Class: VIII
Current Affairs Notes for Grand GK 2024
1. What is the name of the first deep sea port of Bangladesh that was recently
making news?
Answer: Matarbari Port
2. Which country has recently filed a case against Israel at the International Court
of Justice accusing it of genocide?
Answer: South Africa
3. Which organization issues electoral bonds in India?
Answer: State Bank of India
4. Who has been appointed as the first woman Director-General of Police in
Maharashtra?
Answer: Rashmi Shuklla
5. Zosurabalpin, a recently discovered compound, belongs to which category of
medical drugs?
Answer: Antibiotic
6. Which company has decided to introduce so called “Copilot key” in PC
keyboards?
Answer: Microsoft
(Microsoft is introducing a notable feature in some of the new personal
computers running its Windows operating system – the “Copilot key”. This special
key is designed to launch Microsoft’s AI chatbot, marking a strategic move by the
company to integrate and capitalize on its partnership with ChatGPT-maker
OpenAI. The addition of the Copilot key to PC keyboards is a significant step in
making Microsoft a key player in the applications of generative AI technology.
This initiative represents Microsoft’s most substantial change to PC keyboards
since the introduction of the Windows key in the 1990s.)
7. A postage stamp was released in memory of Dadi Prakashmani, who is
associated with which institution?
Answer: Brahma Kumaris
(The President of India, Droupadi Murmu released a postage stamp in memory of
Dadi Prakashmani, former chief of Brahma Kumaris at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural
Centre. This stamp was released under the ‘My Stamp’ initiative of the
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Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications to mark the 16th death
anniversary of Dadi Prakashmani.)
8. Which country recently imposed a ban on its citizens from traveling to Russia or
Ukraine for employment?
Answer: Nepal
9. Who has been appointed as India’s ambassador to the World Trade
Organisation (WTO) in Geneva?
Answer: Senthil Pandian C
(Senthil Pandian C, an IAS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre from the 2002 batch,
has been appointed as India’s ambassador to the World Trade Organisation
(WTO) in Geneva. His appointment was approved by the Appointments
Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on January 5, 2024, and is set for a tenure of
three years from the date of assumption of charge. This appointment follows the
end of Brajendra Navnit’s tenure as India’s ambassador to the WTO. Senthil
Pandian’s new role comes at a crucial time when the world is grappling with
challenges like inflation, high interest rates, and geopolitical tensions. His
experience and expertise will be pivotal in representing and advocating India’s
interests in the global trade arena, especially at the upcoming WTO ministerial
conference and in ongoing negotiations on various trade-related issues.)
10. Who secured the gold in the 57kg category at the 2024 Zagreb Open Singles?
Answer: Aman Sherawat
11. What recent discovery was made by the CSIR lab in Jammu regarding the
cannabis plant?
Answer: Antibiotic properties in the cannabis plant
(Scientists at CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Jammu, have
discovered that tetrahydrocannabidiol (THCBD), a phytocannabinoid derived from
the cannabis plant, exhibits previously unrecognized antibiotic properties.
Phytocannabinoids are plant-derived compounds found in cannabis. The
researchers extracted cannabidiol, a cannabinoid, from cannabis and subjected it
to a reaction with hydrogen using palladium as a catalyst. This process resulted in
a mixture of molecules with identical compositions but distinct structures, one of
which was THCBD. This finding highlights the potential of cannabis-derived
compounds in novel antibiotic development.)
12. Who has taken charge as the Director General of the Press Information
Bureau?
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Answer: Rajesh Malhotra
13. India signed a MoU with which institution during Global Millets Conference?
Answer: World Food Programme
(The Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ministry signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with the World Food Programme (WFP) of the United
Nations during the Global Millets Conference. MoU between WFP and the
Government of India for cooperation between 2023-2027 was signed.)
