Current Affairs Quiz — 19 December 2024
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
The Yuga Yugeen Bharat National Museum is being developed in which buildings of New Delhi?
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Correct answer: C — North and South Blocks
PIB (Culture): the museum, part of the Central Vista Redevelopment Project, will span about 1,55,000 square metres across the North and South Blocks in New Delhi.
With which organisation did the Ministry of Culture partner in December 2024 to develop the Yuga Yugeen Bharat National Museum?
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Correct answer: A — France Museums Développement
PIB (Culture): the Ministry of Culture announced a partnership with France Museums Développement (FMD) on 19 December 2024 to develop the museum.
Consider the following statements about the Yuga Yugeen Bharat National Museum: 1. It is part of the Central Vista Redevelopment Project. 2. It was first announced by the Prime Minister at the International Museum Expo in May 2023. 3. It will span about 1,55,000 square metres. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1, 2 and 3
PIB (Culture): the museum is an integral part of the Central Vista Redevelopment Project, was first announced by the PM at the International Museum Expo in May 2023, and will span about 1,55,000 square metres. All three statements are correct.
India and the ADB signed a $42 million loan on 19 December 2024 for a coastal protection project in which state?
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Correct answer: B — Maharashtra
PIB (Finance): the $42 million loan is for the Maharashtra Sustainable Climate-Resilient Coastal Protection and Management Project.
What was the amount of the ADB loan signed for the Maharashtra Sustainable Climate-Resilient Coastal Protection and Management Project in December 2024?
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Correct answer: D — $42 million
PIB (Finance): the Government of India and ADB signed a $42 million loan for the project on 19 December 2024.
Which of the following is described by ADB as a flexible nature-based solution against coastal erosion under the Maharashtra coastal protection project?
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Correct answer: A — Beach and dune nourishment
PIB (Finance): ADB's Mio Oka said the project uses hybrid approaches such as offshore reefs and rock protection works, along with flexible nature-based solutions like beach and dune nourishment.
From which German state-owned bank did the Andhra Pradesh Cabinet allow APCRDA to raise a ₹5,000 crore loan for Amaravati in December 2024?
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Correct answer: B — KfW
The Hindu and New Indian Express: the AP Cabinet on 19 December 2024 permitted APCRDA to raise a loan of ₹5,000 crore from Germany's KfW.
The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet decided on 19 December 2024 to restore the mid-day meal scheme for which students?
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Correct answer: D — Intermediate students in government junior colleges
The Hindu and New Indian Express: the Cabinet decided to restore the mid-day meal scheme for Intermediate students in government junior colleges, benefiting about 1.41 lakh students.
How many engineering works in the Amaravati capital region did the Andhra Pradesh Cabinet approve on 19 December 2024?
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Correct answer: B — 45
The Hindu and New Indian Express: the Cabinet approved 45 engineering works in the capital region of Amaravati.
Scientists from which institute found that PET bottle-derived nanoplastics can spread antibiotic resistance, as reported by DST in December 2024?
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Correct answer: A — Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Mohali
PIB (Science & Technology): scientists from the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali, an autonomous institution of DST, carried out the study.
In the INST Mohali study, PET bottle-derived nanoplastics facilitated gene transfer from E. coli to which gut bacterium?
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Correct answer: C — Lactobacillus acidophilus
PIB (Science & Technology): the scientists demonstrated that PBNPs can facilitate cross-species gene transfer from E. coli to Lactobacillus acidophilus, a significant bacterium in the human gut microbiota.
From which date did access providers start rejecting commercial SMS traffic sent through unregistered paths, as announced by TRAI in December 2024?
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Correct answer: A — 11 December 2024
PIB (TRAI): effective 11 December 2024, SMS traffic sent through unregistered paths is being rejected.
TRAI's commercial SMS traceability framework is built on which technology platform?
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Correct answer: D — Blockchain-based Distributed Ledger Technology
PIB (TRAI): the traceability of commercial messages is implemented on the blockchain-based Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) platform.
NITI Aayog's December 2024 report 'S.A.F.E. Accommodation' deals with housing for which group?
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Correct answer: C — Industrial workers
PIB (NITI Aayog): the report 'S.A.F.E. Accommodation - Worker Housing for Manufacturing Growth' explores secure, affordable, flexible and efficient accommodation for industrial workers.
In NITI Aayog's report on worker housing, what does 'S.A.F.E.' stand for?
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Correct answer: A — Secure, Affordable, Flexible, Efficient
PIB (NITI Aayog): S.A.F.E. stands for secure, affordable, flexible and efficient accommodation for industrial workers.
According to NITI Aayog's S.A.F.E. report, the Union Budget 2024-25 initiative on dormitory-style rental housing for industrial workers is to be executed through which model?
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Correct answer: D — PPP with Viability Gap Funding and anchor-industry commitments
PIB (NITI Aayog): the Budget 2024-25 initiative is to be executed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model with Viability Gap Funding (VGF) support and commitments from anchor industries.
How many Road Over Bridge projects did the East Coast Railway declare as Special Railway Projects in December 2024?
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Correct answer: C — 170
OdishaBytes and Ommcom News: the ECoR General Manager approved the declaration of 170 ROB construction projects as Special Railway Projects.
Under which law did the East Coast Railway declare 170 ROB projects as Special Railway Projects?
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Correct answer: B — Railway (Amendment) Act, 2008
OdishaBytes and Ommcom News: the declaration was made under the provisions of the Railway (Amendment) Act, 2008.
Of the 170 ROB projects declared Special Railway Projects by ECoR in December 2024, how many are in Odisha?
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Correct answer: D — 110
OdishaBytes and Ommcom News: out of the 170 projects, 110 are in Odisha and 60 in Andhra Pradesh.
ABHED, whose technology was transferred by DRDO in December 2024, is a:
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Correct answer: D — Light weight bullet resistant jacket
PIB (Defence): Transfer of Technology of the light weight bullet resistant jacket ABHED (Advanced Ballistic High Energy Defeat) was done with three industry partners.
How many tripartite agreements were signed among DRDO, IIT Delhi and industry at the DIA-GARIMA event on 19 December 2024?
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Correct answer: B — 10
PIB (Defence): during the DIA-GARIMA event at IIT Delhi, 10 tripartite agreements were signed among DRDO, IIT Delhi and industry partners.
Which of the following was NOT among the industry partners that received the ABHED jacket technology in December 2024?
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Correct answer: C — Bharat Electronics Ltd
PIB (Defence): ABHED technology was transferred to MIDHANI (Rohtak), SMPP Pvt Ltd (Delhi) and AR Polymers (MKU), Kanpur. Bharat Electronics Ltd was not among them.
For which force are Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders building 14 Fast Patrol Vessels and six Next-Gen Offshore Patrol Vessels?
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Correct answer: B — Indian Coast Guard
PIB (Defence): the plate cutting on 19 December 2024 was for the first of 14 FPVs and the first of six NGOPVs being constructed by MDL for the Indian Coast Guard.
What is the value of the contract awarded to MDL for building the Fast Patrol Vessels and NGOPVs for the Coast Guard?
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Correct answer: C — ₹2,684 crore
PIB (Defence): MDL was awarded a ₹2,684 crore contract under the 'Buy (Indian-IDDM)' category to build these vessels.
Under which procurement category was MDL's contract for the Coast Guard's FPVs and NGOPVs awarded?
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Correct answer: A — Buy (Indian-IDDM)
PIB (Defence): the ₹2,684 crore contract was awarded under the 'Buy (Indian-IDDM)' category, i.e. indigenously designed, developed and manufactured.