Q1.Which country hosts ‘International Conference of Agricultural Economists’?
[A] Bhutan
[B] Myanmar
[C] Nepal
[D] India
Answer: D
Notes:
India hosts the 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists at the Pusa Institute, New Delhi, from 2 to 7 August 2024, after 66 years since it last hosted in 1958. The conference, held every three years, is organized by the International Association of Agricultural Economists in collaboration with various Indian and international agricultural and economic organizations.
Q2.Recently, which two countries signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement, known as the 123 Agreement?
[A] India and Russia
[B] Singapore and the United States (US)
[C] Russia and Ukraine
[D] China and Japan
Answer: B
Notes:
Singapore and the United States have signed a 30-year civil nuclear cooperation agreement, called the 123 Agreement. This deal will allow Singapore to access detailed information and expertise on U.S. nuclear energy technologies, which are typically under export control. The agreement aims to enhance Singapore’s capabilities in nuclear energy and strengthen ties between the two countries in this field.
Q3.‘Nacala Port’, recently seen in the news, is located in which country?
[A] Ghana
[B] Nigeria
[C] Mozambique
[D] Kenya
Answer: C
Notes:
India resumed importing Tur dal from Mozambique’s Nacala Port after a disruption. Mozambique is a Southeast African country with a long Indian Ocean coastline, separated from Madagascar by the Mozambique Channel. It borders Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Eswatini. Major rivers include the Zambezi and Limpopo, and its highest peak is Mount Binga. Mozambique is rich in resources like gold, emeralds, copper, iron ore, and bauxite.
Q4.Swapnil Kusale recently won a bronze medal in which sports event at Paris Olympics 2024?
[A] Shooting
[B] Boxing
[C] Wrestling
[D] Badminton
Answer: A
Notes:
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Swapnil Kusale won a bronze medal in the men’s 50m rifle 3 Positions event. This is India’s third Olympic medal in rifle shooting, following Abhinav Bindra’s gold in 2008 and Gagan Narang’s bronze in 2012. Liu Yukun of China won gold, and Ukraine’s Serhiy Kulish took silver. The competition was held at the National Shooting Center in Châteauroux, Paris.
Q5.Which ministry is the nodal body for the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC) in Gujarat, recently in news?
[A] Ministry of Science and Technology
[B] Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
[C] Ministry of Ayush
[D] Ministry of Home Affairs
Answer: C
Notes:
The Ministry of Ayush signed an $85 million agreement with the WHO to support the Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GCTM) in Jamnagar, Gujarat, over the next 10 years. This funding will expand the centre and support its research. The agreement was signed by Arindam Bagchi and Dr. Bruce Aylward at WHO headquarters in Geneva. The GCTM, established with a total investment of $250 million, aims to enhance global health through traditional medicine combined with modern science. The Union Ministry of Ayush is the nodal body for the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC) in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
Q6.What is a Bailey bridge, recently seen in news?
[A] A modular, prefabricated bridge designed for quick assembly with minimal construction work
[B] A stone bridge
[C] A wooden bridge used in rural areas
[D] A type of suspension bridge
Answer: A
Notes:
The Indian Army’s Madras Engineer Group built a 190-foot Bailey bridge at Chooralmala, Kerala, after deadly landslides in Wayanad district. Invented during WWII by Donald Coleman Bailey, this modular, quick-assembly bridge consists of prefabricated steel panels linked by pins. Historically praised for its wartime use, it was inherited by India from British legacy and used in the 1971 war. The bridge aids movement of people and heavy machinery, with a capacity of 24 tonnes.
Q7.‘PARIVESH Portal’, recently seen in the news, is developed by which ministry?
[A] Ministry of Defence
[B] Ministry of Power
[C] Ministry of Agriculture
[D] Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Answer: D
Notes:
The Centre’s PARIVESH portal, developed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, has crossed 50,000 clearances. PARIVESH, which stands for Pro Active and Responsive Facilitation by Interactive and Virtuous Environmental Single-window Hub, is a single-window portal for obtaining and monitoring Environment, Forest, Wildlife, and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearances across the nation.
Q8.Gadgil Committee Report, recently seen in the news, is associated with which geographical area?
