- Where has the Lakhpati Didi Sammelan held in the month of August 2024?
(A) Pune
(B) Mumbai
(C) Akola
(D) Jalgaon
(E) Nagpur
Solution: Option D .)
Ans (D)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Maharashtra on 25 August 2024 to participate in the Lakhpati Didi Sammelan in Jalgaon, Maharashtra.
During his visit to Jalagaon, Prime Minister Modi distributed certificates, and facilitate the 11 lakh new Lakhpati Didis.
According to the Government of India, since the inception of the Lakhpati Didi Yoajna in 2023, one crore women have already been made Lakhpati Didis.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the Lakhpati Didi scheme in his address to the nation on 15 August 2023 from Red Fort.
The scheme aims to create three crore ‘Lakhpati Didis’ in villages through the collective power of Women’s Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
Self-Help Group (SHG) members with household incomes of Rs one lakh or more per year are considered Lakhpati Didi.
The Lakhpati Didi scheme aims to financially empower poor women and lift them from the vicious cycle of poverty.
- Which company has developed India’s first reusable hybrid rocket, RHUMI-1?
(A) Space Zone India
(B) Dhruva Space
(C) BrahMos Aerospace
(D) Aroon Space India
(E) National Aerospace
Solution: Option A .)
Ans (A)
The RHUMI-1 rocket, the world’s first mobile hybrid rocket, was launched on 24 August 2024.
It is also the first reusable hybrid rocket in India.
Developed by Space Zone India in collaboration with Martin Group.
The rocket was launched from a mobile launcher in Thiruvidandhai, Chennai, and Tamil Nadu.
RHUMI-1 carried three CubeSats and 50 PICO satellites into a suborbital trajectory.
The satellites will gather data on global warming and climate change.
The rocket reached an altitude of about 35 km and returned to Earth after conducting experiments.
- What is the theme of the inaugural edition of the e-magazine Sapno ki Udaan?
(A) Innovation
(B) Space
(C) Education
(D) Health
(E) Environment
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
The Union Ministry of Education released the inaugural edition of the e-magazine Sapno ki Udaan on 23 August 2024.
The launch coincided with the first National Space Day, celebrating the Vikram lander’s soft landing on the Moon’s South Pole on 23 August 2023.
The theme of the inaugural edition was Space.
The e-magazine is available online on the NCERT portal.
It is an initiative of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and the Department of School Education & Literacy.
The e-magazine is published quarterly but will soon transition to a monthly format.
Contributions to the magazine include poetry, essays, stories, anecdotes, and riddles in English and Hindi from students, teachers, and parents across India.
- Which country was gifted the world’s first portable hospital, Arogya Maitri Aid Cube or BHISHM Cube, by India in August 2024?
(A) Nepal
(B) Sri Lanka
(C) Ukraine
(D) Maldives
(E) Bhutan
Solution: Option C .)
Ans (C)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Ukraine from 21-23 August 2024 as part of a two-nation visit, including Poland.
This visit marked the first by an Indian Prime Minister since the establishment of diplomatic relations with Ukraine in January 1992.
During the visit, India and Ukraine signed four Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs)/agreements.
On 23 August 2024, Prime Minister Modi arrived in Ukraine for a brief seven-hour stay after visiting Poland on a special train, ‘Rail Force One’.
Prime Minister Modi gifted four BHISHM Cubes to Ukraine.
The BHISHM Cube, also known as the Arogya Maitri Aid Cube, is the world’s first portable hospital.
It was first unveiled in Gurugram, Haryana, on 2 December 2023.
The BHISHM project is a joint initiative of the Union Ministry of Defence and the Health and Family Welfare.
The portable hospital can be deployed via airdrop or ground transportation and starts treating patients within eight minutes of deployment.
It includes medical equipment, an operation theatre, a mini ICU, and can treat more than 200 patients for various conditions.
Indian experts will train Ukrainians in operating the BHISHM Cubes.
- Where was the Global Muthamizh Murugan Conference held in August 2024?
