1. Talaeieh and Nasir cruise missiles were recently unveiled by which country?
A. UAE
B. Turkey
C. Iran
D. Iraq
- Iran’s navy recently added two domestically produced sophisticated cruise missiles named Talaeieh and Nasir to its arsenal. As part of boosting its defence capabilities, Iran announced addition of advanced Talaeieh and Nasir cruise missiles, with ranges over 1000 km and 100 km respectively, to its naval forces.
2. Which country recently sent the Smart Lander for Investigating the Moon (SLIM)?
A. USA
B. Russia
C. China
D. Japan
- SLIM (Smart Lander for Investigating the Moon) is a tiny Japanese probe, sent by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to demonstrate precise landing on the lunar surface. This will be a historic achievement making Japan the fifth nation after the US, Russia, China and India to softly land a probe on the moon.
3. According to Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI), which state led in tiger deaths in 2023?
A. Rajasthan
B. Madhya Pradesh
C. Maharashtra
D. Bihar
- According to Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI), India lost a record 204 tigers from January 1 to December 25, 2023. This is said to be the highest tiger mortality in a decade. Within India, Maharashtra topped the list with 52 tiger deaths this year, followed by Madhya Pradesh with 45 deaths. The tiger population had grown from 2,967 in 2018 to 3,167 in 2022 across India.
4. The recently launched My iGOT and VIKAS are related to which Government initiative?
A. Digital India
B. Skill India Mission
C. Mission Karmayogi
D. Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA)
- Mission Karmayogi, the government’s capacity building scheme for civil servants was extended with new features. Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh launched My iGOT, Blended Programs and Curated Programs on the digital iGOT Karmayogi platform. Blended Programs integrate offline and online learning components. VIKAS is a blended course on developing functional, behavioral and technological competencies among mid-level civil servants. The extensions aim to groom civil servants to be more innovative, progressive and technology-enabled.
5. Who has been nominated by the President as the new Executive Chairperson of NALSA recently?
A. Justice Sanjiv Khanna
B. Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul
C. Justice DY Chandrachud
D. Justice Uday Umesh Lalit
- President Droupadi Murmu has nominated Justice Sanjiv Khanna of the Supreme Court as the new Executive Chairperson of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA). As per convention, the second senior-most judge of the Supreme Court occupies this post tasked with providing free legal services to the poor and marginalized. Justice Khanna, the apex court’s senior-most puisne judge, takes over from Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul who demitted office on December 25 upon retirement.
6. BRI 1335-0417, that was recently in news, is a ____________
A. Magnetar
B. Galaxy
C. Black Hole
D. Exoplanet
- BRI 1335-0417 is the name of the galaxy showing a spiral structure in its early developing phase, located over 12 billion light years from Earth. Researchers compare its rotating disc comprising stars, gas and dust to ripples formed when a stone is thrown into a pond. Study of this exceptionally distant spiral aims to advance comprehension of mechanisms driving rapid star formation in early cosmic epochs.
7. Who has won the women’s singles title at the National Badminton championship 2023 held recently in Guwahati?
A. Jwala Gutta
B. Ashwini Ponnappa
C. Anmol Kharb
D. Unnati Hudda
- In Badminton, Anmol Kharb has won the women’s singles title at the Yonex-Sunrise 85th Senior National Badminton Championships 2023 in Guwahati.
8. Recently, World Health Organization (WHO) has prequalified the R21/Matrix-M vaccine to prevent which disease?
A. Malaria
B. Measles
C. Meningitis
D. Monkeypox
- The World Health Organization has prequalified the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine, enabling broader global access. In October 2023, WHO recommended the vaccine’s use in children based on expert advice. Prequalification facilitates procurement by UNICEF and funding from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. This is the second WHO-prequalified malaria vaccine after RTS,S/AS01 obtained prequalification status in July 2022. The new vaccine aims to prevent malaria in children, a key step in malaria control efforts.
9. Which newspaper was established by Pt Madan Mohan Malaviya, whose birth anniversary was observed recently on December 25?
A. Anand Bazar Patrika
B. Dainik Hindustan
C. The Leader
D. Daily Herald
- Madan Mohan Malaviya (1861–1946) was an Indian scholar, educational reformer, and politician, significant in the independence movement. He was a four-time president of the Indian National Congress and founded the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha.
- Known as Pandit and Mahamana, Malaviya co-founded Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in 1916, Asia’s largest residential university. He served as BHU’s vice chancellor from 1919 to 1938. A founder of The Bharat Scouts and Guides, he also established The Leader newspaper in 1919 and chaired Hindustan Times (1924-1946). He launched Hindustan Dainik in 1936. Malaviya received the Bharat Ratna posthumously in 2014.
10. What is the name of India’s first homegrown mRNA vaccine for COVID-19?
A. VIRASHIELD
B. OMIVAC
C. GEMCOVAC
D. COVIGUARD
- Indian biotech company Gennova Biopharmaceuticals has developed the nation’s first Omicron-specific mRNA COVID-19 vaccine named GEMCOVAC as a booster dose. As new variants like XBB and JN.1 emerge, India has approved its first homegrown mRNA vaccine GEMCOVAC targeting Omicron variant. Its efficacy against such strains strengthens India’s vaccine security.
11. What is the name of the nuclear power plant where India and Russia signed agreements related to construction of its future power units?
A. Kaiga Nuclear Power Plant
B. Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant
C. Kalpakkam Nuclear Power Plant
D. Narora Atomic Power Station
- India and Russia signed agreements pertaining to the future units of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu. Kudankulam nuclear plant is being built with technical assistance of Russia and new agreements were signed during External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s visit to Moscow. This nuclear project has strategic importance for India’s energy security.
12. Devanahalli heritage railway station, that was in news recently, is located in which state?
A. Goa
B. Karnataka
C. Maharashtra
D. Andhra Pradesh
- Karnataka has chosen stations like Doddajala, Devanahalli, Avatihalli and Nandi Halt on century-old Bangalore-Chikkaballapur-Kolar light rail section for restoration and preservation as heritage sites. These stations on line inaugurated in early 1900s showcase architectural history and restoration will highlight natural beauty, culture and traditions for tourism.
