- What is the theme of SEMICON India 2024, inaugurated recently by PM Modi in Greater Noida?
(A) Semiconductor Fabrication for Future
(B) Supply Chain for Semiconductor
(C) AI in Semiconductor Production
(D) Shaping the Semiconductor Future
(E) Global Semiconductor Production
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated SEMICON India 2024 on 11 September 2024 at the India Expo Mart in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
The SEMICON India 2024 exhibition and conference will run from 11 to 13 September 2024.
The event aims to project India as a rising investment destination in the global semiconductor market.
SEMI, in collaboration with München India and the support of the Union Ministry of Information Technology (MeitY), has organized the event.
SEMI is a global association of the semiconductor industry and professionals, based in Milpitas, California, USA.
The theme of SEMICON India 2024 is “Shaping the Semiconductor Future.”
- In September 2024, Government of India has decided to extend humanitarian assistance to Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. What phenomenon is causing the severe drought impacting those countries?
(A) La Niña
(B) El Niño
(C) Monsoon Failure
(D) Arctic Oscillation
(E) Heat Dome
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
The Indian government is extending humanitarian assistance to Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
This assistance is guided by the philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ and the spirit of South-South cooperation.
The food deficit in these countries is due to severe drought caused by the El Niño phenomenon.
India will provide 1000 metric tonnes of rice each to Malawi and Zimbabwe.
India will provide 2500 metric tonnes of maize to Zambia, with the first consignment of 1300 metric tonnes already dispatched.
Malawi is a major supplier of Tur (Arhar) pulses to India, and India has contracted to buy 50,000 tonnes per year from Malawi until 2025.
- Which two private sector banks were fined by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for non-compliance with regulatory norms on 10 September 2024?
(A) ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank
(B) Axis Bank and State Bank of India
(C) HDFC Bank and Axis Bank
(D) Bandhan Bank and HDFC Bank
(E) Axis Bank and ICICI Bank
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) fined HDFC Bank and Axis Bank on 10 September 2024.
Axis Bank was fined Rs 1.91 crore for violating provisions related to savings accounts for ineligible persons, failing to issue unique customer identification codes (UCIC), improperly managing collateral for agricultural loans up to Rs 1.60 lakh, and violations by its subsidiary.
HDFC Bank was fined Rs 1 crore for failing to follow RBI instructions on deposit interest rates, recovery agents, and customer service practices, paying first-year premiums for life insurance policies of some customers, opening accounts for ineligible entities, and failing to follow customer contact guidelines.
The RBI regulates banks in India under the Banking Regulation Act of 1949 and has the authority to impose penalties for non-compliance.
- Which battalion of the Indian Army is primarily represented in the 2024 Yudh Abhyas exercise?
(A) Sikh Regiment
(B) Gorkha Regiment
(C) J&K Light Infantry
(D) Rajput Regiment
(E) Mechanized Infantry
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
The 20th edition of the annual India-US Joint military exercise, Yudh Abhyas 2024, started on 9 September 2024 at the Foreign Training Node in Mahajan Field Firing Ranges, Rajasthan.
The exercise will run from 9 to 22 September 2024.
Yudh Abhyas 2024 is the largest exercise ever in terms of participants, with both armies deploying 600 personnel each.
The Indian contingent primarily comprises a battalion of the Rajput Regiment and personnel from other arms and services.
The US contingent consists of the 1-24 Battalion of the Alaska-based 11th Airborne Division, representing the Indo-Pacific Command.
- How much cash award has been given to the Florence Nightingale Awardees, awarded in September 2024?
(A) One Lakh
(B) Two Lakhs
(C) Three Lakhs
(D) Four Lakhs
(E) Five Lakhs
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
President Droupadi Murmu presented the National Florence Nightingale Awards 2024 to nursing professionals at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
A total of 15 nurses were honored for their outstanding commitment to duty and service to the community.
The National Florence Nightingale Award was instituted in 1973 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
The award recognizes meritorious services rendered by nurses and nursing professionals to society.
The awards are given in categories such as Registered Auxiliary Nurses & Midwife, Registered Nurses and Midwife, and Registered Lady Visitor.
Each award includes a Certificate of Merit, a cash prize of Rs. 1,00,000, and a medal.
- Who has been appointed as the Non-Executive Chairperson of the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) in September 2024?