14. Which state/UT developed ‘Solar Rooftop Online Portal’?
Answer: Goa
(Goa Solar Rooftop Online Portal was developed by Goa Energy Development
Agency (GEDA) in collaboration with the Electricity Department and the
Department of New & Renewable Energy. It was appreciated recently by Prime
Minister Modi as a good step towards harnessing solar energy and furthering
sustainable development.)
15. Which Union Ministry is set to draft the ‘SOPs for Safety and Security of
Journalists’?
Answer: Ministry of Home Affairs
(The Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs) for the safety and security of
journalists will be drafted by the Union Home Ministry.
The decision comes after three assailants posing as journalists killed gangster-
turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf in Prayagraj while they were
speaking to journalists.)
16. Which of the following states were created in 1987?
Answer: Goa and Arunanchal Pradesh
(Before independence, India was divided into 565 princely states. Since the
Indian independence the boundaries of the Indian states keep on changing year
by year. In 1987, three states got the statehood. These states are Goa, Arunachal
Pradesh and Mizoram.)
17. Jurisdiction of Lakshadweep comes under __________?
Answer: Kerala High Court
18. India has imported Date Palm tree from which country, as part of sapling
planting event under G-20 Summit?
Answer: Saudi Arabia
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(India is set to host the G20 Summit, and as part of the event, visiting leaders will
plant saplings of native trees from 17 different countries. It aims to promote
environmental awareness and symbolize cooperation among nations. Saplings of
native plants have been imported from both G20 member countries and other
invitee nations. India has imported trees like the Date Palm from Saudi Arabia,
Olive from Italy and Turkey, and Camphor Laurel from China and Japan. For the
invitee countries, saplings include the Ghaf tree from the UAE, Frankincense from
Oman, Frangipani from Mauritius, and Mango tree from Bangladesh.)
19. Who is the current vice president of India?
Answer: Jagdeep Dhankhar
20. Who is the current Speaker of Lok Sabha?
Answer: Om Birla
21. The __________________ is the ex-officio chairman of the Rajya Sabha, who
presides over its sessions.
Answer: Vice president of India (currently, Jagdeep Dhankhar)
22. Who the ex-officio chairman of NITI Aayog (National Institution for
Transforming India)?
Answer: The Prime Minister of India.
23. 14. Who is current the Secretary-General of the United Nations?
Answer: António Guterres
24. Who was awarded Nobel Prize for Literature for the year 2023?
Answer: Jon Fosse
25. Savita, who won the Sportstar ACES Sportswoman of the Year award, plays
which sports?
Answer: Hockey
(Savita received the Sportstar ACES Sportswoman of the Year award, after she led
the team to a Bronze Medal performance at the Birmingham Commonwealth
Games 2022. She was also instrumental in the team winning the inaugural FIH
Women’s Nations Cup.
PR Sreejesh was named Sportsman of the Year (Team Sports) for his outstanding
performance in 2022, which saw the Indian team finish third in the FIH Hockey
Pro League 2021-2022, followed by a silver medal at the Birmingham
Commonwealth Games 2022.)
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26. Which tennis player broke the Steffi Graf’s record of leading the WTA rank for
377 weeks?
Answer: Novak Djokovic
(Djokovic has defeated Tomas Machac at the Dubai Championships extends
winning streak to 18 matches.
The 35-year-old Serb broke the record for the most time spent at No. 1 in the
professional tennis rankings by a man or woman. His 378th week in the ATP’s top
spot, surpassed Steffi Graf’s 377 leading the WTA.)
27. Which city is the host of the ‘World Para Athletics Grand Prix’ in 2023?
Answer: Dubai
28. India has won the Cricket World Cup twice, under the captaincy of
_________and__________ in 1983 and then in 2011
Answer: Kapildev, M S Dhoni
29. Which day is marked as World Diabetes Day by UN?
Answer: 14th November
(World Diabetes Day became an official United Nations Day in 2006 with the
passage of United Nation Resolution 61/225. It is marked every year on 14
November, the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, who co-discovered insulin along
with Charles Best in 1922.)
30. In which state was the Asia’s largest trade fair inaugurated on the eve of
“BALIYATRA”?