[A] Linking of Rivers
[B] Protection of Western Ghats
[C] Protection of Eastern Ghats
[D] None of the Above
Answer: B
Notes:
The Western Ghats, crucial for biodiversity, still lack official ecologically sensitive area notifications from the Union environment ministry, 14 years after the 2011 Gadgil Committee Report. The 2011 Gadgil Committee Report, or Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) Report, was commissioned by India’s Ministry of Environment and Forests. It recommends measures for the sustainable development and ecological preservation of the Western Ghats, a region noted for its rich biodiversity and environmental importance.
Q9.Recently, the Indian Army has conducted a strategic military exercise ‘Parvat Prahaar’ in which region?
[A] Chennai
[B] Visakhapatnam
[C] Ladakh
[D] Jaisalmer
Answer: C
Notes:
The Indian Army conducted the ‘Parvat Prahaar’ exercise in Ladakh, focusing on high-altitude warfare. The exercise highlights operations in rugged terrains near the India-China border. It involves real-world combat simulations to train soldiers for unique challenges. This fortnight-long drill involves various Army units, including infantry, artillery, and armoured forces, and showcases military assets like tanks, K-9 Vajra artillery, and UAVs. The exercise, involving the Mountain Strike Corps, is crucial for maintaining readiness in this sensitive region amid the ongoing India-China standoff.
Q10.What is the primary objective of the ‘National Coastal Mission Scheme’, recently seen in news?
[A] To boost tourism in coastal areas
[B] To address the impact of climate change on coastal and marine ecosystems
[C] To promote coastal urban development
[D] To enhance fisheries productivity
Answer: B
Notes:
The Minister of State for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change recently informed the Lok Sabha on the National Coastal Mission Scheme. The National Coastal Mission Scheme was launched in 2014 as part of the National Action Plan on Climate Change. Its goal is to address climate change impacts on coastal and marine ecosystems, infrastructure, and communities through adaptation and mitigation. The scheme is implemented by State Governments of Coastal States and Union Territory Administrations.
Q11.Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve, recently seen in the news, is located in which state?
[A] Kerala
[B] Chhattisgarh
[C] Odisha
[D] Tamil Nadu
Answer: B
Notes:
The Chhattisgarh government has announced the creation of a new tiger reserve named Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve. It is located in northern Chhattisgarh near Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand. It will be the state’s fourth tiger reserve after Indravati (in Bijapur district), Udanti-Sitanadi (Gariaband) and Achanakmar (Mungeli). The reserve combines areas from Guru Ghasidas National Park and Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary. It hosts various animals like tigers, leopards, and bears, and is a source for major rivers including Hasdeo Gopad and Baranga.
Q12.Which state government recently approved ‘Wainganga-Nalganga river linking project’?
[A] Gujarat
[B] Maharashtra
[C] Uttar Pradesh
[D] Haryana
Answer: B
Notes:
Maharashtra has approved the Wainganga-Nalganga River Linking Project. The project will irrigate 3.7 lakh hectares of farmland in six Vidarbha districts. It involves diverting excess water from the Gosikhurd dam to the Nalganga dam by building 426.52 km of link canals. The National Water Development Agency presented the project report in 2018, and it has been approved by the Central Water Commission. The project will support the National River Linking Project.
Q13.What is ‘Ceropegia Shivrayiana’, recently mentioned in news?
[A] Submarine
[B] A flowering plant
[C] A type of bacteria
[D] Antiviral drug
Answer: B
Notes:
A new flowering plant, Ceropegia shivrayiana, has been discovered in Kolhapur’s Vishalgad area. The plant, detailed in Phytotaxa, highlights Vishalgad Fort’s biodiversity. It was found by a research team from New College, Kolhapur, and Shivaji University, who have studied the fort’s flora for six years. Named after Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the plant honors his recognition of the ecological value of forts and their surroundings.
Q14.Mpox (also known as Monkeypox), recently seen in the news, is caused by which pathogen?
[A] Virus
[B] Bacteria
[C] Fungus
[D] Protozoa
Answer: A
Notes:
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently held an emergency meeting to address a surge in monkeypox (Mpox) cases, particularly in Congo. Mpox, a viral zoonotic disease related to smallpox, was first identified in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. t spreads through direct contact with infected animals or people, and symptoms include skin rashes, fever, and muscle aches. There is no specific treatment; supportive care is crucial.
