- Which team won the 2024-25 season Irani Cup?
(A) Karnataka
(B) Uttar Pradesh
(C) Mumbai
(D) Tamil Nadu
(E) Gujarat
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
Mumbai won the 2024-25 Irani Cup based on its first-innings lead over the Rest of India.
This was Mumbai’s first Irani Cup win in 27 years, with the last win in the 1997-98 season.
It was Mumbai’s 16th Irani Cup title.
The match was held from 1-5 October 2024 at the Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee Eakana Stadium in Lucknow.
Mumbai, the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy champion, was led by Ajinkya Rahane.
The Rest of India team was led by Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Sarfraz Khan was declared the Player of the Match for his unbeaten knock of 222 runs.
- The Banjara Virasat Museum, inaugurated by PM Modi, is located in which district of Maharashtra?
(A) Washim
(B) Yavatmal
(C) Buldhana
(D) Wardha
(E) Akola
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Banjara Virasat Museum in Washim, Maharashtra, in October 2024.
During his visit to Maharashtra, PM Modi visited Washim and Thane.
PM Modi launched initiatives related to the agricultural and farming sector worth Rs 23,300 crore at Washim.
The Banjara Virasat Museum is located in Poharadevi, Washim.
The museum showcases the rich heritage and legacies of the Banjara community.
The museum includes portraits of Banjara leaders and the history of the Banjara movement.
PM Modi paid floral tributes to Banjara leaders Sant Sevalal Maharaj and Sant Ramrao Maharaj.
PM Modi played the Nangara, an important musical instrument of the Banjara culture.
- In which state did the first Adi Gaurav Samman Samaroh take place in October 2024?
(A) Gujarat
(B) Maharashtra
(C) Rajasthan
(D) Madhya Pradesh
(E) Uttar Pradesh
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
President Droupadi Murmu presided over the first Adi Gaurav Samman Samaroh at Mangarh Dham, Banswara, Rajasthan, in October 2024.
President Murmu visited Rajasthan, presiding over the convocation ceremony of Mohanlal Sukhadia University and attending the Global Summit on Spirituality for Clean and Healthy Society in Mount Abu.
The Tribal Regional Development Department of Rajasthan instituted the Adi Gaurav Samman.
The award is divided into three categories: Aadiratna Gaurav Samman, Adi Seva Gaurav Samman, and Aadi Grammotthan Gaurav Samman.
- India recently became the fourth country in the world with foreign exchange reserves of more than how many billion dollars?
(A) $600 billion
(B) $650 billion
(C) $700 billion
(D) $750 billion
(E) $800 billion
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
India became the fourth country in the world with foreign exchange reserves exceeding $700 billion, after China, Switzerland, and Japan.
India’s foreign exchange reserves reached $704.89 billion as of 27 September 2024.
In 2024, India’s foreign exchange reserves increased by $87.6 billion so far.
In 2023, India’s foreign exchange reserves increased by around $62 billion.
A key factor in the reserve increase is continuous foreign investment in the Indian equity and bond markets, totaling around $30 billion.
China holds the largest foreign exchange reserves, followed by Japan, Switzerland, and India.
- In October 2024, the USD 162 million loan from ADB will help Himachal Pradesh in the development of which sector?
(A) Agriculture
(B) Energy
(C) Transportation
(D) Tourism
(E) Healthcare
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced in October 2024 that it sanctioned a USD 162 million loan to Himachal Pradesh.
The loan supports tourism development in Himachal Pradesh through the Sustainable and Inclusive Tourism Development Project.
In May 2024, ADB approved a USD 2.6 billion loan to the government of India for the calendar year 2023.
The USD 2.6 billion loan finances urban development, power sector promotion, industrial corridor development, horticulture, connectivity, and climate resilience.
In July 2024, ADB sanctioned a USD 240.5 million loan to India to finance the expansion of the solar rooftop system.
The USD 240.5 million loans will be channeled through the State Bank of India (SBI) and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
- Who has been selected for the MIDORI Prize for Biodiversity 2024 from Kazakhstan?
(A) Ysabel Agustina
(B) Vera Voronova
(C) Nursultan Nazarbayev
(D) Askar Mamin
(E) Daniyar Akishev
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
Vera Voronova from Kazakhstan and Ysabel Agustina Calderón Carlos from Peru have been selected for the MIDORI Prize for Biodiversity 2024.
They are recognized for outstanding contributions to conservation and sustainability.
The announcement of the award was made in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in October 2024.
The MIDORI Prize is awarded every two years and includes a cash prize of $100,000 and a commemorative plaque for each winner.
Notable previous winners include Dr. Paul Hebert (Canada), Melina Sakiyama (Brazil), Wirsiy Emmanuel Binyuy (Cameroon), and Dr. Kathy MacKinnon (UK), all recognized for their significant contributions to biodiversity.
- Which country will be the partner country for the 25th edition of the Hornbill Festival in Nagaland?
(A) Scotland
(B) Wales
(C) England
(D) Spain
(E) Ireland
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
Wales will be the partner country for the 25th edition of the Hornbill Festival in Nagaland, reflecting the festival’s growing global appeal.
The Hornbill Festival is held annually in December to showcase and promote Naga culture, cuisines, and music.
The festival has been organized by the Nagaland government since 2000, taking place between December 1 and December 10 each year
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio visited Wales to sign the partnership agreement for the festival as part of the “Wales in India 2024” celebrations.
Dubbed the “Festival of Festivals,” the 25th edition will take place from December 1 to 10 at the Kisama Heritage Village.
- Who has been assigned additional responsibilities as the Secretary of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)?
(A) Pankaj Agrawal
(B) Kunal Joshi
(C) Deepak Pathak
(D) Anurag Jain
(E) Sandeep Bawane
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
Pankaj Agrawal has been assigned additional responsibilities as Secretary of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).
He is currently serving as Secretary in the Ministry of Power.
Agrawal is a 1992-batch IAS officer from the Madhya Pradesh cadre.
He takes over the role after the post was vacated by Anurag Jain.
The Ministry is currently managing significant national infrastructure projects.
- Which organization has approved the first diagnostic test for mpox, previously known as monkeypox?
(A) World Health Organization
(B) International Medical Corps
(C) World Vision International
(D) United Nations Children’s Fund
(E) Doctors Without Borders
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
The WHO has approved the first diagnostic test for pox, previously known as monkeypox.
Mpox is a deadly disease caused by a virus transmitted from infected animals to humans and can spread through close human contact.
Infected individuals may experience fever, muscular aches, and large boil-like skin lesions.
The test, named Alinity m MPXV assay, detects the mpox virus from swabs taken from human lesions.
Following WHO approval, UN agencies will procure the test from Abbott Molecular and distribute it to affected regions.
- What process is used by Adani Total Gas Ltd to produce green hydrogen that is blended into natural gas?
(A) Electrolysis
(B) Carbon capture
(C) Thermal cracking
(D) Gasification
(E) Photolysis
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
Adani Group has started blending green hydrogen into natural gas for cooking in Ahmedabad to reduce emissions and meet net-zero targets.
Adani Total Gas Ltd (ATGL) is incorporating 2.2-2.3% green hydrogen into piped natural gas supplies in Shantigram.
The green hydrogen is produced through electrolysis, using renewable energy sources like wind and solar.
This blended gas will be used for heating and power generation, leading to lower emissions than using natural gas alone.
The initiative aims to provide hydrogen-blended natural gas to approximately 4,000 domestic and commercial consumers.
The project is the largest of its kind in India, following smaller initiatives by NTPC in Kawas, Surat, and GAIL (India) Ltd in Indore.