and 324A of the Indian Constitution to
enable simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha, State Assemblies, and local bodies. Click here to read
more

13. Where was the 11th edition of the annual bilateral maritime exercise, Sri Lanka-India
Naval Exercise (SLINEX-24) held between the Indian Navy (IN) and the Sri Lankan Navy from
17-20 December 2024?
1) Kochi, Kerala
2) Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
3) Mumbai, Maharashtra
4) Chennai, Tamil Nadu
5) Panaji, Goa
Answer- 2) Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
Explanation:
The 11th Edition of annual bilateral maritime Exercise Sri Lanka-India Naval Exercise(SLINEX-24)
held between the Indian Navy(IN) and the Sri Lankan Navy under the Eastern Naval Command of the
IN from December 17-20, 2024 in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh(AP).
i.The primary aim of SLINEX 2024 is to enhance the operational interoperability between the Indian
and Sri Lankan navies.
ii.It was initiated in 2005 and evolved into a significant series of exercises designed to improve
interoperability, foster mutual understanding and promote maritime security in the Indian Ocean
region.
iii.India: The Indian Naval Ship INS Sumitra, a Saryu-class Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel (NOPV) of the
Eastern Fleet, along with a Special Forces team represent India.
iv.Sri Lanka: The Sri Lanka Naval Ship SLNS Sayura, an Offshore Patrol Vessel, with an embarked
Special Forces team represents Sri Lanka. Click here to read more

14. The Vice President (VP) of India Jagdeep Dhankar has recently (in December ‘24) attended
the _________ Foundation Day celebration of the Indian Posts & Telecommunications Accounts
and Finance Service (IP&TAFS) as the Chief Guest in New Delhi.
1) 25th
2) 35th
3) 40th
4) 50th
5) 60th
Answer- 4) 50th
Explanation:
In December 2024, the Vice President (VP) of India Jagdeep Dhankar attended the 50th Foundation
Day celebration of the Indian Posts & Telecommunications Accounts and Finance Service (IP&TAFS)
as the Chief Guest, in New Delhi (Delhi).
i.The event was organised to celebrate the remarkable contributions made by IP&TAFS over the last
50 years in shaping India’s telecommunications and postal sectors.

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ii.While addressing the event, the VP of India, Jagdeep Dhankar highlighted the importance of cross-
departmental collaboration in an interconnected world, emphasized on the need to adopt Artificial
Intelligence (AI)-powered audit systems while maintaining human insight oversight for important
decisions.
iii.During the event, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia outlined the 3 pillars: bringing stability to the
telecom sector; empowerment of pensioners and the capabilities of the cadre in keeping up with tech
developments, are the key drivers for the success of the officers.
iv.IP&TAFS is a Group ‘A’ Central Civil Services of Government of India (GoI), instituted in 1974.
v.It has been playing an important role in managing spectrum auctions and monitoring the financial
health of more than 3,500 telecom and internet companies.

15.Which of the following points is/are 'Not Correct' with respect to the recent (in December
‘24) launch of the ‘Jalvahak ‘scheme by the Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Ministry of
Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), to induce cargo movement via inland waterways?
A) The ‘Jalvahak’ scheme operates across 3 national waterways Ganga River, Brahmaputra
River and Chenab River
B) The Jalvahak scheme is jointly implemented by the Inland Waterways Authority of India
(IWAI) and Inland & Coastal Shipping Limited (ICSL), a subsidiary of the Shipping Corporation
of India Limited (SCIL).
C) The newly launched Cargo ships are MV Trishul, MV Aai, and MV Homi Bhaba
1) Only A
2) Only B and C
3) Only B
4) Only C
5) All A, B, and C
Answer- 1) Only A
Explanation:
In December 2024, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal,
Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW),
launched the ‘Jalvahak ‘scheme to induce the cargo
movement via inland waterways.
i.He also flagged off Cargo ships “MV Aai, MV Homi Bhaba
along with MV Trishul with 2 dumb barges Ajay and
Dikhu” from the GR Jetty in Kolkata,West Bengal
(WB).This marks the commencement of a fixed scheduled
service of cargo vessel ships from Haldia,WB for national waterways 1 and 2 (NW-1 and NW-2).
ii.The ‘Jalvahak’ scheme aims to revitalize India’s inland waterways, reduce transport congestion and
make cargo movement more efficient. The scheme operates across 3 national waterways:
• National Waterway 1 (NW1): Ganga River
• National Waterway 2 (NW2): Brahmaputra River
• National Waterway 16 (NW16): Barak River
iii.This scheme is jointly implemented by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Inland
& Coastal Shipping Limited (ICSL), a subsidiary of the Shipping Corporation of India Limited (SCIL).
Click here to read more

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16. Which of the following is ‘not’ a new initiative recently (in December ‘24) launched by the
Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs to improve taxpayer experience and enhance
transparency?
1) CBIC Archives
2) Revised Citizen's Charter
3) New Tax Filing Process
4) Revamped Citizen's Corner
5) Ease of Doing Business' Tab for Suggestions
Answer- 3) New Tax Filing Process
Explanation:
In December 2024, Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, Chairperson of Central Board of Indirect Taxes and
Customs (CBIC), Ministry of Finance(MoF), in presence of all Board Members launched a series of
initiatives that aim to improve taxpayer experience and enhance transparency.
• These initiatives reflect the CBIC’s commitment to digital transformation and taxpayer-centric
governance. CBIC aims to create a more efficient and transparent tax administration system.
• Revised Citizen’s Charter: A Commitment to Better Service Standards: It provides updated
timelines and service standards for taxpayer services like Drawback, Import and Export of Air
Cargo.
• ‘Ease of Doing Business(EoDB)’ tab for giving suggestions: A new platform has been
introduced to enable taxpayers to contribute directly to improving the EoDB.
• Revamped Citizen’s Corner: Knowledge at Your Fingertips: This portal serves as a
centralized hub for tax-related information, simplifying access and encouraging voluntary
compliance with tax regulations.
• CBIC Archives: A Digital Window to India’s Tax History: This digital archive showcasing the
evolution of indirect taxes in India. This platform includes six interactive tiles and about 82
submenus with videos, webinars, and updates on tax topics.

17. As per the data released by the Ministry of Mines (MoM) in December 2024, India’s key
mineral production such as Mineral Conservation and Development Rules (MCDR) Mineral and
Non-Ferrous Metal Production recorded strong growth in the first seven months of FY 2024-25
(April-October).
Which mineral contributed 69% of the total MCDR mineral production by value, with 274
million metric tonnes (MMT) produced in FY 2023-24?
1) Iron ore
2) Bauxite
3) Manganese ore
4) Aluminium
5) Copper
Answer- 1) Iron ore
Explanation:
As per the data released by Ministry of Mines(MoM) at the end of 2024, India’s key mineral
production such as Mineral Conservation and Development Rules (MCDR) Mineral and Non-Ferrous
Metal Production recorded strong growth in the first seven months of FY 2024-25 (April-October),
following record levels in FY 2023-24.

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 • Iron ore contributed 69% of the total MCDR mineral production by value, with 274 million
metric tonnes (MMT) produced in FY 2023-24.
• Manganese ore production grew by 11.1% to 2.0 MMT during April-October FY 2024-25 from
1.8 MMT during the corresponding period of FY 2023-24.
• Bauxite production rose by 11.3% to 13.8 MMT in April-October FY 2024-25 from 12.4 MMT
in FY 2023-24 (April- October).
• Aluminium production in FY 2024-25 (April-October) grew by 1.2% to 24.46 lakh tonnes
(LT), up from 24.17 LT in FY 2023-24 (April-October).
• Meanwhile, refined copper production increased by 6.0%, rising from 2.83 LT to 3.00 LT.
• India is the second-largest producer of aluminium globally, following China.
• India is ranked 4th among the top producers of refined copper, with Chile and Peru being
the leading producers.
• India stands as the 4th largest producer of iron ore, behind Australia, Brazil, and China.

18. Which organisation has recently (in December ‘24) recognized Indian National Space
Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe) as an Awarding Body (Dual) to strengthen the
vocational education and training landscape in the space sector?
1) Vocational Training Council
2) All India Council for Technical Education
3) National Skill Development Corporation
4) Space Research and Development Authority
5) National Council for Vocational Education and Training
Answer- 5) National Council for Vocational Education and Training
Explanation:
National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), Ministry of Skill Development &
Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India, has officially recognized Indian National Space
Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe), under Department of Space (DOS) as an Awarding
Body (Dual) to strengthening the vocational education and training landscape in the space sector.
• This collaboration will help IN-SPACe offer advanced training in Satellite Manufacturing, Space
Technology in Agriculture, Launch Vehicle Mission Design, Orbital Mechanics, and Space
Propulsion Systems.
• Six National Occupational Standards (NoS) have already been approved by the National
Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET).
• Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between MSDE and Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO), the ISRO Technical Training Program was launched at National Skill
Training Institutes (NSTIs) in Bengaluru (Karnataka), Mumbai(Maharashtra), and
Thiruvananthapuram(Kerala). This initiative aims to upskill over 4,000 technical employees of
the Department of Space.

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 INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

1. Which of the following points is/ are ‘correct’ with respect to the 16th session of the
Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
(UNCCD) held from 2nd December to 13th December 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
A) The Aravali Green Wall Project (AGWP) aims to revive over 1.1 million hectares of the hills
across Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Delhi by 2030.
B) India's "Plant for Mother" campaign has planted over 1 billion saplings in 2024 to tackle
land degradation and climate change.
C) COP16 in Riyadh secured over USD 12 billion in pledges, enhancing the role of financial
institutions and the private sector in tackling land degradation, desertification, and drought.
1) Only A & B
2) Only A & C
3) Only C
4) Only B & C
5) All A, B & C
Answer: 4) Only B & C
Explanation:
The 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to
Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was conducted from 2nd December to 13th December 2024 in
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.The conference was based on the theme – Our Land. Our Future saw the
participation of nearly 200 countries.
• It was the largest UN land conference till now involving UNCCD’s 197 Parties – 196 countries
and the European Union (EU).
• This was the first UNCCD COP being held in the Middle East and North Africa region and the
largest multilateral conference ever hosted by Saudi Arabia.
• The event also coincided with the UNCCD’s 30th anniversary.
• The UNCCD estimates that USD 2.6 trillion in investments are needed by 2030 to restore over
one billion hectares of degraded land and enhance drought resilience.
i.India presented the Aravalli Green Wall Project (AGWP). The Aravali project aims to revive over
1.1 million hectares of the hills across Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Delhi by 2027.
ii.India's "Plant for Mother" campaign has planted over 1 billion saplings in 2024 to tackle land
degradation and climate change.
iii.Global Drought Resilience Partnership was launched on the opening day of COP16, under Saudi
Arabia's leadership to combat drought impacts globally. COP16 in Riyadh secured over USD12 billion
in pledges, enhancing the role of financial institutions and the private sector in tackling land
degradation, desertification, and drought.
iv.India has actively participated in launching the International Big Cat Alliance, a global coalition of a
range of countries of big cats.
v.India also supported the G-20 goal to plant 1 trillion trees by 2030, thereby creating carbon sinks.
vi.Moreover, India has adopted a “Whole of Government” and “Whole of Society”, approach to restore
of degraded land through the Green India Mission.
vii.India’s Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS),
established in 2005 plays a major role in contributing to this employment, especially in areas focused
on environmental and land restoration work. Click here to read more

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2. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) has recently (in
December ‘24) released the report titled "The Global Status of Salt-Affected Soils," which was
launched during the International Soil and Water Forum 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand.
According to the report, how much land (in hectares) is affected by salinity globally?
1) 2 billion hectares
2) 1.4 billion hectares
3) 500 million hectares
4) 1 billion hectares
5) 750 million hectares
Answer: 2) 1.4 billion hectares
Explanation:
In December 2024, the Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO) of the United Nations(UN) released
its first major global assessment of salt-affected soils in 50 years. The report, titled “The Global Status
of Salt-Affected Soils” was launched during the International Soil and Water Forum 2024 in
Bangkok, Thailand and was co-organized by FAO and Thailand’s Ministry of Agriculture &
Cooperatives.
• According to a new report by the FAO of the UN, nearly 1.4 billion hectares (ha) of land or
10.7% of the global land area was affected by salinity.
• As per the report India had approximately 6.72 million hectares (mha) of salt-affected soils of
which 2.95 mha were saline and the remaining 3.77 mha were sodic which constitute about
2.1% of the country’s total geographical area.
• The report also highlights the increasing threat of soil salinity, urging global action to address
soil degradation and water scarcity which pose serious risks to food security worldwide. Click
here to read more

3. Which organization has recently (in December ‘24) released the "Global Status Report on
Drowning Prevention 2024 in Geneva, Switzerland," highlighting a 38% drop in global
drowning deaths since 2000?
1) CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
2) UNICEF (United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund)
3) WHO (World Health Organization)
4) UNDP (United Nations Development Programme)
5) World Bank
Answer: 3) WHO (World Health Organization)
Explanation:
In December 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) published its first-ever “Global Status
Report on Drowning Prevention 2024”, providing a comprehensive analysis of drowning deaths
worldwide. The report was released at an event in Geneva, Switzerland and highlights the global
burden of drowning, key statistics and strategies for prevention.
i.According to the report, the drowning death rate has dropped by 38% worldwide since 2000,
marking a major health achievement.
ii.The report reveals that drowning remains a significant public health issue, with over 3 lakh
drowning deaths recorded in 2021 alone. The WHO’s South-East Asia Region (includes India) saw
83,000 deaths of the global burden.

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iii.WHO reports that more than 30 people drown every hour, resulting in an estimated 300,000 deaths
annually.
iv.More than 7.2 million people, mainly children, could die by drowning by the year 2050 if current
trends continue.
v.The report draws attention to its high mortality rate, particularly in low and middle income
countries, which account for nearly 92% of all drowning deaths. Click here to read more

4. Which country has recently (in December ‘24) become the 1st European country to join the
Comprehensive & Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a key trade
bloc in the Indo-Pacific region?
1) Germany
2) France
3) United Kingdom
4) Italy
5) Spain
Answer- 3) United Kingdom
Explanation:
In December 2024, the United Kingdom (UK) has officially became the 1st European country to join
the Comprehensive & Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), an important
trade bloc in the Indo-Pacific region.
i.With this, the UK has become the 12th member of the CPTPP as well as the 1st non-founding
member to join this trade bloc.
ii.This marks a significant milestone in the country’s effort to bolster its global trading after its
withdrawal from the European Union (EU) in 2020.
iii.With the joining of the UK as CPTPP member, the members of CPTPP together account 15% of the
global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and provide trade access to a market of over 500 million
people.
iv.As per the agreement, the UK will be able to trade with 8 member countries of CPTPP from
December 15, 2024.
v.CPTPP has succeeded the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), a trade agreement between
12 Pacific Rim countries, after the United States of America (USA) formally withdrew from the TPPA in
2017.

GOVT SCHEMES

1. Which state has recently (in December ‘24) launched the Rajiv Gandhi Natural Farming
Start-up Scheme 2024?
1) Madhya Pradesh
2) Maharashtra
3) Himachal Pradesh
4) Uttarakhand
5) Rajasthan
Answer- 3) Himachal Pradesh

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Explanation:
In December 2024, Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the Chief Minister (CM) of Himachal Pradesh
(HP), launched six new initiatives and provided financial assistance to beneficiaries during an event
in Bilaspur, HP.
• To promote natural farming, the CM introduced “Him Bhog Atta” made from maize grown
using natural farming practices. The state government procured 398 metric tonnes (MT)
from 1,506 farmers, and transferred Rs 1.20 crore directly to their bank accounts.
• Under the Mukhyamantri Sukh-Ashray Yojana (MMSAY), Rs 1.90 crore was distributed to
197 beneficiaries in Bilaspur, covering pensions, housing grants, education, marriage aid,
and vocational training to support vulnerable families.
• The Six initiatives: Rajiv Gandhi Natural Farming Start-up Scheme 2024, Organic Compost
Purchase Scheme, Electric Taxi (e-Taxi) Scheme for Self-Employment, Indira Gandhi Sukh
Shiksha Yojana 2024, HP Subtropical Horticulture, Irrigation, and Value Addition Project
(HP Shiva), and Mobile Ayush Healthcare Units.

2. Which of the following points is/are ‘correct’ with respect to the launch of Credit Guarantee
Scheme (CGS) for electronic-Negotiable Warehouse Receipts (e-NWR) based Pledge Financing
(CGS-NPF) by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public
Distribution (MoCAF&PD) and Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MoN&RE) in December
2024?
A) The scheme aims to provide Rs 1,000 crore corpus to support post-harvest financing for
farmers.
B) Under this scheme, loans up to Rs 50 lakh and Rs 200 lakhs (Rs 2 crore) will be provided for
agricultural and non-agricultural purposes, respectively.
C) As per the scheme, farmers can access credit by depositing their produce stored in
Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) accredited warehouses, backed
by e-NWRs.
1) Only A & B
2) Only A & C
3) Only B & C
4) Only C
5) All A, B & C
Answer- 2) Only A & C
Explanation:
On December 16 2024, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public
Distribution (MoCAF&PD) and Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MoN&RE), launched the Credit
Guarantee Scheme(CGS) for electronic-Negotiable Warehouse Receipts (e-NWR) based Pledge
Financing (CGS-NPF) in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The scheme aims to provide Rs 1,000 crore corpus to support post-harvest financing for
farmers.
• As per the scheme, farmers can access credit by depositing their produce stored in
Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) accredited warehouses, backed
by e-NWRs.
• Under this scheme, loans up to Rs 75 lakh and Rs 200 lakhs (Rs 2 crore) will be provided for
agricultural and non-agricultural purposes, respectively.

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 • It offers a guarantee fee of 0.4% per annum (p.a.) for farmers and 1% for non-farmers.
• The scheme provides guarantee coverage for: 85% of loans up to 3 lakh and 80% for loans
between Rs 3 lakh to Rs 75 lakh for small and marginal farmers/women/ SC/ST/PwD and
75% for other borrowers.
• The scheme will boost the post-harvest lending to Rs 5.5 lakh crore in the next 10 years. Click
here to read more.

VISITS

1. Which of the following is/are correct with respect to the Union Home Minister and Minister
of Cooperation, Amit Shah’s 3 day visit to Chhattisgarh from 13 to 15 December 2024?
A) The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change facilitated an agreement between
the Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce (Trading and Development) Cooperative
Federation Limited (CGMFPFED) and National Cooperative Organic Limited (NCOL) aimed to
certify forest produce for better market prices.
B) The second agreement between the Chhattisgarh Government, Chhattisgarh State
Cooperative Dairy Federation and National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) focuses on
expanding dairy cooperatives in every village of the state.
C) Amit Shah attended the closing ceremony of the ‘Bastar Olympics’ in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh
where he praised the local athletes and the people for their spirit of unity and sportsmanship.
1) Only A & B
2) Only A & C
3) Only B & C
4) Only A
5) All A, B & C
Answer- 3) Only B & C
Explanation:
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah embarked on a 3-day visit to
Chhattisgarh from December 13 to 15, 2024 to chair a security review meeting on Left-Wing
Extremism (LWE) in Raipur (Chhattisgarh), with likely focus on fine tuning strategies to achieve the
target of eliminating the Maoist menace by March 31 2026.
• On December 13 2024, the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah presented the ‘President’s
Colour‘ to the Chhattisgarh Police in Raipur (Chhattisgarh), recognizing their exceptional
service in maintaining law and order in the state.
• The ‘President’s Colour’ is a testament to the Chhattisgarh Police’s valor, courage and
commitment.
• The Ministry of Cooperation under Amit Shah’s leadership facilitated the agreements,
focusing on strengthening the economic base of Chhattisgarh’s forest and dairy sectors.
• The first agreement is between the Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce (Trading and
Development) Cooperative Federation Limited (CGMFPFED) and National Cooperative
Organic Limited (NCOL), aims to certify forest produce for better market prices.
• The second agreement between the Chhattisgarh Government, Chhattisgarh State
Cooperative Dairy Federation, and National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), focuses on
expanding dairy cooperatives in every village of the state.

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 • The project will be funded through various Central Government schemes, loans from the
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), and contributions from
the State Government, ensuring a collaborative effort to strengthen the dairy sector.
• Amit Shah attended the closing ceremony of the ‘Bastar Olympics’ in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh
where he praised the local athletes and the people for their spirit of unity and sportsmanship.
Click here to read more.

2. Which of the following is/are correct with respect to the Deputy Prime Minister (PM) and
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Moldova, Mihail Popsoi’s visit to India from 15th to 16th
December 2024?
A) Moldova has joined the International Solar Alliance (ISA) by signing the ISA Framework
Agreement in an effort to promote clean energy and sustainability through the ISA platform.
B) India and Moldova signed a Declaration of Intent to boost solar growth between the two
countries.
C) India and Moldova also signed an MoU with an aim to boost cooperation and facilitate the
exchange of information on training programmes for diplomats.
1) Only A & B
2) Only A & C
3) Only B & C
4) Only A
5) All A, B & C
Answer- 2) Only A & C
Explanation:
Mihail Popsoi, Deputy Prime Minister(PM) and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Moldova, visited India
for the first time for an official visit from 15th December to 16th December 2024 at the invitation of
External Affairs Minister(EAM) Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
• On 15th December 2024 EAM S. Jaishankar along with Moldovan Deputy PM Mihai
Popsoi jointly inaugurated the Embassy of Moldova in New Delhi, Delhi, reflecting the
shared commitment of the two nations since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1992.
• Moldova has joined the International Solar Alliance (ISA) by signing the ISA Framework
Agreement in an effort to promote clean energy and sustainability through the ISA platform.
• ISA is an inter-governmental treaty-based organization formed to boost solar growth and
reduce the cost of financing and technology.
• The ISA was jointly launched by India and France in 2015, in Paris on the sidelines of the 21st
Conference of Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC).
• India and Moldova signed a Declaration of Intent to establish a Migration and Mobility
Partnership between the two countries.
• India and Moldova also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with an aim to boost
cooperation and facilitate the exchange of information on training programmes for diplomats.
Click here to read more.

