State Staff Selection Current Affairs Quiz — All time
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
How many newly established M-PACS did Amit Shah inaugurate in New Delhi on 25 December 2024?
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Correct answer: B — 10,000
PIB (Ministry of Cooperation): Amit Shah inaugurated 10,000 newly established M-PACS, along with dairy and fisheries cooperative societies; 2 lakh is the five-year target for new PACS.
Within how many days of the SOP issued on 19 September 2024 was the registration of 10,000 PACS completed?
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Correct answer: D — 86 days
PIB (Ministry of Cooperation): an SOP was established on 19 September 2024, and within 86 days the registration of 10,000 PACS was completed.
Which three new national-level cooperatives will PACS join to work on organic products, seed production and exports, as stated on 25 December 2024?
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Correct answer: C — NCOL, BBSSL and NCEL
PIB (Ministry of Cooperation): the three new national-level cooperatives NCOL, BBSSL and NCEL will open opportunities for farmers in organic products, seeds and exports; NDDB, NFDB and NABARD helped register the PACS.
The 'Viksit Panchayat Karmayogi' initiative launched on Good Governance Day 2024 is part of which broader campaign?
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Correct answer: D — Prashasan Gaon Ki Aur
PIB (DoPT): the 'Viksit Panchayat Karmayogi' initiative is part of the broader 'Prashasan Gaon Ki Aur' campaign.
In which States was the 'Viksit Panchayat Karmayogi' initiative piloted, as stated on 25 December 2024?
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Correct answer: B — Odisha, Assam, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh
PIB (DoPT): the initiative was piloted in Odisha, Assam, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh.
Which milestone e-learning course was introduced on the iGOT Karmayogi platform on Good Governance Day 2024?
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Correct answer: A — 1,600th
PIB (DoPT): Dr Jitendra Singh launched a new dashboard on the iGOT Karmayogi platform along with the milestone introduction of the 1,600th e-learning course.
Who was appointed Governor of Manipur by the President of India on 24 December 2024?
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Correct answer: A — Ajay Kumar Bhalla
PIB (President's Secretariat): Ajay Kumar Bhalla was appointed Governor of Manipur in the press communique of 24 December 2024.
General (Dr) Vijay Kumar Singh (Retd.) was appointed Governor of which State on 24 December 2024?
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Correct answer: D — Mizoram
PIB (President's Secretariat): General (Dr) Vijay Kumar Singh (Retd.) was appointed Governor of Mizoram.
Whose resignation as Governor of Odisha did the President of India accept on 24 December 2024?
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Correct answer: B — Raghubar Das
PIB (President's Secretariat): the President accepted the resignation of Raghubar Das as Governor of Odisha and appointed Dr Hari Babu Kambhampati in his place.
Consider the following statements about the gubernatorial changes announced on 24 December 2024: 1. Arif Mohammed Khan was moved from Kerala to Bihar. 2. Dr Hari Babu Kambhampati was Governor of Mizoram before being appointed to Odisha. 3. The appointments take effect from the dates the appointees assume charge. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: C — 1, 2 and 3
PIB (President's Secretariat): Arif Mohammed Khan, Governor of Kerala, was appointed Governor of Bihar; Hari Babu Kambhampati, Governor of Mizoram, was appointed to Odisha; and the appointments take effect from the dates of assuming charge. All three statements are correct.
What was the theme of National Consumer Day 2024, observed on 24 December 2024?
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Correct answer: C — Virtual Hearings & Digital Access to Consumer Justice
PIB (Consumer Affairs): the theme for National Consumer Day 2024 was 'Virtual Hearings & Digital Access to Consumer Justice'.
On National Consumer Day 2024, a voluntary Safety Pledge for consumer safety was signed by how many major e-commerce platforms?
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Correct answer: A — 13
PIB (Consumer Affairs): the Safety Pledge, a voluntary commitment for ensuring consumer safety, was signed by 13 major e-commerce platforms.
On National Consumer Day 2024, an Organic Food Testing Laboratory was inaugurated at the National Test House in which city?
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Correct answer: B — Guwahati
PIB (Consumer Affairs): the Minister inaugurated the Organic Food Testing Laboratory at National Test House, Guwahati, and a Low Voltage Switch Gear Testing Facility at National Test House, Mumbai.
