Science & Technology Current Affairs Quiz — All time
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
On 2 December 2024, Principal Scientific Adviser Prof Ajay Sood chaired a brainstorming session on collaborations with multilateral organisations under which mission?
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Correct answer: D — National One Health Mission
PIB (2 Dec 2024): the PSA chaired a brainstorming session on 2 December 2024 to explore collaborations with multilateral organisations under the National One Health Mission.
India and Italy's long-standing partnership in scientific research, highlighted during Adolfo Urso's meeting with Jitendra Singh on 2 December 2024, is particularly through the Elettra synchrotron facility located in:
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Correct answer: A — Trieste
PIB (2 Dec 2024): India and Italy enjoy a long-standing partnership in scientific research, particularly through the Synchrotron facility, Elettra, in Trieste.
According to Union Health Minister J P Nadda on World AIDS Day, 1 December 2024, new HIV infections in India in 2023 were how much lower than in 2010?
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Correct answer: C — About 44%
PIB (1 Dec 2024): new infections in the country in 2023 were almost 44% lower than in 2010, higher than the global reduction rate of 39%.
By how much did AIDS-related deaths in India decline, as stated at the national World AIDS Day event on 1 December 2024?
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Correct answer: A — 79%
PIB (1 Dec 2024): NACO and State AIDS Control Societies ensured low HIV epidemic levels, with AIDS-related deaths declining by 79%.
By which year does Madhya Pradesh aim to end AIDS as a public health threat, as stated at the World AIDS Day event in Indore on 1 December 2024?
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Correct answer: D — 2028
PIB (1 Dec 2024): 'Madhya Pradesh aims to achieve the target of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2028, two years ahead of the 2030 SDG goals.'
Consider the following statements made at the World AIDS Day event on 1 December 2024: 1. Under the 95-95-95 targets, 88% of identified people are being given antiretroviral therapy (ART). 2. Phase IV of the National AIDS and STD Control Programme is currently ongoing. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
PIB (1 Dec 2024): of the 95-95-95 targets, 81% of people have been identified, 88% are being given ART and 97% have viral load suppressed, so statement 1 is correct. Nadda cited the ongoing Phase V, not Phase IV, so statement 2 is wrong. Answer: 1 only.
What was the UNAIDS theme followed for World AIDS Day 2024 in India?
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Correct answer: C — Take the Rights Path
PIB (Health): the World AIDS Day 2024 event was aligned with the UNAIDS theme 'Take the Rights Path'.
The national World AIDS Day 2024 event led by Union Health Minister J P Nadda was to be held at Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya in which city?
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Correct answer: D — Indore
PIB (Health): the event was to be held on 1 December 2024 at the Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya Auditorium in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
The National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), which observes World AIDS Day in India, functions under which ministry?
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Correct answer: B — Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
PIB (Health): NACO is under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India.
By what date did TRAI direct access providers to ensure PE–TM chain declaration by all Principal Entities and Telemarketers, as announced on 30 November 2024?
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Correct answer: C — 10 December 2024
PIB (TRAI): access providers were directed to ensure PE–TM chain declaration by all PEs and TMs latest by 10 December 2024.
Under TRAI's Direction of 20 August 2024, commercial messages had to be traceable from senders to recipients with effect from which date?
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Correct answer: A — 1 November 2024
PIB (TRAI): the Direction of 20 August 2024 mandated that all commercial messages must be traceable from 1 November 2024.
The Bharatiya Nirdeshak Dravya (BND) released at the 18th NCB International Conference on 29 November 2024 is an Indian Certified Reference Material of which standard?
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Correct answer: C — Gypsum
PIB (Commerce/DPIIT): the BND released is an Indian Certified Reference Material of Gypsum Standard produced by NCB with NPL.
The Indian Army's 'Eklavya' online learning platform, launched on 28 November 2024, was developed at zero cost through which institute?
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Correct answer: A — BISAG-N, Gandhinagar
PIB (Army): the platform was developed at zero cost through the Bhaskaracharya National Institute of Space Applications and Geoinformatics (BISAG-N), Gandhinagar.
What is the Indian Army's theme for the year 2024?
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Correct answer: C — Year of Technology Absorption
PIB (Army): the Eklavya launch aligns with the Indian Army's theme for 2024 as the 'Year of Technology Absorption'.
What was India's rank in the Network Readiness Index 2024?
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Correct answer: A — 49th
PIB (DoT): India improved by eleven slots to 49th in NRI 2024, against 60th in NRI 2023.
