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Assam Current Affairs – January 25-27, 2024

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Assam & NE Current Affairs & GK – January 25-27, 2024

( Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for January 25-27, 2024)

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Current Affairs Assamexam

January 25-27, 2024 

PM Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme (PM YASASVI)

PM YASASVI is a Scholarship scheme for Other Backward Class (OBCs), Economically Backward Class (EBC) and Denotified Nomadic Tribes (DNT) Students. 

The scheme aims to provide scholarships to students from various impoverished classes. The Scheme provides these students with the resources they need to become financially independent and continue their studies.

A total of ₹32.44 Crore has been released for Pre-matric Scholarships and ₹387.27 Crore for Post-Matric Scholarships to States/Union Territories (UTs) under the PM YASASVI scheme.

About PM YASASVI 

  • Under this Scheme students can avail Pre-Matric Scholarship from Class 9 to 10 and Post Matric Scholarship for their higher studies at post-matriculation or post-secondary stage. 
  • Students who excel in their studies also get an opportunity of Scholarship to study in Top Class Schools and Colleges under the Scheme of ‘Top Class School Education’ and ‘Top Class College Education’. 
  • Additionally, hostel facilities are provided for OBC students through a construction scheme. 

Eligibility: 

  • Other Backward Class (OBC), Economically Backward Classes (EBC), and Denotified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNT) 
  • Parents or guardians annual income is not more than Rs. 2.50 Lakhs. 
  • Studying in a Top Class School in Class 9 or 11.

There are five sub-Schemes under the Scheme. 

  1. Pre-Matric Scholarship for OBC, EBC and DNT Students: For students studying in class IX and X on a full-time basis in Government Schools only. Benefit-The students shall be given a consolidated academic allowance of Rs. 4000/- per annum 
  2. Post-Matric Scholarship for OBC, EBC and DNT Students. : For students studying at post-matriculation or post-secondary stage to enable them to complete their education. Benefits-allowance from Rs.5000 to Rs.20000 is awarded to students as per category of course. 
  3. Top Class School Education for OBC, EBC and DNT Students: For meritorious students belonging to OBC, EBC and DNT categories from Class 9 onwards till they complete Class 12. Benefits-Scholarship is awarded for tuition fee, hostel fee and other charges  subject to a maximum of Rs. 75,000/- per annum per student of class 9 and 10 and Rs. 1,25,000/- per annum per student of class 11 and 12. 
  4. Top Class College Education for OBC, EBC and DNT Students: For students belonging to OBC, EBC and DNT categories. Benefits-by providing full financial support that include tuition fee,living expenses,books and stationaries etcs. 
  5. Construction of Hostel for OBC Boys and Girls -To provide hostel facilities to students belonging to socially and educationally backward classes, especially from rural areas, to enable them to pursue secondary and higher education in the Govt. schools, universities, institutions and institutes located at a reasonable distance.

Arvind Panagariya Appointed Head Of Sixteenth Finance Commission 

The Government of India has appointed Arvind Panagariya, a renowned trade economist and former Niti Aayog vice chairman, as the chairman of the Sixteenth Finance Commission.

Major Terms of Reference for the 16th Finance Commission: 

  • Division of Tax Proceeds: Recommending the distribution of taxes between the Union Government and the States under Chapter I, Part XII of the Constitution. Includes the allocation of shares among the States from these tax proceeds. 
  • Principles for Grants-in-Aid: Establishing principles governing grants-in-aid to the States from the Consolidated Fund of India. Determines amounts to be provided to the States as grants-in-aid under Article 275 of the Constitution. 
  • Enhancing State Funds for Local Bodies: Identifying measures to enhance the Consolidated Fund of a State to supplement resources available to Panchayats and Municipalities. Based on recommendations made by the State’s own Finance Commission. 
  • Evaluation of Disaster Management Financing: The Commission may review current financing structures related to Disaster Management initiatives. Examines funds created under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and presents suitable recommendations for improvements or alterations. 

About Finance Commission 

  • The Finance Commission (FC) of India was established by the President in 1951 under Article 280 of the Indian Constitution. 

Functions

  • Its primary role is to define and regulate the financial relations between the central government and the individual state governments. 
  • The Finance Commission (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1951, further outlines the qualifications, appointment, disqualification, term, eligibility, and powers of the Finance Commission. 
  • The Fifteenth Finance Commission, made recommendations covering the period of six years commencing on April 1, 2020.

Composition: 

  • Appointed every five years, the FC comprises a chairman and four other members. 
  • The chairman of the commission is selected from among persons who have had experience in public affairs. 
  • Four other members are selected from among persons who: 
  1. are, or have been, or are qualified to be appointed as Judges of a High Court; 
  2. or have special knowledge of the finances and accounts of Government; 
  3. or have had wide experience in financial matters and in administration; 
  4. or have special knowledge of economics

Padma Awards 2024

The President has approved conferment of 132 Padma Awards including 2 duo cases (counted as one) for the year 2024.

Padma Awards 2024 List

The list comprises 5 Padma Vibhushan, 17 Padma Bhushan and 110 Padma Shri Awards. 30 of the awardees are women and the list also includes 8 persons from the category of Foreigners / NRI / PIO / OCI and 9 Posthumous awardees.

About Padma Awards 

  • The Padma Awards are one of the highest civilian honours of India. They are announced annually on the eve of Republic Day. These Awards are conferred by the President of India at ceremonial functions which are held at Rashtrapati Bhawan usually around March / April every year.
  • The Awards are given in various disciplines / fields of activities, viz.- art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc. 
  • The Padma Awards are provided in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. 
  • The ‘Padma Vibhushan’ is given to people who have done outstanding and remarkable service. 
  • The ‘Padma Bhushan’ is awarded for excellent service of a high order. 
  • The ‘Padma Shri’ is given to those who have shown great service in different fields. 
  • The award contain a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President, medallion and a small replica of the medallion, awardee names are also published in the Gazette of India on the ceremonial day.
  • The award does not amount to title and cannot be used as a suffix or prefix to the awardees’ name.

Padma Vibhushan 2024 

Name                                   Field                State/ Region 

  1. Ms. Vyjayantimala Bali           Art                      Tamil Nadu 
  2. Shri Konidela Chiranjeevi      Art                      Andhra Pradesh 
  3. Shri M Venkaiah Naidu      Public Affairs     Andhra Pradesh
  4. Shri Bindeshwar Pathak    Social Work           Bihar

(Posthumous)  

  1. Ms. Padma Subrahmanyam    Art                 Tamil Nadu

Padma Bhushan Awardees 2024 

Name                                   Field           State/Country 

  1. Ms. M Fathima Beevi   Public Affairs       Kerala 
  2. Shri Hormusji N Cama Literature & Education Maharashtra
  3. Shri Mithun Chakraborty Art West Bengal 
  4. Shri Sitaram Jindal Trade & Industry Karnataka 
  5. Shri Young Liu Trade & Industry Taiwan 
  6. Shri Ashwin Balachand Mehta Medicine Maharashtra 
  7. Shri Satyabrata Mookherjee Public Affairs West Bengal 8. Shri Ram Naik Public Affairs Maharashtra 
  8. Shri Tejas Madhusudan Patel Medicine Gujarat 
  9. Shri Olanchery Rajagopal Public Affairs Kerala 
  10. Shri Dattatray Ambadas Mayaloo alias Rajdutt Art Maharashtra 
  11. Shri Togdan Rinpoche Others – Spiritualism Ladakh 13. Shri Pyarelal Sharma Art Maharashtra 
  12. Shri Chandreshwar Prasad Thakur Medicine Bihar 
  13. Ms. Usha Uthup Art West Bengal 
  14. Shri Vijaykanth Art Tamil Nadu 
  15. Shri Kundan Vyas Literature & Education – Journalism Maharashtra

Padma Awards 2024

The Padma Shri Awards 2024 have been announced, honouring 110 distinguished individuals across various fields for their exceptional service. 

