Current Affairs Quiz — 29 November 2024
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
According to NSO estimates released on 29 November 2024, India's real GDP grew by how much in Q2 (July–September) of 2024-25?
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Correct answer: B — 5.4%
PIB (MoSPI): real GDP grew 5.4% in Q2 of 2024-25, against 8.1% in Q2 of 2023-24. 6.0% was the H1 growth.
Consider the following statements about the Q2 2024-25 GDP estimates: 1. Manufacturing grew by 2.2% in Q2 of 2024-25. 2. Agriculture and allied sector grew by 3.5%, after growth of 0.4% to 2.0% in the previous four quarters. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
PIB (MoSPI): manufacturing grew 2.2%, and agriculture bounced back to 3.5% after sub-optimal growth of 0.4% to 2.0% in the previous four quarters. Both are correct.
What was the growth rate of nominal GDP (GDP at current prices) in Q2 of 2024-25, as estimated on 29 November 2024?
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Correct answer: A — 8.0%
PIB (MoSPI): nominal GDP in Q2 of 2024-25 was ₹76.60 lakh crore against ₹70.90 lakh crore, a growth of 8.0%. 8.9% was H1 nominal growth.
Which company was declared the preferred bidder for the Nayakkarpatti Tungsten Block in Tamil Nadu on 7 November 2024?
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Correct answer: D — Hindustan Zinc Ltd
PIB (Mines): the block was successfully auctioned with Hindustan Zinc Ltd declared as the preferred bidder on 07.11.2024.
Consider the following statements: 1. Section 11D, inserted in the MMDR Act, 1957 by the 2023 Amendment, empowers the Central Government to exclusively auction mining leases and composite licences for specified critical and strategic minerals. 2. The Nayakkarpatti Tungsten Block was auctioned as a mining lease block that requires no further exploration. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
PIB (Mines): Section 11D empowers the Centre to exclusively auction such leases and licences (1 is correct). The block was auctioned as a composite licence block that is only partially explored, so the bidder must explore first (2 is wrong).
Among the nine One Stop Centres approved for Indian women in distress abroad, the two OSCs without shelter homes are located in which cities?
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Correct answer: A — Toronto and Singapore
PIB (MWCD): seven OSCs with shelter homes are in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, UAE and Saudi Arabia (Jeddah & Riyadh); two OSCs without shelter homes are in Toronto and Singapore.
How many One Stop Centres for Indian women facing distress abroad were approved by the Empowered Committee of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, as stated on 29 November 2024?
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Correct answer: B — 9
PIB (MWCD): proposals of the MEA for 9 One Stop Centres for Indian women facing distress abroad were approved by the Empowered Committee.
What is the name of the mascot of the first Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav, unveiled on 29 November 2024?
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Correct answer: C — Purvi
PIB (DoNER): 'Purvi', the mascot of the Mahotsav, was introduced at the curtain raiser; she is a young girl representing all eight states of Northeast India.
Where and when was the first Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav scheduled to be held?
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Correct answer: A — Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, 6–8 December 2024
PIB (DoNER): the three-day festival was to take place at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, from 6 to 8 December 2024.
What was the size of the loan signed by India and the Asian Development Bank on 29 November 2024 for 'Building India's Clean Plant Programme'?
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Correct answer: A — $98 million
PIB (Finance): the Government of India and ADB signed a $98 million loan for the Building India's Clean Plant Programme.
Through which bodies will the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare implement the ADB-supported Clean Plant Programme project?
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Correct answer: B — National Horticulture Board and ICAR
PIB (Finance): the project will be implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare through the National Horticulture Board and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.
In the joint Indian Navy–Sri Lanka Navy anti-narcotics operation announced on 29 November 2024, approximately how much of which narcotic was seized?
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Correct answer: B — About 500 kg of crystal meth
PIB (Navy): both boats were boarded on 24 and 25 November 2024, leading to the seizure of approximately 500 kg of narcotics (crystal meth).
Indian Navy surveillance in the November 2024 anti-narcotics operation with Sri Lanka was based on inputs from which centre located in Gurugram?