Consider the following statements about India in the Network Readiness Index 2024: 1. India ranked 1st in 'AI scientific publications', 'AI talent concentration' and 'ICT services exports'. 2. India ranked 1st among lower-middle-income countries. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
PIB (DoT): India was 1st in those three indicators (1 is correct), but ranked 2nd among lower-middle-income countries, after Vietnam (2 is wrong).
The second edition of the tri-services Defence Datathon concluded on 27 November 2024 at which institution?
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Correct answer: D — College of Defence Management, Secunderabad
PIB (HQ IDS): the College of Defence Management, Secunderabad, concluded the second edition of Defence Datathon on 27 November 2024.
The College of Defence Management, Secunderabad, is a tri-services training institute functioning under which headquarters?
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Correct answer: B — Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff
PIB (HQ IDS): CDM Secunderabad is a premier tri-services training institute under Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff.
Under which edition of the nationwide Digital Life Certificate campaign did DLCs cross the one crore mark by 26 November 2024?
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Correct answer: D — DLC Campaign 3.0
PIB (DoPPW): the milestone was reached in the ongoing nationwide DLC Campaign 3.0, held from 1 to 30 November 2024.
Of the one crore Digital Life Certificates generated by 26 November 2024 in DLC Campaign 3.0, roughly what share was generated through Face Authentication?
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Correct answer: B — More than 30%
PIB (DoPPW): 30,34,218 DLCs, i.e. more than 30%, were generated through Face Authentication.
How many startups did Union Minister Jitendra Singh announce on 26 November 2024 as selected for support under the National Quantum Mission and NM-ICPS?
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Correct answer: D — Eight
PIB (DST): eight startups were selected under the National Quantum Mission and the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems.
Among the startups selected under the National Quantum Mission in November 2024, Bengaluru-based QPiAI India is working on:
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Correct answer: A — A superconducting quantum computer
PIB (DST): QPiAI India is building a superconducting quantum computer; QuPrayog (Pune) works on optical atomic clocks, Pristine Diamonds (Ahmedabad) on diamond materials and Dimira Technologies on cryogenic cables.
DPIIT's two-year MoU with WinZO, announced on 26 November 2024, aims to support which sector?
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Correct answer: B — Interactive entertainment and gaming
PIB (DPIIT): the MoU with WinZO, India's largest social gaming and interactive entertainment platform, aims to support over 2,000 interactive entertainment startups, innovators and students.
What budget did the Union Cabinet approve on 25 November 2024 for the continuation of the Atal Innovation Mission?
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Correct answer: D — ₹2,750 crore till 31 March 2028
PIB (Cabinet): AIM continues under NITI Aayog with an enhanced scope and a budget of ₹2,750 crore for the period till 31 March 2028.
Under whose aegis does the Atal Innovation Mission function?
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Correct answer: B — NITI Aayog
PIB (Cabinet): the Cabinet approved continuation of AIM 'under the aegis of NITI Aayog'.
Under AIM 2.0's Language Inclusive Program of Innovation (LIPI), how many Vernacular Innovation Centres are to be set up?
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Correct answer: C — 30
PIB (Cabinet): LIPI will establish 30 Vernacular Innovation Centres to build ecosystems in India's 22 scheduled languages; 2,500 is the number of new ATLs under the Frontier Program.
How many companies were convergence partners of the National Consumer Helpline, as reported on 24 November 2024?
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Correct answer: B — 1,009
PIB (DoCA): convergence partners rose from 263 companies in 2017 to 1,009 companies.
In how many languages is the National Consumer Helpline available, according to the Department of Consumer Affairs (24 November 2024)?
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Correct answer: D — 17
PIB (DoCA): the helpline is available in 17 languages, including Hindi, English, Kashmiri, Punjabi, Nepali, Gujarati and Marathi.
Which set of technologies is the Department of Consumer Affairs introducing under NCH 2.0?
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Correct answer: A — AI-based speech recognition, a translation system and a multilingual chatbot
PIB (DoCA): NCH 2.0 introduces AI-based speech recognition, a translation system and a multilingual chatbot, to be launched on National Consumer Day.
Where was the 64th Convocation of the National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS), presided over by Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on 23 November 2024, held?
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Correct answer: B — AIIMS Jodhpur
PIB (Vice-President's Secretariat): the VP addressed the 64th Convocation of NAMS at AIIMS Jodhpur.
What was the theme of NAMSCON 2024, held with the 64th NAMS Convocation in November 2024?
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Correct answer: C — One-Health: Let us Collaborate to Take Care of our Health
PIB (Vice-President's Secretariat): the 64th Convocation and NAMSCON 2024 had the theme 'One-Health: Let us Collaborate to Take Care of our Health'.
Which global toy company joined MeitY's electronic toys project as knowledge partner for the young engineers trained under it?
