Oct 2nd Week Top 60

Question 1

1. Which of the following points is “Incorrect” with respect to the Swavlamban 2023 held in
   October 2023?
   1) Union Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh launched Swavlamban 2023 (Swavlamban 2.0), the 2nd
   edition of the Indian Navy’s Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO) seminar in New
   Delhi, Delhi.
   2) During the seminar 5th Positive Indigenisation List (5th PIL) of the Department of Military Affairs
   (DMA), MoD comprising 98 items was released.
   3) The Defense Minister launched 76 challenges for the industry under DISC 10 & DISC 10 PRIME of
   Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) to celebrate the 76th year of India’s independence.
   4) The BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd has handed over the first twin-seater Advanced Light Helicopter
   (ALH-DHRUV) to the Indian Air Force, in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
   5) The Indian navy unveiled the Autonomous Weaponized Boat Swarms and the Autonomous Vessel
   Underwater (AUV) during the Swavlamban 2.0.

Answer 1

Answer- 4) The BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd has handed over the first twin-seater Advanced
Light Helicopter (ALH-DHRUV) to the Indian Air Force, in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Explanation:
On 4th October 2023, Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence (MoD), launched
Swavlamban 2023 (Swavlamban 2.0), the 2nd edition of the Indian Navy’s Naval Innovation and
Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO) seminar, in New Delhi, Delhi. The 2-day seminar was held from
4th to 5th October 2023.
· During the seminar 5th Positive Indigenisation List (5th PIL) of the Department of Military
Affairs (DMA), MoD comprising 98 items was released.
· These items will be procured from indigenous sources as per provisions given in Defence
Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 in the staggered timeline.
· The Defense Minister launched 76 challenges for the industry under DISC 10 & DISC 10 PRIME
of Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) to celebrate the 76th year of India’s independence.
· These challenges encompass problem statements from the three Services, the Indian Coast
Guard, DPSUs, Border Roads Organisation(BRO), and Mission DefSpace.
· Additionally, 5 challenges were introduced under the iDEX for Fauji (i4F) scheme.
· During the seminar, the Defence Minister also launched Two India-United States Defence
Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS X) challenges under ‘INDUS-X Mutual Promotion of Advanced
Collaborative Technologies’ (IMPACT) finalised by iDEX and the United States Department of Defense
(US DoD).
· The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has recently handed over the first twin-seater
Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas to the Indian Air Force, in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
· The Indian navy unveiled the Autonomous Weaponized Boat Swarms and the Autonomous
Vessel Underwater (AUV) during the Swavlamban 2.0.

Question 2

2. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the 11th India-United Arab
   Emirates (UAE) high-level joint task force on investments in Abu Dhabi, UAE held in October
   2023?
   A) During 11th India-UAE high-level joint task force, UAE and India have signed an MoU in
   seven areas such as supply chain resilience, renewable energy and energy efficiency, health
   and life sciences, space systems, AI, Industry 4.0 and advanced technologies.
   B) NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) and Al Etihad Payments (AEP) entered into an
   agreement to implement a Domestic Card Scheme (DCS) in the UAE.
   C) The 11th High-Level Joint Task Force Meeting between the UAE and India focused on
   reviewing the progress made on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)
   and discussed various aspects of bilateral economic cooperation.
   1) Only A
   2) Only A & B
   3) Only B & C
   4) Only A & C
   5) All A, B & C

Answer 2

Answer- 5) All A, B & C
Explanation:
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and India have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
during the 11th India-UAE high-level joint task force on investments in Abu Dhabi, the capital of
United Arab Emirates (UAE).
i. India and the UAE have signed an MoU in seven areas such as supply chain resilience, renewable
energy and energy efficiency, health and life sciences, space systems, AI, Industry 4.0 and advanced
technologies, as well as standardisation and metrology.
· These MoUs align with the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
(CEPA), which aims to strengthen the UAE’s role as a trade and logistics hub.
ii. NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) and Al Etihad Payments (AEP) entered into an
agreement to implement a Domestic Card Scheme (DCS) in the UAE.
· This partnership is set to revolutionize e-commerce, digital payments, and financial inclusion
in the UAE, leveraging India’s expertise in secure payment systems and its widely acclaimed RuPay
card network.
iii. The 11th High-Level Joint Task Force Meeting between the UAE and India focused on reviewing
the progress made on the CEPA and discussed various aspects of bilateral economic cooperation.

Question 3

3. Which Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) has recently (in Oct ‘23) signed an MoU with the
   Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) to set up a Digital Twin Center for Emerging
   Automotive Systems?
   1) IIT Delhi
   2) IIT Bombay
   3) IIT Guwahati
   4) IIT Madras
   5) IIT Kanpur

Answer 3

Answer- 3) IIT Guwahati

Explanation:
The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati(Assam) for establishing a Common
Engineering Facility Center (CEFC) titled “Digital Twin Center for Emerging Automotive Systems” in
the Hub and Spoke model.
i. This CEFC was established under the Capital Goods Scheme Phase II of the Ministry of Heavy
Industries (MHI) by ARAI in collaboration with industry partner Micelio Mobility Private Limited.
ii. The CEFC will enable “Smart Advanced Manufacturing and Rapid Transformation Hub (SAMARTH)
Udyog Bharat 4.0,” to benefit the industry, particularly Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises
(MSMEs) and startups, by creating digital twins for the different systems across industries.
Note- ARAI, the leading automotive R&D organization in India is an autonomous body under the aegis
of the MHI.

Question 4

4. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the visit of Prime Minister (PM)
   Narendra Modi to Rajasthan & Madhya Pradesh in October 2023?
   A) PM inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for multiple projects in Jodhpur, Rajasthan,
   with a total estimated value of around Rs 5000 crores.
   B) During his visit to Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, a Rs.500 commemorative coin and postage
   stamp were released to mark the 500th birth anniversary of Veerangana Rani Durgavati.
   C) The Prime Minister inaugurated more than 1000 houses constructed under the Light House
   Project in Indore, part of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U).
   1) All A, B & C
   2) Only A & B
   3) Only B & C
   4) Only A & C
   5) Only A

Answer 4

Answer- 1) All A, B & C
Explanation:
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi visited Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and launched multiple
development projects on October 5, 2023.
i. PM Dedicates and Lays Foundation for Rs 5000 Crore Projects in Jodhpur, Rajasthan
· On October 5, 2023, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation
stone for multiple projects in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, with a total estimated value of around Rs 5000
crores. These projects span various sectors, including healthcare, education, transportation, and
infrastructure.
· The PM inaugurated the development of a new state-of-the-art terminal building at Jodhpur
Airport. To be built at a total cost of Rs 480 crore, the New Terminal Building will be developed in an
area of about 24,000 sqm.
· The Prime Minister inaugurated the doubling of the 145 km long Degana-Rai Ka Bagh rail
line and the 58 km long Degana-Kuchaman City rail line.
ii. The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, recently visited Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, where he
laid the foundation stone and dedicated several development projects worth more than Rs 12,600
crore.
· The Prime Minister inaugurated more than 1000 houses constructed under the Light House Project
in Indore, part of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U).

· The Prime Minister performed the ‘bhoomi poojan’ for the ‘Veerangana Rani Durgavati Smarak
aur Udyaan‘ in Jabalpur.To mark the 500th birth anniversary of Veerangana Rani Durgavati, a
Rs.500 commemorative coin and postage stamp were released.
· The PM inaugurated projects worth more than Rs 4800 crore for improving the road
infrastructure in Madhya Pradesh. He laid the foundation stone of projects including the upgradation
of road connecting Jharkheda– Berasia – Dholkhedi of NH 346.

Question 5

5. Who has been recently (in Oct ‘23) awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize 2023?
   1) Abiy Ahmed (Ethiopia)
   2) Dmitry Muratov (Russia)
   3) Ales Bialiatski (Belorussia)
   4) Narges Mohammadi (Iran)
   5) Maria Ressa (Philippines)

Answer 5

Answer- 4) Narges Mohammadi (Iran)
Explanation:
On October 6, 2023, Nobel Peace Prize 2023 was awarded
to 51-year-old Narges Mohammadi from Iran “for her fight
against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to
promote human rights and freedom for all”.
i. With this win, she became the 2nd Iranian woman to win
the Nobel Peace Prize after Shirin Ebadi (also the first
Muslim woman) who won the award in 2003.
ii. Notably, Narges Mohammadi is currently serving a 10-year, 9-month jail sentence in Evin Prison in
Tehran on various charges, including spreading propaganda against the state.
iii. The winner was announced by the chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee 2023, Berit Reiss-
Andersen.
Note- From 1901 to 2023, the Peace Prize has been awarded 104 times to 141 laureates, including
111 individuals and 30 organisations.

Question 6

6. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the Appointments Committee
   of the Cabinet’s (ACC) approval to appoint the Executive Directors (EDs) of various Public
   Sector Banks (PSBs) in October 2023?
   A) The ACC chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the appointment of 12 Chief
   General Managers (CGMs) and General Managers (GMs) as Executive Directors (EDs) of various
   Public Sector Banks (PSBs).
   B) Lal Singh, CGM of Punjab National Bank has been appointed as the ED of Bank of India for a
   period of 3 years with effect from the date of assumption of office.
   C) Brajesh Kumar Singh, CGM of BoB has been appointed as the ED of Indian Bank for a period
   of 3 years effective from March 2024.
   1) Only A
   2) Only A & B
   3) Only B & C
   4) Only A & C
   5) All A, B & C

Answer 6

Answer- 4) Only A & C

Explanation:
On October 7, 2023, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) chaired by Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, approved the appointment of 12 Chief General Managers (CGMs) and General
Managers (GMs) as Executive Directors (EDs) of various Public Sector Banks (PSBs).
i. Lal Singh, CGM of Union Bank of India (UBI) has been appointed as the ED of Bank of Baroda
(BoB) for a period of 3 years with effect from the date of assumption of office.
· It is noted that he shall be eligible for an extension of the term of office, after a review of his
performance, till attaining the age of superannuation (i.e., 31.01.2027), or until further orders.
ii. Brajesh Kumar Singh, CGM of BoB has been appointed as the ED of Indian Bank for a period of 3
years effective from March 2024.
iii. Rohit Rishi, CGM of Indian Bank has been appointed as ED of Bank of Maharashtra (BOM) for a
period of 3 years effective from November 2023.

