- Which ministry will implement the “Mission Mausam” scheme approved in September 2024?
(A) Ministry of Science and Technology
(B) Ministry of Earth Sciences
(C) Ministry of Environment
(D) Ministry of Defence
(E) Ministry of Agriculture
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
On 11 September 2024, the Union Cabinet approved Mission Mausam, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The mission aims to enhance India’s research and development in weather and climate sciences.
Mission Mausam will be implemented by the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences.
Key institutions for implementing the mission include the India Meteorological Department, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, and the National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting.
The mission has a duration of two years and an approved outlay of Rs 2000 crore.
11 सितंबर 2024 को प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी की अध्यक्षता में केंद्रीय मंत्रिमंडल ने मिशन मौसम को मंजूरी दी।
- What is the total outlay for the fourth phase of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY-IV) approved in September 2024?
(A) Rs 50,485 crore
(B) Rs 60,225 crore
(C) Rs 70,125 crore
(D) Rs 80,321 crore
(E) Rs 40,325crore
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
On 11 September 2024, the Union Cabinet approved the fourth phase of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
The PMGSY was launched on 25 December 2000 to connect eligible rural habitation with all-weather roads.
PMGSY-IV will be implemented by the Union Ministry of Rural Development as a centrally sponsored scheme.
The duration of PMGSY-IV is five years, from 2024-25 to 2028-29.
The total outlay for PMGSY-IV is Rs 70,125 crore, with the central government’s share being Rs 49,087.50 crore and the state government’s share Rs 21,037.50 crore.
Under PMGSY-IV, 62,500 Km of all-weather roads/bridges will be built and upgraded to connect 25,000 unconnected rural villages.
- Which nation is set to host the fifth iteration of the bilateral military drill AL NAJAH?
(A) Oman
(B) Kuwait
(C) Qatar
(D) Bahrain
(E) Jordan
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
Exercise Eastern Bridge VII will take place from 11-22 September 2024 at Air Force Base Masirah, Oman.
The exercise involves the Indian Air Force and the Royal Oman Air Force.
The Indian Air Force contingent includes MiG-29s, Jaguar fighter planes, and C-17 Globemaster III transport planes.
The aim of Exercise Eastern Bridge VII is to improve interoperability and operational readiness between the two air forces.
Exercise AL NAJAH 2024 is scheduled from 13-26 September 2024 at the Rabkoot Training Area in Salalah, Oman.
The Indian Army contingent, consisting of a Battalion of the Mechanised Infantry Regiment, will participate in the exercise with the Royal Army of Oman.
The focus of Exercise AL NAJAH 2024 will be on counterterrorism operations under the UN Charter and enhancing desert warfare capabilities.
The first edition of Exercise Eastern Bridge was held in Oman in 2009, and the sixth edition took place at the Indian Air Force’s Jodhpur Base from 21-25 February 2022.
Exercise AL NAJAH has been conducted since 2015, alternating between India and Oman, with the fourth edition held in Rajasthan from 1-13 August 2022.
- Which neighbouring countries participated in the U-17 Boys category of the 63rd Subroto Cup International Football Tournament?
(A) Bhutan, Myanmar, Pakistan
(B) Myanmar, Afghanistan, China
(C) Pakistan, Bhutan, Maldives
(D) Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal
(E) Maldives, Myanmar, China
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
Manipur’s TG English School won the under-17 boys title at the 63rd Subroto Cup International Football Tournament, defeating Meghalaya’s Myngken Christian Higher Secondary School on 11 September 2024.
The 63rd Subroto Cup International Football Tournament for U-17 boys took place in New Delhi from 2-11 September 2024.
The participating foreign teams in the U-17 Boys category of the 2024 Subroto Cup included Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
TG English School defeated Myngken Christian Higher Secondary School 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
The Subroto Cup International Football Tournament is organized in memory of Air Marshal Subroto Mukerjee and was initially started by the Subroto Mukerjee Sports Education Society in 1960 under the Indian Air Force.
- Which state government has the partnered for the 2nd International Conference on Green Hydrogen?
(A) Maharashtra
(B) Tamil Nadu
(C) Gujarat
(D) Karnataka
(E) Rajasthan
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the 2nd International Conference on Green Hydrogen on 11 September 2024.