Milma's milk powder factory inaugurated by the Kerala Chief Minister on 24 December 2024 is located at Moorkanad in which district?
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Correct answer: B — Malappuram
The Hindu/Malabar Milma: the milk powder factory is at Moorkanad near Valanchery in Malappuram district, commissioned on 24 December 2024.
How much milk can the Milma plant at Moorkanad, Kerala (commissioned in December 2024), process in a day?
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Correct answer: C — 1,00,000 litres
Malabar Milma/The Hindu: the plant's processing capacity is 1,00,000 litres a day; it converts one lakh litres of milk into 10 tonnes of milk powder a day.
Which unit of Milma set up the milk powder factory at Moorkanad, opened on 24 December 2024?
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Correct answer: D — Malabar Regional Co-operative Milk Producers' Union
Malabar Milma/The Hindu: the Malappuram Dairy and Powder Plant at Moorkanad is a unit of the Malabar Regional Co-operative Milk Producers' Union, which met most of the cost.
How much was released to Uttar Pradesh as the second instalment of XV Finance Commission untied grants for rural local bodies (2024-25), as announced on 24 December 2024?
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Correct answer: B — ₹1,598.80 crore
PIB (Panchayati Raj): Uttar Pradesh received ₹1,598.80 crore as the second instalment of untied grants; ₹446.49 crore went to Andhra Pradesh.
XV Finance Commission untied grants to Panchayati Raj Institutions can be used for location-specific needs under the 29 subjects listed in which Schedule of the Constitution?
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Correct answer: C — Eleventh Schedule
PIB (Panchayati Raj): untied grants are used for location-specific felt needs under the 29 subjects enshrined in the Eleventh Schedule, except salaries and establishment costs.
Consider the following statements about XV Finance Commission grants to rural local bodies, as explained by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj in December 2024: 1. Tied grants can be used for sanitation and maintenance of ODF status. 2. Tied grants can be used for drinking water supply, rainwater harvesting and water recycling. 3. Untied grants can be used to pay salaries of panchayat staff. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1 and 2 only
PIB (Panchayati Raj): tied grants are for sanitation/ODF status and for drinking water, rainwater harvesting and water recycling; untied grants exclude salaries and other establishment costs, so statement 3 is wrong.
Under which scheme did Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis inaugurate solar projects at Umbartha and Narangwadi on 24 December 2024?
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Correct answer: A — Mukhyamantri Saur Krishi Vahini Yojana 2.0
The Hindu/TOI/IANS: the projects were inaugurated under the Mukhyamantri Saur Krishi Vahini Yojana 2.0, the Chief Minister's solar agriculture feeder scheme.
Umbartha village, where a solar project was inaugurated under Maharashtra's solar agriculture feeder scheme on 24 December 2024, is in which district?
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Correct answer: C — Washim
The Hindu/TOI/IANS: the projects were at Umbartha in Washim district and Narangwadi in Dharashiv district.
According to Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis on 24 December 2024, how much electricity does the State currently supply to farmers?
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Correct answer: B — 16,000 MW
The Hindu/TOI: Fadnavis said the State currently supplies 16,000 MW of electricity to farmers and these feeders are to be shifted to solar energy in phases.
According to ASUSE 2023-24 released on 24 December 2024, how many unincorporated non-agricultural establishments were there in India?
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Correct answer: D — 7.34 crore
PIB (MoSPI): the number of establishments rose from 6.50 crore in 2022-23 to 7.34 crore in 2023-24.
As per ASUSE 2023-24, what was the Gross Value Added (GVA) per worker in the unincorporated sector at current prices?
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Correct answer: B — ₹1,49,742
PIB (MoSPI): GVA per worker rose to ₹1,49,742 in 2023-24 from ₹1,41,769 in 2022-23; ₹1,38,207 was the 2021-22 figure and ₹2,45,687 is GVA per establishment.
According to ASUSE 2023-24, what share of unincorporated establishments used the internet?
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Correct answer: A — 26.7%
PIB (MoSPI): the percentage of establishments using the internet grew from 21.1% in 2022-23 to 26.7% in ASUSE 2023-24.
In its clarification of 24 December 2024, the Ministry of Mines asked which body to re-examine the Nayakkarpatti tungsten block and explore redefining its boundary?
