Current Affairs Quiz — 27 December 2024
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
According to the HCES 2023-24 factsheet released on 27 December 2024, what was the average MPCE in urban India (without imputation)?
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Correct answer: A — ₹6,996
PIB (MoSPI): average MPCE in 2023-24 was ₹6,996 in urban India without imputation; ₹7,078 is the urban figure with imputation and ₹6,459 was the 2022-23 urban figure.
Which State recorded the highest MPCE in both rural and urban areas in HCES 2023-24?
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Correct answer: C — Sikkim
PIB (MoSPI): among the States, MPCE was highest in Sikkim (rural ₹9,377, urban ₹13,927) and lowest in Chhattisgarh.
In HCES 2023-24, which State had the highest rural-urban difference in average MPCE?
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Correct answer: D — Meghalaya
PIB (MoSPI): the rural-urban difference in average MPCE among the States was highest in Meghalaya (104%), followed by Jharkhand (83%) and Chhattisgarh (80%).
Consider the following statements about HCES 2023-24: 1. The share of non-food items in average MPCE was 53% in rural and 60% in urban areas. 2. The estimates are based on data from 2,61,953 households. 3. The fieldwork was conducted from August 2022 to July 2023. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
PIB (MoSPI): non-food items made up 53% (rural) and 60% (urban) of MPCE, and the estimates come from 2,61,953 households. Statement 3 is wrong: HCES 2023-24 fieldwork ran from August 2023 to July 2024 (August 2022 to July 2023 was HCES 2022-23).
Which stage of the revised Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) did CAQM revoke across the NCR on 27 December 2024?
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Correct answer: D — Stage-III
PIB (MoEFCC): the CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP revoked Stage-III of the revised GRAP in the entire NCR with immediate effect on 27 December 2024.
What was Delhi's average AQI at 7 PM on 27 December 2024, when CAQM decided to revoke GRAP Stage-III?
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Correct answer: A — 334
PIB (MoEFCC): Delhi's average AQI improved to 348 at 5 PM, 341 at 6 PM and 334 at 7 PM on 27 December 2024.
Consider the following statements about CAQM's order of 27 December 2024 revoking GRAP Stage-III: 1. All actions under Stages II and I of the revised GRAP remain in force in the NCR. 2. Construction sites issued specific closure orders for violations may resume work once Stage-III is revoked. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 only
PIB (MoEFCC): all actions under Stages II and I remain invoked, so statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is wrong: C&D sites and industrial units under specific closure orders shall not resume without a specific order from the Commission.
Who was appointed Chairperson of the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) in December 2024?
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Correct answer: D — Sandip Shah
PIB (Commerce and Industry): Dr Sandip Shah was appointed Chairperson of NABL, a constituent board of the Quality Council of India, as announced on 27 December 2024.
Dr Sandip Shah, appointed NABL Chairperson in December 2024, succeeded whom?
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Correct answer: A — Prof. Subbanna Ayyappan
PIB (Commerce and Industry): Dr Sandip Shah succeeds Prof. Subbanna Ayyappan as Chairperson of NABL.
Which department serves as the nodal point for the Quality Council of India (QCI), whose constituent board NABL got a new Chairperson in December 2024?
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Correct answer: B — Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade
PIB (Commerce and Industry): the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, serves as the nodal point for QCI.
Which institution carried out the Smart Cities Mission impact studies on smart classrooms and urban safety released on 27 December 2024?
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Correct answer: A — IIM Bangalore
PIB (MoHUA): the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore carried out two studies under the SAAR (Sameeksha) series of the Smart Cities Mission.
According to the IIM Bangalore study released in December 2024, how many smart classrooms were developed by 71 smart cities in government schools?
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Correct answer: C — 9,433
PIB (MoHUA): 71 cities developed 9,433 smart classrooms in 2,398 government schools; 7,809 is the seating capacity of digital libraries in 41 cities.
Which city reported a 14% decline in overall crime after surveillance measures, as per the IIM Bangalore Smart Cities study of December 2024?
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Correct answer: B — Nagpur
PIB (MoHUA): Nagpur reported a 14% decline in overall crime rates after the implementation of surveillance measures, says the IIM Bangalore study.
