Karva Chauth was celebrated across the country on 20 October 2024. On this day, married women fast from morning until they see the moon at night. The tradition is believed to strengthen the relationship between husband and wife and is thought to help ensure the husband’s long life.
Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar has been killed in Rafah, southern Gaza, during a chance encounter with Israeli forces. Sinwar, dressed in combat gear, was found dead in the rubble after a tank shell struck the building. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the military success but emphasized that the war is not yet over. While Hamas has not officially confirmed Sinwar’s death, he was considered a key figure behind the October 7 attacks on Israel.
Sinwar, aged 61 and known as Abu Ibrahim, became the head of Hamas’ political bureau after Ismail Haniyeh was killed in July this year. This follows Israel’s earlier killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah through airstrikes in Lebanon.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the U.S. will step up efforts to end the Gaza war in light of Sinwar’s apparent death. Blinken also referenced Sinwar’s previous refusal to resolve the conflict diplomatically. Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli PM Netanyahu discussed working together to secure the release of hostages.
The India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2024, held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, concluded on 18 October 2024. The four-day event, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 15 October, brought together over 3,000 industry leaders, policymakers, and tech experts from more than 190 countries. On the final day, discussions focused on collaboration to drive digital transformation and innovation.
The 8th edition of IMC highlighted India’s innovation ecosystem, with advancements in 6G, quantum technology, the Internet of Things, semiconductors, cybersecurity, and green tech. The event featured 400 exhibitors, 900 startups, and over 900 technology use cases. It hosted 100 sessions, with more than 600 speakers. On the final day, discussions centered on AI governance and strategies for future regulation and policy.
Q.: Who are the other three Indian batters to have reached 9,000 Test runs before Kohli?
a) Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, MS Dhoni
b) Rahul Dravid, Sunil Gavaskar, MS Dhoni
c) Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sunil Gavaskar
d) VVS Laxman, Anil Kumble, Kapil Dev
Q.: What is Hamas, whose chief Yahya Sinwar was killed in Rafah, southern Gaza, during an encounter with Israeli forces in October 2024?
A) A political and militant organization based in Palestine
B) A humanitarian aid organization
C) An international peacekeeping force
D) A cultural and educational institution
Q.: What was the focus of the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2024, held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, from October 15 to 18, 2024?
a) Traditional arts and crafts
b) Quantum technology and 6G
c) Space exploration
d) Historical research
Virat Kohli has achieved another milestone in his illustrious career by becoming the fourth Indian cricketer to reach 9,000 Test runs. This remarkable feat was accomplished during the first Test match against New Zealand at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on October 18, 20242.
Kohli joins the elite club of Indian cricket legends, which includes Sachin Tendulkar (15,921 runs), Rahul Dravid (13,265 runs), and Sunil Gavaskar (10,122 runs). Kohli reached the milestone in 197 Test innings, making him the fourth-fastest Indian and the 13th-fastest overall to achieve this landmark.
Reflecting on his journey, Kohli has consistently demonstrated his exceptional skill, dedication, and passion for the game. His highest Test score is an unbeaten 254, and he has accumulated 29 centuries and 31 half-centuries in his Test career.
Q.:Who was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Haryana for a second term on 17 October 2024?
(a) Manohar Lal Khattar
(b) Bhupinder Singh Hooda
(c) Nayab Singh Saini
(d) Dushyant Chautala
Q.: Who has Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud recommended as his successor?
(a) Justice S. Abdul Nazeer
(b) Justice Sanjiv Khanna
(c) Justice N.V. Ramana
(d) Justice U.U. Lalit
Q.: Who were awarded the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2024?
(a) Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, James A. Robinson
(b) Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo, Michael Kremer
(c) Paul Romer, William Nordhaus
(d) David Card, Joshua Angrist, Guido Imbens
On October 14, 2024, the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel was awarded to Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James A. Robinson for their research on how institutions are formed and their impact on a nation’s prosperity. Their work demonstrates that societal institutions, especially those introduced during European colonization, play a crucial role in determining a country’s long-term economic success or stagnation.
