Correct Answer :   Lakshya Sen

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* Lakshya Sen, the 23-year-old Indian badminton star from Almora, clinched third place at the King Cup International Badminton Open in Bangkok.

* He defeated French rising star Alex Lanier in the bronze-medal playoff with a convincing scoreline of 21-17, 21-11.

* This achievement highlights Lakshya’s consistent performance and resilience on the international stage despite narrowly missing out in the semifinals.

Correct Answer :   Jasprit Bumrah

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* Jasprit Bumrah made history as the fastest Indian bowler to reach 200 wickets in Test cricket, achieving this milestone in just 44 Tests.

* He surpassed the previous record held by Mohammed Shami. Bumrah's exceptional performance, including a standout display in the Boxing Day Test against Australia, helped him achieve this feat with remarkable efficiency. His average of 19.56 made him the first bowler to reach 200 wickets with a sub-20 average, further cementing his place among the best Test bowlers globally.

Correct Answer :   6.5-6.8%

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* Deloitte forecasts the Indian economy to grow at 6.5-6.8% in FY25, driven by strong domestic consumption, infrastructure development, and digitisation efforts.

* While challenges such as geopolitical tensions and global liquidity constraints may pose risks, India’s resilience in services, manufacturing exports, and stable capital markets provides a solid foundation for sustained economic growth.

Correct Answer :   Koneru Humpy

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* Koneru Humpy clinched her second Women’s World Rapid and Blitz Chess title, reaffirming her position as one of the top players in the chess world.

* She first won the championship in 2019 in Georgia and now joins China’s Ju Wenjun as the only woman to secure this prestigious title multiple times.

* Her victory against Indonesia's Irene Sukander highlights her remarkable skill and determination in the competitive field of chess. This achievement further cements her legacy in the history of the sport.

Correct Answer :   SpaDeX Mission

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The SpaDeX (Space Docking Experiment) Mission, launched by ISRO using PSLV-C60, aims to test crucial technologies like docking, undocking, and rendezvous between two spacecraft, SDX01 and SDX02, in low-Earth orbit.

These capabilities are essential for advanced space missions, including lunar missions like Chandrayaan-4.

The mission incorporates innovative GNSS-based systems and RODP processors for accurate positioning and velocity measurements, showcasing ISRO's technological advancements in orbital mechanics and spacecraft operations.

Correct Answer :   982°C

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* NASA's Parker Solar Probe set a historic record by flying closer to the Sun than any other man-made object, withstanding temperatures up to 982°C.

* This is a remarkable achievement, demonstrating the probe's advanced heat shield technology.

* The Parker Solar Probe's mission aims to explore the Sun's corona, investigate solar winds, and understand the Sun's energy flow.

Correct Answer :   Vijayveer Sidhu

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* Vijayveer Sidhu from Punjab clinched his first national title in the men's 25m rapid-fire pistol event at the 67th National Shooting Championship.

* He triumphed over Rio Olympian Gurpreet Singh with a score of 28-25 in the final.

* Despite qualifying second behind Ankur Goel, who led the qualifications with 585 points, Vijayveer showcased exceptional skill and composure in the finals to claim the championship.

Correct Answer :   6.5%

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India's projected real GDP growth rate for FY25 and FY26 is estimated at 6.5%, supported by robust economic fundamentals despite some recent challenges.

While Q2 FY25 GDP growth eased to 5.4% from 6.7% in Q1 FY25 due to factors like a decline in manufacturing PMI and a slowdown in private consumption, inflation trends show improvement with CPI falling to 5.5% in November. The 6.5% projection reflects optimism for sustained economic growth.

Correct Answer :   Andhra Pradesh

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* RINL, the corporate entity of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, won the Gold Award at the Andhra Pradesh State Energy Conservation Awards 2024 for its significant energy-saving efforts in the iron and steel sector.

* This award recognized the company's innovative methods, particularly in utilizing waste energy to improve energy efficiency.

* The recognition was presented by the State Energy Conservation Mission of Andhra Pradesh, reflecting RINL's leadership in sustainability and energy conservation within the industry.

Correct Answer :   Rourkela

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* The Hockey India League 2024-25 will begin with the men’s tournament at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela on Saturday (28th Dec 2021) to February 1, 2025.

* Returning after seven years, this will be the sixth edition of the Hockey India League (HIL). The revamped hockey tournament will introduce the women’s tournament for the first time, which will begin on January 12.

* Live streaming and telecast of the Hockey India League matches will be available in India.

* The eight-team men’s tournament will predominantly unfold in Rourkela while the women’s four-team competition will primarily be hosted at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astroturf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi, with select matches played in Rourkela.