Answer: Odisha
(Baliyatra is recognized as one of the largest open trade fairs in Asia, sprawling
across 100 acres. Notably, in 2022, Bali Jatra achieved a Guinness World Record
when over 2,100 students from 22 schools crafted more than 22,000 paper boats
in just 35 minutes, solidifying its status as a remarkable and record-breaking
event.)
31. Who was the man of the match in the finals of ICC World Cup 2023?
Answer: Travis Head
(Travis Head scored a century to guide Australia to a six-wicket victory and was
declared the man of the match.)
32. When is The World Teacher’s Day observed?
Answer: 5th October
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(World Teachers’ Day is held annually on 5 October to celebrate all teachers
around the globe. It commemorates the anniversary of the adoption of the 1966
ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, which sets
benchmarks regarding the rights and responsibilities of teachers, and standards
for their initial preparation and further education, recruitment, employment, and
teaching and learning conditions.)
33. Where is the Amazon forest located?
Answer: South America
(The Amazon covers a huge area (6.7 million sq km) of South America. Nearly 60%
of the rainforest is in Brazil, while the rest is shared among eight other
countries—Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela and
French Guiana, an overseas territory of France.)
34. Which country hosted the Asian Games 2023?
Answer: China
35. Which country is set to hold a referendum to recognize the country’s
Indigenous people in its constitution?
Answer: Australia
(Australia is set to hold a landmark national referendum in October to recognize
the country’s Indigenous people in its constitution.
More than 17 million registered voters across the country will vote on October 14,
to decide whether to amend the Constitution, in order to establish a new advisory
body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The historic referendum
called “Voice to Parliament”, if approved, would recognize Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander people in the country’s constitution.)
36. How many gold medals did India win in Asian Games 2023?
Answer: 28
37. Youth Olympic Games are organised for which category of players?
Answer: Youth aged between 14-18
38. Which Indian has been named the 2023 recipient of the prestigious Norman E
Borlaug Award?
Answer: Dr Swati Nayak
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39. What is the name of the technology which had been introduced by Indian
Railways to prevent accidents caused by elephants on railway tracks?
Answer: Gajraj Suraksha
(The Indian Railways is preparing to deploy the “Gajraj system” an Artificial
Intelligence-based solution, along a 700-kilometre stretch of railway tracks in
forest regions to mitigate elephant deaths. This surveillance system aims to alert
loco pilots about the presence of elephants on the tracks.)
40. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is set to construct 25-mw solar power
plant in which state?
Answer: Tamil Nadu
(The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Fourth Partner Energy Private Limited
signed a long-term loan of up to 1.2 billion Indian rupees to construct and operate
a 25-megawatt solar photovoltaic-based power plant in the state of Tamil Nadu in
India. It is expected to generate about 50.7 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually
and increase clean and low-cost energy supply to commercial and industrial
customers.)
41. What is the new name of old Indian Parliament Building?
Answer: Samvidhan Sadan
42. Which country celebrated its Independence Day on 04th February?
Answer: Sri Lanka
43. What is the name of the cyclone which hit the southern Tamilnadu in
December 2023?
Answer: Cyclone Michaung
44. The 54th Tiger reserve of India, 'Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve' is a new
protected area for big cats in ___________
Answer: Madhya Pradesh
('Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve' is a new protected area for big cats in
Madhya Pradesh, the state with the most tigers in the nation. The Veerangana
Durgavati Tiger Reserve, the seventh in Madhya Pradesh and the 54th in India has
been established by the state government.)
45. Who received the Sastra Ramanujam Award for 2023?
Answer: Ruixiang Zhang
(It is awarded every year by the SASTRA University on its campus near
Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu, on Ramanujan's birth anniversary, December 22.
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The prize is conferred annually to mathematicians from across the world who is
less than 32 years of age, working in an area influenced by the Srinivasa
Ramanujan.)
