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1. Whose name did CJI Justice Sanjiv Khanna recommend to the Central Government for the post of 52nd Chief Justice of the Supreme Court?
a. Justice Ajay Rastogi
b. Justice BR Gavai
c. Justice Hemant Gupta
d. Justice DY Chandrachud
Answer: b. Justice BR Gavai
– Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna is retiring on May 13, 2025.
– In fact, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal had requested CJI Sanjiv Khanna to recommend the name of the next Chief Justice.
– Following this, Chief Justice Khanna recommended the name of Justice B.R. Gavai to the Central Government on April 16, 2025, as the 52nd Chief Justice of India.
– He will take oath as the CJI after the retirement of Justice Sanjiv Khanna on May 13, 2025.
– His tenure will last until November 23, 2025.
About Justice B.R. Gavai
– He was elevated to the Supreme Court as a judge on May 25, 2019.
– Prior to that, he served as a judge in the Bombay High Court.
– Major judgments – As a member of a five-judge Constitution Bench, he upheld the Central Government’s decision to abrogate Article 370, which granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir, and also struck down the Electoral Bonds Scheme.
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Chief Justice of the country
51st: Justice Sanjeev Khanna
50th: Justice DY Chandrachud
49th: Justice UU Lalit
48th: Justice NV Ramana
47th: Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde
46th: Justice Ranjan Gogai
First CJI of India: Harilal J. Kania (1950)
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Constitutional Basis:
– Article 124(1): Article 124(1) of the Indian Constitution pertains to the establishment of the Supreme Court and the appointment of the Chief Justice and other judges.
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Appointment of the Chief Justice of India (CJI):
– The President of India appoints the Chief Justice.
– Traditionally, the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court is appointed as the CJI, based on seniority.
– The appointment process follows the Collegium System, which includes the CJI and the four senior-most judges of the Supreme Court.
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Process of Becoming the Chief Justice of India:
– According to the Memorandum of Procedure for Appointment of Supreme Court Judges, “the appointment to the office of the Chief Justice of India should be of the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court considered fit to hold the office.”
– The process starts with the Union Law Minister seeking a recommendation from the outgoing CJI for the next appointment.
– At the appropriate time, the Law Minister obtains the recommendation.
– As per procedure, once the recommendation is received from the CJI, the Minister of Law, Justice and Corporate Affairs forwards it to the Prime Minister, who then advises the President of India for the appointment.
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Eligibility:
To be appointed as the Chief Justice, the same qualifications apply as for a Supreme Court judge:
– Must be a citizen of India.
– Must have been a High Court judge for at least 5 years, or
– Must have been an advocate in a High Court for at least 10 years, or
– Must, in the opinion of the President, be a distinguished jurist.
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Tenure:
– There is no fixed tenure for the CJI.
– However, the retirement age is fixed at 65 years.
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Major Duties and Responsibilities:
– Heads the Supreme Court.
– Constitutes Constitution Benches.
– Plays a key role in the appointment of judges through the Collegium System.
– Supervises the administrative functions of the higher judiciary.
– Advises the President on judicial appointments and transfers.
– Has a role during the impeachment process initiated by Parliament.
– The CJI is referred to as the “Master of the Roster” – meaning they decide which bench hears which case.
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Removal of the CJI:
– The CJI can be removed only through the impeachment process.
– This process is extremely stringent: a motion must be passed in both Houses of Parliament by a special majority, after which the President can remove the CJI from office.
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2. Who was the winner of Bahrain Grand Prix 2025?
a. Yuki Tsunoda
b. oscar piastri
c. lando norris
d. george russell lap
Answer: b. oscar piastri
– Australia’s Oscar Piastri was the winner of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
– On April 13, in the race held in Bahrain, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri secured victory with a strong lead of 15.499 seconds.
– This was McLaren’s first win at the Bahrain circuit.
– It was also Piastri’s second win of the 2025 season.
– He had claimed his first victory in March in China.
– Additionally, George Russell of Mercedes finished second, and McLaren’s Lando Norris took the third spot.
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3. Padma Vibhushan awardee Kumudini Lakhia passed away on 12 April 2025, what was she known for?
a. poetess
b. harpist
c. Kathak dancer
d. classical music singer
Answer: c. Kathak dancer
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu expressed their condolences on X (formerly Twitter) following her passing.
