- The recently launched “Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari” Initiative is a joint scheme of the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti and which state government?
(A) Gujarat
(B) Maharashtra
(C) Rajasthan
(D) Uttar Pradesh
(E) Bihar
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually launched the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari initiative in September 2024 in Surat, Gujarat.
Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti CR Patil and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel were present at the launch.
The Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari Initiative is a joint scheme of the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Gujarat government.
The initiative aims to enhance water conservation efforts in Gujarat.
The initiative plans to construct approximately 24,800 rainwater harvesting structures across the state.
The initiative builds upon the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti’s “Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain” scheme.
- Which naval assets represented the Indian Navy during the 22nd edition of the Varuna exercise?
(A) INS Vikramaditya and INS Arihant
(B) INS Tabar and P81 Poseidon
(C) INS Kolkata and INS Delhi
(D) INS Shivalik and INS Chakra
(E) INS Mysore and INS Talwar
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
The 22nd edition of the Varuna exercise, a bilateral maritime exercise between India and France.
The exercise was hosted by the French Navy from 2 to 4 September 2024 in the Mediterranean Sea.
India hosted the 21st Varuna exercise in the Arabian Sea in 2023.
The Indian Navy was represented by INS Tabar and the P81 Poseidon aircraft.
The French Navy was represented by FS Provence, Submarine Suffren, Aircraft F20, Atlantique2, fighters MB339, and Helicopters NH90 Dauphin.
The exercise alternates between the Indian Ocean (when hosted by India) and the Mediterranean Sea (when hosted by France).
The Varuna exercise began in 1983, but the name “Varuna” was first used in 2001.
- What type of missile is the Agni-4, tested successfully in September 2024?
(A) Surface-to-Air Missile
(B) Surface-to-Surface Missile
(C) Air-to-Air Missile
(D) Air-to-Surface Missile
(E) Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
The Agni-4 is a surface-to-surface missile developed by DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation).
The missile was successfully tested from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, Odisha, on 6 September 2024.
This was the ninth test of the nuclear-capable intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) Agni-4.
The test conducted on 6 September 2024 was a user test under the Strategic Forces Command.
DRDO started the Agni-4 missile development program in 2007 to enhance India’s nuclear deterrence capability against China and Pakistan.
The first test of the Agni-4 missile took place on December 10, 2010, and was a failure.
The Strategic Forces Command’s first successful user trial of the Agni-4 took place on 2 December 2014.
- Where did Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurate the world’s first conservation and breeding centre for the Asian King Vulture?
(A) Lucknow
(B) Kanpur
(C) Varanasi
(D) Gorakhpur
(E) Agra
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Centre on 6 September 2024.
The centre is located in the Bharivaisi, Campierganj Range of the Gorakhpur Forest Division.
It is the world’s first conservation and breeding centre for the Asian King Vulture, also known as the red-headed vulture.
The centre was established by the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department in collaboration with the Bombay Natural History Society.
The Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Centre covers 1.5 hectares of land and cost Rs 2.8 crore to build.
The Asian King Vulture pairs for life and lays one egg per year.
- Which state government has recognized as the “top achiever” in the citizen-centric reforms category of the Business Reforms Action Plan (BRAP) 2022 by the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry?
(A) Maharashtra
(B) Madhya Pradesh
(C) Gujarat
(D) Uttar Pradesh
(E) Rajasthan
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
Madhya Pradesh was recognized as the ‘top achiever’ in the citizen-centric reforms category of the Business Reforms Action Plan (BRAP) 2022 by the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The recognition for Madhya Pradesh was due to its service in ‘Empowering citizens through streamlined Employment services.’
Uttar Pradesh earned ‘Top Achiever’ status in two categories of the Business Reforms Action Plan 2022 for implementing all 352 recommended reforms, enhancing business regulation and citizen services under CM Yogi Adityanath’s leadership.