46. Where was the Asia’s largest Compressed Biogas Plant commissioned?
Answer: Punjab
(The establishment of Asia’s largest Compressed BioGas (CBG) plant in Sangrur,
Punjab holds significant importance on various fronts. The CBG Plant at Sangrur, is
spread across an area of approximately 20 acres).
47. The world’s first hundred percent Ethanol fuelled Car has been developed by
which company?
Answer: Toyota
(Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari unveiled the
prototype of the world’s first Bharat Stage (BS)-VI-compliant electrified flex-fuel
car, developed by Toyota Kirloskar Motor. The car, which runs on 100 per cent
ethanol (E100), is based on the Toyota Innova HyCross. It can cover 40 per cent of
its distance on ethanol and the remaining 60 per cent on electric, with the petrol
engine shut off.)
48. Which country clinched the Asia Cup 2023 title in cricket?
Answer: India
49. Who is the present Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha?
Answer: The current Lok Sabha does not have a deputy speaker, and the post
has been vacant since 23 June 2019.
50. NASA’s Curiosity Rover recently captured the crepuscular rays on which
planet?
Answer: Mars
(NASA’s Curiosity Rover recently captured the crepuscular rays on Mars for the
first time. The rover captured the view when the sun illuminated the cumulous
clouds.
When the atmosphere contains dry particles like dust and smoke, light from the
Sun rising or setting can scatter, resulting in the formation of sunbeams known as
crepuscular rays. These rays pass through openings in clouds or between objects.)
51. A ‘Space System Design Lab’ has been recently inaugurated in which state/UT?
Answer: Gujarat
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(A Space System Design Lab has been inaugurated in Ahmedabad, Gujarat
recently. It aims to promote growth and increase contribution of private sector
space firms in India.
It is an initiative of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre
(IN-SPACe). The lab has computing resources comprising 16 workstations and
high-performance computing multi-core servers.)
52. What is the name of the central programme launched to promote artificial
intelligence in India and beyond?
Answer: INDIAai
(INDIAai is a central programme launched to promote artificial intelligence in
India and beyond. The National AI Portal of India is a joint venture by MEITY,
NEGD and NASSCOM.
Seven working groups set up under INDIAai are expected to submit their
recommendations for a comprehensive framework governing various facets of AI
in the near future.)
53. Which super-computer was ranked at 75th position at Top 500 Global
Supercomputing List?
Answer: AIRAWAT
(AIRAWAT is an AI supercomputer in the Centre for Development of Advanced
Computing (C-DAC), Pune. It is India’s largest and fastest AI supercomputing
system, with a remarkable speed of 13,170 teraflops.
It was ranked at 75th position in the world by the 61st edition of Top 500 Global
Supercomputing List. The supercomputer has been installed this year.)
54. What is the name of the new state of matter, recently discovered by
physicists?
Answer: Chiral bose-liquid state
(Physicists from the US and China have claimed that they have found an entirely
new state of matter- The chiral bose-liquid state.
At extremely low temperatures or within the atomic realm, known as quantum
states of matter, substances exhibit behavior distinct from the familiar solid,
liquid, and gaseous states typically encountered.)
55. Which company has launched ChatGPT rival Bard in European Union, Brazil
and other nations?
Answer: Google
(Tech Major Google has recently launched ChatGPT rival Bard in European Union,
Brazil and several more nations.
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In March 2023, Bard was launched in the US and the UK. Google has also now
added new features to Bard, which apply worldwide. These include the ability for
the chatbot to speak its answers back to you and for it to respond to prompts that
also include images.)
56. When is the ‘English Language Day’ observed?
Answer: April 23
(English Language Day at the UN is celebrated on 23 April, the date traditionally
observed as both the birthday and date of death of William Shakespeare.
At the United Nations, English is one of the two working languages, along with
French. In 2010, the Department of Global Communications established language
days for each of the Organization’s six official languages.)
57. When is the World Blood Donor Day celebrated every year?
Answer: 14 June
58. When is the International Day of Parliamentarism observed by the United
Nations?
Answer: June 30
59. ‘International Literacy Day’ is observed on which day?
