1. Pongal festival is celebrated to mark the beginning of which Tamil month?
A. Margazhi
B. Thai
C. Maasi
D. Panguni
- Pongal festival is closely tied to the Tamil calendar, commencing with the arrival of the Tamil month of Thai. Celebrated in mid-January, Pongal coincides with the auspicious transition to the Thai month, signifying the harvest season’s prosperity. It is a time when Tamilians express gratitude to nature for a bountiful harvest and celebrate with various rituals and festivities.
2. Which award is given to recognize and encourage young scientists who made an exceptional contribution in given field of Science and Technology?
A. Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (VY-SSB) Award
B. Vigyan Team Award
C. India Science Award
D. C V Raman Birth Centenary Award
- Nominations for the 2024 Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar awards are open on the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Award Portal from January 14 to February 28. Instituted by the Government of India, these prestigious awards honor remarkable contributions in Science, Technology, and Innovation. The National Award celebrates the outstanding achievements of researchers, technologists, and innovators. Additionally, Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar awards are set to recognize and encourage young scientists for their exceptional contributions to Science and Technology.
3. Which country is set to become the world’s largest producer of lentil (masoor) during the 2023-24 crop year?
A. India
B. Myanmar
C. Bhutan
D. Nepal
- In 2023-24, India is set to become the world’s leading lentil (masoor) producer due to expanded cultivation. Primarily consumed as ‘Dal’ after skin removal, lentils are hardy, frost-tolerant, and thrive in cold climates. Optimal growth temperature is 18-30°C, and well-drained, neutral loam soils are ideal. Major lentil-growing Indian states include Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Despite ranking second globally in production, India traditionally imports from Canada, Australia, Russia, Singapore, and Turkey, but has diversified sources in recent years.
4. Recently, which cricketer became the first men’s player to play 150 T20Is?
A. Rohit Sharma
B. Virat Kohli
C. K L Rahul
D. Keshav Maharaj
- Rohit Sharma, Team India’s captain, created history by being the first male player to participate in 150 T20 International matches during the second T20I against Afghanistan at Holkar Cricket Stadium. In a triumphant return to the T20I squad after the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022, Sharma led India to a convincing 6-wicket victory in the first T20I in Mohali.
5. Who is the author of the recently launched book “Gandhi: A Life in Three Campaigns”?
A. K N Panikkar
B. Kamlesh Patel
C. Vijaya Kumar
D. M J Akbar
- Renowned author M.J. Akbar, with co-author K. Natwar Singh, launched “Gandhi: A Life in Three Campaigns” at a significant event hosted by Nripendra Misra, Chairman of the Executive Council of the Prime Minister’s Museum and Library Society. The book focuses on Mahatma Gandhi’s pivotal mass campaigns – Non-Cooperation Movement (1920), Salt Satyagraha (1930), and Quit India Movement (1942) – pivotal in dismantling British rule in India.
6. What is the name of the Secure Army Mobile Ecosystem recently launched by the Indian Army?
A. Sambhav
B. Project Shield
C. Secure Army Mobile Platform
D. Mobile Security Initiative
- SAMBHAV (Secure Army Mobile Bharat Version) is an end-to-end secure mobile ecosystem developed by the Indian Army. It operates on 5G technology and aims to provide secure communication and instant connectivity. Command Cyber Operations Support Wings enhance cyber capabilities at operational and tactical levels. SAMBHAV addresses the vulnerability of mobile networks to eavesdropping, offering end-to-end security.
7. Anamalai Tiger Reserve, which was recently seen in the news, is located in which state?
A. Tamil Nadu
B. Kerala
C. Karnataka
D. Meghalaya
- The Forest Department is actively combating invasive species in the Ulandy range, core to the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR). Native tree saplings are replacing cleared invasive plants on 90 hectares of Ulandy’s forest lands this fiscal year.
- The ATR, carved out of the Tamil Nadu portion of the Anamalais, situated in the Western Ghats south of the Palakkad gap, is surrounded by wildlife reserves: Parambikulum Tiger Reserve, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, and Eravikulum National Park. Notable ranges within the reserve include Amaravathi, Udumalpet, Pollachi, Ulandy, Valparai, and Manamboli.
8. Which city was the venue of International AYUSH Conference and Exhibition 2024?
A. New Delhi, India
B. Dubai, UAE
C. Mumbai, India
D. London, UK
- The second International AYUSH Conference in Dubai showcases AYUSH as a reliable and cost-effective healthcare approach for, preventing and managing Non-Communicable Chronic Diseases. With over 1500 experts from across the globe, 50 talks, 300 research papers, and 1300 delegates, it aims to highlight traditional medicine’s efficacy in tackling NCDs.
9. Recently, which three Indian Navy ships were decommissioned after 40 years of service?
A. INS Cheetah, Guldar and Kumbhir
B. INS Rajput, Satpura and Khanderi
C. INS Vikrant, Sahyadri and Arihant
D. INS Shivalik, Karanj and Vela
- The INS Cheetah, Guldar, and Kumbhir, Polnocny class Landing Ships, were decommissioned after 40 years at Port Blair. Built in Poland, they joined the Indian Navy in 1984-86 and played a vital role in amphibious operations, logging 17 lakh nautical miles and over 12,300 days at sea.
- They were crucial in maritime security missions, humanitarian assistance, and operations in Sri Lanka. Notably, they provided relief after the 1997 cyclone in Sri Lanka and the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.
10. Recently, who has been elected as the president of Taiwan?
A. Ma Ying-jeou
B. William Lai
C. Tsai Ing-wen
D. Keu-nhai
- William Lai, also known as Lai Ching-te, is the president of Taiwan, succeeding Tsai Ing-wen. Lai is promising to continue Tsai’s foreign policy efforts to resist China’s plans to annex Taiwan. Tsai Ing-wen has been president of the Republic of China (Taiwan) since 2016. She is the first woman to be elected as president of Taiwan, the first unmarried president, and the first president to be of both Hakka and aboriginal descent.
11. What is the IUCN status of ‘Gentoo Penguin’, which was recently seen in the news?
A. Endangered
B. Vulnerable
C. Least Concern
D. Critically endangered
- A rare all-white Gentoo penguin was recently spotted in Chilean Antarctica, a species exclusive to the Southern Hemisphere between 45- and 65-degrees south latitude. Typically found along shorelines, Gentoo penguins have distinct head markings with two white wedges around their eyes. Predominantly inhabiting the Falkland Islands, these penguins are classified as “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List.
12. What percentage of target has the government set to reduce accidental death by 2030?
A. 50%
B. 40%
C. 60%
D. 30%
- The government aims to cut accidental deaths by 50% by 2030, as announced by Road, Transport, and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari at a National conclave on Road Safety in New Delhi. Gadkari highlighted that every hour sees 53 injuries and 19 deaths from road accidents.
13. Farsi (Persian), recently seen in the news, is the official language of which country?
A. Iran
B. Iraq
C. Afghanistan
D. South Africa
- India’s External Affairs Minister revealed that Farsi (Persian) is now classified as one of India’s nine classical languages under the New Education Policy. Farsi, a key Iranian language and an Indo-European member, is the official language in Iran. Additionally, its variations, Dari and Tajik, hold official status in Afghanistan and Tajikistan, respectively. India has currently 6 classical languages viz. Tamil, Sanskrit, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam and Odia.
