Current News and Affairs

India is the first country in the world to deploy an all-woman contingent to a UN Peacekeeping Mission. In which country did this mission operate?

[amp_mcq option1=”Liberia” option2=”Sudan” option3=”Burundi” option4=”Croatia” correct=”option1″]

India was the first country to deploy an all-woman contingent (Formed Police Unit – FPU) to a UN Peacekeeping Mission in Liberia.

The contingent was deployed to the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) in 2007.

This pioneering deployment by India was widely praised and served as an inspiration for other countries to include more women in peacekeeping operations.

The eighth edition of the Exercise Garuda Shakti, a bilateral military-to-military exercise, was conducted recently between the special forces of India and

[amp_mcq option1=”Japan” option2=”Indonesia” option3=”Bhutan” option4=”Myanmar” correct=”option2″]

The eighth edition of the Exercise Garuda Shakti is a bilateral military-to-military exercise conducted between the special forces of India and Indonesia.

Garuda Shakti is the bilateral special forces exercise between India and Indonesia.

Other significant bilateral exercises of India include Mitra Shakti (Sri Lanka), Yudh Abhyas (USA), Sampriti (Bangladesh), and Shakti (France – Army), Garuda (France – Air Force), Dharma Guardian (Japan).

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

• 1. Tomb of Sand, written by Geetanjali Shree, is the first book originally written in any Indian language to win the International Booker Prize.
• 2. Tomb of Sand is the first novel translated from Hindi to be given the International Booker Prize.

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=”option3″]

Both statements regarding Geetanjali Shree’s ‘Tomb of Sand’ and the International Booker Prize are correct.

– Statement 1 is correct: ‘Tomb of Sand’ (originally ‘Ret Samadhi’ in Hindi) written by Geetanjali Shree is the first book originally written in any Indian language (Hindi, in this case) to win the International Booker Prize.
– Statement 2 is correct: The novel was translated from Hindi to English by Daisy Rockwell. It is indeed the first novel translated from Hindi to be awarded the International Booker Prize. The prize is awarded annually for a single book translated into English and published in the UK or Ireland.

The International Booker Prize aims to encourage more publishing and reading of quality fiction from around the world, and to promote the work of translators. The prize is divided equally between the author and the translator. ‘Tomb of Sand’ winning the award brought significant international attention to Hindi literature and Indian language writing.

Consider the following statements and identify the actress:
She is a renowned film actress, director and producer, and an accomplished Indian classical dancer. She was conferred the Padma Shri in 1992 and has served as the Head of Central Board for Film Certification from 1998 to 2001. In recognition to her exemplary lifetime contribution to Indian Cinema, she was honoured with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

[amp_mcq option1=”Vyjayanthimala” option2=”Waheeda Rehman” option3=”Mala Sinha” option4=”Asha Parekh” correct=”option4″]

The description fits the profile of veteran actress Asha Parekh.

– Asha Parekh is a renowned Indian film actress, director, and producer.
– She is also an accomplished Indian classical dancer.
– She was awarded the Padma Shri in 1992.
– She served as the chairperson of the Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC) from 1998 to 2001.
– She was conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 2020 (awarded in 2022) for her lifetime contribution to Indian cinema.

Asha Parekh was one of the top actresses in Hindi cinema from the late 1950s to the early 1970s. She is known for her versatility and performances in numerous popular films. The details provided in the question accurately match her career achievements and recognition.

The Chevrons is the name of the cricket team of which one of the following countries?

[amp_mcq option1=”Australia” option2=”The Netherlands” option3=”Ireland” option4=”Zimbabwe” correct=”option4″]

‘The Chevrons’ is the widely recognized nickname for the Zimbabwe national cricket team.

Nicknames are common for national sports teams and help in easy identification and branding.

The Zimbabwe national cricket team is a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Who among the following won the FIDE World Chess Championship, 2021 ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Nepomniachtchi” option2=”Magnus Carlsen” option3=”Ding Liren” option4=”Anish Giri” correct=”option2″]

Magnus Carlsen won the FIDE World Chess Championship in 2021.

Magnus Carlsen of Norway defeated Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia in the championship match held in Dubai. This was Carlsen’s fifth consecutive World Championship title.

Magnus Carlsen is a Norwegian chess grandmaster and the reigning World Champion in rapid chess and the former World Champion in blitz chess. Ian Nepomniachtchi is a Russian chess grandmaster who won the Candidates Tournament 2020–2021 to challenge Carlsen.

Which one among the following countries has announced a plan that sets a goal of having fewer than 5% of its populace smoking by 2025 ?

[amp_mcq option1=”England” option2=”Germany” option3=”New Zealand” option4=”Russia” correct=”option3″]

New Zealand has announced a comprehensive plan to drastically reduce smoking rates in the country.

New Zealand’s goal is to achieve a smoking prevalence of less than 5% for all population groups by 2025, as part of its ‘Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 Action Plan’.

Measures proposed to achieve this goal include significantly reducing the nicotine content in cigarettes, banning filter cigarettes, banning corner dairies and supermarkets from selling tobacco, and increasing the legal smoking age so that current young people can never legally buy tobacco.

Which one of the following teams won the Senior Women’s National Football Championship, 2021 ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Manipur” option2=”Railways” option3=”West Bengal” option4=”Odisha” correct=”option1″]

Manipur defeated Railways in the final match of the Senior Women’s National Football Championship, 2021.

The final of the 26th edition of the championship was held in Kozhikode, Kerala. Manipur won the title for the 21st time.

The tournament is organized by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and features teams representing states and Union Territories of India, as well as institutional teams like Railways.

Which one of the following statements about Anil Menon is correct ?

[amp_mcq option1=”He is an engineer who revolutionised organic farming.” option2=”He is a diplomat selected in a UN Peace-Keeping mission.” option3=”He is a physician selected by NASA to be an astronaut.” option4=”He is a star football player.” correct=”option3″]

Anil Menon is an Indian-American physician and former SpaceX flight surgeon who was selected by NASA as one of 10 astronaut candidates for its 2021 class.

His selection by NASA marks a significant step in his career towards potential future space missions.

Before joining NASA, Anil Menon served as the medical director for SpaceX, where he helped launch the company’s first human missions. He also previously worked with NASA as a crew flight surgeon for various expeditions on the International Space Station (ISS).

Which of the following statements is/are correct ?

• 1. Nilamoni Phukan Jr. is the 56^th Jnanpith Award winner.
• 2. Damodar Mauzo is the 57^th Jnanpith Award winner.

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=”option3″]

Both statements are correct. The 56th Jnanpith Award was conferred upon Assamese poet Nilmani Phookan Jr., and the 57th Jnanpith Award was conferred upon Konkani writer Damodar Mauzo. The awards for 2020 and 2021 were announced together in December 2021.

The Jnanpith Award is India’s highest literary award, given annually by the Bharatiya Jnanpith organization to an author for their “outstanding contribution towards literature”.

Nilamani Phookan Jr. is a renowned poet known for his symbolic and modernist poetry. Damodar Mauzo is a celebrated novelist and short story writer in Konkani literature, often focusing on social issues and the life of the common people.