India Current Affairs Quiz — All time
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
On which two estates did the Kerala Cabinet approve model townships for Wayanad landslide survivors on 1 January 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Elstone and Nedumpala estates
The Hindu; Hindustan Times: the townships will come up on 58.50 hectares of Elstone Estate and 48.96 hectares of Nedumpala Estate.
What size of house will each family get in the Wayanad rehabilitation townships approved on 1 January 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1,000 sq ft, single-storey
The Hindu; Hindustan Times: the homes will be 1,000 sq ft and single-storeyed.
Consider the following statements about the Wayanad rehabilitation plan approved on 1 January 2025: 1. Families at Elstone Estate will get five-cent plots and those at Nedumpala Estate 10-cent plots. 2. Elstone Estate falls under the Kalpetta municipality. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Both 1 and 2
The Hindu; Hindustan Times: five-cent plots at Elstone (Kalpetta municipality) and 10-cent plots at Nedumpala (Meppadi panchayat).
Botanist K.S. Manilal, who died on 1 January 2025, is best known for his work on which treatise?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Hortus Malabaricus
The Hindu; Indian Express: Manilal devoted about 35 years to the research, translation and annotation of the Latin botanical treatise Hortus Malabaricus.
In which year was K.S. Manilal awarded the Padma Shri?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 2020
The Hindu; Indian Express: Manilal was awarded the Padma Shri in 2020 for his contributions to botany.
The exchange of nuclear installation lists between India and Pakistan on 1 January 2025 was the how-manyth consecutive exchange?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 34th
MEA: this is the 34th consecutive exchange of such lists, the first having taken place on 1 January 1992.
Under which agreement do India and Pakistan exchange lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen every 1 January and 1 July?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Agreement on Consular Access, 2008
MEA: under the provisions of the bilateral Agreement on Consular Access 2008, such lists are exchanged every year on 1 January and 1 July.
Consider the following statements about the India–Pakistan exchanges of 1 January 2025: 1. India shared names of 381 civilian prisoners and 81 fishermen in its custody. 2. Pakistan shared names of 49 civilian prisoners and 217 fishermen in its custody. 3. The Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear Installations and Facilities was signed on 31 December 1988. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 1, 2 and 3
MEA: India — 381 civilian prisoners and 81 fishermen; Pakistan — 49 civilian prisoners and 217 fishermen; the nuclear agreement was signed on 31 December 1988 and entered into force on 27 January 1991.
Who assumed command of the IAF's Western Air Command on 1 January 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra
PIB (Defence): Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra assumed command of the Western Air Command on 01 January 2025, succeeding Air Marshal Pankaj Mohan Sinha.
What post did Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra hold immediately before taking over the Western Air Command?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Operations)
PIB (Defence): he was Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Operations) prior to taking over his present appointment.
How many awards will be conferred under the 28th National Awards for e-Governance 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 16
PIB (DARPG): 16 awards are being conferred under NAeG 2025 — 10 Gold and 6 Silver.
What incentive will Gold awardees receive under the National Awards for e-Governance 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — ₹10 lakh
PIB (DARPG): an incentive of ₹10 lakh for Gold awardees and ₹5 lakh for Silver awardees, to be used for public welfare projects.
Who assumed charge as CEO of UIDAI on 1 January 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Bhuvnesh Kumar
PIB (MeitY): Shri Bhuvnesh Kumar assumed charge as the CEO of UIDAI on Wednesday (1 January 2025).
To which IAS batch and cadre does UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar belong?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 1995 batch, Uttar Pradesh cadre
PIB (MeitY): he is an officer of the 1995 batch IAS from the Uttar Pradesh cadre.
Which State launched an e-office implementation system for government files on 1 January 2025, with the CM inaugurating it from Samatva Bhawan?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Madhya Pradesh
Free Press Journal; Patrika: Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav inaugurated the e-office system from Samatva Bhawan (CM House) on Wednesday, 1 January 2025.
In which offices was Madhya Pradesh's e-office system first started on 1 January 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Chief Minister's office and Chief Secretary's office
Free Press Journal; Patrika: the e-office system was started in the CM Secretariat and the Chief Secretary's office, and is to be extended gradually to all departments.
How many projects did Odisha's 133rd SLSWCA meeting approve on 1 January 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 25
Odisha TV; Kalinga TV: the 133rd SLSWCA meeting approved 25 projects worth ₹4,222.24 crore across 16 sectors and 11 districts.
