Current affairs curated for UPSC competitive exams.
Answer: 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.
Answer: Mauritius
Mauritius is historically the top source of cumulative FDI into India due to treaty benefits, followed by Singapore, USA, Netherlands, and Japan.
Answer: 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.
Answer: 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.
Answer: 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.
Answer: 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.
Answer: Japan
The QUAD (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) is a strategic grouping of India, USA, Australia, and Japan, focused on a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Answer: 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.
Answer: 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.
Answer: Union Finance Minister
The GST Council is chaired by the Union Finance Minister, with Finance Ministers of all states as members. It decides GST rates, exemptions, and procedural matters.
Answer: False
India has 85 Ramsar sites (3rd highest globally), but the UK and Bolivia have more. The UK leads globally in number of Ramsar sites.
Answer: True
The DPDP Act 2023 designates persons below 18 as 'children' and requires verifiable parental consent before their personal data can be processed.
Answer: False
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 was jointly hosted by Pakistan and UAE, with India's matches played in Dubai/UAE due to India-Pakistan political tensions.
Answer: True
India and China announced a disengagement agreement in October 2024, allowing patrolling to resume at Depsang and Demchok friction points after a 4-year standoff.
Answer: True
ISRO has selected female astronaut candidates as part of its Gaganyaan programme, reflecting India's commitment to gender inclusion in its space programme.
Answer: False
Budget 2025-26 made the new tax regime more attractive (zero tax up to Rs 12 lakh) but did NOT abolish the old regime — both coexist and taxpayers can choose.
Answer: False
BJP won the February 2025 Delhi elections, defeating AAP. Rekha Gupta became Delhi's Chief Minister.
Answer: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) manufactures the Tejas light combat aircraft. India has ordered 83 Tejas Mk1A jets for the Indian Air Force.
Answer: 3rd
India has the 3rd largest startup ecosystem globally after the US and China, with over 1 lakh DPIIT-recognised startups and 100+ unicorns.
Answer: Financial inclusion
PMJDY (launched 2014) aims to ensure financial inclusion by providing universal access to banking, insurance, and pension services to all Indians, especially the unbanked.