Question 7

7. In October 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) constituted a 9 member external Working
   Group chaired by ____________ to suggest Expected Credit Loss (ECL) framework for provisioning
   by banks.
   1) Raghuram G. Rajan
   2) R. Narayanaswamy
   3) B. P. Kanungo
   4) Muneesh Kapur
   5) Urjit R. Patel

Answer 7

Answer- 2) R. Narayanaswamy
Explanation:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has constituted a 9 member external Working Group chaired by
Prof. R. Narayanaswamy to suggest Expected Credit Loss (ECL) framework for provisioning by
banks.
i. R Narayanaswamy is a retired Indian accountant and former Professor of Indian Institute of
Management (IIM) Bangalore, Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Note- RBI has appointed Muneesh Kapur as Executive Director (ED) with effect from October 3,
2023.
· As executive director, Muneesh Kapur will monitor the Department of Economic and Policy
Research.

Question 8

8. Name the space agency/company that has recently (in Oct ‘23) launched the first two
   prototype satellites, KuiperSat-1 and KuiperSat-2, by United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Atlas V
   rocket to low Earth orbit (LEO) for Project Kuiper Satellite System.
   1) Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
   2) Neuralink Corp
   3) SpaceX
   4) Amazon.com, Inc
   5) Virgin Galactic

Answer 8

Answer- 4) Amazon.com, Inc
Explanation:
Amazon.com, Inc.(AMZN.O) has launched the first two prototype satellites KuiperSat-1 and
KuiperSat-2 to low Earth orbit (LEO) at the height of 500 kilometers (311 miles) as part
of “Protoflight” mission of Project Kuiper.
i. The satellite was launched by United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Atlas V rocket from Space Launch
Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, United States of America (USA).
ii. Project Kuiper satellite system is a network of satellites in LEO. The Kuiper System will operate at
altitudes between 590 and 630 kilometers (roughly 367 to 391 miles).
· To launch the satellite Amazon has signed contracts with three commercial space companies
namely Arianespace, Blue Origin, and United Launch Alliance.

Question 9

9. Name the Indian badminton player who has recently (in Oct ‘23) won the bronze medal in
   the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Junior Championships 2023 held in Spokane,
   United States of America (USA).
   1) Aditya Sharma
   2) Gaurav Kumar Singh
   3) Ayush Shetty
   4) Sankar Muthusamy
   5) Arpit Panda

Answer 9

Answer- 3) Ayush Shetty
Explanation:
India’s Ayush Shetty won the bronze medal in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World
Junior Championships 2023 held from 25th September to 8th October 2023 in Spokane, United
States of America (USA).
i. Alwi Farhan of Indonesia won the gold medal by defeating Hu Zhe An of China (Silver) in the 23rd
edition of the BWF World Junior Championships finals.
ii. The 18-year-old Ayush Shetty’s bronze medal was India’s 11th medal including 1 Gold, 4 Silver, and
6 Bronze at the junior badminton world championships since 1992.
iii. Saina Nehwal won the gold medal in 2008 (India’s best) and silver in 2006 while India’s Sankar
Muthusamy Subramanian won silver in 2022in Spain.

Question 10

10. What was the theme of Indian Air Force (IAF) Day 2023 that was observed across India on
    8th October 2023?
    1) IAF – Touch the Sky with Glory
    2) IAF – Airpower Beyond Boundaries
    3) IAF – Know your Air Force
    4) IAF – Untiring efforts and supreme sacrifices of its personnel
    5) IAF – Transforming for the Future

Answer 10

Answer- 2) IAF – Airpower Beyond Boundaries
Explanation:
The 91st Anniversary of the Indian Air Force (IAF) Day 2023 observed across India on 8th October
2023 to commemorate the establishment of the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 1932.
i. The theme of Indian Air Force Day 2023 is ‘IAF – Airpower Beyond Boundaries’.
ii. The Indian Air Force (IAF) celebrated the day in Air Force Station Bamrauli in Prayagraj (formerly
known as Allahabad), Uttar Pradesh.
· Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari unveiled the new IAF Ensign.
· The new ensign will feature the IAF crest in the top right corner(towards the fly side), which
includes the national symbol of the Ashoka lion on top with the wordings –
“सत्यमेव जयते” Satyameva
Jayate – Truth alone Triumphs(in Devanagari) and a Himalayan eagle with its wings spread below it.
· The legendary Mikoyan-Gurevich (MiG)-21 fighter jets of the Indian Air Force (IAF) took its
final air display flight on IAF day 2023. The IAF is replacing these Russian-made squadrons with the
Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mark 1A by 2025.
Note- The Indian Air Force is also known as Bharatiya Vayu Sena. IAF was founded on October 8,
1932, with six Hawker Hart biplanes under the name Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF).

Question 11

11. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the recent step taken by the
    Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MoCI) under the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023 in
    October 2023?
    A) Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal, launched a new initiative for issuing
    system-based automatic ‘Status Holder’ certificates under the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023.
    B) The new system eliminates the need for exporters to apply for a Status Certificate from the
    Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR).
    C) The Export recognition is automated through the IT system using existing merchandise
    export data and risk parameters from Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and
    Statistics (DGCIS).
    1) Only A
    2) Only A & B
    3) Only B & C
    4) Only A & C
    5) All A, B & C

Answer 11

Answer- 4) Only A & C
Explanation:
On October 9, 2023, Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MoCI),
launched a new initiative for issuing system-based automatic ‘Status Holder’ certificates under the
Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023.
· The initiative was launched during the meeting with Export Promotion Councils.
What is in the system:
· The new system eliminates the need for exporters to apply for a Status Certificate from the
Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).
· Export recognition is automated through the IT (Information Technology) system using
existing merchandise export data and risk parameters from Directorate General of Commercial
Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS).
· This streamlines the process, reduces compliance burden, and promotes ease of doing
business.
· Eligible exporters can modify their status online later, ensuring a simplified process without
the need for manual applications or certifications.
Note: At present, there are around 14 Export Promotion Councils under the administrative control of
the Department of Commerce.

Question 12

12. In October 2023, South Asia’s first Aircraft Recovery Training School (ARTS) has
    established in ____________(Airport).
    1) Chennai International Airport
    2) Indira Gandhi International Airport
    3) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport
    4) Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport
    5) Kempegowda International Airport

Answer 12

Answer- 5) Kempegowda International Airport
Explanation:
Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) has established South Asia’s first Aircraft Recovery
Training School (ARTS) on the premises of Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru
(KIAB/BLR Airport) in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
i. BIAL formed a strategic partnership with KUNZ GmbH Aircraft Equipment, Germany.
ii. BIAL is the first airport in India to acquire Code F compatible aircraft recovery equipment and
assemble a proficient team of recovery managers.
iii. The Aircraft Recovery Training School (ARTS) provides aircraft recovery hands-on training,
equipped with state-of-the-art Disabled Aircraft Recovery Equipment (DARE).

Question 13

13. Which Company/Financial Institutions has recently (in Oct ‘23) sanctioned loans worth Rs
    8,800 crore for airports and civil aviation infrastructure development in India?
    1) Industrial Finance Corporation of India
    2) Infrastructure Development Finance Company
    3) Srei Infrastructure Finance Limited
    4) National Bank For Financing Infrastructure And Development
    5) India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited

Answer 13

Answer- 5) India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited
Explanation:
India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL) has sanctioned loans worth Rs 8,800 crore
for airports and civil aviation infrastructure development in India.
· The IIFCL has already sanctioned loans of around Rs 4,000 crore.
Funding:
i. IIFCL is one of India’s major airport financiers and has supported airports with a total project outlay
of about Rs 74,000 crore.
ii. IIFCL along with the Government of India will continue to support the development of world-class
airport infrastructure in India under the Public-Private-Partnership(PPP) model.
· It will also explore opportunities to fund greenfield airport projects and Maintenance, Repairs
and Overhaul (MRO) facilities.

Question 14

14. Who has been recently (in Oct ‘23) awarded with the 2023 Nobel Economics Prize by the
    Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences?
    1) Douglas Diamond (United States of America)
    2) Bengt Holmström (Finland)
    3) Claudia Goldin (United States of America)
    4) Philip H. Dybvig (United Kingdom)
    5) David Card (Canada)

Answer 14

Answer- 3) Claudia Goldin (United States of America)
Explanation:
Professor Claudia Goldin of Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, the United States of
America (USA) won the 2023 Nobel Economics Prize, formally known as the Sveriges Riksbank
Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, for her research contributions to the
understanding of women’s roles and outcomes in the labour market.
i. The Prize in Economic Sciences is awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Stockholm,
Sweden, it shares the same principles as the Nobel Prizes, which have been awarded since 1901.
ii. Claudia Goldin is the 55th recipient of the Economic Science Prize since its inception in 1969.
iii. She is the 3rd woman to receive the award after Elinor Ostrom (USA) in 2009 and Esther Duflo
(French-American) in 2019. She is also the first woman to win the prize solo.
· In 2009, Elinor Ostrom became the 1st woman to win the Economics prize. She shared the
award with Oliver E Williamson. Esther Duflo shared the 2019 award with her husband Abhijit
Banerjee, and Michael Kremer.

Question 15

15. Which organisation has recently (in Oct ‘23) re-elected Nandini Azad as a member for the
    2nd term?
    1) Universal Postal Union
    2) Inter-Parliamentary Union
    3) International Trade Union Confederation
    4) International Telecommunication Union
    5) International Raiffeisen Union

Answer 15

Answer- 5) International Raiffeisen Union
Explanation:
Nandini Azad, President of the Indian Cooperative Network for Women (ICNW) and the Working
Women’s Forum (WWF) (India), has been re-elected as a member of the International Raiffeisen
Union (IRU) Board for the 2nd term.
i. In 2018, she was elected to the IRU Board becoming the first Indian and first woman to be appointed
to the post.
ii. At Present, she is also serving as the Chairperson of the International Cooperative Alliance(ICA) –
Asia Pacific(AP) Committee on Women.
iii. Other Noted appointment:
· Guy Hoffmann from Banque Raiffeisen Luxembourg has been elected as the new IRU President,
succeeding Franky Depickere from Cera.
· National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI) President Dileepbhai Sanghani has been re-elected
unopposed as the director on the board of IRU.