The conference is being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from 11-13 September 2024.
The aim of the conference is to establish India as a leader in the global green hydrogen ecosystem.
The conference is organized by the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
Gujarat is the state partner, Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) is the implementation partner, EY is the knowledge partner, and FICCI is the industry partner.
The National Green Hydrogen Mission, launched on 4 January 2023, aims to develop a production capacity of 5 Million Metric Tonnes per year by 2030, with a total outlay of Rs 19,744 crores.
- What is the new health coverage amount approved by the Union Cabinet for senior citizens aged 70 and above under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY)?
(A) Rs 2 lakh
(B) Rs 3 lakh
(C) Rs 4 lakh
(D) Rs 5 lakh
(E) Rs 6 lakh
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
Health coverage of Rs 5 lakh has been approved for all senior citizens aged 70 and above under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY).
The decision is set to benefit an estimated 45 million families across India.
The coverage applies to senior citizens in families already covered under AB PM-JAY, with an additional top-up cover of Rs 5 lakh per year.
India’s population over the age of 60 is expected to rise from 8.6% in 2011 to 19.5% by 2050.
The number of people aged 60 and above is projected to triple from 103 million in 2011 to 319 million by 2050.
Health coverage for the age group 60 and above remains low, at around 20% according to the India Ageing Report 2023.
- Which country has recently took seat as a member country of the United Nations in the 79th General Assembly session?
(A) Ukraine
(B) Israel
(C) Palestine
(D) Russia
(E) Saudi Arabia
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
79th UN General Assembly has started in New York with Palestine given a designated seat next to UN member states.
Palestine is not a full UN member but now has a seating arrangement at the General Assembly Hall.
Egypt’s representative confirmed the new seating arrangement for Palestine during the session.
Israel criticized the move, calling it politically motivated and asserting that UN membership is reserved for sovereign states.
Philemon Yang, former Prime Minister of Cameroon, is the new President of the 79th General Assembly.
General Debate theme: “Leaving no one behind: Acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations” will run from September 24-30, 2024.
- How many crore rupees have been provisioned by the Union Cabinet under the PM e-Drive scheme?
(A) 10,900 crores
(B) 11,700 crores
(C) 12,800 crores
(D) 13,400 crores
(E) 14,300 crores
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
The Union Cabinet has approved the PM E-Drive Scheme, under which a provision of Rs 10,900 crore has been made in the next two years.
The aim of this scheme is to make electric vehicles more accessible and strengthen the charging infrastructure.
Under this scheme, a subsidy of Rs 3,679 crore will be given for battery-operated two and three-wheelers, ambulances, trucks and other emerging EVs.
- What is the theme of the United Nations International Day of South-South Cooperation for this year?
(A) “Solidarity for Sustainable Development”
(B) “A Better Tomorrow through Cooperation”
(C) “Strengthening South-South Ties”
(D) “Building a Shared Future Together”
(E) “Advancing Global South Partnerships”
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
The United Nations International Day of South-South Cooperation is celebrated on September 12 each year.
The theme for this year’s celebration is “A better tomorrow through South-South Cooperation.”
The day provides an opportunity for member states to reaffirm the value and benefits of South-South cooperation.
South-South cooperation demonstrates solidarity among Southern countries and contributes to their national well-being.
It supports national and collective self-reliance and helps achieve internationally agreed development goals, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
- Who has been named the next Indian Ambassador to Iceland?
(A) R. Ravindra
(B) Ashish Kumar
(C) Suman Patel
(D) Sitaram Yechury
(E) P. Sharma
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
- Ravindra is currently the Deputy Permanent Representative of India to the UN in New York.
He has been named the next Indian Ambassador to Iceland.
The Ministry of External Affairs announced his appointment on September 10, 2024.
- Ravindra is expected to assume the role of Ambassador to Iceland shortly.
This appointment marks a new diplomatic assignment for him as an IFS officer from the 1999 batch.
Previously, he served at the Indian Embassy in Cairo from 2001-2003 and Libya’s Tripoli from 2003-2007.
He served as Regional Passport Officer in Bengaluru from 2007-2010, according to India’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations statement.