1. Which company launched the new version of ‘Girls Empowerment Mission’ (GEM) in April 2024?
(A) NHPC Limited
(B) ONGC
(C) NTPC Limited
(D) GAIL
(E) Power Grid
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
NTPC Limited is preparing to launch a new edition of its flagship corporate social responsibility initiative, Girl Child Empowerment Mission (GEM).
This program is in line with the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao initiative of the Government of India.
GEM aims to nurture the imaginations of girls. And also to eliminate gender inequality by promoting their ability to explore opportunities.
Girl Child Empowerment Mission provides a platform for young girls for their all-round development through a month-long workshop during summer vacations.
This new edition of GEM, starting from April 2024, will connect around 3,000 meritorious children from deprived sections of the society across 42 identified locations of power sector PSUs.
2. What is India’s rank in the world for having the maximum number of unicorns, as per the Hurun Unicorn Index 2024?
(A) First
(B) Second
(C) Third
(D) Fourth
(E) Fifth
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
According to the Hurun Global Unicorn Index 2024 report, the pace of creation of unicorn startups in India has slowed since 2017.
However, India is still the third largest hub of unicorns in the world after the United States of America and China.
According to Hurun Research, there were 1,453 unicorns globally in 53 countries based in 291 cities. In 2023, one Unicorn was created every two minutes.
The San Francisco Bay area, in California, the United States of America, maintained its status as the world’s unicorn capital, The famous Silicon Valley is located in the San Francisco city.
Singapore emerged as the fastest-growing hub for unicorns.
The first AI unicorn in India is Krutrim.
3. Whose record was broken by Novak Djokovic for being the oldest singles ATP no.1 ranked player in Tennis?
(A) Roger Federer
(B) Jannik Sinner
(C) Rafael Nadal
(D) Novak Djokovic
(E) Mirka Federer
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
Novak Djokovic of Serbia broke the Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer’s record of being the oldest man to be ranked No 1 in the ATP Tour’s computerized rankings.
At 36 years and 321 days, Novak Djokovic surpassed Federer’s record as the oldest No. 1 ranked men’s tennis player.
Iga Swiatek of Poland remains the WTA (Women Tennis Association) no.1 ranked women’s single tennis player.
Novak Djokovic was ranked world no.1 for the first time on 4 July 2011, at the age of 24.
4. Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) will be organized in which country?
(A) Hong Kong
(B) Malaysia
(C) Taiwan
(D) Singapore
(E) Australia
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
IPEF to organize the Clean Economy Investor Forum in Singapore in June 24.
It has been decided to organize the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) Clean Economy Investor Forum in Singapore.
The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity was launched in May 2022.
IPEF is a US-led initiative.
It aims to strengthen the economic partnership between the participating countries to enhance equity and competitiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.
5. Lisbon, where the 2024 World Hepatitis Summit was organised recently, is the capital city of which country?
(A) Spain
(B) Portugal
(C) Poland
(D) Italy
(E) Greece
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Hepatitis Report 2024, India is one of the countries with the highest prevalence of viral hepatitis disease.
According to the report, around 2.9 crore Indians were infected with hepatitis B infection and 0.55 crore with hepatitis C.
The WHO released the report during the World Hepatitis Summit, which was held in Lisbon, Portugal, from 9 to 11 April 2024.
WHO has set a target of eliminating Hepatitis worldwide by 2030.
According to WHO, in 2022, viral hepatitis and tuberculosis were the second leading causes of death among infectious diseases in 2022, after COVID-19.
6. Famous scientist Peter Higgs, who has passed away recently, was associated with which research work?
(A) Discovery of God particle
(B) Discovery of Solar Dynamics
(C) Discovery of Climate Science
(D) Discovery of Genome Editing
(E) Discovery of Plasma oscillations
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
British physicist Peter Higgs died at the age of 94.
Peter Higgs gained fame for the discovery of the “Higgs-Boson Particle” i.e. “God Particle”.
Peter Higgs showed how bosons hold the universe together.
Peter Higgs was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 2013 for this discovery.
In the year 2012, scientists obtained information on it, it was named Higgs Boson.