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Correct answer: C — Geological Survey of India
PIB (Mines): the Geological Survey of India (GSI) was requested to re-examine the block and explore the possibility of redefining its boundary by excluding the biodiversity heritage site.
According to the Ministry of Mines, the biodiversity heritage site reported by Tamil Nadu covered about what share of the Nayakkarpatti tungsten block?
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Correct answer: D — About 10%
PIB (Mines): the State Government informed about a biodiversity site covering 193.215 ha, about 10% of the total area of the block.
Consider the following statements in the context of the Ministry of Mines' clarification on the Nayakkarpatti block (24 December 2024): 1. A composite licence is a prospecting licence-cum-mining lease. 2. The Letter of Intent to the preferred bidder is issued by the Ministry of Mines. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
PIB (Mines): a composite licence refers to a prospecting licence-cum-mining lease; the ministry's role is limited to the auction, and the Letter of Intent, composite licence and mining lease are issued by the State Government, so statement 2 is wrong.
Filmmaker Shyam Benegal, who died on 23 December 2024, is best known as a pioneer of which movement in Indian cinema?
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Correct answer: A — Parallel cinema
The New Indian Express and The Hindu: Shyam Benegal heralded the 'parallel movement' in Hindi cinema in the 1970s and 1980s with films such as Ankur, Mandi and Manthan.
Shyam Benegal's film Manthan, restored and screened at Cannes in 2024, was based on the milk cooperative movement of which place?
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Correct answer: C — Anand, Gujarat
The New Indian Express and The Hindu: Manthan was based on the milk cooperative movement in Anand, Gujarat, and its restored version was shown at the Cannes Film Festival in 2024.
Shyam Benegal's last film, released in 2023, was a biopic of which leader?
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Correct answer: D — Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
The New Indian Express and The Hindu: Benegal's most recent work was Mujib: The Making of a Nation (2023), a biopic of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. A film on Noor Inayat Khan remained unmade.
The revised detention policy notified by the Centre in December 2024 under the RTE rules applies to students of which grades?
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Correct answer: B — Grades 5 and 8
PIB (Ministry of Education): the revised "Detention Policy" applies to students in Grades 5 and 8 of schools run by the Central Government or by UTs without a legislature.
Under the RTE (Amendment) Rules, 2024, within what period of the declaration of results must a student who fails the annual examination get a re-examination?
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Correct answer: C — Two months
PIB (Ministry of Education): a student who fails to meet the promotion criteria gets additional instruction and a re-examination within two months of the declaration of results.
Consider the following statements about the RTE (Amendment) Rules, 2024: 1. They apply to schools established, owned or controlled by the Central Government or by the administrator of a UT having no legislature. 2. They allow a child to be expelled from school before completing elementary education. 3. They were notified through G.S.R. 777(E) dated 21 December 2024. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1 and 3 only
PIB (Ministry of Education): statements 1 and 3 are correct. Statement 2 is wrong because the amendment reinforces that no child shall be expelled from school until the completion of elementary education.
The Assam International Skill Centre approved by the Assam cabinet on 23 December 2024 will have its hub in which city?
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Correct answer: D — Guwahati
NewsLive and India Today NE: the AISC will operate in a hub-and-spoke model with its hub in Guwahati and centres spread across the state.
The Assam cabinet decided on 23 December 2024 that 2025 would be observed as a special year to promote which habit?
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Correct answer: B — Book reading
NewsLive and The Sentinel: the cabinet decided to observe 2025 as a year of reading ('Year of Reading' / 'Book Year') to promote book reading, with a book fair at Khanapara.
What monthly remuneration did the Assam cabinet approve in December 2024 for Gaon Pradhans of forest villages and FRA villages, effective 1 January 2025?
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Correct answer: A — ₹9,000
NewsLive and India Today NE: a remuneration of ₹9,000 per month was approved from 1 January 2025 for 278 Gaon Pradhans in forest villages and 668 in FRA villages in non-Sixth Schedule areas.
According to TRAI data released in December 2024, what was India's overall tele-density at the end of October 2024?
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Correct answer: B — 84.46%
PIB (TRAI): overall tele-density was 84.46% as on 31 October 2024.
As per TRAI's subscription data as on 31 October 2024, how many broadband subscribers did India have?
