General Knowledge(GK) (or) General Awareness

Correct Answer :   China

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Pakistan has launched its second satellite, the Multi-Mission Communication Satellite (PAKSAT MM1), in collaboration with China. This satellite aims to enhance internet connectivity across Pakistan and improve various communication services.

Launch Details :

The PAKSAT MM1 was launched from China’s Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province, achieving its planned orbit successfully.

Features and Benefits :

PAKSAT MM1 is poised to provide improved internet facilities, enhance television broadcasts, cellular phone services, and broadband connectivity. It is scheduled to commence its services in August.

Prime Minister’s Remarks :

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed optimism about the satellite’s potential to revolutionize Pakistan’s digital landscape. He highlighted its impact on internet connectivity, economic activities, e-commerce, and e-governance.

Collaborative Efforts :

The launch underscores the strong partnership between Pakistan and China. Prime Minister Sharif emphasized the importance of such collaborations in advancing technology for the benefit of both nations.

National Space Programme :

PAKSAT MM1 is part of Pakistan’s National Space Programme 2047, indicating the country’s commitment to bolstering its space capabilities.

Future Prospects :

Pakistan aims to launch satellites from its own space launch center in the near future, showcasing its evolving space ambitions.

Previous Achievements :

Prior to PAKSAT MM1, Pakistan has launched several assets into space, including satellites like BADR-A, BADR-B, PAKSAT 1-R, PRSS-1, PakTes 1-A, and iCube-Qamar, demonstrating its growing presence in space exploration.

Correct Answer :   Mumbai

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The famous Annual Hindi Sahitya Bharati Award has been given to Krishna Prakash, who is well-known for leading Mumbai Police’s special counterterrorism team, Force One. The award was given out at Mumbai’s multicultural Sab Me Ram Shashwat Shri Ram event.

About Super Cop Krishna Prakash :

Krishna Prakash is better known as the officer who heads Force One, the elite counter-terrorism unit of the Mumbai Police. Krishna Prakash is a two-time Guinness World Record holder who achieved his third this one for initiating the maximum number of letters through postcards to Lord Ram, enabling the common man’s direct connection with the divine.

Thoughts of Krishna Prakash :

Through the use of dance, theater, music, and literature, the super policeman has envisioned the festival in a way that conveys the story of Lord Ram. According to Krishna, the allure of Lord Ram is global, spanning time and philosophies. “Even Bhakti saint-poet Kabir, who adheres to the Nirgun Niraakaar school of devotion, sings of the existence of Lord Ram in everyone.” Every Sufi poem and every Bhakti poem mentions Lord Ram. The Ram of Kabir and Tulsidas is the same.” The glory of Lord Ram because it is immersive and draws the spectator or listener immediately into the story.

Hindi Sahitya Bharati Award :

The Hindi Sahitya Bharati initiative was born out of the realization that bringing together intellectuals on a common platform can significantly enhance cultural and literary efforts. After extensive discussions and consensus among scholars, the name Hindi Sahitya Bharati was chosen to represent the initiative, reflecting the deep cultural and spiritual ethos of Indian society and aims to propagate the values of universal brotherhood and harmony through Hindi literature.

Correct Answer :   Godavari River

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The Godavari River, often hailed as Dakshin Ganga, holds a significant place in the geography and culture of India.

India, a land blessed with numerous rivers, has often been described as the cradle of ancient civilizations, owing much to the lifelines flowing through its heartland. Among these revered water bodies, the Ganges holds a special place in the cultural and spiritual fabric of the nation. However, there exists another river, often dubbed as the “Dakshin Ganga,” meaning the Southern Ganges. In this article, we embark on a journey to uncover the identity and significance of this lesser-known yet equally vital river.

Which River is Known as “Dakshin Ganga”?

The Godavari River, often hailed as Dakshin Ganga, holds a significant place in the geography and culture of India. Flowing through the heart of the country, it originates in the Nashik region of Maharashtra and meanders across several states before embracing the ocean.

Origin and Course of Dakshin Ganga :

With its source nestled in the Nashik region of Maharashtra, the Godavari River embarks on a journey spanning 1,465 kilometers. Its waters traverse through diverse landscapes, nourishing the lands it touches. Along its path, it collects the contributions of numerous tributaries, weaving through states such as Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh.

Catchment Area of Godavari River :

The Godavari River boasts a catchment area spanning 3,135,000 square kilometers, making it the largest water system on the Indian peninsula. Its waters support a rich ecosystem, fostering biodiversity and contributing to the livelihoods of millions.

