Current News and Affairs

551. In December 2021, who among the following succeeded Angela Merkel as t

In December 2021, who among the following succeeded Angela Merkel as the Chancellor of Germany ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Olaf Scholz” option2=”Annalena Baerbock” option3=”Armin Laschet” option4=”Jana Puglierin” correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-1 – 2022
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Olaf Scholz of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) succeeded Angela Merkel as the Chancellor of Germany in December 2021.
He leads a coalition government comprising the SPD, The Greens, and the Free Democratic Party (FDP).
Angela Merkel served as Chancellor from 2005 to 2021, making her one of Germany’s longest-serving heads of government. Olaf Scholz previously served as Vice-Chancellor and Minister of Finance in Merkel’s grand coalition government.

552. Which of the following statements is/are correct ? 1. India had acco

Which of the following statements is/are correct ?

  • 1. India had accorded recognition to Bangladesh even before the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971.
  • 2. In March 2021, both India and Bangladesh had decided to celebrate 6 December as Maitri Diwas.

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″]

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Both statements are correct. India was one of the first countries to recognize Bangladesh as a sovereign nation on December 6, 1971, ten days before Bangladesh achieved final victory on December 16, 1971. In March 2021, during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bangladesh, both countries decided to commemorate December 6 as ‘Maitri Diwas’ (Friendship Day) to mark India’s recognition.
India’s recognition on December 6, 1971, was a significant diplomatic move during the Bangladesh Liberation War. The decision to celebrate Maitri Diwas on this date highlights the historical bond and contemporary partnership between the two nations.
Maitri Diwas was celebrated in 18 countries across the world in addition to being celebrated in Dhaka and Delhi, underscoring the international significance of the India-Bangladesh relationship.

553. In the recently formed grouping of countries generally known as ‘Middl

In the recently formed grouping of countries generally known as ‘Middle-East Quad’, in addition to India, which of the following are other members ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Egypt, Saudi Arabia and USA” option2=”Israel, UAE and USA” option3=”Egypt, UAE and UK” option4=”Israel, Saudi Arabia and UK” correct=”option2″]

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The grouping commonly referred to as the ‘Middle-East Quad’ or ‘I2U2’ comprises India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the United States (USA).
The name I2U2 comes from the first letters of the names of the four member countries (India, Israel, UAE, USA).
This group was initially formed in October 2021 during the Abraham Accords foreign ministers’ meeting. Its stated aim is to discuss joint investments and initiatives in six key areas: water, energy, transportation, space, health, and food security.

554. Which one of the following ships was involved in ‘Mission Sagar – II’

Which one of the following ships was involved in ‘Mission Sagar – II’ ?

[amp_mcq option1=”INS Shakti” option2=”INS Vikramaditya” option3=”INS Kesari” option4=”INS Airavat” correct=”option4″]

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UPSC CDS-1 – 2021
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INS Airavat was involved in ‘Mission Sagar – II’.
Mission Sagar – II was the second phase of India’s outreach initiative to provide assistance to friendly foreign countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. INS Airavat delivered food aid to Sudan, South Sudan, Djibouti, and Eritrea in November 2020 as part of this mission.
Mission Sagar – I, conducted in May 2020, involved INS Kesari delivering aid to Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar, and Comoros.

555. ‘CARAT Bangladesh 2020’ was a joint naval exercise between Bangladesh

‘CARAT Bangladesh 2020’ was a joint naval exercise between Bangladesh and

[amp_mcq option1=”India” option2=”USA” option3=”Japan” option4=”Thailand” correct=”option2″]

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‘CARAT Bangladesh 2020’ was a joint naval exercise between Bangladesh and the USA.
CARAT (Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training) is an annual series of bilateral naval exercises the U.S. Navy conducts with navies of partner nations in the Indo-Pacific region. CARAT Bangladesh is one such exercise, focusing on enhancing interoperability and building relationships.
The CARAT series involves various maritime training events, including exercises on maritime patrol operations, surface warfare, and humanitarian assistance/disaster relief.

