The correct answer is 60. 

In News

• Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) attained several milestones in 2023 in which 60 New RCS routes commenced in 2023.

Key Points 

• The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) in India launched the RCS-UDAN scheme in 2016 to enable air operations on unserved or underserved routes, promoting balanced regional growth and making air travel affordable.
• In the year 2023, the ministry noted significant progress in this initiative.
• According to the report, 60 new RCS routes were introduced from January 1, 2023, to December 21, 2023.
• This represents a significant expansion of the regional connectivity and accessibility of air travel within the country.
• This initiative showcases the Ministry's effort to enhance domestic air connectivity and further bolsters the growth of civil aviation in the country.

The Correct Answer is R Vaishali.

In News

• Vaishali, Vidit win FIDE Grand Swiss women’s and open titles in rare double for India, both qualify for Candidates.

Key Points

• R Vaishali and Vidit Gujrathi clinched the women’s and open category titles respectively in the FIDE Grand Swiss in a rare double for India on the world stage, with both players also qualifying for the prestigious Candidates tournament.
• While Vaishali played out a draw with Batkhuyag Mungutuul of Mongolia in the 11th and final round to bag the women’s title.
• Vidit beat Alexandr Predke of Serbia to record his seventh victory in the event and take the top spot in open section.
• Vaishali became the first Indian to win the Grand Swiss and will have her task cut out in the Candidates alongside India’s first woman Grandmaster — Koneru Humpy.

The Correct Answer is Marco Bezzecchi.

In News

• ​MotoGP Bharat 2023: Italy's Marco Bezzecchi wins Indian GP, Spain's Jorge Martin finishes second

Key Points

• Italian Grand Prix motorcycle racer Marco Bezzecchi took victory from pole position at the Buddh International Circuit in Noida and emerged as the winner for maiden Indian GP.
• Spain's Jorge Martin finished second and France's Fabio Quartararo became the third to cross the finish line.
• The race winning trophy presented by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. 

The Correct Answer is Ujjwala.

In News

• Anurag Singh Thakur unveils Ujjwala, the sparrow, as mascot for Khelo India Para Games 2023.

Key Points

• The Union Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur unveiled ‘Ujjwala’ - a sparrow, as the mascot for the Khelo India Para Games 2023, in the Capital.
• The sparrow is a symbol and pride of Delhi.
• Its uniqueness portrays determination and empathy.
• The mascot reminds us that strength comes in many forms and that the human spirit is unbreakable.
• The Sports Minister also announced that the budget for Khelo India would be more than Rs. 3,300 crore over the next five years

The correct answer is Michael Douglas.

In News

• Michael Douglas was honoured with the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award at IFFI 2023. 

Key Points

•  The award was presented by Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana.
• The event took place during the closing ceremony of the International Film Festival of India on November 28, 2023.

Additional Information

The correct answer is Kannauj.

Key Points

• Palas, Prathiharas, and Rashtrakutas were three prominent dynasties in medieval India.
• These dynasties were involved in a series of wars to gain control over Kannauj, which was a strategically important city located in present-day Uttar Pradesh.
• Kannauj was considered the cultural and political capital of northern India during that time.
• The Palas, Prathiharas, and Rashtrakutas fought several battles over the control of Kannauj between the 8th and 10th centuries CE.
• The battle for Kannauj was significant because it marked a shift in power from the north-western region to the Gangetic plains.

Additional Information

• Magadh was an ancient kingdom located in present-day Bihar.
  • It was a powerful kingdom during the time of Buddha and Mahavira.
• Pataliputra was the capital city of Magadh and one of the most important cities in ancient India.
  • It was located on the banks of the river Ganges.
• Gwalior is a historic city located in the state of Madhya Pradesh.
  • It was an important center of power during the medieval period and was ruled by various dynasties such as the Tomars, Mughals, and Scindias. 
• Kannauj was a strategically important city during the medieval period.
  • It was located on the banks of the river Ganges and was considered the cultural and political capital of northern India.

The correct answer is Uttarakhand.

Key Points

• Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve:-
  • The Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve is situated in the Chamoli Garhwal district of Uttarakhand, India.
  • It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most biodiverse regions in the Himalayas.
  • It is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, including many endangered species, such as the snow leopard, Asiatic black bear, and Himalayan tahr.
  • The reserve also includes two national parks: Nanda Devi National Park and Valley of Flowers National Park.
  • Nanda Devi National Park is known for its high-altitude peaks, glaciers, and alpine meadows.
  • Valley of Flowers National Park is known for its meadows of wildflowers and cascading waterfalls.
  • The Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve is an important source of water and other resources for the local communities.

