Current News and Affairs

Which one of the following Grand Slam Tennis Tournaments had the highest total prize money (in terms of US Dollars) in the year 2014 ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Australian Open” option2=”French Open” option3=”Wimbledon” option4=”US Open” correct=”option3″]

Wimbledon had the highest total prize money in terms of US Dollars in the year 2014.

Comparing the reported prize money amounts for the four Grand Slam tournaments in 2014 shows that Wimbledon offered the highest total prize fund when converted to US Dollars.

In 2014, the reported total prize money figures were approximately: Australian Open AUD 33M (~USD 29M), French Open €25M (~USD 34M), Wimbledon £25M (~USD 42M), and US Open USD 38.3M. Exchange rates fluctuate, but based on average rates for that period, Wimbledon’s prize money in GBP translated to the highest figure in USD among the four Slams.

In order to create awareness among the people regarding endangered species of tortoise, in the month of February 2015, the third Tortoise Festival was held at :

[amp_mcq option1=”Hajong Lake, Assam” option2=”Chilka Lake, Odisha” option3=”Loktak Lake, Manipur” option4=”Umiam Lake, Meghalaya” correct=”option1″]

The third Tortoise Festival in February 2015 was held at Hajong Lake, Assam.

Hajong Lake in Assam is known for being a habitat of the endangered Black Softshell Turtle (Nilssonia nigricans), also known as the Bostami turtle. Festivals are sometimes organized there to raise awareness about its conservation.

The Tortoise Festival at Hajong Lake is an initiative aimed at raising awareness about the conservation needs of the Black Softshell Turtle, which was once thought to be extinct in the wild but survives in temple ponds and other protected areas. The festival celebrates the lake’s biodiversity and the importance of conservation efforts.

Which of the following statements is/are correct ?

• 1. ‘Ship of Theseus’ was adjudged as the best feature film in the 61st National Film Awards
• 2. ‘Ship of Theseus’ was produced and directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra

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=”option1″]

Only statement 1 is correct.

Statement 1 is correct. The film ‘Ship of Theseus’, directed by Anand Gandhi, won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film at the 61st National Film Awards ceremony, which honoured films from 2013.
Statement 2 is incorrect. ‘Ship of Theseus’ was directed by Anand Gandhi. Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra is a renowned director known for films like ‘Rang De Basanti’ and ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’, but he was not involved in the production or direction of ‘Ship of Theseus’.

‘Ship of Theseus’ is a critically acclaimed Indian drama film released in 2012 (though widely released and gaining prominence in 2013), exploring questions of identity, justice, beauty, and death through the stories of an experimental photographer, an ailing monk, and an eccentric stockbroker. Anand Gandhi received widespread recognition for its direction and philosophical depth.

In December 2013, TTEX-2013 (Trilateral Tabletop Maritime Security Exercises) was conducted between :

[amp_mcq option1=”India, Maldives and Bangladesh” option2=”India, Sri Lanka and China” option3=”India, Sri Lanka and Maldives” option4=”Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh” correct=”option3″]

The Trilateral Tabletop Maritime Security Exercise (TTEX) in December 2013 was a maritime security exercise conducted jointly by the navies of India, Sri Lanka, and Maldives. These countries cooperate on maritime security in the Indian Ocean region, particularly focusing on issues like counter-piracy, maritime terrorism, and disaster response.

TTEX is a simulation-based exercise designed to improve coordination and understanding among the participating navies on maritime security threats and responses.

India, Sri Lanka, and Maldives are part of a trilateral maritime security cooperation framework in the Indian Ocean. Exercises and discussions among these three nations are regular events aimed at enhancing regional stability and security.

Which one among the following was the reason behind the boycott of recent general elections in Bangladesh by the main opposition parties ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Demand for preparation of a fresh electoral roll was not fulfilled” option2=”Demand for allowing international observers for the poll was not fulfilled” option3=”Demand for holding the elections under a neutral government was not fulfilled” option4=”Demand for stopping prosecution of those involved in 1971 war crimes was not fulfilled” correct=”option3″]

The primary reason for the boycott of the general elections in Bangladesh in January 2014 by the main opposition parties, led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), was their demand for the election to be held under a non-partisan caretaker government. The ruling Awami League government had abolished the caretaker government system in 2011.

The opposition argued that elections held under a political government, rather than a neutral interim body, would be unfair and rigged in favour of the ruling party. This demand was central to their stance.

