National

• Crown Prince Frederik X became the new King of Denmark on January 14, 2024.
• He succeeded his mother, Queen Margrethe II, who formally abdicated after 52 years as the monarch.
• Tens of thousands of Danes gathered in Copenhagen to witness the historic succession in freezing temperatures.
• Queen Margrethe II, at 83 years old, is the first Danish monarch to voluntarily relinquish the throne in nearly 900 years.
• The abdication was formalized when Queen Margrethe signed the declaration during a meeting of the Council of State at Parliament at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen.
• The new King, his Australian-born wife Mary (now Queen Consort), and their 18-year-old eldest son, Crown Prince Christian, were present at the meeting.
• Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen proclaimed 55-year-old Frederik as the new king from the balcony of the Palace.
• Queen Consort Mary, an Australian-born commoner, is the first commoner to become Queen of Denmark.

Q: Who succeeded Queen Margrethe II as the new King of Denmark on January 14, 2024?

• A) Crown Prince Christian
• B) Prince Frederik X
• C) King Christian IX
• D) Prince Mette Frederiksen

Ans : B) Prince Frederik X

• DRDO conducts successful flight-test of New Generation AKASH (AKASH-NG) missile on January 12, 2024, at ITR Chandipur.
• Test targets high-speed unmanned aerial target at very low altitude was successfully intercepted and destroyed during the flight test.
• Validation of complete AKASH-NG weapon system, including missile, Radio Frequency Seeker, Launcher, Multi-Function Radar, and Command, Control, and Communication system.
• AKASH-NG is a state-of-the-art missile system capable of intercepting high-speed, agile aerial threats.
• Successful flight test opens the way for user trials of the AKASH-NG system.
• Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh commends DRDO, IAF, PSUs, and Industry for the successful test.
• Development of AKASH-NG system expected to enhance the country’s air defence capabilities.

Q: What is the primary capability of the AKASH-NG missile system?

• A. Submarine warfare
• B. Anti-tank warfare
• C. Interception of high-speed, agile aerial threats
• D. Long-range artillery attacks

Ans : C. Interception of high-speed, agile aerial threats

Q: Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, is located in which state?

A. Maharashtra
B. Odisha
C. Tamil Nadu
D. Gujarat

Ans : B. Odisha

• PM Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s longest bridge, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri – Nhava Sheva Atal Setu, on January 12, 2024.
• The 21.8 km bridge is the longest sea bridge in India and a significant infrastructure project for Mumbai.
• The 6-lane bridge, 16.5 km over the sea and 5.5 km over land, is the longest sea and overall bridge in India.
• Dignitaries present at the inauguration included Governor Ramesh Bais, CM Eknath Shinde, and Deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar.
• PM Modi laid the foundation stone for Atal Setu in December 2016.
• Atal Setu aims to enhance connectivity in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, reducing travel time between Sewri and Nhava Sheva from 2 hours to 20 minutes.
• It shortens routes from Mumbai to Pune, Goa, and South India, improving connectivity to Mumbai and Navi Mumbai International Airports, Mumbai Port, and Jawaharlal Nehru Port.
• Executed by MMRDA on an EPC basis with a total cost of over Rs 17,840 crore; Japan International Cooperation Agency provided a loan of approximately 30,755 million yen.

Q: What is the name of India’s longest bridge ?

• A. Rajiv Gandhi Setu
• B. Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri – Nhava Sheva Atal Setu
• C. Indira Gandhi Bridge
• D. Sardar Patel Crossing

Ans : B. Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri – Nhava Sheva Atal Setu

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 10th edition of the ‘Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024 on January 10, 2024, at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar.
• President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, participated as the Chief Guest, symbolizing deepening ties between India and the UAE.
• India-UAE partnership was highlighted, particularly in the renewable energy sector, innovative healthcare, and substantial investments in India’s port infrastructure.
• The theme of this year’s summit is ‘Gateway to the Future,’ focusing on shared efforts for a bright 21st-century future.

