Current Affairs Quiz — 28 December 2024
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
For how many days was State Mourning observed throughout India following the death of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in December 2024?
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Correct answer: B — Seven days
PIB (MHA): seven days of State Mourning were observed throughout India from 26 December 2024 to 1 January 2025, both days inclusive.
Where were the last rites of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh held with state honours on 28 December 2024?
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Correct answer: D — Nigam Bodh Ghat
PMIndia/PIB (Lok Sabha Secretariat)/AIR: the PM attended the last rites and the Lok Sabha Speaker paid tribute at Nigam Bodh Ghat, Delhi, on 28 December 2024.
As decided by the Union Cabinet, what was declared in all Central Government offices and CPSUs on the day of Dr Manmohan Singh's state funeral?
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Correct answer: A — A half-day holiday
PIB (Cabinet): on the day of the state funeral, a half-day holiday was declared in all Central Government offices and CPSUs.
Consider the following statements about the official arrangements after Dr Manmohan Singh's death: 1. State Mourning ran from 26 December 2024 to 1 January 2025, both days inclusive. 2. There was to be no official entertainment during the period of State Mourning. 3. The National Flag was flown at half-mast only in Delhi. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: C — 1 and 2 only
PIB (MHA/Cabinet): mourning ran from 26 December 2024 to 1 January 2025 with no official entertainment; the flag flew at half-mast throughout India where regularly flown and in Indian Missions abroad, not only in Delhi, so statement 3 is wrong.
What was Koneru Humpy's score in winning the FIDE Women's World Rapid Championship 2024 in New York?
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Correct answer: A — 8.5/11
ChessBase India/Sportstar: Humpy finished clear first with 8.5/11; several players, including Ju Wenjun and Harika Dronavalli, scored 8/11.
Koneru Humpy's 2024 World Rapid title was her second. Where did she win her first Women's World Rapid title in 2019?
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Correct answer: C — Moscow
Sportstar: this was Humpy's second World Rapid title after she claimed the top spot in 2019 in Moscow.
Consider the following statements about Koneru Humpy's 2024 Women's World Rapid title: 1. She beat Irine Kharisma Sukandar in the final round. 2. The Prime Minister noted that the second title made her the only Indian to achieve this feat. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — Both 1 and 2
Sportstar/ChessBase India/PIB: Humpy beat Irine Sukandar in round 11, and the PM said the second world rapid title made her the only Indian to achieve the feat; both statements are correct.
Where in Nepal was the 18th edition of the India-Nepal joint military exercise Surya Kiran held (31 December 2024 to 13 January 2025)?
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Correct answer: C — Saljhandi
PIB (Defence): Exercise Surya Kiran XVIII was conducted at Saljhandi, Nepal, from 31 December 2024 to 13 January 2025.
The Indian Army contingent for Exercise Surya Kiran XVIII was led by a battalion of which regiment?
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Correct answer: A — 11th Gorkha Rifles
PIB (Defence): the Indian contingent was led by a battalion from the 11th Gorkha Rifles; Nepal was represented by the Srijung Battalion.
Consider the following statements about Exercise Surya Kiran: 1. The December 2024 edition was its 18th edition. 2. It is an annual exercise conducted alternately in India and Nepal. 3. The Nepal Army was represented by the Srijung Battalion in the 2024-25 edition. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1, 2 and 3
PIB (Defence): it was the 18th edition, it is an annual event conducted alternately in the two countries, and Nepal was represented by the Srijung Battalion; all three statements are correct.
With which batter did Nitish Kumar Reddy share a 127-run eighth-wicket partnership during his maiden Test century at the MCG on 28 December 2024?
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Correct answer: D — Washington Sundar
BBC/Sky Sports: Reddy put on 127 for the eighth wicket with Washington Sundar, who scored 50.
What was Nitish Kumar Reddy's score at stumps on day three of the Melbourne Test, his maiden Test century?
