1. Which Central Public Sector Enterprise has been accorded Navratna Status in August 2024?
(A) NHPC Limited
(B) RITES Limited
(C) NTPC Limited
(D) Neyveli Lignite
(E) Rail Vikas Nigam
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
The government of India has upgraded the status of the Central Government Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) and SJVN limited from Mini Ratna Category-1 to Navratna status.
The status of the NHPC and SJVN was changed by an order issued by the Department of Public Enterprise (Ministry of Finance) on 30 August 2024.
Both the CPSEs come under the Union Ministry of Power and the total number of CPSEs having Navratna status as of 31 August 2024 has risen to 23.
The status upgrades of both CPSEs will lead to greater financial autonomy for the management of both companies.
Some of the benefits enjoyed by a CPSE that are accorded Navratna status are as follows:
Invest up to Rs 1,000 crore or 15% of their net worth in a single project without needing prior approval of the central government,
Enter into technology joint ventures or strategic alliances without the permission of the central government,
To establish financial joint ventures and wholly owned subsidiaries in India or abroad with certain conditions
2. Which nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine was commissioned by the Indian Navy in August 2024, enhancing India’s nuclear triad and second-strike capabilities?
(A) INS Arihant
(B) INS Chakra
(C) INS Arighat
(D) INS Viraat
(E) INS Vikrant
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
The Indian Navy commissioned its second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), INS Arighat, on 29 August 2024, in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
INS Arighat enhances India’s nuclear triad and second-strike capabilities.
Nuclear triad capability refers to the ability to launch nuclear weapons from air, sea, and land.
Second strike capability refers to the ability to retaliate with nuclear weapons after being hit by an enemy’s nuclear weapon.
Nuclear-powered submarines are crucial for second-strike capability due to their ability to remain submerged for extended periods.
India launched Project AVT (Advanced Vessel Technology) in the 1970s to develop indigenous nuclear-powered submarines.
The AVT program is a joint project involving the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), and the Indian Navy.
The first nuclear-powered submarine under the AVT project, INS Arihant, was commissioned in August 2016.
3. Where will the 8th Women’s Asian Hockey Champions Trophy 2024 be held?
(A) Rajgir, Bihar
(B) Bhubaneswar, Odisha
(C) Ranchi, Jharkhand
(D) Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
(E) Chandigarh, Punjab
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
Rajgir, Bihar, will host the 8th Women’s Asian Champions Trophy Hockey Tournament 2024.
This is the second consecutive time that India will host the tournament.
India hosted the 7th Women’s Asian Champions Trophy Hockey Tournament 2023 in Ranchi, Jharkhand, from 27 October to 5 November 2023, which the Indian team won.
The Asian Hockey Federation President, Dato Fumio Ogura, announced India as the host of the 8th Women’s Asian Champions Trophy Hockey Tournament 2024 on 29 August 2024.
The 8th Women’s Asian Champions Trophy Hockey Tournament 2024 will be hosted by Hockey India and the Bihar government from 11 to 20 November 2024.
The tournament will be played at the newly developed Rajgir Hockey Stadium in Rajgir.
Since 2010, the Asian Hockey Federation has organized the Women’s Asian Hockey Champions Trophy in association with a member Hockey Federation.
South Korea is the most successful team, having won it three times, followed by India and Japan, which have each won twice.
4. Which of the following cities will focus on AI and machine learning as part of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s $4 billion investment plan to develop global technology hubs?
(A) Noida
(B) Lucknow
(C) Ghaziabad
(D) Varanasi
(E) Prayagraj
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath plans to invest $4 billion to develop global technology hubs in five cities: Noida, Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, and Prayagraj.
Noida will become a hub for IT & ITeS.
Lucknow will focus on AI and machine learning.
Kanpur will specialize in drones and robotics.
Varanasi and Prayagraj will be centers for Engineering Research and Development (ER&D).
5. Who has assumed the role of Chairman and Managing Director (Additional Charge) of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), succeeding CB Ananthakrishnan?
(A) Dr. Rajiv Kumar
(B) Dr. Sushil Kumar
(C) Dr. Arun Kumar
(D) Dr. DK Sunil
(E) Dr. Sandeep Verma
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
Dr. DK Sunil has assumed the role of Chairman and Managing Director (Additional Charge) of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) as of August 31, 2024, succeeding CB Ananthakrishnan.