Individual/s has been awarded with the Padma Shri Awards 2024 from Assam

  1. Assam’s first female elephant mahout, Parbati Baruah, is recognized for her commitment to mitigating human-elephant conflict.
  2. Sarbeswar Basumatary  also known as “Chirang ke Krishi Chiraag,” is a farmer whose innovative approach to farming, incorporating various technologies, has not only transformed his own agricultural practices but has also garnered attention at the national level.
  3. Folk artiste from Assam Drona Bhuyan, an exponent of Ojapali and Deodhani dancer

Sapinda Marriage

Delhi High Court recently rejected a challenge to the constitutionality of Section 5(v) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 (HMA), which prohibits marriage between Hindus if they are “sapindas” of each other.

About Sapinda Marriage

  • A sapinda marriage is one between individuals who are related to each other within a certain degree of closeness. 
  • Sapinda relationships for the purposes of the HMA are defined in Section 3 of the Hindu Marriage Act. 
  • Under section 3(f)(ii) of the act, two persons are said to be sapindas of each other if one is a lineal ascendant of the other within the limits of sapinda relationship, or if they have a common lineal ascendant who is within the limits of sapinda relationship with reference to each of them. 
  • Under the provisions of the Hindu Marriage Act, on the mother’s side, a Hindu individual cannot marry anyone who is within three generations of them in the line of ascent.
  • On the father’s side, the same prohibition applies to anyone within five generations of the individual.

Exceptions to the Prohibitions Against Sapinda Marriages

  • The Hindu Marriage Act (HMA) provides an exception to the prohibition against sapinda marriages.
  • This exception applies when the customs of each individual involved permit such marriages.
  • According to Section 3(a) of the HMA, a custom must be continuously and uniformly observed for an extended period to gain legitimacy.
  • For a custom to be valid, it must be certain, not unreasonable, and in line with public policy. Additionally, if the custom applies only to a specific family, it should not have been discontinued by that family.

Cabinet approves the scheme for promotion of Coal/Lignite

Union Cabinet approved the scheme for promotion of Coal/Lignite Gasification Projects of Government PSUs and Private Sector with an outlay of Rs.8,500 crore towards incentive for coal gasification projects under three categories.

The cabinet has approved the scheme as follows: 

Total outlay of Rs.8,500 crore will be provided as financial assistance for coal gasification projects under three categories. 

Finance under 3 categories

  • In category I, Rs.4,050 crore provisioned for Government PSUs in which upto 3 projects will be supported by providing lump-sum grant of Rs.1,350 crore or 15% of capex, whichever is lower.
  • In category II, Rs.3,850 crore provisioned for private sector as well as Government PSUs in which lump-sum grant of Rs.1,000 crore or 15% of capex, whichever is lower provided for each project. At least one project will be bid out on tariff-based bidding process and its criteria will be designed in consultation with NITI Aayog. 
  • In category III, Rs.600 crore provisioned for demonstration Projects (indigenous technology) and/or small-scale product-based Gasification Plants under which lump-sum grant of Rs.100 crore or 15% of capex, whichever is lower, will be given to the selected entity who will have a minimum Capex of Rs. 100 Crore and minimum production of 1500 Nm3/hr Syn gas.

Project Veer Gatha

The third edition of Project ‘Veer Gatha’, a joint initiative of Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Education as part of Republic Day celebrations, has witnessed an overwhelming pan India response.

About Project Veer Gatha

  • Project Veer Gatha was initiated under the Gallantry Awards Portal (GAP) in 2021 with the primary goal of raising awareness about the brave actions of Gallantry Awardees and sharing their life stories with students.
  • It aims to inspire patriotism and civic values among the youth.
  • It aims to disseminate the details of acts of bravery of the Gallantry Awardees and the life stories of these brave hearts among the students. 
  • The order of precedence for Gallantry awards – Param Vir Chakra, Ashoka Chakra, Mahavir Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Vir Chakra, Shaurya Chakra.

Assam Current Affairs – January 19-21, 2024

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Assam & NE Current Affairs & GK – January 19-21, 2024

( Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for January 19-21, 2024)

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Current Affairs Assamexam

January 19-21, 2024 

Arunachal Pradesh celebrated the 9th edition of the Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival

The 9th edition of the Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival (PPHF) celebrated in Arunachal Pradesh, highlighting the region’s commitment to wildlife conservation, with a special focus on hornbills. 

The festival took place at Seijosa in the Pakke Kessang district from January 18-20, 2024. 

About Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival

  • The first-ever Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival was held in 2015. 
  • It aims to recognise the role played by the Nyishi tribal group in conserving hornbills in Pakke Tiger Reserve (PTR). 
  • The festival also aims to establish alternative income sources, steering away from harmful practices like hunting and logging. 
  • It serves as a platform for creating national awareness about the natural wonders of the Pakke Tiger Reserve and its surroundings.
  • The festival brings together diverse communities to unite in their efforts to protect these iconic birds and promote environmental awareness.
  • This year, the festival’s theme is Domutoh Domutoh, Paga hum Domutoh. It translates to ‘Let Our Hornbills Remain’ in the Nyishi language. 
  • This year’s festival aims to underscore the critical need for preserving these iconic birds.

India Inc lauds establishment of gender equity Alliance at WEF meet 2024

Indian industry lauded the government for establishing the ‘Alliance for Global Good- Gender Equity and Equality’ announced on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum annual meeting 2024.

Highlights of the Alliance for Global Good- Gender Equity and Equality

  • It seeks to build on the initiatives of the Engagement Group and frameworks like Business 20, Women 20, and G20 EMPOWER. 
  • The idea of this alliance emerged from the G20 Leaders’ Declaration and India’s abiding commitment to the cause of women-led development as propounded by Prime Minister  Shri Narendra Modi.
  • The primary and stated objective of this new Alliance is to bring together global best practices, knowledge sharing and investments in the identified areas  of women’s health, education, and enterprise.
  • Supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the alliance will be housed and anchored by the CII Centre for Women Leadership. 
  • The alliance aims to champion women-led development, leveraging India’s spectacular inclusive growth story and its philosophy of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Prayas” (Together with all, Development for all and Effort for all).

Union Ayush Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal lays foundation stone for State-of-the-Art ‘Ayush Diksha’ centre at Bhubaneswar

The Union Minister of Ayush and Ports, Shipping & Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal laid the foundation stone for ‘Ayush Diksha’,a groundbreaking center at the Central Ayurveda Research Institute in Bhubaneswar.

Key Points

  • The ‘Ayush Diksha’ center is set to become a hub for the advancement of human resources in Ayush, with a primary focus on Ayurveda professionals. 
  • The institution aims to foster collaboration with prominent national institutes to enhance capacity, strengthen human resources, facilitate research and development, and achieve self-sustainability for revenue generation.
  • The institution will offer training programmes for Ayush professionals, especially those from Ayurveda, as it aims to collaborate with national institutes of prominence for capacity development, strengthening human resources, facilitate research and development, achieve self-sustainability with an objective to generate revenue. 
  • The Ayush Diksha centre is being built with a budget of ₹30 crores. It will be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities including two auditoriums, 40 modern rooms with all amenities, suites for VIPs, dedicated space for a natural library, discussion rooms, modular kitchen, dining lounge, among other amenities. 
  • The CARI, Bhubaneswar is a unit under the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India. This ground breaking initiative marks a significant step towards promoting and advancing research in Ayurveda on scientific lines.

WHO Releases Guidelines for Multi-Modal Generative AI in Healthcare

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released comprehensive guidance on the ethical use and governance of large multi-modal models (LMM) in healthcare.

About the Guidelines

  • The guiding document identified five broad applications of LMMs in healthcare: Diagnosis and clinical care, such as responding to patients’ written queries; patient-guided use for investigating symptoms and treatments; clerical and administrative tasks in electronic health records; medical and nursing education with simulated patient encounters; and scientific research and drug development. 
  • It also recommends designing LMMs for well-defined tasks with the necessary accuracy and understanding of potential secondary outcomes. 
  • It offers a roadmap for harnessing the power of LMMs in healthcare while navigating their complexities and ethical considerations. 
  • This initiative marks a significant step towards ensuring that AI technologies serve the public interest, particularly in the health sector
  • WHO’s six core principles for AI in health: protect autonomy, promote well-being, ensure transparency, foster responsibility, ensure inclusiveness, and promote sustainability.

