Current Affairs Quiz — 29 October 2024
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Which of the following is NOT one of the three anti-cancer drugs whose MRP NPPA directed manufacturers to reduce in October 2024?
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Correct answer: C — Pembrolizumab
PIB (Pharmaceuticals), 29 Oct 2024: the three drugs are Trastuzumab, Osimertinib and Durvalumab.
The GST rate on Trastuzumab, Osimertinib and Durvalumab was cut with effect from 10 October 2024:
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Correct answer: D — From 12% to 5%
PIB (Pharmaceuticals), 29 Oct 2024: Notification 05/2024 dated 08.10.2024 reduced GST from 12% to 5% w.e.f. 10.10.2024.
Which edition of Ayurveda Day was observed on 29 October 2024, coinciding with Dhanvantari Jayanti?
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Correct answer: C — 9th
PIB (Ayush), 29 Oct 2024: the PM launched projects on the occasion of Dhanvantari Jayanti and the 9th Ayurveda Day.
On 29 October 2024, PM Modi launched health-sector projects worth about ₹12,850 crore at which venue?
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Correct answer: A — All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi
PIB (PMO), 29 Oct 2024: projects worth around Rs 12,850 crore were launched at the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi.
On 29 October 2024, the PM said elderly people above 70 years would get free hospital treatment through which card?
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Correct answer: D — Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card
PIB (PMO), 29 Oct 2024: every elderly person above 70 years of age will get free treatment in hospital by an Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card.
Consider the following about the Ayush projects of 29 October 2024: 1. Foundation stones were laid for Central Research Institutes in Yoga and Naturopathy at Khorda (Odisha) and Raipur (Chhattisgarh). 2. Phase II of AIIA includes a 500-bed Panchakarma hospital. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
PIB (Ayush), 29 Oct 2024: CRIYN foundation stones at Khorda and Raipur; AIIA Phase II includes a 150-bed (not 500-bed) Panchakarma hospital; the 500 figure refers to the seats of its auditorium.
What was the total of the dividend cheques handed to the Defence Minister by seven DPSUs on 29 October 2024?
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Correct answer: A — ₹1,620 crore
PIB (MoD), 29 Oct 2024: seven DPSUs handed over dividend cheques amounting to Rs. 1,620 crore.
At the DPSU review on 29 October 2024, HAL was congratulated on becoming India's Maharatna PSU number:
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Correct answer: C — 14th
PIB (MoD), 29 Oct 2024: HAL got Maharatna status, becoming the 14th Maharatna PSU of India and the first among the DPSUs.
Where did the PM inaugurate the country's biggest Jan Aushadhi Kendra on 29 October 2024?
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Correct answer: C — AIIMS, New Delhi
PIB (Pharmaceuticals), 29 Oct 2024: the PM inaugurated the biggest Jan Aushadhi Kendra of the country at AIIMS, New Delhi.
The Centre of Excellence at NIPER Guwahati, whose foundation stone was laid on 29 October 2024, focuses on:
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Correct answer: A — Phytopharmaceuticals
PIB (Pharmaceuticals), 29 Oct 2024: NIPER Ahmedabad — medical devices; Hyderabad — bulk drugs; Guwahati — phytopharmaceuticals; Mohali — anti-bacterial and anti-viral drug discovery.
Consider the following about the PLI-scheme units inaugurated by the PM on 29 October 2024: 1. One unit is at Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh. 2. One unit is at Nalagarh in Himachal Pradesh. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
PIB (Pharmaceuticals), 29 Oct 2024: the five PLI projects are at Vapi (Gujarat), Hyderabad (Telangana), Bengaluru (Karnataka), Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh) and Nalagarh (Himachal Pradesh).
The Indian Navy's challenge in ADITI 3.0, unveiled on 29 October 2024, is to design a:
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Correct answer: C — High-Power Microwave Weapon System
PIB (MoD), 29 Oct 2024: ADITI 3.0 features a challenge from the Indian Navy to design a High-Power Microwave Weapon System.
Where was the NIIO seminar 'Swavlamban' held on 29 October 2024?
