01st January 2024 Daily Current Affairs and GK Question Answers with Explanation

In the dynamic landscape of competitive exams, staying updated with current affairs is pivotal for success. Aspirants preparing for various exams, be it civil services, banking, or other government jobs, need to have a comprehensive understanding of the latest developments across different domains. Let's delve into key areas that candidates should focus on.

01 January 2024 Daily Current Affairs and GK Question Answers with Explanation

1. What is the primary focus of the $2 billion investment by the UAE in Indian food parks?

a) Industrial development

b) Technology research

c) Food security enhancement

d) Renewable energy projects

Answer: c) Food security enhancement

Explanation: The UAE's investment aims to enhance food security in the Middle East and South Asia by developing integrated food parks in collaboration with India, Israel, and the USA.

2. Which state in India is set to introduce the country's first submarine tourism service?

a) Maharashtra

b) Gujarat

c) Karnataka

d) Rajasthan

Answer: b) Gujarat

Explanation: The Gujarat government has signed a memorandum for a submarine tourism project in Dwarka, aiming to explore marine life in the ancient submerged city.

3. What is the newly inaugurated facility at HAL's Aero Engine Research and Development Centre (AERDC) focused on?

a) Automotive engineering

b) Aerospace engineering

c) Renewable energy

d) Information technology

Answer: b) Aerospace engineering

Explanation: The facility at HAL's AERDC in Bengaluru is dedicated to innovation in the field of aerospace engineering.

4. Which minister inaugurated India's first 'Zero Waste Street Food Festival'?

a) Minister of Finance

b) Minister of Defense

c) Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs and Petroleum & Natural Gas

d) Minister of External Affairs

Answer: c) Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs and Petroleum & Natural Gas

Explanation: Hardeep Singh Puri inaugurated the National Street Food Festival 2023 in Delhi, emphasizing the festival's 'Zero Waste' initiative.

5. What is the revised interest rate for the Sukanya Samriddhi Scheme for Q4FY24?

a) 7.1%

b) 8.0%

c) 8.2%

d) 7.5%

Answer: c) 8.2%

Explanation: The interest rate for Sukanya Samriddhi Scheme has been hiked to 8.2% for the last quarter of the fiscal year 2023-24.

6. Who has been appointed as the Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission?

a) Narendra Modi

b) Arvind Panagariya

c) S Sunder Krishnan

d) Ritvik Ranjanam Pandey

Answer: b) Arvind Panagariya

Explanation: Arvind Panagariya, former NITI Aayog vice chairman, has been appointed as the Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission.

7. What unique feature does XPoSat possess among ISRO's satellites?

a) Earth observation

b) Space-based polarization measurements of X-ray emissions

c) Communication capabilities

d) Lunar exploration

Answer: b) Space-based polarization measurements of X-ray emissions

Explanation: XPoSat is the first dedicated scientific satellite from ISRO for studying X-ray emissions from celestial sources.

8. In which state is the joint military exercise 'Desert Cyclone' between India and the UAE conducted?

a) Rajasthan

b) Gujarat

c) Maharashtra

d) Karnataka

Answer: a) Rajasthan

Explanation: The inaugural edition of 'Desert Cyclone' is conducted in Rajasthan to boost interoperability through urban operations.

9. Who recently announced retirement from One Day Internationals (ODIs)?

a) Virat Kohli

b) AB de Villiers

c) David Warner

d) Rohit Sharma

Answer: c) David Warner

Explanation: Australian cricketer David Warner has announced his retirement from ODIs.

10. What important role does Andrew Saberton hold in the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)?

a) Executive Director

b) Comptroller

c) Deputy Executive Director (Management)

d) Secretary-General

Answer: c) Deputy Executive Director (Management)

Explanation: Andrew Saberton serves as the Deputy Executive Director (Management) of UNFPA.

11. What organization recently launched the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat)?

a) NASA

b) ISRO

c) ESA

d) CNSA

Answer: b) ISRO

Explanation: The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) launched XPoSat aboard PSLV-C58.

12. In which state will January 15 be observed as the state sports day?

a) Maharashtra

b) Gujarat

c) Rajasthan

d) Karnataka

Answer: a) Maharashtra

Explanation: The Maharashtra government has designated January 15 as the state sports day.

13. What is the significance of Global Family Day celebrated on January 1?

a) Cultural heritage celebration

b) Commencing the new year with peace and unity

c) Environmental awareness day

d) International friendship day

Answer: b) Commencing the new year with peace and unity

Explanation: Global Family Day is celebrated to commence the new year with peace, unity, and brotherhood.