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 BANKING AND FINANCE

1. In December 2024, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) mandated all Mutual
Fund (MF) companies to reduce the processing time for cancelling their Systematic Investment
Plans (SIPs) to how many working days?
1) 3 working days
2) 7 working days
3) 5 working days
4) 9 working days
5) 2 working days
Answer- 5) 2 working days
Explanation:
In December 2024, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) mandated all Mutual Fund (MF)
companies to reduce the processing time for cancelling their Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) to 2
working days from the previous 10 working days.
• This new timeline for cancellation of SIPs has come into effect from December 1, 2024.
• As per the new norms, it is now mandatory for all Asset Management Companies (AMCs) to
adhere to the two–day time frame for the cancellation of SIP, irrespective of whether SIP was
registered online or offline.
• Investors can cancel their SIPs through websites of AMCs, Register and Transfer Agents
(RTAs), exchanges and other channel partners.
• While submitting request for cancellation of SIP, investors are required to select a reason from
pre-defined list. This requirement will help AMCs to enhance their services and offerings.
• Investors will receive regular updates about the status of their cancellation requests. This will
ensure transparency as well as investors are kept informed throughout the process.
• The new guidelines enable the investors to pause their respective SIP in case they face
temporary financial constraints. This option is available with some restrictions like: limits on
duration and frequency, which differ by fund house. Click here to read more.

2. Which mutual fund company has recently (in December ‘24) introduced India’s first
Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) focused on the capital markets and insurance sectors?
1) ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund
2) Edelweiss Mutual Fund
3) SBI Mutual Fund
4) Tata Mutual Fund
5) Groww Mutual Fund
Answer- 3) Edelweiss Mutual Fund
Explanation:
In December 2024, Edelweiss Mutual Fund, a leading asset management company, introduced India’s
first Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) focused on the capital markets and insurance sectors.
• The New Fund Offer (NFO) was opened for subscription on December 10 2024 with a
minimum subscription amount of Rs. 5,000. The post NFO investments can be made in
multiples of Re. 1.
• It will close on December 24 2024 and will reopen for continuous sale and repurchase on
January 8.

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 • The Edelweiss Financial Services Limited’s Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) Capital Markets &
Insurance ETF aims to replicate and track the BSE Capital Markets & Insurance Total Return
Index (TRI), which includes top companies in broking, life, general insurance and financial
product distribution.
• The fund’s diversified portfolio is divided between capital markets (47.21%) & insurance
(52.79%). The portfolio comprises capital market firms, life insurance, general insurance, &
distributors of financial products.

3. In December 2024, BOBCARD Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of Baroda (BOB),
launched the ‘TIARA credit card’ designed to support, empower, and celebrate the financial
independence of ______________.
1) Farmers
2) Single Mothers
3) Women
4) Senior Citizens
5) Entrepreneurs
Answer- 3) Women
Explanation:
In December 2024, BOBCARD Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of Baroda (BOB), launched
the unique women-centric ‘TIARA credit card’ designed to support, empower, and celebrate the
financial independence of women.
• It was launched by Indian Model & Actor, Creator of Pinkathon Milind Soman, Yoga
practitioner Ankita Konwar, and Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer
(CEO) of BOBCARD Limited, Ravindra Rai at Pinkathon, the largest women’s marathon in
India.
• It is a premium card powered by the Rupay network. It provides rewards and benefits in
various categories, such as travel, dining, lifestyle, entertainment, and health.
• Joining and annual fee is Rs 2,499 with Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the joining fee
can be reversed by spending Rs. 25,000 within the first 60 days, while the annual fee can be
exempted by spending Rs. 2,50,000 within the year.
• The key benefits include Lifestyle, Entertainment, Dining and grocery, Health and Reward
Points.

4. Which company has recently (in December ‘24) launched a fraud protection plan “Shield” to
safeguard users from fraudulent Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions?
1) BharatPe
2) Paytm
3) PhonePe
4) Razorpay
5) PayU
Answer- 1) BharatPe
Explanation:
In December 2024, BharatPe, a financial Technology Company for merchant payments, launched a
fraud protection plan “Shield” to safeguard users from fraudulent Unified Payments Interface (UPI)
transactions.

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 • It offers users making their first UPI transaction with the BharatPe application (app) 30 days
of complimentary fraud protection for amounts up to Rs. 5,000.
• After this free period, users can continue the service for an affordable fee of Rs.19 per month.
• It covers risks such as computer fraud, phishing attacks, and unauthorized transactions
resulting from phone loss. It also offers a pre-reporting period, allowing users to file claims for
losses incurred up to 10 days before reporting.

5. According to the Ministry of Finance (MoF) official data which was recently (in December
‘24) released, the Gross Non-Performing Asset (GNPA) ratio of Public Sector Banks (PSBs)
decreased from 14.58% in March 2018 to ________ in September 2024?
1) 3.12%
2) 5.45%
3) 4.20%
4) 6.30%
5) 2.85%
Answer: 1) 3.12%
Explanation:
According to the Ministry of Finance (MoF) official data released in December 2024, Gross Non-
Performing Asset (GNPA) ratio of Public Sector Banks (PSBs) have decreased to a decade low from a
peak of 14.58% March 2018 to 3.12% in September 2024.
i.It cited that this significant improvement in GNPA ratio of PSBs is due to measures like the 4Rs
(Recognition, Recapitalisation, Resolution, and Reform) undertaken by the Government of India (GoI),
since 2015.
ii.Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR) of PSBs have improved by 393 basis points (bps),
from 11.45% (in March 2015) to 15.43% (in September 2024).
iii.The data revealed that PSBs have reported the highest ever cumulative net profit of Rs 1.41 lakh
crore during the Financial Year 2023-24 (FY24) compared to the net profit of Rs 1.05 lakh crore in
FY23.
iv.The number of bank branches in India have increased from 1,17,990 (in Mar-14) to 1,60,501 (in
Sep-24). Of 1, 60,501 branches, 1, 00, 686 are located in Rural and Semi-Urban (RUSU) areas of the
country. Click here to read more

6. In December 2024, the Government of India (GoI) signed a __________________ loan agreement
with the Germany-based investment and development bank KFW (formerly Kreditanstalt für
Wiederaufbau) marking the 100% financial closure for Phase 2 of the Bengaluru Metro Rail
Project.
1) Rs. 1268.36 Crore
2) Rs. 2867.81 Crore
3) Rs. 3044.54 Crore
4) Rs. 4528.63 Crore
5) Rs. 5189.57 Crore
Answer- 3) Rs. 3044.54 Crore
Explanation:
In December 2024, the Government of India (GoI) signed a Rs. 3044.54 Crore loan agreement with
the Germany-based investment and development bank KFW (formerly Kreditanstalt für

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Wiederaufbau) marking the 100% financial closure for Phase 2 of the Bengaluru Metro Rail
Project.
• Additionally, a separate project agreement was also signed between the Bengaluru Metro Rail
Corporation Limited (BMRCL) and KFW Germany.
• Phase 2, covering 75.06 kilometers (km), has an approved senior debt of Rs 12,141.14 crore, of
which the GoI has already secured Rs 9,096.60 crore from Japan International Cooperation
Agency (JICA), Agence Française de Développement (AFD), Asian Infrastructure Investment
Bank (AIIB), and European Investment Bank (EIB).
• The estimated cost of Phase 2 has risen from Rs 26,405 crore in 2014 to Rs 30,695 crore in
2022 and to Rs 40,614.27 crore in 2024, due to construction delays, increased land
requirements, and other factors.
• The Bengaluru Metro Rail Project, also known as ‘Namma Metro’, will support the GoI in
expanding the metro railway network in Bengaluru.
• The project is being developed in phases, with Phase 1 inaugurated in 2011, making it the first
underground metro system in South India.

7. Which small finance bank has recently (in November ‘24) announced its bancassurance
partnership with Bharti AXA Life Insurance Company Limited (BALIC) to offer its customers
with a wide range of life insurance products and financial security solutions?
1) Capital Small Finance Bank Limited
2) ESAF Small Finance Bank Limited
3) Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Limited
4) AU Small Finance Bank Limited
5) Shivalik Small Finance Bank Limited
Answer- 4) AU Small Finance Bank Limited
Explanation:
In November 2024, Jaipur(Rajasthan)-based AU Small Finance Bank Limited (AU SFB), announced its
bancassurance partnership with Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Bharti AXA Life Insurance Company
Limited (BALIC), a subsidiary of Bharti Life Ventures Private Limited (BLVPL) to offer AU SFB’s
customers with a wide range of life insurance products and financial security solutions.
• The partnership aligns with the shared vision of “Viksit Bharat” and “Insurance to All” by
enhancing insurance penetration, offering customized insurance products to meet diverse
customer needs and expanding distribution channels through bancassurance and digital
platforms.
• AU SFB’s customers will now have access to Bharti AXA Life Insurance’s comprehensive
product portfolio, which includes Life Insurance Plans, Term Insurance Policies, Unit Linked
Insurance Plans (ULIP), Savings Plans, Child Education Plans and Retirement Solutions.

8. Which company’s Certificate of Registration (CoR) has been recently (in December ‘24)
cancelled by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) due to its irregular lending practices and serious
breaches of RBI guidelines on digital lending?
1) Zavron Finance Private Limited
2) KS Finlease Limited
3) Bharatpur Investment Limited
4) Build Con Finance Limited

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5) Global Housing Finance Corporation Limited
Answer- 1) Zavron Finance Private Limited
Explanation:
In December 2024, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in exercise of powers conferred by Section 45-IA
(6) of the RBI Act, 1934, has cancelled the Certificate of Registration (CoR) of Zavron Finance
Private Limited, a non-banking financial institution (NBFI) based in Nagpur, Maharashtra.
• This action was taken due to its irregular lending practices and serious breaches of RBI
guidelines on digital lending.
• Zavron Finance Limited outsourced key operations like credit appraisal, loan disbursal,
interest rate determination, and Know Your Customer (KYC) verification to third-party
Lending Service Providers (LSPs), violating RBI’s outsourcing code of conduct.
• The company neglected proper due diligence on its LSPs, failing to assess their ownership,
security protocols, and internal controls. Additionally, the company did not monitor their
operations regularly, putting customer data at risk.
• The company did not provide loan agreements and sanction letters in regional languages,
preventing borrowers from accessing and understanding key loan details, thereby violating
transparency norms.

9. RBL Bank and which company has recently (in November ‘24) ended their eight-year
partnership for co-branded credit cards due to changes in synergies?
1) Aditya Birla Finance Limited
2) LIC Housing Finance Limited
3) Muthoot Finance Limited
4) Shriram Finance Limited
5) Bajaj Finance Limited
Answer- 5) Bajaj Finance Limited
Explanation:
In November 2024, Mumbai(Maharashtra) based RBL Bank (formerly known as Ratnakar Bank
Limited) and Pune(Maharashtra) based Bajaj Finance Limited (BFL) decided to end their eight-year
partnership for co-branded credit cards, due to changes in synergies.
• This partnership was established in 2016 to issue co-branded credit cards for a period of
five years and the partnership was renewed in 2021.
• In the 2nd quarter (Q2) of the Financial Year 2024-25(FY25), RBL Bank experienced higher
slippages in its credit card segment due to the transition of collection services in-house
from Bajaj Finance.
• While the co-branded cards issued (around 3.4 million) will still be serviced by RBL Bank,
customers will continue enjoying the same benefits and offers as before. However, when
these cards are renewed, they will be reissued as RBL Bank-branded cards.

10. In December 2024, the World Bank (WB) approved a ___________________ loan for the Uttar
Pradesh Agriculture Growth and Rural Enterprise Ecosystem Strengthening (UP-AGREES)
Project to enhance crop productivity and farmers’ incomes in Uttar Pradesh (UP).
1) USD 175.30 million
2) USD 258.39 million
3) USD 283.45 million

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4) USD 325.10 million
5) USD 396.56 million
Answer- 4) USD 325.10 million
Explanation:
In December 2024, the World Bank (WB) approved a USD 325.10 million loan for the Uttar Pradesh
Agriculture Growth and Rural Enterprise Ecosystem Strengthening (UP-AGREES) Project, which aims
to enhance crop productivity and farmers’ incomes in Uttar Pradesh (UP).
• The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) provided the USD
325.10 million loan with a 33.5-year maturity and a 6-year grace period.
• The project also seeks to attract USD 15 million in private finance to support this initiative.
• In the past 10 years, Uttar Pradesh has become a key player in Indian agriculture, leading
in wheat production, second in rice, and third in agricultural exports. However, small
farmers still face low productivity and poor post-harvest infrastructure.
• The project focuses on strengthening agricultural value chains and improving access to
credit through the eKisan Credit Card (eKCC) to enhance value-added opportunities.
• The project will help establish an Integrated Agri-Export Hub near Jewar Airport in
Greater Noida to boost connections with international markets.

11. Which company has recently (in December ‘24) authorised as a Payment Aggregator (PA)
under the Reserve Bank of India (RBI’s) regulatory framework?
1) In-Solutions Global Limited
2) Paytm Payments Bank
3) PhonePe Payments
4) Razorpay
5) BillDesk
Answer- 1) In-Solutions Global Limited
Explanation:
In December 2024, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) granted full authorisation as a Payment
Aggregator (PA), under its regulatory framework to In-Solutions Global (ISG) Limited, a Mumbai
(Maharashtra)-based fintech company backed by JP Morgan Chase & Co.
• This approval empowers ISG to enhance digital payment experiences for merchants across
diverse sectors, ensuring secure, efficient, and reliable transactions while promoting financial
inclusion.
• The authorisation complements ISG’s existing capabilities, including a Prepaid Payment
Instrument (PPI) license.
• This enables ISG to offer a comprehensive suite of payment services covering online
transactions, retail payments, transit systems, and more.

ECONOMY AND BUSINESS

1. Which car group has recently (in December ‘24) partnered with United Nations Children’s
Fund (UNICEF) to transform the educational landscape for 100,000 children across four states
in India?
1) BMW
2) Tesla

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3) Audi
4) Volkswagen
5) Mercedes-Benz
Answer- 1) BMW
Explanation:
In December, 2024, Munich(Germany) based Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) Group and New York
(the United States of America,USA) based United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have collaborated
in India to transform the educational landscape for 100,000 children across four states: Assam,
Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu (TN), and West Bengal (WB).
• The program emphasizes developing foundational learning skills and promoting STEM
(Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education from early childhood through
adolescence.
• This collaboration is part of a larger global partnership between the BMW Group and UNICEF,
which aims to support over 10 million children annually through education and training in
countries like South Africa (SA), Brazil, Mexico and Thailand.
• In India, they will focus on nurturing foundational literacy and numeracy skills in rural primary
schools to build a solid cognitive foundation for children.
• UNICEF will create specialized training programs for teachers, equipping them with modern
STEM teaching methods.

2. Recently (in December ‘2024) National Apex Chamber, the PHD Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (PHDCCI) released report titled “States’ Performance Indicator Report: Paving India’s
Green Path for Sustainable and Inclusive Development”, during the States’ Policy Conclave held
at Hotel Le Meridien, New Delhi.
Which of the following is/are ‘correct’ according to the report released by PHDCCI?
A) Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh are top performers in agricultural production,
significantly contributing to the nation’s food security.
B) Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha are rich in mineral resources.
C) Industrial and Technological advancements: Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Karnataka lead in
industrial and technological advancements.
1) Only A & B
2) Only A & C
3) Only C
4) Only B & C
5) All A, B & C
Answer: 5) All A, B & C
Explanation:
On December 11, 2024, New Delhi-based National Apex Chamber, the PHD Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (PHDCCI) unveiled an analytical report titled “States’ Performance Indicator Report: Paving
India’s Green Path for Sustainable and Inclusive Development”, during the States’ Policy Conclave held
at Hotel Le Meridian, New Delhi.
i.The report highlighted that India’s states have shown strong economic recovery post-COVID-19, with
25 states achieving more than 7% growth in Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) during FY22 and
FY23, among them 17 states achieved more than 9% growth rate.

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ii.Gujarat, Kerala, Telangana, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Bihar, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and
Odisha have stood out for their strong economic performance during 2021-22 and 2022-23.
The top-performed states in GSDP growth during FY22 and FY23, based on key indicators:
i. Agriculture production: Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh are top performers in agricultural
production, significantly contributing to the nation’s food security.
ii.Mineral resources: Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha are rich in mineral resources.
iii. Industrial and Technological advancements: Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Karnataka lead in industrial
and technological advancements. Click here to read more

3. “Fitch Ratings Inc.” has recently (in December 2024) revised India’s Gross Domestic Product
(GDP) growth forecast for the fiscal year 2024-25 (FY25), lowering it to ________ from the
previous estimate of 7%?
1) 6.8%
2) 7.2%
3) 6.4%
4) 6.0%
5) 6.6%
Answer: 3) 6.4%
Explanation:
The United States of America (USA)-based credit rating agency, Fitch Ratings Inc has lowered India’s
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast by 60 basis points (bps), to 6.4% for Fiscal year 2024-
25(FY25) from its previous estimate of 7%.
i.It has also raised India’s GDP forecast for FY26 to 6.5%. Both these projections are lower than India’s
GDP growth rate of 8.2% registered in FY24.
ii.The agency highlighted that India’s GDP growth decreased to 7-quarters low i.e. to 5.4% in 2nd
Quarter (Q2: July-September) of FY25. This slowdown was mainly driven by weakened urban middle-
class consumption.
iii.RBI has downgraded India’s real GDP growth projection for FY25 from 7.2% to 6.6% during the 5th
bi-monthly Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)
iv.S&P Global Ratings (previously known as Standard & Poor’s) has projected India’s GDP growth rate
at 6.8% for FY25, amid slow fiscal growth affecting urban demand.
v.The Economic Survey released in February 2024, had projected India’s GDP growth between 6.5%
and 7% for FY25.

4. Which company has recently (in December ‘24) extended its partnership with Telenor
Denmark (TnDK), a leading mobile operator in Denmark, for another five years to enhance
Information Technology (IT) systems?
1) Infosys
2) Wipro
3) Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)
4) HCL Technologies
5) Tech Mahindra
Answer: 3) Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)

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Explanation:
In December 2024, Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Tata Consultancy Services Limited (TCS) has
extended its partnership with Telenor Denmark (TnDK), a leading mobile operator in Denmark, for
another five years.
i.Under this renewed collaboration, TCS will continue to manage TnDK’s Information Technology (IT)
infrastructure from its European delivery center.
ii.The renewed partnership will focus on leveraging advanced automation technologies to reduce
operational costs and further enhance the IT systems.
iii.A key goal is to ensure smooth business continuity, guaranteeing no disruption to operations. TCS
will also work to improve digital assets and optimize user experiences through its deep expertise in
managing TnDK’s infrastructure.
iv.Over the past six years, TCS has used its advanced Machine First Delivery Model (MFDM) to
modernize the infrastructure that supports over 1.6 million subscribers.

5. Which company has recently (in November ‘24) collaborated with Amazon Finance India
Private Limited to create innovative credit solutions for customers and merchants by offering
loan products through Amazon’s application and website?
1) L&T Finance Limited
2) Reliance Capital Limited
3) Tata Capital Limited
4) Edelweiss Financial Services Limited
5) Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Limited
Answer- 1) L&T Finance Limited
Explanation:
In November 2024, Mumbai (Maharashtra) based L&T Finance Limited (LTF), formerly known as L&T
Finance Holdings Ltd., a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) collaborated with
Bengaluru(Karnataka)-based Amazon Finance India Private Limited to create innovative credit
solutions to improve affordability for Amazon’s eligible customers and merchants by offering loan
products through Amazon’s application (app) and website.
• The partnership was unveiled at ‘RAISE 2024,’ India’s leading Artificial Intelligence (AI)-
focused event in the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) sector, hosted by LTF
in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• The collaboration will enhance L&T Finance’s product diversification strategy and increase
credit availability for consumers. L&T Finance provides a range of products, including
personal loans, Small and Medium Enterprise(SME) loans, two-wheeler loans, housing
finance, and more.

6. CareEdge Ratings has recently (in December ‘24) revised its Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
projection for India for Financial Year 2024-25 (FY25) to ________ from its previous estimate of
6.8%.
1) 6.2%
2) 6.5%
3) 6.7%
4) 7.2%
5) 7.5%

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Answer- 2) 6.5%
Explanation:
December 2024, CareEdge Ratings, a subsidiary of Care Ratings Limited, has revised down its Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) projection for India to 6.5% for Financial Year 2024-25 (FY25), from its
previous estimate of 6.8%. It has also projected that India’s GDP will grow at 6.7% in FY26.
i.It has estimated that the Indian economy will rebound in the 2nd Half (H2: October to March) of
FY25, mainly driven by a recovery in consumption and an uptick in government capital expenditure.
ii.It has projected the nominal GDP will be lower at 9.9% against the budgeted estimate of 10.5% for
FY25.
iii.It has estimated that Inflation will be moderate, with Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation
projected at 4.8% and 4.5% for FY25 and FY26, respectively.
iv.It has projected that Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation will be at average of 2.5% in FY25 and
3% in FY26.
v.The credit rating agency has projected that the fiscal deficit of the central government will be 4.8%
of GDP for FY25, marginally lower than the budgeted estimate of 4.9%.
vi.It has estimated that Current Account Deficit (CAD) will remain manageable at 0.9% of GDP for
FY25, demonstrating resilience in the external sector.

7. What is the total gross Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflow into India since April 2000, as
per the data released by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)
in December 2024?
1) USD 800 billion
2) USD 1.5 trillion
3) USD 1 trillion
4) USD 900 billion
5) USD 1.3 trillion
Answer- 3) USD 1 trillion
Explanation:
As per data released by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) in
December 2024, India reached a significant economic milestone with gross Foreign Direct Investment
(FDI) inflows totaling USD 1 trillion since April 2000.
• In the first half of the current Financial Year 2024-25 (FY25), FDI increased by about 26% to
USD 42.1 billion.
• FDI inflows totaled USD 709.84 billion over the last ten years (April 2014 to September 2024),
which represents 68.69% of all FDI inflows over the past 24 years.
• The government’s flagship initiative, “Make in India,” along with liberalized sectoral policies
and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) has strengthened investments in India.
i.Mauritius topped FDI inflows at 25%, followed by Singapore in second place with 24%. The US
ranked third at 10%, while the Netherlands (7%), Japan (6%), and the UK (5%) also made significant
contributions.
India rose to 40th in the World Competitive Index 2024, improving from 43rd in 2021.
• In the Global Innovation Index 2023, India ranked 40th out of 132 economies, securing 48th
position among the top 50 most innovative countries.
ii.India was the 3rd largest recipient of greenfield projects, with 1,008 announcements, according
to the World Investment Report 2023.

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8. Which company's Board of Directors recently (in December ‘24) approved the incorporation
of a healthcare subsidiary to provide healthcare and allied services?
1) Tata Consultancy Services
2) PB Fintech
3) Infosys
4) ICICI Lombard
5) Wipro
Answer- 2) PB Fintech
Explanation:
In December 2024, the Board of Directors of PB Fintech, the parent company of Policybazaar,
approved the incorporation of a healthcare subsidiary that would provide healthcare and allied
services. The entity will obtain the necessary approvals when needed.
i.On December 3, 2024, a circular resolution was passed proposing the formation of a wholly owned
subsidiary (“WOS”) to be named ‘PB Healthcare Private Limited,’ or ‘PB Healthcare Services
Private Limited, ‘or any other name approved by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of
India (GoI).
ii.Chairman and Group CEO of PB Fintech is Yashish Dahiya.
iii.The subsidiary will focus on healthcare and allied services, with an authorized share capital of Rs 5
lakh. The new entity will become a linked party upon formation.
iv.In the July–September quarter of FY25, the company claimed a net profit of Rs 51 crore, while in the
same period last year, it reported a net loss of Rs 21.11 crore.
v.The new health and life insurance business grew by 69% year over year (Y-o-Y) during the quarter,
contributing to the company’s total insurance premium of Rs 5450 crore.

