2nd Week Top 60 Flashcards
- Which of the following points is “Incorrect” with respect to the India Mobile Congress (IMC
2023) held in October 2023?
A) The Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi inaugurated the 9th Edition of IMC 2023, Asia’s
largest telecom, media, and technology forum in New Delhi, Delhi with the theme of ‘New
Digital Universe’.
B) Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (Reliance Jio) launched India’s first satellite-based gigabit
broadband service “JioSpaceFiber” during IMC 2023
C) Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of Bharti Enterprises and founder of Bharti Airtel, announced
a significant breakthrough in satellite communication at IMC 2023.
1) Only A
2) Only B
3) Only C
4) Only A & B
5) Only B & C
Answer- 1) Only A
Explanation:
The 7th Edition of India Mobile Congress (IMC 2023), Asia’s largest telecom, media, and technology
forum, was held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Delhi, from 27th to 29th October 2023.
• The theme of the IMC 2023 was ‘Global Digital Innovation’.
• The congress was inaugurated by Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi on 27th October 2023.
• IMC 2023 introduces ‘Aspire,’ a startup program fostering connections between startups,
investors, and established businesses.
• This aims to catalyze entrepreneurial initiatives and collaborations.
• During IMC 2023 PM Modi awarded 100 ‘5G Use Case Labs’ to educational institutions across
India. The institutions will get 5G Use Case Labs as part of the initiative of the Department of
Telecommunication (DoT), Ministry of Communications.
• Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (Reliance Jio) launched India’s first satellite-based gigabit
broadband service “JioSpaceFiber” during IMC 2023. This aims to provide high-speed internet
access to previously unreachable areas in India.
• Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of Bharti Enterprises and founder of Bharti Airtel, announced a
significant breakthrough in satellite communication at IMC 2023. He revealed that OneWeb
Satellite communication service is ready to connect all parts of India from next month. The
service promises to provide connectivity to even remote and difficult-to-reach areas.
• At India Mobile Congress 2023, HFCL Limited unveiled a suite of next-gen connectivity
products and solutions, including 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) Customer Premise
Equipment (CPE), IP MPLS Routers, 2 Gbps Unlicensed Band Radio, and the 1728-high fiber
count IBR Optical Fiber Cable.
- In November 2023, Bhupendra Patel, Chief Minister (CM) of Gujarat, unveiled the crest of the
Indian Naval Ship (INS) ________, indigenous under-construction, guided missile destroyer of
Project 15B.
1) INS Dwarka
2) INS Surat
3) INS Sardar Patel
4) INS Valsura
5) INS Agnibahu
Answer- 2) INS Surat
Explanation:
On November 6, 2023, Bhupendra Patel, the Chief Minister (CM) of Gujarat, unveiled the crest of the
Indian Naval Ship(INS) Surat, indigenous under-construction, guided missile destroyer of Project
15B, at the ceremony conducted under the aegis of Western Naval Command by Gujarat Naval Area, in
Surat, Gujarat.
• This is the 1st capital warship to be named after the city of Gujarat and this is also the first time
that unveiling of the crest of a warship is held in the city. it has been named after.
i. The Crest of INS Surat features,
• The famous lighthouse at Hazira (Surat) is located at the southern entrance of the Gulf of
Khambhat. The lighthouse of Hazira, built in 1836, was one of the first lighthouses in India.
• Asiatic lion, the state animal of Gujarat, symbolises the ship’s majesty and strength.
• Wavy sea depicting the Indian navy’s commitment to maritime security and national defence.
- Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the Food Safety and Standards
Authority of India (FSSAI)’s 5th edition of State Food Safety Index (SFSI 2022-2023) released by
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in November 2023?
A) With the inclusion of a new parameter (Improvement in SFSI Rank) in the 2023 index, 19
out of 20 large states recorded a drop in their 2023 scores from 2019.
B) 15 out of 20 states recorded lower SFSI scores in 2022-2023 compared to 2019.
C) Uttar Pradesh has recorded the steepest fall in SFSI Score, from 74 out of 100 in 2019 to 45
in 2023, followed by Bihar.
