This is the current affairs of 24 to 28 March 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 has been named by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) as the flag bearer for India at the Paris Olympics 2024?
a. Neeraj Chopra
b. Sharath Kamal
c. MC Mary Kom
d. PV Sindhu
Answer: b. Sharath Kamal
– Sharath Kamal is an experienced table tennis player from India.
– He hails from Tamil Nadu. He is 41 years old.
– The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has named him as the flag bearer for India at the Paris Olympics 2024.
– This announcement was made in March 2024.
– Besides him, MC Mary Kom has been named as India’s Chef de Mission for the Paris Olympics 2024.
Note: Chef de Mission refers to a person appointed by a member to be responsible for the overall selection, preparation, and coordination of the member team.
Paris Olympics 2024
– Event Dates: July 26th to August 11th, 2024
– Where: Paris (France)
– President of the IOC: Thomas Bach
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2. According to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which countries will not participate in the opening ceremony parade of Paris Olympics 2024?
a. America and Japan
b. Russia and Belarus
c. India and Nepal
d. Only a
Answer: b. Russia and Belarus
– The opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics 2024 is on 26th July.
– In March 2024, the IOC announced that athletes from Russia and Belarus will not participate in the parade of the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics 2024.
Why won’t they participate?
– Due to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, athletes from both countries did not take part in the parade.
– Belarus had supported Russia in this war.
– However, athletes from both countries will compete independently without their flags and national anthems after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
– In this Olympics, there may be 36 passport holders of Russia.
– 22 passport holders from Belarus.
– Athletes participating will have to fulfill the condition that they have not supported the war or are not associated with security forces.
Opening ceremony not in the stadium this time
– The parade of the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics 2024 will be held on the ‘Seine River’.
– Usually, the parade is held in the stadium.
– Thousands of athletes will come from the ‘Seine River’ (a river flowing in France) towards the Eiffel Tower by boats.
– The IOC said that athletes from Russia and Belarus can watch the parade from the banks of the river.
Years – Summer Olympics
2024 – Paris (France) (26th July to 11th August 2024)
2028 – Los Angeles (USA)
2032 – Brisbane (Australia)
International Olympic Committee
– Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland
– President: Thomas Bach
– Founded: 23rd June 1894, Paris, France
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3. Which asteroid was named after Professor Jayant Murthy by the International Astronomical Union (IAU)?
a. Asteroid 2016 EX290
b. Asteroid 2015 EX295
c. Asteroid 2005 EX296
d. None of these
Answer: c. Asteroid 2005 EX296
– Old name of Asteroid: 2005 EX296
– New Name: “(215884) Jayant Murthy”
– Announcement when: 18 March 2024
– Who: International Astronomical Union (IAU)
– Establishment of IAU: 1919
According to The Hindu newspaper, this working group is the body designated to give official names to all asteroids, comets and other small objects in the solar system.
Why was the asteroid named after Professor Murthy?
– The asteroid is named after Professor Murthy in recognition of his work to observe ultraviolet background radiation on the NASA New Horizons science team.
– New Horizons is a space research vehicle of the American space research organization NASA.
Asteroid ‘(215884) Jayant Murthy’
– This asteroid revolves around the Sun in an orbit between Mars and Jupiter once every 3.3 years.
– Asteroid (215884) Jayanthamurthi was discovered in 2005 by M.W. Jayantha at Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona, USA. Was done by sowing.
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4. Which neighboring country honored Prime Minister Narendra Modi with ‘The Order of the Druk Gyalpo’?
a. Nepal
b. Bangladesh
c. Bhutan
d. Sri Lanka
Answer: c. Bhutan
– On 22nd March 2024, PM Modi was conferred with the ‘Order of the Druk Gyalpo,’ Bhutan’s highest civilian honor.
– PM visited Bhutan on a two-day trip, where he was bestowed with this honor by Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.
– He is the first foreign head of government to receive this honor.
– The announcement of the honor was made by the King of Bhutan on 17th December 2021 during the 114th National Day celebrations.
