General Knowledge(GK) (or) General Awareness

Correct Answer :   Two

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* Two Indian heritage conservation projects won the prestigious UNESCO Asia-Pacific Cultural Heritage Conservation 2024 Awards.

* The first project, the Abathsahayeswarar Temple Conservation in Thukkatchi, Tamil Nadu, won the Award of Distinction, while the BJPCI Conservation Project in Mumbai received the Award of Merit.

* These awards aim to recognize and promote efforts to restore, conserve, and transform cultural heritage sites, showcasing India's commitment to preserving its rich cultural legacy.

Correct Answer :   Gukesh

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* Dommaraju Gukesh became the youngest chess world champion in 2024 at the age of 18.

* He defeated the defending champion, Ding Liren, in a tough three-week-long match in Singapore.

* Gukesh’s victory shattered the previous record held by Garry Kasparov, making him the youngest to ever win the World Chess Championship.

* His journey to the title was marked by hard work, resilience, and remarkable focus, showcasing his determination to reach the pinnacle of the chess world.

Correct Answer :   Saudi Arabia

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Saudi Arabia has been selected to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, making it the first time the tournament will be held in the Middle East since Qatar hosted it in 2022.

This decision marks a significant step for Saudi Arabia in the world of international sports.

The 2034 World Cup will follow the 2026 edition, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and the 2030 tournament, which will be hosted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain.

Correct Answer :   6.5%

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* The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has revised India’s GDP growth forecast for FY25 to 6.5%, down from the initial estimate of 7%.

* This revision was made due to factors such as weaker industrial output, muted public spending, and tight monetary policies.

* In addition, the slowdown in GDP growth during Q2FY25, which fell to 5.4%, has impacted these projections.

* Despite these challenges, the economy remains supported by strong agricultural output and resilience in the services sector.

Correct Answer :   40%

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* Coca-Cola sold a 40% stake in its India bottling business, Hindustan Coca-Cola Holdings (HCCH), to Jubilant Bhartia Group for ?12,500 crore, valuing the company at ?31,250 crore.

* This sale aligns with Coca-Cola's asset-light refranchising strategy and will help strengthen its presence in India, its fifth-largest market.

* The transaction also marks a significant step for Jubilant Bhartia Group to expand its portfolio in the beverage sector, leveraging its expertise from businesses like Domino’s and Dunkin’ to boost growth in the bottling sector.

Correct Answer :   Willow

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* Google's revolutionary quantum chip is called Willow.

* This chip has achieved major milestones in quantum computing, including exponential error correction and an unmatched computational speed.

* Willow completed a task in five minutes that would take supercomputers 10 septillion years, marking a significant step forward in the pursuit of scalable quantum computers capable of solving complex global challenges.

* By addressing the challenge of qubit error correction, Willow sets a new benchmark in the development of quantum technologies.

Correct Answer :   Russia

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* India is preparing to sign a $4 billion deal with Russia for an advanced long-range radar system, which is part of Russia's Voronezh series.

* This radar system offers surveillance capabilities over 8,000 km, aligning with India's "Make in India" initiative, as 60% of its components are planned to be produced domestically.

* The system will be installed in Karnataka, strengthening India's strategic monitoring infrastructure.

Correct Answer :   Proba-3

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* Proba-3, a mission by the European Space Agency (ESA), is equipped with the ASPIICS coronagraph, which provides an unprecedented view of the Sun's corona.

* This coronagraph, along with the occulting disk, enables Proba-3 to simulate eclipse conditions and observe the Sun's outer regions, ranging from 1.08 to 3 solar radii.

* This unique capability, combined with its collaboration with India’s Aditya L1, marks a significant advancement in solar research, set to begin detailed studies of the Sun's corona in 2025.

Correct Answer :   Japan

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* Japan won the 20th Asian Women’s Handball Championship on December 10, 2024, by defeating South Korea 25-24 in a thrilling final.

* This victory marked Japan's second-ever championship title, with their first win dating back to 2004.

* The match, held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, was significant as Japan broke South Korea’s seven-year winning streak in the tournament.

* Key players like Miyuki Nakayama and Yuki Tanaka played pivotal roles in Japan’s victory, ensuring their triumph in this historic final.

Correct Answer :   5.5%

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* India’s retail inflation rate dropped to 5.53% in November 2024, a significant decline from 6.21% in October 2024.

* This reduction was largely driven by a fall in vegetable prices, especially tomatoes, which had spiked in October, along with stabilizing edible oil prices.

* This moderation in inflation provided relief to households that had been affected by rising food prices.

* Core inflation, however, remained steady at 3.7%. The decline reflects the impact of lower food prices and effective inflation management strategies.