Current Affairs Quiz — 12 November 2024
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
According to WIPO's World Intellectual Property Indicators 2024, where does India rank globally for patent applications?
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Correct answer: C — Sixth
PIB (Commerce): India ranks sixth globally for patents with 64,480 applications.
By how much did India's patent applications grow in 2023, the fastest among the top 20 origins, as per WIPI 2024?
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Correct answer: B — 15.7%
PIB (Commerce): India recorded the fastest growth in patent applications (+15.7%) in 2023 among the top 20 origins. 36.4% is design growth, 6.1% trademark growth and 55.2% the resident share.
In WIPI 2024, India ranked where globally in trademark filings?
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Correct answer: D — Fourth
PIB (Commerce): India ranked fourth globally in trademark filings, with a 6.1% increase in 2023. (Its trademark office holds the second-largest number of active registrations.)
All-India year-on-year CPI inflation for October 2024, released on 12 November 2024, was:
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Correct answer: A — 6.21%
PIB (MoSPI): year-on-year CPI inflation for October 2024 is 6.21%; 6.68% is the rural rate.
Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) inflation for October 2024 (provisional) was:
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Correct answer: D — 10.87%
PIB (MoSPI): all-India CFPI inflation for October 2024 is 10.87% (provisional); 11.09% is the urban rate.
Which DRDO laboratory developed the Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM), flight-tested for the first time on 12 November 2024?
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Correct answer: B — Aeronautical Development Establishment, Bengaluru
PIB (MoD): LRLACM has been developed by the Aeronautical Development Establishment, Bengaluru, with contributions from other DRDO labs and industry.
From where was the maiden flight-test of the LRLACM conducted on 12 November 2024?
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Correct answer: D — Integrated Test Range, Chandipur
PIB (MoD): the test was conducted from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.
Consider the following about the LRLACM: 1. It is configured to launch from the ground using a mobile articulated launcher and from ships using a universal vertical launch module system. 2. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Larsen & Toubro are its Development-cum-Production Partners. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
PIB (MoD): statement 1 is correct; the Development-cum-Production Partners are Bharat Dynamics Limited, Hyderabad and Bharat Electronics Limited, Bengaluru. So only 1 is correct.
Which initiative's Phase-II did Power Minister Manohar Lal launch at the Conference of Power Ministers on 12 November 2024?
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Correct answer: B — Powerthon
PIB (Power): the minister launched Phase-II of Powerthon during the conference.
Consider the following from the Conference of Power Ministers (12 November 2024): 1. The ACS-ARR gap improved to ₹0.21/kWh in FY 2023-24 (provisional). 2. The Union Minister suggested a 5% rebate by States for prepaid smart-meter consumers. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
PIB (Power): both were stated by Manohar Lal at the conference.
What was the gross NPA ratio of public sector banks as of September 2024?
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Correct answer: A — 3.12%
PIB (Finance): gross and net NPA stood at 3.12% and 0.63% as on September 2024.
What was the combined net profit of public sector banks in H1 FY 2024-25?
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Correct answer: C — ₹85,520 crore
PIB (Finance): net profit for H1 FY25 was ₹85,520 crore (25.6% YoY growth); ₹1,50,023 crore was the operating profit.
As of September 2024, the CRAR of public sector banks was 15.43% against a regulatory requirement of:
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Correct answer: D — 11.5%
PIB (Finance): CRAR stood at 15.43% in September 2024 against the regulatory requirement of 11.5%.
According to Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri on 12 November 2024, how much has biofuel blending saved India on its import bill?
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Correct answer: B — ₹91,000 crore
PIB (Petroleum): Puri said through biofuel blending the country could save 91,000 crore rupees on the import bill.
At the Energy Technology Meet in Bengaluru (November 2024), the Petroleum Minister said India's energy demand will grow how much by 2047?
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Correct answer: A — Two and a half times
PIB (Petroleum): the minister said India's energy demand will grow by two and a half times by 2047.
As per the SBM-G review at Guwahati on 12 November 2024, which North-Eastern state achieved 100% ODF Plus Model coverage of villages?
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Correct answer: A — Sikkim
PIB (Jal Shakti): 51% of villages in the North-East were declared ODF Plus Model, with Sikkim achieving 100% coverage.
At the Guwahati review in November 2024, the Jal Shakti Minister emphasised achieving 'Sampoorna Swachhata' by:
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Correct answer: C — March 2025
PIB (Jal Shakti): the Minister emphasised achieving Sampoorna Swachhata by March 2025.
Which institution organised the inaugural Delhi Defence Dialogue on 12 November 2024?
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Correct answer: C — Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses
PIB (MoD): the inaugural Delhi Defence Dialogue was organised by the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA).
The theme of the inaugural Delhi Defence Dialogue (November 2024) was built around which concept?
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Correct answer: A — Adaptive Defence
PIB (MoD): the theme was 'Adaptive Defence: Navigating the Changing Landscape of Modern Warfare'.
As per Quick Estimates released on 12 November 2024, India's IIP grew by how much in September 2024?
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Correct answer: A — 3.1%
PIB (MoSPI): the IIP growth rate for September 2024 is 3.1%, against (-)0.1% in August 2024.
In September 2024, the manufacturing sector of the IIP grew by:
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Correct answer: C — 3.9%
PIB (MoSPI): mining, manufacturing and electricity grew 0.2%, 3.9% and 0.5% respectively in September 2024.
The Integrated Manufacturing Cluster at Gaya, Bihar, for which agreements were signed on 12 November 2024, is a node of which industrial corridor?
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Correct answer: D — Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor
PIB (Commerce): IMC Gaya is a node under the Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC).
What area will the Integrated Manufacturing Cluster at Gaya cover?
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Correct answer: B — 1,670 acres
PIB (Commerce): IMC Gaya will cover 1,670 acres.
Consider the following about IMC Gaya: 1. It has an investment potential of ₹16,524 crore. 2. It is expected to create about 1,09,185 jobs. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
PIB (Commerce): IMC Gaya has an investment potential of INR 16,524 crore and is expected to create approximately 1,09,185 jobs. Both are correct.
Untied Grants of the Fifteenth Finance Commission for rural local bodies can be used across the subjects listed in which Schedule of the Constitution?
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Correct answer: D — Eleventh Schedule
PIB (Panchayati Raj): Untied Grants are for location-specific needs across the 29 subjects in the Eleventh Schedule, except salaries and establishment costs.