Q1. The State Bank of India (SBI) has successfully secured a significant amount to cater to the increasing demand in the domestic Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) financing market. How much did SBI secure for this purpose?
(a) $500 million
(b) $1 billion
(c) $2 billion
(d) $750 million
(e) $1.5 billion
Q2. World Braille Day is celebrated annually to honor Louis Braille, who invented the braille system. On which date is this day observed?
(a) January 4
(b) January 3
(c) January 11
(d) January 15
(e) January 29
Q3. Who has been appointed as the new president of the European Investment Bank, officially taking office on January 1?
(a) Ursula von der Leyen
(b) Christine Lagarde
(c) Nadia Calviño
(d) Margrethe Vestager
(e) Angela Merkel
Q4. Who has been appointed by the President of India as the Executive Chairperson of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA)?
(a) Justice Uday Umesh Lalit
(b) Justice D.Y. Chandrachud
(c) Justice S. Abdul Nazeer
(d) Justice N.V. Ramana
(e) Justice Sanjiv Khanna
Q5. Prof. B.R. Kamboj, the Vice Chancellor of Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, has been honored with a prestigious award. Which award has he been bestowed with?
(a) Padma Shri Award
(b) M.S. Swaminathan Award
(c) Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize
(d) Bharat Ratna Award
(e) J.C. Bose Fellowship
Q6. Which Indian state has become the first to meticulously map all 784 accident black spots using the Mappls App, developed by MapMyIndia?
(a) Maharashtra
(b) Kerala
(c) Karnataka
(d) Tamil Nadu
(e) Punjab
Q7. REC Limited, a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Power, has recently entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with which organization?
(a) Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)
(b) Coal India Limited
(c) NTPC Limited
(d) Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL)
(e) Power Grid Corporation of India Limited
Q8. Who has been elected as the new President of the All-India Rubber Industries Association (AIRIA), succeeding Ramesh Kejriwal?
(a) Vikram Malhotra
(b) Anil Kumar Gupta
(c) Shashi Singh
(d) Amitabh Chaudhry
(e) Rajesh Sharma
Q9. The 2023 Kuvempu Rashtriya Puraskar, awarded to renowned Bengali writer Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay, includes a cash prize of:
(a) Rs 2 lakh
(b) Rs 3 lakh
(c) Rs 4 lakh
(d) Rs 5 lakh
(e) Rs 6 lakh
Q10. Which Indian state is preparing for the fifth edition of ‘Gunotsav 2024’, a comprehensive assessment program to evaluate the performance of approximately 40 lakh students across government schools?
(a) Bihar
(b) West Bengal
(c) Assam
(d) Odisha
(e) Gujarat
Solutions
S1. Ans. (b)
Sol. The State Bank of India (SBI) has successfully secured $1 billion to meet the rising demand in the domestic Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) financing market.
This substantial amount signifies SBI’s commitment to addressing the needs of the ESG sector, aligning with the growing trend of sustainable and responsible financing practices.
S2. Ans. (a)
Sol. World Braille Day is observed every year on January 4.
This day serves as a tribute to Louis Braille, a remarkable individual who created the braille system, revolutionizing the way visually impaired individuals can read and write. The celebration of this day emphasizes the importance of accessibility and equality in the dissemination of information.
S3. Ans. (c)
Sol. Nadia Calviño has been named the new president of the European Investment Bank, assuming the role from January 1.
This appointment marks a significant step in her career, highlighting her expertise and leadership qualities in the realm of international finance and economic affairs.
S4. Ans. (e)
Sol. Justice Sanjiv Khanna has been appointed as the Executive Chairperson of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) by the President of India.
This appointment places him at the helm of an important legal institution in India, responsible for ensuring that justice is accessible to all, particularly to the weaker and marginalized sections of society.
S5. Ans. (b)
Sol. Prof. B.R. Kamboj, serving as the Vice Chancellor of Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, has been awarded the prestigious M.S. Swaminathan Award.
This accolade recognizes his significant contributions and achievements in the field of agricultural science and education, honoring his commitment to the advancement of agricultural practices and education in India.
S6. Ans. (e)
Sol. Punjab has achieved a notable milestone by becoming the first state in India to comprehensively map all 784 accident-prone areas, or ‘black spots’, on the Mappls App.
This initiative is a part of the state’s effort to enhance road safety.
S7. Ans. (d)
Sol. REC Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL).
This collaboration represents a significant partnership between two major public sector entities in India, enhancing the synergy in the power and rail infrastructure sectors.
S8. Ans. (c)
Sol. Shashi Singh has been elected as the new President of the All-India Rubber Industries Association (AIRIA), taking over the role from Ramesh Kejriwal.
This leadership change marks a significant development in the organization that represents India’s rubber industry.
S9. Ans. (d)
Sol. The 2023 Kuvempu Rashtriya Puraskar, presented to Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay for his outstanding literary contributions, includes a significant cash prize of Rs 5 lakh, along with a silver medal and a citation.
The previous year’s recipient was Tamil writer Imayam, adding to the prestigious list of literary luminaries acknowledged by this esteemed award.
S10. Ans. (c)
Sol. The Assam government is gearing up for the fifth edition of ‘Gunotsav 2024’.
This extensive evaluation initiative is designed to assess the educational performance of around 40 lakh students attending government schools across the state.