Dr. Sunil led key projects including Active ESA Radar, Automatic Flight Control Systems, Indigenous Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH), and Utility Helicopter Maritime (UHM) programs.
His appointment as Chairman and Managing Director (Additional Charge) reflects HAL’s commitment to advancing its aerospace and defense technology.
Dr. Sunil’s leadership is expected to drive HAL’s continued innovation and success in developing cutting-edge aerospace systems and technologies.
HAL is a premier aerospace and defense company in India, known for its extensive portfolio of aircraft, helicopters, and related systems.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is an Indian state-owned aerospace and defense company headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Established in 1940, HAL is a leading manufacturer of aircraft, helicopters, and their components.
6. Which athlete secured the Silver medal in the Women’s 63-kg event at the Asian Cadet and Junior Judo Championships in Mungyeong, South Korea?
(A) Sakshi Malik
(B) Himanshi Tokas
(C) Vinesh Phogat
(D) Pooja Gehlot
(E) Ritu Phogat
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
Himanshi Tokas secured the Silver medal in the Women’s 63-kg event at the Asian Cadet and Junior Judo Championships in Mungyeong, South Korea.
The 19-year-old athlete is part of the Khelo Bharat program.
The four-day championship was held at Mungyeong Gymnasium.
The championship concluded on 1 September 2024.
7. Which Indian company has achieved a historic milestone by recording a consolidated turnover of ₹10,00,122 crore for FY 2023-24, becoming the first to surpass ₹10 lakh crore in annual revenue?
(A) Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)
(B) Infosys Limited
(C) Reliance Industries Limited (RIL)
(D) HDFC Bank
(E) State Bank of India (SBI)
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has achieved a historic milestone by recording a consolidated turnover of ₹10,00,122 crore for FY 2023-24.
RIL is the first Indian company to surpass ₹10 lakh crore in annual revenue.
The company reported an EBITDA of ₹1,78,677 crore during the same period.
RIL’s net profit for the fiscal year was ₹79,020 crore.
RIL also recorded exports worth ₹2,99,832 crore.
8. Who has recently been appointed as the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff?
(A) Air Marshal R. K. Sharma
(B) Air Marshal A. K. Gupta
(C) Air Marshal S. K. Verma
(D) Air Marshal Tejinder Singh
(E) Air Marshal M. P. Singh
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
Air Marshal Tejinder Singh has been appointed as the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff.
He has accumulated over 4500 flying hours.
He has commanded various Indian Air Force (IAF) units, including a Fighter Squadron.
His commands include a Fighter Squadron, a Radar Station, a premier Fighter Base, and he served as Air Officer Commanding in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).
He was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal in 2007.
He received the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2022.
9. Who has been appointed as the Chief Secretary of Bihar, effective from August 31, 2024?
(A) Amrit Lal Meena
(B) Rajesh Kumar
(C) Sunil Sharma
(D) Anil Kumar
(E) Arun Kumar
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
Amrit Lal Meena has been appointed as the Chief Secretary of Bihar, effective from August 31, 2024.
He is a former Coal Secretary.
During his tenure as Coal Secretary, India’s coal production increased significantly.
Under his oversight, India surpassed the 1 Billion Tonne mark in coal production in FY 2023-24.
Meena belongs to the 1989 Bihar Cadre.
He has held key positions in both central and state governments.
Chief Secretaries of some major states in India:
Delhi: Naresh Kumar
Maharashtra: Manoj Saunik
Karnataka: Vandita Sharma
Uttar Pradesh: Durga Shankar Mishra
West Bengal: H.K. Dwivedi
10. Who has secured his second Grand Master (GM) norm at a tournament in Greece?
(A) Vishwanathan Anand
(B) Praggnanandhaa R
(C) S. P. Sethuraman
(D) Mayank Chakraborty
(E) Arjun Erigaisi
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
Mayank Chakraborty, a 15-year-old International Master from Assam, secured his second Grand Master (GM) norm at a tournament in Greece.
Chakraborty needs one more GM norm and a FIDE rating of 2500 to become the first Grand Master from North East India.
His current FIDE rating is 2431.
He holds the highest number of GM norms and ratings in North East India.