1. Who has been sworn in as the president of Russia for the fifth time?
(A) Vladimir Putin
(B) Mikhail Mishustin
(C) Dmitry Medvedev
(D) Alexey Mishustin
(E) Sergey Lavrov
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
Vladimir Putin was sworn in as president of the Russian Federation for the fifth time in a six-year term.
He took the oath of office at a ceremony held at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow.
The election was won by Putin, who secured 87.3% of the votes polled.
Vladimir Putin was an intelligence officer with the KGB. After leaving the KGB, he entered politics, and in 1999, after President Boris Yeltsin’s resignation, he was appointed interim president of Russia.
Russia is the world’s largest country by area. It is a Eurasian country that geographically lies in both Europe and Asia. However, it is considered to be a European country.
2. In May 2024, West Nile Virus cases were reported from which state?
(A) Tamil Nadu
(B) Kerala
(C) Telangana
(D) Maharashtra
(E) Andhra Pradesh
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
According to the Kerala health department, cases of West Nile Fever have been reported from Kozhikode, Malappuram and Thrissur districts.
Of the five reported cases, four persons have recovered, and one patient is under observation.
The first case of West Nile fever was detected in Kerala in 2011. The first death due to West Nile Virus was reported in 2022 when a 47-year-old man from the Thrissur district died of West Nile viral infection,
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the first case of West Nile Virus was reported in the West Nile district of Uganda in 1937, hence the name.
3. On which date is the World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day observed around the globe?
(A) 06 May
(B) 07 May
(C) 08 May
(D) 09 May
(E) 10 May
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
Every year, 8 May is observed as World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day.
At the 14th International Conference of the Red Cross held in London, England, in 1938, the delegates decided to observe 8 May as the International Red Cross Day.
8 May was chosen as it was the day in 1828 when Jean Henri Dunant was born in Switzerland.
Henri Dunant founded the Red Cross( now known as the International Red Cross) and the World Alliance of Young Men’s Christian Associations.
The first International Red Cross Day was observed on 8 May 1948. In 1984, the name was changed to ‘World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day’.
4. What is India’s rank in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index?
(A) 142
(B) 150
(C) 133
(D) 159
(E) 121
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
India has improved its ranking on the World Press Freedom Index 2024 by two positions.
India, which was ranked 161 out of 180 countries in the world in 2023, improved its position to 159 in 2024, a jump of two ranks.
The World Press Freedom Index was released by a French non-governmental organization, Reporters sans Frontieres (RSF) which is also known as Reporters Without Border.
In its report, the RSF said that the maximum threat to the freedom of the press was from the government.
India has been put in a serious category along with countries like China, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh etc.
5. On which day of May is World Thalassemia Day observed?
(A) 08 May
(B) 06 May
(C) 07 May
(D) 09 May
(E) 10 May
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
Every year, the 8th of May is observed as World Thalassaemia Day.
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare organized an event in New Delhi on the occasion of World Thalassaemia Day.
Panos Ennglezos, founder of the Thalassemia International Federation (TIF), established the World Thalassaemia Day in 1994 in memory of his son George, who died due to the disease.
Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder. The disease is passed from the parents to their children.
The Thalassemia patient’s body does not produce the required amount of hemoglobin.
Haemoglobin is a protein that is an important part of the red blood cells.
The cells of the body are enriched by oxygen due to the red blood cells which carry oxygen.
The red cells are transported by the blood throughout the body.
6. Who has been appointed by the global digital payments platform Visa as the new Country Manager in India?
(A) Abhay Kumar
(B) Vikram Saxena
(C) Sujai Raina
(D) Deepak Anand
(E) Shivam Kumar
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
Global digital payments platform Visa announced that it has appointed Sujai Raina as its new country manager for India.
Sandeep Ghosh will continue in his role as Group Country Manager for India and South Asia.
7. In which state the “School on Wheels” initiative has been launched recently?
(A) Assam
(B) Manipur
(C) Gujarat
(D) Haryana
(E) Himachal Pradesh
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey inaugurated the ‘School on Wheels’ at a function held in Imphal.
The aim of this initiative is to provide educational opportunities to children living in the camps.
This initiative is being run by Vidya Bharati Shiksha Vikas Samiti Manipur.
8. Who has become the first Indian player to reach the 350-wicket mark in T20 format?
(A) Yuzvendra Chahal
(B) Kuldeep Yadav
(C) Ravichandran Ashwin
(D) Ravindra Jadeja
(E) Axar Patel
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
Yuzvendra Chahal became the first Indian to reach 350 T20 wickets, achieving the milestone during IPL 2024 against Delhi Capitals.
Chahal’s historic wicket came from dismissing DC captain Rishabh Pant, marking his 350th victim in his 301st T20 match.
He joined elite spinners like Rashid Khan, Sunil Narine, Imran Tahir, and Shakib Al Hasan in the 350 T20 wicket club, sitting fifth in the list.
9. Recently, India has contributed how much dollars to the UN Counter-Terrorism Trust Fund?
(A) USD 450,000
(B) USD 650,000
(C) USD 500,000
(D) USD 700,000
(E) USD 400,000
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
India contributed USD 500,000 to the UN Counter-Terrorism Trust Fund.
India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ruchira Kamboj handed over to Under Secretary General, UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) Vladimir Voronkov a voluntary financial contribution of half a million dollars to UN Counter-Terrorism Trust Fund.
This reflects India’s support of UNOCT’s global programs – mainly Countering Financing of Terrorism and Countering Terrorist Travel Program.
10. Kyren Wilson, who has won the maiden snooker world title, belongs to which country?
(A) France
(B) Italy
(C) Sweden
(D) England
(E) Spain
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
Kyren Wilson won his first World Snooker Championship, beating Jak Jones, elevating him to a career-high of World No. 3 after clinching his 6th ranking title and 1st Triple Crown.
Wilson’s triumph at the Crucible marks him as the 23rd player to win the championship, securing a £500,000 prize and his first title since the 2022 European Masters.
He is an English professional snooker player.