How many jobs are the projects approved by Odisha's SLSWCA on 1 January 2025 expected to generate?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 14,497
Odisha TV; Kalinga TV: the projects are expected to generate more than 14,497 job opportunities.
According to the Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessment Report 2024 released on 31 December 2024, what is India's overall stage of ground water extraction?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 60.47%
PIB (Jal Shakti): annual extraction of 245.64 BCM against an extractable resource of 406.19 BCM gives a stage of extraction of 60.47%; 73.4% is the share of safe units and 11.13% the share of over-exploited units.
Out of 6,746 assessment units in the 2024 ground water assessment, how many were categorised as 'Over-exploited'?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 751
PIB (Jal Shakti): 751 units are over-exploited; 206 are critical, 711 semi-critical and 127 saline, with 4,951 safe.
Consider the following statements about the 2024 ground water assessment compared with the 2017 assessment: 1. Total annual recharge increased by 15 BCM. 2. Annual extraction increased by 3 BCM. 3. Recharge from tanks, ponds and water conservation structures rose from 13.98 BCM to 25.34 BCM. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 1 and 3 only
PIB (Jal Shakti): recharge rose by 15 BCM and extraction fell (not rose) by 3 BCM; recharge from tanks, ponds and WCS rose from 13.98 BCM to 25.34 BCM. So statements 1 and 3 are correct.
Till which date did NPCI on 31 December 2024 extend the deadline for UPI apps to comply with the 30% transaction-volume cap?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 31 December 2026
Business Standard/TechCrunch: NPCI extended the compliance deadline by two years, to 31 December 2026.
Before NPCI removed the limit on 31 December 2024, WhatsApp Pay's UPI user onboarding was capped at:
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 100 million users
Business Standard/TechCrunch: the limit had been set at 100 million users; 20 million and 40 million were earlier stages, and 500 million is roughly WhatsApp's Indian user base.
Consider the following statements about NPCI's decisions of 31 December 2024: 1. The UPI user onboarding limit for WhatsApp Pay was removed with immediate effect. 2. The 30% UPI volume cap was first proposed by NPCI in November 2020. 3. The volume cap applies only to bank-owned UPI apps. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1 and 2 only
The Hindu/Business Standard: the WhatsApp Pay limit was removed with immediate effect and the 30% cap was first proposed in November 2020; the cap concerns third-party app providers such as PhonePe and Google Pay, so statement 3 is wrong.
The 45 MLD sewage treatment plant approved at the 59th Executive Committee meeting of NMCG for about ₹263 crore is located in which district of Uttar Pradesh?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Chandauli
PIB (Jal Shakti): the ₹263 crore 45 MLD STP on the Hybrid Annuity Model is for Chandauli; Manikpur in Pratapgarh got a 15 KLD faecal sludge plant.
Which town in Bihar got a ₹257 crore sewerage project, including a 50 MLD STP and a 1 MLD nature-based STP, at NMCG's 59th Executive Committee meeting?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Buxar
PIB (Jal Shakti): the ₹257 crore project with a 50 MLD STP, a 1 MLD nature-based STP, three interception pumping stations and 8.68 km of sewers is for Buxar.
Consider the following statements about the projects approved at NMCG's 59th Executive Committee meeting: 1. The meeting was chaired by NMCG Director General Rajeev Kumar Mital. 2. The Chandauli STP will be built on the Hybrid Annuity Model with 15 years of operation and maintenance. 3. Uttarpara-Kotrung in West Bengal got a 50 MLD sewage treatment plant. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1 and 2 only
PIB (Jal Shakti): DG Rajeev Kumar Mital chaired the meeting and the Chandauli STP is on HAM with 15-year O&M; Uttarpara-Kotrung got a 22 KLD faecal sludge plant, not a 50 MLD STP (that is Buxar).
Which Indian player won bronze in the women's section of the FIDE World Blitz Championship 2024 in New York?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — R. Vaishali
FIDE/The Hindu/Indian Express: R. Vaishali won bronze after losing to Ju Wenjun in the semi-finals.
Who won the women's title at the FIDE World Blitz Championship 2024?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Ju Wenjun
FIDE: Ju Wenjun beat Lei Tingjie in the final; Valentina Gunina was the defending blitz champion beaten by Ju in the quarter-finals.