– The 95-year-old renowned Kathak dancer Kumudini Lakhia began choreographing in 1973.
– She also choreographed for the Hindi film Umrao Jaan (1981).
– She was born in 1930 into a music-loving family in Mumbai.
– She learned Kathak from Pt. Sunder Prasad of the Jaipur Gharana.
– She also trained under Pt. Shambhu Maharaj and collaborated with Pt. Birju Maharaj.
– At the age of 18, she toured Europe with dance maestro Ram Gopal.
– In January 2024, she was honored with the Padma Vibhushan on Republic Day.
– She had earlier received the Padma Shri in 1987 and the Padma Bhushan in 2010, along with several other national awards.
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4. Who won the Ecuador presidential election again?
a. Luisa Gonzalez
b. Daniel Noboa
c. Vivian Robert
d. Balmart King
Answer: b. Daniel Noboa
– Ecuador’s National Electoral Council announced on April 13, 2025, that President Daniel Noboa was re-elected, defeating leftist candidate Luisa González during the vote count.
– Noboa was initially elected by voters in an emergency election held in October 2023.
– In the first round of elections held in February 2025, Noboa received 44.17% of the votes, while González secured 44%.
Capital: Quito
Population: 10 million (2023)
Official Language: Spanish
Currency: US Dollar (USD)
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5. Emmy Award-winning Hollywood actress Jean Marsh passed away, she was from which country?
a. Britain
b. America
c. France
d. spain
Answer: a. Britain
– Jean Marsh, aged 90, passed away on April 13, 2025, due to dementia.
– She was best known for the British drama “Upstairs, Downstairs”, in which she played the role of the maid Mrs. Buck.
– She was also a co-creator of the series.
– In 1975, she won the Emmy Award for Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her outstanding performance.
– In 2022, Jean Marsh made a cameo appearance in the television series based on “Willow”.
– In 2012, Queen Elizabeth II honored her with the title “Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)” for her services to drama.
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6. Which Bollywood star was honored with the ‘Master Humor Award’ at the Macau Comedy Festival?
a. Shahrukh Khan
b. aamir khan
c. salman khan
d. vicky kaushal
Answer: b. aamir khan
– Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan has had several films that were more successful in China than in India.
– His 2009 comedy, directed by Rajkumar Hirani, 3 Idiots, was a huge hit in China.
– Following that, Rajkumar Hirani’s 2014 sci-fi comedy PK was a blockbuster at the Chinese box office.
– Additionally, Nitesh Tiwari’s 2016 films Dangal and Secret Superstar were also big hits in China.
– For these accomplishments, Aamir Khan was honored at the Macau Comedy Festival in China.
– In China, Aamir is affectionately called “Uncle Me” by Chinese moviegoers.
– The Macau Comedy Festival was held from April 9 to 13, 2025.
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7. CM Yogi Adityanath announced to name the Zero Poverty Scheme after which great man?
a. Dr. BR Ambedkar
b. Lala Lajpat Rai
c. Atal Bihari Vajpayee
d. Bhagat Singh
Answer: a. Dr. BR Ambedkar
– On 14th April 2025, the birth anniversary of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath dedicated the state’s’Zero Poverty Scheme’ in his name.
– The Zero Poverty Program is set to begin by the end of this month.
– In the first phase, 14-15 lakh families will be included in this program.
Zero Poverty Scheme
– The Uttar Pradesh government launched the ‘Zero Poverty Uttar Pradesh Campaign’ on 2nd October 2024. This initiative was announced by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on **Gandhi Jayanti.
– The goal of the scheme is to eliminate extreme poverty in the state.
– It aims to empower economically, socially, and educationally disadvantaged and marginalized communities.
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8. When is World Art Day celebrated?
a. 14 April
b. 15th April
c. 16 April
d. 17th April
Answer: b. 15th April
Theme for 2025:
– Art for Unity and Transformation
– This theme was announced during the 40th session of the UNESCO General Conference in 2019.
– World Art Day is celebrated to promote the development, dissemination, and enjoyment of art.
– Every year, on April 15, World Art Day celebrations help strengthen the connection between artistic creations and society.
– It encourages greater awareness of the diversity of artistic expressions.
– It also highlights the contribution of artists towards sustainable development.
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9. When is World Voice Day celebrated?
a. 14 April
b. 15th April
c. 16 April
d. 17th April
Answer: c. 16 April
– World Voice Day aims to primarily promote the proper care and training of the human voice.