Risks Associated with LMMs in Healthcare Generation of False or Biased Information: 

  • LMMs may produce inaccurate or biased information due to biases present in the training data, potentially leading to misguided health decisions. 
  • LMMs might perpetuate healthcare disparities based on factors such as race, ethnicity, gender, and age, reflecting the biases present in their training data. 
  • There is a risk of automation bias, where healthcare professionals and patients may overly trust the output of LMMs, leading to the oversight of potential errors. 
  • As LMMs rely on trustworthy algorithms, any compromise in these algorithms could result in the release of sensitive patient information, posing cybersecurity risks.

The WHO Recommendations for Mitigating Risks 

  • Encourages investment in public infrastructure, such as computing power and datasets, adhering to ethical principles. 
  • Stressed on the need for global cooperative leadership to regulate AI technologies effectively. 
  • Governments from all countries must cooperatively lead efforts to effectively regulate the development and use of AI technologies, such as LMMs.
  • Calls for the implementation of mandatory post-release audits and impact assessments.
  • Advises developers to engage a diverse range of stakeholders, including potential users and healthcare professionals, from the early stages of AI development. 
  • Emphasizes designing LMMs for well-defined tasks with the necessary accuracy while understanding potential secondary outcomes.

President Droupadi Murmu confers Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar

The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu conferred the “Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar” instituted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India to 19 children at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

This year’s awardees include one child each in the categories of Bravery, Science & Technology and Innovation, four in the category of Social Service, five in the category of Sports, and seven in the category of Art & Culture. 

Every year, the Government of India acknowledges the exceptional achievements of children in the age group of 5 to 18 years by conferring the ‘Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) upon them. Each awardee received a medal and a certificate from the President.

Saiyam Mazumdar from Assam has been awarded Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar Award, 2024 in the field of social service. 

He is a wildlife conservationist who started off by saving and taking care of stray animals, exhibiting incredible compassion. 

He bravely saved snakes and informed others about their ecological significance. 

President of India inaugurates the 5th edition of the Meghalaya Games

The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the 5th Edition of the Meghalaya Games in Tura, Meghalaya on January 15, 2024. 

The President said that the North East region has a tremendous potential for the development of sports and sportspersons

She emphasized the need to support the talent from the tribal areas and groom them to become professional sportspersons. 

With Government’s new initiatives and encouragement to the athletes, Indian sportspersons are now winning more medals than ever in global events. 

Programmes such as Khelo India are helping in identifying and nurturing future sports champions.

Assam Current Affairs – January 04-06, 2024

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Assam & NE Current Affairs & GK – January 04-06, 2024

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Current Affairs Assamexam

January 04-06, 2024 

North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd (NEDFi) sanctions over ₹750 crores for 5,300 Northeast Projects

North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd (NEDFi) has sanctioned Rs 766.47 crore and disbursed Rs 547.11 crore for 5338 projects in the NorthEast region, in diverse sectors – education & training food processing, handlooms & handicrafts, healthcare, hotels & tourism, microfinance etc.

Important Initiatives of NEDFI

  • NEDFi in collaboration with the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) in setting up ₹100 crore North East Venture Fund to promote regional startups.
  • It also partners with banks, microcredit organisations and NGOs for last-mile delivery to remote areas.
  • North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd (NEDFi) plays an important role in facilitating setting up of new industrial and service sector projects in the NE Region.
  • ₹547 crore disbursed at concessional interest rates to micro and small businesses 
  • ₹41 crore credit extended via microfinance institutions ₹53 crore direct micro lending to benefit over 9 lakh individuals.
  • ₹98 crore venture capital commitments to 67 startups.

About North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd (NEDFi) 

  • It is a public limited company registered under the Companies Act 1956 on August 9, 1995.
  • It provides financial assistance to MSMEs in the NE region for setting up industrial, infrastructure and agriculture-related projects. 
  • It also provides micro financing through MFIs/NGOS. It also provides consultancy and advisory services to state governments, private sectors and other agencies.

Three New Frogs Discovered in Arunachal Pradesh

The Scientists have reported three new frog species belonging to new genera from Arunachal Pradesh’s Namdapha-Kamlang protected area network along the Myanmar border.

About the discovery 

  • Gracixalus patkaiensis – A translucent green tree frog with jelly-like appearance and insect-like call
  • Alcalus fontinalis – A tiny brown frog inhabiting fast-flowing hill streams with unique trickling vocalization 
  • Nidirana noadihing – A marsh-dwelling “music frog” named after the Noa-Dihing river

About Namdapha Tiger Reserve: 

  • It is located in the Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh, near the international border with Myanmar.
  • It was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary under the Assam Forest Regulation 1891 on 2nd Oct.’1972. 
  • In the 1983 year it was declared as a tiger reserve under Project Tiger Scheme of the Govt. of India on 15th March 1983.

India, Nepal hold Seventh Joint Commission Meeting

The Seventh Meeting of the Nepal-India Joint Commission was held in Kathmandu. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Nepal counterpart NP Saud recently attended the 7th meeting of the Nepal-India Joint Commission.

 

Key Points

  • Nepal and India signed a long-term agreement for the export of 10,000 MW of power to India for the next 10 years. 
  • Inauguration of Cross-Border Inauguration of 3 cross-border transmission lines which was completed with the help of India (132 kV Raxaul-Parwanipur, 132 kV Kushaha-Kataiya and New Nautanwa-Mainahiya lines). 
  • An agreement for the launch of Nepali satellites was formalized between the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology and NewSpace India Limited under the Indian Space Research Organisation.
  • Inaugurated 3 132-kV cross-border transmission strains, which include the second circuits of the Raxaul-Parwanipur line and the Kataiya-Kusaha line, and the New Nautanwa-Mahiya line.

About India-Nepal Joint Commission: 

It was established in 1987 as a platform for the Foreign Ministers of both countries to review all aspects of the bilateral partnership.

Raghuram Iyer appointed as CEO of Indian Olympic Association 

Raghuram Iyer has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

His appointment follows a meticulous selection process conducted by the nomination committee of the IOA.

The appointment comes after a significant delay and repeated reminders from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). 

Raghuram Iyer’s extensive experience in sports management and administration, particularly his previous roles as CEO of Indian Premier League teams Rajasthan Royals and Rising Pune Supergiants, has been recognized as making him an ideal candidate for this position.

XPoSat (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite) mission

The Indian Space Research Organisation successfully launched the PSLV-C58 XPoSat (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite) mission.

About XPoSat (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite)

  • XPoSat is designed to study X-ray polarization in the medium X-ray band, offering insights into celestial sources’ radiation mechanisms and geometry. 
  • This study is crucial for understanding the physics behind these celestial bodies.
  • The satellite carries two main payloads, POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays) and XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing).
  • It is India’s first dedicated polarimetry mission to study various dynamics of bright astronomical X-ray sources.
  • It is designated for observation from low earth orbit.
  • After this launch, India became the second nation after the US to send an observatory to study astronomical sources, such as black holes, and neutron stars, among others.

Wetland City Accreditation

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has submitted three nominations from India for Wetland City Accreditation (WCA).

The nominated cities include Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), and Udaipur (Rajasthan).

 These are the first three Indian cities for which nominations have been submitted for WCA based on the proposals received from respective State Wetlands Authorities in collaboration with the Municipal Corporations.

About Wetland City Accreditation:

  • The Ramsar Convention during COP12 held in the year 2015 approved a voluntary Wetland City Accreditation system.
  • The scheme aims to promote the conservation and wise use of urban and peri-urban wetlands, as well as sustainable socio-economic benefits for local populations.
  • It recognizes cities which have taken exceptional steps to safeguard their urban wetlands and also recognizes the importance of wetlands in urban and peri-urban environments and to take appropriate measures to conserve and protect these wetlands.
  • This voluntary scheme provides an opportunity for cities that value their natural or human-made wetlands to gain international recognition and positive publicity for their efforts.

About the cities nominated for WCA

  1. Indore: Founded by Holkars. Sirpur Lake, a Ramsar Site in the city has been recognised as an important site for water bird congregation and is being developed as a Bird Sanctuary. 

A strong network of wetland mitras is engaged in bird conservation and sensitising the local community to protect Sarus Crane. 