14. What does the joint military exercise 'Desert Cyclone' aim to enhance?

a) Maritime security

b) Interoperability through urban operations

c) Air defense capabilities

d) Mountain warfare tactics

Answer: b) Interoperability through urban operations

Explanation: 'Desert Cyclone' aims to enhance interoperability through the exchange of knowledge and best practices in urban operations.

15. Who is appointed as the Chief Risk Officer of LIC?

a) Arvind Panagariya

b) S Sunder Krishnan

c) Ritvik Ranjanam Pandey

d) CS Rajan

Answer: b) S Sunder Krishnan

Explanation: S Sunder Krishnan is appointed as the Chief Risk Officer of LIC.

16. What is the focus of India's first 'Zero Waste Street Food Festival'?

a) Promoting traditional cuisines

b) Training street vendors in hygiene

c) Environmental sustainability

d) Showcasing culinary innovations

Answer: c) Environmental sustainability

Explanation: The festival, organized by NASVI, is India's first 'Zero Waste Street Food Festival,' emphasizing environmental sustainability.

17. What is the primary purpose of the submarine service introduced in Gujarat for tourists?

a) Underwater mining exploration

b) Marine life exploration in Dwarka

c) Coral reef conservation

d) Oil and gas exploration

Answer: b) Marine life exploration in Dwarka

Explanation: The submarine service in Gujarat aims to take tourists 100 meters below the sea to explore marine life in Dwarka.

18. Who succeeded Ib Petersen as the Deputy Executive Director (Management) of UNFPA?

a) Andrew Saberton

b) Arvind Panagariya

c) Giridhar Aramane

d) Hardeep Singh Puri

Answer: a) Andrew Saberton

Explanation: Andrew Saberton succeeded Ib Petersen as the Deputy Executive Director (Management) of UNFPA.

19. What is the focus of the newly inaugurated design and test facility at HAL's Aero Engine Research and Development Centre (AERDC)?

a) Automotive testing

b) Aerospace engineering innovation

c) Renewable energy research

d) Telecommunication advancements

Answer: b) Aerospace engineering innovation

Explanation: The facility at HAL's AERDC is focused on innovation in the field of aerospace engineering.

20. Which country is the second to deploy an observatory for space-based polarization measurements of X-ray emissions?

a) USA

b) China

c) Russia

d) India

Answer: d) India

Explanation: With the successful launch of XPoSat, India becomes the second nation globally to deploy an observatory for studying X-ray emissions from celestial sources.**

21. What is the primary purpose of the I2U2 (India-Israel-UAE-USA) initiative mentioned in the news article?

a) Space exploration

b) Military cooperation

c) Development of integrated food parks

d) Environmental conservation

Answer: c) Development of integrated food parks

Explanation: The I2U2 initiative aims to develop a series of integrated food parks across India, with a focus on enhancing food security in the Middle East and South Asia.

22. Which city in Gujarat is likely to host the first food park under the I2U2 initiative?

a) Gandhinagar

b) Ahmedabad

c) Kandla

d) Dwarka

Answer: c) Kandla

Explanation: The first food park under the I2U2 initiative is likely to be set up on land near Kandla, Gujarat, where investors would engage in contract farming arrangements with locals.

23. What technology will the proposed food parks incorporate to reduce food waste and spoilage, conserve fresh water, and employ renewable energy sources?

a) Artificial Intelligence

b) Climate-smart technologies

c) Blockchain

d) Virtual Reality

Answer: b) Climate-smart technologies

Explanation: The food parks under the I2U2 initiative will incorporate state-of-the-art climate-smart technologies to address environmental concerns.

24. Who inaugurated India's first 'Zero Waste Street Food Festival' in Delhi?

a) Narendra Modi

b) Hardeep Singh Puri

c) Arvind Panagariya

d) Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Answer: b) Hardeep Singh Puri

Explanation: Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs and Petroleum & Natural Gas, inaugurated the National Street Food Festival 2023 in New Delhi.

25. In which city is the newly inaugurated design and test facility at HAL's Aero Engine Research and Development Centre located?

a) Chennai

b) Bengaluru

c) Hyderabad

d) Pune

Answer: b) Bengaluru

Explanation: The new design and test facility at HAL's Aero Engine Research and Development Centre is located in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

26. What is the tenure for which the 16th Finance Commission, chaired by Arvind Panagariya, will submit its report?

a) 2022-2026

b) 2023-2027

c) 2024-2028

d) 2026-2030

Answer: d) 2026-2030

Explanation: The 16th Finance Commission, chaired by Arvind Panagariya, will submit its report for the five-year period 2026-27 to 2030-31.