Question 16

16. Which of the following points is “Incorrect” with respect to the Hangzhou 2022 Asian
    Games (19th edition of Asian games) held from September to October 2023?
    1) India finished fourth in the medal tally of the Hangzhou Asian Games 2022 with 107 medals (28
    gold, 38 silver, and 41 bronze), which is India’s highest medal tally at the Asian Games.
    2) Tarundeep Rai became the first Indian archer to win three gold medals (men’s individual, men’s
    compound team and mixed team event) in the Asian Games.
    3) Neeraj Chopra won his second consecutive gold medal in the men’s Javelin throw in the Asian
    games with a best throw of 88.88 metres.

4) Parul Chaudhary won two medals including gold medal in the women’s 5000m race and the silver
medal in the 3000m women’s steeplechase.
5) Avinash Sable was the first Indian to win the gold medal in the 3000m men’s steeplechase event in
any Asian Games.

Answer 16

Answer- 2) Tarundeep Rai became the first Indian archer to win three gold medals (men’s
individual, men’s compound team and mixed team event) in the Asian Games.
Explanation:
India finished Fourth in the medal tally of the Hangzhou Asian Games 2022 with 107 medals (28
gold, 38 silver and 41 bronze).
· The People’s Republic of China tops the medal tally with 383 medals (201 gold, 111 silver and
71 bronze) followed by Japan with a total 188 medals ( 52 gold, 67 silver and 69 bronze).
· The 19th edition of the Asian Games marks India’s record for the highest medal tally so far,
surpassing the previous record medal tally of 70 medals (16 gold, 23 silver, and 31 bronze) at the
Jakarta Asian Games 2018.
· India won the highest number of medals in the Shooting event with 22 medals (7 Gold, 9 Silver,
and 6 Bronze).
· It was followed by Athletics 29 medals (6 Gold,14 Silver, and 9 Bronze) and Archery 9 medals
(5 Gold, 2 Silver, and 2 Bronze).
· Nagpur’s (Maharashtra) Ojas Pravin Deotale won three gold medals in Archery including
men’s individual, men’s compound team event along with Abhishek Verma and Prathamesh
Jawkar, mixed team event along with Jyothi Surekha Vennam
· He was the first Indian archer to win three gold medals in the Asian Games so far.
· Neeraj Chopra won his second consecutive gold medal in the men’s Javelin throw in the Asian
games with a best throw of 88.88 metres, while Annu Rani from India won the gold medal in the
women’s Javelin throw with the best throw of 62.92m.
· India’s Kishore Kumar Jena won the silver medal with the best throw of 87.54 metres in the
men’s Javelin throw.
· Parul Chaudhary won two medals including gold medal in the women’s 5000m race and the
silver medal in the 3000m women’s steeplechase. He also holds the national record for the 5000m
with a time of 15:10.35.
· Avinash Sable was the first Indian to win the gold medal in the 3000m men’s steeplechase
event in any Asian Games. Avinash also won the silver medal in the men’s 5000m race.
· Avinash finished the race in 8:19.50 minutes, breaking the previous Asian Games record of
8:22.79 minutes by Iran’s Hossein Keyhani in 2018.
· Sable’s medal was India’s first in the men’s 5000m since Raj Kumar’s bronze medal in 1982.

Question 17

17. In October 2023, the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers (MoC&F) launched a web portal
    to provide statistical data related to the chemical sector for the benefit of all stakeholders.
    The web portal developed by the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals along with the
    __________ (GoI office/Authority) .
    1) National Informatics Centre
    2) Indian Telephone Industries Limited
    3) Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
    4) Centre for Advanced Research & Development
    5) Centre for Development of Telematics

Answer 17

Answer- 1) National Informatics Centre
Explanation:
The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers(MoC&F) has launched a web portal
(www.charak.chemicals.gov.in) to provide statistical data related to the chemical sector for the benefit
of all stakeholders.
i. The portal was launched during the Sensitization workshop on ChemIndia – Chemicals Inventory of
India: An Online Data Management System in New Delhi, Delhi.
ii. The workshop was organised by the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals(DOCP), MoC&F
and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI).
iii. The web portal developed by the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals along with the
National Informatics Center(NIC).
iv. The portal aims to provide statistical data on the chemical sector to all stakeholders.

Question 18

18. In which state, the 2023 edition of the Annual Joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster
    Relief (HADR) Exercise (AJHE) – “CHAKRAVAT 2023” has conducted by the Indian Navy (IN) in
    October 2023?
    1) Karnataka
    2) Maharashtra
    3) Goa
    4) West Bengal
    5) Odisha

Answer 18

Answer- 3) Goa
Explanation:
The 2023 edition of the Annual Joint Humanitarian
Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Exercise (AJHE) –
“CHAKRAVAT 2023” was conducted by the Indian
Navy (IN) at Goa from 09th to 11th October 2023.
i. AJHE is the result of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s
preference conveyed during the Combined
Commanders’ Conference in 2015.
ii. To address the challenges posed by climate change in
the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), the Indian armed forces conduct HADR operations as part of India’s
Security And Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) initiative.
iii. This exercise evolved the Indian armed forces’s assistance in disaster times as a collaborative
government approach that enhanced India’s preparedness and response to natural disasters.

Question 19

19. Which bank has recently (in Oct ‘23) partnered with Social Worth Technologies Private
    Limited (Fibe) to launch India’s first-ever numberless credit card?
    1) Axis Bank
    2) YES Bank
    3) HDFC Bank
    4) ICICI Bank
    5) IndusInd Bank

Answer 19

Answer- 1) Axis Bank

Explanation:
Axis Bank Limited and Social Worth Technologies Private Limited (Fibe) (formely known as
EarlySalary) have partnered to launch India’s first-ever numberless credit card called Fibe Axis
Bank Credit Card.
i. The card, powered by Rupay, also allows the customer to link this credit card to Unified Payments
Interface (UPI).
ii. The Fibe Axis Bank Credit Card offers financial solutions by targeting tech-savvy Generation Z
(people born between 1996 and 2010) of India.
iii. The card does not have any card number, expiry date, or Card Verification Value (CVV) printed on
it.
· The cardholders can access their card details in Fibe mobile application (App).

Question 20

20. Name the Payment Aggregator that has recently (in Oct ‘23) received ISO/IEC 27001: 2022
    certification.
    1) Phi Commerce Private Limited
    2) Infibeam Avenues Limited
    3) Worldline ePayments India
    4) Paysharp Private Limited
    5) Pine Labs Private Limited

Answer 20

Answer- 4) Paysharp Private Limited
Explanation:
Chennai (Tamil Nadu)-based Paysharp Private Limited (Paysharp), a Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in-
principle licence-approved Payment Aggregator, gets ISO/IEC 27001: 2022 certification, the world’s
best-known standard for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS).
i. Paysharp, a fintech startup founded in 2019, is focusing on non-card-based payments like Unified
Payments Interface (UPI) payments. It offers both Business-to-business (B2B) and Business-to-
consumer (B2C) businesses, offering a range of UPI collection solutions.
ii. ISO/IEC 27001 helps organisations become risk-aware and proactively identify and address
weaknesses. It promotes a comprehensive approach to information security.

Question 21

21. According to the 19th Quarterly Bulletin (QB) of Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for
    April-June 2023 (Q1FY24) released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) in October 2023,
    India’s urban unemployment rate (UR) in Current Weekly Status (CWS) terms for persons aged
    15 years and above declined to _________ during Q1FY24.
    1) 6.3%
    2) 6.6%
    3) 6.9%
    4) 6.7%
    5) 6.2%

Answer 21

Answer- 2) 6.6%
Explanation:
On October 9, 2023, the National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme
Implementation (MoSPI) released its 19th Quarterly Bulletin(QB) of Periodic Labour Force Survey
(PLFS) for April-June 2023 (Q1FY24).

As per it, India’s urban unemployment rate (UR) in Current Weekly Status (CWS) terms for
persons aged 15 years and above declined to 6.6% during Q1FY24 from 6.8% during Q4FY23. It was
7.6% in April-June 2022 (Q1FY23).
· The UR for Q1FY24 is lower than the URs observed in the quarters covered in the pre-
pandemic period.
· A total number of 5,639 FSUs- First Stage Unit (UFS- Urban Frame Survey blocks) have been
surveyed during Q1FY24. The number of urban households surveyed was 44,190 and the number of
persons surveyed was 1,67,916 in urban areas.
· UR in CWS among male population declined to 5.9% as compared to 7.1 in Q1FY23.
· At all India levels, the Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) in CWS increased to 48.8% from
47.5% in April-June 2022 (Q1FY23).
· Worker Population Ratio (WPR- in %) in CWS increased to 45.5% from 43.9% in Q1FY23.

Question 22

22. According to World Economic Outlook (WEO)-Navigating Global Divergences‘ released in
    October 2023, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised India’s Gross Domestic
    Product (GDP) growth forecast to __________ for 2023.
    1) 6.5%
    2) 6.7%
    3) 6.3%
    4) 6.1%
    5) 6.5%

Answer 22

Answer- 3) 6.3%
Explanation:
According to World Economic Outlook (WEO), October 2023 -Navigating Global Divergences‘ the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast
to 6.3% in 2023 from July 2023 estimate of 6.1% due to 7.8% growth during the June quarter.
· India will also grow at 6.3% in 2024 while remaining the world’s fastest growing major
economy in 2023 and 2024.
· The IMF’s 2023 growth forecast for India is the same as the World Bank’s (WB) projection in
its India Development Update(IDU) October 2023.
i. Global economic growth will slow to 3% in 2023 from 3.5% in 2022, a fall by 50 basis points. It will
be 2.9% in 2024.
ii. Global inflation will decline steadily to 6.9% in 2023 from 8.7% in 2022. It will be 5.8% in 2024.

