1. On which date recently the United Nations Mine Awareness Day celebrated?
(A) 5th April
(B) 4th April
(C) 3rd April
(D) 2nd April
(E) 1st April
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action (United Nations Mine Awareness Day) is observed every year on 4 April.
The theme of International Mining Awareness Day 2024 is “Protecting Lives. Building Peace.”
In 2023, the United Nations Mine Action Service promoted the United Nations Mine Awareness Day under the theme “Mine Action Cannot Wait”.
The purpose of this day celebrated by the United Nations is to raise awareness about landmines and make progress towards their elimination.
On 8 December 2005, the General Assembly declared that 4 April each year would be observed as the UN Mine Awareness Day. It was first celebrated on 4 April 2006.
2. Who was the World’s oldest man who died recently?
(A) Maria Branyas
(B) Juan Vicente Perez Mora
(C) Edith Ceccarelli
(D) Saturnino de la Fuente
(E) Fusa Tatsumi
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
Juan Vicente PĂ©rez Mora, a resident of Venezuela who was officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest person in 2022, has passed away at the age of 114.
When PĂ©rez was 112 years and 253 days old he was considered as the oldest living person by Guinness on February 4, 2022.
He was the father of 11 children and, as of 2022, had 41 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and 12 great-great-grandchildren.
He was born on May 27, 1909, in the town of El Cobre, situated in the Andean state of Tachira.
As a young child, he worked alongside his father and brothers in farming, harvesting sugarcane and coffee from the age of five. Later, PĂ©rez became a sheriff and was responsible for resolving land and family disputes while still working in agriculture.
3. Which foundation celebrated serving food to four billion people at the UN Headquarters in April 2024?
(A) Akshay Patra Foundation
(B) Khushi Foundation
(C) Indian National Youth Foundation
(D) Akshay Foundation
(E) Ashirwad Humanity Foundation
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
On April 2, 2024, Akshaya Patra Foundation (APF) achieved the historic feat of serving four billion thalis.
This achievement of the Akshaya Patra Foundation was also celebrated in the United Nations.
India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ruchira Kamboj organized a special event at the UN Headquarters on 2 April 2024.
The theme of this event organized at the United Nations was “Achievements in Food Security: India’s Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals”.
The event showcased India’s innovative strategies, policies, and achievements towards achieving food security and nutrition.
4. Which country has the highest number of billionaires in the world according to the Forbes 38th Annual World’s Billionaires List 2024”?
(A) USA
(B) China
(C) India
(D) France
(E) Germany
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
According to the recently released “Forbes 38th Annual World’s Billionaires List 2024”, Mukesh Ambani, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) Chairman cum Managing Director (CMD), is the only Indian who has made it to the list of the top 10 billionaires of the world.
Mukesh Ambani was ranked 9th on the list, which was topped by Bernard Arnault & family, owner of the French luxury giant LVMH.
At the age of 37 years, Nikhil Kamath, co-founder of Zerodha, is the youngest Indian billionaire on the Forbes list.
According to the Forbes report, there are 2781 billionaires in the world from 77 countries.
The combined wealth of the billionaires was $14.2 trillion an increase of $2 trillion from 2023.
Countries with the highest number of Billionaires –
First – The United States of America
Second – China
Third – India
Fourth – Germany
Fifth – Russia
5. How much quantity of kalanamak rice can be exported from India in 2024-25?
(A) 1000 tonnes
(B) 1100 tonnes
(C) 1500 tonnes
(D) 2000 tonnes
(E) 2300 tonnes
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
The government of India has allowed the export of up to 1000 tonnes of Kalanamak rice from India.
Until now the export of the Kalanamak was banned.
The government of India also designated six customs stations through which the Kalanamak rice can be exported from India.
In 2021-22, India exported around 21 tonnes of kalanamak rice before its export was banned by the government.
The Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the Union Ministry of Commerce has notified the following customs stations through which the Kalanamak rice can be exported.
They are Varanasi Air Cargo, JNCH in Maharashtra, CH in Kandla, and land customs stations in Barhni, Sonauli, and Nepalgunj Road.
The Director, Agriculture Marketing and Foreign Trade, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, has been designated as the certifying authority for the quality and quantity of kalanamak rice to be exported.
6. Who is the newly elected Prime Minister of Portugal?
(A) Pedro Nuno Santos
(B) André Ventura
(C) Pedro Passos Coelho
(D) LuĂs Montenegro
(E) Rui Rio
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
LuĂs Montenegro, a center-right leader, has been sworn in as Portugal’s new prime minister at the Ajuda Palace in Lisbon.
Capital: Lisbon
Official EU language(s): Portuguese
EU member country: since 1 January 1986
Currency: euro
Schengen: Member since 26 March 1995
India and Portugal had diplomatic relations since 1949, but they went into decline in 1950 when Portugal refused to surrender its enclaves.
In 1961, under Operation Vijay, Indian military action liberated Goa, ending over 450 years of Portuguese rule.
7. According to the World Bank the expected growth rate of the Indian economy in 2023-24 will be?
(A) 8.1%
(B) 6.5%
(C) 7.5%
(D) 9.2%
(E) 7.8%
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
The World Bank, in its bi-annual report “South Asia Development Update” released on 2 April 2024, has increased its growth rate forecast for the Indian economy for 2024-25 to 6.6 percent.
In the last report, it estimated a growth rate of 6.4% for the Indian economy in FY 25.
The World Bank cited increased public investment in the economy as a reason for upgrading the Indian economic growth rate.
However, the World Bank forecasted a growth rate of 7.5% for 2023-24, which is lower than that of the National Statistical Office (NSO) 7.6 percent.
8. Who won the Indian Super League Player of the Month (February) award in February 2024?
(A) Luka Majcen
(B) Juan Mera
(C) Nikhil Prabhu
(D) Madih Talal
(E) Wilmar Jordán Gil
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
Midfielder Madih Talal has won the ISL February 2024 Player of the Month Award.
He is a French professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Indian Super League club Punjab.
He has received 4% of the fan votes; experts have chosen him with 5/8 votes.
He has outperformed the top fan pick, Petratos, despite a lower fan vote share.
9. Tata International has appointed whom as their Managing Director?
(A) Anand Sen
(B) R Mukundan
(C) Rajeev Singhal
(D) Rajiv Dube
(E) Sandhya Kudtarkar
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
Tata International, the global trading and distribution arm of the Tata group, has appointed Rajeev Singhal as its managing director.
He succeeded Anand Sen.
He was previously executive director and chief operating officer (COO) at Tata International.
With 36 years of experience, he aims to drive value for stakeholders.
Transitioning from Tata Steel, he held VP roles in marketing and sales.
10. Who has taken over as the 33rd Director General of the Department of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers of the EME Corps?
(A) Ravindra Pisharody
(B) Sandhya Kudtarkar
(C) JS Sidana
(D) PV Gopalakrishnan
(E) Deepak Premnarayen
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
Lieutenant General JS Sidana has taken over as the 33rd Director General of the Department of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (DGEME) and Senior Colonel Commandant of the EME Corps on April 1, 2024.
An alumnus of the National Defense Academy and Indian Military Academy, Lt Gen Sidana was commissioned into the EME Corps in 1985.
He holds a Master of Management Studies from Osmania University, an M Tech from IIT Kanpur, and an M.Phil from Panjab University.