Current Affairs Quiz — 20 December 2024
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
What MSP has been fixed for Fair Average Quality milling copra for the 2025 season?
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Correct answer: A — ₹11,582 per quintal
PIB (Cabinet): the MSP for Fair Average Quality milling copra has been fixed at ₹11,582 per quintal and for ball copra at ₹12,100 per quintal for the 2025 season.
What MSP has been fixed for ball copra for the 2025 season?
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Correct answer: C — ₹12,100 per quintal
PIB (Cabinet): the MSP for ball copra has been fixed at ₹12,100 per quintal for the 2025 season, up 120% from ₹5,500 in 2014.
Which agencies act as Central Nodal Agencies for procurement of copra and de-husked coconut under the Price Support Scheme?
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Correct answer: D — NAFED and NCCF
PIB (Cabinet): NAFED and the National Cooperative Consumers' Federation (NCCF) will continue to act as Central Nodal Agencies for procurement of copra and de-husked coconut under the Price Support Scheme.
What was the approximate productivity of the Lok Sabha in the Winter Session 2024, according to the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs?
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Correct answer: D — 54.5%
PIB (Parliamentary Affairs): the productivity of the Lok Sabha was approximately 54.5% and that of the Rajya Sabha approximately 40%.
Which Bill was passed by both Houses of Parliament during the Winter Session 2024?
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Correct answer: B — The Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak, 2024
PIB (Parliamentary Affairs): one Bill, 'The Bhartiya Vayuyaan Vidheyak, 2024', which re-enacts the Aircraft Act, 1934, was passed by both Houses during the session.
Consider the following statements about the Winter Session 2024 of Parliament: 1. It began on 25 November 2024 and was adjourned sine die on 20 December 2024. 2. The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024 was referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee on 20 December 2024. 3. The Rajya Sabha held more sittings than the Lok Sabha during the session. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: C — 1 and 2 only
PIB (Parliamentary Affairs): statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong because the session had 20 sittings of the Lok Sabha and 19 of the Rajya Sabha.
The destroyer Surat, delivered to the Indian Navy on 20 December 2024, is the fourth and final ship of which project?
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Correct answer: B — Project 15B
PIB (Defence): Yard 12707 Surat is the fourth and final Project 15B stealth guided missile destroyer, following Visakhapatnam, Mormugao and Imphal.
Which propulsion arrangement powers the destroyer Surat?
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Correct answer: D — COGAG (Combined Gas and Gas) with four gas turbines
PIB (Defence): Surat is powered by a Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) propulsion set comprising four gas turbines, and exceeded 30 knots during sea trials.
The Project 17A frigate Nilgiri is a follow-on of which class of frigates already in service?
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Correct answer: A — Shivalik class (Project 17)
PIB (Defence): Yard 12651 Nilgiri, the first Project 17A stealth frigate, is a follow-on of the Shivalik class (Project 17) frigates active in service.
Consider the following statements about the warships delivered to the Indian Navy on 20 December 2024: 1. Surat has a displacement of 7,400 tonnes. 2. Surat is poised to be the Indian Navy's first AI-enabled warship. 3. The seven Project 17A frigates are being built at MDL, Mumbai and Cochin Shipyard, Kochi. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: C — 1 and 2 only
PIB (Defence): statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong because the seven P17A frigates are under construction at MDL, Mumbai and GRSE, Kolkata.
Which defence institution received the President's Colours from President Droupadi Murmu on 20 December 2024?
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Correct answer: C — College of Defence Management, Secunderabad
PIB (Defence): President Droupadi Murmu awarded the President's Colours to the College of Defence Management (CDM), Secunderabad, on 20 December 2024.
In which year was the College of Defence Management, Secunderabad, established?
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Correct answer: A — 1970
PIB (Defence): the President highlighted the contributions made by the College of Defence Management since its establishment in 1970.
What was the title of the compilation of strategic guidance from ancient Indian texts released by the President at CDM in December 2024?
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Correct answer: B — Pearls of Ancient Indian Wisdom
PIB (Defence): the President released a revised peer-reviewed compilation of strategic guidance from the ancient Indian Knowledge System (1st century BCE to 7th century CE) titled 'Pearls of Ancient Indian Wisdom'.
What share of The India Cements' paid-up equity did UltraTech propose to acquire from the promoters and Sri Saradha Logistics, as approved by the CCI in December 2024?
