#541

What is the 'Living Planet Report 2024' by WWF known for revealing?

(a) Increase in polar bear populations

(b) Catastrophic decline in global wildlife populations (73% decline since 1970)

(c) Discovery of 500 new species

(d) Stability of ocean ecosystems

Explanation: The WWF Living Planet Report 2024 revealed a catastrophic 73% average decline in monitored wildlife populations between 1970 and 2020.

#542

What is the 'High Seas Treaty' adopted in 2023/2024?

(a) A ban on all fishing

(b) An agreement to protect biodiversity in international waters beyond national jurisdiction

(c) A treaty to divide the ocean among nations

(d) A plan to mine the ocean floor

Explanation: The High Seas Treaty (BBNJ Agreement) creates a legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

#543

Who were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2024 for their foundational discoveries in machine learning with artificial neural networks?

(a) Pierre Agostini and Ferenc Krausz

(b) John J. Hopfield and Geoffrey E. Hinton

(c) Alain Aspect and John Clauser

(d) Roger Penrose and Andrea Ghez

Explanation: The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to John J. Hopfield and Geoffrey E. Hinton for their foundational discoveries and inventions that enable machine learning with artificial neural networks.

#544

The 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to David Baker, Demis Hassabis, and John Jumper for breakthroughs in which field?

(a) Lithium-ion batteries

(b) Quantum dots synthesis

(c) Protein structure design and prediction

(d) CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing

Explanation: The 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to David Baker for computational protein design, and to Demis Hassabis and John Jumper for protein structure prediction (specifically the AlphaFold model).

#545

Which two scientists received the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of microRNA?

(a) Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun

(b) Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman

(c) David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian

(d) James Allison and Tasuku Honjo

Explanation: Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun were awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of microRNA and its role in post-transcriptional gene regulation.

#546

Which organization won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2024 (often science-related due to nuclear disarmament)?

(a) Nihon Hidankyo

(b) World Food Programme

(c) ICAN

(d) Doctors Without Borders

Explanation: The Japanese organization Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots movement of atomic bomb survivors, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2024 for its efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons.

#547

The 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry recognized the 'AlphaFold' AI model. Which company developed it?

(a) OpenAI

(b) Google DeepMind

(c) Meta AI

(d) IBM Research

Explanation: The AlphaFold model, recognized in the 2024 Chemistry prize awarded to Demis Hassabis and John Jumper, was developed by Google DeepMind.

#548

The 'Proba-3' mission, launched in late 2024, is a collaboration involving which space agency to demonstrate precise formation flying?

(a) NASA

(b) ESA (European Space Agency)

(c) CNSA (China)

(d) Roscosmos

Explanation: Proba-3 is an ESA mission launched in late 2024 to demonstrate high-precision formation flying of satellites, effectively creating a giant solar coronagraph in space.

#549

Which ISRO satellite mission, launched in January 2025, is a 'Next Generation Navigational Satellite'?

(a) NVS-02

(b) RISAT-1A

(c) Cartosat-3

(d) INSAT-3DR

Explanation: NVS-02 is part of ISRO's next-generation navigational satellite series (NavIC), launched in January 2025 to enhance the accuracy and coverage of India's indigenous navigation system.

#550

What is the primary function of the 'SPADEX' mission launched by ISRO in late 2024?

(a) Space Debris Removal

(b) Space Docking Experiment

(c) Solar Physics Analysis

(d) Soil Moisture Mapping

Explanation: SPADEX (Space Docking Experiment) is an ISRO mission launched to demonstrate autonomous docking and berthing technologies in orbit, crucial for future space stations.

#551

Which satellite, launched in August 2024 by ISRO, carries payloads for Earth observation and disaster management?

(a) EOS-08

(b) EOS-06

(c) Cartosat-2

(d) RISAT-1

Explanation: EOS-08 (Earth Observation Satellite-08) was launched in August 2024 on the SSLV-D3 vehicle, carrying payloads for surveillance, disaster monitoring, and environmental analysis.

#552

Which country's 'Tianping' satellite series saw new launches in 2024/2025 for atmospheric calibration?

(a) Japan

(b) China

(c) Russia

(d) India

Explanation: The Tianping series of satellites are Chinese satellites used for calibration of ground-based radar equipment and atmospheric studies.

#553

What does the 'GSAT-N2' satellite, launched by SpaceX for ISRO in late 2024, primarily provide?

(a) Weather forecasting

(b) High-throughput communication services

(c) Spy/Reconnaissance

(d) Navigation signals

Explanation: GSAT-N2 is a high-throughput communication satellite designed to enhance broadband services and in-flight connectivity, launched by SpaceX on behalf of ISRO.

#554

Who won Pakistan's first-ever individual Olympic Gold medal at the Paris 2024 Games?

(a) Muhammad Waseem

(b) Arshad Nadeem

(c) Talha Talib

(d) Nooh Dastgir Butt

Explanation: Arshad Nadeem made history by winning Pakistan's first-ever individual Olympic Gold medal in the Men's Javelin Throw at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

#555

What was the record-breaking distance of Arshad Nadeem's gold-winning throw at the 2024 Paris Olympics?

(a) 87.58m

(b) 90.18m

(c) 92.97m

(d) 91.36m

Explanation: Arshad Nadeem set a new Olympic Record with a massive throw of 92.97 meters, breaking the previous record of 90.57m set by Andreas Thorkildsen in 2008.

#556

Arshad Nadeem's gold medal at Paris 2024 ended Pakistan's Olympic medal drought of how many years?

(a) 20 years

(b) 32 years

(c) 40 years

(d) 12 years

Explanation: Pakistan had not won an Olympic medal since the Bronze in Men's Hockey at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, marking a 32-year drought.

#557

Who was the female flag bearer for Pakistan at the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics?

(a) Kishmala Talat

(b) Jehanara Nabi

(c) Faiqa Riaz

(d) Mahoor Shahzad

Explanation: Swimmer Jehanara Nabi served as the female flag bearer for Pakistan alongside Arshad Nadeem at the Paris 2024 opening ceremony.

#558

Which Pakistani shooter qualified directly for the Paris 2024 Olympics and competed in the 10m Air Pistol and 25m Pistol events?

(a) Minhal Sohail

(b) Kishmala Talat

(c) Sidra Ahmed

(d) Fatima Kabira

Explanation: Kishmala Talat was the first Pakistani female shooter to qualify directly for the Olympics, competing in both 10m Air Pistol and 25m Pistol events.

#559

Which athlete finished second to win the Silver medal in Javelin Throw at the Paris 2024 Olympics?

(a) Anderson Peters

(b) Neeraj Chopra

(c) Julian Weber

(d) Jakub Vadlejch

Explanation: India's Neeraj Chopra, the defending champion, won the Silver medal with a throw of 89.45m, finishing behind Arshad Nadeem.

#560

Which two Pakistani shooters competed in the Mixed 10m Air Pistol team event at Paris 2024?

(a) Gulfam Joseph and Kishmala Talat

(b) GM Bashir and Kishmala Talat

(c) Gulfam Joseph and Minhal Sohail

(d) Usman Chand and Kishmala Talat

Explanation: Gulfam Joseph and Kishmala Talat formed the Pakistani team for the Mixed 10m Air Pistol event at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

January 2024 Current Affairs MCQs & Solutions