27. Which satellite launched by ISRO is dedicated to space-based polarisation measurements of X-ray emission?

a) Aryabhata

b) Mangalyaan

c) XPoSat

d) Chandrayaan

Answer: c) XPoSat

Explanation: XPoSat is the first dedicated scientific satellite from ISRO for studying space-based polarisation measurements of X-ray emission from celestial sources.

28. Which Indian state will host the joint military exercise 'Desert Cyclone' with the UAE?

a) Maharashtra

b) Rajasthan

c) Karnataka

d) Gujarat

Answer: b) Rajasthan

Explanation: The inaugural edition of the joint military exercise 'Desert Cyclone' between India and the UAE will be conducted in Rajasthan.

29. Who recently succeeded Prakash Apte as the Part-time Chairman of Kotak Mahindra Bank?

a) Uday A Kaole

b) Ritvik Ranjanam Pandey

c) CS Rajan

d) Hardeep Singh Puri

Answer: c) CS Rajan

Explanation: CS Rajan succeeded Prakash Apte as the Part-time Chairman of Kotak Mahindra Bank.

30. What is the focus of the newly inaugurated 'Zero Waste Street Food Festival' in Delhi?

a) Culinary innovation

b) Food safety and hygiene

c) Environmental sustainability

d) Street vendor empowerment

Answer: c) Environmental sustainability

Explanation: The festival is the first 'Zero Waste Street Food Festival' in India, emphasizing environmental sustainability.

31. In which quarter were the interest rates hiked for Sukanya Samriddhi Scheme and 3-year Time Deposit for the fiscal year 2023-24?

a) April-June 2023

b) July-September 2023

c) October-December 2023

d) January-March 2024

Answer: d) January-March 2024

Explanation: The interest rates for Sukanya Samriddhi Scheme and 3-year Time Deposit were hiked for the January-March 2024 quarter.

32. Who is the newly appointed Executive Director of ICICI Bank?

a) Arvind Panagariya

b) Sandeep Batra

c) Ritvik Ranjanam Pandey

d) CS Rajan

Answer: b) Sandeep Batra

Explanation: Sandeep Batra is the newly appointed Executive Director of ICICI Bank.

33. What is the primary objective of the PSLV-C58 X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) launched by ISRO?

a) Lunar exploration

b) Earth observation

c) Space-based polarisation measurements of X-ray emissions

d) Telecommunication advancements

Answer: c) Space-based polarisation measurements of X-ray emissions

Explanation: XPoSat's primary objective is to carry out research in space-based polarisation measurements of X-ray emission from celestial sources.

34. Who is the Chief Minister of Gujarat, the state introducing India's first submarine tourism service?

a) Bhupendra Rajnikant Patel

b) Narendra Modi

c) Acharya Devvrat

d) Yair Lapid

Answer: a) Bhupendra Rajnikant Patel

Explanation: Bhupendra Rajnikant Patel is the Chief Minister of Gujarat, where the submarine tourism service is set to be introduced.

35. What is the significance of January 1 as Global Family Day?

a) International friendship day

b) Commencing the new year with peace and unity

c) Cultural heritage celebration

d) Environmental awareness day

Answer: b) Commencing the new year with peace and unity

Explanation: Global Family Day is celebrated to commence the new year with peace, unity, and brotherhood.

36. Who succeeded SS Mundra as the Chairman of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE)?

a) Uday A Kaole

b) Ritvik Ranjanam Pandey

c) Pramod Agrawal

d) Sandeep Batra

Answer: c) Pramod Agrawal

Explanation: Pramod Agrawal succeeded SS Mundra as the Chairman of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).

37. What is the interest rate for Sukanya Samriddhi Account for the January-March 2024 quarter?

a) 7.1%

b) 7.5%

c) 8.0%

d) 8.2%

Answer: d) 8.2%

Explanation: The interest rate for Sukanya Samriddhi Account for the January-March 2024 quarter is 8.2%.

38. Who is the President of FICCI, as per the recent appointment mentioned in the article?

a) Anish Shah

b) Subhrakant Panda

c) Hardeep Singh Puri

d) Narendra Modi

Answer: a) Anish Shah

Explanation: Anish Shah is the newly appointed President of FICCI.

39. What state will observe January 15 every year as the state sports day?

a) Karnataka

b) Maharashtra

c) Gujarat

d) Punjab

Answer: b) Maharashtra

Explanation: Maharashtra will observe January 15 every year as the state sports day to celebrate the birth anniversary of wrestler Khashaba Jadhav.

40. Who is the Chief Minister of Maharashtra?

a) Devendra Fadnavis

b) Uddhav Thackeray

c) Eknath Shinde

d) Sharad Pawar

Answer: b) Uddhav Thackeray

Explanation: Uddhav Thackeray is the Chief Minister of Maharashtra.