– Narendra Modi was awarded for his “outstanding contribution to the development of India-Bhutan relations and his exceptional service to the Bhutanese nation and its people.”
– India had provided significant assistance to Bhutan during the COVID-19 pandemic.
– This is PM Modi’s third visit to Bhutan since becoming Prime Minister in 2014; previously, he visited Bhutan in 2014 and 2019.
About Bhutan:
– King: Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck
– Bhutan is a landlocked mountainous nation with approximately 800,000 inhabitants.
– Bhutan shares its borders with India and China (Tibet).
– States sharing borders: West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Assam.
– Capital: Thimphu (largest city)
– Currency: Bhutanese Ngultrum, Indian Rupee
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5. India increased its aid to which country from ₹5,000 crore in 2019-2024 to ₹10,000 crore by 2029?
a. Nepal
b. Bhutan
c. Afghanistan
d. Maldives
Answer: b. Bhutan
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on an official visit to Bhutan on 21-22 March 2024.
– India has announced assistance to Bhutan for the next five years.
– A financial aid of ₹5,000 crores was allocated for the Gelephu Project from 2019 to 2024.
– This assistance has been increased to ₹10,000 crores until March 2029.
Gelephu Project:
– Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck announced a plan to create a massive “international city” in an area of more than 1,000 square kilometers along the border with Assam in December 2023.
– This project is known as the Gelephu Project.
India-Bhutan Relations:
– The beginning of India-Bhutan relations dates back to the signing of the Sinchula Treaty in 1865.
– This treaty was signed between Bhutan and British India.
– The establishment of the Bilateral Indo-Bhutan Group Border Management and Security aims to ensure border security between the two countries.
– Bhutan has been a member of the United Nations since 1971.
– Bhutan maintains various relations with India such as economic, strategic, and military relations.
– During the COVID-19 pandemic, India was the first country to send vaccines to Bhutan.
– Additionally, after becoming Prime Minister in 2014, Modi’s first foreign visit was to Bhutan.
– He also visited Bhutan again in 2019 after being re-elected as Prime Minister.
– Now, in March 2024, he undertook another visit to Bhutan.
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6. According to the report of “Hurun Global Rich List 2024” which city was declared the Millenaire Capital of Asia?
a. Mumbai
b. Bengaluru
c. Chennai
d. New Delhi
Answer: a. Mumbai
– According to a report by the Hurun Research Institute, Mumbai has emerged as the new capital of millionaires in Asia, surpassing Beijing.
– The report states that the highest number of millionaires in Asia reside in Mumbai.
– The country has seen 94 new millionaires added, which is the highest in any country other than the United States.
– A total of 271 ultra-high-net-worth individuals have emerged in India.
– This surge is the highest since the year 2013.
– According to the released report by the institute’s chairman and chief researcher, Rupert Hoogewerf, India has now moved to the third position in the list of rich people.
– The report mentions that there are a total of 3,279 millionaires worldwide, with the highest number of 814 in China.
– Following that, the second position is held by the United States with 800 millionaires.
– The report also mentions that for the first time, the capital city of the country, New Delhi, has made it to the top 10 cities for millionaires.
Areas of Surge:
– The report also focuses on which sectors have seen the most growth.
– The pharmaceutical sector leads with 39 millionaires, followed by the automobile and auto component industry (27), and the chemical sector (24).
– The wealth of Indian millionaires is equivalent to a staggering $1 trillion, which accounts for 7% of the global millionaire wealth, indicating the significant economic impact of the country.
Countries Millionaires:
– Mukesh Ambani, the chairman of Reliance Industries, leads the Indian billionaire group, with a total wealth of $115 billion.
– The founder of the Adani Group’s energy division, Gautam Adani, has a wealth value of $86 billion.
– Due to the rise in the share prices of their companies, there has been an increase of $33 billion in their wealth.
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7. When is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination observed?
a. 20 March
b. 21 March
c. 22 March
d. 23 March
Answer: b. 21 March
– On this day in the year 1960, during peaceful protests against the apartheid laws by the police in Sharpeville, South Africa, 69 demonstrators were killed in a gunfire incident.
