1. Mahamat Idris Deby Itno has recently been elected as the president of which country?
(A) Chad
(B) Niger
(C) Cameroon
(D) Mali
(E) Romania
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
The Military dictator and interim president of the Central African Country of Chad, Mahamat Idris Deby Itno has won the presidential election.
President Idriss Deby was a dictator who ruled the country with an iron hand for 30 years from 1990 till 2021.
The election will legitimize the rule of Mahamat Idris Deby Itno for another six years.
Chad is a landlocked country situated in north-central Africa. It is the fifth largest country in Africa in area.
The president is the head of the state and the head of the government in Chad.
The president has a six-year term, and a person can be president for only two terms.
2. In 2023-24, in how many countries did India’s merchandise exports register a positive growth rate?
(A) 102 countries
(B) 115 countries
(C) 121 countries
(D) 132 countries
(E) 141 countries
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
According to the latest data released by the Union Ministry of Commerce, India’s exports have recorded positive growth in 115 countries out of the total 238 countries/territories it exported in 2023-24.
Out of the 229 countries/territories from which India imports goods and services, imports have declined from 124 countries during 2023-24.
According to the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the total merchandise export from India in 2023-24 was $ 437.06 billion, a decline of around 3 percent compared to 2022-23.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) was India’s largest export market in 2023-24, registering a growth rate of 12.71 percent.
3. Joint military exercise Shakti is being conducted by the Indian Army with which country’s Army?
(A) Russia
(B) China
(C) France
(D) Japan
(E) Germany
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
Joint military Exercise Shakti between the Indian and the French forces will be held at the Joint Training Node of the Indian Army in Umroi, Meghalaya, from 13 -26 May 2024.
The opening ceremony of the 7th edition of Exercise Shakti will be attended by the French Ambassador to India, Thierry Mathou.
The military exercise between the Indian Army and the French Army is a biennial exercise that started in 2011 and is conducted alternately in India and France.
The 6th edition of the military exercise Shakti was held in France from 15-26 November 2021.
Thus, it was India’s turn to host the next exercise.
France is India’s major defense partner. It is the second-largest supplier of military hardware to India after Russia.
France is the only Western country that has agreed to share defense technologies with India and the production of French military hardware in India.
4. The 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting will be held in which city?
(A) Mumbai
(B) Chennai
(C) Ahmedabad
(D) Kochi
(E) Kolkata
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
The 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) and the 26th meeting of the Environmental Protection Committee will be held in Kochi on 20-30 May.
In this meeting, India will formally announce the establishment of a new research station in Antarctica.
India has two active research stations in Antarctica – Maitri and Bharati.
5. Which Indian wrestler has been banned by the global governing body of wrestling?
(A) Deepak Kumar
(B) Vijay Dahiya
(C) Bajrang Punia
(D) Jitendra Kumar
(E) Sangita Phogat
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
Recently, the global governing body of wrestling, United World Wrestling (UWW) has suspended Indian star wrestler Bajrang Punia till the end of this year.
Earlier, the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) had provisionally suspended him after he refused to undergo a doping test.
However, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) has approved around Rs 9 lakh for Bajrang’s training.
United World Wrestling (UWW) is the international governing body for the sport of amateur wrestling.
The UWW was formerly known as FILA prior to assuming its current name in September 2014.
6. India has recently withdrawn its military personnel from which country?
(A) Maldives
(B) Nepal
(C) Bangladesh
(D) Iran
(E) Sri Lanka
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
The Indian Foreign Ministry has recently announced the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from Maldives.
Indian military personnel were operating two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft to provide humanitarian and medical evacuation services in the Maldives.
The Maldives government led by Mohammed Muizzu had formally requested India to withdraw its troops.
7. The Sarsawa base is located in which city, where IAF and Indian Army will jointly deploy Predator drones?
(A) Agra
(B) Bareilly
(C) Lucknow
(D) Gorakhpur
(E) Prayagraj
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
IAF, Army to jointly deploy Predator drones in Gorakhpur, Sarsawa base.
India to deploy MQ-9B Predator drones at Sarsawa and Gorakhpur airbases, enhancing surveillance along the Line of Actual Control with China.
The $4 billion deal involves 31 drones, led by the Indian Navy, with the drones shared between the Navy, Army, and Air Force for comprehensive coverage.
The Predator drones are expected to enhance India’s ability to conduct unmanned surveillance.
8. Who has become the first Indian golfer to play 100 tournaments on the Ladies European Tour?
(A) Diksha Dagar
(B) Aditi Ashok
(C) Ridhima Dilawari
(D) Pranavi Urs
(E) Sharmila Nicollet
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
Diksha Dagar became the first Indian golfer to play 100 tournaments on the Ladies European Tour (LET) when she teed off at the Aramco Team Series 2024 in New Korea Country Club, the Republic of Korea.
The 23-year-old Diksha turned pro in 2019 and won on LET in her first full season, clinching the South African Women’s Open golf title that year.
An Olympian from Tokyo 2020, Diksha Dagar is also a two-time medallist at the Deaflympics, which includes a gold from last year.
She is the only golfer in the world who has competed at both the Deaflympics and Summer Olympics.
A 2023 Arjuna Award recipient, Diksha Dagar, placed 37th in the Olympic Golf Rankings (OGR) is also well-placed to earn a quota for the Paris 2024 Olympics with the top 60 making the cut.
9. World Lupus Day has been observed on which day of May 2024?
(A) 09 May
(B) 10 May
(C) 11 May
(D) 12 May
(E) 13 May
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
World Lupus Day has been observed on 10th May 2024.
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease, which causes inflammation and pain in the joints, muscles, skin, and many organs of the body.
This day is celebrated to raise awareness towards people suffering from Lupus.
Almost 5 million people worldwide suffer from Lupus, with 1.5 million of them living in the United States alone.
Lupus Day was established by Lupus Canada in 2004.
10. What will be the name of the new research station formally developed by India in Antarctica?
(A) Maitri
(B) Maitri – 2
(C) Bharti
(D) Bharti – 2
(E) Dakshin Gangotri
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
India to reveal plans for a new research station, Maitri-2, in Antarctica, aiming to replace the old Maitri station, at the 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in Kochi.
India has two active research stations—Maitri and Bharti—in Antarctica.
The first research station, Dakshin Gangotri, was set up in 1983.
Bharati Research Station was established in the year 2015.