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Correct answer: A — 105 not out
BBC/Sky Sports: Reddy was unbeaten on 105 at the close; 127 was the partnership with Sundar and 97 was his score when Sundar fell.
At which position in the batting order did Nitish Kumar Reddy bat when he scored his maiden Test century in December 2024?
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Correct answer: B — No. 8
BBC/Sky Sports: Reddy was batting at No. 8 when he made his maiden century.
After the Rajasthan cabinet decision of 28 December 2024, how many districts does the State have?
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Correct answer: B — 41
CMO Rajasthan/The Hindu: Rajasthan will now have 41 districts and seven divisions.
Which of the following was among the three divisions that the Rajasthan cabinet decided not to retain in December 2024?
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Correct answer: C — Sikar
CMO Rajasthan/The Hindu: the three new divisions not retained were Banswara, Pali and Sikar; Ajmer, Udaipur and Bharatpur are older divisions.
The Rajasthan cabinet's December 2024 decision on new districts was based on the recommendations of a committee headed by:
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Correct answer: A — Lalit K. Panwar
The Hindu: the decision was based on a high-level committee headed by former civil servant Lalit K. Panwar.
On 28 December 2024, the Rajasthan cabinet extended the validity of the Common Eligibility Test (CET) score to:
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Correct answer: D — Three years
CMO Rajasthan: the cabinet approved making the CET score valid for three years.
Pierre-Sylvain Filliozat, the French Sanskrit scholar who died on 28 December 2024, had received which Indian civilian award in January 2024?
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Correct answer: D — Padma Shri
French Association for Indian Studies notice (INDOLOGY list): Filliozat received the Padma Shri in January 2024.
Pierre-Sylvain Filliozat's father, the Indologist Jean Filliozat, founded which institution?
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Correct answer: C — French Institute of Pondicherry
French Association for Indian Studies notice: Jean Filliozat, a professor at the Collège de France, was the founder of the French Institute of Pondicherry; Pierre-Sylvain was a member of the EFEO.
Pierre-Sylvain Filliozat frequently lived for long periods at his house in Yadavagiri, which is in which Indian city?
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Correct answer: A — Mysuru
French Association for Indian Studies notice: he resided frequently and for long periods at his house in Yadavagiri, Mysore.
In December 2024, Haryana raised the ex gratia for the families of battle casualties of armed forces and CAPF personnel from ₹50 lakh to:
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Correct answer: B — ₹1 crore
AIR/Hindustan Times: the ex gratia was increased from ₹50 lakh to ₹1 crore.
Haryana raised the monthly pension of 'Matribhasha Satyagrahis' to ₹20,000 in December 2024. These satyagrahis took part in the Hindi Aandolan of which year?
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Correct answer: D — 1957
AIR/Hindustan Times: the pension of Matribhasha Satyagrahis of the Hindi Aandolan-1957 was raised from ₹15,000 to ₹20,000.
Consider the following statements about the Haryana cabinet decisions of 28 December 2024: 1. The maximum limit of death-cum-retirement gratuity for State employees was raised from ₹20 lakh to ₹25 lakh. 2. Aadhaar authentication was approved for candidates applying through the Haryana Public Service Commission. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
AIR/Hindustan Times: the gratuity ceiling rose by 25% from ₹20 lakh to ₹25 lakh, and Aadhaar authentication was approved for HPSC candidates; both statements are correct.
During his visit to Tripura in December 2024, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi gave in-principle approval to set up which office at Agartala?
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Correct answer: B — A regional office of the Food Corporation of India
PIB (Food and Public Distribution): Joshi accorded in-principle approval to the State government's proposal to set up a regional office of the FCI at Agartala.
As stated in the Food Ministry's release on the Agartala visit (December 2024), the Centre's free ration scheme has been extended till:
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Correct answer: D — 31 December 2028
PIB (Food and Public Distribution): the government has extended the free ration scheme till 31 December 2028.