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Correct answer: D — 941.47 million
PIB (TRAI): total broadband subscribers decreased from 944.40 million at the end of September 2024 to 941.47 million at the end of October 2024.
Who was appointed Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court on 23 December 2024?
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Correct answer: C — Justice G.S. Sandhawalia
PIB (Ministry of Law and Justice): Justice G.S. Sandhawalia, judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, was appointed Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court.
Justice Guhanathan Narendar, a judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, was appointed Chief Justice of which High Court in December 2024?
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Correct answer: A — Uttarakhand High Court
PIB (Ministry of Law and Justice): Justice Guhanathan Narendar was appointed Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court.
Under TRAI's Telecom Consumers Protection (Twelfth Amendment) Regulations, 2024, the validity cap for Special Tariff Vouchers and Combo Vouchers was raised to how many days?
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Correct answer: C — 365 days
PIB (TRAI): the cap on validity period for STVs and Combo Vouchers was increased from 90 days to 365 days.
Which of the following did TRAI mandate through its December 2024 amendment to the Telecom Consumers Protection Regulations?
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Correct answer: A — A separate Special Tariff Voucher for voice and SMS
PIB (TRAI): the regulations mandate a separate STV for voice and SMS. Colour coding was done away with, and the reservation of ₹10 and its multiples for top-up vouchers was removed.
Consider the following statements about TRAI's December 2024 changes to voucher rules: 1. Colour coding of vouchers was done away with. 2. Telecom operators no longer need to offer any ₹10 top-up voucher. 3. The changes followed a consultation paper released on 26 July 2024. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1 and 3 only
PIB (TRAI): statements 1 and 3 are correct. Statement 2 is wrong because the mandate of at least one ₹10 top-up voucher is retained.
What is the theme for tableaux at the Republic Day Celebrations 2025, as announced by the Ministry of Defence?
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Correct answer: B — Swarnim Bharat: Virasat aur Vikas
PIB (Ministry of Defence): the theme for tableaux at RDC-2025 has been decided as 'Swarnim Bharat: Virasat aur Vikas'.
How many States/UTs were selected to showcase their tableaux on Kartavya Path for the Republic Day Celebrations 2025?
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Correct answer: C — 15
PIB (Ministry of Defence): 15 States/UTs were selected for Kartavya Path for RDC-2025, along with 11 central ministries/departments.
Consider the following statements about the Republic Day Celebrations 2025 tableaux announced on 23 December 2024: 1. Karnataka, Tripura and West Bengal were among the States selected for Kartavya Path. 2. Only the States selected for Kartavya Path were invited to Bharat Parv at the Red Fort. 3. The tableaux theme was decided on the basis of suggestions from States/UTs. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 and 3 only
PIB (Ministry of Defence): statements 1 and 3 are correct. Statement 2 is wrong because all States/UTs, irrespective of their selection for Kartavya Path, were invited to Bharat Parv at the Red Fort (26–31 January 2025).
What was the size of the loan signed by India and the Asian Development Bank in December 2024 for green and sustainable infrastructure through IIFCL?
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Correct answer: C — $500 million
PIB (Ministry of Finance): India and ADB signed a $500 million loan to support green and sustainable infrastructure projects, to be extended to IIFCL.
The ADB loan signed on 20 December 2024 under the Financing Environmentally Sustainable Growth in Infrastructure Project will be extended to which entity?
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Correct answer: B — India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited
PIB (Ministry of Finance): the ADB loan, with a sovereign guarantee, will be extended to India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL).
Consider the following statements about the India–ADB loan to IIFCL announced on 23 December 2024: 1. The loan carries a sovereign guarantee. 2. A sustainability unit and a sustainability scoring method for projects will be set up at IIFCL. 3. The loan was signed for India by the Secretary, Department of Financial Services. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 and 2 only
PIB (Ministry of Finance): statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong because Juhi Mukherjee, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, signed for India.
How many appointment letters did Prime Minister Narendra Modi distribute at the Rozgar Mela on 23 December 2024?
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Correct answer: D — More than 71,000
PIB (PMO): the Prime Minister distributed more than 71,000 appointment letters to newly appointed recruits via video conferencing on 23 December 2024.
