1. Who led the Indian team at the 12th Joint Working Group (JWG) of the defense ministers of India and Mongolia?
(A) Amitabh Prasad
(B) Aramane Giridhar
(C) Ajay Bhatt
(D) Raj Nath Singh
(E) Dr S Jaishankar
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
To boost defense cooperation and strengthen defense ties, the 12th Joint Working Group (JWG) of the defense ministers of India and Mongolia was held at the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar.
The JWGs of the defense ministries are held every year.
The Indian side was led by the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, Amitabh Prasad, and the State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence Mongolia, Brigadier General Gankhuyag Davagdorj.
India was the first non-communist country to recognize the Mongolian government in 1955.
The Joint India-Mongolia exercise ‘Nomadic Elephant’ is held every year.
India regularly participates in the multilateral exercise “Khan Quest” and contributes to the regular training of Mongolian officers.
2. Who has become the first Indian women’s table tennis player to be included in the top 25 ranked women singles players in the world?
(A) Sharath Kamal
(B) Manika Batra
(C) Sreeja Akula
(D) Sutirtha Mukherjee
(E) Rani Rampal
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
Manika Batra has become the first Indian women’s table tennis player to be included in the top 25 ranked women singles players in the world.
In the latest world ranking released by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), she achieved her career-best rank of 24 in singles events.
She is the first Indian player to reach the quarterfinal round of a WTT Grand Smash event.
16-year-old Manika Batra made her debut on the international stage at the Chile Open in 2011. Where she won a silver medal in the U-21 category.
She was honored with India’s highest sports honor- Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2020.
She was awarded India’s second highest sport award-Arjuna award in 2018
She is the only Indian table tennis player to receive ITTF’s ‘Breakthrough Star’ Award. She got the award in 2018.
3. Who is the author of Pashan Yug, Madhyantar, and Samarpan ka Sukh’s short stories collection, passed away recently?
(A) Mannu Bhandari
(B) Shivani Shah
(C) Subhadra Chauhan
(D) Malti Joshi
(E) Maitreyi Pushpa
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
Noted storyteller and Padma Shri awardee Malti Joshi passed away at the age of 90 years.
Malti Joshi was known for her work in Hindi and Marathi language.
She was awarded Padam Shri in 2018.
Malti Joshi’s major story collections include Pashan Yug, Madhyantar, Samarpan ka Sukh, Mann Na Hue Dus Bees, Malti Joshi’s ki Kahaniyan, Ek Ghar Ho Sapno Ka, Vishwas Gatha, Aakhri Shatti, Mori Rang De Chunariya, Ek Sarthak Din, etc.
She has also written children’s story collections like Dadi Ki Ghadi, Jeene Ki Raah, Pariksha Aur Puraskar, Sneh K Swar, Sacha Singar, etc.
4. On which date is World Hypertension Day has been celebrated?
(A) 16 May
(B) 17 May
(C) 18 May
(D) 19 May
(E) 20 May
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
The world observes 17 May as World Hypertension Day.
The day is observed to raise public awareness about hypertension as a silent but deadly public health issue.
The World Hypertension League observed the first World Hypertension Day on 14 May 2005.
From 2006 onwards, World Hypertension Day is observed on 17 May every year.
The theme for 2024 World Hypertension Day is “Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer!”
Hypertension can be prevented if the person follows an active lifestyle and eats proper foods.
5. The world’s tallest competitive swimming pool has recently opened in which country?
(A) Nepal
(B) India
(C) Bhutan
(D) China
(E) Russia
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
The world’s tallest competitive swimming pool opens in Bhutan.
World Aquatics inaugurated the highest competitive swimming pool at 2,400 meters in Bhutan, under the Pools for All program to promote aquatic sports.
The Global Body of Swimming launched a program in 2019 that aims to ensure accessible aquatic facilities for more countries and regions.
HRH Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck – World Aquatics President Hussein Al-Musallam.
6. Who has inaugurated IndiaSkills 2024 in New Delhi?
(A) Atul Kumar Tiwari
(B) Sanjay Sharma
(C) Varun Kalia
(D) Shalini Gupta
(E) Arvind Kumar Seth
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary of the Ministry of Skill Development, inaugurated IndiaSkills 2024 in New Delhi, celebrating skill, innovation, and determination with over 900 participants from across the country.
The event, held at Yashobhoomi, Dwarka, featured participation from over 30 states and UT, with competitions spanning 61 skills from traditional crafts to cutting-edge technologies.
7. On which date the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day is celebrated?
(A) 17 May
(B) 18 May
(C) 19 May
(D) 20 May
(E) 21 May
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
Every year, the world observes May 17 as World Telecommunication and Information Society Day.
The United Nations’ oldest specialized agency, the International Telecommunication Union(ITU), first celebrated World Telecommunications Day on 17 May 1969.
The date was chosen to mark the ITU’s foundation day.
The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution in 2006 declaring 17 May as World Information Society Day.
Later, the ITU Conference held in Turkiye passed a resolution to observe May 17 as World Telecommunication and Information Society Day.
Thus, the first World Telecommunication and Information Society Day was observed on 17 May 2007
8. Who has been appointed as additional director in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)?
(A) Ashwani Kumar and Rishi Kumar
(B) A Y V Krishna and N Venu Gopal
(C) Ranjit Sinha and P C Sharma
(D) Rakesh Asthana and Vijay Shanker
(E) R C Sharma and C V Narasimhan
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
Senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers A Y V Krishna and N Venu Gopal have been appointed as additional directors in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
A Y V Krishna is currently serving as Inspector General in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
N Venu Gopal, a seasoned IPS officer from the Himachal Pradesh cadre.
9. Who has been elected as the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA)?
(A) Kapil Sibal
(B) Abhishek Singhvi
(C) Prashant Bhushan
(D) Ram Jethmalani
(E) Harish Salve
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal has been elected as the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) in a recent election held on Thursday in New Delhi.
This marks his fourth term serving as the president of the prestigious lawyers’ body, succeeding senior advocate Adish C Aggarwala.
Kapil Sibal previously held the position of SCBA president in 2001 and served two separate stints in the mid and late 1990s.
10. What is the revised India’s economic growth forecast for 2024 according to the United Nations?
(A) 7.1%
(B) 8.9%
(C) 6.9%
(D) 5.2%
(E) 4.7%
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
The UN revised India’s 2024 growth forecast to 6.9%, up from 6.2%, driven by strong public investment and private consumption.
South Asia’s economic outlook is positive, supported by India’s strong performance and recoveries in Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The world economy is now forecast to grow by 2.7% in 2024 and 2.8% in 2025.