Where was the 31st edition of joint Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) 2024 conducted in October 2024?
1) Jodhpur, Rajasthan
2) Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
3) Umroi, Meghalaya
4) Mumbai, Maharashtra
5) Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
On October 23-29, 2024, the 31st edition of joint Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) 2024 conducted off the coast of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. This annual event aimed at enhancing naval cooperation between the Indian Navy (IN) and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN).
The opening ceremony was conducted onboard Indian Naval Ship (INS) Shivalik.
The exercise is conducted in two phases – the Harbour Phase from 23 to 25 October at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh and the Sea Phase from 28 to 29 October in the Bay of Bengal.
SIMBEX began in 1994 as Exercise Lion King and has evolved into the longest continuous naval exercise conducted by the IN with any foreign navy. This reflects the strong and lasting naval partnership between India and Singapore.
Which ministry has recently (in October ‘24) entered into a Rs 387.44 crore contract with Goa based Chowgule & Company Private Limited to procure 6 Air Cushion Vehicles (ACVs)?
1) Ministry of Defence
2) Ministry of Civil Aviation
3) Ministry of Commerce and Industry
4) Ministry of Home Affairs
5) Ministry of Heavy Industries
Answer-1) Ministry of Defence Explanation:
On October 24, 2024, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) entered into a Rs.387.44 crore contract with Goa based Chowgule & Company Private Limited, to procure 6 Air Cushion Vehicles (ACVs) for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).
This contract falls under the ‘Buy {Indian}’ category, a classification that emphasizes purchasing from Indian companies and fostering local production.
In line with the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative, which promotes self-reliance across sectors, these ACVs, also known as Hovercrafts, will be manufactured entirely within India.
This is a significant first in the nation’s history for Air Cushion Vehicles production, marking a step forward for the indigenous shipbuilding industry.
Air Cushion Vehicles (ACVs), commonly known as Hovercrafts are amphibious vehicles designed to operate over various terrains, including water, mud, sand, and ice.
Which country has recently (in September 2024) joined the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as its 69th Member Country?
1) Israel
2) Denmark
3) Kuwait
4) Japan
5) China
Answer-1) Israel Explanation:
Israel has officially joined the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as its 69th member and 20th non-regional member with effect from 27th September 2024, after completing all membership requirements.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich will represent Israel at the ADB.
Israel formally submitted its application for ADB membership in January 2022.
The ADB Board of Governors approved Israel’s membership on 14th April 2022 through Resolution no. 414: “Membership of Israel and Increase in Authorized Capital Stock”.
Who has been recently (in October 2024) selected to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame – Class of 2025?
1) Sharath Kamal Achanta
2) Jannik Sinner
3) Tasnim Mir
4) Maria Sharapova
5) Leander Paes
Answer- 4) Maria Sharapova Explanation:
Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova and American doubles tennis players Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan has been selected to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame – Class of 2025
They will be officially inducted into the Hall of Fame during the Induction Celebration in Newport, Rhode Island, the United States of America (USA) from 21st to 23rd August 2025.
Sharapova and the Bryans will join an elite group of 267 inductees from 28 countries.
Maria Sharapova won five Grand Slam singles titles during her career and she is one of the 10 Women players who have achieved the “Career Grand Slam” in Singles.
Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan, the identical twin brothers popularly known as the Bryan Brothers, have won a record 119 titles together, including 16 Grand Slams, 39 Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Masters 1000s, 1,109 match wins and the ATP Finals title four times.
Who was recently(in October ‘ 24) appointed as the National Ambassador for Cyber Safety by the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) to Promote Cyber Safety?
1) Rashmika Mandanna
2) Anushka Sharma
3) Manu Bhaker
4) Shikhar Dhawan
5) Alia Bhatt
Answer-1) Rashmika Mandanna Explanation:
Indian actress Rashmika Mandanna has been appointed as the National Ambassador for Cyber Safety by the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA).
Rashmika Mandanna will spread a nationwide campaign aimed at raising awareness about cyber threats, cyberbullying and Artificial Intelligence (AI) generated malicious content.
Her personal experience with cybercrime adds credibility to her mission of promoting online safety across India.
Name the 7th vessel in the Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) series that was recently (in October ‘24) launched by the Indian Navy (IN) at L&T Kattupalli, Tamil Nadu.