9. In December 2024, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) Limited, an Information Technology (IT)
services provider based in Mumbai, Maharashtra, collaborated with Landis+Gyr, an energy
management company based in ______________________, to offer innovative solutions that help
utilities improve energy efficiency.
1) Paris, France
2) Lisbon, Portugal
3) Sydney, Australia
4) Cham, Switzerland
5) London, the United Kingdom
Answer- 4) Cham, Switzerland
Explanation:
In December 2024, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) Limited, an Information Technology (IT) services
provider based in Mumbai, Maharashtra, collaborated with Landis+Gyr, an energy management
company based in Cham, Switzerland, to offer innovative solutions that help utilities improve energy
efficiency.
• Landis+Gyr and TCS are teaming up to provide end-to-end solutions, including energy
optimization, demand response, and smart Electric Vehicle (EV) charging, helping utilities
reduce emissions, improve efficiency, and integrate renewable energy (RE).
• The partnership will support utilities in meeting new Swiss regulations, which require large
companies to report their climate impact, including Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions.

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 • In the coming three years, TCS will merge its advanced energy and emission management
system, TCS Clever Energy™, with Landis+Gyr’s smart metering and grid management
technologies. This collaboration will provide a complete solution for utilities to manage their
clients’ complex energy demands.

MoU’s AND AGREEMENTS

1. In December 2024, Common Services Centres(CSC) e-Governance Services India Limited

signed an MoU with the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) to enroll traders and citizens
in _______________________.
1) Housing Schemes
2) Government Welfare Schemes
3) Financial Inclusion Schemes
4) Social Security Schemes
5) Health Insurance Schemes
Answer- 4) Social Security Schemes
Explanation:
In December 2024, Common Services Centres(CSC) e-Governance Services India Limited, operating
under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), a traders’ body based in
New Delhi(Delhi) at the Constitution Club of India (CCI), New Delhi.
• This partnership aims to enroll traders and citizens into various government Social Security
Schemes(SSSs) by organizing dedicated camps.
• The collaboration will help empower traders and citizens across India by facilitating their
registration in key social security programs, including: National Pension System (NPS),
Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan Yojana (PM-SYM), Atal Pension Yojana (APY), Pradhan
Mantri Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi Scheme (PM SVANidhi), DigiPay Sakhi and Pradhan
Mantri (PM) Vishwakarma Yojana.
• CSC SPV will work alongside CAIT to set up camps, directly connecting traders and the public
with these schemes.

2. In December 2024, which state Tourism Corporation has signed a Memorandum of

Understanding (MoU) with a Bihar-based BodhiGaya Vijjalaya 980 Institute to conserve and
promote Buddhist heritage sites in its state?
1) Bihar
2) Assam
3) Haryana
4) Gujarat
5) Uttar Pradesh
Answer- 4) Gujarat
Explanation:
In December 2024, the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited (TCGL) has signed a memorandum of
understanding (MoU) with a Bihar-based BodhiGaya Vijjalaya 980 Institute to conserve and
promote Buddhist heritage sites in the state.

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 • The MoU was signed in the presence of the Chief Minister (CM) of Gujarat Bhupendra Patel
and the 4th Mekong Ganga Dhamma Yatra delegation members in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• The MoU has been signed for cooperation in the conservation and development of Buddhist
tangible and intangible heritage in Gujarat and for global promotion of places of Buddhist
circuit in the state.
• The 4th Mekong Ganga Dhamma Yatra began in Bangkok, Thailand, and its delegation visited
different places in India from 2-10 December 2024.
• In December 2024, the CM of Gujarat Bhupendra Patel launched three booklets titled ‘Seva
Sankalp Nu Ek Varsh’, highlighting the state government’s achievements under the
Department of Water Resources, Water Supply, and Food & Civil Supply (DoWR, WS & FCS).
• The booklet showcases detailed information on various public welfare schemes implemented
in the past year under the leadership of Minister Kunvarji Bavaliya, MoWR, WS, and FCS.
• It highlights the ‘Saune Anna, Saune Poshan’ scheme, along with the achievements of other
initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY) and Pradhan
Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY).

3. With which company the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has recently (in December ‘24) signed a
contract worth Rs 13,500 crore for the procurement of 12 indigenous Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter
jets for the Indian Air Force(IAF)?
1) BrahMos Aerospace
2) Garuda Aerospace Private Limited
3) Flying Wedge Defence and Aerospace
4) Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
5) Adani Aerospace and Defence Limited
Answer- 4) Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
Explanation:
In December 2024, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a contract worth Rs 13,500 crore with
Bengaluru(Karnataka) based Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the procurement of 12
indigenous Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets for the Indian Air Force(IAF).
• The contract aligns with the ongoing “Super Sukhoi” project which aims to upgrade 84 Sukhoi
Su-30MKI aircraft with advanced weapon systems, radars and avionics.
• This initiative aims at India’s broader modernization efforts to enhance the operational
capability by giving the IAF, a long-range missile exceeding 1,500 kilometer (km) to safeguard
national interests.
• The newly procured Sukhoi Su-30MKIs will feature 62.6% indigenous content with key
components sourced from the Indian defence industry.
• These two-seater, long-range multi-role fighter jets will be manufactured at HAL’s Nasik
division contributing to the country’s self-reliance under the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative.
• In December 2024, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved the acquisition of 100
additional K9 Vajra self-propelled howitzers to enhance India’s defence capabilities along the
Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. The estimated cost of the 100 artillery guns is Rs
7000 crore.
• The project launched under the MoD aims to strengthen India’s military operational readiness
in strategic border areas.

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 • The range of these artillery guns is over 40 km and they can launch projectiles at a speed of
around 65 kilometres per hour(km/h). Click here to read more.

4. Which ministry and Department of Posts (DoP) has recently (in December ‘24) renewed
their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for 5 years to ensure the continued accessibility of
passport service?
1) Ministry of Heavy Industries
2) Ministry of Commerce and Industry
3) Ministry of Home Affairs
4) Ministry of Communications
5) Ministry of External Affairs
Answer- 5) Ministry of External Affairs
Explanation:
In December 2024, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Department of Posts (DoP) have
renewed their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for 5 years to ensure the continued accessibility
of passport service through the Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs).
• The agreement ensures that Indian citizens will keep receiving high-quality passport services
at their nearest post offices through effective management of POPSKs.
• Under this plan, the number of Passport Seva Kendras will rise to 600 across India by 2028-29,
improving access and convenience for citizens, and increasing the annual customer base from
35 lakh to 1 crore over the next five years.

5. In November 2024, the Government of Kerala signed a supplementary concession agreement

with Adani Port to develop which seaport?
1) Kattupalli
2) Hazira
3) Mundra
4) Karaikal
5) Vizhinjam
Answer- 5) Vizhinjam
Explanation:
In November 2024, the Government of Kerala had signed a supplementary concession agreement
with Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Limited (AVPPL) to enhance the development of the Vizhinjam
deep-water international seaport. It is envisioned as a transformative step in Kerala’s maritime
infrastructure.
• As per the agreement, the first phase is expected to be commissioned in December 2024. The
second and third phases of the project will be completed by 2028.
• The Rs 7,700-crore port’s capacity would be increased to 30 lakh Twenty-foot Equivalent Units
(TEU) in these phases and require an additional expenditure of Rs 10,000 crore.
• The State started the arbitration process against the port concessionaire when the corporation
missed the deadline of the project, which was originally scheduled for 2019, as per the initial
agreement.
• A penalty of Rs 219 crore has been imposed for the delays. Rs 43.8 crore to be paid to the state
and the remaining amount will not be paid until 2028.

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6. Which Indian organization has recently (in December ‘24) signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with the United Arab Emirates (UAE)’s Emirates Polar Mission Steering
Committee (EPMSC) during the 15th India-UAE Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) held in New
Delhi, Delhi?
1) Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services
2) National Institute of Ocean Technology
3) National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research
4) Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology
5) Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
Answer: 3) National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research
Explanation:
In December 2024, India’s National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) and the United
Arab Emirates (UAE)’s Emirates Polar Mission Steering Committee (EPMSC) signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) during the 15th India-UAE Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) held in New
Delhi, Delhi to strengthen collaboration in polar and ocean research, academic partnerships,
operations, and capacity development.
i.The meeting was jointly chaired by Minister S. Jaishankar, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and
Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister(DPM) and Foreign
Minister(FM).
ii.India and the UAE also held the 4th Strategic Dialogue in New Delhi. India and UAE discussed
ways to strengthen their strategic partnership in areas like defence, emerging technologies,
nuclear energy, polar research, critical minerals, and renewable energy, among others.
Click here to read more

7.Which company has recently (in December ‘24) partnered with Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut
Utpadan Nigam Limited (UPRVUNL), commenced the commercial operations of the 1980 MW
Ghatampur Thermal Power Plant (GTPP) in Uttar Pradesh (UP)?
1) NLC India Limited (NLCIL)
2) NTPC Limited
3) Power Grid Corporation of India
4) Adani Power
5) Torrent Power
Answer: 1) NLC India Limited (NLCIL)
Explanation:
In December 2024, Neyveli (Tamil Nadu) based NLC India Limited (NLCIL) in partnership with Uttar
Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (UPRVUNL) has commenced commercial operations of
its 1st supercritical power plant ‘1980 Mega Watt (MW) Ghatampur Thermal Power Plant’ (GTPP) in
Uttar Pradesh(UP).
i.It is the first fossil fuel-based thermal power plant commissioned in India during the Financial Year
2024-25(FY25). It was developed by Neyveli Uttar Pradesh Power Limited (NUPPL).
ii.After the first 660 MW unit of the power plant began operating, the total capacity of NLC India Ltd
and its group companies increased from 6,071 MW to 6,731 MW.
iii.The GTPP project is aimed to meet the increasing electricity demand in UP and Assam. With its
supercritical technology, the plant provides better thermal efficiency, uses less fuel, and produces
fewer emissions than regular thermal plants.

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Note: NLCIL (formerly Neyveli Lignite Corporation India Limited) under the Ministry of Coal (MoC),
was established in 1956.

8.Which company has recently (in December ‘24) partnered with the National Council for
Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to launch YouTube Channels in 29 Indian
languages, including sign language to ensure access to digital education across India?
1) Apple
2) Microsoft
3) Google
4) Amazon
5) Facebook
Answer: 3) Google
Explanation:
Google, the United States of America(USA) based technology company, has partnered with the
National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to launch YouTube Channels in 29
Indian languages, including sign language to ensure access to quality digital education across India.
i.It aims to provide free education content to students between grades 1-12 and to empower
teachers.
ii.Google has also partnered with the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning
(NPTEL) to offer credentialed courses on YouTube.
• It provides learners with the chance to explore and complete 50 credential courses in various
subjects, such as pure sciences, literature, sports psychology, and rocket propulsion.
• The initiative opens up a route for individuals outside the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)
system to access NPTEL courses on YouTube, complete the online certification through the
NPTEL-SWAYAM portal, and receive certificates from the IITs.

9. In December 2024, the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) under the
Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) signed an MoU with the Association of Chartered Certified
Accountants (ACCA) to enhance _________________ in India.
1) Corporate Financial Knowledge
2) Protection of Investor Interests
3) Investor Awareness
4) Financial Education
5) Chartered Accountants
Answer- 4) Financial Education
Explanation:
In December 2024, the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) under the Ministry
of Corporate Affairs (MCA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Association of
Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) in New Delhi, Delhi to enhance financial education across the
nation in urban and rural areas.
• The four-year partnership aims to educate young people about fundamental financial concepts
and foster a financially robust society.
• The program also known as ‘Financial Education for You (FEFY)”, is a four-year course
targeting school children in grades 6 through 9 aiming to foster financial decision-making
among young minds.

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 • ACCA will offer the program’s digital content at free of cost, making financial literacy accessible
to a wide range of educational institutions.
• IEPF has been established under Section 205C of the Companies Act, 1956 by way of the
Companies (Amendment) Act, 1999.

10. In December 2024, ____________ Smbhav Venture Fund signed an MoU with the Department
for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and
Industry during its 5th annual “Smbhav Summit” in New Delhi, Delhi?
1) Tata's
2) Amazon’s
3) Reliance's
4) Flipkart’s
5) Walmart's
Answer- 2) Amazon’s
Explanation:
In December 2024, United States of America (USA) based E-commerce multinational technology
company Amazon’s Smbhav Venture Fund signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce
and Industry during its 5th annual “Smbhav Summit” held at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi
(Delhi).
• The aim of this MoU to enhance the government’s efforts in establishing India as a global
manufacturing hub
• Smbhav Venture Fund will invest USD 120 million in startups that digitize consumer goods
manufacturing in India and cater to both domestic and global demand.
• Smbhav Venture Fund, launched in 2021, is a USD 250 Million India dedicated venture
fund for early stage startups and high quality entrepreneurs. The aim is to empower the
next generation of world changing companies.
• The investment also expands the fund to USD 350 million, driving innovation and
manufacturing in the country.
• The company aims to enable USD 80 billion in cumulative exports from India by 2030, a 4-
fold increase from its previous target.

11. Common Services Centres (CSC) e-Governance Services India Limited under the Ministry of
Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has recently (in December ‘24) signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited
(IFFCO) to form _________ Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) in order to strengthen farmers,
reduce costs, and boost incomes?
1) 5,000
2) 7,500
3) 12,000
4) 10,000
5) 8,000
Answer- 4) 10,000

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Explanation:
In December 2024, New Delhi (Delhi)- based Common Services Centres (CSC) e-Governance
Services India Limited, operating under the Ministry of Electronics and Information
Technology(MeitY), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Farmers
Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) based in New Delhi, to provide critical agricultural inputs to
Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs).
i.The signing ceremony was attended by Sanjay Rakesh, Managing Director (MD) and Chief Operating
Officer (CEO) of CSC e-Governance Services and Yogendra Kumar, Marketing Director of IFFCO.
ii.This partnership will provide FPOs with essential agricultural resources from IFFCO, including Nano
Urea Plus, Nano Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP), fertilizers, seeds, and agrochemicals, to boost
productivity and promote sustainable farming.
iii.The Government of India (GoI) launched the Central Sector Scheme (CSS) in 2020 to form 10,000
FPOs, aiming to strengthen farmers, reduce costs, and boost incomes through Common Services
Centres (CSCs). As of 30th June 2024, 8,875 FPOs have been registered in India.

12. Which organization has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National
Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to bolster India’s disaster management capabilities?
1) The National Institute of Disaster Management
2) The National Disaster Response Force
3) All India Disaster Management Association
4) Global Disaster Relief Network
5) The Centre for Joint Warfare Studies
Answer- 5) The Centre for Joint Warfare Studies
Explanation:
In December 2024, the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS), the only tri-services think tank
under Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS), Ministry of Defence has signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to
bolster India’s disaster management capabilities.
i.The MoU was signed by Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd), Member, NDMA and Major General (Dr)
Ashok Kumar (Retd), Director General of CENJOWS.
ii.With the signing ceremony, a strategic agreement was established to address critical challenges in
readiness, response, and disaster mitigation in order to create a “whole of the nation” approach.
iii.The MoU outlines a framework for joint initiatives, including:
• Collaborative Research: Conducting research on disaster management, HADR operations, and
disaster diplomacy in order to contribute to the Indian government on policy.
• Capacity Building: Organizing workshops, seminars and training programs for stakeholders,
including armed forces personnel, NDMA officials, and other important agencies.
• Awareness Campaigns: Raising awareness across the country to encourage risk reduction and
disaster preparedness through nationwide initiatives.
• International Engagements: Promoting international cooperation in disaster management
aligns with India’s foreign policy aim.

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 APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS

1. Raj Kumar Chaudhary, the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of NHPC Limited has
recently (in November ‘24) got the additional charge of CMD for which company?
1) SJVN Limited
2) NTPC Limited
3) THDC India Limited
4) NLC India Limited
5) JSW Energy Limited
Answer- 1) SJVN Limited
Explanation:
In November 2024, Raj Kumar Chaudhary, the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the state-
owned hydropower major NHPC Limited (formerly National Hydroelectric Power Corporation), has
been assigned the additional charge of CMD for the government-owned hydropower company SJVN
Limited, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh(HP).
• He has over 35 years of rich and vast experience in the power sector and hydropower
development.
• He joined NHPC in 1989 as a Probationary Executive (Civil) at Koel Karo HE Project, Jharkhand.
• He steadily held various positions in NHPC, including the post of Director (Technical), NHPC,
before taking over as its CMD in August 2024.

2. Who was recently (in December ‘2024) appointed as the Prime Minister (PM) of France by
President Emmanuel Macron, after former PM Michel Barnier?
1) Francois Bayrou
2) Jean Castex
3) Edouard Philippe
4) Bernard Cazeneuve
5) Manuel Valls
Answer: 1) Francois Bayrou
Explanation:
In December 2024, the President of France Emmanuel Macron appointed veteran centrist Francois
Bayrou, leader of the MoDem group allied with Macron’s party, as the Prime Minister (PM) of France,
after former PM Michel Barnier was overthrown by Parliament.
i.His appointment comes as France faces significant political instability due to a fragmented National
Assembly, with no single party holding a majority.
ii.On December 13 2024, Michel Barnier officially transferred his power to Francois Bayrou during a
ceremony held in Paris, France.

3. Who has recently (in December ‘24) elected as new General Secretary (GS) of All India State
Bank Officers’ Federation (AISBOF) and assumed charge on December 1, 2024?
1) Deepak Kumar Sharma
2) Vinay K Bhalla
3) Rupam Roy
4) Sambit Mishra
5) Arun Kumar Bishoyi

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Answer- 3) Rupam Roy
Explanation:
Bengaluru(Karnataka) based All India State Bank Officers’ Federation (AISBOF) elected Rupam Roy
as its new General Secretary (GS) during its 6th Executive Committee Meeting, held in Chandigarh,
Punjab. He assumed office on December 1, 2024.
• He succeeded Deepak Kumar Sharma, who retired on November 30, 2024.
• Prior to this, Rupam Roy had served as the President of AISBOF. He is well-known for his
excellent negotiating skills and his dedication to the welfare of bank officers.
• Arun Kumar Bishoyi, GS of the State Bank of India Officers’ Association (SBIOA)
Bhubaneswar Circle, was also elected as the new President of AISBOF.

4. Former Manchester City footballer ‘Mikheil Kavelashvili’ was appointed as the 6th President
of ____________, set to assume office on 29th December 2024, after incumbent President Salome
Zourabichvili.
1) Armenia
2) Azerbaijan
3) Georgia
4) Ukraine
5) Kazakhstan
Answer- 3) Georgia
Explanation:
Former Manchester City footballer Mikheil Kavelashvili was appointed as the 6th President of
Georgia. He will assume office on December 29 2024 and will replace incumbent President Salome
Zourabichvili.
• Mikheil Kavelashvili was nominated by the Georgian Dream party and won the presidential
election with 224 votes out of 300 votes.
i.Mikheil Kavelashvili is a Georgian politician and former professional footballer, known for his career
as a striker.
ii.He played in the English Premier League for Manchester City and in the Swiss Super League for
several clubs, including Dinamo Tbilisi and Spartak Vladikavkaz.
iii.In 2022, he co-founded the People’s Power party, a satellite faction of Georgian Dream Party.
iv.In the 2024 parliamentary election, he was elected for the 3rd time, representing the party list of
Georgian Dream Party, with which People’s Power had aligned.

5. Who was recently appointed as the new Managing Director (MD) of SBI for three years, with
effect from December 18, 2024?
1) Rajnish Kumar
2) Rama Mohan Rao Amara
3) Virat Sunil Diwanji
4) Ashok Chandra
5) Krishnan Venkat Subramanian
Answer- 2) Rama Mohan Rao Amara

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Explanation:
The Government of India (GoI) appointed Rama Mohan Rao Amara, Deputy Managing Director
(DMD) and Chief Risk Officer (CRO) of the State Bank of India (SBI) as the new Managing Director
(MD) of SBI for the three years with effect from 18 December 2024.
i.The appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) headed by
Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi, followed by the Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB)
recommendation.
ii.He succeeds Challa Sreeivasulu Setty, who has been appointed as the chairman of SBI in October
2024.
iii.Rama Mohan will serve as the 4th MD of SBI, alongside Ashwini Kumar Tewari, Vinay M Tonse, and
Rana Ashutosh Kumar Singh.
iv.He started his banking career with SBI in 1991 as a Probationary Officer(PO) and is a Certified
Associate of the Indian Institute of Bankers (CAIIB).
v.He served as the Chief General Manager(GM) of the SBI, Bhopal Circle, overseeing operations in the
states of Madhya Pradesh(MP) and Chhattisgarh.
vi.In January 2021, he was appointed as the MD & CEO of SBI Card, and held this position until August
2023.

6. Which bank recently (in December ‘24) has reappointed R Subramaniakumar as its
Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for a period of three years from
23rd June 2025 to 22nd June 2028?
1) HDFC Bank
2) ICICI Bank
3) RBL Bank Limited
4) Axis Bank
5) Yes Bank
Answer- 3) RBL Bank Limited
Explanation:
RBL Bank Limited’s board of directors has reappointed R Subramaniakumar, the current Managing
Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the bank for a period of three years from 23rd June
2025 to 22nd June 2028.
• Initially he was appointed as MD and CEO of RBL Bank for a period of three years in June 2022.
His current term was to end on 22nd June 2025.
However, the reappointment is subject to approval by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Under Section
35B of the Banking Regulation Act, 1935, the bank will apply to the RBI for the approval of
reappointing Subramaniakumar as MD and CEO for an additional three years.
i.R Subramaniakumar is a veteran in the banking industry with over 40 years of experience.
ii.He began his career with Punjab National Bank (PNB) in 1980.
iii.Prior to joining RBL Bank, he served as the administrator of Dewan Housing Finance Corporation
Limited (DHFL), the first non-banking finance company to be referred to the National Company Law
Tribunal (NCLT) for resolution.
iv.He was appointed as the MD and CEO of RBL Bank when the RBI added an additional director to the
bank’s board and sent former MD and CEO Vishwavir Ahuja on leave due to concerns about the bank’s
financial stability.

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v.He has held various leadership roles through the course of his career at PNB, including being the
Director of DRUKPNB, Bhutan.