Significance of Godavari River :

Often termed as Dakshin Ganga, the Godavari River is revered for its vastness and importance to the regions it serves. Its presence has shaped civilizations, providing sustenance to countless communities along its banks. From agriculture to spirituality, its influence is deeply ingrained in the fabric of Indian society.

Correct Answer :   6.9%

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Goldman Sachs has revised India's GDP growth forecast for CY24 to 6.9%, up from 6.7%, following a strong 7.8% growth in Q1 2024. For FY 2024-25, the GDP growth is projected at 6.8%.

Goldman Sachs has revised its GDP growth forecast for India for the calendar year 2024, raising it by 20 basis points to 6.9% from an earlier projection of 6.7%. This adjustment follows a stronger-than-expected GDP growth of 7.8% for the January-March 2024 quarter, driven by robust investment demand and a recovery in consumption.

Fiscal Year Projections :

For the fiscal year 2024-25, Goldman Sachs projects India’s GDP growth at 6.8%. The Central Statistics Office (CSO) recently reported that India’s GDP grew by 7.8% in the fourth quarter of 2023-24, primarily due to a strong performance in the manufacturing sector.

Analysis and Expectations :

Santanu Sengupta, Chief Economist at Goldman Sachs India, noted that despite the strong Q1 growth, lower sequential growth is expected in subsequent quarters. This outlook has led Goldman Sachs to revise its CY24 real GDP growth forecast to 6.9% year-on-year.

Fiscal Deficit Outlook :

In a separate research note, Sengupta indicated that Goldman Sachs Research anticipates the Central government will achieve the 2024-25 fiscal deficit target of 5.1% of GDP, supported by higher-than-budgeted dividends from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The consolidated fiscal deficit for 2023-24 was 5.6% of GDP, lower than the revised estimate of 5.8%, due to expenditure cuts and higher-than-expected receipts.

Government Financial Management :

The government’s overall expenditure was reduced by ?50,000 crore compared to the Revised Estimate (RE), with subsidy payouts cut by ?30,000 crore. Meanwhile, receipts were higher than the RE by ?20,000 crore, driven by high non-tax revenues, including a substantial dividend from the RBI and public sector undertakings. The RBI announced a dividend of ?2.1 lakh crore to the Central government, significantly exceeding the budget estimate of ?1 lakh crore.

Correct Answer :   $2.6 Billion

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The Asian Development Bank (ADB) committed $2.6 billion in sovereign lending to India in 2023, aiming to bolster various sectors including urban development, power, industry, horticulture, connectivity, and climate resilience.

Focus Areas of ADB’s Sovereign Loans :

The loans target projects fostering India’s structural transformation, job creation, infrastructure enhancement, green growth, and socioeconomic inclusiveness, integrating smart technologies and innovations.

Key Projects Supported by ADB :

Funding includes initiatives such as the Visakhapatnam–Chennai Industrial Corridor, urban service improvement in Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, and Tripura, road connectivity in Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, horticulture development in Himachal Pradesh, and expansion of the Delhi–Meerut rapid rail transit corridor.

Knowledge-Based Support and Technical Assistance :

Beyond financial aid, ADB offers knowledge support through technical and operational studies, aiding in areas like national logistics costs calculation framework and urban sector development strategies for states like Assam.

Private Sector Engagement and Grants :

ADB also extended $23.53 million for technical assistance and a $4.1 million grant, alongside over $1 billion in loans to the private sector in 2023, with grants exempting repayment obligations.

India’s Relationship with ADB :

India, a member since the ADB’s inception in 1966, remains its largest borrower, receiving loans, grants, and technical assistance totaling $55.3 billion. India ranks fourth among ADB shareholders, with the United States, Japan, China, and Australia as the top shareholders.

About the Asian Development Bank :

Established in 1966 with India among its founding members, ADB operates as a regional multilateral institution, focusing on the Asia-Pacific region. With 68 members, it provides loans, grants, technical assistance, and equity investments to foster social and economic development, headquartered in Mandaluyong City, Philippines, under the presidency of Masatsugu Asakawa, a Japanese citizen.

Correct Answer :   Rudram-II

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India successfully test-fired an air-surface anti-radiation missile from a Su-30MKI fighter jet. The Rudram-II anti-radiation supersonic missile is developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

The flight test met all the trial objectives, validating the propulsion system and control & guidance algorithm. Rudram missile is the first indigenously developed anti-radiation missile designed to target enemy ground radars (surveillance, tracking) and communication stations in Suppression of  Enemy Air Defence (SEAD) missions.