1) All A, B & C
2) Only A & B
3) Only B & C
4) Only A & C
5) Only A
Answer- 2) Only A & B
Explanation:
According to the 5th edition of State Food Safety Index(SFSI 2022-2023) by Food Safety and
Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), with the inclusion of a new parameter (Improvement in SFSI
Rank) in the 2023 index, 19 out of 20 large states recorded a drop in their 2023 scores from 2019.
• The index was released by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on World Food Safety
Day 2023 (June 7 2023).
• Adjusting for the new parameter, 15 out of 20 states recorded lower SFSI scores in 2022-2023 compared to 2019.
• Maharashtra has recorded the steepest fall in SFSI Score, from 74 out of 100 in 2019 to 45 in 2023, followed by Bihar (from 46 in 2019 to 20.5 in 2023), and Gujarat (from 73 in 2019 to 48.5
in 2023).
- In November 2023, Secretary of Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW)
Manoj Ahuja launched Krishi 24/7, India’s first AI (Artificial Intelligence)-powered solution for
automated agricultural news monitoring and analysis.
Which company/ Non-profit developed the Krishi 24/7, in collaboration with Department of
Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW)?
1) Happiest Minds Technologies
2) Wadhwani Institute for Artificial Intelligence
3) Persistent Systems
4) Zensar Technologies Limited
5) Kellton Tech Solutions Limited
Answer- 2) Wadhwani Institute for Artificial Intelligence
Explanation:
On November 6, 2023,Manoj Ahuja, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW)
launched Krishi 24/7, India’s first AI (Artificial Intelligence)-powered solution for automated
agricultural news monitoring and analysis.
i. It is developed by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), MoA&FW in
collaboration with Mumbai, Maharashtra-based Wadhwani Institute for Artificial Intelligence
(Wadhwani AI) with support from Google.org.
ii. This real-time monitoring system assists the Ministry of Agriculture in staying updated on relevant
events, allowing them to create alerts and take prompt action in the agricultural ecosystem.
- Which organisation has recently (in Nov ‘23) released the Adaptation Gap Report (AGR)
2023: Underfinanced. Underprepared – Inadequate investment and planning on climate
adaptation leaves the world exposed?
1) United Nations Human Settlement Programme
2) United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
3) United Nations Development Programme
4) United Nations Environment Programme
5) World Bank
Answer- 4) United Nations Environment Programme
Explanation:
Adaptation Gap Report (AGR) 2023: Underfinanced. Underprepared – Inadequate investment and
planning on climate adaptation leaves world exposed, released by United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP), reveals a concerning slowdown in the climate adaptation efforts globally.
i. The report states that the climate adaptation finance flows from public multilaterals like the World
Bank and bilateral sources to the developing nations declined by 15% to around USD 21 billion in
2021.
ii. At present, the estimated global adaptation finance gap (difference between needs and actual
financial flows) is USD 194-366 billion per year.
- Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to Union Minister of Finance
Nirmala Sitharaman’s visit to Sri Lanka in November 2023?
A) During the visit of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman delivered the keynote
address as Guest of Honor at the “NAAM 200” organized by the Government of Sri Lanka to
commemorate the 200th anniversary of IOTs to Sri Lanka on November 2 in Colombo.
B) The Union Minister inaugurated SBI branches in Trincomalee (Eastern Province ) and Jaffna
(Northern Provinces) in Sri Lanka.
C) Finance Minister also addressed the India-Sri Lanka Business Summit held at Hotel Taj
Samudra in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
1) All A, B & C
2) Only A & B
3) Only B & C
4) Only A & C
5) Only A
Answer- 1) All A, B & C
Explanation:
Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Minister of Finance, was on a three-day official visit to Sri Lanka from 1st
to 3rd November 2023.
• As a part of the visit, she had call-on meetings with Ranil Wickremesinghe, President of Sri
Lanka and Dinesh Gunawardena, Prime Minister (PM) of Sri Lanka.
i. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman delivered the keynote address as Guest of Honor at the
“NAAM 200” organized by the Government of Sri Lanka to commemorate the 200th anniversary of
IOTs to Sri Lanka on November 2 in Colombo.
• The event was attended by Ranil Wickremesinghe, President of Sri Lanka, Dinesh
Gunawardena, PM of Sri Lanka and other dignitaries.
ii. During her visit from 1st to 3rd November, Finance Minister (FM) Nirmala Sitharaman
inaugurated SBI branches in Trincomalee (Eastern Province ) and Jaffna (Northern Provinces) in Sri
Lanka.