The caretaker government system was originally introduced to ensure free and fair elections by temporarily handing power to a non-partisan body during the election period. Its abolition led to significant political crisis and deadlock in Bangladesh.

Which one among the following books is not written by Bharat Ratna Prof. CNR Rao?

[amp_mcq option1=”Climbing the limit ladder—A life in Chemistry” option2=”Nano crystals: Synthesis, Properties & Applications” option3=”Wings of Fire” option4=”Superconductivity Today” correct=”option3″]

“Wings of Fire” is the autobiography of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the former President of India and a distinguished scientist. Prof. CNR Rao was a renowned chemist. While Prof. Rao has written many scientific books and his own autobiography titled “Climbing the Limit Ladder: A Life in Chemistry”, “Wings of Fire” is not his work.

The question asks to identify the book among the options that was not written by the specified personality, Prof. CNR Rao.

Prof. C.N.R. Rao (1934-2024) was a celebrated Indian chemist who made significant contributions to solid-state and materials chemistry. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2014. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (1931-2015) was an aerospace scientist and served as the 11th President of India. His autobiography “Wings of Fire” (co-authored with Arun Tiwari) is widely popular.

On the New Year day of 2014, New Zealand batsman Corey Anderson made a world record of fastest:

[amp_mcq option1=”Test century” option2=”Test fifty” option3=”ODI century” option4=”ODI fifty” correct=”option3″]

On January 1, 2014, New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson set a new world record for the fastest century in One Day International (ODI) cricket. He reached his century in just 36 balls against West Indies at Queenstown.

The question is about a specific sports record set by a New Zealand cricketer in early 2014.

Corey Anderson’s record broke the previous mark of 37 balls set by Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi in 1996. Anderson’s record stood for just over a year before it was broken by South Africa’s AB de Villiers, who scored a century in 31 balls against West Indies in January 2015.

January 2014 referendum held in Egypt was on:

[amp_mcq option1=”Accepting or rejecting a draft constitution” option2=”Choosing between democracy and Islamic rule” option3=”Choosing between direct and indirect election of the President” option4=”Choosing between two-party and multi-party democracy” correct=”option1″]

Following the removal of President Mohammed Morsi in July 2013, a new draft constitution was prepared in Egypt. A referendum was held on this draft constitution on January 14 and 15, 2014. The referendum sought public approval for the proposed constitution.

The question asks about a significant political event, specifically a referendum, that occurred in Egypt in January 2014.

The 2014 constitution replaced the 2012 constitution that was adopted during President Morsi’s tenure. The referendum resulted in a significant ‘Yes’ vote, leading to the adoption of the new constitution, which paved the way for presidential and parliamentary elections later that year.

India has made a Polio Vaccination Certificate mandatory for Indian Visa applicants from :

[amp_mcq option1=”Bangladesh” option2=”China” option3=”Indonesia” option4=”Pakistan” correct=”option4″]

In early 2014, India made it mandatory for all visa applicants from Pakistan to produce a polio vaccination certificate. This measure was taken to prevent the importation of polio, as Pakistan was one of the few countries where polio was still endemic.

This question relates to international health regulations and specific bilateral requirements imposed by India concerning public health, particularly polio eradication efforts.

India was officially declared polio-free by the World Health Organization (WHO) in March 2014. Measures like mandatory vaccination certificates for travellers from polio-endemic countries were part of India’s strategy to maintain its polio-free status. Similar requirements were also applicable to travellers from other endemic countries like Afghanistan and Nigeria at that time.

Who among the following is serving as the Chief Minister of his State for the fourth consecutive term ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Manik Sarkar of Tripura” option2=”Tarun Gogoi of Assam” option3=”Neiphiu Rio of Nagaland” option4=”Okram Ibobi Singh of Manipur” correct=”option1″]

As of 2014, Manik Sarkar was serving as the Chief Minister of Tripura for his fourth consecutive term. He first became CM in March 1998, and was successively re-elected in 2003, 2008, and 2013.

Manik Sarkar of Tripura was the only Chief Minister among the given options serving his fourth consecutive term in 2014.

In 2014, Tarun Gogoi of Assam was in his third consecutive term (started 2001, re-elected 2006, 2011). Neiphiu Rio of Nagaland was also in his third consecutive term (started 2003, re-elected 2008, 2013); he resigned in May 2014 to contest the Lok Sabha elections. Okram Ibobi Singh of Manipur was in his third consecutive term (started 2002, re-elected 2007, 2012).