Current Affairs – GK Questions

Q: Exercise Shakti is a joint military exercise conducted between India and which country?

France – Exercise Shakti is a biennial joint military exercise between the Indian Army and the French Army. India-France have a strategic partnership since 1998.

Q: India pays for Russian oil imports primarily using which currency arrangement?

Indian Rupee and third-country currencies – India has been paying for Russian oil using Indian rupees and third-country currencies like UAE dirhams and Chinese yuan, reducing dependence on the US dollar after sanctions.

Q: Which country is the top source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into India cumulatively?

Mauritius – Mauritius is historically the top source of cumulative FDI into India due to treaty benefits, followed by Singapore, USA, Netherlands, and Japan.

Q: India's first semiconductor fab plant, approved for Dholera in Gujarat, will be set up by which company?

Tata Electronics – Tata Electronics received approval for India's first semiconductor fab in Dholera, Gujarat. The government approved Rs 91,000 crore semiconductor projects under the India Semiconductor Mission.

Q: Which state is famous for the Lathmar Holi celebrated in Barsana and Nandgaon?

Uttar Pradesh – Lathmar Holi is celebrated in Barsana and Nandgaon in Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh — where women beat men with sticks (lathis) in a traditional festival.

Q: India launched 5G services in October 2022. The two telecom operators that first rolled out 5G were Reliance Jio and ___.

Bharti Airtel – Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel were the first operators to commercially launch 5G services in India in October 2022, starting with major cities.

Q: The special status of Jammu & Kashmir under Article ___ of the Indian Constitution was abrogated in August 2019.

370 – Article 370, which granted special autonomous status to Jammu & Kashmir, was abrogated on August 5, 2019. J&K was reorganised into two Union Territories: J&K and Ladakh.

Q: The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) comprises India, USA, Australia, and ___.

Japan – The QUAD (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) is a strategic grouping of India, USA, Australia, and Japan, focused on a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Q: India's DRDO successfully tested the ___ hypersonic missile in November 2024, a breakthrough in hypersonic weapons technology.

Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle – DRDO tested a long-range hypersonic missile based on the Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) in November 2024, marking a major leap in India's defence capabilities.

Q: A Constitutional Amendment Bill in India requires approval of a special majority — at least ___ of the total membership and 2/3 of members present and voting in each House.

50% – Article 368 requires a special majority: more than 50% of total membership AND at least 2/3 of members present and voting in each House of Parliament.