Current Affairs (Dec 2021)

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION ACADEMY, HYDERABAD

Pre-Interview written test for TOWN OFFICER/ UNICIPAL OFFICER (BPS-17)

Local Government Department, Government of Sindh

501. Where is the headquarters of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)?
(a) Montreal, Canada
(b) Lausanne, Switzerland
(c) Washington, D.C., United States
(d) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
(e) Munich, Germany

502. Who is the author of the book ‗Dr V L Dutt: Glimpses of a Pioneer‘s Life Journey‘?
(a) Rahul Rawail
(b) SS Oberoi
(c) Shantanu Gupta
(d) V L Indira Dutt

503. Axis Bank is second largest in PoS machines. What does PoS stand for?
(a) Point of Service Mechanism
(b) Point of Sale Machine
(c) Point of Service Machine
(d) Point of Service Maturity

504. Which of the following country‘s Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble has been
suspended?
(a) Ethiopia
(b) Kenya
(c) Djibouti
(d) Somalia

505. E.O. Wilson passed away recently. He is known as ____________.

(a) Father of Apiculture
(b) Father of Biodiversity
(c) Father of Taxonomy
(d) Father of Biome

Public Service Commission 03043667598

506. Name the Nobel Peace Prize laureate anti-apartheid campaigner African Archbishop
who passed away recently.
(a) Richard Rogers
(b) Desmond Tutu
(c) Anne Rice
(d) Ahmad Shah Ahmadzai

506. Ray Illingworth passed away recently. He was former Test Captain of which cricket
team?
(a) England
(b) New Zealand
(c) South Africa
(d) West Indies

507. Who has been honoured with the Global Environment and Climate Action Citizen
Award 2021?
(a) Vinod Kumar Rana
(b) Viral Sudhirbhai Desai
(c) Saurabh Singh
(d) Vikram Sharma
508. Indian Air Force (IAF) has deployed the first squadron of the S-400 air defence
missile system in the western _______ sector.
(a) Punjab
(b) Rajasthan
(c) Himachal Pradesh
(d) Uttarakhand

509. Recently, India successfully conducted the maiden flight test of the indigenously-
developed, surface-to-surface missile ‗_______‘ off the Odisha coast.
(a) Parvati
(b) Prithvi
(c) Prakash
(d) Pralay

510. Gabriel Boric has become the youngest-ever President of which of the following
country?
(a) Chile
(b) Equador

Public Service Commission 03043667598

(c) Bolivia
(d) Austria

511. Karl Nehammer has been sworn in as the chancellor of which country?
(a) Sweden
(b) Norway
(c) Denmark
(d) Austria

512. Recently, Emma Raducanu is selected as the BBC‘s Sports Personality of the Year
for 2021. She is associated with which of the following sport?
(a) Badminton
(b) Squash
(c) Snooker
(d) Tennis

513. International Human Solidarity Day is observed globally on ________ every year.
(a) 20 December
(b) 21 December
(c) 22 December
(d) 18 December

514. Name the first European country to allow limited cultivation and possession of
cannabis for personal use.
(a) Ukraine
(b) Norway
(c) Lithuania
(d) Malta

515. What is the theme of the International Migrants Day 2021?

(a) Reimagining Human Mobility
(b) Harnessing the potential of human mobility
(c) #WeTogether
(d) Migrants and Refugees Challenge Us

516. World Arabic Language Day is observed globally on _________ every year.
(a) 16th December
(b) 17th December
(c) 18th December
(d) 19th December

Public Service Commission 03043667598

517. According to YouGov, who among the following personalities is listed the world‘s
most admired men?
(a) Cristiano Ronaldo
(b) Barack Obama
(c) Elon Musk
(d) Bill Gates
518. Who has been named Time magazine‘s 2021 Athlete of the Year?
(a) Sofia Kenin
(b) Victoria Azarenka
(c) Jen Brady
(d) Simone Biles

519. Who is the author of the book titled ‗Raj Kapoor: The Master at Work‘?
(a) Amit Ranjan
(b) Subhadra Sen Gupta
(c) Rahul Rawail
(d) Pradeep Magazine

520. Name the NASA spacecraft, which has become the first spacecraft to pass through
the Sun‘s outer atmosphere.
(a) Space Solar Probe
(b) Parker Solar Probe
(c) American Solar Probe
(d) RedPlanet Solar Probe

521. 7-time champion ____________ receives knighthood at Windsor Castle, London.