• With these 2 new branches, the total number of SBI branches in Sri Lanka becomes 7.
iii. India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also addressed the India-Sri Lanka Business
Summit held at Hotel Taj Samudra in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
• The summit was jointly organized by the Confederation of Indian Industries(CII), the Indo-
Lanka Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.
• The theme of the Summit was ”Enhancing Connectivity: Partnering for Prosperity”.
- Which organisation has recently (in Nov ‘23) released the report“2024 Asia-Pacific Human
Development Report: Making Our Future: New Directions for Human Development in Asia and
the Pacific” with key highlighting that India is among the top countries with high income and
highest wealth inequality, despite rapid economic growth?
1) United Nations Human Settlement Programme
2) International Monetary Fund
3) United Nations Development Programme
4) Asian Development Bank
5) World Bank
Answer- 3) United Nations Development Programme
Explanation:
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) released its “2024 Asia-Pacific Human
Development Report: Making Our Future: New Directions for Human Development in Asia and the
Pacific” stating India among the top countries with high income and highest wealth inequality,
despite rapid economic growth.
Highlights:
• Income Growth: Between 2000 and 2022, India’s per capita income increased from USD 442 to
USD 2,389.
• Poverty Reduction: From 2004 to 2019, poverty rates (based on USD 2.15 per day) dropped
from 40% to 10%.
• Multidimensional Poverty: India’s population in multidimensional poverty decreased from
25% to 15% between 2015-16 and 2019-21.
• Persistent Poverty: Despite progress, poverty remains concentrated in states housing 45% of
the population but 62% of the poor.
• Vulnerable Groups: Women, informal workers, and inter-state migrants are at risk of falling
back into poverty.
• Gender Disparity: Women constitute only 23% of the labor force, with growing income
disparity despite rapid economic growth.
- Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the recent approval by the
Competition Commission of India (CCI) in November 2023?
A) CCI has approved the acquisition of 49% shareholding of Bharti AXA Life Insurance
Company Limited (BALIC) by Bharti Life Ventures Private Limited (BLVPL) from AXA India
Holdings (AXA) taking its total shareholding in BALIC to 100% and acquisition of BALIC’s sole
control.
B) CCI has approved the acquisition of 40 shareholding of Bharti Realty Limited by Bharti
Enterprises Limited (BEL) from Societe Beaujon (a subsidiary of AXA) taking its total
shareholding in BMSL to 100% and acquisition of BMSL’s sole control.
C) CCI also approved the acquisition of 20.51% equity shares of Indo Rama Synthetics (India)
Limited (IRSL) by Aloke Lohia from Brookgrange Investment Limited and transfer of 20.51%
equity shares of IRSL to Urmila Lohia by Aloke Lohia.
1) All A, B & C
2) Only A & B
3) Only B & C
4) Only A & C
5) Only A
Answer- 4) Only A & C
Explanation:
On November 6, 2023, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the following
transactions:
Details of the Proposed Combination:
• Acquisition of 49% shareholding of Bharti AXA Life Insurance Company Limited (BALIC) by
Bharti Life Ventures Private Limited (BLVPL) from AXA India Holdings (AXA) taking its total
shareholding in BALIC to 100% and acquisition of BALIC’s sole control.
• Acquisition of 48.54% shareholding of Bharti Management Services Limited (BMSL) by Bharti
Enterprises Limited (BEL) from Societe Beaujon (a subsidiary of AXA) taking its total
shareholding in BMSL to 100% and acquisition of BMSL’s sole control.
• CCI has approved the acquisition of 20.51% equity shares of Indo Rama Synthetics (India)
Limited (IRSL) by Aloke Lohia from Brookgrange Investment Limited and transfer of 20.51%
equity shares of IRSL to Urmila Lohia by Aloke Lohia.
Note: Aloke Lohia and Urmila Lohia are the promoters of IRSL
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched a two-stage Black Brant 9
sounding rocket as part of INFUSE mission from the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico,
United States of America (USA) in November 2023
In the INFUSE Mission, what does I stand for ?