Q: Who participated as the Chief Guest in the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024?

a. President of the Nepal
b. President of the United States
c. Prime Minister of Israel
d. President of the United Arab Emirates

Ans : President of the United Arab Emirates

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Vibrant Gujarat Global Trade Show on 9 Jan 2024 in Gandhinagar.
• The event was attended by the President of Mozambique Filipe Nyusi, President of Timor Leste José Ramos-Horta, and Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel.
• PM Modi is set to inaugurate the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar on 10 Jan 2024.
• The Vibrant Gujarat Global Trade Show, covering an area of two lakh square meters, is India’s largest-ever Global Trade Show.
• 100 countries are participating as visiting countries, and 33 countries are joining as partners in the five-day trade show.
• Over 1,000 exhibitors from 20 countries, including Australia, South Korea, Singapore, UAE, UK, Germany, and Norway, are present.
• The trade show focuses on emerging sectors such as electric vehicles, green hydrogen, renewable energy, semiconductors, and cybersecurity.

Q: Presidents from which two countries were present at the inauguration of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Trade Show?

a. Mozambique and Maldives
b. Mozambique and Timor Leste
c. Mozambique and UAE
d. Germany and UAE

Ans : b. Mozambique and Timor Leste

• AIIMS New Delhi has established the country’s first smart lab in its OPD block.
• The smart lab offers comprehensive laboratory testing services, covering hematology, biochemistry, coagulation, serology, endocrinology, and various immunoassays.
• Dr. Sudip Kumar Datta, Additional Professor of Laboratory Medicine at AIIMS Delhi, mentioned that the smart lab provides test reports for 90 percent of samples on the same day they are received.
• The initiative is a technological advancement, operating as a completely paperless facility.
• The integration of various testing services under one roof is a notable feature of the smart lab.

Q: Which institute has initiated the country’s first smart lab in its OPD block?

a. PGI Chandigarh
b. AIIMS New Delhi
c. Apollo Hospitals
d. Fortis Healthcare

Ans : b. AIIMS New Delhi

1. 45 girls from the North East are participating in the National Cadet Corps (NCC) Republic Day Camp 2024.
2. The girls, aged 13 to 15, will showcase the rich cultural heritage of the North East.
3. This marks the first time a band of girls from the North East is participating in the camp.
4. The NCC Republic Day Camp has a total of 2,274 cadets, including 907 girls, from across the country.
5. The month-long camp aims to expose cadets to the rich traditions of the nation and strengthen their value system.
6. There are 122 cadets from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, as well as 177 from the North East.
7. Cadets and officers from 25 friendly countries under the Youth Exchange Programme (YEP) are also participating.
8. The Director General of NCC, Lt Gen Gurbirpal Singh, highlighted the camp’s goal of promoting national integration and unity in diversity through cultural exchange programs.

Q: What is the full form of NCC?

a. National Cadet Council
b. National Cadet Corps
c. North Cultural Convention
d. National Cadre Committee

Ans : b. National Cadet Corps

Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. B.R. Kamboj, received the M.S. Swaminathan Award for his contributions in agronomy.

1. The award was presented by Thawar Chand Gehlot, the Governor of Karnataka, at the International Conference on ‘One Health One World’ in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.
2. Prof. B.R. Kamboj was selected for the award by a special committee recognizing his achievements in education, research, technology development, and extension in agricultural science.
3. The Vice Chancellor is well-informed about farmers’ common problems, needs, and socio-economic conditions, and his agricultural recommendations have proven highly advantageous for farmers.
4. Prof. Kamboj has authored around 300 research papers and articles in national and international journals, books, and technical magazines.

Q: Who received the M.S. Swaminathan Award in 2024?

a) Prof. B.R. Kamboj
b) Thawar Chand Gehlot
c) Chaudhary Charan Singh
d) Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia

answer: a) Prof. B.R. Kamboj

Joint Military Exercise ‘Desert Cyclone 2024’ between India and UAE scheduled from January 2 to January 15 in Rajasthan.

• Objective: Enhance interoperability through learning and sharing best practices in urban operations.
• India and UAE have strong bonds based on cultural, religious, and economic ties.
• Potential areas of bilateral cooperation in defense: production and development of defense equipment, joint exercises, sharing strategic information, technical cooperation (Intermediate Jet Trainer).
• First-ever India-UAE Joint Air Forces exercise occurred in September 2008 at Al-Dhafra base in Abu Dhabi.

Q: What is the name of the Joint Military Exercise conducted between India and UAE in Rajasthan in January 2024?

a) Desert Storm 2024
b) Desert Thunder 2024
c) Desert Cyclone 2024
d) Desert Mirage 2024

Correct Answer: c) Desert Cyclone 2024