(a) Carlos Sainz Jr.
(b) Yuki Tsunoda
(c) Max Verstappen
(d) Lewis Hamilton

522. Who is the author of the new book titled ‗Pride, Prejudice and Punditry‘?
(a) Shashi Tharoor
(b) Bhalchandra Mungekar
(c) C K Garyali
(d) Anuradha Roy

523. Which of the following has become the world‘s first government to turn 100%
paperless?

Public Service Commission 03043667598

(a) Dubai, United Arab Emirates
(b) Lausanne, Switzerland
(c) Montreal, Canada
(d) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

524. Who has been named ‗Person of the Year‘ for 2021 by TIME Magazine?
(a) Joe Biden
(b) Elon Musk
(c) Vladimir Putin
(d) Jeff Bezos

525. Which country has launched a new group of satellites ―Shijian-6 05‖ into space?
(a) China
(b) Japan
(c) South Korea
(d) Vietnam

526. Which country became the first country to transition to 4 and half-day work week?
(a) Qatar
(b) Oman
(c) Kuwait
(d) United Arab Emirates

527. Who among the following has won the 2021 Miss Universe crown?
(a) Adline Castelino
(b) Sanjana Vij
(c) Vartika Singh
(d) Harnaaz Sandhu

528. Who has won his maiden ‗Formula One Drivers‘ championship title in the Abu
Dhabi GP 2021?
(a) Sergio Perez
(b) Esteban Ocon
(c) Max Verstappen
(d) Valtteri Bottas
(e) Lewis Hamilton

529. Who was Anne Rice, who passed away recently?

(a) Actress
(b) Writer

Public Service Commission 03043667598

(c) Director
(d) Dancer
(e) Musician

530. Which country topped the Global Health Security Index 2021?
(a) Finland
(b) Thailand
(c) Canada
(d) USA

Public Service Commission 03043667598

Public Service Commission 03043667598
501. Where is the headquarters of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)?
(a) Montreal, Canada
(b) Lausanne, Switzerland
(c) Washington, D.C., United States
(d) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
(e) Munich, Germany

502. Who is the author of the book „Dr V L Dutt: Glimpses of a Pioneer‟s Life
Journey‟?
(a) Rahul Rawail
(b) SS Oberoi
(c) Shantanu Gupta
(d) V L Indira Dutt

503. Axis Bank is second largest in PoS machines. What does PoS stand for?
(a) Point of Service Mechanism
(b) Point of Sale Machine
(c) Point of Service Machine
(d) Point of Service Maturity

504. Which of the following country‟s Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble
has been suspended?
(a) Ethiopia
(b) Kenya
(c) Djibouti
(d) Somalia

505. E.O. Wilson passed away recently. He is known as ____________.

(a) Father of Apiculture
(b) Father of Biodiversity
(c) Father of Taxonomy
(d) Father of Biome

506. Name the Nobel Peace Prize laureate anti-apartheid campaigner African
Archbishop who passed away recently.
(a) Richard Rogers
(b) Desmond Tutu
(c) Anne Rice
(d) Ahmad Shah Ahmadzai

Public Service Commission 03043667598

506. Ray Illingworth passed away recently. He was former Test Captain of which
cricket team?
(a) England
(b) New Zealand
(c) South Africa
(d) West Indies