Question 23

23. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the 360 One Wealth Hurun
    India Rich List 2023 released in October 2023?
    A) Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Industries limited(RIL) tops the 360 One Wealth
    Hurun India Rich List 2023 followed by Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group.
    B) Radha Vembu, product manager of Zoho, overtakes Falguni Nayar of Nykaa to become the
    richest self-made Indian woman with a net worth of Rs 36,000 crore.
    C) Manish Kejriwal of Kedaara Capital becomes the first Indian private equity fund manager on
    the list with Rs 3,000 crore net worth.
    1) Only A
    2) Only A & B
    3) Only B & C

4) Only A & C
5) All A, B & C

Answer 23

Answer- 5) All A, B & C
Explanation:
“360 One Wealth Hurun India Rich List 2023”, the 12th–anniversary edition of Hurun India Rich
List released in association with 360 One Wealth, is topped by Mukesh Ambani(66), Chairman of
Reliance Industries limited(RIL).
· Mukesh Ambani has regained the title as India’s richest man with a wealth of Rs 8,08,700
crore.
· Gautam Adani(61), Chairman of the Adani Group, is ranked 2nd with a wealth of Rs 474800
crore. In 2022 Adani topped the list, he was ahead of Ambani by a wealth gap of Rs 3 lakh crore & with
a wealth of Rs 2,78,500 crore, Cyrus Poonawalla (82) retained the third position in the list.
· India has added 38 billionaires to its rich list, taking the total tally to 259.
i. Manish Kejriwal of Kedaara Capital becomes the first Indian private equity fund manager on the
list with Rs 3,000 crore net worth.
ii. With 328 individuals, Mumbai, Maharashtra tops 360 One Wealth Hurun India Rich List 2023,
followed by New Delhi, Delhi (199) and Bengaluru, Karnataka (100).
iii. Radha Vembu(50), product manager of Zoho, overtakes Falguni Nayar (60) of Nykaa to become
the richest self-made Indian woman with a net worth of Rs 36,000 crore.
· She is ranked 40th on the list while Falguni Nayar ranked 86th with a net worth of Rs 22,500
crore.
iv. According to the 360 One Wealth Hurun India Rich List 2023, with 12.6 million followers on
Twitter, Ratan Tata (84) is the most followed entrepreneur on Indian social media.

Question 24

24. Who has recently (in Oct ‘23) won the Qatar GP 2023 to win the 3rd Formula One (F1)
    World Championship Title?
    1) Max Verstappen
    2) Carlos Sainz
    3) Charles Leclerc
    4) Lewis Hamilton
    5) Sergio Pérez

Answer 24

Answer- 1) Max Verstappen
Explanation:
Max Verstappen, the Belgian- Dutch driver of Red Bull added his name to the list of Formula One
(F1) triple champions.
i. Max Verstappen achieved this feat by securing 2nd place in Qatar Grand Prix 2023 sprint race,
Australian driver of McLaren Oscar Piastri won the Sprint race.
ii. Later on, Max Verstappen won the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix main race event, followed by Australian
driver of McLaren, Oscar Piastri and British driver of McLaren, Lando Norris.
iii. With this win Max has won the consecutive F1 World Championship in (2023, 2022 & 2021).
iv. Max became a part of the three time Champions that includes Brazilians Ayrton Senna and Nelson
Piquet, Austrian Niki Lauda, Britain’s Jackie Stewart, and Australian Jack Brabham.

Question 25

25. In October 2023, Italian tennis player ____________ won the China Open 2023 men’s single
    title against Daniil Medvedev (Russia) for the first time, while Iga Swiatek from __________
    (country) won the China Open 2023 women’s single title.
    1) Matteo Berrettini; Poland
    2) Fabio Fognini; Spain
    3) Jannik Sinner; Poland
    4) Fabio Fognini; Croatia
    5) Jannik Sinner; Spain

Answer 25

Answer- 3) Jannik Sinner; Poland
Explanation:
Jannik Sinner of Italy won the China Open 2023 men’s single title against Daniil Medvedev
(Russia) for the first time. It was held at the Beijing Olympic Green Tennis Center, Beijing, China from
September 28 – October 04 2023.
· Sinner defeated World No. 2 and top seed Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) in the semi-finals. It was the
22nd edition of the China Open (1993 to 2023).
i. Iga Swiatek (Poland) won the China Open 2023 women’s single title, beating her opponent
Liudmila Samsonova (Russia) & she won her fifth title of the season 2023 with a 6-2 6-2 victory
against Liudmila Samsonova.
· Ivan Dodig (Croatia) and Austin Krajicek (United States) clinched their fifth tour-level title of
the season (2023) at the China Open 2023 by defeating Wesley Koolhof (Netherlands) and Neal
Skupski (United Kingdom).
· Marie Bouzková (Czechia) and Sara Sorribes Tormo (Spain) defeated Chan Hao-ching (Taiwan)
and Giuliana Olmos (Mexico) in the final

Question 26

26. As per the ‘Gas 2023 Medium-Term Market Report’ released by the International Energy
    Agency (IEA) in October 2023, India’s natural gas demand is expected to rise by ________ in 2023.
    1) 2%
    2) 4%
    3) 6%
    4) 5%
    5) 3%

Answer 26

Answer- 2) 4%
Explanation:
The International Energy Agency (IEA) released its ‘Gas 2023 Medium-Term Market Report‘. As per it,
India’s natural gas demand is expected to rise by 4% in 2023 calendar year and will continue to
increase at an average annual rate of about 8% till 2026.
• This growth will be driven by power, petrochemical and fertiliser sectors & India’s primary gas
supply rising by 2% in the first eight months of 2023.
• After a sharp 6% drop in 2022, India’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports rose by 8% in the
first eight months of 2023 compared to the same in 2022.
i. Global gas demand is expected to increase by 1.6% annually from 2022 to 2026, down from the
previous average of 2.5% per year from 2017 to 2021.
• Global LNG capacity is expected to expand by 25% between 2022 and 2026 & the United States
(US) will retain its position as the world’s largest LNG exporter.

Question 27

27. In which state, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) has recently (in
    Oct ‘23) launched the ‘A-HELP’ (Accredited Agent for Health and Extension of Livestock
    Production) program?
    1) Uttar Pradesh
    2) Kerala
    3) Punjab
    4) Jharkhand
    5) Andhra Pradesh

Answer 27

Answer- 4) Jharkhand
Explanation:
The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal
Husbandry and Dairying(MoFAHD) launched the ‘A-HELP’ (Accredited Agent for Health and
Extension of Livestock Production) program in Jharkhand.
i. The initiative was launched through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between DAHD and
National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) under the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD).
ii. Badal Patralekh, Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry & Co-operative, Govt. of Jharkhand was
the chief guest of the launch programme.
iii. A-HELP to empower women by engaging them as Accredited Agents who contribute to essential
tasks such as disease control, animal tagging, and livestock insurance.
Note- A-HELP has already been initiated across 6 states including Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya
Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jharkhand, and one Union Territory (UT) Jammu and Kashmir(J&K).

Question 28

28. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the step made by the Reserve
    Bank of India (RBI) in October 2023?
    A) RBI has decided to extend the Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) Framework to all deposit
    taking government NBFCs and non-deposit taking government NBFCs in middle, upper and top
    Layers (excluding base layer) with effect from October 1, 2024.
    B) RBI under section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, has ordered Bank of Baroda to
    immediately suspend the process of adding more customers to the ‘bob World’ mobile
    application.
    C) As per the RBI’s monetary policy report, the Personal loans /Retail loans form the biggest
    component of bank credit at 32.1 percent of outstanding credit, as of March 2023.
    1) All A, B & C
    2) Only A & B
    3) Only B & C
    4) Only A & C
    5) Only A

Answer 28

Answer- 1) All A, B & C
Explanation:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to extend the Prompt Corrective Action (PCA)
Framework to all deposit taking government NBFCs and non-deposit taking government NBFCs in
middle, upper and top Layers (excluding base layer) with effect from October 1, 2024.
• Major government-owned NBFCs that will be subject to the PCA Framework include entities
like Power Finance Corporation (PFC), Rural Electrification Corporation (REC), Indian Railway
Finance Corporation (IRFC), and Industrial Finance Corporation of India (IFCI).

i. The Reserve Bank of India, under section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, has ordered Bank
of Baroda to immediately suspend the process of adding more customers to the ‘bob World’ mobile
application.
ii. As per the RBI’s monetary policy report,bank lending has changed significantly, with more credit
now directed towards services and retail loans compared to industries.
• Personal loans now form the biggest component of bank credit (at 32.1% of outstanding
credit), followed by services (28.4%), industry (26.2%) and agriculture (13.3%).

Question 29

29. According to the 6th Annual Report ‘Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) [July, 2022 – June,
    2023]’ released by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) in October 2023, the
    Unemployment rate (UR) at 6-year low of _______ in 2022-23 under the Usual Status (ps+ss).
    1) 5.2%
    2) 3.2%
    3) 5.3%
    4) 4.5%
    5) 3.9%

Answer 29

Answer- 2) 3.2%
Explanation:
On October 9, 2023, the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme
Implementation (MoSPI) released the 6th Annual Report ‘Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS)
[July, 2022 – June, 2023]’ stating Unemployment rate (UR) at 6-year low of 3.2% in 2022-23
under the Usual Status (ps+ss). It was 6% in 2017-18.
• The UR in Current Weekly Status (CWS) decreased to 5.1% in 2022-23. It was 8.7% in 2017-18.
• The UR under the Usual Status during the one-year period declined for the 5th consecutive
year since it was launched in April 2017 while under CWS it decreased for the 3rd consecutive
year since April 2017.
• At all India level, UR decreased to 3.2% in 2022-23 from 4.1% in 2021-22
• At the all India level, the Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) increased to 57.9% in 2022-
23 from 55.2% in 2021-22.
• At the all India level, Worker Population Ratio (WPR) increased to 51.8% from 48.3% in 2021-
22.