1) Interplanetary
2) Infrared
3) Internal
4) International
5) Integral
Answer- 5) Integral
Explanation:
On 29th October 2023, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has launched a two-
stage Black Brant 9 sounding rocket as part of Integral Field Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Experiment
(INFUSE) mission from the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, United States of America
(USA).
• The mission aims to study the Cygnus Loop, a 20,000-year-old supernova remnant located
2,600 light-years away from Earth.
• The Cygnus Loop (also known as the Veil Nebula) is a supernova remnant, the detritus of the
explosive death of a massive star about ten to 20,000 years ago. This massive star was about 20
times the size of the sun.
• INFUSE is an integral field spectrograph, the first instrument of its kind to fly to space.
• The INFUSE mission will collect data about the Cygnus Loop for a few minutes from an altitude
of 150 miles (240 kilometres).
- Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the Federation Internationale
des Echecs (FIDE) Grand Swiss 2023 held from October to November 2023?
A) The Indian Grandmaster (GM) Vidit Santosh Gujrathi won the 3rd edition of FIDE Grand
Swiss 2023 title by defeating GM Hikaru Nakamura (United States).
B) International Master (IM)Vaishali Rameshbabu won the 2nd edition of FIDE Women’s Grand
Swiss 2023 title by defeating GM Anna Muzychuk (Ukraine).
C) With this win, Vidit Gujrathi qualified for the Candidates Tournament and also became the
second Indian after R. Praggnanandhaa to qualify for this tournament.
1) Only A
2) Only A & B
3) Only B & C
4) Only A & C
5) All A, B & C
Answer- 5) All A, B & C
Explanation:
The Indian Grandmaster (GM) Vidit Santosh Gujrathi won the 3rd edition of Federation
Internationale des Echecs (FIDE) Grand Swiss 2023 title by defeating GM Hikaru Nakamura(United
States).
• The FIDE Grand Swiss 2023 was held from the 23rd of October to the 6th of November 2023 in
the Villa Marina, Douglas, Isle of Man.
i. International Master (IM)Vaishali Rameshbabu won the 2nd edition of FIDE Women’s Grand
Swiss 2023 title by defeating GM Anna Muzychuk (Ukraine).
ii. With this win, Vidit Gujrathi qualified for the Candidates Tournament. He became the second
Indian after R. Praggnanandhaa to qualify for this tournament.
• Being secured the top position Vaishali also qualified for the Candidates Tournament.
- In November 2023, the Indian women’s hockey team won the 7th edition of the Women’s
Asian Champions Trophy by defeating ___________ (country), held in Ranchi, Jharkhand.
1) Japan
2) China
3) South Korea
4) Malaysia
5) Thailand
Answer- 1) Japan
Explanation:
Indian women’s hockey team won the Jharkhand Women’s Asian Champions Trophy Ranchi 2023
title by defeating Japan 4-0 in the final held in Ranchi, Jharkhand.
• The 7th edition of the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy was held in Marang Gomke Jaypal
Singh Mundha AstroTurf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi, Jharkhand, from 27th October to 5th
November 2023.
• China won the bronze medal by defeating South Korea in the Bronze medal match.
• India won the Maximum Team Goals Award(27 goals).
i. The Women’s Asian Champions Trophy is the biennial tournament, the first edition was held in
2010 in Kangsao, Busan, South Korea.
• Hockey India organised this tournament with support from the Asian Hockey Federation(AHF).
• India women’s team won its maiden Asian Champions Trophy title in 2016 (Singapore) while
Japan won in 2013 and 2021 (South Korea)editions.
- Name the minister that has recently (in Nov ‘23) launched ‘Jal Diwali – Water for Women,
Women for Water’ awareness campaign under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban
Transformation (AMRUT) in partnership with National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM).
1) Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
2) Ministry of Jal Shakti
3) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
4) Ministry of Home Affairs
5) Ministry of Rural Development
Answer- 1) Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
Explanation:
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) launched ‘Jal Diwali – Water for Women,
Women for Water’ awareness campaign under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban
Transformation (AMRUT), flagship scheme of MoHUA, in partnership with National Urban
Livelihoods Mission (NULM).
• Jal Diwali, the first phase of the Water for Women, Women for Water campaign, will be held
from 7th to 9th November 2023.
