- In August 2024, which state government has launched “Mukhya Mantri Sukh Shiksha Yojana?
(A) Himachal Pradesh
(B) Haryana
(C) Uttar Pradesh
(D) Punjab
(E) Madhya Pradesh
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet has approved a new scheme, “Mukhya Mantri Sukh Shiksha Yojana”.
Objective: Provide financial support to socially and economically vulnerable women and parents of disabled children for their children’s education and well-being.
Budget: Rs 53.21 crore allocated for the financial year 2024-25.
Key Aims:
Empower vulnerable sections of society to live dignified lives.
Strengthen financial conditions to enable educational pursuits.
Prevent social evils such as teenage marriages, child abuse, child trafficking, and drug abuse by enhancing child protection at the family level.
- India has recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement regarding the Assignment of Liaison Officers with which country?
(A) Russia
(B) France
(C) Germany
(D) America
(E) Britain
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
India and the USA signed two new defence agreements: Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA) and a Memorandum of Agreement regarding the Assignment of Liaison.
The agreements were signed during Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to the USA from 23 to 26 August 2024.
India is the 18th country with which the USA has signed the SOSA.
The SOSA is non-binding, allowing both countries to request priority delivery of defence items from each other, but either country can refuse the request.
The agreements support priority co-production projects, including jet engines, unmanned platforms, munitions, and ground mobility systems.
The agreements are part of the 2023 US-India Roadmap for Defence Industrial Cooperation.
- Which Indian state reported a bird flu outbreak in chickens in August 2024?
(A) West Bengal
(B) Odisha
(C) Jharkhand
(D) Manipur
(E) Jharkhand
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
An outbreak of bird flu was reported in Odisha, India.
The affected area is Pipili town in the Puri district.
Authorities have culled over 11,700 chickens.
The outbreak is caused by the H5N1 avian influenza strain.
Bird flu was previously reported in Kerala in April 2024 and Maharashtra in February 2006.
Infected chicken carcasses were tested at the National Institute of High-Security Animal Disease, Bhopal, which confirmed the presence of H5N1.
The first case of bird flu in humans was identified in Hong Kong in 1997.
The first human case of avian Influenza A(H5N1) in India was reported in Haryana in June 2021.
The outbreak led to mass culling in the affected poultry farm, nearby homes, and the village area.
- Which country won the women’s team title at the U17 World Wrestling Championships 2024?
(A) Jordan
(B) Iran
(C) India
(D) Azerbaijan
(E) Georgia
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
Indian women wrestlers won the team title at the U17 World Wrestling Championships 2024.
The event took place in Amman, Jordan, from 19 to 25 August 2024.
India won 8 out of 10 medals, including 5 gold, 1 silver, and 2 bronze.
The Indian women’s team secured 185 points, outshining Japan (146 points) and Kazakhstan (third place).
The Indian women’s team achieved their first-ever team title in U17 World Wrestling Championships history.
In 2023, India won one gold, seven silver, and three bronze medals.
The Indian men’s contingent won only two medals at the 2024 Championships.
The Indian women’s team has been in the top five in the last five editions, securing second place behind the USA in 2021 and Japan in 2022.
- Who will Jay Shah succeed as the Independent Chair of the International Cricket Council (ICC)?
(A) Shashank Manohar
(B) N. Srinivasan
(C) Greg Barclay
(D) Sourav Ganguly
(E) James Sutherland
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
Jay Shah was elected unopposed as the next Independent Chair of the ICC on 27 August 2024.
He will replace Greg Barclay, with his term beginning on 1 December 2024.
Jay Shah, at 35, will be the youngest Chair of the ICC and the third Indian to hold the position.
The ICC post of Independent Chair was created in 2014, and the role of President was abolished in 2016.
Jagmohan Dalmiya was the first Indian President of the ICC (1997-2000), followed by Sharad Pawar (2010-2012).
- Srinivasan was the first Chair of the ICC, succeeded by Shashank Manohar (2015-2020).
- What is the theme of World Water Week 2024, which is being held from 25-29 August?
(A) Bridging the boundaries: Water for a peaceful and sustainable future
(B) Seeing the Unseen: The Value of Water
(C) Building Resilience Faster: climate crisis, water scarcity, food security
(D) Water for society: Including all
(E) Seeds of Change: Innovative Solutions for a Water-Wise World
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
The theme for World Water Week 2024 is “Bridging Borders: Water for a Peaceful and Sustainable Future.”
The focus is on global and regional interconnectedness and the need for collaborative efforts to achieve peace and sustainability.
Key areas include water cooperation related to human security, food and nutrition security, ecosystem security, and energy security.
Organized by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI).
World Bank Water is one of the four Key Collaborating Partners (KCPs).
The event features 17 sessions led or co-convened by the World Bank Group and 9 seminar sessions, available both in-person and virtually.
- Where was the International Mother Teresa Award ceremony held?
(A) Mumbai
(B) Dubai
(C) Sydney
(D) Paris
(E) London
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
The 24th International Mother Teresa Awards ceremony will be held on August 26, 2024 at Millennium Plaza Dubai.
It was organised by the All-India Minority and Weaker Sections Council.
This is only the second time the event was held outside India, both international events having taken place in Dubai.
- The Union Finance Minister recently inaugurated the GST Bhawan in which city?
(A) Gurugram
(B) New Delhi
(C) Lucknow
(D) Udaipur
(E) Indore
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated the new GST Bhawan in Udaipur, Hiran Magri area.
The Construction was began in 2020 and faced delays due to COVID-19.
Sitharaman highlighted the office’s role in serving 13 districts and reducing GST-related grievances.
She noted the growth of small businesses post-COVID and significant GST revenue contributions from sectors like zinc, lead, cement, tyres, and calcium phosphate.
ICETAB 2.0, a handheld device for enhancing customs operations, was launched at the event.
- Which institution has partnered with alumnus Mathew Cyriac to launch India’s first Global Centre for Private Equity and Venture Capital?
(A) IIM Ahmedabad
(B) IIM Calcutta
(C) IIM Lucknow
(D) IIM Bangalore
(E) IIM Kozhikode
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
IIM Bangalore partners with alumnus Mathew Cyriac to launch India’s first Global Centre for Private Equity and Venture Capital.
The Centre, named after Tony James, aims to lead research and education in PE and VC.
The initiative includes significant alumni contributions, scholarships, and collaboration with industry experts.
- Where has the third Regional Industry Conclave (RIC) held in August 2024, to attract investments in Madhya Pradesh?
(A) Bhopal
(B) Gwalior
(C) Indore
(D) Jabalpur
(E) Ujjain
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
Gwalior will host the third Regional Industry Conclave (RIC) on August 28, 2024, to attract investments in Madhya Pradesh.
Gwalior’s strategic location, intersected by three major national corridors, enhances the conclave’s potential success.
These are the North-South Corridor from Srinagar to Kanyakumari, the Agra-Mumbai Highway, and the East-West Corridor from Silchar to Porbandar.