At how many locations across the country was the Rozgar Mela of 23 December 2024 held?
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Correct answer: A — 45
PIB (PMO): the Rozgar Mela was held at 45 locations across the country.
At the Rozgar Mela of 23 December 2024, the Prime Minister said that around how many permanent government jobs had been offered in the previous one and a half years?
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Correct answer: B — 10 lakh
PIB (PMO): the Prime Minister said that in the last one and a half years, around 10 lakh permanent government jobs had been offered.
What renewable energy capacity target has Odisha set for 2030, as cited by IREDA at the Odisha Solar Investor Conclave in December 2024?
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Correct answer: A — 10 GW
PIB (MNRE): IREDA reaffirmed its commitment to Odisha's target of achieving 10 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030.
Which organisation hosted the Odisha Solar Investor Conclave in Bhubaneswar on 23 December 2024?
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Correct answer: D — GRIDCO
PIB (MNRE): the Odisha Solar Investor Conclave was organised by GRIDCO in Bhubaneswar, where IREDA CMD Pradip Kumar Das delivered a special address.
Karnataka's first semiconductor project, announced at the State High-Level Clearance Committee meeting of 23 December 2024, will be set up near which city?
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Correct answer: B — Mysuru
The New Indian Express and NewsDrum (PTI): Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the first semiconductor project in the state would be established at the Kochanahalli Electronics Manufacturing Cluster near Mysuru.
What was the total investment of the nine projects approved by Karnataka's 64th SHLCC on 23 December 2024?
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Correct answer: C — ₹9,823.31 crore
The New Indian Express and NewsDrum (PTI): the 64th SHLCC approved nine projects with a total investment of ₹9,823.31 crore, expected to create about 5,605 jobs.
Consider the following pairs of companies and project locations approved by Karnataka's SHLCC on 23 December 2024: 1. Silectric Semiconductor Manufacturing – Kochanahalli, Mysuru 2. Sansera Engineering – Harohalli 3. DN Solutions India – ITIR, Devanahalli Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
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Correct answer: D — 1, 2 and 3
The New Indian Express and NewsDrum (PTI): all three pairs are correct. Silectric's ₹3,425.60 crore unit is at Kochanahalli, Mysuru; Sansera's ₹2,150 crore project is at Harohalli; and DN Solutions India's ₹998 crore investment is at ITIR, Devanahalli.
To what level did India and Kuwait elevate their bilateral relations during PM Narendra Modi's visit in December 2024?
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Correct answer: B — Strategic Partnership
PIB (PMO) joint statement: the two leaders agreed to elevate the relations between India and Kuwait to a 'Strategic Partnership'.
Which international organisation did Kuwait join as one of the outcomes of PM Modi's visit in December 2024?
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Correct answer: D — International Solar Alliance
PIB (PMO) list of outcomes: Kuwait's membership of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) was one of the outcomes of the visit.
PM Narendra Modi attended the opening ceremony of which sporting event in Kuwait on 21 December 2024 as Guest of Honour of the Amir?
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Correct answer: A — 26th Arabian Gulf Cup
PIB (PMO) joint statement: Prime Minister Modi attended the opening ceremony of the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup in Kuwait on 21 December 2024 as Guest of Honour of the Amir.
Consider the following outcomes of PM Modi's visit to Kuwait in December 2024: 1. An MoU on cooperation in the field of defence. 2. A Cultural Exchange Programme for 2025–2029. 3. A Joint Commission on Cooperation headed by the National Security Advisers of both countries. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: C — 1 and 2 only
PIB (PMO): statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong because the Joint Commission on Cooperation will be headed by the Foreign Ministers of both countries.
Which award did the Amir of Kuwait confer on PM Narendra Modi on 22 December 2024?
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Correct answer: C — The Order of Mubarak Al-Kabeer
PIB (PMO): the Amir of Kuwait conferred The Order of Mubarak Al-Kabeer, the highest national award of Kuwait, on PM Modi.
In which year was Kuwait's Order of Mubarak Al-Kabeer instituted?
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Correct answer: A — 1974
PIB (PMO): The Order of Mubarak Al-Kabeer was instituted in 1974 and has since been conferred on select global leaders.
PM Modi's visit to Kuwait in December 2024 was the first by an Indian Prime Minister to that country in how many years?