• Odisha Urban Academy is the knowledge partner of this campaign.
i. The campaign empowers women in water governance by offering firsthand insights into water
treatment processes and safe drinking water distribution through visits to local Water Treatment
Plants (WTPs) in their cities.
ii. The campaign aims to instill ownership and responsibility for water infrastructure.
• The Phase I will include the participation from all states and Union Territories (UTs) — except
the 5 states under Model Code of Conduct. Around 15000 Self Help Groups (SHG) women
across India are expected to participate in the campaign.
- Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the Global Conference on
Cooperation in Enforcement Matters (GCCEM) held at New Delhi, Delhi from 30th October to
1st November 2023?
A) Union Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated the 2nd Global Conference on
Cooperation in Enforcement Matters (GCCEM) with the theme of ‘Artificial intelligence and
wisdom of the heart: for a fully human communication’.
B) The conference was organised by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), under
Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) in consultation with World Customs
Organisation (WCO), Brussels in Belgium.
C) The WCO has collaborated with Indian Customs to ensure wide participation by Member
Administrations and international organisations, including WCO’s Regional Intelligence
Liaison Offices (RILOs) and senior representations from the WCO Secretariat.
1) Only A
2) Only A & B
3) Only B & C
4) Only A & C
5) All A, B & C
Answer- 3) Only B & C
Explanation:
The first Global Conference on Cooperation in Enforcement Matters (GCCEM) was held in New Delhi,
Delhi from 30th October to 1st November 2023. The conference was inaugurated by Union Minister
Nirmala Sitharaman, Ministry of Finance (MoF). The theme of 1st GCCEM was ‘It takes a Network to
fight a Network’.
• The conference was organised by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), under Central
Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) in consultation with World Customs Organisation
(WCO), Brussels in Belgium.
• The WCO has collaborated with Indian Customs to ensure wide participation by Member
Administrations and international organisations, including WCO’s Regional Intelligence Liaison
Offices (RILOs) and senior representations from the WCO Secretariat.
- Union Minister of Labour and Employment Bhupender Yadav, virtually inaugurated the
___________ Foundation Day of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) on 1st
November 2023.
1) 74th
2) 71st
3) 69th
4) 75th
5) 70th
Answer- 2) 71st
Explanation:
On 1st November 2023, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, Ministry of Labour and Employment
(MoLE), virtually inaugurated the 71st Foundation Day of the Employees’ Provident Fund
Organisation (EPFO) at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, Delhi.
i. The event witnessed the launches of various initiatives and the distribution of the Bhavishya Nidhi
Award 2023 to various offices and establishments.
• The Bhavishya Nidhi Awards 2023 was presented during the 71st EPFO Foundation Day.
• The award recognises the offices and establishments for their contributions and performance.
List of Awardees of Bhavishya Nidhi Awards 2023
Note- EPFO is under the administrative control of the MoLE, Government of India (GoI).
- Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the world’s 1st global
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Safety Summit held in November 2023?
A) The United Kingdom (UK) Government hosted the world’s 1st global AI Safety Summit at
Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire (UK) on November 1-2, 2023
B) Delegates from 28 nations, including India, have signed the world’s 1st agreement known as
the “Bletchley Declaration,” during the ‘AI Safety Summit 2023’ and pledged to cooperate, to
promote the safe use of AI tools.
C) During the summit, UK Prime Minister (PM) Rishi Sunak launched the world’s 1st AI Safety
Institute in the UK to examine, evaluate, and test new types of AI.
1) All A, B & C
2) Only A & B
3) Only B & C
4) Only A & C
5) Only A
Answer- 1) All A, B & C
Explanation:
The United Kingdom (UK) Government hosted the world’s 1st global Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Safety Summit at Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire (UK) on November 1-2, 2023. This 2-day summit
brought together Ministers and representatives from various countries, including the UK, the United
States of America (USA), India, among others.
• This summit aimed to unite world leaders and prominent tech industry giants focussed on
devising a comprehensive, collaborative strategy to mitigate risks and combat the misuse of AI
technologies.
• The Summit also witnessed the signing of the Bletchley Declaration by 28 countries and the
launching of the world’s 1st AI Safety Institute.
• Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Union Minister of State(MoS), Ministry of Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship(MSDE), and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY),
Government of India addressed the inaugural plenary session of the ‘AI Safety Summit 2023’.
