1. The Grantha script, once used to write Sanskrit, was mainly from which Indian State?
A. Tamil Nadu
B. Kerala
C. Andhra Pradesh
D. Karnataka
- Archaeologists found 11th and 16th-century stone inscriptions in Paranchervazhi village near Kangayam in Tamil Nadu, featuring ‘Grantham’ and Tamil scripts. Grantham, a historical script, once scribed Sanskrit across South East Asia and Tamil Nadu. Originally named for literary works in Sanskrit, it later influenced Malayalam and became Arya Ezhuthu.
2. When is the ‘National Voters’ Day’ observed every year?
A. 24 January
B. 25 January
C. 26 January
D. 15 January
- The Election Commission of India marks its 75th year on January 25, 2024, coinciding with the 14th National Voters’ Day (NVD). Since 2011, NVD is observed annually on January 25 to raise electoral awareness and encourage citizens to participate. The event, celebrated at various levels across the country, aims to facilitate voter enrolment, particularly among young voters. The theme for NVD 2024 is “Nothing Like Voting, I Vote For sure”.
3. ‘Disease X’ is related to?
A. Hypothetical pathogen for future pandemic
B. Fungal disease
C. Plant disease
D. Genetic disease
- The World Health Organization (WHO) warns of ‘Disease X,’ a potential new pandemic with unknown characteristics, listed in the WHO’s Blueprint since 2018. This hypothetical pathogen, belonging to any of 25 virus families, lacks known treatments and could be 20 times deadlier than the recent SARS-COVID virus.
4. What is the primary objective of the VLF (Very Low Frequency) communication station established by Indian Navy?
A. To enhance maritime security in the Arabian Sea
B. To strengthen communication capabilities for naval operations
C. To monitor seismic activity in the Bay of Bengal
D. To facilitate space exploration missions from the Indian coast
- The Indian Navy’s primary objective for its Very Low Frequency (VLF) communication station is to transmit fleet broadcasts and communicate with ships and submarines. VLF radio waves are used to communicate with submarines that are underwater.
- The Indian Navy has been operating a VLF facility for the last 24 years. The first VLF station was established at INS Kattabomman Radar Station in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu in 1990. The Navy is currently building a second VLF station in the Damagudem forest area near Puduru of Vikarabad mandal, Telangana. The new station is expected to be completed in 2027.
5. Recently, which player secured the first global table tennis title at the WTT Feeder Corpus Christi 2024?
A. Sreeja Akula
B. Lily Zhang
C. Manika Batra
D. Diya Chitale
- Indian table tennis player Sreeja Akula secured her first international title at the WTT Feeder Corpus Christi 2024 in Texas, USA. In a dominant performance, the 25-year-old defeated world No. 46 Lily Zhang in the women’s singles final with a convincing 3-0 victory (11-6, 18-16, 11-5).
6. Recently, which IIT hosted Phase 3 of the ‘Yuva Sangam’ programme under ‘Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat’?
A. IIT Guwahati
B. IIT Kanpur
C. IIT Bombay
D. IIT Kharagpur
- The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati hosted Phase 3 of the Yuva Sangam program. The program is an initiative under the Ministry of Education’s “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat”. The Yuva Sangam program aims to strengthen connections between the country’s youth. During the program, youth are exposed to five areas: Paryatan (Tourism) Parampara (Traditions) Pragati (Development) Paraspar Sampark (People-to-people connect) & Prodyogik (Technology).
7. All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH) is inaugurated at which city of Uttar Pradesh?
A. Kanpur
B. Lucknow
C. Prayagraj
D. Varanasi
- The Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare recently inaugurated a Super Specialty Block at GSVM Medical College in Kanpur, UP, and laid the foundation stone for the first state-of-the-art All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH) Satellite Centre in North India.
8. LSAM 19 (Yard 129) is launched by which armed forces?
A. Indian Army
B. Indian Airforce
C. Indian Navy
D. Indian Coast Guard
- The Indian Navy launched LSAM 19, the fifth barge in the 11 x ACTCM Barge Project. Manufactured by MSME Shipyard, Suryadipta Projects Private Limited, Thane, the versatile barge enhances Navy capabilities with ammunition, torpedoes, and missiles. These barges, built under a March 2021 agreement between the Ministry of Defence and Suryadipta Projects, adhere to Naval Rules and Regulations, contributing to India’s Make in India initiative.
9. ‘Halwa Ceremony’ is related to?
A. Budget
B. Economic Survey
C. Republic Day
D. Fit India Programme
- The Union Finance Minister recently participated in the annual ‘Halwa Ceremony,’ marking the commencement of budget-related document printing. The tradition involves preparing traditional dessert ‘halwa’ in a massive kadhai, with the finance minister initiating the process. Held in the Finance Ministry’s North Block basement, it symbolizes the send-off for officials engaged in crafting the annual financial statement. Post-ceremony, officials enter a ‘lock-in’ period, isolating themselves to maintain budget document confidentiality until its presentation.
10. Kaushal Bhawan is associated with which ministry?
A. Ministry of Textiles
B. Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
C. Ministry of Commerce and Industry
D. Ministry of Agriculture
- President of India, Droupadi Murmu inaugurated Kaushal Bhawan, symbolizing India’s commitment to empowering youth through skills, aligned with PM Narendra Modi’s Skill India Mission. The Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship’s initiatives aim to catalyze youth aspirations, fostering a skilled future.
11. Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved the MoU with which country for cooperation in the information technology sector?
A. Oman
B. Egypt
C. Singapore
D. Tanzania
- The Union Cabinet, led by PM Narendra Modi, approved a MoU between India and Oman in IT, signed on December 15, 2023. The agreement, effective for three years, promotes bilateral collaboration in Government-to-Government (G2G) and Business-to-Business (B2B) sectors.
- The collaboration aims to boost employment in IT through mutual support, technology sharing, information exchange, and investments. The Ministries involved are India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and Oman’s Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology.
12. Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) primarily deals with which one of the following?
A. Assault and Murder
B. Corruption in Private sector
C. Corruption in Government sector
D. Cheating and dishonest inducement
- The recent Supreme Court ruling clarified that prosecuting someone under Section 420 of the IPC for cheating requires examining if deceitful acts were coupled with inducement leading to property transfer. IPC 420 addresses cheating, inducing individuals to surrender property, alter valuable securities. This serious offence entails imprisonment up to seven years and fines. It is cognizable and non-bailable, emphasizing dishonest acts to gain advantages.
13. Leprosy is an infectious disease caused by which one of the following?
A. Bacteria
B. Virus
C. Fungi
D. Protozoa
- The Central government has approved a new leprosy treatment regimen, targeting transmission halt at the sub-national level by 2027. The WHO recommended the three-drug regimen (dapsone, rifampicin, clofazimine) in 2015, known as multi-drug therapy (MDT). Termed ‘Uniform MDT,’ a single three-pack kit is administered to all leprosy patients for convenience. Treatment lasts six months for PB and 12 months for MB cases. Leprosy, caused by Mycobacterium leprae, affects skin and nerves, spreading through close contact, leading to potential disabilities if untreated.