507. Who has been honoured with the Global Environment and Climate Action
Citizen Award 2021?
(a) Vinod Kumar Rana
(b) Viral Sudhirbhai Desai
(c) Saurabh Singh
(d) Vikram Sharma
508. Indian Air Force (IAF) has deployed the first squadron of the S-400 air
defence missile system in the western _______ sector.
(a) Punjab
(b) Rajasthan
(c) Himachal Pradesh
(d) Uttarakhand

509. Recently, India successfully conducted the maiden flight test of the
indigenously-developed, surface-to-surface missile „_______‟ off the Odisha
coast.
(a) Parvati
(b) Prithvi
(c) Prakash
(d) Pralay

510. Gabriel Boric has become the youngest-ever President of which of the
following country?
(a) Chile
(b) Equador
(c) Bolivia
(d) Austria

511. Karl Nehammer has been sworn in as the chancellor of which country?
(a) Sweden
(b) Norway

Public Service Commission 03043667598

(c) Denmark
(d) Austria

512. Recently, Emma Raducanu is selected as the BBC‟s Sports Personality of

the Year for 2021. She is associated with which of the following sport?
(a) Badminton
(b) Squash
(c) Snooker
(d) Tennis

513. International Human Solidarity Day is observed globally on ________ every

year.
(a) 20 December
(b) 21 December
(c) 22 December
(d) 18 December

514. Name the first European country to allow limited cultivation and possession
of cannabis for personal use.
(a) Ukraine
(b) Norway
(c) Lithuania
(d) Malta

515. What is the theme of the International Migrants Day 2021?

(a) Reimagining Human Mobility
(b) Harnessing the potential of human mobility
(c) #WeTogether
(d) Migrants and Refugees Challenge Us

516. World Arabic Language Day is observed globally on _________ every year.
(a) 16th December
(b) 17th December
(c) 18th December
(d) 19th December

517. According to YouGov, who among the following personalities is listed the
world‟s most admired men?
(a) Cristiano Ronaldo
(b) Barack Obama

Public Service Commission 03043667598

(c) Elon Musk
(d) Bill Gates
518. Who has been named Time magazine‟s 2021 Athlete of the Year?
(a) Sofia Kenin
(b) Victoria Azarenka
(c) Jen Brady
(d) Simone Biles

519. Who is the author of the book titled „Raj Kapoor: The Master at Work‟?
(a) Amit Ranjan
(b) Subhadra Sen Gupta
(c) Rahul Rawail
(d) Pradeep Magazine

520. Name the NASA spacecraft, which has become the first spacecraft to pass
through the Sun‟s outer atmosphere.
(a) Space Solar Probe
(b) Parker Solar Probe
(c) American Solar Probe
(d) RedPlanet Solar Probe

521. 7-time champion ____________ receives knighthood at Windsor Castle,

London.
(a) Carlos Sainz Jr.
(b) Yuki Tsunoda
(c) Max Verstappen
(d) Lewis Hamilton

522. Who is the author of the new book titled „Pride, Prejudice and Punditry‟?
(a) Shashi Tharoor
(b) Bhalchandra Mungekar
(c) C K Garyali
(d) Anuradha Roy

523. Which of the following has become the world‟s first government to turn
100% paperless?
(a) Dubai, United Arab Emirates
(b) Lausanne, Switzerland

Public Service Commission 03043667598

(c) Montreal, Canada
(d) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

524. Who has been named „Person of the Year‟ for 2021 by TIME Magazine?
(a) Joe Biden
(b) Elon Musk
(c) Vladimir Putin
(d) Jeff Bezos

525. Which country has launched a new group of satellites “Shijian-6 05” into
space?
(a) China
(b) Japan
(c) South Korea
(d) Vietnam

526. Which country became the first country to transition to 4 and half-day work
week?
(a) Qatar
(b) Oman
(c) Kuwait
(d) United Arab Emirates

527. Who among the following has won the 2021 Miss Universe crown?
(a) Adline Castelino
(b) Sanjana Vij
(c) Vartika Singh
(d) Harnaaz Sandhu