  1. Bhopal: Bhoj Wetland, Ramsar Site is the city’s lifeline, equipped with the world-class wetlands interpretation centre, Jal Tarang. Additionally, the Bhopal Municipal Corporation has a dedicated Lake Conservation Cell. 
  2. Udaipur: The city is surrounded by five major wetlands, namely, Pichola, Fateh Sagar, Rang Sagar, Swaroop Sagar, and Doodh Talai. These wetlands are an integral part of the city’s culture and identity, help maintain the city’s microclimate, and provide a buffer from extreme events.

Union Cabinet approves overarching scheme “PRITHvi VIgyan (PRITHVI)”

The Union Cabinet recently approved the comprehensive scheme “PRITHvi VIgyan (PRITHVI)” by the Ministry of Earth Sciences. This overarching initiative, with an allocation of Rs 4,797 crore for the period 2021-26.

About PRITHvi VIgyan (PRITHVI) Scheme

Objectives:

The major Objectives of the overarching Prithvi Scheme are: 

  • Augmentation and sustainance of long-term observations of the atmosphere, ocean, geosphere, cryosphere and solid earth to record the vital signs of the Earth System and change 
  • Development of modelling systems for understanding and predicting weather, ocean and climate hazards and understanding the science of climate change 
  • Exploration polar and high seas regions of the Earth towards discovery of new phenomena and resources; 
  • Development of technology for exploration and sustainable harnessing of oceanic resources for societal applications ·
  • Translation of knowledge and insights from Earth systems science into services for societal, environmental and economic benefit.

The Prithvi scheme integrates five existing sub-schemes: 

  1. Atmosphere and Climate Research-Modelling Observing Systems and Services (ACROSS) 
  2. Ocean Services, Modelling Application, Resources and Technology (O-SMART) 
  3. Polar Science and Cryosphere Research (PACER) 
  4. Seismology and Geosciences (SAGE) 
  5. Research, Education, Training, and Outreach (REACHOUT).

Additionally, the scheme focuses on providing advanced warning services for natural disasters like cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and earthquakes, facilitating prompt and effective disaster management. 

The scheme ensures precise weather forecasts for both land and oceans, enhancing safety and minimizing property damages in adverse weather conditions.

‘Clean and Green Village’ Programme  for Solar Power Expansion

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) is prioritizing the ‘Clean and Green Village’ theme as part of its Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP). 

About ‘Clean and Green Village’ Programme

  • Clean and Green Village’ is the fifth theme under the GPDP.
  • The programme aims to install solar power capacities on a commercial basis. 
  • It aims to develop sustainable business models for solar initiatives at the grassroots level. 
  • The programme focuses on access to safe water, sanitation, and low pollution environments for healthier lives. 
  • It emphasizes sustainable natural resource management for better livelihoods, food security, and environmental protection.
  • It aims to achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG7 (affordable and clean energy) and SDG13 (climate action). 

Areas of Action: Includes 10 specific areas like Open Defecation Free (ODF) Village, Clean and Green School, promotion of Organic Farming, and more.

Initiatives and Schemes for Clean and Green Village: 

  • Organic and natural farming initiatives like Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana. 
  • Reducing chemical fertilizers through schemes like PM-PRANAM. Waste to wealth initiatives like GOBARdhan and SATAT.

Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc.) in Bengaluru have observed a significant shift in the habitat of numerous bird species in the Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary due to the escalating temperatures in the region.

About Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary

  • It is a protected area of India in the Himalayan foothills of West Kameng District, Arunachal Pradesh. 
  • It conjoins Sessa Orchid Sanctuary to the northeast and Pakhui Tiger Reserve across the Kameng river to the east. 
  • It is situated in the biodiversity hotspot of Eastern Himalayas and home to over 500 bird species.
  • It is also a part of the Kameng Elephant Reserve. 
  • It derives its name from the Red Eagle Division of the Indian army The temperate cloud forest is intermixed with dense bamboo patches and broadleaved evergreen forest across a wide altitudinal range, with conifers and rhododendrons at the higher elevations.

Assam Current Affairs & GK Quiz for APSC 2024 – Set 351: January 2024, Week 3

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Assam Current Affairs & GK Quiz for APSC 2024 – Set 351: January 2024, Week 3

(Daily and Monthly Assam Current Affairs & GK Quiz & MCQ for APSC Exams and various Assam exams)

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Current Affairs Assam Quiz - Assam exam

Q1. Which among the following Tiger Reserve has got the title of India’s first ‘Dark Sky Park’?

  1. Pench Tiger Reserve
  2. Manas Tiger Reserve
  3. Pakke Tiger Reserve
  4. Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve

Pench Tiger Reserve

The Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Maharashtra has been marked as India’s first Dark Sky Park and the fifth Dark Sky Park in Asia for protecting the night sky and preventing light pollution.

The reserve’s certification recognizes its commitment to protecting the night sky, reducing light pollution, and creating an ideal environment for astronomy enthusiasts and stargazers.

 

Q2. Which bank signed a MoU with the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) to provide loans to rural Self-Help Groups (SHGs)?

  1. Canara Bank
  2. Punjab National Bank
  3. State Bank of India
  4. Union Bank of India

State Bank of India

State Bank of India introduced a specialized financial product, “Svyam Siddha”, exclusively tailored for SHG women entrepreneurs seeking loans up to Rs. 5 lakhs. 

This initiative is uniquely designed to alleviate the challenges associated with extensive documentation requirements for bank loan applications and reduce the Turn Around Time (TAT).

 

Q3. Which state government has launched the MukhyaMantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyaan aimed at empowering rural women entrepreneurs?

  1. Gujarat
  2. Uttar Pradesh
  3. Bihar
  4. Assam

Assam

The Assam government launched the Mukhyamantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyaan (MMUA) to empower rural women entrepreneurs. 

This financial assistance scheme targets women beyond Self-Help Groups, emphasizing family planning for eligibility. The goal is to transform participants into “Rural Micro Entrepreneurs” with a ₹1 lakh annual income target.

 

Q4. India and which country has partnered to launch Green Fuels Alliance India (GFAI)?

  1. USA
  2. Denmark
  3. UAE
  4. Germany

Denmark

  • Green Fuels Alliance India (GFAI) is an alliance between Denmark and India to boost collaborative efforts in the sustainable energy solutions sector.
  • It aims to advance the green fuels sector, including green hydrogen, through innovation and partnerships.
  • The new alliance is a strategic initiative led by the Danish Embassy and Consulate General of Denmark in India.

 

Q5. ‘Sinomicrurus Gorei’ a new species of coral snake was discovered in

  1. Arunachal Pradesh
  2. Mizoram
  3. Madhya Pradesh
  4. West Bengal

Mizoram

Researchers from Mizoram University’s zoology department have discovered a new species of coral snake in the state.  It has been named Sinomicrurus Gorei after British India doctor Gore.

The reptile is locally known as ‘Rulṭhihna’ due to its striking resemblance to a Mizo traditional amber necklace called ‘Ṭhihna’.

 

Q6. “Panchayats Free From Gender-Based Violence – A Handbook for Elected Representatives” is released by

  1. Narendra Modi
  2. Amit Shah Shri
  3. Giriraj Singh
  4. Dharmendra Pradhan

Giriraj Singh

 

Q7. Who among the following has become France’s youngest prime minister

  1. Gabriel Attal
  2. Hassanal Bolkiah
  3. Robert Fico
  4. Srettha Thavisin

Gabriel Attal

 

Q8. The Union Minister of Ayush and Ports, Shipping & Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal laid the foundation stone for ‘Ayush Diksha’, centre in 

  1. Guwahati
  2. Prayagraj
  3. Bhubaneswar
  4. Agra

Bhubaneswar

  • Shri Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated ‘Ayush Diksha,’ a groundbreaking center at the Central Ayurveda Research Institute in Bhubaneswar.
  • The ‘Ayush Diksha’ center is set to become a hub for the advancement of human resources in Ayush, with a primary focus on Ayurveda professionals. 
  • The institution aims to foster collaboration with prominent national institutes to enhance capacity, strengthen human resources, facilitate research and development, and achieve self-sustainability for revenue generation.

 

Q9. Lanjia Saura paintings, which recently got GI tag, belong to which state?

