Current Affairs Quiz — 15 December 2024
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Under the 'Jalvahak' scheme unveiled on 15 December 2024, cargo owners can get reimbursement of up to what share of total operating expenditure?
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Correct answer: B — 35%
PIB (Ports, Shipping & Waterways): the Jalvahak scheme offers reimbursement up to 35% of the total operating expenditure incurred while transporting cargo via waterways on NW 1, NW 2 and NW 16.
National Waterway 16, one of the three waterways covered by the 'Jalvahak' scheme, is on which river?
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Correct answer: A — Barak
PIB (Ports, Shipping & Waterways): Jalvahak covers NW 1 (river Ganga), NW 2 (river Brahmaputra) and NW 16 (river Barak).
Consider the following statements about the 'Jalvahak' scheme: 1. It provides incentives for transporting cargo via inland waterways over distances of more than 300 km. 2. It is initially valid for three years. 3. It is a joint effort of IWAI and Inland & Coastal Shipping Limited, a subsidiary of the Shipping Corporation of India. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1, 2 and 3
PIB (Ports, Shipping & Waterways): the scheme incentivises cargo moved over more than 300 km, is initially valid for 3 years, and is a joint effort of IWAI and ICSL, a fully owned subsidiary of SCI. All three statements are correct.
The cargo promotion schemes unveiled with 'Jalvahak' on 15 December 2024 aim at a modal shift of how much cargo to inland waterways by 2027?
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Correct answer: D — 800 million tonne-km
The schemes aim at a modal shift of 800 million tonne-km with an investment of ₹95.4 crore by 2027.
The Fixed Day Scheduled Sailing Service flagged off on National Waterway 2 on 15 December 2024 connects Kolkata with:
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Correct answer: A — Pandu (Guwahati)
Sarbananda Sonowal flagged off a scheduled service between Kolkata and Pandu (Guwahati) on NW 2 via the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route, alongside the Kolkata–Patna–Varanasi service on NW 1.
How many ministers took oath at Raj Bhavan, Nagpur, on 15 December 2024 in the first expansion of the Fadnavis-led Maharashtra ministry?
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Correct answer: C — 39
Governor C P Radhakrishnan administered the oath to 39 ministers, 33 of Cabinet rank and six ministers of state, taking the ministry's strength to 42.
The Maharashtra cabinet swearing-in at Raj Bhavan, Nagpur, on 15 December 2024 was the first there in 33 years. The previous one was held in which year?
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Correct answer: B — 1991
The last swearing-in at Raj Bhavan in Nagpur, the State's second capital, was during the Sudhakarrao Naik government in 1991.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah presented the President's Colour to which State Police force in Raipur on 15 December 2024?
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Correct answer: B — Chhattisgarh Police
PIB (Home Affairs): Amit Shah presented the prestigious 'President's Colour' to the Chhattisgarh Police in Raipur on 15 December 2024.
The Chhattisgarh Police earned the President's Colour within how many years of its establishment?
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Correct answer: C — 25
PIB (Home Affairs): Amit Shah commended the Chhattisgarh Police for earning this honour within just 25 years of its establishment, in its silver jubilee year.
India defeated which team in the final of the Women's Junior Asia Cup 2024 hockey on 15 December 2024?
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Correct answer: A — China
Hockey India and FIH: India beat China 1-1 (3-2 in the shootout) in the final to defend the Women's Junior Asia Cup title.
Where was the Women's Junior Asia Cup 2024 hockey tournament held?
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Correct answer: C — Muscat
FIH: the Women's Junior Asia Cup 2024 was held at Muscat (Oman) from 7 to 15 December 2024.
Consider the following statements about India's Women's Junior Asia Cup 2024 win: 1. The final ended 1-1 and India won the shootout 3-2. 2. Deepika finished as the tournament's top scorer with 12 goals. 3. The win sealed India's place in the FIH Junior World Cup 2025, to be held in Malaysia. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 and 2 only
Hockey India: the final ended 1-1 (3-2 SO) and Deepika was top scorer with 12 goals. Statement 3 is incorrect: the FIH Junior World Cup 2025 is to be held in Chile.
What was the overarching theme of the fourth National Conference of Chief Secretaries held in Delhi from 13 to 15 December 2024?
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Correct answer: B — Promoting Entrepreneurship, Employment and Skilling – Leveraging the Demographic Dividend
PIB (PMO): the conference included discussions around the overarching theme of 'Promoting Entrepreneurship, Employment and Skilling – Leveraging the Demographic Dividend'.
At the National Conference of Chief Secretaries in December 2024, the Prime Minister directed States to explore Viability Gap Funding for which purpose?
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Correct answer: C — Recycling of e-waste
PIB (PMO): the PM directed the States to explore concepts of Viability Gap Funding for recycling of e-waste, since digital waste will increase in a technology-driven society.
In which city did Union Home Minister Amit Shah attend the closing ceremony of the Bastar Olympics 2024 on 15 December 2024?
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Correct answer: C — Jagdalpur
Amit Shah attended the closing ceremony of the Bastar Olympics 2024 as chief guest in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh.
The 'Niyad Nellanar' scheme for villages, highlighted by Amit Shah at the Bastar Olympics closing ceremony in December 2024, is a scheme of which State Government?
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Correct answer: A — Chhattisgarh
At the Jagdalpur ceremony, Amit Shah highlighted the Chhattisgarh Government's 'Niyad Nellanar' scheme as an initiative to transform villages.
Who inaugurated the Geological Survey of India's Geoscience Museum in Gwalior on 15 December 2024?
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Correct answer: B — Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar
PIB (Mines): Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurated the state-of-the-art GSI Geoscience Museum in Gwalior on 15 December 2024.
The GSI Geoscience Museum in Gwalior is housed in which building?
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Correct answer: D — Victoria Market Building
PIB (Mines): the GSI Geoscience Museum was inaugurated at the Victoria Market Building in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.
Which Coal India subsidiary launched the 'CHARAK' health-centric CSR initiative on 15 December 2024?
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Correct answer: D — Northern Coalfields Limited
PIB (Coal): Singrauli-based Coal India arm Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL) rolled out 'CHARAK' – Community Health: A Responsive Action for Koylanchal.
Under NCL's 'CHARAK' scheme, residents of Singrauli and Sonbhadra are eligible if their annual family income is below:
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Correct answer: D — ₹8 lakh
PIB (Coal): residents of Singrauli and Sonbhadra districts having annual family income below ₹8 lakh from all sources are eligible under the scheme.