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General Knowledge(GK) (or) General Awareness

Welcome to the General Knowledge Section of Free Time Learning. As we are aware General Knowledge (GK) is a very important area in all the competitive exams held in the country. Nowadays, a good knowledge of general awareness is very important in clearing any competitive and government recruitment examinations.

These General Knowledge Question are very important and usefull to UPSC, IAS/PCS, UPPSC, IBPS, SBI, RBI, SSC, CGL, Railway, APPSC, TSPSC, KPSC, TNPSC, TPSC, UPPSC, MPSC, RPSC, BPSC, MPPSC, UKPSC, MPSC, and other competitive exams.

A)
Dharmaraj
B)
Sivasankari
C)
Harivansh Rai
D)
Prabha Varma

Correct Answer : Option (D) - Prabha Varma


Prabha Varma received the 33rd Saraswati Samman in 2023 for his novel in verse 'Roudra Sathwikam.'

This prestigious literary award, established by the K.K. Birla Foundation, recognizes exceptional literary works in Indian languages published within the last decade.

Varma's work delves into philosophical themes, exploring the complexities of power, politics, morality, and human nature in poetic form.

Published On : March 20, 2024
A)
Bhupender Yadav
B)
Parshottam Rupala
C)
Ashwini Vaishnaw
D)
Mansukh L. Mandaviya

Correct Answer : Option (B) - Parshottam Rupala


Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry Dairying Shri Parshottam Rupala will release Book and Video on “Sagar Parikrama” on 15th March 2024 at 09:00 AM at Engineering Association, Rajkot, Gujarat.

Chronicling the Sagar Parikrama Yatra :

The book aims to chronicle the Sagar Parikrama Yatra, encompassing diverse elements such as the maritime route, cultural and geographical explorations, and notable impacts from all 12 phases of the journey. It contains seven chapters covering the genesis of Sagar Parikrama, an overview of the journey along the West and East coasts, and key takeaways.

The book provides insights into the challenges faced by coastal fishermen, their culture, religious and traditional fisheries heritage of India. Additionally, a video documentary captures all activities, events, and interactions of the Union Minister with beneficiaries, showcasing the challenges encountered during the Sagar Parikrama.

Objectives of Sagar Parikrama

Sagar Parikrama aims to:

* Reach fishermen at their doorsteps to understand their issues and resolve grievances.
* Inform pragmatic government policy decisions.
* Promote sustainable fishing practices.
* Publicize various government schemes and programs.

India’s Fisheries Sector: A Sunrise Industry

The fisheries sector is considered a sunrise industry with immense potential for bringing equitable and inclusive growth through economic empowerment of the weaker sections of society. With an 8% share in global fish production, India is the third-largest fish producer, second-largest aquaculture producer, largest shrimp producer, and fourth-largest top seafood exporter in the world.

Sagar Parikrama Yatra: A Historical Journey

The Sagar Parikrama Yatra spanned over 12 captivating phases in just 44 days, covering an impressive coastal length of 7,986 kilometers out of 8,118 kilometers. The journey touched 3,071 fishing villages across 80 coastal districts of all coastal states and union territories, spanning from Mandvi, Gujarat, to Ganga Sagar, West Bengal, including the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

During the 12 phases, Union Minister Shri Parshottam Rupala, along with Dr. L. Murugan and other dignitaries, interacted with beneficiaries such as fishermen, fisherwomen, fish farmers, and stakeholders. Beneficiaries were felicitated with Kisan Credit Card (KCC) and other assets under the PMMSY scheme.

Impact and Legacy :

Sagar Parikrama has made a significant impact in assisting fishermen and fish farmers by acknowledging their challenges and providing an opportunity to interact with government officials on their doorsteps. It has facilitated economic upliftment through various fisheries schemes, including the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), Kisan Credit Card (KCC), and other programs.

Overall, the 12 phases of Sagar Parikrama Yatra have brought about massive changes in the development strategy for fishermen, influencing their livelihood, holistic development, climate change adaptation, and sustainable development practices.

The book and video release aim to preserve the legacy of this monumental journey, highlighting the government’s commitment to empowering coastal communities and promoting the growth of India’s fisheries sector..

Source : PIB

Published On : March 16, 2024
A)
Max Verstappen
B)
Charles Leclerc
C)
Daniel Ricciardo
D)
Lewis Hamilton

Correct Answer : Option (A) - Max Verstappen


Red Bull's Max Verstappen clinched victory at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024 from pole position, marking a triumphant streak for the team in the Formula One season with their second consecutive one-two finish.