  1. Assam
  2. Gujarat
  3. Maharashtra
  4. Odisha

Odisha

Lanjia Saura paintings, also known as ekons or iditals, are a unique style of wall mural art from Odisha. The art form belongs to the Lanjia Saura community, a PVTG largely residing in the Rayagada district. These paintings are in the form of exterior murals painted on the mud walls of homes.

Q10. Who has become the second Indian to win a gold medal in the Asian Marathon Championship?

  1. Balraj Kaushik
  2. Gaurav Karjee
  3. Man Singh
  4. Dheeraj Singha

Man Singh

  • Man Singh has become only the second Indian male athlete to win a gold medal in the Asian Marathon Championships. 
  • He won the gold medal by timing 2 hours, 14 minutes and 19 seconds. 
  • Gopi Thonakal was the first Indian male athlete to win the Asian Marathon Championship title in the year 2017.

 

Q11. Who among the following is the Chief architect of the Ram Temple?

  1. Chandrakant Bhai Sompura
  2. Ashok Singhal
  3. Arun Yogiraj
  4. Ashok Bhushan

Chandrakant Bhai Sompura

Chandrakant Sompura, the chief architect of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir, hails from a distinguished lineage of temple architects based in Ahmedabad.

Notable among their creations are iconic structures like the Somnath Temple in Gujarat, the Swaminarayan temple in Mumbai, the Akshardham temple complex in Gujarat, and the Birla Temple in Kolkata.

 

Q12. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) inaugurated the India Innovation Centre for Graphene (IICG) and a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Intelligent Internet of Things (IIoT) Sensors in

  1. Maharashtra
  2. Kerala
  3. Arunachal Pradesh
  4. Rajasthan

Kerala

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), launched two flagship programs – “Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Intelligent Internet of Things (IIoT) Sensors” and India’s first Graphene Centre “India Innovation Centre for Graphene (IICG)” today at Maker Village, Kochi, Kerala.

 

Q13. Which airport was the venue for the Wings India 2024 event?

  1. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport
  2. Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport
  3. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport
  4. Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad

Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad

  • Union Minister for Civil Aviation Shri Jyotiraditya M Scindia inaugurated Wings India 2024, Asia’s largest aviation expo, at Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad.
  • The Airports Authority of India, in collaboration with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and FICCI, is organizing the biennial (after every two years) event. 
  • Wings India 2024 showcases a collection of new-generation aircraft displays, allied aviation services, auxiliary unit industries, and advancements in the tourism sector. 
  • The theme of Wings India 2024 is “Connecting India to the World in Amrit Kaal: Setting the Stage for India Civil Aviation @2047”.

 

Q14. Which state government has the Yuva Nidhi Scheme for Unemployed Youth?

  1. Uttar Pradesh
  2. Assam
  3. Karnataka
  4. West Bengal

Karnataka

  • Chief Minister Siddaramaiah inaugurated Yuva Nidhi, a scheme providing financial aid to unemployed graduates and diploma holders for two years.
  • Under the scheme, the government has committed to providing Rs 3,000 per month to degree holders and Rs 1,500 per month to diploma holders who have been unable to secure employment in the last six months and are not pursuing higher studies.

 

Q15. Who has been selected for Assam’s highest civilian award ‘Assam Vaibhav’ for 2023?

  1. Ranjan Gogoi
  2. Pranabjyoti Deka
  3. Pranjal Saikia
  4. Ratan Tata

Ranjan Gogoi

Former Chief Justice of India and current Rajya Sabha MP, Ranjan Gogoi, is set to be honored with the prestigious ‘Assam Baibhav’ award, the highest civilian award in Assam.

Ranjan Gogoi, the 46th Chief Justice of India and a Rajya Sabha MP, is the first from Northeast India to hold the CJI post. 

The Chief Minister also credited Ranjan Gogoi for his role in the establishment of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, emphasizing the significant impact of Gogoi’s Assamese roots on this historic development.

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Assam Current Affairs and GK Quiz – Set 343: September 2023, Week 5

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Assam Current Affairs and GK Quiz – Set 343: September 2023, Week 5

(Daily and Monthly Assam Current Affairs & GK Quiz & MCQ for APSC Exams and various Assam exams)

Quiz Home Page Current Affairs Assam Quiz - Assam exam

Q1. Assam Govt. has launched the “Mukhyamantrir Atmanirbharshil Asom Abhiyan” to provide financial grant of what amount to the deserving young individuals, to improve job opportunities in the state?

  1. Rs. 2 Lakh to 5 Lakh
  2. Rs. 3 Lakh to 5 Lakh
  3. Rs. 5 Lakh to 10 Lakh
  4. Rs. 10 Lakh

Rs. 2 Lakh to 5 Lakh

 

Q2. Which village in Assam has been chosen as the Best Tourism Village of India for the year 2023?

  1. Biswanath Ghat
  2. Chunbari Gaon
  3. Ranthali
  4. Sarthebari

Biswanath Ghat

Biswanath Ghat in Assam has been chosen as the Best Tourism Village of India in 2023 by the Ministry of Tourism.

 

Q3. Which is the oldest paramilitary force in the country?

  1. Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
  2. Border Security Force (BSF)
  3. Assam Rifles
  4. Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)

Assam Rifles

 

Q4. Which country has become Bangladesh’s leading export partner?

  1. China
  2. India
  3. United States
  4. England

India

  • India has become Bangladesh’s leading export partner, surpassing Japan and China.

 

Q5. When is Engineers’ Day celebrated in India?

  1. February 28
  2. September 15
  3. July 31
  4. December 13

September 15

 

Q6. How many elephant corridors are there in India, as per the “Elephant Corridors of India” report released by the Union Environment Ministry?

  1. 92
  2. 106
  3. 129
  4. 150

150

The “Elephant Corridors of India” report released by the Union Environment Ministry states that there are 150 elephant corridors in India.

 

Q7. India’s rank in the Global Innovation Index 2023 is

  1. 24th
  2. 29th
  3. 36th
  4. 40th

40th

India retains 40th rank out of 132 economies in the Global Innovation Index 2023 rankings published by the World Intellectual Property Organization. India’s improved significantly from its rank of 81 in 2015.

 

Q8. Who has been honoured with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award for the year 2023?

  1. Dilip Kumar
  2. Dharmendra
  3. Amitabh Bachchan
  4. Waheeda Rehman

Waheeda Rehman

 

Q9. When is the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation celebrated?

  1. September 5
  2. September 12
  3. September 19
  4. September 30

September 12

United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation is celebrated to recognize and promote economic, social, and political developments in regions and countries in the South and highlight UN efforts for technical cooperation among developing nations.

 

Q10. Who is regarded as the ‘Father of Green Revolution in India’?

  1. M.S. Swaminathan
  2. C. V. Raman
  3. Verghese Kurien
  4. Amartya Sen

M.S. Swaminathan

 

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Assam Current Affairs and GK Quiz – Set 316: July 2022, Week 4

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APSC Assam Current Affairs MCQ Quiz July 2022

Assam/APSC Current Affairs and GK Quiz – Set 316: July 2022, Week 4

( Daily and Monthly Assam Current Affairs & GK Quiz & MCQ for APSC Exams and various Assam exams)

Current Affairs GK & Quiz Monthly – July 2022 | Quiz Home Page Current Affairs Assam Quiz - Assam exam

Q1. Pala wetlands was recently designated as ‘Ramsar sites’, it is located in which state?

  1. Mizoram
  2. Odisha
  3. Rajasthan
  4. Tamil Nadu

Mizoram

  • India now has 54 Ramsar sites.
  • The new sites include three wetlands (Karikili Bird Sanctuary, Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest and Pichavaram Mangrove) in Tamil Nadu, one (Pala wetland) in Mizoram and one wetland (Sakhya Sagar) in Madhya Pradesh.

 

Q2. The ‘World Day for International Justice’ was observed on

  1. July 05
  2. July 09
  3. July 15
  4. July 17

July 17

  • The Day is observed to sensitise on international justice and to promote the rights of the victims.
  • It celebrates the approval of the Rome Statute and the formation of the new international criminal justice system in 1998.
  • Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court is the treaty that established the International Criminal Court (ICC).
  • Adopted in 1998 and entered into force on 1 July 2002.
  • Four core international crimes: genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression

 

Q3. Recently India signed a MoU with which country for the reintroduction of Cheetah and wildlife conservation?