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Correct answer: C — LEGO Group
PIB (MeitY): to provide global exposure to the interns, the LEGO Group joined as a knowledge partner.
How many young engineers were in the first batch trained under MeitY's electronic toys project, whose convocation was held on 23 November 2024?
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Correct answer: B — 15
PIB (MeitY): the convocation was for the 1st batch of 15 young engineers; separately, Toys Zone offered appointment letters to 10 of them.
How many projects under the Tomato Grand Challenge received funding for prototype development and mentorship, as announced on 22 November 2024?
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Correct answer: A — 28
PIB (Consumer Affairs): of 1,376 ideas, 423 were shortlisted in Round 1, 29 reached Round 2 and 28 projects received funding and mentorship.
The Tomato Grand Challenge was launched by the Department of Consumer Affairs in collaboration with which body?
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Correct answer: D — Innovation Cell, Ministry of Education
PIB (Consumer Affairs): the Department of Consumer Affairs, in collaboration with the Innovation Cell of the Ministry of Education, initiated the Tomato Grand Challenge hackathon.
Scientists from which DST-funded autonomous institute proposed in November 2024 that the Milky Way's X-ray emitting hot gas comes from a puffed-up region around its stellar disc?
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Correct answer: D — Raman Research Institute
PIB (DST): scientists at the Raman Research Institute, an autonomous institute funded by DST, with collaborators at IIT-Palakkad and Ohio State University, proposed the model.
The absorbing hot gas around the Milky Way studied by RRI scientists was found enriched with α-elements. Which of the following were cited as examples?
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Correct answer: C — Sulphur, magnesium and neon
PIB (DST): the fiery gas seems enriched with α-elements such as sulphur, magnesium and neon, whose nuclei are multiples of helium nuclei.
Under the tripartite MoU of 22 November 2024, IMS-BHU will receive grant-in-aid from the Health Ministry on the lines of which institutions?
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Correct answer: D — New AIIMS set up under PMSSY
PIB (Education): the MoU enables grant-in-aid to IMS-BHU by MoHFW on the lines of new AIIMS set up under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana.
Consider the following statements: 1. The tripartite MoU of 22 November 2024 was among the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and IMS-BHU. 2. AIIMS Delhi and IMS-BHU had earlier signed an MoU on 19 June 2018. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
PIB (Education): the tripartite MoU was among IMS-BHU, MoHFW and MoE, and an MoU between AIIMS Delhi and IMS-BHU was signed on 19 June 2018. Both are correct.
According to telecom subscription data as on 30 September 2024 (released 21 November 2024), how many active wireless subscribers were there in September 2024?
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Correct answer: A — 1,059.97 million
PIB: the number of active wireless subscribers (on the date of peak VLR) in September 2024 was 1,059.97 million; 1,039.11 million is the cumulative MNP requests.
Nafithromycin, launched on 20 November 2024 as India's first indigenous antibiotic, is meant to treat which disease?
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Correct answer: B — Community-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia
PIB (DBT): Nafithromycin is designed to treat Community-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia (CABP) caused by drug-resistant bacteria.
Under which trade name is Nafithromycin marketed by Wockhardt?
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Correct answer: B — Miqnaf
PIB (DBT): Nafithromycin has been brought to market under the trade name 'Miqnaf'.
Consider the following statements about Nafithromycin: 1. It was developed with support from BIRAC under its Biotechnology Industry Partnership Program. 2. Its treatment regimen lasts fourteen days. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
PIB (DBT): it was supported by BIRAC under BIPP; the regimen is three days. The 14 figure refers to the years of research.
Which countries made up the G20 Troika that issued the 'Declaration on Digital Public Infrastructure, AI and Data for Governance' at Rio in November 2024?
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Correct answer: A — India, Brazil and South Africa
PIB (MEA): the joint communiqué was issued by the G20 Troika of India, Brazil and South Africa.
Consider the following about the G20 Troika declaration of November 2024: 1. It was endorsed by several G20 countries, guest countries and international organisations. 2. It calls for a technology-neutral approach to deploying DPI, AI and data for development. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
PIB (MEA): the communiqué was endorsed by several G20 countries, guest countries and international organisations, and calls for a technology-neutral approach.
Which body organised the Bharat National Cyber Security Exercise (Bharat NCX 2024) in collaboration with Rashtriya Raksha University?
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Correct answer: C — National Security Council Secretariat
PIB (NSCS): Bharat NCX 2024 was organised by the National Security Council Secretariat in collaboration with Rashtriya Raksha University.
Who was India's National Cyber Security Coordinator who gave the inaugural address at Bharat NCX 2024?