7. Who was recently (in December ‘24) appointed as the Executive Director (ED) of Yes Bank
for a three-year term, effective from 11th December 2024 to 10th December 2027 as approved
by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)?
1) Manish Jain
2) Amitabh Chaudhry
3) Prashant Kumar
4) Rajeev Ahuja
5) Sanjiv Chadha
Answer- 1) Manish Jain
Explanation:
In December 2024, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the appointment of Manish Jain as
Executive Director (ED) of Yes Bank for a period of three years, effective from December 11, 2024, to
December 10, 2027.
i.RBI granted its approval under Section 35B of The Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
ii.Prashant Kumar is the current Managing Director(MD) and Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of YES
BANK.
iii.In 2023, he joined Yes Bank as the Country Head of Wholesale Banking Group. He has been
significant in increasing the corporate segment’s profitability, operational effectiveness, and
relationships with consumers.
iv.Prior to YES BANK, he held leadership roles at Standard Chartered Bank, including Managing
Director & Co-Head of Corporate Commercial & Institutional Banking for India.

8. Who has been recently (in December ‘24) appointed as the Chairman of the Economic
Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) with an additional charge?
1) Suman Berry
2) Bibek Debroy
3) Sanjeev Sanyal
4) Shamika Ravi
5) B.V.R. Subramanyam
Answer- 1) Suman Berry
Explanation:
The Vice Chairman (VC) of the National Institute for Transforming India (NITI Aayog), Suman Berry
was appointed as the Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM)
with an additional charge.
• He succeeded Bibek Debroy, who passed away on 1st November 2024.
• Before being appointed as Vice-chairman of NITI Aayog, held roles as a Global Fellow at the
Asia Programme of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (WWICS) in
Washington D.C., the United States of America (USA).
• He had previously worked as the Director General (DG) of the National Council of Applied
Economic Research (NCAER) in New Delhi, Delhi.
• EAC-PM is an independent body set up to provide advice on economic and related matters to
the Government of India, especially to the Prime Minister.

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9. In December 2024, Former Delhi High Court Chief Justice Manmohan was appointed as
______________________ under Article 124(2) of the Constitution of India.
1) Chief Justice of India
2) Supreme Court Judge
3) High Court Judge
4) District Courts Judge
5) Attorney General of India
Answer- 2) Supreme Court Judge
Explanation:
Former Delhi High Court Chief Justice Manmohan appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court under
Article 124(2) of the Constitution of India. Justice Manmohan was born on December 17, 1962, in
Delhi.
• The Supreme Court now has 33 working judges, with a sanctioned strength of 34.
• Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna administered the oath of office. CJI Khanna was the only
judge from the Delhi High Court in previous.
• The President of India appoints Supreme Court judges based on the recommendation of the
Collegium (a group of senior Supreme Court judges led by the Chief Justice of India).
• He became a permanent judge of the Delhi High Court on December 17, 2009 and served as
acting Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court from November 9, 2023. Later became full time
Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court from September 29, 2024.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

1. Who has recently (in December ‘24) won the “2024 Women’s Tennis Association (WTA)
Player of the Year Award”?
1) Jasmine Paolini
2) Emma Navarro
3) Aryna Sabalenka
4) Lulu Sun
5) Sara Errani
Answer- 3) Aryna Sabalenka
Explanation:
In December 2024, Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka, currently ranked world No. 1 in
singles, was honoured with the ‘2024 Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Player of the Year Award’,
taking the crown for the 1st time in her career. She has won 23 career titles, 17 in singles and 6 in
doubles.
• WTA has announced the 2024 WTA Player Award winners including 5 Players Awards and 3
Player Service Awards.
• The WTA celebrated the standout performers of 2024 during WTA Awards Week, held from
December 9-13, 2024.
• Aryna Sabalenka has won 3 singles titles at the 2023 & 2024 Australian Opens, and the 2024
United States (US) Open and 2 doubles titles at the 2019 US Open and the 2021 Australian
Open.
• She has won 23 career titles, 17 in singles and 6 in doubles.

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 • Along with her Grand Slam success, she won titles in Cincinnati (USA) and Wuhan (China),
bringing her total to 4 titles for the year.
• Jasmine Paolini & Sara Errani – Doubles Team of the Year WTA 2024
• Emma Navarro – Most Improved Player WTA 2024
• Lulu Sun – Newcomer of the Year WTA 2024
• Paula Badosa – Comeback Player of the Year WTA 2024 Click here to read more.

2. Match the following according to the persons who received the awards by TIME Magazine in
December 2024.
Person Award Category

i) Donald Trump (a) Athlete of the Year

ii) Lisa Tzwu-Fang Su (b) Person of the Year

iii) Caitlin Clark (c) CEO of the Year

1) i – (b); ii – (c); iii – (a)
2) i – (a); ii – (b); iii – (c)
3) i – (c); ii – (a); iii – (b)
4) i – (c); ii – (b); iii – (a)
5) i – (b); ii – (a); iii – (c)
Answer- 1) i – (b); ii – (c); iii – (a)
Explanation:
On December 12 2024, New York (the United States of America (USA))–based TIME magazine, named
US President-elect Donald Trump as its Person of the Year for 2024, recognising his deep influence
on American politics and the country’s role in the world.
• He was previously named TIME’s Person of the Year in 2016.
• The other world personalities short listed as finalists, including: Elon Musk, Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) of Tesla; Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister (PM) of Israel; Kate Middleton,
the Princess of Wales, US Vice President Kamala Harris, among others.
• Caitlin Clark (22 years-old), an American basketball player has been named as the TIME
Magazine’s Athlete of the Year for 2024.
• Lisa Tzwu-Fang Su (55 years old), CEO and Chair of California (the USA)-based Advanced Micro
Devices Inc.(AMD), a semiconductor design company has been named as the TIME Magazine’s
CEO of the Year for 2024.
• Since 1927, TIME magazine has been naming “Person of the Year” title (which was previously
named as ‘Man of the Year’ till 1999), recognizing a person/ a group/ movement that shaped
the world for better or worse in the last 12 months. Click here to read more.

3. In December 2024, The Hon’ble President of India Droupadi Murmu conferred National
Panchayat Awards 2024 upon 45 awardees including 42 Panchayats and 3 Capacity Building
Institutes organised by the Ministry of Rural Development.
Which among the following is ‘not’ the award category in the National Panchayat Awards 2024?
1) Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar
2) Gram Urja Swaraj Vishesh Panchayat Puraskar

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3) Carbon Neutral Vishesh Panchayat Puraskar
4) Panchayat Kshamta Nirmaan Sarvottam Sansthan Puraskar
5) Swachh Gram Panchayat Puraskar
Answer- 5) Swachh Gram Panchayat Puraskar
Explanation:
On December 11 2024, The Hon’ble President of India Droupadi Murmu conferred National
Panchayat Awards 2024 upon 45 awardees including 42 Panchayats and 3 Capacity Building
Institutes, selected across different categories for their outstanding contributions to sustainable and
inclusive development.
• The event was organised by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoR) at Vigyan Bhawan in
New Delhi, Delhi.
• These awards are conferred annually by the MoPR since 2011 to acknowledge and incentivize
the best-performing Panchayats across the country.
• These awards are organised annually on 24th April (National Panchayati Raj Day) to
commemorate the enactment of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992.
• These Awards recognises the efforts of those Panchayats which excels across 9 thematic areas
like: Poverty-free and enhanced livelihoods Panchayat; healthy Panchayat; child-friendly
Panchayat; water-sufficient Panchayat; clean and green Panchayat; self-sufficient
infrastructure Panchayat; Panchayat with good governance; women friendly Panchayat and
Socially Just and secured Panchayat.
• The winners are broadly classified into 5 main categories, with main focus on recognizing
grassroots governance, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability.
• This year total 1.94 lakh GPs participated in the competition. Among 42 award-winning
Panchayats, 42% are being led by women. Click here to read more.

4. Which of the following points is/are ‘correct’ with respect to the 2024 UNESCO Asia-Pacific
Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation in December 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand?
A) Inari-yu Bathhouse Restoration Project in Tokyo Japan, has won the Award of Excellence,
the highest honour of UNESCO heritage awards.
B) Abathsahayeswarar Temple in Tamil Nadu (TN) received “Award of Distinction”.
C) Sir Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Parsee Charitable Institution (BJPCI Conservation Project) in
Maharashtra received “Award of Merit”.
1) Only A & B
2) Only A & C
3) Only B & C
4) Only C
5) All A, B & C
Answer- 5) All A, B & C
Explanation:
On December 6 2024, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)
announced the winners of 2024 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation
also known as Heritage Awards at its regional office in Bangkok, Thailand (UNESCO Bangkok).
• This year total 8 projects from 5 different countries of Asia-Pacific region: India (2), Thailand
(1), China (3), New Zealand (1) and Japan (1) were honored with UNESCO’s prestigious
Heritage awards.

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 • Inari-yu Bathhouse Restoration Project in Tokyo Japan, has won the Award of Excellence,
the highest honour of UNESCO heritage awards.
• Total 2 projects from India were honoured with two different heritage awards:
Abathsahayeswarar Temple in Tamil Nadu (TN) received “Award of Distinction” and Sir
Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Parsee Charitable Institution (BJPCI Conservation Project) in
Maharashtra received “Award of Merit”.
• Abathsahayeswarar Temple is a 1,300-year old temple located in Thukkatchi in Thanjavur
district, TN.
• It is believed that the temple was constructed by King Vikram Chola and King Kulothunga
Chola of the Chola Empire.
• BJPCI Conservation Project was founded by Sir Byramjee Jeejeebhoy in 1891.The school
building was formally established in 1908 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, designed in Gothic Revival
Style.
• It was originally designed by Khan Bahadur Muncherji C Murzban, renowned builder known
for making landmark public buildings.
• The restoration of over-century old BJPCI is led by Mumbai-based conservation architect Vikas
Dilawari, who has been associated with this project since 1989.
• UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation were established in 2000.
• UNESCO introduced a new award named “Award of Special Recognition for Sustainable
Development” in 2020. The main purpose of this award is to recognise the contribution of
cultural heritage to sustainable development. Click here to read more.

5. Which airline has recently (in December ‘24) received two distinguished global accolades for
its ongoing transformation and dedication to service excellence?
1) Akasa Air
2) Air India Limited
3) SpiceJet
4) IndiGo
5) Vistara
Answer- 2) Air India Limited
Explanation:
In December 2024, Air India Limited, India’s leading airline based in New Delhi (Delhi), received two
distinguished global accolades, highlighting its ongoing transformation and dedication to service
excellence.
• The airline’s Vista Verve in-flight product was honoured with the Good Design Award
Australia 2024, recognising its outstanding innovation and design.
• Air India also won three APEX Awards at the Future Travel Experience (FTE) Awards in
Singapore, highlighting its leadership in global passenger experiences
• Good Design Award Australia 2024: This award recognizes the innovation and design
excellence of the airline’s Vista Verve in-flight product, which features exclusive tableware,
Slovakian lead-free glassware, and luxurious linens with premium mattress toppers.
• At the Future Travel Experience (FTE) Awards in Singapore, Air India garnered three
distinguished APEX Awards, further solidifying its reputation for exceptional global service.

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6. Which among the following words is chosen as the Word of the Year 2024 by Oxford
University?
1) Demure
2) Lore
3) Romantasy
4) Brain rot
5) Delulu
Answer- 4) Brain rot
Explanation:
In December 2024, Oxford University Press (OUP) selected ‘Brain rot,’ a noun (n), which refers to the
deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, often attributed to the overconsumption of
content that is seen as trivial or intellectually unchallenging as the Oxford Word of the Year for 2024.
• Other shortlisted words include Demure, Dynamic Pricing, Lore, Romantasy, and slop.
• The term highlights growing concerns about the impact of consuming excessive, trivial
online content, particularly on social media, and its effect on mental health.
• The term ‘brain rot’ was first recorded in 1854 in Henry David Thoreau’s book Walden.
Thoreau used it to describe the mental stagnation he observed in those who were
disconnected from nature.

7. Who was honored with the 2024 Jamsetji Tata award by the Indian Society for Quality (ISQ)
at the ISQ Annual Conference 2024 recently held (in December ‘24) in Bengaluru, Karnataka?
1) Narayana Murthy
2) Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
3) Ratan Tata
4) Sundar Pichai
5) Satya Nadella
Answer- 2) Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
Explanation:
In December 2024, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairperson of Biocon Group, was conferred the 2024
Jamsetji Tata award by the Indian Society for Quality (ISQ) at ISQ Annual Conference 2024 held in
Bengaluru, Karnataka.
i.This award was presented to her for being a pioneer in the bioscience movement in India since 1978,
a first-generation entrepreneur to establish Biocon Limited and associated companies to serve
customers in India and across the world.
ii.She received the award from Janak Kumar Mehta, President of ISQ and Chairman and Managing
Director (CMD), TQM International.
iii.She has been awarded with two of India’s highest civilian honours, the Padma Shri in 1989 and the
Padma Bhushan in 2005.
iv.She was honoured with the Othmer Gold Medal by the U.S.-based Chemical Heritage Foundation in
2014.
v.The Jamsetji Tata Award was instituted in 2004 by ISQ. It honors business leaders who made
significant contributions to Indian society.
vi.This award is named after Jamsetji Tata, who is known as the ‘Father of Modern Indian
Industry’.

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8. Which of the following points is/are ‘correct’ with respect to the winners of the Sahitya
Akademi Awards 2024 announced by Sahitya Akademi, under the Ministry of Culture in
December 2024?
A) Sahitya Akademi announced the winners of the Sahitya Akademi Awards 2024 in 24 Indian
languages (including English).
B) The award consists of a casket with an engraved copper plaque, a shawl, and a cash prize of
Rs. 1 lakh.
C) Aron Raja's book Swrni Thakhai written in Bodo language won the Sahitya Akademi Award
2024 in the novel category.
1) Only A & B
2) Only A & C
3) Only B & C
4) Only C
5) All A, B & C
Answer- 3) Only B & C
Explanation:
On December 18 2024, the Sahitya Akademi, under the Ministry of Culture announced the winners of
the Sahitya Akademi Awards 2024 in 21 Indian languages (including English). The award winners
were selected based on recommendations made by a Jury of three members in the concerned
languages.
• The awards for Bengali, Dogri and Urdu language will be announced at a later date.
• The award ceremony will be held on International Women’s Day, March 8 2025 at Kamani
Auditorium, New Delhi (Delhi).
• The winners of the Sahitya Akademi Awards 2024 include 8 books of Poetry, 3 Novels, 2 short
stories, 3 Essays, 3 Literary Criticism, 1 Play and 1 Research.
• Aron Raja's book Swrni Thakhai written in Bodo language won the Sahitya Akademi Award
2024 in the novel category.
• The award consists of a casket with an engraved copper plaque, a shawl, and a cash prize of
Rs. 1 lakh.
• The Sahitya Akademi Award is the 2nd-highest literary honor in India, following the Jnanpith
Award.
• The award was established by the Government of India (GoI) in 1954, the Sahitya Akademi is
India’s National Academy of Letters.
• The Akademi works to preserve and promote literature in 24 Indian languages (including the
22 languages listed in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution, along with English and
Rajasthani) through awards, fellowships, grants, publications, and other initiatives. Click here
to read more.

SUMMITS AND CONFERENCE

1. Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi inaugurated the 3 days Rising Rajasthan Global
Investment Summit 2024 (RRGIS 2024) and the Rajasthan Global Business Expo on 9th
December 2024.
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has approved the development of a 2GW
(gigawatt) ________________ project in Rajasthan.

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1) Bio-Energy
2) Solar Park
3) Hydropower
4) Wind Energy Farm
5) Geothermal Energy Plant
Answer- 2) Solar Park
Explanation:
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi inaugurated the 3 days Rising Rajasthan Global Investment
Summit 2024 (RRGIS 2024) and the Rajasthan Global Business Expo on 9th December 2024 at the
Jaipur Exhibition and Convention Centre (JECC) in Rajasthan.
• The summit was conducted for three days from 9th December to 11th December 2024.
• The Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit 2024, is based on the theme- ‘Replete,
Responsible, Ready’.
• India is currently ranked as the 5th largest economy in the world.
• Rajasthan Government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) of over Rs 35 lakh
crores during the Rising Rajasthan Global Summit 2024.
• The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has approved the development of a 2GW
(gigawatt) Solar Park project of Rajasthan Solar Development Corporation in Rajasthan.
• Union minister for road transport and highways, Nitin Gadkari, announced nine road and
highway projects for Rajasthan, with a combined length of 800 kilometers on 10th December
2024.
• The Adani Group has planned to invest Rs 7.5 lakh crore in Rajasthan, focusing on green
energy and infrastructure with over half of this investment to be implemented in the next five
years.
• Tata Power has announced an investment of Rs 1.2 lakh crore in Rajasthan in various
renewable energy related projects.
• The Aditya Birla Group is going to invest Rs 50,000 crore in Rajasthan over the coming years,
across multiple sectors including cement, renewable energy, telecom, and retail.The chairman
of this group is Kumar Mangalam Birla. Click here to read more.

COMMITTEE AND MEETING

1. Who represented India as vice-chair in the 2nd meeting of the Supply Chain Council (SCC) of
the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) held in December 2024?
1) Piyush Goyal
2) Rajesh Agrawal
3) Nirmala Sitharaman
4) Suresh Prabhu
5) Amitabh Kant
Answer- 2) Rajesh Agrawal
Explanation:
In December 2024, India, a key member of the 14-member Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for
Prosperity (IPEF), participated as vice-chair in the 2nd meeting of the Supply Chain Council (SCC)
which was held virtually.

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i.India was represented by Rajesh Agrawal, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce (DoC),
Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I).
ii.The SCC, chaired by the United States of America (USA), reviewed progress across key sectors such
as semiconductors, critical minerals, chemicals, and healthcare.
iii.Updates were shared on the Critical Minerals, Semiconductors, and Pharma/Healthcare Action Plan
Teams (APTs) focused on collaboration and addressing supply chain challenges in these sectors.
iv.The first SCC meeting in Washington in September 2024 led to the formation of Action Plan Teams
(APT) focusing on key sectors, including Pharma/Healthcare (led by India), Semiconductors (led by
USA), Critical Minerals (led by Australia) and Chemicals (led by USA).
v. India, now 3rd in pharmaceutical production by volume and 14th by value, was elected as the Chair
for the Pharma/Healthcare APT. India put forward a proposal to host the next in-person SCC
meeting next year.
Note: India had signed the Supply Chain Resilience Agreement (Pillar-II) in November 2023,
reaffirming its commitment to strengthening regional and global supply chain resilience.

INDEX

1. Which of the following points is/are ‘correct’ with respect to the report “India Skills Report
2025: Global Talent Mobility-India’s Decade” released in December 2024?
A) The 12th edition of the India skills Report (ISR) “India Skills Report 2025: Global Talent
Mobility-India’s Decade” released in December 2024.
B) Maharashtra (84%) has topped in the India Skills Report 2025 for employability, followed
by Delhi (78%), Karnataka (75%), Andhra Pradesh, AP (72%) and Kerala (71%).
C) Assam is topped in employability for Men and Uttar Pradesh topped in employability for
Women.
D) ISR 2025 was published by Wheebox in collaboration with the All India Council for
Technical Education (AICTE), Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Association of Indian
Universities (AIU) and Taggd (knowledge partner).
1) Only A, B & D
2) Only B, C & D
3) Only B & C
4) Only A & C
5) All the above
Answer- 1) Only A, B & D
Explanation:
According to the 12th edition of the India skills Report (ISR) titled “India Skills Report 2025:Global
Talent Mobility-India’s Decade” released on 12th December 2024, 54.81% of Indian graduates are
expected to be globally employable by 2025, increase from 51.2% in 2024, indicating a 7% rise.
• Maharashtra (84%) has topped in the India Skills Report 2025 for employability, followed by
Delhi (78%), Karnataka (75%), Andhra Pradesh, AP (72%), Kerala (71%) and Uttar Pradesh,
UP (70%).
• The list is topped by Gujarat in Men and AP in Women.
• The “ISR 2025” was published by talent assessment agency Wheebox in collaboration with the
All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), Confederation of Indian Industry (CII),
Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and Taggd (knowledge partner).

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 • The employability rates are highest among management graduates (78%), followed by
engineering (71.5%), Master of Commerce Administration (MCA) students (71%) and science
graduates (58%).
• India’s workforce with 65% under the age of 35, provides a substantial advantage in meeting
the demands of industries in regions such as the Gulf, Southeast Asia, Europe and Africa.
• Kerala (India) is ranked 5th in employability among all states with a strong workforce,
especially among youths (87.47% for ages 22-25) and experienced professionals (68.82% for
ages 26-29).
• Kerala has retained its top ranking among states for the 4th consecutive time as per
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) India Index 2023-24.
• Kerala is the 9th largest economy in India, with an annual gross state product (GSP) of Rs 9.78
lakh crore in 2020–2021. Click here to read more.

2. In December 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) released its “World Malaria
Report 2024: Addressing inequity in the global malaria response”, highlighting malaria cases
in India decreased by ________ from 6.4 million in 2017.
1) 85%
2) 73%
3) 69%
4) 56%
5) 48%
Answer- 3) 69%
Explanation:
In December 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) released its “World Malaria Report 2024 :
Addressing inequity in the global malaria response”, highlighting a concerning increase in the global
malaria cases. This year’s report provides an up-to-date summary to control and eliminate the disease
in 83 countries worldwide.
• India has made notable development in combating malaria as revealed in the World Malaria
Report 2023 by the WHO.
• India had exited the High Burden to High Impact (HBHI) group due to significant progress in
2024. Between 2017 and 2023, malaria cases in India decreased by 69%, from 6.4 million to 2
million while deaths reduced by 68% from 11,100 to 3,500.
• Malaria is a life threatening disease transmitted through bites of infected female Anopheles
mosquitoes.
• The WHO’s World Malaria Report 2024 reveals that in 2023, the majority of malaria deaths
occurred in 4 countries: Nigeria (30.9%), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (11.3%),
Niger (5.9%) and Tanzania (4.3%)
• The country Ethiopia alone accounts for 4.5 million cases.
• In 2023, malaria cases surged to an estimated 263 million across 83 countries, up from 252
million in 2022 and 226 million in 2015.
• Worldwide, 2.2 billion cases and 12.7 million deaths were prevented from 2000 to 2023.
• From 2000 to 2023, India’s malaria burden decreased by 82.4% from 22.8 million to 4 million
while incidence dropped by 87% from 17.7 to 2.3 per 1,000 populations in the global fight
against malaria.

