1. Which is the longest cable-stayed bridge in India, inaugurated recently by PM Modi?
(A) Mahatma Gandhi Setu
(B) Sudarshan Setu
(C) Vikramshila Setu
(D) Bandra-Worli Sea Link
(E) Chahlari Ghat Bridge
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated ‘Sudarshan Setu’, India’s longest cable-stayed bridge over the Arabian Sea in Gujarat.
This bridge is 2.32 km long and connects Okha and Bet Dwarka.
It is the longest cable-stayed bridge in India.
Rs 980 crore has been spent on its construction.
There are solar panels on the upper part of the footpath of this bridge which will help in generating one megawatt of electricity.
The bridge has also been constructed with four lanes and a 2.50-meter wide footpath on each side.
2. The 5th edition of the joint military exercise ‘Dharma Guardian’ is being organized between India and which country?
(A) Japan
(B) France
(C) Italy
(D) Australia
(E) Syria
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
The 5th edition of the joint military exercise ‘DHARMA GUARDIAN’ is being organized at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan.
This exercise is being conducted from 25 February to 9 March 2024.
Exercise ‘Dharma Guardian’ is an annual military exercise and is conducted by the armies of India and Japan.
Exercise Dharma Guardian is an annual exercise between the Indian Army and the Japanese Ground Self Defence Force conducted in 2018.
The exercise has been conducted in India since 2018.
It improves interoperability between the two armies and promotes army-to-army relations.
3. Who won the Best Male Actor award at the Screen Actors Guild Awards?
(A) Christopher Nolan
(B) Robert Downey Jr
(C) Cillian Murphy
(D) Bradley Cooper
(E) Da’Vine Joy Randolph
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
“Oppenheimer” directed by Christopher Nolan won three awards at the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards.
The Best Male Actor award was given to Cillian Murphy for his brilliant performance in Oppenheimer.
Robert Downey Jr received the award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.
Oppenheimer also received the Best Film Artist Award.
This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award was given to veteran singer and actress Barbra Streisand.
4. In which country will the SAFF Under-16 Women’s Championship will be organized?
(A) India
(B) Bangladesh
(C) Sri Lanka
(D) Nepal
(E) Bhutan
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
SAFF Under-16 Women’s Championship will be organized in Nepal from March 1-10.
For this, a 23-member Indian team has been announced.
India was the winner of the SAFF Under-15 format in 2018 and 2019.
This is the first time that the SAFF Under-16 Women’s Championship is being organized.
Russia is the defending champion having won the previous 2023 edition title for the finished top of the league table.
At the SAFF Executive Committee meeting, held on 10 January 2024 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
5. The global textile event “Bharat Tex 2024” is being organized in which city?
(A) Dubai
(B) Dhaka
(C) New Delhi
(D) Colombo
(E) London
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the global textile event ‘Bharat Tex 2024’ in New Delhi.
On this occasion, PM Modi said that Bharattex2024 is a platform to showcase India’s extraordinary capabilities in the textile industry.
Representatives of more than 100 countries are participating in this global event.
India is the 6th largest producer of Technical Textiles with a 6% Global Share, and the largest producer of cotton & jute in the world.
India is also the second largest producer of silk in the world and 95% of the world’s hand woven fabric comes from India.
6. With whom has the Bihar state government signed an agreement to promote the startup ecosystem?
(A) NITI Aayog
(B) SIDBI
(C) World Bank
(D) New Development Bank
(E) Asian Development Bank
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
Bihar state government has signed an MoU with the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) to promote the startup ecosystem in the state.
Its objective is to transform Bihar into a startup hub and create a favorable environment for startups.
Bihar Startup Fund Trust (BSFT) has been set up with an initial corpus of Rs 500 crore.
7. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the first railway station of which state in February 2024?
(A) Sikkim
(B) Meghalaya
(C) Nagaland
(D) Ladakh
(E) Arunachal Pradesh
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the first railway station of Sikkim state on 26 February.
In the first phase, railway infrastructure will be developed from Sevoke to Rangpo.
The second phase includes the rail project from Rangpo to Gangtok and finally, the third phase includes the rail project from Gangtok to Nathula.
In March 2023, Indian Railways Minister – Mr. Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the premium train – Vande Bharat Express will run from Rangpo Railway Station in 2024.
8. In February 2024, which singer passed away at 72?
(A) Anup Jalota
(B) Jagjit Singh
(C) Ghulam Ali
(D) Pankaj Udhas
(E) Hariharan
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
Legendary singer Pankaj Udhas, who gave memorable hits like ‘Chitthi aayi hai’, died after a prolonged illness in Mumbai.
Pankaj Udhas was born in Jetpur in Gujarat on May 17, 1951.
He was honored with the Padma Shri award in 2006.
His song ‘Chitthi Aayee Hai’, which became a huge hit, was selected as one of the 100 songs of the millennium by BBC Radio.
9. Who has been named the first woman director of the World Bank’s Global Environment Facility (GEF)?
(A) Geeta Batra
(B) Naoko Ishii
(C) Rikhi Jaipal
(D) Parniti Shah
(E) Rajeshwari Dayal
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
Geeta Batra, a distinguished India-born economist, has been appointed as the Director of the Independent Evaluation Office of the World Bank’s Global Environment Facility (GEF).
The GEF was established in October 1991 as a $1 billion pilot program in the World Bank to enable developing countries to take action on environmental challenges and to promote sustainable development.
10. Which country has become the first Asian country to ratify the ILO convention?
(A) Thailand
(B) Vietnam
(C) Philippines
(D) Malaysia
(E) Cambodia
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
The Philippines has become the first Asian country to ratify a convention to end workplace violence and harassment.
The Philippines deposited the instrument of ratification of the Violence and Harassment Convention 2019 (No. 190) with ILO Deputy Director-General Celeste Drake on Tuesday, becoming the 38th country in the world and the first Asian country to ratify Convention No. 190.