- How many classical languages are there in India after the recent addition of new languages – Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, Bengali?
(A) 09
(B) 10
(C) 11
(D) 12
(E) 15
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
The Government of India has conferred classical language status to Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali languages.
With this inclusion, the total number of classical languages in India is now 11.
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved this decision in October 2024.
Tamil was the first language in India to receive classical language status, which was granted in 2004.
A Linguistic Expert Committee was set up under the Sahitya Akademi in 2004 to establish criteria for recognizing an Indian language as a classical language.
The criteria for a language to be classified as classical include:
The language must have early texts or recorded history that is 1500 to 2000 years old.
It should possess ancient literature or texts that are considered a heritage by generations of speakers.
The language must include knowledge texts, especially prose, poetry, and epigraphical and inscriptional evidence.
Classical languages and their literature should be distinct from their current form or have a discontinuous relationship with later forms.
- Which agency has been designated as the primary authority to implement the agreement with the International Energy Efficiency Hub?
(A) Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL)
(B) Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)
(C) National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE)
(D) Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
(E) Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
The Government of India has approved the country’s accession to the International Energy Efficiency Hub by signing a ‘Letter of Intent.’
This approval was granted by the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a meeting in New Delhi on 3 October 2024.
The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has been designated as the nodal implementing agency for the International Energy Efficiency Hub in India.
The BEE is a statutory body established under the Energy Conservation Act of 2001, operating under the Union Ministry of Power.
- Recently, the United Kingdom has agreed to hand over the Chagos archipelago to which country?
(A) Mauritius
(B) Maldives
(C) Mauritania
(D) Madagascar
(E) Seychelles
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
The United Kingdom and Mauritius have reached an agreement for the UK to return the Chagos Islands and the atoll of Diego Garcia to Mauritius.
This agreement marks the end of British colonialism on the African continent.
The agreement was announced in a joint statement by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth in October 2024.
Under the agreement, displaced natives from the Chagos Islands will have the right to return and settle on the islands, except for Diego Garcia.
The United Kingdom will retain a 99-year lease of the Diego Garcia islands, which host an important United States military base.
- Which umbrella scheme has been introduced by the Government of India to ensure food security and promote self-sufficiency in agriculture?
(A) Krishonnati Yojana
(B) Krishi Beema Yojana
(C) Krishi Vikas Yojana
(D) Kisan Vikas Yojana
(E) Kisan Maan Yojana
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
The Government of India has rationalized various central sector schemes of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare into two main schemes:
Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY)
Krishonnati Yojana (KY)
The PM-RKVY scheme focuses on promoting sustainable agriculture.
The Krishonnati Yojana (KY) focuses on food security and achieving agricultural self-sufficiency.
The total outlay for the PM-RKVY and KY schemes is ₹1,01,321.61 crore.
Central government’s share: ₹69,088.98 crore
State’s share: ₹32,232.63 crore
Allocation for the PM-RKVY scheme: ₹57,074.72 crore.
Allocation for the Krishonnati Yojana (KY): ₹44,246.89 crore.
- Who has been awarded the ‘Shiv Chhatrapati’ state sports award for lifetime achievement for 2022-23 by the Maharashtra government?
(A) Saina Nehwal
(B) Pradeep Gandhi
(C) P.V. Sindhu
(D) Mary Kom
(E) Neeraj Chopra
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
The Maharashtra government had announced that the ‘Shiv Chhatrapati’ state sports award for lifetime achievement for 2022-23 would be conferred on ace badminton player Pradeep Gandhe.
The state government had also revealed that 29 sportspersons had been awarded for excelling in athletics, badminton, carrom, chess, shooting, malkhamb, bodybuilding, boxing, acrobatics, fencing, cycling, billiards and snooker, hockey, kabaddi, judo, kho-kho, weightlifting, wrestling, skating, and ‘aatyapaatya’ (played between two teams of nine players).
Additionally, it had stated that eight ‘divyang’ players (persons with disabilities) had also been selected for the prestigious awards.
- In October 2024, the Karnataka Government launched a joint initiative with ECHO India to accelerate the elimination of which disease?
(A) Cervical Cancer
(B) HIV/AIDS
(C) Heart disease
(D) Covid-19
(E) Liver Cancer
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
ECHO India supported the launch of “Accelerating Cervical Cancer Elimination: The Karnataka Movement” by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka.
The initiative aims to eliminate cervical cancer in Karnataka through collaboration with NGOs and private healthcare institutions.
Dr. Raj Shankar Ghosh introduced the Cervical Cancer Elimination India (CCEC-I) initiative to enhance vaccination, screening, and treatment based on WHO’s 90-70-90 strategy.
ECHO India has launched programs across eight states for the early detection and prevention of cervical cancer for nurses.
- What is the name of the third 25T Bollard Pull (BP) Tug that was launched in October 2024 under the “Make in India” initiative?
(A) Bahubali
(B) Shakti
(C) Bheem
(D) Ashva
(E) Bheeshm
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
The third 25T Bollard Pull (BP) Tug, named Ashva (Yard 337), was launched on 03 October 2024 by Cmde Ajay Yadav, NOIC (WB) at M/s Titagarh Rail Systems Limited in Kolkata.
This Tug represents the “Make in India” initiative of the Government of India.
A contract for the construction and delivery of six 25T BP Tugs was signed with M/s Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL) as part of the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative.
The first 25T Bollard Pull (BP) Tug, Mahabali was delivered to the Indian Navy on 02 Feb 2024.
The second 25T Bollard Pull (BP) Tug, Baljeet was delivered to the Indian Navy (IN) on 30 May 2024.
- Veteran actor Mohan Raj, who passed away recently, was renowned for his contributions to which language film industry?
(A) Tamil
(B) Malayalam
(C) Telugu
(D) Kannada
(E) Odia
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
Veteran Malayalam actor Mohan Raj passed away at the age of 70 on October 4, 2024.
He was fondly known as Keerikkadan Jose in the Malayalam film industry.
Mohan Raj left behind a memorable legacy in Malayalam cinema.
The actor passed away at his home in Kanjiramkulam.
He had been receiving treatment for multiple ailments.
The Malayalam film fraternity mourned his loss.
Mohan Raj was celebrated for his iconic roles in Malayalam films.
- Since 1994, World Teachers’ Day has been celebrated every year on which day of October?
(A) 03 October
(B) 04 October
(C) 05 October
(D) 06 October
(E) 07 October
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
World Teachers’ Day has been celebrated annually on October 5 since 1994.
In India, Teachers’ Day is celebrated on September 5, while globally, it is observed on October 5.
The theme for World Teachers’ Day 2024 is “Valuing Teacher Voices: Towards a New Social Contract for Education”.
World Teachers’ Day was established by UNESCO in 1994.
It commemorates the signing of the 1966 “Recommendation Concerning the Status of Teachers.”
The recommendation sets benchmarks for teachers’ rights, responsibilities, training, employment, and working conditions.
- In which year will India host the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup?
(A) 2026
(B) 2029
(C) 2027
(D) 2025
(E) 2028
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
The International Kho Kho Federation and the Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI) announced that India will host the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup in 2025.
Participating Nations: 24 nations representing six continents will compete in the event.
Kho Kho originated in India and has grown in popularity, with 54 countries now participating in the sport.
The sport has transitioned from being played on dirt to mat surfaces to meet international standards.