  1. South Africa
  2. Australia
  3. Brazil
  4. Namibia

Namibia

  • MoU paves way for reintroduction of eight cheetahs in Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh.
  • It covers cooperation on wildlife conservation and sustainable biodiversity utilisation. India will train Namibian candidates in wildlife management courses at the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) Dehradun.

 

Q4. The ‘National Flag Day’ is celebrated on which day in India?

  1. August 15
  2. January 26
  3. July 18
  4. July 22

July 22

  • Every year, India celebrates the National Flag Day on July 22. On the same day in 1947, the Constituent Assembly of India adopted the National Flag.
  • When the members of the Indian Constituent Assembly met in the Constitution Hall in Delhi on July 22, 1947, the first thing the Assembly discussed was a motion by Jawaharlal Nehru to adopt the national flag for free India.

 

Q5. Who are the eligible beneficiaries of ‘Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana’?

  1. Senior Citizens
  2. Below-Poverty-Line populations
  3. MSME sectors
  4. Micro lenders & cooperative society

Senior Citizens

  • Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana was launched on July 21, 2017.
  • Under the scheme, senior citizens above the age of 60 can make a lump sum investment and can monthly or a yearly pension.
  • PMVVY has been extended up to 31st March, 2023. The amendment in 2020 allowed an assured rate of return of 7.40 % per annum for the year 2020-21 per annum and thereafter to be reset every year.




Q6. WHO has recently declared which outbreak as a “public health emergency of international concern” (PHEIC)?

  1. Malaria
  2. Bird-Flu
  3. Monkeypox
  4. Tomato Flu

Monkeypox

  • This classification is one step below that of a ‘pandemic.’ WHO says the expanding monkeypox outbreak in over 70 countries is now qualified as a global emergency.
  • Established on 7 April 1948.
  • Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

 

Q7. Which movie was declared as the ‘Best Feature Film’ in the 68th National Film Awards?

  1. Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior
  2. Soorarai Pottru
  3. Ayyappanum Koshiyum
  4. Mandela

Soorarai Pottru

  • Suriya and Ajay Devgn shared the Best Actor award
  • Aparna Balamurali won Best Actoress awards.
  • Sachidanandan KR was awarded Best Director.




Q8. Best Actor in the 68th National Film Awards

  1. Suriya and Ajay Devgn
  2. Ayushmann Khurrana
  3. Akash Andhadhun
  4. Vicky Kaushal

Suriya and Ajay Devgn



Q9. Which state has signed MoU with Telangana to set up an all women-run cooperative bank?

  1. Maharashtra
  2. Karnataka
  3. Andhra Pradesh
  4. Rajasthan

Rajasthan

  • Rajasthan signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Telangana government’s Stree Nidhi Credit Cooperative Federation.
  • The aim is to set up the first all women-run cooperative bank in Rajasthan, on the lines of the Stree Nidhi model of Telangana.
  • ‘Rajasthan Mahila Nidhi’ fund would be operated by the women Self Help Groups for the women of SHG only.

 

Q10. The 2022 National Games of India is about to be held in which state?

  1. Assam
  2. Kerala
  3. Mahashtra
  4. Gujarat

Gujarat

  • The 2022 National Games of India will be the 36th edition of the National Games of India and will be held in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot and Bhavnagar in the state of Gujarat between 27 September and 10 October 2022.

 

Q11. Which Indian economist has been appointed the chief economist of the World Bank?

  1. Indermit Gill
  2. Kaushik Basu
  3. Raghuram Rajan
  4. Urjit Patel

Indermit Gill

  • World Bank has appointed Indermit Gill as the Chief Economist and senior vice president for development economics.
  • Indermit Gill is the second Indian, after, to become the chief economist of the World Bank. It is an international financial institution that grants loans to middle and lower-income countries.




Q12. Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest and Pichavaram Mangrove, which were recently designated as ‘Ramsar sites’ are located in

  1. Odisha
  2. Arunachal Pradesh
  3. Tamil Nadu
  4. Rajasthan

Tamil Nadu

  • India now has 54 Ramsar sites.
  • The new sites include three wetlands (Karikili Bird Sanctuary, Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest and Pichavaram Mangrove) in Tamil Nadu, one (Pala wetland) in Mizoram and one wetland (Sakhya Sagar) in Madhya Pradesh.

 

Q13. Which organisation/institution has recently released India Innovation Index (2021)?

  1. Ministry of Science and Technology
  2. Indian Institute of Science Bengaluru
  3. NITI Aayog
  4. IIT Madras

NITI Aayog

  • Karnataka ranked first in the NITI Aayog’s India Innovation Index (2021) for third time in a row.
  • Since 2019 India Innovation Index ranks states and union territories on the basis of innovation capabilities.

 

Q14. The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 will be held in

  1. Bangladesh
  2. India
  3. England
  4. Sri Lanka

India

  • ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 will be hosted by Bangladesh for the second time
  • The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 edition goes to England
  • The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in 2025 will be hosted by India
  • Sri Lanka will host the Women’s T20 Champions Trophy 2027


Q15. ‘International Tiger Day’ observed on

  1. July 21
  2. July 27
  3. July 29
  4. July 31

July 29

  • ‘International Tiger Day’ is observed every year across the world on July 29.
    The objective is to raise awareness among individuals, organisations, and governments about the importance of the conservation of tigers.
  • International Tiger Day was introduced in 2010 after it was discovered that 97% of tigers disappeared in the past century.
  • According to the WWF, the current population of tigers is 3,900.
  • India is home to around 70% of the world’s tiger population. Tiger population of India has increased to almost 3,000.

Current Affairs GK & Quiz Monthly – July 2022

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APSC Prelim 2018 GS Paper – Analysis of Current Affairs & GK Section Questions

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APSC Prelim 2018 GS Paper – Current Affairs & GK Section Questions Analysis

Current Affairs & GK is very important sections in any General Studies papers and in APSC GS Paper too, a significant number of Questions are asked from these sections. So, analyzing the previous year’s Qs from this section can be very helpful to understand Focus Areas to study more extensively.

Q39. Which organisation was the lead agency for the BIMSTEC DMEx-2017?

  1. The National Disaster Response Force
  2. The National Disaster Management Force
  3. The National Disaster Security Force
  4. The National Disaster Rehabilitation Force
  5.  

Q40. Which Indian cartoonist won the International Award in the best caricature categoriy at the World Press Cartoon Awards 2018?

Thomas Antony

 

Q41. What does JICF stand for in the context of JICA and the NE Region?

Japan-India Coordination Forum (JICF) for Development of North-Eastern Region

 

Q42. Which country has celebrated 25th year of diplomatic ties with India in 2017?

Israel

Celebration of 25 years of India-Israel Diplomatic Relations, New Delhi (February 28, 2017)

Q43. In which city did India’s first e-court open?

Hyderabad

India’s first e-court was Sunday opened at High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad, which is the common high court for the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

 

Q44. SBI has launched a new initiative to facilitate cooperates looking to invest in India. What is it called as?

Japan Desk

State Bank of India (SBI) has launched a new initiative called ‘Japan Desk’, a first-of-its-kind initiative to facilitate Japanese corporates looking to invest in India with banking and advisory services.

 

Q45. In 103rd Indian Science Congress Prime Minister Narendra Modi coined five Es for enquiry and engineering. What do the five Es stand for?

Economy, Environment, Energy, Empathy and Equity.

 

Q46. In which Chinese city, the Indian and Chinese armies launched their 5th annual anti-terrorism exercise holding hand in hand?

Kunming

 

Q47. Which social networking giant has partnered with National Commission for Women (NCW) to offer digital literacy programme for women?

Facebook

 

Q48. What is the GDP growth of India forecast for 2018, as per latest Moody’s Investors Service Report ‘Global Macro Outlook, 2018-19?

7.3%

 

Q51. Hornbill Festival of Nagaland is celebrated in which of the following venues?

Kisama

The Hornbill Festival is held at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama which is about 12 km from Kohima. All the tribes of Nagaland take part in this festival.

 

Q56. Which Indian actor is also a recipient of Jnanpith Award in literature?

Girish Karnad

 

Q74. Who among the following writers from Assam was awarded ‘Padma Shri’in 2018?