(A) Chennai
(B) Coimbatore
(C) Palani
(D) Madurai
(E) Trichy
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
Global Muthamizh Murugan Conference held in Tamil Nadu.
More than 50 devotees of Lord Murugan from Japan participated in the Global Muthamizh Murugan Conference, which is being held in Palani, Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu.
The conference aims to bring together the devotees and harness the philosophy of Lord Murugan.
Shri Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple in Palani has been adorned with colourful lights.
- What percentage of average basic pay will be offered as pension under the UPS scheme?
(A) 25%
(B) 30%
(C) 40%
(D) 50%
(E) 60%
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
Union Cabinet approves Unified Pension Scheme.
The Cabinet approved the UPS, offering 50% of the average basic pay as pension to 23 lakh government employees under the National Pension System (NPS) with 25 years of service.
The scheme applies to employees with a minimum of 10 years of service, and will be effective from April 1, 2025
Employees currently under NPS can opt for UPS starting the next financial year.
7. What is a key activity of INS Mumbai during its visit to Sri Lanka?
(A) Delivering spare parts for Dornier aircraft
(B) Conducting joint naval exercises
(C) Opening a new naval base
(D) Participating in a cultural exchange
(E) Hosting a diplomatic summit
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
INS Mumbai to arrive in Colombo for three day visit
Indian Navy’s INS Mumbai arrives in Colombo for a three-day visit, marking its first visit to Sri Lanka and the eighth Indian Navy visit this year.
The ship will deliver spare parts for Sri Lanka Air Force’s Dornier maritime patrol aircraft and engage in joint activities.
INS Mumbai will replenish fuel and provisions, with crew visiting local sites in Colombo and Galle
- Which city ranks second globally in property price growth according to the Knight Frank Report?
(A) New York
(B) London
(C) Mumbai
(D) Tokyo
(E) Sydney
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
Mumbai has ascended to the second spot globally in property price growth, according to the Knight Frank Prime Global Cities Index.
Mumbai recorded a 13% year-on-year increase in prime residential prices in Q2 2024, rising from sixth place in Q2 2023.
The index shows a slowdown in global annual price growth from 4.1% in Q1 to 2.6% in Q2 2024, below the long-term average of 5.3%.
Other Indian cities like New Delhi and Bengaluru also performed well, with New Delhi increasing by 10.6% and moving to third place, while Bengaluru remained at 15th place with a 3.7% increase.
Manila led globally with a 26% annual price increase, while Dubai saw a slight decline of 0.3% year-on-year despite a significant rise since 2020.
- What major goal does the BioE3 Policy support in relation to environmental sustainability?
(A) Achieve Net Zero Carbon Emissions
(B) Promote Urbanization
(C) Develop Large-Scale Agriculture
(D) Advance Marine Technology
(E) Expand Industrial Manufacturing
Solution: Option A .)
Ans (A)
The BioE3 Policy encourages R&D and entrepreneurship in biotechnology.
It establishes Biomanufacturing & Bio-AI hubs and Biofoundry to accelerate technology development.
The policy focuses on regenerative bioeconomy models and circular bioeconomy for green growth.
It aims to expand the skilled workforce and increase job creation.
The policy supports Government initiatives like ‘Net Zero’ carbon economy and ‘Lifestyle for Environment.’
It targets high-value bio-based chemicals, smart proteins, precision biotherapeutics, climate-resilient agriculture, carbon capture, and marine/space research.
- What is the proposed outlay for the Vigyan Dhara scheme during the 15th Finance Commission period?
(A) ₹ 08,514 crore
(B) ₹ 15,351 crore
(C) ₹ 12,486 crore
(D) ₹ 10,579 crore
(E) ₹ 20,258 crore
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
The Union Cabinet approved the continuation of three umbrella schemes under the unified central sector scheme ‘Vigyan Dhara’.
The proposed outlay for Vigyan Dhara is ₹ 10,579 crore during the 15th Finance Commission period from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
The scheme has three broad components: science and technology institutional and human capacity building; research and development; and innovation, technology development and deployment.