– This day was first observed in 1999 in Brazil. It was initiated by a group of voice health professionals in Brazil to raise awareness among the public about the importance of voice care.
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10. Name the popular celebrity singer, who traveled to space in April 2025?
a. jordan dunn
b. katy perry
c. kariann flynn
d. kim kardashian
Answer: b. katy perry
– Pop star Katy Perry and five other women boarded the Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket on April 14, 2025, for a space journey. The mission lasted 11 minutes and took them over 100 kilometers into space.
Katy Perry (Real name: Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson)
– Born on October 25, 1984, in California.
– She is an American singer, songwriter, and television personality.
– Katy Perry is the first celebrity singer to travel to space.
– She is also one of the best-selling music artists in history. Perry is known for her pop music and her camp style, which has made a significant impact.
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11. In which private spacecraft will an all-women team travel to space for the first time in April 2025?
a. ariane 5
b. new glen
c. New Shepard
d. falcon 9
Answer: c. New Shepard (operated by Blue Origin)
– Pop star Katy Perry and five other women traveled to space aboard the Blue Origin New Shepard rocket on April 14, 2025. The mission lasted 11 minutes and took the passengers over 100 kilometers above the Earth.
– The flight took the passengers past the Kármán Line, which is internationally recognized as the boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space.
– The rocket traveled a total of 212 kilometers, including the round trip.
– This is the first all-women space mission since 1963, where only women participated.
– The previous all-women mission was in 1963, when Russian engineer Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to travel to space.
Kármán Line
– The Kármán Line is an imaginary boundary that marks the division between the Earth’s atmosphere and outer space.
– It is generally considered to be 100 kilometers (62 miles) above sea level.
All-Women Space Mission Passengers
1. Katy Perry (Real Name: Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson)
– She is an American singer, songwriter, and television personality.
– She is the first celebrity singer to travel to space.
2. Lauren Sánchez
– She is a TV anchor, helicopter pilot, and fiancé of Jeff Bezos. She is from the United States.
3. Gayle King
– She is a famous American journalist, author, and broadcast journalist for CBS News. She is from the United States.
4. Ayesha Bowe
– She is a former NASA rocket scientist, aerospace engineer, and entrepreneur. She is from the United States.
5. Kerryann Flynn
– She is a film producer, known for her work in independent films. She is from the United States.
6. Amanda Nguyen
– She is an American social entrepreneur, civil rights activist, and founder and CEO of Rise, Inc., a U.S.-based NGO focused on civil rights. She is from the United States.
Who Can Book a Blue Origin Flight?
Anyone can book a seat on a Blue Origin flight to space, but it requires a significant amount of money. The company’s website has a reservation page where potential passengers can fill out a form with basic details such as name, address, and birth date. The form also has a section where passengers are asked to write about themselves in 500 words or less. The only requirement for filling out the form is that applicants must be 18 years or older.
What is the Cost of Space Travel?
– Currently, space tourism is only accessible to the wealthy.
– The cost for a trip to outer space typically starts at around 1 million dollars.
– For instance, although Blue Origin has not made their full ticket prices public, a deposit of $150,000 is required to reserve a seat.
– According to Space.com, the cost of a space trip on a Virgin Galactic spacecraft is approximately $450,000.
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12. The Maharashtra government has announced to rename which city, which houses the tomb of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, as Ratnapur?
a. Khultabad
b. Sholapur
c. Amravati
d. Pune
Answer: a. Khultabad
– Maharashtra’s Minister of Social Justice, Sanjay Shirsat, announced this new name on April 8, 2025.
– Khultabad is a city that houses the tomb of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, and this had led to protests by Bajrang Dal and Vishva Hindu Parishad.
– After the protests, riots broke out in Nagpur.
– Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar was previously known as Kharki. Over time, its name was changed to Aurangabad.
– Similarly, Khultabad was originally known as Ratnapur and later became Khultabad.
– Work is currently underway to build a memorial for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Sambhaji Maharaj in Khultabad.
– This is seen as a step to highlight the valor and heritage of the Marathas.
Details about Maharashtra:
– Capital: Mumbai
– Chief Minister: Devendra Fadnavis
– Governor: C.P. Radhakrishnan
– Population: 110 million (2011)
– Language: Marathi
– Neighboring States: Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Goa
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