1. Where did the 8th edition of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Conclave of Chiefs (CoC) take place?
(A) New Delhi, India
(B) Colombo, Sri Lanka
(C) Jakarta, Indonesia
(D) Bangkok, Thailand
(E) Beijing, China
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
The 8th Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Conclave of Chiefs (CoC) was held in Bangkok, Thailand.
The event concluded recently and the Royal Thai Navy was the organizer.
Chiefs of Navies or Senior Delegates from 27 member or observer countries participated in the conference.
Admiral R Hari Kumar, the Chief of the Naval Staff, represented India with a delegacy of three Indian Naval members.
Remarkably, the flag designed by India was chosen as the IONS Flag, and India also assumed the role of co-chair for IONS Working Groups on Maritime Security and HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief) for the upcoming cycle.
2. Who has chaired the third National Conference of Chief Secretaries in Delhi on 28th and 29th December 2023?
(A) Union Minister for Home Affairs
(B) President of India
(C) Prime Minister of India
(D) Secretary-General of India
(E) Minister of External Affairs
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
The third National Conference of Chief Secretaries will be presided over by Shri Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India.
The event will take place on the 28th and 29th of December 2023.
This conference, which will focus on the theme of ‘Ease of Living’, symbolizes the principle of cooperative federalism by encouraging participative governance and partnership between Central and State Governments.
The goal of the conference is to streamline Government delivery mechanisms to achieve a better quality of life for the citizens.
3. On which day the state of Madhya Pradesh has recently celebrate “Tabla Divas” as per the announcement made by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav?
(A) December 24
(B) December 25
(C) December 26
(D) December 27
(E) December 28
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Mohan Yadav, declared that the state will celebrate ‘Tabla Divas’ on December 25 every year.
This announcement came after more than 1500 people gathered to perform tabla simultaneously at the ‘Taal Darbar’ in Gwalior Fort, setting a new Guinness World Record.
Gwalior is recognized for its rich music heritage in India.
This celebration will serve as a tribute to Indian music, and particularly the tabla, which is one of the most popular percussion instruments in Indian classical music.
4. Uttar Pradesh has got how much investment in 2023?
(A) Rs 40 lakh crore
(B) Rs 30 lakh crore
(C) Rs 35 lakh crore
(D) Rs 45 lakh crore
(E) Rs 50 lakh crore
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
Uttar Pradesh attracted over Rs 40 lakh cr. of investment in 2023, which is projected to generate employment for one crore youths.
Projects worth Rs 15 lakh cr. are set to launch in 2024, including the development of Lalitpur Bulk Drug Park, Defense Corridor, and Lucknow AI City.
Foreign investments include Fuji Silvertech from Japan which agreed to establish a plant in Uttar Pradesh in 2023.
5. Which state has decided to use drone technology for land mapping?
(A) Uttar Pradesh
(B) Rajasthan
(C) Haryana
(D) Punjab
(E) Madhya Pradesh
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
The Haryana government is using drones for diverse applications including land mapping, crime control, and enhancing agriculture.
The Drone Imaging and Information Systems of Haryana (DRIISHYA) spearheads these initiatives, exploring new areas of opportunity with drone technology.
DRIISHYA, in collaboration with DCP Traffic, Gurugram, is set to introduce drone-based land surveys.
6. Central government and ADB secured a $100m loan aimed at upgrading urban services and tourism in which state?
(A) Nagaland
(B) Mizoram
(C) Manipur
(D) Tripura
(E) Sikkim
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
Central government and ADB secured a $100m loan aimed at upgrading urban services and tourism in Tripura.
The project will strengthen urban water systems, upgrade roads with features for vulnerable populations, and impart key skills to local urban bodies.
High-profile sites like Chaturdash Temple, Kasba Kalibari, and Neermahal Palace will be upgraded, and a 10-year tourism plan implemented.
7. Which company has donated 4.30 crore to CM relief fund for flood relief in Tamil Nadu?
(A) NLC India Limited
(B) NTPC Limited
(C) Coal India
(D) Bharat Coking Coal Limited
(E) Central Coalfields Limited
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
NLC has contributed 4.30 crore to the Tamil Nadu CM’s Public Relief Fund to aid flood-affected people.
This sum includes Rs 2.30 crores donated from employees’ one-day salary.
The funds will assist citizens impacted by Cyclone Michaung and by unprecedented heavy rain in southern districts like Tuticorin and Tirunelveli.
NLC India has also deployed water pumps, engineers, and technicians.
8. Which city is being developed as India’s first ‘AI City’?
(A) Jaipur
(B) Lucknow
(C) Noida
(D) Chennai
(E) Kolkata
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
Lucknow city, known as the ‘City of Nawabs’, will be developed as India’s first ‘AI City’.
Noida has already emerged as an IT hub, on the same lines now Tier 2 cities like Lucknow are also being developed as IT hubs.
According to a report by Grand View Research, the size of the global AI market was estimated at $ 137 billion in the year 2022.
UP Electronics Corporation Limited has issued Expression of Interest (EOI) for the development of AI City.
9. Bharat Electronics Limited has recently signed a contract worth Rs 678 crore with which state government?
(A) Bihar
(B) Tamil Nadu
(C) Uttar Pradesh
(D) Telangana
(E) Maharashtra
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) received a contract worth Rs 678 crore from the Uttar Pradesh Government for UP Dial 112 project.
The project involves providing high-tech hardware, AI-based software, and cybersecurity solutions across the state.
Besides, BEL has obtained additional orders worth Rs 233 crore for communication units, thermal cameras, and other spares & services.
10. Which stealth guided-missile destroyer was recently inducted into the Indian Navy?
(A) INS ‘Chakra’
(B) INS ‘Dhwaj’
(C) INS ‘Imphal’
(D) INS ‘Kavaratti’
(E) INS ‘Surat’
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
The latest stealth guided-missile destroyer ‘Imphal’ has recently been inducted into the Indian Navy. It was inducted into the Navy in the presence of Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.
INS ‘Imphal’ is the first warship to be named after a city in the north-east.
It has been designed by ‘Warship Design Bureau’ and constructed by Mazagon Dock Limited, Mumbai.