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Correct answer: A — Lt Gen M U Nair (Retd)
PIB (NSCS): Lt Gen M U Nair (Retd), the National Cyber Security Coordinator, delivered the inaugural address.
Which edition of Naturopathy Day was celebrated on 18 November 2024?
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Correct answer: D — 7th
PIB (Ayush): the 7th Naturopathy Day was celebrated at CRIYN, Nagamangala.
In which district of Assam is Tata Semiconductor Assembly and Test Pvt Ltd (TSAT) setting up its semiconductor unit?
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Correct answer: B — Morigaon
PIB: the TSAT semiconductor unit is at Morigaon, Assam.
The Semicon India programme was launched in 2021 with what financial outlay?
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Correct answer: C — ₹76,000 crore
PIB: Semicon India was launched in 2021 with an outlay of ₹76,000 crore. ₹27,000 crore is the Morigaon unit's investment.
Consider the following about the TSAT semiconductor unit at Morigaon, Assam: 1. It involves an investment of ₹27,000 crore. 2. It is expected to produce up to 48 million chips per week. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
PIB: the investment is ₹27,000 crore, and the output is up to 48 million chips per day, not per week. So only 1 is correct.
From where did DRDO flight-test India's first long-range hypersonic missile on 16 November 2024?
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Correct answer: A — Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, off Odisha
PIB (Defence): the flight-trial was conducted from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha.
India's first long-range hypersonic missile, tested in November 2024, is designed to carry payloads for ranges greater than:
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Correct answer: C — 1,500 km
PIB (Defence): the missile is designed to carry various payloads for ranges greater than 1,500 km.
Consider the following about India's first long-range hypersonic missile tested in November 2024: 1. It was developed by the laboratories of the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex, Hyderabad, with other DRDO labs and industry partners. 2. It was flight-tested by ISRO. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
PIB (Defence): it was developed by the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex labs with other DRDO labs and industry, and the trial was conducted by DRDO, not ISRO. So only 1 is correct.
Where was the 4th High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance, addressed by Anupriya Patel on 16 November 2024, held?
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Correct answer: D — Jeddah
PIB (Health): the conference was held in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
At the Jeddah AMR conference in November 2024, India supported the creation of which of the following?
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Correct answer: B — AMR Multi-partner Trust Fund
PIB (Health): India supported the AMR Multi-partner Trust Fund and an Independent Panel on Evidence for Action against AMR in 2025.
Consider the following about India's statement at the 4th High-Level Ministerial Conference on AMR (November 2024): 1. India called for a 'One Health' approach covering human, animal, plant and environmental health. 2. India stressed access to and affordability of antimicrobials, diagnostics and vaccines in low- and middle-income countries. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
PIB (Health): both are correct.
The Ayushman Vay Vandana card under AB PM-JAY is meant for senior citizens of what age?
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Correct answer: D — 70 years and above
PIB (Health): the card is for senior citizens aged 70 and above.
On which date did PM Modi roll out the Ayushman Vay Vandana card?
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Correct answer: B — 29 October 2024
PIB (Health): the card was rolled out by PM Narendra Modi on 29 October 2024.
Consider the following about Ayushman Vay Vandana card enrolments as reported on 16 November 2024: 1. More than 10 lakh senior citizens enrolled within three weeks. 2. Around 4 lakh of the enrolments were by women. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
PIB (Health): both are correct.
As per WIPO's World Intellectual Property Indicators 2024, what is India's global rank in patent applications?
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Correct answer: A — 6th
PIB: India ranks 6th globally in patent applications, with 64,480 filings in 2023.
As per WIPI 2024, what share of India's patent applications in 2023 were filed by residents, the first time above half?
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Correct answer: D — 55.2%
PIB: for the first time, more than half (55.2%) of India's patent applications in 2023 were filed by residents.
Consider the following about India in WIPO's World Intellectual Property Indicators 2024: 1. India had 64,480 patent filings in 2023. 2. Patents granted in India in 2023 fell compared with the previous year. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
PIB: India had 64,480 filings in 2023, and patents granted rose 149.4% (not fell). So only 1 is correct.
At the CSIR Healthcare Theme Conclave in November 2024, Dr Jitendra Singh said India's bio-economy is on track to reach what size by 2030?
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Correct answer: A — $300 billion
PIB (S&T): the bio-economy grew from $10 billion in 2014 to $130 billion and is on track to reach $300 billion by 2030.
As per Dr Jitendra Singh at the CSIR Healthcare Theme Conclave (November 2024), India's startup ecosystem ranks where globally?
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Correct answer: D — Third
PIB (S&T): he said India's startup ecosystem is now the third-largest globally, with over 1.6 lakh ventures.