Uttarakhand received recognition in the Top Achievers’ category for its single window system at the National Investors’ Summit in Delhi. The award highlights efforts to provide timely information and resolve grievances online, boosting investment attraction to the state.
- Who became the first player in history to score 900 goals in competitive club and country football?
(A) Lionel Messi
(B) Edson Arantes
(C) Cristiano Ronaldo
(D) Diego Maradona
(E) Kylian Mbappe
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his record 900th career goal on 5 September 2024 during Portugal’s 2-1 Nations League win against Croatia.
He is the first player in history to reach 900 goals in competitive club and country football.
Ronaldo previously became the first player to reach 800 goals in December 2021.
He is 39 years old and aims to reach 1,000 career goals.
Ronaldo scored his first professional goal in October 2002 for Sporting CP against Moreirense.
His 100th goal came in January 2008 with Manchester United.
He won his first Ballon D’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards in 2008.
Ronaldo reached his 200th and 300th goals at Real Madrid within 17 months.
He scored his 400th goal in January 2014, dedicated to Eusébio.
- Who was named the new Prime Minister of France by President Emmanuel Macron in September 2024?
(A) Michel Barnier
(B) Jean Castex
(C) François Hollande
(D) Nicolas Sarkozy
(E) Édouard Philippe
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
French President Emmanuel Macron named Michel Barnier as the new Prime Minister in September 2024.
This appointment followed an inconclusive snap election in early July.
Michel Barnier, 73, was the EU’s former Brexit negotiator from 2016-2021.
Prior to his role in Brexit negotiations, Barnier held various positions in French governments and was also an EU Commissioner.
The Principles of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity of the Indian Constitution are borrowed from the French constitution.
- Who has been appointed as the new Chief Secretary of Arunachal Pradesh?
(A) Rajiv Kumar Tiwari
(B) Sanjay Kumar
(C) Manish Kumar Gupta
(D) Alok Verma Sinha
(E) Harsh Vardhan
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
Manish Kumar Gupta has been appointed as the new Chief Secretary of Arunachal Pradesh.
He is a 1991 batch IAS officer from the AGMUT cadre.
The appointment was made by the Union Home Affairs Ministry with immediate effect.
He replaces the incumbent Chief Secretary Dharmendra, who has been transferred to the national capital.
Gupta previously served as the Principal Secretary (Home) and Additional Chief Secretary in Delhi.
- What is the investment amount for the semiconductor fabrication unit recently approved by Maharashtra’s cabinet in Panvel, Mumbai?
(A) Rs 50,625 crore
(B) Rs 60,748 crore
(C) Rs 70,300 crore
(D) Rs 83,947 crore
(E) Rs 90,733 crore
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
Maharashtra’s cabinet approved a semiconductor fabrication unit in Panvel, Mumbai, to be developed jointly by the Adani Group and Tower Semiconductor.
The investment for the project is approximately Rs 83,947 crore ($10 billion).
The unit will be developed in two phases:
Phase 1: Investment of Rs 58,763 crore, with a production capacity of 40,000 semiconductor wafers per month.
Phase 2: Investment of Rs 25,184 crore, increasing the total wafer capacity to 80,000 per month.
- At the Commonwealth Rapid Chess Championship held in Sri Lanka, which Indian chess player won the gold medal?
(A) GM Mitrabha Guha
(B) GM Panneerselvam Iniyan
(C) GM Laxman Rajaram
(D) GM Viswanathan Anand
(E) GM Harika Dronavalli
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
The Commonwealth Rapid Chess Championship was held in Sri Lanka.
Grandmaster Mitraba Guha from India won the gold medal.
Grandmaster Panneerselvam Iniyan from India secured the silver medal.
Grandmaster Laxman Rajaram from India took the bronze medal.
Out of 14 Indian participants, all finished in the top 30.
Notable individual performances included:
Shyaam Nikhil P in 5th place
Sayantan Das in 8th place
Hari Madhavan NB in 9th place