General Knowledge(GK) (or) General Awareness

Correct Answer :   CSIR

CSIR’s (Council of Scientific & Industrial Research) popular science magazine “Vigyan Pragati” has created a new history.

This magazine has received the National Rajbhasha Kirti Award (First position) and this award was given at the Second All India Rajbhasha Sammelan held during 14-15 September 2022 in the Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Indoor Stadium, Surat. Department of Official Language, Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India organized this grand event which was witnessed by around 9000 audience.

In the Surat Rajbhasha Sammelan, Director of CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR), Prof. Ranjana Aggarwal received this prestigious Kirti Award in the presence of Union Minister for Home Affairs Shri Amit Shah. Hon’ble Chief Minister of Gujarat State, Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel and Hon’ble Ministers of State, Ministry of Home Affairs Shri Ajay Kumar Mishra and Shri Nisith Pramanik graced the programme.

‘Vigyan Pragati’ (a popular science magazine in Hindi) is one of India's best popular science magazines. It is popular among children, teachers, researchers, and the public across India as well as the world. Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) started publishing this magazine in 1952..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   Abhinandan Varthaman

The Indian Air Force is set to retire its Srinagar-based MiG-21 squadron ‘Sword Arms’ that Wing Commander "Abhinandan Varthaman" was a part of when he had downed an F-16 combat aircraft of Pakistan a day after the Balakot strike in February 2019, sources said on Monday(19th Sep 2022).

‘Sword Arms’ is one of its four remaining squadrons of ageing MiG-21 fighter jets.

The No. 51 Squadron is to be retired by the end of September, “as per the plan”, the defence sources said.

The remaining three squadrons of MiG-21 will be phased out by 2025, they said.

IAF fighter jets had bombed a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camp in Balakot on February 26, 2019, nearly two weeks after the Pulwama terror attack. Pakistan had retaliated on February 27 by attempting to target Indian military installations.

Varthaman (now Group Captain) had taken to the skies to thwart an aerial attack launched by adversaries and engaged in a dogfight with Pakistani jets during aerial combat.

Before his MiG-21 Bison jet was shot down, Varthaman had downed the F-16 fighter of Pakistan. He was conferred the Vir Chakra, India’s third-highest wartime gallantry medal, on the Independence Day in 2019..

Source : Indian Express

Correct Answer :   Southern Command

The Indian Army on Monday (19September 2022), decided to shift the Army Day Parade, that is held every year on January 15 in Delhi, outside the national capital. The next Army Day parade will be held in the Southern Command area in 2023. The headquarters of the Southern Command is in Maharashtra's Pune.

As per army officials, the parade from now on would be held at different locations on a rotational basis every year. For the past eight years, the Prime Minister hosted foreign dignitaries in different cities, for example, Ahmedabad and Chennai. The purpose of this move is to grow a stronger connection with citizens all across the country.

It is also pertinent to mention that in 2022, the Indian Air Force (IAF) also moved out its annual fly-past and parade from the Hindon Air Base near Delhi to Chandigarh.

Army Day 2022 : India celebrated its 74th Indian Army Day on January 15, 2022 wherein the soldiers who are selflessly serving and have served the nation were honoured. Every year on this day, the national heroes including veterans are recognised for their valour and undying commitment to keep the citizens of India safe in every crisis.

The Indian Army Day is annually celebrated on January 15 in commemoration of Lieutenant General KM Cariappa taking over as the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army. General Cariappa took over the position from Britain’s General Francis Bucher, in 1949, who was the last British Commander-in-Chief of India. Before India gained independence in 1947, the Indian Army, after being formed in 1895, was under British rule and General Cariappa’s acquisition as the chief was the official power transfer..

Source : Republic World

Correct Answer :   General Manoj Pandey

In Ladakh, Chief of Army Staff "General Manoj Pandey" has inaugurated Kargil International Marathon 19th Sep 2022.

Over 2000 runners are taking part in the Full, Half, 10Km, and 5 Km run in the event organized by (Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council ) LAHDC Kargil, Ladakh Police in collaboration with Sarhad Pune..

Source : News on Air

Correct Answer :   INS Ajay

INS Ajay was decommissioned on 19 Sep 2022 after rendering 32 years of glorious service to the nation. The ceremony was conducted at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai in the traditional manner, wherein the national flag, naval ensign and the decommissioning pennant of the ship were lowered for the last time at sunset, signifying the end of the ship's commissioned service.

* INS Ajay was commissioned on 24 Jan 1990 at Poti, Georgia in the erstwhile USSR and was part of the 23rd Patrol Vessel Squadron under the operational control of Flag Officer Commanding, Maharashtra Naval Area.

* The ship was in active naval service for more than 32 years and during her illustrious journey, she participated in several naval operations including Op Talwar during Kargil War and Op Parakram in 2001.

* Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command was the Chief Guest for the function. Vice Admiral AG Thapliyal AVSM Bar (Retd), the first Commanding Officer of the ship was the Guest of Honour.

* The ceremony was attended by over 400 personnel including Flag Officers, senior officers from Army, IAF and CG, officers and men of the commissioning crew, crew of previous commissions as well as the ships present crew and families. The Chief Guest addressed the gathering present at the ceremony, highlighting the invaluable service rendered by the ship..

Source : Oneindia

Correct Answer :   China and UAE

* China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to join hands to help further the latter’s space ambitions.

* The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) of the UAE and the China National Space Agency (CNSA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to work together on the UAE’s moon missions. The agreement marks the first joint space project between the two countries.

* The UAE has been pushing to become an important space player. Its collaboration with China involves the “landing of an MBRSC rover aboard a CNSA lander.” Under the project, the UAE will develop a rover dubbed Rashid-2; China will help it with the landing, data transmission, observation, and control. MBRSC director-general Salem Humaid Al Marri and CNSA deputy director Wu Yanhua signed the MoU.

* The MBRSC is already working with two private-sector partners on its Emirates Lunar Mission, which is scheduled to send the small Rashid rover to the moon late this year. The robotic mission will launch atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, and the 22-pound (10 kilograms) Rashid will touch down aboard Hakuto-R, a lander built by the Tokyo company ispace.

* Tapping China for future moon work as well makes a lot of sense, given the nation's impressive lunar exploration record. In the past decade, China has launched three lunar surface missions, all of them successful..

Source : Space

Correct Answer :   Project Cheetah

Correct Answer :   Bajrang Punia

Correct Answer :   Manoj Bajpayee

Correct Answer :   WhatsApp