Answer: September 8
60. Which country hosted the 146th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union
(IPU)?
Answer: Bahrain
61. Which city hosted the ‘Yoga Mahotsav’, to commemorate 50-day countdown
to the International Day of Yoga?
Answer: Jaipur
62. Census 2021, which was postponed due to COVID-19, includes options for
how many religions?
Answer: Six
(The Next Census will only count Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Sikh and Jain
as distinct religion options.
This is despite demands from several sections including Sarnaism, the Lingayat
religion, to be counted as a separate religion. Census 2021, which was to be
conducted in two phases, has been postponed indefinitely, with the Central
government initially attributing the delay to the COVID-19 pandemic.)
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63. Which country recently proposed ‘Draft Aircraft Bill, 2023’ to simplify
regulations?
Answer: India
(The Draft Aircraft Bill, 2023 has been proposed by the Civil Aviation Ministry
after reviewing the existing Aircraft Act, 1934.
It aims to simplify the regulations of India’s aviation sector. It gives enough
powers to administer the regulatory role to statutory body, such as the
Directorate General of Civil Aviation, meeting regulatory challenges in current
scenarios.)
64. The foundation stone for Organic Agriculture University has been laid in which
north-eastern state?
Answer: Sikkim
(The foundation stone for the Sikkim Organic Agriculture University (SOAU) was
laid recently by Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang.
It is set to be the center for excellence for education on topics related to organic
farming. The Sikkim assembly passed the Sikkim Organic Agriculture University
Act, 2023 earlier this year.)
65. Which country has banned use of foreign words to ‘protect’ its language?
Answer: Russia
(Russian President Vladimir Putin has banned use of foreign words to ‘protect’
Russian language. The Russian government officials are now banned from using
foreign words in official documents and correspondence as well as while carrying
out their duties.
This decision was taken in an attempt to protect the Russian language from
Western influence. Separately, a list of words with foreign roots that can still be
used will be released.)
66. Which country is set to deploy a satellite constellation called “Silent Barker”?
Answer: USA
(The US Space Force is preparing to deploy a satellite constellation called “Silent
Barker” to monitor Chinese or Russian space vehicles capable of harming orbiting
objects.
This network of satellites, placed in geosynchronous orbit approximately 22,000
miles above Earth, will work in conjunction with ground-based sensors and low-
earth orbit satellites, marking the first system of its kind.)
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67. As per WHO, which condition would lead to 10 million annual deaths
worldwide, by 2050?
Answer: Antimicrobial resistance
(The World Health Organization’s South-East Asia regional office has warned that
antimicrobial resistance (AMR) results in approximately 1.27 million deaths
globally each year, with an estimated 389,000 casualties in South Asia.
Without immediate action, the WHO predicts that by 2050, AMR could lead to 10
million annual deaths worldwide, causing significant economic repercussions,
including a potential decrease of up to 3.8% in global exports and a rise of $1
trillion in healthcare-related costs.)
68. The Lalita Kala Akademi is devoted to the promotion of which form of artistry?
Answer: Fine Arts
(The Lalit Kala Akademi or National Academy of Art is India’s National Academy of
Fine Arts such as such as painting, sculpture and graphics. It is an autonomous
organisation, established at New Delhi in 1954 by Government of India to
promote and propagate understanding of Indian art, both within and outside the
country. It is headquartered in New Delhi.)
69. Vallam Kali (Snake boat race) is a major feature of which festival in India?
Answer: onam
70. For which masterpiece did Rabindranath Tagore receive the Nobel prize?
Answer: Geetanjali
71. National Sports Day (NSD) is celebrated on which date in India?
Answer: August 29
(National Sports Day is celebrated on August 29 in India. This day marks the
birthday of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand, regarded as one of the greatest
field hockey players of all time. National Sports Day aims to raise awareness on
the importance of sports and physical fitness.)
72. Which country’s hockey team is the winner of the Asian Champions Trophy
2023?
Answer: India
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