Current Affairs Quiz — 20 November 2024
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
PM Modi's November 2024 visit to Guyana was the first by an Indian Prime Minister in how many years?
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Correct answer: A — 56 years
PIB (PMO): this is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Guyana in 56 years.
Under an MoU signed during PM Modi's visit to Guyana, which Indian entity is to work on deploying a UPI-like real-time payment system in Guyana?
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Correct answer: D — NPCI International Payments Ltd
PIB (list of outcomes): the MoU between NPCI International Payments Ltd and Guyana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is for enabling deployment of a UPI-like system in Guyana.
Consider the following MoUs signed during PM Modi's visit to Guyana in November 2024: 1. An MoU between HLL Lifecare Ltd and Guyana's Ministry of Health for implementing the Jan Aushadhi scheme (PMBJP). 2. An MoU between Guyana's National Defence Institute and Rashtriya Raksha University, Gujarat. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
PIB (list of outcomes): both MoUs are among the ten signed during the visit.
Nafithromycin, launched on 20 November 2024 as India's first indigenous antibiotic, is meant to treat which disease?
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Correct answer: B — Community-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia
PIB (DBT): Nafithromycin is designed to treat Community-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia (CABP) caused by drug-resistant bacteria.
Under which trade name is Nafithromycin marketed by Wockhardt?
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Correct answer: B — Miqnaf
PIB (DBT): Nafithromycin has been brought to market under the trade name 'Miqnaf'.
Consider the following statements about Nafithromycin: 1. It was developed with support from BIRAC under its Biotechnology Industry Partnership Program. 2. Its treatment regimen lasts fourteen days. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
PIB (DBT): it was supported by BIRAC under BIPP; the regimen is three days. The 14 figure refers to the years of research.
Who co-chaired the 2nd India-CARICOM Summit with PM Narendra Modi in Georgetown on 20 November 2024?
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Correct answer: D — Grenada PM Dickon Mitchell, the CARICOM Chair
PIB (PMO): PM Modi and Grenada PM Dickon Mitchell, the current CARICOM Chair, chaired the Summit; President Irfaan Ali hosted it.
Where was the first India-CARICOM Summit held, in 2019?
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Correct answer: A — New York
PIB (PMO): the first India-CARICOM Summit was held in 2019 in New York.
Consider the following announcements made by PM Modi at the 2nd India-CARICOM Summit: 1. 1,000 more ITEC slots for CARICOM countries over the next five years. 2. Training in India for 11 young women cricketers from each CARICOM country. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
PIB (PMO): both were announced, along with the next India-CARICOM Summit to be hosted in India.
Which team did India beat in the final of the Women's Asian Champions Trophy 2024 at Rajgir on 20 November 2024?
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Correct answer: D — China
Hockey India and The Hindu: India beat China 1-0 in the final at Rajgir.
Who scored the only goal of the Women's Asian Champions Trophy 2024 final for India?
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Correct answer: A — Deepika
Hockey India and The Hindu: Deepika scored in the 31st minute for a 1-0 win over China.
In how many phases did all 288 assembly constituencies of Maharashtra vote in the 2024 assembly election?
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Correct answer: D — One
PIB (ECI): all 288 ACs in Maharashtra voted in a single phase on 20 November 2024.
According to the ECI, what was the total value of seizures since the announcement of the Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly elections and the bye-elections, as of polling day on 20 November 2024?
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Correct answer: B — ₹1,139 crore
PIB (ECI): seizure figures crossed ₹1,000 crore and stood at ₹1,139 crore in total since the announcement of the assembly elections and bye-elections.
Consider the following about the by-polls held on 20 November 2024: 1. By-polls were held in 9 assembly constituencies of Uttar Pradesh. 2. The Kedarnath assembly constituency in Uttarakhand also went to by-polls. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
PIB (ECI): Uttar Pradesh had polling in 9 ACs, Punjab 4, and Kedarnath (Uttarakhand) and Palakkad (Kerala) also went to by-polls, along with the Nanded Lok Sabha seat.
Which is the highest national award of Guyana, conferred on PM Narendra Modi on 20 November 2024?
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Correct answer: B — The Order of Excellence
PIB (PMO): President Irfaan Ali conferred 'The Order of Excellence', Guyana's highest national award, on PM Modi at the State House.
Who conferred the 'Dominica Award of Honour' on PM Modi in Georgetown on 20 November 2024?
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Correct answer: D — President Sylvanie Burton
PIB (PMO): Dominica's President Sylvanie Burton conferred the award for Modi's statesmanship and Covid-19 support to Dominica.
Consider the following statements: 1. PM Modi is only the fourth foreign leader to receive Guyana's highest national award. 2. The 'Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados' for PM Modi was announced by Barbados PM Mia Amor Mottley on the sidelines of the 2nd India-CARICOM Summit. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
PIB (PMO) and PMIndia: Modi is only the fourth foreign leader to receive the Order of Excellence; PM Mottley announced the Barbados award during their meeting on 20 November 2024 on the summit sidelines.
In which year was Project Veer Gatha instituted?
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Correct answer: B — 2021
PIB (Defence): Project Veer Gatha was instituted in 2021 to spread stories of Gallantry Awardees among students.
How many national winners will be selected under Project Veer Gatha 4.0, and what prize will each get?
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Correct answer: D — 100 winners, ₹10,000 each
PIB (Defence): 100 winners will be selected and each will get a cash prize of ₹10,000.
According to EPFO's provisional payroll data released on 20 November 2024, what was the net member addition in September 2024?
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Correct answer: D — 18.81 lakh
PIB (Labour Ministry): EPFO recorded a net addition of 18.81 lakh members in September 2024, 9.33% higher year on year.
Which state led in net EPFO member additions in September 2024?
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Correct answer: C — Maharashtra
PIB (Labour Ministry): Maharashtra led by adding 21.20% of net members during the month.
Where was the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin launched on 20 November 2016, the date now marked as Awaas Diwas?
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Correct answer: A — Agra
PIB (Rural Development): PMAY-G was launched by PM Modi on 20 November 2016 in Agra, Uttar Pradesh.
What is the unit assistance under PMAY-G in North-Eastern and hill states?
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Correct answer: C — ₹1.30 lakh
PIB (Rural Development): assistance is ₹1.20 lakh in plain areas and ₹1.30 lakh in North-Eastern and hill states.
Consider the following about PMAY-G as stated on Awaas Diwas 2024: 1. The scheme has been extended for 2 crore more houses for FY 2024-29. 2. 74% of sanctioned houses are owned by women, solely or jointly. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
PIB (Rural Development): both are correct; the extension outlay is ₹3,06,137 crore.
At the 2nd India-CARICOM Summit sidelines on 20 November 2024, PM Modi thanked which country's President for supporting India's membership of the UN Security Council?
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Correct answer: D — Suriname
PIB (PMO): Modi thanked President Chandrikapersad Santokhi for Suriname's support to India's UNSC membership.
The 2nd India-Japan Joint Service Staff Talks (JSST), concluded in New Delhi on 20 November 2024, were held between the Joint Staff of the Japan Self Defence Force and which Indian body?
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Correct answer: B — Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff
PIB (Defence): the 2nd JSST was held between HQ Integrated Defence Staff and the Joint Staff of the JSDF.
Who was the Indian co-chair of the 2nd India-Japan Joint Service Staff Talks in November 2024?
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Correct answer: A — Air Vice Marshal Prashant Mohan
PIB (Defence): the talks were co-chaired by Assistant Chief of IDS Air Vice Marshal Prashant Mohan and Maj Gen Minamikawa Nobutaka of the JSDF.