Q.: Who won the U.S. Presidential election in November 2024?
A) Kamala Harris
B) Joe Biden
C) Donald Trump
D) Ron DeSantis
Q.: Who is the first Indian to achieve a world champion title in any World Boxing Federation’s (WBF) professional boxing category?
A) Vijender Singh
B) Mandeep Jangra
C) Mary Kom
D) Amit Panghal
Indian boxer Mandeep Jangra won the World Boxing Federation’s (WBF) Super Featherweight world title in the Cayman Islands, defeating Britain’s Conor McIntosh with a unanimous 10-0 decision on November 5, 2024. This victory makes Mandeep the first Indian to achieve a world champion title in any professional boxing category.
A Commonwealth Games silver medalist from 2014, Mandeep has had an impressive professional record, winning 11 out of 12 fights, including seven knockouts, with only one loss in his career.
On November 6, 2024, Donald Trump won the U.S. presidential election, securing 277 electoral votes, surpassing the required 270 and defeating Democrat Kamala Harris. His victory, clinched with a key win in Wisconsin and other swing states like Pennsylvania, Georgia, and North Carolina, sparked celebrations among Republicans as Trump became the 47th U.S. President.
In his victory speech from Palm Beach, Florida, Trump pledged to focus on ending global conflicts, emphasizing a commitment to “stop wars, not start them.” He also reiterated his immigration policy stance, advocating for stricter border control and legal immigration pathways, and expressed gratitude to his supporters, including immigrant communities. His running mate, JD Vance, praised Trump’s win as a historic political comeback.
World leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, congratulated Trump on his win through social media platform X. Italian President Giorgia Meloni and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also extended congratulations.
Q.: Which country launched LignoSat, the world’s first wooden satellite, into space to test wood’s viability as a space-grade material in November 2024?
(A) United States
(B) China
(C) Japan
(D) Russia
Q.: What is the name of the first ritual observed on the initial day of Chhath Puja?
(A) Kharna
(B) Nahay-Khay
(C) Arghya
(D) Sandhya Puja
Q.: What percentage decline in TB incidence did India achieve from 2015 to 2023?
(A) 8.3%
(B) 10%
(C) 17.7%
(D) 20%
Q.: What is the target year for India to achieve the “End TB” goals?
(A) 2030
(B) 2025
(C) 2023
(D) 2028
India’s progress in reducing tuberculosis (TB) has gained global recognition, with a 17.7% drop in TB cases from 2015 to 2023. This decline is more than twice the global average of 8.3%, according to the World Health Organization’s Global Tuberculosis Report 2024.
India committed to achieving the United Nations’ “End TB” targets by 2025, five years before the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) deadline. This progress reflects the success of India’s National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme, which has led to an 80% decrease in TB cases and a 90% reduction in TB deaths since 2015.
The four-day Chhath Puja festival began on November 5, 2024, with the ritual of Nahay-Khay. Devotees started the festival by taking holy dips in rivers and performing puja to the Sun God, consuming offerings like Arwa rice and Chana dal. In Bihar, large gatherings formed along the Ganga, Kosi, Gandak, and other rivers.
On November 6, the Kharna ritual will be observed, followed by a strict 36-hour fast without water. The First Arghya, offerings to the setting Sun, will be given on November 7, and the festival will conclude on November 8 with a final Arghya to the rising Sun. Devotees will gather at riverbanks and famous Sun temples across Bihar. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar extended greetings for Chhath Puja.
On November 5, 2024, Japan launched LignoSat, the world’s first wooden satellite, into space to test wood’s viability as a space-grade material. Developed by Kyoto University researchers, LignoSat is made from honoki wood, traditionally used for sword sheaths.
After a 10-month experiment on the ISS, honoki was found to be the most suitable timber for space applications. Constructed using a traditional Japanese technique without screws or glue, LignoSat will orbit Earth for six months, testing wood’s resilience to extreme temperatures (-100 to 100°C) and its potential to shield semiconductors from space radiation.
