The correct answer is 2.

• The new Union Territory of Ladakh consists of two districts of Kargil and Leh.

Key Points

• In 1947, the erstwhile state of J&K had the following 14 districts - Kathua, Jammu, Udhampur, Reasi, Anantnag, Baramulla, Poonch, Mirpur, Muzaffarabad, Leh and Ladakh, Gilgit, Gilgit Wazarat, Chilhas and Tribal Territory.
  • By 2019, the govt of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir had reorganised the areas of these 14 districts into 28 districts.

Additional Information

• Ladakh became a Union Territory on the 31st  of October 2019. Ladakh is renowned for its remote mountain beauty and distinct culture.
• Ladakh is most famous for breathtaking landscapes, crystal clear skies, the highest mountain passes, thrilling adventure activities, Buddhist Monasteries and festivals.
• Kargil District is the only Muslim-majority district within Ladakh.
  • They traditionally lead a nomadic pastoral life. About 90% of them depend on agriculture based on the Indus River for their livelihood. Barley, wheat, buckwheat, peas, rapeseed and beans are the main agricultural products.
• Ladakh is a mountainous region and a Union Territory in north India and in the area known as the Trans-Himalaya, (the lands beyond the Himalaya: Tibet, Xinjiang and northern Pakistan).
  • It's slightly smaller than Scotland, the settled population lives between 2700m and 4500m, and nomadic encampments can be found even higher. The people are a mixture of Buddhist and Muslim 50% of each.
  • Buddhists are the majority in the east close to the Chinese border and a slight majority overall while Muslims have the majority in the north and west. Travellers are likely to see more of the Buddhists as the majority of the tourist attractions are in the east and directly related to Tibetan Buddhist culture.

The Correct Answer is ​Lionel Messi.

In News

• FIFA Best Awards 2023 Winners announced.

Key Points

• Lionel Messi clinched the 2023 FIFA Best Men's Player Award, while Aitana Bonmatí secured the women's category prize.
• Men's coach: Pep Guardiola.
• Women's coach: Sarina Wiegman.
• Men's goalkeeper: Ederson.
• Women's goalkeeper: Mary Earps.
• Puskás Award: Guilherme Madruga.
• Men's world XI: Six Manchester City players included.
• Women's world XI: England Lionesses with seven representatives.
• Fair Play: Brazil men's national team for efforts fighting racism.
• The FIFA Fan Award 2023 went to Argentinian fan Hugo Daniel “Toto” Iniguez​​.

The correct answer is ​The Indus River.

• Sutlej River is the southernmost tributary of Indus.
• Sutlej is the longest tributary of Indus in India.
  • It enters India through Shipkila pass.
  • Indira Gandhi canal is situated in the Sutlej river.
  • Sutlej is the only tributary of Indus which originates from Tibet.
  • The Bhakranankal dam is constructed across the Sutlej river.
  • Sutlej is the river known as Hesidros to the ancient Greeks.
• Indus is the only west-flowing Himalayan river.
  • It originates from the Bokharchu glacier near Manasarovar lake.
  • Indus is the longest river in Pakistan.
  • Indus Valley site Mohenjodaro is situated on the banks of the Indus river.
  • It drains into the Arabian sea at Karachi.
  • The major tributaries of Indus are:
    • Chenab.
    • Jhelum.
    • Ravi.
    • Beas.
    • Sutlej.

• Beas river is also known as Arjikuja in Vedas.
• The Baglihar dam is constructed across the Chenab river.
• The Uri power project is located on the Jhelum river.

The correct answer is Jainism.

"Kalpasutra" is a text related to Jainism.

Key Points

• Kalpasutra
  • It contains the biographies of the Jain Tirthankaras.
    • Parshvanatha
    • Mahavira
  • It is written by Bhadrabahu in the 4^th century BCE.

Additional Information

• Teachings of Jainism - 
  • Rejected the authority of Vedas & objected to Vedic rituals & sacrifices.
  • Mahavira rejected Vedic Principles.
  • He did not believe in God’s existence, according to him, the universe is a product of the natural phenomenon of cause and effect.
  • Jainism recognized the existence of god but placed them lower than Jina (Mahavira).
  • He believed in Karma and transmigration of the soul, the body dies but the soul does not.
  • He advocated a life of austerity and non-violence.

The correct answer is Rakhigarhi.