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 • India’s approximately 2,038,000 reported cases represented 0.8% of the global malaria burden
in 2023.
• As of November 2024, 44 countries and one territory (Cabo Verde) have been certified
malaria free by WHO, with several others on track to achieve this status. Click here to read
more.

3. Which Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) has recently (in December ‘24) partnered with IIT
Mandi and Centre -for Study of Science, Technology, and Policy (CSTEP), developed and
released the report “District-Level Climate Risk Assessment for India: Mapping Flood and
Drought Risks Using IPCC Framework”?
1) IIT Goa
2) IIT Madras
3) IIT Kanpur
4) IIT Bombay
5) IIT Guwahati
Answer- 5) IIT Guwahati
Explanation:
In December 2024, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)Guwahati (Assam) in partnership with IIT
Mandi (Himachal Pradesh, HP) and Bengaluru (Karnataka)-based Centre for Study of Science,
Technology, and Policy (CSTEP), developed and released the report titled “District-Level Climate Risk
Assessment for India: Mapping Flood and Drought Risks Using the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC) Framework” at IIT Delhi in New Delhi (Delhi).
• The report provides comprehensive in-depth analysis of flood and drought risks across 698
districts in India.
• The report was prepared with the support of the Department of Science and Technology (DST)
under the Ministry of Science and Technology(MoS&T) in partnership with the Swiss Agency
for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
• The report provides district-level flood and drought hazard, exposure, and vulnerability maps,
which helped in creating comprehensive flood and drought risk maps for India.
• The report has placed 51 districts into the ‘Very High’ flood risk category, and 118 districts
into the ‘High’ flood risk category.
• The report has further classified 91 districts in the ‘Very High’ drought risk category and 188
districts in the ‘High’ drought risk category.
• Among the top 50 districts with highest flood risk as well as highest drought risk, 11 Indian
districts are at ‘Very High’ risk for both floods and droughts, and emphasized on necessary
immediate interventions.
• The report has used the IPCC framework to identify the challenges posed by floods and
droughts and highlighted their impact on vulnerable populations. Click here to read more.

4. According to the recently (in December ‘24) released Bloomberg’s Richest Family 2024
Index, the Walton family of Walmart have secured the top spot as the world’s wealthiest family
with a net worth of____________________.
1) USD 432.4 billion
2) USD 563.9 billion
3) USD 624.8 billion

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4) USD 712.3 billion
5) USD 896.7 billion
Answer- 1) USD 432.4 billion
Explanation:
According to the Bloomberg’s Richest Family 2024 Index, the Walton family of Walmart (United
States of America) have secured the top spot as the world’s wealthiest family with a net worth of USD
432.4 billion.
• The Al Nahayan Family (United Arab Emirates) secured the 2nd spot followed by the Al-
Thani Family (Qatar) gained the 3rd spot on the list.
• Amongst the Indian families, the Ambani family (USD 99.6 billion) and Mistrys of Shapoorji
Pallonji (USD 41.4 billion) family have secured spots in this global ranking at 8th and 23rd
respectively.
• The net worth of the Walmart family has surpassed the individual net worth of Elon Musk and
the combined wealth of royal families in the Middle East.
• The UAE’s Al Nahyan family led by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has a wealth of
USD 323.9 billion spanning across three generations. Ruling family of the UAE Government
and Source of wealth from Oil revenues
• Qatar’s Al Thani royal family spans across eight generations and has a total net worth of USD
172.9 billion. Revenues from Oil and offshore gas fields.
• The Hermes Family, the owners of the French luxury goods business with six generations and
over 100 members, held the 4th spot with a net worth of USD 170.6 billion.
• The US based Koch family, with three generations involved in the oil industry ranked at the
5th spot with a net worth of USD 148.5 billion.
• India’s richest saw their net worths increase as the top 20 have added USD 67.3 billion since
January 2024 — with the biggest gainers being Shiv Nadar (USD 10.8 billion) and Savitri
Jindal (USD 10.1 billion). Click here to read more.

5. In December 2024, Forbes, an American global media company released the 21st annual
ranking of the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women(MPW) list. Ursula von der Leyen, President
of the European Commission(EC) has topped the list.
Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Ministry of Finance (MoF) and Ministry of Corporate
Affairs (MCA) ranked at _______ spot in the list.
1) 24th
2) 28th
3) 46th
4) 81st
5) 82nd
Answer- 2) 28th
Explanation:
In December 2024, Forbes, an American global media company released the 21st annual ranking of
the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women(MPW) list. Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Ministry
of Finance, MoF and Ministry of Corporate Affairs(MCA)(ranked at 28th spot) has topped among the 3
Indian women featured on the list.

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 • She is followed by Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Chairperson of HCL Technologies; and Kiran
Mazumdar-Shaw, Founder and Executive Chairperson of Biocon India Private Limited ranked
at 81st and 82nd spot on the list respectively.
• Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission(EC) has topped the list for the
3rd consecutive year, followed by Christine Lagarde, President of European Central Bank
(ECB); Georgia Meloni, President of Italy ranked at 2nd and 3rd position respectively.
• This latest edition of the rankings has represented women on the list into 6 main categories:
business, technology, finance, media & entertainment, politics & policy, and philanthropy.
• Forbes used 4 main metrics: money, media, impact and spheres of influence, to determine
the rank within each category as well as overall rank on the list.
• Nirmala Sitharaman who was appointed as the Union Minister of Finance and Corporate
Affairs in 2019, became the 1st woman in India to hold these portfolios full-time and was
reappointed in 2024.
• She is currently serving as Member of Parliament (MP) in Rajya Sabha (the Upper of the
Parliament) from Karnataka constituency. Click here to read more.

6. In November 2024, Union Minister Amit Shah, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), inaugurated
the 59th Directors General of Police (DGsP) / Inspectors General of Police (IGsP) Conference in
Bhubaneswar, Odisha. He launched the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) book on the ‘Ranking
of Police Stations 2024.’
Which police station has secured the top position in the ‘Ranking of Police Stations 2024’?
1) Pattapur police station
2) Ichhapore police station
3) Nimiaghat police station
4) Aska Police Station
5) Teliamura Police Station
Answer- 2) Ichhapore police station
Explanation:
In November 2024, Union Minister Amit Shah, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), inaugurated the 59th
Directors General of Police (DGsP) / Inspectors General of Police (IGsP) Conference in Bhubaneswar,
Odisha. The conference was held in a hybrid format from 29 November to 1 December 2024.
• The conference was attended by Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modi led the
discussions on the second and third days of the conference.
• During the conference, the President’s Police Medal for distinguished service was awarded,
the ‘Ranking of Police Stations 2024’ book released and trophies presented to top police
stations.
• The conference aims to address critical national security matters such as counter-
terrorism, left-wing extremism (LWE), coastal security, new criminal laws, and the fight
against narcotics.
• He presented Police Medals for Meritorious Service to 13 senior police officials and
launched the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)’ book on the ‘Ranking of Police Stations
2024.’
• Additionally, trophies were awarded to the top three police stations.
1. The Ichhapore police station in Surat, Gujarat, secured the top position.
2. Pattapur police station in Ganjam district, Odisha secured the second position.

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 3. The Nimiaghat police station in Giridih district, Jharkhand, was ranked third best in
the country.

7. In December 2024, Hurun India in partnership with IDFC First Bank Limited released the
2nd edition of ‘India’s Top 200 Self-made Entrepreneurs of the Millenia 2024’.
Who among the following is ‘not’ in the top 5 of the list?
1) Radhakishan Shivkishan Damani
2) Deepinder Goyal
3) Sriharsha Majety
4) Abhay Soi
5) Harshil Mathur
Answer- 5) Harshil Mathur
Explanation:
On December 18 2024, Hurun India in partnership with IDFC First Bank Limited released the 2nd
edition of ‘India’s Top 200 Self-made Entrepreneurs of the Millenia 2024’. As per the report,
Radhakishan Shivkishan Damani, the founder of Avenue Supermarts Limited (DMart) has topped
the list for 2nd consecutive year, with a valuation of Rs 3.4 lakh crore, witnessing a growth of 44%.
• Deepinder Goyal, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Zomato Media Private Limited is ranked at
2nd position (up from 3rd spot in 2023) and his net worth has significantly increased by 190%,
to over Rs 2.5 lakh crore.
• He is followed by Sriharsha Majety and Nandan Reddy, founders of Swiggy Private Limited
(India’s leading food delivery company) secured the 3rd spot on the list with net worth of Rs
1.01 lakh crore.
• Deep Kalra, Founder and Chairman of MakeMyTrip Limited and Rajesh Magow, Co-Founder
and Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MakeMyTrip Limited, secured the 4th spot on the
list with net worth of Rs 99,300.
• Abhay Soi, Chairman & Managing Director of Max Healthcare Institute Limited secured the 5th
spot on the list with net worth of Rs 78,600.
• The combined valuation of companies on the list is Rs 36 lakh crores (USD 431 billion),
marking an increase of 20% compared to 2023.
• As per the report, Kaivalya Vohra (22 year-old), co-founder of Zepto, has been again named
as India’s youngest self-made entrepreneur.
• Falguni Nayar (ranked at 10th spot), the founder and CEO of Nykaa, has topped among all the
Indian women entrepreneurs featured on the list, with a total valuation of Rs 56,600 crore
(30% increase compared to last year). Click here to read more.

ACQUISITION AND MERGERS

1.Which company has recently (in December ‘2024) acquired 84.44% stake of Shriram
Housing Finance Limited (SHFL) from Shriram Finance Limited (SFL) for Rs 3,929 crore?
1) Carlyle Group
2) Blackstone
3) Warburg Pincus
4) Bain Capital

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5) TPG Capital
Answer: 3) Warburg Pincus
Explanation:
In December 2024, Chennai (Tamil Nadu)-based Shriram Finance Limited (SFL), a Non-Banking
Finance Company (NBFC) and the flagship company of the Shriram Group, completed the sale of its
entire 84.44% stake in its subsidiary, Shriram Housing Finance Limited (SHFL) to the United States of
America (USA)-based investment firm Warburg Pincus for Rs 3,929 crore.
i.The deal was finalized with Warburg Pincus’s affiliate, Mango Crest Investment Ltd., after obtaining
all necessary regulatory approvals.
ii.This transaction, first announced in May 2024, also involves Valiant Capital Partners LP, based in
San Francisco (USA). The private equity firm, which owned the remaining stake in SHFL, will also
divest its entire equity stake to Warburg Pincus.
iii.The sale allows SFL to focus on its core operations and pursue growth opportunities.

DEFENCE

1. Name the trilateral air combat exercise conducted between Indian Air Force (IAF), the
France Air and Space Force (FASF) and the United Arab Emirates Air Force (UAEAF) from 11 to
13 December 2024 to enhance their defence cooperation.
1) VARUNA 2024
2) Mitra Shakti 2024
3) Pitch Black 2024
4) Desert Knight 2024
5) Nomadic Elephant 2024
Answer- 4) Desert Knight 2024
Explanation:
The Indian Air Force (IAF), the France Air and Space Force (FASF) and the United Arab Emirates Air
Force (UAEAF) have conducted their trilateral air combat exercise ‘Desert Knight 2024’ over the
Arabian Sea for three days from 11 to 13 December 2024 to enhance their defence cooperation. It
was the 2nd trilateral exercise of 2024.
• The aim of the exercise was to enhance synergy and interoperability among the air forces of
the three countries.
• The IAF participated with aircraft, Sukhoi-30MKIs and Jaguars, supported by IL-78 mid-air
refuellers and AEW&C (airborne early-warning and control) systems, operating from
Jamnagar, Gujarat.
• French Rafale jets and UAE’s F-16 fighters were stationed at the Al Dhafra air base in the UAE.
• The “large force engagement” exercise showcased intense combat exercises conducted around
350-400 kilometer(km) southwest of Karachi, over the Arabian Sea.
• The “Desert Knight” exercise expands on the trilateral framework set up in 2022 by the foreign
ministers of India, France, and the UAE.

2. Name the drone that was recently (in December ‘24) delivered to Indian Army (IA) by
Asteria Aerospace Limited to enhance India’s self-reliance in defence.
1) Predator Drone
2) Falcon UAV

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3) ArmaLite Rifle (AT)-15
4) RQ-4 Global Hawk
5) Hermes 900
Answer- 3) ArmaLite Rifle (AT)-15
Explanation:
In December 2024, Bengaluru(Karnataka) based Asteria Aerospace Limited successfully delivered
its largest ever batch of ArmaLite Rifle (AT)-15 Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) drones to the
Indian Army (IA). It enhances India’s self-reliance in defence under the “Atmanirbhar Bharat”
initiative.
• These drones are launched under the Ministry of Defence (MoD), providing cutting-edge
surveillance capabilities tailored for modern warfare.
• The AT-15 features a unique blended wing design for enhanced aerodynamics, enabling it to
operate at altitudes up to 6,000 meters(m).
• With a range of 20 kilometers (kms) and a flight time of 120 minutes, it excels in long-
duration reconnaissance missions.
• It was built entirely from composite materials, the AT-15 is durable yet portable, ideal for
deployment in challenging terrains.

3. Which company has recently (in December ‘24) delivered the “iBooster Green Propulsion
System” to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)?
1) Skyroot Aerospace Private Limited
2) Bellatrix Aerospace Private Limited
3) Manastu Space Technologies Private Limited
4) Dhruva Space Private Limited
5) Sierra Space Corporation
Answer- 3) Manastu Space Technologies Private Limited
Explanation:
In December 2024, Mumbai (Maharashtra) based deep-technology startup, Manastu Space
Technologies Private Limited successfully delivered the “iBooster Green Propulsion System” to the
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• This achievement follows 4 years of extensive research and development supported by
DRDO’s Technology Development Fund (TDF).
• Founders of the start-up Tushar Jadhav and Ashtesh Kumar handed over the iBooster
Green Propulsion System to DRDO Chairman Satish Kamat.
• The iBooster system was designed for satellites weighing between 100 to 500 kilogram
(kg) and plays a vital role in critical satellite operations, including orbit raising, station-
keeping and deorbiting.
• The system is powered by a proprietary hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) based fuel, offering a
safer, more eco-friendly alternative to conventional toxic fuels and is more cost effective
compared to other high priced alternatives.
• The iBooster’s performance will also be tested aboard an upcoming Polar Satellite Launch
Vehicle (PSLV) mission by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), further
showcasing India’s leadership in space innovation and sustainability.

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4. In December 2024, the Indian Navy (IN) commissioned the Indian Naval Ship (INS)
Nirdeshak (YARD 3026), the second of four Survey Vessel (large) SVL project in
Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (AP).
Which company has built the INS Nirdeshak and ships under SVL project?
1) Cochin Shipyard Limited
2) Goa Shipyard Limited
3) Hindustan Shipyard Limited
4) Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited
5) Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers
Answer- 5) Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers
Explanation:
On 18th December 2024, the Indian Navy (IN) commissioned the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Nirdeshak
(YARD 3026), the second of four Survey Vessel (large) SVL project at the Naval Dockyard,
Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (AP), in a ceremony led by the Union Minister of State Sanjay Seth,
Ministry of Defence (MoD)
• The SVL Project includes four ships, Sandhayak, Nirdeshak, Ikshak, and Sanshodhak. It
aims to upgrade the IN’s hydrographic survey fleet by replacing the older Sandhayak-class
ships, which were inducted into IN on 5th December 2021.
• Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern
Naval Command (FOC-in-C ENC), hosted the ceremony to officially induct the second of the
four SVL ships being built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, West
Bengal (WB).
• Built with over 80% indigenous material, it has been inducted to enhance hydrographic
surveys, navigation, and maritime safety using advanced technologies like Multi-Beam Echo
Sounders (MBES), Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) and Autonomous Underwater
Vehicles (AUV).

5. Which company has recently (in December ‘24) supplied the second batch of 360 loitering
munitions, known as ‘Nagastra-1’ to Indian Army (IA)?
1) Premier Explosives Limited
2) Lokesh Machines Limited
3) Economic Explosives Limited
4) Bharat Electronics Limited
5) Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
Answer- 3) Economic Explosives Limited
Explanation:
In December 2024, the Indian Army (IA) received the second batch of 360 loitering munitions,
known as ‘Nagastra-1’, from Nagpur(Maharashtra)-based Economic Explosives Limited (EEL), a
subsidiary of Solar Industries India Limited (SLIN), under a contract valued at Rs 2.12 billion (about
USD 25 million) which was signed in April 2023.
• Developed with over 75% indigenous content, were delivered after rigorous testing and
inspection.
• The IA placed an order for 480 loiter munitions under Emergency Procurement Powers
(EEP) with EEL. The first batch of 120 munitions was delivered in June 2024, and the
remaining 360 were delivered in December 2024.

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 • Nagastra-1 is a lightweight, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-based, man-portable weapon
designed for precision strikes, especially in counter-insurgency and urban warfare. It
features a Global Positioning System (GPS)-guided system with a strike accuracy of just 2
meters(m) and can be used for surgical strikes.
• The munition has a range of 15 kilometer(km) during remote control operations and 30 km
during autonomous flight, with an endurance of 60 minutes. A day/night camera aids in
reconnaissance, and a parachute recovery system ensures safety if the flight needs to be
aborted.

6. Where was the seventh Missile Cum Ammunition (MCA) Barge, Landing Ship Ammunition 14
(LSAM 14) (Yard 82) launched in December 2024?
1) Maharashtra
2) Odisha
3) Haryana
4) Tripura
5) Telangana
Answer- 1) Maharashtra
Explanation:
In December 2024, the seventh Missile Cum Ammunition (MCA) Barge, Landing Ship Ammunition 14
(LSAM 14) (Yard 82), was launched at the Mira Bhayandar site in Maharashtra by M/s SECON
Engineering Projects Private Limited, a Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) shipyard based
in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (AP).
• The launch ceremony was presided over by Commodore (Cmde) AKK Reddy, Additional
General (AGM) Manager (Public Relations, PR), Naval Dockyard (ND), Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• In February 2021, the contract for building eight MCA Barges was signed with SECON
Engineering Projects Private Limited.
• The barges were indigenously designed in collaboration with an Indian ship design firm and
underwent successful model testing at the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL)
in Visakhapatnam to ensure seaworthiness.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Where did the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) conduct the sea level hot test of its
Cryogenic Engine CE20 in December 2024?
1) Chandipur, Odisha
2) Ahmedabad, Gujarat
3) Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
4) Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu
5) Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh
Answer- 4) Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu
Explanation:
In December 2024, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) announced that it has successfully
conducted the sea level hot test of its Cryogenic Engine CE20 with a nozzle area ratio of 100 at the
ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu (TN).

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 • The engine, equipped with systems enabling restart capability, marks a crucial advancement
for ISRO’s upcoming missions.
• Cryogenic technology utilizes rocket propellants stored at extremely low temperatures, such as
Liquid Oxygen (LOX) and Liquid Hydrogen (LH2), which are mixed in specific proportions as
fuel and oxidizer.
• Liquid oxygen remains in its liquid state at temperatures lower than -183°C, while liquid
hydrogen remains liquid at temperatures below -253°C.
• The CE20 cryogenic engine, designed indigenously by ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre
(LPSC) in Bengaluru(Karnataka) , powers the upper stage of the Launch Vehicle Mark-3
(LVM3).
• It has been certified for the Gaganyaan mission with a thrust capacity of 20 tonnes and is set
to be upgraded to 22 tonnes for the upcoming C32 stage, aiming to boost the payload capacity
of the LVM3.
• Testing the CE20 engine at sea level is difficult mainly due to its high-area ratio nozzle, which
has an exit pressure of about 50 millibar (mbar).

2. In December 2024, China launched the Long March-2D carrier rocket, which has successfully
deployed 5 experimental satellites into the planned orbit.
This launch marks the _______space mission of China in 2024 and also marks the 551st flight of
the Long March rocket series.
1) 62nd
2) 63rd
3) 64th
4) 65th
5) 66th
Answer- 2) 63rd
Explanation:
On December 12 2024, China launched the Long March-2D carrier rocket, which successfully
deployed 5 experimental satellites into the planned orbit. These 5 satellites were launched from the
Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China.
• This launch marks the 63rd space mission of China in 2024 and also marks the 551st flight
of the Long March rocket series.
• These satellites were developed by an organisation affiliated with the Harbin Institute of
Technology in Heilongjiang province, China. The primary objective of these satellites is to
test advanced technologies.
• It is capable of carrying payloads weighing up to 1.3 tons into Sun Synchronous Orbits
(SSOs) at nearly 700 kilometers (kms) altitude.
• It was designed and constructed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, a
subsidiary of state-owned contractor of aerospace products, China Aerospace Science and
Technology Corporation (CASC).

3. Name the radar satellites that were recently (in December ‘24) launched by China to
enhance Earth observation capabilities.
1) Gaofen-12
2) Tianhui-3

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3) Jilin-1
4) Yunhai-3
5) PIESAT-2
Answer- 5) PIESAT-2
Explanation:
On December 17, 2024, China successfully launched 4 Earth-observation radar satellites named
‘PIESAT-2’ aboard a Long March-2D rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi
Province, China.
• This launch marked China’s 65th space launch of 2024 and 553rd launch of the Long March
rocket series.
• The goal of the PIESAT-2 mission is to enhance China’s satellite network for efficient Earth
monitoring.
• PIESAT-2 satellites were developed by GalaxySpace (China’s unicorn company in the
commercial aerospace sector) and were equipped with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)
technology for high resolution, all-weather, day-and-night Earth observation.
• These satellites will provide essential services for monitoring land resources, natural disasters
and geological mapping.
• The Long March 2D rocket was designed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology
powered by liquid propellants.
• It demonstrated high efficiency in deploying multiple satellites in a single mission.

SPORTS

1. Which country has recently (in December ‘24) won the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Under
(U)-19 Men’s Asia Cup title by defeating India in the finals held at Dubai, United Arab Emirates
(UAE)?
1) Australia
2) Bangladesh
3) Pakistan
4) Sri Lanka
5) Afghanistan
Answer- 2) Bangladesh
Explanation:
Bangladesh defeated India in the finals by 59 runs to win their 2nd consecutive Asian Cricket Council
(ACC) Under (U)-19 Men’s Asia Cup title. The Final was held on 8th December 2024 at Dubai
International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
• The 11th edition of the tournament was held from 29th November to 8th December 2024 in
Sharjah and Dubai, UAE.
• Bangladesh won their first U-19 Men’s Asia Cup in 2023 by defeating UAE by 195 runs.
• India has been the most successful team to have won 8 titles in this tournament- 1989, 2003,
2012, 2013/14, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2021 respectively.
• The Indian team was captained by Mohamed Amaan while the team of Bangladesh was
captained by Azizul Hakim Tamin.

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 • The participants included 5 Asian full members of the International Cricket Council (ICC) —
India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh as well as the three associate
members—UAE, Japan, and Nepal who were selected through regional competitions.