Question 30

30. Which company has recently (in Oct ‘23) signed 2 MoU with two France-based Space firms
    Promethee Earth Intelligence and ConnectSAT to launch satellites on Vikram-I Rocket?
    1) Garuda Aerospace
    2) Tata Elxsi
    3) Agnikul Cosmos
    4) Dhruva Space
    5) Skyroot Aerospace

Answer 30

Answer- 5) Skyroot Aerospace
Explanation:
Skyroot Aerospace Private Limited, a Hyderabad (Telangana) -based space startup, has signed two
memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with two France-based Space firms Promethee Earth
Intelligence and ConnectSAT.
• The satellites of the French space firms are set to be launched on Vikram-I of the Skyroot.

i. Skyroot signed an MoU with Promethee to launch its Japetus earth observation constellation
onboard Skyroot’s Vikram rockets.
• The MoU was signed by Olivier Piepsz, Co-Founder and CEO of Prométhée, and Co-Founders of
Skyroot Aerospace, Pawan Chandana and Bharath Daka.
ii. Skyroot signed a trilateral MoU with ConnectSAT and Expleo to launch ConnectSAT’s OSIRIS
satellite constellation onboard Skyroot’s Vikram rockets.
• As part of the MoU, Expleo provides reconfigurable software for ConnectSAT’s Internet of
Things (IoT) satellite.

Question 31

31. Who has been recently (in Oct ‘23) elected as the Chairman of Association of Mutual Funds
    in India (AMFI)?
    1) Ajay Sharma
    2) Navneet Munot
    3) N.S.Venkatesh
    4) Anthony Heredia
    5) Jayanth Kumar

Answer 31

Answer- 2) Navneet Munot
Explanation:
Navneet Munot, Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of HDFC Asset
Management Co. Ltd (AMC), has been elected as the Chairman of Association of Mutual Funds in India
(AMFI).
i. He will take charge as chairman on 16th October 2023, succeeding A Balasubramanian, MD & CEO of
Aditya Birla Sun Life Asset Management Co. Ltd.
Note: The election took place at the 28th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of AMFI in September 2023.
i. Anthony Heredia, MD, and CEO of Mahindra Manulife Mutual Fund, was elected as Vice Chairman of
AMFI.
• He will take charge on 16th October 2023, succeeding Radhika Gupta, MD & CEO of Edelweiss
Asset Management Ltd.

Question 32

32. Name the cricketer who has been recently (in Oct ‘23) appointed as the new Chair of
    Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC)’s World Cricket Committee(WCC).
    1) Andrew Balbirnie (Ireland)
    2) Kraigg Brathwaite (West Indies)
    3) Pat Cummins (Australia)
    4) Jos Buttler (England)
    5) Kumar Chokshanada Sangakkara (Sri Lanka)

Answer 32

Answer- 5) Kumar Chokshanada Sangakkara (Sri Lanka)
Explanation:
The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has appointed former Sri Lankan Cricket Captain Kumar
Chokshanada Sangakkara as the new Chair of MCC’s World Cricket Committee (WCC).
i. He will succeed former England captain Mike Gatting, who has held the post since 2017.
ii. Kumar Sangakkara is currently the Director of Cricket and the Head Coach of the Rajasthan Royals
in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
• He was awarded Honorary Life Membership of the Club in 2011.

• He served as the President of the MCC from 2019-21; He became the 1st non-British President
of MCC.
• Former England Cricketer Mark Charles Jefford Nicholas will serve as the new President of
MCC. He was elected to MCC membership in 1981.

Question 33

33. In October 2023, SBI Funds Management Limited (SBIFML) received the Reserve Bank of
    India (RBI)‘s approval to acquire up to a 9.99% paid-up share capital in ___________ (Bank).
    1) IDFC FIRST Bank
    2) IndusInd Bank
    3) Karnataka Bank
    4) RBL Bank
    5) YES Bank

Answer 33

Answer- 2) IndusInd Bank
Explanation:
SBI Funds Management Limited (SBIFML) has received the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)‘s approval to
acquire up to a 9.99% paid-up share capital in IndusInd Bank Limited.
• This acquisition will allow the company to also hold 9.99% voting rights in the bank.
• The approval has been granted with reference to the application made by SBIFML to RBI.
i. The holding of SBIFML in IndusInd Bank should not exceed 9.99 % of the paid-up share capital or
voting rights of the Bank at all times.
ii. The RBI has given SBIFML one year time (till 10th October, 2024) to buy the shares of IndusInd
Bank.

Question 34

34. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the acquisition involving
    Hitachi Astemo Limited (HAL) that has approved by the Competition Commission of India (CCI)
    in October 2023?
    A) CCI approved the acquisition of 20% voting rights in HAL by JICC-01 Limited Partnership,
    along with certain control rights, board representation, and other rights.
    B) CCI approved the acquisition of an additional 6.6% voting stake in HAL by Honda Motor
    Company Limited (HMCL).
    C) CCI approved the acquisition of 49% stake in Hitachi Astemo Electric Motor Systems
    (HAEMS) by HAL.
    1) Only A
    2) Only A & B
    3) Only B & C
    4) Only A & C
    5) All A, B & C

Answer 34

Answer- 5) All A, B & C
Explanation:
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the following acquisition involving Hitachi
Astemo Limited (HAL), a Japanese public limited company that manufactures auto parts for
automobiles and two-wheeled motor vehicles in India.
• HAL was formed in 2021 by the merger of four Hitachi Automotive companies.
i. CCI approved the acquisition of 20% voting rights in HAL by JICC-01 Limited Partnership, along
with certain control rights, board representation, and other rights.

• The JICC-01 Limited Partnership, managed by JICC G.K., is a wholly owned subsidiary of JIC
Capital, Ltd.
ii. CCI approved the acquisition of an additional 6.6% voting stake in HAL by Honda Motor
Company Limited (HMCL). With this, 40% of the voting rights in HAL is held by HMCL.
iii. CCI approved the acquisition of 49% stake in Hitachi Astemo Electric Motor Systems (HAEMS) by
HAL. With this HAL holds the 100% shareholdings of HAEMS.

Question 35

35. Name the company that has recently (in Oct ‘23) launched the first private suborbital
    European rocket ‘MIURA 1 SN1’.
    1) Skyrora Space
    2) Orbital Express
    3) PLD Space
    4) Astra Express
    5) Isar Aerospace

Answer 35

Answer- 3) PLD Space
Explanation:
The first private suborbital European rocket MIURA 1 SN1 was launched by Spanish space company
PLD Space.
• The reusable rocket was launched from El Arenosillo Experimentation Centre (CEDEA) of
Spanish National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA) in Huelva, Spain.
i. The rocket is of 12.5 meters in length with a propellent system of Kerosene and Cryogenic liquid
oxygen(KeroLOX)
ii. The rocket has TEPREL-B Liquid Bi-propellant engine developed by PLD Space.
• In 2021, it became the first KeroLOX rocket engine developed in Europe for space flights.
iii. The first flight of the MIURA 1 SN1 technology demonstrator aims to collect data about the flight
performance of the rocket and its systems.
iv. The launch also tested a technological device from the German Centre for Applied Space
Technology and Microgravity (ZARM) under microgravity conditions.

Question 36

36. Name the repatriation operation that has been recently (in Oct ‘23) launched by the
    Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), GoI to bring back Indian citizens from Israel amid the
    ongoing 2023 Israel–Hamas War.
    1) Operation Bharat
    2) Operation Ganga
    3) Operation Ajay
    4) Operation Kaveri
    5) Operation Raahat

Answer 36

Answer- 3) Operation Ajay
Explanation:
On 11 October 2023, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India (GoI) launched
‘Operation Ajay’, a repatriation operation, to bring back Indian citizens from Israel amid the
ongoing 2023 Israel–Hamas War.
· This operation aims to assist Indian citizens in Israel who wish to return to India.
· 2023 Israel-Hamas War is the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant groups led by Hamas

· The conflict started on 7th October 2023 when the Gaza-based Hamas militants invaded Israel
from the Gaza Strip.
· The operation Ajay was launched after Air India and other airlines suspended all its commercial
operations to and from Israel as the war began on October 7.

Question 37

37. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the 2nd edition of annual
    Indian Space Conclave (ISC 2023) held at New Delhi, Delhi in October 2023?
    A) The 2nd edition of annual Indian Space Conclave (ISC 2023) was organized by Indian Space
    Association (ISpA) with the theme of ‘Bhumandal se Brahaman Tak’ (From Earth to the Entire
    Universe)’.
    B) ISpA and GIFAS (Groupement des Industries Françaises Aéronautiques et Spatiales) signed
    an MoU to enhance the understanding of space industry capabilities and increase awareness of
    business opportunities in France & India.
    C) IBM in collaboration with Data Security Council of India and ISpA launched ‘Exploring
    opportunities for Indian downstream spacetech‘ report which stated Digital Public
    Infrastructure (DPI) as a booster to India’s space tech sector.
    1) Only A
    2) Only A & B
    3) Only B & C
    4) Only A & C
    5) All A, B & C

Answer 37

Answer- 2) Only A & B
Explanation:
From October 9 to 11, 2023, the 2nd edition of annual Indian Space Conclave (ISC 2023) was held at
Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi, Delhi. The conclave was organized by Indian Space Association
(ISpA).
· It was co-hosted by Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), an
autonomous agency in the Department of Space (DOS).
· The theme of ISC 2023 is ‘Bhumandal se Brahaman Tak’ (From Earth to the Entire Universe)’.
France was the special guest at the Indian Space Conclave 2023.
i. On the first day of ISC 2023, ISpA and GIFAS (Groupement des Industries Françaises Aéronautiques
et Spatiales) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the Indo-French Space Synergy
plenary session.
· ISpA is an apex non-profit industry body, set up exclusively for the successful collaborative
development of the Private Space Industry in India.
· Aim of the MoU: To enhance the understanding of space industry capabilities and increase
awareness of business opportunities in France and India
ii. During ISC 2023, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP (Deloitte) in collaboration with NASSCOM
(National Association of Software and Service Companies) , and ISpA launched a report
titled ‘Exploring opportunities for Indian downstream spacetech‘ stating Digital Public Infrastructure
(DPI) as a booster to India’s spacetech sector and positioning it as a global leader.

Question 38

38. In which state, Union Minister Arjun Munda, Ministry of Tribal Affairs(MoTA) has recently
    (in Oct ‘23) inaugurated “Aadi Mahotsav” – the National Tribal Festival?
    1) Jharkhand
    2) Sikkim
    3) Arunachal Pradesh
    4) Odisha
    5) Assam

Answer 38

Answer- 1) Jharkhand
Explanation:
On 7th October 2023, Union Minister Arjun Munda, Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA)
inaugurated “Aadi Mahotsav” – the National Tribal Festival, organised by Tribal Cooperative
Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED), at Jamshedpur, Jharkhand.
· The event will be held from 7th to 16th October 2023 commemorating the celebration of Azadi
Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
· Aadi Mahotsav is an annual initiative of MoTA to celebrate tribal entrepreneurship, crafts,
culture, cuisine, commerce and traditional art.
· The 2023 Aadi Mahotsav will showcase the talents of 336 tribal artisans and artists, including
members of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) and Van Dhan Vikas Kendra (VDVK)
beneficiaries.

