31. Which city is the host of Global Freight Summit 2024?
[A] Dubai
[B] London
[C] Paris
[D] New Delhi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Dubai]
Notes:
The Global Freight Summit 2024 started in Dubai on November 18, hosted by DP World. More than 5,000 leaders from 155 countries are attending the three-day event. The theme is “Acting today to reach the opportunities of tomorrow.” Discussions focus on AI, blockchain, sustainable shipping, and resilient trade routes. Indian firms like Wipro, Tech Mahindra, and SRM Tech are participating.
32. Which state’s team won the National Finswimming Championship 2024?
[A] West Bengal
[B] Odisha
[C] Kerala
[D] Maharashtra
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [West Bengal]
Notes:
The 4th National Finswimming Championship 2024 took place in New Delhi with 1500 participants from 26 states and UTs. West Bengal won the team championship with 151 medals (67 gold, 43 silver, 41 bronze). Karnataka was the runner-up with 50 medals (17 gold, 18 silver, 15 bronze). Uttarakhand and Haryana both secured 21 medals, but Uttarakhand placed third due to more gold medals (8 gold, 6 silver, 7 bronze). The event, organized by Underwater Sports Federation of India (USFI) and the Physical Education Foundation of India, highlighted India’s growing finswimming talent.
33. Which institution recently released the Grievance Redressal Assessment and Index (GRAI) 2023?
[A] NITI Aayog
[B] Reserve Bank of India
[C] Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG)
[D] Ministry of Finance
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG)]
Notes:
The Grievance Redressal Assessment and Index (GRAI) 2023 was released by Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG). It was conceptualized by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances based on recommendations from the Parliamentary Standing Committee. The index evaluates grievance redressal mechanisms of central ministries and departments using four dimensions: efficiency, feedback, domain, and organizational commitment, with 11 indicators. Its objective is to identify strengths and areas for improvement in grievance handling. The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare ranked first, followed by the Department of Posts (Group A).
34. El Cajas National Park, which was seen in the news, is located in which country?
[A] Peru
[B] Chile
[C] Ecuador
[D] Argentina
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Ecuador]
Notes:
El Cajas National Park in Ecuador’s highlands near Cuenca is severely affected by wildfires due to a prolonged drought. The Ecuadorian government declared a 60-day national emergency to combat forest fires threatening the park’s ecology and water resources. The park spans 285.44 km², with altitudes ranging from 3100m to 4450m, and was declared a National Park on November 5, 1996. It features páramo vegetation, jagged hills, valleys, and 270 lakes, with Luspa as the largest. Rivers Tomebamba and Yanuncay originate here, feeding the Amazon Basin and draining to the Pacific.
35. Which day is observed as World Children’s Day annually?
[A] November 19
[B] November 20
[C] November 21
[D] November 22
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [November 20]
Notes:
World Children’s Day is observed on November 20 each year to promote children’s welfare and protect their rights. It was established in 1954 by the United Nations as Universal Children’s Day. The day advocates for children’s well-being and fosters global togetherness. The theme for 2024, “Listen to the Future,” highlights the importance of including children’s voices in decisions that affect their lives. It emphasizes creating a nurturing and equitable world for the next generation.
36. Recently, which country has become the 104th member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA)?
[A] Guyana
[B] Armenia
[C] El Salvador
[D] Cuba
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Armenia]
Notes:
Armenia became the 104th full member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) on November 15, 2024. ISA is a treaty-based intergovernmental organization founded by India and France to promote solar energy globally. The alliance aims to mobilize over USD 1000 billion by 2030 for large-scale solar energy deployment. Armenia’s membership was formalized with the exchange of the ratified Framework Agreement between Armenian Ambassador Vahagn Afyan and India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
37. ‘Jobs at Your Doorstep: A Jobs Diagnostics for Young People’ report, which was launched by the Government of India, is a report of which organization?
[A] United Nations Environment Programme
[B] International Monetary Fund
[C] World Bank
[D] United Nations Development Programme
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [World Bank]
Notes:
Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Mansukh Mandaviya launched the World Bank report ‘Jobs at Your Doorstep: A Jobs Diagnostics for Young People’, covering six STARS states: Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Rajasthan. The report analyzes skills gaps, aligns school trades with local industries, and offers a roadmap to improve education and job linkages. It highlights embedding skill-based education from Classes 9-12, aligned with NEP 2020, targeting 50% skill education access by 2025. The initiative supports India’s vision to become a global skills hub and achieve high-income status by 2047 through market-linked, inclusive skill development.
38. Which organization released a report titled “Trading with Intelligence: How AI Shapes and is Shaped by International Trade”?
[A] United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
[B] International Monetary Fund (IMF)
[C] World Bank
[D] World Trade Organization (WTO)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [World Trade Organization (WTO)]
Notes:
The WTO released a report titled “Trading with Intelligence,” exploring AI’s impact on global trade. AI regulation fragmentation may affect trade opportunities for MSMEs. The concentration of AI development in large economies creates a trade divide. Data governance challenges, like cross-border data flow restrictions, may raise trade costs. AI offers opportunities to reduce trade costs by automating customs and border processes. Universal AI adoption could boost global trade growth by 14% by 2040. AI could transform service trade, especially digitally delivered and manual service sectors.
39. Which institution has developed STRONG (STring Representation Of Nanopore Geometry), a novel language for nanopore research?
[A] Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru
[B] Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi
[C] Banaras Hindu University
[D] Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru]
Notes:
Indian Institute of Science (IISc) introduced STRONG (STring Representation Of Nanopore Geometry), a new language for encoding nanopore shapes as character sequences. STRONG helps machine learning models predict nanopore properties accurately. It assigns letters to atomic configurations, improving understanding of nanopore geometries. This tool supports applications like gas separation and enhances data analysis. STRONG’s integration with neural networks boosts prediction accuracy. This breakthrough marks a significant advancement in materials science and computational research.
40. Project Veer Gatha 4.O is an initiative of which ministries?
[A] Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Education
[B] Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Education
[C] Ministry of Communication and Ministry of Defence
[D] Ministry of Urban Development and Ministry of MSME
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Education]
Notes:
Over 1.76 crore school students from all 36 States and UTs have participated in Project Veer Gatha 4.0. It was launched in 2021. The project aims to spread stories of courage and sacrifice of Gallantry Awardees among students. It encourages students to create projects based on these heroic tales, fostering patriotism. The project has been held annually since 2021, with editions in 2021, 2022, and 2023. It is a joint initiative by the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Education.