Under the gleaming floodlights of the Jeddah Corniche circuit, Mexican Sergio Perez secured the runner-up spot, trailing his triple world champion teammate by 13.643 seconds. Verstappen, whose stellar performance last year saw him notch up a record-breaking 19 wins out of 22 races, celebrated his first-ever back-to-back victories at the start of a season.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc claimed the third spot on the podium, seizing an additional point for setting the fastest lap and securing his maiden podium finish of the season.

Verstappen's dominance continued with this ninth consecutive victory, extending back to his triumph in Japan last September. The Dutch driver, 26, also notched up his 100th career podium, propelling Red Bull to their 115th win and elevating them above Williams to fourth place on the all-time list.

Reflecting on his success, Verstappen commented, "Overall, a fantastic weekend for the whole team and myself. I felt really good with the car and it was the same in the race."


In a remarkable debut, Britain's Oliver Bearman, standing in as Ferrari's youngest-ever rookie at 18 years and 305 days, finished seventh, earning him the coveted title of Driver of the Day. Leclerc praised his temporary teammate, stating, "Today he's been incredible. It's hugely impressive, and I'm sure he's extremely proud. Everybody has noticed how talented he is, and I'm sure it's just a matter of time before he's in F1."

British drivers made their mark with McLaren's Oscar Piastri securing fourth place, followed by Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin in fifth and Mercedes' George Russell in sixth.

The race witnessed dramatic moments, including a safety car deployment on lap seven following Lance Stroll's collision with the wall at turn 22. Norris led briefly after the safety car period, but Verstappen swiftly regained the lead, maintaining a commanding position throughout.

Perez incurred a five-second penalty for an unsafe release during his first pit stop, while Kevin Magnussen of Haas faced penalties for causing a collision with Williams' Alex Albon. Despite challenges, the competition remained intense, with Alpine's Pierre Gasly retiring early due to a suspected gearbox issue, marking the first retirement of the season after all 20 cars finished the opener in Bahrain a week earlier..

Source : Business Today

Published On : March 15, 2024
A)
6%
B)
7%
C)
8%
D)
9%

Correct Answer : Option (B) - 7%


Fitch Ratings has raised India’s growth forecast for FY25 to 7%, up from the previous estimate of 6.5%. The upgrade is attributed to robust domestic demand and sustained growth in business and consumer confidence, following a strong 8.4% expansion in Q3FY24.

Reasons for Forecast Upgrade :

* Strong Domestic Demand : Fitch predicts domestic demand, particularly investments, to be the main driver of growth.
* High Confidence Levels : Confidence among businesses and consumers remains high, further supporting growth.
* Short-Term Growth Outlook : Growth is expected to be higher than normal in the short term but may moderate towards a more sustainable pace in FY25.

Inflation Expectations :

* Gradual Decrease : Fitch expects inflation to gradually decrease to 4% by the end of the year, assuming stabilization in food prices.

Monetary Policy Forecast

* Revised Interest Rate Cut Estimate : Fitch now anticipates the Reserve Bank of India to cut interest rates by 0.5% in the second half of the year, down from the previous estimate of 0.75%. This adjustment reflects the stronger growth outlook.

* RBI’s Stance : The RBI has maintained the repo rate at 6.50% for six consecutive meetings and remains committed to achieving a sustainable 4% inflation target.

Published On : March 15, 2024
A)
Travis Head
B)
Mitchell Starc
C)
Harry Brook
D)
Rachin Ravindra

Correct Answer : Option (D) - Rachin Ravindra


New Zealand's top order batter Rachin Ravindra became the youngest recipient of the Sir Richard Hadlee Medal on Wednesday (13th Mar 2024) after being named the country's outstanding male cricketer of the year. Meanwhile, Amelia Kerr became the year's top female cricketer after winning the Debbie Hockley medal for the second time in a row.

Kane Williamson received the ANZ Test Player of the Year Award and won the Redpath Cup for men's first-class batting. Ravindra, 24, is the youngest winner of the award in its history, following a season in which he has established himself as a key member of New Zealand's red and white teams.

Ravindra, who joined the 50-over squad in March of last year, shone in the ODI World Cup in India, scoring 578 runs at an average of 64, including three hundreds and two half-centuries, including an unbeaten 123 against England in Ahmedabad.