Q15.Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR), recently seen in the news, is located in which state?
[A] Madhya Pradesh
[B] Odisha
[C] Uttar Pradesh
[D] Bihar
Answer: C
Notes:
A 45-year-old man was killed by a herd of elephants while collecting wild mushrooms in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR). DTR is located on the Indo-Nepal border in Lakhimpur-Kheri, Uttar Pradesh, and includes Dudhwa National Park and nearby sanctuaries like Kishanpur and Katerniaghat. It features a Tarai-Bhabar habitat typical of the upper Gangetic plains.
Rivers like Sharda, Geruwa, Suheli, and Mohana flow through the reserve, tributaries of the Ghagra River. The vegetation is North Indian Moist Deciduous, with prominent Sal forests and other tree species like Asna, Haldu, and Gahmhar.
Q16.Which institute recently issued an advisory to farmers to control ‘Fruit Rot Disease’ (Kole Roga) in arecanut plantations?
[A] Central Research Institute of Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad
[B] Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod
[C] Central Institute for Arid Horticulture, Bikaner
[D] Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal
Answer: B
Notes:
The ICAR-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI) in Kasaragod recently issued an advisory to help farmers control the spread of fruit rot disease, also known as koleroga, in arecanut plantations. Fruit rot disease harms crops, leading to major losses for farmers and making produce unsellable. It can sometimes even kill the plant. The disease is caused by fungi, bacteria, or viruses, making it hard to prevent and treat. Heavy rainfall, low temperatures, high humidity, and alternating sunshine and rain favor the spread of the disease.
Q17.Mount Kilimanjaro, recently seen in the news, is located in which country?
[A] Ethiopia
[B] Kenya
[C] Tanzania
[D] Nigeria
Answer: C
Notes:
Climbers from the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in Darjeeling recently scaled Uhuru Peak, the highest point of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa’s tallest mountain and the world’s largest free-standing mountain.
It is located in northeastern Tanzania near the Kenya border. Kilimanjaro has three volcanic cones: Kibo (dormant), Mawenzi, and Shira (both extinct). Uhuru Peak is on Kibo and is Africa’s highest free-standing peak. The mountain is famous for its snow-capped summit and has five vegetation zones. It was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
Q18.Recently, where was the “IACC-MSME Centre of Excellence” inaugurated?
[A] Gujarat
[B] Rajasthan
[C] Haryana
[D] Odisha
Answer: A
Notes:
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inaugurated the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce’s (IACC) first Centre of Excellence for MSMEs in India. The Centre aims to enhance and support Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to better serve export markets. The Chief Minister highlighted MSMEs as the backbone of the economy. He emphasized that the MSME sector will be key in making India the third-largest economy during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third term.
Q19.Saint Martin island, recently seen in the news, is located in which country?
[A] Bhutan
[B] Myanmar
[C] Bangladesh
[D] Sri Lanka
Answer: C
Notes:
Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina accused the USA of trying to overthrow her due to her refusal to cede control of Saint Martin Island. Saint Martin Island is Bangladesh’s only coral reef island, located in the southernmost part of the country. The island is also known as “Narikel Zinzira” (Coconut Island) or “Daruchini Dwip” (Cinnamon Island). It was originally part of the Teknaf peninsula but became separated due to submergence.
Q20.What is the primary purpose of ballast water on ships, recently in news?
[A] To increase the speed of the ship
[B] To reduce fuel consumption
[C] To provide stability and maneuverability during a voyage
[D] To clean the ship’s hull
Answer: C
Notes:
The Tamil Nadu Water Resources Department blames Kamarajar Port for spreading invasive species by not regulating ballast water from ships. Ballast water is stored in ships’ ballast tanks to provide stability during voyages, especially when not carrying enough cargo. It is pumped into the ship at one port and released at the next, sometimes mixing waters from multiple ports. The release of ballast water can introduce non-native organisms, known as exotic, alien, or nonindigenous species, into new environments, causing ecological problems.
