Current Affairs Quiz — 16 October 2024
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Who represented India at the 23rd Meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government in Islamabad (October 2024)?
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Correct answer: A — External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar
MEA, 16 Oct 2024: India's National Statement was delivered by External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar at the 23rd Meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government in Islamabad.
The SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting held in Islamabad in October 2024 was its:
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Correct answer: C — 23rd meeting
MEA, 16 Oct 2024: the 23rd Meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government in Islamabad.
In India's National Statement at the SCO CHG meeting (16 October 2024), which three key challenges were cited from the SCO Charter that the organisation is committed to combating?
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Correct answer: D — Terrorism, separatism and extremism
MEA, 16 Oct 2024: the key challenges were primarily three that the SCO was committed to combatting: one, terrorism; two, separatism; and three, extremism.
What is the MSP of wheat for Rabi Marketing Season 2025-26, approved by the CCEA on 16 October 2024?
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Correct answer: D — ₹2,425 per quintal
PIB, 16 Oct 2024 (MSP table): Wheat - MSP RMS 2025-26 ₹2425; MSP RMS 2024-25 ₹2275; increase ₹150.
Which Rabi crop got the highest absolute increase in MSP for Marketing Season 2025-26?
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Correct answer: B — Rapeseed & mustard
PIB, 16 Oct 2024: the absolute highest increase in MSP has been announced for Rapeseed & Mustard at Rs.300 per quintal, followed by Lentil (Masur) at Rs.275 per quintal.
For Rabi Marketing Season 2025-26, the expected margin over the all-India weighted average cost of production is highest for which crop?
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Correct answer: A — Wheat (105%)
PIB, 16 Oct 2024: the expected margin over All-India weighted average cost of production is 105 percent for wheat, followed by 98 percent for rapeseed & mustard; 89 per cent for lentil; ... 50 percent for safflower.
Consider the following statements about the Rabi MSPs for Marketing Season 2025-26 approved on 16 October 2024: 1. Wheat received the highest absolute increase in MSP among Rabi crops. 2. The increase is in line with the Union Budget 2018-19 announcement of fixing MSP at least 1.5 times the all-India weighted average cost of production. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 2 only
Statement 1 is wrong: the highest absolute increase was for rapeseed & mustard (₹300); wheat rose by ₹150. Statement 2 is correct per PIB. So statement 2 is correct.
President Droupadi Murmu's visit to Mauritania on 16 October 2024 was significant because it was:
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Correct answer: A — The first visit by an Indian President to Mauritania
PIB, 17 Oct 2024: This is the first visit by an Indian President to Mauritania.
With whom did President Murmu hold talks in Mauritania on 16 October 2024?
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Correct answer: C — Mohamed Ould Ghazouani
PIB: the President held wide-ranging talks with President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani of Mauritania at the Presidential Palace.
Which of the following was NOT among the areas of the four India-Mauritania MoUs signed on 16 October 2024?
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Correct answer: D — Defence cooperation
PIB: four MoUs in the areas of training of diplomats, cultural exchange, visa exemption and foreign office consultations were signed. Defence cooperation was not among them.
Where did Omar Abdullah take oath as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir on 16 October 2024?
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Correct answer: B — Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC), Srinagar
The Hindu and The Indian Express, 16 Oct 2024: Omar Abdullah took oath at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar.
Omar Abdullah, sworn in on 16 October 2024, holds which distinction?
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Correct answer: D — First Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir
The Hindu and The Indian Express: Omar Abdullah became the first Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Who administered the oath of office to Omar Abdullah as Chief Minister on 16 October 2024?
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Correct answer: A — Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha
The Indian Express, 16 Oct 2024: Abdullah and his ministers were administered the oath of office and secrecy by J-K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
Consider the following statements about the Jammu and Kashmir swearing-in of 16 October 2024: 1. Surinder Kumar Choudhary was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister. 2. It is Omar Abdullah's second term as Chief Minister, his first having begun in 2009. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both correct. The Hindu and The Indian Express: Surinder Kumar Choudhary was sworn in as Deputy CM. The Hindu: it is the second term of Omar Abdullah as Chief Minister after 2009.
India's total exports (merchandise and services) for April-September 2024, as estimated on 16 October 2024, were:
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Correct answer: C — USD 393.22 billion
PIB, 16 Oct 2024: the cumulative overall exports during April-September 2024 is estimated at USD 393.22 Billion, as compared to USD 375 Billion in April-September 2023. (USD 213.22 bn is merchandise only; USD 448.05 bn is imports.)