RACHIN'S JOURNEY SO FAR :

As a result, Ravindra was named the ICC's Emerging Player of the Year for 2023, and he also signed a USD 350,000 Indian Premier League deal with the Chennai Super Kings. The Sir Richard Hadlee Medal capped up Ravindra's breakout season on the international scene, during which he contributed to the Kiwis in all three formats.

Ravindra maintained his spectacular rise in Test cricket, scoring New Zealand's highest-ever maiden Test century of 240 against South Africa at Bay Oval and playing an important role in the Black Caps' first Test series victory over South Africa..

Source : India Today

Published On : March 14, 2024
A)
India
B)
Iran
C)
China
D)
Pakistan

Correct Answer : Option (A) - India


India was the world’s top arms importer for the period 2019-23 with imports having gone up by 4.7% compared to the period 2014-18, according to the Swedish think tank, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). At the same time, arms imports by European countries increased by 94% between 2014–18 and 2019–23, the report said, which comes in the backdrop of the war in Ukraine.

“Although Russia remained India’s main arms supplier [accounting for 36% of its arms imports], this was the first five-year period since 1960–64 when deliveries from Russia [or the Soviet Union prior to 1991] made up less than half of India’s arms imports,” as per new data on international arms transfers from SIPRI released on Monday (11th Mar 2024).

“Nine of the 10 biggest arms importers in 2019–23, including the top 3 of India, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, were in Asia and Oceania or the Middle East. Ukraine became the fourth biggest arms importer globally after it received transfers of major arms from over 30 states in 2022-23.”

In the interim budget presented in February for financial year 2024-25, the total allocation for the Defence Ministry was at ?6.2 lakh crore of which the capital allocation, for new procurements, was ?1.72 lakh crore, 5.78% higher than the Budget Estimates of last year. India seems to have come back to the top slot in arms imports after briefly ceding space to Saudi Arabia in the past.

Imports of Pakistan, the fifth largest arms importer in 2019–23, went up by 43%, with China supplying as much as 82% of all its arms imports.

Arms exports of the world’s largest supplier, U.S. grew by 17% between 2014–18 and 2019–23, while those by Russia fell by more than half, -53%. At the same time, France emerged as the world’s second largest arms supplier as its exports grew by 47%. Among the top 10 arms exporters, five of them saw decrease between the two five-year periods: China (-5.3%), Germany (-14%), U.K. (-14%), Spain (-3.3%) and Israel (-25%)..

Source : The Hindu

Published On : March 14, 2024
A)
Kushal Pal Singh
B)
Mr. Srinivasan Swamy
C)
Radhakishan Damani
D)
Viren Rajan Raheja

Correct Answer : Option (B) - Mr. Srinivasan Swamy


Mr. Srinivasan Swamy, currently serving as the chairman and managing director of RK Swamy Ltd, was honored at the 45th IAA World Congress in Penang, Malaysia.

Governor Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak presented him with the esteemed IAA Golden Compass Award 2024, recognizing his significant contributions to the global marketing, advertising, and media industries. This accolade marks a significant milestone in his illustrious career.

The IAA Golden Compass Award :

* The IAA Golden Compass Award is a symbol of excellence and innovation in the industry.
* Swamy is the first Indian industry leader to receive this prestigious honor.
* Previous recipients include renowned figures such as Shelly Lazarus, Paul Polman, and Andrew Robertson.

Career Highlights :

* Swamy has played pivotal roles in shaping the landscape of the marketing services industry over two decades.
* Held leadership positions including chairman of The Asian Federation of Advertising Associations (AFAA) and The Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC).
* As President of the India Chapter of IAA, he revitalized the organization, launching prestigious award events and Goafest, India’s premier advertising festival.

Philanthropy and Social Impact :

* Actively involved in philanthropic initiatives, serving as president/chairman of educational and healthcare institutions.
* Contributes to social, cultural, and religious causes, reflecting a commitment to improving communities.

A Visionary Leader Honored with the IAA Golden Compass Award :

* Swamy’s recognition with the IAA Golden Compass Award underscores his outstanding contributions to the industry.
* His visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to excellence serve as a continuous source of inspiration.

Published On : March 14, 2024
A)
4.16%
B)
4.57%
C)
5.09%
D)
5.43%

Correct Answer : Option (C) - 5.09%


Retail inflation in February 2024 saw a decline to a four-month low of 5.09 per cent, remaining well within the Reserve Bank of India’s comfort zone of 6 per cent for the sixth consecutive month.

While the overall inflation figure remained relatively steady compared to January, certain items within the food basket experienced price increases.