Q.: Which tribe primarily inhabits the newly declared Meluri district of Nagaland?
(A) Angami
(B) Ao
(C) Pochury Naga
(D) Sumi
Q.: Where is the fifth edition of the Vietnam-India Bilateral Army Exercise (VINBAX) 2024 being held?
(A) Hanoi, Vietnam
(B) Delhi, India
(C) Ambala, Haryana
(D) Mumbai, Maharashtra
Q.: In which category has the film Sunflowers Were The First Ones To Know qualified for the 2025 Oscars?
(A) Best Animated Short Film
(B) Best Documentary Short Film
(C) Live Action Short Film
(D) Best International Feature Film
The Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) student film Sunflowers Were The First Ones To Know has qualified for the 2025 Oscars in the Live Action Short Film category. Directed by FTII student Chidananda S Naik, this Kannada short film is inspired by Indian folk stories and traditions. Earlier, it won first prize at the Cannes Film Festival’s La Cinef Selection, where the jury praised its storytelling and direction.
The film follows the story of an elderly woman who steals the village rooster, causing sunlight to disappear and bringing chaos to the community. A prophecy then forces her family into exile to retrieve the rooster and restore peace.
Sunflowers will have special screenings and events to connect with global audiences, showcasing India’s storytelling traditions and universal themes that resonate worldwide.
The fifth Vietnam-India Bilateral Army Exercise (VINBAX) 2024 began on November 4, 2024, in Ambala, Haryana. The goal of VINBAX-2024 is to strengthen the joint military abilities of India and Vietnam.
This year’s exercise is special because, for the first time, it includes personnel from both the Army and Air Force of each country. The Indian Army has sent 47 personnel, including a Regiment of the Corps of Engineers and members from other units. VINBAX-2024 will end on November 23.
Meluri, home to the Pochury Naga tribe, has been officially declared the 17th district of Nagaland. The state government announced that Meluri, previously a sub-division of Phek District, is now a full district.
An official notice from Chief Secretary Dr. J. Alam on November 2, 2024, confirmed that the new district will include the area that was part of Meluri Sub-Division. This decision, approved by the Cabinet on November 1, is intended to enhance governance and development in the region.
Q.: Where has ISRO launched India’s first analog space mission in November 2024?
(A) Rann of Kutch
(B) Thar Desert
(C) Leh, Ladakh
(D) Siachen Glacier
Q.: What is the main purpose of analog space missions?
(A) To simulate agricultural techniques in space
(B) To replicate space environments and test life-support systems
(C) To train astronauts in combat
(D) To conduct astronomy research from Earth
Q.: Where is the 15th India-US joint Special Forces Exercise VAJRA PRAHAR held in September 2024?
(A) Umroi, Meghalaya
(B) Orchard Combat Training Centre, Idaho, USA
(C) Jodhpur, Rajasthan
(D) Camp Pendleton, California
Q.: Ningol Chakkouba is traditionally a festival of which community in Manipur?
(A) Naga
(B) Kuki
(C) Meitei
(D) Pangal
The Ningol Chakkouba festival, one of Manipur’s biggest, was celebrated on November 3, 2024. It is a special festival for the Meitei community but is now enjoyed by other communities too.
Ningol Chakkouba happens each year on the second day of the Meitei lunar month called Hiyangei. On this day, married sisters come to their maternal homes for a big feast and happy reunion, where gifts are exchanged. Traditionally, the brother invites his sister a week before the festival. Many Manipuris celebrate this festival even when they are living outside Manipur.
The 15th India-US joint Special Forces exercise, VAJRA PRAHAR, began on September 2, 2024, at Orchard Combat Training Centre in Idaho, USA, and will end on September 22. The previous VAJRA PRAHAR was held in December 2023 in Umroi, Meghalaya. This is the second India-US Army exercise of the year, following YUDH ABHYAS 2024, which took place in Rajasthan in September.