Question 39

39. What is India’s rank in the Global Hunger Index(GHI) 2023, released in October 2023?
    1) 101st
    2) 107th
    3) 120th
    4) 111th
    5) 125th

Answer 39

Answer- 4) 111th
Explanation:
India ranks 111th out of the 125 countries with a score
of 28.7 in Global Hunger Index(GHI) 2023. India slipped
4 positions as compared to previous GHI ranking.
· In 2022, India ranked 107 out of 121 countries. In
2021, it was placed at 101 out of 116 countries.
i. In GHI 2023, 20 countries with 2023 GHI scores of less
than 5 are not assigned individual ranks, They are
collectively ranked 1–20. These 20 countries are:
· Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Chile, China, Croatia, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kuwait, Latvia,
Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Türkiye, United Arab
Emirates(UAE), and Uruguay.
ii. As per the GHI Severity of Hunger Scale, the country’s score in the range of 20.0 – 34.9 indicates
that it has a serious level of hunger. So with a score of 28.7, India has a level of hunger that is serious.
iii. The global score of GHI 2023 is 18.3 which is 0.8 less compared to 19.1 in 2015 and the global
hunger level is considered as ‘moderate’

Question 40

40. Name the Payments Bank that has recently (in Oct ‘23) received a monetary penalty of Rs
    5.39 crore by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
    1) Paytm Payments Bank
    2) Jio Payments Bank
    3) India Post Payments Bank
    4) Fino Payments Bank
    5) Airtel Payment Bank

Answer 40

Answer- 1) Paytm Payments Bank
Explanation:
On October 12, 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed a monetary penalty of Rs 5.39 Crore
on Paytm Payments Bank Limited (PPBL) in exercise of its powers conferred under the provisions of
Section 47A(1)(c) read with Section 46(4)(i) of the Banking Regulation (BR) Act, 1949.
i. This penalty will not affect any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its
customers.
ii. The penalty was imposed due to non-compliance with certain provisions of,
· Reserve Bank of India (Know Your Customer (KYC)) Directions, 2016
· RBI Guidelines for Licensing of Payments Banks’ read with ‘Enhancement of maximum balance at
end of the day.

Question 41

41. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the recent cabinet approval in
    October 2023?
    A) The Union Cabinet approved an amendment to the Second Schedule of the Mines and
    Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act) for specifying royalty rates for
    three critical and strategic minerals: Silicon, Cesium, and Rare Earth Elements (REEs).
    B) The Union Cabinet gave its approval for the creation of an autonomous organization known
    as “Mera Yuva Bharat” (MY Bharat).
    C) The Union Cabinet also has granted approval for the signing of an MoU between the Ministry
    of Electronics and Information Technology (India) and the Ministry of Economy, Finance, and
    Industrial and Digital Sovereignty of France on cooperation in the field of Digital Technologies.
    1) Only A
    2) Only A & B
    3) Only B & C
    4) Only A & C
    5) All A, B & C

Answer 41

Answer- 3) Only B & C
Explanation:
In a significant development, the Union Cabinet, presided over by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi,
• The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, approved an amendment to
the Second Schedule of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957
(MMDR Act) for specifying royalty rates for three critical and strategic minerals: Lithium,
Niobium, and Rare Earth Elements (REEs).
• On October 11, 2023, the Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, gave its
approval for the creation of an autonomous organization known as “Mera Yuva Bharat” (MY
Bharat).

• The Union Cabinet has granted approval for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) between the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (India) and the
Ministry of Economy, Finance, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty of the French Republic
(France). This landmark agreement is set to foster deeper collaboration in the realm of Digital
Technologies.
• The Union Cabinet of India has approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (India) and the Ministry of following
countries on cooperation in the field of sharing successful Digital Solutions implemented at
Population Scale for Digital Transformation.
· Ministry of Information and Communications Technology of Papua New Guinea.
· Ministry of Digital Transformation Technology of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Question 42

42. In October 2023, the Mahila thana of _________ (city) became the first women-centric police
    station across the entire India to be certified with the International Organization for
    Standardization (ISO) 9001:2015 certificate.
    1) Noida, Uttar Pradesh
    2) Patna, Bihar
    3) Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
    4) Berhampore, West Bengal
    5) Thane, Maharashtra

Answer 42

Answer- 3) Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
Explanation:
The Mahila thana (women’s police station) of Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) became the first women-
centric police station across the entire India to be certified with the International Organization for
Standardization (ISO) 9001:2015 certificate.
• The ISO certificate is issued for 3 years.
i. With this certification, Mahila Thana has become the 2nd ISO-certified police station in Bhopal. In
May 2023, Misrod police station became the first ISO 9001:2015 certified police station of Bhopal.
ii. ISO Certification specifies the requirement of an ideal Quality Management System (QMS) and
provides a framework for organisations to improve efficiency, enhance customer satisfaction, and
achieve continual improvement.

Question 43

43. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the 51st meeting of the
    Executive Committee of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) held in October 2023?
    A) During the 51st Meeting of the EC of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) approved
    7 projects worth around Rs. 285 crore, including 3 projects for sewerage management in West
    Bengal (2) and Uttarakhand (1).
    B) The EC also approved the extension of the Composite Ecological Task Force (Ganga Task
    Force (GTF)) to continue assisting in the rejuvenation of River Ganga.
    C) EC also approved the proposal expecting for the effective management of 3 wetlands in
    Odisha namely Kalewala Jheel Numaiya Dahi Jheel (Kheduva Taal), and Dahtal Reoti wetland
    (DRW).

Answer 43

1) Only A
2) Only A & B
3) Only B & C
4) Only A & C
5) All A, B & C
Answer- 2) Only A & B
Explanation:
The Executive Committee (EC) of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) during its 51st
meeting approved 7 projects worth around Rs. 285 crore. The meeting was held on 12th October 2023
under the chairmanship of G. Asok Kumar, Director General (DG) of NMCG.
• The committee has approved 3 projects for sewerage management: 2 in West Bengal and 1
in Uttarakhand.
· The project in West Bengal includes a 13.8 Minimal Liquid Discharge (MLD) Sewage Treatment
Plant (STP) with co-treatment of 18.52 Kilo Litres per Day (KLD) septage and associated works at an
estimated cost of Rs 92.83 crore.
· The project aims to prevent the untreated discharge into River Jalangi in Krishnanagar Municipal
Town of West Bengal.
· The other project aims to integrate Septage Management for Bansberia Municipality by creating a
15 KLD capacity Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP).
· For Uttarakhand, an FSTP of 50 KLD was approved in Bahadrabad, Haridwar at a total cost of Rs.
12.65 crore.
• The EC also approved the extension of the Composite Ecological Task Force (Ganga Task Force
(GTF)) to continue assisting in the rejuvenation of River Ganga.
• The EC also approved one company of Territorial Army to GTF to facilitate the rejuvenation of
River Gomti, a vital tributary of the Ganga.
• EC also approved the proposal expecting for the effective management of 3 wetlands in Uttar
Pradesh (UP) namely Kalewala Jheel in Muzaffarnagar, Numaiya Dahi Jheel (Kheduva Taal) in
Prayagraj, and Dahtal Reoti wetland (DRW) in Ballia District.

Question 44

44. Which of the following companies has recently (in Oct ‘23) became the 15th & 16th
    Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSE) respectively?
    1) Ircon International Limited (IRCON) & RITES Limited (RITES)
    2) Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) & Ircon International Limited (IRCON)
    3) RITES Limited (RITES) & Dredging Corporation of India (DCI)
    4) India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) & Indian Railway Catering and Tourism
    Corporation (IRCTC)
    5) Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) & India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC)

Answer 44

Answer- 1) Ircon International Limited (IRCON) & RITES Limited (RITES)
Explanation:
The Department of public Enterprise (DPE) under the Ministry of Finance has been granted Navratna
status to two Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) namely Ircon International Limited (IRCON)
and RITES Limited (RITES) under the Ministry of Railways(MoR).
i. IRCON International Limited is a specialized construction company that covers the entire range of
construction activities and services in the infrastructure sector. It is now the 15th company to be
granted Navratna status.
ii. RITES Limited which is a multidisciplinary engineering and consultancy organization is the 16th
Navratna amongst CPSEs.
• RITES Limited is entering its 50th year of incorporation (2024).

• It is also the first Public sector undertakings (PSU) of Railway followed by IRCON at second.
• Both these companies were listed previously on Miniratna I CPSEs.

Question 45

45. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the visit of Union Minister of
    Defence Rajnath Singh to Italy and France in October 2023?
    A) During the visit of Union Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh to Rome, Italy, a defence
    cooperation agreement was signed between India and Italy to promote bilateral cooperation.
    B) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited ‘VC Yeshwant Ghadge Sundial Memorial’ in Montone,
    Perugia province of Italy and paid tributes to Naik Yeshwant Ghadge (23) and other Indian
    soldiers who fought in the Italian Campaign in World War II.
    C) During his visit to Paris, France, Union Minister Rajnath Singh conducted the 5th Annual
    Defence Dialogue with French Minister of Armed Forces Mr Sebastien Lecornu in Paris.
    1) All A, B & C
    2) Only A & B
    3) Only B & C
    4) Only A & C
    5) Only A

Answer 45

Answer- 1) All A, B & C
Explanation:
From October 9-12, 2023, India’s Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence(MoD) was on
an official visit to Rome, Italy and Paris, France, the details of which are as follows:
• On October 9, 2023, Union Minister Rajnath Singh visited Rome, Italy. This visit was the first in
over 20 years by an Indian Defence Minister to Italy. He was received by the Indian
Ambassador to Italy Dr Neena Malhotra and Italy’s Minister of Defence Guido Crosetto at
Ciampino Airport, Rome. He was also given Guard of Honour at Villa Madama in Rome.
• India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a meeting with his Italian counterpart i.e. Italian
Defence Minister Guido Crosetto in Rome. During the meet, discussions were held on defence
cooperation issues, including training, sharing of information, maritime exercises and maritime
security.
• After the meeting, a defence cooperation agreement was signed between India and Italy to
promote bilateral cooperation in areas such as security and defence policy, Research and
Development (R&D), education in military field, maritime domain awareness, sharing of
defence information and industrial cooperation, including co-development, co-production &
setting up of joint ventures (JVs).
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited ‘VC Yeshwant Ghadge Sundial Memorial’ in Montone,
Perugia province of Italy and paid tributes to Naik Yeshwant Ghadge (23) and other Indian
soldiers who fought in the Italian Campaign in World War II.
• On October 10, 2023, India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Paris, France. He
received the Guard of Honour at the French Ministry of Defence.
• On October 11, 2023, Union Minister Rajnath Singh conducted the 5th Annual Defence
Dialogue with French Minister of Armed Forces Mr Sebastien Lecornu in Paris.