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Correct answer: D — Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR)
PIB (Navy): surveillance by LRMP aircraft and RPA was based on inputs from the Information Fusion Centre (Indian Ocean Region), Gurugram.
By how much did the combined Index of Eight Core Industries grow in October 2024 (provisional), as released on 29 November 2024?
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Correct answer: C — 3.1%
PIB (Commerce): the ICI increased by 3.1% (provisional) in October 2024 over October 2023. 4.1% is the April–October cumulative growth and 6.3% the final July 2024 figure.
Which of the eight core industries carries the highest weight in the Index of Eight Core Industries?
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Correct answer: D — Petroleum Refinery Products
PIB (Commerce): weights are Refinery Products 28.04%, Electricity 19.85%, Steel 17.92% and Coal 10.33%.
The 59th All India Conference of DGsP/IGsP, inaugurated by Amit Shah on 29 November 2024, was held in which city?
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Correct answer: B — Bhubaneswar
PIB (MHA): Amit Shah inaugurated the 59th DGsP/IGsP Conference 2024 in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
Which Ministry of Home Affairs book did Amit Shah release at the 59th DGsP/IGsP Conference on 29 November 2024?
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Correct answer: A — Ranking of Police Stations 2024
PIB (MHA): Shah released the Ministry of Home Affairs' book on 'Ranking of Police Stations 2024' and awarded trophies to the three best police stations.
Consider the following statements about the 59th DGsP/IGsP Conference 2024: 1. It was held in a hybrid format, with police chiefs of all States/UTs and heads of CAPFs/CPOs attending physically. 2. Amit Shah said the three new criminal laws have changed the criminal justice system from punishment-oriented to justice-oriented. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
PIB (MHA): the conference was held in hybrid format with DGsP/IGsP of all States/UTs and heads of CAPFs/CPOs attending physically, and Shah said the new laws transformed the system from punishment-oriented to justice-oriented. Both are correct.
The Indian Coast Guard's 11th National Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX-2024) was conducted off which coast in November 2024?
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Correct answer: C — Kochi
PIB (MoD): the ICG conducted the 11th edition of SAREX-2024 off the Kochi coast on 29 November 2024.
What was the theme of SAREX-2024?
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Correct answer: D — Enhancing Search and Rescue Capabilities Through Regional Collaboration
PIB (MoD): SAREX-2024 had the theme 'Enhancing Search and Rescue Capabilities Through Regional Collaboration'.
Officers from which of the following countries did NOT take part in NCGG's 1st Capacity Building Programme for Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean Region (18–29 November 2024)?
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Correct answer: D — Indonesia
PIB (DARPG): the 30 officers came from Sri Lanka, Oman, Tanzania, Kenya, Seychelles, Malaysia, Cambodia, Maldives and Myanmar. Indonesia was not listed.
Where was NCGG's 1st Capacity Building Programme for civil servants of Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean Region conducted?
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Correct answer: C — Mussoorie and New Delhi
PIB (DARPG): the two-week programme, held from 18 to 29 November 2024, was conducted in Mussoorie and New Delhi.
The 48th meeting of the National Committee of Archivists concluded on 29 November 2024 at which place?
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Correct answer: D — Ekta Nagar (Kevadiya), Gujarat
PIB (Culture): the two-day 48th NCA meeting concluded on 29 November 2024 at the Statue of Unity, Kevadiya (Ekta Nagar), Gujarat.
Consider the following statements: 1. The 48th meeting was the first time the National Committee of Archivists met in Gujarat. 2. The Gujarat State Archives has completed the digitisation of its entire records holding. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 2 only
PIB (Culture): it was the second NCA meeting in Gujarat — the 32nd was held at Gandhinagar on 7 June 1982 (1 is wrong). The Gujarat State Archives has completed digitising its entire records holding (2 is correct).
The Bharatiya Nirdeshak Dravya (BND) released at the 18th NCB International Conference on 29 November 2024 is an Indian Certified Reference Material of which standard?
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Correct answer: C — Gypsum
PIB (Commerce/DPIIT): the BND released is an Indian Certified Reference Material of Gypsum Standard produced by NCB with NPL.