🔠History/ Art & Culture

Correct answer is A
✪ Sumit Nagal becomes first Indian in 35 years to beat a seeded player in Grand Slams
⋆ He defeated World No. 27 Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik who was seeded 31st in Melbourne, in the first round of the 2024 Australian Open.

Correct answer is A
✪  Two-time Asian Games medallist Naorem Roshibina Devi, hailing from Manipur, secures the esteemed title of IWUF (International Wushu Federation Female Athlete of the Year) .

Correct answer is B
✪  Indian tennis player Rohan Bopanna created history as he became the oldest grand slam winner after teaming up with his Australian partner Matthew Ebden to defeat the Italian pair of Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori in the finals of the Australian Open 2024.
⋆ This is Rohan Bopanna’s second grand slam title after the 2017 French Open win with his Canadian partner Gabriela Dabrowski in mixed doubles.
⋆ Rohan Bopanna also became the oldest player to hold the No. 1 men’s doubles ranking He is the fourth Indian to reach the top of the doubles rankings after Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza.

Correct answer is A
✪  The 6th edition of Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) 2023 hosted by Tamil Nadu was held from 19th to 31st January 2024. Maharashtra topped the medal tally of KIYG 2023 with 158 medals (57 gold, 48 silver, 53 bronze) and won the overall championship trophy

⋆ The Khelo India Scheme was launched by the Government of India in 2018 to promote sports and fitness among the youth of the country.

⋆ The scheme aims to revive the sports culture in India at the grassroots level by building a strong framework for all sports played in the country

⋆ The programme will provide a scholarship of Rs 5 lakh to 1,000 most talented young athletes each year for 8 consecutive years across select sports disciplines.

⋆ The Programme aims to promote 20 universities across the country as hubs of sporting excellence, which would enable talented sportspersons to pursue the dual pathway of education and competitive sports.

⋆ The Programme would cover about 200 million children in the age group of 10-18 under a massive national physical fitness drive.

Correct answer is B
⋆ Decision Review System (DRS) has been restricted for stumping incidents. Effective from December 12, 2023, teams can now only challenge caught-behind decisions with a separate DRS option . No Stumping Check will be done in that case
⋆ The amended rule mandates umpires to rely solely on side-on camera images for stumping reviews, eliminating the examination of potential snicks.
⋆ The ICC has clarified the concussion replacement rule, disallowing substitute players from bowling if the replaced player was already suspended from bowling during the concussion incident. This ensures fairness in player replacements.
⋆ A time limit of four minutes for on-field injury assessment and treatment has been introduced, balancing prompt medical attention with minimal game disruptions.
⋆ BCCI Maintains ‘Dead Ball’ and Two Bouncers per Over Rules, initially introduced in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy, now applied in the upcoming Ranji Trophy starting January 12, 2024.

Correct answer is C

✪ India’s Prithvi Sekhar had a memorable outing in the Australian Open Deaf Championships, winning the singles title and finishing runner-up, with Glen Flindell in doubles, in Melbourne.

⋆ Prithvi Sekhar, works as an Accounts Clerk at Integral Coach Factory in Chennai

Correct answer is D
✪ Hyderabad’s Tanmay Agarwal scored an unbeaten 323 off just 160 balls against Arunachal Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy Plate Group game.

⋆ His triple century in a record 147 balls, surpassed the previous record of 191 balls set by Marco Marais. This feat also marked the second-fastest triple ton by time, taking 183 minutes.

⋆ 5 records broken by Tanmay Agarwal – Most sixes by a batsman in a first-class innings 26, Most runs from the boundary in an innings of Ranji Trophy, Best strike rate in Ranji Trophy innings, 300 runs in a single day in first-class cricket, Fastest triple century in first class cricket

Correct answer is B
✪  Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, an 18-year-old chess prodigy from Chennai, achieved a historic milestone in his career by defeating World Champion Ding Liren from China.
​​​​⋆ Praggnanandhaa also leapfrogged over five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand as the country’s top-ranked chess player in the FIDE’s live ratings with a rating of 2748.3, while Anand is at 2748.

Correct answer is B
✪ Madhya Pradesh has emerged as the overall champion at the inaugural Beach Games 2024, held at the pristine blue flag-certified Ghoghla Beach in Diu.

⋆ Maharashtra clinched 14 medals, including 3 golds, while Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, and hosts Dadra, Nagar Haveli, Diu & Daman secured 12 medals each.

⋆ India, endowed with some of the world’s most beautiful beaches, now has 12 with Blue Flag certification for cleanliness and sustainable tourism.

Correct answer is B
➡ Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award The recipient(s) is/are selected by a committee constituted by the Ministry and is honoured for their “spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports over a period of four years” at international level. (erstwhile Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratan Award) is the highest sporting honour of India.

➡ Arjuna Award officially known as Arjuna Awards for Outstanding Performance in Sports and Games, is the second-highest sporting honour of India. is given for good performance over a period of the previous four years and for showing qualities of leadership, sportsmanship and a sense of discipline.

➡ Dhyan Chand Award for lifetime achievement sporting honour of India. It is given to those sportspersons who have contributed to sports by their performance and who continue to contribute to promotion of sports event after their retirement.

➡ Dronacharya Award is is given to coaches for doing outstanding and meritorious work on a consistent basis and enabling sportspersons to excel in International events.

➡ Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy is given to the university with the best overall performance in sports at national, international, and inter-university competitions

➡ Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar’ is given to corporate entities (both in private and public sector), Sports Control Boards, NGOs, including sports bodies at the State and National level, who have played a visible role in the area of sports promotion and development.