1. What is the name of China’s cutting-edge ocean drilling vessel designed to penetrate the Earth’s crust and reach the mantle for the first time in human history?
A. Mengxiang
B. Tianqi
C. Shuijing
D. Yueliang
- China has introduced a revolutionary new ocean drilling vessel called the ‘Mengxiang’, designed to penetrate the Earth’s crust and reach the mantle for the first time in human history. If successful, the Mengxiang’s planned drilling to breach the Mohorovicic discontinuity (Moho) over 7,000 metres beneath the ocean floor would open the door to unprecedented scientific exploration and discovery within the planet. China’s Mengxiang is an enormous, specially-equipped ship capable of withstanding extreme conditions.
2. Who is the first woman officer to be appointed as Director General of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)?
A. Shubhra Singh
B. Nina Singh
C. Binita Thakur
D. Roli Singh
- Senior IPS officer Nina Singh has taken charge as Director General of the CISF in a first for the 1.65 lakh strong force tasked with securing vital infrastructure. A Rajasthan cadre officer of the 1989 batch, she has served in diverse policing roles.
3. Who is the inspiration behind the new design of Indian Navy Admirals’ Epaulettes announced recently?
A. Maharana Pratap
B. Shivaji
C. Maharaja Ranjit Singh
D. Chandragupta Maurya
- Unveiled on Navy Day 2023, the Indian Navy’s new shoulder rank insignias (epaulettes) for senior leadership draw design elements from the Naval Ensign and legendary Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Features like the golden button and octagon shape reflect indigenization efforts and long-term strategic vision respectively. The insignia artfully integrates symbols of the sword, telescope, and ‘Rajmudra’ seal used by Shivaji in special decrees, blending India’s rich maritime heritage with its glorious history.
4. Which city in Maharashtra has been selected by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports as the venue to host the National Youth Festival 2024?
A. Nagpur
B. Mumbai
C. Nasik
D. Pune
- The city of Nashik in Maharashtra has been selected by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India to host the National Youth Festival (NYF) 2024. As per recent announcements, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the 5-day youth festival in Nashik on January 12, which will see participation of around 7,500 youths from across India. NYF is held every year to celebrate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda on January 12.
5. David Warner, who has retired from one-day international (ODI) and Test cricket, is a player from which country?
A. Australia
B. New Zealand
C. England
D. South Africa
- Australian opener David Warner has retired from one-day international (ODI) and Test cricket to spend more time with his family. He plans to play his 112th and final Test against Pakistan but will not participate in ODIs. Warner has had a successful ODI career, scoring 22 centuries and 6,932 runs at an average of 45.30 in 161 matches. He was a key part of the Australian team that won the ICC Cricket World Cup in India last year.
6. The Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Technology for Women (LBSITW), which was recently in news for launching its nanosatellite called WESAT, is located in which city?
A. Bengaluru
B. Pune
C. Thiruvananthapuram
D. Mangalore
- On January 1, 2024, a nanosatellite called WESAT (Women Engineered SATellite) was launched by students of Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Technology for Women in Thiruvananthapuram. The satellite was launched as secondary payload aboard an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) mission, specifically the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C58/XPoSat mission.
- WESAT is a 1.4-kg satellite designed and developed entirely by women, making it the first Indian satellite with this distinction. The purpose of WESAT is to study ultraviolet radiation and its impact. The satellite project was led by Lizy Abraham, an Assistant Professor and Principal Investigator, with technical assistance from ISRO.
7. Who is the author of song “Banglar Mati Banglar Jal”, recently declared as State Song of West Bengal?
A. Rabindranath Tagore
B. Nazrul Islam
C. Nabagopal Mitra
D. Sarojini Naidu
- The West Bengal government has declared Rabindranath Tagore’s song “Banglar Mati Banglar Jal” as the State Song. The song has an approximate playing time of 1 minute and 59 seconds. The notification mandates that the State Song must be played with due respect at the beginning of all state government functions, and the National Anthem must be played at the conclusion of these functions.
8. In comparison to the typical day-night cycle on Earth, how long is the daylight period experienced by astronauts on the International Space Station?
A. 12 hours
B. 45 minutes
C. 1 hour
D. 3 hours
- Astronauts on the International Space Station experience 45 minutes of daylight followed by 45 minutes of darkness in each orbit. This is significantly different from the typical 12-hour day-night cycle on Earth. Thus, the crew at International Space Station witnesses 16 New Year countdowns in a row.
9. What is the daily payment limit for UPI transactions set by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) starting from January 1, 2024?
A. Rs. 10,000
B. Rs. 50,000
C. Rs. 1 lakh
D. Rs. 5 lakh
- The NPCI has set the daily payment limit for UPI transactions to a maximum of Rs 1 lakh starting from January 1, 2024. However, RBI raised the transaction limit for UPI payments to hospitals and educational institutions to Rs 5 lakh on December 8, 2023, to broaden the use of UPI payments.
10. Margrethe II, who recently announced to abdicate the throne, is Queen of which country?
A. Sweden
B. Norway
C. Denmark
D. Netherlands
- Queen Margrethe II, who recently announced her abdication after 52 years on the throne, is the Queen of Denmark. This decision was made official during her New Year’s speech on the anniversary of her own accession to the throne, where she expressed her desire to pass on the responsibilities of the crown to her son, Crown Prince Frederik.
11. The recently renamed Maa Manikeswari University is located in which state of India?
A. Uttar Pradesh
B. West Bengal
C. Odisha
D. Karnataka
- The recently renamed Maa Manikeswari University is located in the state of Odisha, India. Formerly known as Kalahandi University, it was renamed after Maa Manikeswari, the presiding deity of Kalahandi district. The university has been functioning since September 1, 2020, and the name change was officially announced by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on November 1, during the foundation day of Kalahandi district.
12. Which are the primary objects of study for the recently launched XPoSat (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite) by ISRO?
A. Exoplanets
B. Neutron stars and Blackholes
C. Distant stars and Solar system
D. Asteroids
- The primary objectives of the recently launched XPoSat (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite) by ISRO are to investigate the polarization of intense X-Ray sources and study the enigmatic world of black holes. This satellite is India’s first dedicated scientific satellite for conducting research in space-based polarization measurements of X-ray emission from celestial sources.
- It carries two scientific payloads: POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays) for measuring polarimetry parameters in the medium X-ray energy range of 8-30 keV photons and XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing) for providing spectroscopic information in the energy range of 0.8-15 keV. These instruments will help in gaining a deeper understanding of X-ray sources in space, including neutron stars and black holes.
13. India’s longest sea bridge, recently making headlines, connects which two locations?
A. Bandra and Worli
B. Sewri and Chirle
C. Thane and Virar
D. Vallarpadam and Kochi
- The Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), India’s longest sea bridge, is set to be inaugurated on 12th January. This engineering marvel spans 22 kilometers, connecting Sewri in south Mumbai to Chirle in the distant outskirts of Navi Mumbai, crossing over Thane Creek. The project, initially planned to take 4.5 years, faced an eight-month delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The MTHL aims to significantly reduce the travel time between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.