2. In December 2024, British racer Lando Norris won the season-ending Formula 1 (F1) Abu
Dhabi Grand Prix (GP) 2024 held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Which brand does he represent?
1) Red Bull Racing
2) Aston Martin
3) Mercedes
4) McLaren
5) Ferrari
Answer- 4) McLaren
Explanation:
In December 2024, British racer Lando Norris of McLaren (25 points) won the season-ending
Formula 1 (F1) Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (GP) 2024 which was held at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu
Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
• This victory has led McLaren to secure its first F1 Constructors’ title since 1998 (after 26
years).
• Carlos Sainz (Spain) (18 points) and Charles Leclerc (Monaco) (15 points) of Ferrari secured
2nd and 3rd spot , respectively, for Ferrari which was the only team that could have beaten
McLaren to the championship.
• This was the 4th victory for Lando Norris in the 2024 season. The other three being – Miami
GP, Netherlands GP and Singapore GP.
• Lando Norris made his F1 debut in the 2019 Australian GP.
• He achieved his first podium in Formula One at the 2020 Austrian GP, his first pole position at
the 2021 Russian and his first win at the 2024 Miami GP.

3. Where will the 5th edition of the Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) 2025 take place between
January 23 and February 25, 2025 organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports?
1) Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir
2) Delhi and Chandigarh
3) Assam and Nagaland
4) Puducherry and Tamil Nadu
5) Haryana and Punjab
Answer- 1) Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir
Explanation:
On 11 December 2024, Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
(MYAS) announced that the 5th edition of the Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) 2025 will take
place between January 23 and February 25, 2025, in Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh and UT of
Jammu & Kashmir (J&K).
• The KIWG will kick off the Khelo India season, with the Youth and Para Games in Bihar in
April 2025 and the University Games later in the year.
• Ice Events such as ice hockey and ice skating will be hosted from January 23 to 27, 2025
in Leh, Ladakh for the second consecutive year.

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 • Snow Events, including alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, ski mountaineering, and
snowboarding, will be hosted from February 22 to 25, 2025 in Gulmarg, J&K.
• The athletes identified through the KIWG will be integrated into the National Sports
Repository System (NSRS).

4. Indian grandmaster Gukesh Dommaraju becomes the youngest world champion at 18,
defeating China’s Ding Liren to win the World Chess Championship 2024, held from 25th
November to 12th December 2024 in Singapore, breaking the record of which world
champion?
1) Magnus Carlsen's
2) Vishwanathan Anand's
3) Bobby Fischer's
4) Anatoly Karpov's
5) Garry Kasparov's
Answer: 5) Garry Kasparov's
Explanation:
Indian grandmaster Gukesh Dommaraju (D. Gukesh) from Chennai (Tamil Nadu, TN) defeated China’s
Ding Liren in the 14th and final round to win the World Chess Championship 2024 that was held from
25th November to 12th December 2024 in Singapore.
i.With this win, D.Gukesh has become the 18th and the youngest world champion at the age of 18
years 8 months 14 days till date.
ii.Before Gukesh, Garry Kasparov (Russia) was crowned as the world champion in 1985 when he was
22 years, six months and 27 days old.
iii.D.Gukesh was awarded with a prize money Rs.11.45 crore(USD 1.35 million) by the International
Chess Federation (FIDE).
iv.He will also be awarded with Rs.5 crore by the TN government.
v.Gukesh is the 2nd grandmaster from India to hold the world title.
vi.Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand was the unbeaten world champion for 6 years starting in 2007.
vii.Now, his name has been removed from the Rapid & Blitz lists by the FIDE.
viii. Magnus Carlsen, was 22 years, 11 months and 24 days when he won his first championship in
2013.

5. Which cricket team has recently (in December ‘24) won the 17th edition of the Syed Mushtaq
Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2024 by defeating Madhya Pradesh (MP) in Bengaluru, Karnataka?
1) Mumbai
2) Baroda
3) Chandigarh
4) Gujarat
5) Tamil Nadu
Answer- 1) Mumbai
Explanation:
Mumbai defeated Madhya Pradesh (MP) by 5 wickets to win the 17th edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali
Trophy (SMAT) 2024. The Cricket tournament was held from 23rd November to 15th December
2024 and the final was held at the Mangalam Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

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 • This was Mumbai’s 2nd title at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Its first title came in 2022 when
they defeated Himachal Pradesh by 3 wickets in the final.
• The team of Mumbai was captained by Shreyas Iyer while the team of MP was captained by
Rajat Patidar.
• The winning team Mumbai has been awarded with Rs 5 crore as prize money while the
runners up team Madhya Pradesh has received Rs 2.5 crore as prize money.
• Mumbai is now the 4th team to win SMAT title twice before Baroda, Guajarat and Karnataka.
Tamil Nadu has won the tournament thrice.
• Shreyas Iyer has become the first captain in history to win both the Indian Premier League
(IPL) and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) trophies in captain and in the same year.
• Mumbai is the most successful team in the history of Ranji Trophy, winning over 42 titles. It
also has won 14 Irani Cups.
• The 2024–25 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is an annual Twenty20 cricket tournament in India
featuring all 38 teams from the Ranji Trophy.

6. Recently (in December '24), Team Asia, including India’s Manika Batra led by Ma Long,
defeated Team World led by Truls Moregardh to win the inaugural edition of the 'Waldner Cup
2024' held at ____________?
1) Sweden
2) Norway
3) Germany
4) Denmark
5) Finland
Answer- 2) Norway
Explanation:
On December 16 2024, Team Asia comprising India’s Manika Batra, led by Ma Long won the 1st-ever
inaugural edition of the ‘Waldner Cup 2024’ by defeating Team World 14-10 in Oslo, Norway.
• The tournament was held from December 13 to 15, 2024 and was organized by Jan Ove
Waldner, the famous Swedish table tennis player and 1992 Olympic gold medallist.
i.Team Asia comprised China’s Ma Long, a 6 time Olympic Gold medallist, Chen Meng(China), the Paris
2024 women’s singles champion, South Korea’s Shin Yubin (2 time Olympic bronze medallist),
Kazakhstan’s Kirill Gerassimenko and India’s Manika Batra.
ii.Team World led Sweden’s Paris 2024 men’s singles silver medallist Truls Moregardh and 6 time
Olympic medallist Dimitrij Ovtcharov of Germany led 10-8 on the 2nd day, but Team Asia made a
strong comeback, winning the last 3 matches to take the match 14-10.
iii.Ma Long won the final match against Truls Moregardh, securing the victory for Team Asia.
iv.Manika Batra who ranked 25th in women’s singles, played two matches in the tournament.
v.The Waldner Cup was a two-day event. Each team had male and female players compete in singles,
doubles and mixed doubles matches.

7. The Union Minister of State (MoS) Raksha Khadse, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
(MYAS) has recently (in December ‘24) unveiled the Mascot, Logo, Anthem, Jersey, Torch, and
Tagline for the 38th National Games.
Which of the following is/are ‘Correct’ with respect to the event?

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A) 38th National Games is scheduled to take place at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in
Dehradun, Uttarakhand
B) The mascot for the 38th National Games is named ‘Mauli,’ inspired by the Himalayan Monal,
Uttarakhand’s state bird.
C) Indian Olympic Association President PT Usha announced that ‘yoga’ and ‘mallakhamb’ will
be included as demonstration sports in the National Games.
1) Only A and B
2) Only B and C
3) Only C
4) All A, B, and C
5) Only A and C
Answer- 4) All A, B, and C
Explanation:
In December 2024, Union Minister of State(MoS) Raksha Khadse, Ministry of Youth Affairs and
Sports(MYAS), unveiled the Mascot, Logo, Anthem, Jersey, Torch and Tagline for the 38th
National Games at an event held at Maharana Pratap Sports College in Dehradun(Uttarakhand). It
aims to promote sports culture, enhance infrastructure and motivate young athletes.
i.The 38th National Games is scheduled to take place at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in
Dehradun, Uttarakhand from January 28 to February 14, 2025 with over 10,000 athletes competing in
38 sports.
ii.Mascot: The mascot for the 38th National Games is named ‘Mauli,’ inspired by the Himalayan Monal,
Uttarakhand’s state bird.
iii.Logo: The logo featuring ‘the Monal’, symbolizes the state’s rich natural beauty and diversity.
iv.The mascot and logo aim to inspire young athletes and highlight Uttarakhand’s unique identity.
v.Tagline: The official tagline of the 38thNational Games, titled ‘Sankalp Se Shikhar Tak’ (From
Resolve to Zenith), was launched at the event.
• The tagline reflects the spirit of perseverance & determination required to achieve great
heights.
vi.Jersey: A special jersey was unveiled for the 38th National Games, designed to represent the state
and national spirit.
vi.Torch: The newly designed torch incorporates motifs of the perennial holy river Ganga and the state
flower, Brahma Kamal, also known as the “Lotus of the Darks”.
• The 38th National Games torch was lit during the event and will travel across Uttarakhand,
promoting unity and sportsmanship.
vii.Inclusion of Yoga and Mallakhamb: IOA President PT Usha announced that ‘yoga’ and
‘mallakhamb’ will be included as demonstration sports in the National Games.
• These traditional sports aim to highlight the cultural heritage of India and provide a platform
for showcasing indigenous athletic practices.
viiiThe state has allocated Rs 500 crore for infrastructure development, including new sports
facilities and renovation of existing stadiums.

8. Which Pakistani cricketers recently (in December ‘24) announced their retirement from
international cricket?
1) Shoaib Malik and Wahab Riaz
2) Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim

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3) Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi
4) Sarfaraz Ahmed and Fakhar Zaman
5) Hasan Ali and Shadab Khan
Answer- 2) Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim
Explanation:
Pakistani pacer Mohammad Amir announced his retirement from international cricket on 14th
December 2024 while Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim announced his retirement from international
cricket on 13th December 2024.
i.Amir and Imad Wasim both last represented Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2024, held in the United
States of America (USA) and the West Indies.
ii.Imad and Amir had previously announced retirement in 2023 and 2021 respectively but reversed
their decision due to their requirement in the team for the T20 World Cup in June 2024.
iii.Mohammad Amir had represented Pakistan in 36 Tests, 61 One-Day Internationals (ODI), and 62
Twenty20 Internationals (T20I) in his cricket career.
iv.Imad Wasim had played 55ODIs, taking 44 wickets, while in 75 T20Is, he took a total of 73
• He played a key role in the Pakistan team in winning the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy and
became No.1 T20I bowler in 2017.

9. Which of the following points is/are ‘correct’ with respect to Ravichandran Ashwin’s
retirement from International cricket in December 2024?
A) He is India’s 2nd-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket with 537 wickets in 106 matches. After
representing India in 106 Tests, 116 ODIs and 65 T20Is and picking up 765 wickets across
formats.
B) He received ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year in 2016 for his consistency and brilliance on the
field.
C) He received the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest sports honours for his exceptional
contribution to cricket in 2015.
1) Only A & B
2) Only A & C
3) Only B & C
4) Only C
5) All A, B & C
Answer- 1) Only A & B
Explanation:
On December 18 2024, Ravichandran Ashwin, India’s premier off-spinner announced his retirement
from International cricket ending a remarkable 14 year career at the top level across formats. He is
India’s 2nd-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket with 537 wickets in 106 matches.
• The announcement was made in the post match press conference following the third Test of
the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.
• After representing India in 106 Tests, 116 ODIs and 65 T20Is and picking up 765 wickets
across formats.
• He retires as the 2nd highest wicket-taker for India in Test cricket, with 537 wickets.
• He was the 1st bowler to take 100 wickets in the World Test Championship, achieving this
milestone in March 2022.

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 • He became the 2nd-fastest bowler to reach 500 Test wickets, achieving the milestone in 98
games in February 2024.
• He has won 11 ‘Player of the Series’ awards in Test cricket, the most by any Indian player.
• ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year (2016): Received the award, a testament to his consistency
and brilliance on the field. Also, ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year (2016)
• Arjuna Award (2015): One of India’s highest sports honours, for his exceptional contribution
to cricket.
• CEAT International Cricketer of the Year (2016-17): Received the first International Cricket
Rating System award in recognition of his outstanding performances across formats. Click here
to read more.

10. Where will be the 11th edition of the International Hockey Federation(FIH) Hockey
Women’s Junior World Cup (WC) 2025 held?
1) Ottawa, Canada
2) Santiago, Chile
3) Terrassa, Spain
4) Boston, United States
5) Potchefstroom, South Africa
Answer- 2) Santiago, Chile
Explanation:
In December 2024, the International Hockey Federation(FIH), headquartered in Lausanne,
Switzerland, announced that the 11th edition of the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup (WC)
2025 will be held in Santiago, Chile.
• This will be the fourth time the South American country has hosted the prestigious event.
• The upcoming tournament will feature 24 teams competing for the first time in FIH history.
This expansion is part of the FIH’s strategy to provide more opportunities for a diverse
range of National Associations.
• So far, the following teams have secured their spots in the tournament:
• Europe: Netherlands, Spain, England, Germany, Belgium, Ireland, Wales, Scotland.
• Pan America: Argentina, United States of America (USA), Uruguay, Canada
Teams from Africa, Asia, and Oceania will qualify at a later stage.

BOOKS AND AUTHORS

1. Who is the author of the recently (in December ‘24) released books ‘Hindu Rashtra Hai Kya’,
The Fight for the Republic’, and ‘Reflections on Culture, Media, and Science’?
1) Sitaram Yechury
2) Sunil Khilnani
3) Amrita Shah
4) Ramchandra Guha
5) A S Bhasin
Answer- 1) Sitaram Yechury

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Explanation:
In December 2024, former CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat released the three books based
on late Communist Party of India (Marxist) CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury’s writings on culture,
media, science and secularism at Jawahar Bhawan in New Delhi (Delhi).
• These books, published posthumously by the Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust (SAHMAT)
based in New Delhi and Tulika Books. These books are available in both Hindi and English.
• One of the books, ‘Hindu Rashtra Hai Kya’, is a Hindi translation of Yechury’s influential
1993 work What is Hindu Rashtra, written shortly after the demolition of the Babri Masjid.
• The other two books are ‘The Fight for the Republic’, which includes essays on Hindutva
and India @75, and ‘Reflections on Culture, Media, and Science’.

2. Which organisation has published the recently (in December ‘24) launched Ravi Prashar’s
book New Bharat – Modi’s Vision and Development 2019-2024?
1) Indian Express
2) Hindustan Times
3) Fourth Estate
4) Simon & Schuster
5) Bloomsbury Publishing
Answer- 2) Hindustan Times
Explanation:
On 11 December 2024, Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, launched
the book titled New Bharat – Modi’s Vision and Development 2019-2024 at the Constitution Club in
New Delhi (Delhi). The event was attended by Navneet Sehgal, Chairman of Prasar Bharati, along with
other distinguished dignitaries.
• The book is authored by Ravi Prashar and published by Hindustan Times.
• The book showcases the developmental initiatives and schemes implemented under the
leadership of Prime Minister (PM) of India, Narendra Modi, reflecting his vision for India’s
progress.
• Union Minister Shekhawat emphasized that the book symbolizes the nation’s development
journey and the changing global perception of India under PM Modi’s leadership.

OBITUARY

1. Renowned ___________________ and Padma Shri Awardee Purushottam Upadhyay passed away at
the age of 90 in December 2024.
1) Marathi Dancer
2) Punjabi Poet
3) Tabla Maestro
4) Gujarati Singer
5) Classical Dancer
Answer- 4) Gujarati Singer
Explanation:
In December 2024, Renowned Gujarati Singer and Padma Shri Awardee Purushottam Upadhyay
passed away at the age of 90 in Mumbai, Maharashtra. He was born on August 15 1934 in Kheda,
Gujarat.

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 • In 2017, he was honoured with Padma Shri Award, India’s 4th highest civilian honor, for his
exceptional contribution in music.
• Purushottam Upadhyay, a celebrated figure in Gujarati music renowned for iconic songs like
“He Ranglo Jamyo, Divaso Judaina Jay Che, Ae Jaashe Jarur Milan Sudhi and Kahu Chu
Jawanine”.
• Over his illustrious career, he composed music for more than 20 films and 30 plays.
• He was also honoured with the Gujarat Gaurav Puraskar award conferred by Gujarat Sahitya
Akademi and the Government of Gujarat for his contributions in Gujarati Literature.
• He has also received the Vishwa Gujarat Award, the Nagar Ratna Award and the Nalanda
University Award.

2. In December 2024, Renowned Indian tabla player & Padma Awardee Zakir Hussain Allaraka
Qureshi passed away at the age of 73.
When did he receive the Padma Vibhushan award for his immense contribution to music?
1) 1988
2) 1996
3) 2002
4) 2018
5) 2023
Answer- 5) 2023
Explanation:
In December 2024, Renowned Indian tabla player & Padma Awardee Zakir Hussain Allaraka
Qureshi passed away at the age of 73 in California, the United States of America (USA). He was born
on March 9, 1951 in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• Zakir Hussain, a 4 time Grammy award winner, has received the Padma Vibhushan, the
Padma Bhushan and the Padma Shri.
• Zakir Hussain was an iconic tabla virtuoso, composer, percussionist and music producer who
was celebrated for bringing classical Indian music to a global audience.
• Hussain’s remarkable career spanned across Indian classical music, film music, jazz and world
music. He was also a film actor and received widespread acclaim for his pioneering work in
world music fusion.
• Planet Drum went on to win the 1st-ever Grammy for ‘Best World Music Album’ in 1992,
setting the stage for Zakir Hussain’s global recognition.
• In February 2024, he became the 1st Indian musician to receive 3 Grammys at the “66th
Annual Grammy Awards” for ‘Best Global Music Album’, ‘Best Global Music Performance’ and
‘Best Contemporary Instrumental Album’.
• Padma Shri (1988) – He received India’s 4th highest civilian award for his exceptional
contributions to Indian music.
• Padma Bhushan (2002) – He received India’s 3rd highest civilian award for his distinguished
service in the field of art and culture.
• Padma Vibhushan (2023) – He received India’s 2nd highest civilian award in recognizing his
immense contribution to music.
• He won 4 Grammy Awards throughout his career, including 3 in 2024 alone. His wins were
for his collaborative works, including ‘Pashto, As We Speak, and This Moment’ with the
pioneering world fusion band Shakti.

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3. In December 2024, renowned Baiga Tribal _________ Jodhaiya Bai passed away at the age of 86
in the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh (MP).
1) Singer
2) Dancer
3) Artist
4) Writer
5) Violinist
Answer- 3) Artist
Explanation:
In December 2024, renowned Baiga Tribal Artist Jodhaiya Bai passed away at the age of 86 in the
Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh (MP). She was born in MP in 1938.
• In 2023, she was awarded the Padma Shri Award, India’s fourth highest civilian honour, for
her contribution in the field of arts.
• She played a key role in bringing Baiga tribal art to global recognition.
• In 2022, she received the Nari Shakti Puraskar, an annual award given by the Ministry of
Women and Child Development of the Government of India in recognition of her achievements.
• The name Baiga means ‘Sorcerer-medicine man’. They were primarily found in MP, Uttar
Pradesh (UP), Odisha, West Bengal (WB), Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.

IMPORTANT DAYS

1. Which date will be celebrated annually as 'Pravasi Rajasthani Divas' to honor the
contributions of the global Rajasthani community?
1) December 14
2) December 10
3) December 5
4) December 11
5) December 16
Answer- 2) December 10
Explanation:
In December 2024, Chief Minister (CM) of Rajasthan, Bhajanlal Sharma announced that ‘Pravasi
Rajasthani Divas’ will be celebrated every year on December 10 to honor the contributions of the
global Rajasthani community.
• It was announced at the ‘Pravasi Rajasthani’ conclave held as part of the Rising Rajasthan
Global Investment Summit (RRGIS) which was held in Jaipur, Rajasthan from December 9 to
December 11, 2024.
• He announced that the state government has decided to confer the ‘Pravasi Rajasthani
Samman’ to outstanding Rajasthanis living abroad.
• He also announced the formation of a separate department to look after the welfare of
migrants and address their issues.

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2. National Energy Conservation Day (NECD) is annually observed across India on 14th
December.
Which organisation is promoting the NECD under the Ministry of Power (MoP)?
1) NTPC Limited
2) NHPC Limited
3) Bureau of Energy Efficiency
4) Rural Electrification Corporation Limited
5) Power Grid Corporation of India Limited
Answer- 3) Bureau of Energy Efficiency
Explanation:
National Energy Conservation Day (NECD) is annually observed across India on 14th December to
raise awareness about the importance of saving energy and encourage individuals, industries, and
institutions to adopt efficient and sustainable energy practices for a better future.
• NECD is promoted by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under the Ministry of Power
(MoP).
• The first-ever NECD was observed on 14th December 1991.
• Energy conservation involves minimising unnecessary energy use by reducing energy services.
• BEE under MoP will observe National Energy Conservation Week from 14 to 20 December
2024 across India.
• NECA and Innovation Awards comprising 23 first prizes, 19 second prizes, 25 certificates of
merit, and 4 certificates of recognition for innovation.
• NECA Category: Industry, Transport, Buildings, Institution and Appliance of the year.
• Innovation Awards for Professional Category: Industry, Transport and Building
• Maharashtra has secured the first prize in Group 1 of the State Performance Award under
NECA 2024, while Karnataka has won the second prize.
• Dalmia Cement Bharat Ltd. from Odisha won first prize in Cement sector under Industry
Category.
• Lulu International Shopping Malls Pvt Ltd., from Kerala won first prize in the Shopping
Malls & Plazas sector under Building Category. Click here to read more.

3. When is the Vijay Diwas, or Victory Day (Bijoy Dibos) annually observed across India and
Bangladesh?
1) August 29
2) September 23
3) October 14
4) November 15
5) December 16
Answer- 5) December 16
Explanation:
Vijay Diwas, or Victory Day (Bijoy Dibos), is annually observed across India and Bangladesh on 16
December to celebrate the historic victory of Indian armed forces against Pakistan in the 1971 Indo-
Pak war (India Pakistan War of 1971).
• The day also pays tributes to the martyrs of both India and Bangladesh, who lost their lives on
the line during the war.

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 • The day commemorates the formal surrender of the Pakistani Armed Forces to the joint Indian
and Mukti Bahini (Bangladesh liberation forces) in Dhaka (Bangladesh) during the
Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971.
• 16 December 2024 marks the celebration of the 53rd Vijay Diwas.
• The Indo-Pak War 1971 was a 13-day military conflict between India and Pakistan that took
place from December 3 to 16 in 1971.
• The conflict ended with the signing of the Instrument of Surrender by the Eastern Command of
the Pakistan military on December 16, 1971, in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
• On December 16 2024, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, along with Chief of Defence
Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Manoj Pande, Navy Chief
Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi and Indian Air Force(IAF) Air Chief Marshal AP Singh paid homage
at the National War Memorial on the occasion of Vijay Diwas in New Delhi (Delhi). Click here to
read more.

