Current News and Affairs

181. Which of the following statements about Quad is/are correct ? 1. It

Which of the following statements about Quad is/are correct ?

  • 1. It is a group of four countries, namely, India, Australia, USA and France.
  • 2. Maritime cooperation is an important binding force among members of the Quad.
  • 3. The Quad members formed a working group on COVID-19 vaccines.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

[amp_mcq option1=”1 only” option2=”1 and 2 only” option3=”2 and 3 only” option4=”1, 2 and 3″ correct=”option3″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2023
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The correct option is C) 2 and 3 only.
Statement 1: It is a group of four countries, namely, India, Australia, USA and France. This is incorrect. The Quad, or Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, is an informal strategic forum comprising four countries: India, Japan, Australia, and the United States. France is not a member.
Statement 2: Maritime cooperation is an important binding force among members of the Quad. This is correct. Maritime security, freedom of navigation, and counter-piracy efforts in the Indo-Pacific region are key pillars of Quad cooperation, often involving joint naval exercises like Malabar.
Statement 3: The Quad members formed a working group on COVID-19 vaccines. This is correct. During their first leaders’ summit in March 2021, the Quad announced a partnership to accelerate the manufacturing and delivery of COVID-19 vaccines to countries in the Indo-Pacific, establishing a working group for this purpose.
The Quad is not a formal military alliance but rather a diplomatic network for consultation and cooperation on issues of mutual interest, particularly regarding the Indo-Pacific region. Its agenda has broadened beyond security to include areas like critical and emerging technologies, climate change, infrastructure, and global health security (like the vaccine initiative).

182. Which of the following are the objectives of SAARC? 1. To promote the

Which of the following are the objectives of SAARC?
1. To promote the welfare of the peoples of South Asia and to improve the quality of life
2. To promote and strengthen collective self-reliance among the countries of South Asia
3. To contribute to mutual trust, understanding and appreciation of one another’s problems
4. To work towards ending cross-border terrorism
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

[amp_mcq option1=”1 and 2 only” option2=”1, 2 and 3 only” option3=”1, 2, 3 and 4″ option4=”3 and 4 only” correct=”option2″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2023
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Statements 1, 2, and 3 are among the objectives of SAARC. Statement 4 is not explicitly listed as a foundational objective in the SAARC Charter.
– Article I of the SAARC Charter lists the following objectives:
– To promote the welfare of the peoples of South Asia and to improve their quality of life. (Statement 1 is correct)
– To accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region and to provide all individuals the opportunity to live in dignity and to realize their full potential.
– To promote and strengthen collective self-reliance among the countries of South Asia. (Statement 2 is correct)
– To contribute to mutual trust, understanding and appreciation of one another’s problems. (Statement 3 is correct)
– To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic, social, cultural, technical and scientific fields.
– To strengthen cooperation with other developing countries.
– To strengthen cooperation among themselves in international forums on matters of common interests.
– To cooperate with international and regional organizations with similar aims and purposes.
– While member countries cooperate on issues like counter-terrorism, “ending cross-border terrorism” is a specific area of cooperation driven by necessity and agreements like the SAARC Regional Convention on Suppression of Terrorism (1987) and Additional Protocol (2004), but it is not listed as one of the main, broad objectives in the original Charter document (Statement 4 is not listed as a core objective).
SAARC was established with the signing of the SAARC Charter in Dhaka on 8 December 1985. Its secretariat is based in Kathmandu, Nepal. The focus of SAARC has historically been on economic, social, and cultural cooperation, though political and security issues, including terrorism, have increasingly become prominent concerns for member states.

183. Which of the following are India’s G20 priorities? 1. Green Developmen

Which of the following are India’s G20 priorities?
1. Green Development
2. Women-led Development
3. Climate Finance
4. Digital Public Infrastructure
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

[amp_mcq option1=”1 and 2 only” option2=”1, 2 and 3 only” option3=”3 and 4 only” option4=”1, 2, 3 and 4″ correct=”option4″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2023
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All four listed items were among India’s G20 priorities during its presidency (December 2022 – November 2023).
– India’s G20 theme was “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “One Earth · One Family · One Future”.
– The key priorities highlighted by India included:
– Green Development, Climate Finance, and LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment)
– Accelerated, Inclusive & Resilient Growth
– Accelerating progress on SDGs
– Multilateral Institutions for the 21st Century
– Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and Tech-enabled development
– Women-led Development
– All four statements (Green Development, Women-led Development, Climate Finance, Digital Public Infrastructure) align directly with these stated priorities.
India’s G20 presidency focused on addressing global challenges through collective action and fostering consensus among member nations on various critical issues including climate change, sustainable development, technological transformation, and inclusive growth.

184. Which of the following sets of nations are members of the BIMSTEC

Which of the following sets of nations are members of the BIMSTEC Initiative?

[amp_mcq option1=”Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, India and Sri Lanka” option2=”Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar” option3=”Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka and Maldives” option4=”Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Indonesia” correct=”option2″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2022
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The set of nations that are members of the BIMSTEC Initiative is Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar.
– BIMSTEC stands for the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation.
– It is an international organization of seven member states in the littoral and adjacent areas of the Bay of Bengal constituting a contiguous regional unity.
– The member states are five from South Asia (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka) and two from Southeast Asia (Myanmar, Thailand).
BIMSTEC was founded in 1997. It aims to create an enabling environment for rapid economic development, accelerate social progress, and promote collaboration on matters of common interest in the region. It serves as a bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia.

185. Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. The 15th ASEAN-

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

  • 1. The 15th ASEAN-India Summit was held virtually in March 2022.
  • 2. European Union is India’s largest regional trading partner.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

[amp_mcq option1=”1 only” option2=”2 only” option3=”Both 1 and 2″ option4=”Neither 1 nor 2″ correct=”option2″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2022
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Statement 2 is correct, while statement 1 is incorrect.
– Statement 1 is incorrect: The 15th ASEAN-India Summit was held in November 2017 in Manila, Philippines. The ASEAN-India Summits are typically held annually. While virtual summits occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, the summit number and date in the statement do not match the actual 15th Summit or any major ASEAN-India Summit in March 2022. The 18th ASEAN-India Summit was held virtually in October 2021, and the 19th was held in person in November 2022.
– Statement 2 is correct: The European Union (EU) is often cited as India’s largest regional trading partner block. While individual countries like the USA and China are larger bilateral trading partners overall, the EU as a collective bloc represents a significant portion of India’s total trade and is considered its largest regional partner.
India’s relationship with ASEAN is a cornerstone of its ‘Act East’ policy. India and the EU have a Strategic Partnership and are working towards a Free Trade Agreement. Trade data fluctuates annually, but the EU bloc consistently ranks among India’s top trading partners, often as the largest regional bloc.

186. Mariupol city, frequently mentioned in news in the context of Russia-U

Mariupol city, frequently mentioned in news in the context of Russia-Ukraine conflict, is situated on the coast of

[amp_mcq option1=”Aral Sea” option2=”Baltic Sea” option3=”Caspian Sea” option4=”Sea of Azov” correct=”option4″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2022
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Mariupol is a port city in Ukraine located on the northern coast of the Sea of Azov, at the mouth of the Kalmius and Kalchyk rivers. Its strategic location made it a key target during the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Geographical locations of cities and regions frequently mentioned in major international conflicts are important for current affairs. The Sea of Azov is an inland sea of the Black Sea basin, connected to the Black Sea by the Strait of Kerch.
Mariupol is one of the ten largest cities in Ukraine and was a major industrial and economic centre. Its capture by Russian forces in 2022 was a significant development in the conflict, giving Russia control over a crucial land bridge connecting Crimea to mainland Russia.

187. Which one of the following books was declared winner of the 2021 Inter

Which one of the following books was declared winner of the 2021 International Booker Prize?

[amp_mcq option1=”At Night All Blood is Black” option2=”The Dangers of Smoking in Bed” option3=”When We Cease to Understand the World” option4=”The War of the Poor” correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2021
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The 2021 International Booker Prize was awarded to the novel *At Night All Blood is Black* by French author David Diop, translated into English by Anna Moschovakis.
The question asks for the winner of the 2021 International Booker Prize. This is a specific literary award given annually to a single book translated into English and published in the UK or Ireland.
Other books on the shortlist for the 2021 prize included *The Dangers of Smoking in Bed* by Mariana Enríquez (Argentina), *When We Cease to Understand the World* by Benjamín Labatut (Chile/Germany), *The Employees* by Olga Ravn (Denmark), *The War of the Poor* by Éric Vuillard (France), and *In Memory of Memory* by Maria Stepanova (Russia). The prize is shared equally between the author and the translator.

188. In the latest Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI), which classifies

In the latest Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI), which classifies 104 countries in terms of government capabilities and outcomes, India has been ranked

[amp_mcq option1=”49th” option2=”59th” option3=”69th” option4=”79th” correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2021
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In the first edition of the Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI), released in 2021, which classified 104 countries, India was ranked 49th.
The CGGI measures the effectiveness of governments across various pillars, including leadership and foresight, robust laws and policies, financial stewardship, attractive marketplace, global influence and reputation, strong institutions, and helpful fiscal and social policies.
The index is published by the Chandler Institute of Governance, a non-profit organization based in Singapore. Finland topped the index in 2021, followed by Switzerland and Singapore.

189. Which one of the following is the theme of the World Ocean Day, 2021?

Which one of the following is the theme of the World Ocean Day, 2021?

[amp_mcq option1=”Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean” option2=”The Ocean : Life and Livelihoods” option3=”Gender and Oceans” option4=”Clean Our Oceans” correct=”option2″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2021
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The theme for World Ocean Day in 2021 was ‘The Ocean: Life and Livelihoods’.
World Ocean Day is observed annually on June 8th to raise awareness about the importance of the ocean and the need to protect it.
The theme for 2021 focused on the vital role of the ocean in sustaining life on Earth and supporting human livelihoods through industries like fishing, tourism, and shipping. This theme also highlighted the urgent need for conservation efforts.

190. Who among the following was the Head of the Expert Committee on Variab

Who among the following was the Head of the Expert Committee on Variable Capital Company in India which has submitted its report recently?

[amp_mcq option1=”K. P. Krishnan” option2=”Ketan Dalal” option3=”J. Ranganayakulu” option4=”Bobby Parikh” correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2021
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The Expert Committee on Variable Capital Company (VCC) in India, which submitted its report, was headed by K. P. Krishnan.
K. P. Krishnan is a distinguished economist and former Secretary in the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. The committee was set up to examine the feasibility of introducing the VCC structure in India.
A Variable Capital Company (VCC) is a corporate structure used for investment funds in several jurisdictions (like Singapore) that offers flexibility in the subscription and redemption of shares. The committee’s report explored how such a structure could benefit the fund management industry in India.
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