556. Hollywood actor Sir Sean Connery, who died recently, was popularly kno

Hollywood actor Sir Sean Connery, who died recently, was popularly known for the portrayal of the role

[amp_mcq option1=”Rocky” option2=”Captain Jack Sparrow” option3=”Terminator” option4=”James Bond” correct=”option4″]

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The correct answer is James Bond.
Sir Sean Connery was the first actor to portray James Bond on the big screen and is widely regarded as one of the best actors to have played the iconic role. He starred in seven Bond films between 1962 and 1983.
Rocky was portrayed by Sylvester Stallone, Captain Jack Sparrow by Johnny Depp, and the Terminator by Arnold Schwarzenegger.

557. The first phase of Exercise Malabar, 2020 was conducted at

The first phase of Exercise Malabar, 2020 was conducted at

[amp_mcq option1=”Port Blair” option2=”Mumbai” option3=”Visakhapatnam” option4=”Kochi” correct=”option3″]

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Exercise Malabar 2020 was a naval exercise conducted in two phases. The first phase (Phase 1) was conducted from 03 to 06 November 2020 in the Bay of Bengal, off the coast of Visakhapatnam. The second phase (Phase 2) was conducted in the Arabian Sea from 17 to 20 November 2020.
Exercise Malabar is a trilateral (originally India-USA-Japan) naval exercise that became quadrilateral in 2020 with the inclusion of Australia.
Visakhapatnam is the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy and is located on the east coast of India, bordering the Bay of Bengal. This makes it a suitable location for naval exercises conducted in the Bay of Bengal.

558. Which one of the following is not a member of the Quad group of

Which one of the following is not a member of the Quad group of nations?

[amp_mcq option1=”France” option2=”USA” option3=”Australia” option4=”Japan” correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-1 – 2021
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The Quad is an informal strategic forum comprising four member nations: the United States of America (USA), Japan, Australia, and India. Its origin dates back to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami relief efforts, and it was revived in 2017. France is not a member of the Quad.
The Quad is a strategic dialogue involving USA, Japan, Australia, and India, primarily focused on the Indo-Pacific region.
The Quad members hold regular summits and meetings at various levels (heads of state, foreign ministers, etc.) to discuss regional security, economic cooperation, and other matters.

559. Which one of the following units is not a part of All India Radio’s Tr

Which one of the following units is not a part of All India Radio’s Transcription and Programme Exchange Service ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Central Archives” option2=”Sound Archives” option3=”Advanced Research Unit” option4=”Transcription Unit” correct=”option3″]

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UPSC CDS-1 – 2021
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All India Radio’s (AIR) Transcription and Programme Exchange Service is primarily involved in archiving, transcribing, and exchanging radio programmes. Its core units include the Central Archives, Sound Archives, and Transcription Unit, along with a Programme Exchange Unit. An ‘Advanced Research Unit’ is not typically listed as a standard component of this specific service. AIR does have research and development wings, but they are separate from the archiving and exchange function.
The Transcription and Programme Exchange Service of AIR focuses on preserving and distributing audio content.
The Central Archives of AIR hold historically significant recordings, while Sound Archives house a wider collection. The Transcription Unit is responsible for preparing written versions of broadcasts. The Programme Exchange Unit facilitates the sharing of programmes among different AIR stations and with other broadcasting organizations.

560. The Government of India has recently constituted a civilian award in t

The Government of India has recently constituted a civilian award in the name of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in the field of contribution to

[amp_mcq option1=”unity and integrity of India” option2=”art and culture” option3=”social work” option4=”entrepreneurship” correct=”option1″]

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UPSC CDS-1 – 2020
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The Government of India instituted a civilian award in the name of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel for outstanding contribution to the unity and integrity of India. The award, known as the Sardar Patel National Unity Award, was announced in 2019 on the occasion of Sardar Patel’s birth anniversary (October 31).
– Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is widely recognised for his crucial role in the integration of princely states into the Indian Union after independence.
– The award seeks to recognise notable efforts towards strengthening India’s unity and integrity.
The award is the highest civilian award for contribution to the unity and integrity of India and is presented by the President of India. It is given for commendable contribution to the cause of unity and integrity of India and promoting the values of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
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