528. Who has won his maiden „Formula One Drivers‟ championship title in the
Abu Dhabi GP 2021?
(a) Sergio Perez
(b) Esteban Ocon
(c) Max Verstappen
(d) Valtteri Bottas
(e) Lewis Hamilton

529. Who was Anne Rice, who passed away recently?

(a) Actress
(b) Writer

Public Service Commission 03043667598

(c) Director
(d) Dancer
(e) Musician

530. Which country topped the Global Health Security Index 2021?
(a) Finland
(b) Thailand
(c) Canada
(d) USA

Public Service Commission 03043667598

Public Service Commission 03043667598
 TOP 20
Current Affairs (February – March 2022)
1. Which country recently destroyed largest plan “AN-225 Mriya” in the world?

(a)USA (b) Japan (c) China (d) Russia

2. Which country recently tested Fire ―C-Dome‖ New Naval Air Defence System?

(a)USA (b) Israel (c) North Korea (d) Russia

3. Name the country which allowed Drones to operate in civilian airspace for 1st time?

(a)USA (b) Israel (c) North Korea (d) Russia

4. ___becomes hottest place on Earth, records 53.2 degree Celsius.

(a)California (b) Sahara Desert (c) Africa (d) Kuwait

5. „Mahatma Gandhi Green Triangle‟ unveiled in_____.

(a) Madagascar (b) India (c) Sri Lanka (d) Bangladesh

6. _____approved $1.4 Billion Emergency Support for Ukraine?

(a)USA (b) World Bank (c) European Union (d) IMF

7. ______successfully test fired Second Military Satellite „Noor-2‟

(a)India (b) Pakistan (c) North Korea (d) Iran

8. _______becomes world‘s first airlines to use solar aviation fuel?

(a)Emirates (b) Qatar Airways (c) SWISS (d) Cathy Pacific

9. _____approved world‘s 1st plant-Derived COVID-19 Vaccine.

(a)USA (b) Canada (c) Norway (d) Sweden

10. Russian President Vladimir Putin divided Ukraine into ___countries?

(a)2 (b) 3 (c) 4 (d) 5

11. ____will launch world‘s first Hydrogen-Powered flying boat ‗The Jet‘

(a)USA (b) Israel (c) Dubai (d) Japan

Public Service Commission 03043667598

 12. Which country recently elected its first ever female President (Xiomara Castro)?

(a)Portugal (b) Belarus (c) Honduras (d)Ukraine

1. IOC Withdraws Top Olympic

Honour From Vladimir Putin

The International Olympic Committee has stripped Russian President Vladimir Putin of the
Olympic Order award in response to the invasion of Ukraine. International Olympic Committee
urged sports federations and organisers to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials
from international events following Russia‘s invasion of Ukraine.

Russia‘s participation in the World Cup play-offs next month is also in doubt after FIFA plans to
allow them to play on neutral territory were dismissed as ―unacceptable‖ by rivals. The IOC last
week urged all international sports federations to cancel forthcoming events in Russia, angry at
Moscow violating an ―Olympic Truce‖ with its attack on Ukraine.

 International Olympic CommitteeHeadquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland;

 International Olympic Committee President: Thomas Bach;
 International Olympic Committee Founded: 23 June 1894, Paris, France.


Public Service Commission 03043667598

 2. Russia destroyed the largest
plane in the world ‘Mriya’

Russian invasion to Ukraine, Russia destroyed the largest plane in the world called “Ukraine‟s
Antonov-225 cargo plane”. The plane was destroyed outside Kyiv. According to weapons
manufacturer Ukroboronprom, restoring “AN-225 Mriya” would cost over USD 3 billion and
could take over five years. The aircraft was unique to the world. The An-225 aircraft was located
at Hostomel Airport when Russia launched an attack on the Ukrainian airport on February 24,
2022. It was destroyed on February 27.