They found that inclusive institutions, which benefit society as a whole, promote growth, while extractive institutions, which exploit the population for the benefit of those in power, hinder development. The laureates’ research also explains why reforms are often difficult to implement in countries with extractive institutions and why, in some cases, democratization occurs as a solution to this problem. Their work sheds light on the challenge of reducing global income disparities by emphasizing the critical role of institutions.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud has recommended Justice Sanjiv Khanna, the second-most senior judge of the Supreme Court, as his successor. Upon approval by the government, Justice Khanna will become the 51st Chief Justice of India.
Nayab Singh Saini was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Haryana for a second term on October 17, 2024, marking the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) third consecutive government in the state. The oath was administered by Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya at a ceremony in Panchkula.
The BJP won 48 out of 90 seats in the recent elections, while Congress secured 37. The event was attended by key BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, as well as NDA allies like Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu.
Q.: What will be the new rate of Dearness Allowance (DA) effective from 1 July 2024, after the 3% hike from the existing rate of 50%?
A) 51%
B) 53%
C) 55%
D) 60%
Q.: Which Rabi crop received the highest increase in MSP for the 2025-26 marketing season?
A) Wheat
B) Lentil (Masur)
C) Rapeseed and Mustard
D) Gram
Q.: What is the MSP for wheat for the 2025-26 marketing season after the increase of Rs 150 per quintal?
A) Rs 2500 per quintal
B) Rs 2400 per quintal
C) Rs 2425 per quintal
D) Rs 2600 per quintal
Q.: Who was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir on 16 October 2024?
A) Farooq Abdullah
B) Omar Abdullah
C) Manoj Sinha
D) Akhilesh Yadav
Omar Abdullah was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir on 16 October 2024. This is the first elected government in the Union Territory since it was reorganized in 2019 after the removal of Article 370. The oath ceremony took place in Srinagar, and Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha gave him the oath of office.
Several ministers were also sworn in, including National Conference MLAs Javed Ahmed Rana, Javid Ahmad Dar, Sakina Itoo, Surinder Kumar Chowdhary, and independent MLA Satish Sharma.
The National Conference won 42 out of 90 seats, and their ally Congress won 6.
Omar Abdullah, who was the Chief Minister from 2009 to 2014, comes from a famous political family. His grandfather, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, and his father, Farooq Abdullah, both served as Chief Ministers of Jammu and Kashmir.
On 16 October 2024, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by PM Modi, approved an increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for all mandated Rabi crops for the 2025-26 marketing season.
The highest MSP increase is for rapeseed and mustard at Rs 300 per quintal, followed by lentils (masur) at Rs 275 per quintal. MSP for gram, wheat, safflower, and barley is increase of Rs.210 per quintal, Rs.150 per quintal, Rs.140 per quintal and Rs.130 per quintal respectively. The new MSP of wheat for 2025-26 marketing season is 2425.
This decision ensures farmers get at least 1.5 times the all-India weighted average cost of production, with expected margins ranging from 50% to 105%. It aims to provide fair prices to farmers and encourage crop diversification.
On 16 October 2024, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a 3% increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) for central government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) for pensioners, effective from 1 July 2024. This raises the DA and DR from 50% to 53% of the basic pay/pension, aiming to offset the effects of inflation.
The increase benefits around 49.18 lakh employees and 64.89 lakh pensioners, with a total financial burden of ₹9,448.35 crore annually. Employees will also receive arrears for July, August, and September with their revised payments. DA/DR adjustments are made biannually based on inflation data.
Q.: The assembly elections of which two states are going to be conducted in November 2024?
a) Gujarat and Rajasthan
b) Maharashtra and Jharkhand
c) Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
d) Karnataka and Tamil Nadu
Q.: Which types of MQ-9B Predator drones are included in India’s tri-service procurement deal with the US in October 2024?
a) Reaper and Avenger
b) Sky Guardian and Sea Guardian
c) Global Hawk and Triton
d) Heron and Shadow
Q.: Who assumed charge as the 26th Director General of the Indian Coast Guard on 15 October 2024?
a) K. Natarajan
b) Rajendra Singh
c) Paramesh Sivamani
d) Krishnaswamy Nair
Maharashtra will hold assembly elections in a single phase on November 20, while Jharkhand will conduct its elections in two phases on November 13 and 20. The Election Commission, led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, announced the schedule for the Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly elections.
