This is the current affairs of 14 & 15 April 2024. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
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1. Which country attacked Israel with 300 drones and missiles on the night of 13 April 2024 and also issued a warning to it not to retaliate?
a. Iran
b. Kuwait
c. Iraq
d. Qatar
Answer: a. Iran
– On the night of April 13, 2024, the Iranian army launched an attack on Israel with nearly 300 drones, cruise missiles, and drones.
– Most of the drones and missiles were shot down, with some missiles crossing into Israeli territory.
– Israel carried out the task of shooting down the missiles and drones with the help of the United States, United Kingdom, Jordan, and France.
– Israel’s Naval Airforce Base suffered some damage due to these attacks.
Iran named the attack ‘Operation True Promise’.
– Iran named this attack on Israel ‘Operation True Promise’.
– In reality, on April 1, Israel conducted an airstrike on the Iranian commercial consulate in Syria.
– This airstrike resulted in the deaths of 13 people, including two top Iranian Army commanders.
– Iran considered the attack on its consulate an assault on its soil and a violation of international law.
– Subsequently, Iran threatened to retaliate against Israel.
Israel reopened its airspace approximately 7 hours after the attack on the night of April 13.
Iran stated – There will be a big action if an attack occurs
– Iran claims that its revenge has been completed and it does not want to launch any further attacks.
– However, Iran has threatened the United States that if they support Israel in a counterattack, the next attack will be on American bases.
– Commander Mohammad Bagheri of Iran’s army said on State TV, “If Israel attacks, we will respond even more strongly.”
Iran wrote a letter to the UN Chief
– After the attack on Israel, Iran wrote a letter to UN Chief Antonio Guterres.
– Iran stated that they do not want to escalate the situation further.
– Tehran said that their attack was in self-defense.
– Iran justified its attack by referring to Article 51 of the UN Charter, which allows any country to use force in self-defense.
– It was said – We attacked Israel in response to the attack on the Iranian consulate.
– Now, if Israel launches a retaliatory attack, we will respond even more strongly.
Iran’s claim – Israel incurred a loss of 836 crores
– Iran’s state media IRNA claimed that Iran incurred a loss of nearly 836 crore rupees due to the attack.
– According to Lebanon’s Al-Mayadeen TV, most of the damage caused by Iran’s attacks was to the missile defense system.
– Many missiles fell in the city of Arad.
– Some missiles also hit the city of Al-Fahham.
Respond to Iran with a major attack
– Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also praised the military’s intelligence and defense during the attack.
– There is a demand to respond to Iran with a major attack.
Israel says – Iran has failed
– Israeli army IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagar said, “We stopped 99% of Iran’s drones and missiles.
– Iran targeted the Negev Desert’s Nevatim Airforce Base. Some damage was inflicted in the attack.
– Iran thought they would destroy the Israeli base, but that didn’t happen. Iran failed.”
Netanyahu said – We stopped Iranian attacks
– After Iran’s attack on Israel, PM Netanyahu wrote in a social media post, “We stopped Iranian drones and missiles.
– We blocked the attacks. Together, we will prevail.
India and China say – Both sides should work for peace
– China has also issued a statement regarding Iran’s attacks.
– China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “The conflict is escalating in Gaza. Immediate ceasefires are needed to stop it. – Both sides should work for peace to prevent clashes.”
– India has also urged dialogue to find a solution to the issue.
America intercepted 70 drones and 3 ballistic missiles
– During the attack on Israel, America intercepted Iran’s 70 drones and 3 ballistic missiles.
– According to reports, American warships intercepted ballistic missiles over the Mediterranean Sea.
– Additionally, American fighter jets also intercepted the Iranian attack.
– According to CNN, American navy has deployed 2 warships in the Middle East.
– American soldiers are stationed in 8 countries in the Middle East.
– In the situation of war, they can assist Israel.
Britain sent Airforce jets to the Middle East
– Concerned about Iran’s attacks, Britain has sent several Airforce jets and air refueling tankers to the Middle East.
– Britain’s Ministry of Defense said, “We will protect our missions in the region.”
Saudi Arabia says – Both countries should not escalate the dispute
– Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry expressed concern over Iran’s attacks.
– The Ministry said, “Maintaining peace and security at the international level is the responsibility of the UNSC. – Both countries should focus on not escalating the dispute.
America will not support Israel in a counterattack
– According to CNN, Biden told Netanyahu over the phone that if Israel launches a retaliatory action against Iran, America will not support them.
– Biden said that if Israel attacks Iran, America will oppose it.
How is Israel’s air defense system?
– Even before reaching Israeli territory, Iran’s drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles were intercepted. – There wasn’t significant damage.
– The reason behind this is Israel’s highly advanced air defense system.
– Israel’s air defense system has four layers. Let’s understand each one.
