Current Affairs

Begusarai in Bihar is world’s most polluted metropolitan area.

According to Air Quality Report 2023 conducted by Swiss organisation IQAir, Begusarai in Bihar has been identified as the world’s most polluted metropolitan area. New Delhi remains the world’s most polluted capital city for the fourth consecutive year since 2018.

  • The Air Quality Report 2023 by Swiss organization IQAir reveals that Delhi’s PM2.5 levels increased from 89.1 micrograms per cubic meter in 2022 to 92.7 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023.
  • India ranks third in terms of air quality, with an average annual PM2.5 concentration of 54.4 micrograms per cubic meter, following Bangladesh and Pakistan.
  • Over one billion people in India are exposed to PM2.5 levels surpassing the World Health Organization’s recommended annual guideline level of 5 micrograms per cubic meter.

Q: Which city has been ranked as the world’s most polluted capital city for four consecutive years since 2018?

a) Mumbai
b) New Delhi
c) Beijing
d) Tokyo

Ans : b) New Delhi

Q: Which Indian city has emerged as the world’s most polluted metropolitan area?

a) Mumbai
b) Kolkata
c) Chennai
d) Begusarai

Ans : d) Begusarai

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Prabha Varma Selected For Saraswati Samman For The Year 2023 for his Malayalam language poetry work, Roudra Sathwikam

Prabha Varma, the celebrated poet and litterateur, has been honored with the prestigious Saraswati Samman for 2023 for his Malayalam language poetry work, Roudra Sathwikam and also for his contribution to the literature during the period 2013 to 2022.

About Prabha Varma

Born in Thiruvalla, Kerala, in 1959, Prabha Varma has made significant contributions as a bilingual writer, excelling in both Malayalam and English literature. His work beautifully weaves together tradition and modernity, making him one of the most influential voices in contemporary Malayalam literature.

Prabha Varma has authored more than 30 books, including collections of poems, novels in verse, sociopolitical commentaries, and essays. His literary prowess has garnered him over 70 awards, including the National Sahitya Akademi Award and the National Film Award.

About Roudra Sathwikam

His novel “Roudra Sathwikam”, published in 2022, delves into the intricate conflict between power, politics, and individual morality. Written in poetic verse, it transcends time and space, addressing the eternal struggle of dharma (righteousness) versus adharma (wrongdoing) in a creatively philosophical manner.

About Saraswati Samman

The Saraswati Samman, instituted in 1991, recognizes outstanding literary works written in any Indian language by Indian citizens and published within the last 10 years. Prabha Varma’s achievement is marked by a citation, a plaque, and a cash prize of ₹15 lakh. The selection committee, currently led by former Supreme Court judge Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri, carefully chooses the recipient each year.

Q: What prestigious award was Prabha Varma honored ?

A) Jnanpith Award
B) Saraswati Samman
C) Sahitya Akademi Award
D) Padma Bhushan

Answer: B) Saraswati Samman

Q: Which novel by Prabha Varma received the Saraswati Samman?

A) “Roudra Sathwikam”
B) “Malayalam Musings”
C) “Verse Chronicles”
D) “Eternal Echoes”

Answer: A) “Roudra Sathwikam”

Prabha Varma Selected For Saraswati Samman For The Year 2023 for his Malayalam language poetry work, Roudra Sathwikam Read More »

Vladimir Putin Wins Russian Presidential Elections

Vladimir Putin has secured a record fifth term as President of Russia. The election took place from 15 to 17 March 2024.

The official results indicate that he received an impressive 87.97% of the votes.

Communist candidate Nikolai Kharitonov finished second and newcomer Vladislav Davankov third.

Question: Who has been elected as the President in the recent Russian presidential elections?

A) Vladimir Putin
B) Alexei Navalny
C) Dmitry Medvedev
D) Mikhail Gorbachev

Ans : A) Vladimir Putin

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What are Electoral Bonds and its recent Development

Electoral Bonds are financial instruments that allow individuals and companies to make anonymous donations to political parties in India.