Key Points

• Rakhigarhi is the Indus Valley site located in Haryana.
• Rakhigarhi, Rakhi Garhi (Rakhi Shahpur + Rakhi Khas), is a village in Hisar District in the state of Haryana in India, situated 150 kilometers to the northwest of Delhi.
  • It is the site of a pre-Indus Valley Civilisation settlement going back to about 6500 BCE.
• Hence the correct option is 3.

Additional Information

• The history of India begins with the birth of the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC), also known as the Harappan Civilization.
• It flourished around 2,500 BC, in the western part of South Asia, in contemporary Pakistan and Western India.
• The Indus Valley was home to the largest of the four ancient urban civilizations of Egypt, Mesopotamia, India, and China.
• In the 1920s, the Archaeological Department of India carried out excavations in the Indus valley wherein the ruins of the two old cities, viz. Mohenjodaro and Harappa were unearthed.
• In 1924, John Marshall, Director-General of the ASI, announced the discovery of a new civilization in the Indus valley to the world.

The correct answer is 17^th October.

Key Points

• The overarching theme of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty for the years 2022–2023 is Dignity for All in Practice.
• Not only is the dignity of the human being a basic right in and of itself, but it also serves as the foundation for all other fundamental rights.
• As a result, "Dignity" is not a vague idea; rather, it belongs to everyone.

Additional Information

The correct answer is India Today.

In News

• India Today Group's AI news anchor, Sana, won the 2024 Global Media Award for AI-led newsroom transformation.

Key Points

• The award recognizes India Today Group's innovative use of AI technology in its newsroom.
• Sana is hailed as India's first AI anchor, introduced by the India Today Group in 2023.
• The International News Media Association (INMA) selected India Today Group as the best in South Asia for AI-led newsroom transformation.
• Sana's recognition reflects the company's commitment to leveraging AI for enhancing customer-facing products.
• The award underscores the importance of innovative approaches in the media industry amidst ongoing disruptions and challenges.

The correct answer is Chandigarh

In News

• The 11th International Puppet Festival hosted, showcasing a blend of cultural heritage and artistic innovation hosted in Chandigarh.

Key Points

• The 11th International Puppet Festival took place in Chandigarh at Tagore Theatre.
• The event was inaugurated by Punjab Governor and Administrator of Union Territory Chandigarh, Banwarilal Purohit, alongside other dignitaries.
• The festival celebrated the rich legacy of puppetry and its enduring appeal across different ages.
• The festival commenced with a performance by the Novosibirsk Regional Puppet Theatre from Russia, presenting the renowned puppet show “Petrushka.”

The correct answer is Na₂SO₄.

Key Points

• The formula for sodium is – Na⁺, and Sulphate is – SO₄^2-. So, the formula for Sodium Sulphate is – Na₂SO_4.
• Sodium sulfate is used to dry organic liquids. As a filler in powdered home laundry detergents. Na2SO4 is used in manufactured paper, glass, dyes, and pharmaceuticals. It is often used in its decahydrate form, which is also known as Glauber's salt. It is also called salt cake.

_{Additional Information}

• NaSO3 is a chemical formula for sodium sulfite. 
• Sodium sulfite is an inorganic sodium salt having sulfite as the counterion. It has a role as a food preservative and a reducing agent.
• NaSO4 - It does not exist as sulphate is having -2 valency. 
• Sodium sulfate is a typical electrostatically bonded ionic sulfate.
• Na(SO4)2 – It is not possible as sodium is having a valency of +1.

The correct answer is 'Turkey'.

Key Points

• Turkey is the country that occupies a unique geographic position, lying partly in Asia and partly in Europe.
• Turkey's largest city Istanbul is a contiguous transcontinental city in both Europe and Asia.
• Contiguous transcontinental city is the city that have two portions being immediately adjacent to one another.
• Throughout its history, Turkey has acted as both a barrier and a bridge between the Asian continent and  the European continent.

Additional Information

• Greece
  • ​It is a non-contiguous transcontinental country in Asia and Europe.
  • Non-contiguous transcontinental countries are those states that have portions of territory that are separated from one another either by a body of water or by other countries.
• Jordan
  • Jordan is a country in Western Asia.
  • It is situated at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe on the East Bank of the Jordan River.
  • The Dead Sea to its west is the lowest point on earth.
  • The Red Sea separates Jordan from Egypt.
  • Amman is Jordan's capital and largest city while its currency is Jordanian Dinar.
• Syria
  • Syria is a country is located on the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea in southwestern Asia.
  • The capital is Damascus, situated in an oasis.
  • The Syrian Pound is the official currency of Syria.
  • The political life in the country is highly unstable.