What was the estimated growth of India's total exports in April-September 2024 over the same period of 2023?
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Correct answer: B — 4.86%
PIB, 16 Oct 2024: total exports during April-September 2024 estimated at USD 393.22 Billion registering a positive growth of 4.86 percent. (1.02% is merchandise growth; 6.89% is import growth; 3.76% is September growth.)
The Varanasi-Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya multitracking project approved on 16 October 2024 includes a new rail-cum-road bridge across which river?
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Correct answer: B — Ganga
PIB, 16 Oct 2024: Cabinet approves construction of Varanasi-Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya multitracking including a new Rail-cum-Road Bridge across Ganga River.
What is the estimated cost of the Varanasi-Pt. DDU multitracking project approved on 16 October 2024?
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Correct answer: D — ₹2,642 crore
PIB, 16 Oct 2024: the total estimated cost of the project is Rs 2,642 crore (approx.).
Within how many years is the Varanasi-Pt. DDU multitracking project (approved 16 October 2024) to be completed?
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Correct answer: C — Four years
PIB, 16 Oct 2024: the project will be completed in Four years.
The Seventh Session of the International Solar Alliance Assembly (November 2024) is held under India's presidency and the co-presidency of:
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Correct answer: D — France
PIB, 16 Oct 2024: under the presidency of the Republic of India and co-presidency of the Republic of France, the seventh session of the ISA Assembly will be held at Bharat Mandapam.
Where is the Seventh Session of the ISA Assembly (3-6 November 2024) to be held?
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Correct answer: A — Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
PIB, 16 Oct 2024: the seventh session of the ISA Assembly will be held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from 03 November to 06 November 2024.
The additional DA/DR instalment approved by the Cabinet on 16 October 2024 is effective from:
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Correct answer: C — 1 July 2024
PIB, 16 Oct 2024: additional instalment of DA and DR w.e.f. 01.07.2024, an increase of 3% over the existing rate of 50%.
What is the combined annual impact on the exchequer of the 3% DA/DR hike approved on 16 October 2024?
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Correct answer: A — ₹9,448.35 crore
PIB, 16 Oct 2024: the combined impact on the exchequer on account of both DA and DR would be Rs.9,448.35 crore per annum.
The Samarth scheme, extended till March 2026 (announced 16 October 2024), is a skilling scheme of which ministry?
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Correct answer: A — Ministry of Textiles
PIB, 16 Oct 2024: Samarth (Scheme for Capacity Building in Textiles Sector) is a demand-driven and placement-oriented umbrella skilling program of the Ministry of Textiles.
Under the extension announced on 16 October 2024, the Samarth scheme has an outlay of ______ to train ______ persons.
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Correct answer: D — ₹495 crore; 3 lakh
PIB, 16 Oct 2024: Samarth has been extended for two years with a budget of Rs. 495 Crore to train 3 lakh persons in textile-related skills.
INS Shardul concluded its visit on 16 October 2024 at which port as part of a long range training deployment?
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Correct answer: B — Port Rashid, Dubai
PIB: INS Shardul as part of long range training deployment concluded its visit to Port Rashid, Dubai, UAE, on 16 Oct 24.
On departing Dubai (October 2024), INS Shardul conducted a Maritime Partnership Exercise with which UAE Naval ship?
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Correct answer: A — Al Quwaisat
PIB: on departure from Dubai, INS Shardul participated in a Maritime Partnership Exercise with the UAE Naval ship Al Quwaisat.
South Eastern Coalfields Limited's fourth AMRIT pharmacy, the country's 216th (reported 16 October 2024), is located in:
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Correct answer: C — Bilaspur
PIB, 16 Oct 2024: the 216th AMRIT pharmacy is located at the Health Centre in SECL's Indira Vihar Colony, Bilaspur. (Gevra in Korba and Sohagpur in Shahdol host the earlier ones.)
On 16 October 2024, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar addressed the foundation stone laying ceremony of which facility in Shillong?
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Correct answer: B — Meghalaya Skill and Innovation Hub
PIB, 16 Oct 2024: addressing the gathering at the foundation stone laying ceremony of Meghalaya Skill and Innovation Hub at Shillong today, the Vice-President...
The Indian Navy's First Training Squadron ships that completed a visit to Manama, Bahrain on 16 October 2024 were:
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Correct answer: D — INS Tir and ICGS Veera
PIB: Indian Navy's First Training Squadron (1TS) - INS Tir and ICGS Veera completed their long range training deployment to Manama, Bahrain, on 16 Oct 24.