The Rudram-II is the latest version after the mark-1 version was tested four years ago by Su-30MKI, the backbone of India's fighter fleet.

An indigenously developed solid-propelled air-launched missile system, Rudram-II is one of the finest and meant to neutralise many types of enemy assets. India currently operates the Russian Kh-31, an anti-radiation missile. The Rudram missiles will replace the Kh-31s.

"The performance of the Rudram-II missile has been validated from the flight data captured by range tracking instruments like electro-optical systems, radar and telemetry stations deployed by Integrated Test Range, Chandipur at various locations, including the on-board ship," a statement said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, IAF and industry on the successful test-flight of Rudram-II. The successful test has consolidated the role of the RudraM-II system as a force multiplier to the Armed Forces, he said.

The @DRDO_India has successfully flight tested the RudraM-II Air-to-Surface missile from Su-30 MK-I platform of Indian Air Force (IAF), off the coast of Odisha.

Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh congratulated DRDO, IAF and industry on the successful test flight of RudraM-II from… pic.twitter.com/DtgcZF4CXi

— ????? ?????? ????????/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) May 29, 2024

The missile can be launched from a range of altitudes and can pick up enemy radio frequencies and signals from radars from a range of over 100 km. The missile can operate in Lock-On-Before/After-Launch systems. The internal guidance system of the missile allows it to direct itself toward the target after the launch.

Rudram-I :

The Rudram-1 version was test-fired from Sukhoi in 2020 off the east coast of Odisha. The Rudram-1 version has two seekers - A passive-homing head seeker, which can detect and classify targets over a range of radio frequencies and one Millimetre Wave (MMW) seeker that helps the missile to operate in different weather conditions.

The mark-1 version has a range of 100-150 km and can reach up to speeds of Mach 2 (two times the speed of sound). It has a launch altitude range of 1 km to 15 km.

In 2022, the Indian Air Force proposed the acquisition of the Next Generation Anti-Radiation Missile (NGARM) in a ?1,400 crore deal. Reports suggest the missile can be launched from the Mirage 2000 multirole fighter aircraft. Adani Defence has partnered with DRDO in mass-producing the Rudram-I missile..

Source : NDTV

Correct Answer :   7.4%

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The Indian economy showcased robust growth, with a GDP increase of 7.4% in Q4 FY24 and an overall 8% growth for the fiscal year FY24, according to an SBI Research report. This announcement comes ahead of the official GDP figures release by the Centre on May 31 for Q4 FY24 and the provisional estimates for FY24. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) estimated Q4 FY24 real GDP growth at 7.3%, with expectations for Q1 FY25 at 7.5%, and full-year FY25 growth projected at 7.0%. Chief Economic Adviser V. Anantha Nageswaran also indicated a high possibility of India’s economic growth touching 8% in FY24.

Urban and Rural Economic Indicators :

SBI Research highlighted a secular growth trend across both urban and rural landscapes. Since January 2024, over 80% of leading indicators showed acceleration, particularly in urban areas. Indicators such as passenger vehicle sales, airport passenger traffic, GST collection, credit card transactions, petroleum consumption, and toll collections pointed to increasing urban economic momentum. The rural economy also showed positive signs, with the percentage of accelerating indicators rising to 75% in March 2024 from 56% in February 2024. Key indicators such as diesel consumption and two-wheeler sales are on the rise, reflecting growing rural economic activity.

Corporate Performance :

In Q4 FY24, around 2,400 listed entities reported a top-line growth of 9%, while EBIDTA grew by approximately 21%, compared to a flat top line in previous quarters. However, PAT growth decreased to 12% from 42% in the preceding two quarters on a year-over-year basis. The report noted that an ‘above normal’ monsoon is expected to benefit the rural economy by boosting domestic supplies of pulses, oilseeds, and cereals. Corporate GVA grew by around 18% in Q4 FY24, compared to 20% in Q4 FY23 and 26% in Q3 FY24, with EBIDTA growth marginally reducing to 21% from 26% in the previous quarter. Sectors such as Banking, Automobile, Capital Goods, Consumer Durables, and Pharma reported strong performance during the quarter.

GDP Growth & Global Outlook :

The report emphasized that global growth remains resilient, with easing inflationary pressures and tight employment conditions despite geopolitical and extreme weather event risks. Global headline inflation is expected to decrease from an annual average of 6.8% in 2023 to 5.9% in 2024 and further to 4.5% in 2025, with advanced economies (AEs) returning to their inflation targets sooner than emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs).