Food Basket Inflation :

* The inflation rate within the food basket saw a marginal uptick, rising to 8.66 per cent in February from 8.3 per cent in the previous month.
* Notably, prices of specific items such as vegetables, fruits, oils and fats, and pulses and products witnessed a slight decrease on a month-on-month basis.
* Conversely, the rate of price escalation was higher in segments including cereals and products, meat and fish, and milk and products.

Weightage of Food Basket :

* The food basket holds significant importance, accounting for nearly 50 per cent weightage in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). This underscores the substantial impact of food prices on overall inflation trends.

Published On : March 13, 2024
A)
Japan
B)
India
C)
Seychelles
D)
Australia

Correct Answer : Option (C) - Seychelles


INS Tir, the lead ship of First Training Squadron (1TS) participated in Exercise Cutlass Express - 24 (CE – 24) held at Port Victoria, Seychelles from 26 Feb – 08 Mar 24.

The exercise was inaugurated by the President of Seychelles in attendance of dignitaries from India, USA and African countries. As part of Cutlass Express, the Indian Navy actively engaged with participants from 16 friendly foreign countries. Training was conducted on theoretical and practical aspects of Maritime Interdiction Operations, Visit Board Search and Seizure procedures and Diving operations. During the sea phase, the ship's VBSS team boarded Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG) ship LE Vigilant and demonstrated procedures of boarding operations.

Indian divers along with US and Seychelles divers undertook joint diving operations post rigorous training week. The ship hosted R Adm Calvin M Foster, Deputy Commander of US Navy 6th Fleet who shared his views on the importance of maritime cooperation and shared commitment in the region, appreciating the crucial role played by the Indian Navy. The exercise culminated at a closing ceremony held at Seychelles Defence Academy, Ile Perseverance on 08 Mar 24. The Indian Navy has been participating in the exercise since 2019.


Earlier INS Tir undertook joint EEZ surveillance with Seychelles Coast Guard from 01 – 03 Mar 24. During the ship's stay at Seychelles, as part of long-range training deployment, professional exchanges, cross deck visits and friendly sports fixtures were held with Seychelles Defence Forces. The Indian Naval band performed at National Museum, Port Victoria and enthralled a huge crowd. Further, a philanthropic activity was also undertaken wherein provisions and stores were donated for the elderly.

During the Port Call, Senior Officer, First Training Squadron, Capt Anshul Kishore paid courtesy calls on Designated Minister Mr. Sylvestre Radegonde, Seychelles Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Brig Michael Rosette, Chief of Defence Forces – Seychelles Defence Force and Shri Kartik Pande, High Commissioner of India to Seychelles. As a goodwill gesture and cooperation, the ship handed over spares for SCG ships and aircraft towards capacity building.

The extant deployment of INS Tir at Seychelles and participation in exercise Cutlass Express underscores close ties between Indian Navy and the regional Navies towards joint training fostering interoperability and building bridges of friendship...

Source : PIB

Published On : March 13, 2024
A)
Trishul
B)
Agni-3
C)
Agni-4
D)
Agni-5

Correct Answer : Option (D) - Agni-5


India joined an elite club of nations on March 11 with the first successful flight test of an Agni-5 ballistic missile armed with multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRVs). Only the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council -- the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, China, and France -- are confirmed to have operational missiles that use MIRVs.

Named Mission Divyastra, the flight test of India's MIRV technology was carried out by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha. According to a government release, various telemetry and radar stations were used to track and monitor the multiple re-entry vehicles that were carried by the Agni-5 missile, and the mission was a success based on the designated parameters.  


What are MIRVs?

MIRV technology was originally developed in the early 1960s, during the height of the Cold War between the United States and the erstwhile Soviet Union. MIRVs allow a single missile to deliver multiple nuclear warheads to separate targets, while a traditional missile carries only one warhead and is limited to one target. With MIRV technology, each warhead is carried in a separate re-entry vehicle and can be programmed to hit a separate target. A missile armed with MIRVs can release its warheads at different speeds and even in different directions. And how far can these different targets be? According to The Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, a Washington-based research organisation, at least some MIRV-equipped missiles can hit separate targets that are as far apart as 1,500 kilometres.   

Diagram depicting the different stages of a Minuteman III missile from launch to detonation, including deployment of MIRVs. Image credit: Fastfission (Wikipedia)
 

Why is MIRV success important?