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Correct answer: D — 43 years
PIB (PMO): the award was conferred during the historic visit of a Prime Minister of India to Kuwait after 43 years.
The new Kalaburagi building of the Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, inaugurated on 22 December 2024, has how many beds?
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Correct answer: B — 371
The Hindu, Deccan Chronicle and The New Indian Express: the new building of the Kalaburagi branch has 371 beds.
The bed count of the new Jayadeva hospital building in Kalaburagi was chosen to mark ten years of special provisions for the Kalyana Karnataka region under which Article of the Constitution?
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Correct answer: A — Article 371(J)
The New Indian Express and The Hindu: the 371-bed capacity commemorates the tenth anniversary of the region's special status under Article 371(J), under which the KKRDB that funded the building was formed.
What was the cost of the new 371-bed Kalaburagi building of the Jayadeva heart institute inaugurated in December 2024?
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Correct answer: C — ₹327.17 crore
The Hindu and Deccan Chronicle: the building was constructed at a cost of ₹327.17 crore.
Which team did India beat in the final to win the inaugural Women's T20 U19 Asia Cup on 22 December 2024?
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Correct answer: A — Bangladesh
The Hindu and Sportstar: India beat Bangladesh by 41 runs in the final to win the inaugural Women's U19 T20 Asia Cup.
Who top-scored for India with 52 off 47 balls in the final of the inaugural Women's U19 T20 Asia Cup in December 2024?
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Correct answer: C — G. Trisha
The Hindu and Sportstar: opener G. Trisha scored 52 off 47 balls (five fours, two sixes) as India made 117 for 7.
At which venue was the final of the inaugural Women's U19 T20 Asia Cup played on 22 December 2024?
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Correct answer: D — Bayuemas Oval, Kuala Lumpur
Sportstar and The Hindu: India won the final at the Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur.
National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL) signed an MoU with which Tripura body on 22 December 2024?
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Correct answer: D — Tripura State Organic Farming Development Agency
PIB (Ministry of Cooperation): the eight initiatives included an MoU between NCOL and the Tripura State Organic Farming Development Agency.
According to the Union Cooperation Minister in December 2024, Tripura had made significant progress on how many of the Ministry of Cooperation's 57 initiatives?
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Correct answer: B — 41
PIB (Ministry of Cooperation): out of the 57 initiatives taken by the Ministry of Cooperation, Tripura has made significant progress in implementing 41.
Projects worth over how much were inaugurated or had foundation stones laid in Dhalai, Tripura, on 22 December 2024?
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Correct answer: A — ₹668 crore
PIB (MHA): Amit Shah inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for development projects worth over ₹668 crore in Dhalai. The ₹900 crore figure relates to the Bru-Reang resettlement villages.
Consider the following statements about the Bru-Reang resettlement in Tripura, as described on 22 December 2024: 1. 38,000 Bru-Reang people have been resettled. 2. The resettlement covered 11 villages at a cost of ₹900 crore. 3. Haduklau Para Bru settlement colony is in Dhalai district. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: C — 1, 2 and 3
PIB (MHA): all three statements are correct. 38,000 Bru-Reang people were resettled in 11 villages at a cost of ₹900 crore, and Amit Shah visited the Haduklau Para Bru Settlement Colony in Dhalai.
To what rate did the 55th GST Council (December 2024) recommend reducing GST on Fortified Rice Kernel (FRK)?
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Correct answer: A — 5%
PIB (Finance Ministry): the 55th GST Council recommended reducing the GST rate on Fortified Rice Kernel (FRK), classifiable under 1904, to 5%.
The 55th GST Council recommended raising the GST rate on the sale of all old and used vehicles, including EVs (other than those already at 18%), from 12% to:
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Correct answer: C — 18%
PIB (Finance Ministry): the Council recommended increasing the GST rate from 12% to 18% on the sale of all old and used vehicles, including EVs, other than those already specified at 18%.
According to the 55th GST Council's clarification, Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (ACC) blocks containing more than 50% fly ash attract GST at:
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Correct answer: B — 12%
PIB (Finance Ministry): the Council clarified that ACC blocks containing more than 50% fly ash content fall under HS 6815 and attract 12% GST.