Question 46

46. In October 2023, ___________ (country) took over as Chair of Indian Ocean Rim Association
    (IORA) for the period 2023 to 2025, while India assumed the Vice–Chair role of IORA for 2023–
    25.
    1) Maldives
    2) Bangladesh
    3) Indonesia
    4) Tanzania
    5) Sri Lanka

Answer 46

Answer- 5) Sri Lanka
Explanation:
On October 11, 2023, Sri Lanka took over as Chair of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) for the
period 2023 to 2025 during the 23rd Council of Ministers’ (COM) meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim
Association (IORA) held in Colombo, Sri Lanka on 11 October 2023.
i. Sri Lanka took over from the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, the current Chair of IORA (2021 to
2023).
• Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Ali Sabry will chair the Council, the highest decision-making body
of the IORA.
ii. India assumed the Vice–Chair role of IORA for 2023–25. India is set to take over the chairship of
IORA during 2025-27. India participated in the 23rd COM of IORA and 24th CSO meeting of IORA.
iii. India-Sri Lanka launch logo to mark 75th year of diplomatic ties. It was shared by Union Minister
of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
• The logo is shaded with hues of the two national flags. It depicts the national emblems and
captures the spirit of partnership, friendship and close ties between the two countries.

Question 47

47. In October 2023, General Manoj Pande, the Chief of Army Staff presented the ‘President’s
    Colours’(represented by a flag) to the 3rd Battalion of the ___________ (Regiment).
    1) Dogra Regiment
    2) Punjab Regiment
    3) Naga Regiment
    4) Sikh Regiment
    5) Rajput Regiment

Answer 47

Answer- 3) Naga Regiment
Explanation:
General Manoj Pande, the Chief of Army Staff presented the ‘President’s Colours’(represented by a
flag) to the 3rd Battalion of the Naga Regiment during the Colour presentation parade held at
Kumaon Regimental Centre, Ranikhet, Uttarakhand. It was received by Col Lalit Chandra Kandpal, the
Commanding Officer of the 3rd Battalion of the Naga Regiment.
• The President’s Colour, also called ‘Nishan’, is bestowed upon a military unit in recognition of
exceptional service rendered to the country, both in peace and in war.
• The Naga regiment’s 3rd battalion was created on October 1, 2009, in Haldwani, situated in the
Kumaon Hills, which were home to the Kumaon and Naga regiments. The first battalion of the
Naga Regiment was raised in Ranikhet in 1970.
i. The Naga regiment’s 3rd battalion has received one Vishisht Seva Medal, 11 COAS (chief of Army
Staff) commendation cards, 12 VCOAS (vice-head of Army Staff) commendation cards, 37 GOC-in-C
commendation cards, and one force commander (UN Mission) commendation card since its formation.

Question 48

48. Which company has recently (in October ‘23) signed an MoU with the Space Applications
    Centre (SAC) under the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to use light-based high-
    speed communication for satellite communication in space?
    1) Sehaj Synergy Technologies Pvt. Ltd
    2) Alethea Communications Technologies Pvt. Ltd
    3) Fimo Technologies and Services Pvt. Ltd
    4) Nav Wireless Technologies Pvt Ltd
    5) BigCat Wireless Pvt. Ltd

Answer 48

Answer- 4) Nav Wireless Technologies Pvt Ltd
Explanation:
The Ahmedabad (Gujarat) based Space Applications Centre (SAC), under Indian Space Research
Organization (ISRO), has signed a 3-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ahmedabad-
based Nav Wireless Technologies Pvt Ltd (NavTech), a leading pioneer in Light Fidelity (LiFi)
technology, to use light-based high-speed communication for satellite communication in space.
• The partnership was recommended by the Department of Telecommunications under the
Ministry of Communication.
• NavTech is the 1st company in India to provide LiFi technology to SAC (ISRO).
i. SAC, a major center of ISRO in partnership with NavTech aims to facilitate high-speed secure
quantum key communication from base stations to satellites in space and terrestrial communication.
ii. Using the LiFi technology, SAC/ISRO will facilitate Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and Pointing
Acquisition and Tracking (PAT) in satellite-to-satellite communications during ISRO’s upcoming space
exploration missions.

Question 49

49. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the Federation Internationale
    des Echecs/International Chess Federation (FIDE) World Junior Under 20(U-20) Rapid & Blitz
    Championships 2023?
    A) The Inaugural edition of the FIDE World Junior Under 20(U-20) Rapid & Blitz
    Championships 2023 was in Pula (Sardinia), Italy in October 2023.
    B) India’s GrandMaster (GM) Raunak Sadhwani won the FIDE World Junior Rapid Chess
    Championship 2023 title in the open category & Govhar Beydullayeva from Azerbaijan won
    the FIDE World Junior Girls U20 Rapid Chess Championship 2023 title.
    C) GM Mahammad Muradli of Azerbaijan won the FIDE World Junior Blitz Championship title
    and India’s Raunak Sadhwani won the silver medal in the Open category.
    1) Only A
    2) Only A & B
    3) Only B & C
    4) Only A & C
    5) All A, B & C

Answer 49

Answer- 5) All A, B & C
Explanation:
India’s GrandMaster (GM) Raunak Sadhwani won the FIDE World Junior Rapid Chess
Championship 2023 title in the open category. He also secured second place(Silver Medal) in the
FIDE World Junior Blitz Championship 2023 in the open category.

• The inaugural edition of the Federation Internationale des Echecs/International Chess
Federation (FIDE) World Junior Under 20 (U-20) Rapid & Blitz Championships 2023 was
held from 9th to 16th October 2023 in Pula(Sardinia), Italy.
• The 17-year-old Raunak Sadhwani from Nagpur(Maharashtra) won the World Junior Rapid
Chess Championshisp 2023 title(Gold)- Open Category.
· He became a Grandmaster at the age of 13 years 9 months 28 days .He was the 9th youngest player
and 4th Indian to achive GM at the youngest age.
• Woman Grandmaster (WGM) Govhar Beydullayeva of Azerbaijan won the FIDE World Junior
Girls U20 Rapid Chess Championship 2023 title.
· Previously, She had won the World Junior U20 Championship title 2022 in Italy.
• GM Mahammad Muradli of Azerbaijan won the FIDE World Junior Blitz Championship title
and India’s Raunak Sadhwani won the silver medal.
• WIM Xeniya Balabayeva of Kazakhstan won the FIDE World Junior Girls U20 Blitz
Championship title.
· WIM Amina Kairbekova (Kazakhstan) won the silver medal and WIM Govhar Beydullayeva
(Azerbaijan) won the bronze medal.

Question 50

50. When was the United Nations (UN) International Day of Rural Women 2023 observed
    across the globe with the theme of “Rural Women, Women with Rights”?
    1) 13th October 2023
    2) 16th October 2023
    3) 14th October 2023
    4) 12th October 2023
    5) 15th October 2023

Answer 50

Answer- 5) 15th October 2023
Explanation:
The United Nations (UN) International Day of Rural Women 2023 observed across the globe on
15th October 2023 with the theme of “Rural Women, Women with Rights”.
i. The International Day of Rural Women was created in 1995 by Civil society organizations at the 4th
World Conference on Women in Beijing, China.
• The first-ever International Day of Rural Women was observed on 15 October 2008.
ii. To commemorate the International Day of Rural Women, from 1-17 October 2023, the “17 Days of
Activism for the Empowerment of Rural Women Leaders and their Communities” is scheduled to take
place.
• This campaign, initiated by the FAO, aims to foster the empowerment and autonomy of women
in rural areas through collaborative efforts and knowledge dissemination.

Question 51

51. Which company has recently (in Oct ‘23) announced a Licensing and Transfer of
    Technology (ToT) agreement with IN-SPACe which will provide Data Patterns with miniature
    SAR Radar capability?
    1) Dynamatic Technologies Limited
    2) Honeywell International India Pvt Ltd
    3) Taneja Aerospace and Aviation Ltd
    4) Paras Defence and Space Technologies
    5) Data Patterns (India) Limited

Answer 51

Answer- 5) Data Patterns (India) Limited
Explanation:
Data Patterns (India) Limited, a vertically integrated Defence and Aerospace electronics solutions
provider, has announced a Licensing and Transfer of Technology (ToT) agreement with IN-SPACe
which will provide Data Patterns with miniature SAR Radar capability.
i. The ToT agreement was signed by G Kuppuswamy, Vice President, Data Patterns (India) Limited,
and Rajeev Jyoti, Technical Director, IN-SPACe and A Arunachalam, Director, NSIL.
• The technology has been developed at the Space Applications Centre, Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO), and is the forerunner of ISRO’s upcoming high-resolution Synthetic
Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite, the NISAR ((NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) and made
available for ToT to the industry by IN-SPACe.
ii. Kuppuswamy said that the technology will enable SAR radar development by Data Patterns,
complementing the large portfolio of Radars already available from the company.
iii. Data Patterns expects to enhance this technology with the capability of its Artificial Intelligence
tools for object detection and classification. This alliance is also a step towards better utilisation of
India’s space resources and increasing space-based activities.