• Delegates from 28 nations, including India, the USA, China, and the European Union have
signed the world’s 1st agreement known as the “Bletchley Declaration,” during the ‘AI Safety
Summit 2023’ and pledged to cooperate, to promote the safe use of AI tools.
· With the agreement, the 28 countries agreed to work together to address the potentially
“catastrophic” risks presented by rapid advances in AI.
· The declaration was named after the venue, Bletchley Park, where the AI Safety Summit was held
in the UK.
• During the AI Safety Summit 2023, UK Prime Minister (PM) Rishi Sunak launched the world’s
1st AI Safety Institute in the UK to examine, evaluate, and test new types of AI. The launch
represents the UK’s commitment to the global initiative on AI safety testing.
- Which organisation has collaborated with the United Nations (UN) to create a new stamp
collection and first-day envelopes to honour Marie Curie on her 120th birth anniversary,
observed on 7th November 2023?
1) Universal Postal Union
2) World Bank
3) International Trade Centre
4) International Atomic Energy Agency
5) International Organization for Standardization
Answer- 4) International Atomic Energy Agency
Explanation:
The United Nations (UN) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) collaborated to create a
new stamp collection and first-day envelopes to honour Marie Curie (Maria Salomea Skłodowska-
Curie) on her 120th birth anniversary which was observed on 7th November 2023.
i. United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA), the postal agency of the United Nations, has released
a definitive set of stamps featuring Marie Curie portrait and first-day envelopes adorned with a new
IAEA distinctive cachet.
ii. The commemorative envelope also honors the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme
(MSCFP).
- Name the bank that has recently (in Nov ‘23) collaborated with the National Payments
Corporation of India (NPCI) to launch the Platinum RuPay Credit Card.
1) YES Bank
2) HDFC Bank
3) ICICI Bank
4) IndusInd Bank
5) Axis Bank
Answer- 4) IndusInd Bank
Explanation:
IndusInd Bank Ltd launched the ‘IndusInd Bank Platinum RuPay Credit Card’ in collaboration with
the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), enabling customers to make payments through
the RuPay network using Point of Sale (POS) devices and e-commerce websites.
i. IndusInd Bank RuPay credit card customers can now conveniently initiate the Unified Payments
Interface (UPI) payments by simply linking their credit cards with the UPI-enabled Apps.
ii. With the integration of the card on UPI, individuals can make transactions seamlessly on both
online and offline platforms and earn accelerated rewards on their UPI transactions.
- Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the Earthshot Prize 2023
announced in November 2023?
A) Prince of Wales, William announced the five winners of the 3rd edition of the Earthshot
Prize.
B) Among the five winners, Indian solar-powered tech venture Science for Society Techno
Services Private Limited (S4S Technologies) won the Earthshot Prize 2023 under the ‘Build A
Waste-Free World’ category.
C) Boomitra, founded by an Indian-American, Aadith Moorthy won the Earthshot Prize 2023
under the ‘Fix Our Climate’ category.
1) Only A
2) Only A & B
3) Only B & C
4) Only A & C
5) All A, B & C
Answer- 5) All A, B & C
Explanation:
Indian solar-powered tech venture Science for Society Techno Services Private Limited (S4S
Technologies) and a global soil carbon marketplace ‘Boomitra’ founded by an Indian-American are
two among the five winners of 2023 Earthshot Prize (3rd Edition).
i. The winners’ list was announced by William, Prince of Wales, at the awards ceremony which was
held in Singapore.
- Who has been recently (in Nov ‘23) sworn in as the Chief Information Commissioner (Chief
IC) of the Central Information Commission (CIC)?
1) Ajay Kumar
2) Heeralal Samariya
3) Anandi Ramalingam
4) Vinod Kumar Tiwari
5) Jayanth Kumar
Answer- 2) Heeralal Samariya
Explanation:
On 6th November 2023, Heeralal Samariya was sworn in as the Chief Information Commissioner
(Chief IC) of the Central Information Commission (CIC). He became the first Scheduled Caste Indian
Administrative Service (IAS) officer to hold the post.
• Draupadi Murmu, President of India, administered the oath of office at the function at
Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, Delhi.