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Correct answer: D — Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
PIB (MoD), 29 Oct 2024: ADITI 3.0 and DISC 13 were unveiled during the NIIO seminar 'Swavlamban' at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
'Sagarmala Parikrama', flagged off at Swavlamban 2024, is an autonomous passage of about 1,500 km between:
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Correct answer: B — Mumbai and Tuticorin
PIB (MoD), 29 Oct 2024: the flag-off of 'Sagarmala Parikrama' to conduct an autonomous passage of about 1,500 km from Mumbai to Tuticorin.
What is the combined cost of the seven ESIC projects inaugurated or laid by the PM on 29 October 2024?
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Correct answer: B — ₹1,641 crore
PIB (Labour), 29 Oct 2024: 7 ESIC projects worth Rs. 1,641 crore benefitting about 55 lakh beneficiaries.
Which ESIC Hospital did the PM virtually inaugurate on 29 October 2024?
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Correct answer: D — Indore
PIB (Labour), 29 Oct 2024: the PM virtually inaugurated the ESIC Hospital in Indore, Madhya Pradesh (300 beds, expandable to 500).
According to the Labour Minister on 29 October 2024, the ESIC network has expanded from 393 districts in 2014 to how many districts in 2024?
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Correct answer: B — 674
PIB (Labour), 29 Oct 2024: ESIC network has expanded from 393 districts in 2014 to 674 districts in 2024.
Indian Railways renewed its MoU with Switzerland's DETEC on 29 October 2024. When was the original MoU signed?
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Correct answer: B — 31 August 2017
PIB (Railways), 29 Oct 2024: the original MoU, signed on August 31, 2017, was valid for five years.
In India's COP16 national statement of 29 October 2024, the number of Indian Ramsar sites was said to have risen since 2014 from 26 to:
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Correct answer: D — 85
PIB (MoEFCC), 30 Oct 2024: India's Ramsar sites have risen from 26 to 85 since 2014.
According to India's COP16 statement, how many of the 36 globally recognised biodiversity hotspots does India house?
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Correct answer: B — Four
PIB (MoEFCC), 30 Oct 2024: India is one of the world's 17 megadiverse nations, housing four out of the 36 globally recognised biodiversity hotspots.
At CBD COP16, Colombia's Environment Minister Susana Muhamad took over the COP Presidency from:
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Correct answer: A — Huang Runqiu of China
PIB (MoEFCC), 30 Oct 2024: the MoS congratulated Susana Muhamad on taking over the COP Presidency from the longest-serving COP President, Huang Runqiu of China.
How many appointment letters did the PM distribute at the Rozgar Mela on 29 October 2024?
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Correct answer: B — More than 51,000
PIB (PMO), 29 Oct 2024: the PM distributed more than 51,000 appointment letters via videoconferencing.
At the Rozgar Mela on 29 October 2024, the PM said the PM Internship Scheme provides paid internships in India's top how many companies?
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Correct answer: A — 500
PIB (PMO), 29 Oct 2024: under the Prime Minister's Internship Scheme, provision has been made for paid internships in the top 500 companies of India.
Which edition of SIMBEX was held from 23 to 29 October 2024?
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Correct answer: A — 31st
PIB (Defence), 31 Oct 2024: the 31st edition of SIMBEX was conducted from 23 to 29 Oct 2024.
Which Indian Navy ship of the Eastern Fleet took part in SIMBEX 2024 alongside RSS Tenacious?
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Correct answer: D — INS Shivalik
PIB (Defence), 31 Oct 2024: RSS Tenacious with the Indian Navy's INS Shivalik of the Eastern Fleet and a P8I aircraft participated.
Where was the harbour phase of SIMBEX 2024 held?
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Correct answer: B — Visakhapatnam
PIB (Defence), 31 Oct 2024: the harbour phase was held at Visakhapatnam from 23–25 Oct; the sea phase was in the Bay of Bengal on 28–29 Oct.
How many sandstone replicas of the Konark wheels were installed at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre and Amrit Udyan, as announced on 29 October 2024?
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Correct answer: D — Four
PIB (President's Secretariat), 29 Oct 2024: four replicas of the Konark wheels, made of sandstone, have been installed at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre and Amrit Udyan.