1. The Arrow: This is the outermost layer of the Arrow missile system. It intercepts ballistic missiles long before they reach Israeli territory. Israel developed it in collaboration with the United States.
2. David’s Sling: This system uses Stunner missiles. It can intercept enemy aircraft, drones, and missiles from 40 to 300 kilometers away.
3. Patriot: The third layer is the Patriot missile defense system. It intercepts missiles in the air from the surface. Developed by America, this missile defense system has been with Israel for decades. It was used to intercept Scud missiles fired by Saddam Hussein’s Iraq during the first Gulf War in 1991.
4. Iron Dome: The fourth security layer is the Iron Dome. It intercepts rockets fired from areas like Gaza, meaning nearby regions. Developed with American support, this system is proficient in intercepting short-range rockets. Its success rate is 90%.
5. Iron Beam: Israel is developing a new laser-based system to counter potential threats. Although it hasn’t been deployed yet, it’s believed to be a game-changer as it will be much cheaper compared to other systems.
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2. Which country took control of a ship belonging to Israel in the Strait of Hormuz, which had 17 Indian nationals on board?
a. USA
b. Yemen
c. Turkey
d. Iran
Answer: d. Iran
Iran seized an incoming Indian ship
– On April 13th, Iran seized a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, which is located in the Gulf of Oman and is connected to Israel.
– Iranian commandos boarded the ship from helicopters.
– This ship was en route to India and had 17 Indian citizens on board.
– The seized ship was flying the flag of Portugal.
– This ship belongs to the London-based Zodiac Maritime company.
– Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer also has a stake in this company.
– India is in contact with Iran through diplomatic channels regarding this incident.
– Efforts are being made to bring back the Indians considering the security situation.
Protection of Indian citizens
– Following the Iranian attack, Israel’s Ambassador to India, Naor Gilon, stated that the protection of Indian citizens present there will be ensured.
– He mentioned that Indian citizens are not different from Israelis.
– Israel will ensure everyone’s safety.
– In light of Iran’s attack, the Indian embassy in Iran has issued a helpline number for its citizens.
Air India suspends flights
– Air India has canceled its flights to Israel until further notice.
– Air India’s flights operate from Mumbai and Delhi to Tel Aviv.
– Indian airlines Air India and Vistara had already announced on April 13th that they would not use Iranian airspace.
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3. Which boxer resigned from the post of Chef-de-Mission of the Indian contingent in the Paris Olympics in April 2024?
a. Mary Kom
b. Vijender Singh
c. Pinki Rani
d. Lovlina Borgohain
Answer: a. Mary Kom
– MC Mary Kom resigned from her position as the Chef de Mission of the Indian contingent for the Paris Olympics citing “personal reasons” on April 12th.
– The announcement was made by the President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), P.T. Usha, on April 12, 2024.
Note: Chef de Mission refers to a person appointed by a member who is responsible for the overall selection, preparation, and supervision of the member team.
MC Mary Kom:
– She is an Indian female boxer.
– Hailing from Manipur.
– She is an Olympic bronze medalist and a six-time world champion.
– A film has also been made on her life, in which Priyanka Chopra played her role.
Paris Olympics 2024:
– Dates: July 26th to August 11th, 2024
– Location: Paris, France
– President of the IOC: Thomas Bach
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4. Which Indian mission team received the John L. ‘Jack’ Swigert, Jr. Award for Space Exploration in April 2024?
a. Aditya L-1
b. Chandrayaan-3
c. Mars orbiter mission
d. Shukrayaan-1
Answer: b. Chandrayaan-3
– The John L. “Jack” Swigert, Jr. Award
– This is a top award of the U.S.-based Space Foundation.
– The award was presented at the annual Space Symposium of the Colorado, U.S.-based Space Foundation.
– In Houston, USA, Indian Ambassador to the United States Deepti Manjunath received this award on behalf of ISRO.
– This award was given in April 2024.
– However, the announcement of this award was made by the CEO of the Space Foundation, Heather Pringle, in January 2024.
What achievements does the award recognize?
– This award recognizes outstanding achievements in the field of space exploration and discovery by any company, space agency, or organization.
– It was established in memory of John L. “Jack” Swigert, Jr. by the Space Foundation for space exploration in 2004.
Key personnel of Chandrayaan-3 mission
– Dr. S. Somnath (ISRO Chief)
– P. Veeramuthuvel (Project Director)
– M. Shrikant (Mission Director)
– S. Mohana Kumar (Mission Director for Launch)
– Kalpana Kalahasti (Associate Project Director)
– V. Narayanan (Director of Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre)
– M. Shankaran (Director of UR Rao Satellite Centre)
– B.N. Ramakrishna (Director of Estrack Satellite Navigation)
– S. Unnikrishnan Nair (Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre)
– In addition to these, there are other scientists who have made significant contributions to this mission.
