Current News and Affairs

311. Consider the following statements with respect to Pulitzer Prizes: 1.

Consider the following statements with respect to Pulitzer Prizes:

1. The Pulitzer Prize Gold Medal is awarded each year to the American newspaper that wins the Public Service category.
2. The Pulitzer Prize Gold Medal is never awarded to an individual.
3. Jhumpa Lahiri won the Pulitzer Prize in the year 2000 for her first book; a short story collection called The Interpreter of Maladies.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2009
Download PDFAttempt Online
All three statements regarding the Pulitzer Prizes are correct.
– Statement 1 is correct: The Pulitzer Prize Gold Medal is indeed awarded annually to the American newspaper (or news organization) that wins the Public Service category. It is technically a certificate and the Gold Medal is a separate object representing the award to the institution.
– Statement 2 is correct: The Gold Medal itself is given to the winning *organization* in Public Service, not to an individual person. Individuals win prizes in specific journalistic or arts categories, but the medal is reserved for the institution in the public service category.
– Statement 3 is correct: Jhumpa Lahiri won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in the year 2000 for her debut book, the short story collection titled “Interpreter of Maladies”.
– The Pulitzer Prizes are administered by Columbia University in New York City.
– They are awarded annually to recognize achievements in newspaper, magazine and online journalism, literature, and musical composition in the United States.

312. Which one among the following Joint Military Exercises was NOT conduct

Which one among the following Joint Military Exercises was NOT conducted between India and USA ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Yudhabhyas” option2=”Vajra Prahar” option3=”Malabar” option4=”Varuna” correct=”option4″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2024
Download PDFAttempt Online
The joint military exercise ‘Varuna’ is conducted between India and France, specifically their navies. ‘Yudhabhyas’ is a joint exercise between the Indian Army and the United States Army. ‘Vajra Prahar’ is a joint exercise between the Special Forces of India and the United States. ‘Malabar’ is a multilateral naval exercise that originally started as a bilateral exercise between India and the USA, and later included Japan and Australia. Therefore, ‘Varuna’ is the exercise from the given options that is NOT conducted between India and the USA.
– Yudhabhyas: India-USA (Army)
– Vajra Prahar: India-USA (Special Forces)
– Malabar: India, USA, Japan, Australia (Navy)
– Varuna: India-France (Navy)
India conducts numerous bilateral and multilateral military exercises with various countries to enhance interoperability, share best practices, and build mutual trust. These exercises cover all branches of the military (Army, Navy, Air Force) and specialized forces.

313. In January 2024, India has entered into a bilateral agreement through

In January 2024, India has entered into a bilateral agreement through which it will provide grant assistance to a country to construct a 20 feet Bailey bridge. Identify the country.

[amp_mcq option1=”Nepal” option2=”Bangladesh” option3=”Bhutan” option4=”Myanmar” correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2024
Download PDFAttempt Online
In January 2024, India entered into a bilateral agreement with Nepal to provide grant assistance for reconstruction and restoration projects, including bridges. News reports from this period specifically mention India’s support for infrastructure development in Nepal, often involving the reconstruction of bridges damaged by natural calamities or for enhancing connectivity. A 20-feet Bailey bridge is a type of portable pre-fabricated bridge, commonly used in disaster relief or temporary/semi-permanent crossings, and India has frequently assisted Nepal with such infrastructure projects.
– India has a strong development partnership with Nepal, including infrastructure projects.
– Bailey bridges are often used in areas with challenging terrain or damaged infrastructure.
– The grant assistance for this specific type of bridge in January 2024 was provided to Nepal.
India and Nepal share close ties, and India has been actively involved in various development initiatives in Nepal under its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy. These initiatives span across sectors like infrastructure, education, health, and connectivity. Providing assistance for bridge construction helps improve transportation and connectivity, benefiting local communities.

314. Which one of the following statements is NOT correct about NATO ?

Which one of the following statements is NOT correct about NATO ?

[amp_mcq option1=”It was formed out of the signing of the Washington Treaty” option2=”Russia is not a member of this organization” option3=”It derives its authority from the UN Charter” option4=”Finland is its latest member” correct=”option3″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2024
Download PDFAttempt Online
Statement C is NOT correct. NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) was formed by the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty (Washington Treaty) in 1949 (Statement A is correct). It is an alliance of sovereign states based on this treaty. While the UN Charter’s Article 51 recognizes the inherent right of individual or collective self-defense (which NATO members can invoke), NATO does not derive its authority *from* the UN Charter. Its authority comes from the mutual agreement of its member states as outlined in the North Atlantic Treaty. Statement B is correct as Russia is not a member of NATO. Statement D is correct as Finland joined NATO in April 2023, becoming the 31st member (Sweden joined in March 2024 as the 32nd, making Finland the latest member at the time this information was prominent).
– NATO’s foundation is the North Atlantic Treaty.
– NATO operates based on decisions made by its member countries.
– While consistent with the right to self-defense in the UN Charter, NATO is an independent alliance, not subordinate to the UN.
NATO is a political and military alliance whose primary purpose is to guarantee the freedom and security of its members through political and military means. Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty states that an attack against one member shall be considered an attack against all, invoking the principle of collective defense.

315. Consider the following statements: 1. First Indian Military Heritage

Consider the following statements:

  • 1. First Indian Military Heritage festival was inaugurated in October 2023 in Pune.
  • 2. First Green Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus was flagged off in India in Bangalore.
  • 3. South Africa chaired the 15th BRICS Summit held in 2023.
  • 4. Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra was flagged off in 2023 from Jharkhand.