Consider the following statements about the open section of the FIDE World Blitz Championship 2024: 1. Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi shared the title. 2. The decision to share first place was accepted by FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich. 3. A silver medal was awarded to the player with the better tiebreak. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1 and 2 only
FIDE: Carlsen and Nepomniachtchi shared first place after Dvorkovich accepted the proposal, 'without a silver medal being awarded', so statement 3 is wrong.
How much did Odisha get under PM-USHA, as announced by the state's Higher Education Minister on 31 December 2024?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — ₹676.70 crore
OrissaPOST (PTI)/OdishaBytes: Odisha got ₹676.70 crore under PM-USHA, of which the Centre bears ₹408.70 crore and the State ₹268 crore.
Which of the following universities is NOT among the four Odisha universities to get ₹100 crore each under the MERU component of PM-USHA (December 2024)?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Utkal University
OrissaPOST/OdishaBytes: the four MERU universities are Berhampur, Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo, Ravenshaw and Sambalpur; Utkal University is not among them.
Consider the following statements about Odisha's PM-USHA sanction announced on 31 December 2024: 1. The Centre and the State share the cost in a 60:40 ratio. 2. The funds follow decisions of the 3rd Project Approval Board meeting of the Union Ministry of Education. 3. Five districts get ₹10 crore each under the gender inclusion component. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 1, 2 and 3
OrissaPOST/OdishaBytes/Odisha Samachar: funding is 60:40 (₹408.70 crore and ₹268 crore), based on the 3rd PAB meeting, and Bhadrak, Kandhamal, Mayurbhanj, Nabarangpur and Sambalpur get ₹10 crore each. All three are correct.
Which core industry recorded the highest growth in November 2024 as per the Index of Eight Core Industries released on 31 December 2024?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Cement
PIB (Commerce): cement grew 13.0% in November 2024, the highest; coal grew 7.5%, steel 4.8% and electricity 3.8%.
Which two core industries contracted in November 2024?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Crude oil and natural gas
PIB (Commerce): crude oil (−2.1%) and natural gas (−1.9%) contracted; fertilizers (2.0%), refinery products (2.9%) and coal (7.5%) grew.
Consider the following statements about the Index of Eight Core Industries data released on 31 December 2024: 1. Cumulative growth for April–November 2024-25 was 4.2%. 2. The final growth rate for August 2024 was revised to −1.5%. 3. Electricity has a higher weight in the index than refinery products. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1 and 2 only
PIB (Commerce): April–November growth was 4.2% and August 2024 was revised to −1.5%; refinery products (28.04%) outweigh electricity (19.85%), so statement 3 is wrong.
According to the Union Government accounts up to November 2024, total receipts stood at what share of the Budget Estimates 2024-25?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 59.1%
PIB (Finance): total receipts of ₹18,94,408 crore were 59.1% of BE 2024-25; 56.9% is the expenditure share.
How much did the Centre transfer to State Governments as devolution of their share of taxes during April–November 2024?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — ₹8,12,063 crore
PIB (Finance): ₹8,12,063 crore was transferred as tax devolution; ₹6,58,494 crore was interest, ₹5,13,500 crore capital expenditure and ₹18,94,408 crore total receipts.
According to the Annual Ground Water Quality Report 2024, India's ground water is predominantly of which type?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Calcium-bicarbonate type
PIB (Jal Shakti): the report finds ground water to be predominantly of the calcium-bicarbonate type.
Consider the following statements about the Annual Ground Water Quality Report 2024 of the CGWB: 1. It is the first such report prepared under a Standard Operating Procedure. 2. It covers more than 15,200 monitoring locations. 3. Over 81% of samples were found suitable for irrigation. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 1, 2 and 3
PIB (Jal Shakti): the report is the first to adopt an SOP, covers over 15,200 monitoring locations, and finds over 81% of samples safe for irrigation. All three statements are correct.
How many 'Good to Moderate' air quality days (AQI below 200) did Delhi record in 2024, according to CAQM's review of 31 December 2024?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 209
PIB (CAQM): Delhi recorded 209 Good to Moderate days in 2024; 157 is the number of Poor to Severe days.
Which two months of 2024 recorded Delhi's best average AQI for those months since 2018, as per CAQM?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — February and December
PIB (CAQM): February and December 2024 had the best average AQI for those months since 2018; January and May were the worst.