In VAJRA PRAHAR, each country’s contingent includes 45 personnel: Special Forces units from India and Green Berets from the US. The goal is to improve military cooperation, focusing on interoperability, joint operations, and tactical skills in desert and semi-desert environments, with emphasis on physical fitness and joint planning.
ISRO has launched India’s first analog space mission in Leh, Ladakh, simulating life in an interplanetary habitat to advance India’s lunar and interplanetary mission goals. Analog missions are conducted in Earth locations with conditions that mimic space environments, helping to test and solve challenges for space research. Ladakh’s dry, cold climate and high-altitude terrain resemble Martian and lunar landscapes, making it ideal for such a mission.
The month-long mission includes a compact, inflatable habitat named Hab-1, equipped with a hydroponics farm, kitchen, and sanitation, creating a self-sustaining environment. This setup offers insights into sustaining human life for long-term space missions to the Moon and Mars. Collaboratively organized by ISRO’s Human Spaceflight Centre, AAKA Space Studio, University of Ladakh, IIT Bombay, and the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, the mission also leverages Ladakh’s low-oxygen, low-pressure conditions to evaluate life support systems, essential for future interplanetary missions.
Q.: Who assumed the role of Defence Secretary of India on November 1, 2024?
(A) Giridhar Aramane
(B) Rajesh Kumar Singh
(C) Ajay Kumar
(D) Sanjay Mishra
Q.: Which Indian state was the first to be formed based on linguistic lines?
A) Tamil Nadu
B) Andhra Pradesh
C) Kerala
D) Karnataka
Q.: On which date was Karnataka officially reorganized and renamed from Mysore?
A) November 1, 1947
B) November 1, 1956
C) November 1, 1966
D) November 1, 2000
Q.: Which state celebrates “Rajyotsava Day” on November 1 each year?
A) Kerala
B) Chhattisgarh
C) Karnataka
D) Haryana
Q.: Kerala was formed by merging which three regions?
A) Cochin, Malabar, and Hyderabad
B) Cochin, Malabar, and Travancore
C) Hyderabad, Mysore, and Travancore
D) Travancore, Mysore, and Malabar
Q.: Haryana was carved out of which state in 1 November 1966?
A) Punjab
B) Madhya Pradesh
C) Rajasthan
D) Uttar Pradesh
On November 1, eight states and five Union Territories celebrate their Foundation Day. These include Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, along with the UTs of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Delhi, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry. Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his wishes, recognizing their contributions to the nation.
Rajesh Kumar Singh, an IAS officer from the 1989 Kerala cadre, became the Defence Secretary on November 1, 2024. He replaced Giridhar Aramane, a 1988 Andhra Pradesh cadre IAS officer, who retired the day before. Before starting his new role, Mr. Singh paid respects at the National War Memorial in New Delhi.
Previously, he was the Secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. He has held various key roles in the Union Government and also served as Secretary for Urban Development and Finance in Kerala.
Q.: Which river’s banks were illuminated with diyas during the 2024 Deepotsav in Ayodhya?
A) Yamuna
B) Ganga
C) Godavari
D) Saryu
Q.: Which medal did Mansi Ahlawat win at the Seniors World Wrestling Championships in the women’s 59kg category in October 2024?
A) Gold
B) Silver
C) Bronze
D) None
India’s Mansi Ahlawat won a bronze medal in the women’s 59kg category at the Seniors World Wrestling Championships in Tirana, Albania. She defeated Canada’s Laurence Beauregard with a score of 5-0 in the bronze medal match.
Japan’s Risako Kinjo claimed the gold medal, Mongolia’s Tserenchimed Sukhee took the silver, and Germany’s Elena Heike Brugger shared the bronze with Mansi.
Ayodhya set two Guinness World Records on October 30, 2024, during Deepotsav. Over 2.5 million diyas were lit on the Saryu River banks, and the most people performed a simultaneous ‘diya’ rotation.
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath received the Guinness certificates, joined by Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak.
Festivities Highlights: