This is the current affairs of 20 February 2024. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
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1. Who became the new Deputy Chief of the Indian Army?
a. Lieutenant General Suchindra Kumar
b. Lieutenant General Sahay Kumar
c. Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi
d. Lieutenant General Vinod Sahu
Answer: c. Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi
– On February 19, 2024, he assumed the position of Deputy Chief of the Army.
– Prior to this, he has military experience on borders with China and Pakistan. He has previously served as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Northern Command.
– Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi has replaced Lieutenant General MV Suchindra Kumar.
– With the retirement of current General Manoj Pandey on May 31, Lieutenant General Dwivedi is at the forefront in the race to become the Chief of the Army.
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2. The road situated at which place in India is being called ‘Road to heaven’?
a. Kanyakumari
b. Rann of Kutch
c. Srinagar
d. Ladakh
Answer: b. Rann of Kutch
– ‘Road to Heaven’ is India’s newest scenic road.
– It is approximately 30 kilometers long and connects Khavda in Kutch’s Rann with Dhordo.
– The road was approved in 2019 and was eventually opened for tourists in 2023.
Meaning of “Road to Heaven”:
– Kutch’s Rann is a salt desert and is recognized as one of the largest salt deserts in the world.
– The area also includes the ‘Road to Heaven.’
– It is a 278-kilometer-long national highway from Ghaduli to Santalpur, passing through a 30-kilometer stretch of white desert and lakes.
– While Dhordo is an archaeological site located in the Kutch district of Gujarat.
– It was an ancient and vast city of the Indus Valley Civilization, renowned for its skilled architecture, water management systems, and religious sites.
– Dhordo is a Harappan era city and is India’s 40th World Heritage Site, included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2021.
– Note: Adani Green Energy Limited started electricity production in February 2024 in the world’s largest renewable energy project.
– Location: Khavda, Kutch (Gujarat)
Gujarat:
Capital – Gandhinagar
Chief Minister – Bhupendra Patel
Governor – Acharya Devvrat
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3. According to Henley Passport Index 2024 (released in January, February), which countries got the first place in the list of powerful passports of the world?
a. France, Germany
b. Italy, Japan
c. Singarpur, Spain
d. All of the above
Answer: d. All of the above (France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Spain)
– The ranking of these six countries is first. The passports of these countries are the most powerful.
– The visa-free score of these countries is 194. This means citizens of these countries can travel to 194 countries without a visa.
– Henley Passport Index 2024 ranks a total of 109th. However, the number of countries is more. This is because many countries have been given the same rank.
– Ranking not only indicates travel facilities obtained by citizens of these countries but also shows the strength of diplomatic influence and international relations.
Top 5 Rankings:
1. France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain (Visa-free travel to 194 countries)
2. Finland, Netherlands, South Korea, and Sweden (Visa-free travel to 193 countries)
3. Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, and the United Kingdom (Visa-free travel to 192 countries)
4. Belgium, Norway, and Portugal (Visa-free travel to 191 countries)
5. Australia, Greece, Malta, New Zealand, and Switzerland (Visa-free travel to 190 countries)
Note: India’s rank in this list is 85. India can travel visa-free to 62 countries.
– Afghanistan’s passport ranks 109th globally as the weakest passport.
– This ranking is released twice a year.
– The index is released for the first time in January/February and the second time in July.
Passports of these countries are the weakest
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4. According to Henley Passport Index 2024 (released in January, February), what is the rank of India in the list of powerful passports of the world?
a. 50
b. 75
c. 85
d. 90
Answer: c. 85
– India’s rank in this list is 85. India can travel visa free to 62 countries.
– Last time India’s rank in Henley Passport Index (July 2023) was 80. When visa was free in 57 countries.
Ranking of neighboring countries
Country, rank, entry into how many countries without visa
– China : 64 : 86
– Bangladesh : 102 : 42
– Sri Lanka: 101: 43
– Nepal : 103 : 40
– Pakistan : 106 : 34
– Myanmar : 97 : 48
– Bhutan : 92 : 55
How rankings are determined:
– Rankings are released twice a year.
– They are released for the first time in January/February and the second time in July.
– According to the Henley Passport Visa Index website, real-time data is updated throughout the year.
– Changes in visa policies are also taken into account.
Henley Passport Index:
– It is issued by the London-based global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners.
– International Air Transport Association (IATA) data is used to create it.
– The report determines how many countries can be visited visa-free using the passport of a particular country.
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5. Which is the first Orthodox Christian country to legalize gay marriage?
a. Belgium
b. Russia
c. Finland
d. Greece
Answer: d. Greece
– The Greek parliament approved a bill on February 15, 2024, allowing same-sex marriage and granting equal parental rights to same-sex couples.
– Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced that Greece takes pride in becoming the 16th (European Union) member to enact “marriage equality law.”
Note: Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox are the three main branches of Christianity.
Bill Passed Despite Church Opposition:
– The head of the Orthodox Church says this step will destroy Greece’s social unity.
– Despite strong opposition from the Church, parliament ruled in favor of the rights of same-sex couples.
What rights does this law grant?
– This law grants same-sex couples the right to marry and adopt children.
– In Greece, campaigns for LGBTQ+ equality were run by the LGBTQ+ community for decades.
– Greece is one of the first conservative Christian countries to permit such organizations.
What does “same-sex” mean?
– When a man is attracted to another man or a woman is attracted to another woman, it is called homosexuality or being homosexual.
– In this situation, people are attracted to individuals of the same sex.
In which countries is same-sex marriage legal?
– The Netherlands was the first country to legalize same-sex marriage. Same-sex marriage has been legal there since April 2001.
– However, Denmark had allowed same-sex couples to register as domestic partners in 1989. But no formal law was enacted. – Denmark finally legalized it in 2012.
– Additionally, countries like Belgium, Canada, Spain, South Africa, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Portugal, Argentina, Brazil, England, Wales, Costa Rica, Taiwan, among others, are included.
In India, homosexuality:
– Homosexuality is legally recognized in India, but permission to register marriages is not granted.
– On October 17, the Constitution Bench of 5 Judges denied legal recognition to same-sex marriage.
– LGBTQ: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (Homosexual)
About Greece:
– Greece is a country located in the continent of Europe.
– Its people are referred to as Greek or Hellenic.
– They are called Greeks in English and other Western languages.
– Capital: Athens
– Currency: Euro (€)
– President: Katerina Sakellaropoulou
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6. ICC banned United Kingdom cricketer Rizwan Javed for how many years on match-fixing charges?
a. 12½ years
b. 17½ years
c. 7 years
d. 6 years
Answer: b. 17½ years
– Rizwan Javed is a club cricket player from England.
– Allegations were made against him for attempting to fix matches during the Abu Dhabi T10 League in 2021.
– As a result, on February 15, 2024, the ICC banned him from all cricket for 17 ½ years.
The T10 League is a professional ten-over cricket league:
– It consists of matches with 10 overs each side, hence called the T10 League.
– Each match lasts approximately 90 minutes.
The first edition of this league took place in the year 2017.
– The league is sanctioned by the Emirates Cricket Board.
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7. When is World Social Justice Day celebrated?
a. 18 February
b. 19 February
c. 20 February
d. 21 February
Answer: c. 20 February
– World Social Justice Day is celebrated every year on 20 February.
– The year 2007 was announced by the United Nations General Assembly.
– Was celebrated for the first time in the year 2008.
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8. When was the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj celebrated in the year 2024?
a. 18 February
b. 19 February
c. 20 February
d. 21 February
Answer: b. 19 February
– In 2024, the 394th birth anniversary of – Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was celebrated.
– Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s original name was Shivaji Bhonsle.
– He was a great king and strategist of India who laid the foundation of the Maratha Empire in Western India in 1674 CE. For this, he clashed with the Mughal Empire’s ruler Aurangzeb. He was coronated in Raigad in 1674, becoming the “Chhatrapati”.
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9. When is World Pangolin Day celebrated?
a. first saturday of february
b. second saturday of february
c. third saturday of february
d. fourth saturday of february
Answer: c. Third Saturday of February (February 17 in 2024)
– The purpose of celebrating this day is to raise awareness about these mammals.
About the Pangolin:
– Its body is covered with scales made of keratin, similar to armor, which helps it defend against other animals.
– The pangolin is a solitary mammal with such scales.
– It is naturally found in Africa and Asia.
– The tongue of the pangolin can extend far beyond its body.
– Its name comes from the Malay word ‘pengguling,’ meaning ‘something that rolls up.’
– Pangolins are the most trafficked mammals in the world because people desire their meat and bones.
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10. When is Soil Health Card (SHC) Day celebrated?
a. 19 February
b. 20 February
c. 21 February
d. 22 February
Answer: a. 19 February
– Every year, on February 19th, India celebrates Soil Health Card Day to mark the inauguration of the Soil Health Card Scheme.
– The objective of this scheme is to issue soil health cards to all farmers every two years.
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Soil Health Card Scheme on February 19, 2015, in Sirohi, Rajasthan.
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