– In memory of that event, the United Nations General Assembly initiated this day, which is observed worldwide.
– Secretary-General of the United Nations: António Guterres.
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8. When is World Water Day celebrated?
a. 20 March
b. 21 March
c. 22 March
d. 23 March
Answer: c. 22 March
Theme of 2024:
– Leveraging water for peace
– This day has been observed annually since 1993.
– This day is declared by the United Nations.
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9. When is Bihar Diwas celebrated?
a. 20 March
b. 21 March
c. 22 March
d. 23 March
Answer: c. 22 March
– On March 22, 1912, Bihar emerged as an independent state, separating from the Bengal province, and appeared on the map of the world as a sovereign state.
– It was during the tenure of the current Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar, that the celebration of Bihar Day commenced.
– It was initiated in the year 2010.
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10. When is World Meteorological Day celebrated?
a. 20 March
b. 21 March
c. 22 March
d. 23 March
Answer: d. 23 March
Theme of 2024:
– At the Frontline of Climate Action
– World Meteorological Day is celebrated annually on March 23 to commemorate the establishment of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on March 23, 1950.
– This day acknowledges the significant role of the WMO in advancing global efforts in weather, climate, and water management. It also raises awareness about the contributions of the organization.
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11. When is World Tuberculosis Day observed?
a. 26 March
b. 25 March
c. 24 March
d. 23 March
Answer: c. 24 March
Theme of 2024:
– Yes! We Can End TB.
– This day is proclaimed by the United Nations.
– This day is celebrated to raise awareness among the people about efforts to eradicate TB disease.
– On March 24, 1882, German physician and microbiologist Robert Koch discovered the bacteria of TB, namely the tubercle bacillus Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
– His discovery proved helpful in the treatment of TB.
– According to WHO, approximately 4,000 people die from TB every day, and 28,000 people fall prey to this disease.
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12. Martyr’s Day is celebrated on March 23 to remember the martyrdom of which revolutionaries?
a. Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad, and Rajguru
b. Ram Prasad Bismil, Chandrashekhar Azad, and Rajguru
c. Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru
d. Chandrashekhar Azad and BR Ambedkar
Answer: c. Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru
– The martyrdom day of the great revolutionaries Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Rajguru is observed as a day of homage on 23rd March.
– On March 23, 1931, during the British colonial rule in Lahore (Pakistan), Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev were hanged.
– Since then, March 23 has been observed as Martyrs’ Day across the country.
– They were accused of the murder of British police officer John Saunders in 1928.
– They mistakenly identified him as British Police Superintendent James Scott, who had ordered the lathi charge in which Lala Lajpat Rai was fatally injured.
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13. When is the International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members observed?
a. 23 March
b. 24 March
c. 25 March
d. 26 March
Answer: c. 25 March
– Annually on March 25, this international day is celebrated by the United Nations.
– This day marks the anniversary of the abduction of Alec Collett.
– He was a former journalist who was working for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
– He was abducted by armed gunmen in 1985, and his body was found in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon several years later.
– The purpose of observing this day is to call for action to protect United Nations staff, peacekeepers, as well as our non-governmental and press partners who work in conflict areas, and to demand justice.
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14. When is the Purple Day of Epilepsy Awareness observed?
a. 25 March
b. 26 March
c. 27 March
d. 28 March
Answer: b. 26 March
Theme of 2024:
– “Lets Talk About Epilepsy“
– Purple Day is an international awareness day dedicated to raising awareness about epilepsy.
– Epilepsy, or seizures, is a condition related to the central nervous system, which is the main neural network of the brain. As a result, patients may experience seizures, lose consciousness, or exhibit abnormal behavior for a period of time.
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15. When is World Theater Day celebrated?
a. 25 March
b. 26 March
c. 27 March
d. 28 March
Answer: c. 27 March
Theme of 2024:
– Theatre and a Culture of Peace
– World Theatre Day has been celebrated since 1962.
– The purpose of the day is to raise awareness about the importance of the art form “theater.”
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