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Correct answer: A — 32.72%
PIB (CCI): the combination envisages UltraTech's acquisition of 32.72% of India Cements' paid-up equity share capital from the promoters and promoter group and Sri Saradha Logistics, and up to 26% through an open offer.
UltraTech Cement Limited, whose acquisition of The India Cements was approved by the CCI, is a subsidiary of:
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Correct answer: C — Grasim Industries
PIB (CCI): UltraTech is a public listed company and a subsidiary of Grasim Industries Limited.
The United Nations declared 2024 as the International Year of:
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Correct answer: D — Camelids
PIB (Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying): the United Nations has declared 2024 as the International Year of Camelids; the Bikaner workshop was organised as part of it.
Where was the stakeholder workshop on 'Strengthening Camel Milk Value Chain in India' held on 20 December 2024?
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Correct answer: A — Bikaner
PIB (Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying): DAHD, FAO and ICAR-National Research Centre on Camel organised the day-long workshop on 20 December 2024 in Bikaner, Rajasthan.
Where was the 61st Raising Day function of the Sashastra Seema Bal held on 20 December 2024?
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Correct answer: A — Siliguri
PIB (MHA): Union Home Minister Amit Shah attended the 61st Raising Day function of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) at Siliguri in West Bengal as Chief Guest.
The Sashastra Seema Bal guards India's borders with which countries?
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Correct answer: D — Nepal and Bhutan
PIB (MHA): under the 'one border, one force' policy, SSB was given responsibility for vigilance and security of the borders with Nepal and Bhutan.
What was the size of the policy-based loan signed by India and the ADB on 20 December 2024 under the SMILE programme?
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Correct answer: C — $350 million
PIB (Commerce Ministry): the Government of India and ADB signed a $350 million policy-based loan under the second subprogramme of the SMILE programme.
In the ADB-supported SMILE programme, what does 'SMILE' stand for?
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Correct answer: A — Strengthening Multimodal and Integrated Logistics Ecosystem
PIB (Commerce Ministry): the loan was signed under the second subprogramme of the Strengthening Multimodal and Integrated Logistics Ecosystem (SMILE) programme.
With which company did the Defence Ministry sign a ₹7,628.70 crore contract for K9 VAJRA-T self-propelled guns on 20 December 2024?
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Correct answer: B — Larsen & Toubro
PIB (Defence): the Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Larsen & Toubro Limited for K9 VAJRA-T guns for the Indian Army at a total cost of ₹7,628.70 crore.
Under which procurement category was the K9 VAJRA-T contract of December 2024 signed?
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Correct answer: D — Buy (Indian)
PIB (Defence): the 155 mm/52 calibre K9 VAJRA-T guns are being procured for the Indian Army under the Buy (Indian) category.
How many times did Om Prakash Chautala, who died on 20 December 2024, serve as Chief Minister of Haryana?
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Correct answer: C — Five
The Hindu and India Today: Om Prakash Chautala was a five-time Chief Minister of Haryana.
Om Prakash Chautala was the son of which former Deputy Prime Minister?
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Correct answer: B — Chaudhary Devi Lal
The Hindu and India Today: Chautala was the son of former Deputy Prime Minister Chaudhary Devi Lal.
Farmers in how many districts of Chhattisgarh are using Foldscope microscopy for crop disease detection, as reported in December 2024?
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Correct answer: B — 20
PIB (Science and Technology): farmers spanning 20 districts of Chhattisgarh are using the Foldscope for pest and disease detection, soil quality assessment and water analysis.
Which institute implements the Foldscope initiative for farmers in Chhattisgarh?
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Correct answer: C — ICAR-National Institute of Biotic Stress Management
PIB (Science and Technology): the initiative is implemented by ICAR-National Institute of Biotic Stress Management and supported under DST's SYST programme of the SEED Division.
In December 2024, TRAI recommended assigning Indian Railways an additional 5 MHz (paired) spectrum in which band?
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Correct answer: D — 700 MHz band
PIB (TRAI): in addition to the 5 MHz (paired) already assigned in the 700 MHz band, an additional 5 MHz (paired) in the 700 MHz band should be assigned to Indian Railways for safety and security applications.
According to TRAI's December 2024 recommendations, how should spectrum charges for Indian Railways, NCRTC, other RRTS and Metro rail networks be levied?
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Correct answer: B — Based on DoT's formula for Royalty Charges and Licence Fees for captive use
PIB (TRAI): spectrum charges for Indian Railways/NCRTC/other RRTS/Metro rail networks should be levied based on the formula for Royalty Charges and License Fees for captive use, as prescribed by DoT.