Additional Information

• There are 18 UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in India:
  • Achanakmar-Amarkantak (Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh)
  • Agasthyamala (Karnataka, Kerala, Tamilnadu)
  • Cold Desert (Himachal Pradesh)
  • Dehang-Debang (Arunachal Pradesh)
  • Dibru-Saikhowa (Assam)
  • Gulf of Mannar (Tamil Nadu)
  • Great Nicobar Andaman and Nicobar Islands
  • Kachchh (Gujarat)
  • Khangchendzonga (Sikkim)
  • Manas (Assam)
  • Nanda Devi (Uttarakhand)
  • Nilgiri (Tamil Nadu, Kerala)
  • Nokrek (Meghalaya)
  • Pachmarhi (Madhya Pradesh)
  • Panna (Madhya Pradesh)
  • Seshachalam (Andhra Pradesh)
  • Similipal (Odisha)
  • Sunderbans (West Bengal)

The correct answer is Kerala.

Key Points

• Vishu:-
  • It is a Hindu festival celebrated in Kerala, India, on the first day of the Malayalam month Medam.
  • It usually falls in mid-April.
  • It is the New Year for Malayali Hindus and is also a harvest festival.
  •  Vishu falls on the first day of the Malayalam calendar month of Medam. Vishu celebrations are believed to have begun in Kerala during the reign of Sthanu Ravi who ruled the region between AD 844 and 855.
  • In parts of Northern Kerala, it is
    customary for two boys to dress up in dried banana leaves representing Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi during the festival.
  • These characters visit ancestral houses and bless the families as divine beings.
  • The festival of Vishu is symbolic of prosperity and is hence complemented by rituals to invite good fortune and material and spiritual abundance.

 Additional Information

The correct answer is Acharya Vinoba Bhave

Key Points

• Acharya Vinoba Bhave:-
  • He was the first individual Satyagrahi of India.
  • He was chosen by Mahatma Gandhi to launch the Individual Satyagraha movement in October 1940.
  • Bhave was a close associate of Gandhi and a leading figure in the Indian independence movement.
  • He was also a renowned scholar, social reformer, and advocate of nonviolence.
  • As the first individual Satyagrahi, Bhave was arrested for giving a speech against the British government's participation in World War II.
  • He was followed by thousands of other Satyagrahis who were also arrested for peacefully protesting against British rule.
  • The Individual Satyagraha movement was an important step in the Indian independence struggle, and it helped to galvanize public support for the Indian National Congress.

Additional Information

• Jawaharlal Nehru:-
  • He was the first Prime Minister of India and a leading figure in the Indian independence movement.
  • He was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi and a member of the Indian National Congress.
  • Nehru was a socialist and a secularist, and he played a key role in shaping India's post-independence foreign policy.
• Jai Prakash Narayan:-
  • He was a socialist leader and a prominent figure in the Indian independence movement.
  • He was a member of the Indian National Congress and the Socialist Party of India.
  • JP was a strong advocate of nonviolence and civil disobedience, and he played a key role in the Quit India Movement of 1942.
• Mahatma Gandhi:-
  • He was the pre-eminent leader of Indian nationalism in British-ruled India. Employing nonviolent civil disobedience, Gandhi led India to independence and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world.
  • The honorific title Mahatma—meaning "high-souled"—was bestowed on him first in 1914 in South Africa, and became widely used in India in the 1920s.
  • He is internationally honored as the Father of India.

The correct answer is Article 20

Key Points

• Right to Equality:-
  • The right to equality is one of the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution of India.
  • It is guaranteed to all citizens, irrespective of their religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth.
  • The right to equality is enshrined in Articles 14 to 18 of the Constitution.
• Article 20-
  • ​It deals with the protection in respect of conviction for offences.
  • Article 20 grants three kinds of protection against arbitrary and excessive punishment to an accused person, whether citizen or foreigner.
    1. No ex-post-facto law: No person shall be convicted of any offence except for violation of a new law in force at the time of the commission of the act nor subjected to a penalty greater than that prescribed by the law in force at the time of the commission of the act.
    2. No double jeopardy: No person shall be prosecuted and punished for the same offence more than once.
    3. No self-incrimination: No person accused of any offence shall be compelled to be a witness against himself.
• The protection against double jeopardy is available only in proceedings before a court of law or judicial tribunal.

Additional Information

• Article 14:-
  • It guarantees equality before the law and the equal protection of the laws.
  • This means that all persons are equal in the eyes of the law and that no one can be discriminated against on the basis of any of the grounds mentioned above.
• Article 15:-
  • It prohibits discrimination on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth.
  • This means that the government cannot discriminate against any person on the basis of any of these grounds.
• Article 16:-
  • It guarantees equality of opportunity in matters of public employment.
  • This means that all citizens have equal opportunities to apply for and be considered for government jobs.
• Article 17:-
  • It abolishes untouchability.
  • This means that no person can be discriminated against on the basis of their caste.
• Article 18:-
  • It abolishes titles.
  • This means that no citizen can be granted any title by the government.