Arup Kumar Dutta

 

Q94. Which of the following in known as the Land of Midnight Sun?

  1. Finland
  2. Spain
  3. Norway
  4. Greenland

 

Q95. Which of the following numericals stands as the extent of seawater/ocean water distance from the baseline in case of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)?

  1. 200 nautical miles
  2. 250 nautical miles
  3. 300 nautical miles
  4. 500 nautical miles

Assam Current Affairs and GK Quiz – Set 293: August 07-09, 2020

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Assam Current Affairs & GK Quiz Set 293 : August 07 – 09, 2020

( Daily and Monthly Assam Current Affairs & GK Quiz & MCQ for APSC Exams and various Assam exams)

Assam 2020 Yearbook | Quiz Home Page | Quiz Monthly – July 2020 | Current Affairs Monthly – July 2020Current Affairs Assam Quiz - Assam exam

Q1. Recently, the government of India plans to set up 13th Japanese Industrial Township in which state?

  1. Assam
  2. Himachal Pradesh
  3. Mizoram
  4. Odisha
A. Assam

To promote domestic manufacturing and strengthening economic ties between the two countries, India has decided to set up the 13th Japanese industrial township in Assam.

Currently, India has 12 Japanese industrial townships and a 13th is being planned.

 

Q2. Recently, Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) planned to set up the first of its kind training cum production centre of silk in which state?

  1. Karanataka
  2. Assam
  3. Arunachal Pradesh
  4. West Bengal
C. Arunachal Pradesh

KVIC is a statutory body formed in April 1957, under Khadi and Village Industries Commission Act 1956 It is an apex organisation under the Ministry of MSME, with regard to khadi and village industries within India, which seeks to – “plan, promote, facilitate, organise and development of khadi and village.It took over the work of former All India Khadi and Village Industries Board.
Its head office is in Mumbai , whereas its six zonal offices in Delhi, Bhopal, Bangalore, Kolkata, Mumbai and Guwahati. It has offices in 28 states for the implementation of its various programmes

 

Q3. Government of which state has approved the policy of reserving 50% seats for women in the village level community institutions?

  1. Assam
  2. Meghalaya
  3. Manipur
  4. Arunachal Pradesh
B. Meghalaya

The policy developed with an objective to address different grassroot problems related to gender equality and developmental issues and its main intention is to involve the active participation of women.

The policy entails: (a) Position of the Secretary of VEC will be reserved for women members in all VECs on a rotational basis. Adult women who are active community workers with leadership qualities can contest for this post.  (b) The position of Chairperson will be reserved for women in VECs where the posts of Chairperson are not held by the traditional heads which will also be on a rotation basis

 

Q4. Who among the following has been recently appointed as the new Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG) of India?

  1. Girish Chandra Murmu
  2. Tushar Mehta
  3. Rupinder Singh
  4. Suri Vikramjit Banerjee
A. Girish Chandra Murmu

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India is an authority, established by Article 148 of the Constitution of India. He is appointed by the President of India following a recommendation by the Prime Minister.

CAG audits all receipts and expenditure of the Government of India and the state governments, including those of bodies and authorities substantially financed by the government.

 

 

Q5. Who among the following has been recently appointed as the Chairman of UPSC?

  1. Bhim Sain Bassi
  2. Sujata Mehta
  3. Manoj Soni
  4. Pradeep Kumar Joshi

D. Pradeep Kumar Joshi

Article 315 to 323 of the Indian Constitution deals with the appointment of UPSC members, functions and powers of UPSC. The President of India appoints the UPSC Chairman and other members. Each member holds office for a tenure of 6 years or till he becomes the age of 65 years.

 

Q6. Recently, which Indian state has become the first state to get ‘Tsunami Ready’ tag for its two coastal villages?

  1. Odisha
  2. West Bengal
  3. Andhra Pradesh
  4. Kerala
A. Odisha

Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO has approved the recognition of Venkatraipur and Noliasahi villages of Odisha as Tsunami Ready.

With this recognition, India is the first country to implement Tsunami Ready in the Indian Ocean Region and Odisha is the first state.

Tsunami Ready is a community performance-based programme initiated by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO. Its main aim of is to improve coastal community’s preparedness for tsunami emergencies to minimize the loss of life and property and to ensure a structural and systematic approach in building community preparedness.

 

Q7. First state to partner with Google to provide learning tools for schools?

  1. Odisha
  2. Kerala
  3. Maharashtra
  4. Uttarakhand
C. Maharashtra

Under the partnership the platform offers a teacher training and free resources around distance learning contracts for educators.

Google will deploy free online learning tools like G Suite for education, Google Classroom, Google Meet to enable remote learning for around 2.3 crore teachers and students of the state.

 

Q8. Who is the author of the book ‘Amazing Ayodha’?

  1. Neena Rai
  2. Narendra Modi
  3. Preeti Shenoy
  4. Ravinder Singh

A. Neena Rai

The book to tell history of Lord Rama’s birth place.

Ayodhya city is the administrative headquarters of Ayodhya district of UP. It is situated on the banks of river Sarayu.

 

Q9. Which company has surpassed Saudi Aramco to become world’s most valuable company (in terms of market capitalization)?

  1. Reliance Industries Limited
  2. Microsoft
  3. Apple
  4. Amazon.com, Inc
C. Apple

By the end of July 2020, Apple has a market valuation of $1.84 trillion, while Saudi Aramco’s is $1.76 trillion.

During the COVID pandemic, leading tech companies Amazon, Facebook, and Google are growing at very fast pace.

 

Q10. Which Indian company is ranked No 2 brand globally in FutureBrand Index 2020 list?

  1. Reliance Industries Limited
  2. Tata Group
  3. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation
  4. HDFC
A. Reliance Industries Limited

Apple is top, Samsung is ranked third, followed by Nvidia, Moutai, Nike, Microsoft, ASML, PayPal and Netflix in the FutureBrand Index 2020 list

 

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Assam Current Affairs and GK Quiz – Set 292: August 04-06, 2020

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Assam Current Affairs & GK Quiz Set 292 : August 04 – 06, 2020

( Daily and Monthly Assam Current Affairs & GK Quiz & MCQ for APSC Exams and various Assam exams)

Assam 2020 Yearbook | Quiz Home Page | Quiz Monthly – July 2020 | Current Affairs Monthly – July 2020Current Affairs Assam Quiz - Assam exam

Q1. Recently, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar launched a 24×7 channel dedicated for Assam. Name of the channel is

  1. Assam TV
  2. Doordarshan Purnvanchal
  3. Doordarshan Assam
  4. NE Doordarshan
C. Doordarshan Assam

Channel telecasting from Doordarshan Kendra Assam situated at Guwahati. DD Assam is a channel exclusive for the state available on DD Free dish DTH, at channel no.0052.

 

Q2. Which district from Northeast region has been ranked second best in the NITI Aayog’s Aspirational District for the period of February-June 2020?

  1. Kamrup
  2. Ri-Bhoi
  3. Hailakandi
  4. Bishnupur
B. Ri-Bhoi

In January, 2018 the Government of India has launched the ‘Transformation of Aspirational Districts’ initiative with a vision of a New India by 2022 where the focus is to improve India’s ranking under Human Development Index, raising living standards of its citizens and ensuring inclusive growth of all.

 

Q3. Union minister Prahlad Singh Patel inaugrated “Thenzawl Golf Resort”, which is the first golf course of which Indian state?

  1. Manipur
  2. Nagaland
  3. Mizoram
  4. Tripura
C. Mizoram

The project was sanctioned under the Integrated Development of New Eco Tourism under the Swadesh Darshan-North East Circuit at Thenzawl.  The project has been planned and created with an aim to provide fine quality golfing experience and this resort will generate employment for nearby villages and will promote tourism in the state.

 

Q4. How much amount was contributed by India to the India-UN development partnership fund?

  1. $10.38 million
  2. $15.46 million
  3. $20.70 million
  4. $25.20 million
B. $15.46 million

India has contributed the funds to the United Nations Office for South-south Cooperation (UNOSSC) as a permanent representative of the UN. Of this, 6 million USD to the overall fund and 9.46 million USD has been dedicated to the Commonwealth countries.

