General Knowledge(GK) (or) General Awareness

Correct Answer :   Singapore

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The 31st edition of the Singapore India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) is scheduled from 23 to 29 Oct 2024, in the Eastern Naval Command at Visakhapatnam. Republic of Singapore Navy Ship RSS Tenacious with embarked helicopter, arrived at Visakhapatnam on 23 October 24 for participating in SIMBEX2024.

SIMBEX, which began as 'Exercise Lion King' in 1994, has since evolved into one of the most significant bilateral maritime collaborations between the Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN).

The exercise will be conducted in two phases - the Harbour Phase from 23 to 25 October at Visakhapatnam and the Sea Phase from 28 to 29 October in the Bay of Bengal. This year's edition aims to further strengthen the strategic partnership between India and Singapore by enhancing interoperability, improving maritime domain awareness, and fostering cooperation to address common maritime challenges.

The Harbour Phase will include Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEEs), cross-deck visits, sports fixtures, and pre-sail briefings between personnel from both navies. The Sea Phase will witness advanced naval drills, including live weapon firings, anti- submarine warfare (ASW) training, anti-surface and anti-air operations, seamanship evolutions, and tactical manoeuvres.

The opening ceremony to mark the beginning of SIMBEX24 will be conducted on 24 Oct 24, onboard INS Shivalik and will be attended by participating units of the Eastern Fleet and the Singapore Navy..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   New Delhi

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The Indian Army is hosting the 2nd Chanakya Defence Dialogue in New Delhi on October 24-25, 2024.

The event's theme, "Drivers in Nation Building: Fuelling Growth Through Comprehensive Security," underscores the role of security in national development.

High-profile speakers, including Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh and General Upendra Dwivedi, will lead discussions on topics like geopolitics, economic growth, social cohesion, sustainability, and technological advancement.

This dialogue provides a platform for examining security’s multifaceted impact on India’s growth and resilience.

Correct Answer :   Zydus Lifesciences

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Zydus Lifesciences has obtained in-principle approval from the World Health Organization (WHO) for its Typhoid Vi conjugate vaccine, ZyVac TCV.

This approval allows the vaccine to be eligible for procurement by the United Nations, marking a significant achievement for the company.

Manufactured at Zydus Biotech Park in Ahmedabad, ZyVac TCV is designed to provide protection against Salmonella typhi for individuals aged 6 months to 65 years.

This development highlights Zydus Lifesciences' commitment to addressing public health challenges through innovative vaccine solutions.

Correct Answer :   Zimbabwe

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Zimbabwe's cricket team achieved a historic milestone by posting a record-breaking total of 344/4 in a T20 International, surpassing Nepal's previous record of 314/3.

Sikandar Raza's unbeaten 133 off 43 balls, featuring 15 sixes, propelled Zimbabwe to this landmark in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Africa Sub-Regional Qualifier B match against Gambia.

This achievement showcases Zimbabwe's dominance in the T20 format and solidifies Raza's position as a formidable batsman, with the joint second-fastest T20I century. Zimbabwe's exceptional form in T20Is has catapulted them into the top ranks of international cricket.

Correct Answer :   Urmila Chaudhary

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Urmila Chaudhary of Nepal won the Global Anti-Racism Championship Award 2024 which was presented by Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken. This award honours six civil society leaders for their exceptional courage, leadership, and commitment to advancing racial equity, justice, and human rights.

Urmila Chaudhary is an abolitionist and labour activist who was rescued from child servitude at age 17. She co-founded the Freed Kamlari Development Forum and established 42 cooperatives to empower former bonded labourers. She is currently studying law to further her fight against injustice. Urmila Chaudhary is honoured for her dedication to advancing the rights of marginalized castes and ethnic communities in Nepal and for combating systemic racism and intersectional abuses.

Under the Kamalari system practised in Western Terai of Nepal, girls and young women were sold by their parents into indentured servitude under contract for periods of one year to richer and higher-caste buyers. On 10 September 2006, the Supreme Court of Nepal affirmed that this practice known as kamlari was illegal, and that former kamlaris were entitled to governmental compensation, education and rehabilitation.

However, the interim government of Nepal in 2006 failed to comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling, and the practice continued to exist. The suspicious death of 12-year-old Kamlari girl Srijana Chaudhary in March 2013, revived the movement and saw mass protests taking place to demand the practice’s immediate end. In June 2013, the government officially abolished the Kamlari system and agreed to a 10-point plan involving compensation, rehabilitation and justice for victims of abuse..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   8 districts

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The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved Two Railway projects of Ministry of Railways with total estimated cost of Rs.6,798 crore (approx.).

Two approved projects are :

(a) doubling of Narkatiaganj-Raxaul-Sitamarhi-Darbhanga & Sitamarhi-Muzaffarpur Section covering 256 kms

(b) construction of new line between Errupalem and Namburu via Amaravati covering 57 kms to be completed in 5years.


The projects will generate direct employment for about 106 lakh human-days.