Additionally, bye-elections for 48 assembly seats and two Lok Sabha seats will be held on November 13, including the Wayanad Parliamentary seat, and the bye-polls for one assembly seat in Uttarakhand and Nanded Lok Sabha seat in Maharashtra will be on November 20.
India and the US have signed a contract for the procurement of 31 MQ-9B Predator drones, marking a major step in strengthening India’s defense capabilities. The deal includes tri-service acquisition of the MQ-9B Sky Guardian and Sea Guardian drones.
The Ministry of Defence, along with Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane, formalized the agreement in New Delhi. A separate contract with General Atomics Global India ensures maintenance and repair within India.
These next-generation drones, with an operational altitude above 40,000 feet and a speed of 400 km/h, will enhance India’s intelligence, surveillance, and strike capabilities, proving to be a significant asset for the defense forces.
On 15 October 2024, Paramesh Sivamani assumed charge as the 26th Director General of the Indian Coast Guard. A specialist in navigation and direction, he has commanded all major vessels of the Coast Guard.
He is an alumnus of the National Defence College, New Delhi, and the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. Mr. Sivamani has received several prestigious honors, including the Tatrakshak Medal in 2014, the President’s Tatrakshak Medal in 2019, and the Director General Coast Guard Commendation in 2012, recognizing his distinguished service.
Q.: What is the main objective of NASA’s Europa Clipper mission launched on October 2024?
A) To explore Mars’ surface for signs of life
B) To study Saturn’s rings
C) To examine Jupiter’s moon Europa for conditions that might support life
D) To land on Europa and collect surface samples
Q.: Which company built the Indian Navy’s first indigenous multi-purpose vessel ‘Samarthak’ ?
A) Cochin Shipyard
B) Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders
C) Hindustan Shipyard
D) L&T Shipyard
Q.: Which company achieved the milestone of catching the Starship booster with robotic arms in October 2024?
A) Blue Origin
B) SpaceX
C) NASA
D) Boeing
On 14 October 2024, SpaceX achieved a major milestone by catching the massive booster stage of its Starship rocket using robotic arms as it returned to the launchpad in southern Texas. After liftoff, the Super Heavy booster successfully returned, while the upper stage was scheduled to splash down in the Indian Ocean.
The Starship rocket, at 71 meters tall, is the largest and most powerful spacecraft ever built and is designed to be fully and rapidly reusable. This breakthrough is part of SpaceX’s goal to develop a reusable rocket system similar to airplanes, capable of landing, refueling, and launching again within hours. The success of this reusable system is crucial for reducing space travel costs and facilitating more frequent missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
On October 14, 2024, the Indian Navy achieved a major milestone with the launch of Samarthak, the first vessel under its Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV) project. Built by L&T Shipyard at Kattupalli, the launch reflects India’s progress in indigenous shipbuilding. The ceremony was presided over by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi.
Samarthak, meaning “Supporter,” is a versatile vessel designed for towing, launching and recovering targets, operating unmanned vehicles, and testing indigenous weapons. The 106-meter-long vessel can reach speeds of up to 15 knots. This project, contracted on March 25, 2022, marks the Navy’s ongoing efforts to enhance self-reliance in maritime defense and strengthen indigenous shipbuilding capabilities through collaboration with private Indian shipyards.
On October 14, 2024, NASA launched the Europa Clipper, its largest spacecraft for a planetary mission. The mission’s goal is to explore Jupiter’s moon Europa, specifically to determine if its subsurface ocean, hidden beneath a thick layer of ice, could support life.
The solar-powered robotic probe will travel 2.9 billion kilometers over 5 years and 6 months, reaching Jupiter in 2030. Once there, it will operate in the intense radiation environment of Jupiter, the solar system’s largest planet, focusing on studying Europa’s potential habitability.
Q.: In the Ramayana, which event is commemorated during Vijayadashmi?
a) The birth of Lord Rama
b) The coronation of Lord Rama
c) The defeat of Ravana by Lord Rama
d) The exile of Lord Rama
Q. Vijayadashmi is celebrated as the conclusion of which major festival in West Bengal?
a) Diwali
b) Holi
c) Durga Puja
d) Ganesh Chaturthi
Q.: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was recently upgraded to which status in October 2024?
a) Navratna
b) Maharatna
c) Miniratna
d) Public Sector Undertaking (PSU)
Vijayadashmi, or Dussehra, was celebrated on October 12, 2024, marking the triumph of good over evil. The festival commemorates Lord Rama’s victory over the demon king Ravana in the Ramayana and Goddess Durga’s defeat of Mahishasura, symbolizing the victory of righteousness (Dharma). Across India, it was celebrated with grand processions, Ramlila performances, and the burning of Ravana’s effigies.