Key points about electoral bonds and recent developments:

  1. What Are Electoral Bonds?
    • Electoral bonds were introduced in 2018 by the Indian government as a means to promote transparency in political funding.
    • These bonds are like promissory notes that can be purchased from authorized banks in specific denominations.
    • The donor can then donate these bonds to a political party of their choice.
    • The identity of the donor remains confidential, ensuring privacy.
  2. Recent Developments:
    • Supreme Court Ruling: On February 15, 2024, a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court declared the electoral bonds scheme unconstitutional. The court found that the scheme lacked transparency and violated democratic principles.
    • Election Commission Data: The Election Commission (EC) has been releasing data related to electoral bonds. On March 15, 2024, the EC published the first detailed data on electoral bonds, sourced from the State Bank of India (SBI). 
    • Second List: On March 17, 2024, the EC uploaded a second list of electoral bond data. Notably, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) received the highest donation of ₹6,986.5 crore, followed by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) with ₹1,397 crore.

Q: What are electoral bonds?

A. Bonds issued by political parties to raise funds
B. Financial instruments for anonymous political donations
C. Bonds used for government infrastructure projects
D. Bonds that allow citizens to vote in elections

Ans : B. Financial instruments for anonymous political donations

Q: What recent development led to the Supreme Court declaring the electoral bonds scheme unconstitutional?

A. Release of detailed data by the Election Commission
B. A Constitution Bench ruling on February 15, 2024
C. Introduction of a new electoral bond denomination
D. State Bank of India’s involvement in the scheme

Ans : B. A Constitution Bench ruling on February 15, 2024

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Sheetal Devi, a Para Archer and Arjuna Awardee, announced National PwD Icon by the Election Commission

Sheetal Devi, a Para Archer and Arjuna Awardee, has been announced as the National PwD Icon by the Election Commission.

  1. The announcement was made during an Exhibition Cricket Match between the Indian Deaf Cricket Association Team and the Delhi and District Cricket Association team held in Delhi on March 17, 2024.
  2. The match was organized by the Election Commission in collaboration with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to promote voter education and inclusivity.
  3. The event was attended by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu.
  4. Alongside the announcement, the Election Commission launched a dedicated Voter’s Guide for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and Senior Citizen Electors.
  5. The Voter’s Guide provides essential information regarding provisions available to PwDs and senior citizens, including details about infrastructure, information, and procedures at polling stations.

Q: Who has been announced as the National PwD Icon by the Election Commission?

a) Sheetal Devi
b) Avani Lekhara
c) Gyanesh Kumar
d) Pramod Bhagat

Ans : a) Sheetal Devi

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Navneet Kumar Sehgal takes charge as new Prasar Bharati Chairman

Navneet Kumar Sehgal appointed as new Prasar Bharati Chairman on March 16, 2024.

  1. Sehgal is a retired IAS officer from the 1988 batch of the UP cadre.
  2. He succeeds A Surya Prakash, whose term as Chairman ended in 2020.
  3. His appointment came after the Selection Committee for Chairman of Prasar Bharati, led by Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, approved his name. He is appointmented by President Droupadi Murmu.

Q: Who recently took charge as the new Chairman of Prasar Bharati?

a) A Surya Prakash
b) Navneet Kumar Sehgal
c) Jagdeep Dhankhar
d) Piyush Goyal

Ans : b) Navneet Kumar Sehgal

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Lok Sabha Polls in 7 Phases from April 19, counting on June 4th, 2024

Lok Sabha elections will be held in seven phases starting from April 19th, with counting on June 4th. On 16 March 2024, Election Commission announced the poll schedule for General Election 2024 and assembly polls in four states.

  1. Assembly polls for Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha were also scheduled.
  2. Model Code of Conduct came into force with the announcement of the poll schedule.
  3. Measures to ensure smooth conduct of elections, including facilitating voting for elderly and disabled persons, dealing with criminal cases against candidates, and availability of EVMs and VVPATs.
  4. Detail Notification : Download ECI full Notification PDF

Q: Who is the present Chief Election Commissioner of India ?

a) Rajiv Kumar
b) Sunil Arora
c) Om Prakash Rawat
d) Nasim Zaidi

Ans : a) Rajiv Kumar

Lok Sabha Polls in 7 Phases from April 19, counting on June 4th, 2024 Read More »

Home Minister Shah Launched Digital Criminal Case Management System (CCMS)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated a digital Criminal Case Management System (CCMS) designed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in New Delhi on March 14, 2024.

  1. The CCMS aims to enhance coordination among NIA personnel in terrorism and organised crime cases, improving justice delivery.
  2. Home Minister Shah urged State Director Generals of Police to utilize the CCMS software for effective and expedited investigations and operations.
  3. CCMS will aid in organizing, integrating, and digitizing data generated during investigations, including case documents, extracted data, collected evidence, and charge sheets.
  4. The CCMS is expected to enhance cooperation between central and state agencies, including State Police Anti-Terror Squads.
  5. A mobile app called ‘Sankalan’ – A compendium of New Criminal Laws by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) was also launched.