On July 4, 2012, the existence of the Higgs boson particle was announced as confirmed.
The Higgs boson or God particle was a concept of science till 2012.
7. Simon Harris has been elected as the prime minister of which country?
(A) Scotland
(B) Iceland
(C) Ireland
(D) Norway
(E) Sweden
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
Simon Harris was elected the youngest prime minister of the Republic of Ireland in April 2024.
In Ireland, the prime minister is called Taoiseach.
He will succeed Leo Varadkar, who resigned in March 2024.
At the age of 37, he is the youngest prime minister in Ireland.
Before him, the Indian-born prime minister Leo Varadkar was the youngest prime minister of Ireland.
Leo Varadkar became prime minister at the age of 38 in 2017.
Ireland is a West European country situated along the Atlantic Ocean. It is a member of the European Union and a member of the eurozone.
It was conquered by England and made a part of the United Kingdom. In 1921 it became a self-governing dominion under the United Kingdom/ British Empire.
In 1949 it left the British Empire and became the Republic of Ireland.
The Directive Principles of State Policy of the Indian constitution have been borrowed from Ireland’s Constitution.
8. What is the theme of World Homeopathy Day 2024?
(A) Homeoparivar: One Health, One Family
(B) Homeopathy: People’s Choice for Wellness
(C) Enhancing the scope of Homoeopathy
(D) Homeopathy: Roadmap for Integrative Medicine
(E) Role of Homoeopathy in Public Health care
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
“World Homeopathy Day” (WHD) is celebrated every year on 10 April.
This day is celebrated in honor of the father of homeopathy, Dr Samuel Hahnemann, on his birth anniversary.
On this occasion, people are attracted to the homeopathy system of medicine.
Each year, this day is commemorated with a unique theme. The theme of WHD for this year 2024 is – “Homeoparivar: One Health, One Family”.
Whereas last year in 2023, the theme of this day was – ‘Homeopathy: People’s Choice for Wellness’.
‘WHD’ is observed annually on 10 April in honor of the renowned German physician Dr. Samuel Hahnemann’s birth anniversary.
This German physician is also considered the founder of homeopathy.
9. Who has won the Valero Texas Open title in April 2024?
(A) Sahita Theegala
(B) Scottie Scheffler
(C) Jordan Spieth
(D) Akshay Bhatia
(E) Vivek Hovland
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
Indian American golfer Akshay Bhatia performed brilliantly in the playoffs and won the Valero Texas Open title on April 8, 2024.
With this, Akshay Bhatia has made a place in the Augusta Masters to be held next month in May 2024.
Akshay Bhatia has qualified for a major tournament for the first time by winning the Valero Texas Open title.
Bhatia overcame Danny McCarthy in the play-off, who birdied eight of his last nine holes.
McCarthy had already secured a Masters spot by breaking into the world’s top 50 in 2024.
McCarthy lost in a playoff to Viktor Hovland at the Memorial Tournament last year.
10. Who has been appointed as the head of the US-India Tax Forum by the US-India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF)?
(A) Mukesh Aghi
(B) Tarun Bajaj
(C) Lalit K Jha
(D) Ajit Dubey
(E) Makhan Singh
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
Bajaj, former Revenue Secretary and ex-secretary of Economic Affairs, joined USISPF as an advisor to the Board of Directors in January.
He brings extensive experience and expertise in finance and taxation to his new role.
Bajaj’s leadership will be instrumental in shaping fiscal and tax policies and strengthening economic ties between the United States and India.
Mukesh Aghi, president and CEO of USISPF, expressed confidence in Bajaj’s ability to lead the Tax Forum effectively.
Bajaj, former Revenue Secretary and ex-secretary of Economic Affairs joined USISPF as an advisor to the Board of Directors in January.
He brings extensive experience and expertise in finance and taxation to his new role.
Bajaj’s leadership will be instrumental in shaping fiscal and tax policies and strengthening economic ties between the United States and India.
Mukesh Aghi, president and CEO of USISPF, expressed confidence in Bajaj’s ability to lead the Tax Forum effectively.