Public Service Commission 03043667598

 3. Canada approved world’s 1st
plant-derived COVID-19 vaccine

Canada became the first country in the world that has authorized the use of a plant-
based COVID-19 vaccine. The two-dose vaccine of Medicago Inc. (a biopharma company
owned by Mitsubishi Chemical and Philip Morris), can be given to adults who are aged
between 18 to 64, but little data is available on the shots received by people aged 65 and above.

The decision to authorize the vaccine was based on a study conducted on 24,000 adults that
showed the efficacy rate of the vaccine is 71% at preventing COVID-19 – although the tests
were conducted before the omicron variant emerged. Covifenz is the name given to this vaccine.
Canada agreed to buy 20 million doses of this plant-based vaccine, with an option to purchase 56
million additional doses.

 Canada Capital: Ottawa;

 Canada Currency: Canadian dollar;
 Canada Prime minister: Justin Trudeau.

Public Service Commission 03043667598

 4. Russian President Putin divided
Ukraine into 3 countries

Russian President, Vladimir Putin has recognised the independence of separatist regions in
eastern Ukraine – Donetsk and Luhansk. Putin‘s announcement paved the way for Russia to
openly send troops and weapons to the long-running conflict pitting Ukrainian forces against
Moscow-backed rebels. Russian-backed rebels have been fighting Ukrainian troops in Donetsk
and Luhansk since 2014, with regular violence despite a ceasefire agreement.

Putin signed decrees recognizing the Donetsk and Luhansk regions‘ independence, eight years
after fighting erupted between Russia-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces, and called on
lawmakers to approve measures paving the way for military support.

 Russia Capital: Moscow;

 Russia Currency: Ruble;
 Russia President: Vladimir Putin.

Public Service Commission 03043667598

 5. Israel successfully tests fire ‘C-Dome’
new naval air defence system

Israel successfully tested a new naval air defence system “C-Dome,” to be used on the Israeli
Navy‟s Sa‟ar 6-class corvettes. C-Dome is the naval version of the Iron Dome, an all-weather
air defence system of Israel to intercept and destroy short-range rockets and missiles, from the
Gaza Strip. The successful test further strengthens the missile defence systems of the Israeli
Navy to safeguard the maritime assets of the State of Israel.
About the system: The systems that we are developing as part of Israel‘s multi-tier missile
defence array enable us to operate against Iranian proxies in the region and defend against their
weapon systems, which are constantly being upgraded. The C-Dome is to become part of Israel‘s
multilayer missile defence system — which includes weapons capable of intercepting everything
from long-range missiles to short-range rockets.

 Israel Capital: Jerusalem;

 Israel President: Isaac Herzog;
 Israel Prime minister: Naftali Bennett;
 Israel Currency: Israeli Shekel.

Public Service Commission 03043667598

 6. France announces military withdrawal
from Mali after nine years

French president, Emmanuel Macron has announced that France and its European partners
will start the military withdrawal from Mali after more than nine years fighting a jihadist
insurgency. France first deployed troops against jihadists in Mali in 2013 under the Socialist
president François Hollande. The decision has been taken due to a breakdown in France‘s
relations with the ruling junta government in the country. The heart of this military operation will
be shifted from Mali to Niger.
In recent years, jihadists have taken over swaths of territory in the former French colony,
exploiting political turmoil, poverty and the weakness of local authorities. Critics of French
strategy in Mali have long accused policymakers in Paris of focusing on the military force at the
expense of politics. The withdrawal applies to 2,400 French troops in Mali and a smaller
European force of several hundred, which was created in 2020 to reduce the burden on French
forces.

 Mali Capital: Bamako; Currency: CFA Franc;

 Niger Capital: Niamey; Currency: West African CFA franc.