How many of the above statements is/are correct ?

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

This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2024
Download PDFAttempt Online
Let’s examine each statement:
1. First Indian Military Heritage festival was inaugurated in October 2023 in Pune: Incorrect. The first Indian Military Heritage Festival was inaugurated in New Delhi in October 2023.
2. First Green Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus was flagged off in India in Bangalore: Incorrect. While there are R&D efforts in Bangalore, the first Green Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus demonstration project was flagged off by IndianOil in Delhi in December 2021, and KPIT/CSIR project was in Pune in 2022.
3. South Africa chaired the 15th BRICS Summit held in 2023: Correct. The 15th BRICS Summit was held in Johannesburg, South Africa in August 2023, and South Africa held the chair.
4. Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra was flagged off in 2023 from Jharkhand: Correct. Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra from Khunti, Jharkhand on November 15, 2023, which is Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas.
Statements 3 and 4 are factually correct regarding major events in 2023. Statements 1 and 2 contain incorrect locations.
The Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra is a nationwide campaign to create awareness and achieve saturation of flagship government schemes. BRICS is an association of five major emerging national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The BRICS summit is an annual meeting of the heads of state or government of the member states.

316. ASEAN-India Millet Festival-2023, organized by Indian Mission to ASEAN

ASEAN-India Millet Festival-2023, organized by Indian Mission to ASEAN, was held in which one of the following countries ?

[amp_mcq option1=”India” option2=”Indonesia” option3=”Malaysia” option4=”Thailand” correct=”option2″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2024
Download PDFAttempt Online
The ASEAN-India Millet Festival-2023, organized by the Indian Mission to ASEAN, was held in Jakarta, Indonesia. The event aimed to raise awareness and create a market for millets and millet-based products, emphasizing their health and environmental benefits.
The festival was a collaborative effort between the Indian Mission to ASEAN and the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, India, in collaboration with the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture.
2023 was declared the International Year of Millets by the United Nations, following a proposal by India. Such events promote millets globally.

317. Consider the following statements: 1. Kozhikode has been included in

Consider the following statements:

  • 1. Kozhikode has been included in UNESCO’s creative cities network as the ‘City of Music’.
  • 2. Garba of Gujarat has been declared by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage.
  • 3. Gwalior has been included in UNESCO’s creative cities network as the ‘City of Literature’.

How many of the above statements is/are correct ?

[amp_mcq option1=”None” option2=”1″ option3=”2″ option4=”3″ correct=”option2″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2024
Download PDFAttempt Online
Let’s evaluate each statement regarding UNESCO recognitions:
1. Kozhikode has been included in UNESCO’s creative cities network as the ‘City of Music’: Incorrect. Kozhikode (Kerala) was designated as the ‘City of Literature’. Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh) was designated as the ‘City of Music’.
2. Garba of Gujarat has been declared by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage: Correct. Garba, a dance form from Gujarat, was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2023.
3. Gwalior has been included in UNESCO’s creative cities network as the ‘City of Literature’: Incorrect. Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh) was designated as the ‘City of Music’. Kozhikode (Kerala) was designated as the ‘City of Literature’.
In 2023, UNESCO added Kozhikode and Gwalior to its Creative Cities Network, recognizing Kozhikode for Literature and Gwalior for Music. Garba of Gujarat was added to the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) promotes cooperation among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development. The Intangible Cultural Heritage list aims to safeguard important traditional practices and expressions.

318. Aaron Finch, who recently retired from international cricket, was capt

Aaron Finch, who recently retired from international cricket, was captain of men’s cricket team of which one of the following countries?

[amp_mcq option1=”South Africa” option2=”Australia” option3=”England” option4=”New Zealand” correct=”option2″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2023
Download PDFAttempt Online
Aaron Finch, a prominent cricketer who recently retired from international cricket, was the captain of the men’s cricket team of Australia.
He captained the Australian team in One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), leading them to victory in the 2021 T20 World Cup.
Aaron Finch is regarded as one of Australia’s most successful white-ball captains.

319. The Nova Kakhovka dam, which was in news recently, is situated in

The Nova Kakhovka dam, which was in news recently, is situated in

[amp_mcq option1=”Belarus” option2=”Turkey” option3=”Ukraine” option4=”Poland” correct=”option3″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2023
Download PDFAttempt Online
The Nova Kakhovka dam, which gained international attention due to its destruction, is located in Ukraine.
The dam is situated on the Dnieper River in the Kherson region of Ukraine.
Its destruction had significant humanitarian and environmental consequences and was a major event during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

320. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists:

List I
(Bilateral Exercise)		 List II
(Participating Country)
A. Garuda Shakti 1. India and Japan
B. Nomadic Elephant 2. India and Sri Lanka
C. Mitra Shakti 3. India and Mongolia
D. Dharma Guardian 4. India and Indonesia

Code :

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

This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2023
Download PDFAttempt Online
The correct answer is B. The correct matches are A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1.
– Garuda Shakti is a bilateral military exercise between India and Indonesia.
– Nomadic Elephant is a bilateral military exercise between India and Mongolia.
– Mitra Shakti is a bilateral military exercise between India and Sri Lanka.
– Dharma Guardian is a bilateral military exercise between India and Japan.
These are regular joint exercises conducted by the armed forces of India and the respective partner countries to enhance interoperability, share best practices, and strengthen defence cooperation.
Page 1Page 2Page 3Page 4Page 5