Projections and Expert Opinions :

Upasna Bhardwaj, Chief Economist at Kotak Mahindra Bank, noted strong performance across various sectors, including trade and hotels, and robust manufacturing activities, with expectations of 6.1% GDP growth for Q4, leading to an annual GDP growth close to 7.6%. DK Srivastava, Chief Policy Advisor at EY India, mentioned that both domestic and international institutions predict around 7% growth for India in FY25, with Q4 FY24 GDP growth potentially exceeding 6.5%, resulting in annual growth close to 7.8%, as projected by the IMF. India Ratings & Research forecasted a GDP growth rate of 6.2% for Q4 FY24, while ICRA predicted a deceleration to 6.7% for the same period, projecting overall GDP growth of 7.8% for FY24.

Correct Answer :   Charles Leclerc

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Charles Leclerc, the Ferrari driver, has achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the first Monegasque driver to win the Monaco Grand Prix since Louis Chiron in 1931, ending a drought of 92 years.

Chaotic Race Overcomes Hurdles :

Leclerc’s victory, his first since the 2022 Austrian Grand Prix, came after a chaotic race marred by two standing starts and several first-lap collisions. Despite the challenges, the 26-year-old driver, who had previously failed to secure a podium finish in six previous attempts at the iconic race, started from pole position and controlled the race from the outset.

Dominant Performance on Narrow Street Circuit :

The narrow street circuit of Monaco is known for its limited overtaking opportunities, and Leclerc capitalized on this advantage. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri finished second, trailing Leclerc by 7.1 seconds, while Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz secured third place.

Correct Answer :   Kolkata Knight Riders

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In the current IPL season of 2024, the playoff teams include Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).  Here, we present the IPL winners list from 2008 to 2024.

IPL Winners List from 2008 to 2024

IPL Winners List has been listed below for the readers along with the runner-up and the venues. Let’s have a look at the table of IPL Winners List from 2008 to 2024.

Correct Answer :   Shrinivas R. Kulkarni

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In recognition of his groundbreaking discoveries in the field of astronomy, Shrinivas R. Kulkarni, an Indian-origin professor from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), has been awarded the prestigious Shaw Prize in Astronomy for 2024.

Kulkarni, the George Ellery Hale Professor of Astronomy and Planetary Science at Caltech's Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy, has been honoured for his pioneering work on millisecond pulsars, gamma-ray bursts, supernovae, and other variable or transient astronomical objects.

The Shaw Prize Foundation lauded Kulkarni's contributions to time-domain astronomy, which culminated in the conception, construction, and leadership of the Palomar Transient Factory and its successor, the Zwicky Transient Facility.

These groundbreaking projects have revolutionized our understanding of the time-variable optical sky.

The #ShawPrize in #Astronomy 2024 is awarded to Shrinivas R Kulkarni for his ground-breaking discoveries about millisecond pulsars, gamma-ray bursts, supernovae, & other variable or transient astronomical objects.
Congratulations, Dr. Kulkarni!@Caltech pic.twitter.com/IkYlPZd95M

— The Shaw Prize (@ShawPrize) May 21, 2024

"The Shaw Prize in Astronomy is awarded to Shrinivas R. Kulkarni for his groundbreaking discoveries about millisecond pulsars, gamma-ray bursts, supernovae, and other variable or transient astronomical objects," the Foundation stated.

Kulkarni's illustrious career spans decades of pioneering research and leadership roles. After obtaining his M.S. from the Indian Institute of Technology in 1978, he earned his Ph.D. from the University of California in 1983. Among his many achievements, Kulkarni served as the director of Caltech Optical Observatories from 2006 to 2018.


The Shaw Prize, established by the late Hong Kong-based philanthropist Run Run Shaw, consists of three annual prizes in Astronomy, Life Science and Medicine, and Mathematical Sciences, each carrying a monetary award of $1.2 million.

Alongside Kulkarni, the 2024 Shaw Prize recipients include Swee Lay Thein and Stuart Orkin from the United States, who received the Shaw Prize in Life Science and Medicine, and Peter Sarnak, another US scientist, who was awarded the Shaw Prize in Mathematical Sciences.

The presentation ceremony for the 21st edition of the Shaw Prize is scheduled for November 12, 2024, in Hong Kong, celebrating the exceptional contributions of these esteemed scientists to their respective fields..

Source : India Today