Public Service Commission 03043667598

 7. Nepal will become 1st country
to deploy India’s UPI platform

Nepal will be the first country to adopt India‟s UPI system, which will play a pivotal role in
transforming the digital economy of the neighbouring country, the National Payments
Corporation of India (NPCI). NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL), the international arm
of NPCI, has joined hands with Gateway Payments Service (GPS) & Manam Infotech to provide
the services. GPS is the authorized payment system operator in Nepal. Manam Infotech will
deploy Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in Nepal.
The collaboration will serve the larger digital public good in Nepal and bolster
interoperable real-time person-to-person (P2P) and person-to-merchant (P2M)
transactions in the neighbouring country. Nepal shall be the first country outside of India to
adopt UPI as the payments platform driving the digitalization of cash transactions and furthering
the vision and objectives of the Nepal Government and Nepal Rastra Bank as the Central bank.

 Nepal Capital: Kathmandu;

 Nepal Currency: Nepalese rupee;
 Nepal President: Bidhya Devi Bhandari;
 Nepal Prime Minister: Sher Bahadur Deuba.

Public Service Commission 03043667598

 8. World Health Organisation
launches Quit Tobacco App

World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Region (SEAR) has launched a „Quit
Tobacco App‟. This application helps people to give up the use of tobacco in all forms,
including smokeless and other newer products. The App was launched by Dr Poonam Khetrapal
Singh, Regional Director, WHO-SEAR, during WHO‘s year-long „Commit to quit‟ campaign,
is the latest tobacco control initiative by the WHO South-East Asia Region.

The app, the first such by WHO, and the first that targets all forms of tobacco, helps users
to identify the triggers, set their targets, manage cravings, and stay focused to quit tobacco.
Tobacco is the world‘s leading cause of preventable death and kills nearly 8 million persons
every year. It claims 1.6 million lives in the WHO South-East Asia Region which is amongst the
largest producers and consumers of tobacco products.

 World Health Organization Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland;

 World Health Organization Founded: 7 April 1948;
 World Health Organization Director-General: Tedros Adhanom.

Public Service Commission 03043667598

 9. Canadian Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau invokes Emergencies
Act for 1st time

Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau has invoked never-before-used emergency powers to
support provinces in ending the blockades and public disorder that have gripped Ottawa for 18
days at the hands of participants in the so-called “Freedom Convoy.” The demonstrations shut a
main economic corridor between Canada and the United States for six days before it was
reopened on the 13th Feb.

The Emergencies Act to deal with the ―Freedom Convoy‖ protests, started on Jam 28 by
Canadian truckers opposing a vaccinate-or-quarantine mandate for cross-border drivers. They
have turned into a rallying point for people opposed to a range of Trudeau‘s policies, including
COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and a carbon tax.

Key measures announced:

 Banks and financial institutions will be able to temporarily freeze the accounts of those suspected of
supporting the blockades, without obtaining a court order. The insurance on vehicles being used in the
protests can also be suspended.
 All crowdfunding platforms and payment providers they use must register with Canada’s anti-money
laundering agency, FINTRAC, and report suspicious activities effective immediately.

Public Service Commission 03043667598

 The act will broaden the scope of the government’s anti-money laundering and terrorist financing rules
to cover crowdfunding platforms.
What is the Emergencies Act?

The act gives the government temporary powers it does not normally have, such as the power to
impose special restrictions on public assembly and travel and to mobilize federal support for the
local and provincial police. It gives the federal government power to implement temporary
measures to ensure safety and security during national emergencies.

A declaration of a public welfare emergency allows the government to regulate the distribution
of essential goods, decide what are essential services, and impose fines on violations of the act. It
sets out a compensation scheme for those who suffer damages as a result of its application.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

 Canada Capital: Ottawa;
 Currency: Canadian dollar.

Public Service Commission 03043667598

 10. Israel became first country to
allow drones in civilian airspace

Israel becomes the first-ever country to allow drone flights in civilian airspace. The
certification was issued to the Hermes Starliner unmanned system by the Israeli Civil Aviation
Authority and was manufactured and developed by Elbit Systems, an Israeli defence electronics
company. The UAVs will be used for the benefit of agriculture, the environment, public welfare,
economic activity and against crime. For safety reasons, international aviation regulations
prohibit uncertified aircraft from flying in civilian airspace, limiting the operation of UAVs to
unsegregated airspace.
 The Hermes Starliner, which has a wingspan of 17 metres and weighs 1.6 ton, can fly for up to 36 hours
at an altitude of about 7,600 metres, and can carry an additional 450 kg of electro-optical, thermal,
radar and other payloads.
 It will be able to participate in border security and anti-terror operations, take part in securing mass
public events, perform maritime search and rescue, commercial aviation and environmental inspection
missions, as well as precision agriculture work.