Consider the following recommendations of the 55th GST Council held in Jaisalmer in December 2024: 1. Gene therapy to be fully exempted from GST. 2. Contributions by general insurance companies from third-party motor premiums to the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund to be exempted. 3. The new rule linking the GST rate on restaurant services in hotels to the actual value of supply of rooms to take effect from 1 January 2025. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1 and 2 only
PIB (Finance Ministry): statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong because the changes to restaurant services in hotels are to be effective from 1 April 2025 (01.04.2025).
According to the India State of Forest Report 2023, what share of India's geographical area is under forest and tree cover?
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Correct answer: B — 25.17%
PIB (MoEFCC): ISFR 2023 puts India's total forest and tree cover at 8,27,357 sq km, which is 25.17% of the geographical area (forest cover 21.76%, tree cover 3.41%).
As per ISFR 2023, which State/UT has the highest forest cover as a percentage of its geographical area?
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Correct answer: A — Lakshadweep
PIB (MoEFCC): Lakshadweep (91.33%) has the highest forest cover in percentage terms, followed by Mizoram (85.34%) and Andaman & Nicobar Islands (81.62%).
Which State showed the maximum increase in forest cover (242 sq km) in ISFR 2023?
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Correct answer: D — Mizoram
PIB (MoEFCC): the top three States showing maximum increase in forest cover are Mizoram (242 sq km), Gujarat (180 sq km) and Odisha (152 sq km). Chhattisgarh led the increase in combined forest and tree cover (684 sq km).
Consider the following statements about the India State of Forest Report 2023: 1. It is brought out by the Forest Survey of India on a biennial basis since 1987. 2. It is the 18th report in the series. 3. It was released at the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy, Dehradun. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: C — 1 and 2 only
PIB (MoEFCC): statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong because ISFR 2023 was released at the Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun.
Where was the 72nd Plenary Session of the North Eastern Council held on 21 December 2024?
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Correct answer: C — Agartala
PIB (MHA): Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the 72nd Plenary Session of the North Eastern Council (NEC) in Agartala, Tripura, on 21 December 2024.
At the 72nd NEC Plenary, the Union Home Minister said how many insurgents had surrendered in the North East in the last 10 years?
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Correct answer: A — 10,574
PIB (MHA): Amit Shah said that in the last 10 years 10,574 insurgents had surrendered, alongside a 71% reduction in violent incidents and an 86% decrease in civilian deaths in the North East.
At the 12th NESAC Society meeting in Agartala (December 2024), how many waterways were said to have been built with the help of NESAC?
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Correct answer: B — 20
PIB (MHA): at the 12th meeting of the North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC) Society, it was stated that 20 waterways have been built with the help of NESAC.
In which district of Gujarat was the Climate Smart Agro-Textile Demonstration Center launched on 21 December 2024?
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Correct answer: B — Navsari
PIB (Ministry of Textiles): the Ministry of Textiles, with SASMIRA, launched the Climate Smart Agro-Textile Demonstration Center in Navsari, Gujarat, in the presence of Union Minister C. R. Patil.
Which research association will maintain the Navsari agro-textile demonstration centre?
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Correct answer: D — SASMIRA
PIB (Ministry of Textiles): the centre was launched with the Synthetic & Art Silk Mills' Research Association (SASMIRA), which will maintain it for three years.
For how long will the Navsari agro-textile demonstration centre be maintained, as stated by the Ministry of Textiles?
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Correct answer: A — Three years, covering eight crop cycles
PIB (Ministry of Textiles): spread across 15,000 sq m, the centre will be maintained by SASMIRA for three years, covering eight crop cycles.
Where did the Ministry of Mines hold a roadshow on 21 December 2024 for the auction of India's first-ever offshore areas mineral blocks?
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Correct answer: A — Porbandar
PIB (Ministry of Mines): the Ministry organised an exclusive roadshow at Porbandar, Gujarat, on 21 December 2024 to unveil the auction process for India's first-ever Offshore Areas Mineral Blocks.
At the Porbandar roadshow, the Mines Secretary described offshore lime-mud as a vital raw material for which industry?
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Correct answer: C — Cement
PIB (Ministry of Mines): Secretary V. L. Kantha Rao underscored the critical role of lime-mud, a vital raw material for cement manufacturing, in diversifying the industry's resource base.