Today Current Affairs Quiz 29th December

SSC, Banking, Railways, and state-level exams serve as stepping stones to securing prominent government jobs. These tests evaluate reasoning skills, quantitative aptitude, general knowledge, and awareness of current events. Staying informed about current affairs is vital for enhancing knowledge and excelling in the general awareness section, often key to crossing the cutoff.

Q1. What significant step has World Boxing recently taken to ensure the continued presence of boxing in the Olympic Games, including LA 2028?

(a) Established a new boxing championship for Asia

(b) Welcomed Asia as its newest member

(c) Formed an Olympic Games committee for boxing

(d) Appointed a new president for the Boxing Federation of India

Q2. Which two organizations have jointly launched India’s first Undergraduate Minor Programme in Quantum Technologies?

(a) Ministry of Education and ISRO

(b) All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and National Quantum Mission (NQM)

(c) IITs and DRDO

(d) National Institute of Technology (NIT) and Atomic Energy Commission

Q3. What was the primary pollutant released into the Black Sea during the oil spill?

(a) Crude oil

(b) Chemical waste

(c) Diesel oil

(d) Mazut (heavy fuel oil)

Q4. What decision has the Government of India made regarding a memorial for former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh?

(a) To establish a museum in his honor

(b) To allocate space for a memorial honoring him

(c) To name a road after him

(d) To erect a statue in every state capital

Q5. Who has recently been invited to become an Honorary Cricket Member of the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC)?

(a) Rahul Dravid

(b) Virat Kohli

(c) Sachin Tendulkar

(d) M.S. Dhoni

Q6. Who is the target audience for India’s first Undergraduate Minor Programme in Quantum Technologies?

(a) Ph.D. students in quantum physics

(b) High school students with an interest in quantum science

(c) Engineering students in their third or fourth semester

(d) Postgraduate students in technology

Q7. What does the RBI’s decision to link PPIs (Prepaid payment instruments) with UPI aim to enhance?

(a) Digital currency adoption

(b) Payment interoperability and digital payment adoption

(c) ATM withdrawal limits

(d) Cross-border remittances

Q8. In 2024, Government of India Bharat Ratna to how many individuals?

(a) 3

(b) 4

(c) 5

(d) 6

Q9. Who has been appointed as the new Chairperson of the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL)?

(a) Dr. Sandip Shah

(b) Dr. Ramesh Kumar

(c) Dr. Vinay Bhat

(d) Dr. Rajesh Sharma

Q10. In which year was the rule of maximum three Bharat Ratna awards in a year broken for the first time?

(a) 1995

(b) 1999

(c) 2005

(d) 2010

S1. Ans. (b)

Sol. World Boxing has welcomed Asia as its newest member, marking a pivotal step to strengthen the sport’s position in the Olympics, including LA 2028 and beyond.

Correct Answer: Welcomed Asia as its newest member

Key Points:

• Asian Boxing Body: Asia joins World Boxing to enhance boxing’s Olympic future.
• India’s Presentation: 7 key positions for Indian officials in the interim body, including Ajay Singh as a board member.

S2. Ans. (b)

Sol. India’s first Undergraduate Minor Programme in Quantum Technologies has been jointly launched by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and the National Quantum Mission (NQM).

Correct Answer: All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and National Quantum Mission (NQM)

Key Points:

• Focus Areas: Quantum Computation, Quantum Communication, Quantum Sensing, and Quantum Materials.
• Collaborating Institutions: IITs, IIITs, and NITs partnered to design and implement the course curriculum.
• Credits and Courses: Students can select 18 credits from over 30 courses.

S3. Ans. (d)

Sol. The spill released thousands of tons of mazut, a heavy fuel oil, into the Black Sea.

Correct Answer: Mazut (heavy fuel oil)

Key Points:

• A federal-level emergency has been declared in Russia following a catastrophic oil spill along the Black Sea coast, affecting marine ecosystems, local communities, and tourism.
• Date of Incident: December 15, 2024
• Cause of Spill: Two Russian-flagged oil tankers were damaged during a storm near the Kerch Strait, releasing thousands of tons of heavy fuel oil (mazut).

S4. Ans. (b)

Sol. The Government of India has decided to allocate space for a memorial in honor of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.

Correct Answer: To allocate space for a memorial honoring him

Key Points:

• Memorial Decision: Space allocated by the Government; announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Congress Request: Mallikarjun Kharge requested a memorial space for Dr. Singh’s funeral and legacy.
• Funeral Details: State funeral with military honors at Nigambodh Ghat, New Delhi, on December 28, 2024.
• Passing: Dr. Singh passed away at 92 on December 26, 2024, due to age-related complications.

S5. Ans. (c)

Sol. Legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has accepted an invitation to become an Honorary Cricket Member of the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC), recognizing his unparalleled contributions to cricket.

Correct Answer: Sachin Tendulkar

Key Points:

• Membership Announcement: Sachin Tendulkar accepts MCC’s Honorary Cricket Membership
• Institution: Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC), managing the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)
• Recognition: For outstanding contributions to cricket

S6. Ans. (c)

Sol. The UG Minor Programme in Quantum Technologies is designed for engineering students in their third or fourth semester.

Correct Answer: Engineering students in their third or fourth semester

Key Points:

• Focus Areas: Quantum Computation, Quantum Communication, Quantum Sensing, and Quantum Materials.
• Collaborating Institutions: IITs, IIITs, and NITs partnered to design and implement the course curriculum.
• Credits and Courses: Students can select 18 credits from over 30 courses.

S7. Ans. (b)

Sol. The decision aims to enhance payment interoperability and promote the adoption of digital payments, aligning with RBI’s Payments Vision 2025.

Correct Answer: Payment interoperability and digital payment adoption

Key Points:

• RBI allows full-KYC PPI holders to make and receive UPI payments via third-party apps like Google Pay and PhonePe.
• Authentication Method: Transactions will be authenticated using customers’ existing PPI credentials.
• Purpose of PPIs: Facilitates the purchase of goods and services, financial transactions, and remittance facilities.
• Examples of PPIs: Digital wallets, gift cards, and metro rail cards.

S8. Ans. (c)
Sol. The Government of India announced Bharat Ratna to 5 individuals in 2024.

Correct Answer: 5

Key Points:

• Individuals who were awarded: Karpoori Thakur, L. K. Advani, P. V. Narasimha Rao, Charan Singh, and M. S. Swaminathan.

S9. Ans. (a)

Sol. Dr. Sandip Shah has been appointed as the new Chairperson of the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL).

Correct Answer: Dr. Sandip Shah

Key Points:

• New Chairperson: Dr. Sandip Shah
• Predecessor: Prof. Subbanna Ayyappan
• Professional Background: MD Pathology, Founder of Neuberg Supratech Labs, Joint MD at Neuberg Diagnostics
• Key Achievements: India’s first drive-through Covid testing facility, 3,500+ tests conducted at one site

S10. Ans. (b)

Sol. The rule was broken for the first time in 1999, when four recipients were conferred the award.

Correct Answer: 1999

Key Points:

• The rule of maximum three awards in a year is a guideline for the Bharat Ratna. The rule was broken for the first time in 1999, when four recipients were conferred the award: Jayaprakash Narayan, Amartya Sen, Gopinath Bordoloi, and Ravi Shankar.
• The rule was broken again in 2024, when five recipients were conferred the award.