 Israel Capital: Jerusalem;

 Israel Currency: Israeli Shekel;
 Israel President: Isaac Herzog;
 Israel Prime minister: Naftali Bennett.

Public Service Commission 03043667598

 11. Germany re-elects President
Frank-Walter Steinmeier for
second term

German President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier has been re-elected for a second term of five years
by a special parliamentary assembly. This is also the final term for Steinmeier, which he won
with 71% of the vote. The special assembly was made up of the members of parliament of the
lower house and representatives of Germany‘s 16 states. Steinmeier was first elected as the
president on February 12, 2017, with 74% of the vote.

Before first becoming president in 2017, Steinmeier, 66, served two stints as Chancellor Angela
Merkel‘s foreign minister and earlier was chief of staff to Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.
Germany‘s president has little executive power but is considered an important moral authority.
After a messy parliamentary election result in 2017, Steinmeier helped prod politicians to form a
new coalition government rather than holding out for a new vote.

 Germany Chancellor: Olaf Scholz;

 Germany Capital: Berlin;
 Germany Currency: Euro.

Public Service Commission 03043667598

 12. Instagram encourages people
to ‘Take a Break’ from social
media

Instagram has announced the launch of „Take a Break‟ in all countries, including India, to
empower people to make informed decisions about the way they are spending their time. This
feature will be promoted in India through a campaign, in partnership with „We The Young
‟, called „Break Zaroori Hai‟. ‗Take a Break‘ was first launched in the US, UK, Ireland,
Canada, New Zealand and Australia, and it is now available for everyone globally.
What is „Take a Break‟?
 Take a Break’ is a feature that will show up for people, as they have been scrolling for a certain amount
of time. They will be asked to take a break from Instagram and suggest that they set reminders to take
more breaks in the future.
 They will also be shown expert-backed tips to help them reflect and reset. To make sure that young
people are aware of this feature, they will be shown notifications suggesting they turn these reminders
on.

 Instagram launched: 6 October 2010;

 Instagram Owner: Meta;
 Instagram Founder Kevin Systrom.

Public Service Commission 03043667598

 13. Queen Elizabeth II marks 70th
anniversary of her rule 2022

The United Kingdom has marked the 70th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II‟s rule, the
queen looked to the future of the monarchy. She surpassed Louis XIV of France as the longest-
reigning monarch of a sovereign state. She became the longest-lived British monarch on 21
December 2007. In 2017, she became the first British monarch to commemorate a Sapphire
Jubilee. Elizabeth II is the Queen of the United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth realms.
On 6 February 1952, Elizabeth became queen after the death of her father King George VI.


 Prime minister of United Kingdom: Boris Johnson.
 Capital of the United Kingdom: London.

Public Service Commission 03043667598

 14. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg to
head Norway central bank

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) chief, Jens Stoltenberg will take over
as Norway‟s central bank Governor at the end of the year. The appointment comes amid
escalating tensions between the West and Russia. Western nations fear Moscow has plans to
invade Ukraine, which aspires to join the NATO alliance.

But Mr Stoltenberg, a 62-year-old trained economist, insisted that he would stay on as NATO
Secretary-General until the end of his term in October. Norway‘s central bank determines
monetary policy but also manages the country‘s enormous sovereign wealth fund, the biggest in
the world.

 NATO Founded: 4 April 1949, Washington, D.C., United States;

 NATO Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium.

