1. The National Landslide Forecasting Centre has been set up at which place?
(A) Kolkata
(B) New Delhi
(C) Hyderabad
(D) Mumbai
(E) Chennai
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
To mitigate the hazards of landslides and provide early warning to the people affected by them, the government of India has set up the National Landslide Forecasting Centre at Kolkata and launched the Bhusanket Web Portal and Bhooskhalan Mobile App.
The government plans to set up a string of landslide forecasting centers in all the landslide-prone states by 2030.
The National Landslide Forecasting Centre, Bhusanket Web Portal, and Bhooskhalan Mobile App were inaugurated by the Union Minister of Coal and Mines, G. Kishan Reddy, at Kolkata.
The National Landslide Forecasting Centre has been set up at the Geological Survey of India (GSI) Dharitri Campus, Salt Lake City, Kolkata, and West Bengal.
2. The 46th World Heritage Committee session of UNESCO is being hosted in which city?
(A) Bengaluru
(B) New Delhi
(C) Mumbai
(D) Ahmedabad
(E) Lucknow
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
The Indian capital, New Delhi, is all set to host the 46th World Heritage Committee session of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) from 21 -31 July 2024. This is the first time such an event has been held in India.
The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the function on 21 July 2024 in the presence of the Union Minister for Culture, G.Kishan Reddy.
The event, which will be held at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, will also include the participation of UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay and Culture Ministers, Ambassadors, and domain experts from various countries.
The Union Ministry of Culture is organizing the event in association with UNESCO.
3. How much loan has been sanctioned by the Asian Development Bank in July 2024 for the solar rooftop program in India?
(A) $223.7 million
(B) $278.1 million
(C) $263.8 million
(D) $240.5 million
(E) $220.0 million
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has sanctioned a $ 240.5 million loan to India to finance the expansion of the solar rooftop system in India.
The ADB loan will be channelized through the State Bank of India (SBI) and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
Out of the $240.5 million loan amount, SBI will receive $90.5 million, while NABARD will receive $150 million.
The government of India has launched the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana to promote the adoption of solar rooftop systems in India.
4. How much did ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) pay to acquire the Norwegian firm Equinor’s stake in Azerbaijan’s offshore Azeri Chirag Gunashli oil field and the associated oil pipeline?
(A) $30 million
(B) $40 million
(C) $50 million
(D) $60 million
(E) $70 million
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
The Navratna Company ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) has bought the Norwegian firm Equinor’s stake in Azerbaijan’s offshore Azeri Chirag Gunashli oil field and an associated oil pipeline for $60 million.
OVL, an ONGC subsidiary, has increased its stake in the Azeri Chirag Gunashli oil field to 2.95 percent.
The ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) was set up as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the public sector ONGC in 1965.
It was set up to explore and develop petroleum and gas fields outside India.
In terms of reserves and production, the OVL is the second largest petroleum company in India after ONGC.
5. In which year was the agriculturist Kamala Pujari, who recently passed away, awarded the Padma Shri?
(A) 2014
(B) 2011
(C) 2019
(D) 2015
(E) 2018
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
Eminent agriculturist Padma Shri Kamala Pujari passed away at 74 in Cuttack, Odisha, due to a heart attack.
Recognized for her contributions to organic farming and preserving indigenous paddy, turmeric, and cumin varieties, she received the Padma Shri in 2019.
Pujari was known for promoting organic farming techniques among farmers, especially women, by traveling to villages and teaching them
6. Who has secured his first Formula 2 victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix following Richard Verschoor’s disqualification for a technical breach?
(A) Logan Sargeant
(B) Oscar Piastri
(C) Kush Maini
(D) Charles Leclerc
(E) Lando Norris
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
Kush Maini achieved his first-ever Formula 2 win at the Hungarian Grand Prix after Richard Verschoor, the original sprint race winner, was disqualified due to a technical infringement.
This victory marks Maini’s fifth podium of the season, placing him eighth in the championship standings, just three points behind Dennis Hauger.
7. Who was recently appointed as the new head coach of the Indian men’s football team by the All India Football Federation?
(A) Kibu Vicuña
(B) Manolo Marquez
(C) Igor Stimac
(D) Javier Hernandez
(E) Roberto Carlos
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
Manolo Marquez was appointed as the new head coach of the Indian men’s football team by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) on July 20.
Marquez will take over as the full-time national team head coach after ISL 2024-25.
From Barcelona, Spain, Marquez has a stellar record of coaching in India.
Marquez has been coaching in India since 2020 and has been on the touchline for Hyderabad FC and the Gaurs for more than 100 matches.
8. Which Indian tennis stars have recently become the first Asian men to be inducted into the prestigious International Tennis Hall of Fame?
(A) Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna
(B) Sania Mirza and Bhupathi
(C) Somdev Devvarman and Paes
(D) Leander Paes and Vijay Amritraj
(E) Amritraj and Devvarman
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
Former Indian tennis stars Leander Paes and Vijay Amritraj have become the first Asian men to be inducted into the prestigious International Tennis Hall of Fame.
This historic induction not only celebrates their individual achievements but also marks a significant milestone for tennis in the Asian continent.
Leander Paes, aged 51, was inducted under the player category.
He is the only Indian to win an Olympic medal in tennis (Bronze, 1996 Atlanta Olympics).
Vijay Amritraj was inducted under the contributor category.
9. Which renowned Indian cricketer has been appointed as the brand ambassador for MotoGPâ„¢ in India by Eurosport India?
(A) Shikhar Dhawan
(B) Virat Kohli
(C) Rohit Sharma
(D) MS Dhoni
(E) Yuvraj Singh
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
Eurosport India has announced the appointment of renowned Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan as the brand ambassador for MotoGPâ„¢ in India.
Eurosport India has unveiled its latest campaign, ‘Face Kar Race Kar’, featuring Dhawan as the face of MotoGP in India.
The 2024 MotoGPâ„¢ season is well underway, with exciting developments –
9 races completed so far
11 more races scheduled across Europe, Asia, and Australia
Season finale: British GP at Silverstone on August 2nd
10. Who has been re-elected for a second term as PwC India’s chairperson, starting April 1, 2025?
(A) Sanjeev Krishan
(B) Arun Kumar
(C) Shyam K. Bhatia
(D) K. V. Kamath
(E) Praveen Sharma
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
Sanjeev Krishan has been re-elected as the chairperson of PwC India for a second term, set to begin on April 1, 2025.
Krishan, who began his first term on January 1, 2021, will continue representing PwC externally and internally.
Krishan joined PwC in 1991 as an articled trainee and became a partner in 2006.