1. Who has won the 2024 Leon Masters Chess tournament?
(A) Viswanathan Anand
(B) Pentala Harikrishna
(C) Vidit Gujrathi
(D) Krishnan Sasikiran
(E) Baskaran Adhiban
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
Former world chess champion Viswanathan Anand of India has won the Leon Master chess championship for the 10th time.
He defeated Jaime Santos Latasa of Spain in the final 3-1 played on 30 June 2024 at Leon in Spain to win the 2024 Leon Masters.
Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand has previously won the Leon Masters in 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2016, and 2024.
The Leon Masters chess tournament is held in Leon city Spain. The tournament features four players.
Apart from Viswanathan Anand, other players participating in the tournament were world number four-ranked Arjun Erigaise of India, Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria, and Jaime Santos Latasa of Spain.
2. Which state government launched the Mukhya Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme in June 2024?
(A) Uttar Pradesh
(B) Haryana
(C) Maharashtra
(D) Rajasthan
(E) Bihar
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
The Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma launched the state government’s Mukhya Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi at the Krishi Upaj Mandi in Tonk.
The chief minister released Rs 650 crore as the first installment to around 65 lakh farmers of the state.
The eligible farmers of the state will receive the benefits under the state scheme along with the Rs 6000 per year paid by the central government under the PM-KISAN scheme.
Mukhya Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi is an income support scheme launched by the state government to boost the income of the eligible farmers of the state.
Under the Mukhya Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, the eligible farmers will receive Rs 2000 per year.
They will receive money in three installments – Rs 1000, Rs 500 and Rs 500.
3. Which is the first country in the world to launch a checklist of its entire fauna?
(A) France
(B) Japan
(C) India
(D) China
(E) Germany
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
According to the Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, India has become the first country in the world to prepare a checklist of its entire fauna population, covering 104,561 species.
This makes India the global leader in biodiversity documentation and conservation.
The minister gave this information at a ceremony held in Kolkata to observe the 109th anniversary of the Zoological Survey of India in Kolkata, West Bengal.
He also formally launched the Fauna of India Checklist Portal maintained by the Zoological Survey of India which contains the checklist of India’s entire known -104,561 fauna species.
The minister also inaugurated the 2nd Animal Taxonomy Summit-2024 organised by Zoological Survey of India at Kolkata.
4. After his retirement, which ceremony was given to Army Chief General Manoj Pandey?
(A) Presidential Address
(B) Guard of Honor
(C) Military Parade
(D) Flag Hoisting Ceremony
(E) None of the above
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
General Manoj Pandey, retiring as Army Chief after over four decades of service, was honored with a ceremonial guard of honor and paid tribute at the National War Memorial.
He was commissioned into the Corps of Engineers (Bombay Sappers) in 1982.
He is a recipient of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, and Vishisht Seva Medal.
General Upendra Dwivedi took over replacing him.
5. Who recently took over as the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh (UP)?
(A) Manoj Kumar Singh
(B) Rajiv Kumar
(C) Deepak Kumar
(D) Anil Kumar Gupta
(E) Ramesh Chandra
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
IAS officer Manoj Kumar Singh takes over as UP chief secretary
Manoj Kumar Singh, a 1988 batch IAS officer and a vital member of ‘Team Yogi’, officially assumed the role of Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh.
Singh held multiple significant positions, including Agriculture Production Commissioner, and played key roles in COVID-19 management, financial inclusion schemes, and the successful organization of Kumbh Mela 2019.
6. On which date was Goods and Services Tax (GST) Day observed in 2024?
(A) June 29
(B) June 28
(C) July 1
(D) July 2
(E) July 3
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
GST Day is observed on July 1 each year.
The upcoming celebration in 2024 will mark the seventh anniversary of the GST system in India.
The concept of GST was first introduced in India in the early 2000s.
The Kelkar Task Force, a dedicated team of experts, proposed a comprehensive indirect tax system to replace the existing framework that was hindering the country’s economic growth.
In August 2016, a significant milestone was achieved when Parliament enacted the Constitution (101st Amendment) Act.
The Indian GST system has five tax slabs: 0%, 5%, 12%, 18%, and 28%.
7. In recent reports, which company has maintained its position as India’s most valuable brand with a value of US$ 28.6 billion, showing a 9% increase from the previous year?
(A) Tata Group
(B) Infosys
(C) HDFC Bank
(D) LIC Group
(E) Reliance Group
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
Tata Group has maintained its position as India’s most valuable brand with a value of US$ 28.6 billion, marking a 9% increase from last year. Infosys ranks second, and HDFC Group has surged to third place following its merger with HDFC Ltd.
Tata Group is on the verge of becoming the first Indian brand to reach the US$ 30 billion mark.
Taj remains India’s strongest brand, with a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score of 92.9 out of 100 and an AAA+ rating.
The telecom sector experienced a 61% growth in brand value, driven by Jio, Airtel, and Vi, while the banking sector reported a 26% increase, with SBI as India’s second most valuable bank.
8. The Financial Services Institution Bureau (FSIB) has been selected as the next chairman of the State Bank of India (SBI).
(A) Ashwini Kumar Tewari
(B) Dinesh Kumar Khara
(C) Challa Sreenivasulu Setty
(D) Rajnish Kumar
(E) Arundhati Bhattacharya
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
The Financial Services Institution Bureau (FSIB) has selected Challa Sreenivasulu Setty as the next chairman of the State Bank of India (SBI).
Ashwini Tiwari and Vinay Tonse were two other contenders for the post.
Setty will succeed the current chairman, Dinesh Khara when he turns 63, the upper age limit for the position of SBI Chairman.
His term is scheduled to end in August 2024.
Setty would join as the 27th Chairman of SBI.
SBI had reported its highest standalone quarterly net profit at ₹20,698 crore in the fourth quarter of FY24.
9. Ravi Agrawal has been appointed as the new chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) by succeeding whom?
(A) Anil Kumar
(B) Rajesh Sharma
(C) Sanjay Patel
(D) Nitin Gupta
(E) Aloke Bajpai
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
Ravi Agrawal, a 1988-batch IRS officer, has been appointed as the new chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT).
He succeeds Nitin Gupta, whose tenure ended on June 30, 2024.
Previously serving as a member (administration) of the board, Agrawal’s extended tenure aims to oversee critical tax policy decisions and manage upcoming Union government budgets in July 2024 and February 2025.
10. Bhupinder Singh Rawat, who recently passed away at the age of 85, was famous for his contributions to which sport?
(A) Athletics
(B) Football
(C) Boxing
(D) Wrestling
(E) Golf
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
Bhupinder Singh Rawat, a former Indian football midfielder nicknamed “Scooter” for his speed, has passed away at the age of 85.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) confirmed his demise.
Rawat was a member of the Indian football team during the 1969 Merdeka tournament in Malaysia.
He represented domestic teams such as Delhi Garrison, Gorkha Brigade, etc. & participated in the Santosh Trophy.