The doubling of Narkatiaganj-Raxaul-Sitamarhi-Darbhanga & Sitamarhi-Muzaffarpur Section will strengthen the connectivity to Nepal, North-east India and Border areas and facilitating movement of passenger trains along with goods train resulting in the socio-economic growth of the region.

The new rail line project Errupalem-Amaravati-Namburu traverses through NTR Vijayawada and Guntur districts of Andhra Pradesh and Khammam district of Telangana.

The Two projects covering 8 Districts in 3 States i.e., Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Bihar will increase the existing network of Indian Railways by about 313 Kms.

New Line project will provide connectivity to approx. 168 villages and about 12 Lakh population with 9 new stations. Multi-tracking project will enhance connectivity to Two Aspirational Districts (Sitamarhi and Muzaffarpur) serving approx. 388 villages and about 9 lakh population.

These are essential routes for transportation of commodities such as agriculture products, fertilizer, coal, iron ore, steel, cement, etc. The capacity augmentation works will result in additional freight traffic of magnitude 31 MTPA (Million Tonnes Per Annum). The Railways being environment friendly and energy efficient mode of transportation, will help both in achieving climate goals and minimizing logistics cost of the country, lower CO2 emissions (168 Crore Kg) which is equivalent to plantation of 7 Crore trees.

The new line proposal will provide direct connectivity to “Amaravati” the proposed Capital of Andhra Pradesh and improve mobility for industries and the population, providing enhanced efficiency and service reliability for Indian Railways. The multi-tracking proposal will ease operations and reduce congestion, providing the much-required infrastructural development on the busiest sections across Indian Railways.

The projects are in line with Prime Minister’s Vision of a New India which will make people of the region “Atmanirbhar” by way of comprehensive development in the area which will enhance their employment/ self-employment opportunities.

The projects are result of PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity which have been possible through integrated planning and will provide seamless connectivity for movement of people, goods and services..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   Visakhapatnam

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Visakhapatnam, a strategic port city on India's eastern coast, hosted the launch of the country's fourth nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), S4*.

This significant development enhances India's naval capabilities and contributes to its nuclear deterrence.

The S4* boasts advanced features, including the K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile with a 3,500 km range.

The Indian Navy's expanding submarine fleet, including INS Arihant and INS Arighaat, strengthens India's maritime presence and underscores its commitment to national security. Visakhapatnam's Ship Building Centre plays a vital role in India's naval modernization efforts.

Correct Answer :   European Space Agency

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The European Space Agency (ESA) is pioneering the Moonlight program, a groundbreaking initiative to create a dedicated satellite constellation for communication and navigation on the Moon.

This ambitious project involves launching five satellites, including one for high-data-rate communications and four for navigation.

The Lunar Pathfinder, the first satellite, is scheduled to launch in 2026, with full deployment expected by 2030.

Moonlight will enable seamless connectivity between the Moon and Earth, facilitating future lunar missions and research. ESA's innovative approach will significantly enhance lunar exploration capabilities.

Correct Answer :   Glasgow

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Of the 12 sports in which India won medals at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, six have been dropped from the 2026 edition.

Which includes badminton, cricket, hockey, squash, table tennis and wrestling.

The 2026 edition of the Commonwealth Games will be held in Glasgow. In the year 2022 CWG, India had won 61 medals including 22 gold.

Correct Answer :   Panaji

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The Office of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities in collaboration with The Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities in association with Paralympic Committee of India & Sports Authority of Goa will organise the 24th National Para Swimming Championships 2024, from October 19 to 22 at Campal Swimming Pool complex, Panaji.

While the day saw swimmers from all over the country arrive and get classified according to their impairments, the opening ceremony will be held on Sunday (20th OCt 2024) at 4pm while the competitions take the centre stage in the morning. Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant will declare the championship open alongside Sports Minister Govind Gaude, Social Welfare Minister  Subhash Phal Dessai among others.

The para swimming nationals will see a record number of 518 participants competing in the championship from across 28 participating states. The number of participants this year has surpassed the previous edition record of 464 para swimmers, informed the organisers at a press conference today. The competition will be held across three categories, sub junior, junior and senior;  while S1 to S14 classifications being done.

To ensure fairness to participants, para swimmers are classified with S-1 class corresponding to the most severe types of disability. Physical disabilities of para swimmers include single or multiple limb loss, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, dwarfism, and disabilities which impair the use of joints.

Visually impaired swimmers are allocated to categories S-11, S-12, or S-13. Category S-11 corresponds to totally blind swimmers, while competitors in category S-13 have severe, but not total visual impairment. Swimmers with mental disabilities compete in category S-14.

Four para-swimmers from Goa will be participating. International para swimmer from Maharashtra, Suyash Jadhav will be a major attraction at the championship, which will see Paris Paralympics medallists Navdeep Singh and Praveen Kumar gracing the inaugural at 4pm on Sunday.

The Closing Ceremony and Prize Distribution function to be held on 22nd October.

Source : Live news goa