1. Recently, the government of Uttar Pradesh has decided to set up a bioplastic park in which district?
A. Mathura
B. Agra
C. Lakhimpur Kheri
D. Saharanpur
- The government of Uttar Pradesh is establishing a bioplastic park in Kumbhi village, Gola Gokarnnath tehsil, Lakhimpur Kheri district, to combat plastic pollution. Covering 1000 hectares and costing Rs 2000 crore, the project will be developed by Balrampur Chini Mill, with UPEIDA as the nodal agency. Bioplastics, made from renewable sources, decompose quickly, offering an eco-friendly alternative to petroleum-based plastics.
2. Which organization recently released the ‘Migration and Development Brief’ report?
A. World Bank
B. IMF
C. UNDP
D. UNEP
- India, the largest remittance recipient globally, is expected to receive $124 billion in inward remittances in 2024 and $129 billion in 2025. In 2023, India received $120 billion, marking a 7.5% growth rate, projected to be 3.7% in 2024. The World Bank’s June 2024 Migration and Development Brief highlights these trends, noting India as the leading emigrant origin country with 18.7 million emigrants.
3. Who has been awarded the ‘PEN Pinter Prize 2024’?
A. Vikram Seth
B. Neelam Saxena
C. Vikram Singh
D. Arundhati Roy
- Booker Prize winner Arundhati Roy has been awarded the 2024 PEN Pinter Literary Prize for her courageous writing. This honor comes shortly after the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi sanctioned her prosecution under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The award ceremony will be held in October in London. Previous winners include Salman Rushdie and Margaret Atwood. The PEN Pinter Award, established in 2009, recognizes exceptional English-language writers from the UK, Ireland, or the Commonwealth.
4. Pallikaranai Marshland is located in which state?
A. Tamil Nadu
B. Karnataka
C. Kerala
D. Andhra Pradesh
- The Tamil Nadu government plans to build a high-level bridge to protect the Pallikaranai Marshland, a freshwater and saline wetland 20 km south of Chennai. As one of Chennai’s last natural wetlands, it serves as an aquatic buffer, draining 250 sq.km through Okkiyam Madavu and Kovalam Creek into the Bay of Bengal. A Ramsar site, it supports diverse species including 115 bird species, Russell’s viper, and the glossy ibis.
5. Which organization has recently delivered the Medium Range-Microwave Obscurant Chaff Rocket (MR-MOCR) to the Indian Navy?
A. DRDO
B. ISRO
C. HAL
D. CSIR
- The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) handed over the Medium Range-Microwave Obscurant Chaff Rocket (MR-MOCR) to the Indian Navy in New Delhi. Developed by DRDO’s Defence Laboratory in Jodhpur, this technology obscures radar signals and creates a microwave shield to reduce radar detection. The chaff rocket uses special fibers with unique microwave obscuration properties, assembled to enhance radar evasion capabilities.
6. Recently, which military station has become the second military station in India to construct a plastic waste road?
A. Dehradun Military Station
B. Roorkee Military Station
C. Jaipur Military Station
D. Meerut Military Station
- Jaipur Military Station is now the second in India to have a road made of plastic waste, inaugurated on June 26, 2024, by Major General R S Godara. The 100-meter road, built under GE (South) and CE Jaipur Zone with Deep Constructions Pvt Ltd, follows the first plastic road at Narangi Military Station, Assam. These roads are more durable, with less wear and tear, reduced water induction, and increased sustainability.
7. Mark Rutte, recently appointed as the new Secretary General of NATO, is the Prime Minister of which country?
A. Singapore
B. Indonesia
C. The Netherlands
D. Australia
- Mark Rutte, Netherlands Prime Minister, has been appointed as the next Secretary General of NATO. Approved by NATO’s 32 member countries on June 26 in Brussels, he will succeed Jens Stoltenberg on October 1, 2024.
- Mark Rutte’s nomination came after overcoming opposition from Hungary and Turkey, and the withdrawal of Romanian President Klaus Iohannis. He became the sole candidate and was elected to lead the Western military alliance after serving as Dutch Prime Minister since 2010.
8. Kalibr cruise missile was developed by which country?
A. China
B. Japan
C. India
D. Russia
- The Russian Black Sea Fleet recently launched Kalibr cruise missiles, targeting Ukrainian infrastructure. Kalibr missiles, developed by Russia’s Almaz-Antey, can be launched from various platforms and serve anti-ship, anti-submarine, and land attack roles. They vary in size, ranging from 1,300 kg to 2,300 kg, with ranges spanning 200 km to 2500 km.
9. Which organization developed the ‘Tapas BH-201 UAV’?
A. JAXA
B. DRDO
C. ISRO
D. HAL
- The Indian Air Force (IAF) has proposed to acquire 10 TAPAS drones, officially known as Tactical Airborne Platform for Aerial Surveillance Beyond Horizon-201, or Tapas BH-201. Developed by DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Establishment, these medium-altitude, long-endurance drones, previously called Rustom-II, fulfill the tri-services’ Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, Tracking & Reconnaissance (ISTAR) needs. Capable of operating day and night at 30,000 feet with a 24-hour endurance.
10. Recently, which country has signed an $18-million memorandum of understanding with the ISRO’s commercial arm NewSpace India Limited (NSIL)?
A. Australia
B. Japan
C. Germany
D. France
- Recently, the Australian government signed an $18 million MoU with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), ISRO’s commercial arm, as part of the Space MAITRI mission. This initiative strengthens bilateral ties in space exploration, focusing on debris management and sustainability. NSIL will launch Australia’s Space Machines Company’s Optimus spacecraft in 2026 on ISRO’s SSLV, marking a significant collaboration in space technology and fostering responsible space operations between India and Australia.
11. Which institute has recently designed a novel 3D hydrogel culture system to study TB infection and treatment?
A. Indian Institute of Science (IISc)
B. Institute of Ayurvedic Studies and Research
C. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
D. National Tuberculosis Institute
- Researchers from IISc’s Department of Bioengineering have developed a 3D hydrogel culture system that mimics the mammalian lung environment. This innovation allows precise tracking and study of tuberculosis bacteria infection in lung cells. The system serves as a robust platform for testing the effectiveness of TB therapeutics.
12. Which institute has recently signed an MoU with the University of Leeds to launch the Joint Virtual Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Development (VCoE-SD)?
A. IIT Kanpur
B. IIT Delhi
C. IIT Madras
D. IIT Bombay
- IIT Madras and the University of Leeds have partnered to establish the Joint Virtual Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Development (VCoE-SD). This MoU aims to foster impactful research and innovation towards achieving sustainable development goals. The collaboration will enhance academic exchange through joint projects, courses, and conferences, creating a network of high-quality staff to drive sustainable solutions globally.