4.When is the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers observed annually?
1) December 17
2) October 20
3) September 15
4) August 12
5) November 18
Answer: 1) December 17
Explanation:
International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers is observed annually on December 17th aims
to raise awareness about the widespread violence, discrimination and abuse faced by sex workers
worldwide and promote equality, safety and respect for their human rights.
i.The 21st International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers serves as a reminder to advocate
for the rights of sex workers and remember those who have lost their lives due to violence.
ii.The global observance of International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers was organized by
the Global Network of Sex Work Projects (NSWP). Click here to read more

5. Which of the following is/are correct with respect to the United Nations (UN)’s International
Migrants Day?
A) The United Nations (UN)’s International Migrants Day is annually observed across the globe
on 19th December focusing on the significant contributions migrants make to societies
worldwide.
B) The 12th edition of IOM’s flagship report ‘World Migration Report 2024’ released in May
2024 to increase understanding of global migration.
C) Global remittances grew from USD 128 billion in 2000 to USD 731 billion in 2022.
1) Only A & B
2) Only A & C
3) Only B & C
4) Only B
5) All A, B & C
Answer- 4) Only B

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Explanation:
The United Nations (UN)’s International Migrants Day is annually observed across the globe on
18th December focusing on the significant contributions migrants make to societies worldwide. It
highlights the challenges they face in achieving their full potential and emphasizes the importance of
ensuring their rights.
• 18th December 2024 marks the observance of 24th International Migrants Day.
• The theme of International Migrants Day 2024 is “Honouring the Contributions of Migrants
and Respecting Their Rights”.
• The first ever International Migrants Day was observed on 18th December 2000.
• The 12th edition of IOM’s flagship report ‘World Migration Report 2024’ released in May 2024
to increase understanding of global migration.
• The report was published by the IOM focuses on migration trends, statistics, and emerging
migration issues.
• Around 281 million international migrants were recorded globally in 2020, making up 3.6% of
the global population.
• Global remittances grew from USD 128 billion in 2000 to USD 831 billion in 2022.
• The World Migration Report 2024 notes a 650% increase in international remittances
between 2000 and 2022, emphasizing their growing importance in global financial flows. Click
here to read more.

6. When is the United Nations (UN)’s Arabic Language Day annually observed across the globe?
1) December 18
2) July 7
3) June 6
4) March 20
5) April 23
Answer- 1) December 18
Explanation:
The United Nations (UN) observes Arabic Language Day on December 18th each year, celebrating
the adoption of Arabic as one of the six official languages of the UN in 1973. This observance
celebrates multilingualism and promotes equitable use of all six official languages of the United
Nations.
• Arabic is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, used daily by more than 400
million people.
• The 2024 celebration marks the 51st anniversary of Arabic’s official recognition at the UN.
• Theme of 2024 – “Arabic Language and Artificial Intelligence (AI): Advancing Innovation
while Preserving Cultural Heritage.”
• It aims to recognize Arabic’s contribution to enriching science, philosophy, literature, art, and
global culture.
• It also aims to promote the equal use of all six official languages including Arab,Chinese,
English, French, Russian, and Spanish while celebrating multilingualism and cultural
diversity.
• Chinese Language Day (20 April); English Language Day (23 April); Spanish Language Day(23
April); French Language Day (20 March); Russian Language Day (6 June); Spanish Language
Day (23 April).

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 • The 1st Arabic Language Day was observed on December 18, 2012.
• The Arabic alphabet or the Arabic abjad, is the Arabic script as specifically codified for writing
the Arabic language. It is written from right-to-left in a cursive style, and includes 28 letters
• The Arabic script is the second-most widely used alphabetic writing system globally, after
the Latin script. It is also the second-most used writing system by the number of countries and
the third-most by the number of users, following Latin and Chinese scripts. Click here to
read more.

7. National Minority Rights Day also known as Minorities Day is annually observed across India
on 18th December.
The day marks the observance of the _______ Minority Rights Day.
1) 8th
2) 12th
3) 14th
4) 19th
5) 24th
Answer- 2) 12th
Explanation:
National Minority Rights Day, also known as Minorities Day, is annually observed across India on
18th December to create awareness about the constitutionally assured rights of religious minorities.
The day aims to highlight the importance of freedom and equal opportunities for minorities in India
while raising awareness about their rights.
• The theme for Minorities Rights Day 2024 is “Promoting Diversity and Protecting Rights”.
• 18th December 2024 marks the observance of the 12th Minority Rights Day.
• In India, National Minorities Rights Day was first observed on 18th December 2013.
• A minority group is defined as a community that lacks social, political, and economic
dominance and is numerically inferior within a country.
• Under Section 2 (c) of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) Act, 1992, the Muslims,
Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jain and Zoroastrians (Parsis) have been notified as minority
communities.
• Union Minister of State(MoS), George Kurian emphasized the need for effective execution of
government schemes, aligning with the Prime Minister’s “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka
Vishwas (together with all, development for all, trust of all, and efforts by all).”
• The National Minorities Development & Finance Corporation (NMDFC) was incorporated in
1994 under Section 25 of the Companies Act 1956 (now Section-8 of Companies Act,2013).
Concessional loans to minorities through NMDFC. Click here to read more.

8. When is the United Nations (UN)’s International Human Solidarity Day annually observed
across the globe?
1) December 22
2) December 21
3) December 19
4) December 17
5) December 20
Answer- 5) December 20

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Explanation:
The United Nations (UN)’s International Human Solidarity Day is annually observed across the
globe on 20th December to raise public awareness of the importance of solidarity in addressing
global challenges such as poverty, inequality, and injustice.
• International Solidarity Day reminds governments and non-state actors, including businesses,
to uphold their commitments to international agreements and human rights.
• Solidarity refers to unity or mutual support within a group or among individuals, especially in
times of difficulty or challenge and collective action to promote human rights and social justice
worldwide.
• The first-ever International Human Solidarity Day was observed on 20 December 2006.
• UN Women marks International Human Solidarity Day with a message on gender equality.
“HeForShe” is the United Nations’ global solidarity movement for gender equality.
• The HeForShe movement, launched by UN Women in 2014, is a global solidarity campaign
aimed at engaging men and boys in the fight for gender equality.
• The Independent Expert (IE) on Human Rights and International Solidarity (HRIS) is an
individual appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to address and
promote human rights and international solidarity. Click here to read more.

ENVIRONMENT

1. Which of the following is not one of the five new species of the Darwin wasp subfamily
Microleptinae which was recently (in December '2024) discovered by researchers from the
Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) in India and Thailand?
1) Microleptes chiani
2) Microleptes Gowrishankari
3) Microleptes Sandeshkaduri
4) Microleptes depressus
5) Microleptes xinbinensis
Answer: 5) Microleptes xinbinensis
Explanation:
In December 2024, a team of researchers from the Bengaluru (Karnataka) based Ashoka Trust for
Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), along with their collaborators, discovered five
new species of the Darwin wasp subfamily Microleptinae from India and Thailand. The species
belongs to the family Hymenoptera, which comprises 42 subfamilies, with the scientific name
‘Ichneumonidae’.
i.These discoveries of the study were published in the Journal of Hymenoptera Research. The
discovery represents the first documented presence of the Microleptinae subfamily in India.
ii.The research, led by Ranjith A.P. and Priyadarsanan Dharma Rajan of ATREE, in collaboration with
Buntika A. Butcher from Chulalongkorn University in Thailand and Andrei E. Humala from the Russian
Academy of Sciences
About the five new species:
i.Microleptes chiani: It was discovered in Tamil Nadu’s Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve
(KMTR), and is named after Tamilazhagan (commonly known as Chian), Senior Technical Assistant at
ATREE.
ii.Microleptes Gowrishankari: It was discovered in Karnataka’s Biligiri Ranganathaswamy Temple

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Tiger Reserve, and named after Dr. P. Gowri Shankar of the Kalinga Foundation in recognition of his
efforts in King Cobra conservation.
iii.Microleptes Sandeshkaduri: It was collected from the Siang Valley along the Kugging River of
Arunachal Pradesh and named after Mr Sandesh Kadur of Felis Creations for his outstanding
contributions to documenting and conserving biodiversity.
iv.Microleptes Tehriensis: The name is derived from its collection site in Tehri, Uttarakhand.
v.Microleptes depressus: It was discovered in Thailand.
Note: The researchers also discovered the female Microleptes xinbinensis, a species that was
previously known only from China.

2. Name the recently (in December ‘24) discovered large antlion species found in Tamil Nadu
(TN).
1) Scaptia muscula
2) Myrmeleon formicarius
3) Lasiochalcidia igiliensis
4) Palpares Contrarius
5) Myrmeleon pictifrons
Answer- 4) Palpares Contrarius
Explanation:
In November 2024, researchers discovered a large antlion species, “Palpares Contrarius” from
Myrmeleontidae (Antlion family) which resembles a dragonfly, for the first time at the Madras
Christian College (MCC) in Tamil Nadu (TN). The discovery in TN contributes to the state’s rich
biodiversity.
• The study was published in the Journal of the Threatened Taxa and the discovery was
documented by Anita Pearline Esther, an entomologist at MCC, TN.
• The specimen was deposited in the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Chennai.
• Antlions are identifiable by its distinctive antennae and unique vertical wing-flapping flight,
with adults being elusive and nocturnal. It belongs to the order Neuroptera.
• Antlion larvae make sand pits to catch prey, mainly feeding on ants. The larval stage can last
more than a year, depending on the environment and food supply.
• Antlions are found in many countries, including Africa, Myanmar, Thailand, and Sri Lanka. In
India, they live in states such as Odisha, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Mizoram, Uttarakhand, and
Madhya Pradesh(MP).

APP and WEB PORTAL

------

CURRENT STATIC BANKING

1. Which payment company's share sale has been recently (in December ‘24) approved by
One97 Communications Singapore, a subsidiary of One97 Communications, Paytm's parent
company?
1) SoftPay Corporation
2) Rakuten Pay Services

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3) PayPay Corporation
4) NipponPay Corporation
5) TokyoPay Solutions
Answer- 3) PayPay Corporation
Explanation:
One 97 Communications Limited (OCL) that owns the brand Paytm, announced that its wholly-owned
subsidiary, One97 Communications Singapore Private Limited (Paytm Singapore), has approved the
sale of its shareholding in PayPay Corporation, a payments firm which operates in Japan.
• The value of the deal is reportedly pegged at USD 250 million although the company did not
voluntarily disclose the deal size on the exchanges.
• Earlier in October 2024, Paytm had released its fiscal second quarter earnings with profit at Rs
928.30 crore, in comparison to a loss of Rs 290.50 crore during the corresponding quarter of
previous financial year.
• PayPay is a payments services company based in Japan. It is a joint venture between SoftBank
and Yahoo Japan, with Paytm as a technology partner.

2. Which company has recently (in December ‘24) raised Rs 6,252 crore through the issuance
of bonds with different maturities?
1) REC Limited
2) Jio Financial Services Limited
3) Bajaj Holdings & Investment Limited
4) Power Finance Corporation
5) Power Grid Corporation of India Limited
Answer- 4) Power Finance Corporation
Explanation:
Power Finance Corporation (PFC) raised Rs 6,252 crore through the issuance of bonds with
varying maturities. The company issued Rs 3,200 crore in 15-year bonds, offering a coupon rate of
7.11%, and Rs 3,052 crore in 10-year bonds, with a coupon rate of 7.10%.
• The PFC issuance has resulted in coupon rates tightening by 10 to 15 basis points, with the
secondary yield at 7.23%.
• It has seen coupons tighten by 10–15 basis points, with the secondary yield at 7.23%, reflecting
robust demand. This strong interest is driven by long-term investors such as large insurance
companies and pension funds, aligning with their asset-liability management (ALM) needs.

3. Which exchange was recently (in December ‘24) permitted by Securities and Exchange
Board of India (SEBI) to exit the exchange market after its recognition was withdrawn over two
years ago?
1) National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange
2) Indian Commodity Exchange
3) Multi Commodity Exchange of India
4) Bombay Stock Exchange
5) National Stock Exchange
Answer- 2) Indian Commodity Exchange

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Explanation:
In December 2024, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) permitted the Indian
Commodity Exchange (ICEX) to exit the exchange market after its recognition was withdrawn over
two years ago. The exchange met all necessary regulatory standards to achieve this.
• The regulator has directed ICEX to comply with its tax obligations under the Income Tax Act,
1961, change its name and not to use the expression "stock exchange" and maintain a database
of all transactions on its platform for the previous years among others.
• The exchange also undertook full responsibility for any future financial claims that may arise.

4. Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has recently (in December ‘24) raised its stake in
Asian Paints from 5% to ______ through open market purchase since January.
1) 10%
2) 9%
3) 8%
4) 7%
5) 6%
Answer- 4) 7%
Explanation:
The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has increased its shareholding in Asian Paints from 5%
to more than 7% through open market purchase since January.
• LIC’s stake rose from 6.6% at the end of the September quarter to 7.01%, following open
market purchases made between January 1 and December 9, 2024.
• The insurer acquired 1.93 crore additional shares at an average price of Rs 2,891.25 each,
raising its total holdings to Rs 6.72 crore shares.

5. When was RBL Bank Limited established?

1) 1933
2) 1936
3) 1943
4) 1946
5) 1949
Answer- 3) 1943
Explanation:
About RBL Bank Limited:
Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)- R Subramaniakumar
Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established– 1943
Tagline– apno ka bank

6. Which bank has recently (in December ‘24) launched its first ‘Retail Assets Centre’ (RAC) at
JP Nagara in Bengaluru to enhance its Retail Banking Services?
1) RBL Bank
2) Federal Bank
3) IndusInd Bank
4) City Union Bank

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5) Karnataka Bank
Answer- 5) Karnataka Bank
Explanation:
Karnataka Bank has announced the launch of its first Retail Assets Centre (RAC) at JP Nagara,
Bengaluru to enhance its Retail Banking Services and provide a more streamlined, customer-focused
approach to its loan and financial products.
• A centralized RAC will be established across key business locations, integrating functions like
Business Coordination, Credit Underwriting, Sanctions, Operations, Disbursements, and Post-
Disbursement Services to meet the rising demand for Retail Loan products.

7. Where is the headquarters of the World Bank (WB) located?

1) Geneva, Switzerland
2) Tokyo, Japan
3) Toronto, Canada
4) London, the United Kingdom
5) Washington, DC, United States of America
Answer- 5) Washington, DC, United States of America
Explanation:
About World Bank (WB):
President – Ajay Banga
India’s Director – Auguste Tano Kouame
Headquarters – Washington, DC, The United States of America (USA)
Established – 1944

8. When was IDFC First Bank Limited established?

1) 2015
2) 2016
3) 2018
4) 2019
5) 2021
Answer- 3) 2018
Explanation:
About IDFC First Bank Limited:
Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)- V. Vaidyanathan
Headquarters- Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established- 2018
Tagline- Always You First

CA STATIC GK

1. Where was the Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav festival held from 6 to 8 December 2024?
1) New Delhi, Delhi
2) Aizawl, Mizoram
3) Kaziranga, Assam
4) Kohima, Nagaland

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5) Shillong, Meghalaya
Answer- 1) New Delhi, Delhi
Explanation:
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi inaugurated the Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav in New Delhi, Delhi
with a focus on the Northeastern States. Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav is a celebration of a better future for
the Northeast.
• Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav is a three-day cultural festival, being celebrated for the first time from
December 6 to 8 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Delhi.
• It highlights the vast cultural tapestry of Northeast India, bringing together an array of
traditional arts, crafts, and cultural practices.

2. Under which initiative the Government of India has recently (in December ‘24) launched
Channel 31 on DTH, dedicated to Indian Sign Language (ISL) training for hearing-impaired
students?
1) E-Samarth
2) PM e-VIDYA
3) BharatNet
4) Vidyanjali
5) Swayam
Answer- 2) PM e-VIDYA
Explanation:
In December 2024, the Government of India (GoI) launched Channel 31 on DTH, dedicated to Indian
Sign Language (ISL) training for hearing-impaired students, special educators, interpreters, and
relevant organizations.
• This initiative aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which calls for promoting
and standardising ISL across India to create a more inclusive educational environment. NEP
also emphasizes the respect and inclusion of local sign languages.

3. Which airport has recently (in December ‘24) achieved Level 2 Airport Customer Experience
Accreditation from Airports Council International (ACI)?
1) Chennai International Airport, Tamil Nadu
2) Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Maharashtra
3) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Gujarat
4) Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, West Bengal
5) Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Assam
Answer- 5) Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Assam
Explanation:
The Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (LGBIA) in Guwahati, Assam has achieved
level 2 of the Airports Council International (ACI) Airport Customer Experience accreditation.
• This airport in Guwahati has become the first airport in Northeast India to achieve Level 2 of
the Airports Council International (ACI) Airport Customer Experience Accreditation.
• The airport is managed by AdAirport Holdings Limited, a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises
Limited.

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4. Who has recently (in December ‘24) named the 2024 Major League Soccer (MLS) Most
Valuable Player?
1) Lionel Messi
2) Hany Mukhtar
3) Luciano Acosta
4) Ian Murphy
5) Carles Gil
Answer- 1) Lionel Messi
Explanation:
Lionel Messi was named the 2024 Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player in the Major Soccer
League (MLS) at the end of what was his first full season with Inter Miami.
• He scored 20 goals and chipped in 16 assists in 19 league matches in his first full season,
helping the south Florida club win the 2024 Supporters' Shield trophy with a record 74 points.

5. Where is the Sahnewal Airport located?

1) Madhya Pradesh
2) Uttarakhand
3) Punjab
4) Assam
5) Haryana
Answer- 3) Punjab
Explanation:
About Punjab:
Capital-Chandigarh
Chief Minister (CM)- Bhagwant Singh Mann
Governor- Gulab Chand Kataria
Airports– Sri Guru Ram Dass Ji International Airport, Bathinda Airport, Sahnewal Airport

6. Where is the headquarters of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) located?

1) Florida, United States of America
2) London, United Kingdom
3) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
4) Brussels, Belgium
5) Lausanne, Switzerland
Answer- 1) Florida, United States of America
Explanation:
About Women’s Tennis Association (WTA):
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)– Portia Archer
Headquarters- Florida, the United States of America (USA)
Established- 1973

7. When was TIME Magazine founded?

1) 1969
2) 1956
3) 1943

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4) 1936
5) 1923
Answer- 5) 1923
Explanation:
About TIME Magazine:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)– Jessica Sibley
Headquarters- New York, United States of America (USA)
Created in- 1923

8. Who is the current (as of December ‘24) President of Asian Cricket Council (ACC)?
1) Jay Shah
2) Shammi Silva
3) Imran Khwaja
4) Pankaj Khimji
5) Arun Singh Dhumal
Answer- 2) Shammi Silva
Explanation:
About Asian Cricket Council (ACC):
President– Shammi Silva
Headquarters – Colombo, Sri Lanka
Founded – 1983, New Delhi

9. Who is the current (as of December ‘24) Governor of Himachal Pradesh (HP)?
1) Rajendra Arlekar
2) Gulab Chand Kataria
3) Bandaru Dattatraya
4) Shiv Pratap Shukla
5) Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu
Answer- 4) Shiv Pratap Shukla
Explanation:
About Himachal Pradesh (HP):
Chief Minister (CM)- Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu
Governor– Shiv Pratap Shukla
Capital– Shimla (Summer), Dharamshala (Winter)
National Parks (NP)- Pin Valley NP, Khirganga NP

10. In which state President Droupadi Murmu has recently (in December ‘24) laid the
foundation for six projects including three new railway lines, worth a total of Rs 6,400 crore?
1) Odisha
2) Assam
3) Punjab
4) Bihar
5) Kerala
Answer- 1) Odisha

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Explanation:
In December 2024, President Droupadi Murmu laid foundation stones for six projects including
three railway projects, a Tribal Research and Development Centre, Dandbose airport and a new sub-
divisional hospital in Rairangpur of Mayurbhanj district, Odisha at a total cost of Rs 6,400 crore.
• Three new railway line projects in north Odisha on the routes are Badampahar-Kendujhargarh,
Bangiriposi-Gorumahisani, and Buramara-Chakulia.
• Odisha is getting benefitted from the 'Purvodaya' vision of the Central Government, the
development of the entire region is getting accelerated through various welfare schemes on
education, skill development, health, tourism and transportation.

11. Which among the words is chosen as the Word of the Year 2024 by Dictionary.com?
1) Extreme weather
2) Manifest
3) Resilience
4) Demure
5) Delulu
Answer- 4) Demure
Explanation:
Demure was chosen as Dictionary.com’s Word of the Year 2024. Demure is traditionally used to
describe the reserved, quiet, or modest person. However, a new interpretation has emerged on social
media, characterizing someone as refined and sophisticated.
• In 2024, the usage of “demure” saw a significant increase, especially after TikTok star Jools
Lebron popularized the phrase “very demure, very mindful” in a series of videos posted to the
platform in early August 2024.

12. In December 2024, the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) developed
technology for the captive breeding of which two valuable marine ornamental fishes?
1) Clownfish and Mandarin Fish
2) Azure Damsel and Ornate Goby
3) Moorish Idol and Royal Gramma
4) Banggai Cardinalfish and Flame Angelfish
5) Blue Tang and Coral Beauty
Answer- 2) Azure Damsel and Ornate Goby
Explanation:
In December 2024, the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) developed technology for
captive breeding of two high-value marine ornamental fishes, Azure Damsel and Ornate Goby.
• Both species are in high demand due to their beauty, vibrant colours, and captivating aquarium
behaviour. Azure damsel is a reef-associated fish with bright blue and deep yellow colours.
• This is over-exploited from its natural habitat, and is now considered under the vulnerable
category. A marketable-sized (5-8 cm) fish costs around Rs250 in India.

13. Which documentary has recently (in December ‘24) won the 2024 Asian Academy Creative
Awards in Singapore?
1) Apartment 404
2) Deane’s Dynasty

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3) The Hunt for Veerappan
4) Master or Guest
5) An Exchange on China
Answer- 3) The Hunt for Veerappan
Explanation:
Netflix India’s documentary The Hunt for Veerappan bagged a win at the 2024 Asian Academy
Creative Awards in Singapore. First-time docu director Selvamani Selvaraj secured the award for
Best Direction (Non-Fiction) for the film, marking a huge achievement for the film and the nation.
• The Hunt for Veerappan is produced by Apoorva Bakshi and Monisha Thyagarajan, founders of
Awedacious Originals, and Kimberley Hassett.
• The four-part series, released in 2023, delves into the 17-year manhunt for the notorious
smuggler and brigand Veerappan, who was shot dead in 2004 by a Special Task Force of Tamil
Nadu Police.