• He succeeds Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha, whose tenure as chief of CIC ended on 3rd October
2023.
i. Heeralal Samariya administered the oath of office to Information Commissioners (IC) of CIC Anandi
Ramalingam and Vinod Kumar Tiwari, Indian Forest Service (IFS) Officer, at a swearing-in ceremony
organized in CIC in New Delhi, Delhi.
ii. Prior to the appointment, Anandi Ramalingam was serving as the Chairman and Managing Director
(CMD) of Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) and Vinod Kumar Tiwari, was serving as the Head of Himachal
Pradesh Forest Department, Shimla
- Name the cricket team that has recently (in Nov ‘23) won their 1st Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
(SMAT) 2023-2024 title.
1) Punjab
2) Odisha
3) Chhattisgarh
4) Gujarat
5) Baroda
Answer- 1) Punjab
Explanation:
The Punjab cricket team won its maiden domestic Twenty20 (T20) IDFC First Bank Syed Mushtaq
Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2023-2024 title by defeating the Baroda team in the final held in Inderjit Singh
Bindra Stadium in Mohali, Punjab.
i. The victory for the Punjab team was the first domestic title since their Ranji Trophy victory in the
1992-93 season.
ii. The Punjab team will get a cash reward of Rs 80 lakhs each from the BCCI (Board of Control for
Cricket in India) and the PCA (Punjab Cricket Association).
• Ashutosh Sharma playing for Railways team scored 11-ball fifty against Arunachal Pradesh
team in the group stage match. It has broken the record of Yuvraj Singh’s 12-ball fifty, which he
scored against England in the inaugural World T20 in 2007 in (South Africa).
• This edition made the record of hitting the greatest number of sixes (1503) in the history of
SMAT.
• The 16th edition of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy was played from 16 October to 6 November
2023 in Ranchi (Jharkhand), Jaipur (Rajasthan), Mumbai(Maharashtra), Dehradun
(Uttarakhand), and Chandigarh, Mohali(Punjab).
Note- IDFC First Bank secured the title sponsorship rights for all BCCI matches, domestic and
international, for the next three years.
- Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the National Symposium on
‘Promoting Organic Products through Cooperatives’ held at New Delhi, Delhi in November
2023?
A) The one-day National Symposium on ‘Promoting Organic Products through Cooperatives’
organised by the National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL), in New Delhi, Delhi.
B) During the event, Union Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah launched the ‘Bharat Organics’
brand of NCOL, a newly established cooperative body to promote organic produce.
C) 6 organic products (tur dal, chana dal, sugar, rajma, basmati rice, and Sonamasoori rice)
under Bharat Organics brand were launched during the event.
1) All A, B & C
2) Only A & B
3) Only B & C
4) Only A & C
5) Only A
Answer- 1) All A, B & C
Explanation:
On 8th November 2023, Union Minister Amit Shah, Ministry of Cooperation launched the ‘Bharat
Organics’ brand of National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL), a newly established cooperative
body to promote organic produce.
• The brand was launched during the one-day National Symposium on ‘Promoting Organic
Products through Cooperatives’ organised by NCOL, in New Delhi, Delhi.
i. Union Minister Amit Shah also launched the NCOL’s logo, website, brochure, and membership
certificates to 5 cooperative societies.
ii. 6 organic products under ‘Bharat Organics’ brand were launched during the event.
• The 6 products are, tur dal, chana dal, sugar, rajma, basmati rice, and Sonamasoori rice.
• These products will be sold through 150 Mother Dairy’s Safal outlets and online platforms.
• A total of 20 organic products will be launched by December 2023 and the benefits will be
directed towards the farmers producing them.
iii. Under the concept of “Organic Under One Roof”, a retail outlet network of all organic products was
also initiated.
iv. Amit Shah also launched the website of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) Soil
Limited, a subsidiary of NDDB for manure management and organic fertilizer produced from the
NDDB’s Varanasi biogas plant, Uttar Pradesh.
- Which country has recently (in Nov ‘23) signed an MoU with India for cooperation on
medical product regulation to enhance the quality of medical products?
1) Russia
2) Netherlands
3) Australia
4) Germany
5) United States of America
Answer- 2) Netherlands
Explanation:
On 8th November 2023, India and Netherlands signed a Memorandum of Intent (MoI) for
cooperation on medical product regulation to enhance the quality of medical products and health
care services for both nations, at the Hague, Netherlands.