Consider the following statements about Delhi's air quality in 2024 as reviewed by CAQM: 1. Delhi's average AQI for 2024 was 209. 2. January 2024, with an average AQI of 355, was the worst January since 2018. 3. Delhi had more 'Poor to Severe' days than 'Good to Moderate' days. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1 and 2 only
PIB (CAQM): the 2024 average AQI was 209 and January (355) was the worst January; Delhi had 157 Poor–Severe days against 209 Good–Moderate days, so statement 3 is wrong.
How many payloads were flown on the POEM-4 platform of the PSLV-C60/SpaDeX mission launched on 30 December 2024?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 24
ISRO: POEM-4 carried 24 payloads, 14 from ISRO/DOS centres and 10 from non-government entities through IN-SPACe; POEM-3 had carried 8.
The Walking Robotic Arm (RRM-TD) on POEM-4, described by ISRO as India's first space robotic manipulator with walking capability, was developed by:
Show answer
Correct answer: C — ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU)
ISRO: the Relocatable Robotic Manipulator-Technology Demonstrator (Walking Robotic Arm) was developed by IISU; the debris capture robotic manipulator and CROPS are from VSSC.
Consider the following statements about the PSLV-C60 mission: 1. PSLV-C60 was the first vehicle integrated up to the PS4 stage at the PSLV Integration Facility before being moved for satellite assembly. 2. Ten of the POEM-4 payloads came from academia and start-ups through IN-SPACe. 3. The previous POEM-3 platform had hosted 12 payloads. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
ISRO: PSLV-C60 was the first vehicle integrated up to PS4 at PIF, and 10 of the 24 payloads came from NGEs via IN-SPACe; POEM-3 hosted only eight payloads, so statement 3 is wrong.
According to the RBI's Financial Stability Report released on 30 December 2024, the gross NPA ratio of scheduled commercial banks fell to a 12-year low of how much in September 2024?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 2.6%
RBI FSR: the GNPA ratio of SCBs declined to a 12-year low of 2.6% in September 2024; 0.6% is the NNPA ratio and 3.0% the baseline stress-test projection for March 2026.
The RBI's Financial Stability Report reflects the collective assessment of which body on the resilience of the Indian financial system?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Sub-Committee of the Financial Stability and Development Council
RBI press release: the FSR reflects the collective assessment of the Sub-Committee of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC).
Consider the following statements about scheduled commercial banks as reported in the RBI's December 2024 Financial Stability Report (September 2024 data): 1. CRAR and CET1 ratios stood at 16.7% and 14.0% respectively. 2. The provisioning coverage ratio improved to 77.0%. 3. The net NPA ratio stood at around 1.6%. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1 and 2 only
RBI FSR: CRAR and CET1 were 16.7% and 14.0% and the PCR improved to 77.0%; the NNPA ratio was around 0.6%, not 1.6%, so statement 3 is wrong.
According to India's fourth Biennial Update Report (BUR-4) submitted to the UNFCCC on 30 December 2024, by how much did India's total GHG emissions in 2020 change compared with 2019?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Decreased by 7.93%
PIB (MoEFCC): India's total GHG emissions in 2020 decreased by 7.93% with respect to 2019.
As per BUR-4, which sector was the second-largest contributor to India's GHG emissions in 2020, after energy?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Agriculture
PIB (MoEFCC): energy contributed 75.66%, followed by agriculture (13.72%), IPPU (8.06%) and waste (2.56%); LULUCF acted as a net sink.
Consider the following statements regarding India's BUR-4: 1. It contains the national GHG inventory for the year 2020. 2. Between 2005 and 2020, India's emission intensity of GDP fell by 36%. 3. By October 2024, non-fossil sources made up more than half of India's installed electricity capacity. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 1 and 2 only
PIB (MoEFCC): BUR-4 contains the 2020 inventory and emission intensity of GDP fell by 36% (2005–2020); the non-fossil share of installed capacity was 46.52%, less than half, so statement 3 is wrong.
With which company did the Ministry of Defence sign a contract of about ₹1,990 crore on 30 December 2024 for construction of the Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) plug for the DRDO-AIP system?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited
PIB (Defence): the ~₹1,990 crore AIP plug contract was signed with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai.
The ₹877 crore contract signed with Naval Group, France, on 30 December 2024 is for integrating the Electronic Heavy Weight Torpedo on which class of Indian Navy submarines?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Kalvari class
PIB (Defence): the Naval Group contract covers integration of the DRDO-developed EHWT on the Kalvari-class submarines.