14. Where was Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s 11-ft tall statue recently (in December ‘24) unveiled
by Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah?
1) Kevadia, Gujarat
2) New Delhi, Delhi
3) Pune, Maharashtra
4) Bengaluru, Karnataka
5) Jodhpur, Rajasthan
Answer- 5) Jodhpur, Rajasthan
Explanation:
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah unveiled an 11-ft tall statue of Sardar
Vallabhbhai Patel in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. On this occasion, Union Minister Gajendra Singh
Shekhawat and many other dignitaries were present.
• The statue, weighing 1,100 kgs, is mounted on an 8-ft pedestal and stands as a tribute to the
rarely seen contribution that Sardar Patel brought to India’s unity and governance.
• Amit Shah said that for decades, Sardar Patel’s sacrifices, vision, and achievements were
underpriced. He mainly pointed out Patel’s pivotal role in integrating more than 556 princely
states into one Indian Union.

15. In December 2024, Astronomers from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) spotted far
ultraviolet (FUV) emissions from novae for the first time in the _____________________.
1) Andromeda Galaxy
2) Triangulum Galaxy
3) Barnard's Galaxy
4) Whirlpool Galaxy
5) Milky Way Galaxy
Answer- 1) Andromeda Galaxy
Explanation:
Astronomers from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru, have detected ultraviolet
emissions from 42 novae for the first time in the neighbouring Andromeda galaxy.

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 • The ultraviolet emissions from novae are a special class of transient astronomical event that
causes the sudden appearance of a bright, apparently new star that slowly fades over weeks or
months, during their outburst.
• Astronomers identified far-ultraviolet emissions from novae in the Andromeda Galaxy, the
closest neighbour to the Milky Way. Novae are transient astronomical events where a star
rapidly brightens and gradually fades.

16. Where is the headquarters of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) located?

1) New Delhi, Delhi
2) Mumbai, Maharashtra
3) Bengaluru, Karnataka
4) Chennai, Tamil Nadu
5) Kolkata, West Bengal
Answer- 3) Bengaluru, Karnataka
Explanation:
About Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL):
Chairman and Managing Director(CMD) – Dr. D. K. Sunil
Headquarters – Bengaluru, Karnataka
Established – 1940

17. Who is the current (as of December ‘24) Chairman of Air India Limited?
1) Dr. D. K. Sunil
2) Ashish Rajvanshi
3) Dr. Venkataramani Sumantran
4) Natarajan Chandrasekaran
5) Pawan Kumar Chandana
Answer- 4) Natarajan Chandrasekaran
Explanation:
About Air India Limited:
Chairman– Natarajan Chandrasekaran
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi
Founded– 1932

18. When was China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) established?
1) 1999
2) 1996
3) 1994
4) 1991
5) 1985
Answer- 1) 1999
Explanation:
About China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC):
President- Zhang Zhongyang
Headquarters– Beijing, China
Established- 1999

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19. Under which act the Government of India established the Bureau of Energy Efficiency
(BEE)?
1) Renewable Energy Act, 2013
2) Energy Conservation Act, 2001
3) Environment Protection Act, 1986
4) National Green Tribunal Act, 2010
5) Factories Act, 1948
Answer- 2) Energy Conservation Act, 2001
Explanation:
About the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE):
The Government of India established the BEE on 1st March 2002, under the provisions of the Energy
Conservation Act, 2001.
Director General – Dr Srikant Nagulpalli
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi

20.In which state Lonar Lake is located?

1) Maharashtra
2) Madhya Pradesh
3) Rajasthan
4) Gujarat
5) Karnataka
Answer: 1) Maharashtra
Explanation:
In December 2024, Maharashtra prepared a proposal to nominate “Lonar Lake”, a unique meteor-
impact site and cultural landmark, for UNESCO World Heritage status to promote its conservation,
attract tourism, and gain global recognition.

21.Which state of the United States (US) declared to observe December 6 as “ A Day of
Remembrance for Mahatma Gandhi”?
1) Nebraska
2) California
3) Texas
4) New York
5) Illinois
Answer: 1) Nebraska
Explanation:
On December 6, 2024, a bust of Mahatma Gandhi was unveiled at the Nebraska State Capitol, with
Governor Jim Pillen declaring the day as “A Day of Remembrance for Mahatma Gandhi” to honor
his principles of non-violence, tolerance, and justice, highlighting their importance in modern times.

22. In which state Jewar Airport is located?

1) Haryana
2) Uttar Pradesh
3) Rajasthan
4) Madhya Pradesh

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5) Punjab
Answer: 2) Uttar Pradesh
Explanation:
In December 2024, Union Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu oversaw the first validation flight
landing at Jewar Airport, praising the team's efforts and highlighting the airport's expected 2025
opening as a world-class facility with one runway and a terminal designed to handle 12 million
passengers annually, showcasing Uttar Pradesh's cultural heritage.

23. Where was the 4th edition of the India Internet Governance Forum (IIGF) held?
1) New Delhi, Delhi
2) Mumbai, Maharashtra
3) Bengaluru, Karnataka
4) Hyderabad, Telangana
5) Pune, Maharashtra
Answer: 1) New Delhi, Delhi
Explanation:
In December 2024, Minister of State Jitin Prasada, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
(MoE&IT), inaugurated the 4th India Internet Governance Forum (IIGF) at Bharat Mandapam, New
Delhi, Delhi. The event served as a dynamic platform for discussions among policymakers, industry
experts, and civil society on the future of Internet governance, with the theme “Innovating Internet
Governance for India,” emphasizing the country’s dedication to using the Internet for sustainable and
inclusive growth.

24. What was the name of the text-to-video Artificial Intelligence (AI) launched by OpenAI?
1) ChatGPT Turbo
2) Sora Turbo
3) GPT-4 Turbo
4) OpenAI Video
5) Sora AI
Answer: 2) Sora Turbo
Explanation:
In December 2024, OpenAI has launched Sora Turbo, a text-to-video AI, for ChatGPT Plus and Pro
users, marking a significant step in its expansion into multimodal AI technologies.

25.Who was appointed recently (in December ‘24) as the acting secretary of the Board of
Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)?
1) Rahul Dravid
2) Jay Shah
3) Sourav Ganguly
4) Devajit Saikia
5) N Srinivasan
Answer: 4) Devajit Saikia
Explanation:
In December 2024, Devajit Saikia, a former Assam cricketer, has been appointed as the acting
secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), taking over from Jay Shah, who has

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recently become the chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC). The appointment was made
by BCCI president Roger Binny, using his constitutional authority.

26. Where is the Buddhist pilgrimage site “Lumbini” located?

1) India
2) Sri Lanka
3) Bhutan
4) Bangladesh
5) Nepal
Answer: 5) Nepal
Explanation:
In December 2024, Lumbini, the revered birthplace of Lord Buddha, hosted the second edition of the
India-Nepal Cultural Festival. The event celebrated the cultural heritage shared by India and Nepal,
focusing on their Buddhist traditions. Organized by the Indian Embassy in Nepal in partnership with
the Lumbini Development Trust, the festival highlighted the long-standing historical and spiritual ties
between the two countries.

27. Who is the current (as of December ‘24) Director General (DG) of the Food and Agricultural
Organization (FAO)?
1) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
2) Rafael Mariano Grossi
3) Antonio Guterres
4) Qu Dongyu
5) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Answer: 4) Qu Dongyu
Explanation:
About the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO):
Director-General (DG)- Qu Dongyu
Headquarters Rome, Italy
Established – 1945

28. In which state is the Salient Valley National Park located?

1) Madhya Pradesh
2) Kerala
3) Haryana
4) Bengaluru
5) Rajasthan
Answer: 2) Kerala
Explanation:
About Kerala:
Chief Minister (CM) - Pinarayi Vijayan
Governor - Arif Mohammed Khan
National Parks - Silent Valley National Park, Pampadum Shola National Park Wildlife Sanctuaries -
Chimmony Wildlife Sanctuary, Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary

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29. Where is the headquarters of Fitch Ratings Inc located?
1) New York, the United States of America (USA)
2) London, the United Kingdom (UK)
3) Paris, France
4) Tokyo, Japan
5) Frankfurt, Germany
Answer: 1) New York, the United States of America (USA)
Explanation:
About Fitch Ratings Inc:
President- Ian Linnell
Headquarters- New York, the United States of America (USA)

30. Who is the current (as of December ‘24) Chief Minister (CM) of Arunachal Pradesh?
1) Nitish Kumar
2) Himanta Biswa Sarma
3) Pema Khandu
4) Nara Chandrababu Naidu
5) Atishi Marlena
Answer: 3) Pema Khandu
Explanation:
About Arunachal Pradesh:
Chief Minister (CM) - Pema Khandu
Governor - Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik
National Parks - Namdapha National Park, Mouling National Park
Wildlife Sanctuaries - Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary, Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary

31. Which dictionary platform chose the word ‘Enshittification’ as the Word of the Year 2024?
1) Merriam-Webster
2) Cambridge Dictionary
3) Collins Dictionary
4) Dictionary.com
5) Macquarie Dictionary
Answer- 5) Macquarie Dictionary
Explanation:
The word ‘enshittification’ has been crowned Macquarie Dictionary’s word of the year 2024. It
means “the gradual deterioration of a service or product brought about by a reduction in the quality of
service provided, especially of an online platform, and as a consequence of profit-seeking.” In short,
any deterioration of products and services online is termed as enshittification.
• Many people use enshittification to talk about the changes on various social media platforms
particularly when applications or websites become worse due to companies’ pursuit of
increased profits.

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32. In December 2024, Asia’s first _____________ museum was located in Vadodara. It has earned a
spot in the Guinness World Records for two remarkable achievements.
1) Medical
2) Dental
3) Surgical
4) Veterinary
5) Psychiatric
Answer- 2) Dental
Explanation:
Asia’s first dental museum, the Dr. Chandarana Dental Museum, located in Vadodara, Gujarat. It has
earned a spot in the Guinness World Records for two remarkable achievements.
• It holds the records for the largest collection of toothbrushes (2,371) and the largest display of
toothbrushes.
• The museum is now equipped with the world's first animatronic talk show on oral health, a
teeth orchestra, along with augmented reality (AR), and AI-based dental scan.

33. In December 2024, Indian clean energy firms will be required to use solar photovoltaic
(PV) modules from cells made locally by a government-approved list of companies
from___________.
1) June 2025
2) July 2025
3) June 2026
4) July 2026
5) May 2026
Answer- 3) June 2026
Explanation:
Indian clean energy firms will be required to use solar photovoltaic (PV) modules from cells made
locally by a government-approved list of companies from June 2026, in a move to curb imports from
top supplier China.
• The government plans to increase its non-fossil fuel capacity to 500 gigawatts (GW) by 2030
from about 156 at present.
• Currently, India has a solar PV module-making capacity of about 80 gigawatts, while its cell-
making capacity is slightly more than 7 GW, with companies largely relying on Chinese cells to
make modules.

34. Who has been recently (in December ‘24) named as tennis ambassador of Saudi Arabia’s
Public Investment Fund (PIF)?
1) Rafael Nadal
2) Matteo Berrettini
3) Novak Djokovic
4) Jannik Sinner
5) Yara Alhogbani
Answer- 2) Matteo Berrettini

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Explanation:
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has named Matteo Berrettini as its tennis ambassador,
a role in which the Italian will aim to help nurture the next generation of players and elevate the sport
globally.
• Berrettini, who previously played in Riyadh during the Diriyah Tennis Cup in 2022, would also
promote inclusivity and create opportunities at all levels of the sport.

35. Which country has recently (in December ‘24) chosen as the host for the first ever Women's
T20 World Cup for the Blind 2025?
1) India
2) Sri Lanka
3) Afghanistan
4) Pakistan
5) Bangladesh
Answer- 1) India
Explanation:
In December 2024, India was chosen as the host for the first ever Women's T20 World Cup for the
Blind scheduled in 2025. It was finalised at the World Blind Cricket Council’s (WBCC) Annual General
Meeting in Multan, Pakistan.
• Pakistan will play its share of matches in next year's inaugural blind women's T20 World Cup
in either Nepal or Sri Lanka after a hybrid model for the event.
• The development comes a few weeks after India withdrew from the men's T20 Blind Cricket
World Cup in Pakistan owing to security concerns.

36. Who is the current (as of December ‘24) President of the Republic of Moldova?
1) Maia Sandu
2) Rumen Radev
3) Klaus Iohannis
4) Alexander Lukashenko
5) Peter Pellegrini
Answer- 1) Maia Sandu
Explanation:
About Republic of Moldova:
President – Maia Sandu
Capital– Chișinău
Currency – Moldovan Leu(MDL)

37. Where is the headquarters of Forbes located?

1) Washington, DC, United States of America
2) New Jersey, United States of America
3) Florida, United States of America
4), California, United States of America
5) New York, United States of America
Answer- 2) New Jersey, United States of America

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Explanation:
About Forbes:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)- Mike Federle
Headquarters- New Jersey, the United States of America (USA)
Established- 1917

38. When was Amazon established?

1) 2014
2) 2007
3) 2002
4) 1996
5) 1994
Answer- 5) 1994
Explanation:
About Amazon.com, Inc:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)– Andy Jassy
Headquarters- Seattle, Washington, United States of America (USA)
Established- 1994

39. Who is the current (as of December ‘24) Chairman of National Commission for Minorities
(NCM)?
1) Priyank Kanoongo
2) Vijaya Bharathi Sayani
3) Hansraj Gangaram Ahir
4) Iqbal Singh Lalpura
5) Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar
Answer- 4) Iqbal Singh Lalpura
Explanation:
About National Commission for Minorities (NCM)
The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) is a statutory body established by the Government of
India in 1992. It aims to safeguard the rights and interests of religious minorities in India.
Chairman – Iqbal Singh Lalpura
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi

40. Who has recently (in December ‘24) hit the record for joint-fastest fifty in the history of
women’s Twenty20 International (T20Is)?
1) Mithali Raj
2) Richa Ghosh
3) Sophie Devine
4) Harmanpreet Kaur
5) Smriti Mandhana
Answer- 2) Richa Ghosh
Explanation:
Richa Ghosh equalled the record for the fastest-ever half century in women’s Twenty20
International (T20Is), smashing a 18-ball fifty against West Indies in the third and final match of the

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series in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra. It is also the quickest fifty scored by an Indian women’s batter in
the shortest format.
• Her knock, and Smriti Mandhana’s half century earlier, powered India to their highest total
ever in women’s T20Is: 217/4. India’s previous best total was 201/5 against UAE at the Asia
Cup in July 2024.

41. Which organization has recently (in December ‘24) partnered with Angkor Tiger Football
Club to build a new football stadium in Siem Reap, Cambodia?
1) Asian Football Confederation
2) JSW Sports Private Limited
3) All India Football Federation
4) SkaSports Investments Private Limited
5) Fédération Internationale de Football Association
Answer- 4) SkaSports Investments Private Limited
Explanation:
A new football stadium with an Indian connection has opened in Siem Reap, Cambodia, which is
famous for Angkor Wat, UNESCO World Heritage site. SkaSports Investments Private Limited, an
Indian-owned sports business, has partnered with Angkor Tiger Football Club, a Cambodian
Premier League team to build the privately-owned, football-specific stadium with floodlights.
• The stadium aims to work with the Cambodian Football Association and Premier League on
educational courses in an effort to promote football development in Cambodia.

42. In December 2024, Bharati Kolli was recognized as one of the Rising Star Women Leaders
2024 for her contributions to which sector?
1) Banking
2) Agriculture
3) Environment
4) Education
5) Healthcare
Answer- 1) Banking
Explanation:
Bharati Kolli, a 43-year-old woman from Vizianagaram district in Andhra Pradesh (AP), has been
recognized as one of the Rising Star Women Leaders of Banking for 2024 by the renowned
women’s group, Women We Admire. Bharati’s remarkable contribution to the banking sector,
particularly in data management has earned her this prestigious recognition.
• She is serving as the Director of the Data Management Office at the Industrial and Commercial
Bank of China (ICBC), one of the world's largest banks. She is currently working at the New
York headquarters of the ICBC in the United States.

43. Where was HORIBA India’s first Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (H2-ICE) Test Bed
Facility inaugurated in December 2024?
1) Bengaluru, Karnataka
2) Hyderabad, Telangana
3) Pune, Maharashtra
4) Chennai, Tamil Nadu

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5) Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Answer- 3) Pune, Maharashtra
Explanation:
HORIBA India, a group company of Kyoto based HORIBA Ltd., has inaugurated its first-ever
Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (H2-ICE) Test Bed Facility at HORIBA India Technical Center in
Chakan, Pune, Maharashtra.
• This new facility will not only expand the business avenues but would also contribute
significantly to the global vision of achieving carbon neutrality, decarbonization and
sustainability.
• The company has invested a further approx. Rs. 28-30 crores in establishing the H2-ICE Test
Bed Facility, which has an engine testing capacity upto 380KW meeting the Indian commercial
vehicle segment.

44. What is the currency of the United Kingdom (UK)?

1) Dollar
2) Euro
3) Dirhams
4) Danish Krone
5) Pound Sterling
Answer- 5) Pound Sterling
Explanation:
About the United Kingdom (UK):
Prime Minister (PM) – Keir Starmer
Capital- London
Currency- Pound Sterling (GBP)

45. Who is the current (as of December ‘24) President of Georgia?

1) Irakli Kobakhidze
2) Salome Zourabichvil
3) Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
4) Vahagn Khachaturyan
5) Ilham Aliyev
Answer- 2) Salome Zourabichvil
Explanation:
About Georgia:
President- Salome Zourabichvil
Prime Minister (PM)- Irakli Kobakhidze
Capital- Tbilisi
Currency- Georgian Lari (GEL)

46. Where is the Maneri Dam located?

1) Haryana
2) Bihar
3) Jharkhand
4) Uttarakhand

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5) Madhya Pradesh
Answer- 4) Uttarakhand
Explanation:
About Uttarakhand:
Chief Minister (CM)– Pushkar Singh Dhami
Governor- Gurmit Singh
Capital- Dehradun
Dams- Tehri Dam, Tumaria Dam, Maneri Dam

47. Ajay Seth, Economic Affairs Secretary has been recently (in December ‘24) given the
additional charge of which post?
1) Secretary of Commerce
2) Revenue Secretary
3) Secretary of Expenditure
4) Finance Secretary
5) Secretary of Corporate Affairs
Answer- 2) Revenue Secretary
Explanation:
The Appointment Committee of the Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi assigned the
additional charge of the post of revenue secretary in the finance ministry to Economic Affairs
Secretary Ajay Seth.
• The Competent Authority has approved the assignment of additional charge of the post of
Secretary, Department of Revenue to Ajay Seth, IAS, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs,
with immediate effect until the appointment of a regular incumbent or until further orders,
whichever is earlier,

48. Name the artificial intelligence (AI)-powered platform that was recently (in December ‘24)
introduced by Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi to discover molecules
that could slow down ageing and promote healthier lives.
1) AgeWell
2) LifeSpan AI
3) AgeXtend
4) YouthAI
5) HealthSpan AI
Answer- 3) AgeXtend
Explanation:
Researchers at Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi (IIIT-Delhi) have introduced
AgeXtend, an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered platform designed to discover molecules that could
slow down ageing and promote healthier lives.
• AgeXtend is a unique platform that uses data from existing anti-ageing molecules to predict
new ones.
• It doesn't just suggest potential candidates but also ensures their safety by checking for toxic
effects and understanding how they work in the body.
• The research findings were published in the Nature Aging journal.

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49. Which company has recently (in December ‘24) launched Willow, its latest quantum chip
showcasing significant advancements in quantum computing?
1) Google
2) Amazon
3) Apple
4) Facebook
5) Microsoft
Answer- 1) Google
Explanation:
Google has unveiled its latest quantum chip, Willow, marking a significant breakthrough in quantum
computing. This chip was developed at the quantum lab of the company in Santa Barbara, California.
• The power of the chip can be understood by its capability to solve complex mathematical
problems in only five minutes which will take 10 septillion years for supercomputers to solve.
• This advancement paves the way for practical applications in various fields, including drug
discovery and clean energy.

50. Which organisation has recently (in December ‘24) published the Vishnukant Shastri’s
Rachna Sanchayan?
1) Fourth Estate
2) HarperCollins
3) Sahitya Akademi
4) Bloomsbury Publishing
5) Simon & Schuster
Answer- 3) Sahitya Akademi
Explanation:
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan released Vishnukant Shastri’s Rachna Sanchayan
published by Sahitya Akademi in New Delhi, Delhi.
• During the release, the Minister lauded Vishnukant Shastri’s contribution in advancing Indian
culture, religion, spirituality and literature.
• He also highlighted how the author provided new direction to several individuals, institutions,
and the nation.

51. Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a compendium of complete works of which Tamil
poet and freedom fighter in December 2024?
1) Bharathidasan
2) E.V. Ramasamy
3) Subramania Bharati
4) C. Rajagopalachari
5) V. O. Chidambaram Pillai
Answer- 3) Subramania Bharati
Explanation:
On 11th December 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the compendium of the complete
works of Tamil poet and freedom fighter Subramania Bharati on his 143rd birth anniversary at an
event in Delhi.

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 • The collection is titled as 'Kaala Varisayil Bharathi Padaippugal' and is the complete
collected works of Mahakavi Bharathiyar in chronological order. It is collated by Seeni
Viswanathan.

52. Which organization has recently (in December ‘24) signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to enhance urban
development in Delhi?
1) Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited
2) Delhi Metro Rail Corporation
3) Municipal Corporation of Delhi
4) National Housing Bank
5) NITI Aayog
Answer- 1) Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited
Explanation:
Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited (HUDCO) signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with Delhi Development Authority (DDA), a statutory body established under
the Delhi Development Act, 1957, to leverage HUDCO's expertise in housing, urban development, and
infrastructure to support DDA's ongoing projects.
• Through this MoU, HUDCO will provide comprehensive capacity-building programs for DDA
officials. These programs will equip DDA personnel with the latest knowledge and skills in
project management, financial planning, and other relevant areas.
• This collaboration is expected to significantly contribute to the development of Delhi's urban
landscape.

53. Who is the current (as of December ‘24) President of the United Nations Human Rights
Council (UNHRC)?
1) Omar Zniber
2) Volker Türk
3) Rebeca Grynspan
4) Catherine M. Russell
5) Anacláudia Rossbach
Answer- 1) Omar Zniber
Explanation:
About the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC):
President– Omar Zniber
Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland
Established – 2006
Members– 47 member states

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