- Which union minister has launched the AgriSURE Fund in New Delhi in September 2024?
(A) Nirmala Sitharaman
(B) Bhagirath Choudhary
(C) Shivraj Singh Chouhan
(D) Ram Nath Thakur
(E) Dr Devesh Chaturvedi
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Minister for Rural Development, launched the AgriSURE Fund in New Delhi on 3 September 2024.
Nirmala Sitharaman, the Union Finance Minister, announced the creation of the AgriSURE Fund during her 2022-23 Union Budget speech.
The AgriSURE Fund is a Category-II Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) registered with the Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
The fund will be managed by NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development).
The AgriSURE Fund will be regulated by SEBI.
- Which state assembly introduced Zero Hour for the first time in September 2024?
(A) Punjab
(B) Uttar Pradesh
(C) Haryana
(D) Himachal Pradesh
(E) Kerala
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
The Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly introduced Zero Hour for the first time on 4 September 2024.
Zero Hour is a convention, not a formal rule, and is not mentioned in the rules of Parliament or State Assemblies.
The Speaker of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Kuldeep Singh Pathania, announced Zero Hour at the start of the assembly’s monsoon session on 3 September 2024.
Zero Hour will commence at 12:30 PM and last for half an hour, after the Question Hour.
The Question Hour in the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly is from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM on most working days.
During Zero Hour, members can raise matters of urgent public importance.
Members will be allotted one minute or slightly more to raise matters of public importance.
- Where will the Uttar Pradesh government construct the Vedic-3D museum dedicated to Indian astrology, astronomy, and Vedic literature?
(A) Lucknow
(B) Varanasi
(C) Agra
(D) Ayodhya
(E) Meerut
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
The Uttar Pradesh government will construct a Vedic-3D museum in Varanasi at the Sampurnanand Sanskrit University.
The museum will be dedicated to Indian astrology, astronomy, and Vedic literature.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath made the announcement during his maiden visit to the university in Kashi.
The museum will highlight the evolution of Vedic literature, including the 16 Sanskars, 64 arts, and 18 Vidya Sthans.
It will also showcase the contributions of Indian sages and aim to revive the tradition of ‘Shastrartha’ (spiritual discourse).
Rare manuscripts such as “Raas Panchadhyayi,” Shrimad Bhagwat Gita, and Durgasaptashati, inscribed with gold letters and adorned with gold artistry, are being preserved in the historic Saraswati Bhawan.
Conservation work is being carried out by the National Manuscript Mission with support from the Government of India.
CM Yogi Adityanath inspected the 234-year-old main building of the university and called for the installation of Sanskrit signboards for all departments.
- Who has been appointed as a selector of the Indian men’s cricket team by the BCCI, replacing Salil Ankola?
(A) Rahul Dravid
(B) Ajay Ratra
(C) Saurav Ganguly
(D) VVS Laxman
(E) Anil Kumble
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
The BCCI appointed former India wicketkeeper Ajay Ratra as a selector of the men’s cricket team.
Ratra replaces Salil Ankola in the five-man selection panel.
As per convention, selectors represent different zones. Ratra will represent the North Zone.
The selection committee is headed by Ajit Agarkar.
The previous panel had two selectors from the West Zone after Agarkar’s appointment as chief selector.
This appointment comes ahead of the two-Test series against Bangladesh, starting on September 19.
Ratra will begin his role with the start of the Duleep Trophy.
- What is the primary aim of the newly launched Notary Portal by Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal?
(A) To provide a paperless, faceless, and efficient system
(B) To increase physical paperwork
(C) To facilitate in-person submissions
(D) To limit online access
(E) To enhance manual record-keeping
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
Union Minister for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal, launched the new Notary Portal in New Delhi.
The Notary Portal aims to provide a paperless, faceless, and efficient system, contributing to the Digital India initiative.
The portal is designed to be user-friendly and assist both notaries and the public.
It offers online services for submitting applications for appointment as notaries, issuing and renewing Certificates of Practice, changing practice areas, and submitting annual returns.
Central Notaries can now submit applications online, track their progress, and download digitally signed Certificates of Practice from their Digilocker accounts.
- Who has been appointed as the Vice-Chairperson of the UP Women’s Commission by the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s government?
(A) Babita Chauhan
(B) Charu Chaudhary
(C) Anandiben Patel
(D) Aparna Yadav
(E) Subhadra Singh
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
Aparna Yadav has been appointed as the Vice-Chairperson of the UP Women’s Commission by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s government.