Consider the following statements about the submarine contracts signed by the Ministry of Defence on 30 December 2024: 1. The two contracts together were worth about ₹2,867 crore. 2. The AIP technology is being indigenously developed by DRDO. 3. The torpedo integration contract was the larger of the two, at about ₹1,990 crore. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 1 and 2 only
PIB (Defence): the contracts total about ₹2,867 crore and the AIP technology is being developed by DRDO; the EHWT contract was about ₹877 crore while the AIP plug contract was about ₹1,990 crore, so statement 3 is wrong.
Who assumed charge as Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on 30 December 2024?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Justice V. Ramasubramanian
PIB (NHRC): Justice V. Ramasubramanian, former Supreme Court judge, assumed charge as Chairperson; Justice Sarangi joined as Member and Vijaya Bharathi Sayani had been Acting Chairperson.
Justice (Dr) Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi, who joined the NHRC as a Member on 30 December 2024, is a former Chief Justice of which High Court?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Jharkhand High Court
PIB (NHRC): Justice (Dr) Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi is the former Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court.
Consider the following statements about the NHRC appointments that took effect in December 2024: 1. The new Chairperson and Members were appointed by the President on 21 December 2024. 2. Priyank Kanoongo, a former NCPCR Chairperson, joined the Commission as a Member. 3. Justice V. Ramasubramanian had served as Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court before his elevation to the Supreme Court. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 1, 2 and 3
PIB (NHRC): the appointments were made by President Droupadi Murmu on 21 December 2024; Priyank Kanoongo, former NCPCR Chairperson, joined as Member; and Justice Ramasubramanian was Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court in 2019 before becoming a Supreme Court judge. All three are correct.
India's first glass bridge over the sea, inaugurated in Kanniyakumari on 30 December 2024, connects which two landmarks?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Thiruvalluvar Statue and Vivekananda Rock Memorial
The Hindu/Kanniyakumari district: the glass bridge connects the Thiruvalluvar Statue and the Vivekananda Rock Memorial.
What is the length of the glass bridge over the sea inaugurated in Kanniyakumari in December 2024?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 77 metres
The Hindu/Kanniyakumari district: the bridge is 77 metres long and 10 metres wide; ₹37 crore was its cost.
The Kanniyakumari glass bridge was inaugurated as part of the silver jubilee celebrations of:
Show answer
Correct answer: D — The Thiruvalluvar Statue's installation
The Hindu: the bridge was inaugurated as part of the silver jubilee celebrations of the installation of the Thiruvalluvar Statue.
What is the estimated cost of the Godavari-Banakacherla project unveiled by Andhra Pradesh on 30 December 2024?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — ₹80,112 crore
The Hindu/Swarajya: the project is estimated at ₹80,112 crore; ₹38,041 crore is the cost of its third segment.
Which place did Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu describe as the 'gateway to Rayalaseema' while announcing the Godavari-Banakacherla project?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Banakacherla
The Hindu/Swarajya: Naidu said, 'Banakacharla will be the gateway to Rayalaseema'; Bollapalli is the reservoir site and Polavaram the source project.
Consider the following statements about the Godavari-Banakacherla project: 1. It aims to provide drinking water to 8 million people. 2. It aims to irrigate an additional 7.5 lakh acres. 3. Segment I, from Polavaram to the Krishna river, is the costliest of its three segments. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
The Hindu/Swarajya: the project targets drinking water for 8 million people and 7.5 lakh additional acres; Segment I costs ₹13,511 crore, the least, while Segment III (₹38,041 crore) is the costliest, so statement 3 is wrong.
Where was the keel of the Indian Navy's third Cadet Training Ship (Yard 18005) laid on 30 December 2024?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — L&T Shipyard, Kattupalli
PIB (Defence): the keel laying of Yard 18005 was held at M/s L&T Shipyard, Kattupalli, on 30 December 2024.
Consider the following statements about the Indian Navy's Cadet Training Ships: 1. The contract for three such ships was concluded between the Ministry of Defence and L&T on 7 March 2023. 2. The Long Term Integrated Perspective Plan (LTIPP 2012-27) envisages a force level of three Cadet Training Ships. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
PIB (Defence): the contract for three Cadet Training Ships was concluded on 7 March 2023, and LTIPP 2012-27 envisages a force level of three such ships; both statements are correct.
According to the Agriculture Ministry, what was the total area sown under rabi crops as on 30 December 2024?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 614.94 lakh hectares
PIB (Agriculture): total rabi area was 614.94 lakh ha as on 30 December 2024; 611.80 lakh ha was last year's figure and 635.30 lakh ha is the normal rabi area.
