National News
Vice President Dhankhar Inaugurates GSI Geoscience Museum in Gwalior
1. Who inaugurated the GSI Geoscience Museum in Gwalior? answer: Vice President Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar
2. Where is the GSI Geoscience Museum located? answer: Victoria Market Building, Gwalior
VIRAASAT: Weaving the Legacy of Indian Saris
3. When is the Viraasat Sari Festival 2024 taking place? answer: December 15 to December 28, 2024*
4. Where is the Viraasat Sari Festival 2024 being held? answer: Handloom Haat, Janpath, New Delhi*
Russia Offers Visa-Free Travel for Indians in 2025
5. When is the visa-free travel initiative for Indians to Russia expected to begin? answer: Spring of 2025*
6. What was the purpose of the bilateral discussions between India and Russia in June 2024? answer: To ease visa restrictions and encourage group tourist exchanges*
International News
Gympie-Gympie: The World’s Most Toxic Plant
7. What is the scientific name of the Gympie-Gympie plant? answer: Dendrocnide moroides*
8. Where is the Gympie-Gympie plant primarily found? answer: Rainforests of Australia, Indonesia, and the Moluccas*
Italy Grants Citizenship to Argentina’s President
9. To whom did Italy recently grant citizenship based on Italian ancestry? answer: Argentine President Javier Milei*
10. What criticism has arisen from Italy granting citizenship to Argentine President Javier Milei? answer: The policy is seen as unfair to children of immigrants born in Italy who are often denied citizenship*
Defence News
INS Nirdeshak: Indian Navy’s New Survey Ship Commissioned
11. When is INS Nirdeshak set to be commissioned? answer: December 18, 2024*
12. Where was INS Nirdeshak constructed? answer: Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata*
SLINEX 2024: Strengthening Sri Lanka-India Naval Ties
13. When will SLINEX 2024 be held? answer: December 17 to December 20, 2024*
14. Where will SLINEX 2024 be conducted? answer: Visakhapatnam*
Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, Navy Sign MoU for Logistics Education
15. What is the focus of the MoU between Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya and the Indian Navy? answer: Enhancing education, research, and training in logistics for the Navy*
16. Which national initiatives does this strategic partnership align with? answer: PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan 2021 and the National Logistics Policy 2022*
Economy News
Wholesale Inflation Eases to 1.9% in November Amid Cooling Food Prices
17. What was India’s wholesale inflation rate in November? answer: 1.9%*
18. What was the food price inflation rate in November? answer: 8.9%*
Centre Earns ₹8,625 Crore via Disinvestment in 2024-25
19. How much has the Indian government collected through disinvestment in FY 2024-25? answer: ₹8,625 crore*
20. What is the government’s policy aim with strategic disinvestment and privatization? answer: To enhance efficiency and economic potential in sectors where competitive markets have matured*
RBI Raises Collateral-Free Agricultural Loan Limit to ₹2 Lakh
21. What is the new limit for collateral-free agricultural loans set by the RBI? answer: ₹2 lakh*
22. When will the new directive for collateral-free agricultural loans be effective? answer: January 1, 2025*
Banking News
Public Sector Banks Record Net Profit of Rs 85,520 Crore In First Half FY2024-25
23. What was the net profit reported by Public Sector Banks (PSBs) in the first half of FY 2024-25? answer: ₹85,520 crore*
24. What factors contributed to the significant growth in PSBs’ net profit? answer: Improved asset quality, robust credit monitoring, and enhanced operational efficiency*
RBI’s Measures to Tackle Growing Unclaimed Deposits
25. What is the definition of unclaimed deposits according to the RBI? answer: Balances in savings/current accounts or term deposits inactive for over 10 years*
26. Why has the RBI taken steps to address unclaimed deposits? answer: To safeguard depositor interests and introduce efficient mechanisms for reclaiming funds*
Important Days News
Pensioners Day in India: Honouring D.S. Nakara’s Fight for Pension Rights
27. When is Pensioners Day observed in India? answer: December 17*
28. What does Pensioners Day commemorate? answer: The landmark Supreme Court judgment of 1982 guaranteeing equality and justice for retired officials and pensioners*
Science and Technology News
ISRO Successfully Tests CE20 Cryogenic Engine
29. When was the CE20 cryogenic engine sea-level hot test conducted by ISRO? answer: November 29, 2024*
30. Where was the CE20 cryogenic engine test conducted? answer: ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu*
Sports News
India Clinches Women’s Junior Asia Cup Title
31. Which team did the Indian women’s junior hockey team defeat to win the Women’s Junior Asia Cup title? answer: China*
32. Where was the Women’s Junior Asia Cup final held? answer: Muscat, Oman*