About Chandrayaan-3
– When was Chandrayaan-3 launched: July 14, 2023
– Launched by which rocket: Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM-3)
– When did the safe landing on the moon occur: Evening of August 23, 2023 (6:04 PM)
– Where did it land on the moon: Soft landing on the South Pole (Southern Pole) of the moon
ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation)
– Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka
– Establishment: August 15, 1969
– Chairman: Dr. S. Somanath
– First Chairman: Vikram Sarabhai
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5. ‘World Cyber Crime Index’ (WCI) has been released, what is India’s rank in it?
a. 10th
b. 9th
c. 11th
d. 5th
Answer: a. 10th
– Experts from the University of Oxford and the University of New South Wales conducted a global study on cybercrime. Based on this, the ‘World Cyber Crime Index’ (WCI) was released in April 2024.
– According to it, India ranks 10th in terms of cybercrime cases.
– The report identified main hotspots according to different categories of cybercrime, including ransomware, credit card theft, and fraud, among others.
– Russia topped the list, Ukraine stood second, and China ranked third.
– The United States remained in fourth place.
Survey focused on five crime categories:
– The survey centered around five major categories of cybercrimes, in which experts identified countries they consider primary sources for each type of cybercrime.
These were the five categories:
1. Technical Products/Services (malware coding, botnet access, compromised systems access, tool production).
2. Attacks and Extortion (denial-of-service attacks, ransomware).
3. Data/Identity Theft (hacking, phishing, account compromise, including credit card theft).
4. Frauds (advance fee frauds, business email compromise, online auction frauds).
5. Cash-out/Money Laundering (credit card frauds, money mules, illicit virtual currency platforms).
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6. When is World Chagas Disease Day observed?
a. 14 April
b. 15 April
c. 16 April
d. 17 April
Answer: a. 14 April
– The World Health Assembly declared this day in the year 2019.
– This disease is also known as American trypanosomiasis.
– This illness occurs from the entry of the parasite called – Trypanosoma into the body.
– This parasite can enter the human body through insect bites.
– It causes fever and can also result in fatalities.
WHO
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
Director-General: Tedros Adhanom
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7. When is Samathuva Naal (Equality Day) celebrated?
a. 14 April
b. 15 April
c. 16 April
d. 17 April
Answer: a. 14 April
– Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s birth anniversary (April 14) was declared as ‘Samathuva Naal (Equality Day)’.
– Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin had announced this in the assembly in April 2022.
Tamil Nadu
Chief Minister: M.K. Stalin
Capital: Chennai
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8. When is World Art Day celebrated?
a. 14 April
b. 15 April
c. 16 April
d. 17 April
Answer: b. 15 April
Theme of 2024:
– A Garden of Expression: Cultivating Community through Art.
– Declared during the 40th session of UNESCO’s General Conference in 2019.
– This day is celebrated to promote the development, dissemination, and enjoyment of art.
– Every year on April 15th, World Art Day celebrations aid in strengthening relations between artistic creations and society.
– It encourages awareness of the diversity of artistic expressions.
– And highlights the contributions of artists towards sustainable development.
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9. Which university has ranked first in the QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) World University Rankings 2024?
a. Cambridge University
b. Stanford University
c. Oxford University
d. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Answer: d. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Top 10 Global Universities
1. MIT (USA)
2. University of Cambridge (UK)
3. University of Oxford (UK)
4. Harvard University (USA)
5. Stanford University (USA)
6. Imperial College London (UK)
7. ETH Zurich (Switzerland)
8. National University of Singapore (Singapore)
UCL (UK)
9. University of California, Berkeley (USA)
Basis of Ranking:
– Academic Reputation, Employer Reputation, Faculty-Student Ratio, International Faculty Ratio, International Student Ratio, International Research Network, Student Employability
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10. Which Indian institution got the best ranking in the QS World University Rankings 2024?
a. JNU (Jawaharlal Nehru University)
b. IISc Bangalore (Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore)
c. IIT Madras (Indian Institute of Technology, Madras)
d. IIT Bombay (Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay)
Answer: d. IIT Bombay (Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay)
– Indian institutions are not included in the list of the top 100 in the world.
– The ranking of IIT Bombay is 149.
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11. How many Indian institutions are included in the top 200 list of QS World University Rankings 2023?
a. 2
b. 3
c. 5
d. 4
Answer: a. 2
Which institutions?
Rank and institution
149: IIT Bombay
197: IIT Delhi
Top 500 ranking includes India’s top universities
Ranking – University: Score
149: IIT Bombay
197: IIT Delhi
225: IISc Bangalore
271: IIT Kharagpur
278: IIT Kanpur
285: IIT Madras
364: IIT Guwahati
369: IIT Rohtak
407: Delhi University
427: Anna University
454: IIT Indore
Note – JNU ranks 20th in the world and first in India in the subject category of ‘Development Studies’. However, its overall university ranking is 601-610 in the world.
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