1. Svalbard, recently seen in the news, is an archipelago located in which ocean?
[A] Arctic Ocean
[B] Indian Ocean
[C] Atlantic Ocean
[D] Pacific Ocean
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Arctic Ocean]
Notes:
Scientists are exploring hydrothermal vents on Svalbard’s Knipovich Ridge, a 500-km-long ridge in the Arctic Ocean. Svalbard, discovered in 1596 by Willem Barentsz, is an Arctic archipelago under Norwegian sovereignty. It lies between the North Pole and Norway, covering 61,022 sq.km with a majority glaciated. Featuring Spitsbergen as its largest island, Svalbard experiences Arctic conditions, including midnight sun and polar night due to its location in the Arctic Circle.
2. What is the primary objective of the GSAT 20 satellite, recently in news?
[A] Earth observation
[B] Communication
[C] Weather monitoring
[D] Navigation
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Communication]
Notes:
For the first time, ISRO will launch its latest large satellite, GSAT 20, on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. GSAT 20, a hi-tech communication satellite, weighs 4,700 kg and has a throughput capacity of 48 GBPS. It features 32 spot beams covering all of India, especially the Northeast. Owned by ISRO’s commercial arm NSIL, it uses SpaceX due to the limitations of India’s Launch Vehicle Mark 3.
3. Recently, where was the 29th edition of the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise held?
[A] Auckland, New Zealand
[B] Hawaii, USA
[C] Paris, France
[D] Kolkata, India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Hawaii, USA]
Notes:
Indian multi-role stealth frigate INS Shivalik, deployed in the South China Sea and North Pacific Ocean, has arrived at Pearl Harbour in Hawaii, USA to participate in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise. RIMPAC is the world’s largest international maritime exercise, enhancing naval interoperability and trust among 29 participating countries. Led by the US Navy, the exercise includes diverse activities like symposiums, sports competitions, and integrated sea operations, crucial for global maritime security and cooperation.
4. Recently, which state government launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Kisan Samman Nidhi’ scheme?
[A] Bihar
[B] Odisha
[C] Gujarat
[D] Rajasthan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Rajasthan]
Notes:
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma launched the Mukhya Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, an income support scheme, at Krishi Upaj Mandi in Tonk. The first installment of Rs 650 crore was released to 65 lakh farmers. Eligible farmers will receive Rs 2000 annually in three installments, alongside the Rs 6000 from the central PM-KISAN scheme. The Cooperative Department is the nodal agency for implementation.
5. Conkouati-Douli National Park, recently seen in the news, is located in which country?
[A] Nigeria
[B] Congo
[C] Kenya
[D] Brazil
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Congo]
Notes:
Protests have arisen against a Chinese company’s exploration license threatening Congo’s Conkouati-Douli National Park, a UNESCO site rich in endangered species. The park is located in the Republic of the Congo, distinct from the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and is known for its biodiversity. Brazzaville, the capital, serves as a key inland port on the Congo River, highlighting the country’s geographical and environmental significance amidst conservation concerns.
6. Recently, the Space Exploration and Research Agency (SERA) announced which country as a partner nation for the human spaceflight programme?
[A] Australia
[B] India
[C] Japan
[D] Pakistan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [India]
Notes:
US-based Space Exploration and Research Agency (SERA) and Blue Origin have partnered with India for their human spaceflight program. They will offer six seats on a future New Shepard mission to citizens from countries with limited space presence. New Shepard, a reusable suborbital rocket, will take the selected astronauts on an 11-minute journey past the Kármán line, the internationally recognized space boundary at 100 km.
7. Which organization has recently captured an epic view of the largest volcano in our solar system named Olympus Mons using the Mars Odyssey orbiter?
[A] ROCOSMOS
[B] JAXA
[C] NASA
[D] CNSA
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [NASA]
Notes:
NASA’s Mars Odyssey orbiter captured an epic view of Olympus Mons, the largest volcano in the solar system. Launched in 2001, Odyssey’s mission includes mapping Mars’ surface and serving as a communication relay. Olympus Mons, a shield volcano, is 24 kilometers high and 550 kilometers wide, dwarfing Earth’s Mauna Loa. Odyssey holds the record for the longest active mission around another planet, scheduled to last until 2025.
8. Where was the 16th edition of the India-Mongolia Joint Military Exercise ‘Nomadic Elephant’ held?
[A] Kolkata, West Bengal
[B] Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
[C] Umroi, Meghalaya
[D] Guwahati, Assam
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Umroi, Meghalaya]
Notes:
The 16th India-Mongolia Joint Military Exercise Nomadic Elephant started at Umroi, Meghalaya, running from July 3 to 16, 2024. It involves 45 Indian personnel and Mongolian Army’s 150 Quick Reaction Force Battalion. The annual event, alternating between the countries, focuses on counter-insurgency in semi-urban and mountainous terrain. Key attendees include Mongolian Ambassador Dambajavyn Ganbold and Major General Prasanna Joshi. The exercise enhances interoperability and defense cooperation.
9. Recently, where was the District Mineral Foundation Gallery inaugurated?
[A] Bhopal
[B] New Delhi
[C] Chennai
[D] Bengaluru
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [New Delhi]
Notes:
The District Mineral Foundation (DMF) Gallery was inaugurated at Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi. DMFs are non-profit trusts established in 2015 by state governments in mining-affected districts. They aim to benefit people and areas impacted by mining activities. Funded by royalties, state budgets, and private donations, DMFs are governed by a Board of Trustees, including government, local, and expert representatives, who oversee project implementation under PMKKKY and other schemes.
10. Which bank has recently introduced “MSME Sahaj”, a web-based digital business loans solution for MSMEs?
[A] Axis Bank
[B] State Bank of India
[C] Central Bank of India
[D] Union Bank of India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [State Bank of India]
Notes:
The State Bank of India (SBI) launched “MSME Sahaj”, a digital business loan solution tailored for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Key features include financing against GST-registered invoices, a quick process under 15 minutes from application to disbursement, automated loan closure, and data-driven assessment using machine learning models and authentic GST and credit data. This initiative aims to boost working capital and address liquidity challenges for MSMEs effectively.