Going by the initial reports, the Agni-5 system's new ability to strike multiple targets with one missile might appear to be the most important outcome of Mission Divyastra, but a deeper look at how MIRVs work throws up an even more important achievement. MIRVs make defending the intended targets much more difficult for the adversary nation. As explained by The Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation: While MIRVs were not initially meant to defeat ballistic missile defence (BMD) systems -- a network of sensors and interceptor missiles that can destroy an incoming ballistic missile or warhead before it can hit its target -- they are much more difficult to defend against than traditional missiles. Thus, they are effective BMD countermeasures. An ANI report that cited defence sources backs this up. According to the report, MIRV technology will make an Agni-5 missile more difficult to intercept because its warheads will approach their intended targets along with the mother vehicles and multiple decoys. An adversary's BMD sensors will have to cut through the resultant clutter and the interceptor missiles might get overwhelmed. Multiple missiles armed with MIRVs could even make a comprehensive BMD system cost-prohibitive for the adversary. Given that China has BMD capabilities, MIRVs will boost the Agni-5's chances of hitting its targets successfully.   


How many nuclear warheads can Agni-5 MIRV carry?

The short answer is that we don't know the maximum number of MIRVs an Agni-5 could carry operationally. But, details emerging from the March 11 test provide some clues. Citing unnamed defence sources, ANI has reported that an Agni-5 missile armed with MIRVs would be able to strike at least three different targets spread over a large area. The report also said that the missile's warheads would be accompanied by multiple decoys as they close in on their intended targets. This gives weight to the other claim attributed to the defence sources: The number of warheads carried by the Agni-5 missile can be increased if required. So, the Agni-5 MIRV can carry at least three nuclear warheads, if it also wants to use decoys alongside to make the interception of these warheads more difficult.

According to Business Standard's Ajai Shukla, during the Mission Divyastra test, the Agni-5 missile was carrying between four to six dummy warheads. Given that this was just the first test of an Agni-5 with MIRVs, there is no confirmation that six would be the maximum number of warheads the missile could carry operationally. But, between three-six warheads seems to be the only available answer for now.  

What is Agni-5's actual range?

Officially, the Agni-5 is an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), with an acknowledged range of 5,000 kilometres. However, various sources and media reports also describe it as an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). An ICBM has a range greater than 5,500 kilometres. For their part, Chinese officials have always considered the Agni-5 to be an ICBM. They claim that the Agni-5's actual range is 8,000 kilometres.

So, what's the truth? Is the Agni-5 an IRBM or an ICBM? Well, one way to extend the range of the 50-tonne Agni-5 missile would be to reduce its weight. And it seems that that process has been underway for sometime. In December of 2022, India Today had reported that the Agni-5 missile had become capable of striking targets beyond 7,000 kilometres because its weight had been reduced significantly. According to the report, defence officials had said that a weight reduction of over 20 per cent had been achieved and thus, the nuclear-capable Agni-5 ballistic missile could strike targets beyond 7,000 kilometres if the government wanted it to. Still, the government has not confirmed this to be the Agni-5's real range.

However, writing for Business Standard after the success of Mission Divyastra, Ajai Shukla confirmed that the hydraulic actuators in Agni-5's first stage have been replaced by electro-mechanical actuators, which save weight and already equip the missile's second and third stages. According to Shukla, going ahead, the Agni-5 could become significantly lighter than at present.

Does Pakistan also have MIRV tech?

Pakistan has also been trying to develop MIRV technology. In January of 2017, Pakistan conducted the first flight test of its Ababeel surface-to-surface ballistic missile, which has a maximum range of 2,200 kilometres. At that time, Pakistan had claimed that the Ababeel was capable of delivering multiple nuclear warheads using MIRV technology. An official press release had added: "The test flight was aimed at validating various design and technical parameters of the weapon system." In October of 2023, Pakistan again tested the Ababeel missile, with the Pakistani military's media wing stating that the test was "aimed at re-validating various design, technical parameters and performance evaluation of different sub-systems" of the missile. At no point was there explicit mention that the MIRV capability had been successfully demonstrated.

However, in his March 2018 testimony to the US Congress, Robert Ashley, the then director of the US' Defense Intelligence Agency, had said: "In January 2017, Pakistan conducted the first test launch of its nuclear-capable Ababeel ballistic missile, demonstrating South Asia's first MIRV payload." Back in 2018, at least American intelligence sources were of the opinion that Pakistan either possessed or was close to possessing the MIRV technology.


Source : Business Standard

Published On : March 13, 2024