1. Which state mica mines have been declared child labour-free by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights?
(A) Jharkhand
(B) Bihar
(C) Chhattisgarh
(D) Odisha
(E) Uttar Pradesh
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) declared the mica mines of Jharkhand “child labour-free” at an event in Koderma, Jharkhand.
Working children up to 14 years of age are called child labor in India.
Mica is a shimmery, translucent mineral used in various industries, such as cosmetics, electronics, automobiles, and construction.
It is abundant in the Koderma and Giridih districts of Jharkhand. Koderma was once called the Mica capital of India, the Abkrah Nagari.
2. Who has been elected as the new President of Iran in July 2024?
(A) Mohammad Bagher
(B) Saeed Jalili
(C) Masoud Pezeshkian
(D) Alireza Zakani
(E) Mostafa Pourmohammadi
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
Reformist and moderate leader Masoud Pezeshkian has been elected as Iran’s new president.
The Interior Ministry of Iran declared him the winner of the presidential run-off against rival Saeed Jalili on 6 July 2024.
Saeed Jalili conceded his defeat and congratulated Masoud Pezeshkian for his electoral victory.
The presidential election was necessitated in Iran after the death of President Ebrahim Raisi, foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, in a helicopter crash on 19 May 2024.
Masoud Pezeshkian is a heart surgeon by profession and has been a member of the Iranian parliament since 2008.
The Iranian parliament is called the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majles-e Shūrā-ye Eslāmī), and it is known simply as the Majles.
3. What is the theme of the 2024 World Zoonoses Day?
(A) One World, One Health: Prevent Zoonoses
(B) Reducing the Risk: Zoonoses
(C) Together, We Can Build a Rabies-Free World
(D) Closing the Gaps: Zoonoses
(E) Break the chain of Zoonotic Transmission
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
Every year, 6 July is observed as World Zoonoses Day.
On 6 July 1885, the French biologist Louis Pasteur successfully administered the first rabies vaccine to a 9-year-old boy, Joseph Meiste, who had been bitten by a rabid dog.
To mark such a momentous event in medical science, every year, 6 July is observed as World Zoonoses Day.
The theme of the 2024 World Zoonoses Day is “One World, One Health: Prevent Zoonoses” This theme emphasizes the need to break the transmission cycle to prevent future pandemics like COVID-19.
4. Which organization has recently approved the construction of a 400 MW solar power plant in Gujarat?
(A) World Bank
(B) Asian Development Bank
(C) International Monetary Fund
(D) Green Climate Fund
(E) United Nations Development Programme
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
ADB to build a 400 MW Solar Power Plant in Gujarat.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and ENGIE group have signed a long-term loan agreement to construct and operate a 400MW solar PV power plant in Surendranagar District, Gujarat, India.
ADB was the mandated lead arranger for the loan totaling 14.6 billion Indian rupees (approximately $175.9 million).
ENGIE group operates in 31 countries.
5. Who has been re-designated as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Life Insurance Corporation of India?
(A) Rajesh Kumar
(B) Vijay Sharma
(C) Amitabh Kant
(D) Siddhartha Mohanty
(E) Anil Kumar
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
LIC has re-designated its chairman Siddhartha Mohanty as managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO), with effect from June 30, 2024.
He was scheduled to take over the role of MD & CEO of the corporation until June 7, 2025.
LIC: Founded – 1 September 1956
Headquarters: Mumbai
It is India’s largest insurance company worth ₹52.52 trillion (US$630 billion) as of March 2024.
6. Who will lead India’s 28-member squad at the Paris Olympics?
(A) PV Sindhu
(B) Mirabai Chanu
(C) Bajrang Punia
(D) Neeraj Chopra
(E) Saurabh Chaudhary
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
Neeraj Chopra to lead India’s 28-member squad in Paris Olympics.
The Athletics Federation of India unveiled a 28-member contingent for the 2024 Paris Olympics, headlined by Olympic and world men’s javelin throw champion Neeraj Chopra.
The squad includes 17 men and 11 women athletes, featuring prominent names like Asian Games champions Avinash Sable and Tajinderpal Singh Toor, as well as sprint hurdler Jyothi Yarraji.
7. In which country was the oldest known cave art, depicting a wild pig and human-like figures, recently discovered?
(A) France
(B) Spain
(C) Indonesia
(D) South Africa
(E) Australia
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
World’s Oldest Known Cave Painting Found in Indonesia.
A 51,200-year-old cave painting of a wild pig and human-like figures was found in a limestone cave on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, now the oldest known cave art.
The painting surpasses the previous record by 10,000 years, showcasing early narrative storytelling in visual art.
The method used for dating involves laser analysis of calcium carbonate crystals on the pigment.
8. According to Mercer’s Cost of Living City rankings for 2024, which city is the most expensive global city for expatriates?
(A) Tokyo
(B) Hong Kong
(C) Zurich
(D) London
(E) New York City
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
Hong Kong is the most expensive global city for expats in 2024, according to Mercer’s Cost of Living City rankings.
The second position was taken by Singapore due to steep prices in terms of accommodation and transportation.
Switzerland’s Zurich ranks third on the list.
Geneva has secured the fourth spot.
Least expensive cities in the world: Abuja, Nigeria (226), Lagos, Nigeria (225)
9. Who was recently sworn in as the 15th Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court by Governor CP Radhakrishnan?
(A) Justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi
(B) Justice Indu Malhotra
(C) Justice Hemant Gupta
(D) Justice R. V. Raveendran
(E) Justice Ashok Bhushan
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
Justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi was sworn in as the 15th Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court by Governor CP Radhakrishnan.
CM Hemant Soren and Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato attended the ceremony.
Justice Sarangi, who has 27 years of legal practice and has served as a judge in the Orissa High Court since 2013, will retire on July 20, 2024.
He succeeds Justice Sanjaya Kumar Mishra.
10. For what reason has the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently imposed a monetary penalty of ₹1.32 crore on Punjab National Bank (PNB)?
(A) Money laundering activities
(B) Non-compliance with digital transaction norms
(C) Violating loans and advances norms
(D) Breach of customer data privacy
(E) Delay in implementing new banking technologies
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has fined Punjab National Bank (PNB) ₹1.32 crore for violating loans and advances norms and failing to preserve customer identification records.
The RBI conducted the Statutory Inspection for Supervisory Evaluation (ISE 2022) of PNB, referencing its financial position as of March 31, 2022.
Importance of Monetary Penalties –
Deterrence: Penalties act as a deterrent against non-compliance and encourage banks to adhere to regulations.
Accountability: They ensure that banks and financial institutions are held accountable for their actions.
Market Discipline: Penalties promote market discipline by ensuring that all players in the financial system follow the same rules and standards.