To which company did the Ministry of Coal issue the vesting order for the Meenakshi coal mine on 27 December 2024?
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Correct answer: B — Hindalco Industries Limited
PIB (Ministry of Coal): the Nominated Authority issued the vesting order for the Meenakshi coal mine to Hindalco Industries Limited on 27 December 2024.
What is the peak rated capacity of the Meenakshi coal mine vested in Hindalco in December 2024?
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Correct answer: C — 12 MTPA
PIB (Ministry of Coal): the Meenakshi coal mine has a peak rated capacity of 12.00 MTPA and geological reserves of about 285.23 MT.
The Meenakshi coal mine, vested in Hindalco on 27 December 2024, lies in the Ib Valley Coalfield of which State?
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Correct answer: A — Odisha
Hindalco and Business Standard: the Meenakshi coal mine is a greenfield project in the Ib Valley Coalfield of Sundargarh district, Odisha.
The FELUDA-based point-of-care test highlighted by the Ministry of Science and Technology on 27 December 2024 detects which bacterium?
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Correct answer: B — Helicobacter pylori
PIB (Science and Technology): researchers developed FELUDA as a point-of-care test to detect Helicobacter pylori and its mutations in dyspeptic patients.
Resistance of H. pylori to which antibiotic, primarily due to point mutations in its 23S ribosomal RNA gene, can be identified by the FELUDA test reported in December 2024?
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Correct answer: C — Clarithromycin
PIB (Science and Technology): resistance to clarithromycin is primarily attributed to point mutations in the 23S ribosomal RNA coding gene of H. pylori, and en31-FnCas9 identified the 23S rDNA mutation status in biopsy samples.
Which CSIR laboratory's researchers developed the FELUDA-based H. pylori test reported in December 2024?
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Correct answer: D — CSIR-IGIB
PIB (Science and Technology): Dr Shraddha Chakraborty and colleagues at CSIR-IGIB used en31-FnCas9 in the FELUDA test for H. pylori.
INS Sarvekshak arrived at Port Louis on 26 December 2024 for a Joint Hydrographic Survey. Port Louis is in which country?
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Correct answer: C — Mauritius
PIB (Ministry of Defence): INS Sarvekshak arrived at Port Louis, Mauritius, on 26 December 2024 to undertake a Joint Hydrographic Survey.
What was the purpose of INS Sarvekshak's visit to Port Louis in December 2024?
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Correct answer: D — A Joint Hydrographic Survey
PIB (Ministry of Defence): INS Sarvekshak arrived at Port Louis to undertake a Joint Hydrographic Survey, which will help Mauritius plan maritime infrastructure, resource management and coastal development.
Who, as High Commissioner of India to Mauritius, received INS Sarvekshak at Port Louis on 26 December 2024?
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Correct answer: A — Anurag Srivastava
PIB (Ministry of Defence): the ship was received by Anurag Srivastava, High Commissioner of India to Mauritius, along with Capt C.G. Binoop, Commandant of the Mauritius National Coast Guard.
The DAYALU-I scheme, under which ₹144.73 crore was transferred to 3,882 beneficiaries on 27 December 2024, belongs to which State?
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Correct answer: C — Haryana
Babushahi and Naveen Times (Haryana government release): Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini transferred ₹144.73 crore to 3,882 beneficiaries under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Antyodaya Parivar Suraksha Yojana (DAYALU-I).
How much did the Haryana Chief Minister transfer to 3,882 beneficiaries under the DAYALU-I scheme on 27 December 2024?
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Correct answer: A — ₹144.73 crore
Babushahi and Naveen Times: ₹144.73 crore was transferred to 3,882 beneficiaries; ₹763.69 crore is the amount disbursed earlier to 20,399 families.
Haryana's DAYALU-I scheme supports families below what annual income limit, as verified in the Family Information Data Repository?
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Correct answer: D — ₹1.80 lakh
Babushahi and Naveen Times: DAYALU-I provides assistance to families with an annual income of less than ₹1.80 lakh, as verified through the Family Information Data Repository (FIDR).