Public Service Commission 03043667598

 15. Winter Olympics host China
welcomes Year of Tiger

China is celebrating the Spring Festival, it‘s the most important annual festival as it entered the
Lunar new “Year of the Tiger”. Last year was celebrated as the Lunar Year of the
Ox. According to the Chinese Zodiac calendar, the Year of the Ox has ended and the Year of the
Tiger has begun from February 1, 2022, and will end on January 21, 2023.

In Chinese culture, the tiger symbolizes bravery, vigor and strength and it is believed that it can
lift people from adversity and usher in final auspiciousness and peace. Each year is named after
one of 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac in a repeating cycle. This year, Spring Festival celebrations
coincide with the Beijing Winter Olympics.

 China Capital: Beijing;

 China Currency: Renminbi;
 China President: Xi Jinping.

Public Service Commission 03043667598

 16. Dubai will launch World’s first
Hydrogen-powered Flying Boat
‘The Jet’

Dubai firm, THE JET ZeroEmission announced the launch of the World‘s first hydrogen-
powered flying boat „THE JET‟ in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. ‗THE JET‘ features cutting-
edge characteristics and technologies, making it capable of flying in silence over the waters at a
cruising speed of 40 knots and also has a capacity of carrying 8-12 passengers.

This announcement comes as a result of the agreement signed between Swiss startup THE JET
ZeroEmission, UAE-based Zenith Marine Services, and US-based DWYN to manufacture and
operate ‗The Jet‘ in Dubai. THE JET will have its inaugural flight during the COP28, which is
scheduled to be held in Dubai, UAE in 2023.

 UAE Capital: Abu Dhabi;

 UAE Currency: United Arab Emirates dirham;
 UAE President: Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Public Service Commission 03043667598

 17. Antonio Costa re-elected as
Prime Minister of Portugal

The Prime Minister of Portugal, Antonio Costo has been re-elected after his centre-left Socialist
Party secured a landslide victory in the 2022 Portuguese legislative election. Socialist Party
bagged 117 seats in the 230 seats Parliament. Despite predictions of a tight race, the main
opposition centre-right PSD party landed 27.8 per cent for 71 seats. Antonio Costo is serving as
the 119th Prime Minister of Portugal since 26 November 2015.

 Portugal President: Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa;

 Portugal Capital: Lisbon;
 Portugal Currency: Euro.

Public Service Commission 03043667598

 18. North Korea successfully tests
fire most powerful Hwasong-12
ballistic missile

North Korea successfully tested its Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile from
the Jagang Province area. This was the first nuclear-capable missile testing undertaken by the
country since 2017. The Hwasong-12 has an estimated range of 4,500 km (2,800 miles). North
Korea‘s series of missile test-fires, including intermediate-range ballistic missiles, pose a direct
and serious threat to us and a grave challenge to international peace and stability.

The string of launches in 2022 comes at a delicate time in the region, with Kim‘s sole major ally
China set to host the Winter Olympics next month and South Korea gearing up for a presidential
election in March.

 North Korea Capital: Pyongyang;

 North Korea Supreme leader: Kim Jong-un;
 North Korea Currency: North Korean won.

Public Service Commission 03043667598

 19. Xiomara Castro sworn in as first
female President of Honduras

In Honduras, the Freedom and Refoundation Party (Libre) member Xiomara Castro has been
sworn in as the first female President of the country. The 62-year-old Castro replaces
President Juan Orlando Hernández, as 56th President of Honduras. Hernández has held the
position for eight years from 27 January 2014 to 27 January 2022. Castro announced part of her
cabinet Thursday, with her son Hector Zelaya as private secretary and Jose Manuel Zelaya — her
husband‘s nephew — as defence minister.

The oath was sworn before Judge Karla Romero, flanked by Castro‘s choice of Congress
president, Luis Redondo, who draped the presidential sash over his new boss before a crowd of
some 29,000. The guests included US Vice President Kamala Harris, King Felipe VI of Spain
and Taiwan Vice President William Lai.

 Honduras Capital: Tegucigalpa

 Currency: Honduran lempira
 Continent: North America

Public Service Commission 03043667598