As on 30 December 2024, which of the following crop groups had a smaller sown area than in the corresponding period of the previous year?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Oilseeds
PIB (Agriculture): oilseeds covered 96.15 lakh ha against 101.37 lakh ha last year; wheat (319.74 vs 313.00), pulses (136.13 vs 136.05) and Shri Anna (48.55 vs 47.77) were all higher.
On 30 December 2024, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis directed the scrapping of about how many old government vehicles?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 13,000
India Today/Indian Express: the CM directed that over 13,000 old government vehicles be scrapped.
Consider the following statements about Maharashtra's directions of 30 December 2024 on the state transport fleet: 1. State transport buses older than 15 years are to be scrapped. 2. The remaining buses are to be retrofitted with LNG and CNG systems. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
India Today/Indian Express: buses older than 15 years are to be scrapped and the remaining buses retrofitted with LNG and CNG; both statements are correct.
Which team won the Pro Kabaddi League Season 11 title on 29 December 2024?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Haryana Steelers
PKL/Indian Express/Sportstar: Haryana Steelers beat Patna Pirates 32-23 in the final to win their first PKL title.
In which city was the Pro Kabaddi League Season 11 final played?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Pune
PKL/Sportstar: the final was played at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Balewadi, Pune.
Who was the top scorer for Haryana Steelers, with 9 points, in the PKL Season 11 final?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Shivam Patare
PKL/Indian Express: Shivam Patare scored 9 points, Mohammadreza Shadloui 7 and Vinay 6.
Consider the following statements about the PKL Season 11 final: 1. It was Haryana Steelers' first Pro Kabaddi League title. 2. Haryana Steelers won by a score of 32-23. 3. Runners-up Patna Pirates received ₹3 crore in prize money. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 1 and 2 only
PKL/Indian Express: it was Haryana's first title and they won 32-23; the champions received ₹3 crore while runners-up Patna Pirates received ₹1.8 crore, so statement 3 is wrong.
According to the Commerce Ministry's two-year review of the India-Australia ECTA (December 2024), what was India's export utilisation under the agreement?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 79%
PIB (Commerce): export utilisation was 79% and import utilisation 84%; 14% was the growth in India's exports to Australia in 2023-24.
Bilateral merchandise trade between India and Australia rose from USD 12.2 billion in 2020-21 to how much in 2022-23?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — USD 26 billion
PIB (Commerce): trade rose to USD 26 billion in 2022-23; it moderated to USD 24 billion in 2023-24, and April–November 2024 trade was USD 16.3 billion.
Where was a stocktake visit on the India-Australia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) held from 4 to 6 December 2024?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — New Delhi
PIB (Commerce): the CECA stocktake visit was concluded in New Delhi from 4 to 6 December 2024.
Consider the following statements about India-Australia trade as per the Commerce Ministry's December 2024 review: 1. Both sides aim for bilateral trade of AUD 100 billion by 2030. 2. Talks on the CECA have seen 10 formal rounds. 3. Total bilateral trade rose further in 2023-24 over 2022-23. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 1 and 2 only
PIB (Commerce): the target is AUD 100 billion by 2030 and CECA has had 10 formal rounds; total trade moderated from USD 26 billion in 2022-23 to USD 24 billion in 2023-24, so statement 3 is wrong.
Which village in Haryana was renamed after former US President Jimmy Carter, who died on 29 December 2024, following his visit in 1978?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Carterpuri
The Hindu/Business Standard/Indian Express: the Haryana village near Gurgaon was renamed Carterpuri after Carter's 1978 visit.
In which year was The Carter Center founded by Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter in partnership with Emory University?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1982
The Carter Center: it was founded in 1982 by Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter in partnership with Emory University; Carter's presidency began in 1977 and ended in 1981, and he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.
In which year was Jimmy Carter awarded the Nobel Peace Prize?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 2002
The Carter Center: Jimmy Carter was the winner of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize.
Consider the following statements about Jimmy Carter: 1. He was the 39th President of the United States. 2. He died at his home in Plains, Georgia, at the age of 100. 3. He visited the Haryana village later named after him in 1980. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
The Carter Center/Indian Express/The Hindu: Carter was the 39th US President and died at home in Plains, Georgia, aged 100; he visited the village on 3 January 1978, not in 1980, so statement 3 is wrong.