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Q1. Who recently took the oath of Office and Secrecy as Member of UPSC?
- Dr. Dinesh Dasa
- Dr. Rajesh Sharma
- Dr. Anjali Kapoor
- Dr. Manish Yadav
Ans:-1)Dr. Dinesh Dasa
- Dr. Dinesh Dasa has been sworn in as a Member of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). This significant appointment underscores Dr. Dasa’s extensive experience and expertise in various fields, which will undoubtedly contribute to the commission’s work in recruiting for the country’s top administrative positions.
- Dr. Dasa’s oath-taking ceremony was conducted in the presence of UPSC Chairman, Pradeep Kumar Joshi, and other senior officials. His vast knowledge and dedication to public service make him a valuable addition to the UPSC team. The appointment is poised to further strengthen the commission’s role in selecting highly capable individuals for key positions in the government.
Q2.Who has been named as the Chairman of the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI)?
- Dinesh Dasa
- Rajendra Kumar
- Mangal Jit Rai
- Saugata Gupta
Ans:-4)Saugata Gupta
- Saugata Gupta, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Marico Ltd, has assumed the role of the Chairman of the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) following a board meeting of the self-regulatory body. Gupta brings years of experience to this position, having served for two years on the Board of Governors and an additional four years as a special invitee. Partha Sinha, President of Response at Bennett Coleman & Company Limited, has been elected as the Vice Chairman, and Sudhanshu Vats, Deputy Managing Director of Pidilite Industries Ltd, will serve as the Honorary Treasurer.
Q3.Who has been elected as the Chairman of Press Trust of India (PTI) Board?
- Saugata Gupta
- Partha Sinha
- K.N. Shanth Kumar
- Sudhanshu Vats
Ans:-3)K.N. Shanth Kumar
- In a significant development in Indian journalism, K.N. Shanth Kumar, an experienced media professional, has been elected as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Press Trust of India (PTI) for a one-year term.
- This announcement follows the Annual General Meeting of PTI’s Board of Directors, which took place at the news agency’s headquarters in New Delhi. Mr. Shanth Kumar’s election marks a transition in PTI’s leadership as he succeeds Aveek Sarkar, who served as Chairman for two consecutive terms. This change in leadership is expected to bring fresh perspectives and ideas to the helm of India’s largest and oldest private news agency.
Q4.Which sport does Rohan Bopanna and Rutuja Bhosale represent in the Asian Games?
- Tennis
- Badminton
- Athletics
- Swimming
Ans:-1)Tennis
- Rohan Bopanna and Rutuja Bhosale secured the gold in mixed doubles with a remarkable 2-6, 6-3, 10-4 victory over Chinese Taipei’s Yu-hsiou Hsu and Hao-ching Chan. This victory marked India’s second medal in tennis at the continental event, following Ramkumar Ramanathan and Saketh Myneni’s silver in men’s doubles.
- In a display of exceptional skill, Bhosale elevated her performance just in time, while the experienced Bopanna maintained his composure with powerful serves. This enabled India to bounce back from a set down and clinch the title against Chinese Taipei’s Tsung-hao Huang and En-shuo Liang.
- It’s worth noting that India’s achievement of two medals in tennis is the country’s lowest tally at the Asian Games since the beginning of the 21st century.
Q5.Which of the following statements is true regarding India’s core sector growth in August?
- It recorded the lowest growth in 14 months.
- It experienced a decline compared to the previous month.
- It showed robust growth, reaching its highest point in 14 months.
- The growth was steady, without any significant changes.
Ans:-3) It showed robust growth, reaching its highest point in 14 months.
- In a noteworthy economic development, India’s core sector experienced substantial growth in August, hitting a 14-month peak of 12.1%. This impressive upturn in core sector performance can be attributed to various pivotal factors, with the favorable base effect being the primary driver.
Q6.What is the status of India’s fiscal deficit as of August?
- It has exceeded the fiscal year target.
- It is exactly on track with the fiscal year target.
- It is at 36% of the fiscal year target.
- The statement does not provide enough information to answer.
Ans:-3)It is at 36% of the fiscal year target.
- As of the end of August in the financial year 2023-24, data from the Controller General of Accounts (CGA) reveals that India’s fiscal deficit for the initial five months has reached 36% of the annual target. The fiscal deficit signifies the disparity between government expenditure and revenue, pointing to the government’s borrowing requirements. In concrete figures, the fiscal deficit stood at Rs 6.42 lakh crore.
Q7.What action has the government taken regarding the windfall tax on crude petroleum?
- The government has decreased the windfall tax.
- The government has increased the windfall tax.
- The government has abolished the windfall tax.
- The statement does not provide enough information to answer.
Ans:-2)The government has increased the windfall tax.
- The Indian government has recently unveiled substantial revisions to its tax policies pertaining to the petroleum sector. These alterations encompass an upswing in the special additional excise duty (SAED) imposed on domestically extracted crude petroleum, alongside decreases in levies on diesel and Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF).
Q8.What recent action has Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal taken to address air pollution?
- He has announced a 15-Point Summer Action Plan.
- He has launched a campaign to promote tourism in Delhi.
- He has unveiled a 15-Point Winter Action Plan to combat air pollution.
- The statement does not provide enough information to answer.
Ans:-3) He has unveiled a 15-Point Winter Action Plan to combat air pollution.
- In anticipation of the festive season, Delhi’s Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, has introduced an extensive 15-point plan for winter to combat air pollution in the national capital. This move is a direct response to the urgent requirement for improved air quality in Delhi, a city that has witnessed some positive changes in air quality parameters, including decreased levels of PM 2.5 and PM 10.
Q9.Who has been awarded the 2023 SASTRA Ramanujan Prize in Mathematics?
- SASTRA Ramanujan
- Ruixiang Zhang
- Ramanujan Zhang
- SASTRA Mathematics
Ans:-1)SASTRA Ramanujan
- Ruixiang Zhang, a distinguished mathematician and Assistant Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, USA, has been honored with the esteemed 2023 SASTRA Ramanujan Prize for his outstanding contributions to the field of mathematics.
This accolade, accompanied by a monetary grant of $10,000, is scheduled to be conferred during an international conference in Number Theory, taking place in the hometown of the celebrated mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan, at SASTRA University in Kumbakonam in the third week of December.
Q10.What is the current status of inflation in the Eurozone?
- It has reached a two-year low.
- It has reached a two-year high.
- It has remained stable for the past two years.
- The statement does not provide enough information to answer.
Ans:-1) It has reached a two-year low.
- The Eurozone has witnessed a notable drop in inflation, reaching its lowest point in nearly two years. This development could offer some respite for the European Central Bank (ECB) and bring into question the continuation of its rate-hiking strategy.
- Official data from Eurostat indicates that consumer prices in the 20-nation Eurozone experienced a year-on-year increase of 4.3 percent in September, down from 5.2 percent in August. This represents the lowest inflation rate since October 2021.
- While analysts had expected a more modest decline in inflation, with a consensus forecast of 4.5 percent for September according to data firm FactSet, it’s crucial to highlight that inflation still remains significantly above the ECB’s target of two percent.