India-UN Development Partnership Fund is managed by UNOSSC which was established in 2017 with the aim to contribute to the efforts of developing countries towards the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

 

 

Q5. Which state/UT planned to develop India’s first snow leopard conservation centre?

  1. Jammu and Kashmir
  2. Himachal Pradesh
  3. Andaman and Nicobar
  4. Uttarakhand

D. Uttarakhand

The aim of the project is to secure livelihoods, conservation, sustainable use and restoration of high range Himalayan ecosystems and also conversation of snow leopards and other endangered species and their habitats, found in Himalayas.

 

Q6. “India Report on Digital Education, 2020” has been launched virtually by which Ministry?

  1. Ministry of Finance
  2. Ministry of Civil Aviation
  3. Ministry of Human Resource Development
  4. Ministry of Culture
C. Ministry of Human Resource Development

The aim of the initiative is to assist teachers, scholars and students in their pursuit of learning. Some of the major medium to connect to the students were using WhatsApp Group for all the classes, Online classes through YouTube channel, Google meet, Skype etc., Some of the major digital initiatives Like Assam has launched the Biswa Vidya Assam Mobile Application for class 6 to 10. TRIPURA has an application titled ‘EmpowerU Shiksha Darpan’ in order to facilitate student’s appraisal.

 

Q7. Which company has partnered with Prasar Bharati for AI-enabled Independence Day celebration?

  1. Microsoft
  2. Facebook
  3. IBM
  4. Google
D. Google

Google India has collaborated with Prasar Bharati and Virtual Bharat for AI-enabled Independence Day celebration of India. The participants are only required to sing the National Anthem, then goggle by using Artificial Intelligence (AI) Technology will convert that voice into any of the three traditional instruments enlisted by Google – shehnai, sarangi or bansuri.

 

Q8. Recently, which IIT researchers has received the Gandhian Young Technological Innovation (GYTI) Awards 2020 for generating electricity from wet clothes?

  1. IIT Madras
  2. IIT Bombay
  3. IIT Guwahati
  4. IIT Kharagpur

D. IIT Kharagpur

Another team from the institute was separately granted the same award for addressing the problem of energy conservation and thermal management in wearable and flexible electronic devices.

 

Q9. Nokia to set up Center of Excellence (CoE) for Networked Robotics at which Indian Institute?

  1. IIT Hyderabad
  2. IISc Bangalore
  3. IIT Delhi
  4. IIIT Bangalore
B. IISc Bangalore

Nokia Center of Excellence (CoE) for networked robotics will promote interdisciplinary research involving robotics, advanced communication technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) to develop socially relevant use cases across areas like emergency management, agriculture and industrial automation.

 

Q10. Who is appointed as the new Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir?

  1. Girish Chandra Murmu
  2. Rajesh Bhushan
  3. Pradeep Kumar Joshi
  4. Manoj Sinha
D. Manoj Sinha

The Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir is the head of state of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. He is appointed by the President of India. A Council of Ministers led by a Chief Minister is appointed by him from the membership of the legislative assembly. He also has the power to promulgate ordinances which have the same force as the acts of the legislative assembly.

 

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Assam Current Affairs and GK Quiz – Set 291: August 01-03, 2020

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Assam Current Affairs & GK Quiz Set 291 : August 01 – 03, 2020

( Daily and Monthly Assam Current Affairs & GK Quiz & MCQ for APSC Exams and various Assam exams)

Assam 2020 Yearbook | Quiz Home Page | Quiz Monthly – July 2020 | Current Affairs Monthly – July 2020Current Affairs Assam Quiz - Assam exam

 

Q1. Who among the following have been awarded with “Natasurya Phani Sarma Award for the year” 2020?

  1. Dulal Roy and Arati Das Boiragi
  2. Bhola Kakoti and Nipon Goswami
  3. Uaday Shankar Siakia
  4. Aishwarya Kakati and Bhabesh Baruah
D. Aishwarya Kakati and Bhabesh Baruah

The award comprises a sarai, commendation, man bastra and a cheque of Rs 2 lakh each.

Natasurya Phani Sarma had made tremendous contributions to the cultural field of Assam and through his work. He unified the greater Assamese society cutting across linguistic, religious and all other divides.

 

Q2. Northern Railway today ran it’s first-ever Vyapar Mala Express train from Punjab and was destined to which state?

  1. Manipur
  2. Arunachal Pradesh
  3. Nagaland
  4. Tripura
D. Tripura

This train destined for Jirania in Tripura has 46 wagons. It will help small traders in moving their cargo through Railways, in a short time, cost effective, convenient and environment-friendly mode of transportation.

 

Q3. Government of India has approved the setting up of the Directorate of AYUSH in which state?

  1. Assam
  2. Meghalaya
  3. Tripura
  4. Manipur
B. Meghalaya

The Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) is purposed with developing education, research and propagation of indigenous alternative medicine systems in India.

The state government has also proposed another 22 health and wellness centres for the current financial year 2020-21.

 

Q4. The government of India unveiled the new National Education Policy (NEP) that introduced several changes in Indian education system-from school to college level. This new policy will replace

  1. National Education Policy (NEP) 1968
  2. National Education Policy (NEP) 1992
  3. National Education Policy (NEP) 1990
  4. National Education Policy (NEP) 1986
D. National Education Policy (NEP) 1986

The National Education Policy was framed in 1986 and modified in 1992. The Right to Education Act, 2009 (RTE Act) provides for free and compulsory education to all children from the age of six to 14 years.  The new draft Policy recommends the extension of the Right to Education Act 2009 to all children between the ages of 3 to 18 years.

 

 

Q5. Which Ministry receives SKOCH Gold Award in digital India category for Empowerment of Tribals through IT enabled Scholarship Schemes project?

  1. Ministry of Human Resource Development
  2. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
  3. Ministry of Tribal Affairs
  4. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology

C. Ministry of Tribal Affairs 

The SKOCH Awards were presented over a virtual platform at the 66th SKOCH Summit at New Delhi.

Skoch Award is the highest civilian honour in the country conferred by an independent organisation. The awards recognise leadership and excellence in accelerating socio-economic changes. Conferred to people, projects and institutions.

 

Q6. Governor of which state has gave his nod to three state-capital bills and CRDA Repeal Bills 2020 recently?

  1. Uttar Pradesh
  2. Andhra Pradesh
  3. Madhya Pradesh
  4. Maharashtra
B. Andhra Pradesh

The new tri-capital plan involves setting up executive, legislative and judicial capitals at Visakhapatnam, Amaravati and Kurnool respectively.

 

Q7. United Launch Alliance (ULA) and which space agency has recently launched Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover Mission to Red Planet?

  1. NASA
  2. ISRO
  3. JAXA
  4. CNES
A. NASA

The main aim of the Mars Perseverance Rover is to seek signs of ancient life and collect rock and soil samples for a possible return to Earth.

 

Q8. Name the book recently launched by the Union Minister Smriti Irani and Gajendra Singh Shekhawa which contains essays on Swachh Bharat Mission?

  1. Swachh Bharat Sapna
  2. Swachh Bharat Kranti
  3. Swastha Bharat
  4. Nirmal Bharat

B. Swachh Bharat Kranti

‘Swachh Bharat Revolution’ has been translated into Hindi by Shri Parameswaran Iyer, and is published as Swachh Bharat Kranti. The book aims at capturing the remarkable journey of Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) through 35 essays from various stakeholders and contributors of Swachh Bharat Missionwho have shared their perspective on this social revolution.

 

Q9. Which country will host the 6th annual meeting of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in 2021?

  1. UAE
  2. Denmark
  3. France
  4. China
A. UAE

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is a multilateral development bank which was proposed by China in 2013 and the initiative was launched at a ceremony in Beijing in 2014. The bank started operation after the agreement entered into force in 2015. The bank currently has 103 members as well as 20 prospective members from around the world. Its aim is to support the building of infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific region.

 

Q10. SABIC chemical plant, which is set to become world’s first-of-its-kind to operate on 100 per cent renewable power, is in which country?

  1. Spain
  2. Qatar
  3. Ukarine
  4. Brazil
A. Spain

SABIC’s polycarbonate facility in Spain is set to become the world’s first large scale chemical production plant which will run entirely on renewable power after a major agreement was signed with , an electricity utility company Iberdrola.

 

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