Current Affairs Quiz — 02 December 2024
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Where did the 4th edition of the India–Malaysia joint military exercise Harimau Shakti begin on 2 December 2024?
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Correct answer: C — Bentong camp, Pahang, Malaysia
PIB (2 Dec 2024): the 4th edition of Harimau Shakti commenced at Bentong camp, Pahang district, Malaysia.
Which edition of the India–Malaysia exercise Harimau Shakti commenced on 2 December 2024?
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Correct answer: A — 4th
PIB (2 Dec 2024): the 4th edition of India–Malaysia Joint Military Exercise HARIMAU SHAKTI commenced at Bentong camp.
Which regiment represented the Indian contingent at Exercise Harimau Shakti 2024?
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Correct answer: B — MAHAR Regiment
PIB (2 Dec 2024): the 78-member Indian contingent is represented by a Battalion of the MAHAR Regiment.
Exercise Harimau Shakti 2024 aims to enhance joint capability for counter-insurgency operations in jungle terrain under which chapter of the UN mandate?
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Correct answer: D — Chapter VII
PIB (2 Dec 2024): the aim is to enhance joint military capability to undertake counter-insurgency operations in jungle terrain under Chapter VII of the United Nations Mandate.
Consider the following statements about Exercise Harimau Shakti: 1. The 2024 edition is scheduled from 2 to 15 December 2024. 2. The previous edition was held in November 2023 at Umroi Cantonment in Meghalaya. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
PIB (2 Dec 2024): the exercise is scheduled from 2nd to 15th December 2024, and the last edition was conducted in Nov 2023 at Umroi Cantonment in Meghalaya. Both statements are correct. Answer: Both 1 and 2.
Ratapani, notified as a tiger reserve by Madhya Pradesh on 2 December 2024, is located in which district?
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Correct answer: A — Raisen
ThePrint/PTI and The Indian Express (3 Dec 2024): the Ratapani forest/sanctuary in Raisen district, close to Bhopal, was notified as a tiger reserve on Monday, 2 December.
With its notification on 2 December 2024, Ratapani became which tiger reserve of Madhya Pradesh?
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Correct answer: D — Eighth
ThePrint/PTI and The Indian Express: Ratapani is the eighth tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh, after Kanha, Satpura, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Sanjay Dubri, Panna and Veerangana Durgavati.
What is the approximate core area of the Ratapani Tiger Reserve notified on 2 December 2024?
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Correct answer: B — 763.8 sq km
ThePrint/PTI and The Indian Express: the core area is about 763.8 sq km (763.812 sq km) and the buffer area about 507.6 sq km, for a total of about 1,271 sq km.
Consider the following statements about the Ratapani Tiger Reserve notified on 2 December 2024: 1. Its total area is about 1,271 sq km. 2. It is located in Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
ThePrint/PTI and The Indian Express: the total area is about 1,271 sq km, so statement 1 is correct. Ratapani is in Raisen district; Shivpuri is home to Madhav National Park, so statement 2 is wrong. Answer: 1 only.
According to officials, tiger reserve status for Ratapani enables Madhya Pradesh to receive funding from which body?
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Correct answer: C — National Tiger Conservation Authority
ThePrint/PTI and The Indian Express: officials said the tiger reserve designation enables the state to receive a budget/funding from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) for better wildlife management.
What is the outlay of the Ministry of Coal's Financial Incentive Scheme for coal/lignite gasification, under which selected applicants were announced on 2 December 2024?
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Correct answer: B — ₹8,500 crore
PIB (2 Dec 2024): the Ministry of Coal launched the Financial Incentive Scheme with an outlay of ₹8,500 crore, approved by the Cabinet, for promotion of coal/lignite gasification projects.
By which year does India target 100 million tonnes of coal gasification, as cited by the Ministry of Coal on 2 December 2024?
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Correct answer: C — 2030
PIB (2 Dec 2024): the scheme is a crucial step towards India's target of 100 million tonnes of coal gasification by 2030.
Consider the following statements about the selections announced by the Ministry of Coal on 2 December 2024: 1. Bharat Coal Gasification and Chemicals Limited was selected under Category I. 2. New Era Cleantech Solution was selected under Category I. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
PIB (2 Dec 2024): Bharat Coal Gasification and Chemicals Limited is listed under Category I (government PSUs/JVs), so statement 1 is correct. New Era Cleantech Solution was selected under Category III (demonstration/small-scale plants), so statement 2 is wrong. Answer: 1 only.