Question 52

52. In which country, Union Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar unveiled the bust of
    Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore in October 2023?
    1) Malaysia
    2) Vietnam
    3) Indonesia
    4) Thailand
    5) Philippines

Answer 52

Answer- 2) Vietnam
Explanation:
Minister of External Affairs Dr. S Jaishankar who is on a visit to Vietnam, on October 15, unveiled the
bust of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore at the International Friendship Park in Bac Ninh province.
• Popularly known as ‘Gurudev’, Tagore was primarily known as a writer, poet, playwright,
philosopher and aesthetician, music composer and choreographer, founder of a unique
educational institution – Visva- Bharati and a painter.
• Tagore wrote his first poetry aged He published his first poems aged 16 under the pen-name
‘Bhanusimha’.
• He had spoken at the World Parliament for Religions in the years 1929 and 1937. He wrote the
National Anthems of India and Bangladesh.
• In 1913, he became the first Indian to receive a Nobel Prize in Literature for his novel
‘Geetanjali’.

Question 53

53. As of October 2023, __________ to be partner country for Tamil Nadu’s Global Investors Meet
    in January 2024.
    1) Australia
    2) Singapore
    3) Indonesia

4) Germany
5) France

Answer 53

Answer- 1) Australia
Explanation:
Australia will be a partner country for Tamil Nadu’s Global Investors Meet in January 2024.
i. Philip Green, the Australian High Commissioner to India announced that Australia along with its
official delegates will participate in the upcoming Global Investors Meet 2024.
ii. Green was speaking at the 34th Annual day celebrations of the Indo-Australian Chamber of
Commerce in Chennai.

Question 54

54. iGOT Karmayogi managed, governed, and operated by Karmayogi Bharat is a
    comprehensive online portal to guide government officials in their capacity building journey.
    Karmayogi Bharat is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) set-up under Section 8 of the Companies
    Act, 2013 by ______________ (Department).
    1) Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances
    2) Department of Home Affairs
    3) Department of Electronics & IT
    4) Department of Personnel and Training
    5) Department of Financial Services

Answer 54

Answer- 4) Department of Personnel and Training
Explanation:
Karmayogi Bharat, in partnership with Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), launched 12 courses designed to
bridge competency gaps and are tailored to needs, and aspirations of officials. The courses will enable
a fundamental shift from rule-based to role-based training.
i. The SSB Capacity Building unit under Shri Paresh Saxena (IG, Training) has developed the courses
that are available both in English and in Hindi.
ii. iGOT Karmayogi (https://igotkarmayogi.gov.in/), managed, governed, and operated by Karmayogi
Bharat-DoPT, is a comprehensive online portal to guide government officials in their capacity building
journey.
· Karmayogi Bharat is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV)set-up under Section 8 of the Companies Act,
2013 by Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and
Pensions as a 100% Government owned Company under National Programme for Civil Services
Capacity Building (NPCSCB) — Mission Karmayogi.
iii. The portal combines 6 functional hubs for online learning, competency management, career
management, discussions, events, and networking. More than 24 lakh learners from across the
government spectrum are currently registered on the iGOT Platform having access to over 740
courses.

Question 55

55. The sixth edition of the Unmanned Systems Exhibition (UMEX) and Simulation and Training
    Exhibition (SIMTEX) is scheduled to take place at ___________ (country) in January 2024.
    1) United States of America
    2) United Arab Emirates
    3) United Kingdom
    4) France
    5) Australia

Answer 55

Answer- 2) United Arab Emirates
Explanation:
The sixth edition of the Unmanned Systems Exhibition (UMEX) and Simulation and Training
Exhibition (SIMTEX) is scheduled to take place in January 2024 under the patronage of Sheikh Hazza
bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
i. UMEX and SimTEX the only exhibitions of their kind in the region which specialise in unmanned
systems, simulation, training, and robotics in the commercial and defence sectors will be in Abu Dhabi.
ii. ADNEC Group is organising UMEX and SimTEX 2024 exhibitions and the conference that
accompanies them in cooperation with the UAE Ministry of Defence, with the aim of providing an ideal
platform for stakeholders in the unmanned systems, simulation, training, and robotics sectors,
including manufacturers, operators, and end-users.

Question 56

56. Name the auxiliary military organisation/defence sector that has recently (in Oct ‘23)
    inducted its first batch of Mandarin-trained officers to support the regular Army’s efforts to
    enhance expertise in the Chinese language.
    1) Border Security Force
    2) Northern Bengal Mounted Rifles
    3) Bihar Light Horse
    4) Surma Valley Light Horse
    5) Territorial Army

Answer 56

Answer- 5) Territorial Army
Explanation:
The Territorial Army (TA) has inducted its first batch of Mandarin-trained officers and posted them
to forward areas along the LAC in support of the regular Army’s drive to enhance expertise in the
Chinese language, Tibetology and the like amid the continuing military confrontation in eastern
Ladakh.
· The Territorial Army of India is an auxiliary military organisation of part-time volunteers that
provides support services to the Indian Army.
i. The Indian Territorial Army (TA) is a second line of defence after the regular Indian Army; it is not
a profession, occupation or a source of employment.
· It is only meant for those people who are already in mainstay civilian professions; in fact,
gainful employment or self-employment in a civil profession is a prerequisite for joining the TA.
· The duties of the TA include “relieving the Regular Army from static duties”, while also
providing assistance to civil authorities in times of natural calamities and tragedies.
· They also help civil administration with providing essential services in areas where state
machinery is stretched or there are security threats.
· Volunteers of the TA usually serve in uniform for a few days every year, so that they can bear
arms for national defence in times of dire need or national emergencies.

Question 57

57. Name the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) that has recently (in Oct ‘23) signed an MoU
    with the Supreme Court to emerge technologies for court proceedings.
    1) IIT Delhi
    2) IIT Madras
    3) IIT Bombay
    4) IIT Kanpur
    5) IIT Hyderabad

Answer 57

Answer- 2) IIT Madras
Explanation:
The Supreme Court has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Institute of
Technology (IIT) Madras for the collaboration on using artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging
technologies for court proceedings.
i. The apex court under the leadership of the Chief Justice of India Justice DY Chandrachud is driving
technological enhancement in making its process automated, user-friendly and citizen-centric to
enhance access to justice.

Question 58

58. Name the oceanographic research vessel of Defence Research and Development
    Organisation (DRDO) that embarked on a two-month long Sagar Maitri (SM) Mission-4 from
    Southern Naval Command (SNC), Kochi in October 2023.
    1) Indian Navy Ship (INS) Nireekshak
    2) Indian Navy Ship (INS) Nirupak
    3) Indian Navy Ship (INS) Sagardhwani
    4) Indian Navy Ship (INS) Makar
    5) Indian Navy Ship (INS) Darshak

Answer 58

Answer- 3) Indian Navy Ship (INS) Sagardhwani
Explanation:
Indian Navy Ship (INS) Sagardhwani, an oceanographic research vessel of Naval Physical &
Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO),
embarked on a two-month long Sagar Maitri (SM) Mission-4 from South Jetty, Southern Naval
Command (SNC), Kochi on October 12, 2023.
• Sagar Maitri is a novel initiative of DRDO that supports the broad objective of Prime Minister
Shri Narendra Modi’s policy declaration ‘Safety and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)’ to
promote closer cooperation in socio-economic aspects as well as more significant scientific
interaction, especially in ocean research among Indian Ocean Rim (IOR) countries.
• Under the aegis of this policy, DRDO initiated a scientific component named ‘MAITRI (Marine
and Allied Interdisciplinary Training and Research Initiative)’, which focuses on establishing
long-term collaboration with IOR countries in the field of ‘Ocean Research and Development’.
• In the SAGAR MAITRI programme, INS Sagardhwani will retrace the tracks of INS Kistna, which
participated in the International Indian Ocean Expedition during 1962-65.
• The current mission (SM-4) plan includes scientific deployments onboard INS Sagardhwani in
the Northern Arabian Sea and initiating collaborative research programmes with the
Department of Marine Sciences & Fisheries at Sultan Qaboos University, Oman.
• INS Sagardhwani is a marine acoustic research ship designed and developed by NPOL, Kochi
and constructed indigenously by GRSE Ltd. It was launched in July 1994.
• The NPOL is involved in studying the ocean environment and other related fields. The vessel
has been engaging in extensive oceanic observing missions and research for the last 25 years.

Question 59

59. Name the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) that has recently (in Oct ‘23) developed a new
    material which can convert sunlight into heat energy with unprecedented efficiency.
    1) IIT Madras
    2) IIT Delhi
    3) IIT Kanpur
    4) IIT Bombay
    5) IIT Indore

Answer 59

Answer- 4) IIT Bombay
Explanation:
Scientists at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, (IIT Bombay) have developed a new
material that can convert sunlight into heat energy with unprecedented efficiency.
· The material, called nanostructured hard-carbon florets (NCFs), is made by depositing carbon
onto a substrate of amorphous dendritic fibrous nanosilica (DFNS), using a technique called chemical
vapour deposition.
· The resulting material absorbs more than 97 per cent of the ultraviolet, visible and infrared light,
and converts this into thermal energy. The heat produced can be transferred to either air or water for
practical applications.
· The researchers have demonstrated that hollow copper tubes coated with NCFs can heat the air
flown through them to over 346K. They have also demonstrated its ability to convert water into
vapour with an efficiency of 186 per cent, the highest ever recorded.

Question 60

60. In October 2023, Scientists analyzed the samples from the asteroid Bennu collected by the
    Osiris-Rex spacecraft of ____________(company) and then dropped them off sealed in a capsule
    during a flyby of Earth in September 2023.
    1) China National Space Administration
    2) European Space Agency
    3) SpaceX
    4) National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    5) Canadian Space Agency

Answer 60

Answer- 4) National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Explanation:
Chunks of a 4.6bn-year-old asteroid brought to Earth last month show evidence of high levels of
carbon and water, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced as the space
agency revealed preliminary findings from its pioneering Osiris-Rex mission. Scientists have been
analyzing the samples from the asteroid Bennu since they were dropped off by a spacecraft flyby of
the Utah desert on 24 September.
i. NASA’s Osiris-Rex spacecraft collected the samples three years ago from the surface of Bennu and
then dropped them off sealed in a capsule during a flyby of Earth in September 2023.