• The MoI was signed during the meeting between Bhagwant Khuba, Minister of State (MoS),
Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers(MoC&F) of India and Ernst Kuipers, Minister of Health,
Welfare and Sports of Netherlands.
• During his visit, Bhagwant Khuba, MoS, MoC&F led an Indian delegation to participate in the
2nd World Local Production Forum (WLPF 2023) held in the Hague, from 6th to 8th
November 2023.
• During his visit to the Netherlands, Union MoS Bhagwant Khuba, visited the European
Medicines Agency (EMA) and met with Carla van Rooijen, Director of the Pharmaceuticals and
Medical Technology Division.
• He discussed the regulations in the pharmaceutical and medical technology industries.
• He also visited the Port of Rotterdam which is Europe’s largest port and discussed with
Boudwijn Simmons, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Port of Rotterdam Authority, and
officials about the port’s hydrogen hub plans.
Note- The inaugural WLPF was organised virtually from 21-25 June 2021.
- According to the data from the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) released in
November 2023, which state emerged as the leader in mutual fund investments in India during
July-September Quarter-Fiscal Year 2024 (Q2FY24)?
1) West Bengal
2) Uttar Pradesh
3) Karnataka
4) Tamil Nadu
5) Maharashtra
Answer- 5) Maharashtra
Explanation:
According to data from the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI), Maharashtra emerged as
the leader in mutual fund investments in India during July-September Quarter-Fiscal Year
2024(Q2FY24) with a substantial equity asset of Rs 7.47 lakh crore out of the industry’s total equity
asset of Rs 25.85 lakh crore.
• It is followed by Gujarat and Karnataka holding equity assets of Rs 2.21 lakh crore and Rs 1.99
lakh crore respectively.
• They have surpassed Delhi (ranked 4th), whose equity asset dropped to Rs 1.94 lakh crore.
i. Gujarat and Karnataka accounted for 8.5% and 7.7% of the overall industry equity asset, while Delhi
lagged behind at 7.5%.
ii. In terms of Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) inflows, Gujarat contributed significantly, accounting
for 7% with inflows of around Rs 1200 crore.
- Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the Eco Warrior Awards 2023,
India’s first ever dedicated award show for Indian Forest Service Officers, presented in
November 2023?
A) The Eco Warrior Awards 2023 were distributed by the Union Minister of Environment,
Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav to honour exceptional individuals and initiatives
that have made significant contributions to environmental conservation & sustainable
practices.
B) The Eco Warrior Awards 2023 was organised jointly by Indian Masterminds and Indian
Forest Service Association.
C) The award was divided into 5 categories, including Wildlife Conservation. Dr. Mohan Ram
won the award under Wildlife Conservation for his work in wildlife conservation in Gir Forest,
Gujarat.
1) Only A
2) Only A & B
3) Only B & C
4) Only A & C
5) All A, B & C
Answer- 5) All A, B & C
Explanation:
India’s first ever dedicated award show for Indian Forest
Service Officers, the Eco Warrior Awards 2023, was
held in New Delhi, Delhi to honour exceptional
individuals and initiatives that have made significant
contributions to environmental conservation and
sustainable practices.
i. The awards were distributed by the Union Minister
Bhupender Yadav, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
ii. Eco Warrior Awards 2023 was organised jointly by Indian Masterminds and Indian Forest
Service Association, and the awards were sponsored by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited
(HPCL) – a Maharatna company in oil and gas sector; Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL –
Maharatna); and Okinawa – Ye E Sahi Hai.
iii. The awards were given in the following 5 categories:
• Wildlife Conservation: Dr. Mohan Ram for his work in wildlife conservation in Gir Forest,
Gujarat
• Wildlife Protection: Ritesh Sarothiya, Regional Deputy Director, Northern Region (NR), Wildlife
Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), Headquarters, MoEF&CC, Delhi
• Forest Protection: Vasu Kanojia, DFO, North Seoni, Madhya Pradesh (MP).
• Best Use of Technology for Conservation: Biswajit Mishra, currently serving as Chief
Conservator of Forest (CCF), (CTI), in Bengaluru
• Award for Community Connect: Millo Tassar, Conservator of Forests in Arunachal Pradesh.