At the CoP16 drought dialogue on 2 December 2024, Bhupender Yadav recalled India's presidency of which UNCCD Conference of the Parties, when India committed to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030?
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Correct answer: B — CoP14
PIB (2 Dec 2024): Shri Yadav said it was during India's presidency at CoP14 that India presented its commitment to restoring 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.
India announced the setting up of a Centre of Excellence in which field during its UNCCD CoP14 presidency, which the Minister said on 2 December 2024 has been established?
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Correct answer: D — Sustainable Land Management
PIB (2 Dec 2024): India announced the setting up of a Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Land Management to promote a scientific approach to land degradation; the Minister said it has already been established.
On 2 December 2024, the Akal Takht withdrew which title that had been bestowed on the late Parkash Singh Badal?
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Correct answer: B — Fakhr-e-Qaum
ThePrint/PTI and The Hindu (2 Dec 2024): the Akal Takht withdrew the 'Fakhr-e-Qaum' (Panth Rattan Fakhr-e-Qaum) title bestowed on the late Parkash Singh Badal in 2011.
Who, as Jathedar of the Akal Takht, pronounced the 'tankhah' for Sukhbir Singh Badal on 2 December 2024?
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Correct answer: D — Giani Raghbir Singh
ThePrint/PTI and The Hindu (2 Dec 2024): Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, heading the five high priests, pronounced the punishment in Amritsar.
Consider the following statements about the Akal Takht's pronouncement of 2 December 2024: 1. The 'mistakes' for which punishment was pronounced relate to the SAD government in Punjab from 2007 to 2017. 2. The SAD was asked to reorganise the party within six months. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
ThePrint/PTI and The Hindu (2 Dec 2024): the punishment was for 'mistakes' committed by the SAD government from 2007 to 2017, and the Akal Takht asked for the party's reorganisation (elections for office-bearers) within six months. Both statements are correct. Answer: Both 1 and 2.
Which industry body organised the Partnership Summit 2024 whose inaugural session Piyush Goyal addressed in New Delhi on 2 December 2024?
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Correct answer: A — Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
PIB (2 Dec 2024): Shri Piyush Goyal addressed the inaugural session of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Partnership Summit 2024 in New Delhi.
Which of the following was NOT among the partner countries at the CII Partnership Summit 2024 held on 2 December 2024?
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Correct answer: D — Japan
PIB (2 Dec 2024): the partner countries were Italy, Israel, Bhutan, Bahrain, Algeria, Nepal, Senegal, South Africa, Myanmar, Qatar and Cambodia; Japan was not listed.
On 2 December 2024, the MEA described as 'deeply regrettable' a breach of the premises of the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in which city?
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Correct answer: A — Agartala
MEA statement quoted by NDTV and The Economic Times (2 Dec 2024): 'The incident earlier today of the breach of premises at the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala is deeply regrettable.'
Consider the following statements about the Agartala incident of 2 December 2024: 1. The MEA said diplomatic and consular properties should not be targeted under any circumstances. 2. The rally was held to protest against the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das in Bangladesh. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
NDTV and The Economic Times (2 Dec 2024): the MEA said diplomatic and consular properties should not be targeted under any circumstances, and the rally protested the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das in Bangladesh. Both statements are correct. Answer: Both 1 and 2.
On 2 December 2024, the PM welcomed recognition of the PRAGATI platform's effectiveness in a study by which institutions?
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Correct answer: B — Oxford Saïd Business School and Gates Foundation
PIB (2 Dec 2024): the PM was pleased that the effectiveness of PRAGATI has been recognised in the study by Oxford Said Business School and Gates Foundation.
On 2 December 2024, Principal Scientific Adviser Prof Ajay Sood chaired a brainstorming session on collaborations with multilateral organisations under which mission?
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Correct answer: D — National One Health Mission
PIB (2 Dec 2024): the PSA chaired a brainstorming session on 2 December 2024 to explore collaborations with multilateral organisations under the National One Health Mission.
India and Italy's long-standing partnership in scientific research, highlighted during Adolfo Urso's meeting with Jitendra Singh on 2 December 2024, is particularly through the Elettra synchrotron facility located in:
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Correct answer: A — Trieste
PIB (2 Dec 2024): India and Italy enjoy a long-standing partnership in scientific research, particularly through the Synchrotron facility, Elettra, in Trieste.