- UK Universities to Establish Campuses at GIFT City, Gujarat 🌍📚
- What’s Happening? Queen’s University Belfast and Coventry University have filed applications to set up international campuses at Gujarat’s GIFT City, continuing the trend initiated by Australian institutions.
- Why It Matters: This marks a significant step as India opens its doors to foreign educational institutions through relaxed regulations.
- US Declares Bald Eagle as National Bird 🦅🇺🇸
- What’s Happening? President Joe Biden signed a historic law officially designating the bald eagle as the national bird of the United States on Christmas Eve 2024.
- Why It Matters: Although the bald eagle has been an enduring emblem of the country, appearing on the Great Seal of the US since 1782, it was never formally recognized as the national bird until this legislation.
- China Approves $137-Billion Mega Dam on Brahmaputra 🏞️💧
- What’s Happening? China has approved the construction of the world’s largest dam on the Yarlung Zangbo (Brahmaputra) in Tibet, close to the Indian border.
- Why It Matters: This project raises strategic and environmental concerns for India and Bangladesh.
- SLINEX 2024 India-Sri Lanka Naval Drill in Visakhapatnam 🚢🌊
- What’s Happening? The bilateral naval exercise SLINEX 24 (Sri Lanka-India Exercise 2024) was held from December 17 to 20, 2024, in Visakhapatnam under the Eastern Naval Command.
- Why It Matters: This annual exercise is a significant platform to strengthen maritime cooperation, enhance interoperability, and ensure a safe, rule-based maritime domain in the Indian Ocean.
- India’s Defence Exports Reach Record High 🛡️📈
- What’s Happening? In the fiscal year 2023-24, India achieved a significant milestone in its defence sector. The country’s defence exports reached a record-high value of Rs 21,083 crore (around USD 2.63 billion), marking a 32.5% growth over the previous year.
- Why It Matters: This growth reflects both enhanced domestic production and export capabilities.
Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) 📝
1. Which universities filed applications to set up international campuses at Gujarat’s GIFT City? 🌍📚
- a) Oxford University and Harvard University
- b) Queen’s University Belfast and Coventry University
- c) Cambridge University and Stanford University
- d) University of Tokyo and National University of Singapore
- Answer: b) Queen’s University Belfast and Coventry University ✅
2. What bird was officially designated as the national bird of the United States in 2024? 🦅🇺🇸
- a) Golden Eagle
- b) Bald Eagle
- c) American Robin
- d) Peregrine Falcon
- Answer: b) Bald Eagle ✅
3. Which river will the world’s largest dam be constructed on, as approved by China? 🏞️💧
- a) Yangtze River
- b) Yellow River
- c) Yarlung Zangbo (Brahmaputra)
- d) Mekong River
- Answer: c) Yarlung Zangbo (Brahmaputra) ✅
4. Where was the SLINEX 2024 naval drill between India and Sri Lanka held? 🚢🌊
- a) Colombo
- b) Chennai
- c) Mumbai
- d) Visakhapatnam
- Answer: d) Visakhapatnam ✅
5. What was the value of India’s defence exports in the fiscal year 2023-24? 🛡️📈
- a) Rs 15,000 crore
- b) Rs 18,500 crore
- c) Rs 21,083 crore
- d) Rs 25,000 crore
- Answer: c) Rs 21,083 crore ✅