In northern India, large crowds gathered for Ramlila enactments and the symbolic destruction of Ravana. In West Bengal, the festival marked the conclusion of Durga Puja with idol immersions and joyous Sindoor Khela. Mysuru hosted its famous royal Dasara procession, and in Maharashtra, people exchanged “Apta” leaves and performed Ayudha Puja. The festival also encouraged new beginnings, with many choosing to start ventures and educational journeys.
The government has approved the upgradation of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to the status of the 14th Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE). The announcement was made by the Department of Public Enterprises, stating that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman gave the final approval.
The decision followed recommendations from the Inter-Ministerial Committee, chaired by the Finance Secretary, and the Apex Committee, led by the Cabinet Secretary.
Q.: Who has been appointed as the new chairman of Tata Trusts in 2024?
a) Cyrus Mistry
b) Natarajan Chandrasekaran
c) Noel Tata
d) Rajesh Gopinathan
Q.: When is the International Day of the Girl Child celebrated?
a) October 5
b) October 11
c) October 20
d) October 30
Q.: What is the full name of the organization that won the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize?
a) Nihon Hidankyo
b) International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons
c) United Nations
d) Greenpeace
Noel Tata has been appointed as the chairman of Tata Trusts, following the passing of his half-brother, Ratan Tata, on October 9, 2024. Ratan Tata, who led the Tata Group for decades and shaped its future, left behind a significant legacy in Indian industry.
Noel Tata, the son of Naval and Simone Tata, takes on this role at a critical time for the Tata Group and its trusts. With extensive experience in leadership roles within the Tata Group, he is expected to uphold the values and principles established by Ratan Tata.
The International Day of the Girl Child is celebrated annually on October 11. This day was established by the United Nations in 2011 to recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges they face worldwide.
The theme for 2024 is “Girls’ vision for the future”, highlighting the need for urgent action and the hope driven by girls’ voices and aspirations.
On October 11, 2024, Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots organization representing atomic bomb survivors (Hibakusha) from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The Nobel Committee recognized their efforts to advocate for a nuclear-free world and their powerful witness testimonies, highlighting the catastrophic effects of nuclear weapons.
The Hibakusha, as survivors of the only nuclear bombs ever used in conflict, have devoted their lives to the anti-nuclear cause. The award follows the Nobel Committee’s past focus on nuclear disarmament, including its 2017 award to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). The prize, valued at around $1 million, will be presented in Oslo on December 10, 2024, in honor of Alfred Nobel.
Q.: What is the full name of the organization that won the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize?
a) Nihon Hidankyo
b) International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons
c) United Nations
d) Greenpeace
Answer: a) Nihon Hidankyo
On October 11, 2024, Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots organization representing atomic bomb survivors (Hibakusha) from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Q.: What new cancer therapy target did scientists from Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS) identify?
a) Topoisomerase 1 (Top1)
b) Tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1 (TDP1)
c) CDK1 inhibitors
d) Camptothecin
Q.: Ratan Tata was known for his role as:
A. A famous Indian actor
B. A renowned Indian industrialist
C. A prominent Indian politician
D. A celebrated Indian sportsperson
Q.: Who was awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature?
a) Haruki Murakami
b) Han Kang
c) Orhan Pamuk
d) Margaret Atwood
Scientists from the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS) in Kolkata have identified a potential new cancer therapy target by activating the DNA repair enzyme Tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1 (TDP1).
Their study shows that cancer cells survive chemotherapy by using TDP1 to repair DNA damage caused by Topoisomerase 1 (Top1) inhibitors, such as Camptothecin. The enzyme Cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) enhances this repair process by phosphorylating TDP1, which is crucial for cancer cell survival during treatment. The researchers propose that combining CDK1 inhibitors with Top1 inhibitors could overcome drug resistance, offering a more effective cancer treatment. Further studies are being conducted to validate this approach.
Source : https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2063775