(A) Nandan Nilekani
(B) RS Sharma
(C) A Subramanian
(D) Kiran Karnik
(E) Ashok Lavasa
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) has appointed RS Sharma as the Non-Executive Chairperson.
RS Sharma has had a distinguished career in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
He has held several key positions, including Director General and Mission Director of UIDAI, Chairman of TRAI, and CEO of the National Health Authority.
RS Sharma has also been a member of the ONDC Advisory Council.
He has served on the ONDC Technology & Strategy Review Council.
- Who has been designated as the forthcoming ambassador of India to Croatia, as per the recent governmental communiqué?
(A) N Gopalaswami
(B) Sushil Chandra
(C) Sunil Arora
(D) Arun Goel
(E) Rajiv Kumar
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
Retired IAS officer and former election commissioner Arun Goel has been appointed as the next ambassador of India to Croatia.
In March 2024, Goel created a stir by resigning as Election Commissioner (EC) just before the Lok Sabha elections were announced.
Goel, a 1985-batch IAS officer from the Punjab cadre, had joined the Election Commission in November 2022.
His appointment as EC had stirred controversy, with a PIL in the Supreme Court alleging that the appointment was arbitrary and compromised the institutional integrity and independence of the Election Commission of India.
Goel’s EC appointment came a day after he took voluntary retirement from service.
- Tata Advanced Systems Limited has signed an agreement with whom for the C-130J Super Hercules program in India?
(A) Northrop Grumman
(B) The Boeing Company
(C) Lockheed Martin
(D) Airbus SE
(E) General Dynamics
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
Lockheed Martin and Tata Advanced Systems Limited have signed a teaming agreement to expand their C-130J Super Hercules relationship.
The agreement supports India’s Medium Transport Aircraft Programme and will establish a new Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) Facility.
The MRO Facility will support the Indian Air Force’s fleet of 12 C-130Js and other regional and global Super Hercules fleets.
India’s Super Hercules are operated by No.s 77 and 87 Squadrons at Hindon and Panagarh, respectively.
The agreement aims to produce C-130J aircraft for the IAF’s Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) programme, pending US and Indian government approvals.
Lockheed Martin plans to increase production and assembly capacity in India for the MTA Super Hercules.
Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Ltd. (TLMAL), established in 2010, has manufactured over 220 C-130J empennages and is a key global supplier.
This collaboration enhances India’s defence and aerospace capabilities and strengthens India-US strategic ties.
- Who is the newly appointed Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS) of Nepal?
(A) Ashok Raj Sigdel
(B) Ramesh Kumar Thapa
(C) Binoj Basnet
(D) Pradeep Kumar Joshi
(E) Keshav Sharma
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
President Ranchandra Paudel administered the oath to Ashok Raj Sigdel as the newly appointed Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS).
Ashok Raj Sigdel is the 45th Chief of the Army Staff of the Nepali Army.
The President is the Supreme Commander of the Nepali Army.
The appointment may impact ongoing military and strategic collaborations between India and Nepal, as the new CoAS may bring different perspectives or priorities to the table.
- For which short story did the Indian-origin lecturer Prasanthi Ram win the Singapore Literature Prize for English fiction?
(A) What We Inherit
(B) Nine Yard Sarees
(C) Growing Up Indian
(D) Volume Five
(E) Food Republic
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
An Indian-origin lecturer at Nanyang Technological University, Prasanthi Ram, won the Singapore Literature Prize for English fiction for her short story “Nine Yard Sarees.”
Prasanthi Ram, 32, published her debut work in late 2023.
“Nine Yard Sarees” is a short story cycle about generations of a Tamil Brahmin family dispersed across Singapore, Sydney, New York, and Connecticut.
The Singapore Literature Prize for best English creative non-fiction was awarded to Indian-origin artist Shubigi Rao for “Pulp III: An Intimate Inventory Of The Banished Book” (2022).
The best English debut prize went to 91-year-old National University of Singapore Professor Emeritus Peter Ellinger for “Down Memory Lane: Peter Ellinger’s Memoirs” (2023), making him the oldest winner of the Singapore Literature Prize.
Tamil section winners include:
Poetry: “Yaamakkodangi” (2023) by Mathikumar Thayumanavan.
Fiction: “Cheenalakshumi” (2022) by Kanagalatha K.
Creative Non-fiction: “Appan” (2023) by Azhagunila.
Best Debut: “Kaatralalyll” (2023) by Tamilselvi Rajarajan.
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