Babita Chauhan has been appointed as the Chairperson of the UP Rajya Mahila Aayog.
Aparna Yadav is the younger daughter-in-law of Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav and the wife of Prateek Yadav, step-brother of Akhilesh Yadav.
Governor Anandiben Patel nominated Babita Chauhan as chairperson and Aparna Yadav and Charu Chaudhary as vice-chairpersons for the commission.
The appointments are for a period of one year or until the UP government’s decision.
Aparna Yadav contested the 2017 assembly elections from Lucknow Cantt seat, finishing second.
She joined the BJP in January 2022 and has supported some BJP government initiatives, including donating Rs 11 lakh for the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
- The 22nd edition of Exercise Varuna, involving the Indian Navy’s P-8I aircraft, is being conducted in which sea?
(A) Mediterranean Sea
(B) Arabian Sea
(C) South China Sea
(D) Andaman Sea
(E) Red Sea
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
The Indian Navy’s P-8I aircraft has made its first-ever deployment in Europe, landing at Air Base 125 Istres-Le Tube in France.
This deployment is part of the 22nd edition of Exercise Varuna, a biennial bilateral naval exercise between India and France.
The P-8I aircraft joins the French Navy for Exercise Varuna, highlighting the growing Indo-French naval cooperation.
The arrival of the P-8I comes 63 years after the Indian Navy’s Alize aircraft last flew at Hyeres Airbase in France.
Exercise Varuna 2024 is being conducted in the Mediterranean Sea from September 2-4, 2024, and includes advanced tactical exercises.
The P-8I aircraft’s role in the exercise reflects the sophistication and complexity of joint operations between the Indian and French navies.
The Varuna exercises involve a wide range of naval assets including ships, submarines, fighter aircraft, maritime patrol aircraft, and helicopters.
The exercises enhance interoperability, cooperation, and the sharing of best practices between the Indian and French navies.
- Which prominent figure is honored at the Vishwashanti Buddha Vihara, along with Gautama Buddha, inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu?
(A) Mahatma Gandhi
(B) Swami Vivekananda
(C) Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar
(D) Rabindranath Tagore
(E) Mother Teresa
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Vishwashanti Buddha Vihara in Udgir, Maharashtra.
The vihara features a statue of Gautama Buddha and a tribute to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.
It is a replica of a vihara located in Kalburgi, Karnataka.
The vihara spans 15 hectares and includes a meditation centre for 1,200 followers.
The main entrance is inspired by the Sanchi Stupa, designed to offer a grand entry.
- Which state had the largest real GSDP for FY24 among the 10 largest states?
(A) Maharashtra
(B) Tamil Nadu
(C) Telangana
(D) Rajasthan
(E) Karnataka
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan have recorded the highest growth in real gross state domestic product (GSDP) in FY24 among the 10 largest States ranked according to their GSDP.
This is revealed in the analysis of data on recent estimates put out by MoSPI.
Telangana grew its economy by 9.2% in FY24, reaching a real GSDP of ₹7.9 lakh crore.
Tamil Nadu’s economy grew by 8.2% in FY24, reaching a real GSDP of ₹15.7 lakh crore.
Rajasthan’s economy grew by 8% in FY24.
The services sector significantly contributed to the GVA growth in these states.
Telangana’s services sector grew by 11%, while Tamil Nadu’s grew by 9%.
Maharashtra remained the largest economy in India with a real GSDP of ₹24.1 lakh crore.
- Which insurgent groups signed a peace agreement with the Centre and Tripura government in September 2024 to end violence in the state?
(A) National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and Kamtapur Liberation Organization (KLO)
(B) United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN)
(C) National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF)
(D) National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and Karbi People’s Liberation Tiger (KPLT)
(E) Mizo National Front (MNF) and Tripura National Volunteers (TNV)
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
The Centre, Tripura government, and the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) signed a peace agreement on Wednesday, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah present.
The Home Ministry declared NLFT and ATTF as “unlawful associations” in October 2023.
The government has signed 12 important agreements aimed at bringing peace and prosperity to the northeast, with three specifically related to Tripura.
Approximately 10,000 former militants have given up arms and joined the mainstream as a result of these agreements.
Tripura experienced significant militancy from the 1980s to the early 2000s, with NLFT and ATTF being two of the most prominent insurgent groups during that period.