1) Amini
2) Agray
3) Abhay
4) Akshay
5) Arnala
Answer-3) Abhay Explanation:
The Indian Navy (IN) launched ‘Abhay’, the 7th vessel in the Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) series, built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE). The launch took place at L&T Kattupalli, Tamil Nadu (TN) and was presided over by Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command/ FOC-in-C (East).
The contract for constructing eight ASW SWC vessels was signed between the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) in April 2019.
This project aligns with Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) initiative, with over 80% indigenous content.
The Arnala-class ships are set to replace the Indian Navy’s active Abhay-class ASW corvettes. They are specifically designed for anti-submarine warfare in coastal areas and can perform low-intensity maritime operations as well as mine-laying tasks.
The 5th and 6th ships namely ‘Agray’ and ‘Akshay’ respectively were launched in March 2024.
Which country has recently (in October 2024) launched a new group of satellites known as the Yaogan-43 03 for testing new technologies related to low-orbit constellations?
1) Iran
2) United Arab Emirates
3) China
4) Türkiye
5) Japan
Answer-3) China Explanation:
China successfully launched a new group of satellites known as the Yaogan-43 03 satellite group onboard the Long March-2C carrier rocket from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province, China.
This mission marks the 542nd flight of the Long March rocket series.
The Yaogan-43 03 satellites are primarily intended for testing new technologies related to low-orbit constellations, which will enhance China’s capabilities in various applications, including remote sensing and communication.
How many sports will feature in the 23rd edition of Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland?
1) 24
2) 19
3) 14
4) 10
5) 8
Answer-4) 10 Explanation:
On 22nd October 2024, the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) announced that wrestling, badminton, hockey, cricket and shooting, among other major sports, have been dropped from the Commonwealth Games 2026 (CWG 2026). The 23rd edition of CWG is scheduled to take place in Glasgow, Scotland from 23rd July, 2026 to 2nd August, 2026.
The excluded sports for CWG 2026 are hockey, cricket, badminton, wrestling, table tennis (TT), diving, rugby sevens, beach volleyball, mountain biking, squash and rhythmic gymnastics.
With this, the total number of sport events has reduced to 10 compared to 19 sports events at the 2022 Birmingham CWG.
CWG 2026 will now feature 10 sports including: Athletics and Para Athletics (Track & Field), Swimming and Para Swimming, Artistic Gymnastics, Track Cycling and Para Track Cycling, Netball, Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting, Boxing, Judo, Bowls, and Para Bowls, and 3×3 Basketball and 3×3 Wheelchair Basketball.
Commonwealth Games is a quadrennial international multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The 1st CWG was held in 1930 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Click here to read more.
Name the renowned physicist and Padma Shri Awardee who has passed away in October 2024.
1) K. Chellappan
2) Shobhana Sitaram Ranade
3) Kamala Pujari
4) Rohini Godbole
5) Cherukuri Ramoji Rao
Answer-4) Rohini Godbole Explanation:
Renowned physicist Dr. Rohini Godbole, who played a phenomenal role in both science and gender equality, passed away at the age of 71 in Bengaluru, Karnataka. She was born in Pune, Maharashtra in 1952.
With a distinguished academic career, she significantly contributed to the field of elementary particle physics and was an outspoken advocate for women in science.
To inspire future generations, she co-edited LILAVATI’S DAUGHTERS- The Women Scientists of India (2008) along with Ram Ramaswamy, a collection of essays on Indian women scientists.
For her outstanding contributions, she received the Padma Shri in 2019, the Ordre national du Mérite (French National Order of Merit) in 2021, and Karnataka’s Lifetime Achievement Award in Science and Technology.
When is the United Nations (UN) Day annually observed across the globe to commemorate the day the UN Charter entered into force in 1945?
1) September 25
2) August 24
3) July 24
4) June 24
5) October 24
Answer- 5) October 24 Explanation:
The United Nations (UN) Day is annually observed across the globe on 24th October to mark the anniversary of the day on which the UN Charter entered into force in 1945.
The day provides an opportunity to amplify our shared agenda and reaffirm the core purposes and principles outlined in the UN Charter.
24th October 2024 marks the 79th Anniversary of the foundation of the UN.
The theme of the 2024 UN Day concert is “Building a Better Future Together”
On 26 June 1945, the UN Charter was signed by representatives from 50 nations, who attended the UN Conference on International Organization (UNCIO) in San Francisco, the United States of America (USA) and came into force on 24 October 1945.
The name ‘United Nations’ was suggested by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 32nd President of the USA. Click here to read more.