Q: What type of data does the Criminal Case Management System (CCMS) aim to organize, integrate, and digitize?

a) Weather data
b) Traffic data
c) Data generated during investigations, such as case documents and evidence
d) Sports statistics

Ans : c) Data generated during investigations, such as case documents and evidence

Q: What is the purpose of the ‘Sankalan’ mobile app launched by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)?

a) To report criminal activities anonymously
b) To provide information about criminal records
c) To navigate through new criminal laws
d) To track missing persons

Ans : c) To navigate through new criminal laws

Home Minister Shah Launched Digital Criminal Case Management System (CCMS) Read More »

Mumbai win Ranji Trophy title of the 2023-24 season

Mumbai clinched their 42nd Ranji Trophy title on March 14, 2024, defeating Vidarbha by 169 runs in the final match of the 2023-24 season.

  1. Vidarbha, chasing a daunting target of 538 runs, showcased resilience with skipper Akshay Wadkar scoring a century. However, Mumbai’s spinners eventually bundled them out for 368.
  2. Despite a solid fightback from Vidarbha’s batsmen, including a fifty from Dubey and a century from Wadkar, Mumbai’s Tanush Kotian turned the game in his team’s favor by breaking crucial partnerships.
  3. Kotian’s impressive bowling performance, including 4 wickets for 95 runs, guided Mumbai to victory in the second innings.
  4. In the first innings, Shardul Thakur (75) and Prithvi Shaw (46) played pivotal roles in propelling Mumbai to a score of 224, while Vidarbha struggled, being bowled out for 105.
  5. Mumbai’s Musheer Khan (136) and Shreyas Iyer (95) showcased exceptional batting performances in the second innings, setting up a formidable target for Vidarbha.
  6. Harsh Dubey led Vidarbha’s bowling attack with five wickets, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Mumbai’s victory.
  7. This victory marks Mumbai’s first Ranji Trophy win since the 2015-16 season, breaking a streak where other teams like Gujarat, Vidarbha (twice), Saurashtra (twice), and Madhya Pradesh claimed the title.

Q: Which team won the Ranji Trophy of the 2023-24 season?

a) Vidarbha
b) Mumbai
c) Saurashtra
d) Gujarat

Ans : b) Mumbai

Mumbai win Ranji Trophy title of the 2023-24 season Read More »

Paytm Payments Bank Ceased Services from March 15, 2024

Paytm Payments Bank halted services such as accepting deposits and processing credit transactions from March 15 as per the directive from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

  1. The RBI issued a directive on January 31 for Paytm Payments Bank to cease accepting deposits or top-ups in various instruments, citing concerns about non-compliance with regulations and supervisory issues.
  2. The RBI’s decision to shut down Paytm Payments Bank stemmed from concerns over non-compliance issues, including improper identification during account openings, potential involvement in illicit activities like money laundering, and an unusual number of dormant accounts.

Changes After Shutdown:

  • Deposits into Paytm Payments Bank accounts are no longer possible, but customers can still withdraw or transfer funds.
  • Salary credits, direct benefit transfers, and subsidies are no longer available in Paytm Payments Bank accounts, but refunds, cashbacks, and sweep-ins from partner banks are still permitted.
  • The top-up facility and wallet transfers are disabled, although payments can still be made if there is a balance in accounts.
  • Recharge or top-up of funds in NCMC cards issued by Paytm bank are no longer supported.
  • Transfer of funds into Paytm Payments Bank accounts via UPI or IMPS ceased after March 15.

Q: What directive did the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issue to Paytm Payments Bank on January 31?

a) To enhance their customer service offerings
b) To halt accepting deposits or top-ups in various instruments
c) To expand their branch network
d) To increase their interest rates on savings accounts

Ans : b) To halt accepting deposits or top-ups in various instruments

Q: Why did the RBI order the shutdown of Paytm Payments Bank?

a) Due to concerns about their stock trading operations
b) Due to concerns over non-compliance issues and supervisory concerns
c) Due to their outstanding customer service
d) Due to their high-interest rates on loans

Ans : b) Due to concerns over non-compliance issues and supervisory concerns

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